Take off your grave clothes...

 

This morning the Lord told me to speak to the dry bones. I wasn’t quite sure what He wanted me to say, especially since that’s all He said. So if you have been a reader for a while, you know I had questions. My thought was that it’s early in the year and folks have been fasting and praying, having fresh starts and declaring things over their lives. I wondered about the timing of such a message and thought about it most of the morning. Then the Lord instructed me to read the entirety of Ezekiel 37 and see what I saw. Initially, all I saw was a familiar story and message about renewal and being restored by God’s spirit. But then one line in verse 9 caught my attention.

“Next he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath! Prophesy, human being! Say to the breath that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Come from the four winds, breath; and breathe on these slain, so that they can live.’” (Complete Jewish Bible)

I looked through so many translations and particularly to this one that really captures the meaning of the Hebrew words. I saw a word that I don’t think I had ever paid attention to: SLAIN. It’s the past tense of the word slay and it means to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers; to strike down. God was speaking to a people that had literally been taken out by sin, disobedience, separation, and life. They had reached a point that their very essence was taken from them. They had nothing left but the shell of who they were. God had to come in and take them from nothing and rebuild them. From the ligaments that allow them to move to their flesh that covers them to their breath that allows them to actually live. He was making an important statement about His power. He was reminding them that He has the power to resurrect and to restore, even what circumstances, disobedience and sin have killed.

 

Maybe this sounds crazy to you but as I was reading, God began to show me you. He began to talk to me about how people have caused some of you to lose your passion and your purpose. He showed me how sin, disobedience and bad choices have made some of you stray so far from the relationship that you once had. He even showed me how the enemy has worked so hard in your life, that your breath is suspended. You literally have to work to breathe. You have been slain spiritually; killed and left to dry out. But today, God has told me to told me to speak to your dry bones and breathe life on your sadness. He has told me to breathe life on your stagnation. He has told me to breathe life on your fear. God is telling you to rise up, woman of God and get about His business. Stop letting individuals shape your dream. Stop allowing men to dictate your progress. Stop marching around a mountain that I told you to speak to. God is telling you to stand up, man of God and lead your family. Stop letting what “the man” has given you dictate how far you go. Stop letting your children find you on the couch on Sundays while they are heading out to church. Stop letting your pride keep you from asking for help. Receive the breath, dry bones!

 

I don’t particularly like when God gives me groups of people to speak directly to like that because others take it as a sign that God isn’t speaking to them. But here’s the thing! Today, God was so serious with me. He said it’s time for all of you to live. Not just exist and do what you are comfortable in doing but really LIVE. Life in Christ means loving people when it’s hard. Life in Christ means being obedient when He tells you to do the challenging thing. Life in Christ means that you don’t stay at the point of your crucifixion but you get up again to live.

 

In Ezekiel 37:12 -14, God says “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.  Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people.  I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” (NASB) Do you get it? God is telling you to get up out of that grave so that He can place you where you need to be – your own land! He’s making you stop feeling sorry for yourself. He’s making you stop wasting time. He’s making you stop waiting on your situation to change and do what He said. He’s making you get off your high horse and acknowledge that you don’t know everything. GET OUT OF THAT GRAVE! That’s when you will know that He is Lord! That’s when you will know that you are alive again. That’s when you will know that the Lord spoke it and did it!

 

So what are you going to do? Are you going to stay in that dead place, feeling sorry for yourself? Are you going to keep wondering why this happened to you? Why they had to leave you or they had to die? Are you going to write that book? Are you going to start that business? Are you going to be a better spouse? What are you going to do? God has sent me to your valley and instructed me to get your attention. He’s told me to speak to your dry bones and send fresh air your way. Why? Not because I’m so special but because He’s ready to use you to do great things in the earth and none of it will get done from the grave. Get up, dry bones! It’s time to take off those grave clothes and live…

Amen

 

Think it not strange!

When I woke up this morning, I kept hearing the phrase, “think it not strange” but I couldn’t remember what scripture it went with. I knew it was one of those churchy phrases that folks like to use but I couldn’t get the context. It just kept repeating over and over again in my head. When I finally found myself in 1 Peter 4, I just about ran down the hall at my office. Today, God wants to encourage you! He wants you to know that He is watching and nothing that you are going through has gone unnoticed. You see, some of you have had some rough roads to travel and some hard situations to deal with. You have been attacked and somewhat surprised by the actions of those that should know better. But God said to tell you this morning that He knows what He is doing and He has it under control! There’s glory on the other side of what you’re going through.

In 1 Peter, the Apostle Peter is talking to the churches in Asia Minor that are suffering religious persecution and he is reminding them to maintain their faith in spite of the persecution. Chapter 4 is particularly powerful as he reminds the churches of their connection to Christ and His suffering. He reminds them of what they gained by leaving their past behind and embracing Christ and to keep pressing and using the gifts that God has given them. This morning,  God used “think it not strange” to bring me to a section of chapter 4 that I believe will bless you. It reads,

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! It’s judgment time for God’s own family. We’re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it’s going to be like for those who refuse God’s Message! If good people barely make it, what’s in store for the bad? So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what He’s doing, and He’ll keep on doing it. (1 Pet. 4: 12-19 MSG)

Can I just remind you that God is present in your life? He is not taken by surprise when things come against you or challenge your faith. No! He is right there and He is ever ready to protect and keep you. This passage is an encouragement to you to keep doing what He says despite opposition, conflict, and downright evil. The NKJV says, “do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you…” Don’t be surprised that you are being attacked or mistreated because you are doing what He said. Instead, recognize that the test is to grow you and push you to your destiny. That challenging relationship is to build you and transform you for your purpose. It isn’t by accident and it isn’t going to kill you! Nope, it’s to prepare you for the glory that is coming after it. Oh and you don’t have to take judgement or punishment into your own hands. God is not only watching over you and the situations that you face, but He is paying attention to those that He loves that aren’t living up to His word or representing Him well. He will handle it. Take your hands off! In 2017, God is moving you and changing your strategy. He is shifting you out of how you have always done things and birthing creativity out of your obedience. Think it not strange, when the enemy tries to stop you. Just know that He doesn’t have the power to do so…unless you let him.

Amen.

On the other side of the glass...

Imagine yourself standing at a big window in your house. As you look out, you see lots of green fields that stretch for miles and miles. There is lots of beauty and life in those fields, every color imaginable. You think to yourself just how beautiful it is and you wonder what it would be like to go outside and walk amongst those fields. It’s a bit of a struggle to act on that desire because it is nice in your house. The temperature is just right and you know where everything is. You don’t have to search for food or water. You just have to live. What do you do? The Lord showed me this very vision and then He said, ‘sometimes your opportunity is on the other side of the glass’. Okay, God!

Isn’t it easy to get comfortable? You have a great routine, regularly scheduled date night, daily workout time, good seat at church. But what if God is calling you to something new, something challenging, something different? What if He is presenting you with green fields but it requires you to leave the safety of your warm house? What do you do when opportunity comes calling?

I thought about Noah. Noah walked with God. He was perfect in an imperfect world. As a matter of fact, the earth was a mess at the time of Noah. God was sorry that He had even made man. The King James Version says that God repented for making man and His heart was grieved. (Gen. 6:6). It doesn’t get any worse than that, does it? Well, you know the story! God tells Noah to build an ark because He is going to destroy earth and everything on it with the exception of Noah’s family and 2 of every creature, a male and a female. Noah is faced with a choice in that moment. He can trust God and build this boat on faith or he can risk death but stay in the comfort of what he knows to be true…what he can see. He chooses to follow God’s commands. Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.” (MSG) How many times have you let what you couldn’t see stop you from believing God?

What about Abraham? I mean, he was the poster boy for walking out on faith, right? God promised him descendants numbering more than the stars if he would leave his native land and follow Him. What would you have done? Maybe a better question would be have you had an Abraham moment? Has God been speaking to you about stepping out from the familiar? Has he called you to a new place that requires you to trust Him like never before? I remember when I left my home church. It was a devastating time for me. I had to leave all that I knew…my family, my friends, my position. To some, it seemed like an easy move for me. But I was crushed, my spirit was crushed and I was lost. I couldn’t understand how the Lord could make my comfortable house uncomfortable. I couldn’t even see the green fields outside of the window but I had to trust Him. It was difficult but in stepping out in faith, I found parts of me that I didn’t know were there. God didn’t promise me easy but He promised me opportunity and life. “By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going.” (Heb 11:8 MSG) How many times have you let the unknown stop you from moving at God’s instruction?

God has a plan and vision for your life that is sure and beneficial. Though He doesn’t always give you the full layout and it isn’t always easy, you can be assured that it will work for your good.  Folks, you have to remember that your idea of timing and opportunity is not always the same as God’s. He may present something to you that seems so foreign but turns out to be exactly what you need. The whole point is to trust Him and not miss what He has for you because you can’t see the ending or you are scared. For some of you, God has been showing you the outside of the window for a long time. “I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.” (James 2:18 MSG) Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to walk out of the house…

God bless…AMEN

 

Abraham faith!

Happy New Year, friends! I had a bunch of preliminaries but God just told me to get straight to it. So here goes!

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.” (Rom‬ ‭4:18-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

God told me to tell you that this year will require perseverance and faith but if you endure, you will see all that He has promised. Many of you have made your list of goals or received a prophetic word for 2017 that spoke to your spirit. You are fired up and ready to go and my desire and prayer is that you stay in that place. I am not here to dispute any of that, and as a matter of fact, I'm excited about what God is going to do this year!  But as I was preparing to writeG od stressed to me that you CANNOT get caught up in what you see. Everything that you heard and saw  is not going to pop up immediately. There will be some struggles and some tests but they are announcements of the manifestation that is to come. Your job is to not lose sight of the promise!

Think about Abraham! He was promised more descendants than he could imagine, starting with his very own son. But guess what? It took a long time to see that come to pass and some of it, he didn't ever physically see. But even when his situation was at the point of death and the promise seemed to get further away, Abraham never wavered in his faith. He was convinced that no matter what it looked like, God would do what He said. The Bible says that because of his faith, God counted him righteous. Can I just encourage you that if you keep your eyes on God and what He said, you will see Him do the miraculous? He can bring life where all you see is death. He can bring provision to a place where all you feel is lack. He can bring rain to your desert places. He's that kind of God!

My prayer for you in 2017 is that you stir up your Abraham faith! Look at that prophetic word, that list, that vision and decide that you will move forward until you see it. Don't let the attitudes of people, the tricks of the enemy, or your own fears and doubts stop your progress. Please don't lose sight of what God has told you! I've watched people start out with great fire and conviction but get turned around because of someone or something. This year you will see what you have the faith to believe and endure for! Rise up, Abraham! You have a Promised Land to get to!

Amen

Sweet goodbyes...

Today has been a rough day for me. I haven't felt good at all and could barely get enough strength to sit up much less write. But before midnight hits on this Thursday, let me leave you with a brief word from the Lord. Ready? Here it goes! Make your goodbyes sweet!

As you get ready to enter the new year, God is calling on you to do it right. He wants you to leave what is old, hard, and wrong in 2016. Why? Because He wants you to walk into your hellos with peace. He wants you to be on His timing and not your own. He wants you to stop trying to figure out how to do what He has already laid out. Are you willing to release control in 2016 so that you don't miss the freedom that He has for you in 2017? I was led to Ecclesiastes 3 immediately and it spoke loudly to my spirit.

 Teacher: For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven:

A time to be born, a time to die;

a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest;

A time to kill, a time to heal;

a time to tear down, a time to build up;

A time to cry, a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, a time to dance;

A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up;

a time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance;

A time to search, a time to give up as lost;

a time to keep, a time to throw out;

A time to tear apart, a time to bind together;

a time to be quiet, a time to speak up;

A time to love, a time to hate; 

a time to go to war, a time to make peace. (Ecc. 3:1-8, VOICE)

If you are like me, you have looked at this scripture as a way to feel better at a funeral but today, God told me that it's a blueprint to saying goodbye. You see, as hard as it is to move on, if God said it, He planned it right along with a hello. The birth of one thing often means the death of something else, the healing of one thing means something else had to die. But it's okay. Do you see that? Your responsibility is to walk out your goodbye sweetly because there is a hello waiting on the other side. Nowhere in that scripture does it say figure it out. As a matter of fact, it says the opposite.

“and I know God has made everything beautiful for its time. God has also placed in our minds a sense of eternity; we look back on the past and ponder over the future, yet we cannot understand the doings of God.  I know there is nothing better for us than to be joyful and to do good throughout our lives;  to eat and drink and see the good in all of our hard work is a gift from God. I know everything God does endures for all time. Nothing can be added to it; nothing can be taken away from it. We humans can only stand in awe of all God has done.  What has been and what is to be—already is. And God holds accountable all the pursuits of humanity”. (Ecc. 3:11-15, VOICE)

Do you see? Though you have the capacity to look back and forward, you still won't figure out what God is doing. However, He holds you accountable for what you do with what He puts before you. I encourage you to look at what God has told you to leave in 2016 and do it! Tell anger goodbye and say hello to forgiveness! Tell depression goodbye and say hello to joy! Tell procrastination goodbye and say hello to manifestation! Make that goodbye sweet and filled with purpose and love! I promise you that your hello is waiting for you and it's better than you could ever imagine!

Amen…

You have what it takes!

I want you to think about this today. Everything that Christ was going to be on the cross and beyond was in Him on that dark winter night when He was born to Mary. Don’t miss what I just said. All of the purpose, the destiny and the plan of who He was and what He would do was wrapped up in that little baby in the manger. Ok…let that settle. What are you trying to say, Ebony? Well, it’s pretty simple. You already have what you need to do what God ordained you to do. Whether you have decided to accept it, are ready to move forward in it or have identified the fullness of it, you have what it takes.

When you think about Baby Jesus, don’t you automatically think about who He grows up to be? Don’t you think about the cross or the fact that the manger is just the beginning of the story. It’s a natural progression because you know the whole story. So what about you? Why do you not look at yourself right now and know that God has already written your story and knows the end? Maybe if you started to think that way, you wouldn’t be so easily tripped up by what your current circumstances look like.  Maybe if you started seeing yourself as moving towards your purpose instead of stuck in a place or a season, you wouldn’t be so scared to do what God told you to do. You see, you can’t gloss over what the Lord said through Jeremiah because you’ve memorized it. He said, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11, NLT) That means that A – He has a plan and B - It’s going to work out for your good. You have what it takes!

Before Jesus was even born, there was an expectation that He would save the world. That expectation had travelled down through several generations so that even though Mary was shocked to be the chosen one, she wasn’t shocked at WHO she was birthing. She knew of the Messiah and what He was to do. Sooooooo…guess what? Your birth and purpose was also proclaimed in the heavens long before you were born. You were expected and you have something to do! Psalm 139: 13 – 16 says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (NLT) Did you read that? God has every moment laid out. So even though you’ve had some hard days and you’ve made some bad choices, it’s all leading to purpose. Everything that you’ve been through, everything that you have gained and lost is all contributing to who you were shaped and expected to be. The question is always will you be brave enough to use what you have? You have what it takes!

I wish I could just be writing the lyrics to Silent Night and singing fa la la la but God has been dealing with me about moving forward. He doesn’t want you to go one more day stuck in a dead place because you are unsure of who you are or what you have inside of you. You, my dear, are a writer! You are a pastor! You are a mother! You are a coach! You are a leader! You are a business owner! You are who God says and has been saying that you are! Please don’t let what people say or what fear says dictate where you go? You have what it takes to do what God has purposed you to do. Your debut is expected in the heavens! Your book is expected in the heavens! Your church is expected in the heavens! David said it best in Psalms 138:8a when He said, “The Lord will work out His plans for my life…” (NLT) You have what it takes! The question is will you trust God to carry you to the end of your story?

Will you give Him glory?

I’ve had quite a morning and have struggled for over an hour to do Rhema. As I was sitting here frustrated, I was led to look at the post that I did for this date 5 years ago. I was looking for a date in the general time period of December 15th, only to discover that December 15th was a Thursday in 2011. Who knew?! Obviously, God did and clearly He knows what He is doing. I didn’t quite understand what He was up to but when I found it and started reading, I had to laugh. God knows what you need and He will give it to you, if you just open yourself up to receive it. I’m going to share this word again because it was right on time for me and maybe it will be for you.

To God be the glory! To God be the glory! To God be the glory for the things He has done! To God be the glory! To God be the glory! To God be the glory for the things He has done!

This song just started ringing in my spirit as I sat down to write this morning. I sat still for a moment and thought to myself ‘this can’t be what I’m supposed to write about.’ I continued to sit and then I started humming so I said ‘Well, let me just write it so I can get it out of my head.’ And as I began to write, I realized that God was answering my prayers! He was telling me to give Him the praise for what He has already worked out for me!

Does anyone feel like you've been seeking God for a whole lot lately? The devil has been so busy and people have been crying out for help and sometimes I’ve been hard pressed to help them because I’ve been crying out myself!  But God has been so faithful! Even in the valley…. even in the storm, God is doing just what He promised. It’s really just a matter of giving Him glory instead of trying to take control!

We are now in a season of restoration and new beginnings! This is the time that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the very beginning of His journey to His purpose. But at this time, many people are also reminded of what they have lost and what they don’t have. But I declare today that in God, you have all that you need. Some of you are looking at the computer screen thinking, “That sounds good, Ebony…but that won’t help me buy presents for my kids or comfort me when I am alone thinking about my mother that I’ve lost.” I encourage you to try giving God glory for the fact that you have life and you can spend time with your family! Or getting a good shout in when you remember that if you are saved, you’ll see your family member again! Go ahead! Give God the glory for the great things He has done!

There will be turmoil, sadness, discouragement but God has promised that He would never leave you or forsake you! So give God the glory! Sickness and disease will attempt to attack you and your family but Jesus bore stripes for your healing! Give God the glory! Poverty and lack, even layoffs will come but God promised that He would supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. Give God the glory because He is greater, stronger, and bigger than any mountain that tries to plant itself in your path!

Whenever you find yourself complaining during this season, look at the prophet Jeremiah. He was constantly going through persecution and trying to get the people to live right.  He even wondered how he could possibly be chosen to deliver God’s word because he was just a boy. But God assured him that He would stick with him because He had great plans for him. In Jeremiah 29, he wrote to the prophets and elders that were in captivity in Babylon. He wanted to encourage them to not give up. I pray that through these words, you will be encouraged to not give up on God. No matter what may come against you, stand on the Word and give God the glory!

“This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I’ll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it!” (Jeremiah 29: 10-14 MSG)

I challenge you to look for the sun in the midst of your storm; to see the growth that you have experienced as a result of your tests.  God has a plan for you and His word does not return void! If you feel like you are out there all alone, you’re not! Remember that you are on God’s mind and his thoughts are of peace!  To God be the glory for the great things He has done! He has not forgotten…

Amen…