Feeling like the Lord has turned His face on you?

Not sure how this year has been for you thus far? As for me it has been super busy and exhausting. To add on that, two of my nephews and my newborn niece have been hospitalized do to breathing and a dear dear close friend of mine had a cancerous tumor removed from her brain. I know that the Lord is sovereign and has a great purpose for everything, but after all these events take place and then having health issues myself, I wonder what is going on. I know how Job endured through so many rough times, he lost his land, money, children, wife and everything-yet he praised the Lord. Tonight sitting here it realized the Fathers love for me in a whole new light! He loves me so much He endured His Heavenly Father turning His face from Him. Christ endured that for me. Praise Him! The Lord will not turn His face from me ever. I am washed in the blood of the Lamb. Thank you Jesus. So with that perspective I know see how even though time times come and some days are so unfamiliar and distant you wonder if the Lord even truly cares. But be encouraged because Christ took the worst part for us, He endured those bruises, scars, nails, and death! He did that for all of US! No matter what we have done-NOTHING can separate us from the Father if we allow Christ’s blood to cover our sins! I am indebted to this man-this man who is fully human and fully God. This man’s name is Jesus and He is my rock, my song, and my salvation. I am thankful God has never turned His face on me. Thank you Jesus! May I live in that reflection of Your graciousness.

Isaiah 53: 7-12 (The Message)

^7-9He was beaten, he was tortured,

but he didn't say a word.

Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered

and like a sheep being sheared,

he took it all in silence.

Justice miscarried, and he was led off—

and did anyone really know what was happening?

He died without a thought for his own welfare,

beaten bloody for the sins of my people.

They buried him with the wicked,

threw him in a grave with a rich man,

Even though he'd never hurt a soul

or said one word that wasn't true.

¹⁰Still, it's what God had in mind all along,

to crush him with pain.

The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin

so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.

And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

^11-12Out of that terrible travail of soul,

he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.

Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,

will make many "righteous ones,"

as he himself carries the burden of their sins.

Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—

the best of everything, the highest honors—

Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,

because he embraced the company of the lowest.

He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,

he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

So what does this have to do with Minneapolis and people there? EVERYTHING!!! I am confident that they will see that Christ loves them and adores them even if they think and see their own selves as someone that is no good or deserving. The truth is we will never live up to God's standards. BUT PRAISE CHRIST who covers us so we are forgiven and seen in delight and favor. This is my desire and plea for my friends and those I watch walk the streets that they may know and experience the freeing love and devotion that only comes from a personal relationship with Christ. I want to be a person that is eager to spread that love to all people no matter what walk of life they are in or what they have done. BECAUSE CHRIST took our shame and sin and bore it. What part do we not understand about "IT IS FINISHED" Lord, how I desire for you to captivate this city and draw us close to your heart. Break our heart for what breaks yours. Cause us to turn our gaze from others and possessions and take awe in you our MEDIATOR-OUR SAVIOR!!!

Do I really need this...

Yesterday I did the usual things before work. I cleaned my room, made my bed. Figured out my schedule in terms of home work and errands. Then I went to get a sub. For some reason, I got two subs-I never get two but for some reason I did. I do not believe in coincidence, I believe every thing happens for a reason, for a specific purpose. I believe the God controls all things, no matter if is something that brings us joy, or something that may bring us sorrow. At any rate, that may be for another post. My story I hope shows you all that everything happens for a purpose. As I was on my way to work I saw a man with a sign by a stop sign. It said the norm of all the other homeless signs... You all have seen them. Please Help. Anything will do... God Bless. I looked all over in my car, and I found nothing, and then I remembered I had two subs. By that time the light was soon to turn green and since it was a four lane I knew it would be dangerous for him to cross the lanes. I started telling myself how this man didn't need food, how he most likely just wanted cash for liqueur or cigarettes. For a moment, I thought of my selfish. I turned and begin on my way and my soul became faint. I was saddened by my selfishness. It truly did not matter why that man was homeless. It was not my responsibility either, but did I really need two subs. I would actually have food that night to eat. I could even buy food if I needed. I had an opportunity to bring joy to someone's life and I didn't do it because of my selfishness. Who would know what a sub would do to this mans life. So I turned around. I drove and stopped close to that man. This man looked like he was around fifty. I rolled down my window and handed a sub outside the window. This man RAN to my window and said "Thank you so so much, I AM so hungry. Have a great Easter!" The light turned green and I took off once again for work. Little did I know that that homeless man would turn my heart back to the sovereign Lord. Little did I know that I would get super sick at work that night and not even eat anything other then 3/4 of the first sub---well the Lord did. I am thankful that I turned around and gave that man my sub. Also I am so thankful how the Lord calls us back to the basic level of our need for Savior even in the little things like giving of our resources to those in need. Is this not what Christ did for each of us? He did not need to offer Himself in order to reconcile us to the Father, BUT He did. May you be blessed today and be encouraged of how the Lord offered you his love. Will you receive it, will you run to it? Will you stop and humble yourselves? Our Father has food that will satisfy forever. What have you been eating lately? In what ways can you give more of resources. How blessed we are. I am so thankful I turned around and gave that man my sub. In ways do you need to turn around and go back to the basics. Have a blessed week.

Being Salt and Light

The man in the middle is my Jamaican brother. His name is Christopher. The Lord was able to minister to me through something he told me and I was in the Lord's goodness and graciousness able to share a bit of my testimony and the gospel message of Jesus Christ with him.

Christopher is a 33 year old man turning 34 on the 15the of this month. He has lived in Jamaica his whole life, but may be moving to Canada soon. He is one of the people that works in a small tourist stop shack. He makes items like statues and such. He lives off of each thing he sells. He actually is living inside his shack. He is not suppose to but does not have enough money to afford an apartment or small hut as I would say. I told him the night we took this picture that I would stop by his shack and buy something from him the next morning. -But since we went to the Mayfield fresh spring falls, I did not get time to stop by. Feeling bad that I had told him I was coming, I went out late that night to find him. I went to the restaurant I had met him the night before but did not find him. Like normal I was asked several times that night if I wanted to buy drugs of all sort. One of the men who asked me was a man whose name is Clifford. He is a 51 yr old that has 8 children with all different women. I politely told him I did not want any drugs. Got to know him and then asked do you know Christopher. He told me he did and took me to him. I bought each of the men a drink and talked to them about life. It was a blessed time to get to know these men that had experience so much of life. But I longed to tell them about Christ. I told Christopher I still wanted to buy something from him, so we went and I picked a statue out that reminded me of the people in Jamaica. He then gave me 2 other things for free. I told him that I didn't need anything else, but he wanted to give me them since I came and found him. He walked with back to my hotel room, and we talked about the Lord and Christ.

This is what he said that was so profoundly simple but was one of those phrases you want to sit and soak it all in. He said, "Seek the good; leave the bad."

We continued talking and after we had walked a bit I stopped and thought about it and asked him to repeat it. The love of the Lord is written on His creation! Even those who have not heard, or have not accepted Christ into their lives still have it written on the hearts! This is profound and exciting. PLUS it is challenging for us to continue to seek the good and leave the bad. Not to play with the bad or try it for a time but to leave it. To flee the bad.

He walked me all the way back and told me since it was dark it was not a good idea for a tourist to walk by themselves. I offered him a ride back in the rental he told insisted that it was okay and that he would walk. I told him it was not problem. I drove him back, asked him if you wanted a new testament. He said "ya man" I popped the trunk and gave him the Bible. He saw my puma's in the trunk. They are my favorite shoes. I have a thing for shoes, especially tennis shoes. He told me how he loved puma's. I asked if they would fit him-he said yes, so I told him he could have them. He was overcome and so thankful. I do not write that to boast. I have nothing to boast in. I am merely a human that deserves eternal separation from the Father, BUT has been ransomed because of my Savior Jesus Christ. This said, it is my joy to give my "stuff" away to deepen the effect of the love I long him to see that Christ has for him.

My desire for Minneapolis is to EXPERIENCE Christ. That they would long "to wear the puma's" I want Christ to blow the community out of the water with HIS LOVE. Religion is DEAD!!! Christ's love is eternal and will NEVER DIE. Church is good; but Christ is GREAT! Theology gives us wisdom, but Love from the Father allows us to experience Him and give love to the world. As a friend told me last night, "love summons love." Without love we have nothing. May we seek the good and leave the bad. May we love those that hurt us and condemn us. Even if you can't forgive-tell the Lord that. He will help you get through the valleys! He will also help you in the time of horrible memory to forgive the perpetrator. Cling to the king-Who was, Who is, and Who will always be! Be blessed. Be real!

The Jamaican Honk!

I just arrived back from a trip to Jamaica and am currently on my way to another destination- Kansas City. So the next couple of blogs will not be about interceding for Minneapolis per say as much as shining the light of Christ to others, representing the power of our Redemptive Savior and in a sense the people of Minneapolis to the rest of the world. So I want to just share a bit about a virtue that we in America, well for sure in Minneapolis- myself included-are lacking. RESPECT. Seeing the desolation of Jamaica and the low-income country was hard process. I saw homes as small as my bedroom. Seeing homeless people everywhere, some slept on the street, others snuck into their tiny shops they would sell souvenirs’ at and would sleep there. Yet, their attitudes were different. Yes, most of these people smoke the leaf, but they have not been raised to know not to. Besides that they each respect one another and I felt at home in a sense there. My buddy and I rented a vehicle, which turned out to be one of the best things we did. We toured half the country during our stay. On thing about Jamaica is most people taxi, but we would more likely in America call it bus service. We would see a small station wagon crammed with people inside the car, or large Toyota van’s-which are not sold in the USA-packed with people. The roads were awful and very windy. We drove on the opposite side of the road and the steering wheel was on the opposite side of the car as well. However, it was easy to adapt and follow to the rules of the road. And I must add the road was not very wide at all! There was many times my car was inches away from another oncoming car. So what does all this have to do with seeing the Lord’s love planted in the people of Jamaica? Well they honked all the time! All the time! When they would pass by people on the side of the road they would honk, as saying hi. They honk when they would pass you to say, I am coming around. Never did I sense an “angry” honk. Here in the Minneapolis, must people only honk to say move over, your going to slow, you in my way… The sense of the honk here is not in love, but in Jamaica I felt like the honks were friendly and ones to help and instruct than to tear down and ridicule one another. Maybe this all sounds weird to you but it was something that spoke a lot to me. The two top reasons why I saw the honk as a blessing: it revealed the spirit of those in Jamaica and captured my heart for the culture. Walking around in Jamaica everyone that we would walk by would fist bump us and say respect… it is a basis of his or her culture and I love that. Though they have some corruption and perversion they still respect each other and show their dignity. Yes we too have corruption here but I think we lack love and compassion, and just the sense of respect for one another. I attend a private college and know many people their, but there is many times I will pass people- they do not look at me, or they will not smile, or say anything.

Maybe this is normal-but it SHOULD NOT BE>we have one life, ONE LIFE, why not put others first and respect others. This is a lesson I have been pondering and learning from myself. So next time you hear a honk may it bring you joy and not frustration.

Better days are YET TO COME. The LION is on the move in the city of Minneapolis and in the country of Jamaica.