He Will Carry Me

Last Saturday I had an experience of a lifetime. Although I was in the company of awesome people, I doubt any of them know about this experience. Wanna know about it....?


OK, here it is!


Check it

After church service I went back home with my host family for that weekend. We ate, had several good laughs, and decided to relax by watching The Passion of the Christ - go figure! Not the relaxing type of movie, if you know what I mean..... or is it...?

So we popped in the DVD and everyone got set to watch this amazingly passionate film. Needless to say that most of the audience went to sleep, but that's not the point - sorry, I had to point that out LOL

If you have not seen The Passion of the Christ before, I strongly recommend that you see it because it is an amazing and almost accurate depiction of what the Bible says happened to Jesus. It is extremely realistic and the whole cinematography is breathtaking! (that's the film major in me talking)

As I was lost in the moving images, I found myself going through waves and waves of different emotions, not just because the movie ignites these emotions, but because, in my own little world, these events are of profound importance to me.


Here are a few things you may not know about me & I am no longer afraid to admit:


I know I am loved, but I do not feel loved - especially now
I crave being loved by someone or something - sad, I know
I don't know how to deal with those who love me more than I love them
I try to love people more than they love me, to stay in my comfort zone


Now that we've gotten all acquainted and all, shall we continue....?


So imagine what I was feeling, as I was watching the movie, thinking about the real events of what Jesus went through, just for me! And the deeper I got into the movie, the heavier the waves of emotions. And it came a point where these emotions were being produced by the thought of what Jesus endured - though he did not have to and did not deserve to - for a jerk like you, I mean, like me...


But that's not the whole point I'm trying to make.


For the first time in my christian life, I noticed something that I had not payed much attention to before. If we read the story of Jesus' crucifixion in the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, a certain Simon of Cyrene is mentioned. I have heard of him. I have read his name in the Bible. But that was that. Even the first few times I've seen The Passion and all the other 'Jesus movies' before that, the character of Simon of Cyrene had little significance. He was just the dude whose misfortune was to help Jesus carry the cross...


I'd love to have that misfortune!


Did you catch that? Simon of Cyrene helped his savior carry the cross where his sins would be nailed to forever!

Tell me that ain't sick! So as I'm watching this event unfold on the screen, my mind began to wonder and to decipher and to break it down and wonder some more and question and wonder and imagine and recreate and extract whatever meaning is there..... And there is great meaning there!


"For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23 We all know that verse. Put simply, because we sin, we merit death. A friend put it in these words: wages = paycheck; therefore, when we sin [work] we die [paycheck].


Brilliant!


But check this out...


"Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed... He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave." Isaiah 53: 4-5; 7-9


Jesus took our rightful due.


HUH?


Jesus takes the punishment that we deserved, you know, the paycheck... We worked for it, but that's a paycheck no one wants to cash. But it needed to be cashed. So Jesus took the initiative and he decided to do it. So in reality, Jesus should not have been the one carrying the cross, it should have been me, it should have been you. But he substituted us out and checked himself in.

But picture for one second you carrying the cross.

Severely scourged.
Tortured.
Broken.
Bloodied.
Disfigured.
Repeatedly kicked and punched and slapped.
Pierced (crown of thorns)
Weak.
Dehydrated.

Now intensify that by.... MUCHO!

And on top of that, you have to carry a cross. Impossible!

But here comes Simon of Cyrene, Jesus' savior (do not jump into conclusions & understand what I'm saying) and he takes the weight of the cross on his own shoulders and carries it.

Two things especially stood out in the film. One is that Simon not only supported the weight of the cross, but also the weight of Jesus! The other is that, in brilliant acting, the character of Jesus embraced and found comfort in the cross. In one particular scene, it is as if nothing else mattered, but he and the cross. That was his passion, sort of speak.


How does that relate?


Check me - Imma make this personal

Jesus was my substitute. But it should have been me carrying the cross after having gone through the physical abuse. In a way, that is true. Everyday we suffer the extreme and severe abuse of sin. As Jesus' body was broken and battered and crushed, sin does the same to my spiritual body, and for some, it spills over to the physical.

Still Jesus makes this invitation:

"If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9: 23

So as my passion grows for Jesus, I have to endure the hardships.

You think you fancy, huh?


"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you." John 15: 18-21

This is nothing new! Jesus told his homeboys that, and thus telling us that. So this is what he was going through as he carried the cross. And as a direct illustration and parallelism, this is what I, as a follower of Christ, am going through everyday of my christian walk.

As Jesus' body was deformed, so am I spiritually.
As Jesus was weary, so am I spiritually.
As Jesus thirst, so do I spiritually.
As Jesus fell along the way, so do I spiritually.


Get it?


So now comes in Simon of Cyrene to help Jesus carry his cross. In other words, as it pertains to me, now here comes Jesus of Nazareth to help Kelly carry his cross.

Simply beautiful...

As Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane the night before his arrest, he experienced depression to a level I don't ever want to experience it. All of my sins were transferred on him, and sin causes depression. So to that list I can add: As Jesus was depressed in Gethsemane, so am I in my mind & spiritual life.

All of my conditions, Jesus experienced them on his way to Golgotha. But just at the right time, as Simon of Cyrene, Jesus is able to carry my weight and the weight of my cross - Amen!

And he is able to do the same for you too.

Depression.
Anxiety.
Worry.
Whatever - if you love him, pick up your cross daily, and follow him. And he will carry the cross for you, too!




Enjoy!

Sounding The Alarm!

I have to admit: the reason behind this post is very heartbreaking..

Every morning when I wake up, I like to do certain things as part of my AM routine. My eyes open. I lay in bed for a bit longer. Listen to some music on my phone. Pray. Think about stuff. Upload K-Love's encouraging word onto Facebook. Check Facebook on my phone. Stay in bed. Finally, get up out of bed and continue with the second part of my morning routine.

While on Facebook, I usually like to check my friend's status updates. Some are funny. Some quite uninteresting. Some depressing. Some alarming. But this morning I saw something very disturbing on my FB wall. Every single status update - OK, almost every single status update - had an undertone of depression and pain and a lot of other depressing and scary mix of emotions. Thus a sensitive nerve was hit, because I too have been experiencing these same types of emotions. And in light of everything else that is going on around me; in other words, in the world, something is happening inside the minds of my peers - and my mind - that merits immediate attention.

For the past I don't know how long, I have been experiencing some serious depression. Some of my friends are aware. Most are not. I have begun to realize that I am not the only one and that there are many others who have been experiencing depression as I have or to a greater degree. And that's not cool. Not cool at all. Therefore, coming from someone who is still battling this demon, let me share with you some profound words, with profound meanings. I challenge you to meditate on these words. I challenge you to dissect these words. Ingest them. Savor them. And if they are of any use or help, extract strength from them, as I have been, for a very long long time now.



Feels like I've been here forever
Why can't You just intervene?
Do You see the tears keep falling?
And I'm falling apart at the seams

But You never said the road would be easy
But You said that You would never leave
And You never promised that this life wasn't hard
But You promised You'd take care of me

So I'll stop searching for the answers
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust You God with where I am
And believe that You will have Your way
Just have Your way, just have Your way

When my friends and my family have left me
And I feel so ashamed and so cold
Remind me You take the broken things
And turn them into beautiful

So I'll stop searching for the answers
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust You God with where I am
And believe that You will have Your way
Just have Your way, just have Your way

Even if my dreams have died
And even if I don't survive
I'll still worship You with all my life
My life

And I'll stop searching for the answers
I'll stop praying for an escape
And I'll trust You God with where I am
And believe that You will have Your way
Just have Your way, just have Your way

I know You will, I won't forget
You love me, have Your way

-Britt Nicole, Have Your Way

To everyone who's lost someone they love

Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keepin' you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing
And there is no one who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary
And love for the broken hearts
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
Have lost all of their faith in love
And they've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone
In your shame and your suffering

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary
And love for the broken hearts
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus

When you're lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out
You just cry out to Jesus

Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wipin' the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary
And love for the broken hearts
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
That meets you wherever you are

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary
And love for the broken hearts
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
That meets you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

- Third Day, Cry Out to Jesus

God loves a lullaby

In a mother's tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes

God loves the drunkard's cry
The soldier's plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes

The tears of shame for what's been done
The silence when the words won't come

Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing
Better than a choir singing out, singing out

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)
Better than a Hallelujah

(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)

-Amy Grant, Better Than A Hallelujah

This upcoming one is one of my favorites - so powerful the words and image it paints... This is for the Spanish speakers..

Es Dificil entender como viviste tu por mi
Siendo yo como soy, tu te diste por mi
Es dificil entender como moriste tu por mi
Traicionado y rechazado, defraudado por mi

Tu amor fue mas alla
Tu amor fue mas alla

Mas alla de todo, te entregaste
Y al contemplarte se me acaban las palabras
Mas alla de todo, te entregaste
Precioso Cordero en Majestad inigualable

Recibe adoracion
Recibe adoracion

-Marcela Gandara, Mas Alla De Todo

I could keep sharing more words of encouragement, but these are the ones where I draw my strength from. As I was copying and pasting though, this verse came to mind, and so I'll share it with you also.

Check it

Romans 5

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5: 1-5


Enjoy!

Caught Red Handed

I haven't had time to think this one through, so it will be an adventure that I am willing to share with you as I post this one up; so let's just get to it...

This is a revelation of some sort, and, like you, I am eager to see how it will all come full circle as I write.

John 8:1-11

This is a well known story, but the details will be explored in a unique way, just for this time.

"Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them." John 8:1, 2. Jesus was doing nothing out of the ordinary. He spent the night at his favorite place, Mount Olives, doing his favorite thing, praying. An entire night, praying... I wish I could dedicate an entire hour, but that's another topic - for me, at least.

"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8 - Just a friendly reminder for those who care to be reminded..

"As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd." John 8:3

Time out.

Read verse three over again, and pinpoint what is wrong with that verse, besides what's obviously wrong with that verse.

If you're having difficulties, let me break it down for ya'

Check it

"As he [Jesus] was speaking [in the Temple], the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd [congregation]." John 8:3.


Let's take that a step further.


Jesus was in church. The day does not matter. What matters is that Jesus was at church and Jesus was physically inside of a church building; the Temple. As he was speaking, or teaching, or as we know it today, preaching, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees burst through the church's door with a woman who had been caught red handed in adultery. She was caught.

Let it sink.


Caught.

Meaning that while she was doing what she was doing, bang! boom! bam! Lights! Camera! And the dude from the show "Cheaters" comes out with his whole crew.

Caught.

Meaning that she was in the act, the actual act of adultery. In other words, if anything, she was prepared to do what she was there to do between an unmarried woman and a married man. To be blunt: she was caught having sex. A quicky, if you will..

Caught.

By the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees. These dudes are similar to now a day church elders and deacons and evangelists and pastors. (I wonder how many times a pastor catches people committing adultery..? Maybe I'd be surprised by the answer!) In any case...

Caught.

Not stumbled upon, which would suggest an unplanned occurrence. Maybe they had an appointment with the woman - or man - and they were told that the door would be open and, oops! my bad! oh! no, no! excuse me..! should I have knocked...? type-thing...

No, she was caught.

And once you're caught, you're caught. Instantly. Suddenly. Unexpectedly. No time to act; just react. No time to think; just instinct. She was caught. It was a set up.

Since she was caught in the act of adultery, she was dragged out of wherever she was with the little - or nothing - she had on. Since she was caught in the act, she didn't have anything on. Therefore, I can imagine as they took her and dragged her out, she must have reached for whatever to cover her nude body.

Caught. Naked. Beyond scared straight. At the Temple in no time - and I am not talking 'bout Temple University.

^"Teacher,' they said to Jesus, 'this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" John 8: 4, 5

"If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the woman must die. In this way, you will purge Israel of such evil." Deut 22:22

What you are about to experience is the smoothest and most purest transition into God's grace, courtesy of the One himself, Jesus.

"They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" John 8:6, 7

Did you catch that? It was so so smooth that you prob'ly didn't!

According to the law of Moses, the woman was indeed supposed to die. Not just her, but homeboy too! But that's not the point.

The point is this: I know Jesus died for my sins. I know when I ask for forgiveness, he forgives. But most of the time, this is a certainty for the minuscule stuff. But what about the helpless and hopeless stuff?

As for this woman, she was hopeless. I am sure she knew what she was getting into when she decided to meet with the unidentified man. She had a thought process. Our John Doe had a thought process, too! You see, at times we are aware of the sins we make or are about to make. We even plan the place, time and date. Circled is that date on our calendars, or synchronized on the celly just to remind us 1 or 2 days ahead of time - just in case we forget.

Excuse me, I'm sorry. I am referring to myself, not you, the reader..

And now what, when I am caught in similar situation...?

Ironically, the solution is that in God's infinite love and grace, I am caught red handed!

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation." Romans 8:6-9

At the very moment I am utterly helpless, whether by circumstances or intent, because Jesus died for me, I am able to fall into God's grace. And God looks at Jesus' hands, still painted red by his precious blood, which in turn gives me life; and before I sink any lower, God catches me in his hands and says "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

I am glad to be caught red handed, not for condemnation, but for life!





Enjoy!

Our Deepest Fear

Take a moment and let this beautifully powerful quote sink in...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-Marianne Williamson

One of the plagues that cripples people today is that of low self esteem. Not too long ago I had a texting conversation with a young friend of mine - a little brother type friend - who is battling an extremely and dangerously amount of self esteem. He told me that quite frankly he hates himself. He's always hated himself. He hates his image. His image makes him sick.

On several occasions I've conversed with him and told him how wonderful of a young man he is! This is not a tactic to try and accomplish anything; in fact, the kid is extremely talented, handsome, intelligent, sociable, and stand-up-ish for someone his age... But he believes he is worthless, trash, disgusting... to himself.

Unfortunately, like my young friend, too many people are slaves to a dismal sense of self image. Including me. So the question is: who am I? You see, I cannot know what I am unless I know who I am. Unless I identify the who, I leave ample space for others, both people and things, to dictate the what.

Check it

QUESTION: Who am I?

"Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us." Genesis 1:26; "So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." v27. And just to show off: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalms 139:14. As if that were not enough, God confirms who we are in this: "See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1.

ANSWER: I am God's son, fearfully and wonderfully made in his image; I am like God! Simply put: I am ALL that AND a bag of chips - for free! No soda... (that was a joke) In all seriousness, this is not to be taken lightly. We are God's children!

Yay! We are God' children!.... but wait a minute.... who in the world is God?

I am glad you asked

"God replied to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you." Exodus 3:14; "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8; "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John 8:58; "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8; "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:12

Got it? Good!

Now, the easier of the two questions: What are you? Inherent in 'what' is purpose. And this is where our ride comes to an end. Not that I cannot answer the question, but what's the purpose? (got that?) I can only define what I am in terms of me, and what I want to be. Defining the 'what' for anyone else defeats the entire purpose of this blog entry. In other words, you, as the reader, have to initiate that discovery on your own, having already defined and grasped who you are.

Still I offer you this help:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Marianne Williamson

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7


Enjoy this piece by MercyMe

Illogically Logical

After a L O N G hiatus, a recent conversation with a very good friend of mine made me realize that there is an increasing need for people to hear, read, come in contact with the Word. And after much thought - OK, not much thought at all - I realize that I deviated from the work I am asked to do for way too long. Therefore, without saying much more; without delaying any longer, let's get to it!

John 20

"Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 'Dear woman, why are you crying?' the angels asked her. 'Because they have taken away my Lord,' she replied, 'and I don’t know where they have put him." v11-13

WARNING
Read the above passage again before attempting to answer the following question

QUESTION: What's wrong with this passage?

Go'head, read it again....

Nothing...?

Check it

I am sure and would be willing to bet all of my savings (which is a whopping $20 or so) on the fact that we have all experienced death in way or another. Maybe it was a close kin. Maybe it was a friend. Maybe it was the death of a famous person we identified with (like good ol' Mike Jack)... In one way, shape, or form we have all been stung by this thing known as death. And in death there is sadness, there are tears, there is the visit to the one place everyone is - I think - afraid to go: the cemetery.

It is important to note that the Mary being referred in John 20:11 is none other than the Mary of Magdala, known as Mary the Magdalene, or simply Mary Magdalene.

There she is. At the tomb. In a cemetery. Where there are dead people. Dead people. She looks inside the tomb of a close friend of hers who'd recently died. She sees two white-robed dudes. Chillin'. Inside the tomb. In a cemetery. Where there are dead people. Dead people. She's crying. I mean, she is really crying. And one of the white-robed dudes asks her this question: "Dear woman, why are you crying?"

TIME OUT!

Dear woman, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?!

Is that the best question to ask someone who is at a CEMETERY?? What do you mean "why are you crying"? If I were Mary, my response would have gone something like this (clear throat): Oh! Is this not a cemetery? I'm sorry... guess I'm in the wrong place. Let me call my homegirls over and have a barbecue instead!" Feel free to sprinkle a bit more sarcasm.

The point is, for the white-robed dudes being angels, that was the worst question and the wrong question they could have asked Mary; agree?

..... is it really?

Jesus and Mary were close friends. In fact, Jesus was close friends with the trio from Magdala: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He'd often go and spend time with them at their home. Although it is not stated in the Bible how Jesus came to know this family, I believe that this friendship had a rather unusual beginning.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? That was Mary Magdalene. That was the first time Mary came face to face with her Savior. When all had already condemned her to death, Jesus gave her new life in the words "go and sin no more." John 8:11. Mary's new life must have caught the attention and gratitude of her siblings, arousing a want and need for them to know the originator of such sudden and sure change. And I believe that is when Jesus' friendship with the Magdala trio cemented.

Remember the woman who lavished perfume on Jesus' feet and dried them with her hair? That was Mary Magdalene. Luke 7:36-38

Remember when Jesus wept? That was because Mary Magdalene's brother, Lazarus, had died. John 11

The Bible supports the notion that this friendship was one that Jesus valued, and it is clear that they valued Jesus. Remember Jesus' trial, torture, and crucifixion? Mary witnessed it. On that Friday. Replayed it in her mind that Saturday. Went looking for closure that Sunday...

Which takes us back to the white-robed dude's insane question: "Dear woman, why are you crying?" Mary was crying for two reasons. Jesus had died. And as if that were not enough, someone had taken away his body! "Because they have taken away my Lord', she replied, 'and I don't know where they have put him" John 20:13

Believe it or not, Mary by no means answered the question she was being asked. The angels asked her specifically "WHY are you crying?" Instead, Mary understood the question as "why are YOU crying?"

Let me explain.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3 KJV

Although Mary was not present - I don't think - at the time Jesus made this promise, the fact is that He promised a return. Which means that His being dead was something temporary. Temporary meaning not permanent. So the question the angel asked was a rhetorical question of sorts, aiming to make Mary realize the point which completely went over her head: Jesus is ALIVE!

"Dear woman, why are you crying" when you can clearly see the tomb is empty? Do you think we'd be chillin' in here if someone had taken His body away? Fo'real, Mary? Fo'real? If the tomb is empty, can't you see that Jesus lives!? Can't you see that every single word He'd ever spoken, every promise He's ever made, every miracle He's ever performed is now validated and backed up by the fact that Jesus lives!?

Dear woman, WHY are you crying when instead you should be rejoicing? And, yes! Call your homegirls over and let's have a barbecue and throw it down! Because Jesus is alive!


So the question is posed to me, as well as you: WHY are YOU crying when faced with difficulties and uncertainties and clouds of 'what ifs' and whatever else? Can't you see? Can't I see?.... The tomb is empty! And JESUS IS ALIVE!

Hallelujah! Glory be to God! The tomb is empty! And Jesus is alive!

Don't Cry - Kirk Franklin

His Faithful Love Endures Forever

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
"Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
"Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.
"Give thanks to Him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever."
-Psalm 136:1-4

Little did I know that this particular morning would be full of revealing evidence of God's faithfulness and of his everlasting love.

The phone rang as I was doing my morning worship, accompanied by several of my favorite YouTube worship videos. It was the voice of my boss telling me, "You know you were supposed to be here to open this morning, right?"

What the heck?! R U Serious?!

I had worked the previous night covering for a co-worker. Usually on Thursdays, I work in the evening as part of the closing crew. Since I needed the money, I gladly agreed to cover for my co-worker when he called me with desperation in his voice - sort of. So now I'm all screwed up schedule wise.

Actually, I wasn't. I just didn't check my schedule... shame on me.

So when I woke up on the morning of July 29, 2010, I was under the impression that I had to be at work at the usual time, some time in the evening.

"Holy Mary mother of ..." I really don't know what I said. "Dude, I'm on my way!"

So I got up, took a quick shower, got dressed, looked for something to eat, and headed out the door with my breakfast. My younger sister was there, so before heading out of the house, as usual, I gave her kiss on the forehead and her last image of me that morning was of my back exiting the front door.

It was around 9:30am when I started on the road to work that morning. It was a typical morning. Typical in the sense that nothing seemed unusual. As usual, I opened the sunroof of my black 2000 Honda Civic EX and put down both the driver and front passenger windows to enjoy temperature outside. And this is how I drove to work that morning. Wearing no seat belt.

As I made my way across the bridge into Cherry Hill, New Jersey, for some reason it caught my attention that the ground was wet. To me it made no sense because it hadn't rained in Philadelphia that morning and this part of Jersey is very close to Philly. Still, I kept driving, with my usual speed around that area, making no big deal of what seemed like an insignificant observation.

As I neared my exit, I safely maneuvered my way onto the furthest right lane of the express way and took the ramp towards my destination.

This is where a typical morning became atypical.

As I got onto the ramp, I suddenly felt my car slipping. The mental image yields to something surreal. I immediately sensed something bad was going to happen. I could see the car about to hit the right side of the curvy road, so I tried to straighten it up by turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction the car was heading. That just created more issues. Quickly, the car was no longer under my control and then it happened. I saw it happen. I couldn't believe it was happening...

During my attempt to regain control of the car and to steer it in the right direction, I sharply turned the steering wheel left, in panic. This means my car was in the process of doing a U-turn at high speed, on a one lane ramp exit. Suddenly I felt the first impact: the front right tire hits the curve and in a matter of seconds I saw me feet raise above my head.

NO WAY!

YES way.

I closed my eyes, held tightly to the steering wheel, and from that moment on the outcome of my life was in God's hands. After closing my eyes I really don't remember much. What I do remember was a pain on my upper back and then opening my eyes. I looked around. Nothing bad happened. To me, at least. "Jesus!" the first word out of my mouth. "Thank you, Jesus!" the next words out of my mouth.

Suddenly I found myself in a crawling position. I quickly looked ahead and saw the opening of the front passenger window. There was nothing in the way so I crawled out. When I reached outside, I realized that my car had landed upside down! My little soldier was crushed! In shock I stood there contemplating the scene in front of me.

How is it possible that I came out of that in one piece? I began to cry, but out of gratitude. I did not cry for the car (I was looking at it from the other side of the road and thought "Sucks to be you, buddy!"). I did not cry in pain. I did not cry out of shock. I was at peace. A peace I cannot describe till this day. A peace that kindles the feeling of gratitude I have till this day. A peace that reminds me how unworthy I am to be alive, yet God saw it fit for me to live and not allow a bone to be broken in my body.

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Psalm 91: 11,12

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35,37

...and most def not a stupid lil' car accident.



Enjoy this beautiful song: My Help Comes from the Lord

Enjoy & Reflect

Enjoy this music video and reflect on its message.

Hope you're blessed by it. Or, at least, I hope it makes you reflect about your relationship with a Friend we usually take for granted.

Falling For You - Leeland

Willing

It's been a while so I'll get right to it.

Check it

"Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. 'Lord,' the man said, 'if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.'" Matthew 8:1,2.

Wait a minute! Who is this dude?!
And what in the world is he doing?!
Does he not know his place?! Does he not know he is out of place?!
How dare he?! Eeww!!

What am I talking about; is that what you're thinking?

Check out Leviticus 13 and read until verse 44.

Put yourself in the place of someone who was considered to have a "serious skin disease". Not cool... not cool... Bring it to modern day: imagine having something as serious as AIDS (not HIV) and having to scream out--at the top of your lungs--"Unclean! Unclean! I got AIDS! Unclean!" every time you go out to the mall, to school, to church, on a date, to a party, to the supermarket, an amusement park... down the block 'n round the corner.......... get it?

Let that sink in.

Worst yet, imagine having a HUGE pimple at the tip of your nose and having to walk around with that thing! The pimple would be the one screaming out, at the top of its lungs--if pimple's had lungs--"I'm a pimple! I'm a pimple! On his nose!!"

No, seriously.

Verses 45 & 46: "Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their mouth and call out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp."

Let that sink in.

Back to modern day, you couldn't go to any malls, to any schools, to any church, on that date, to that party, to any supermarkets, nor amusement parks, not even down the block 'n round the corner because you wouldn't have a home among the normal people; excuse me, I meant the clean people. No. You'd have to live somewhere isolated. Alienated. Forgotten.

That's harsh.

So, now you understand what I'm talking about?
Who is this dude and what is he doing?!

I don't know who he is, but I know this: he had leprosy and he came to see Jesus!

You see, you don't need to know this man's name to know that he was an intelligent person. He understood his condition, which happened to be the worst possible condition. He needed no one to remind him of how dirty and filthy he was. In fact, he had to do the reminding, right? He didn't need anyone to tell him he did not belong. He didn't need anyone to tell him absolutely anything about his physical state; he knew it all too well! As a matter of fact, nothing anyone could have said to him would have made him feel any less than what he already felt. This dude knew, very well, he was at the bottom of the bottom of the bottom of the lowest bottom. So he used that to his advantage and made way to meet the person he came to meet. Shouting aloud, "Unclean! Unclean!" he made his way through the large crowd of people. He didn't even have to say "excuse me", people were willingly getting out of homeboy's way; they didn't wanna be contaminated by him. EeWw!!

How ironic, he waited until Jesus came d o w n from the mountainside. Ha!

Notice that he knelt before Jesus. Think of it symbolically. How much lower could this guy go? (No, we're not playing Limbo). Jesus didn't ask him to kneel, but he felt the need to lower himself even more in the presence of the Most High. "...those who humble themselves will be exalted." Matthew 23:12.

Something interesting is about to happen.

"...if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean", he said. In other words, "if you're willing to give me a little bit of your time and not brush me off like the others; if you can see me for who I truly am; if you're willing to place yourself in my shoes; if you're willing to look past my apparent imperfection; if you are willing to be contaminated by getting in contact with me; if you're willing to be criticized for helping me or even trying to help me; Lord, if you are willing to just give me your minimal.... you can heal me and make me clean."

I remember not too long ago I was going through a very rough period in my life. Not even my own family knew the extent of what I was enduring; I didn't want to tell them. It was mine to carry. I tried my best to not let my pain and frustration and everything else show on my face. There reached a time where I need a hug, someone to put a hand on my shoulder, some sort of contact, something to let me know someone cared: I got nothing, until I prayed for it. And one Saturday, right before the prayer, I asked God something very simple, "God, please give me a sign that you care." As I walked up to the front for the prayer, the pastor came down to pray and decided to stand right beside me and placed his arms around me and began praying.

So I understand why this guy said "if you're willing". He'd been longing for someone to show that they care about him in spite of his condition. He just wanted someone who was willing to love him and notice him even in his lowest state.

You see, you won't understand unless you've been there. You can't feel the pain in his words unless at some point you've uttered them. His words contain fatigue, hopelessness. These are words of a broken spirit, a tired body, mind, and soul. Don't try to understand if you haven't been there. You can't. You won't.

A few days after the earthquake in Haiti I spoke with my uncle who is still there, telling him that I'd been glued to CNN in order to keep up with how things were developing over there. I wanted to let him know that the pain he was living over there was the pain I was feeling over here. Then he said to me, "...you'd have to be here... to feel what I'm feeling." I could tell in his voice that his spirit was broken, that things seemed almost hopeless. The earthquake had pushed my favorite uncle and thousand others to that point, that small margin between sanity and insanity.

I couldn't understand the earthquake; I wasn't there! All I had was CNN... and it was impossible to know what my uncle was living (still is) through a tv screen: I had to be there.... get it?

So...

As lowly and filthy and worthless the man with leprosy felt, I've been there for different reasons. So I understand, even deeper, the desperation in his words, "if you are willing..." You feel so unwanted that you're practically at the mercy of whoever. Your own body, mind, soul, and everything and anything else that comprises you rejects you! The weight of both your internal and external condition overpowers and subdues you into the darkest pits of depression and self doubt: trust me, I've been there! Every sin is magnified. Every mistake is magnified. Every little thing you ever did wrong in your life seems bigger than you are...!

...trust me, I've been there.

I sank so low; I mean, the man with leprosy sank so low, no human could possibly reach out to touch him.

Have you been there?

Glory be to God, because...

"Jesus reached out and touched him. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed!' And instantly the leprosy disappeared." Matthew 8:3

You see, Jesus is never worried about what others have to say when it comes to the healing and salvation of a soul. He is never worried about getting his hands dirty or being contaminated. Jesus is always willing, and since he and God are one, that means that God is also always willing. Not only is God willing, but he is able!

Never think you're too dirty or too lowly that Jesus isn't willing to help you. You could feel that you're the bottom of the bottom of the bottom of the lowliest bottom's bottom: Jesus will come down the mountainside to meet you there. And even there, he'll reach out to touch you, and he will say as he told our homeboy, "I AM willing. Be healed!"

Enjoy "Hold Me Now" by my man Kirk Franklin

Pieces

Pieces

With lifted arms I stand before you
Life's broken pieces in my hand
Singing the song of a heart hurting
Hoping that you'd understand

Unable to see the road ahead
Haunted by memories behind
Engulfed in clouds of darkness
My footing hard to find

Using a broken compass
Uncertain where to go
My strength quickly fading
Weakened by every blow

My head is soon exploding
Too many thoughts on my mind
Why must I suffer hardships
While for others life seems so kind?

I don't know who I am now
Or what your plan for me is
So I'm reaching out to touch you
Begging take my hands, please.

I'm drowning in desperation
It's difficult as I wait
I want to take the shortcuts
Deviating from the road straight

On the outside I seem stable
Though hiding the emptiness inside
Wanting to escape my troubled thoughts
To find a safer place to hide

I'm told you've never left me
And through it all you're there
In this darkness, please, come find me
God, tell me that you care

Take these worthless pieces
Which are things I have gone through
I certainly don't need them
So I give them all to you

I'm tired of feeling tired
Sick of feeling sick
Hurt from all the hurt
And weak from feeling weak

There's so much pain inside me

Seeds of hate begin to grow

Resulting in these pieces

Of which I must let go

Look into my heart
Would you count its tears?
It's forgotten true happiness
Since it's been two years

Now I turn to you
With nowhere else to run
I've consider ending my life
I only needed the gun

I pray, please, take these pieces
And everything which don't belong
Free me from my troubles
Give me a joyous song

02.12.10
Poem by: Kelly Jean Philippe

"But now, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter;
and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8

The Chamber

The Chamber

Trapped in this chamber

No wider than ear to ear
The shadows of memories dark
And perversions of thoughts once clear

Whom have I become?
Blood runs not through my vein
I am heartless and cold
I am Cain

Unwanted and despised
As repulsive as can be
A monster ever growing
A monster that is me

Unleash me filthy devil!
Release me! Let me free!
Trapped in this chamber of memories
The battle within me.

2.9.10

Poem by: Kelly Jean Philippe

Haiti Cheri

I am asking all of you - anyone who follows this blog - to please, please, please keep the island of Haiti in your prayers.

It may seem like there is nothing you can do; there is: keep the Haitian people in prayer.
If you want to donate, please go through this website: www.CNN.com/impact

Any of these organizations is a good choice to make a generous donation...

My heart goes out to any one who has the unfortunate weight of the loss of a loved one burdening their hearts.......

Mission imPOSSIBLE

"This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged

by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s...
But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions;
then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you,
O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid
or discouraged... for the Lord is with you!" 2Chronicles 20:15-17

To what extent is God willing to go to in order to save his children?

Better yet, to what extent is God willing to go to in order to save me?

God has done some pretty amazing things for me in my lifetime. Sometimes when I think about them I just marvel as to how he makes everything work together at the right time.

I always say:

God is never too early.

God is never too late.

God is always on time.

But really, how far is God willing to go for my sake? When I'm in desperate need, or simply in need, is there something he cannot or will not do for me?

Joshua 10

So he was scared out of his royal mind, Adoni-Zedek was. He did not know what to do. One of his informants told him that the king of Jericho and Ai were killed. Not only that, but the city of Jericho and Ai were also whipped out!

ADONI: "Who's responsible for this?!"

INFORMANT: "It is Joshua and the Israelites, my lord. They're the ones

causing such havoc! And from what I've been informed, the
Gibeonites have joined them too, my lord."

ADONI: "I'm scared out of my royal mind!"

I'm sure he didn't say that. Although it would be kind of funny if he did...

Homeboy really did not know what to do. Surely he thought this Joshua guy and his Israelite clan would come attack him next; so he summoned his crew to figure out how to take this Joshua guy and his clan out.

"Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured and completely destroyed Ai and killed its king, just as he had destroyed the town of Jericho and killed its king. He also learned that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel and were now their allies. He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large town—as large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the Gibeonite men were strong warriors. So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent messengers to several other kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon. 'Come and help me destroy Gibeon,' he urged them, 'for they have made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.' So these five Amorite kings combined their armies for a united attack. They moved all their troops into place and attacked Gibeon." Joshua 10:1-5

Sounds like he was scared to me... Honestly, I would be too; I'd be screaming like a little third-grade girl.....

Disregard the above statement.

So Adoni-zedek and his other king friends jump the Gibeonites. And the poor Gibeonites are getting the life kicked out of them.

One of them escapes to Joshua and pleads for help.

DUDE THAT ESCAPED: "Joshua, you gotta come save us!

Adoni-zedek and a bunch of other dudes are kicking out butts!"

JOSHUA: "Dude, and you left your people behind while

they're getting their butts kicked?.. Dude..."

I'm sure that didn't happen either; although it would be kind of funny...

This did happen though:

"The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal. 'Don’t abandon your servants now!' they pleaded. 'Come at once! Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us.' So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon." Joshua 10 :6-7

You see, this is what these kings did not know: they didn't know that God had made a promise to Israel. They didn't know that after Moses' death, God told Joshua,

"I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you." Joshua 1:3-5

You can only imagine what happened next. Without hesitation, Joshua and his army set out to defend the Gibeonites. They left with a little extra assurance, because God said:

"Do not be afraid of them...for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you." Joshua 10:8

What a fight that was! What an assurance for Joshua and the Israelites to go into a fight already knowing the outcome: victory, guaranteed by the Lord.

So they fought throughout the night and they fought until the next day. The fight was so good that even God had to get in on it:

"As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword." Joshua 10:11

Up to this point, it is clear that God is willing to get involved personally in order to deliver me - as noted in the verse above. But is that all? Could he take it one step further?

Check it

"On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said,

'Let the sun stand still over Gibeon,
and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.'

So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!" Joshua 10:12-14

I've found myself in situations where I think that God, with all of his powers, cannot do absolutely anything to rescue me or provide for me or pull me through. I think to myself, "There is absolutely now way... absolutely no way, that God can possibly help me out this time around." I recently heard myself saying to several people, "I think I've ran out of miracles, because I don't see how I'm gonna overcome this situation this time..."

What a slap to the face to the One who says to me, "Do not be afraid of them [meaning any situation I may find myself in]...for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you." Joshua 10:8

What a slap to the face to the one who says to me, "...the battle is not yours, but God’s... you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory." 2 Chronicles 20:15-16

God is able to do even the impossible for me & for you too...

He is not only able, but he is more than willing to do even beyond the most impossible in order to save me & you whenever we're in need.

...and I need him to do the impossible for me as I write this

I serve an amazing God

Enjoy this cool song by MercyMe: I Know