Who is fooling Who? (A Sign Of the Times)

A sure sign that someone is back-slidden, is when the Spirit of God is leading people solemnly to pray for the sad state of the ‘Body of Christ,’  they are jesting away. It almost appears like a photo-op session in the modelling world or a politician prepared to deny the very thing he did. The first thing that goes when you are playing ‘hookey’, is discernment if you ever had any at all. They rejoice, when God says mourn (For the atrocities committed against His very name on the brows of the true-seeker) and will have to mourn and gnash their teeth when God tells His people to rejoice! The joy of the Lord is often refreshing, strength-giving, contagious, healing and does not need to be primed. Even the unbeliever feels the powerful effect of the joy that the Most high gives His beloved.

I had a faith filled week which poured into a very harrowing and stressful weekend. I have a bandaged knee and a cane as I write (I had thought that would wait till I was at least 80 years of age ), I was robbed, misunderstood (this is really minor to me these days), and every technological gadget I had, was either stolen or acquired some dangerous ‘wares’ e.g. adware, spyware (are they still spying on me?), and malware. As inconvenienced and sad as I might have been I knew this was a backlash from the kingdom of darkness. I knew that I along with the sincere Christian have scored some spiritually. It is only a matter of time before we will experience the mockers with their frozen and halted smiles.

Now to the title of this posting I must go. It was encouraging to find out how many people are receiving directions from the Lord as they pray. No amount of debauchery has fooled them or led them to be confused about what they know, have seen or are observing even as I write. Like I mentioned before, I have one huge weakness – I cannot fake it, even if my life depended on it. That is why I keep showing up with a bunch of words struggling to fit together. But some congregants who are smiling and jeering at the traitors, are also indulging me in some very heart-wrenching deeds committed by the ‘super-stars’. Judgement must and will begin at the house of God. People can embrace and appreciate wickedness all they want, even prime the masses to seem like they are doing the same; but to the foot of the cross I will go and wait. I will grip that wood so hard until God arises and His enemies are scattered.

So yes the demons were on assignment these past couple of days, and so were the angels of God. A sure evidence is I wrote this. I know every soldier of the cross is under attack; I can feel it. Here is God’s word to you who are sorely grieved and harassed by doomed jesters: “And He increased His people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.” Psalm 105:24 (KJV).

In the midst of my attack-laden day yesterday, I met two sweet ladies who made me wince when they said they attended this church (unbeknownst to them, I knew exactly where they were talking about; they just never seen me before) What was even stranger was they invited me to join them for service in the morning (as I planned my escape) at a completely different church. Why would anyone not attend their home church for the very first service of the week. Yes they acknowledged it as their church, but were led of the Holy Spirit to seek pure water else where.  Appreciation galore anyone?

Still Got My ‘Praise’ Going!

“Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.” Psalm 141:9-10 (NIV)

I was going to entitle this post ‘Celebrate Jesus’, because that is what was going on in my innermost being. The faithfulness and keeping power of my Lord is being recited in my heart by the Holy Spirit. But that title gave me sad flashbacks and I believe God wants to heal me right now. You have to understand, these attacks occured while I was vulnerable (giving my all/widow’s mite to the Lord). They were unprovoked and mind boggling. Unable to solve the gruesome puzzle, I tucked it away in my heart. Though I did not dwell on it, God knows that I have an ’analytical’ mind and a ‘methodical’ training. That until I get to the bottom of the mystery, it will keep me from giving my all to Him in the future. You don’t put a bandaid on a cancerous cell and hope it all goes away. If it happened it has to be acknowledged, dealt with and then discarded. You will have to either cut-out the malignant cell, or infuse it with radiation to kill it. Any thing less than the aforementioned tactics, will only have it in remission. Today it all makes sense, and Jezebel did what Jezebel wanted and was called to do. I am still standing, praising and even more radical than when I first began: that should teach the devil to mess with me. Christ gets me the victory as I give Him the glory. Most importantly, one more major healing from the past has taken place. Thank you for sharing this deliverance with me. Here is how it went down…

About 11 years ago, I was approached by a simple praying housewife, who was involved in the same ministry as I was (Children’s Ministry). She and her husband were leaders in that Ministry. I really had nothing in common with this woman at all and she said as much. You know how easily people in the ‘body’ migrate to their clicks and their clacks. Though well over a decade older than me, she often sought me for advice every now and then. She usually kept to herself and was of a quiet personality. So I was shocked when she diligently pursued a friendship with me. Loud and radical me ! She invited me to her home, always wanted me to sit next to her and eventually go on mission trips together, (Ronald McDonald’s house, Nursing homes, Prisons etc. Her simple explanation was that she loved Christ in me; and believed that God answered when I prayed – Bless His holy name!

Anyways, since she and her husband were leaders in that ministry, she was part of a committee that had planned to do something different for the kids ‘Vacation Bible School’, that turn of the century year (2000). After much prayer; God told her to get me to work alongside her. She said she had prayed, and I was to be her assistant. When this was presented before the Director and the assistant Director, they were ecstatic. I had been on mission trips with them, they knew my heart and had seen me in action before. So all four women including me, had such a peaceful and joyful confirmation from the Lord that we were to work together.

Not too long after our first ‘take-off’ meeting, God gave me a theme title and song which I presented to the three ‘grande dames’ above me. It was ‘Celebrate Jesus!) They loved it! The Director was once again ecstatic – and told me this was answer to her prayer. The assistant Director was a sweet-heart and a personal friend of mine eventually. Shortly after the Holy Spirit released the title and theme of the program, he gave me a dream on how the presentation should go and what story in the bible should guide us. Once again I laid it before my superiors and they gobbled it so fast that the Director had someone create physically what I was shown spiritually (The Arc of the Covenant). Talk of polling talents in ‘the house of God’ for the glory of the Lord. The Director also felt led to start preparing lesson plans in the house as opposing to buying other people’s books. She poured out her heart, showed me samples and sent me on my way. God sanctioned that, and gave me the time, strength and wherewithal to create the first ‘In house’ lesson plan for that ministry. All the classes were taught from that lesson plan, and modified for each age group. The joy on the face of the Director, the assistant Director and the ministry leader was priceless. I was blessed to have been used of God to relieve them of much of the brainstorming and labor – they said quite as much.

We ended up having a very successful and blessed summer program. We enjoyed each others gifts and input and had a blast fellowshipping with one another. The visitors, members and children were all incredibly blessed. Children were healed, saved and set-free. It was like nothing done before proclaimed the Director. However, no sooner had we wrapped up the program and ended VBS, than weird stuff started happening. The Director started avoiding me and when I did accost her in confusion, she gave me a fake and shallow smile. The ministry leader who thought I was her God sent sister, all but spat on my face like I was a plague. They completely changed in such a way that I knew that something greater was controlling them. “A froward man/woman soweth strife: and a whisperer seperateth chief friends”. Proverbs 16:28 (KJV). It was obvious that they had no problem with me per-say; but had been poisoned to the point where they were afraid to be found socializing with me. They would speak to me in hushed tones and look to the right or to the left to see who was coming. It was a shame-filled fiasco and mess in the house of God. The assistant Director, bless her heart; never acquiesced. And for this I consider her a woman of substance and class. I know beyond a doubt, that God blessed her for her kindness towards me. Shortly after that, as always they all but threw me out of the ministry – howbeit subtly.

Now we all know what happened to those otherwise lovely, sweet and obedient servants of God; that they turned on me for absolutely no reason don’t we now? Good all together… Jezebel poisoned their minds and gave her usual devil inspired orders. Another load hits the ground, I AM FREE!!!

Please come with me next time as I lay down the very heavy load of what Jezebel hatched on my mission trip to the former Soviet Union. Snippet: she asked them not to check in my luggage to Moscow. There were three hundred (300) people with two pieces of luggage each, and ONLY MINE DID NOT ARRIVE for a three-week trip!!! Stay tuned – this indeed is the moment of truth. Thank God for healing from wicked, unprovoked and deadly blows. And also for correcting the marred way the enemy would want me to view the house of God. Alleluia anyhow…

“I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; before the ‘gods’ I will sing Your praise.

I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and Your faithfulness,

For you have exalted above all things, Your name and Your word.

When I called, You answered me; You made me bold and stout-hearted.

May all the Kings of the earth praise You, O Lord,

When they hear the words of Your mouth.

may they sing of the ways of the Lord, For the glory of the Lord is great.

Psalm 138:1-5 (NIV)

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise Your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise You and extol Your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds.

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:1-7 (NIV)

Jesus Is The Answer! (The Making of a Fighter – Part One)

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement, thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” Isaiah 54:17 (KJV)

Before the initial introduction of Christianity into this West African country, the unchallenged religious and cultural nature was Idol worship, polygamy and deep-seethed superstition e.g. the belief in human reincarnation among other things. Then came the visits from the Portuguese monks, the birth of the Anglican, Catholic churches and then subsequently the arrival of British Missionaries. The arrival of these Missionaries would change a whole lot of activities that unbeknownst to the natives were demonic in nature though cultural to them. Like every other Continent including North America, even in the Old Testament ‘Holy Land’, Africa had to battle and reap the effects of any practice or lifestyle contrary to Christianity. The only difference was that though you had half-naked men with body paints and bird-feathers on their head running around with bone jarring chants and jeers, waving staffs that had names of the departed boldly printed on them in Africa; the Western hemisphere would contain and wield just as much wickedness: only this time it was hidden behind fine-tailored and cut suits, with bleached mane’s and seemingly perfect accent. But evil and idolatry was still treacherously and comfortably performed behind pine-wood and polished office desks overlooking the heart of the city.

It was with this back-drop, that I pursued a very interesting, heart-wrenching but victorious story to West Africa. The family in question was well-known in that eastern-region and beyond. The Patriarch was known as a very powerful and wealthy warrior of noble and royal descent. His wealth and status allowed or should I say demanded that he marry multiple wives. He married five of them, howbeit in different ways and circumstances. The love of his life would be the first wife, whom I will refer to as ‘B’ for this article. ‘B’ was a teenager (18 years) when she got marriage, she was the village beauty from a somewhat wealthy, but not so known family. He (‘B’s husband) was the famed victor, with a last name that terrified his enemies. No sooner were they married than the children started coming. Soon after, the second and third wives were married (remember the traditional expectations) with ‘B’s blessing of course. When ‘B’ stopped bearing children, she had nine of them (amazing); she married the fourth and fifth wives for her husband. Think Sarah, Rachel and Leah: Genesis 16:1-4, 30:4-6, 30:9-11 (Just for random reference,’B’ and her husband were of distant Jewish ancestry!).

Over the years, ‘B’ would have raised of her own children: four medical Doctors, three Engineers, one Architect and one Pharmacist. But by the time this interview was taking place, there was only one Medical Doctor living; and she lived at his house with his wife and children. ‘B’ had buried eight children! But you never met a more cheerful and encouraging human being. People flocked to her for advise and encouragement. ‘B’ always talked about and praised God like nothing bad ever happened to her before. At ninety-two years, surely she would have one complaint. She was dearly loved, sought and respected by all who knew her. In fact, that was evident in the way I had to shoo the crowd all away, so I could have a moment with ‘B’.

Finally, we were alone and I was so happy to see her smiling (she was legally blind). Even though she was well along in years, you could see that she had been a knockout in her ‘hey’ days. Rightfully crowned the ‘village belle’, ‘B’ had cheekbones (that could slice cheese) I had never seen such in Africa or anywhere else for that matter. God had lovingly chiseled this one to perfection. She was as stunning on the outside, as she was beautiful on the inside. As my precious time with ‘B’ was unfortunately coming to an end (because I had a flight to catch), I asked her for the umpteenth time her favorite memory in all these years. She smiled like she always did when she was getting ready to say something that made her happy; she fixed her ‘rapa’ (a colorful piece of fabric wrapped around the waist) and began that story again…

Dearest ‘B’ had only one daughter of all her nine children. That daughter like ‘B’ was another knockout beauty. And the community fondly labelled her “Nwamaranma” (meaning a beautiful child). Every one said she was a rare combination of beauty and brains and incredibly shocking humility. They all loved her and would give their life to protect her. She was also the ‘apple of her father’s eye’ though he had about thirty other children. ‘B’ started to speak slowly and deliberately; so much so that I thought she was drifting off. But she shook her head and looked me straight in the eye and said: “Promise me you will always hold on to God; for He alone can conquer the wicked works of darkness.” I gave her my word, and assured her that it was a done deal. She continued… her family, because they had been ignorant about the power of God for so many generations; became ‘sitting ducks‘ for the enemy. The family was incredibly blessed with wealth, health and high-achievers, and with that kind of favor came jealousy and envious attacks. Since they did not know any better, they fought back with culture and tradition…

Shortly after that time, her one and only daughter was pregnant (after multiple mis-carriages) and ‘B’ prayed to the one true God like never before. She asked God to save this one and keep ‘it’ for His glory. ‘B’ got very sick as she prayed, her right side became paralysed; but she did not give up. She got a call from Overseas, that her daughter had gone into ‘Premature Labor‘ again! ‘B’ besought the Lord, with everything in her. The second call came in; her granddaughter though 26 weeks old was quite alive and healthy kicking legs that were as long as her father’s. ‘B’ said immediately she got that news, her paralysis dissipated instantly and she was totally healed. She gave the new baby a name; though it was not in her birth certificate, it was ‘B’s name for her ‘miracle girl’ and the girl knew her name too! The name was ‘Ndidiamaka’ meaning patience is beautiful.

Wow! what a story… I could not keep the tears from falling. ‘B’ was the most incredible woman who ever walked that continent as far as I was concerned. As I hugged, kissed and blessed that woman and bid her goodbye – maybe for the last time. ‘I asked God to put the devil to shame, on ‘B’ s behalf. Let her continuing lineage be a frustrating existence for the powers of darkness and may her seed live to crush; one more time, the head of the serpent. And should any person choose again to be a tool of darkness against ‘B’s seed…’

PS: My very precious maternal grand-mother Beatrice died at a ripe old age of 95 years. Praise the Lord!!!

The Beauty, Benefits and Blessedness of Boundaries

The worse thing that can happen to any human being or creature for that matter, is to think (and probably believe) that they are limitless and without restraint. It is an ‘accursed state of existence’; (and sadly so) because that person or creature without realizing it has lost any hope of genuine effectiveness in their own lives let alone their immediate surrounding; thereby existing by mere tolerance. Therein lies the ‘nucleus’ of the curse: when tolerance and indifference is perceived by the recipient as limitless personal victory.

Not too long ago, Hollywood released a movie along those lines (I know because I almost got trampled by would-be movie going neighbors). The story line was about there being a drug you could take to become unstoppable. The feed back no one was giving, was what happens after you get to the apex of ‘unstoppable’: an inevitable descent of course, with a velocity and gravity that bears no-description. Therefore when all was said and done, the drug ingestor was better of without the drug and nothing; than with the drug and everything:(everything including a constant bombardment of trouble, fear and uncertainty). It bears down like illicit pleasure; the pain afterward is never really fair compared to the ratio of the latter. The crash after the cruise, leaves you thinking you were better of without the cruise. This goes to show that everything that has a beginning must come to an end. Wickedness, lasciviousness, oppression, debauchery, injustice has a termination date. There is a saying in my Country of Origin which goes something like this: “No condition is permanent in this world.” Translation: if you have been in pain; get ready to laugh. And vice-versa; if you have been laughing (howbeit like a mocking-bird), get ready for some wailing.

The English dictionary defines ‘boundary’ as (a): Something that indicates a border or a limit , (b): A line that marks the limits of an area, a dividing line. (c): A limit of a subject or sphere of activity. The last definition best suits this article. Everybody: Christian and non-Christian alike, learned and lay-man, rich or poor, black, white or brown, all agree that at some point; a sphere or method of activity has to stop. Any persons over the age of 21 should be overly schooled and responsible for mastering this phenomenon. Over the age of 40 is without doubt an incorrigible imbecile (remember the saying: ‘A fool at forty is a fool forever’).

Even God the Matchless, Eternal and Omnipresent ‘ONE’ has set boundaries for Himself, for us and for creation alike. “And the Lord said, my Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his years shall be a hundred and twenty years.” Genesis 6:3 (KJV). God made this proclamation after ‘Angels’ left their God-given assignments to take for themselves ‘human mates’ (talk of unequal yoking!) that produced giants, that caused trouble (think Goliath of Gath); get the picture? Disobedience always begets disobedience. Then came one of the rare moments of regret for a perfect and All Powerful God: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at this heart.” Genesis 6:5-6. Mm hmm, boundless and uncontrollable people will push you to the same limits they refuse to adhere to. Even a Merciful, Detail-Oriented and Precise God was tested into ‘regret-dom’ by the very people created for His pleasure. So He cleaned His own slate and started anew and afresh – does anyone need to do that? (See Noah’s ark and the consecutive flood). Meanwhile man’s longevity had dropped from a whooping 960 years to 120 years. Even the ‘Hang Seng Index’ never dropped so quickly. God was probably like; if they hang around way too long (1000 years), I might have to resign my position as CEO of the Universe.

The easiest way and best time to teach boundaries is in childhood. Unfortunately, these days, a great many babies are born to babies themselves (a great example of the lack of boundaries). The others were born to adults – no doubt; but who were never thought boundaries or any scruples at all. So we live in a world of little or no godly influence and restraints (much of the Church is to blame of course – right next to the ‘impostors’); so everyone acts, just the way they want, and just the time they want to. It becomes such an ‘eyesore’ to watch, that the godly observer must be careful that their spirit is not so grieved that they become indifferent to the ‘pursuit of God’s will’. “(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day-to-day with their unlawful deeds:)” 2 Peter 2:8 (KJV)

In the book of Job (my fellow afflictionee), we see an example of God setting boundaries for creation; which might I add it adhered to. “And said, Hitherto shall thou come, but no further: And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?” Job 38:11. You don’t hear the waves saying:- ‘but I have flowed past that line before and no one stopped me (I wish I was there to stop your sorry ‘wavy’ self!) or better still; I want to flow further… because I want to and I always do what I want to, regardless of if it is wrong, right or downright disrespectful and selfish! A sure evidence of the influence and brain-child of a Jezebel spirit. Even the devil himself; cannot but obey the boundaries set by the Almighty God Himself. One of my favorite scripture teaches (these were of course in those days when righteousness was rewarded and the righteous were protected - not vice-versa): “When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai (a type of the Holy Spirit), the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.” Esther 2:15 (NIV) Her obedience to the Holy Spirit’s boundary gained her favor (with the true godly ones, of course Jezebel would have ordered her head on a wooden platter) and subsequently the crown. Vashti never even had the time to pack her ‘I did it my way’ hand-luggage/valise and ‘I cannot be stopped’ suitcase and the rest we know is history.

When I was about 14 years old, there were servants in my father’s house. There was the cook, the cleaners, the gardeners, the launderers, the baby-sitters and what have you. But I learned and knew how to do everything every one of them did. Daddy said they were not there as slaves or for anyone’s ‘beck and call’, they were there to help out. (It was a huge mansion!) It is called setting boundaries for children; I could have turned out as useless as my professional self could bear and probably dwell like a pig because who will I hire to clean for me. In order for you to be helped, you have to know how to do what you are being helped with. That nugget was free: you can take it to the bank. I know some people will say: that is a cultural thing, every society has its own way. I will say this, if it is the right thing and it brings about good results, then do it. You will have to reap whatever you sow. I know a lot of Chinese people who agree with my theory/philosophy and practice it at home. Little wonder their children are always top of the class:- boundaries. In international tests, the US always places below the 10th place (yet it is the world super-power) – boundaries. I was not trained in my place of birth, because my daddy saw there were no – boundaries (especially for young women). ‘If chivalry was dead, then chastity just had a fatal stroke’.

A child who never learned boundaries, grows up to be a very annoying, irritating, disgusting, shameless, not-self respecting, chaste-less, depressive, cantankerous and uncontrollable adult. If you feel you don’t mind being tolerated, wait till you see someone being celebrated. Then you realize that what you thought was a professional and productive life, turned out to be a wasted, selfish and empty existence. But then again I will still have pity on you, cause’ had you known better; you would have done better. I have to stop, because this topic is inexhaustible as far as I am concerned.

PS: the only time one should never exercise restraint is in the ‘vanquishing of the enemy’, ‘giving God praise, thanks and glory’ and in ‘the pursuit of  godliness and Justice’. It is either that or Jezebel and the ‘forces of evil’ (prophets of Baal) will attempt to have the children of God for breakfast!

Godly Guidance or Guessing Games?

“Once when we were going to a place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.” Acts 16:16 (NIV)

“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possesed with the spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by sooth-saying:” Acts 16:16 (KJV)

I can not tell you how many times I almost had a crystal ball hurled at me; when instead of sitting and having my palm-read, I proceeded to bold-facedly preach to the would be sooth-sayer! That is not good for business of course; their business. But it is eventually good and freeing for their souls. Do you know the torment and misery a person performing that kind of feat would have to go through? Talk of selling your soul to the devil. Do you understand the kind of internal demonic traffic the ‘teller or sayer’ has to endure so that the familiar spirits can tele-prompt messages? I bet you don’t understand; these are the intricacies of ‘ the spiritual world and warfare.’ Just because they make us uncomfortable in the Western Hemisphere, does not mean it is not fully functional and detrimental here. It affects most of us in more ways than we can imagine or even suspect.  Of course we can not always blame the devil for all our mis-haps but we do well to always understand what we are dealing with.“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat”  Luke 22:31 (KJV). Anyway, this blog is not about the dynamics of ‘diabolical-dealings’, although I would love to show you some stuff ‘The MIGHTY ONE OF ISRAEL’ showed me years ago. But here is why I cannot: “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot hear them now.” John 16:12

I seemed to be dragging my feet thursday morning, I had been up all night cooking and concocting while I blessed my ‘Miracle working God’. So now, though my spirit-man was joy-filled: (I really could not put my finger on why!) my physical body was… well you know not really co-operating or corresponding. I knew I had to hurry up though; because my friend ‘M’ was waiting for me in the park outside as I showered and got ready. Finally, I made my way down, wondering what the Lord had in store for that day; since he re-arranged it earlier. When I got to the spot where ‘M” was sitting and waiting, I noticed she had already busied herself with a phone call; so now it was my turn to sit and wait. So sit I did, but no sooner had I prepared to get comfortable and wait, than this elderly woman walked over to me. She had a certain poise about her that said ‘she had the science of survival down packed.’ She had a lovely hat and scarf on (and stylishly worn) but pointed out a huge cart across the street with every piece of odds and end in it. It was huge and filled to the brim; and it was hard to imagine a little old lady pushing or dragging that stuff around. She never flinched at my dismay-filled utterances and protest, but proceeded to drill and interrogate me. She wanted to know where I came from, what I did, and where I was going. Where I was going, I could not indulge. But where I came from: I wondered if she had three weeks to listen…

At this point I glanced over at ‘M’ to gauge her reaction at the encroaching old lady, only to see that my friend was at this point totally engrossed in her phone conversation, howbeit avoiding eye contact. It also appeared like she would not in the least bit appreciate being interrupted. So since I was now stuck with the old lady, I gave her my undivided attention. After she was done drilling me; I said to her with a smile: ” Now can I tell you who you are?”  Weird that I was not asking, I was telling. I don’t know why I said that then; but I sure knew who came over me -  and I hope you do too. Even though she had told me she was born and raised in New York, I told her that I got the feeling that she was a ‘Daughter of Abraham’, probably of German descent and raised in England. Her eyes turned red as she moved closer and whispered in my ear, that I was right. Then she began to cry and speak in hushed tones; her grandfather had survived the ‘Holocaust’ she said. He was born in Germany and she was raised in England as a little girl. At this point she was going through fits of sobs as I tried to explain to her that I was not against her belief (How could I?) Jesus Christ was a Jew! And the Old Testament of my Bible was a shadow of things to come in the New Testament. I assured her that she was very safe with me or at least should be very safe with anyone who claimed the same ‘Faith’ as I did. We were not oceans apart in our belief; we both believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…

As I spoke, she moved closer and I could see at this point she was staring at my hands. I thought that was because of my characteristic rapid hand movement. But why be enthralled with the hand if the lips are what is moving and talking? I grimaced privately; as she suddenly lunged forward in a desperate attempt to grab my hands. I was quicker: amazingly blessed with a ‘flash of lightning reflex’. When the coast was clear, I gingerly retrieved my hands and tucked them under my arm. When I asked her what that was all about, she said she had a sudden urge to read my palm. She was a fortune-teller, diviner, and palm-reader! She was wondering, how I got all this information without staring into a crystal ball. I told her my source was the ‘ONE’ who set everything in motion in the first place and knew her even before she was formed in her mother’s womb. She begged to confirm my declaration with a palm-reading, I begged to differ. Finally, as led by the Lord, I ministered to her needs and ended up singing two Hebrews songs to her (Now the whole world will be singing Hebrew songs) I don’t know where they came from either! By the time I was done with the songs, she was bawling, my friend was of the phone (because the person on the other line kept asking her who was singing), and the park was all shaken up – sorry.

It was time for my friend and I to head out. So I blessed the old lady and bid her; surrender to her Lord. I told her God loved her and was after her, as I called her by her first name. The only problem is I never told her my name and she definitely never told me hers!!! When I realized what happened, I turned one last time to ask her if that was her name; she gave me one bewildered and flabbergasted nod as she began to sway (as if she would faint). I scurried away quickly. The scorching and sweltering heat was either getting to me or I just shocked some poor old lady to her demise. That will be enough for the day – thank you.

Interactive Initiation and Invitation

There is never a dull moment in my life – I promise you. For this I think I should be thankful or I would have been morbidly bored out of my mind. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 (KJV). I don’t know about you, but ministry always comes to me on any given day. I don’t have to create an environment or approach people, they literally chase me down relentlessly and it is as if they are saying “I know you have something to tell me please: speak on.” Amazing ain’t it? Sometimes I must confess; I break out in a run or in an excuse until I hear the Lord say ”Helloooo!!! Light of the world and Salt of the earth can you shine some light or shake some salt into this situation or this desperate life.” Then it is almost like I wake from this reverie, and all I have to is just relax and be myself. At the end of the day I would have made a friend (more like a friend made me), gotten some freebie (that is not my motivation; though it is encouraging and consoling) or been divinely connected (to where the real action resides) .

So this afternoon, yes you heard me right; a few hours ago. I was having lunch at a terrace on Fifth Avenue; the view was spectacular as I chatted and ‘chowed’ (As in chow-chow). From my peripheral vision, I could see that the person sitting on my right was unflinchingly and possibly unblinkingly staring at me. And they were leaning too close for comfort. I clammed up and leaned away from the table as a British-accented voice in my head said “It is rude to stare.” Especially while the person is masticating with such abandon as I was. I looked around the place, everyone including my host seemed oblivious to my otherwise insignificant dilemma. So I braced myself to steal a glance at this person who now had their face almost in my plate. ‘What’, did they not like what I ordered? I mused to myself. As I rummaged in my hand bag for nothing in particular, a saucy thought raced through my mind.  Don’t you know the blessed Holy Spirit ever so gently squelched it right away. Okay then I thought as I sat up in my chair; for I had almost buried my head under the table in my quest for two seconds of privacy. Finally the stand-off was over and I heard a very politely rendered: “Excuse me miss…”

Well let me spare you the pleasantries or the lack thereof; He was the writer and creative Director of an off-Broadway play opening very soon. He just wanted to invite me to the screening and possible the fete’ thereafter. I won’t tell you why me: simply because I can’t and should not tell you everything! Anyway, when he handed me the invite; I saw the price and got ready to launch a protest. He beat me to it and said “for you it is free”. When I looked at the title of the play on the glossy card he handed to me, I could not help but smile up to heaven and say to God: ”Father do you ever take a break?” For right before my very eyes were words and meaning that were a direct and bold affront to my faith and beliefs. I balked for a minute, as it took all I had not to fling the card away and run for my life. Even more insult deterring was the proud, but vulnerable look on his face.

Another thing that was incredibly noteworthy was the amount of sponsors he had already garnered for the play, and how easy it had been for him to get a theater to showcase his work: howbeit ‘blasphemous’ creation. Goes to show you how quickly anti-Christ stuff is received and promoted in this day, age and society. Needless to say; he apologized for offending me with the title and content of his project. He said he knew it would be controversial; but he was not planning on starting with me. Between you and me, I thought that was sweet and noble. So on that note, we talked a bit; he used to be an Evangelical Christian he said. Now he believed it was all a fraud and has decided to chart his own course: thank you very much.

We will be in touch in the future, as ‘I pray down the project’ (I hope he can find it in his heart to forgive me). I mean what did you all expect? That I will be a part of blasphemy and even promote it? Does my name start with a ‘J’ and posses a ‘Z’? My new friend fears that I will try to talk him out of being his own god and going back to God. That my people is one fear I would gladly induce, strongly recommend and eventually encourage. Would you not agree?

Behold the Woman is Jezebel (Part Two)

“Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”  (Revelations 2:20 KJV)

“I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches the hearts and minds, I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.”  (Revelation 2:18-26 NIV)

Jezebel is found again in the book of Revelation, hiding as always in the church; this time the church of Thyatira. Unfortunately for her and fortunately for the church, Christ our Lord whose eyes are as flames of fire searches her out; before she could lay anymore hideous and insidious eggs. This may have been the symbolic version of the real Jezebel a.k.a ‘Cruella’ in the book of Kings. She was also the virtual ruler and director here, and Ahab was a puppet in her hands. (1 Kings 18 – 21) She arrogantly assumes the title ‘prophetess’. She professes to teach with authority, combined with employed arts of seduction of minds specially trained to effect her full purpose.

Even with the name viewed as symbolic, this treacherous schemer who seduces God’s servants is quite forceful and influential in the church setting. She holds sway over those who pride themselves upon an enlightened liberalism, and whose sorceries, prognostication and lax morals exercises a dangerous influence upon new and weaker Christians in the community. This proud spirit which disregards and has a contempt for the will of God, very often vaunts her ‘self-constituted authority’ with vapid claims of superiority and holiness. As long as Jezebel’s evil authority is functioning, God’s mill is grinding slowly and His will is constantly interrupted, stalled or ridiculously halted. For this sake; Jezebel’s retribution will be terrible, divine and oh so mysterious. For one of the most wicked women who ever breathed, her legacy will be that of being a beacon to the word that: ‘the wages of sin is death’.

Jezebel having been left unchecked and unhindered for so long ; has a loyal ‘conglomerate-style’ base. These consists of the worldly and flesh led people whether saved or not (much like a prototype of herself), which she either employed into the house ( to help her break it down via immorality, unnatural activities and what have you), or offered a place in ministry; which she had no business offering and they definitely had no business taking. The spirit of Jezebel is still very much desperate for power and attention and the utter destruction of the Lord’s worship . Even though it controls Ahab, it still has a region under its spell that not even Ahab or anybody for that matter knows about. It has been well fed and empowered for a long time. She is fat, wanton and very ripe for judgement and cannot just be shooed away anymore. An all out war will have to ensue, in serious spiritual warfare of fasting and praying for Jezebel to get her claws off her captives, and her shadow off the dealings of the sincere believer and subsequently be disintegrated herself.

God is not fickle like us humans. He means what He says and He says what He means. If God told you to get rid of your cute looking and sounding ‘pet’, He means for you to do that. If you ignore God because you don’t feel intimidated by the pet, know that when that thing eventually reveals itself for the monster it is, you are in for a horrible ride. How many times has Hollywood made a movie, that entailed a cute little animal that everyone adored, turn into a ferocious monster that destroyed the whole city. All it usually took, was the wrong temperature, a mistakenly splashed liquid or the appointed time and that thing begins to metamorphose. The very metamorphosis of Jezebel is the fact that she negates all that God meant for a woman to be. She perverts the fact of how important it is for the influence of a wife and mother to be on the side of all that is good and noble.

‘Finally, evil and craft and godlessness bring their own reward, and the wicked reap what they sow. Retribution overtook Jezebel when her body was thrown out of the window to be torn and mangled, and then eaten by dogs. Much like what she did to Naboth and the rest of us. As a daughter of the devil, she suffers a worse retribution in the realms of the doomed.’ There are those who reject such a lurid description of the fate of the wicked, who like Jezebel deny and defy God, but the divine word still stands, that Christ is to be revealed from heaven to take vengeance on those who spurn God and reject the saving Gospel of His beloved Son. “God is just: he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you (Jezebel & Co. hear ye!) and give relief to you who are troubled…”  2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 NIV. Let us pray that the spirit of Elijah come out of retirement, and that the spirit of Jehu…

When the ‘Crusher’ is getting Crushed.

“Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you”.  James 5:6

Some of the most powerful convicting messages I ever heard or read were effective because you knew there was no way man was talking to you; because they neither knew you, knew what was going on in your life or heard any comment you made. You knew it had to be God because they ( the speaker or the preacher) drove right up your alley and you never even  gave them your address. Some of us who have been led to hell and back very often are not moved when words are thrown at us. I for one have been at the receiving end of a lot of people’s foolishness, fear and insecurities that it takes a special anointing and assignment to even begin to minister or convince me. Ever since I was a little girl; people have used innuendos, insinuations, societal clicks, familiar clicks, gatherings, judgements, power to get me to sway from my God-given call at a given point. It does not work on me!!!

If you have not walked my shoes, have not been severely hindered by jealous and envious people, harassed and ostracized for no reason, deprived, denied, robbed at immense proportions, lost it all over and over, cried in physical pain days and nights on end; then you might as well be a wall gecko; I don’t see you, don’t hear you, don’t care for you. Call me bitter, call me unforgiving or call me the enemy (you know that describes you more!) or what have you. I am still not moved and will not move until you are exposed. I will fight when I need to; and by the power of God in me, make the enemy that crushed and discriminated against me all these years; sorry they messed with me! No more will any demon or human-being sit on my head, box me in or cage me. They sure are feeling the terror of being pelted, at least theirs they asked for.

“If the Son therefore make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”  John 8:36

I have a favorite preacher. He does not know who I am (yet); or where I have been. I have never been to his church; though he usually has about ten thousand people in attendance on any given service. But every time he speaks, I look up to heaven with tears in my eyes and say ‘thank you Jesus for loving me, for caring for me and showing me that I am not crazy for radically loving you.’ This preacher has come a long way; from humble beginnings (so encouraging to know) and he has remained real and radical! My close friends say they remember me when he comes on, because they know how God has used him in my life. I know he is very special to God; because the things that God reveals to him are not popular just like my afflictions are not popular. Every time I want to ‘throw in the towel’; I turn on this preachers message and sure enough he has been there too and does not try to prove differently so every one can like him and say he is nice. Most of America and the world agree that he is real, radical, genuine and anointed.

The book of Ecclesiastes says there is a time and season for everything under the sun. “A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8  If my God is leading me to battle at this appointed time; so be it. Call me unforgiving all you want; if you are not invested in my life or my well-being, pray tell me why your opinion should matter. They that have grievously afflicted me as tools of darkness have to hear what is about to become of them because: “For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God..”  1 Peter 4:17 The devil sure lets out a sad yelp, when the tables are turned.

This generation more than any other, have been grievously oppressed of the devil; and more than any other generation, we have our head buried in the sand. Some people think ‘spiritual warfare’ is a cute diplomatic talk with the devil. They are caught up with playing nice; while the enemy runs ramrod in their family, their health and their effectiveness to the work of God. Trust me I am not the only one aware of the darkness that has encroached  the house of God. Faithful servants and seasoned ‘prayer warriors’ know what time it is. In that secret place of toiling and travailing, God will show you what is up. In 1996; I had a vision that scared the living daylights out of me. I spent over an hour on a long distance call crying to my precious father about what I had seen. Two years after that dream, I saw that Ezekiel described the dream verbatim:

“And He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a whole in the wall… then He said unto me, son of man dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And He said unto me, go in, and behold the wicked abomination that they do in here. So I went in and saw, and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. Then He said unto me,hast thou seen this oh son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah, that they commit the abomination that they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger… Therefore will I also deal in fury, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.”  Ezekiel 8:7-10, 17-18

People are crying out in disgust and agony. I am not alone in my quest that Jezebel  and the likes of her be stopped and ousted. I just happen to be the fearless one with a voice and a forum. Forgiveness should be for humans; howbeit: repentant and mistaken. Not for demon possessed entities who want to trap God’s people and deny God the worship He deserves from them. Let those that want to strike a cute deal with ‘the devil’ go ahead and knock themselves out. I know for sure he stands at your door ready to swipe you out like a ‘metrocard’. So keep up with the safe sounding solutions. I will do it God’s way as I always have; the evidence that I am still standing after Jezebel & Co’s onslaught speaks for it self. Little wonder we are told to flee temptation (not just sit and pray) and resist the enemy (a purposeful, confrontational and aggressive action.) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 Bite me.

When the crusher is getting crushed, their cries are woeful. Would to God they had felt that way, when they wickedly and relentlessly afflicted the sincere seeker of God. Like the passage in Ezekiel says, the same fury they applied to innocent people like me; God will apply to them. Fear not child of God; it is but the cry of terror with a platform. With time God Himself will reveal whose heart has been honest all this while and whose heart is honest now. Killers and persecutors talking of honesty and being persecuted what is the world coming to? PS: Nobody is fooled, they all tasted the terror through the years and they know the truth!!! Especially those that were given special instructions to torment, harrass and racially and physically profile me.

Intermission (Interval); of Gratitude…

“Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, has come.”  Psalm 102:13 (KJV)

I just had to interrupt this (WAR) train of thought, to say thank you to those of you who have gotten back to me, to encourage me and tell me how enlightening and blessed this blog site has been to you (you literally blew up my page!). To those of you who thought I was a great writer (you are so kind!) and always chided me when I did not post fast enough. Most incredibly, I want to thank those of you that don’t quite share my belief yet, (still you keep reading ). And some how; God manages to speak to you and then you end up contemplating and meditating on the ’Living Word’. My special thanks to those new believers who though sometimes you encounter a very deep thought; yet you don’t give up. You press in with questions which keep me humble and on my feet.

“…Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it produces many seeds.”  John 12:24 (NIV)

I once asked a ‘screen-writer’ friend of mine; if she had written anything lately. She said no, because she had not had any drama lately. That is right; no test, no testimony. As painful as the stuff we have to go through are, they will always work something out for our good and God’s glory. There will always be someone going through it; who needs to hear ‘Everything will be alright’. I am honored when God invites me to the valley with Him; but I don’t necessarily celebrate it. That may be because I am human not a punching bag or dumping ground. I am not responsible for what makes people insecure , jealous or fearful. I am ‘me’ made in the image of God for His glory. I just like every one else; have my own issues to deal with. I don’t expect to be blamed for other people’s.

However, I do like the life that God has ‘sifted out of this chaff’. It sure feels better than one I would have chosen for myself. It blesses me to run into those of you that feel I have said or done something to aid you or direct you as the Holy Spirit has aided me and directed me. The fact that you are blessed, is my vitamin for life. Another friend of mine who is as left-wing as I am right-wing; shocked me when she said she enjoyed reading my blogs. When I asked her why; she said because I wrote from the heart and was always real and that moved her. That is one thing I can do without practice or training; be myself. You will always find me doing that 24/7 with my faults et al.

Finally, to answer the question on how long it takes me to write a blog; About 15 – 40 minutes depending on how long it takes me to find the reference for the scripture verse in my head in the Bible. Ninety-five percent of the time I do not need to proof-read or spell check (I am known to be annoyingly meticulous like that), except when the computer is trying to convert my ‘Proper (British) English’ to ‘American English’;- sorry! I do not take notes! I find it difficult these days to write with a pen. All the words get muddled up and then I can not read my own writing. I have to go with the flow when the Lord gives it. If I start to plan and strategize I lose everything immediately. It often feels like a rush or flow that has to be emptied into a bucket. Unfortunately, you get to be that container: Thanks a million. I love you all.

If you don’t mind, I have unfinished business to take care of. I shall return to the battlefield…

Behold the Woman Is Jezebel (Part One)

I buried something of the past just yesterday; it was twelve years old (12 years old). I had a hard time letting it go because my young and impressionable heart at the time felt like God was contradicting Himself. How could God allow this persecution knowing the sacrifice it took for me to make that trip. It was a Missions trip to Kosovo: in which I spent my hard-earned money and time to go serve my God. Little did I know that all the key players were Jezebel’s puppets. From the roommate that was assigned to me; so that she can prompt and then relay messages of seduction and immorality back to Jezebel (of course she got none from me: I came to serve Jesus in spirit and in truth), to the lying midget who thought she was in a competition with me, on to the elder that portrayed palpable hatred at me for having morning devotion at 5:30am by myself, and set out to ostracize me for the rest of the trip (the rejection was hurtful then; but praise God I embrace it now and could care less anymore) , to the death traps they set-up for me which they intended to call an accident. The she-devil and her puppets never reported back to the sending church, the good stuff that God did through my life and other few but honest believers; like the church that I and a couple of young people from Kosovo started in the middle of  a bombed out, dusty and desolate town. they chose the glamorous attention grabbing lies to feed the already polluted house of God. I feel sick to my stomach. They never reported back the lives that the Spirit of God in me touched marvellously; as opposing to their devilish agenda. 

The camp of the enemy ticked me off badly last night, I promise you it is not advisable to do that. You see the devil and the people who work for him usually plot and scheme evil. But the Spirit of God steps in and stomps out with authority all the trifeness that exists. that is Whose Spirit that is in me. “Greater is He that is in ‘me’ than he that is in the world” 1 John 4:4  So with direct orders from you know Who; ‘The Commander of the Heavenly Hosts’, we shall now get this show running, so we can get this show ending, so God’s people can go and worship Him where He desires; and I can move on with my life… Jezebel, should be on notice right about now. She never experienced a true conversion.  She just came to the house of God because the world did not give her nasty, uninteresting self time of day. So she decided at all cost to get it in the church all the while disguising herself as a man. My question to the ‘In-house’ Jezebel; if you were all that powerful, why did you have to camouflage as a man? Because you are a toothless lion that is why.  Jezebel you know I am not the one who is scared of you. If you could all these years, you would have taken me out; but you could not (I just stuck out my tongue). For this reason and time I was born and created. So let us roll…

In these day and age, Jezebel is an evil spirit. It operates with the very characteristics of the original person who bore that name. because it is a spirit, it can actually inhabit or operate through both the male or female gender. However, most often than not, it predominantly operates through the female. Let us take a look at the original Jezebel and her characteristics. The woman Jezebel was a she-devil and oh so heartless. Jezebel was very ambitious and proud. She made a very determined and conscious effort to destroy the worship of JEHOVAH in the temple and among God’s people. She purposely accentuated the spiritual and moral decay and disintegration of that worship. she fervently and relentlessly went after true worshippers in the ‘guise’ of protecting her family. Not!!! That spirit hates God getting glory and worship; so it will attempt to distract and when possible destroy the real worshippers. Think the prophet Elijah and this humble writer!

Could I even possibly be able to try to delineate the character of Jezebel; a name which has come to mean in all ages, a striking proverb for immorality, worldly subtlety and wickedness of the worse type. Jezebel hated God and tried to desecrate the worship lifted to him by attempting to mar the character of His servants or by going after true worshippers. She instead zealously and subtly promoted the worship of baal in the house of God. In these day and age, the worship of baal could be the blatant disobedience to God’s holy order of things and events. It also could be the re-arranging of God’s original intention; example assigning people to positions God never intended for them to be in as it pertains to the body of Christ. She is diligent to employ fleshly and worldly people so she can easily use them to carry out her schemes. Or who knows tripping men up with temple prostitutes. It has always been Jezebel’s goal to through licentious rites; take over the vineyard of the Lord. Her modus operandi if I may add is cruelty and bone steely coldness (if ever such a word existed). And all the while, she has to hide behind a man and use his authority. Why oh why Ahab?

While the Bible does not elaborate, analyze or exhaustively portray her character; it does however, set forth the events in which she bore so prominent a part. As we read between the lines, we cannot fail to see her as a woman of prodigious and very evil will. Phew! that way of life should permanently mar or disfigure any persons face. Do you know how many times they have attempted to lunge at, put a sickness or a camouflaged dermatological attack on my face. Praise the Most High God! He restored His beloved right back to His original design. Although it was not stated in the Bible, it is obvious and quite impossible that Jezebel possessed any of the finer, nobler, feminine qualities. She knew nor displayed nothing of the restraints of higher principles. She was and is still wanton and desperate for attention and power; with layers of inappropriately applied make-up ( I would have willingly given her free lessons; but not anymore).

Savage and relentless, this proud woman and the people operating in her spirit carried out her foul schemes. They deserve a Broadway show called ‘Evil”. An originally privileged woman (born daughter of an idolatrous king or rich merchant) she prostituted her privilege for the furtherance of evil; like paying for the ‘satanic sisterhood’ to prepare spells and potions for her and cast them at her whimsical behest. ( Allow me seven seconds to vent before I put on my ‘war boots’. ) Eventually, her misdirected influences and opportunities became a curse. Resolute above other women in her ill-gotten jurisdiction, she used her strength to destroy a king and her own off-spring, as well as pollute the life of a nation and the body of Christ.

“And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, the dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.”  1 King 21:23

We are just getting started, please stay tuned…