Day 353

Today my sister-friend got married. Now, I don’t have any women with who I share genetic DNA of my parents’ chromosomes; but God has blessed me with beautiful women in my life who have morphed from friends to sisters. I use the word “morph” because change took place over time. Friends have the privilege of becoming the families that we choose. And one of them got married today in the presence of her loved ones.

When she and her husband (I can’t believe it! Yesterday they were fiancé’s. What a difference a day can make!) were saying their ‘Thank Yous,’ she said something that caught my attention: Each one of you was hand-selected to be here today.”

No more than 20 people were present as these two individuals joined themselves one to another and became one. Talk about privilege! It was a beautiful ceremony and both the bride and the groom cried. It was tears of joy as they took one another’s hands and looked into the soul of the person in which they were about to enter into a covenant of eternal relational integrity.

Being one of the 20 made me feel really special. But even though it was a beautiful day (a bit chilly), and a celebratory time, their journey was more meaningful to me, than the actual day. Don’t get me wrong, without “The Day” there would be no marriage. However, the journey made this day so much more special to me.

I remember it was December several years ago when my friend told me she was “talking” to this guy. For those of you who are not familiar with this vernacular, “talking” is a loose, less formal type of courtship. The two of us had gone to a store run to pick up a few things that she needed for work. It was a Saturday night and we were hanging out, as friends/sisters do. The way that she spoke about this guy was different from anyone I had ever heard her talk about. She was giddy and happy about getting to know this man.

A few years later, her now-boyfriend, contacted me without my friend’s knowledge to “hang out.” I have a 6th sense for these things, I knew what he wanted to talk about, and my suspicions were correct, he wanted to ask her to marry him.

We discussed a plan and I had my job tucked away, I was to take her to get a manicure. It wasn’t odd to her, because sisters do things like that. A few days later she was engaged! What made it all the more wonderful was the presence of their mothers her surprise engagement.

So when it was time for her to get married, of course, I was honored to step in and help in every and any way that I could. Witnessing their commitment to one another brought me a joy that I could not explain. John the Baptist who was also the cousin of Jesus said: “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.” John 3:29.

John’s joy came from hearing the groom announce His love for His bride. Jesus is the Groom and we are His bride. We’re currently engaged to Him as Paul mentions: I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2. I get what Paul is saying. As the friend of the husband to be, you want to make sure that their future spouse stays committed only to them. If I were to see my friend or her now-husband, sneaking around and dating other people, I would be as upset as I was joyful for their union.

Paul knew that God would always be faithful, because listen to what the Lord says: “So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.” Hosea 2:19. That word of loving devotion is the Hebrew word Chesed which we’ve discussed before. But simply put it’s a deep, intentional, steadfast, active, and attentive affections from one person to another. It does not change based on the person’s “feelings” but is more of a way of being towards another. And Paul understood that God would rather die than remove His Chesed from you and me.

So, as the friend of the groom, his Brother according to the word: For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.” Hebrews 2:11, Paul will do everything he can to make sure the couple can say “I DO” at the end.

While it was my honor and privilege to be a part of my sister’s journey down the aisle, it is my deepest joy that these last 300 plus blogs have been helping you in some way on your journey down the aisle to Him. To the One who stands at the alter as the ultimate sacrifice, placing your life before His. Who stands with His arms open wide, ready to fill you with His Chesed love for all of eternity.

I pray that one day we may meet, and I’ll be able to hear about your walk down the aisle of how you fell deeper and deeper in love with Him.

Day 338

I feel violated. While I was asleep last night, someone was breaking into one of my accounts. They requested that my funds be transferred to their account! And when I looked at my account it said $0.00. I contacted the company right away and told them that a HUGE ERROR had occurred. The system on its own knew something was off-kilter because they sent me an email around 4 in the morning to tell me that I had tried too many times to access my account with the wrong password and that they had locked my account. But not before transferring my money to SOMEONE ELSE! I received a response requesting 24 hours to find out what happened. I know what happened, I got robbed! This entire waiting 24 hours is utterly annoying. I want this fixed immediately. I need someone to address this problem and tell me that they will get my money back.

What if God had waited 24 hours for Adam and Eve to live in uncertainty after they had sinned? What if He had sent an angel, a messenger, to tell them “I see you’re in a bind. Please give me 24 hours to figure this out. And we’ll get back to you.” Those two giant sobbing adults would have been cowering in fear for over a day. The stress that they would have gone through is unimaginable. I think it probably would have killed them: “There are a number of ways chronic stress can kill you,” says [Dr.] Aldwin. That includes increased levels of cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone.” (NPR.org).

We know that they were stressed and afraid, because when God did come (immediately by the way. He didn’t wait for a 24 hour period to address their concern, which was life or death) He found them like this: Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked, and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 
But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” Genesis 3:7-10.

This story shouldn’t be new to you if you’ve read anything that I have put out in the last 12 months. I started with Genesis, and to be honest I’ll probably end up ending there as well. You see without this story, we have no foundation no starting point as to why we are here and what the hell happened.

Let’s not pretend. Life is a cluster mess. Why do the innocent suffer? Why are babies born addicted to drugs and alcohol? Why do babies die before they have had a chance to live? Why does the criminal justice system go easy on rapists (Slate.com/news and politics)? But the federal government oppresses minorities for a profit (Smithsonian Magazine)? Why do we live in a world where people will record atrocities happening instead of helping end it (Boston Magazine)?

All these questions and more exist that for the life of me I still don’t understand. But I know why they occur. It’s because sin had entered the world: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Romans 5:12. And like an uncontrollable virus sin tore through our world in such rapid speed, the first child born, Cain, became a murder because he was jealous that someone did right and was acknowledged, and he wasn’t. But he purposefully chooses not to follow the rules, and then you kill someone because they did? How freakishly insane is that?

But that is the world that we live in. And without the beginning, without the origin, the Genesis of it all, we’d have NO idea as to why we are here: And God saw that it [the earth] was good. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” Genesis 1:25-26.

We’re here because the Family Unit known as Elohim created a good world and wanted beings who were made in His image [God is love (1 John 4:8)] to care for it and to give and receive love. To be filled with joy and to grow without restrictions, without pain, without fear. Because we know what fear means: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18.

Adam and Eve were terrified when they sinned, and they should have been. Because look at the mess that we’re in today! But God did not leave them in that state of mind. He came down to address the problem immediately. In fact, the last book of the Bible stated that He had a contingency plan in place just in case they wanted to live life outside of the Covenant (Revelation 13:8). But He created an escape. A way out of this hell hole, so we could finally be whole ourselves: And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Luke 17:19. All it requires is for us to have faith in Him and believe what He said.

He said: Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me…I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1,3. Trust Him. He’s taking care of everything. He may not be here in 24 hours, but know that there isn’t a second that goes by that you’re not on His mind, so your mind can rest at ease.

Day 289

I started the day with a pep in my step. I got to sleep in past 8am, had time to have personal worship, cook breakfast for myself, do a load of laundry, and watch an amazing sermon by Ivor Myers all before my first video-call meeting. I mean I’m on cloud 9, I’m getting my floors professionally cleaned today (I try to do this at least once a year. The grout in tile needs as much help as possible). My hair looks great, the sun is shining, and then something happens. Satan lays a trap, and I almost slide right in. You see a few days ago a friend of mine reached out to me with an issue that she was struggling with. It was a serious situation, one that I had struggled with before. A man from her past was coming back into her present. But it wasn’t a gift from God. This man who she states is the only man that she has ever truly loved, is now married, and misses her.

As I listened to her story, it seemed all too familiar. Because I can see myself in the rearview mirror of life. There was a time that the only man that I had said “I love you” to and heard it repeated (this does not include any platonic heterosexual relationships that I may have had) had searched for me. He missed me, and I desperately missed him. He had married someone else, and had a child with her. His mother had recently died, and my heart yearned to comfort him. But I knew that he belonged to another. So I stayed my course. Then a really good friend of mine told me to reach to him. That he had contacted her stating how much he missed and needed me. And for a moment I couldn’t believe that she would encourage such an idea. I didn’t walk away from that situation, I ran. A few years later, he came into the picture again. He made me feel beautiful. I was desperately lonely and tired of being the “good girl.” Because all it got me was loneliness. I wrestled with God, and I wanted to just give in and be loved. Isn’t that what He created us for, to be loved? His word actually states: Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7.

Sometimes being lonely is glorifying Him. And it’s painful. So when my friend contacted me and told me of this temptation of turning back towards this married man, I was able to share my story with her. I was able to share the word of God with her: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. That God would provide a way of escape, because He loves us. Because the word of God lets us know that: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37.

But then, when I least expect it, today he reaches out again. In a very friendly supportive manner. And I’m caught off guard. And the temptation to reciprocate the kind gesture dances in my mind. He’s so handsome, and it hurts that he’s not mine. But how can I encourage another to tell her to flee from the enemy and draw close to God, if I cannot do it myself. For the word of God tells us: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:6-7. James always knows how to hit it where it hurts. I am double-minded. Because I am saying one thing, but desiring something else. But wanting something doesn’t make you bad, it makes you human. But walking away from what you want if it will hurt you or another person makes you a child of God, called by His name, created to give Him glory.

So, I did the only thing that I had strength to do, I asked a different friend to pray for me too. For this is how we protect ourselves and fulfill the law of Christ: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.” Galatians 6:1-4.

Day 288

A friend of mine sent me a sonogram image of her pregnancy. I was so excited for her because she is finally having a BOY! After two girls she and her husband will be welcoming a son through the grace and guidance of God. I called my mother and told her that my friend was having a boy. We rejoiced over the phone together and then she said something: You’ll probably have 2 boys and a girl!” I immediately scoffed/laughed at her comment. I am as single as the day that I was born with just as many suitors on the day of my birth, zero. I’m nearing my 4th decade in life, and NO ONE is trying to start an entire family when I’m past my prime in life! As I shook my head at my mother’s comment, I felt shame begin to creep into my soul. Did I not think that God could provide me a spouse and 3 healthy pregnancies at my age? Even though science and society state that any pregnancy past 35 years old is considered as a geriatric pregnancy: You may have heard the term “geriatric pregnancy” to describe pregnancy in women over age 35” (National Women’s Health Network). Was I limiting what God can do, because of my present reality?

The short answer is yes. For someone who shouts about having a relationship with God from the mountain tops, I quickly limited what He could do because I haven’t been able to do through my own powers. After my almost guttural scoff/laugh Sarah’s story came to mind. I thought after reading this story dozens of times that I understood it. But it wasn’t until I experienced her disbelief as my disbelief did it become real to me.

Sarah left her home with her husband and followed him all based on the word of God. She was already much older than most women who had families, and she had only her husband. God promised Abraham that He would make him a father of nations: I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2. So if Abraham was going to have children, they would have to come through his wife, right? And so Sarah held this hope close to her heart. As the story continues, several years go by, and a decade has now come and gone, and still no hint of even a missed menstrual cycle. Abraham still believed, and his belief would have to be enough for both of them, for now. Because the promise that God gave was directly to him and not her.

After years of nothing, Sarah decided to take matters into her own hands and pressure her husband to participate in the culture surrounding them. He would sleep with her servant, and that child would become hers through adoption. But stepping outside the will of God never creates a positive outcome. Thirteen more years go by, now it’s been almost 25 years since God made that boisterous claim to Abraham. God tells him again: “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.” Genesis 17:4. And then God does something to solidify the promise in their minds, He changes their name: No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” Genesis 17:5. What’s crazy, is that Abraham only has one son and that his son was a teenager who had no children, so what does God mean by “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations“?

God changed Abraham’s name so that he could live in expectation of the promise being fulfilled because God said it would be done. For it is the Lord who said: so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11. What God said had already happened, it’s just that Abraham had not yet reached the timeline in which it would be fulfilled. But this time when God spoke to His servant, He did not just give a promise to Abraham, He also made one to his wife: And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” Genesis 17:15-16.

Even though God had given that promise more time had gone by and Sarah, with her new name, was still barren and childless. So when God Himself came down to visit them when she was about 89 years old she scoffed/laughed within herself when she overheard the Creator of life say: And He said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.” Genesis 18:10. The next verse tells us that Sarah had entered into menopause and she no longer had any eggs left to fertilize. Her reality did not match God’s and so her reaction was to: Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” Genesis 18:12. Even in her laughter and sadness, was a blade of hope, buried deep within the mounds of time and disappointments, failures and tears.

But for those of you who know the story, she did have her son, and she named him Laughter or the Hebrew equivalent Isaac. But I want to concentrate on the fact that God knew her name. And if He knew her name, He knew the desires of her heart, and if He knew her name and her desires, He knows ours. I pray that you continue to hold onto God and that your Isaac, whatever shape or form it may be, will soon be delivered, at His appointed time.

Day 266

I know, yesterday it was 101 days. Today it’s officially Fall, and 100 days until the end of the year! This has been my longest consistent relationship, we’re 266 days in people! Speaking about relationships, this is a blog about that specific topic. Mostly concentrating on the divine-human relationship, which is often displayed through the interaction of human to human relations. God’s first human pairing was a direct reflection of His relational integrity. Marriage. There’s a show where you meet your spouse at the altar, for the first time. You get matched up by experts and get married. It’s a televised experiment and it is for people who are seeking to find their life partner through an extreme measure. But how extreme is it, in all reality? Arranged marriages have been the norm since the beginning of time. I mentioned the first pair, and they were introduced on their wedding day, by God. But before they met each other, they met and knew God.

And shouldn’t that be the basis of all our relationships? That we know Him? Because if you are searching for that life partner that you can spend forever with, you need to find someone who has forever in them. What do I mean? Jesus told us in John 17:3 that whoever knows God and the Son for themselves, in a relational integrity union, has eternal life. So, if you meet someone that knows God for themselves, and you know God for yourself, you really can have that “forever” type love. And forever is only a long time if you don’t get along. As I watched clips of the show that I mentioned about the spouses meeting the first time at the altar, I cringed at the moments where it was so clear that only one party was trying to make it work. The desperation on their faces, and their concessions on their wants and desires, was so unfair. But they had agreed to sign the marriage documents and pledge their loyalty to the stranger that became their spouse!

I had a discussion with my family last weekend, and brought the idea up to them, in a hypothetical situation. What if… I was to engage in this type of matchmaking process? They flipped out. But what I was most surprised was my baby brother, who is engaged, completely lost it. He said that he would never show up to my wedding if I agreed to marry a complete stranger. I was hurt that he did not feel like he could support me, but as I mulled over the situation, I understood his emotional dissidence. God who is the creator of relationships, would never want to make us be in a relationship with Him without getting to know Him: Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29. Here is an invitation from God, so we could get to know His emotional and caring side. What about this call: “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19. For this invitation, He’s inviting you to become business partners with Him. In the book of Revelation listen to God’s call to having a full and satisfying life in Him: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.” Revelation 22:17. God definitely wants us to get to know Him for ourselves.

There was a second show that I saw clips of, another experiment. This one the couples could not see each other. But they could speak to one another. Thirty singles came to find love. At the end of the process, if you believed that you had found the one your souls desired, then you could ask them to marry you, without ever seeing what they looked like. Talk about more insanity! But as I watched these clips of one couple specifically, you could see their intimacy budding and growing. They began to look forward to their meeting time so that they could communicate one to another. When they first said ‘I love you’, it was with sight unseen. The physical attributes were removed from the equation and the things that make a person a person was revealed and celebrated. When they finally had the chance to see each other, the groom to practically run and grabbed his beloved in his arms. The grasp was so tight, it looked like he would never let her go. I was crying right along with them. It was beautiful. He happened to be white, she was black. Their skin color didn’t matter, because their hearts were one and the same.

One day, we’ll be that woman standing and smiling from ear to ear to see her Groom to be, come running down to sweep us up into a beautiful heavenly environmental forever. Until that breathtaking moment, let’s keep talking and communicating with our God our King, and grow more and more in love with Him every single day.

Day 264

I recently did something that is a bit out of my norm. But the more that I think about it, isn’t life no longer “normal”? I keep wondering will we ever get back to a world where I don’t need a masks in order to go into a place of business? An entire generation will be defined by wearing masks as their norm, everywhere they go. Masks will be in every major life event captured on film (or at least digitally). We’ll have the world pre-COVID and post-COVID. I know of so many pending weddings due to this world changing event that has occurred in 2020. I wondered, could I go ahead and get married if my family could not be there? Would I postpone my life with my future spouse in order that the family of my past be present for my once in a lifetime experience? I don’t know if I could do it? Yet so many couples are having to make that tough decision. Choosing which job to take, which college to attend, which city to move to, should be tough decisions, not “should I get married without my loved ones being there?” That a decision God never wants to make. But He might have to.

The Bible uses the most intimate relationship within the confines of the human experiment (I use this word, because sometimes we get it right and most times we don’t. Life ,that is.) to express the desire God has for us. When a guy sees a girl that he is really into, he does the most out of the box thinking, in order to get her attention. He’ll write poetry, sing songs to serenade her, he’ll even stand outside her bedroom window with an old school boombox over his head, blaring her favorite song (iconic movie clips anyone?). But the whole point is trying to get the attention of the one you can’t imagine spending or doing life without. When I say “doing” life, that is exactly what I mean. From the highs and lows, from a full house to an empty nest, someone where you can explore all the nuances that breathing grants us in this world. Believe it or not, God wants to “do” life with you. It may sound strange, but it’s true.

I come from a culture where storytelling is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. This is how we express ourselves, love, danger, desires. We use other people’s stories, their lives as a mirror to what we want to experience. God also uses this technique. For example the marriage that Hosea the prophet had, was a mirror of God’s relationship with the nation of Israel, who was considered the “Old Testament Church.” Listen to what is written in the second chapter of the book that bears the prophet’s name: I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD.” Hosea 2:19-20.

God wanted the church, the nation, the individual people to know that He loves and desires what’s best for them, more than a husband could ever want, love or desire for his wife. He wants to show us righteousness and justice! I mean a world that is saturated in unrighteousness and surrounded by injustice, this is literal music to my ears. He also said that He wants to show His unfailing love and compassion to us. This unfailing love, is what novels are based upon, what “Happily ever afters” try to portray. For some reason, we as humans are unable to reach this sphere of relational integrity, but our hearts yearn for it; both men and women. He says that He wants to show us compassion. This is like water to my dry and weary soul. I’ve purposefully avoided the news, because of the lack of compassion that is expressed as some type of badge of honor during this political season. I am tired of being berated by unkindness and the “illiteracy of decency” (yes, I’ve coined that phrase) in our world, aren’t you?

But then God finishes that statement with “I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD.” Here, He is saying, that He knows that we are not used to being in a relationship where one person is willing to be faithful to another unto death, but He is telling us, that we can finally experience it. He’s here and dying to be with us. So often people recite the vows on their marriage day “Till death do us part.” But even as they say it, somewhere in their heart, they know that this statement will probably not prove to be true. Not that they don’t want it to, but that people do not know how to see it through. But God does. He says that in that day when we finally realize that He is faithful, and will never walk away from us, that we will FINALLY know Him as our LORD. Or in the context our faithful Spouse.

He declares that: But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33. In the New Testament He declares that: this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” Romans 11:27. This is the God who is faithful towards us. But there are some who will refuse His gesture of love. They will reject His ultimate sacrifice, the one where He spilled His blood for their opportunity to live with Him forever. And a time is coming, when He will stand up as it is written in Daniel chapter 12, and the invitation, the boombox over His head opportunity will be over. And those who have decided to “give the ring back” will not be a part of the celebration that He has been planning since the foundations of this world were first laid.

I know He will be sad, and devastated that they will not be able to join Him and be a part of the festivities of the wedding of an eternal-lifetime. I hope that you keep the ring which is His law written in our hearts. So that one day you and I will be able to see Him face to face and experience His loving compassion like we’ve never experienced anything before. Where life will be anything but the norm, but unfailing love will be the law of the land.

Day 208

Yesterday my baby brother got engaged. Just saying it floors me. I who used to change his diapers, feed him, clothe him and take him to school, now is preparing for marriage! Our other brother and I traveled to accompany him to visit his girlfriend on her birthday. It was a weekend adventure, so she was excited to see all three of us. When she and my baby brother went out for a hike in the afternoon, my other brother and I worked to set up the proposal theme. There were candles and rose petals (about 2000) everywhere. It was a really beautiful scene. After she said yes, my brother and I came out of hiding and celebrated with them by congratulating them and taking a slew of pictures. Next, my baby brother called our parents on a video chat, and what a call that was! My parents flipped out and were so excited. I think I literally saw light shine from my father’s face! Next, it was time to go tell her parents about the wonderful news! So off they went to her parents’ house. To say the atmosphere was completely different is an understatement. When the two of them returned, it was clear that their celebratory mood had been dampened. What could have happened?

The excitement which my parents had shone, even my mother saying “where’s the kiss!?” was far from the emotions that her family had shone towards her. From what I recall, her parents did not even congratulate them. Because my brother is Black (and they are not), her mother was concerned about different diseases that Black people may carry. Those are the first words that come out of your mouth when your daughter says she’s getting married?! Bless the Lord, our family does not carry the disease she was concerned about (although we have others…but don’t ask, we won’t tell…). The news almost came as a shock to them. EXCEPT, my brother and their daughter have been dating for SEVEN (7) YEARS! How did this catch them off guard?! And as I pondered this very anomaly in my mind, I recalled a similar situation that occurred in the Bible.

It was a crisp fall evening in Bethlehem. In a dingy animal hoarding place, also known as a manger, the Savior of the world was being born. The heavenly hosts were searching for anyone that they could share the news with! This was an event that the entire world had been waiting for, for 4000 years! Since God declared the promise in a Garden (Genesis 3:15) so long ago. God had told the father of this very nation of the people who resided in Bethlehem, that “And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:3. And FINALLY, The Blessing was here. But as the heavenly hosts searched, they could find no one in the heart of the temple, where the sacred writings of this very event had been foretold, who was evening thinking about the Messiah. Unfortunately, no one in Herod’s palace was looking forward to the King of kings, The Anointed of God, who would “take away the sin of the world” John 1:29.

But…”And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Luke 2:8. They were discussing the coming of the ONE in whom would deliver God’s people. The ONE whom the scriptures stated: As a result of the anguish of His soul, He shall see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge [of what He has accomplished] the Righteous One, My Servant, shall justify the many [making them righteous—upright before God, in right standing with Him], For He shall bear [the responsibility for] their sins.” Isaiah 53:11. He would reconcile the human race to God, and we shall forever be with Him! These lowly shepherds were highly favored in the eyes of heaven, and so: the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”(!) Luke 2:9-11.

The very ones who had the oracles of God did not receive the blessings that those who had opened their heart to receive love and truth. Later on, in the same chapter of Luke chapter 2, those oracle keepers had another opportunity to witness God in the flesh for themselves. As was their custom, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to be circumcised on the 8th day. And when the priest held Jesus in his arms, he did not recognize that the CREATOR of the universe had subjected Himself to become a baby and to save him from his sins. No, instead he took Jesus in his arms, notated the name, and handed God back to the caretakers. How terribly sad. He missed THE opportunity to celebrate with all of heaven.

The coming of the Messiah, which had been foretold for over 4000 years caught them off guard, and they missed Jesus. But there were still two others who were in the temple, an elder man and an elder woman by the names of Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit dwelt within them and whispered in their hearts “Here He is. The I AM THAT I AM.” And right there, in the middle of everything, they took Jesus in their arms. They did not miss Him, and they blessed the name of the Lord and celebrated with all of heaven. That God had come.

Jesus will soon come again. Not as a helpless babe. But as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). He will come in the clouds with that same heavenly host who had celebrated His birth. This time they will celebrate His gathering of those who He had come to be born and die for. He will not touch this earth during His second coming, but He will gather all those who are waiting for Him, so we can all celebrate together and be in His arms. I just pray, that we don’t get caught off guard, and miss our chance to celebrate. I hope that we don’t miss Jesus, again.

Day 108

During a time when distancing has become the norm, we must fight even harder not remain distant. Separation is difficult in so many aspects and has a way of harming the human psyche. The worst type of separation is a personal and familial loss. Tonight I want to talk about an entire chapter dedicated to the Lost and how God deals with distancing, separation, and loss. Luke chapter 15 discusses three different stories about loss: the sheep, coin, and son. Out of all the possibilities of things that could get lost, why did Jesus choose these 3? Tonight we will take a look at two of them, to see why these were so important He used them to illustrate His love for us.

The Sheep – This is the first of three stories. Being in an agrarian society, this story hits home for the people in Jesus’ day. As the farm owner counts his sheep, he realizes that one of them is missing. He recounts just to make sure, but his first count was accurate. Now having 100 sheep meant that this was a wealthy landowner. And he must have had servants that could go and find that one lost sheep. But in this story, the Owner was also the Shepherd of His sheep, and He knew each one by name, and they knew His voice. And even though it’s late and dark out in the wilderness, He locks the other sheep in, and He takes off after the one.

In John chapter 10 Jesus explains that He has His “sheep” or children everywhere, and that they know His voice, and that He is willing to die for them (John 10:15,16). When He finds the sheep, lost and confused, He doesn’t scold it for wondering off. No, instead Jesus says: And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he gets home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’” Luke 15:5,6. Jesus ends the story by comparing the celebration to one that happens in heaven with the angels when ONE lost soul is found and gives their life to the Shepherd, which David speaks about in Psalm 23.

The Coin – This story has so many dimensions to it. Let’s talk about one of them, the relationship between husband and wife. During the first century Palestinian life, a husband would give his wife a valuable gift to be worn on her wedding day. This he would know she accepted his proposal and it would be included as part of her dowery. Many times the gift would consist of jewelry, a set of priceless heirlooms to be passed on to their children. In this story, the woman had lost a piece to her wedding headdress, which made it lose its value. Without the missing coin, she could never make her wedding present complete. It was also an insult to her husband and his name if she could lose a portion of the wedding token. It could be seen as a woman in the 21st century losing a diamond on her engagement ring, that belonged to her dead husband’s grandmother. So as Jesus tells the story, the women probably wrapped their shawls round them, shuttering at the thought. Some may have even experienced that very same incident. The shame and anger that happened in the home, was something no wife would ever want to go through. The men may have nodded their heads in agreement when they heard how desperate the woman was to find that lost coin.

Can you imaging the sigh of relief when the woman finally found the coin? Everyone in the audience probably released the breath that they were holding in. When Jesus said that the woman called all her neighbors to come and celebrate with her, they all understood. Yes, this was indeed a time for a celebration! A priceless family heirloom had been found, and it didn’t even know it was lost. Jesus ends that story again with the reality of the kingdom of God, and how there is a huge celebration when only ONE person repents and chooses life in God. Heaven breaks out in joy and singing! Because someone has turned their life around.

God loves us so much, He tells us when we feel at our worse, or when we think that we are too lost to save, He says: Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.” Isaiah 59:1. The word of God says that when we are in trouble, to call on Him: But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them.” 2 Chronicles 15:4. And when we’re too beat up (emotionally or spiritually) He said that He will come and find us, because He is never too far away: The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Ps. 34:17,18.

Amen.

Day 67

Often times in the Bible we hear stories of women whose husbands were great, and they were by their husband’s side. More often than naught we do do not know the names of these women, but we know the children that they bear. But there is one woman I would like to talk about whose first husband was just as foolish as she was wise. Her name means “a father’s joy” in Hebrew, her name is Abigail, and she was beautiful and wise (1 Samuel 25:3).

Abigail lived in the time of Isreal’s first monarch (you can read about how they rejected God as their leader and requested a man to be at their head in Day 66). The prophet and judge that had spoken to God on their behalf and who God had spoken to had recently died. The voice of reason and hope had seemed to die with him. But God did not allow His manservant to pass onto earthly rest before he had a chance to anoint someone after the heart of God or someone God could see Himself in. It had been thousands of years since Elohim had spoken those words to create mankind in His image, which is other-centered love. And it had been so long since He had actually seen His image reflected in His creation. But there was one. And when individuals saw him, they thought little of this shepherd boy, but oh! how mighty he was in the eyes of God. There were others that passed before the solemn prophet to be considered for kingship, however, God told Samuel: But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

After David, the man after God’s heart was anointed, he did not sit on the throne for at least a decade. There was another king, Saul, at that time who desired to kill David (read about in 1 Samuel 20) mostly due to insanity and unmerited jealousy. But David was on the run and hid in caves to avoid being caught in Saul’s nightmarish vision for his future. After the death of Samuel, David heard that an extremely wealthy man, Nabal, had left his household unattended to go and sheer sheep in the desert. David knew that Nabal’s family and property were exposed and at risk, so he protected it for him until he returned from sheering his sheep (this story is found in 1 Samuel 25).

As customary after such a selfless thing was done, David sent some of his young warriors to let Nabal know of the kindness that was shown to his family and property, and asked if there was anything Nabal could give to David and his men out of gratitude. Nabal’s response was rude and inflammatory in nature. Everyone in the country knew that Saul was chasing David and that David was a man on the run. Everyone also knew that David was the mightiest of warriors and should not be messed with. But for some reason, this man insulted David and sent the warriors empty and grieved in spirit. Because what self-respecting warrior chooses to beg for food.

When David heard what Nabal had said his reaction was, well: And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.” 1 Samuel 25:13. Now David’s men are notated in the Bible as “David’s Mighty Men” because they were no joke. These are the guys that could run with Alexander the Great any day of the week: Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.” 1 Chronicles 11:10-11. I don’t know how you wield a spear and kill 300 men at one time, but this guy did it. And he was only ONE of the four hundred men that David saddled up with on their way to Nabal.

Certain death was coming to Nabal that night, for his foolish and selfish nature. But he was married to a woman named Abigail. When she was told what had happened she took immediate action: Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. And she said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.” 1 Samuel 25:18-20.

This woman who is called her father’s joy was married to a man whose very actions had signed her death warrant. And for about 6 verses (you can read here) Abigail uses her wisdom and grace to turn the wrath of a very vengeful and angry man whose pride had been attacked. She absorbs the stupidity of her husband’s words and shared words of humility and wisdom to David. And David who had said that he would kill every male in her household (vs 22), now repents of the evil he had desired to do just moments before, all because of the wisdom, demeanor, and grace of the woman Abigail. Abigail intercedes on behalf of her husband (which the text continues to call a foolish, dum, insolent man) with her words: Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.” 1 Samuel 25: 28. And here she truly reflects the heart of God. In Ezekiel chapter 22, God cries out looking for someone to stand in the gap for those who are foolish within the land, but He found no one. This story is different. Here in the man who had the heart of God, meets the woman who embodied God’s character.

And here is what David had to say in praise of her: And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.” 1 Samuel 25: 32-35.

The voice of a wise woman brings joy (Abigail) to her household, but also peace and in this story life. Who would have thought that your words, your actions on behalf of others could literally save their lives, even without them knowing, as was this case for Nabal? Has God called you to stand in the gap? I believe so. I pray you to answer His call, maybe your actions could save a life too.