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He is our Everything

Isaiah 9: 6 (AMP) For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I want to encourage you to you are and not try to be someone’s everything. First, I want to show you who Jesus is.

Wonderful Counselor: A king’s wisdom often came from the counselors they surrounded themselves with. A wise ruler knows they can’t possibly know everything, so they rely on trusted advisors for guidance. But Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor—His wisdom is perfect. He never made a mistake, never had to guess the right path. His way is always flawless.

Mighty God: He had the ability to carry out the perfect plan. Christ’s authority is everlasting, and He reigns as Lord over all creation.

John 1:1-4 (AMP) In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.

Yet, He became a man, just as human as you and I.

Everlasting Father: This isn’t about the first person of the Trinity. Jesus is like a perfect father to His people, bringing us into His family and holding us forever. “Everlasting” doesn’t just mean eternal—it speaks to the never-ending care He has for us. There will never be a moment or a single day when the Lord of creation doesn’t love you. He is, in every way, a perfect father.

Prince of Peace: Sin ruined so much for us, but Jesus was the only one who could end the separation between us and God. He bridged the gap, taking our place for the sins we committed. He loved us enough to willingly make that sacrifice, despite our flaws. True peace and prosperity don’t come from personal achievements or setting goals to become a better person next year—they come from fully embracing Christ.

Without Jesus, having everything still means we have nothing.

John 15:5 (AMP) I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

I have been meditating on Jesus being our everything. Then this revelation came to me: I am somebody. He is our Everything. When the somebody tries to take the role of our Everything we are out of order and chaos enters our lives. This is when we open the door for offense, resentment and strife. It is when I am content with being a somebody that I am full of joy and then I can offer others grace, mercy, forgiveness and even peace.

I am meant to be a branch, not someone else’s’ root. He is our Everything. When we stop trying to be everything then our Prince of Peace can take his rightful place in our hearts. Strongholds can be broken. I do not have to go through the cycles of happy, disappointment, depression and resentment. My joy is found in the Lord. Insecurities flee and I am content in being a someone not their everything.

This Christmas remember He is our Savior and you are not. Us being a someone should point others to the One who was, is and always will be our Everything. Take a step back and reflect on the why you are doing something. Who are we reflecting? Will this glorify God? I am praying for you.

God, our Creator, You are wonderful and holy, worthy of eternal glory and honor. Thank You for sending Your Son, our Marvelous Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Comforter, and for Your Word that helps us know You more. We repent for trying to take the place of savior in others’ lives and making everything revolve around our own happiness. You are our Everything. Shape our hearts to align with Your vision and plan and help us surrender to the roles You’ve truly called us to, as ministers of reconciliation. You alone deserve all glory and honor, and You are enthroned as the most important in our lives. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Peace like a river

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

I had that dream again, the one where I am at on old job and I am utterly confused. In 2007, I opened a child care center to help with the finances of my church. We had bought this large facility and needed other forms of income. All profit went back to the church. About eight years ago I had to close it because of various reasons. Every once in a while I have a dream about still running it and being very confused. The confusion was that I do not remember buying the food to feed the kids and secondly, I do not remember making deposits and writing checks for payroll. Why are people still here? Then I remember that it is closed and nobody should be there. I woke up anxious.

What can give us anxious dreams? I have to remember that when I try to work out a problem, I am pulling on my own strength. When I seek the Lord about an issue, then I am getting His strength. I cannot divulge what is going on at this moment, but I can tell you that I am wrestling with my mind about an unresolved relationship. I have been in prayer about it for a little over a month, and God told me something yesterday that made me have to die to myself even more. I told God that I do not know if I can do it and be sincere. However, it is not about me, I want Him to get the glory for this.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about 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 minds in Christ Jesus.

In the books of Judges we read the story of Gideon, a man from the smallest tribe of Israel. God chose him to defeat the Midianite army. You can read his story in Judges 6-8. Gideon did not go looking to be a hero, he did not set out to bring peace to his land. However, there was a need and God knew that he could find someone faithful in Gideon. The army that he gathered was initially much larger than they ended up with. God did not want them to think they won the victory because of their strength, He wanted them to win it with His. So there goes Gideon with 300 men against an army. We know that there was victory for them and they had forty years of peace.

Judges 6:23-24 (AMP) The Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah, of the Abiezrites.

At the beginning of the story, Gideon called God by the name “The Lord is Peace.” In other translations it is “Jehovah Shalom”. While shalom does mean peace it carries a deeper meaning of completeness and wholeness. Jesus is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). We are whole and complete in Him. This is what Gideon was rooted in to go out against such a great army. It is Jesus within that I have the strength to do the hard things. It takes two people to stay in strife, it only takes one person to bring peace to a situation. I want to be that one person. I want the other person to know that peace too. I want them whole and complete. No other reason than that they are deeply loved.

Isaiah 66:12 (AMP) For the Lord says this, “Behold, I extend peace to her (Jerusalem) like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you will be nursed, you will be carried on her hip and [playfully] rocked on her knees.

Colossians 3:15 (AMP) Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].

I am thankful to God for this challenge, it will bring even growth in myself. Above all I desire His glory to be manifested in the midst of this situation. I am calling on my Jehovah Shalom and wanting the peace of God to over take me like a river. Notice I did not say a babbling brook. These waters are not calm but His peace is there. I do not need to be anxious for the future, because He is the God of Peace. I am complete and whole in Him. Today’s breath prayer has been, “Lord, You are my Rock and my Shield.” My body has completely loosened from the tension of the morning. No other conversation needed other than between God and myself. Peace like a river.

Adonai, Lord, Jehovah You are more precious than anything we could ever imagine. You are our Jehovah Shalom. Thank You for Your Son, the Prince of Peace. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. Thank You for the growth opportunities. Thank You for the challenges that You see before hand and have prepared a way. You made a way in the wilderness. You are the same God. We repent for thinking we have to it all on our own. We repent for keeping our minds on anything other than You. We know that there are complication in life, but we are not without You. Thank You for giving us the strength to stand. We thank You for Your Word. It is Your Word that we find our source of life and strength. Your Word is like the freshest water to quench the deepest of thirsts. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Not Just a Story

John 17:5 (AMP) Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory and majesty that I had with You before the world existed.

Merry Christmas! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this blog. I pray it inspires you and brings the spark of new life into your heart. I was watching some reels on my social media the other day and I had run across one with Will Smith on a British talk show. There was a musician with a keyboard and he started playing the keys of a theme song, to a very famous sitcom, from the 90s. Would you know the audience picked it up immediately and started reciting it? They started out “Now, this is a story all about how my life got flipped-turned upside down
and I’d like to take a minute just sit right there I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-A.” That’s right, they sung the entire theme song to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air without any other prompting but hearing those famous notes strung together.

The above scripture comes out of a section in my Bible called “The High Priestly Prayer.” Could you imagine hearing Jesus speak and talk to God the way He did? Could you imagine being there? If you were not completely confident that Jesus was the Son of God, then you would think He would be absolute bonkers. He is talking about being present at creation. Honestly, He would have to have been for this whole salvation plan to work.

Genesis 1:1-4 (AMP) In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness.

Luke 1:35 (AMP) Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.

Emmanuel, means God with Us. This is not just a piece of God, this is all of God. When we think of this day, and we tell our children about the story of Jesus being born in Bethlehem, do we really convey the majesty of it all. The same power of God at creation was birthed in a manger. He really live, died and was resurrected. This is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This is the same power that lives in us (Ephesians 1:19-21).

I read a chapter of Luke every day in December. However, it is not the only thing I read in December. I pick an advent devotion. This year I am reading Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always by Ruth Chou Simons. Like this author, I believe that Emmanuel should not only be thought of once a year. Our posture and our response to the Word of God is so very important. What does the celebration of our Messiah mean to you? Can you really say He is all of this?

Isaiah 9:6 (AMP) For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Then live like it. Do not let the only time you show kindness is this time of year. Do not let this be the only time that you give gifts or to be generous. When it is your birthday, look for you to take someone out and not for someone to take you out. Emmanuel is not a character in a book. Jesus is not someone we just talk about on Sundays. We are not reading our Bibles for a good story. Jesus is more than a story. When you hear the word being preached you should want to join in and talk about His word with passion (not telling you to or giving you permission to do so). The Word should be so that much alive in you. I am going to leave you with these words from John 1. They are some of my favorites and as you reflect on this day and the days to come, let them stir His glory inside of you. Emmanuel, God is within us.

John 1:1-14 (AMP) In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]. There came a man commissioned and sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe [in Christ, the Light] through him. John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light. There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. He (Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish nation] did not receive and welcome Him. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified]. And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).

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Who do you say I am?

2 Samuel 22:47 (AMP) The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.

Psalms 46:10 (AMP) “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”

While in prayer yesterday, I kept going back to “I exalt You, Lord.” There is a reassurance within yourself when you are rooted and grounded in the knowledge that He is our Rock. Why not exalt Him? It comes from what we say He is. We often limit the greatness of God in our lives by filtering His awesomeness through the lens of our view of the world. How can you tell? It is by the words that we speak, by our actions and by the way we respond verbally or non-verbally (your attitude).

Luke 6:46-49 (AMP) “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you?  Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a [far-sighted, practical, and sensible] man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and yet could not shake it, because it had been securely built and founded on the rock. But the one who has [merely] heard and has not practiced [what I say], is like a [foolish] man who built a house on the ground without any foundation, and the torrent burst against it; and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

We are going to have times when the waters of life comes against us. We can either collapse under the pressure or be secure in who we are in Christ. Christ is our Rock. Be still and know (recognize and have a deep understanding) that He is God. We often want God to take us out of the storm or to cancel the storm. How can we exercise our faith or our peace if we never have to use it?

When I read the word foundation, and remembered the rock that it was lain on, I had to go back to Jesus’ question: “who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16:15-19 (AMP) He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]. I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven.”

The word rock is not singular in meaning throughout these verses. In Hebrew, as referred to in the old testament verses, it is tsur, meaning a word that describes God’s constancy, strength, power and presence. In Greek, it is petros, sharing origins with Petra and Peter. Often we reference “rock” here as revelation knowledge (knowledge that you now live by because you understand it). If we are referring to Jewish tradition, they often referred to Moses, so Jesus being the Rock would be God’s provision for us (the grace and goodness of God flowing through Jesus as released through the Holy Spirit).

So which it is? It is all of it. When we try to make the definition singular, when we try to limit to just one aspect, we limit who God can be in our lives. Jesus is asking, “who do you say I am?” If He is Lord, then act like it, stop running the show. If He is your Savior, do you really know what that means? “Sozo” is the greek word for salvation, but it is way deeper than the forgiving of sins. It means wholeness of spirit, soul and body. Is He Immanuel, God with us, then invite Him in to every part of your life. If He is your Prince of Peace, then lay down the anxiety and worry. Can He be your Everything? Can He be the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, Immanuel, our Rock, Prince of Wholeness, our Healer, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father…Everything? If you are not ready to take it all in, I understand, it can be so much. I made up my mind a long time ago that I wanted everything God had for me, so that meant I could not limit who He was in my life. I want that for you life too. Be still and know is the confidence in me to do the hard things. He is my Rock, a firm foundation.

Abba, Father, Creator, God, You are so Marvelous, You are so Holy. Holy, Holy, Holy is Your Name. Thank You for sending Your Son. Thank You for providing the Rock of our Salvation. Thank You for the Holy Spirit. Thank You for our Wonderful Counselor. We repent for not laying the correct foundations in our lives. We are sorry for the times we put in our own reasoning along with Your Goodness and Mercy. We repent for the times we have allowed bitterness, unforgiveness and self pity to take part in who we allowed You to be in our lives. We are sorry for limiting You. We want Your fullness, You make us whole. Our redemption is not just for ourselves, it is for all. Give us the courage today to step out in boldness and proclaim Your Great Name. You are our Everything. We are secure and grounded because of You. Let us not speak anything contrary through our lips. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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A vow from rejection

Ephesians 4:2-3 (AMP) With all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].

We are in the middle of what we call “Holy Week.” This is the week we are reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus came to give us restoration. He restored our relationship with the Father, but He also restored us to peace, to fullness and to wholeness. He restored us to Kingdom purpose. So why are we still looking at each other as broken and ready to hurt each other?

We have turned the thoughts that “not everyone will understand us” into “not everyone is for you.” It is okay when others will not understand us, but when not everyone is for us, then we have an enemy. Why? Our thoughts are now they are out for our harm. I have a question. Does the thought that not everyone is for you bring you peace? Does it bring you the desire to seek restoration? Does it bring you the desire to seek unity? Then can we say, does that match the character and nature of God?

Romans 12:14-18 (AMP) Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them]. Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself. Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

I know that when I have thoughts that someone meant to harm me, or they were hoping that I would fail, it does not bring me peace. It brings me anger. It brings hurt. It brings in comparison. It brings the feeling of being unloved. So why is it okay for us to say “not everyone is for us.” The enemy, the devil, is not for us. However, we do not fight against, nor struggle against, flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).

What if what they said hurt my feelings? What if they did not help me succeed?

I just did a online fundraiser to raise funds for our youth at attend summer camp. I needed to raise $500 for the deposit. We raised $100 of it through them. There was also the option to donate without purchasing the product. We raised another $100 that way. What would your thoughts be if you started seeing people on your feed using the same source (setting up their own fundraisers), but they did not give into yours? It is not for the same cause. What do we do? They did not give into mine, so I am not going to give into theirs? What about when those that you thought would support you, don’t?

How about this real life scenario? I had planned to have my 18th birthday party at my grandmother’s pool. I had also invited a bunch of people. Another girl, in the same grade, had one a few weeks before and lots of people were just having a blast. My party came up and just one of my friends showed up. When I was much younger, this pool was the hangout spot for all the neighborhood kids. You could find my friends and I there just having a blast. Now flash forward to my 40th birthday and it is during the COVID lock down. My family decides to throw a surprise let’s have a car parade party. Sounds fun? Let me tell you it was awkward when not many cars show up. However, I did have more than one friend show up this time.

What does all this have to do with the idea of not everyone is for you? The root of it is rejection. This is the vow we have used to protect our hearts. Will it bring peace? Jesus was sitting at a table knowing that very evening that one of his close friends would betray Him. He still fed Him. He did not tell the others and point him out as “not for us.” He loved him. Jesus said, “So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets (Matthew 7:12).” Who is He talking to? Us. The nature of man is to do the opposite. We want to treat others on how they treat us. When Jesus tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated.

My verse at the beginning is a continuation of a thought by Paul. He starts off with: So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]”… In the Modern English Version, Ephesians 4:1 states, “walk in a manner worthy of the calling you were called.” What am a I called to? The ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:10-21). As I mature as a believer, my focus is on reconciliation, not who showed up for me. Have I had moments of immaturity? Yes. By the world’s definition was I right? Yes. However, if I follow the example of the Word I am not. I have had to die to that part of myself. It has been one of the hardest things to do. What does it cost? My pride. What do I gain? Peace. Those vows only bring bondage and I would rather live free.

Father, You are all I desire, not for what You can do for me but for who You are. I thank You for sending Your Son to be the Prince of Peace, He is the ultimate example of what it is to serve and love unselfishly. I repent for coming short in areas, when I wanted to live for me. I repent for getting mad and holding people hostage for them not showing up for me. I desire to live a life worthy of the call of restoration. I desire to live a life of Your character, Your integrity and to grow into the maturity of Your Kingdom. I thank You that Your Word has been written on the palms of my hands, it has been inscribed on my forehead and it pours out of my mouth. I thank You that it is for the purpose of reconciliation, so that I focus on Your truth. I take captive every thought, imagination or argument that I have had to bring division to my calling. I choose love today. I choose forgiveness today. I choose hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen.