How often has the question been asked “where was God”? When some heinous crime is committed, a devastating storm destroys property and life or some unfathomable circumstance occurs. As a rule we go about our lives never giving thought to this until something happens that shakes us to our core. We tend to disproportionally measure sin; to rob someone is bad, but; not as bad as killing them. To gossip is bad, but; not as bad as tarnishing someone’s character. We grade our lies; a little white lie is not as bad as a big lie that causes pain and sorrow, we fail to recognize sin is sin.

Many believe the condition of our world indicates there is no God or as the movies so boldly state; “God is dead”. We live in a fractured world, chaos is present with each day of life we experience; there are wars and rumors of war in our news headlines, starvation is growing around the world, the rich oppress the poor and more and more people turn away from the ONLY source that brings peace; Jesus the Christ. The question is asked again, “where is God”? “Does He really exist”? Hebrews 11:6 states” anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him”.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, where does this faith come from you ask, Romans 12:3 tells us God has given each one a measure of faith; faith is the gift from which all the other gifts flow. In Mathew 17:20 Jesus said ” If you have the faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain move from here to there and it will move.” So to answer the question” where is God”? Deuteronomy 4:29 explains “if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with your whole heart and with all your soul”.

God is not far from us, Jesus came to this earth as God reflection so we could know Him; feel His love and experience His forgiveness. We can find Him in the sunrise, the snow capped mountain peaks, the spring rain, and the flowering meadows. In the thunder announcing the coming storm. All nature testifies to the greatness of God. Unfortunately, sin has separated us from our God, Father and redeemer. When we make the decision to surrender our sins to Him with a sincere heart; He forgives us and we are made new in Him. Surrendering our will to His will leads us to the indwelling Holy Spirit who will keep us until the return of Jesus the Christ our Lord. We just have to choose to trust and obey His leading.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

Psalm 150 is a call to all God’s people to praise their Creator, it’s words filled with love for the one who loved and gave all for us; before we knew how to love Him. Words that echo through the halls of time bringing light to a new generation; acknowledgement of the Majesty of our Creator and the beauty of His creation. A song whispered on the breeze calling all nature to sing it’s melody. It gives us not only reasons to praise, but; methods of praise.

Our God is worthy of praise, it is He who grants us the breath of life, washes away our sins, gives us second chances, renews our spirits and teaches us right living through His Holy Spirit. We are admonished to praise Him in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him according to His excellent greatness; praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and the dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals; praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. LET everything that has breath praise ye the Lord.

so I ask my brothers and my sisters where is your praise? Is clapping your hands or lifting them up or saying Amen or hallelujah being to emotional? Are you afraid of what others might say if you give God the praise locked in your heart because they choose to remain silent? Do you think it is being irreverent to verbalize your praise? Prayer and praise are the keys that unlock the storehouse of Heaven, when praises go up, blessings come down. If you have been given the opportunity to see one year exit and another make it’s entrance you have a reason to praise; if you have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mouth that speaks, you have a reason to praise.

If your cupboard is not empty and there is a roof over your head, you have a reason to praise. The enemy wants your praise, he gets excited when you fail to give God the praise and honor He Only deserves. It was the enemy’s desire to be worshiped that caused his fall from grace. He smiles each time we fail to give God our praise. I have resolved, as I am blessed with life; I’ll praise the Lord. In trial and storms, I’ll praise the Lord, when my heart is broken; I’ll praise the Lord. In every circumstance, with all I am or hope to be; I’ll praise the Lord. In sickness or in health, I will praise the Lord and when my time on this earth is done; with my last breath I will praise the Lord.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

How do you measure success? There are as many answers to this question as there are people, each one different; however, I think there is only one that defines failure. Failure is the social concept of not meeting a desirable or intended objective. There is another way to look at failure, it can be considered the road to success. It is a great teacher, it builds character and humility; you could say it is suspended success. Failure will cause re-evaluation, persistence, and hard work in some cases before success can be achieved.

As the end of the year fast approaches many begin to preview their accomplishments, however; the only thing that really matters is where you are in the war that is being spiritually fought for you. Your decision is crucial to success or failure for eternity. What side have you chosen? This world offers success through power, money, and control of others, it seems wonderful in the beginning you become comfortable with your own greatness. You walk on others with no conscious or concern for their welfare to sustain your position.

When you choose the success the world offers there is a price to be paid; eventually, the ruler of this world will come to collect. You have succeeded at failure. Deuteronomy 8:18 teaches “but thou shall remember the Lord thy God; for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” Proverbs 10:22 states ” the blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” The success we receive that comes through our choice to accept the love given by Jesus the Christ leads to eternal wealth.

Thieves cannot break in to steal nor will it’s value diminish, True success is found in the joy, love, and service to others. As we prepare to make our resolutions for the coming year recognize the choices we make will determine our future for eternity. Choose wisely the path you will walk, time is winding down for this world of chaos and soon the price for rejecting the grace of God must be paid. Redemption is available only to those who have chosen wisely and given their hearts to Jesus, who paid the price for all who accept it. The time to seek His face, ask for forgiveness, and turn from wickedness is running out;, choose life, why should you die when God offers you life, eternal life.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

How many of you are afraid of the dark? As children most of us were uncomfortable with darkness, that was when the boogie man could get you. All kinds of things were imagined that could happen to you when night fell. That’s when bad things were mostly likely to happen; at least that’s what we were taught as children. I so vividly remember my mom saying” don’t let the street light catch you”. This was her warning us to be in the house before the street lights came on which was usually after sunset. There were exceptions, but; very few.

If we think about it, we have no reason to fear the dark; in the beginning there was only darkness, then God said “Let there be light” and the dark was shattered by the light. God named the light day and the dark night; He then gave the sun rulership over the day and the moon rulership over the night. These were not the ultimate light that was to come; the light of life was yet to appear. The prophecy’s of old predicted His coming and yet; when He appeared they were not ready to receive Him. Jesus wrapped in humanity was God in the flesh.

He was the “light of life” sent to redeem the lost sheep and bring them back into the sheepfold of righteousness for the Father. It was said the night was a silent one in that little town called Bethlehem; Holy was the night that gave the world a savior; a child born to bring salvation to all mankind. On this special night the Angelic choir serenaded the world announcing His birth, the sky illuminated by their brilliance. God’s love personified by Jesus the only begotten Son that men might know the truth of the Father’s love for man, all men.

There is however a strong and malevolent presence lurking in the dark trying to distort this truth. His purpose was to extinguish the light by the death of Jesus, but; Jesus took death captive. The light of life could not be diminished or destroyed, it is still shining into the darkness that today has captured the lives of men. The light is the love of God that is willing to transform any who is seeking to be free of the bonds of sin. While the scripture does not say Jesus was born on December 25th, we know it says; He was born, walked among men for 33 years, was crucified on Golgotha’s hill top.

He was buried in a borrowed tomb and in three days He rose from death and ascended back to the Father that sent Him. It is by accepting His shed blood for the remission of our sins we can receive the light of life; which is the love of God through Jesus the Christ. Jesus is truly the reason for the season. As you celebrate this season of Christmas, be sure your relationship with Christ is the focus of your celebration.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

I have heard it said “when you have a hard time going to sleep. counting sheep will help”. Can you imagine closing you eyes and a white fence appears, on one side a flock of sheep wait patiently for their turn to jump the fence so you can count them. I have also heard drinking warm milk before bed will help you sleep well. I’m sure you may have heard of what are sure fire ways to help when sleep eludes you. Many of us like to read books to calm our minds and wind down from the stress of the day.

We set the pillows just right, slip into bed and pull the covers up to the perfect place; we then get that special book we need to finish, knowing that sleep is not far away. Maybe we will get 3 chapters done before our eye lids get to heavy to keep open. Unfortunately, so many of us today lack the opportunity to enjoy even the simplest pleasures of life; food on the table, roof over the families head, bed to rest in and safety from the harsh elements; the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

So many take for granted the blessing they enjoy, never stopping their daily routines to count them. They go from one day to the next never realizing life is just a puff of smoke, here one moment and gone the next. We are blessed to be a blessing to others, no matter what we have when we share with those who have not our blessing are multiplied. When we love others through sharing we allow the love of Jesus to shine through; touching the lives of those in need of love.

Every season is a season of sharing, however; it is during this season of Thanksgiving most of us stop to count our blessings. To acknowledge the goodness of our Creator for all His creatures; to open our hearts and consider those less fortunate. We recognize the sacrificial blood shed for us, teaching us how to sacrifice for others. As you prepare to give thanks this season, think of someone you can invite into your home to share your table, the warmth of family and the love of God. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

Some years ago a very popular songstress added to her portfolio a song entitled ” A vision of love”. If you close your eyes and think of that title, what vision comes to mind? In my mind I see the vast blackness of space and love speaks causing light to penetrate the darkness separating the two. The voice of love fills the silence bringing forth all life in it’s abundance. My heart reminds me that love is not silent, it moves constantly to the rhythm of life as dictated by the rhythm of Heaven.

Love kisses the universe and it’s magnificence illuminates the eyes with the Creators majesty. Love recognizes the weakness of mankind, yet; doesn’t fail to forgive. Gently lifting up the fallen giving them a second chance to choose love. Love’s voice cries out I am here, let me love you. Love will over shadow the hate when the heart embraces it; it sees through a transformed view of the world that surrounds it. It may not remove the sting and hurt of hate, but; it will strengthen those who embrace it with all their heart.

When love is embraced we move past the hurt to healing, beyond the healing to forgiveness and beyond the forgiveness to restoration. When I see my world my heart is in tears, it seems love has been denied and hate thrives, deception has been accepted as the rule of thumb and many are feeling that evil has won. The battle is not over, love is not standing idly by; it reaches out to every heart that will listen to it’s battle cry. Love has a vision of a world made new when no hate exist and love is the rule, once again in harmony with the rhythm of Heaven; the universe will be at peace and it’s vision of love will be complete.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

There is a popular game show that I’m sure most of us has watched, some for many years; contestants are given the opportunity to guess the cost of products and the one closest to the actual price gets the chance to play the game. The price is right for many years has given contestants prizes of great wealth or prizes worth nothing. The person who wins the most gets the opportunity to play for the big prize of the day; they are presented with 3 choices to pick from, picking the right door will give them the biggest deal of the day.

Life in some ways can be compared to a game show, we are all contestants in the game of life. Every time we get the opportunity to see a new day the choices we make will impact us positively or negatively. We go through our days not realizing the choices we make will determine the outcome of the end of the game. Some of us accumulate great wealth and power by taking advantage of others, they allow their baser nature to guide them to success at all cost.

Some choose , to not choose; they just move from one day to the next dealing with whatever the day may bring; they are victims of circumstances. Then there are those who choose to consider the welfare of others before themselves, they choose to serve. They go through life sharing themselves with the lost, lonely, unwanted, rejected, and despised; they shelter the homeless and feed the hungry. Every contestant in this game of life is influenced by their environment, their parents or teachers, and their belief system.

The spirit of selfishness has captured many, the spirit of indifference others and the spirit of selflessness many others. The time is coming when the game will end and the choices we make will reap their consequences, those who have chosen wisely will have avoided the pitfalls associated with this tainted world in which we live. Those who have been beguiled by the riches, glamour, and power offered by the darkness of this world will find themselves in danger of judgement and eternal death.

Fortunately for all the contestants in the game, there is a caveat to the game; a contestant has the opportunity to change the path they have chosen, forgiveness is on the table to any who wish to change course before the game ends. Each one will come to the end of the game of life at different times and in different ways, the choice of life or death is before them; it is important for those standing on the edge to reach out to Love that is willing to forgive, for why should they choose death/

God so loved the world that He gave His ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3:16. When we come to the threshold and the doors are before us; let us choose the right door, choose eternal life.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

There are quite a few sayings concerning pain; have you heard the expression, no pain no gain? This indicates without hard work which can cause pain, we will not achieve the goal we are striving for. For most of us pain is something physical that causes our bodies to hurt, I call this the Job experience; something that we have no control over has caused a physical change in us that is painful. Unlike Job, today; we have options to relieve our pains, a visit to the doctor; medications, or specific exercises.

We express what we are feeling by saying, I have a stabbing or burning or sharp or throbbing pain wherever it hurts. I’m reminded of another saying “pain is a equalizer”, most of us have heard this saying also but, what is it saying to us? Often we suffer in silence not wanting to bother others with what we are enduring, but; Our Father Creator wants us to bring all our problems and concerns to Him. When we turn to Him in times of suffering He is there to give us peace, to strengthen us in our weakness, relieve our pain and heal our diseases Psalm 103:3.

Some pain we experience is more emotional than physical, can you imagine the turmoil Job must have experienced in his mind trying to understand why he was dealing with such pain both physical and emotional, after all; everything had been taken from him including his children. We at times find ourselves in the same position as Job, not only do we experience physical pain; but, emotional pain too. How do you handle so much pain becomes the question. Our families and friends try to offer assistance but, like Jobs friends; often don’t really know how to help.

Sometimes having a Job experience places us in the valley of decision, the questions to be answered are; do I believe the word of God? Do I trust in the blood of Christ, can Jesus heal today? Do I have the faith to be healed and if I ask for healing will He answer with healing? Our trials and sufferings are designed to draw us away from our Father; the enemy wants us to blame Him for our troubles. Jobs story is our example of how important it is for us to remain faithful in trial and suffering, to take our concerns to our loving Father in prayer. To wait in faith for His resolution of the problems we may be experiencing whether physical or mental.

In this life we will all have one or more Job experiences, we must remember; the prayers of a righteous man availeth much James5:16, greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world 1John 4:4, with the faith of a mustard seed the mountain will move Math 17:20, and the most important with God nothing is impossible Math 19:26. Romans 5:3-5 teaches us, “not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace

No one could have imagined the impact that would come from what was said, how quickly it spread without anyone bothering to verify it’s truth. It sounded so unbelievable, yet; the more it was said the more it was believed even though it had not been authenticated. Can you believe no one cared enough for the person or people who would pay the price for The Lie. From the beginning the lie caused a generational curse that we inherited from our first parents. The entire earth suffered from their accepting the lie.

The fabricator of the lie is our greatest enemy and is still working in the hearts of men today to deceive and destroy mankind. He is the father of lies causing those who follow him to seek control and domination of others for their personal gain and advancement. At one time the father of lies was an exalted Angel who’s excellence was created for him by God the Father, but; his desire to be more than his Creator caused him to betray the trust the Creator had assigned him.

He deceived 2/3rds of the Heavenly host and rebelled against his Creator, all the rebellious were expelled from the Heavenly courts. Since his expulsion he has infected men with greed, hate, indifference, and lying. Each lie causing pain, violence, separation, and other consequences for those who are the subject of the lie. There is hope, the lie must be exposed; no excuse can be made for those who yield to the deceiver. The Father Creator knowing mankind would not survive the onslaught of the deceiver, sent light into the world through His only begotten son, Jesus the Christ.

John 14:6 states Jesus answered saying,” I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” The word of God teaches, ALL liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. The lie is deadly and those who entertain it risk eternal consequences, mankind was given instructions from God our Father as to how we are to live in this world, but; He also gave each of us the freedom of choice. No matter how much a lie is spread we must choose to gravitate to truth, allowing Jesus to guide us.

There is hope for All liars who will repent and turn from sin giving their hearts to Jesus, then we will ALL know in our hearts; the truth from the lie and choose TRUTH.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace.

When I was a child I was taught, ” in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue”, that’s all I remember after so many years have passed in my life cycle, however; that voyage was said to have resulted in the founding of the new world. It offered a new start for those Europeans who were adventurous enough to journey to it’s shores. Although Columbus didn’t land on the shores of North America he was responsible for the colonization of the new worlds for European expansion; exterminating the peoples who inhabited these lands and subjugating others as slaves for Spain.

In 1526 the first transatlantic slave voyage by the Portuguese reached Brazil, they were the first to transport slaves from the shores of Africa. An institution was established which commercialized, racialized, and inherited the transfer of captive peoples to the America’s. The number of people capture or bought between 1526 and 1867 is said to be more than 12 million men, women and children; robbed of their home, humanity, and futures. While it is the consensus today that slavery no longer exist, this is not entirely true; it has taken many different forms.

The question I submit to you is “what will be the cost of freedom?” Much blood has been shed in the pursuit of freedom, yet; injustice continues to thrive, division is still king, brothers fight against brothers, mans inhumanity to his fellow man changes with each passing day and we are all becoming desensitized to the anger and violence that threatens our very existence. We are sisters and brothers with one Father in who’s likeness we were created and joined together by one blood; all mankind is one family. Jesus, our elder brother came to this world to remind us we are all in the same family; it cost Him His life.

Around the world men and women sacrifice their lives that those on the home front can sleep in peace, go about their normal routines without fear. They stand on the wall as watchmen against the tyranny of the strong imposing itself upon the weak. Although we may not stand upon the wall of foreign shores we have a responsibility to stand against tyranny in any form and anywhere it rears it’s head. We must all remember freedom is not free; there is a cost to be paid. In some cases that cost requires the ultimate sacrifice; that’s what Jesus paid that those who choose can be free from this world of confusion and chaos, fear and hate, and sorrow and pain.

When the love of Jesus dominates the heart, the peace man enjoys cannot be explained or measured. It is this peace that allows us to live in this sinful world, but; not partake in it’s sins. It shines it’s light into the darkest spaces, encourages man to hope for better days, and reaches out to those in need. Jesus paid the cost of our freedom, what are we willing to give for Him?

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace