Wisdom & Understanding

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:25-27 When I awaken this morning at about 4:45 am, outside my bedroom window I heard a bird singing its little heart out. I said to myself “Come on now, it’s not even 5:00 am; you can’t be THAT happy this time of morning!” As I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the bathroom, I could hear it still singing. I have to admit the bird was giving it it’s all and all. And though I could not interpret what it was saying, I just knew that it was doing what God had created it to do. The bird was singing with such gusto that after a period of time I began to enjo...

However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” I Corinthians 2:9 A couple of weeks ago I took my car for an oil change. This was my first time back to the dealer since purchasing the car last November. When I purchased the car, I noticed that the sales men and staff were very cordial and accommodating, but I chalked this up as them wanting to make a sale. I mean after all they didn’t know me and probably did not care other than making that money. So upon returning to get the oil change, I expected the regular treatment you get at most dealerships and service stations. Not service with a smile but instead the usual treatment is with a bad attitude and little or no patience. And don’t ask the mechanic any questions! First they look at you like you’re nuts, then the smirk and the response is usually full of sarcasm as if to say “I’m the specialist here!!” But when I arrived at this dealership that happen to...

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In You our fathers put their trust; they trusted and You delivered them. They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed. Psalms 22:3-5 “You’ll never be disappointed”. That’s what I heard in my heart today as I talked to the Lord. Rejection and disappointment are two awful emotional feelings. Rejection can have long lasting effects on a person’s life. And if there is no healing there, the person can continuously carry that feeling of not being accepted or wanted. Then comes the disappointment, and feelings of not ever being able to “fit in”. The enemy of our souls can have a heyday with this weakness…if he is allow to. I have had my share of rejection and disappointments. Note* as I share this please know that I am not whining, but being transparent. So don't try to play "Dr. Phil"...I'm just being real. :) As far back as my early childhood, growing up a middle child (...

But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), Philippians 3:7-8 Simply said, I am nothing without Christ. It really is very simple, I mean without Him, I am absolutely nothing…NUTHIN’ HONEY! With all my so called accomplishments, they really aren’t worth a hill of beans in the light of what Christ has done for me. In the early morning hour before I dress for work, I get down on my face and declare before Him...

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? For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Psalms 27:1 and 5 In my Junior and Senior high school years, I was the "darling" of the regional sororities. For some reason these classy ladies felt that I had enough talent to compete in the Talent shows and perform at the Cotillions they sponsored. My music teacher, Mrs. Streater, was a lover of all types of music and her choices to teach me for the competitions were classical pieces. It was this wonderful woman that taught me the classical arrangement of "The Lord is my light". Even though I could hit every note and stay on perfect pitch, I did not know the power in the words I was singing at the time. Though the awards and accolades came, I still did not know what a declaration of faith I was singin...

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. " Psalms 51:10 With all the rain that we've had here in the past week, I would say that the earth has had a good washin'! I traveled south over the Easter break from school to visit relatives. And all down the east coast I was met with rain, in some cases torrential downpourings. Everything has a purpose, so I know that the rain is good for many things. I may not like the clouds, dark skies and muddy puddles that accompany it, but I am sure that the benefits of rain far exceed the complaints. Sometimes our hearts need a good washin'. No matter how many years that I have submitted my life to the Lord, there are still times that I need to take the time and really look into my heart to see if there are things that should not be there. I must admit most of the time that I check I always find something that has creeped in that I know would not be pleasing to God. Whether it be unforgiveness, go...

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it;And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good. Psalms 52:8-9 The Olive tree is mentioned so many times in the Bible, besides it growing in abundance in the Middle East, it has so many helpful uses. In some cultures the Olive leaf represents glory and peace. And then the fruit of the tree is good to eat and we know about all the healthful benefits of the oil. The Olive tree also has a long life span. It is reported that in Crete there is an Olive tree that is at least 2,000 years old. So to be like an Olive tree is a good thing; it means to me that I am useful, have many good benefits and longevity. This can also mean that I am stable and reliable. I am sure that if a tree can stand the test of time for 2,000 years, it has seen some storms; but the Olive tree has proven that it can persevere. With all the dr...