Catch hold!

Every now and then the Lord will drop a quick word for Rhema. Something quick that gets straight to the point. Today, just happened to be one of those days. I was sitting here and He said to tell you to CATCH HOLD! Right now, He is looking for total obedience. You don’t have time to play around with fear, doubt or PEOPLE! He said that where He is taking you, you must simply obey. If He says, call Ms. So and So. Call her! If He says, give Bro. Jim $20, do it. If He tells you to leave that dead relationship, get to moving! There is purpose to every instruction and a right timing to every assignment. You just need to catch hold of what the Lord is saying and MOVE.

Well, God, that sounds good and just like you but that’s hard. I mean they may not be seeing what you’re seeing so I need a little bit more. He immediately sent me to Isaiah 41:13, and it blessed me. It says, “For I hold you by your right hand- I the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Ummmmmm? Did you get that? You aren’t in this thing by yourself. That ministry, that new career, that marriage, that book, that forgiveness, whatever your “IT” is, God is with you! He is holding your right hand…your strong hand…and He is promising His help! Mam, sir! Stop playing with your gifts. Stop holding back your love. Stop running away from your assignments. It’s time to catch hold of what God is saying. He doesn’t waste His words. They all have a purpose that they must accomplish. Do you want to miss out on your purpose because you didn’t listen? Catch hold!

So just as I was getting ready to end this, the Lord sent me back two verses and told me to share with you. Sometimes, you can miss what you’re supposed to be doing because of your past or what other people have said or done to you. Well God wanted you to be clear that you don’t have to worry about those things. You just need to hear, receive and move! The words that He spoke to the children of Israel in their time of need, He told me to share with you.

Look, everyone who hated you and sought to do you wrong
        will be embarrassed and confused.
    Whoever challenged you with hot-headed bluster
        will become as if they never were, and nevermore will be.
     You may go looking for them, but you won’t find them;
        because those who tried to fight with you will become as if they never were.
     After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God,
        who has hold of your right hand,
    Who whispers in your ear, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.” (Is. 41: 11-13, VOICE)

Now…CATCH HOLD!

Amen...

 

Step out of the way!

Okay, can I be honest with you today? Wait, a better word would be transparent. This morning the Lord told me to write what was on my heart and He would respond. I’ve done that before but today I felt like that meant exposing some things about myself that I didn’t particularly want to share. But God said to do it and so I will. Welcome to the heart of Ebony on this Thursday morning…

I don’t know about any of you, but sometimes I give myself fits! I doubt what I hear, I struggle with my call, and I try to make other people be who I wish they were, even when God has showed me something different. Sometimes, I look at myself and wonder how in the world He chose me to do the things that He keeps putting before me. I’m just not that good! If I had my way, I would be at my house watching Murder, She Wrote marathons and eating warm brownies with caramel sauce. But somehow, He keeps telling me to go out and spread the word. He keeps saying love on that person and encourage those people even when I really need that encouragement for myself. He keeps saying write those blogs and books and have that retreat and I fight Him on every step, trying to figure out why. What in the world was the Lord thinking when He picked me? But then I remember what He said when He called me. He told me that I was always obedient, even when I went kicking and screaming. Even if I didn’t know how it was going to get done or work out, I would say yes.

I got excited this morning thinking about that! Maybe I’m in better shape than I thought when I first started sharing this. But then the Lord said to me, “Now step out of the way!” What? Step out of whose way, Lord? He responded with, ”Yours and mine!” Whew! Y’all, I immediately took offense to that one. I mean, He went for the jugular, didn’t He?  I’m not in His way, right? I’m obedient. I do what He says even though it has been uncomfortable and painful at times. How is that being in the way? But then the Lord reminded me of the times that I talk down my gift, how I sometimes will compare my journey to others, that I get frustrated with promoting the things He has told me to do. And I began to see what He meant. I’m slowing myself down by fighting back against the assignment and the purpose that He has given me. I’m hindering someone else by not going full steam ahead with what He has put before me. I’m in the way!

What about you? Are you standing in your own way…in the Lord’s way? Have you let your desire to be in control or your fear of what’s next keep you from going to the next level? Today, the Lord reminded me that He has amazing things in store for you and for me but we have to take several steps out of His way. We have to be willing to get on the ride called destiny. We have to be willing to take our hands off the rail and move our foot away from the brake. If the Lord is trying to separate you from some places or some people, do it. There’s something new waiting on the other side of your obedience. If the Lord is trying to take you to a new level, go! There’s a new anointing waiting on the other side of your trust. If the Lord is trying to mature you in an area where you have previously lacked, agree! There’s fresh revelation waiting on the other side of your faith. Step out of the way!

As I was getting ready to write my customary “Amen” to end this entry, the Lord told me to end with His words to Peter when he tried to get in the way of God’s plan in Matthew 16. Jesus directly reminded us in this verse that the enemy is at work when we try and get in the way of what God is doing in our lives. So let’s not have to be on the receiving end of the Lord’s rebuke. Instead let’s let Him be in charge and get out of His way. “But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.” (vs. 23 MSG)  So in the words of Martin, “Get to steppin!”

Amen

You made the cut!

I’ve been overwhelmed this week with Travis Green’s song “The Hill”. One particular line has been on repeat in my mind and has truly spoken life to me. In the midst of an ad lib, Green sings “The cross don’t discriminate”. Don’t get caught up in the grammatical issue with the statement but rather feel the enormity of what he is reminding you of. What Jesus did on the cross was for you! You with your bad attitude. You with your doubt. You with your bad decision making. You with your struggle. You with your lagging faith. You with your rejection. You with your fatigue. Christ took all of that and put it on His back and wore it straight through crucifixion to victory. He didn’t have a list of “yes” and “no” and cast the sins of some aside. Nope…He took it all! So today, it is my assignment to tell you that whatever you are facing, worrying about, trying to overcome has been handled.  Your “it” made the cut because the cross doesn’t discriminate. Everyone was eligible for true freedom!

Sometimes when there is a lot going on in your life, you can be distracted by the noise. You can’t hear and you can’t discern which voice you should be listening to. It’s in those moments that the enemy tries to take you back to all that you have missed or gotten wrong. He’s tricky and persistent and will look for any small opening to squeeze through. Don’t let him, saints! Don’t get caught up in what you see and miss what God is doing. Where a lot of you go wrong is that you make regular trips back to Calvary! Not to celebrate what Jesus did but rather to pick up what He took away from you. Stop doing it! Change your direction and focus your attention back on the freedom that He has already given you. Your responsibility is to stay in that place and LIVE! Your “it” can’t win against the freedom of Christ because the cross doesn’t discriminate. Sin is defeated because of what He did!

Romans 6 spoke to me this morning and reminded me of WHO I belong to! Sin and doubt and all of those old things can no longer keep you bound. Will you receive it today? Will you tell abandonment to flee? Will you tell sin to flee? Will you recognize that what Christ did was for every situation that you face? Especially this one!

“Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God.” (Rom. 6:6-14 MSG)

Can you celebrate with me in this moment? Can you lift up a shout that your “it” cannot hold anything over your head? Can you do a dance or run a lap because the cross doesn’t discriminate? Can you receive the finished work of Christ in your life? I declare today that you have the victory! It was finished way back on Calvary and today you will walk it out! Victory is yours, says God! It has been handled and YOU ARE FREE! Receive it…

Amen

Celebrate!

I don't have much for you this week! This is the first time in almost six years that I have been this late with Rhema and my nerves are torn up. I've had a crazy week and my Thursday and Friday just plain got away from me. The Lord gave me a quick word of encouragement and that's really it.  And when I tell you that  I’ve tried over and over again just to get this word to you with no real success. Finally, He said me just send the word. You see, some of you have been going through some real challenges and you have been waiting for confirmation that it is  soon to be over.  Well, God sent me straight to Psalm 118:21-25 in the Message translation yesterday morning and hasn't let me forget it. He told me that it is time for you to celebrate your victory. It's time to remember that what Christ did was a finished work and rejoice! Are you ready to take off those grave clothes and dance? This is your day…the day!

“Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is GOD ’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day GOD acted— let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, GOD. Salvation now! Oh yes, GOD —a free and full life!” (Psalm‬ ‭118:21-25‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

I need you to put David’s words in your mouth TODAY! Generations before Christ was born, he prophesied Christ’s victory. David spoke of the overcoming spirit of Jesus and how important that is for you and me. Come on! Get excited. No matter what people have named you or called This is the very day that God will act on your behalf. This the day He frees you from bondage. This is the day your marriage recovers. This is the day He saves your whole family. Isn't that enough to celebrate? My prayer for you today is that you experience true rejoicing. That you know what it is to be confident enough in the God that created the moon and the stars. Trust your life and your rejoicing with the God who finishes. So join me, today with a shout of celebration! God has acted on your behalf…

Amen.

He's got just what you need!

One of my favorite hymns growing up was Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. I can still hear the strong voice of Mr. Clyde, one of the deacons, singing “Leaning, ohhhhh, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.”  I loved to watch the old saints as they sang because you could tell it meant something to them. You may not have understood why they got so into it but you knew the words were doing something. Then one day, you wake up and realize that the only way you are going to make it through that particular day is if you lean on the arms of Jesus. You realize why the saints were shouting and waving their hands. You see, that song was written almost 130 years ago but it can still minister to you. It can still remind you that as long as you stay wrapped up in the arms of Jesus, you are safe and secure from all alarms. Do you know why that is? It’s because God has not changed. He is everlasting and eternal. Today, I just simply want to remind you that God is still just what you need.


One of my favorite scripture passages is 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10. It literally blesses me every time I read it! I think it’s because it reminds me that I cannot do this journey in my own strength. This passage comes right after Paul’s account of his own out of body experience in heaven. He received so much revelation that he was given a thorn in his side to keep him humble. Paul begged God 3 times to remove the thorn and God finally responds with “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” Sometimes, you can get so caught up in the problems, the weights, the burdens, that you forget the solution is already present. God’s grace and strength are always at work and you really don’t have to do anything except receive it. God is still just what you need.


I remember doing a bible study lesson once that focused on the armor of God. There was a lively discussion about being prepared daily for battle. The question was raised as to why folks think it’s a good idea to put the armor on in the middle of the battle instead of at the beginning. Ephesians 6 has been available for centuries, yet people still find themselves losing the same battles due to lack of preparation. Why is that? God has not changed! He has given you everything that you need to resist the enemy and win! I love what Paul says in Ephesians 6:10 – 11, “God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way.” (MSG) God is still just what you need.


I just want to encourage you today to stay rooted and grounded in the God who does not change. He is faithful and He is working things for your good. It’s hard sometimes, because it feels like the hits keep coming, the challenges keep popping up, and the struggles keep growing but tell yourself like David that “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” (Ps. 138:8a NKJV) He won’t abandon, forsake, or fail you. He still has just what you need to make it through whatever you are facing! Come on, family, sing with me! “What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.”


Amen

I'll just say YES!

Over the last several months, the Lord has been giving me a series of challenges. They have been hard and have hit every major area of my life – family, finances, job, and church. I couldn’t understand why I kept having to deal with these scary places. I knew in my heart that they were meant to grow me and my trust level, but I still struggled with the why. Today, I got my answer and the instruction to share it with you.  Ready? He is increasing the speed of your yes! He wants you to get to the point where you see a challenge or an instruction and you just say “yes, Lord.” No more struggle with your ability, or your capability, or your authority. It’s time to step into acceptance. You are blessed. You are strong. You are anointed. You are HIS!

It’s a funny thing about the word yes. I’ve always had a hard time with it because it meant agreeing to something that had consequences. For someone who likes to be in control and analyze all of the potential outcomes, yes does not come easy to me.  It almost implies a level of weakness in certain areas because it could mean that you are agreeing to something that you may not want to do. I’ve realized that the reason God has challenged me so much in this area is because He wants me to understand that He isn’t going to lead me to a place that He has not already planned for. Ministry was scary but He already had Rhema for me. Marriage was scary but He already had Kevin for me. Moving back to North Carolina was scary but He already had a promotion for me. None of those examples were easy and they involved a whole lot of trust but my yes to them opened up life for me. Do you understand that when you say yes, God is free to move?

You would think that Matthew 5:37 would be the scripture that immediately came to me. “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” (NKJV) It would make sense, right? Say yes and stick with it! But no, the Lord said to me, “Your yes has to be wrapped in My Son’s yes.” Whew!! Blessed my whole life! He sent me to 2 Corinthians 1. Paul is talking to the church of Corinth about why his plans changed in the middle of his trip. Apparently, there is some concern about what his yes meant. Paul answers firmly about what yes means in God. “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting His Yes within us. By His Spirit He has stamped us with His eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.” (2 Cor. 1:20-22 MSG)

You have to decide today that your yes together with who Christ is, will carry you to destiny. You cannot be swayed by people or by the enemy. You must simply exercise your yes, knowing that the Lord, by giving us the Holy Spirit, has guaranteed the activation of His promises. No more delayed obedience. No more fearful maybes. No more doubtful declarations. God is calling you to a quick yes! He is calling you to hear the instruction and respond with a yes. In the last couple of weeks, I have seen God move miraculously in my yes.  I made a decision to not panic when challenges came my way but rather, respond with “Ok, God. I will do just what you have told me to do.” Even in my discomfort and if I’m honest, my fear, I said yes and I said it quickly and God moved.  If God is showing you something, speaking to you about something, or moving you to something, throw fear away right now and say YES! And do it fast! Victory will follow…

Amen

Freedom in the finish!

I have been writing a book for over a year. It has literally been one of the most challenging and draining experiences of my life. In order to finish it, I had to live it and that was not fun by any stretch of the imagination. There were a lot of starts and stops, revisions, revelations and struggles. There were days where I threatened to quit and days when I literally walked away from it. I had people in my corner, praying for me and pushing me to keep going it but I still felt like it was me and God playing the “staring game”. You know, the one to look away first would lose. You know how that went, right? Of course, I never won. Mainly because God wasn't playing games with me. He had an assignment for me to do and He was going to stick with me until I completed it. Well, I finally finished this past weekend! Hallelujah! This morning as I was looking at revisions, God told me that He was teaching me about the freedom that comes with the finishing. Whew! Friends, you have to finish what God has called you to do and you must make steps towards it today.

I really began to think about what to finish something. It means to bring something to an end or to completion. It's final stage.  As I went through this book process, I really desired to finish. It was my ultimate goal and what I pushed towards for months even when things got really hard. The thing about it is, life didn't have the same goal. Life, people, the enemy had different agendas but I still had to keep my eyes on finishing. Sometimes, I had to say no to my family and rearrange my schedule because I HAD to finish. What have you allowed to get in between you and completing your assignment? What have you used as an excuse to put off what needs to be done? You see, when God gave you that assignment, He already planned for the ending! He already blessed it and said it would be better than what you started with. How do I know? Well, Ecclesiastes 7:8a says that “better is the end of a thing than its beginning.” (ESV) It's time to get to work! There's a celebration waiting at the end of that thing and it will be better than what you imagined!

I asked the Lord to elaborate on the freedom part. Partially, because my book is about freedom so I didn't want to hear wrong just because I'm in that mode, but also because I thought freedom was a little bit of a stretch. He pointed me to Jesus! When you think about all that He had to endure on the cross, you don't automatically think about freedom. But the Lord reminded me about the work of ministry and the building of a Kingdom that Jesus did in those 3 years that He walked the Earth. He was writing the greatest story that you will ever hear and He finished it. He was very clear about His assignment and said things like, “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”(John‬ ‭4:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) But more importantly, it's what happened when He finished the work of the cross and uttered the words, “It is finished.” Those words set the stage for resurrection and victory! Because He finished His assignment, you can live! Because He finished the assignment, you don't have to be bound to the influences of sin. Because He finished His assignment, you will have eternal life. What greater gift can finishing than freedom from death, hell and the grave!‬‬

Saints, don't keep putting off what God is calling you to do. There is a freedom dance waiting at the completion. There is a sense of accomplishment in knowing that you not only did what he said but you finished! Come on, saints, freedom is waiting on you to cross the finish line!

Amen