In life we have many reasons for celebrating; the birth of a child, marriage, and yes, even death. Every 4th of July we celebrate the birth of our nation.  A nation bountifully blessed by the touch of the Creator, designated to be a beacon to the world of his goodness and mercy; a port of safety for those seeking freedom from persecution.

It’s principles established from the influence of the Creator, acknowledging all men were created by him and are equal in his sight.  Rich or poor, free or slave, Black or white; all are precious to him.  Some families begin their preparations for this celebration months in advance; making reservations for travel, buying new clothing, preparing for visitors, and planning activities for family enjoyment.

No matter what is planned, the occasion must end with fireworks.  This tradition began in 1777 one year after the Declaration of Independence was read; work ceased and the celebrating began with bon fires, bells ringing, and fireworks displays.  We continue to this day to celebrate the United States of America, one nation under God on the 4th of July.

What happened? where did God go?  Our nation has changed; the huddled masses seeking freedom are no longer welcome, equality was a dream never realized for some living in this great nation, power hungry men make rules to govern others that do not apply to themselves, violence and hatred openly voice the evil living in their hearts and those who profess the love of God stand idly by allowing evil men to oppress the least of theses.

We live in a hallucination of justice and liberty for all; our celebrations are a empty reflection of the past, a dream not realized.  Like the worshipers of old we have turned away from the One True God; we have made idols of our own to worship. Power, greed,and self are the Gods we have created.  Our nation is spiraling into decay and darkness.

We have no reasons to celebrate, our Creator is calling out; turn back my people.  Destroy your idols, return to what is just, right, honorable, and true; giving glory and praise to the God who created you. Open wide your arms inviting the oppressed inside.  Bless those in need as you have been so abundantly blessed.  One day soon the clouds will roll away like a scroll.

The mountains and islands will be removed, the trumpet will sound and time will be no more.  The sky will be a glow as never before, no fireworks display can compare to the sight of the Angels surrounding the King of Kings as he returns.  Before it’s to late relight the torch of justice for all, make the land of the free and home of the brave a reality and let the flag of freedom forever wave.

A beacon atop the hill showing the way of love to the world.  United as one, none great and none small; each respecting the other no difference at all.  when the day comes that we have overcome the darkness that consumes our world, we will be ready to celebrate with fireworks once again.  Until then Pray everybody, pray

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

 

Music is a force that brings people together, there are many types of music; everyone can enjoy what resonates in their spirit.  For some it’s Jazz, some like Country,some gravitate to Gospel, some to Rock and some Easy listening.  In some form or another music is woven into the fabric of our lives.

words are written to the melody and a song is born, once heard it lingers in the heart or is dismissed. I’m sure you have experienced hearing a tune you’ve never heard before, yet; find it ringing in your mind long after the song has ended. Funny how some melodies just capture our attention, while others fade into the realm of forgetfulness.

Music evokes our emotions, it can bring joy or sadness; tears or laughter.  How often do we think about how music affects our lives.  All the universe enjoys the melody created by it’s Creator; the melody of birds carried on the breeze, the moon and stars serenading the night sky, and the Angelic voices bringing a message of peace in song.

Imagine you’re looking at a piano, composed of 88 keys; 52 white and 36 black.  The composer uses these keys to create a perfect melody, one that would be remembered long after he or she has gone.  How does the keys of a piano identify with the keys of life you ask?  We try to live the best life we can; treating others as we wish to be treated.

Working honestly at our daily tasks, being truthful in our actions with others, standing for what is right and just.  We seek to live in perfection, which is the white keys. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we try; the hidden nature of sin emerges, these are the black keys. What appears to be perfect on the surface can hide the infection of sin from sight.

In every life sin is present, we were born with the desire to do what is sinful;to elevate self, write our own melody and sing our own song.  The song the Creator placed in our hearts is hidden by the brightness of the world, it’s clamor distracting us from the pure melody of the Creator.

If we are not in tune with the Universe we are singing off key.  We must realize the composer has given each voice it’s own special part in the song, when missing; the melody is incomplete.  The Creator desires to complete his concerto, the conductor stands ready at the podium.

All the instruments are poised and ready, but; he is missing voices.  We must search our hearts, find our key and claim our position in the Universal chorus.  The composition will be completed, harmony will reign; the conductor will raise his baton and everything that was created will praise the Lord.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

Earth, wind, and fire recorded a song ” Keep your head to the sky”, it was written by one of the group members; Maurice White.  In it’s essence the song was a spiritual revelation, most of us get caught up in the rhythm or beat of the song; seldom do we concentrate on the words of the song.

This song was written about a conversation between The Father, Creator of all things and one of his sons; his creation.  It reveals the directions given by the Father to the son to successfully navigate this life.  It acknowledges mistakes by those traveling life’s road can be expected, to make wrong choices which require repentance; is part of the journey.

It stresses the importance of taking responsibility for ones actions, living in the real world, and recognizing we all have a purpose; our purpose can be found when we seek  the Fathers will.  The Father will reveal his will for us through the Holy Spirit. Faith is a very important element of this equation, we must believe.

Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains if it is true, that too is a gift from the Father; he has planted in each of us a portion of faith.  The more our relationship with the Father grows, the stronger our faith becomes.  The trials we face on a daily basis are the tools the Father uses to strengthen us, there by increasing our faith.

The song writer was right, we must; keep looking up.  The word tells us to “look to the hills from which comes our help, our help comes from the Lord.”  When we look up; the clouds, sun, moon, and stars display the majesty of the Father.  When we look up; we elevate our minds to a higher consciousness.

When we look up; we open our hearts to the lessons taught by the universe.  All nature declares the glory of the Fathers power to create, opening the heart to him will allow him to re-create in us the likeness of his son; Jesus the Christ.  Who was the expression of his own character encased in human flesh.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.  How marvelous  is his love for his wayward children, he never stops seeking to bring them home again; he is forever standing by waiting for them to reach out to him.

He is the only answer to the problems that plague us all.  We must realize without him we are but dust; in him we move, breath, and have our being.  He is cooling shade on a hot desert, water to erase our thirst, and manner from on high to feed the soul.  If you are seeking a safe port from the storms of life, look up; keep looking up.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

 

The years pass so quickly, you realize there are so many things you thought you would have accomplished that remain undone. You wonder where the time went, what did you do with the time you had?  Thoughts of your children flash in your mind, you see them in your minds eye; crawling, then walking, laughing, crying, talking and now they have children of their own.

One year becomes 10, 10 years become 20, 20 years become 50 and as you look into the mirror you see 70 plus years starring back at you.  Your hair is mingled with grey, your brow showing signs of life in the tiny wrinkles appearing there.  You don’t seem to move as swiftly as you once did, you find it harder to stay awake; a nap is needed in the middle of the day.

As you do a rewind of your life, memories flood your heart like a spring shower.  Tears of joy and sadness; special birthdays, weddings, births, and lovers appear from the dark corners of the mind. Some you had long forgotten find their way once more to the light. You find it hard not to smile at the remembrance of your life. You realize how much you have to be grateful and thankful to the Creator for.

Each 1st step taken, each first I love you grandma, each smile and each hello and goodbye.  They are all etched into every fiber of your being; you contemplate if you have used the time given you wisely, if you have learned from the mistakes made along the journey, and what would you like to rewind and do over again. would there be anyone you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from? apologize to or say i’m sorry for  whatever reason.

With the progression of time you realize the importance of every moment you are blessed to enjoy, as you enter the twilight years the memories accumulated tell the story of a Love Supreme, the radiance of a star shining in the eye of the Creator, beloved of the ONLY begotten Son, and jewel in the universal tapestry of life.   One soul that recognizes the beauty of life is a gift from the Creator.

Every experience life brings is designed to teach a lesson, each lesson designed to draw the student closer to the Creator; closer to the Ultimate source of love. I’m so grateful for this life I have, NO REWIND necessary.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

 

For many years the phrase “cast not  thy pearls to swine” has caused me great confusion. What did this really mean? what was considered pearls? and what did the swine represent? Is this a question you have every  wondered about.  After many life experiences I have come to a better understanding  many of the mysteries of my youth.

I have learned that the pearls of life are the memories of love shared, the people who are dear to us, the wisdom granted to us by the Creator, and the very essence of life; breathe in the body.  These are the important moments that comprise our day to day lives, moments captured by the camera lens of our minds; stored in the chambers of the heart.

Treasures that cannot be replaced which should be protected, the Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul thy going out and coming in.  He shall cover you with his wings that no harm shall over take you.  Trust him with all that you are and all that you hope to become.

We are warned to keep what is treasured from those who are unworthy to share them. Swine is another name for pig or pork, which is a unclean thing; it’s purpose is to cleanse the earth of filth. Swine will consume anything placed before it. Swine will give no importance to anything but it’s own satisfaction and gratification.

They will give no value to your treasures, In life we will find there will be those who give no value to what we may value; the same will apply to us. It is human nature to value what is important to you above what is important to someone else.  The pearls of life that we are privileged to enjoy must not be given to or shared with those who do not appreciate their importance in our lives.

The Joy of Jesus the Christ, the peace of Jesus the Christ, the hope found in Jesus the Christ and the forgiveness granted by Jesus the Christ are all pearls to be shared, however; all will not be willing to accept these gifts. Therefore, we must not”cast our pearls to swine” but give freely to those willing to accept and treasure these precious pearls.

Jesus the Christ is willing to give to all who will receive him, the path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day when Christ shall return.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

The court room was buzzing, whispers could be heard coming from every direction in the room.  The Sheriff’s escorted the prisoner in and sit him in a chair facing the bench where the judge would sit.  The jury gazed upon his face, he showed no remorse; he seemed to have no regret for his actions.

The Bailiff with a booming voice declared “all rise”, ” here comes the judge”/ The prosecutor painstakingly presented his case against the defendant to the jury before resting his case and taking his seat.  The Judge asked the defense attorney if he was ready to present his case or if he wanted an adjournment.

I’m ready your honor, as he rose from his seat; many in the room wondered what he would say that would change the information presented by the prosecutor? it was apparent to all he was guilty.  The defendant sit quietly with his eyes focused on the Judge, he knew this person held his fate in his hands.

He thought he would be found guilty by the jury, but the Judge would be the one to give the sentence for the crime.  As we traverse this life many will find themselves in this circumstance, the crime could be very small; however, the consequences could be greater then expected.

Many of us may never commit a crime, but; we commit sinful actions on a daily basis. We sin in our thoughts, known and unknown; in words spoken and unspoken.  we sin when we seek to join ourselves to those who plot evil doings.  Seldom do we stop to consider the sins we commit so easily in our daily living.

We fail to remember if it is contrary to the Laws the Father has given it is sin. He gave us his Ten Commandments that we would know his will for man,  we must also remember all our actions whether great or small will be called into judgement by the Judge of the universe. Every lie, every evil thought,  every hateful act, and every prideful and selfish endeavor.

Our big brother told us he would be back to redeem us unto himself, on that day every eye shall see him; the cry will go forth to all the earth, ” HERE COMES THE JUDGE”. Who will be ready?

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

I’m sure whether we are male or female we have used an iron at one time or another. Learning to be self sufficient is the lesson our parents spent many hours trying to teach us.  To clean wherever we live, to cook to feed ourselves, to wash, dry, and iron our clothes and to work to pay our bills. They desired to raise productive individuals, confident should they not be in the picture; we could survive without struggle.

Most of us learned those lessons well, now we are passing those lessons on to our children; we too wish to eliminate the possibility of struggle from the lives of our children.   We desire to instill in them good character, compassion for others, and love for self.  As parents we hope they learn the lesson, but; we have no way to really assess whether they have grasped  what we are trying to teach.

It would be nice if we could turn them inside out to see what is hidden on the inside that can’t be seen on the outside.  This thought resonated in my spirit causing me to ask myself the question” what would be seen if my life was inside out”?  On the surface we tend to project what we want others to see, we keep our true selves hidden; for many what is seen is totally different from what is hidden from the eyes.

We try to keep all flaws hidden from sight; we hide our stress and anxiety, envy, hate, jealousy, and selfishness.  If you could see on the outside what was hidden on the inside how would it change you? Could you still love those people?  The choice is yours, Love can hide a multitude of faults; we all may have skeletons in our closets.  Our insides and outsides are reconciled when our lives are guided by the Holy Spirit.

It’s then our inside will reflect what the outside is displaying, the essence of Christ brings joy, peace, caring, patience and in some cases sacrifice.  Christ in us removes all guilt of the past, cleans our body temples from the basement to the attic, cleans our windows so that we see the world around us with clear vision and makes us one with him and the Father.

Like the delicate handling of a special fabric which needs ironing, turning it inside out; The Father and son gently transforms our characters into one harmonious unit, the inside and outside become the same.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

The kids lined each side of the street, their excitement grew as they saw the beginning of the Carnival Parade; the roar of laughter filled the air as the clowns passed.  The elephants, loins and tigers drew loud sighs as they passed.  The carnival was the highlight of Summer.

The rides, food and side shows drew large crowds of every age.  It seemed the entire population of the city was under the big top or waiting to get into the big top.  The amazing side show attractions created the greatest illusions; it was hard to tell what was real and what was memorex.

Some you knew were not real, but; you just couldn’t figure out how they were created, leaving a big question mark in your mind. Was it magic or just a trick?  The Ring Master was leading the show under the big top, all the acts were introduced by him. Each side show attraction had it’s own tent along the midway.

Each one move stranger then the other; the two headed man, the human mermaid, the half man half goat, and  the adjoined triplets just to name a few.  Most of us are mesmerized by the illusions created at the carnival; but, we think very little of the illusions created for us in our daily lives by the greatest Illusionist known to man.

It is said his greatest delusion was to make man believe he didn’t exist.  We tend to forget he once stood next to the throne of the ALMIGHTY, was created in ultimate beauty and deceived many heavenly beings to believe in his cause which resulted in his and their ejection from heaven.

He gained control of the earth by deceiving our first parents; under his influence the world became evil continually. It was because of him the world was destroyed by a great flood with only eight survivors.  Generation after generation was bewildered, beguiled, and deceived, mankind was once again headed for destruction.

His goal to destroy the ALMIGHTY’S earthy creation was being realized by the great illusionist; so he thought.  The ALMIGHTY loved his creation and earthly children so much he made preparation to redeem them through the blood of his ONLY son. Through him many believed and were redeem and given the gift of salvation.

Eyes have not seen, nor ear heard,neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  The illusionist is being unmasked, his deceptions illuminated, and mankind now has the strength to resist him through the shed blood of Jesus the Christ.

We must not forget the illusionist came from the heavenly court of God, he lost his position through disobedience; his desire is to destroy any chance mankind may have to inhabit where he is forbidden to go. Don’t be deceived by him any longer, invite Christ into your life; he will give you of his spirit to keep you from the hour of your temptations and give you victory over the tempter.

Remember he can appear as an angel off light, only when Christ lives in you will you be able to see through his disguise.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

 

 

Nothing special, no holiday; yet, the kitchen was smelling up the house.  The aroma could be smelt as you approached the front door.  The neighbors could tell someone was preparing a feast.  You could smell chicken frying, collard greens, mac n cheese,sweet potatoes, and corn bread.

Whoever is doing the cooking is putting a lot of love in each dish; you could hear the neighbors saying.  A crisp white table cloth adorned the table, fine chine was placed meticulously at each seat, a napkin with shiny silver wear atop nestled next to each plate.

What is the occasion? is there a visitor coming? why is such a table of plenty being prepared?  Puzzled looks grace each family members face; each trying to solve the mystery of the event they see unfolding.  It’s Sunday, maybe the pastor is coming; it could be moms sister who she hasn’t seen in awhile.

The table is set, the food prepared; now we await the guests.  The Father of all creation has set his table with his righteousness, he sent his Son into the world to invite the world to come to the celebration.  His life was to show the world what the Father was really like.  To show the heart of the Father to all who would receive him.

He was crucified and rose from death; he rejoined his Father telling him about all those he invited to come to the celebration. All who received him and who were preparing for the feast. Those who turned away from their wickedness and began to keep his commandments.

Those who became more loving to others and those who studied his word daily.  The Father’s table of plenty is spread, soon the Son will return to the world to escort those deemed worthy to the celebration.  He has extended the invitation, will you be attending?  I accepted his invite some time ago; I will be there, hope to see you there//

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

As the day breaks, the first beams of sunlight peak through the window; I’m reminded of the mercy and grace of my loving Creator.  Soft clouds seem to drift by as nature awakens from her rest.  The smell of someone cooking captures my attention, this is the way a Sunday morning should be resonated in my mind. Then I remembered I was alone, so who was cooking?

It was just my imagination telling me that morning peace should be comprised of those quiet moments before the winds of a hectic life begin to blow.  We all need time to regroup, to strengthen our defenses, and fortify ourselves through a conversation with our Creator before we greet the new challenges the day ahead may unfold to us.  Each morning he sits waiting to hear our first foot steps, to see us place the coffee cup on the table and open his book.

His heart rejoices because we didn’t forget about our time together with him.  He anticipates the peaceful mornings the two of us spend before anything else happens in our lives; he knows if we don’t miss our appointment, he will be included in the entire day.  There is nothing better than the warm fuzzes you receive from talking with an old friend to light up the heart and tattoo a smile on the face.

As we traverse the hidden traps, potholes  and unforeseen circumstances of life; we are reminded of those warm fuzzes, we feel loving arms caress us telling us; I’m here, you’re not alone.  Blessed is every one that trust in the Lord, that walk in his way; they shall eat their bread in peace and all will be well for them.  When we take time to spend each morning with our Creator, friend, and lover; he prepares us for the unknowns of life.

He knows there is a dark presence that is seeking to destroy us by any means possible. Friends, foes, and family become pawns in his attempts to lure us into darkness and away from light.  When we miss our morning conversations, our defenses are weakened; making it hard to recognize him when he comes to us. His greatest tool is deception, without fortification we can easily be deceived.

It is so important we begin each day in a conversation with our closest friend, carry his essence with us throughout the day and end each day thanking him for his companionship;  it all begins with MORNING PEACE.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace