The Mirror

James 3:11

King James Version
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place      sweet water and bitter?

The Bible says no. It shouldn't be. 

What did Jesus say about the matter?

Luke 6:45 

King James Version
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

I think that sums it up pretty well. 

Regardless of how good we are at fronting, our tongue will eventually show a true reflection of what's in our hearts...

God help us!  🙏🏽

❤

Silence is not Weakness

Yes, I saw it.  I heard it.  I discerned it.  It pinched my heart, but I kept it moving and didn't say a word.

Many can say the same.  Am I right?

What kept us silent?  Love, seeking peace, wisdom, forgiveness, and grace.

But dear one, here's a warning: Never ever mistake silence for weakness.  Many have learned that the hard way.  They crossed a line that let loose something they couldn't handle.

Bottom line: Treat people right.  Treat them like you want to be treated.  Sound familiar?

God help us!  🙏🏽

❤

Step Outside Your Bubble

I admit I don't understand the angst about the vaccine.  I just don't get it...I really don't. 

Shots have been mandated in this country longer than I can remember for the purpose of protecting the people of this nation.  It's written into Florida's statutes.   

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099/1003/Sections/1003.22.html 

Sunday evening, I ended up channel surfing trying to find Christian radio programming that wasn't talking about the vaccine.  An advertisement for legal counsel used a scripture that supposedly—it doesn’t—supports the right to reject the vaccine.  A preacher railed against the vaccine during his message. 

Me?  I surfed and frowned, asking the question, “Where is Christ in all of this?” 

Microchips, demonic transmission, DNA alterations...what utter nonsense! 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:  The power of the pulpit should NOT be used to push a political candidate or agenda.  Some Christians view everything that comes from the pulpit as a Word from the Lord.  It should be, but sadly, it is not and folk are being bamboozled.  There will be an accounting one day for the self-serving things perpetrated in His name against His people. 

Please help me out here, but I don’t recall reading where Paul and John supported and organized an insurrection against the emperor because he wasn’t their desired ruler.

When Peter took up arms in the Garden of Gethsemane, did Jesus call down angels and rally the other disciples to join the battle?  

How did Jesus handle the taxation question?  Did He call for His disciples to disobey the laws of the land if they didn’t like them?  

Please understand I’m not against the Church.  I’m a part of the Church.  I am against cherry-picking the Word of God to justify ungodly actions.  I’m against folk living like there is salvation by exception.  I’m against wrapping personal and political agendas in “The Lord said…”   

See, things may be okay in your little Christian bubble, but I challenge you to step outside your bubble and take a look around.  Folk are being negatively impacted by the happenings in God’s House.  Faith has been shaken and there’s been a falling away.  

You and I are the only Bible some people will ever read.  Sadly, some are saying if that’s what it means to be a Christian, they want no part of it. 

God help us!

 

Hanging onto Nothing

 Here's a truth I learned the hard way.

  "People don't change, they reveal who they really are."

                                               - Not sure...

They will wrap up their hurtful behavior in all kinds of beautiful bows--including religious ones.  

For the religious ones, I shake my head and think, "Sweetie, God ain't nowhere in that. That's all YOU."

Pay attention, clue in on what's really happening, and save yourself some heartache. Don't try to hold onto something that was never there in the first place.

I Alone Can Fix It - Part II

 

Wow! Wow! What a ride!

Ever told a toddler not to do something and the minute your back is turned they proceed to do that very thing?

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had to pray some of my son’s friends out of his life.  You know…that kid that everything in you screamed was a bad influence?

That contrary toddler and bad influencer were depicted in the rest of my listening sessions. 

Countless times, the adults in the room told the “toddler” not to do certain things because the outcome would be bad. What did the toddler do? Exactly what they were told not to do.   The grownups tried to silence and stifle the bad influencer, but they eventually slipped the leash and wreaked havoc anyway.

I Alone Can Fix It laid out the timeline for the birth of that “Just say you won” and “Stop the steal” thing.

The part I found the most riveting was when the co-authors (Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker) stepped me through the events of January 6^th from the point of view of the congressmen, congresswomen, and their aides.  I heard more about Pence’s activities on that day.  He became a commanding presence—for most, never witnessed before—during the crisis.

I learned more about those who exemplified true patriotism during that time.  Those who refused to swear loyalty to a person instead of the constitution.  It was encouraging to know there are still people like that in positions of power.

I would love to watch a documentary that’s executed in the same way this book was written.  It would be powerful…

I Alone Can Fix It - Part I

Some time ago, I shared I was interested in the audiobook I Alone Can Fix It, penned by co-authors Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker. I hoped to find out what was happening behind the scenes--from the point of view of those present at the time--that drove the emotions, spiritual responses, and happenings we witnessed in the media.

Well…let me tell ya’, it’s been quite a ride so far! I had a few “Oh, so that’s why that happened,” moments.

The book kicks off with the pandemic. It beautifully illustrates who knew what when, responses to the situation, and the underlying priority that drove those responses. Here’s a spoiler: The people of this nation were NOT the first priority. Every effort was made toward ensuring the desired poll and election results: withholding information from the public, promoting risky actions because it fed the voter base, pushing quick untested and potentially harmful solutions because the perception of some action was better than no action at all.

It’s very plain to see who the bad apples and enablers were during that period. The maneuvering and manipulation were blatant. Backstabbing, in fighting, betrayal, instigation, and retaliation all fed into what we ultimately saw in the media. A VERY toxic environment.

Toni: Leaders, who you allow in your ear is crucial, and when you don’t have a clue, it’s

equally important that you are humble enough to accept guidance from good

sources when it’s offered.

We’ve stepped through the events that led to and the execution of that whole Lafayette Square…nightmare and the aftermath. You remember that, right? Peaceful protesters, horses, rubber bullets, spray, shields…Bible held up in front of the church. Remember?

After viewing the past events through the perspective of those present at the time, my perception of some of the people involved has changed a bit. Everybody wasn’t dirty. The constitution, the nation, and the US citizens were their priority. I’m glad to know that...I really am.

I remember the events reported by the media and how they were reported. The spin. The opinions—I’ve had my fill of those. The so-called experts who are former this-and-that which means they are speaking from stale knowledge and not present-day information. They are not in any briefings or planning meetings to get current and relevant information, yet they speak with authority about what did, can, and cannot happen. Although they’re proven wrong time and time again, folk repeat their misinformation and declarations as truth.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve listened to a live speech, the station cut to the talking heads, and they proceeded to tell me the speaker said something I KNOW they didn’t say. Then what happened? People parroted the lie as truth…

If you’re interested in reliving the events from the past couple of years from the perspective of those with the receipts, I recommend this book.

I’m still listening…

S T O P!

Church organizations are behaving more like cults than the House of God—the House of Love. If a person isn’t a member of a church and doesn’t walk in step with them in all things—right OR wrong, they ostracize and treat them like they’re unlovable. Folk claim they love people, but more besides those who are a part of their organization…cult…should feel their love.

It’s past time to STOP:

• S Seek Him
• T Turn from wickedness
• O Obey the Word of God
• P Pretend no more

Some folk are as prickly as porcupines, but people love and support them ANYWAY in spite of their annoying and tiring stuff, yet they have the audacity to make declarations about who they deem worthy of THEIR love and support. Just…STOP!

Promiscuity—heterosexual AND homosexual (yeah, folk know about it)—is going on throughout the church and those folk still stand over the people of God in places of leadership and ministry. Preachers are boldly setting up “harems” in their churches, treating multiple sisters like they’re the wife and the wife like she’s less than human. You’re out of order! Sit yourself down somewhere until you get yourself in order. S…T…O...P!

Just who do you think you are? God is going to hold us accountable for how we handle His people IN HIS NAME. Oh, my, my, my you’d better STOP!

Folk say they don’t understand why there’s no respect for the House of God. It’s simple: The inhabitants of the House, calling themselves His people, have become the mirror image of those outside the House. Nasty attitudes, hypocrisy, bigotry, infidelity, greed, corruption, lying, hatred, spitefulness, jealousy, isms, and schisms. It’s all going on up in there.

Folk dance (got a sophisticated one too), pray, preach, sing, operate in their gifts, and use their talents, yet their relationship with God was severed a long time ago by their choices. The sinful place they’re living in has become so comfortable to them, they boldly wear it like a second skin. S.T.O.P!

Some try to justify where they are by saying they’re covered by the Grace of God and all else is legalistic. Thank God for His Grace and Mercy! They are constant, unchanging, and available to all. But their choices stepped them out from under the umbrella of Grace a long time ago.

Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

There is no salvation by exception. If I must obey God’s Word, so do you. If I must crucify my flesh and live according to His precepts, so do you. If I have to love without dissimulation, so do you.

The resolution to the whole matter is simple: repent.

We’ve got to earnestly seek relationship with Him, crucify our flesh, turn from wickedness, obey His Word, and quit pretending we’re in relationship with Him when how we live scream a different story.

• S Seek Him
• T Turn from wickedness
• O Obey the Word of God
• P Pretend no more

God help us!

Disastrous Consequences

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what qualifications are required to hold public leadership positions, but looking at the current landscape, I'd say that whole thing needs to be revamped.

Maybe some type of testing should be done to access levels of foolishness, intelligence and common sense. Folk who don't pass set thresholds should be barred from putting their names on any ballot.

The current landscape indicates that putting power in the hands of foolish and unintelligent folk who also lack common sense can have disastrous consequences.

Devastating Consequences

In the past, when my Christian friends posted something I'd found to be untrue, I shared that with them assuming they were like me and didn’t want to be responsible for spreading lies via posts. It wasn't because I was "policing" anyone. Some appreciated it, some didn't. Now, I no longer bother and keep it moving.

Personally, I believe the source of a lie should be held accountable, especially when the lie contributes to horrific outcomes.

Yes, we have a personal responsibility to use due diligence and seek the truth, but the defense that no reasonable person would have believed the lie just doesn't wash for many believe and there can be devastating consequences.

Folk, we're living in scary times and we'd better be sure and very sure that our anchor holds and grips the solid rock--Christ.

God help us!

Beware of the Chameleons

Spiritual Chameleon: A person who pretends to be something they are not, changing their characteristics to present the image needed for a particular environment.  

The chameleon lizard isn’t dangerous, but the spiritual chameleon can be very dangerous indeed. 

The spiritual chameleon has a form of godliness, but no power.  (2 Timothy 2:5)   They can talk the walk, but they cannot walk the talk because they haven’t submitted to God.  

Do you know any preachers who preach the church happy on Sunday, then live raggedy, ungodly lives the rest of the week?  This is a glaring example of a spiritual chameleon.

Here’s another.  Do you know anyone who uses the scripture to support and promote ungodly principles? For instance, they may use the scripture to support a right to kill, break laws, commit adultery (physical or emotional), hate, or treat others like they are less than human?

I’ve seen folk who were full of love for all humanity become sin weighers and judges, resulting in a diminished capacity to love people.  Hmm…wonder what happened to hating the sin, but loving the person—a human with like human needs? 

I’ve seen churches become pits of iniquity when their leadership lived raggedy lives for they take on the same characteristics as the leaders/pastor.

Singles, everybody spouting churched phrases aren’t Bible believing, born-again Christians.  It disappoints me greatly when I see folk who have been taught better, go out and settle for chameleons because they just must have somebody.  

Teenagers tend to dress and behave like their friends, even down to mannerisms and speech patterns.  Want to know what your teen is up to?  Watch their friends.  

Folk who’ve fallen victim to a spiritual chameleon will begin to take on the true characteristics of the chameleon.  Eventually, they’ll become like Samson when his hair was cut—powerless. They’ll still talk the walk, preach the house down, and pray most eloquently. They’ll have a form of godliness—but no power... 

Why does this happen?

      1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV 
      Be not deceived: evil communications [companionship, communion] corrupt 

      good manners.

      Proverbs 13:20 KJV
      He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be

      destroyed.

Beware of the chameleons!

God help us! 

No Surprise Here

The senate has announced it’s verdict to acquit Donald Trump, but that’s not the end of the matter.

Why?  Not only was Donald Trump on trial, but so was his party. This nation--and the world--watched to see how his party would address the horrific events that jeopardize the democracy of the United States of America. 

The verdict may have been rendered, but the matter is not over.  The who, what, when, where, how, and whys of the events involving the 2021 Insurrection have been chronologically ordered and documented for history.  The atrocity will be sliced and diced by scholars, be the subject of investigative documentaries, and discussed/debated in places of learning for infinite years to come.  Because of this hearing, it has now deservedly attained infamy for we must not forget.    

I applaud those Democratic and Republican leaders who—in a bipartisan vote—stood courageously today and chose integrity, morality, and true patriotism. 

Why am I not surprised at the verdict to acquit? Because the rot is extensive and deep...

Splinters

I'm so glad it's God and not man--whose perception and capacity to love is restricted by self-righteousness and personal preferences--who determines our eternal destination.

The Bible tells us our thoughts and ways are not His.  Please, let's hang our God hat up and work on genuinely loving people. 

As our love grows, our perception changes.  Our perception changes because God--who is love--becomes magnified in us. 

Not only will our view of each other change, but our own splinters will be revealed to us so we can pluck them out.

Cry Loud, Spare Not!

 

I grew up in what was known in my small community as the sanctified church. 

Churches today upgrade their praise and worship songs to keep up with the times. Back then, the same songs were song for generations.

I remember how the old warriors would stand and belt out the lyrics with confidence and knowledge for they knew what they were singing about.

Some time ago, one song in particular traveled up from the recesses of my memory and has been ringing ever since with urgency and longing.

The lyrics of the song were taken from Isaiah 58:1.

                     🎶 Cry loud, spare not! Oh, lift up your voice like a trumpet

                           sound. Show my people their transgression and the house 
                           of Jacob their sins. 🎶

I have a recurring nightmare. In the dream, I'm at a home or a church building and have an urgent need to use the bathroom. When I enter the facility, it's filthy. The filth is at an unimaginable level. Think cesspit.

The bathroom is where we go to get rid of the unclean and to become clean, but in my nightmare, it's contaminated, filthy and unusable.

We turn to the church (body of believers) to help/teach us how to become spiritually clean, but it has become spiritually contaminated and...filthy.

What am I saying? There is so much going on in and has been normalized by the church (body of believers) that should not be.

There's a desperate need for those who say they've been called by God to truly walk in those callings. They need to stop sugar-coating and slicing & dicing the Word to keep the pews and offering plates full. They need to stand boldly and proclaim the unadulterated Word of God. FIRST, they should be the first partakers of the fruit. In other words, they need to live what they preach.

Isaiah 58:1 KJV

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God help us! 🙏🏾

It’s not About Us

 

We’ve made it about us and what we want, but it’s all about God and what He wants for us—His will.

We’ve been taught to “name it & claim it” and “speak it into existence”. We exhaust ourselves to the point of depression or burnout faithfully doing so, but the desired answer never materializes.  Yes, I know the Bible speaks of the power of our words. Let me ask you this: In all the instances of your naming it & claiming it, have you ever asked/prayed amiss (with wrong motives)?

Sometimes, I think we get arrogant and put on the “God” hat and decide we know best how to achieve desired outcomes and proceed to implement our agendas, relegating God to the “I’m doing this for Him” status.

God doesn’t need us to provide justifications or excuses for Him when we feel our prayers go unanswered. He is God. Rather, we need to truly prioritize Him and seek to know Him more so we can personally recognize when He does answer us, then accept it. Sometimes, His answer is simply “No” for our desires are not in line with His will for us or what He has purposed for a particular season.

If we give Him priority in all things (delight in Him), He will give us the desires of our heart. Am I saying it will be Christmas and our birthday all day every day? No. This doesn’t mean He gives us everything we want, but His desires for us will become the things we also want to have, and we’ll seek after those things that line up with His will for us.

I believe we can rest in Him when our desires become consistent with His will for us.

Psalm 37:4