Month: July 2023

Now I See

Now I See

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Now I See

“He answered and said, “whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25 NKJV

This scripture is part of the passage of a man born blind at birth. He would receive his sight through Jesus Christ. Here we see the handiwork of God revealed not just to this man, but to everyone.

This scripture reminds me of a song by Johnny Nash who is an American singer-songwriter who came out with this 1972 hit, I Can See Clearly Now. Who doesn’t know that song. It has been sampled by many artists over the years, as well as commercials.

Here are some of the words:

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all the obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright, sun-shiny day. He goes on to say, I think I can make it now. The pain is gone. All the bad feelings have disappeared. Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin for. Then he says, look all around, there’s nothin’ but blue skies, look straight ahead nothin’ but blue skies.

The obstacles the blind man faced was no sight from his birth. I can envision some of the things he might have felt growing up. Not being able to see his face, or the face of his own family, never seeing the food that is put before him to eat (the fish, warm bread made by his mother’s own loving hands, and water from his own cup), always hearing his siblings playing, but never able to run free with them down by the riverside, and no sunrises or sunsets.

But there was a man, name Jesus who had the power to restore what he never had. In a cloud of darkness all his life, soon this sightless man would see the world in a way he never thought possible.  Jesus tell his disciples that, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” One thing the man knew, was that though he was blind, now he could see. I imagine words could not describe what he felt.

 What are some benefits of seeing:

We can see ourselves. Everything friends start at home in our own personal mirrors as we take a long loving look at self. Forgive yourself because God already has. friends his mercies are made new every day.

 We can see God in all things. God doesn’t just work in other people you know. He can work through you and I.  Do you see his graciousness in the air you were able to breathe? Do you see him in this sun-shiny day? Do you see him in the beauty of the greenest of trees, or were you able to see the waves in ocean? How did you see him this morning friends?

We see our enemies. Friends we gotta stay woke when it comes to recognizing our adversary, he will use anybody and everything to distract us. Remember friends, Satan has a job to do: He needs to put as much distance between us and the Good Lord as he can. He aims to sift us like wheat, as he tries to set us up like sheep for the slaughter.  His job is to steal, kill and destroy! You Got your Armor on? Good. Keep it on.

We will see our purpose. Are you a counselor in training? Are you a teacher? Are you a caregiver for our sick and elderly? Are you a real estate agent making family dreams of home ownership come true? It’s nothing like doing what you were meant to do. For me, writing and blogging, encourages a message of hope and healing, I am always encouraging my own soul through what God has given me to share with others. It’s the best part of waking up with Jesus in my cup.

We will see, where we are going from the passenger seat, as we give Jesus the wheel! When it comes to handheld maps and computer navigation systems, He the way, truth, and life and don’t know body know the roads better than He does. One thing I am sure of, if we are gonna get anywhere, it will have to be with God in front.

 Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

We Are Family

We Are Family

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

We Are Family

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” Ephesians 3:14-15 ESV

My cousins Alesha, Ronnie, my sister Patricia, and I were all born on the 22nd of our birth months. We are the first four grandchildren of the late, Leroy and Jannie Green Sr. Along with my other cousins, Mark, Marcus, Chris, and Roderick, we were ready to get this summer started.

When I close my eyes, I can see myself as a kid, standing there on the bricked flowerpot in front of my grandparent’s house enjoying the day with my cousins. I can hear the ice cream truck music as its soon to be heading our way. I can see my cousins riding their bikes down the hill of Harp Street, missing ditches, and cars, thank goodness. From helping our grandparents with honeydews around the house, to shelling big brown bags of field peas, learning how to properly clean fresh greens with Morton’s salt, helping grandma hang clothes on the  line in the backyard with some of those wooden clothing pins that hung from her apron. The line is long gone, but the polls still remain. That backyard seemed so much bigger when I was a kid, as we played red rover, red rover. It never seemed to be too hot for us. It was a simpler time then. No worries. All we had to do was just be kids.

At the end of the day, there were those perfect nights, with a gentle cool breeze that blew through the entire house. You could smell frying coming out the kitchen as us kids washed our hand to get ready for the family feast. My aunts and uncles are all back from their busy days. Finally, we are all here together, ready to break bread as we thank God for the food. I proudly look around at everyone in this camp, thinking to myself: These are my people, we are family.

The Word of God has plenty to share with us about family. God’s Word is full of wisdom and guidance for every stage of family life. The Word also teaches us that our families are a blessing from God. Within the confines of the family, we find love, encouragement, support, and strength.

Keeping it real, there is no perfect family, because we are not perfect people. However, even in our imperfections love remains the key to the family. When we come together it gives us all the opportunity to build up each other in what we can do together. It is an attitude of positivity and optimism that we must bring to the family table.

No matter the challenges, we are each other’s keeper. I believe in you, and I am going to keep right on lifting you up on your journey. Why? Because that is what families are supposed to do. Our families are there to cheer us on as they use their words to speak good things to us, and their loving hands to pull us up when we fall. Nothing is impossible for a family that lives by, “a family that prays together, stays together.”

Here are a few thoughts to take with you family:

  • The same blood that flows through your vein’s, flows through mine.
  • We encourage, not discourage each other.
  • We celebrate our uniqueness and gifts.
  • We are proud of each other’s accomplishments.
  • My family is an adventure I am always willing to take.
  • We love each other with our actions.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

A Witness

A Witness

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

A Witness

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.” Isaiah 43:10-12 ESV

Years ago my daughter and I had went to visit my sister in Little Rock, Arkansas, during that visit, I took the kids outside to play and observed a young man working on his car. From under the hood and back inside the car to turn the key, he did this multiple times without success. Leaving the car with the hood up and door open, he went back in the house for what seemed to be a long time. When he came back outside, I noticed that he had a little bottle in his hand. Not paying anyone any attention, he lifted that bottle toward the Heavens and even though I couldn’t hear him, I felt him saying the Our Father Prayer.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 kJV

Once he finished praying, he took some of the contents of the bottle into his hand as he walked and prayed, he smeared it once around the car, in the name of the Father, then twice around the car, in the name of the Son and finally a third time, in the name of the Holy Ghost. I watched that young man, put the hood down, and he got back into his car, and when he turned the ignition, it started up. Then he got out of that car, shouting and dancing as he gave God the praise. Not only did he give him praise, but I did too. In that moment we were two people sharing Gods Glory. No words, just praises to the Good Lord above, who just can’t fail. Our technology is no match for Him. This young man was a receiver of a miracle and me, I was a witness to it.

God fixed it that I could be there to witness faith, in adversity, faith in trials, faith that moves mountains, faith that parts seas, and yes, faith that starts automobiles. The prayers of the righteous availeth much. Prayer! Prayer! Prayer! Prayer my friends is a powerful weapon in the life of the believer, for it has the power to change the condition of things in our lives. Amen!

Remember friends we are each others keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

And Then There were Four

And Then There were Four

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

And Then There Were Four

“Look!” He answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the mist of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the son of God.” Daniel 3 :25 NKJV

In the summer of 605 B.C., Daniel,  Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken from their homes, families, culture, way of life, and thrusted into a Babylonian world. Stripping them of everything, they were given new names. But in due time, the king and his people would know there is a God in Babylon.

As we rewind back to the beginning of book of Daniel, we see Nebuchadnezzar’s chief official, entering Jerusalem, and taking the young men captive. The Babylonians were looking for certain qualifications in areas like- without physical defect, handsome, learns quickly, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. These four guys weren’t just better than the rest, they were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters” in ALL of Babylonia!

King Nebuchadnezzar recognized that they were the cream of the crop. So, he took them under his wing, giving them food and drink from his own table. Even though he offered, they did not accept it. They were trained in the ways of the Babylonians. Eventually they were appointed as administrators over the province of Babylon. Keep in mind that there were all kinds of ideas being put into the king’s head, as he was reminded that those Hebrew boys did not serve his gods or worship the golden image that he has set up.

Full of furious rage, he commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought to him. He wanted to see where their loyalties lie. His bottom line was simply this, when you hear the music, fall down and worship the image that I have made. However, if you do not, you all will be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

For these three guys, their actions came down to faith in the one true God. Imagine it, everyone looking and waiting for them to bow down. Can you hear the whispers, and mummering of the crowd and kings court alike?  And how about that sour look on the kings face, that said, “well, I am waiting.”

They responded to the king like this, “ O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

In my mind I see an embarrassed and now furious king who would not be made a fool of, as he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual.  He ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind them and cast them in. Even the king’s soldiers were killed because it was so hot. And they fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O King.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Nebuchadnezzar recognized the supernatural miracle before him. He calls them out of the furnace, he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God.”  Not a hair on their heads were singed, and no smell of fire on their clothing.  He went on to say, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trust in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

Trials in this life are unavoidable friends. This passage of scripture is meant to stir up our heart, giving us the assurance, that we can come through those obstacles and challenges.  Just like God was with them in a strange Land, he is indeed with us in the hot furnaces of our lives too. Here are three take aways from the three Hebrew boys: One, their confidence in the God,  Second, their acknowledgement of God over the world’s most powerful king resulted in God’s supreme power being revealed to unbelievers Thirdly, their faith demonstrates that God will deliver, giving victory to his children.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

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