Bon Appetit

So what do you consume on a daily basis? Do you start your day with Spiritual food or worldly food? Both are necessary for the body; one nourishes and the other cleanses! Say for instance, you may have eggs, bacon and pancakes for breakfast. Perhaps some of you may have a bowl of cereal or a donut and some orange juice. Lunch could consist of McDonald's, or Wendy's or White Castle if you live in the Midwest!
Dinner could be a frozen pizza, spaghetti, or a lean cuisine!

I do not own the right to this image

We are all aware, by now, that today's foods contain preservatives, additives and chemicals that are harmful to the body! However, we all are not created the same! You could have a high metabolism and maintain your same weight; no matter what you eat; being totally oblivious to the damage it is doing internally! Others have developed hypertension, diabetes, or obesity  from their poor diets - yet they still consume the very foods causing the damage!

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding,alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV)

Spiritual food consists of reading the bible, praying, and unselfishly giving to others! It cleanses internally all of the junk (envy, hate, worry, jealousy, etc), that causes blockage also! The fruit we consume is sweet, low in calories; and contains essential vitamins that keep the internal organs healthy! The Fruit of the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control [Galatians 5:22-23 ESV]); cleanses all unrighteousness down to the core so righteousness and right living overtakes it and gives it a new way of living; healthy, whole and perfect in Christ!

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 ESV )

Who AM I?

Every year, the month of February is dedicated to Black History! Each time we read a story, whether it is a praise story or a story of remorse and pain; it still brings back to memory the stories of many who suffered tragic losses!

Jesus sat with the unloved: the prostitutes, tax collectors (hustlers), and gamblers!

I do not own the rights to this photo!

So many questions unanswered and mysteries still not solved! It truly pains us to not have a firm foundation in our heritage to understand our beginning so we can have a strong finish! We are all trying to secure our identity and still there are missing pieces to the puzzle! Who am I, is the question many ask themselves!

Robert Smalls, an unsung hero who stole a ship and freed many slaves and his

family! http://www.biography.com/news/black-history-unsung-heroes-robert-smalls-facts

If we uncover the flesh, no one would be able to identify what color you are, because underneath we are all created the same! So why then did God make us all different on the outside? That’s the challenge faced in biblical days and today! Now listen and listen closely, it is to see where your “heart” is!

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. (Matthew 6:21 KJV)

Slave Family on South Carolina plantation!

Your treasure could be the love of money and power, or it could be control! Many feel God created only one race and want to eliminate all of those unlike them; like Paul who imprisoned and killed Christians because he was doing it from a religious view point. Read Acts Chapter 9! God created you and knew who and what He created and said, “It is good”! But the biggest affliction in this world stems back to how many seek prestige and power on earth that weakens the Spirit and gives power to destruction!

Are you of the world (Satan's domain) or are you of the Spirit (Heaven bound)?

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26-27 KJV)

That is your identity!

ONE WAY!

"Give"! It Will Return!

There are five of us children, whom were all born in late 1950's and early 1960's! During that time, things were not that expensive. A four bedroom, two bath home sold for approx. $28K, candy was sold for a penny a piece, glass bottled pop was .05 cents and if you returned your bottle you received a .05 cent deposit - so it was free! I'll stop there because I can go on and on of how reasonable supplies and products were back then - even with five children. 

All five of us during 4th of July about 8 years ago!

A brief history about our Mother: She was born in 1937 during the depression and although it was coming to an end when she was old enough to understand it, she experienced hunger, rejection, and lack! It did scar her, but it did not keep her heart hard, harsh or sharp! She was an only child of an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Minister, so she was also deeply rooted and grounded in the Word! Her parents divorced when she was 14yrs old; whereas, she went to live with her maternal Grandparents in a small Indiana town named Hanover, IN. She graduated from High School there and met and married our Father. 

Our loving Mother today!

As mentioned above, they have five children who are blessed and receive God's blessings because of her. I can recall at Christmas each one of us getting everything on our wish list; unless the item was unavailable or sold out! We had nice birthdays, all of us had our own bicycles that were brand new and we always had plenty of food on the table, nice warm beds to sleep in and a nice home to relax and have friends and family over. As children we were not aware that our Mother, every Christmas understood what it is to be blessed, so she would bless another child or family without any of us knowing she was doing so. 

When Wal-Mart was established, she would take a a name or two off the tree to purchase another child's wish; and did this for years. The only way we found out she was doing this was one of her co-workers told us that she did not want to exchange gifts. She spoke up and said, "We all are so blessed! The money we were going to use on each other, put it in a box and take some names off the tree and bless other children who are not so fortunate"! They loved the idea and said they enjoyed it so much they did it every year. 

A few of us during Christmas! Not all five of us were able to get home and the grandbabies!

It should not have surprised us because even to this day, she is a giving and loving Mother, friend, and neighbor. She is always looking to help someone. She attends bingo twice a week and when she wins big, she sends money to Gleaners to help them purchase food for the needy or seeks out someone; including her own children in need to bless! The bible says: 

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4 NIV)

We build up our rewards in Heaven as the scriptures says, which are handed down to several generations. What does those rewards look like, favor, protection, promotions, good health and wholeness, prosperity in every area of your life. Now the world views rewards as material things that soon decay and return to dust; because they have no lasting value! 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV)

Therefore your giving does not go unnoticed nor does it return to you void!  

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38 AMP) 

The Dating Game!

How do you treat your spouse at home? Do you treat him/her with contempt, disgust, or rudeness? Do you take all of your frustrations out on him/her after you treated a stranger, who just cussed you out for accidentally bumping into them, with respect? Or do you ignore them; expect them to console you after a bad day?  Do you enter the door being very obnoxious and expect empathy?

Think back when you two first met. The man would send flowers and dine the young lady and the young lady was overtly sweet and kind. You treated each other with respect and would find ways to keep the peace and prosper the relationship. You truly worked at making the relationship work! What changed?

Pride, arrogance, they have become insignificant to you, or it could be you have adopted the world’s view of what a relationship is! The world (Satan’s domain) views it as: It should not be in agreement, arguing is normal, and looking down on your spouse, allowing someone else to put them down in your presence is acceptable; and in constant search of something better! When you do seek out the “idea” man/woman that you feel is the best ever, you’re still not content!

Once again, recall when you first laid eyes on that special someone! What were you feeling? Were you fearful, confident, in doubt? You were probably not overly confident; because you did not know how the other person would receive you!

Since the young man approaches the young lady; most men are in a panic stage. His heart is racing, his palms are sweaty, and his mouth is so dry, he feels as if his tongue weighs about 2 lbs. Rejection hurts; so what if he gets rejected? Then what? Well he attempts it anyway! This time, the beautiful woman he sought after, receives him with open arms! It could be consciously or subconsciously, he asked God to give him the courage and ability to impress her and keep her in his life!

Now, I have your attention! You called on God to help you and when He did, you received what you wanted. After the marriage, you stepped away from God (You ignored the fact you asked God for help or you felt you didn’t need Him from this point forward)! Whatever the scenario; the relationship is failing miserably! You are putting the blame on the other person; and refusing to take responsibility for your own actions – Remember there are two people in a relationship – well three! That’s what changed!

Put God back into the relationship, keep God in the relationship; and you will have success after success in it! 

5 You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [essentially and forever].

6 No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].

7 Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous.

8[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. (I John 3:5-8 AMPC)

Guide Me!

Receive Christ Today!

NO YOU DID NOT!

“Wow”, I wish my husband was here to hear this sermon”! I’m smiling very big now because I have said this about family members too, whom I felt needed to make a change in their life; not knowing the sermon was for me! Only God has the power and ability to change someone; yet we still continue to point the finger not realizing that when we point one finger ten are pointing back at us!

I do not own the rights to this photo!

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? ⁴ How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3-4 NLT)

When we don’t see our own faults; we are in denial! None of us enjoy hearing about the things wrong with us or things that need to be removed out of our lives!

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John15:2 NIV)

So how many of you are saying, “What in the world is she talking about”? Are you sure you want to know? Because if I tell you and you get offended, guess what; you are in denial of the things that need to be removed from your life! Anyway, I’m going to proceed with our many faults!

You have a bad memory! If that person would quit bothering you, you would get your work done! Quit washing your hands in the kitchen sink; and then you do it! Expecting more out your spouse to do around the house and you sit back and dictate as if you do not live there or make messes yourself! Viewing others who are in a bad mood as being rude; yet you wake up and go to bed moody!  Or self-loathing – I’m fat, I have thin hair, my teeth are crooked, I don’t like her because she is not nice to me! In all actuality, you are blessed beyond measure! – This is the last example that many people don’t see themselves do, but we all have done it some time or another! Swearing at someone driving who cuts in front of you and just a few minutes back you did the same thing and said in a sarcastic way, “Sorry” and kept going!

Don't view the above as insignificant; whereas, they are a hindrance to your growth! It's the little things that add up and eventually become a huge stumbling block to producing good things!

5 “The little foxes are ruining the vineyards. Catch them, for the grapes are all in blossom. (Song of Solomon 2:15 TLB)

As a Christian, you are to be a light among dark places. So if you see someone cutting in front of you on the highway, slow down and let them in. In about a few short miles you realize you almost passed your exit and quickly swerve in front of someone so you can get to your destination – believe it or not, they slowed down so you can get in and did not become angry! If you truly think about it, your actions could have been fatal to many people; but because someone showed you kindness by their actions, it kept the “peace”!

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NIV)

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation."Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:12-18 NIV)