Promise Keeper

One song that has made its way into many Christian circles around the world is “Way Maker” by the Nigerian gospel artist Sinach. The lyrics exalt the Lord as "Way maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper" I am particularly captivated by the knowledge of God as the Faithful and True one who will not only make a way for you, but will also fulfill His promises every time. We live in a world where people can be very fickle minded. Promises are made by some with no intention of keeping them. They may not even remember the promise because they never planned to keep it. When you find a man or woman of integrity who honors their commitments, or at least makes every effort to do so, celebrate and appreciate them!

God made a vow by the mouth of Prophet Isaiah about seven hundred years before Jesus was born as Savior of the world! “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). It took many years, but God was watching over His word to perform it, and at the appointed time, the promise was fulfilled.  When God makes you a promise, you can be rest assured, it will come to pass even though you cannot figure out how or when.

 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the Angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. [Matthew 1:18-25]

It is interesting that God stopped Joseph from breaking his pledge to his betrothed. Christmas is about fulfilling promises! Do you have some broken agreements in your life? Are you able to fix them? Very often we cannot do these things by ourselves. Joseph was a noble man. Yet he was on the verge of making a very costly mistake, had God not intervened! Ask God for wisdom in all your decisions. As much as God enables you, make promises and keep them.

This Christmas spend time with those you love, promote family bonding and unity. God preserved wholeness in the home of Joseph and Mary. He knew Jesus needed a suitable family environment for nurturing and growth. Many families quarrel during the Christmas over food, gifts, and things like that. Let there be peace in your home. The Angels announced His birth with praise to God and a message of peace to men. “Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the Angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!” (Luke 2:13).

                       

          Merry Christmas to you and your family and a prosperous 2020 ahead!

        

Grateful

Thank God for inspired songs that continue to inspire:

I am
Grateful for the things
That you have done
Yes, I'm grateful for the victories we've won
I could go on and on and on 

About your works
Because I'm grateful, grateful, so grateful
Just to praise you Lord
Flowing from my heart
Are the issues of my heart
It's gratefulness

Grateful - Hezekiah Walker, The Love Fellowship Choir

We spend much of our prayer time asking God to do something. When He does it, we may offer a quick prayer of thanks and quickly move on to the next thing we want Him to do. We do not spend enough time to just sit back and reflect on all that God has done. We do not tell of His wonderful works to others sufficiently. We do not praise Him like we ought! God is worthy of all our praise, we could never praise Him too much! The song writer said, “If I had ten thousand tongues, it still won’t be enough.”

How much can we really thank God for the gift of salvation? He did not have to save me, but He did. God came running after me. He redeemed me with the blood of His Son. That was a costly price to pay (Considering what He got!). But God would not be deterred; He committed to putting His name on me and branded me as His. Then He washed me with the blood of His Son Jesus; and is still washing me with The Word! Though I fail Him time and time again, He whispers to me, “I will never leave you nor forsake you, you are mine.” “See I have inscribed your name in the palm of my hands.” “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” The psalmist could not help but cry out, “O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever” (Psalm 118:1).

This thanksgiving, endeavor to thank God for the tangible blessings; your job, your house, your car, food on your table, bills paid and unpaid, children growing up before you. Thank God also for the intangible; The gift of time, good health, the love of family and friends, the peace that God gives, the wealth of your relationship with the Christ, His Holy Spirit given to you as a guarantee, and the hope of spending eternity with God.

For some, giving thanks would have to be a sacrifice. The winds of life may have blown hard against you and the enemy (Satan) threatens to steal your peace. Find a place to thank God anyway. Here is what the Lord says to you “Do not be anxious for anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Thanksgiving is God’s therapy for peace.

 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, I will declare all your wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:1)

The Making of a King

 

I am grateful to God for the successful take off of another school year. Hopefully, the children are well on their way towards excelling in academics and good conduct this year, all to the glory of the Lord. My thoughts today center on reflections from the past school year. I was driving with my son for an IGP (Individualized Graduation Plan) meeting, the kind of meeting where you sit with a counselor that helps you pick classes for the next step of your child’s academic career.

My son was kind of quiet on the ride, but then, he usually doesn’t say much anyway. He was particularly quiet as we sat and waited for our turn to go in. I longed to connect with him, to catch a glimpse of his thoughts. So when one of the parents moved, I quickly sat on the seat that was closest to him. For conversation starters I asked him who his favorite teacher was. I saw his face light up when he told me with all surety that it was his science teacher. Curious, I asked what made her stand out for him. He tried to shrug out of it and responded; “She is just a good teacher.” Knowing him, I perceived there was more to it, so I gently probed a little deeper.

Finally my son rewarded my inquisitiveness and told me all about it. He told me how his feet had almost slipped because he was often distracted in class by some happy go lucky friend he had made. The teacher noticed and sounded a word of caution  “Watch your step son,” she said. “Don’t let the good that you have slip away.” Those few words touched a special chord within my son’s heart. He told me that he walked away from that meeting with a renewed sense of purpose and identity and amended his ways. After he finished recounting that experience he asked me if I wanted to meet this beloved science teacher. “Of course!” I replied. (Who wouldn’t?)  So after we were done with the business of the day, my son walked me proudly down the hall to meet this special lady. When I met her, I looked with love on the woman who had invested much love and good counsel in the life of my young man. I let her know she was well appreciated. She smiled and simply said “He is a good boy, and I am so proud of him.”

I know the tendency today is for everyone to mind their own business. What I can tell you is that I was one grateful mom driving away from the school that morning. My thoughts were, “Whose child is in my care, that I may show kindness to him or her?” At that moment the old saying rang true in my ears, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Two biblical examples readily come to mind of people who helped to raise children that were not biologically theirs and placed them on the path of greatness. Moses was born as a Hebrew slave but raised as an Egyptian prince by Pharaoh’s daughter. This princess groomed Moses for the palace, a necessary path to fulfilling his destiny (Exodus 2:7-10). The little girl Esther, though orphaned, was blessed to have an uncle who took her in, adopted her, and raised her with destiny in mind. When the time came to step into her God ordained call to Queenship and leverage her position for the deliverance of God’s people, she was ready! We must not forget, however, that it was Mordecai who labored over Esther and laid the ground work (Esther 2: 7-11).  The question becomes “Whose King or Queen are you grooming?”                                                

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace” (Psalm 144:12).

Father Love

A tribute to all fathers who are present, and those who wish to be more present

My adventurous son found a place in the neighborhood

A place to swim and to play anytime he could  

A seemingly innocent area for fun

Refreshing water in which to swim and warm himself with heat from the Sun.

Oblivious of the potential of dangers that lurked within

He went to the creek frequently, and often had a friend with him

“Don’t go!” “Don’t go!” His mother cried, imagined terrors raged within

To all my pleas my boy replied “But Mom you don’t know; it's so much fun, come go with me"

It was a Saturday Morning, just as the sun brought out its rays

My husband stepped out in the sunshine with his boy that day,

Determined to walk in the paths he walked, ready to know his adventurous ways

Together they went down to the creek, this dad determined to see

My son was all excited, his dad and him, what an adventure!

This was nothing short of a dream come true,  an experience not soon forgotten

“We come this way, then go that way” the young one pointed out with pride

Following and watching with keen eyes, his dad took steps of caution

It did not take long before he saw the first snake, and then another, and yet another

“Oh no!” my son cried “How come we never saw these?” His mind was left to wonder

Five snakes was all they counted, there might have been more

Needless to say he saw the danger that day, and to his friends he made a call

What a teaching moment it was; for them both, and also for me

My husband possibly saved our son and his friends from harm

Only because he gave time to walk the paths he walked and know the thoughts he thinks

Just like God stooped down to pick us up, this father stooped so his son may learn

Fatherhood is tough business I dare say, with so many things calling for our time

Nevertheless, we need Godly fathers today more than ever before,

More especially when the children are in their prime

Only with God's help will the fathers prevail; For with God nothing is impossible for us.

O Lord please give our fathers grace to be present for their children

Help them to be the dads you've called them to be.

"These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts

And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down
and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

Mothers Are Special

Mothers Are Special

 She carried him in her womb for nine months

Could have wiped him out with some complex chemical

Toxic to his unformed mass, but she didn’t.

She chose rather to partner with God in this creative masterpiece

And nurtured him within the confines of her swollen world.

She cuddled him close to her breasts, time and time again

A tender love giving him comfort

When he was put down on the playground, he ran to her

She put the smile back on his handsome face

And sent him running on his way

When he was sick, she stopped all else

Watching, praying to God that he might live

Her heart’s expectation was this; that someday he will be a man

And the world will see the rare gem that he is.

And when she thought her job was finally done,

Amidst much joy, singing and dancing,

She handed him to his wife on a platter of gold.

And he with a pledge was hers to keep.

God bless Mothers for such unselfish love!

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” – Proverbs 31:25-28

Evidence of the Truth???

Many of us have run our lives on second-hand or even third-hand information for a long time. Someone told you that God is good, you believed it, but you don’t know what His goodness tastes like. To you, the goodness of God is a phantom of spiritual truths, nothing to be grasped. Yet the psalmist asserts with a certainty that God is good and invites us to explore this truth; “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). In other words the goodness of God is so real, you can taste it and even see it! Sometimes we really want to believe that what we have heard is true, if only we can find the evidence to prove it. 

Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, had a rare threat; The truth along with evidence came looking for him. After Jesus was raised from the dead, He showed himself to the disciples in the absence of Thomas. When the other disciples told Thomas, "We have seen the Lord!" he said to them “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe” (John 20:25). 

The next time Thomas saw Jesus, he was being presented with the Truth along with all the evidence he needed to believe. In that moment, Thomas believed! He proclaimed “My Lord! My God!” In spite of how the story ended,  he still earned the nickname “Doubting Thomas” because human beings like to focus more on the negative, but “Doubting Thomas” did believe when The Truth with evidence came to him. Thomas’ encounter with Jesus was included in the scriptures to teach us about faith to believe even when we have not seen. The word of God stands true in the presence or absence of physical evidence. However, there is so much more to glean from that story. What Jesus did for Thomas He has done for us all.

When Thomas made a passionate dismissal of the apostle’s story, perhaps he was really saying “please don’t set me up for another let down.” He was still raw from the pain of disappointment.  His faith had no structure right at that time because everything he had built up in the past three and half years had collapsed before his very eyes. The savior they had put their trust in could not save himself from the cross. The other disciples received comfort for their grief when they saw Jesus. They had their hopes restored. Thomas was still in a dark place. Thank God for the love of our Savior who stoops down to pick us up when we fall, and sets us up on the Rock to stay. When Thomas asked for the nail print, Jesus saw in Thomas a sincere quest for the truth, a desire to know God for himself. Let us take a look at the response of Jesus to Thomas. The Lord looked beyond his words.  He did not condemn him for his lack of faith. Rather, Jesus made out the time to come again, just for Thomas! Jesus wanted to put an end to his doubts, to heal his brokenness. 

Have you ever been presented with The Truth and evidence of God? A testimony with copies of the doctor’s report, a life transformed with flashes of the “before” and “after” A woman testifying of a miraculous baby after twenty years of barrenness; she holds the baby in her arms with tears rolling down her cheeks. You see a car crushed beyond repair, yet  someone comes out of it unhurt and lives to testify of the goodness of God. When you are presented with tangible evidence of God’s great might, what is your response? Do you bow like Thomas in reverence and say “My Lord! My God!” 

Or you persist in unbelief and harden your heart in stubborn pride? Do you explain away the miracle as an act of nature, a product of technology, or a stroke of luck? A man of God once testified of his son that was raised from death back to life. He stated that even with such overwhelming evidence of God’s power, some people still asked “did he really die in the first place?” The choice is yours. He who has an ear, let him hear! (Revelation 2:7).

Jesus came to this earth. He suffered and died for the salvation of man. He was crucified on the cross like a common criminal. He was brought down and buried. On the third day He rose triumphant out of the grave. His death and resurrection set man free from the power of sin, hell and the grave. The Holy Spirit at work in you is the evidence that He once was here and He is coming again. Do you believe?

How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will (Hebrews 2:3-4).

"Do You Love Me?"

I love how we have landmark events scattered along the year’s pathway.  A few weeks ago it was Valentine’s day, a day supposed to bring to our remembrance the concept of love. People ran to the stores to purchase cards, flowers, or a gift, to express love to someone in their lives. Just in case you forgot, the media did not let up, pushing out adverts by the minute. Great was the commercialization of another sentimental event of the year.  I was appalled when I heard a line from one of the commercials that said  “This Valentine, make sure you get what you want!” I was left to wonder, “Is love truly about getting or about giving?”

These thoughts brought to mind a discussion we had recently at a couples’ meeting. The subject for consideration was; “How do I love my spouse?” The discussion had progressed to the point where we read the injunction to husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). Then we  began to consider “How did Christ love the Church?” A brother broke it down in plain English and said “You know you are loving your wife as Christ loved the Church when you are willing to give up one of your kidneys for your wife without stopping to think about it” To the utter amazement of everyone, another brother blurted out “I would willingly give both my kidneys to my wife!” A great hush fell over the room as everyone considered the import of those words. Well, that room must have been full of noble husbands because right after he said that, man after man declared “I will gladly take the bullet for my wife” “I will give my life to save my wife!” I imagine that those wives filled with a renewed sense of worth, secretly prayed against any situation that would test their husband’s love to that measure!

While it is praiseworthy that a man is willing to lay down his life for his wife, let us ask ourselves what little things we may also willingly give up to preserve and protect our cherished ones and  the relationships we hold dear. Little things like our rights, our pride, our time, our friends, or something so little as our money! In the midst of a conflict, you may find out that these seemingly “little things” are magnified in value when you are the one required to give it.

Consider the love story of Jacob and Rachel in the book of Genesis. Jacob had deceitfully obtained the blessing of the firstborn meant for his brother Esau. Out of the fear that Esau might kill him, his mother helped him flee to live with his uncle Laban. Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.  Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. “Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”  So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.  But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)  And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”  Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 

 Jacob did a quick assessment of his situation. He ran away from home to flee the wrath of his brother Esau whom he had defrauded of his birthright. He had sowed deceit, he was reaping deceit. Jacob would not even raise his voice with Laban, or make a big case of his deception lest he loses the opportunity of ever marrying Rachael. It dawned on him very quickly that he if he really wanted the love of his life, he would have to work twice as hard! Any man could have given up at that point. However, because of the strength of his love for Rachael, Jacob put in another seven years of service for the woman he really wanted. We may not be able to go into all the cultural details of this account, or the deceit of Laban possibly  in conjunction with his people. What I find interesting is that Jacob put up with all that.  For another seven years. Jacob gave his energy, his time and his life to serve for the woman he loved. He put career dreams on hold, or slowed them down simply because having Rachel was important to  him.

If you are a woman and you are feeling that all you have to do is sit back and be a receiver of love, think about Ruth (Naomi’s daughter in-law) who gave up her gods, her people, and her father’s house to embrace a superior love and commitment. Perhaps you gave up your father’s name, you moved away from home, and you have given up many things since then. Whether you be a man or woman, boy or girl, when you think love, remember that the currency of love is giving. Now imagine a world where we learn to love like God!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).