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We all face different challenges in life. Sometimes, the same challenge as others but in different ways and during different phases of life. But, no matter what it is we face, we can overcome because we were built as an overcomer. Tonight I had a conversation with my sister/friend who is in the hospital facing COVID. Even as she spoke, I could feel the anointing. The special gift God has given her to break yokes and ease the hearts of others through words spoken or song, rest securely on her lips. All I could think was out of the mouth of the anointed. God has perfected a praise in her even in the state she’s in. Hallelujah! Well, Scroggins what is the thought? How are you handling your challenges or how are you coping with what you're going through? Is your head hung in despair and heart broken to the point you don't want to live? Can you still find something to praise God for right in the midst of your situation? Listen, praising God has been proven to be stronger than the cable wires on a machine made to lift heavy things. Praising God has the power to lift you out of anything. It can change your heart and mind, and give you the strength to press. Even if you have to crawl or make steps like a baby just learning to walk. So, first, you've got to learn to simply: Praise God. Then, you’ve got to learn how, when, and where to praise God. I'm glad you need to know. How? In spirit and in truth and with a joyful noise. When? In the midst of good times and bad and whenever you feel the desire. And, Where? Anywhere and everywhere you go. Can you make this your decree? I will bless the Lord at all times. His praises shall continuously be in my mouth! I just blushed as she spoke of the goodness of God and said, “Now this is the testament of her life.” To be in the throws of sickness, but yet find a praise pouring from your lips shows that we are definitely overcomers. Happy Holidays and please pray for my sister & friend! Danyelle  Excerpt from Grace Restored. You can grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/2HEkU7L or read it on #KindleUnlimited.
I walked into Faith Temple Cathedral, four years ago, and my entire world changes. Every time I take a break from wife and the music, I find myself sitting on this chair beside the oval-shaped swimming pool, thinking back to that very day. I wasn’t sure what I expected or either what I wanted, but what I had that day, was definitely worth more than what I had. I slide into the back row making sure my dark shades didn’t fall when I lowered my body into the seat. I took the seat directly next to a young lady who held her little baby in her arms. Some of the teenagers on the row in front of me looked back at me and waved. Apparently, there were fans a disguise would not fool, but I pretended I wasn’t aware of them. The choir sang, “Oh how I love Jesus,” and a tingling came over me. I closed my eyes, lowered my head and the young lady sitting beside me touched my knee. “Christ loves you.” She whispered and flashed a smile fit for the cover of JET Magazine. Not really knowing what to say, I simply nodded but wondered how she’d known my thoughts. The choir continued to sing, and a tall man whom I presumed the pastor, stood up before the microphone. As if he too heard my thoughts, he spoke, “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done; Jesus loves you.” He simultaneously began to sing along with Faith Cathedral’s heavenly sounding choir. Then he asked,“How many of you take into consideration, we all are filth and rags before the Lord? Thanks belonged to God when the Saints were sinners, Christ died for us. Christ didn’t die because of our goodness, kindness, or sin-free life. Christ loved us and He is still showing us His love now! Can I get a hallelujah?” Pastor Strong asked and the noise level in the church resembled a baseball game. Many of the parishioners were shouting, “Hallelujah,” while some shouted, “Thank you, Jesus.” The reaction of these parishioners reminded me of how fans reacted when I came to the microphone to spit lyrics; the crowd usually goes wild and when they go wild, I go harder. After the pastor got them all crunk, he said he better stop before he wouldn’t be able to preach. To one lady it didn’t matter because she belted out, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord”! And as if on cue, the choir began singing, “Thank you, Lord!” I respected the power of God and its existence, but never had I witnessed anything this powerful before. The church radiated with love and even the pastor showed earnest, genuine love for God and God’s sons and daughters. The Pastor’s willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to move went beyond any act of obedience I’d ever seen before. As men and women deliberately got their break-through, Pastor Strong stretched out his arms, lifted his eyes and head towards heaven, and began to cry. Unresistant, and without shame, this move brought me to tears. I hadn’t cried in a while and even surprised myself. I came through those heavy glass doors searching and expecting, and if it were only tears I found, that was exceedingly wonderful. There was definitely a justifiable cause for my tears. I shed tears for all the times I experienced hurt, for my guilt, and for the pain my mother caused. Again, the young woman next to me came right to my rescue. She handed me a Kleenex and told me that God cared. I needed the words she spoke and held her gesture of kindness close to my heart. Little did I know, God had a plan that beat all of the plans I’ve ever had. All I know is that of all the places I could have sat in this church, when I came through the doors, that seat was calling my name. I was so heavy in my heart behind my mother stealing money from me until I wanted to just run. My grandmother always said, “It’s a poor man that runs and don’t know where he’s running, but a smart man when he runs, he runs straight into the arms of the Lord.” That’s exactly what I did. I ran to the Lord’s house and one thing I know for sure, God met me there. You won’t hear too many rappers like myself say this, but I realized a long time ago, even when I was smoking everyday, that the only person who had my back for real was God. You can take good care of the entourage, buy them smoke, shoes, gold chains, and build stores so they can advance in their own communities, but it’s always a jealous negro hiding in the set. At first, I thought this was some bull. Then I read one day in the Bible when the angels came before the Lord, the devil came with them. That right there made me always keep one eye opened, looking for that devil in my set. He just happened to be using my momma too. Grace Restored; You can grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/2HEkU7L or read it on #KindleUnlimited. WE are living in some turbulent times. We are running from an unseen enemy who is bent on tearing our lives apart. But I need you to know that COVID isn't the first unseen enemy you've had to hide from or deal with. Ever since you've accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, there has been an unseen enemy on your trail. Sometimes, you can see him brewing. And sometimes, he'll sneak upon you, disguise himself as a part of your tribe, and slowly plot to take you down. His bite is just as vicious as COVID, but his aim comes in a three-fold harmony: kill, steal, and destroy. Just as this deadly disease we've been faced with, the Lord has shown me that in the face of this present evil, we've been losing too many folks because they've come into close contact, have been sleeping with, or have allowed the enemy a passageway into their homes (bodies). Well, how do we fight an enemy we cannot see? How on earth do we protect ourselves? I'm glad you've asked because with everything in me, I know it's deeper than the masks and gloves. Those who have survived have been covered by the blood of Jesus; and have unfinished work to be done. And those who have seemingly succumbed, work was completed (on earth). We, who remain, still have a complete understanding that it is by the grace of God that we are still alive and remain. Now, there are three things I want you to get from this thought. 1. The enemy is not going to stop moving just because you are tired. 2. If you let your guards down, it's no one fault but your own. 3. Everyone and anyone close to you, could very well be the enemy's ticket in. 4. The only way the enemy can get into your home, is if you let him in. (I can build a entire message on this one.)And 5. You have to maintain your stance and never leave home without the Blood of JESUS. Danyelle, it's not like I have His blood in a bottle. I get that, me neither. But you do have it in your heart and have the power with your tongue to plead the blood over you, your family, and friends. Now, I know your mouths been running in this season, but I pray after today, you'll add a much needed dose of confession to your conversation that reads like this... I'm covered by the Blood of Jesus. My spouse is covered by the Blood of Jesus. My children are covered by the Blood of Jesus. My parents and siblings are covered by the Blood of Jesus. My friends are covered by the Blood of Jesus. Even, My enemies are covered by the Blood of Jesus. (I need these dudes to stay alive because they keep me on my knees and from thinking I have all the God-attributes and spiritual fruit I need.)  Excerpt from Extravagant Love and you can grab this book here: https://amzn.to/2HFcjBv or on #KindleUnlimited.
Lydianne could feel herself getting sleepy. When she wasn’t hurting, she was fatigued. She decided to close her eyes and just have a conversation with the Lord. Father who am I to think that sickness is not supposed to stop at my door, but I will be less of Your daughter to not believe You are able to heal anything. So, I give me to You. Help me to get the courage to share with my family the text that is before me. Condition their minds and spirit to believe and trust in You. I thank You for all things. You would have never allowed the enemy to look my way unless You have given me all I need to endure. I thank You for enduring power, faith elevation, trial worthiness, and Your mercy and sufficiency of grace, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Lydianne drifted into a deep sleep. The Voice: Run Lydianne, run. He’s after you. Don’t stop. Lydianne: I won’t I’m pushing the leaves just help me. Please, just guide me through it. The Voice: You’re getting ready to come to the waterfall. Lydianne: What do I do? He’s still after me. The Voice: Do you trust me? Lydianne: How can I trust you and I can’t see you? The Voice: Do you trust me? Lydianne: I don’t know. The Voice: Well, do you hear me Lydianne? Hearing me is far better than seeing me? Lydianne: I hear you. I hear you. The Voice: You are about twenty feet from the waterfall. Lydianne: What do I do when I get there? The Voice: Lydianne, you fall. Lydianne: I just fall. Won’t the fall kill me? The Voice: If you fall Lydianne, I will always catch you. Do you believe I will catch you? Tell me! Do you believe I will catch you? Lydianne: I believe you will catch me. I’m willing to fall. I’ll fall because I trust you. Yes! Yes! I hear you, I trust you, I’ll fall… “Lydianne, Lydianne.” “Yes! Yes! I hear you. I’ll fall.” “Lydianne! Baby wake up. Wake up.” “Joseph,” she called his name pulling herself from a deep sleep. “Honey you scared me. You were dreaming about falling. What’s going on? Talk to me Lydianne. Talk to me, Baby. If you fall, I fall. If you are willing to fall, so am I. I’m falling with you baby.” “Oh, Joseph Jourdain. I love you,” she spoke still sounding raspy. “Listen, I love you Lydianne. And whatever it is. God’s got us. Baby when we fall, we fall on grace. And mercy, mercy will keep us from hitting rock bottom.” “Hallelujah!” She responded as tears now flooded her eyes and strolled down her cheeks. Joseph hated to see her cry. As for years he’d been the cause of her tears, but had promised himself to never make her cry again. Especially, from hurtful words or feeling neglected. He didn’t know what to do but when all else seemed cloudy, he did the best thing he knew to do. Prayed. “Hallelujah! Awesome God that You are. Lord, You are worthy and able to do anything except fail. You told us to cast our cares on You because You care for us. God whatever is before us, we know that You are able and we give it to You. God if You have found us worthy to go through trials, persecution, or even sickness, we trust You through it all. Have Your way dear Master and use us for Your glory alone,” Joseph prayed. Lydianne adjusted her body slightly and added, “I trust You, Lord, I trust You.” And though she whispered, her coming into agreement meant so much to Joseph. Joseph kissed his wife on the forehead and decided to give her some time to regroup, but also himself time to sort through his feelings. He was angry. Knowing she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him something important. But what he felt didn’t matter. Hearing her scream out in the dream, caused his heart to sink. In just that moment, Joseph knew something was going on with Lydianne that was greater than he’d imagine. Just hearing her scream out she’s going to fall and then to see the reaction she had when he finally woke her from the dream, he knew it was big. Whatever it was, had the capability to make her fall. But if he heard right within his spirit, God had the power to pick her up. Now, he had to give her a moment to calm down and then find out what was going on with his wife. He retrieved a towel from the bathroom cabinet, turned on the facet, and stood there gazing but deep in thought. Grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/2HFcjBv! |
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