The Man Who Cried Wolf

I am with the majority of people who think it is absolutely absurd that some think tomorrow is Judgement Day. Jesus is going to return one day, be it sooner or later. The rapture will take place, be it sooner or later. However, the Bible clearly states that "no man knoweth the day or the hour". I wonder how is it that this man or any other man for that matter thinks that he has some inside information that the rest of the Christian world isn't privy to. I know that the Lord won't have us ignorant. We are to watch for the signs of the times. We are to always be ready for the return of our King. But I will tell you... there is something eerie about this recent claim that Judgement Day is May 21, 2011, 6:00 EST. I guess I find it strange that the "world" finds the very suggestion of such a thing as ludicrous... like it could or would not ever happen. God forbid! Jesus is returning!!! It is promised and written and it shall come to pass. Jesus could very well return before the clock strikes twelve. Would you be ready, if so? I haven't been laughing very much because I am aware of the enemy's devices. I am also aware of the story about the boy who cried wolf. He cried wolf so many times that the people were no longer concerned with the wolf. They went on with their merry lives as if it were impossible for the wolf to show up. But he did, didn't he? You remember the story. The wolf did show up. Because of so many false claims, the people were not prepared when he did actually appear. What am I saying? Laugh if you must. I, too, think the man is completely off. However, I don't want to become relaxed in my efforts to be ready when our Messiah does return. Actually, I'm going to take this "cry" as a means to examine myself... IF, and this is a HUGE IF, Jesus does return tomorrow at 6:00 eastern standard time, would I be ready? At the beginning, middle, and end of any day, the answer to that question is all that matters. Be blessed.

Wee Hours

Those who intimately know me can attest that I grow livid when someone wakes me out of my sleep. Unless it is an emergency, I find that act highly offensive and inconsiderate. I mean, how dare someone disturb the rest that I obviously desire or need! In the words of a friend, "How rude!" I remember my mother used to wake me just ask me where something was, or if I knew how to do something. She was not concerned with the fact that she had disturbed my calm. She could not have cared less that her waking me up for NOTHING would be the onset of a major attitude. In her mind, she was my mother and she could wake me for what ever reason she saw fit to wake me. End of discussion, end of story. I like to believe that the things we experience in life are lessons or drills that are designed to prepare us. I have always been a night owl. I relish the wee hours of the morning like a child relishes Christmas. It is when I am most creative. It is when I find peace and quiet. It is when the stillness in the atmosphere envelopes my very being and I am most receptive to God. In my adulthood, it is often the Almighty God who gently nudges me out of dreamland and into reality. Of course I have no problem whatsoever with Him doing so. God is the only one who can wake me out of my sleep and not be met with anger or attitude. In fact, I often look forward to His stirrings. When I am suddenly awakened before the dawning of day, I am not bothered. Instead, I submit myself to the Father. I feel that He seeks to commune with me. I embrace the moment by praying, reading my Bible, or listening to praise and worship songs. I never know what blessing(s) may abound from my responding to His call. I have to admit that I didn't always get this right. It took some time for me to realize what was actually taking place or the importance of getting up when God says to get up. He doesn't need my permission either. He is my Creator and He can wake me for what ever reason He sees fit to wake me. Unlike the situation with my mother, it is the start of a discussion and the continuation of His beautiful story.

Happy Birthday To You!

I am 27 years old. This year I will be 28 years old…then on to 29, 30, 31… I can hardly wait! Even as a young child I remember being excited about my birthday. It wasn’t because of the celebratory factors that included balloons, a cake and all the party fixtures. However, it was simply because on my birthday, I was a year older than I was the year before.

Every year I hear others complain about their age, dreading the fact that they are “getting old”. And, every year I grow weary of hearing such complaints as if the very fact that they are alive isn’t a blessing in itself. Ecclesiastes 9:4 reads, “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.”

If you are reading this, then that can only mean one thing; you are alive. If you are alive, then that can only mean another thing; you are “joined to all the living”. If you are then “joined to all the living”, that means but one thing; “there is hope” for you. According to the dictionary, hope is defined as a wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment. Perhaps you wish to have your own business one day. Maybe you desire to get married and have children. I’m sure that if you insert your own wish or desire, it will then be accompanied by a confident expectation of its manifestation. Let’s take it a step further.

God, our Creator, has hopes too. He hopes that we will accept His son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He hopes that we will live a life, holy and acceptable unto Him. He hopes that we will all study His Word to show ourselves approved. He hopes that we will love our neighbors as ourselves. He hopes that we will abstain from fornication, stealing, murder, backbiting, gossip, adultery, lying, homosexuality, idolatry, cursing…the list goes on and on.

Take a look at your life. Look closely and you will discover that you are a long way from where you need to be, concerning God. If you are reading this, then that can only mean one thing; you are alive. If you are alive, then that can only mean another thing; you are “joined to all the living”. If you are then “joined to all the living”, that means but one thing; God still has hopes for you that have not yet manifested. The mere fact that you continue to grow older each day and each year is God’s confident expectation of your fulfillment.

So stop complaining about your age. Please stop dreading your birthday. God is not through with you yet, that’s all.

In Loving Memory...

My beloved mother, who was my best friend in the whole world, died May 14, 2007, the day after Mother’s day. She had been battling cancer, on and off for years. Having been diagnosed twice, and then healed twice, she became a living testimony for all the people around her. What God had done in her life instilled hope in many. Yes, He is a healer! Yes, God does perform miracles! The devil never likes to see our Father getting the glory for any thing, especially not when souls are being saved because of that glory. In the enemy’s eyes, she had to be taken out. The cancer had come back with a vengeance, stronger and more aggressive than before. Her life as she knew it, the doctor’s said, would soon end. Finally, after fighting with all that she had, cancer had gotten the best of her and she went home to be with the Lord. But, had cancer really gotten the best of her? An unbeliever would think yes. Given the fact that cancer was indeed the cause of her death, the unbeliever would be right to think so. After all, cancer claims the lives of millions of people, year after year. Constance Allen Mark was but another casualty.

Oh, but the believer knows better than that. The believer can rejoice in spite of because the believer knows that God is still in control. Yes, He is a healer! Yes, God does perform miracles! If my mother did not receive her healing on this side, then surely she is now healed on the other side. That’s enough to shout about right there. The devil saw that I was about to rejoice. Since he couldn’t get me to be overwhelmed with grief, further separating myself from God, he had to try and get me another way.

All of a sudden I was sad because I wasn’t sad. What kind of daughter was I? Did I not love my mother? Everyone around me was down and out, feeling like they couldn’t go on and there I was holding it together. I was missing my mother but overall, I was fine. That did not sit well with me. Or maybe it didn’t sit well with the devil. Before I knew it, I was trying to make myself cry. I was trying to make myself feel bad. My mother was gone! Oh, Lord, what am I going to do?

I am so happy to be a child of the King! God’s Word that I had hid in my heart began to minister to me. I remembered the apostle Paul and his teachings. I was not overwhelmed with grief because I know and have hope that the dead in Christ shall rise. I am so proud of my mother. The devil attacked her body on every side, at every turn. Sometimes she was in so much pain that she couldn’t even talk to me on the phone. Through it all, though, she remained faithful to God. She told the devil he was a liar everyday, even though it seemed he was kind of telling the truth. She was steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Constance Allen Mark went home to be with the Lord on May 14, 2007, proclaiming God is God all along the way. The Bible says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). When I was able to understand that verse and what it meant, it was evident that the devil had no victory in her life!

His Light, Not The Spotlight

It is my right
Since You have never been wrong
And of course I know
I do belong... here
this space and time
was specifically designed... for me
I am an heir
therefore I do acquire
not deserve, nor of desire
although yes, it is what I long to do
Promises and
favor
something about grace and mercy
a laid down life, loving me before you formed me
How could I not serve you?
Or better yet,
how could I not want to know you
learn of you
then go out to proclaim
It is you always
never me any day
I dare not try to rival your fame.
For such a time as this
and you won't betray me with a kiss
You are ever with me
Constantly forgive me
I often feel that I'm not worthy
To be used, to be a vessel
Because of Your profoundness
I am the lesser
Or to be frank, the very least!
But yet, You still send me
Despite my inadequacies
And in that find my strength
not by power or by might
but by Your Spirit, right?
Right!
It is you always
Never me any day.
Turn the spotlight off
Don't want it shining on me
I stand
Within the man
and the only light I want others to see
Is His light shining out of me.

Accumulation of Tomorrows

Ever since the eighth grade, I knew that all I ever wanted to do in life was write. Believe it or not, I am a full-time writer. I write all the time... about any and everything. Poems, short stories, quotes, essays, journal entries, plays, and even some unfinished novels are all piled up in my black file cabinet. Do any of you see anything wrong with the aforementioned statement? Because I certainly do. Years ago I dreaded the fact that one day I would die and that someone would come into my domain and find all of that material just sitting there...never published, never shared with its intended audience. What a waste that would be! So I made a decision all those years ago to do something with my writing. I made a decision to finish the fourteen novels I had began. All those years ago I just knew that by now (today) that I would be a published author and would go around speaking at conferences and workshops. However, today that is not the case. I've written more poems, conjured up more short stories, pondered on essay ideas, outlined more plays, and added more content to my novels. But I am not published yet and mind you that it is not the lack of ability, desire, or creativity. My problem is the assumption of time. Most of the time I just tell myself, "I'll finish it tomorrow". And, as you can see, my "tomorrows" have accumulated to years and years. Of course my entire mindset has changed and I have learned to work at my dream even when I don't feel up to it. I am closer and closer to my dream everyday. I will be thirty years old this year and sometimes I think of how I could be a famous author of at least fourteen novels and a renowned playwright. I know. I know. It's never too late, right? Sure it isn't. There is always today and I can still accomplish all that I wish to accomplish as a writer. I am just encouraging you not to waste time thinking you have time. Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. If you don't have all the resources or money you need to do what you dream to do, then start somewhere. The Bible encourages us not to despise small beginnings. Plus, there is always someone somewhere that can be of assistance to you. Just don't sit and wait on the right moment or the right opportunity. The time will always be and and has always been NOW! What are you waiting for?

I'm Not Tired Yet

For about a month, I've been ripping and running... running and ripping. As soon as I would tackle one task, it would be time to take on another.  I am a musician's wife and am heavily involved in music myself. So for me, it's non-stop all the time. I toggle from one church service to the next, from one event to the next, from one rehearsal to the next, from one studio session to the next. My plate is full... filled with "delicacies" of all kinds. The common denominator in all that I do and in all that I will continue to do is that it's all in contribution to the Kingdom of God. I often look for that one chance when I can just sit down and not have to move. I'm not saying that I don't ever have any time to be still. However, those times are far and in between because it never fails... I ALWAYS have something to do or somewhere to go. I go to bed in the wee hours of the morning. I wake up before seven a.m. But no matter what, I always wake up refreshed and with so much energy. Is it because I'm ripping and running with a purpose? I definitely think so. My entire life is dedicated to the One True and Living God. I cannot imagine living my days any other way but for Him. I can recall a time when I willfully went into the world. I thought I was missing something and was curious. I was going to the club all the time. My friends and I really thought we were having fun and enjoying life. We couldn't have been more wrong, though. There is more joy than one can imagine in serving the Lord. My most exciting day in the world cannot begin to compare to the joy of my lowest day in the Kingdom of God. I'll choose God over anything the world has to offer any day. It's simply no contest. If that means ripping and running and running and ripping, then fine. As the old song says, "I've got a race to run and I'm running by faith... At the finish line, I'm going to see His face". The life that I live now is the life! It is filled with a life-changing word from my Pastor on a regular basis. It is filled with God-centered events and functions. It is filled with wonderful fellowship with the people of God. It is filled with God's grace, mercy, and continued favor and so much more! For all of that, I will run on....press on... fight on because frankly, I'm not tired yet.