2021 is the Year of Birth

 In the same way I will not cause pain

    without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.

“If I cause you the pain,

    I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation,” says your God.

Isaiah 66:9

We have experienced so much this year but I'm believing that out of the pain of 2020 God will birth a great nation in all of us who continue to push to it birth.

Remember, inspite of it all YOU ARE LOVED.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

Pursuing Righteous is a Constant State of Protest

There has been a large debate on what constitutes a peaceful protest.

But what does protest even mean?

Protest - express an objection to what someone has said or done

Protest simply means to express an objection to something. You can live in a constant state of protest. It can be expressed verbally and non-verbally. Passively or actively. It can be event specific or just there in daily action. And can be non-violent or violent.

With the death of George Floyd many are protesting and there are debates about what protesting should look like, the right way to protest and what a peaceful protest looks like.

However, there are a few misconceptions around the concept of a "peaceful" protest.  

1. Protest is peaceful.
2. Non-violent equals peaceful.
3. Protest must be a big, physical demonstration in order to be heard
4. Protests have an expiration date

The definition of peaceful is to be free of disturbance. That's the antonym of protest. The point of protest is to disturb, to disrupt. The better term is non-violent protest.

Jesus's whole presence on Earth was a non-violent protest. It was anything but peaceful to those in power. It was a protest to the established religion. A protest to the established government. A protest to the treatment of the marginalized, forgotten and oppressed. His very essence was an objection to the status quo and the chasm that had been created between the people and God.

He is the blueprint to what you can do in the face of injustice. It is to be non-violent in your protest but disturb the peace of your oppressor. If the peace of the oppressor is not disturbed you aren't being effective.

We protest because our inner peace is disturbed and we want to see a change and ANYTHING that goes against God's greatest commandments should disturb your peace. 

Love God and Love people as yourself.

As a Christian we are called to pursue righteousness and when pursuing righteous...

That means to Call out injustice when you see it.

Jesus, when he went into the temple, wasn't peaceful. When the Pharisees were robbing the people in the template He called it out. He was greatly angered by what was happened and he called it out. He flipped the table of the money changers but was not violent. When you see persecution don't rationalize it, call it out.

That means Working within the system to change the system.

Jesus was a revolutionary and yet He never broke any laws. That did not mean He wouldn't be perceived as a threat by the establishment. Whenever you challenge the status quo you gain a target on your back from those whose power you threaten. We can become lawyers, teachers, doctors, CEOs, accountants, journalists, marketing professionals and just by doing our jobs in an ethical, equitable way we can effect change. That is our protest

That means Exercising Grace and Speaking Truth to Power

When Jesus encountered the woman in adultery and they wanted to stone her to death Jesus asked them if they were without sin. The truth was they weren't. They ALL have done the wrong thing in some way, shape or form. The Bible says it plain, we all have sinned and deserve death. Therefore we have no right to determine that someone deserves to die. In that moment, Jesus - who had the power to make that life or death decision- chose grace and spoke truth.

Pursuing righteousness is a constant state of protest because striving to do the right thing as directed by God, who loves justice, will challenge people and systems. And that's the point. It's meant to challenge in order to bring about change.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

I'm Tired ... But Still Pressing

Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?” Matthew 26:39

Being the mom of a little black boy is in equal parts joyous and terrifying. Holding my son in my arms I cried both tears of joy because he was here and safe and terrified because I knew that as a little black boy in America I couldn't always keep him that way.


That is the dichotomy of being Black in America. Equal parts joy and pain. Finding the balance of existing and surviving. Holding ones breathe every time your loved one is out of your sight and hoping they will make it home safe.


Often, I wonder, "Lord can you take this cup from me?" Feeling the weight of holding your world together without being able to control the factors that seek to destroy it. Seek to destroy my husband who is big and tall. My son when is smart and growing like a weed. My daughter who is sassy and independent. All because of our color.


When Jesus was in the Garden He asked God the same thing, Father, is there anyway to get me out of this?


When Jesus came to earth the Jews were in a similar situation as we find ourselves now, oppressed. Existing under rule that didn't value them. They saw Jesus as their immediate Savoir, although his purpose was much greater.


So Jesus sitting in the Garden at this point in His journey resonates deeply with me. Just being tired. Wanting to know if there is another way because this burden just feels so crushing. Wanting to know why they hate me? Why they see us as a threat? Why they seek to destroy us when we just want to live?


George Floyd was killed by police last week and his name is added to the roll of Black people killed in this country for the last 400 years. And as a person who already is scared when her husband leaves the house or who is scared for her son because of how they criminalize black boys its a mix of fear and anxiety that rushes to the surface every time these things happen. A trauma that has been simmering below the surface that rears its ugly head and causes tears of anguish.


If I could cry tears of blood, like Jesus did in the Garden, l think I would.


It is just so heavy.


But when I think about it, as did Jesus, we must keep pressing on.


Jesus took His time to grieve the moment. To let it out. To deal with and express the emotions He was feeling and then He got up and pressed forward.

Not my will, but thine will be done


If it was up to me I would gather my loved ones in a bubble and shut us off from the world. But I can't do that. There is much work to be done. Although my destiny isn't to die to save the world I believe that I am poised to be an agent of change. In my home. When I vote. In my children's lives and in the lives of others though the work I do. God's will is that I continue to fight to live, to demand justice, to step out boldly in the freedom He died in order for me to have, and to be an example for the generations after me.


I love been Black. I love my culture, my people and I love who God has made me to be though this journey is hard and fraught with danger. Thus is life.


While I am sad, angry and hurting I find comfort in knowing my Savior has been in a similar moment and that He is in this moment with me now. I cannot pass the cup but with Jesus I will keep on pressing forward.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

Not Traditional, But God is Still Resurrecting

This isn’t a traditional Resurrection Sunday but it isn’t unprecedented.

On the first Resurrection Sunday there were similar emotions palpating the air. Sorrow, fear, heartache, pain. People in their houses afraid to come outside. There we no big hats and elaborate outfits. There were no lilies and choir rehearsed selections. While they weren’t fighting a deadly disease the disciples and the followers of Jesus had experienced trauma. They had just seen him killed two days ago. Crucified, hung on a Cross and breathed his last breath.

All of their hopes, dreams died in that instant. It was replaced with disappointment, fear, hopelessness and loss. They were looking for a conqueror, a deliverer, a warrior to remove all their enemies, obstacles and hardships. They believed that Jesus was that and they put all their eggs in his basket. Now He was dead. Killed by the state. And they feared they would be next.

This disease is killing those we love and we are afraid. Afraid to go outside. Afraid for our loved ones. Afraid we will be next. Different circumstance, same fear. We are questioning God about how He could let this happen. He’s supposed to be our conqueror, deliverer, our warrior who is supposed to vanquish this disease but instead it seems to be winning.

Just like Satan seemed to have won in the moment that Jesus died.

So Peter, James, John and all of them have been in the house on self-imposed quarantine for three days. I imagine it was eerily quiet, like it is now. People mourning in their homes not knowing what will happen next, like now. And then, those women went to the tomb to dress Jesus’ body and found the stone rolled away and Jesus' body gone. Mark 16:1-8

Today we are in our houses waiting… Feeling alone and isolated, like the disciples.

But what they forgot is what we have forgotten too. God is  the resurrection and the life. Just like it seemed that Satan had bested Jesus, this disease seems to have gotten the best of us. They thought they got him. They thought they won. They thought it was over but…

He’s ALIVE!

And as long as He is alive we can face WHATEVER happens in this world. No matter what we are going through, no matter a pandemic, no matter war, racism, corruption, no matter a government that sought to take him out, Jesus is alive. To stone was rolled away, the tomb no longer held Jesus's body

We are not alone. It may feel that way right now but Jesus has felt our every emotion, our every hurt, our every pain. He has lost those he loved. He buried friends. I mean, God watched his Son die and be buried just like many of us are burying those we love.

God still is sovereign and He still has resurrection power. This disease has not won. We will lose people along the way. That was true even in Jesus day. But for those who remain when Mary went to the tomb to dress the body of Jesus she was expecting a body and found resurrection instead.

Today in church Pastor Steven Furtick said, “Unmet expectation is the start of resurrection”. We have unmet expectations today. We had thoughts and ideas of what 2020 was supposed to look like and it did not include a pandemic. Just like when the disciples envisioned a Savior it didn’t include Him dying. But in our moment of unmet expectation Jesus shows up with the resurrection. 

We don’t know what life will look like tomorrow but I know Jesus lives and because He lives I can face tomorrow and know that he has a future for me in-spite of how it looks. I'm expecting resurrection because God is still resurrecting today.

Unlikely Missionary

DHW

The Resume of Jesus Christ

This was in my Facebook inbox this morning. I think its great!

THE RESUME OF JESUS CHRIST
Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior, and Jesus

Hello my name is Jesus Christ. – The Christ. Many call me Lord! I’ve sent you my resume because I’m seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

Qualifications

• • I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
• • I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
• • I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
• • I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
• • The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background

• I’ve only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49)
• I’ve never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful, or disrespectful
• My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

Skills Work Experience

• • Some of my skills and work experience include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18)
• • I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33)
• • Most Importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of yours sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background

• • I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6)
• • In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3)

• • My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105)
• • I even tell you all the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21)

Major Accomplishments

I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26)

• • I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15)
• • I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15)
• • I’ve miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick, and raised the dead!
• • There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot – the BIBLE. You don’t need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References

• • Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration, and supernatural guidance.

In Summation
Now that you’ve read my resume, I’m confident that I’m the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

Amen!

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

The Complicated Emotion of Grief

I'm not a Kobe Fan.

I'm a Knicks fan. He reminded me too much of MJ and I can't stand MJ.

But I am a wife and a mother and the thought of my husband and my children being gone from me forever is unbearable.

And that is why I haven't been able to hold back tears.

Having kids makes this news hit different

Hearing that Kobe died was a shock. My husband's face showed disbelief as he uttered the words, "this can't be true", when he read the news.

A wife without her husband. Girls without their dad. No one to walk them down the aisle. His youngest two only knowing him through other people's stories.

But then when they reported his daughter was with him too... Deep sadness overwhelmed me. I held my daughter close. I breathed her in. I snuggled with my son. And I didn't realize I was crying until I felt his hands cup my face and wipe my tears looking at me concerned.

My husband and my son and daughter are my world. My kids love their daddy. Kobe and Gianna being gone in the blink of an eye doing something they did all the time...

I could be Vanessa Bryant.

Anyone of us could. We could wake up, going out to fulfill our ready made plans and lose instantly those who are the closest to our hearts.

I cried and I prayed for her. I will be praying for her for the next week and month and whenever her and her girls cross my mind.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 - "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you

The complicated, messiness of grief and sadness

I didn't have to like Kobe in order to grieve this situation. He has done questionable things in his past and when he went on his apology tour years ago now, it didn't make me a believer. And however you personally feel about it really doesn't matter.

Empathy allows me to recognize that beloved fathers are gone. Amazing mothers have left us. And children, young, bright, talented and trailblazing girls are now forever shooting stars. Some truly amazing humans are gone from this earth.

Those who are left are grieving widows and widowers, orphans, big sisters and brothers, parents and countless friends all trying to put themselves back together after their world has been shattered.

My opinion isn't needed in that, just my solidarity.

My grandmother would always say, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. And I speak that back to all of us now.

If it was your loved one what would you want to hear at a time like this?

We often feel like celebrities and athletes are ours because they live their live publicly. But they don't belong to us. They are human beings. Far from perfect. Flawed. Complicated. Messy.

And therefore the grief and emotions surrounding them are equally as flawed, complicated and messy. We are all entitled to feel what we feel. Sad. Angry. Confused. Despondent. Utterly destroyed.

But when I look at my kids and I think about what it would feel like for them to have thrust in their face the worst day their dad ever had on the worst day they have ever had, it doesn't sit well in my spirit.

But that is what we do in this world of social media. Even after you apologize and forgive; spend the rest of your life, by all accounts, being an amazing humanitarian; we callously treat people like commodities to scoop stories and get likes and have Twitter debates. When will we realize this moment is not about us?!

We have all been triggered by this event. But at its core, the facts are that 3 fathers and husbands, 3 mothers and wives, and 3 precious daughters passed away. And it's tragic.

So let's love each other. Be quick to listen. Be slow to speak. Be slow to anger and despair. Practice self-care. And remember that No one, not even our heroes, owes us anything.

God commands us to love. And that's what's needed right now.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW

Sent from my iPhone

Soul Ties That Bind

I first learned about Soul Ties in junior high. It was the new big term in the youth Christian world at the time. It sounded sexy but when you really thing about it, Its a heavy thing.

I touched on it a little bit in my post, The Sin You Do To Yourself, but I'll go more in depth here.

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As a young girl I understood the concept but didn't truly understand it until I was a young adult.

So what is a Soul tie?

Good question. A soul tie is a spiritual connection created through marriage, sex, or accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

The first and most perfect example for how a soul tie is supposed to be is the one formed when you accept Christ. The Holy Spirit comes down and resides within you (Romans 8:10-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19). He is there to walk with you, to guide you, to teach you and to help you remember all the things God has promised you (John 14:26).

The second example is in Genesis when God created Adam. He said it is not good for Adam to be alone so He created Eve from Adam's rib. So Eve was literally one with Adam's flesh. And God said two will become one flesh (Genesis 2:22-24). Today, this is done through marriage or the act of joining bodies aka sex.

Soul Ties aren't necessarily a bad thing. I'm thankful that my soul is tied to Christ.

However, today we see the effects of tying our souls to people indiscriminately. Broken families, broken spirits, fractured marriages, bruised hearts and chained to dead relationships.

Anger. Pain. Brokenness. On Repeat.

We, many times, unknowingly are carrying around the ghost of these relationships. Those memories trigger emotions that we take out on the next person. It can leave us stuck and stagnant.

I am not immune from this. While I was selective about the number of relationships I have had and the people I have allowed into my space I still created ties to people I shouldn't have. I went back to a guy I knew I shouldn't be with because I had broken up with him for a reason but our souls were tied. I ugly cried over a break-up with someone who had lied to my face on numerous occasions because our souls were tied.

When I started dating my husband and before we got married I prayed, Lord please break all these ties so that I don't bring them into my forever relationship. Take away the memories, kill the comparisons so that I don't bring up things he hasn't done to me. I didn't want be like the children of Israel saying they missed being in slavery on the way to the promised land. I didn't want to let anything taint my love and experience of him.

Soul ties are the reason why it is so difficult for people to move on from divorce and why, in intimate human relationships, they are only broken by adultery. Soul Ties are a covenant and is a mirror of the relationship with God. Once your soul is tied to God it CANNOT be broken (Romans 8:38-39).

I started out this new year with this message because there are a lot of ties we have that need to be broken and folks are out here struggling to break these ties. The reason for the struggle is that a Soul Tie was never meant to be broken. That's why for me I prayed and asked God to break the ties for me.

So it's a new year, a fresh start, ask God to break those unhealthy ties. Then work to not create any new ones. This world will tell you its cool to just share your body with anybody (This is for both Men and Women) but they don't warn of the carnage that leaves behind, so I will.

Your body is sacred, so protect it. Don't give it to just any and everybody. The choices you make have consequences that can last generations.

I'll end with a Soul Tie you definitely should make. If you haven't yet accepted Christ, do so today. Tie your self down with the One who wants the absolute best for you. He will never leave, He will never let you down, He has your back. Trust Him today. Give Him all of you today. It was the best decision I EVER made and I don't regret it AT ALL.

Just say...

Dear Jesus today I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart and my life. Make me new, release me from these unhealthy ties, help me to honor and follow your will for my life. Forgive me for all my mess.

And He will. Get into His Word. Start the New Year off right.

The Unlikely Missionary

DHW