He'll NEVER pass you by!

Have you ever walked passed someone on the street and not noticed them even though you should have? Have you ever walked by someone you knew on the street and didn’t realize it until they called your name, and though they were related to you or you knew them you simply passed them by. I recently watched two Youtube videos that brought these questions and thoughts to mind. Both videos were experiments on today’s society and how we often take people for granted or just plain over look people in need. Both videos also pertained to the serious problem of homelessness in our society today. In the first video family members volunteered to be made over into homeless people and placed on the street where another unsuspecting family member was sure to walk pass them. In ever single case the unsuspecting family member walked right past their, mother, sister, uncle or cousin without so much as a second glance. It was only after they were shown the video of themselves walking past their relative that they realized how much they tuned out the homeless, so much so they had failed to recognize their own family member dressed as a vagabond on the street. The second video was called “The Homeless child experiment.” During this video the producer was trying to show the insensitiveness of Americans. He had a child actor dressed as a homeless boy holding a sign asking for money to feed his sister. Needless to say, over the course of the entire day hundred’s of people in different busy locations simply walked past this child; many of them after looking directly at him AND reading his sign. I don’t know about you but I have been guilty of simply concentrating on myself, my business and my needs so much that I have walked passed by people I knew as well as people who were in need. These videos were an eye opener. I’m not saying that I’ll be scoping out homeless people to help, but I can say I will be more attentive and help out when I can. I also said all that to convey this message, “Isn’t it great that God is NOT like man!” Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” So remember that in times of lowliness, or need, when it seems the world and everyone around has abandoned you; our God and Creator is and always will be with you, He will never pass you by! Think about it!

JUST FOR US...THINK ABOUT IT!

With Easter just past hearing the story of Jesus suffering told by my bishop, I got to thinking about the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for us so I did some more reading and researching, check this out. The Scourging…Jesus endured a torture that beyond excruciating before He ever got to the cross. Scourging was not normally used as execution, but it was brutal enough to be fatal. Its purpose was not only to cause great pain, but to humiliate as well. To scourge a man was to beat him worse than one would beat a stupid animal. The Stripes...The instrument used to deliver this form of punishment was called the flagrum or cat o’ nine tails. This was a whip with several thongs or strands, each as much as three feet long, and the strands were weighted with lead balls or pieces of bone. This instrument was designed to lacerate. The weighed thongs struck the skin so violently that it broke open. Before a scourging the victim is stripped naked of any clothing. The maximum amount of stripes one could receive was…you guessed it, 39. The Crown…As Jesus was bent over with a lacerated bleeding body they hailed him “King of the Jews,” and the soldiers put together a garland of bushes filled with long sharp thorns, and they created a crown of thorns and placed it upon His already bruised head. (Note: they probably didn’t take the time to measure His head for size) The Journey…There have been several theories over the years as to how far Jesus walked with the cross. The main consensus is that He walked an estimated half of a mile with the cross. (NOTE: From the scourging to the journey to Golgotha, was at least two full hours of suffering. Mark 15:25 says, “Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.”) The Cross... There are no exact figures on the weight of the cross that Jesus carried. It is estimated to be over 300 pounds. It was made of solid wood. Imagine how heavy the wood had to be, in order to be able to support the weight of a full grown man. The Nails…Jesus' nails would have been made of heavy, probably square, iron material, 7-9 inches long. The Crucifixion…This was among the most painful and excruciating form of punishment leading to death ever contrived by man. Imagine hanging naked, bleeding and aching before a crowd, nailed by your hands and feet trying to support your weight on a cross. The Humiliation…Soldiers took His garments and divided into four pieces then drew lots to see who would be the new owner of His tunic. The Wine…While on the cross in the blistering sun Jesus thirsted and the soldiers mocked him offering him only sour wine to drink. After tasting the sour wine, knowing everything prophesied had been fulfilled Jesus uttered three words, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and died. The Piercing… As if everything done weren’t enough instead of breaking his legs as was tradition one of the soldiers took a spear and pierced Jesus in the side releasing water and his last few drops of blood. (Note: From the nails to the wine, it was at least a full six more hours of agonizing pain. Mark 15:33 says, “at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice…”) Isaiah 53:4-6 Read it and think about it!

PROVE IT!

Love is an action word! You can tell someone “I love you,” a million times but if you never show it, only a fool would believe your words. A Christian group called King & Country have a song called “The Proof of your love,” here are some of the opening lyrics. “If I sing but don't have love, I waste my breathe with every song… I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise.” “If I speak with a silver tongue, convince a crowd but don't have love, I leave a bitter taste with every word I say...” “So let my life be the proof, the proof of Your love, let my love look like You, and what You're made of. How you lived, how You died, love is sacrifice, so let my life be the proof…the proof of Your love.” Everyday millions declare they “love the Lord!” Well I challenge you, if you say you love the Lord, then PROVE IT! How do you do that? Simple, do what God did for you, and like the words of the song, prove your love with your life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I John 3:16 says, “By this we know love because He laid down his life for us…” God loved us so much that He didn’t just say it; He stepped down off His throne of grace, wrapped Himself in flesh, came to Earth and gave up His life on our behalf. As if that were not enough He ventured into the depths of the Earth and conquered death, finally He rose again with all power in His hands. Our God didn’t have a problem nor did He hesitate to prove His love. That being said, if we love Him in return, let’s cut out loving Him in “lip service” only. John 14:15 says, “If you love me; keep my commandments.” IT’s time to stop saying “I’m a Christian, I’m a believer,” “I love and trust God,” in one breath and then cursing people out, speaking and doing evil in the next. IT’s past time to prove our love for God with our lives. By living TOTALLY as He commanded, without picking and choices what commands we’ll follow from one day to the next. When God gave of Himself for us He gave all! So if you love HIM, PROVE IT! Think about it! What do you “think about it?” I’d love to hear your feedback on the articles Email me: genamaewrites@gmail.com

Prepare for the thief in the night!

What precautions do you take before bedding down at night? Do you lock your car, check all the windows in the house or lock and latch the doors? If you knew a thief was coming to invade you home, wouldn't you prepare? If you we're told that something great or either something terrible was going to take place for sure… would you not take the time to make arrangements and be ready? If you answered yes to any of these questions are you prepared for Christ's return? Luke 12:39-40 says, "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect." If you are a believer, you may not know the exact hour when the Son of man will return but you do know for sure that He is coming. Therefore it behooves us to prepare and help others prepare as well. I’m sure you would not allow your loved ones to be invaded if you knew they were in danger. Then why not be a witness and a light, a warning so to speak, to them and let them know that now is the time to prepare for the thief in the night. I Thessalonians 5:2-6 says; “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. So though we do not know the day or hour that Christ will return, let us “get our houses in order!” Make sure you are sober or attentive to the times around you. Make sure that you are vigilant or watchful over your soul. Keep the doors of you heart locked and secured with the love and obedience of Christ, so that when He does return you will be ready! Think about it!

Mountain moving fig tree faith

Have you ever been so hungry that you felt like you would eat the first thing in sight? In the book of Mark chapter 11:12-14 Jesus was in that predicament. After much travel the scripture tells that Jesus was indeed hungry and He saw a fig tree bearing leaves afar off. Now, have you ever been really hungry and started to crave something or smell a dish and begin to desire it; only to be let down because it wasn’t as good as you hoped or because “your eyes were bigger than your stomach?” This also happened to our Lord who, decided He wanted some nice juicy figs fulfill His hunger; only to arrive at the tree and find there were no figs. Bring this scenario in to our every day lives. There are and will be times that we will desire things, dare to dream and pursue with the intent to accomplish greatness; only to be let down by people, ourselves or circumstances. IT is at those times that we must exercise “mountain moving fig tree faith,” as Jesus did. Jesus must have been extremely hungry not realize that the fig tree was not at fault, verse 13 explains that it was “not the season for figs.” But that didn’t stop Jesus from retaliating against the tree. Verse 14 says, “In response (to the barren tree) Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.” Brief pause here….I wonder what the disciples were thinking when they heard their leader talking to a tree… Okay back to the point of this article. A day later Jesus and the disciples passed back by this same tree and discovered it was now, not only barren, but dried up from the root. Jesus’ curse upon the tree had taken place. In verse 21 Peter says to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” Peter seemed to be impressed and even surprised. But what Jesus says next is what we must all obtain. He said in verses 22-24, “Have faith in God.” For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. See when Jesus wanted a thing; and it didn’t manifest to quench His desire, He did not whine about it. He spoke, believed and moved forward. He did not go back to SEE if the tree had withered, because He had mountain moving fig tree faith, he didn’t feel the need to double check! So the next time you are hungering for something in your life whether natural or spiritual, exercise your “mountain moving fig tree faith,” and let that settle it! Believe and you shall receive. THINK ABOUT IT!

Showing and Living your...THANK YOU!

Have you ever watched an award show and heard the artists, musicians, actors or other award winners say, "I want to thank God for blessing me." Have you ever met or do you know anyone who has escaped a tragedy, come close to death or lost it all, only to regain more and heard them declare thanks to the Lord above? Finally have you ever met or do you know anyone who is very wealthy and often gives God the credit by verbally thanking Him? If you said yes to any of these questions, please allow me to ask one more, do any of those described above not only speak but "show" their thanks? In an early morning study I read Deuteronomy chapter 8. In the passage the children of Israel are reminded of their journey through the wilderness. The chapter starts out by telling them to be careful to observe God's commands in order to continue receiving what God has for them. It goes on to have them recall that they were never hungry, thirsty or unclothed in the wilderness because of God's grace and mercy. The passage urges the children of Israel of some very important principals. Number 1: vs.18 says in part, "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth." Now most wealthy, un-wealthy, or blue collar people have this part down packed. They remember the Lord in thanks by saying grace over their food, or by thanking Him every now and again for their belongings, success and or loved ones. Some people even go so far as to give thanks publicly and I believe all of this is good. However, here is the main point I want to make, vs. 3 says in part, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord." This is where I feel many people forget to focus. They quote scriptures all day, but upon further observation of their lives, they do not live those scriptures. Many proclaim salvation but only from the things they "want" to be saved or delivered from. Deut. 8:5-6 says, "You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord God chastens you. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him." These scriptures prove that it is not enough to just verbally thank God. We must observe or pay attention to intentionally "show" Him our thanks. How do we do that? By living out the commandments or instructions/ordinances of the Lord, on purpose every single day, even and especially the commands we may not "want" to follow. Search within yourself, evaluate whether you are just saying, or if you are indeed showing AND living your "Thank You." Think about it!

The Little LUMP

Have you ever stumped your baby toe really hard and limped for days? Have you ever gotten a deep paper cut on your pinky and thought you would keel over? I know many women who have suffered from Cancer that almost took their lives but it all started as a little lump. Recently I cut my thumb pretty deep with a razor while shaving and for days it practically drove me mad! It was kind of like having a toothache and the pain affecting your entire body. That little razor cut affected my ability to get dressed, to write, to text and sometimes to think! Because the cut on my thumb was in such an awkward place it was making me have to figure out other ways to get things done. If you can not relate to any of this, though I’m pretty sure just about everyone can, think about how small things can bring large affects. What I mean is; sometimes little things can blow up and bring big blessing as well as big problems. If you don’t believe little things matter, try to log on to a website and omit one letter or even one symbol and see if that site opens for you. Try to cook your favorite meal, expecting it to taste the same and leave out one ingredient. Galatians 5:9 NKJV says, A little leaven leavens the whole lump, meaning it only takes a little bit to get the job done as well as to reek havoc. Now back to my thumb; for days I bandaged it and applied ointment to get it back to its original state; so that I could once again use my entire hand the way it was intended. What’s my point? Well just like my thumb and the incident with the razor…things happen, “little lumps” come up. We can not allow little arguments, heart break, hurts or even failures to handicap and cripple us from walking with Christ as we are intended to. We have to press on! Though my thumb was bandaged, I couldn’t call in sick to work I had to press on. I took the necessary steps towards my healing. That is what we all must do, when we make mistakes, when little lumps arise, don’t ignore them. And certainly don’t allow them to grow. Had I not taken care of my thumb, no doubt, it would have gotten worse. Dirt could have gotten inside and caused it to become infected. This can happen spiritually, if we allow the cares of this life to consume us, or if we allow what we are going through to take us over. With the great God we serve, if we strive to live for Him as His word commands, we can do all things through His strength. Do you need a band-aid or some ointment for you spiritual ailment…look to the word of God? (Philippians 4:13) Think about it!