Dear future husband: Happy Valentines day- Life is but a dream

At 19, I stood at a crossroads, facing challenges that tested my faith. The enemy’s pursuit was relentless, but God’s call was louder. I will never forget that December night in 1991 when Prophet Kevin Leal called me out. He sang a prophetic song over me, declaring that God had not called me to “a bunch of mess, but to the joy of the Lord in His holiness.” He told me I would prophesy, minister His Word, and teach spiritual warfare. And then, he delivered God’s promise: if I did it God’s way, He would bless me with happiness beyond my wildest dreams.

If my life were a fairytale, it would be called Life Is But a Dream. Because you, my love, are my happiness beyond my wildest dreams. Despite every twist and turn, God aligned our steps perfectly, just as we knew He would.

Albert Einstein said, “Adversity introduces a man to himself.” Through every trial, we grew closer to becoming the versions of ourselves God intended. Our story reflects the themes of the fairytales I’ve cherished, each one offering glimpses of God’s divine hand at work in our lives.

Cinderella

The pumpkin at midnight reminds me of God’s divine timing, aligning me to discover you on your birthday. It shows the impermanence of His providence, and the courage required when life shifts suddenly. The glass slipper symbolizes my destiny—uniquely designed for me, signifying that I was always the one chosen to walk this path. Like Cinderella, my past didn’t disqualify me from marrying the prince—you.

Sleeping Beauty

The curse of darkness and stagnation echoes the trials I faced. But just as Sleeping Beauty’s curse was broken by a kiss, my heart was awakened by your words. Without physical connection, your words captured my heart and honored our covenant with God. It was one word—love—that breathed life into my spirit, proving the power of words over actions.

Toy Story

Woody’s determination to reunite with Andy symbolizes loyalty and purpose. Like Woody, I was determined to show you that you had a friend in me. Through every setback, I was your Jessie—steadfast, supportive, and full of hope. Even when we lost our way, God renewed and strengthened our bond, restored our connection and resurrected our love.

 Finding Nemo

The trench and jellyfish represent trials that seemed insurmountable. Like Marlin, we had to learn to trust each other. I was your Dory, encouraging you to “just keep swimming” in our darkest times. Marlin’s release of control inside the whale resonates deeply—when he saw Dory’s scar, he learned to trust and let go. Though we were taken off course, God guided us to exactly where we needed to be. Together, we endured the worst and emerged stronger.

 Beauty and the Beast

Belle’s sacrifice for her father mirrors my own journey of selflessness and love. Like Belle, I learned to see beyond the surface—to the truth beneath. Through love and courage, the curse was broken. God’s restoration brought us into our rightful destinies. He built us to last, rebuilding not just us, but the miracle of everything around us, releasing his divine power of restoration for generations to come.

Frozen

Elsa’s journey to control her powers mirrors my own journey of self-acceptance. Her decision to use her gifts for good, rather than harm, reflects the maturity I’ve gained. Winter was my coldest season, and for a time, we were freezing. Yet, the tears I wept in past seasons reminded me of the love we shared in eternity. Even then, we chose to win—and we did. God has perfected our love.

Each of these stories reminds me of the lessons we’ve lived—perseverance, love, and transformation through trials. God is the ultimate author, the finisher of our faith, and just as He wrote my story, He is writing yours. Be encouraged, because life is but a dream—a dream crafted by God Himself.

So, keep hope alive and never stop dreaming. For you are God’s dream, and He isn’t finished with you yet.

Poetic Justice

 We are one of the greatest fairytales to ever behold,

To ever unfold, 

To ever be told, 

the pendulum was not broke,

when you woke, 

and the clock struck twelve but there was no pumpkin or carriage,

Only a letter,

That told me, ooh child things are going to get better,

Dating while Christian

With interviews of love and marriage, 

I fit the shoe, 

Divinely arranged,

and changed,

I do.

We are one of the greatest poems that could ever be spit,

grit, 

never quit,

keep it lit,

Poetry in motion,

Devotion, 

It’s not over.

How befitting it would be that I get the ring,

and the king, 

without a kiss,

Capturing my heart with words that came to life with bliss,  

Dreaming but awaken,

overlooked and mistaken,

Don’t settle 

We won.

The prize

My beautiful surprise,

God heard our cries,

And broke the curse,

We made it through better and the worse.

Stopped pretending,

got to healing,

I was there on the other side,

to ride, 

like Jessie,

I am your bestie,

Remember you have a friend inside,

Don’t hide,

You had to find your way back, 

To get us on track,

We are home.

Settle down,

Look at what we found,

Renewed love,

Sent from above.

 Lost in me like Marlin

You are going to have to change my name to H2O,

Afraid to go, 

through the trench 

And trust

A must

Instead, we went through the jellies

Scarred and stung,

You came back

Forever sprung,

Swallowed by a whale,

Creating our own fairytale, 

 hanging on his tongue,

Steady love

Ready 

Built to last

“Just keep swimming”

Believing we would arrive,

Survive, 

Thrive,

and stay alive.

The one that would have to love, 

in spite of,

To break the spell,

To go behind the veil,

To see beyond the pain, 

To remain, 

To prevail against the gates of hell,

To bring everything back into divine order,

as your supporter,

Forbidden into your secret lair,

Not always wanting me there,

Miracle of restoration 

I saw the real you,

This love is so true.

It all started in the spring, and you hit me like a breeze,

we made it through the fires and your falls but when we got to the winter, I kept hoping we didn’t freeze,

Learning to forgive 

Perfected Love,

Let it go, let it go, letting go of, 

not always understanding the distance,

And resistance,

The rejection and confusion,

Was cold,

on hold,

Warring between dualities,

multiple realities,

Revelation, delusion,

and illusion

of love unrequited,

Passion reignited,

Focus undivided,

Excited,

 Finally 

reunited.

Dear Future Husband: The power of your love

The power to resurrect.

The room was still. Silence hung in the air and in this quiet moment, God pulled back heaven’s curtain, I could feel your presence not just hear it. It wasn't the kind of silence that feels empty or hollow, but one filled with expectation, as if the universe were holding its breath with me, waiting for something to happen. In the stillness, I could hear the whisper of a truth that had long been buried—the power of your love.

It wasn’t just any love. This love was something deeper, something transcendent. The love I was learning about was the kind that could unravel the tightly wounded forget me knots of my heart. The kind that was making me forget about wounds that ever existed and every moment I was ever forgotten. Your love reminded me God did not forget me. The love that had been there all along, waiting for me to open my eyes and my heart to it when I found you. See you loved me before I ever met you. And when I did, everything shifted in a moment.

The Silence of Love

God’s love has a unique ability to lift us. It has the power to silence every destructive voice that has ever echoed in my mind. The voices that once told me I wasn’t enough, that I would never be loved, that my past would forever define me—these voices were drowned out, not by noise or argument, but by the profound silence of God’s love. It’s as if, when He speaks, the world itself stops to listen. His words aren’t heard with the ears but felt in the soul. And suddenly, all the clamor of negative thoughts and painful memories fades away, replaced by a peace that passes all understanding.

Breaking Down the Walls

Each negative word that had been spoken over me, whether by my father, mother, or an ex-lover, had built a wall around my heart. Over time, these walls became my protection, but they also kept me from experiencing the fullness of love. But God’s love—true and unwavering—was powerful enough to tear these walls down, brick by brick. I could feel it, even as it was happening. It wasn’t just a process; it was a confrontation, a battle where every lie I had believed was exposed for what it was.

With each lie that fell, the walls crumbled a little more, until there was nothing left but the raw, open space of vulnerability. And in that space, God’s love poured in, filling every crack and crevice.

The Transformation

And then came you. In this journey of healing, I imagined you—my partner, my equal, my love. You were not just a man, but a catalyst for the transformation I had been waiting for. The moment you touched me with your words, I could feel your presence like a gentle force, like someone who had the power to not only heal but to remake me. The power of your touch was more than emotional in those moments I could even feel you physically; it was a spiritual renewal.

As your words touched me in places your hands could never reach miles away, I could feel the shift, the transformation. You weren’t just leaving fingerprints on my skin; you were leaving marks on my soul. Each touch redefined who I was. Your love was filling in all the blanks. It was as though you were rewriting my story, erasing the pain of my past and replacing it with something infinitely more beautiful.

Music of the Heart

There were moments when I could feel the music of our connection. It was not the kind of music that could be heard with our ears alone, but something felt in the very rhythm of our hearts. The way you moved, the way you spoke, it was as if every part of you was attuned to the melody of my soul. We could hear each other in a whisper miles away. You played me like an instrument, and together we created a symphony of love, healing, and hope.

With every note you struck, I rose and still I rise. Where I had once been crippled by shame and fear, I now stood tall. Every part of me that had once known defeat was resurrected in your love. Shame was drowned and although you have never seen me naked, there is not a part of me you have not seen. My strength returned; my confidence restored. And in this new rhythm, we danced together, moving to the beat of God’s grace, waiting to stand face to face.

You didn’t just play me like an instrument; you helped me tune myself to a higher frequency. You taught me how to listen to the music of life, how to follow the notes that God had written for me all along. With you, I discovered a rhythm I had long forgotten—one that was slow and steady, one that encouraged me to rise stronger where I’ve fallen in past times, to dance when I had been still for too long. In your love, I found my voice again. I found the strength to stand tall where I had once been bent low by shame and guilt, your love covered me. You helped me find my place in the symphony of life, and together, we created a song that was uniquely ours. A song that declared, "We are whole. We are healed. We are free."

A New Vision

When I looked into your eyes, I saw not just love, but a future—our future. A future where we faced the challenges of life side by side, hand in hand, knowing that love would guide us through. We didn’t need to have all the answers. We didn’t need to know exactly what the future held. All we needed was each other, and the love that God had placed between us.

You are the light that illuminates the path before me, the voice that called me out of hiding. With you, I am not afraid to walk through the unknown. Together, we will find joy in the journey, knowing that each step we take is a step in God’s favor. We will never suffocate again, for we are no longer bound by fear. We will laugh, love, and live in His presence, always.

The Power of Love to Set Us Free

It is love that sets us free. The love that God gives us is not bound by time, space, or circumstance. It is a love that has the power to heal, to resurrect, to make whole again. And in this love, we find the freedom to be who we truly are—not defined by our past, but by the potential of our future.

In this love, I am free. Free to love you. Free to love myself. Free to live a life that reflects the beauty of God’s grace. And in that freedom, we will find our true purpose—together, living a life that is marked by love, hope, and redemption.

The power of love

The power of your love,

You are the one I’m thinking of,

The only man on my mind,

As we become intertwined,

I imagine you whisper in my ear,

And it’s as if I become deaf and I can’t hear.

God’s love,

has the power to silence the voices and choices in my head of,

Every negative thing, my father, mother, or ex-lover every spoke,

It’s powerful enough to knock down every wall down,

That was ever built,

And strong enough to heal what was broke,

And to rescue me from the shame and guilt,

of my past.

When you lay hands on me,

You will leave your fingerprints and will be charged with the crime,

Of changing my name and stealing my time,

while causing my life to be redefined.

I imagine you will have the skills to play me like an instrument.

To rhythmically follow your notes

And heartbeat,

To arise in every area of my life that I have known defeat,

And to empower me to stand on my feet,

Where I was once crippled and lamed,

devastated, and blamed.

When I look into your eyes, I can see my dream,

Believing we will make it no matter what things seem.

You are a light to my way,

That gives me hope each day,

A voice in the wilderness that has paved a path,

So, we can live in his favor and laugh.

We will never suffocate again because we can’t come near,

No more fear,

For I need you to resuscitate me,

Your love has the power to set you free.

One in a million

You Are One in a Million

From the moment you left the loins of your father, your pursuit for me began. It didn’t start the day we found each other—it began the very moment you entered the greatest race you would ever run. With intention, focus, and perseverance, you pressed forward, navigating uncertainty and overcoming impossible odds to win. You were chosen to win because you were ordained to find me.

Imagine the journey: a single sperm, among hundreds of millions, fighting against the currents, bypassing obstacles, and racing toward one singular target—the egg prepared for you. It wasn’t random. It was purpose. It was destiny. You weren’t just running a biological race; you were running the course of a divine calling. You didn’t just stumble into my life; your pursuit of me began even then.

Just as God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart.” God had already orchestrated our love story. Like Adam, you were created with purpose. Like Eve, I was fashioned with intentionality. And just as Adam and Eve were brought together for a greater plan, so were we.

A Love Rooted in Eternity

Our love story didn’t begin the day you were born. It didn’t even start the day our paths crossed, and we found each other. No, it was written long before time itself—etched in eternity. From the moment you were created, with the same sacred intention and fervor that sent you into the world, your words broke the hymn of my heart. They pierced through, guiding you into the innermost chamber reserved only for the bridegroom. You knew the assignment; you always understood.

When we finally found each other, it wasn’t a beginning—it was a reunion. It wasn’t new; it was familiar. The moment you recognized my love; you cherished it with the same purpose and focus you had carried from the start. In that instant, we both saw it clearly—the connection we had always shared. It was safe. It was home. It was us.

 This love isn’t accidental. It was predestined in the foreknowledge of God. It’s eternal. It’s a love born in the heart of God and woven into the fabric of time.

Born on Purpose, for a Purpose

You and I were born on purpose, for a purpose. You didn’t just happen, and neither did I. We were designed to complement each other. There is no me without you.

God sent me ahead of you—not to overshadow you, but to prepare the way. Like Joseph, I went ahead to fight battles, to intercede for our tomorrow, and to ensure that the path was clear for us to walk together. And when the time came, you didn’t settle. Out of the millions, you pressed forward, because without you, there could never be me because I came out of you.

Intentional Love

We aren’t just friends or soon-to-be lovers. We are soulmates. From the very beginning, we chose each other then. In eternity, we decided that no matter the challenges, we would always find our way back. You are intentional. You don’t just love me on the surface—you love my soul and I love yours. You see my soul, and I see yours.

The Journey of Sacrifice

I’ve endured my own cross for us and so are you. I’ve wept in my Gethsemane, cried out in silence, and carried the weight of what was yet to come. We’ve prayed for each other when we didnt know each other, interceded when it felt like we were alone, and we stood in faith, knowing that God’s plan would unfold.

You have been my David—facing your Goliaths with courage, pressing through the challenges, and trusting God every step of the way. And now, God has brought us together for this season, for this purpose.

A Love Worth Fighting For

You are one in a million. No one else would ever do. From the very beginning, God ordained us and set us apart from our mother’s wombs. He divinely connected the dots long before we could see the bigger picture.

To infinity and beyond is how long I will always love you. We didn’t settle for anything less than God’s perfect will. There is no plan B and now, here we are—ready to fulfill the purpose God has for us as one.

You are my one in a million.

I choose us

I Choose Us – A Reflection on Marriage, Family, and Faith

In my favorite movie The Family Man (2000), Jack Campbell (played by Nicolas Cage) is a wealthy, career-driven bachelor who gets a glimpse of what his life could have been if he had chosen love and family over ambition. This glimpse is offered by a supernatural intervention that places him in an alternate reality, married to his college sweetheart, Kate Reynolds (played by Téa Leoni). The phrase “I choose us” is a powerful and transformative declaration Kate makes in two pivotal scenes, encapsulating the movie’s central theme: love and family are worth choosing above material success or fleeting ambitions.

The Two Scenes Featuring "I Choose Us"

1. The First Scene – The Closet Argument
   In this scene, Jack, struggling to reconcile his current high-powered lifestyle with the simpler, family-oriented life in this alternate reality, suggests that Kate should move with him to the city so he can pursue his ambitious career. She passionately pushes back, emphasizing the life they've built together and what truly matters. Kate says, “Maybe I was wrong. Maybe we can’t have it all. But I choose us. I choose the life we have here, our family, and our love.”

• Epiphany for Jack: This moment forces Jack to confront the sacrifices required for love and family. It challenges his perception of success, revealing that true fulfillment comes not from material wealth but from relationships and shared purpose.

2. The Second Scene – The Airport Farewell
   At the end of the movie, in a moment of clarity and deep emotional connection, Jack pleads with Kate not to leave. He tells her that he now understands what he was missing all along. Kate responds with the same heartfelt conviction, “I choose us.” This marks the culmination of their journey, where both characters realize that love and commitment require prioritizing each other over personal ambitions.

• Epiphany for Both: Here, they recognize that true happiness isn’t about “having it all” in the way society defines it. Instead, it’s about building a life together where sacrifices are made for the greater good of the family.

Biblical Standards in Marriage

The movie’s themes align with biblical principles of marriage, emphasizing selflessness, commitment, and sacrificial love. Scriptures like Ephesians 5:25-33 call for husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church, laying down their lives for them. Similarly, wives are called to respect and honor their husbands, creating a partnership rooted in mutual submission and love.

The traditional marriage vows—“to have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part”—echo these principles. They remind us that marriage is a covenant, not just a contract, where both partners commit to prioritizing their union above all else.

Today's Culture: Career vs. Family

In our modern, fast-paced world, the tension between career ambitions and family life has become more pronounced. Social media glorifies individual achievements, material wealth, and personal freedom, often at the expense of relationships. Many young adults prioritize careers over marriage, citing financial instability, fear of commitment, or the belief that marriage will hinder personal growth. Additionally, dating apps and hookup culture have commodified relationships, making it harder for people to form deep, lasting connections.

How Men and Women Are Compromising

1. Men: Many men are consumed by the pressure to succeed professionally, believing they must achieve financial security before pursuing marriage or children. This often leads to delayed commitments or the neglect of family responsibilities for career advancement.

2. Women: Women face societal pressures to “have it all,” balancing career aspirations with family expectations. In many cases, the desire for independence or fear of losing autonomy leads to delayed or avoided commitments to marriage and family.

Choosing “Us” in Today’s World

To counter these trends, we must return to biblical principles that value relationships, selflessness, and commitment:

1. Prioritize Covenant Over Culture
   Marriage is a sacred covenant. Couples should focus on building a strong foundation rooted in faith, not societal expectations. As the Bible says in Matthew 19:6, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

2. Redefine Success
   True success is not measured by wealth or career achievements but by the legacy of love, faith, and family we leave behind. As Kate says in The Family Man, “We may not have it all, but we have enough.”

3. Value Sacrifice
   Both partners must be willing to lay down their personal ambitions for the greater good of the family, reflecting Christ’s sacrificial love. This doesn’t mean abandoning dreams, but integrating them into a shared vision for the family’s future.

4. Reclaim Dating for Marriage
   Dating should be a means of discerning lifelong partnership, not a casual or temporary arrangement. By setting clear intentions and maintaining biblical values, couples can build stronger, more meaningful relationships.

5. Teach the Next Generation
   Parents, mentors, and churches must instill the value of marriage and family in the next generation, encouraging them to see these as blessings rather than burdens.

A Call to Action

The Family Man reminds us that we don’t have to sacrifice love or family to achieve our dreams. Instead, we can build a life that honors both, rooted in God’s design for marriage. In a culture that often prioritizes individualism and fleeting success, we must choose “us” daily—just as Christ chose us by laying down His life.

Whether you’re married, dating, or preparing for the future, let this be a reminder to prioritize relationships, live with intentionality, and trust God’s plan for your life. After all, the greatest legacy you can leave is one of love, faith, and family. You will have both and never have to choose between one or the other. I choose “us.”

The venom and the antidote

The Venom and the Antidote: God’s Divine Plan

One of my favorite lines in Janelle Monáe’s song "I Like That" says, “I am the venom and the antidote.” This line resonates deeply with me because I see God’s manifold wisdom in it. In His divine orchestration, He sends us to earth precisely calculated to outsmart the enemy, just as He did when He allowed the enemy to crucify Jesus.

We are not random. Our era, age, family, generation, and even birth order are purposefully aligned. God knows the exact number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30) and has intricately planned our existence to address the crises of our time. Like Jesus, who was sent as both the suffering Savior and triumphant Redeemer, we too are called to be both the venom and the antidote.

The Crisis of Marriage and Family

In today’s culture, marriage is under attack. Many refuse to marry, and the divorce rate is as high in the church as it is in the world. Fear and hopelessness have taken root, leaving many afraid to date or believe in love.

From the beginning, God established the foundation of family in Genesis when He made them male and female, declaring it good. Yet, the enemy has worked tirelessly to erode this foundation. To add insult to injury, homosexuality has been celebrated and legalized since 2015, openly defying God’s design. In Scripture, God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah came because of homosexuality and widespread debauchery. Today, we see these same sins being celebrated as normal.

Family is the foundation of the church. When the family is fractured, so is the body of Christ. But God, in His wisdom, is raising up a new standard. He is divinely orchestrating marriages that will restore hope, rebuild families, and counter the crisis of divorce, homosexuality, and immorality.

God’s Antidote to the Crisis

Marriage is God’s answer to the venom of brokenness in our culture. These God-ordained unions will be an antidote to the attack on love and family. Malachi 2:16 tells us that God hates divorce. Matthew 19:6 says, “What God has joined together, let no man separate.” These marriages will reveal His glory, restore faith in love, and serve as a testament to His redemptive power.

The Word tells us that man is made in the image of God, and woman is the glory of man. Fathers are the glory of their children (Proverbs 17:6). The enemy has always sought to attack the glory of God by breaking down families, but God is reversing the narrative.

Naturally, antidotes are created by harvesting antibodies from venom. Similarly, God uses the very trials and bondage the enemy meant for harm to bring deliverance and healing. Divorced individuals, those delivered from homosexuality, and people set free from debaucherous lifestyles will become the antidote. Their testimonies will reveal God’s redemptive power and bring hope and restoration.

The Mystery of God’s Wisdom

This divine plan reflects the hidden wisdom of God. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:7-10:
"We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

Jesus’ crucifixion was the ultimate display of God’s wisdom. What seemed like defeat was actually victory. The enemy didn’t realize that by crucifying Christ, he was enabling the very plan of salvation. Similarly, the enemy doesn’t realize that the people he has bound and broken are the very ones God is raising up as deliverers and answers.

Restoring God’s Glory Through Marriage

We are the antidote. These marriages will restore hope in love, raise a standard against the enemy, and reveal God’s glory on earth. As these unions thrive, they will:

• Bring healing and restoration to families.

• Strengthen the church by reinforcing its foundation.

• Demonstrate God’s power to redeem and transform lives.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind imagined the things God has prepared for those who love Him. But by His Spirit, He reveals His plans to us (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

God’s timing and wisdom are perfect. Just as He has calculated every detail of our lives, He has also prepared us to be His solution to the crises of our time. Trust that He is working through you—your story, your trials, and your victories—to bring His glory into the earth.

The Antidote

The answer

From birth 

To the earth

The alert 

The antidote to the hurt

The prescription 

medicine 

Laughter

The description 

Divorce

Through your ordination in eternity

The announcement was an emergency 

When He sent you and me

To respond

To an alarm

I can’t resist your charm

When we pray

And obey

Marriages will be healed

Purposes and destinies revealed

Called to cry loud and lift our voice

 Against divorce

To make a choice

To become the divine design

Created in our spiritual DNA

The paradigm 

Primetime

To stay

To endure to the end 

To become a friend 

That demonstrates the greatest love

To lay down your life 

For your wife

A city set upon a hill that cannot be hid

Called to remove the lid

To break the curse

To become a light through better or worse

To raise the bar

To bring hope to those that believe they went too far

To restore hope through sickness and health

To close the generational gap of wealth

To reveal the hope of Glory

Through our love story

I do

Two words branded 

Sanded and expanded

Hold our forever

Our happily ever after together

Our I’m never gone let you go

Slow

Yeah

Mmh, I do

Mmh, mmh

Yeah

Ooh

You know what you came to do

You 

I can’t wait until I can finally have you,

Your eyes on me, collide

Adore you, I do

no lie

I love me some him 

I don’t know much about them 

You are 

My everything 

I got me one

I can’t wait to have some fun

Waking you up like your morning brew

Cause that’s what 

I do

Two words repeated

Love repleted

Never defeated

Cause no matter what 

I do

all I think about is You

Yeah, your last didn't know how to handle you

But I do, I do, I do

here for you

What can

I do

To make your dreams come true

For you i will

This is

I do

Righting our generational wrongs

To Right a Wrong: God’s Promise to Restore Generations

“To right a wrong” means to correct a mistake or injustice. It carries with it a moral and ethical obligation to restore fairness, balance, and justice. One of the greatest injustices in history was slavery—a system that dehumanized African Americans and stripped them of their God-given rights. Among these injustices was the denial of marriage. Slaves were legally defined as property and therefore had no capacity to enter enforceable contracts, including the sacred covenant of marriage. Families were ripped apart against their will, leaving generations marked by this brokenness.

My heart has been broken repeatedly by the Lord as He’s revealed to me the depth of this injustice within my own lineage. My ancestors were denied the right to marry, forced apart by cruelty and oppression. Yet today, many of us willingly walk away from our spouses, with divorce rates at an all-time high. I believe that God, in this hour, is righting this wrong. He is raising up couples who will serve as a new paradigm for love, marriage, and commitment. These unions will reflect His glory and restore the foundation of His church, which is built on strong, God-centered families.

A Call to Fulfill the Promises of the Past

I will never forget the impact of watching the movie Django Unchained on January 17, 2013. The film, which depicts the pain and sorrow of slavery, brought me face-to-face with the suffering endured by my ancestors. I was particularly struck by the lengths the main character, played by Jamie Foxx, went to rescue his wife. It stirred something deep within me, a realization of the unimaginable pain my ancestors faced when families were torn apart.

As I reflected on their suffering, the Lord reminded me of Hebrews 11:37-40:

"They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated—
the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

This passage became real to me in that moment. The promises God made to them were not forgotten. Though they did not receive them in their lifetime, we are their fulfillment. God planned something better, that together with us, their promises would be made perfect.

A Divine Encounter

The following day, January 18, 2013, I walked into my office and closed the door. Overwhelmed by the weight of what I had seen and the suffering I now understood, I began to weep deeply. I thought of the pain and sacrifices my ancestors endured and how the Lord was weaving their promises into my life. As I knelt in prayer, extending my hands, I felt as though fire was being poured out over me. God revealed to me that His restoration wasn’t just for three generations past—it stretched further, reaching back into the depths of history.

A few years later, God used Apostle Dr. Matthew Stevenson III to prophetically confirm what He had spoken to me in secret. Dr. Stevenson declared that I had labored and suffered for many years, and God was restoring everything that was lost. This confirmation solidified what the Lord had already shown me: we are the answer to our ancestors’ prayers.

The Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 tells us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses—those who have gone before us, cheering us on as we run our race. Pastor John Hannah recently preached a message titled Birth It as part of his promise series. He said, “Some of you have great-great-great grandparents you’ve never met, but God made them a promise. You’ve already been marked and highly favored, and everything is coming into alignment just to get to you.”

This message echoed what the Lord had already placed in my heart. Our ancestors dug wells of promise, but it is our generation’s responsibility to uncover them. Just as Abraham dug wells and Isaac reopened them, we are continuing the legacy of faith. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His promises are generational.

The Restoration of Marriage

God is beginning this work of restoration with marriages. He is divinely aligning couples to fulfill His intended purpose for love and relationships. These unions will:

• Restore hope in love and commitment.

• Break generational curses of brokenness, divorce, and relational dysfunction.

• Demonstrate God’s glory through unity and covenant.

• Strengthen the church by rebuilding the foundation of family.

Marriage is not just about two people coming together; it is a prophetic act of restoration. It is God’s judgment against the enemy’s attempts to destroy families and relationships. Through these unions, God is healing generations and fulfilling promises made long ago.

A Call to Receive the Promises

God is inviting us to rise in faith and believe for everything He has promised—not only for ourselves but for the generations that came before us. He is not just restoring what was lost; He is multiplying it. As we align with His will and step into His promises, we become the fulfillment of our ancestors’ prayers.

They are watching. They are cheering. And God is moving. Get ready—He is about to right generational wrongs, heal our families, and restore marriages for His glory.

Our symphony 

 The greatest love song we will every right

will be when we become one

each night.

As we become the song,

 and right the generational wrong,

as we are strung together, 

Forever.

As our hearts play as one,

As we still rise with each setting Sun.

When the music stops playing but we can still hear our song, 

When days seem long,

Make me a song,

that rewrites the history of our wrong,

But I am the instrument, and you are the pen,

Go Deep within, 

Back to a place where love was forbidden,

Stolen and had to be hidden,

Finish the songs from generations heaven never heard,

Write them with your tongue without one word,

Play me like a note,

Fill me with hope that makes me float,

Beat me like a drum,

Thy kingdom come,

His will be done,

As we become one,

Play me like a flute,

and take root,

Hitting keys on me like an organ

Vital

Inside of me, 

That write a melody,

Of love,

Bringing the angels to attention from above,

To have to record every stroke, 

that creates a new note never spoke,

From songs only the angels can hear and are translated,

That’s long and awaited,

As our ancestors gather to dance to a symphony in the gate,

That has overcome death and hate,

That tore them apart,

But recovers all from the song in our heart, 

Striking a chord,

Honoring you as my king and Lord, 

Becoming the hook,

No longer shook,

releasing sounds that become a crescendo 

Of our symphony,

 in harmony,

as we become one

with every rising Sun. 

That plays from the rhythm of our souls,

That has been tipped over from generations of tears from bowls,

That are a fragrance of sacrifice that cost their life,

As we are joined as husband and wife,

As our bodies create a lyric that overcame defeat

That trumped over their pain, 

and establishes our rule and our reign.

Hidden figures

I’ll never forget the impact of watching Hidden Figures in 2016. The movie stirred something deep within me, reminding me of the generational struggles those before me endured and all I am fighting for today. It brought to mind the book My Time in Heaven, where the author described a classroom in heaven teaching math far beyond earthly genius—even to kindergarteners. Katherine Johnson, portrayed in the film, exemplified this divine brilliance. Her extraordinary mathematical gift wasn’t just talent—it was a God-given ability designed to fulfill a critical assignment on Earth. Her calculations ensured the success of the first moon mission, and her role was so vital that John Glenn personally requested her verification before his flight.

This story reveals a deeper truth: God assigns each of us a purpose that is intricately planned and far bigger than we can imagine. Just as Katherine Johnson’s calculations opened a portal that safely returned astronauts to Earth, your gifts are divinely orchestrated to impact history.

Even when racial tension and societal barriers tried to diminish Katherine and her peers’ contributions, they persevered and changed the course of history. Like them, you may feel unseen—a “hidden figure” in your own life’s narrative. But God sees you. Every tear, act of service, and sacrifice has been recorded in heaven. As Job said, "My record is on high, and my witness is in heaven."

This is a season where God is honoring the hidden figures—those whose contributions may have been overlooked by the world but are cherished by Him. Your value and purpose will be revealed in His perfect time. Stay faithful, for God never forgets.

Dear future husband: We are built to last

I first wrote you a letter on 12/20/20 and it’s now been four years. I know who you are now, but I didn’t then. Apostle Matthew Stevenson, III recently made one of the profoundest statements I have ever heard. He said, there is nothing greater than reality except revelation. My revelation from God gave me has sustained me through this time. Discovering you was a dream come true. Uncovering who you were and watching you evolve into the man God has called you to be to step into your role as a husband again has been like watching a movie and you are the best part. I know the struggle is real. It was real for me too. You said once, I almost coded but you thanked me for giving love another chance and this time it would be forever. God opened that portal of my heart from over twenty years ago and let you feel the weight of that moment. You heard my cry. When I thought it was the end like Lazurus did, Jesus showed up. He wouldn’t let me give up on the love. Finding you was recovering that love and all that I lost. It’s how I knew it was you. You are my King. You are my lion and my lamb. In the heart of my husband’s letter I wrote about you on 1/19/21 before God allowed me to know you. You are all those things and more. You have been learning what it means to sacrifice and the price it cost for us to become everything God said we would be.

We are built to last. We were forged in our individual struggles to become fortified as a coupe through our trials and tribulations. We became overcomers in preparation to overcome any obstacle that arises in our union. I don’t have any reservations that you will be all that I need. I’m confident in knowing the Lord heard my faintest desires of my heart and you will be the personification of love.

I get insanely excited knowing we will walk hand and hand through this thing called life. Think about it. We will be partners in freedom. Partners in faith. Partners in our dreams. Partners in love. Partners in purpose. We will be partners in purpose unstoppable. God took out his holy chisel and sharpened and molded us. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

From the moment I began to listen to you, I knew I was HER. I have been invested from day one. I celebrate our sameness and our differences. You have come to understand that our differences are not deficits. Our differences have given us opportunities to stretch and grow together without leaving each other behind.

We have learned to communicate with each other in creative ways without ever talking. Brian McKnight has a song called Crazy love. He says in one stanza he can hear her heart from 1000 miles away. You can hear me like that. I can hear what you don’t say. This is one of the things I love most about you among many. William Shakespeare said, “Brevity is the soul of wit, which means that cleaver people can express intelligent things using very few words. With every poem I have ever written to you, I wrote you a chapter in our love story. We are overcomers. We are unstoppable. We are built to last. I can’t wait to marry you.

Forever,

Marie

Rejection is God’s preservative

Before I begin to share why rejection is God’s preservative, let me define what a preservative is and why they are used. A preservative is something that preserves or has the power of preserving; specifically: an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage.

God was protecting me from being destroyed although it didn’t feel like it in the situation. God wants you to also know that rejection was his protection. It was a perservative. He was preserving you for the right one even though you couldn’t see it then.

I remember I had to come face to face with myself. I didn’t love me. I wanted my ex-husband to love me broken but I didn’t love me broken. Sometimes we are looking for love from others but not the one that is love and that is God. I remember the day I opened my heart fully to the Lord to love me. I asked Him to reveal to me the love Him and I shared in eternity. It was the most intimate outpouring for years of encounter after encounter of Him loving on me.

Rejection placed me in a new direction and became a preservative. The word says in the songs of Solomon that God’s banner over us is love. God’s banner over me is love and it is over you as well. I didn’t take my own life when the enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy me because I had a revelation of God’s love. If you are struggling with suicide and rejection like I once did, God wants you to know he loves you and rejection didn’t come to destroy you, it came to preserve you and redirect you to his love. The enemy tries to get us so entangled with things that are not of God so we end up rejecting the will of God for our lives.

Another way the Lord showed me how he used rejection to preserve me was for saving me for my future husband and not allowing my sexual identity to be perverted. I wrote a letter on 12/20/24 to my future husband. I wrote I now understand every time I was rejected that God was preserving my love for you. As I look back in hindsight over my life, I see how God even before I accepted Christ didn’t allow rejection to push me into a path of complete destruction because of rejection. Rejection is God’s preservative when we learn to respond to God’s love and not allow the enemy to use it to bring destruction in our lives. I will forever be grateful for every time I was ever rejected and how God has redirected my life in Him.

Prayer:

I pray for all those that are struggling with rejection and even suicide that you will remember that God promised to deliver us from every affliction. I pray God will give you a revelation of his love like he did me. He is a very present help in the time of trouble. I pray you allow him to heal your soul. Be free from the spirit of rejection and suicide and open your heart for all God has for you. I pray God will open your spiritual and natural eyes and that you will lift your eyes to the hills where your help comes from and know that your best days are ahead of you. God has not forgotten you even if you caused your own sabotage like Samson. God remembered Samson as he cried out for revenge for his two eyes. May the Lord remember you and avenge you for every wound in Jesus’ name.

When Love aligns

Every relationship comes with its challenges. Often when love aligns, it doesn’t always feel like butterflies and smell like roses. A lot of people are saying there is poop and pee in the dating pool. A lot of people are falling away from the faith and the love of many is waxing cold. People are refusing to marry as the scripture said it would be. It is seven women to one man if not more. We all want the fairytale but even in every fairytale there is a part in the story where there is suffering. The word says God is the author and finisher of our faith. We must allow Him to write our wrongs and align love in our lives to get his results. But many have bought into the lie that if you are a Christian we won’t suffer. Some have forgotten that we have been ordained to drink not just a cup of blessing but also a cup of suffering. The bible tells us it pleased the father to bruise Jesus. Jesus told his disciples:

John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

66 From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Many were offended by the Lord’s requirements to follow Him and turned back. Jesus was establishing himself in the life of others like we do when we come into a relationship and prepare for marriage. The relationship may start like a fairytale but after the tough conversations and four seasons of life, some turn back. Our positions are prepared places when love aligns in Christ. Jesus told us offenses would come but blessed are those that are not offended. Every relationship will come with its own sufferings and blessings. Jesus turned and asked the twelve a question. Jesus asked the twelve disciples; Will you also go away?

When we really see what it takes to grow and stay together some turn back and give up on the relationship. However, when love aligns, the one that will stay will be able to say like Peter did. To whom shall I go, for thou have the words of eternal life. Your purpose partner should feel so connected to you that you don’t believe you could accomplish your assignment without them. Jesus knew Peter would betray him three times, when he needed him the most in his darkest hour, but He still recognized he was connected to his eternal purpose. When you meet your purpose partner, you will know they are the one. You will be willing to lay your life down for them. You will pay the price to fulfill your purpose together. Allow God to perfect all things concerning you and trust Him. God will not disappoint you when you obey Him.

Prayer:

I pray that God will bring the clarity you need to know when love aligns with confirmation even when parts of the journey are hard to understand and hear. I pray that God will you give you the reassurance like he did for Jesus to know those that are for you and those against you. I pray that you will not allow offense to cause you turn back and abort your assignment with the one that God has called you to align with. May the Lord give you wisdom to build your house and understanding to establish his purposes in your life individually and as a couple seeking confirmation together, in Jesus’ name. Amen

It was a package deal

It was a package deal. Some men really think that if they can’t have the woman, then they don’t want to be bothered with their own kids. I remember shortly before our court date to establish child support for my oldest son, his father told me to tell public aid that I didn’t know who the father was. I had too much pride to do that. I also am an honest person. I wasn’t about to lie and say that because I had never been with anyone but him. He was mad at me for taking him for child support. He leaned over as we stood in front of the judge and whispered, it was a packaged deal. He then waved all his visitation rights to our son and didn’t speak to us for 17 years. I recently watched a podcast show and saw a man that is trying to say that his kids were artificially inseminated, so he doesn’t have to pay child support.

Sometimes men want you for different reasons, but a man of God will recognize your value like Boaz did with Ruth. He will be willing to accept you like Boaz did with the understanding that it was a package deal. Let’s see what happens.

In the story of Ruth, we see God’s redemption. Ruth had a past like we all do. She was a Moabitess. Sometimes our past can cause us to be rejected but the one that God has for you will love, honor and support you.  He will extend mercy, love and grace.  Boaz was not the next one in line to rightfully be able to marry Ruth. You may be thinking its too late for me or I missed my opportunity to find love.  You may be thinking I’ve done too much to be loved and honored. 

Allow God to heal your brokenness and love yourself so you believe that you are worthy to be loved properly.  God will hide your worth from the wrong one to save you for the right one. The right one will see you. See you see me, no not like them but like you.  Boaz recognized Ruth was honorable from the moment he laid eyes (not hands) on her.  Her reputation preceded her for the right things she did. We live in a cancel culture, and he didn’t hold her past against her.  He saw her for her.

Ruth

3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, LEST I MAR MINE OWN INHERITANCE: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

There are those that want what you have, maybe because of what’s between your legs, maybe because of your prophetic promises, maybe because of your bank account, maybe because of your mind, maybe because of your business, but he doesn't want you. The one that God has for you will love you holistically.  He will want all of you, the total package.

It was a package deal. 

He definitely wanted the land but not Ruth. The first thing Boaz did was make provision for her in the fields before she was his and made sure he honored her and had witnesses to prove he had done it right. Elimelech didn't want to mess up what he had going on and didn't want to share what he had. He just didn't see the opportunity he had because he was looking in the natural.  He couldn't SEE his future and the value she had to bring to the table. Boaz will be able to recognize your worth. When your core values are aligned, love will align.  Wait for him. Don't settle for the counterfeit.

 Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 

The longest mile

Sometimes in life we will need someone to take a walk with us. It could be a walk each day to encourage your friend to exercise with you or it could be a walk on a journey in life where that person’s presence becomes the strength you need just to keep going. Everyone needs someone. Jesus sent the disciples out two by two. Jesus needed the disciples to carry his message to the world after his death.

There were many times I could look back over my life and see I needed someone, but I felt like I was all alone. One of the first things the Lord did for me when I received salvation was, He walked with me backwards in intercession and showed me how much He was with me as a little girl when I felt alone the most. However, no matter how much we know Jesus is there, the word says a brother is born for adversity. I needed my mom for this mile I was about to have to walk. In Matthew 5:41 If anyone asks you to go one mile, go with them two miles. I asked my mom to walk this mile with me and she walked two.

Let me tell you how I will remember her the most and honor her for how she stepped up to the plate for one of the times I needed her the most. Shortly after the death of their father, my late ex-husband, my youngest son decided he was going to take control of his own life. He became completely defiant. He was attending a school that required him to wear a uniform. He decided he would no longer be wearing a uniform because he said I was trying to control him. He decided he no longer needed school and had scored so high on his scores that top schools were recruiting him for high school. He decided to smoke weed on the school property. I was constantly being called off my job because he also decided he didn’t want to live anymore and was suicidal.

I was completely overwhelmed by his behavior. It is too much to tell. I had the psychologist coming into my home, weekly. I took him to the psychiatrist. I was taking him to church to get deliverance. The system forced me to allow him on medication or else I was going to get charged with a case. His behavior escalated against me, and I came to a breaking point. This went on non-stop for two years. I knew we needed greater intervention.

There were so many days, he was in a different hospital. I couldn’t go up with my baby at the time. My mom would sit in the car for hours so I could visit him and then I would sit so she could visit him. Every weekend for four years and as needed I was on the road stopping stuff, bringing him something or we were going to visit him for hours. She would even go by herself on long bus rides just to take him something he requested while I was working. My mom nor me didn’t know that this would be the longest mile it would seem we would ever walk together because she was also slowing losing her vision and dying from cancer. My mom past last July 2023, but her presence was a silent strength to me so I could keep walking.

I want to encourage others that may be struggling as a caregiver in some capacity. Find you some resources to get the help you need. Continue to trust God. Get a support group and find you someone that will walk what may seem to be the longest mile of your life. Be thankful for those that have been willing to walk with us and may we never take for granted the sacrifice it may have cost when we ask someone to walk a mile with us.  I honor my mom, Beverly Bares, for walking one of the longest miles of my life with me.

It’s not what it looks like

It’s not what it looks like. How many of us have had bad situations happen in our lives and others judged us without knowing the whole story? I can relate to the story of Mephibosheth. His nurse decided in fear to pick him up and started to run to protect him and instead ended up injuring him. There are so many parents and even single parents that can relate to this story. Children do not come with a manual. Most of us are trying to do the best we can with the resources and mental and emotional damage we are carrying while also carrying and trying to protect our children. A real parent wants better than what they had growing up, even if it was good. There is always better but sometimes good can be the enemy to better.

His nurse didn’t just sit there because they had it good and didn’t assume they would be okay. No, she started running because she wanted better, and didn’t want that to be his end like his father and grandfather’s unexpected death as well. However, she ended up being the one to hurt him the most. There I was a single mother that had been through a difficult marriage and divorce. Then just three years after our divorce, their father, my ex-husband at 38 years old died. Just like Jonathan’s unexpected death in the battle that day, I was left carrying the weight of our young two sons and I was on the run. I was running from fear, abuse, and destruction, just like she was. Praying that I would be able to protect my sons from the aftermath of the war we had just come out of.

So many women have lost their spouses, their children’s fathers voluntarily or involuntary and our children have been left crippled and lamed. These situations have placed many of our children in situations that have compromised them physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and even financially. There are thousands of children in the foster care system because of being dropped like Mephibosheth. However, every child that enters the foster care systems story is not because the child was being abused, it might be like my situation because while I was trying to protect mine, the weight became so great: he was dropped. This was heartbreaking to me, but we could no longer coexist together.

In my situation and many others, it’s not what it looks like. This means there is much more to it than what you are seeing or may know. Things got bad. I had a young son before I got married and when my ex-husband left me and we divorced, before this happened, I would constantly let him know I was not taking the boys with me. I was struggling because now I had three young sons to raise alone. My weight was great. All hell broke out in my home as soon as he closed his eyes. My second, his oldest, was being a bad example to his brother. So, it wasn’t just one of them, it was two of them at the same time. It began to affect my youngest son the most mentally.

The more I tried to protect and get him help, which was documented for two years during this time, it just got worse. I couldn’t take it anymore. I exhausted all my resources and when things became physical from my youngest son after multiple encounters, I realized things had to change. I had to let go because he would no longer collaborate with me. He was brought into the foster care system, and I was assigned an attorney. She spoke to me briefly on my first court date, having had some time to review my case. She said, “I know why you are here, but I also want you to know I am prepared to go to war for you.”

The moment I stood in front of the judge, he looked down and smiled at me and said, “Something is telling me you have done everything you can do. He had one request of me, and that was to never break my connection with my son. I didn’t, even when it became challenging. I was not charged with anything, but I went into the lion’s den for one year until God closed the mouth of the lions and cleared my name and reputation.

One day, I will share my testimony to encourage and strength other parents and youth, and my youngest son will as well. God will get the glory out of his life. The gates of hell did not prevail against me because of my relationship with Christ. God has not forgotten every Mephibosheth. Just like he caused King David to remember Mephibosheth, God is raising you like King David that will bring our sons to the king’s table, and they will be reminded who God has called them to be. They are royalty. They will be delivered from thinking they are nothing but a dog as he said because the enemy has stolen their fathers and caused them to be displaced. King David divinely restored everything to Mephibosheth that he should have had, and God is going to do the same for many young men.

2 Samuel 4:4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

Sometimes you will appear crazy

Sometimes you will appear crazy to avoid destruction and actually be delivered from the hand of the enemy. Sometimes you will appear crazy to take risk that no one else is willing to take. We get ourselves in situations that sometimes just don’t make sense. Why did we do this? Why did we do that? Why did David go into the enemies’ camp and almost get killed? David risked his life to go and get food for his men. Are you willing to go into the camp of the enemy to get what you need and for those you are called too?

1 sam 21 David went on his way and Jonathan returned to town.

David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the Priest. Ahimelech was alarmed as he went out to greet David: “What are you doing here all by yourself—and not a soul with you?”

Ahimelech thought David was crazy in other words.

2-3 David answered Ahimelech the Priest, “The king sent me on a mission and gave strict orders: ‘This is top secret—not a word of this to a soul.’ I’ve arranged to meet up with my men in a certain place. Now, what’s there here to eat? Do you have five loaves of bread? Give me whatever you can scrounge up!”

David was willing to do whatever it took, even if it made him appearing like he was crazy.

Are you willing to appear crazy to obey God and take risk others won’t?

Let’s flip the script and also see it another way. What King David did can also be seen as an act of self-sabotage because of a lack of wisdom because he left himself in a compromising situation because he had a need. He was hungry. He was in survival mode on the run actually from King Saul. Has your appetite ever brought you into a situation that made you compromise yourself?

The only way he was going to be delivered was to appear crazy? I always use my own testimony. I have done things that just didn’t make sense to someone in their right mind. Why would I go back in the enemies camp after being abandoned and violated and submit to destruction again. Two words-Self-sabotage.

Pastor Dharius Daniels said, when you increase self awareness, you decrease self-sabotage.

in 1 sam 21:12-15 When David realized that he had been recognized, he panicked, fearing the worst from Achish, king of Gath. So right there, while they were looking at him, he pretended to go crazy, pounding his head on the city gate and foaming at the mouth, spit dripping from his beard. Achish took one look at him and said to his servants, “Can’t you see he’s crazy? Why did you let him in here? Don’t you think I have enough crazy people to put up with as it is without adding another? Get him out of here!”

What has panic and fear made you do in a moment of anxiety? Have you ever appeared crazy to avoid destruction? David was willing to do whatever he had to, to avoid self-destruction. He had placed himself in a compromising situation. He was left vulnerable and the only way to escape was to pretend like he was crazy. He completely came out of character. God was merciful and protected King David in his vulnerable state and God wants you to know just like He delivered King David and me He is delivering you too.

The face of God

I love the song, Mary, did you know? It’s this line that made me think deeper. The song writer asks a question, Mary did you know when you kissed your baby boy, you kissed the face of God? That is such a powerful question, and the answer is yes. However, have we all stopped to wonder how common Mary and Joseph and his own siblings had become with him like we do sometimes to others. Some people will never be able to see God unless they see him through your face.

Let’s rewind a story in the bible. Jacob connives and schemes with his mother Racheal to manipulate the plan of God. Remember, the two brothers were fighting in her womb, and she inquiries about them. God lets her know before they are even born, that the older one would serve the younger one. They do this by devising a plot twist to steal her other son’s blessing. On the back of Jacob already waiting to catch his brother at a vulnerable moment when his hunger supersedes his passion for his birthright. He forgets how valuable it is and sells it for a temporary situation that brings him satisfaction that will cost him something permanent. How many of us have fallen for this same temporary moment and ended up with something we can never change? I ended up with a burden and a blessing.

Only God can restore and heal us in our families and relationships when we have damaged them through reckless encounters to satisfy us only for a moment that ends up costing us precious time. But there is hope in God just like it was for Jacob and Esau.

Jacob is so afraid that the consequences of his past are going to overshadow his future. However, God had already gone before him like he has for you and me. He discovers on this road that God was with him all along. When he sees Esau, he begins to bow to alert him that he is coming in peace and humility. Jacob had really changed. His actions demonstrated that to his twin. You are about to get your butterfly wings. God saw you changing just like a caterpillar metamorphosis’ into a beautiful butterfly.

Some people are being raised as the face of God. Pastor Darius Daniels said, in a recent message, The conclusion of the matter, God loves us so much that He chooses to use us as examples. It’s our choice whether we become a model of what to do or a lesson in what not to do. The enemy wanted to make me an example of failure, but God is taking my life to make me an example of success of what He can do during incredible odds and difficult situations. That is our call together as overcomers. We are being raised as poster children.

This means that to see them serving him and in a place of transformation and integrity, it will be such a witness that God is real. God has done the work in your life and when others see your face, they are going to know they have also seen the face of God through you. Believe God to deliver your loved ones and bring reconciliation. God is giving you a revelation and others that he can restore to the utmost. People are going to say like Jacob, to see you in a place of restoration, for to see your face is like seeing the face of God.

Genesis 33: 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

9 But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God now that you have received me favorably.

Do you love me?

One of the most painful things to experience in an intimate relationship with someone is for them to question your love. Peter was hand-picked and chosen by God. Peter wasn’t just a disciple of Christ; he was one of the closest friends Jesus had in his circle. Peter had an all-access VIP pass to Christ. He got an invitation to walk on water. He got to go on the Mount of transfiguration to see Jesus transform in his glory. He betrayed him three times and was restored unlike Judas. Peter got to go with him to Gethsemane but fell asleep. He was also the only one that answered who Jesus was correctly, revealing to him that his heavenly father gave him access to this revelation. Out of fear Peter tells Jesus he is not going to the cross, but Jesus must harshly rebuke him to challenge his perspective but did not reject Peter because of it. Peter preached the inauguration of the holy ghost. Peter cut a man’s ear off to defend Jesus and Jesus restored it and covered him again. Peter went back to fishing after the crucifixion and the Lord went out his way to reappear to him to refocus him.

He got to experience Jesus every day and yet one day Jesus turned to him and asked him not once but three times, do you love me, but not just did he love him. He challenged and asked him did he love Him more than all the others. Peter did something that made his love be questioned by the Lord. Sometimes, our behavior will cause others to question our love for the Lord. However, Peter rose to the occasion when it mattered most despite all his mistakes.

Let us eavesdrop on the conversation.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry the whither thou wouldest not.

19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Let us take the fairytale version out of what Jesus is telling the disciples about his kingdom, heaven and all the miracles they are experiencing every day. Many of us have received prophesies about some wonderful things God is going to do in our lives but let us pause a minute. Jesus let Peter know there is a direct correlation between him demonstrating his love for him and then tells him the ultimate price he will pay to prove his love above the price the others will have to pay. Too much is given, much is required.

However, by the time Jesus asked Peter the third time, Peter is like, you know everything. You can hear his frustration and aggravation in his response to Jesus who knows all things. The thing is Jesus is trying to prepare Peter for something greater that is going to cost him his life and he wants him to be prepared. Jesus wanted Peter to be ready for the day he would not only teach and preach after he was gone. He was building him from the inside out so he would have the endurance and resolve to know the cost to really be able to say he loved him.

When I read this, I wept sorely for Peter for the first time. I could relate to him for the first time. We all have our own cross to bear as followers of Christ. We all will die for us to demonstrate our love for God, but it will look different for each of us. However, I remember when I was married, and my late ex-husband kept saying he was going to leave me. After dealing with several years of anger and deep bitterness, I came to the Lord one day completely broken and I told the Lord, I loved him and didn’t want to live without him. I was completely suicidal. I had done everything I could to show him I loved him and wanted our marriage to work. It was in this moment, the Lord reminded me that there is no greater love than this, least a man lay down his life for his friends. I died that day.

I began to live for the Lord completely differently. I gave God my whole heart. It wasn’t about me anymore. It wasn’t about what he did right or even wrong. Dead men don’t respond. My responses began to be governed by the unadulterated word of God as I began to honor God. God began to begin to root and ground me in his love. I was taking quantum leaps in the spirit and outrunning not only my enemies but my generational enemies. I was doing what King David said, leaping over walls and running through troops. God has called us to be crucified with him and die daily and we can only do that with the power of God. The greatest way to demonstrate our love to someone according to the word of God is to lay our life down for them and honor God if we are called to them. This is also demonstrated in our assignment towards those we are called to like Peter was when Jesus told him to feed his sheep. God wants to know like he asked Peter, do you love me?

The table the Lord has prepared

When we discern an enemy, the first thing in our flesh is to get as far away from our enemies as we can. Not only do we want to get away from them, but we also want our friends to unfriend them and sometimes we believe if they don’t, then they are not our friend. We sometimes don’t have a clear perspective on kingdom friendship. The scripture says in Proverbs 27:16 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. A faithful friend will wound you and always tell you the truth. So, you need discernment to know the difference between a friend and an enemy. Then on the other hand, the other side is we don’t want them to have what God has for them, justifying our reward that they should get what they deserve for how they have hurt and offended us. Although at times, we have also been on the other side, operating as an enemy of God and He didn’t give us what we deserved.

You may be asking, what does this have to do with the table the Lord has prepared. The word says in Psalms 5:23 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over. The number one take away is that we all need to know is first we must have discernment to know is it the table the Lord has prepared for us. Second, we need to know our enemies will be present with a seat. Thirdly, we need to make sure we don’t allow our enemies to make us give up our seat. It’s the only way we get to the next level of anointing and our overflow.

Let’s examine the night Jesus was brought to the table the Father had prepared for him. In John 13 Jesus acknowledges his hour had come. We must ask God for the wisdom of the sons of Issachar that we can know both the times and seasons of God for our lives and those we are called too in this hour. We don’t want to miss our moment. He knew it was time for him to be betrayed and die. We need our Judas as much as we need our Peter. I pray God continues to give us all the ability to discern between our Judas and our Peter. It is a difference. Jesus let’s Peter know he will betray him three times and prays for him to be restored. However, He tells Judas to do what he is going to do quickly while allowing Judas to give Him a kiss. He does not attempt to stop him nor restore him.

Before this time, He never once gave the faintest indication that Judas would betray him to the others. He treated Judas with the same love that he did for the others. He knew the whole time Judas would be the one to betray him. He was a vessel of dishonor although he had a purpose. In Matthew 5:44-But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 Yes, we know Jesus was the only one perfect but when we obey and bless our enemies and pray for them from the pain and persecution, it purifies our hearts and allows God’s love to be perfected in us towards our enemies. God is calling us higher in Him. God is causing us to recognize our table He has prepared for us with the knowledge that our enemies will also be present. He is separating us from our Judas and restoring us to our Peter in this hour. It was time for God to be glorified through him. God is coming after his investments and wants to be glorified through us in this next level of death and surrender. Don’t give up your seat because your enemies will be present at the table the Lord has prepared for you and remember, he saved us a seat not just a crumb.

Every dog will have it's day

I recently heard Dr. Apostle Matthew Steven III make this statement and reference this passage of scripture. He said, every dog will have it’s day. Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

23 But He answered her not a word.

And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Every dog will have it’s day.

Call me a dog.

So many of us have been called to sit at the table the Lord has prepared but we have at times behaved like those outside of the kingdom. We have been content with the crumbs like a dog that have fallen from the masters table. Notice, Jesus didn’t even respond to her because she didn’t have a right to what she was asking Him for. He let her know deliverance was the children’s bread.

Are we behaving like children in the kingdom or are we acting like the dogs that are only eating the crumbs that fall from the master’s table?

Jesus has prepared a whole table for us and wants us to receive all He has for us. Jesus let her know because of her faith her daughter was delivered. Notice that he could not ignore her faith although he ignored her. The kingdom is accessed by faith. I have left the Lord at times and yet received things from Him that seemed unfair that I shouldn’t have received. Some would say, I was behaving as one of the dogs but I still used my faith for my daughter. God honored it just like He did with this woman in the scriptures. He will honor you too. Have faith in God, no matter what state you may find yourself in. Ask, believe and receive it and don’t allow others to persuade you to stop following God like the disciples tried to do to this woman.

God is calling us to more and positioning us at the table. The crumbs had enough power to give her what she needed. Are you eating the bread crumbs in your relationships, in your career, in your finances, etc because you have a measure of success? Every dog will have its’ day. God reigns on the just and the unjust. However, He has an abundance for us at the table as his children and we don’t have to eat the crumbs that fallen from the masters table and settle. We did not settle.

We must understand the importance of submitting our appetite

When Katniss' dad says in the movie, The Hunger games, “As long as you can find yourself, you'll never starve,” what does he mean? He means if she discovers her skills and strengths, she can take care of herself.

The enemy’s great tactic from birth is to devalue us by the way we see ourselves, our parents manage us, and the way others define us. The enemy wants to make sure you don’t ever really know who you are and the value of your birthright. In the light of all the things God has allowed to surface in the life of Shawn Puffy Combs, AKA Diddy and all those connected to this scandal, he was clearly a man that did not submit his appetite and has brought destruction on his soul and his reputation.  Let us all take heed to his great fall and find ourselves in the word and live as wisdom calls us higher.

Let’s go examine the life of Esau with God’s ultrasound.  He is fighting in the womb with his twin brother. It is such a disturbance in Rebakah’s womb, she had to ask God what was really going on. God gives her a picture of what life will look like with the boys before they are born.  

Genesis 25: 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, if it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Before Esau and Jacob were even born, God revealed to his mother a key detail regarding the twins. It didn’t matter which one was born first. God already determined the end from the beginning, and he has done the same for us from birth.

Esau came to a place in his life where he had lost focus. He despised his birthright.  He found himself in a place of compromise and was starving. He forgot who he was. He hated his requirements attached to his birthright.

We must understand the importance of submitting our appetite.

Let’s see why.

Genesis 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore, was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of dying: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus, Esau despised his birthright.

Pastor Dharius Daniels said, You have to be careful with who you are around when you are hungry because some people won’t meet your need, they will exploit it.  That’s exactly what Jacob and their mother did to Esau.  Sometimes, its those we trust and are the closest to us that we can’t see them doing us wrong.  Esau thought he was about to die from hunger and couldn’t live without what he wanted in that moment.  What lie has the enemy told you, you can’t live without?

Esau identified more with his surroundings which was Edom than his birthright and who he was as Esau. He became weary in well doing. Have you submitted to your circumstances for a season and forgotten who you are called to be and how valuable you are? What has happened in your life that has brought your soul to the point of desperation like Esau? God is warning us as children not to forfeit portions of our destiny for a moment of pleasure for small portions of our birthright. God has so much for us. The enemy is always out to steal, kill and destroy.

Are you bitter with God for what he has required from you?

He lied to Eve and deceived her and Adam and her were removed from Eden forever. Moses didn’t deal with his anger and ended up never entering the promised land because he hit the rock twice instead of speaking to it. Samson played with Delilah and ended up losing his eyes and dying prematurely. Racheal takes her father’s idols with her and ends up dying prematurely before they return to Bethlehem. David didn’t get to build the temple because of his disobedience. Abraham and Sarah lost hope and created Ishmael while waiting on Isaac out of desperation. In all these men and women’s lives, there was a place in their soul they were starving. They forgot who they were and compromised, costing them a portion of their birthright.

To walk in your calling, we must be willing to submit our appetite to God and this could be naturally, sexually, spiritually, physically, financially, etc. For many people, we have allowed the cares of this life to bring us to places of hunger and some have become faint and compromised in this last season. The enemy wanted to make many believe they would never receive what God promised them. But the devil is a liar.

Some have come under attack in their character and reputation.  The word says to abstain from all appearance of evil and when we don’t, we can give the enemy a foothold that the enemy can cause to become a stronghold.  Pastor Dharius Daniels said, God is more concerned about restoring our souls in this season than he is in restoring our reputation first.  God doesn’t want us to starve but when we don’t understand the value of our birthright and who we are, we will always find ourselves in a place of compromise, like Esau and like Diddy. We must submit our appetite to the Lord.

It’s a new day.  God is strengthening our focus. He is turning the page as we fully embrace who God said we are, as he restores our souls, he is also restoring your image in the hearts and minds of those that are also assigned to you and your destiny. God is calling us to come out from among anything that could hinder his plan and purposes.

Proverbs 27:7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.