"How you... waitin'?"

NKJV Psalms 62:5 “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him” Do you watch Wendy Williams? Have you ever heard her catch-phrase, "How you doin'?" I'm pretty sure the majority of America has heard her say this popular phrase. What I want to know is not "how you doin," but, "how you…waiting?" There are so many instances when we have to wait, from waiting for a subway train or taxi cab to waiting on your family members to come downstairs and get in the car so you won't be late for church. I don't know about you but in more cases than not… I hate waiting! I'm a stickler for being on time so I value mine. I do my best to arrive or start tasks on time, that being said, I expect others to value my time and do the same. Time is one thing in this life that we cannot get back because once it's gone it's gone. Recently waiting on my daughter to come out of basketball practice I became impatient. She had asked me to arrive at a particular time and I did. Only when I arrived she wasn't ready, causing me to wait, and that didn't sit well with me especially after 20 minutes. As I sat and waited I thought, "I'm sitting here waiting and fuming yet she's inside without a care because she knows I'm out here, and if I weren't out here she'd know I was coming." I said all of that to say this, the next time you are waiting on the Lord, "how you waiting?" Are you waiting like I was at that moment, full of anxiety, mad and impatient? Or are you waiting like my child was without worry or care in the world, but with expectation and knowing that what you need is either already there or on the way. Let’s revert back to the scripture at the top of this article. Psalms 65:2 says “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.” It is in God we must trust with expectation while we are waiting. The writer here says “for my expectation is from Him.” I interpret that as them saying they are saying, “Hey I’m going to expect great things for the God who created expectation, and it doesn’t get any better than that!” Now don’t think I’m saying that waiting on God to move and trusting him all the while is not a challenge because I know from experience it certainly is. However I also have several testimonies and know from experience that when you please God and wait on Him with expectation…well let me give you scripture, Proverbs 23:18 KJV says “For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Think about it!

Some things...you just can't Google!

In this microwave society, age of the cyber babies and reality stars it seems everyone need proof of everything before they will believe anything. How many times have you been on facebook and seen a picture that was so unbelievable you had to research to see if it was a hoax, like the seven headed snake or the 1000lb woman. I for one, am quick to google something if I feel it's fake or if I just need to find some answers. If I have a project coming up or a new task to conqueror I don't think twice about going to Google for help, solutions and or suggestions, I'm sure I'm not the only one. Recently I had pain in my feet, and as has become the norm for me, I "googled" my symptoms looking for relief. It was at that moment that I thought...am I looking to Google something I should be asking God about? That got me thinking, how many people look for answers in other places, that only Christ can give? How many of us overlook God as our ultimate source? I'm reminded of the Pharisee Nicodemus in John chapter 4. When looking for the answer to his question he stole away at the night in search of Jesus, knowing he'd find what he was looking for. In verse 2 he says to Jesus, "Rabbi we know you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." This let's us know that Nicodemus had done his research on Jesus well enough to know that if he needed to learn something he was seeking the right teacher. Then there was Hezekiah in Isaiah chapter 38 who had a dilemma. After learning he was about to die Hezekiah went straight to "The Source." Verse 2 says, "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord." These two men got it right! I'm not saying Google is evil, because I find it to be very helpful. I said all that to say; there are just some things you can't google, like salvation, healing and the list goes on. It behooves those of us, myself included; who turn to google at the drop of a dime, to remember our one true source! The One who as ALL the answers, The One who worked and works miracles that cannot be explained, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. He gave up His life and shed His precious blood so that we can have access to eternal life. He came to the Earth wrapped in flesh to afford us pardon from sin and shame. His story is the greatest ever told, and in Him we should live, move and have our being. Don't believe me...Google it! Think about it!

The quicker picker-uper

I have a preschooler do you know what that means? That means I have to keep a watchful eye or she'll get into something she shouldn't. Recently I was cleaning out the kitchen cabinets she of course joined me and took it upon herself to start playing with the pots and pans on the floor. One pot had a little water in it and I warned her not to bother it, who was I kidding right? Any way of course the moment my back was turned she messed with the pot and some of the water spilled on the floor. I didn't see that part but what I saw inspired this article. When I turned around my four year old daughter had gotten a towel and was wiping up the spill and get this, praying! She said, "Lord clean up this water in the name of Jesus." I couldn't help but smile and inform her that Jesus had not spilled the water, she had so she needed to clean it up herself. She wiped it up and continued to pray but it got me to thinking. Don't we all do that? I mean, don't we all get into some things we shouldn't at times, end up making a mess then expect God to get us out or clean it up! If you say you've never done this I'll have to say, I don't believe you. How many times have you rushed to purchased something without proper research and later regretted it, then found yourself praying to God because your rushed decision got you in debt. Have you ever got into a relationship that you shouldn't have and then had to pray your way out? I'm sure if we spent enough time on the subject that we could come up with more. Regardless, if it weren't for the power of God we would never be able to overcome any of our life's "messes." That is the awesome thing about knowing and trusting in a God that not only can but has cleansed any and all messes imaginable. Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." I John 1:7 tells us that "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." When God decided what He would use as the cleansing agent for our sins, He chose the very best that He had, the blood of His own Son! It is by that precious blood, that we are cleansed from all of our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, "To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." You see, it is only by the blood of our Lord, that we get our sins washed away. So the next time you are feeling "dirty," and need a quick cleaning, look to the "quicker picker upper," the powerful cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Nothing cleanses like it! Think about it!

"Watch your mouth!"

Proverbs 18:6 "A fool's lips enter into contention and his mouth calls for blows." Proverbs 18:13 "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him." Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." I recently heard a song called "Words," by Hawk Nelson here are the lyrics to the first verse and chorus; "They make me feel like a prisoner, they make me feel set free, they make me feel like a criminal they, make me feel like a king. Words can bring you up, words can break you down, start a fire in your heart or put it out. But let my words be life, let my words be truth, I don't want to say a word unless it points the world back to you!" I could stop there because in my opinion just that one verse and chorus are plenty powerful enough to make you "think about it." But let's think about these lyrics in respect to the scriptures above. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has ever been guilty of "running off at the mouth," or speaking out of turn. Word solidify relationships, seal deals and have the power to change decisions. We must make conscious effort not to condemn ourselves or others with our words. Consider the power of the words, "I love you, "I forgive you," and "I am sorry," how about, "I hate you," or "your ugly." A few words spoken or written can turn a good day bad and vice versa. Since the dawn of time words have, for lack of a better word, "made the world go around." I mean it was the simple words, "let there be light," that started it all! But just as words are powerful, silence is as well. When was the last time you had the opportunity to share God's word with someone but opted to say nothing? So before that next phone call, text or facebook post remember all the letters you type, text or say will turn into words that carry weight. Let your words be life and truth! Watch your mouth! Think about it!

Above the Crowd!

Luke 19:1-10 "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” In my opinion this story is very profound! Here you have Jesus, the most sought after man in Jericho deciding to mingle with a known sinner. But you see, Jesus saw the big picture. Though Zacchaeus was short he showed a great amount of integrity. Not only did he go out of his way to find out who Jesus was for himself, once he was given the opportunity he began to repent and confess before Jesus, even in front of the crowd. Zacchaeus also saw the big picture. It does not matter what sins you have committed, and it does not matter how long you have been in sin. What matters is your willingness to change. Though people in the crowd had negative things to say about Zacchaeus to Jesus, Zacchaeus did not allow that to detour him. He knew he wanted what Jesus had...salvation and he went out of his way (well up in a tree) to get it. Jesus recognized Zacchaeus' willing heart and declared salvation upon his life! What about you? Will you make the decision to go above the crowd and give your life to Christ like Zacchaeus? Will you ignore the nay-sayers and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Don't be afraid. Don't let anyone tell you that your too big of a sinner to receive the salvation of the Lord! Go above the crowd "climb that tree," and get your salvation. Think about it!

Relax...be who God created you to be!

So many times in our society, I feel, we try to be something or someone we are not. The media often pushes us to change our appearance in order to "fit the status quo." Everyday millions of people seek medical help to change or enhance their bodies or faces. And everyday somewhere in the world someone takes their own life because they are unsatisfied with themselves either inwardly or outwardly. Wouldn't it be nice if we could grow and mature but maintain the self-accepting mind set of a child? Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." It seems to me that knowing we are created, patterned after the one perfect God would be enough for us to be satisfied with who we are. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's bad to want self enhancement or to strive to better yourself. What I'm saying is that it's wrong to want to change who God created you to be because you don't appreciate you for...you. Understand, when God created each and every one of us He knew what he was doing, after all... He knows ALL. James 1:7 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Our lives, bodies, minds, and appearances are all good and perfect gifts for God and we must cherish them. While encouraging someone to be themselves, I heard gospel artist Kirk Franklin say, "Stop straining, relax and be you. God created you just like He created the orange and apple trees. Have you ever seen an orange or apple tree straining to produce it fruits? Of course not, they are just being and doing what God created them to be and do. So be yourself it's easier than you think." That's so true, no matter how hard you strain your brain wishing you could be someone else, it won't happen. It's much easier just to relax and be who God created you to be. No one is better at being you than you and remember an original is always worth more than a copy. Think about it!

True Love Conquers all!

Have you ever heard the saying, "true love conquers all?" Well I don't know about you but I for one believe in true love. I recently watched a movie that brought the saying, "true love conquers all" to mind. The movie is titled, "Warm Bodies." It is the story of a boy zombie named "R" who narrates the film. He can not speak but we can hear his thoughts. As the movie begins he let's us know that even though he is a zombie, he feels he is missing something in his "undead" life. (Give me a minute, I'm going somewhere with this.) He lives in a community of zombies and "bonies." The zombies are all people who have contracted a disease that became a world wide epidemic and caused their hearts to stop but they did not die, the "bonies" are zombies who have given up on their very existence and turned into undead skeletons. Anyway, as the story unfolds, "R" and his zombie friends venture out to "town." Town is where unaffected regular humans live. The reason for their visit...zombies eat living humans to survive. On this particular trip, "R" happens upon "Julie." Just as she is about to be eaten, R steps in and saves her. Not only does he save her but he takes her back to the zombie community because he wants to "keep her," for R it's love at first sight. What R doesn't know is that Julie is the daughter of Commander Grigio. Grigio's mission in life is to kill all zombies and bonies. He spends his days planning zombie ambushes and training humans to help, with a goal of wiping out all zombies and bonies because he feels they can not change therefore they must be killed in order for the humans to survive. Though he can not talk to her, R and Julie soon develop a loving relationship. As they get to know each other, something inside R begins to change. Soon he and Julie are totally in love as a result R's heart begins to beat again, and his cold undead body begins to warm up. Soon the other zombies not only see, but they feel the love that has bloomed between R and Julie and they too are affected by it. Things take an unexpected turn when the bonies decide to leave the zombie community and head for town planning to eat all the humans, but because of R and Julie's love the zombies, who now have warm beating hearts, are determined to help the humans defeat the bonies. To make a long story short, it is Julie's acceptance and willingness to look beyond R's "zombiness," and love him back that changes everything. With that being said, let me say this...if you are going through life without Christ in your heart, in my opinion you are just an "undead" zombie. I Peter 4:8 says, "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins." I John 4:8 says in the latter part, "God is love." So not only can we love each other through difficult times but if we have real love in our hearts, which in essence is God Himself, we can change. Our lives can be better and we can change the lives of others just like Julie and R. True love, God, changes everything! Think about it!