What's Going On?

When I was born, utter chaos was happening in our world and my nation, the United States of America. In the Spring of 1969 we were in the heat of the Vietnam War. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert (Bobby) Kennedy had not been in the grave from assassination a year when I made my first cry. There were riots, protests and violence. The civil rights movement for African-Americans was successful, but racial tension was still extremely high. Most seemed to be unhappy. There was very little peace. 

Here we are.. again. Wars and rumors of wars are daily. Terror attacks are happening in many places of the world. Thank God no one has been assassinated in our government in the United States, but there have been many attempts here. In other countries, there have been many attempts and successes. The civil rights movement is now in full swing with other groups of people who are protesting and fighting for rights; and change. Racial tension and anti semitism are high. Most people seem to be unhappy. There is very little peace.

So, once again Marvin Gaye's 1971 hit song "What's Going On?" is appropriate. His answer to the social craziness is kind of true: "For only love can conquer hate, You know we've got to find a way to bring some lovin' here today." For your convenience I have posted the rest of the lyrics at the bottom of this entry.

Well, Love came 2000 years ago, nailed Himself to a tree, rose from the dead to conquer sin and death and gave us the directive to live as love to conquer the world and it's leader, Satan. If we all decided to love like Jesus did and to treat everyone the way we would in word and deed, what a world that would be! I like the song, but Love came. We don't have to find a way because God provided the Way, Jesus, for us. He is here! It's up to us to choose to live love out. 

"Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love." - I John 4:7-8

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby 

Created... On Purpose

You know why people don't like to acknowledge God, His Son, the Holy Spirit and His Word? Because acknowledging God requires a response. Accepting the knowledge of God makes you accountable to that knowledge. It is much easier to accept a Higher Power that doesn't require relationship and expectations for that relationship. It is much easier to choose to serve and pray to inanimate objects and things that don't speak back or demand like the universe. It is much easier to look at a tree believe it came from nothing and when you die it is just over. It's easier because you don't have to think about the fact that Someone created all of this on purpose; even you.

"And He has made from on blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation," Acts 17:26

You didn't just get here because of procreation. God used procreation to put you here, for this time and for this place; on purpose. Because He is God, that means not only you, but every person ever born or will be on this earth is on purpose. Things done on purpose are FOR purpose. So, what's your purpose? Why are you here in this place, at this time? To tithe? To go to church? To witness the gospel? To give God glory and worship Him? 

Yes, but those things you could do at any time in history and any place. You have specific purpose for this time and place for the way you were created that will bring the greatest impact than it would at any other time and place. If you don't know, humble yourself, repent, get before your Creator and ask Him to lead you there. In this stream you will stop limping through life and begin to leap. He is not going to leave you in the dark ask Him, He will answer, He will reveal it to you. And, He will make it happen. Believe it!

Priceless

I love my wedding ring. It is precious to me because of its meaning, who I received it from and I know the cost. A small token of my husband's love is a huge deal to me. This beautiful gift I look at often, clean often and show off to others who notice it. In addition, I keep it with me all the time, always.

Do you really understand, know, how much you cost? There is no way Jesus is going to take His eye off of you. He purchased you with a currency called 'crucifixion at Calvary.' You can't put a number on it. YOU are expensive. He loves you with an eternal, unconditional love. He wants to keep you clean so you shine brightly that others will notice. He wants to show you off for His glory and credit. So, He's not leaving you, ever.

1.              "I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen." - Matthew 28:20b

“Always” in the Greek means daily, the whole day. Every day, all day Jesus is with you. When you get dressed in the morning, get in your car, grab a Starbucks coffee or grab a cup at work; He is right there. The Word tells us that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. Take comfort that whether your day is good, great, bad, slow or sad He is standing next to you and He will never walk away.

An Awesome You!

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" - I Peter 2:9

It amazes me how much we want what someone else has. The woman with thick lips wants thin ones and the woman with thin wants thick. In Western Civiliazation, we are constantly comparing ourselves to others; especially people with celebrity status. We look to a person of our choice or something they have as someone we need to be, look like and/or have what they have. It's time to end that. It is high time that we embrace everything God made us to be, have what He means for us to have and look the way He designed us to look.

Look in the mirror. If you don't like what you see, begin with the Word. Declare the affirmations of Christ over you. Write those out and put them on your mirror. Allow His Word to renew your mind and the spirit of God to minister to you about you. Embrace the you He has made and planned for from the foundations of the earth.

I am convinced that knowing and embracing who you are in Christ is imperative to being a successful Christian. You are chosen. You are royalty. You are priests. You are holy. And, yes! You are special! This is what the Lord sees when watching you from Heaven. Lay hold of these traits that are God given. Bind them to your heart knowledge like your name and home address. Each day walk into your place of employment with the full understanding of your identity in Christ. Allow it to empower you to walk with purpose, carry His message with confidence and live in total peace... with yourself.

Prayer that Produces Results

My husband was owed almost $30,000 by one of his clients. For over a year, we prayed for the Lord to move on the client to release the money and saw no result. It was time  to change the prayer. We began to ask God for the prayer that would produce the result we were seeking. He was faithful. In my women's bible study, the Lord provided the prayer that would cause Him to move on our behalf.

After reading the following verses in the study, I shared them with my husband. We knew these verses were God's answer. In prayer, we proclaimed them over my husband's client. Led by the Holy Spirit, my husband took a daring step. He put them at the bottom of his next bill to them. 

"...The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning." - Leviticus 19:13b

"Indeed, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cries out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." James 5:4

"And I will come near to you for judgement... against those who exploit wage earners... says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:5 

There is nothing more powerful than wielding the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God, when you are in a battle with the enemy. Within a week, my husband received $27,000. Less than a month later, he received the remainder. 

Prayer is powerful as long as it isn't prayed amiss. However, God is faithful. If you ask, He will give you exactly what you need to be victorious in battle. Your Father in Heaven is all powerful. He loves to demonstrate that power through you, your life circumstances and answered prayer.