The ENTIRE football team from NC A & T visited my church yesterday. I was completely unaware of their attendance until the coach was thanked for choosing to worship at Mt. Zion and asked them to please stand for acknowledgement. Imagine my surprise when DIRECTLY behind me for at least four or five long rows back the whole football team silently stood in unity. My spirit leaped as I looked behind me and swept a glance across all of those tall, hulking players. (Man, they were enormous!) I promise you that in the spirit I didn't see a football team at all. I saw twelve legions of angels looming over and providing for me (Matthew 26:53); a great cloud of witnesses watching out for me. In that instance I was immensely humbled for I "saw" God's confirmation that He is Jehovah- Shammah. Moments later I warmly embraced several of the players during the meet and greet. With evident strength they embraced me back and it was if I were briefly visiting with archangels. Returning to my seat, I felt sure the Spirit whispered to me, "I've  got your back." If you took the time to read this, that whisper is also for your life today. No matter what you may be going through even in this very moment... GOD'S GOT YOUR BACK. Period.

Have you ever felt like you were literally swirling and twirling in a whirlwind of change? Well I have sure have and I'm certain that I'm not the only one because change is an integral part of LIVING this life! The good news is that whirlwinds are preordained agents of change that have an attached promise that cannot be broken by our God who is constantly making all things new.

If you don't believe it just take a look at an expectant mother's sonogram at eight weeks and then again at twenty-six weeks. What can be seen is undeniable growth and development necessary for healthy life. Next, check out the lowly, underestimated caterpillar that crawls on the ground in the beginning. Now, fast forward to the end of the metamorphosis cycle and marvel at the beautiful creature that has evolved and emerged. Wow, talk about an example for change. This reminds me that I actually have a poster of a beautiful butterfly who has come into its own after a process of time. The quote by Trina Paulus says: “How does one become a butterfly?" she asked.  "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”

The revelatory thing about the butterfly however that is often overlooked is that the only possible way it can become its finished product is that it first has to die. Oh my. It is impossible for me to comprehend this, to write this without recalling the precious words our Saviour, Jesus Christ spoke so long ago in John 10 that still live today: Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

A little further on John 12 reads: Most Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

No matter where we are on our chosen routes we always have the prerogative to CHANGE our minds. As a matter of fact God has been waiting on many to do just that so He can show up and show out in our lives. We must not be insistent on staying a course, remaining in a relationship or continuing to mourn what God has rejected. The moment that we are willing to relinquish our wills... will be the moment that long awaited manifestation appears. Selah.

Just about everyone who watches just a few minutes of TV has seen the AT&T commercial where the kids share their wisdom on needed "turtle-speed." Kid #1 has a good point but kid #2 presents an even better point! If a vehicle is coming and I have no idea if it will crush me or swerve to preserve my life a little longer... I'll take being a fast turtle for 300 please, Alex. 

Recently some friends and I laughed about this very commercial but those kids were really onto something that got me thinking. To a turtle's credit it's not made to travel greater than a certain speed on average; it's just not built for acceleration. We humans on the other hand really do need to know when to put some fire under our feet and pick up the pace to cross over to the other side to a safe place of rest. Truth be told though, just like the turtle, everyone is not built to travel at the same speed despite the same level of desire to get out of the road. 

Whether we're a fast turtle or a slower turtle we can still get to the needed destination because thankfully we serve a gracious God who understands. Just take a look at Ecc 9:11 which says, "I returned and saw under the sun that, "The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all." 

Whether you're a slow turtle or fast turtle, as long as you're in the will of God and covered under His ark of safety... you'll be okay. Selah.

Through every situation requiring an intelligent decision, we MUST stand on the sure Word of God and trust that His promises are true. At every crossroad, we cannot lean to our own finite understanding that has a track record of leaving us stranded every time! Rather, we must acknowledge Him in all our ways knowing that He's ever faithful to direct our paths if we're sensitive enough to follow. 

Since not making a decision is inadvertently MAKING a decision we have to pray and seek the mind of God. Then we must resist the temptation to pretend that we didn't get or understand the answer if it's not the one we desired.  If we say we trust Him, we must keep believing, keep speaking, keep praying and keep standing until He makes it do what it do.  Selah.

Life Coach, Iyanla Vanzant, says: "Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.”          

Have you took a good look in the mirror lately and if so, did you like the image you saw? Was the person looking back at you someone you are happy with, proud of and even encouraged by who she ... IS BECOMING DESPITE all she may have been through? 

In class this week my Professor shared many of the common reasons or excuses students give for why they just cannot make it to and in school. He shared the details of a particular conversation that went something like this... 

Student: "You just don't understand. I'm having problems with this, and this and this. As a matter of fact, I'm really going through hell."  Professor: "GO FASTER!"

Wow! Every hellacious thing that happens to us has been given specific instructions on just how far and how long it can affect us. What we have been given are specific instructions on how to realize that no weapon formed against us can prosper, to tuck our cloaks  and "GO FASTER" by the grace of God through Jesus Christ! 

The power of the LORD came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. (I Kings 18:46)

Abba Father, Daddy-God... 
THANK YOU FOR THE MORNING! You are perfecting those THINGS which concern your people, be it great or small! And by the authority in my word through Jesus Christ I speak to the atmosphere and call everything out of alignment into RIGHT alignment. I decree every wrong made right by the blood! I declare that everything operating in lack shall operate in SUPER abundance, evidenced by MIRACLES on this day that you hae made! I thank you that there is a river flowing in the Spirit all over Your people and according to the Word of God, WHEREVER THE RIVER FLOWS… THERE IS LIFE!

Receive a fresh awareness of Spirit's ability in your life today. Have the complete understanding that you are fearfully & wonderfully made. Stand tall in the power of knowing that through His grace YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. Now that you've got all that... benchpress your authority and make it happen!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed -  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (2 Cor 4)

GET YOUR BASKETS READY FOR THE LOW HANGING FRUIT that is ripe on the vine and belongs to you! No ladder or step stool needed;  it's just that close! Reach up & grab it; it's yours for the asking, plucking or pulling down! Some of it is SO OVER DUE that all you have to do is take that ONE STEP towards it and by God... it's simply going to FALL down because your Spirit has willed it into your hands.

They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit (Isa 65:21).

Ain't no need of wasting precious brain cells on mess & foolishness! 

1. As a man THINKS in his heart so is he. Get your heart right!
2. Think about what you're THINKING about; make thoughts line up with the Word! If they don't, immediately terminate them!
3. THINK positive to attract positive outcomes! Universal law.