Daily Devotional – 4/1/13 “What now?”

You celebrated the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus on yesterday, what now? You probably got dressed and even got the kids or grandkids dressed all pretty in their spring colors but what now? You probably colored eggs, had an Easter egg hunt and cooked a grand meal but what now? You probably even went to church and let the kids recite an Easter speech but what now? You listened to the last 7 sayings from Jesus on the cross, you heard about the beatings He received, the mocking and the spitting that was done, the nails being driven in Jesus’ hands and feet, the sour wine He was given to drink, how He was buried in someone else’s grave and even how He rose early that Sunday morning but what now? Will you and the kids get all dressed up and be at church next Sunday? Did you explain to the kids that eggs and rabbits really don’t have significance to the real reason of Resurrection Sunday?

You do know that it’s not all about the baskets filled with candy because there was nothing sweet about the hell that Jesus endured. It’s not about the pretty dresses and bows, the new shoes or the purse that matched your outfit because clothes didn’t save Jesus from having thorns piercing His scalp or nails from being driven into His flesh. It’s not about the colored eggs or even the ham you cooked because all Jesus was given was sour wine to drink. It’s not even about the Easter speeches that we make the kids learn because if you don’t take them back to worship, the following Sunday, then how will they know the rest of God’s word? See, we spend so much time getting dressed up for a special occasion but why can’t every Sunday be a special occasion? Why can’t we treat every Sunday like its Easter when Jesus died just so we’d have a right to live even when we sin? Why can’t the churches be packed every Sunday? I mean, you celebrate your birthday all month, why can’t you celebrate the fact the Jesus died for our transgressions and rose just so we’d be able to live? After you’ve done all the celebrating, eating, drinking and fellowshipping on yesterday, what now? Will you forgive like Jesus did in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do?” Will you help somebody who doesn’t understand the salvation of the Lord like Jesus did in Luke 23:43; “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise?” Will you appreciate the relationships you have like Jesus did in John 19:26-27, “Woman, behold your son, behold your mother?” Will you stop acting like you’re the only one with trials every time you cry out like Jesus did in Matthew 27:46, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Will you realize that God is your everlasting water that will fulfill your thirst each time you cry out like Jesus did in John 19:28, “I am thirsty?” Will you rejoice in knowing that after this life is over, you have a place that is prepared for you, if you’ve lived right, and proclaim like Jesus did in John 19:30, “It is finished?” Will you say and mean it like Jesus said in Luke 23:46, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit?” Will you? After you’ve cleaned up the egg shells, threw away the candy paper, stacked up the baskets, hung up the Easter dresses and suits and taken down the Happy Easter signs, what now?

Daily Devotional – 3/29/13 “Making Preparations”

After they sentenced Jesus to be crucified, after they placed a crown of thorns on his head, a robe on his body and mocked His name of King; Matthew 27:31 says “After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.”

See, even after all that, they placed the same clothes Jesus had on before hand back on Him before they marched Him to Skull Hill (Golgotha) to be crucified. Yet, we go out and spend all our money that should be set aside for bills, medicine, food and necessities on clothes for Easter Sunday. Yea, we get all dressed up with no where to go. Jesus had a place to go after He died because He did all the things He was supposed to do but can you say the same? Will you be at church on next Sunday or is this one the only one? Don’t get me wrong, its your business what you do but while you’re buying shoes have you told the kids about the many miles Jesus had to walk bearing His own cross? While you buying new clothes, have you read about all the torture that Jesus endured just so we’d have an opportunity to everlasting life? While you’re getting your nails and feet done, have you read about the nails that were pierced in Jesus’ hands and feet so that we could have the chance to be forgiven for our sins?

Take a moment during your day and reflect on the real reason we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. It’s not about eggs because rabbits can’t lay any. It’s not about candy because there was nothing sweet about the Hell Jesus went through. It’s not even about the speeches but its about your belief in a Man who was persecuted even though He was innocent, beaten although He only came to help, chastised for His healing power and hung for our transgressions. So, while you’re getting prepared for Easter; make sure you have a place to go when you leave here.

Daily Devotional – 3/28/13 “Last sayings on the cross – Day 4”

On last night I had the opportunity, along with my spiritual BFF LaShundra Richmond, to speak at our church on this very topic; the last sayings on the cross. If I told you that I am in awe of God’s wonderful power it would be an understatement. See, Shun and I grew up in the church together and it wasn’t until a year or so ago that we touched base again and realized that we connected spiritually, I mean almost like I can feel her and she can feel me. It’s amazing the journey that God takes you on and on last night the Holy Spirit really worked through us, the Tag Team Ministry, we are called. I had to share that because one of the things Jesus said on the cross was to His mother Mary. He said to her, “Woman, behold your son” and to one of the disciples He said, “Behold your mother.” (John 19:26-27)

See, Jesus saw His mother weeping and He knew that she would need somebody to lean on, so He told her to look at her new son which was the disciple who stood next to her. He didn’t want her mourning over Him because He knew that His work was finished so He left her somebody in the flesh that could be there for her. Yea, see I’ve realized that God places people in our lives at the exact moment we need them even if we don’t understand it at that time. God knew this spiritual destiny that He had placed me on would be hard, rough and would sometimes have me wanting to give up so He sent me somebody who understands. It’s the same way with you. If you sit and think about the folks who are supposed to be in your life, you will see the purpose they serve. This is why you should wait for God to send your spouse. This is why you should have your heart in God so that He can distinguish your friends from the enemies who dress in nice clothes. This is why you have to stay prayed up in order to be able to see the good and the bad in folks. This is why the bible says in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Yea because in your natural eyes you’ll see love but in your spiritual eyes you’ll see that it’s just lust. In your natural eyes you’ll see green grass but in your spiritual eyes you’ll see it’s just a patch of dirt painted green. In your natural eyes you’ll see trust but in your spiritual eyes you’ll see God saying it’s just temptation. In your natural eyes you’ll see marriage but in your spiritual eyes God will show that it’s just misery looking for company. This is why you need to value the relationships (marriage, friendships, fellowships, etc.,) you have. Stop taking folk and time for granted because neither one is promised. I’ve said this before but I don’t mind sharing it again… People often say you don’t miss what you had until it’s gone but you knew exactly what you had you just thought you’d never lose it. Behold your life, love and relationships while you have a chance. This simply means look at, observe, see and witness what you already have because they, it, we, us, them and you all have an appointed time to go.

Daily Devotional – 3/27/13 “Last sayings on the cross – Day 3”

I know that today is Day 3 of the last sayings but I’ve chosen today, “I’m thirsty,” John 19:28. Now because Jesus was being crucified and mocked they bought Him a sponge soaked in sour wine. Can you imagine drinking sour wine after all the things that Jesus has been through? It’s like you helping a friend move into their home all day and after hours of working you asks for something to drink and they hand you a glass of vinegar. What would you say? Now, if you would, imagine for a moment someone asking you for help and you turning your back. Imagine someone being hungry and you refusing to feed them even though you’re able too. Imagine saying no to the person asking for change outside the store because you feel like they should get their own. But what if it was you? What if it was you crying “I’m thirsty,” but instead of getting water you got sour wine, a flat soda or unsweetened kool-aid? Oh, but you’re probably thinking that it won’t be, right? Chile, things change in a blink of an eye and today you could be living in your warm home and tomorrow you could be searching for a bed in a homeless shelter. Today you could have your choice of what to eat and tonight you could be eating hospital food. This morning you could be driving your own car and tomorrow catching the bus. All, I’m saying is if someone is thirsty, give them a drink. If someone is hungry, feed them. If someone is in need of clothes, clothe them. If someone needs, help them. Don’t you know the bible says in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you?” This says give and it will be given back in the same measure in which you put it out. So, if you give hell out, you shall receive hell back but if you give out help then help is returned. If you give out messy and miserable mess, then you get back messy miserable mess but if you give out God’s message then you get back His mercy multiplied for your making. Yea, if all you’ve got to give is gossip, lies, judgment, criticism, you won’t be nothing sayings, finger pointing, hateful looks, backstabbing hugs, a hand to push me down, a kick to make me stumble, a laugh when you know I’m down, pain, misuse and abuse then you keep it and let me stay thirsty because I know a Man that says in John 4:14, “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Yea, if your water is tainted with mean, nasty, hateful and good for nothings then you keep it and let me stay thirsty because Jesus says in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Oh, if all you got to give me is more hell to add to what I sometimes get, more obstacles to go over, more scars to cover up or more cracks in the heart I’m trying to mend then you keep it and let me thirst because I know a Man that says in Jeremiah 31:25, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Daily Devotional – 3/26/13 “Last sayings on the cross – Day 2”

Could you imagine standing before a crowd of people who you thought loved you only to have them spit on you; what would you say? After all you’ve done for them, they turn around and curse and call you names; what would you say? They tie thorns together and place it on your head so that it digs into your scalp until you bleed; what would you say? They mock your name as King, nail your hands and feet to a cross and still have no charges to convict you but they found you guilty; what would you say? Even after they shouted, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One;” Jesus was still working on behalf of His Father. It didn’t matter that He was hung between 2 criminals, one of whom had the nerve to mock Him, yet the other one said “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” And because He stood up for Jesus, Jesus stood up for Him by saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise,” Luke 23:43 (That’s the second saying) See, you don’t have to be ashamed of the Man you serve because He surely isn’t ashamed of you even after all the many times you’ve sinned. Yea, if you take a moment and think back over your life you get ashamed just thinking about some of the things you did back then and probably even last night yet God continues to stand up for you. However, we step in His house with the audacity of being quiet with our praise, too scared to shout in our new shoes, clap the hands that still work even with arthritis or use the voice that could have been taken from us. We constantly pray for a car and then won’t drive it to worship service because you don’t want to add too many miles. You get a man or woman and stop fellowshipping with church folk because they don’t want to go. Well baby, I refuse to let a rock cry out for me because it wasn’t the rock that woke me up this morning, gave me a reasonable portion of health and strength and even anointed my feeble mind but it was that Man who hung, bled and died just so I’d have a right to the tree of life! Yea, I won’t be ashamed of the Man who rocks me to sleep when the pills won’t work, dry my tears before they soak my pillow, mend my hurt after being broken so many times, heal my body after the doctors says they’ve done all they can do, be a friend after your best friend walk off, provide when the job lays you off, light your path after you’ve been walking in the dark so long and make you first after all you’ve known is last. Oh, I just wish I had a few folk who aren’t ashamed of this Man!