Celebration

Lord as I move closer to my eternal meeting with you there deep in my soul is the question of why I accepted your way of life. Looking back over my life (at least my adulthood in Christianity) there are times when choosing your way has been very challenging. There are many occasions where I was under the illusion that I failed you in many ways. The choices I’ve made and continue to make away from you actually confirm why choosing you is about love.
When I began to follow your ways and become disciplined in you there was a religious tone that set the bar as to who I was and what I was suppose to do. I was kind of white knuckling it in order to feel safe regarding your wrath when you return to claim what is yours. The dogmas and rituals that saturated my worship continued to hold me captive to the very thing you died for. How pleasing it may have been for man and others, but it was a lie rooted in death. (1 Corinthians 15:56). I asked myself why I did not choose to follow the teachings of Muhammad, or Buddha, or the rituals of the orthodox Jews. Why I am not compelled towards them. I have a respect and I admire the dedication and affection of those who follow these faiths with a genuine heart. But there was still something about them and there rituals that continued to bind there followers. There in that question continue to remain until one afternoon back in 2009 I was reading in the book or Revelation in the seventh chapter starting in the ninth verse this piece.

It says “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength are to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, or any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Today my choice is not to become religious that I miss the opportunity to celebrate you Lord Jesus . You are the risen Christ. For the very spirit that compelled me to a life away from you presented the opportunity for me to witness the love of God the Father inspite of myself. Without you there is no celebration that can exist unto your glory. For you are the celebration. I thank God for putting himself on the cross in the form of His son you Lord on my behalf. We didn’t put you on the cross God the Father did. He knew that the only way we can be redeemed to our eternal destiny with Him was with a pure sacrifice that only you could have provided. Make no mistake I admire those whose follow there religious convictions but there are no celebration without you Jesus because your is Lord... Amen

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. 1 Corinthians 4:5

Precious

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3
One of the most precious gifts given to me was my son Emmanuel. While I created this image I was moved greatly on how valuable he is to me. As I negotiated this statement there has been some challenges that are before me that need to be addressed in order to line up with your will Lord. The two thousand mile separation offers the greatest challenge concerning our relationship. Financially I have failed to meet my responsibility concerning his care.
As men we all have challenges when it comes to will of God concerning our children. We are inclined naturally to take a position as head for it is instinctive of us to do so. Lord encourages me through your word and Spirit to see past myself in order to present your glory to Emmanuel. Help me to imagine your way and not the way of the community, nation and world concerning my son. . Our culture has moved the image of father to the back burner with it’s misconception of the role of the father. Help us Lord to overcome the deadbeat and worthless spirit associated with fatherhood in the African American and American culture. Lord we know that with force concerning the financial and custodial arrangements will encourage failure and eventually great challenges.

Lord I pray your goal concerning the wonderful inheritance and tremendous reward concerning my son. Let not the force of government, ignorance, hatred, indifference or judgment concerning his mother hinder our relationship in any way. Thank you for your increase that I may be a blessing unto the glory of God. Amen.

Afflicted

Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath
John 5:8.9

How does our Lord pull this one off? First the man with the affliction had a desire to rid himself of his challenges. Induced by the dream of entering into the water where the supernatural (Angels or power greater than himself) he already imagined the healing result. He witnessed it every day.

As the Lord enters the power that created the heavens and earth was unleashed in the spoken word. ‘Without the words Get up pick up your mat and walk’ the miracle would have never manifested.

One of the most difficult challenges we face begins when we can’t see past our circumstances to claim victory in our challenges. Weather it is with our finances, relationships, politics, emotions, religion and so on it is what we imagine that determines the outcome.

The word of God (Jesus Christ) fuels our imagination (images) by painting an illustration of how God performs in our darkest hour. Notice the image he paints when this miracle is accomplished on the Sabbath making notice to the religious aspect of the law that hinders and holds us captive (1 Corinthians 15:56). Born in the spirit of the risen Christ our challenges will become our witness to the power of God in every area of our lives (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Naked

Death is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered. Job 26:6

Looking at the cross of Christ it can only minister to us when we come uncovered. All of the preconceived notions, gestures, religion, lies and deception produce a separation spiritually from God that results in eternal death. When I address the cross in truth then and only then will it present the saving grace and power necessary to remove me from the burden of sin.

Lord as I move closer to eternity help me to understand the truth of my salvation. At times it can present a challenge when I approach the cross clothed in all of my lies, hatred, lust, fear, religion and death concerning this fallen world which I am confronted with on a daily and hourly basis. How do I remove the plank from my eye that I may see clearly enough to see the truth about my brother? Unless I take it all off and trust in you I will continue to perish into an eternity away from you instead of one with you.

Lord bless me today with an opportunity to be clothed in your righteousness. Help me to understand your will as I dwell in the presence of my brother. Encourage me to move faithfully and truthfully concerning your presence in me. For the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ rest in my ability to undress and become naked before you in every way. Holy Spirit dress me with the love that was presented at the cross of Calvary through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21

The Peace of God

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3,4

Lord Jesus as I awoke this morning I continue to feel the hope which is provided in you. This day I believe the opportunity to bless you and your kingdom will most definately present itself. As I continue to look around my circumstances dictate to me that death is present. In my finances, relationships, and fellowship there is a resistance to the good. I've been challenged on every level. I know without the presence of your spirit I will not see the light of day. The extreme profanity presented in the atmosphere here in Newark paints a very bleak picture concerning its future. There are no opportunities for employment. Souls continue to move toward the flesh away from your Spirit concerning there needs. Dishonor towards you and our fellow man continue to mount in record numbers. There is no honor amongst brothers let alone a stranger. As I continue to look toward eternity i can clearly see that without you there is no chance in my present state to dwell with you for eternity. I plead your spirit not to leave , but to continue to set free the hearts and minds that recieve the power of your redeemption. Thank you Lord for putting it on your Son the evil present in me in this fallen state. For it is in your begotten that my eternity rest. Cover me with your precious blood that I may witness the power of your saving grace amongst my fellow man and your chosen ones who create your body. Help us to understand that it is not by our power and might but by your spirit. For you are Lord of all. Jesus I thank you for advocating on my behalf before the Father. Holy Spirit please continue to provide me with the dewelling place and the refuge necessary to claim victory here in this hour, day and year. Forgive all of us Lord for we know not what we do. Cover us Lord Jesus when we fall short of your glory. Amen