I was known in the beginning,

Time at hand,

A power so strong,

There’s nothing wrong,

Dirt made me,

Power brought me into life,

Good from the Creator,

Good and Perfect I am,

Just Me,

Good you see,

Society wants something else in me,

Sorry, it wasn’t meant to be,

I was made to do great things,

It’s called God’s Glory

Just Me,

So stop trying to craft me,

Oh society!

I was already created to be,

To do what is best,

I was not meant to pass your test,

It was already declared,

From beginning to end

Already I win,

Just Me,

I am already to be,

Mind, Body, Spirit, and Soul,

Just Me,

A story to unfold,

A Victory in me,

For the World to see,

For it’s just me,

I do not know,

Who else to be,

Just Me.

Hello My Friend,

I will be focusing on suicide on a later date. For now it is all about you. You have got some homework to do for this week base on the Gospel of St. John. Read and study the Gospel of St. John for the month of December 2011.

(Please send me an email message, tweet me, or write a comment. Please let me know how this first assignment has helped you.)

The end of the Year 2011 will soon end and another new year begins. However, what have you learned from your 2011 good and bad experiences thus far?

How did you grow?

What areas spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically have you grown – became stronger?

Remember this is about you and your Relationship with our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Some of you have missed your blessings holding on to unforgiveness, bitterness, and other ugly painful buried emotions caused by others or from self.

Your experiences are to teach you. It does not matter who started or shared in the experience. Your experiences teach you to trust God. Remember Faith is God and God’s word. The two goes hand in hand. You must know God’s word. It is your lifeline. You must eat the word of God like you drink water each day. Increase in God and you will increase in Faith. You will stop worrying so much. You will begin to have a peace of mind.  The stress of paying bills, relationships, and other things etc will not trouble you as it once did. You will become discipline in the areas of your life that got you into a bunch of mess and trouble. If you are a complainer then you will stop complaining, you will stop getting on everyone’s nerves.

If you are one who has a bunch of material things and wealth then you will begin to appreciate the simple things in life that does not cost anything.  It will be those simple things that are the true blessings that will bring you peace.

And for those of you who treat God like a religion – Stop it!

Stop treating God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ like a religion. God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are not a religion – God just is – Jesus just is – one of the same – Period!

Many have said that “it is good to know God, but one must be realistic.” Ugh! What is that? How can one have faith when one thinks like that? God is realistic! Our Lord and Savior is realistic. Those of you who do not believe in a God or that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to reconcile us back to God to redeem us by His Blood – okay. However, one “will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” How do I know because God’s word said so. I would rather believe and not go to hell then to not believe and go to hell. What harm can it do to not believe?

Many of you have blocked your physical and mental healings because of your behaviors in pride, selfishness, greediness, and how you may have mistreated others aware and unaware.

Many of you are wealthy and you have not given to help those who have less than you or in a greater need. I am not talking about giving donations to already funded organizations. I am talking about given to organizations (like mines) who do not have funding that are in the trenches each day changing lives for a better world. These individuals and organizations you never hear about, but they are the ones who are faithful because they do it without having money.

I am talking about when you are walking down the street and you literally see someone eating out of a garbage can. What harm would it do to buy a meal for that person? What harm would it do to buy that person shoes, coat, or clothing? Do not give money – just meet the need.

Gosh! God will bring so much healing into your life. God will not just bring physical healing but other healings too. God will do a work in you and through you that you could never imagine, if you are sincere.

What harm would it do for you to OPEN A DOOR for someone else to succeed especially when others have open doors for you to succeed?

Some of you are just plain mean, evil, and selfish. Do you actually aspect for God to heal you when you are being so ugly? Come on now and let us be real. If you think that then you do not know God. Do not get angry with me because it is in the Gospel of St. John – look it up.

Be Warned. God loves a cheerful giver. Do not help others and boast about it to others or to make yourself think that you are a good person, or help others expecting for something in return. None of these behaviors will work with God. Help others because it is the right thing to do and do it to glorify God.

Praise God by saying and doing the following:

“Dear heavenly Father and my God, I am doing this to glorify you because I love you. I may not love you like I should, but please accept my giving as my love for you and for my neighbor. Lord, I thank you that you have blessed me to be a blessing. God I give you all the glory and all of the praise– Blessed be God.” 

Begin to praise God sincerely. Wait on God and when you are ready to receive it, God will keep his word to you. I promise you. God will bless you in the areas of your life that money and power just cannot buy.

Many times, most of us block our blessings because of how we treat strangers (first) our love ones (second), our co-workers, employees, or employers (third). In that order –Read St. John and allow what Jesus did to be the example of how you are to treat others.  As you read the Gospel of St. John, you will see how Jesus is passionate about how we treat strangers – our neighbors.  Your eyes will be open to notice that many of the blessings we will receive is base upon how we treat strangers.

Some of you may be saying “I love everyone.” Stop lying.

We are not God.  Therefore, we are incapable of loving everyone because many of us do not love our selves. We treat others base upon a condition and how we have been conditioned.  All of us may have hurt others by our words and actions, even if we may not have meant to; therefore, one cannot love everyone. We can only love unconditionally as we grow in God’s grace and mercy and appreciation of who God is in us.

The little things block our blessings and hurt us just as much as the big things that we do to each other. An example will be when one is driving and another driver is trying to get into the same lane and the driver in the same lane speeds up not allowing the driver to get into lane. Another example, while driving, is when a driver speedily dashes in and out causing an accident and or jumping into a lane without warning.

Another example is when a stranger speaks to someone and that person ignores the stranger. It is a blessing when a stranger speaks to you in sincere kindness.  No one has to recognize your existence but that stranger did.  One does not know who, how, or when God will bless you. The stranger may offer you the words you may need to hear, or the stranger you ignore may be the answer to your prayers. “Be careful how one treats strangers, for one may be entertaining an angel unaware.”

Yes indeed, it is the little ugly things that we do to others that can and will stop our blessings that ONLY God can do.

Now is time to grow for God’s glory!

You got to let go of deep hurts and buried horrible experiences that have hindered you from growing in every aspect of your life. We cannot expect for our Heavenly Father to heal us when we do not talk (pray) to Him and or when we are disobedient to his word. Remember that each good or bad experience is about you, and your growth. Each experience brings a challenge or a light into who you are and what you are to become. Ask God what are you trying to teach me through this experience – this trial or life’s test?

It does not matter if you are one years old or 109 years old. God is the Author and Finisher of YOU, and God did it because he made you his glory. God’s word is complete.  Because you are still growing (hopefully), you are not complete yet, so God must complete the work in you that he has completed. (I hope I did not confused you.)

God wrote the script for your life, but you must develop a relationship with him with sincerity. It is all up to you.

If you are sincerely a “Son or Daughter of God” then you have to walk the walk and talk the talk. I do not mean being religious either. That is just a job. I do not mean going around putting other folks down thinking you are all of that! It is ONLY by God’s grace and mercy that you have not fallen into certain sins. It is God’s keeping power that kept you even in the midst of your mess.

Please do the following below to start the healing and growing process, so you can stop blocking your blessings; it would help you to write them down in a journal:

Step #1:

Dig deep within yourself and ask God to reveal the hidden places within you –the places that you have buried unforgiveness, hatred, hurt, and shame etc.

Step#2:

I want you to repent for having any unforgiveness for yourself and for others.

Unclog yourself. Think of unforgiveness as a huge block of grease, food, and hair that has block your drain and no water can flow out.

Unforgiveness is someone who is in Spiritual Intensive Care on life support!

Step#3:

I want you to think about your good and bad experiences, and ask yourself how those experiences have molded your behaviors. Make two lists. One is for bad experiences and one is for good experiences. For each bad experience, please write down how the experience has strengthened you even if you feel that you have not gain strength– you have.

Just think and write the strengths that you have gain from the bad experiences. Do not focus on the bad experience but focus on what good came out of the bad experience. Focus on how that bad experience made you to fight or force you to step out of your comfort zone. The bad experience may have opened your eyes or your heart to God. Something good did come out of your bad experience. If nothing us, you made it through it. Praise God!

Write down if the bad experience made you to be unforgiving, mean, evil, hurtful to others, vengeful etc., – these are your weaknesses. One will die spiritually first, mentally and then physically (“kill, steal, and destroy”)

Do the same for your good experiences. What have you learned? What areas did you grow?

One can have knowledge and still not grow. One must applied what one has learned in order to grow.

Step#4:

I want you to ask yourself how those experiences have made you to be a better person – a more appreciative, caring and compassionate person then write them down.

Step#5:

Ask yourself have you shared your experiences good or bad to help others on your life journey.

This complete your first homework assignment. Many are to follow as you respond.

Face your behavior – your sins. It is about you and your personal relationship with your God – Your Lord and Savior.

It is not over for you until God says so!

Your sins will be forgiven if you would just repent (undergo a complete change of heart).

The lessons you learn from the sins you have committed will be the beginning of a new chapter in your life.

We are God’s glory!

IT IS ALL GOOD!

We are to learn from our sin experiences.

In my life’s journey with sin, I have learned:

To love God more and grow closer to Him

To be humble

To have greater faith

To worship and praise Him more sincerely

To become disciplined in every aspect of my life

To live without the stress of what others expect of me

To love myself

To accept the anointing on my life as part of God’s grace

To understand God will not forsake me, even when I sin

To develop a true relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit

I am set free from Christian doctrines while I allow the Holy Spirit to do its job in me for God’s glory.

I am an Over-Comer!

You will begin to see how you are an Over-Comer too!

I want to thank each of you for expressing your opinions.  I praise God that over 585 of you have commented on the articles and 98% have been positive comments.  The positive comments encourage me to keep going.

I told God this year that “I do not want You to look at me and be sad for creating me.  I want You to smile and boast proudly “that I am your Daughter – your creation – made for your glory.” I want God to be proud of me as with any child who loves their parents.

I had made a choice to take care of my sick and disabled love ones for the past 12 years since the sudden death of my mother, Sylvia Izora Bogan, “Pat.” She was 57 years old whom died of cardiac failure. I am an unemployed 24/7 caregiver and my loves one reside with me. I know how it feels to cry and wonder if God will heal your sick love one who laid in ICU while knowing that your love one would not be suffering if it was not for someone else’s ignorance or pride. There were times, I could not pray, so I called the Righteous, “for the prayers of the Righteous avails much.”

I know about not having health care. I know what it is like to not have the monies to pay rent, electricity, gas, phone etc. I know what it is like to lose your home.  I know what it is like to be “homeless.”  We have had people who have stolen are precious memories to sell. We have had people to mistreat or take advantage of us. I know how it feels to be violated.  I know how it feels to want to give up on life.  I know how it feels to love others and they have walked away as if one never existed.  Furthermore, I am persecuted more than you would know. Folks have lied on me too. Oh Yes, I have experience many of the trials and tribulations that each one of you may have gone through too.

So when I write, I write based upon my experiences and what the Holy Spirit taught me. It is not wrong or right.  It is my experience that only I can attest.  Even the sins that I have committed have taught me and made me grow closer to God.  My sins taught me about God’s grace and God’s mercy.  I am not all of that, but I am all of that through God. This is why my book is named “God, I Want to Sin.” Each of my sins drew me closer to God.  My sins taught me how to become discipline, for I did not want to endure the negative consequences for those sins again.

Despite it all, I continued to press toward the mark of the high calling. There have been many times that I had given up on the ministry because of the lack of funds and hundreds of youth who need help.  It has been discouraging.  However, the Holy Spirit would convict me, so I have continued to minister to at-risk, high-risk youth, and their families without funding or contributions.

We meet at my home, and my youth are packed into one small bedroom. I cannot afford to rent a center or space.  None of the “centers” are open at late hours when youth tend to get into trouble or are killed. I prepare a healthy meal for them each week while we have our weekly bible-rap session. Many of my youth never receive a healthy meal.  Most will eat junk food forever. Always lacking, I make sacrifices to help others too. I do without to help others, for I see their needs being greater than mines. However, I do put my trust in God to always meet the need. It is my love for our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I do it. I am commissioned to love, and so are you.

Those of you who have voice negative comments; I welcome them too, for your comments helps me to go back to God.  When people voice their negative comments, I do not get offended as I once did.  I have learned that it was not for him or her to understand the message, for he or she is not ready to receive the message given, or it is not meant for him or her.  It is okay.

One can voice their opinions without being ugly or offensive. Those opinions, I would ask for people to keep to themselves because those offensive opinions only plants a seed of negativity into their own lives that he or she will reap the harvest (greater than).

In addition, offensive comments display one’s spiritual growth.  When one has spiritually grown, he or she will not be offensive to others. He or she will have the wisdom to speak life (words) and not death into the lives of others.  Just because a message does not make sense to you, it does not mean that it is wrong. For those of you who make mockery of what has been written, the same speaks to you too.

Proverbs 18:21 says that “Life and Death is in the power of the tongue, and one will eat its fruit.”

It is my prayer that each one of you will become encourage. It is my prayer that a seed is planted into your life to help you to grow and seek a closer walk with our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus. Most of all, I pray for each one of you and that you will have peace of mind in the midst of the storms of life and good health. These are the blessings that money just cannot buy.

Again, I welcome your good and bad comments.

Always feel free to email me at lybogan@netzero.com.

Be Encourage as Always

Ms. Lorraine

 I thank those of you whom have email me for prayer request.  I have responded to each one as well as continue prayer.

I am back!

I have restarted the youth outreach Bible ministry in Chicago Heights, Illinois whereby I reside. The ministry has been growing.  To my surprise, more male youth have been attending recently.  I do not know if it is due to the few teenage females in the group. Because my organization – OverComers-SAFE Haven Ministries has no funding, and I take care of my very sick quadriplegic father and disabled twin brother. I have the sessions at our home. 

Now, the program is growing so fast that I have been praying for donations, so I can pay to rent a  building space in the community. I want to go forward with other outreach programs for our at-risk and high-risk youth. I have been dormant since 2001, so it is time for me to do what God has chosen and anointed me to do.

Yes. I could partner with other organizations in the community. I choose not to partner with other organizations in the community from experience.  I had learned that it was more about the organization’s politics and protocols than the people that these heavily funding organizations are to serve.  Therefore, I just do not do it.  I only care about doing God’s work – that’s it.  Funding is very competitive and very political. It is always about whom you know. Besides, I love it when God does His thing through faith!  This is when I know that God is in control, so it is all good – harder – but all good.

As far as the weekly youth outreach bible sessions, I think that I had been a little too harsh in my teaching of obedience to God.  My reason was for the youth to become more obedient and to honor their parents. 

I am teaching them to control their tongues.  I am teaching them discipline.  I am teaching them not to let folks stressed them out.  I am teaching them how to view things from their parents without being rebellious. I am teaching them that they will always have someone whom may have authority over them, so they must learn how to respect authority. I teach them to respect property and their neighbors too, so I teach, and I teach.  I teach using the Word of God – The Holy Bible.

I do not want these youth “playing church” like most adults in the church.  I want them to take their Salvation seriously. I do not want them to become religious.  I want them to appreciate their new relationship with our God, Lord, and Savior. I teach them that once they accept Salvation that they are in a covenant relationship with God, Our Lord, and Savior.

 Many of the youth are afraid of receiving Salvation because they want to be “right.”  Most youth are committing fornication, swearing, and doing other ugly-youth-behavior things common at their age. However, they are at the age of discovering their purpose for living too.  Therefore, this is the time – cross roads – to provide to them Christian morals, understanding, respect, values, and nurturing.  This is the time to “plant” or “water.”

 In our youth discussions, I am amazed to how most have been “condition” in their spiritual (not religious) beliefs.  Even more, it amazes me of the churches they have visited, and their perception of Biblical teachings.

These churches have left many of them more confused about Salvation and God. Most think there is a God, but they are not certain.  I can understand it from a human standard especially with so many different Christian doctrines being taught.

Do you know that many would rather continue in their “fun” behaviors than to receive Salvation at their current state of behaviors?  Gosh!  I am praying on this one.  I have to be honest with them, for I am held accountable for each soul – each life, so I take teaching the Word of God seriously.  I pray for each youth and person that I have meet. Those of you who write for prayer, I respond.  I am here for you.

With my youth last week, we had some heated discussions about teen homosexuals, teen suicide, the 144,000, obedience, forgiveness, and Salvation. I took them to the Word of God. In fact, I teach them to “ask” and “hear” God for themselves.   

For the next several weeks, I will explain each of these topics as well as discuss them on the online radio show beginning November 5, 2011 at 10:00 p.m.

I will be teaching on suicide, for I have survived suicide twice and I am a Christian.  I understand the human struggle. Two of the youth in the group were struggling with suicide thoughts.  I praise God that they no longer struggle with these thoughts. 

However, many believe that God will not forgive those who commit suicide because of what their parents, churches, and others have taught them.  This is not true, so I will have prayer for those who are struggling with thoughts of suicide, and I will provide counseling too on BlogTalk Radio on November 5, 2011 at 10:00 p.m. 

Stay tune

Love Ya!

The Ocean

Suddenly, I awaken to find myself floating in a mass of water. Paralyzed with fear, I tilt my head to the left and saw water. I tilt my head to the right and saw water. I look straight up and saw the sky. Questions speeds through my thoughts trying to understand how I got to this place. Why am I here in the ocean?

There is no floating device to keep me from drowning. I am wondering what is sustaining me – keeping me in this mass of water…

As I float, thoughts of my family, friends and even my enemies filled my eyes with tears. I feel that my demised is near. How would I connect with them once more? Do they know that I am gone? Do they miss me? I began to reflect on relationships and forgiveness. I began to search my heart for anything I have done wrong and did not correct when I had the opportunity.

I repented.

Repented for anything and everything I have done or did not do that I was supposed to do. I do not want anything to keep me from seeing the Glory of God. I want to make certain that I was going home to Jesus, so I have to make certain that I have forgiven those who have hurt me. I know that if I do not forgive, I was not going home to be with my God, Lord, and Savior. I knew that unforgiveness was the absolute sin. I knew God would not forgive me if I did not forgive. I knew that my final judgment and sentence would be eternal damnation – to hell.

I do not want to go there – to hell.

I am afraid to move among in this ocean, so I lay as still as I could. I do not see or feel any sharks, fish, or anything touching me. I could not see or feel anything that could destroy me. All I can see and feel is this ocean and the rays of light streaming from the sky unto my face.

I do not know what is keeping me afloat. I am just glad I am floating and not drowning in this ocean.

I do not know what to do nor do I know how I am going to survive right now. I call out to God. “Please have mercy on me!” “God, please hear my cry and save me!” Fear strikes me, so I must do something. God is not saying anything. I cannot hear His voice. I cry once more. “God, please speak to me and tell me what to do.” God, please show me what to do. God, I cannot stand still in this ocean for long. I am afraid that I will drown, for I do not know what is keeping me afloat. I cannot just float in this mass ocean of water and do nothing. I have to somehow make it or die trying. I have to fight. I have to survive. I do not know what to fight nor do I know how I am going to survive. I have never experience this before. I just know that I have to make a move. I have to do something, so I position my body to swim.

Nervously, I kick my legs. I turn my head and body in a complete circle to see anything or anyone that could help me – save me. I do not see a boat or a ship, so I look up to the sky, and I do not see a plane. I began to swim. I do not know what direction I am to swim, but I must swim to a destiny – to a place of refuge. As I swim, I need to stop and float to catch my breath. Still, there is no boat or ship in sight, so I look up to the sky hoping to see a plane. I see nothing in this ocean.

Aghhh! “God forgive me!” I yelled.

My heart stricken with sorrow, for I began to realized how selfish I must have been when I asked for forgiveness, here and right now, in this ocean. I wonder if I would have asked for forgiveness when I did not find myself in this ocean. I kept wondering why my salvation is so important to me now. I find myself floating and swimming in a direction that I do not know where. All I can think about is my salvation. Wondering and hoping that I did everything right when I had the opportunity.
Hoping that I was sincere for only God knows my heart. I do not know my heart. I just did what I was taught as my experiences condition me to be. I have to stop swimming now because my tears of sorrow are flooding my eyes. Now, I realized that, at first, I did not seek my first love. I did not seek my God – my Heavenly Father when I awoke and found myself in this ocean. I took my God for granted. I took my salvation for granted. Was I grateful for all God has done for me?

“God forgive me for I did not call-out to you first. I did not seek you first. I did not pray to you first. All I did was ask for your forgiveness, but it was for selfish motives. I am not certain that it is from my heart that I repented. I just wanted to make certain that I would not go to hell, so I said all the words that I was taught to say. Please God have mercy on me and forgive me.”

“Heavenly Father, I am afraid!” God, why am I in this ocean and how did I get here? Why am I here? God, please send someone to help me. God, please send a plane, a ship, or a boat. God, please send me help. God, I need your help right now! Please God speak to me. Speak to me right now! Oh Dear God, please give me the strength to swim until you send help. Please Dear God; please protect me in this ocean. Please God keep me from drowning. God please keep me according to your grace and mercy!”

All of a sudden, I wake up as sweat and tears drench me. It was all a dream. “Whew! This dream seems so real. Have mercy on me! I do not want to go through that.” I lay back down in my bed, but I could not go back to sleep. I knew God wanted to speak to me. I got out of my bed and I kneel to the floor to pray. As I prayed, I heard the voice of the Lord speak to me.

“The Voice said unto me that I found myself in this ocean, but it was not an ocean of water to why I lay afloat, but the ocean represented God’s mercy.”

“The Voice said unto me that I found myself to looked up to the sky to feel the light rays upon me, but it was not the rays of light from the sky that was upon me, but the sky represented God’s grace.”

“The Voice said unto me that I did not have a floating device for all that I needed was God’s keeping power.”

“The Voice said unto me that I woke up out of my fear because I realized my sins and why I should never take my salvation for granted.”

Then I heard the Voice no more.

I understand now that no matter what I do, the keeping power of God’s Grace and Mercy surrounds me always.

Many times, I literally did not know how I was going to make it. There were times when I literally thought that I was losing my mind. I did not know how I was going to make it through the pressure of waiting and constantly praying through the fears and mix emotions. I realize that as a human being, I am not as strong as I pretend to be. The trials and tribulations of life knocked me into the reality of my human inability. It caused to question why I even exist.

That question compels you to take a long look in the mirror at your existence, so long that sometimes even your beliefs begin to feel like a fraud. I thought I had faith. I thought I was a strong Christian. I thought.

It is not until you go through various trials and tribulations that you begin to understand you have absolutely no control of the outcomes in life. You start to realize that your life could be over at any moment. You begin to acknowledge that you are as frail as a bug that is smashed against a vehicle going 55 miles per hour on the expressway. You begin to realize how foolish you have been and that the things in your past that irritated you, really do not matter.

You begin to appreciate the simple things of life. You begin to relax because you have learned through those trials and tribulations to rest in the everlasting arms of your Heavenly Father. Knowing Jesus is right there constantly making intercessions on your behalf is a great feeling. You begin to understand that God is time and no one can do anything to you that God did not permit, for God has already made a way for you to escape and to survive. All you have to do is listen to God’s voice as He encourages you to move forward or sometimes stand still and witness.

We are required to trust God and be obedient to God’s word. God does not want us to be religious about him as the millions of confessing Christians seem to do. Trusting in God’s word, the Holy Scriptures, is what trials and tribulations teach us to do. Those trials and tribulations become the very scriptures that you read but did not know understand before. Those Holy Scriptures come alive – activated through your trials and tribulations, and that is how your Faith begins to grow.

What is Faith really? Faith is God. Each trial and each tribulation is producing God – activating God within you, for Romans 12:3 states that God gives us a measure of Himself (Faith). That is why Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Yep! It is God Himself. You and I must experience the Holy Scriptures by trials and tribulations and know that each second of our life is established by what God has already ordained being the Author and Finisher of our Faith – our life for His glory.

In other words, each trial and each tribulation produces God. Each time we learn from our experience and trust God, we increase in God; therefore, we increase in Faith.

Why must we have Faith in God? Faith is God trusting in Himself. Your prayer is taking action that produces trust that activates God. Did you get it? God want you to use your Faith, God’s trust in Himself to activate Himself. It is similar to when God made a covenant with Himself when He swore by Himself (Hebrews 6:13) with Abraham.

God’s power pushes you into your destiny that God has already established within you and for you. God is the power within you. Do not get it twisted: YOU ARE NOT GOD. It is the Holy Spirit (The Third Entity of God) that empowers you to become victorious according to God’s will. It is the wisdom of God as you learn that enables you to make intelligent decisions instead of the foolish ones that you once made in your past.

IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD!

Please know that you cannot activate your Faith in God if you do not know God. You must be in right relationship with God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You must forgive others and love your neighbor. YOU MUST PRAY GOD’S WORD and not become repetitious (St. Matthew 6:7). You cannot depend on what you have heard through the media or from a church leader. God will respond to His word and a sincere heart. Therefore, you must learn God’s word. You do not have to be a biblical scholar or go around quoting scripture all day. If you are praying or believing God for something in Faith then you must do your homework and study God’s word.

For example, if you are sick then you will search the Holy Scriptures for healing. Scriptures and testimonies of those who God healed then get your prayer partners, for God will establish His word (2nd Corinthians 13:1). Jesus promised that He will be there when there are two or three gathered in His name (St. Matthew 18:20). Put God in remembrance of your case before Him (Isaiah 43:26). There are additional steps you must take before receiving His answer:

The 10 Steps of Encouragement to Receive Answers to your Prayers of Faith (God):

Step1: You must forgive, even if you are struggling to forgive. (St Mark 11:25)

Step 2: You must trust God and believe (St. John 14:1)

Step 3: You must seek God (St. Matthew 7:7)

Step 4: You must go to your prayer closet (St. Matthew 6:6).

Step 5: You must honor God’s name (St. Matthew 6:9 and St. Mark 11:2)

Step 6: You must repent from your sins. – come clean before God because God does not hear sinners. (St. John 9:31).

Step 7: You must see yourself in what you are praying for in Faith. (Hebrews 11:1)

Step 8: You must watch what you speak. (Proverbs 18:21) God spoke everything into being and God has given each of us the same ability in Faith.

Step 9: You must work your Faith (St. James 2:17)

Step 10: You must give God praise (1st Thessalonians 5:18)

Many have not had their prayers answered because they did not repent from their sins, had unforgiving hearts, did not reverence God, did not trust God, is impatient or does not walk in love with their neighbors.

God will listen to a sincere prayer even if you do not know the Holy Scriptures right now, so do not become discouraged. Just remember: the more you overcome each trial and tribulation, the more your Faith (God) increases.

On Sunday, May 2, 2010, I received a phone call from a church friend from my formal church informing me that one of the youth, now an adult, was killed and that the funeral was going to be held on Monday, May 3, 2010.

At first, I could not remember who this youth was for his street name is “Pool.”  Then I remembered, and I did not feel as bad as I should have about Pool’s death.  Why, you may ask?  Pool chose the gang life.  When I tried to work with Pool, he was 16-years-old; he had dropped out of school and joined the street gang.  I had provided all I had to offer to help Pool, but it was Pool’s choice.  I gave him every opportunity that I gave to each youth in his circle. Pool tried to intimidate me on several occasions; he never went through with the threats because he knew he would have gotten a beat-down from the other gang members and youth who were not afraid of him.

In addition, my formal church friend told me that an email was sent stating “there was 10, 9 more to go.” We all know what that means.

(I know that God did not tell me to leave the church or the ministry that I was chosen to do in that community, but I was just so hurt and angry.  It has been 8 years since I ministered in that community.  I know that I have to go back and complete the work. Each time, I am told that a youth of mine has been killed or has sunken deeper into a life of destruction, I know I must go back. Because of this, I placed an ad on Craig’s List seeking angel investors and donations, for I need a place and I need money to operate.  I am a 501 C-3 Tax Exempt organization, but one needs to be connected politically to get money or to have effective Board members to join and help. I have neither, and I refuse to play politics that compromise my integrity.)

Many thoughts about Pool went through my mind.  It was not only Pool that I tried to help but his’ younger sister and brother, too.  Pool’s brother is the only one that I know I could help right now.  Pool’s sister has made her choice to to live a life of destruction, too.  All had been given an opportunity to change his or her life and to live as positive productive people and citizens.

I kept wondering what excuses Pool will give to God when God calls Pool to give an account for his actions before he is sentenced to eternal damnation.

I kept wondering did Pool repent from his sins so his soul was saved.

I kept wondering did Pool forgive those who had hurt him including himself.

I kept wondering about Pool’s family and all Pool’s associates. 

I kept wondering about Pool’s gang associates.

I kept wondering if it was too late to help save them – the other 9.

I just kept wondering.

I knew if I did attend the funeral there would be wall-to-wall gang members of whom I tried to help.  I knew that I would have been a reminder of the many opportunities they had to make an intelligent decision about the life they live. Perhaps if I would have attended, I could have been the hope to many of the now young adults who knew I tried to help them. 

As I kept wondering about them, I then began to wonder about me. I wonder would I give God excuses, too, when God asked me about the sins I committed when I have to give an account for my actions? I wonder what I will tell God before I pass out from God’s glory.

How many times have we been given the opportunity to make an intelligent decisions about the choices we make or to change our negative behaviors or lives of sin? How many times do we make excuses for the stupid stuff we do?  How many times do we make excuses instead of coming clean and take responsibility for our actions.

Many may say, “It was just Pool’s time.” 

Many may say God took “Pool” home.

Neither statement is true. First, God promises that we will live a long life when we honor our parents and when we follow God statues. Secondly, God said that trouble will come but not by Him. God always sends us a way out of our circumstances. 

Many have died “too young” or “have been taken” because of the choice he or she made.  God gives each of us free will.  It is up to each of us to decide on how we should live our lives.  If God says in the Holy Bible not to do a certain thing then we are not to do it.  If God says in the Holy Bible that a certain life style is an abomination unto Him, then we need to just STOP-IT!  We must stop making excuses. 

Many of us are in denial when we choose to do the opposite of what God or others have warned us not to do.  We open ourselves to sickness, disease and other sins because of our disobedience.  We open ourselves up to an early death because of our disobedience.

Many of us are too afraid to make a positive change for the better because we fear the unknown.  We fear that we will fail if we try to make a positive change. Many have chosen to live a life of hell when he or she does not have to. Then we make excuses for why we did not make the right decisions. Then we regret not making the right decisions.

The truth of the matter is that Pool made a choice to die at an early age.  Pool chose to live the gang life. The sad part is that Pool was very smart and talented.  Pool could have been a top corporate executive if he had chosen to live a life that would have produced positive outcomes. Many gang members could be top executives, for he or she can organize, implement, provide projections, etc.

What I love most about God is that God always gives us new grace and mercy each day that we live.  Each day, we have hundreds of opportunities to make intelligent positive decisions. Each day goodness and mercy follows us even when we do not deserve it.  Each day, we have hundreds of opportunities to be a blessing to someone else.

God is always there.  God always sends not just one person but several people to bless us with those opportunities to make a positive change.  Each day, God blesses us to have an opportunity to become a blessing to a stranger or someone in need.  Each day we have an opportunity to forgive and to forgive ourselves.

We have no excuses for disobedience. We have no excuses for not being a blessing to someone, not just our friends, associates, or family members.  An excuse is just a made up lie.

What excuse will you give God when you must give an account of the sins you committed or when God asks you how you helped Him bless a stranger in need?

What is up with this “Minister in Training” thing?

First, let me tell you. I do not like the term “Minister in Training.” Each one of us will always be in “training” until we die. We should always be learning something – growing somewhere within ourselves. I feel that no other faith leader, pastor, elder, or whoever, in a religious capacity, has a right to determine the level of “training” within the Body of Christ. It is THE HOLY SPIRIT’S JOB and not theirs. Now, if the “leaders” are speaking solely of the work within their church walls, I can get with it, but not when it comes to the entire Body of Christ – The Church.

Secondly, please tell me where in the Word of God did God or Jesus ever tell any Servant that He was “Called and Chosen” or was in “training?” IT IS NOT SCRIPTUAL – PEOPLE! This is just another religious thing.

Finally, God and/or Jesus may reveal to the “leader” the calling or anointing of the servant. However, it is and will always be the servant’s responsibility to be obedient to the Holy Spirit – Almighty God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I have learned that many “leaders” may become jealous of the anointing of one of God’s servants. In addition, most male religious leaders DO NOT agree that women have been chosen to teach and preach God’s Word even if he says he does (He is lying or in denial.). I based this statement on what I have experienced. Give it time; you will notice how a male leader will begin to treat a female servant of God. You may have experienced something different – good for you. I can only testify of what I have gone through.

As a result, I am no longer under any “leader” when it comes to the ministry of what God has chosen me to do. I know what my anointing is and I know most men have a problem with it, so I do my ministry in silence and the Church reaps the harvest. I do obey leadership because I will become involved with other activities of the church. I will not reveal that I am an anointed minister, teacher, preacher, evangelist, and prophet. My ministry is NOT within church walls. My ministry is in the field.

Most think that I, simply, have a youth and family outreach organization (OverComers-SAFE Haven Ministries). I have learned to let folks think what they want because I know the truth – God knows – and that is all that matters. My obedience to God and what the Holy Spirit tells me to do is what matters. I care less about all the religious crap. IT IS ABOUT GOD’S GLORY IN SAVING AND HELPING LIVES AND SOULS.

In the beginning of my ministry, I had a hard time with the men of my previous church. This is when there were hundreds of youth and young adult murders in the Chicago Housing Authority – Robert Taylor Homes and Greater Grand Boulevard Community. Heck, I did not know God was calling me into the ministry. I sure did not know that I would be helping gang members, drug dealers, violent, troubled youth, young adults, and families. I had no idea – me (Laugh!). Yeah right! I was not of their world – definitely not! I was as naïve as naïve could be, and I was not a street-smart person.

I have learned everything by and through the Holy Spirit including the trials and tribulations that never cease. For anyone who been called and chosen into the ministry has literally stepped into the boxing ring with the devil and his crew. The good thing is the battle is the Lords, so I step out of the way and focus on what God has told me to do. If God says take a punch – I will take the punch. If God says swing to left or to the right – then that is what I do. It must be God’s voice I listen to and not my flesh or someone else, or I will be in big trouble.

In 1992, I was still heavily involved in a church. There was also an Elder there who was over the youth ministry. She knew I was troubled that the church had events that did include the youth in the community who were considered “questionable.” These were the children and young adults who needed help the most. This Elder received an invitation for our church to become involved with a newly funded violence prevention community program, and she asked me to coordinate the program. I did. At first, I only included the youth and young adults who were members of the church because that is what the leaders felt that I should do. However, one Sunday while I was alone and waiting for Bible study to begin, I heard the voice of the Lord tell me “you have been chosen to minister to a people that no one wants to be bothered with.” Okay, you know I was trippin”! God told me “you must see Me in each on.” It takes the Holy Spirit to see God in each person I was led to minister. Because I began to minister to youth in the community, some of the members of the church no longer wanted their children to participate in the program.

Through the anointing, I was reaching young men that the men of the church could not reach. It was not until a huge fight broke out among those I was ministering that the church leaders were forced to listen. It was the youth in the community that spoke up for me and told the church that I was the only one who was effectively reaching out to them. The pastor started to respect me, and he no longer followed some of the other men’s opinions about me.

After God used me to plant the seed, I was able to lead most to salvation and ultimately to attend church. Because of my obedience to the Holy Spirit, our church had their first young adult deacon board, and they reached out to their friends and associates. Our pastor began to form a “boys-to-men” mentor ministry, and it grew to reach more young men in the community.

Most male leaders of the church did not welcome me because of their religious arrogance. However, I realized that if I submitted to their “leadership,” then I couldn’t have impacted the Church Body with the anointing God has given me.

Now, I will admit that I have learned much about the history of the church, church doctrines, church rituals, various religions, church etiquette, church politics, etc. However, what God has called and chosen me to do is NOT standing in the pulpit in a fabulous robe being religious. The church leaders do not have a clue, so they are incapable of training me.

Now, I AM NOT telling you to be disobedient to your leader, for he or she is responsible for you and you are to be obedient to your leaders. For Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Just do not let anyone, church leader or others, discourage you from becoming what you know God has chosen you to be. Also, be certain God has called and chosen you. Make certain the Holy Spirit is doing the teaching and not your flesh – not you. After all, God says in St. John 10:27:” My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Wait on God. Do not bust a move out of zealousness or some self-serving reason. If you are solely preaching and teaching within the church, then you are in their training. If you have been called and chosen to minister outside of the church walls, the Holy Spirit does the training and the training is unlimited.

Religion is what one practices.  Faith is what a person becomes in accepting God (Jewish Faith) and or Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Christian faith) in their lives.  With faith, someone has welcomed, declared, and given full permission for God and/or Jesus Christ to become number one ruler in and over his or her life.  Religion does not do that.  Religion is what one practices to try and meet a need – a need to feel complete – a need to feel spiritual – a need to feel. Brushing one’s teeth everyday is a ritual – a religious practice with the person having to do the same thing each time in order to get results.

With faith in God and/or Jesus Christ, once a person accepts God and/or Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, one is complete and God will meet all of your needs.   Once a person confesses with his or her mouth that God is the only Living God and Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and believes in their heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the Dead, that person is reconciled back to God.  That person is redeemed by the Living Sacrifice – Jesus Christ Himself – that is it!  There is no turning back. One can back slide.  One can turn away, but baby, no matter what you do, you are still God’s property.  In fact – all souls return to God even if one decides to choose another religion.

Now you can disagree with me all you want.  However, it is about God’s grace and mercy and Jesus Christ’s redemption – reconciling us back to God, the Living God.  One cannot practice God. It does not matter if you do not want to pray; you are still God’s property.  It does not matter if you are on drugs or have a bad addiction; you are still God’s property.  It does not matter if you are rich or poor, you are still God’s property.   Otherwise, it does not matter what you do; you are still God’s property. It is your choice how deep you want be in your relationship just as if you were married to another human being. Whatever you invest in your relationship with God is what you are going to get out of it – it is up to you, but you are still God’s property.

God requires one little thing – FAITH.  Why do I say “little thing?”  It’s because Jesus said, “if you have faith of a size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.”  Otherwise, your faith requires God to do something on your behalf.

Why, you may ask?

Faith in God and/or Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is not like having faith that you are going to win the lottery. Faith is a covenant. You are in Covenant with God.  Your Covenant requires God to keep His promise to you and for you.  Your faith is your part – your covenant to God.  Yep – all God requires you to do is trust Him.  God’s got everything else covered for you.

What really irritates me is when Christians say that they believe in God but in the same breath will say, “One must face reality.” What is up with that?  This says to me that these “Christians” are not Christians. To be a Christian means one must have faith.  To have faith, one must believe.  There is no other reality than that.  Either you believe in God – trust God or you do not.  Either you is or you isn’t.  There is no between. In fact, God said in the Book of Revelations, “He will spit you out of His mouth if you are Luke warm.”  God would prefer you to be either cold or hot – there is no between. For a person – a Christian – to say that he or she must be realistic means that he or she is still trying to do it alone and that he or she does not trust God.  Otherwise, the “Christian” is not operating in faith and is not keeping the covenant that was established.

There are millions of Christians who attend worship services but have never confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over their lives. Most just believe in a God, but they do not take their belief seriously.  These people would only give God thanks when they got some money or were healed from a disease, or when their lives were spared from something.  These Christians live their everyday lives, and God is not there.  They think they are doing God a favor by going to church.

God gave you breath.  You do not have anything to do with it. Your breath is a gift from God – your covenant with God. Each breath that you take, you cannot see it.  You just know it is there – your breath determines if you are living or if you are dead.  You have faith that you will keep breathing.  You can’t get more realistic that than. This type of faith should carry over into every aspect of your life.  Just as sure as you are that God will keep you breathing throughout the day, you should believe that He will change your circumstances for the better. If you know that God will bless you and God told you not to bust-a-move until He opens that door then DO NOT GO ANYWHERE. Just stand still and keep having faith.  Yes, fear and doubt will come, either in your own mind or through the words of others, but you must hold on.

I know that it takes God a while to answer sometimes.  Look how long it took for Abraham to see God’s promise; it does not mean it will not happen.  God will do what He will do when it is the right time.  We are not always ready to receive God’s will, but God will do it.

Trust me.  I know because I’m waiting, too.

Anytime you begin to doubt God’s Word, and you fail to trust Him, repent.  If looking at God’s promises in His Word is not enough to convince you, then take a look at your own life.  I’m sure you’ll find that God has kept you through it all.  You can even treat it like a job application.  If you look at His resume, it is full of unfailing experiences, stellar credentials, and extraordinary education.  What more do you need in a Living God?  Remember, He will meet your needs. Just hold on.

There are times that I want to ball myself up into a corner.  One part of me wants to bite, fight, and kick anyone who comes close to me.  The other part of me wants to be hugged by a friend I can trust in order to release all of the anguish, fear, and pain.  Do I remain strong, or am I really strong? Do I show that I am weak by releasing?

Paul says to be content in whatever state we’re in.  “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11-12)

For me, to remain content means that I am happy. It would be a lie to say that I am happy in the state I am in right now. The storms of life do not give me pleasure even when I know that they may be the will of God to strengthen me.  Do you want to know the truth – the real truth? I am not happy in the state that I am right now.

I wonder where or when does faith apply in all of this?  When do I get to the place in my life – in my family’s life – of where I think we should be and where I can be content and feel safe?  Did you not hear me?  I said, where I think we should be.  Is God’s will in that sentence somewhere?  I do not know and right now, I do not care about this faith thing. I want what I want and feel that I need it all.  Do you feel like that sometimes, too? I know that I am going through a storm.  I know it seems really bad right now.  I know.

Is it not in these times that we are to seek out the will of God in our lives – whatever that means – the will that is?  Is it not in the times of those storms, we are to question our existence – our purpose? Do we really know God’s will for our lives is to be enlightened- to reach another level in our human development?   You know the “if it does not kill you but make you stronger thing.” (Laugh)

I have taught others that God’s divine will is what we should always seek.  According to Psalms 37:23,” The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and he delighted in his way.” God orders our steps.  I keep wondering if God orders the steps that slide from left to right or down the wrong roads of life. Like when we are dancing to the Hustle?  The twists and turns in life when we are dancing the Electric Slide?  Oh Yes, God does – He keeps us no matter what – I think.  How interesting.  How interesting for those of us who slide from left to right and down the twists and curvy roads and the wrong paths.  The roads are full of people we chose for our destiny. Is it not interesting that somehow we end up on the right path again? “Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (Psalms 37:24).

Then what are life’s strengths and weaknesses?  When are we really weak or strong? When do we fight, and when do we just cry and let loose all the anguish, fear, and pain?

After the storm is over or I can see some bright light, I feel ashamed when I think about the other families – the other people – the families and people who are going through circumstances that are worse than what I am going through right now.  I feel ashamed for ever complaining about the wrongs done in my life and those that I love.  Why do I feel ashamed now? Because I was blind by my own selfishness and I was not grateful for the Grace and Mercy of the love of God over my life. I could not see while I was sliding to the left, right, the twists, curvy roads, and wrong paths. The wide roads of people in my life that I chose to make my destiny.

I am the spiritual one – you know.  Me – the one who prays and the one whom God has chosen to preach and teach His Word to the people.  The me who plants or waters the “Word,” so God gets the increase – me.   How can I be so weak and blind?  Why did I not see God’s grace or mercy during the storm?  What was it that blinded me that I could not see? I just could not see.

I can see now.  It is sad though, because I did not realize how weak, blind, and selfish I was being until I witnessed other families and other people’s disasters that are more than I could ever imagine going through. It was at that time that the sun started to shine through the darkness of despair. It was only then that I was able to see.  I was so selfish to think about my stuff during the storms.  Did I actually think that I was humble during those storms?  Was I really?

Were you humble during your storms?

Was I weak? Did I have a right to bite, fight, or kick anyone who came close to me? Were they coming to help pull me up – to rescue me or was it all God?  Is this the reason for my anger – my hurt – my pain – who was I fighting – who or what was it really?

Through my confusion and all of the times when I thought, I was going to lose my mind. The times when my heart fainted and when I could not see being blind from the tears.   I see God’s compassion now, but I did not see it when I thought it really counted. I witnessed it but I did not know it – not then.  It was not just me either.  I had noticed that while I was going through – while I was weak, others just wanted things from me. He or she wanted what he or she thought I owed them; he or she did not care what I was going through.  He or she did not care that I had to quit my job to take care of a loved one.  He or she did not care that I was at home recuperating from major surgery or that I am dealing with the Big C (Cancer).  He or she just wanted.

You asked; “What did they want?”

I said, “Whatever they wanted – does it have to be something specific?  They were not willing to see – not really see.  They were all blind by what they thought they needed.”

You asked; “Were they hungry?”

I said, “NO!”

You asked; “Did they need medicine or a doctor?”

I said, “NO! “

You asked; “Did they need shelter or clothing?”

I said, “NO! “

You asked; “Did they need…?”

I said, “NO!” “NO!” and for the last time “NO!” They just wanted what they thought I owed them; my storm did not matter. There was no compassion from them – those people.

I wonder during the times of the storms – other people’s storms, did I treat them the same way.  Did I just want what I thought was owed to me, too. Did I care about his or her storm?

My answer, “Yes I did.”

Your answer should be; “I did, too.”

For it was about me – my storm. I cannot.  I will not suffer anymore – I shouted as I cried and while trying not to see the others – the others whose circumstances were worse than mine. Not the ones who just wanted what they wanted. No!  I did not want to see the ones who were really hurting – the ones in real pain – the ones who could not stand or crawl for that matter. I hid from them. I just wanted to be alone and deal with my own stuff, so I could blame everything that I was going through on God. God controls everything, for whom can I blame if it is not God.

I could not hide. I was forced to see those other families – those other people whose circumstances are worse than mine. Stuff started to fall from my eyes. I knew that I washed my face when I awoke. What was this stuff falling from my eyes? What is this voice that I am hearing, and why must I follow the instructions? What is happening to me? What has awakened within me? It was then that I realized and I begin to see clearly.  I realized and said, “I will not suffer by my own hands – my own thoughts anymore.”

Were my eyes open now?  Entrapped with my own obsessions of fear of what is weak versus what is strong.  I had to be strong in my own strength for my own compassion.  I cannot allow anyone to see me weak – not me.  All that I am and all that I have must be an illusion of my own strength and no one else.  It was pride.  How can I be prideful during a storm?

(Okay, I know you are confused by now and you are probably asking yourself “what in the hell is she talking about?” Keep reading.)

“But when did I suffer during the storm?  When, while I was going through what I was going through and needing what I thought I needed?

I asked – you asked, “When did I not get what I wanted during the storm?”

I asked – you asked, “When did I not get what I needed during the storm?”

I asked – you asked, “What makes me so different that I thought I should not suffer without want – without need – without pain?”

Why did I have to become awakened by others worse circumstances?  Why did I have to see their anguish? Why did I have to witness their pain – their ultimate suffering?  No, it is not fair to witness someone else’s world. No, I said. I must be consumed by my own stuff – my own world. I cannot feel the Grace and Mercy of this God – this Savior.  I cannot let Him save me! I cannot see Him.” I cannot feel Him during the storms for who else can I blame when I did not receive what I thought I wanted and needed. God have mercy on me for I have slid left to right down the twisty and curvy roads.

Have you ever thought about all of the things you or your love one went though after the storms, after the tears, and or just maybe the ultimate – death? Have you ever thought that you were selfish or being selfish during those times?  Oh!  I know it has not been just one storm.  I know your storms have been several.

Could you see during those times? Me neither.

Do you know why you did not see? Me neither.

“Ooh, I know why we could not see!”

It was that darn Grace and Mercy Thing.

You ask, “Grace and Mercy Thing?”

“Yeah”

I said, “You know what I mean.”  The Grace and Mercy Thing that no one wants to confess that he or she knows about because he or she cannot see it, so it is easy to blame everything on it.

Okay. I know that you know about the Grace and Mercy Thing.

Come on now!

I said, “The Holy Ghost Grace and Mercy Thing?”

“Duh!”

Oh!  I do apologize.  Maybe you know The Holy Ghost Grace and Mercy Thing when Jesus (Our Lord and Savior) said “I will never leave you comfortless:” “If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it see him not, neither know him: but you know him; for He dwell with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world see me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you.” (St. John 14:15-20)

Do you really want to know why we could not see during those storms when we were suffering, or when we wanted things and could not have them or when we needed things and no one would help us? What about those of us who thought our severe storms are the things the world said we should have?  You know the things – the material things – the A B C letters behind your name things to say that you are smart and successful – the 6 figure salaries and the luxury cars and homes – all to be said that you and I are successful human beings if we have those things.  Those things that are now what we want or have turned into needs – those things that if we do not have them, we will be failures for the world to stomp upon – even the church.

Do you really want to know why you or I did not see during those storms of “suffering?” Why we did not want to see our neighbor’s pain – their circumstances – their needs that are worse than ours? Do you think that the love for your neighbor stuff has to do with our blindness?

We must remain blind during our storms. We cannot admit that we are weak, for it would mean that we must deny our own suffering. We cannot help others in their pain – their suffering – for it would take away what strength we have to survive during the storms.

Sometimes it is not because we are in a storm that makes us weak; it is because we are full of pride and in our own foolishness. The foolishness of wanting material and other things to meet someone’s criteria of what it is to be in his or her world and not what God said we should be in Him.  Sometimes, it is when we are consumed with selfishness of our own pain that we cannot see that we will gain strength, if we were to help our neighbors who are going through worse circumstances. One of the sacrifices (and not allowing abuse) of love, means having to deny your circumstances in order to help someone else.

What makes the Holy Ghost our comforter, in my opinion, is when we realize that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us(Philippians 4:11-13)  because it is God’s strength that has been made perfect during our weakness (2^nd Corinthians 12:9) by the storms of life. It is God’s love and sharing God’s love with others who are in worse circumstances that will give us strength to overcome our own storms.

It is the Spirit within you and not you – not your flesh – not your mind.  It is your Spirit.

You see, the storms should humble you so your Spirit man can develop.  God connects through the Spirit man within you. One of the strengths of the Spirit man is God’s love; it is that love that overcomes the world’s evil.

The storms are planned as “boot camps” to develop your Spirit self  which includes the love of God, so you can make an impact in the world – to make a positive difference as salt of the earth – to give seasoning – flavor (St. Matthews 5:13-14).  I do not care if you will be in a prison cell all the years of your life.  You are to make a positive difference even when you are going through a storm. In fact, all the storms of your life are to be celebrated once you have overcome them, but you cannot overcome the storms through pride, selfishness, or blindness.  You must allow the Holy Spirit – The Comforter – The Grace and Mercy of God to strengthen you in the areas of your Spiritual man that God can directly connect with you and that is only through His salvation – our Savior and Lord – Jesus Christ. God’s love for us is reflected through us and by us when we love others especially when there is a need or want to be met.

It is God’s Grace and Mercy through the Holy Spirit – the Comforter that protects us even when we think we are not being protected.  However, if you allow your pride – your wants – your greed to stop or hinder your love walk with your neighbor, stranger, or family member, you are no longer just weak, you are not allowing God to develop your Spirit.  Therefore, God cannot and will not connect with you.

It is not until you sincerely humble yourself that you will find the will of God for your life.  Just remember it is not about you; it is about God’s grace and mercy for you and others.