Another way

“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

Go back and read Matthew 2:1-12. You know the story of the wise men searching for Jesus. Herod wanted them to report where the so he could worship him. We know that was a lie, the wise men didn’t know. And God had them to go back home another way, not back to Herod.

We search also. Sometimes we are not sure what we are searching for, but then when we understand our journey takes on a new meaning. And that search moves us through dangers seen and unseen. And we meet God time after time again. And in those moments we have joy , unspeakable joy.  But we can’t stay in those moments we have to get back to living, we don’t go back the same way. We go back renewed, reenergized, ready for the journey. Each encounter with God strengthens us. And as we live, we live rejuvenated because of our encounters in prayer. 

This has been a year of uncertainty with the virus but one thing we know- God is. We go stronger into the next year, stronger, with more resolve knowing that God watches, that God does. God watches   us and God keep us safe all because God IS. Blessings of watching what God is doing. enough for now.

Emmanuel

Emmanuel - God with us!  Yes God is! Blessings of joy and hope, love and forgiveness. enough for now.

He is Still

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Is. 9:6,7 NIV).

I think that we forget at times that he is still . . .  Wonderful Counselor . . . Mighty God . . . Everlasting Father . . .Prince of Peace. 

He is who who we can rely on before all else fails,  it when all else fails.. We get guidance from Holy Spirit as how to handle whatever it is. And we wait, and watch. No worry, no fret. Wow. The world needed that so much then. It needs that so much now. We need that so much now. We need to hold on, and watch what God is doing. Merry Christmas! enough for now.

Celebrate Your Life

 I think if we learn to do that one thing- we could have more peace. Celebrate your life. Yes, it's yours, yes there is something to celebrate. It doesn't matter what has not gone as you would like it- you have life and you have another chance. Celebrate God's love for you. And watch what happens. enough for now.

You Have to Live

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Hab. 3:18,18 NIV)

When we get real with God we can be ready for whatever. In this case calamity was coming at the hands of the Babylonians. For us, living in this virus time is rough, living with the pain of hurt and isolation is rough, living in a way that we have not lived before is rough- yet we can rejoice. We watch what God is doing. enough for now.

Iron

Iron sharpens iron. We learn from one another. Peace promotes peace. We receive from one another. enough for now.

Watching, Listening.

Exodus 13:17-18

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.”

God alone knows our journey. He knows what lies in our path. Too often we think he has forgotten, we wonder why the hardship? God strengthens us for our journey. In that strengthening, he keeps us, he shows us the way time and time again when we listen, when we watch, when we follow.  Keep watching, keep listening. enough for now.

Wipe the Slate

Phil.3:13-14

I couldn’t make this up. This was my devotional this morning. 

NOVEMBER 8 Wipe the Slate

“ Forget the past. Remember only its glad days. Wipe the slate of your remembrance with Love, which will erase all that is not confirmed in Love. You must forget your failures, your failures and those of others. Wipe them out of the book of your remembrance. I did not die upon the Cross for man to bear the burdens of his sins himself. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." If you forget not the sins of others, and I bear them, then you add to My sorrows.”

Most of America wiped the slate by bringing in #46. Some of America is in hurt. But there is always a winner and a loser. The sad part is that we are so divided as a nation. We start by making a change with self. 

We start our healing now, today. Not just politically- no.  But we learn to let go of past hurts, past grievances, past betrayals. We learn to let go in order to heal. You see, I learned a long time ago that God can fix it in ways that we can’t even think up. But we have to let go. 

When we let go, we give God permission to handle it, to handle us. We need to be handled by God. That’s why we let it go in order to move forward. enough for now.

Prayer

“Prayer can be like incense, rising ever higher and higher, or it can be like a low earth-mist clinging to the ground, never once soaring. The Eye that sees all, the Ear that hears all, knows every cry. But the prayer of real faith is the prayer of Joy, that sees and knows the heart of Love it rises to greet and that is so sure of a glad response.” A.J. Russell. God Calling. more later.

Giving God Thanks

There is a reply in greeting that I hear often here in Jamaica. “Giving God Thanks.” Stay right there. Think about that. There is always a reason to give God thanks. Take time today. enough for now.

PUSH

PUSH. You have heard this before. Many times we are carrying so much weight. We are strained from pulling. It’s time to PUSH. I don’t care what it is PUSH. PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. enough for now.

Right Where We Need

“God approaches our minds by receding from them. We can never fully know him if we think of him as an object of capture, to be fenced in by the enclosure of our own ideas. We know him better after our minds have let him go. The Lord travels in all directions at once. The Lord arrives from all directions at once.Wherever we are we find that he just just departed. Wherever we go, we discover that he has just arrived before us.” Thomas Merton

Right Where We Need. enough for now.

Just Walk

Nothing  else. Just walk - watch - trust. Give thanks for it all. enough for now.

Wait

“Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them” (Dan 10:12NIV) 

What you have is the key to answered prayer. To gain understanding and to humble self before God. We can’t figure it out - But God. That is very assuring. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine- oh what a foretaste for glory divine.” Wait for and watch what God is doing.  enough for now.  

Days

 There are so many days to celebrate - even in this virus. On August 15 I celebrated the birthday of my only son, my heart. I celebrated by thanking God for keeping him and growing him into the fine man he is. Then a week later I joined him and his wife in celebrating their anniversary. Yesterday one of my grandsons sent new photos and videos of my only great granddaughter. And I celebrated again. Then my niece called and I got to see my grand nieces and nephews. And I celebrated again.

There are so many things to celebrate. I celebrate family, and life, and love. Find a celebration this day! enough for now.

Watch Who You Follow

 Be very careful who you follow. Make sure what you believe lies up with what you hear. Make sure you know what you believe. Not everyone has your best interests at heart. You must be able to stand your ground. enough for now.

Don’t Worry

Matthew 6:33–34 (NIV):  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

I’m just going to sit this here. Nothing else. Let it permeate your spirit today. Be still. enough for now.

You Can Go Home

Too often we answer to names that are not ours. Be clear who you are and you will not answer to anything else. This pandemic has us confused- but you are still God’s child. Look at the story of the prodigal son Luke 15:11-24.

 

This child was assigned three names: prodigal son (one who spends extravagantly, wastefully); lost son; and son.

 His rightful name ’son’ was the name that he was restored to. We act crazy many times, but we can be restored to who we really are - my child. enough for now.

Let Nothing Detain You

Numbers 13: 1,2 "The LORD said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.”

You will have to read all of thirteen. Around verse 27-32 watch how the report became skewed and only two said they could take the land. Caleb and Joshua. The ten said they couldn’t and the spread lies to prove their case.

When God says it- it is done. Hold on, watch what he does. Not what people say or do. God had already given the land. Keep close to you your dreams that God has shown you. Don’t let anyone cause you to miss what is yours. enough for now.

Let Him In

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Rev. 3:20 NIV) 

This was written to the church of Laodicea who accepted everything and stood for nothing. It was written to believers. This was not only the historic church but theological believe that the churches are of different eras. Laodicea is the church of today. We are the church. 

We must hear his voice, give him access to every place in our hearts, even the dark places, which is needed most. That’s true communing. He’s knocking, let him in. Listen, watch and see what God is doing. enough for now.

No Fear, No Worry

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm27:1)

I’m just going to set this right here. Do nothing else but focus on this. We have nothing to fear. Let that permeate your spirit. Let it so flow in you and overflow out that when you walk by people they can feel it.   O fear,  o worry. enough for now.

Walk In It

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5)

Jesus- the light of all mankind. Darkness has never stayed where there is light. They can’t operate together. And this light is the light that we walk in- Jesus. Let that permeate your spirits today. This light overcomes any thing that the enemy or that our woundings try to bind us with- no. Can’t work. Any darkness must flee at the name of Jesus. We must keep that in our spirit. Negativity has to go- in the name of Jesus! Fear has to go- in the name of Jesus! Worry has to go - in the name of Jesus! Guilt has to go- in the name of Jesus! Shame has to go- in the name of Jesus! Walk in the light of his presence. Rest in his arms of peace. Watch what he is doing in your life- and thank him continually. Thanksgiving emanates from the Light.  Walk in it! enough for now!

Fear Not

We let too much in. Too much that disturbes our peace. And a lot of what we let in is only to distract us from what is real. But when we are clear that God does have us, then we can rest assured that ‘This too shall pass.’ Fear not! This too shall pass. enough for now.

Too Much

Too much. There has been too much going on. So much happening. What do you do? Get still. Be still. Be still and listen. You cannot get caught up in the rhetoric. You can’t let what unnerves others unnerve you. It won’t, if you are listening and following. 

You see, the too much is nothing compare to the Too Much- one is so much More than anything. Because of the Too Much we have space to be still and listen. Listen. enough for now.

Our Words are Heard

“I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. 

A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them” (Dan. 10:7-12 NIV).

Read Daniel 10:1-14. I love this passage, especially verse 12. Daniel had fasted and prayer for three weeks and we pick up when the angel arrives. Hmm. When the angel arrives. When we seek to gain understanding and humble ourselves - our words are heard. Our words are heard. The angel then explains why it took so long- he had to battle. When we humbly seek understanding from God, when we seek answers, we can wait-our words  are heard. True, the answer sometimes does not come when we want, but the answer is always on time- because of God’s time. 

We turn to God. We cry out to God. He doesn’t miss hearing our tears. Rest assured. Our words are heard - in spite of the virus. Our words are heard - in spite of unrest. Our words are heard - in spite of fear. Our words are heard- in spite of confusion. God hears. enough for now.

Hold On

Mark 1:12&13.

“At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”

This testing of Jesus was right after he was baptized. He was sent by Holy Spirit into the wilderness, and was tempted by Satan. Go back and read Luke 4 for a better picture.

Jesus was tempted, tried, and remained true to who he was. When it was done- angels ministered to him. Many times we feel overwhelmed by what we feel is a testing, a tempting, oh but be clear - if God allows it, we will make it. If he didn’t allow it, we can stand against it. The best way is to listen, and follow Holy Spirit’s guide, and that is always our way out. 

We don’t need to know the why of it, but we need to know God in it. It doesn’t matter what is thrown -stay focused, be clear, and watch what God does. He’ll do it even in our own crazy mess when we turn to him. Don’t let guilt, or fear keep you from  focusing on what God is doing. 

I can’t imagined being with the wild animals, with no food prepared, and Satan in my ear. Oh- that’s where we are today. We are placed with crazy all around us, needing the food of life, and Satan tempting at every hand. And yet, we make it. Now that’s not the proper exegesis of this passage- but I just got that. Hold on, stand, and watch what God is doing. enough for now.

Seek Good

In Amos 5 there is a call to repentance. The reoccurring thought: 4b “Seek me and live.” 6a “Seek the Lord and live.” 14a “Seek good,  not evil.” 15a “Hate evil, love good.” This call stands today. As believers, we are to seek him, seek good, hate evil. I think sometimes we get confused on what is what and on if “it’s okay that we slide on it.” We don’t serve a God who slides. He is clear, we must be clear. Let’s just focus on the positivity of his truth, and resist the negativity of evil. If we did just that, then we would witness great change. enough for now.

To Mothers

To all mothers: Mothers who delivered, who did not deliver, who saved, who kept, who watched for, who prayed with, who prayed over, who held sacred secrets, who cried with and cried for. To mothers who loved, and were loved. Who loved but were not loved back. To those who have almost lost hope, almost given up- hang on. 

 

Blessings of joy and relief to you all today. If no one else wishes you joy - I do. Happy Mother’s day to all even if you can’t get out, can’t see your family. God’s love is bigger than this virus. Blessing of God’s peace and rest today. enough for now.

Trust

Trust, watch. That’s it. It’s already done. Enough for now.

Be Strong

I’ve been listening to older gospel. And I marvel at how down through the years the Lord has been good to me. As I am listening I am reminded that as God had it before, he still has it. He still keeps me. He still provides. And so I keep watching- watching what he has done, is doing, and for what he will do. And I am encouraged, I am strengthened. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Eph. 6:10). enough for now

On Your Walk

After the resurrection two of the followers were were going along the road to Emmaus. Jesus walked with them as they told the story of all that had happened. They didn’t know who Jesus was. 

And even as he opened up scripture to them, they didn’t know who he was. There is so much in this. 

It was not until they had invited Jesus in to stay that the knew who he was when he broke bread. And when they recognized- he was gone. 

Don’t miss him in the events of the time. Don’t  get so caught up that you can’t see. Don’t miss him because your focus is elsewhere. Invite him in on your decisions, your conversation. Listen, watch. enough for now.

Please read Luke 24:13-35. 

This Day

This grand day. Yes it may not feel like a grand day. This grand day is ours to live, to share, to care. That is what makes this day grand. enough for now.

Think

This is a time for our repentance. This is a time for renewing our walk. Yes, in all of the crazy- God is. It is crazy but we don’t have to go crazy with it. Find a scripture you can stand on. Repel all negativity. Rejoice! Rejoice! Blessings of peace to you all. 

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”(Phil. 4:8). enough for now.

Celebrate Life

                                                                               

On this Palm Sunday we celebrate- not like the disciples and crowds celebrated that day. It was a celebration! But we celebrate what happened that began the last earthly week of Jesus, and forever changed the world. That day marked the beginning of our way to life itself. It marked the beginning of our being forgiven, of our being released from a death that we could never handle. Oh my God they didn’t know what a week!  And today we know, we celebrate- what a week! 

Celebrate! It doesn’t matter where you are. You don’t need palms wave your hands in celebration of life!  F.G? Sampson used to say, “I’m not gonna let no rocks speak for me.” Rocks can’t speak for me. We celebrate life- because of Jesus!  Shut in, shut up, it doesn’t matter, he is still Lord! He is still the way maker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. Praise him for all he has done! enough for now.

The Anchor Holds

There is a song I love, one of many, “The Anchor Holds.” I like the Carribean version by Judith Gayle. The anchor holds though the sea is raging. Come on. Raging all over, the only quiet place, the only place of peace is in God. This is indeed a different place, a different season. And yes, this too will pass. 

But what do you hold to? How do you hold? Is it so tightly gripping? Or is it holding like a child that knows there is no falling the loving arms of a parent? There is a reassurance that God does have us. That we can be still and listen. No, we don’t blatantly move but we reasonably move with no fear  while watching what God is doing. If quarantine flattens the curve, then do so for others, for yourself. And in that moment of quiet spend time resting in God’s peace. The anchor holds. enough for now.

Be Still

This morning I didn’t turn on gospel music. I just listened to the quiet. The Psalmist begins with, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Then he invites us into an understanding in vs 8, “come and see what the Lord has done.” 

And our passage, vs 10! “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”   

It is sad that we have been invited to be still, but haven’t done so. And now we really must. Not for what the world is doing,  but to watch what God is doing. 

In this stillness we find our peace, we find our rest, we find our creativity, we find ourselves. And we find our resolve to trust what God is doing . . a. God is with us. Oh, that’s verse 11. Be still. enough for now.

More

Aren’t you tired? Then be still and listen. God is bigger than this storm. Things are crazy but you don’t have to be crazy with it. God is so much more. Yes take precaution. And then watch what Bod is doing. enough for now.

Who Do You Say?

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:15,16)                                      

Each day we live out our lives answering that one question-  Who do you say I am? We answer by our actions toward others and ourselves. Or actions will cause us to walk more in what is truth, what is positive because he is truth, he is positive. How are you waking? “Who do you say I am?” enough for now. 

Don’t Let It Get You

Do you know how hard life tries to get you down? Don’t let it. Watch what God is doing. My new word is “Crazy will happen; but you don’t have to get crazy with it.” Don’t let it. Keep watching what God is doing. enough for now.

Day by Day

Day by day we meet new challenges. Just when you thought it was going well, and junk crops up. It happens. Junk happens. It’s part of the challenge. It's how you handle the junk that shows you who you are. You do know you are larger than the junk. If you are listening - you can handle it- you will get past it - you will survive. And you will be stronger, wiser. Don't miss the joy of this adventure because you are worried about challenges - you will never live. And he promised life more abundantly. enough for now.

Each New Day

Each new day we can learn something else. Each new day we can see anew. We can recognize the awesomeness of what God is doing in our life. Too often we forget that each new day is a present to be unwrapped in joy. It is not promised. Let that sink in. 

Accept this day as special for you. Open your eyes and see. Open your heart and feel. enough for now.

Celebrate

Celebrate something larger than a new year. Celebrate that because of God’s great love for us his compassions are new every morning!  Celebrate daily that right there. That celebration will remove negativity. That right there. enough for now.