In a world, where we celebrate the “great getting up morning” of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, declaring that He did so with all power in His hands, why is it that even after we accept Him as Lord, and even after we learn that we were created in the image and likeness of Him and even after we learn that He left us that same resurrecting power through the Holy Spirit, we still seem powerless to overcome the things of this world.

If we’re honest we make excuses for so long-we believe them.  “We are only human.”, “God knows our heart.” “We are not perfect.” “Only God can do that.” As you’re reading today, you’ve probably thought of the one “line” you use to justify your current condition.  What does the word of God say?  I’m on a mission to let the Word of God do the work.  I’ve tried intellect and I’ve even been offered intellect by others to be successful in “maneuvering” through the mazes of this life.  While the absorption of more of that may add money to my pocket, I am confident it will not add the peace or prosperity I seek and therefore, I will stick with the truths of God’s word.

So why can’t we get up and get out of some stuff?  Why is it that so many are turning to the world and its vain pleasures?  Why is it that the church appears to be losing it’s momentum in winning souls to Christ? Why?

If you read you will see that faith and obedience were required for their true success.  Both men were instructed to rise/get up and follow.  The formula remains the same, yet we continue to try it our own way, make excuses when we don’t measure up and our conditions and those around us remain the same or worsen.

³² And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” ³³ He said this to indicate how he was going to die. ³⁷ But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. (John 12:32-33, 37a)

I believe that this scripture which has been sung and spoken many a time to emphasize “praise and worship” has an even greater meaning.  I believe that the truth of this word is that when the focus returns to Christ’s resurrection or “getting up” and the power that it had and the power that we have with us even today, we will recognize that we can get through and overcome anything!  I’ve endured being robbed at gunpoint, cancer, divorce, and several broken friendships and relationships-including a sort of estrangement from a very close relative and through it all I’ve used it for God’s glory-inspiring others to live healthy, inspiring others to overcome, being an open book sharing my victories but also my failures.  Often times people say, “I admire your strength.” I have to tell them like Paul in Galatians 2:20, “²⁰ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. “

And when more of the saints of God, are willing to take the focus off of self and let this be their testimony, I am convinced there will be more “getting up”-out of beds of affliction, out of unhealthy, toxic relationships, bodies, dead-end jobs, debt, out of it all.  Each of us-when we put the focus where it belongs will have our own, “Great Getting Up Morning!”

It’s my birthday! And since birthdays are all about celebrations I decided on my way to instruct my Aquatics class, that I’d really celebrate Me today!  So here you have it!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”  Revelation 21:4-5

Today I’m so proud to wear this size 14  red Calvin Klein beauty not for some lustrous sex appeal but rather to serve the devil notice that the fight is on and very real!

A good friend told me once that what you see in magazines is doctored up and misleading at best. I hope my birthday boldness will encourage someone that hard work, disclipine and commitment will help you pass the tests- tests of time, tests of life, tests of trials too!  I can’t end this celebration without sharing my theme song with you!

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion!

That’s not all the lyrics to Rachel Platten’s Fight Song but the main part needed for this celebration deal! Only because of Christ can I can I make peace with who I’ve been. (Romans 8:1) I’m proud of who I’m becoming! Bold, confident! Red, Real and Resurrected!

Shortly after noon this past Friday, while sitting in traffic, waiting for a light to change so that I could head home after being disconnected from a call, a little bird came and sat on my car.  It wasn’t until Sunday morning that I grasped the full understanding of the timing of that experience.  The thing I focused on immediately was the evidence of Springtime being just around the corner.  But there’s always something about early Sunday morning-remembering that soon we will celebrate that “great getting up morning!”

I got curious what type of bird is this?  Where is he coming from? Where is he going?  More personally, of all the cars he could’ve landed on, why did he choose mine? Was it the deep redness of my car or perhaps even the new wine color of my hair? I decided to do a little research and this is what I found out.

Birds will usually travel to a climate where it is much warmer. When birds do this it is called “migration”. Most birds will migrate to warmer climates,  while birds who don’t migrate, stay in the climate where they already are. While migrating, birds will usually stay in a flock. The birds who stay (don’t migrate) will search for the food they can find in the habitat.

Wow!! It was obvious this bird was not with a flock and perhaps he was in search of something that he couldn’t find in his habitat and so he found me.  Unfortunately there were barriers that kept us from really connecting but how I loved having him right there with me. Of course, when it was time for me to move, he hung on for a moment and then he flew away.  And while the curiosity of him being there may be with me forever, reality is he must move too.

With the anniversary of my birth surrounded by the anniversary of so much death (primarily relating to meaningful relationships), I write today with a mixed array of emotions. There is an impending joy of future things I don’t yet know while there is a sadness for that which I must let go-fully, completely and totally surrendering my will to God’s. Letting go sometimes feels like taking on more weight but I must trust that by staying in God’s will to do the right thing in all situations, He is there to help me carry the load remaining.  Sting’s song-“If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free” is a conversation with me and God that reads like this:

(Jesus speaking) If you need somebody, call my name
If you want someone, you can do the same
(My Feelings)       If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key
(Jesus speaking)     If you want to hold onto your possession
Don’t even think about me

(Jesus speaking)   If it’s a mirror you want, just look into my eyes

Or a whipping boy, someone to despise

(My view)                Or a prisoner in the dark
Tied up in chains you just can’t see
Or a beast in a gilded cage
That’s all some people ever want to be

It’s hard to believe it’s nearing the middle of March and Spring is just around the corner.  Reflecting back on this most recent Christmas time, I wondered if I’d even make it this far. With what appeared to be so many obstacles stacked against me and my focus as if the answers for my entire future had to be available then, it felt impossible that I could wade through all the setbacks and that all was left to do was to prepare for the end and die (like the woman with Elisha 1Kings 17:12).  I laugh at how long it has truly taken me to trust God one day at a time. For much of my life, I’ve attempted plan it all out months and years in advance. In this season, it is imperative that I plan for the day, leave tomorrow where it is until it becomes the day and thank God that the day is as well as it is.

As I’m learning to let the Word do the work in my life, I must ensure that the scripture that supports this way of living does not become undigested knowledge: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:34 KJV

I don’t believe this implies to live recklessly as if tomorrow will never come but I believe it means embracing the fullness of each day, seizing every opportunity to witness, being willing to quickly forgive without the sun going down on unresolved issues, and endlessly loving those whom God, through the Holy Spirit, has placed in your life.

The old sitcom “One Day at a Time” is more like my present season than I ever imagined it would be when it aired.  This sitcom followed a recently divorced mother (Ann Romano) and her two teenage daughters (Barbara and Julie) as they start a new life together in Indianapolis. They are befriended by the building superintendent (Dwayne Schneider), who treats them like family. These four main characters face life’s challenges together. The lyrics of the sitcom’s theme song are as follows:

This is it. This is it.
This is life, the one you get
So go and have a ball.

This is it. This is it
Straight ahead and rest assured
You can’t be sure at all.

So while you’re here enjoy the view
Keep on doing what you do
So hold on tight we’ll muddle through
One day at a time, One day at a time.

So up on your feet. Up on your feet
Somewhere there’s music playing.
Don’t you worry none
We’ll just take it like it comes.

One day at a time, one day at a time

The deeper my love relationship with God grows, the more I’m able to trust Him for each day,  and more importantly, the more I realize that’s all I’m capable of handling anyway.  He has been so gracious to place the most loving, caring and supportive group of people in our path in our new city.  The closer we get to our new friends, the more we understand that each of us has enough “evil” sufficient for one day.  The beauty is in developing that sense of family and facing the life challenges together.

To all my friends and loved ones I say, “Up on your feet! Don’t you worry none.  Let’s take our issues as they come. Wherever you are, enjoy your view, you get only one life, keep doing what you do. One thing’s for sure-we can never be sure at all. So Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5) and take life as it comes-One Day at a Time!”

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you felt powerless against the things coming against you?  I was inclined to say “people and things” and quickly remembered that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT).  I am so glad for the word of God and each day I’m learning more and more how to let the Word do the work in my life.  I can use clichés and empty words to promote “love” and “teamwork” but at the end of the day it is the word of God that will surely stand the test of time and stand up to any opposing forces at work in and around me.

There are two specific instances that I’ve struggled to address and have the “final say” in this week and as I pray, the peace comes in recognizing that silence is the best answer for the problems I face today.  Pride says “don’t let them make you the fall guy” and un-forgiveness says “don’t waste your time, let them know they’ve hurt you one time too many and you’re done trying to make amends.”  But the sweet communion with the Holy Spirit says, “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7 NLT)

And so the weight of trials that beat upon me is not lifted because I’m speaking up but rather because I’m remaining silent.  Be careful how the enemy tempts you to address every matter and stick your neck out to be chopped off by those closest often bearing the title-family, friend, sister, teammate, etc. Consider this posture-Head Up! Chest Out! Feet Forward! Mouth Closed!

Hold your peace.  Trust the Lord to fight your battle.  And then, embrace the victory that’s already promised to be yours!

There are many who believe that mind and spirit are one in the same.  While I believe this is possible, it is not always the case, especially when we allow our minds to concentrate on things that consume our thoughts that in no way line up with God’s will for our lives.  Frankly speaking, there are some people and some thoughts that we need to simply let “cross our minds” and keep on “crossing” until they have gotten so far to the “other side” of our thought process that they no longer tempt us to act or react in a way that is not pleasing to God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is true-there is absolutely no temptation taken us (no thought or no one that “crosses our minds”) that is not common to all mankind and furthermore that our gracious God has not already provided us a way of escape that no matter the temptation we will be able to bear it or “do the right thing”.

There is a word of declaration for the one who continues to allow the things of the mind to be the governance of their actions and it is found in Romans 8:6:  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (NIV)  Are you wondering why there is no peace in your life?  Are you wondering why there is so much death around you?  Perhaps it is the governance of your mind.  What moves you to action?  Is it everything that “crosses your mind” or is it the power of the Holy Spirit that “dwells within”?  I pray that you will be honest with yourself for the Spirit of God knows all things and reveals all truth.

²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” (Ephesians 4:21-23) (NLT)

Often times, my writings are easy because I simply let the word of God do the work. I pray that we will allow the mind and spirit be in agreement with one another.  Think on good things. Do the right things. This is the will of God concerning us.  A mind in sync with the Holy Spirit is life giving, peace giving and simply the right thing to possess.

I know there are so many actions in the world that may leave you confused about “man and woman” and God’s intended purpose and admittedly I had to go back and see did I miss a portion of what He said when He decided to make woman for man. God looked at all He had created and while “it was good,” He loved man so he decided that He needed to create one more time to ensure that man had a “suitable” mate. Suitable-right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose or situation.

And this thing with the rib-of all the places or parts of the body God could have chosen from, He chose the rib. Our ribs provide 3 functions for us-Support, Respiration, and Protection.  Our rib protects our heart (life), liver (digestion), kidneys (waste removal), and lungs (breath). Why is it then, that there is more heart ache, waste brought in, too much to digest that keeps us almost unable to breathe in relationships? Secondly, our rib aids in respiration helping us with inhaling (take it all in) and exhaling (letting some of it out). And thirdly, the rib protects us as it is the framework onto which muscles of the chest, back, shoulder and upper abdomen can attach. The chest says-I can poke out and be proud, the back-I know you’ve got mine, the shoulder-someone I can lean on, the upper abdomen-I can take a lickin and keep on tickin.

When you go beyond the basic “helpmeet” the picture is a beautiful thing and when you see a true enduring love, you recognize that while many don’t seem to get what God did and His intended purposes for doing it, you can be hopeful that as people develop their love relationship with God, they will more fully understand their role in God’s creation!  I believe God’s meaning of suitable was not that the woman would be appropriate for a person, OR purpose, OR a situation but rather that she would be “just right” for a person AND their God given purposes would be edifying to one another AND that they would be able to stand strong together through any given situation!

Far too long have we looked for one area of suitability only to find the others lacking and so we lose the functionalities of our rib as we (male and female) attempt to take the place of God and find other ribs that fit our unmet needs. So many of us spend every waking moment trying to find something “suitable” for us.  Adam was sleep. God did all the work.  I believe He is saying to us today-“Rest in me. Wait for me. Love me while you wait.  I know the plans I have for you and they are good and “just right” for you. Trust me in this place. I know what I’m doing in your life.  Trust me.”

Chris Rock in the movie, “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka”  asked for “one rib” although it turned out he had enough money to get much more.  God, in His infinite wisdom, put all we need in relationship in just “one rib”!

I recently took a look back to try and determine if I’ve ever loved. I think the best answer I can come up with is yes-but only partly. Furthermore, I am now confident that I have never been fully loved by anyone else either.

Perhaps you’re thinking-how can you speak for someone else to determine their love for you? And my response is, I’m not speaking for anyone but rather measuring my experiences with the word of God concerning what love is:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (NIV)⁸ Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages^[a] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! (NLT)-(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

If I’m honest with myself, I’ll admit that it’s only been in the last few years of my life that I have allowed God’s word concerning love to be my gauge. And while I know we are not perfect and will never be perfect until Christ returns, I can’t help but wonder who’s made it their goal in their love relationships to attempt to reach the fullest potential of the passage listed above?

Scripture says we perish for the lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6). And heading into my future I’m totally excited about the knowledge and determination I have gained to have a love relationship that glorifies God. From the first date I’ll be open but I’ll be measuring recognizing that there is an insane expectation to get something later in the relationship that never existed from the beginning.

What are you using to measure your love towards someone and their love reciprocated to you? I hope it’s not the length of their hair (or any body part for that matter), the depth of their pockets, the height of their career or width of their titles and accolades but rather the length, depth, height and width of God’s love toward us and the clear cut definition He gives us of what love is. This is the true measure of love.

For some reason this morning, I awoke reflecting on the number of people who were in my space when I was in the misery of a failing marriage and are now nowhere to be found.  Some of them I now realize were only in my space because perhaps it made them feel better about the misery they were in and in most instances I believe they are still in today.  Furthermore, I believe that by making changes to change my condition, I removed the commonalities that I now have to accept were the only commonalities that ever truly existed.

I’ll admit there are times when I reflect on the spaces these individuals filled-some who were by my sick bed listening to every report of the doctor concerning my cancer diagnosis and some who were childhood friends, a part of sleepovers and more like family than some actual kinship-the pain of the loss sometimes seems too much to bear.

The biggest thing I’ve learned through this leg of my journey is that doing what’s right is risky and takes great faith.  From God’s perspective the loss that comes with being willing to make the major changes is miniscule when compared to the rewards He promises.

If you believe there is any truth to the saying “misery loves company”, then be confident in the “blessings” that come from being alone.  Get to know yourself, exercise, become the you God created you to be.  Remember how fearfully and wonderfully He made you (Psalm 139:14).  Remember He is working in you to will and do His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).  Do not throw away your confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36).

As we approach the day focused on “love” and “lovers” be okay with being by yourself.  Buy yourself a rose and pick out your favorite box of chocolates.  After all who knows them better than you.  Stop letting the world define this time as “lacking” and remember the reasons and seasons that led you to this place.  Reflect on the additional time you have to do “you” in this season and be thankful- for you have no idea how soon the season may change. Always know that if there is breath in your body and a reasonable portion of health and strength, you are blessed-even if you are also alone!

It’s been said that I’m too emotional and the more I get to know myself, the more I’m glad God made me just the way I am.   Angie Stone, in her song, “Happy Being Me” says it this way:

Looking back on when I started
Had a lot of sun and a lot of rain
I’ve had some joy and broken heartache
But now that doesn’t mean a thing

I’m living for the joy and laughter
Longing for my befores and afters
All in all, it’s been cool
And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do

Stop reaching back for your beginnings
All those broken dreams that went down stream
As we grow, live and know
Somethings were never meant to be

Just like people, they come and go
Some will live forever and some will never know
That’s why God gives us memories
To lead us to our victories, I’m so happy loving me

So happy being me
I’m regretting nothing ’bout me
Too busy living life, living love freely
So happy being me

When I think further on the issue, I’d rather be known as one with lots of “e”motion than one who simply goes through “the” motion. Lack of commitment and lack of enthusiasm feels lifeless and having been faced with a disease that has rendered many “lifeless” I’m fully committed to living my best life now-full of emotion, love, compassion-totally emptying myself-purposefully determined to take nothing to the grave that was meant to be released in one way or another into the atmosphere. I pity the one that’s so calculated and so robotic always moving to the accepted beat of others yet dying on the inside from so much unleashed passion and unexplored personal interests.

That will never be me.  I’m passionate, loving, empathetic and I have been equipped with many tears to shed, I’m ME and happy being ME!  I pray the same for you-that you will be free in your emotions rather than be bound as you go through “the” motions.