National Prayer Day!

 Today is  National Prayer Day!

Prayer is so powerful. I love the scripture in the Book of Daniel 10:10-14 AMPC where Daniel prayed after a vision he had that disturbed him, so he got on his knees and prayed. The Angel said to Him, and I am paraphrasing, “Daniel, beloved man of God, as soon as you prayed, I was sent, but demons surrounded you. So I had to call for backup; the Celestial Angel Michael to help me. It took them 21 days to remove all the evil spirits so they could talk to Daniel and comfort him about the vision he had. 

Daniel 10:10-14 AMPC 

10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me unsteadily on my hands and knees. 11 So he said to me, “O Daniel, you highly regarded and greatly beloved man, understand the words that I am about to say to you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision is in regard to the days yet to come.”

When we pray God hears us and immediately Angels are sent to comfort us! Pray is important to receive help and guidance. Don’t ever discount the power of prayer. 

Daily prayer brings many blessings. Our world is in need of prayer and blessings! I pray God blesses you and your household with peace, love, and deliverance from anything that is hindering you from receiving God’s love!

What the World needs now is LOVE!

Love does not pick someone apart, it puts them back together with words of encouragement, being kind and doing nice things, even when they haven’t been kind to you, and forgiving a deep hurt that can leave you with malice in your heart - which causes you to hurt others!

I Corinthians 13:4-7 AMPC 

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Who spots your weights for you?

What does being well-balanced mean? I will give you a visual first. Those who lift weights usually make sure they are equal weights. If one is heavier than the other, something in your body, arms or legs will carrying more strain than the other. 

These weights equal in size and pounds! I
know, I start out small! 

That’s how we can become in our everyday living. We either do too much and are always constantly complaining about being tired and worn out; or choose to be lazy and despondent and complain you’re tired of people always telling you to get up and do something with your life. Either way, there is no peace!

 

Peace is what keeps us in balance, if there is no peace, there is no Liberty; and it keeps Satan from attacking us in our body and our thoughts. I know you are asking; “How can I have Peace? 

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Make sure you are getting plenty of rest. When we are tired, it opens the door for Satan’s attack on our lives; sickness, irritability, cloudy thinking and other things that can distract us from God. 

2. Keep your life simple. We complicate life by selfish desires over needs, that can cause stress in your finances. 

3. Make time for fun. Laughter reduces stress. 

4. Share the work load at home and at work. Make sure everyone in the house helps out, especially single Mothers. “Teach” your children how to do things around the house to help learn how to cook, clean, and do laundry, and learning responsibilities they will have anyway when they become an adult. It also teaches them to prioritize to do what is important first and develop an organized mind, as well as an organized and peaceful home.

5. Have a healthy diet of fruits, fresh vegetables, lean meats, and plenty of water, along with a steady routine of exercise at least three days a week. A healthy diet and exercise keeps us alert in our thinking, and it strengthens our body, inside and outside to be more mobile, increases our oxygen level, and increases our bone density.

 

6. Surround yourself with Divine friends. Divine friends live righteous and are encouragers. 

 

7. The most important of all – Establish a relationship with Jesus, and that happens through reading and studying the Bible. Serve Him with enthusiasm and joy, with a will to want to. Once you do, you will learn what is required of you to have a well-balanced, healthy, happy, and prosperous life in all areas of your life - such as good health in your body, right thinking, right living, disciplined in spending, good parenting, good marriage, Divine friendships, good mental health and much more).  

 

Don’t forget to pray about everything and Thank God for everything. 

I Peter 5:6-11 AMP 

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, 7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.] 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. 11 To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen. 

Are you Heaven bound?

We only have a glimpse of what Heaven is like and won't know who resides there, until you reach your final destination. Those who enter into Heaven will not be surprised; whereas, they know the heart of God; however, those who do not have a relationship with God can't fathom that God loves ALL people, not just one race! In the Bible, these mighty men and women who walked on this Earth, even Jesus himself were of African descent. Where Jesus lived, walked, taught, and performed miracles were all cities that originated in Africa and those who inhabited the country were people with dark skin and woolly hair. When you read the Bible, Moses' wife was a Cushite (Numbers 12:1) which is Ethiopian, and when Mariam and Aaron was offended by this, Mariam became leprous because of their disrespect towards Moses. Job even says in Job 30:30 that his skin falls from him in blackened flakes. 

In African deserts, no one could survive the heat and sun without being of color. Dark skin has high amounts of melanin that protects our skin from the UV rays of the sun to keep us from burning from exposures to the sun. Long exposure can damage anyone's skin, but that's why many Africans wear light colors of clothing that reflects sun rays. The wooly curly hair is also for a purpose. Oil burns in heat, so if our hair is oily, the sun would scorch the scalp and the hair needs to be dry to protect it also from the sun. 

My oldest Granddaughter at age 3 in her natural hair.
She is Mulato. 

Now today, we are trying to be accepted in White America because they don’t like how we look by straightening our hair with chemicals that damage our hair and scalp overtime. Therefore, we have caused much pain and discomfort and may I add, not being true to who God created us to be. God already accepts us as we are - and loves us as we are!

II Corinthians 12:8-10 AMPC 

8 Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me;

9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

10 So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

Today we are being natural and going back to our origin and roots and here comes that evil Spirit in people firing blacks from jobs, kicking them off sports teams, and also out of schools because of only one thing - their natural hair. 

You can see the Northern part of Africa on this map in Biblical Days.
Judea is the North of Egypt and Ethiopia is just south of Egypt not shown 
in this picture. 

The names of these mighty men, women, the Israelites, the Jews, and those not so mighty were and still to this day are African names, cities, and Countries. I have heard so many people say when reading the Bible, they can’t pronounce these names in the Bible, so they pick and choose what they read. Well these names are African names and you don’t speak the language - nor do I. But “our” God will tell you how to pronounce them and what they mean in the original origin and ethnicity - be ready to receive truth! You have not because you ask not. 

I see movies portrayed of Biblical events or rather glanced at them. I can’t watch things that speculate events. No one was there and can portray the emotions, how the people truly dressed, their homes, and other ways the people lived accurately because they weren’t there. The truth is coming out thousands of years later from the finding of graves that these people in Biblical days are brown and black people. I have known this as a teenager, and it puzzled me why so many white churches in my home town didn’t want me in their church. I sorta laughed at their rejection; because, I said to myself, the Jesus you are preaching about is black so obviously you are living and preaching false doctrine. Scripture tells us that you will know them by the fruit they produce and not many churches around here are fruitful, because they lack one thing - Love for ALL people. 

My oldest Granddaughter at about 10 years old in this
picture with her hair relaxed. She is 14 now.

I can’t point the finger at too many people; whereas, if they would read and study their Bible, more people would know the truth. The majority of people only read what they want to read, and ignore the rest. ALL of the Bible is for our benefit and instructions. From Adam and Eve all the way to Jesus. All those who wrote the Bible and beyond, were men and women of color.

Jesus has showed up in our lives in precedent ways, and the more the world does everything to destroy us, God multiplies us, promotes us, and has made sure we are making a difference in this world one black man and one black women at a time. The more they oppress us, the more God exalts us. Scripture tells us that God knows what is going on everywhere. He sees all and hears all. (Proverbs 15:3; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Nothing is a surprise to Him. It also says, He exalts one and puts down another. (Psalm 75:6-7)

However, this is where lack of knowledge prevails. All the great men and women of the Bible were black (again the sun rays of Africa were intense) but God knows what color we are, He created us and calls us His children. He doesn’t differentiate between color, education, money, and material possessions. He ONLY looks at the heart. 

This scripture says:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 AMPC 

23 Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] riches;

24 But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

There won’t be one race, but the Human race in Heaven of those who honor God and loves others in sincerity and in Truth. He don’t separate and divide, that is Satan. 

His Word also says in II Timothy 2:15 AMPC: 

15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

Correctly, accurately and ashamed are words that carry weight to me in the above scripture. It’s easy to be deceived if you don’t study the Bible; whereas, the more you spend time with God, the more He reveals His secrets and mysteries. Not everyone that preaches is anointed to preach; by the way, if you don't know the Word, you definitely won't know if your pastor is teaching truth or not. Satan knows Scripture in the Bible too. He recited verses  from the Bible to Jesus when the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted and tried. (Matthew 4) 

That’s why there is a separation and division among people who do not want to spend time with a God of love for us ALL, and a God who is Just and Righteous! 

I was praying one time and asked God why does the world hate us so much just because we are black, and He said, they hated Me too; but Satan is a defeated foe! Everywhere Jesus went the Pharisees and kings who felt they were more educated, wealthy, and scholars of the Bible than Jesus were trying to kill Him before it was His time to be crucified on the Cross. Many were offended and wondered where He received the authority (Matthew 7:29) to teach and preach as He did. Jesus also performed many miracles that the Pharisees and other church leaders were not able to do; therefore, Jesus drew many people from miles around to come hear Him teach as well as get healed of their afflictions. 

God is giving us time to get it right; but those who reject His children (poor, black, white, addicted, etc.) He will reject them. Jesus died for ALL who believe!

We who know your voice will harken to it; because your sheep know your voice and will follow you Wholeheartedly! 

Don't let your "Well" - ness run dry!

If someone secretly recorded you of your behavior and showed you what it’s like living with someone deeply hurt but don’t see it; and how it is not just damaging to you, but is damaging to those around you, how would you receive that? Would you be willing to work on your spiritual and mental well-being or would you go deeper into a pit of destruction with denial? 

Overlooking the Ohio River that flows into the
Mississippi River into the Atlantic Ocean from
the Gulf of Mexico.

Becoming defensive is another form of denial. It is not God’s way of how to improve your well-being; but it is human nature to think you are protecting yourself from more harm by pushing away unwanted counseling, help, and love that others want to give you; as well as God who knocks gently at your door and receives no answer. 

Revelation 3:17-22 AMPC

17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

18 Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.

19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.

21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.

22 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

No one can heal themselves; although we think we are able to by removing unwanted people and events that have hurt us in the past; however, we don’t welcome the good that we need. So your actually stagnant. There is no movement in the right direction to clear all the stink and junk that is harming you - and keeps you shackled to the past.

 

It’s like a creek that flows into a river, and a river flows into another river that flows into an ocean. If the water is constantly moving in the right direction their are good things that happen, and it carries with it the unwanted things; but in the end it washes away the negative things overtime. Creeks however, that become stagnant from lack of rain, develop a horrible odor, and the water, without movement, will become contaminated.

A small creek that runs over a cliff into 
the Ohio River during rainy seasons.

Many of us complain about rain. We hear things like, "It's an ugly rainy day", or "I wish this rain would go away", or "Be careful out there, it's a nasty day out"! When I hear those things, it hurts my heart deeply; whereas, rain washes away everything and fresh water cleanses all things. It’s good medicine for the creeks and rivers that keeps movement flowing and it helps cleanse the water from diseases that can endanger the fish and other wildlife that rely on the creek for food and water to drink. It also keeps our trees, wildlife, flowers, and grass looking vibrant, beautiful and healthy - in addition it replenishes our own water supply for us for drinking, showering, and swimming in - among other things.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 AMPC

5 Thus says the Lord: Cursed [with great evil] is the strong man who trusts in and relies on frail man, making weak [human] flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like a shrub or a person naked and destitute in the desert; and he shall not see any good come, but shall dwell in the parched places in the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

7 [Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.

8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?

10 I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

Believe it or not, growth spiritually, physically, and mentally, with the help of Jesus, overtime will heal your past hurt and pain and get rid of what you keep holding on to that is contaminating your mental and spiritual health. Without movement in the “right” direction and cleansing of all unrighteousness, growth is null and void. John said, I baptize you with water, which is the symbol of cleansing, but Jesus baptizes with the gift of the Holy Spirit that lives in your heart forever.

Matthew 3:11 AMPC 

11 I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Count the Cost of "What" you Eat!

Being Healthy starts in the mind, and then moves to the body. Recently I was watching a documentary that said, Americans work 47 hours more a week than any other country; in addition, we are the most obese, addicted, in debt, and stressed out country overall. There are many factors as to why this is so; however, the majority of us live above our means, and complicate life ourselves by being overzealous of what others have, so we strive to have it also by working long hours, or perhaps two jobs – for our kids and ourselves. With this in mind, we are already unhealthy in our thinking that will transpire to our physical well-being.

Fresh Herbs, such as this mint leaf,  provides natural oils, vitamins, and 

  antioxidants the body needs to fight off germs and boost your immune 

  system.

6Proverbs 23:6-7 AMP 

6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;
7 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates].
He says to you, “Eat and drink,”
Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].

Health plays a major factor in what you can and cannot do, along with our habits and choices we make on a daily basis. For example: Many people who smoke cigarettes over a long period of time will damage their lungs and shrink their arteries that can result in a heart attack. Some along the journey will also develop COPD – unless they quit early enough to counteract the damage. It also affects and infects those around you because they are inhaling the damaging effects smoking causes.  

It clearly has a “WARNING” on the package of cigarettes of what damage it can do to your body, and you read it; but in your mind, you believe you are exempt - and choose to indulge in smoking regardless of the outcome. Not mentioning the ongoing doctor visits, the doctor bills, and the medication that comes with keeping you alive or at least stable enough to be mobile and moveable. 

Proverbs 12:15 AMPC 

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise.

Now there are unforeseen things we can’t see that goes on inside our bodies from other debilitating habits. You could be someone who eats fast food at least 3 times a week or more, drinking caffeinated sodas, and supply your pantry with Little Debbie cakes, any kind of potato chips, or something easy to grab; but again, it is not healthy for the body or teeth.  

None of us that practice any bad eating habits can blame no one when the scales show you have gained weight and you can’t figure out what happened in a month’s time; not mentioning buying new clothes to fit your body so you can camouflage the excess bulge you carry around. And may I add, your dental and doctor visits will not be good either. 

Read the labels so you are aware of 

the sugar and sodium contents. 

Proverbs 15:10 AMPC

10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes God’s way; and he who hates reproof will die [physically, morally, and spiritually].

This is not about being thin; because we are all unique in our body’s makeup. It is about being healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. Yes I have written about this several times before; but God is putting it on my heart to write about it again. Obviously, we are not listening. God wants to bless you, and you obviously want to be blessed, but it begins with the right attitude and you putting in the work! Nothing is hard, unless we resist it! Resisting any type of Wisdom results in a prideful and arrogant attitude that blocks good from getting to you. You have all the answers; but your life clearly shows it is not producing good things. Let’s turn that thinking around and become Victorious, which says, I can do ALL things with God, who strengthens me. With Him, you rise to the top, without Him,    you fall and sometimes it’s fast and furious! 

I’m not sure about you, but it is worth the effort to focus on what my food intake is that I am putting in my body to have a quality of life after I am retired. I also want to briefly mention, I was on the road of falling apart; but I confided in God and ask Him to help me. If you are not ready to change, then don’t bother asking God; because you must be committed and obedient. You can’t allow that inner voice or a friend to say; “Oh it won’t hurt to eat one cookie”.  Well one cookie becomes a dozen. It’s either do or do not, there is not in between. 

It is possible to have good health at any age; but most people view getting old as falling apart, broke down, and ready for the glue factory - an old cliché I have heard from my Mother. No we all are not going to live forever, and our body will slow down due to age; however, it doesn’t have to be at the expense of neglect and abuse to our bodies that causes more of the problem than “Gracefully” growing old. 

James 2:14-24 AMPC

4 What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,

16 And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?

17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

18 But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!

20 Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?

21 Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac?

22 You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.

23 And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God’s will in thought and deed), and he was called God’s friend.

24 You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].

Fresh fruit supplies many vitamins, antioxidants
and natural sugars your body needs to stay healthy!

If you haven’t already, begin today being mindful of what it is you do to keep your life out of balance, physically, mentally, and spiritually. They all go hand in hand. Just a little advice, “Keep life simple!” You will find you are happier, healthier, and content! Nothing is impossible when you lean on the Lord!