The mercy of God is breathtaking. It is one of the facets of Christianity that moves the Christian to humility toward God and toward those around him. When you take the time to assess God’s mercy in your life and in the lives of those you know, you cannot help but become quiet. Silence, most often, is a sign of contemplation and even sorrow. When you recognize that you would have been dead if God in His mercy had not chosen to draw you to Himself, you are left in utter silence. This silence is not one of sorrow per se, but one of gratitude and awareness. And the death of which I speak is not physical but spiritual. Spiritual death is worse than the former, because to be dead spiritually is to be separated from the Almighty God, the Maker of heaven and earth. Consider the fact that God has all power, is all knowing, and can do no wrong…and that He has taken the time to think about you, and stepped into your life, intercept what you were doing, and over time, draw your heart toward His. That is love.

The love that God has for you is incomprehensible because He had no reason to love you; you gave him no reason to, and moreover, you wanted nothing to do with Him. The only way you can love Him is because He has put that love into your heart to do so. God is love. Love originated with Him, comes from Him, and flows through Him to us. Because He loves us we can love others (1 John 4:7-8; Rom 5:8). God’s love and mercy dovetail to form grace. Grace is unearned favor. It is a gift that is given freely without any strings attached. It is purely altruistic. It is vast and worth shouting about. Since grace is so important in the life of every Christian, why is it that you and I are often reluctant to show it to others? Because we often forget what God has done for us. If we forget the good things that have come from His hand to ours, we will become cold and selfish. Do not allow that. Let us pray every day for God to give us hearts of grace, hearts of love, and hearts of mercy.

I see the mercy of God every day when I look around me. I recognized it this week when Charles and I decided to go walking. We started out walking but I soon suggested that we try to run instead. It had been months since I had the energy to sustain a long run. Gratitude flooded my heart and I immediately began to pray. We switched from running to walking and turned the rest of the walk into a prayer meeting. It occurred to me during my time of prayer, that it is absolutely foolish to hold on to a grudge of any sort. I came to that conclusion when I juxtaposed God’s mercy alongside my failures. God has been pleading with me to finish a certain project but it is very hard, and there are days when I have allowed other things to choke my time on this particular thing. This results in conviction and sometimes despair. I say, “God how am I supposed to do this with all the other things I have to do!” However, God has been merciful to me and keeps reminding me that He wants me to do this project that He is not going to change His mind. I thought about it and began to thank God. I then began to pray for some people who I do not pray for on a regular basis. I felt the power of the Holy Spirit like a heavy downpour of rain. No one could see the tears streaming down my face, because it was dark. I tasted God’s mercy on my lips once again, and nothing anyone could do at that moment could cause me to hate them. You and I have met unkindness face to face. We have been wronged many times over, and some of you have reason, and I mean good reason, to hate. But don’t do it. You see, as I embraced the ability to run but thought back to the days when health was a farfetched desire, I was overcome with thankfulness. When we think about all that God has done for us, the only thing that we can do, and should do, is to release anyone who might have wronged us. God’s grace and mercy are far too powerful to hold us captives of unforgiveness. We must embrace grace and give it. That is the only correct response. I have struggled with unforgiveness in my life, but more and more the Lord is allowing me to see Him, and so I am able to let go of past hurts that held me bound. This is a process, but we are so important to God, that He will take however long it takes, to make us like Himself. God wants us free, not bound. Christ’s death paid for our freedom, and we should not seek to hold others captive with our dogmatism that is often mere opinion and preference and biblically mandated. God is long suffering, patient, and merciful, and He wants us to grow into Christ-likeness. Be merciful to those whose growth you think is slow.

The mercy of God is like a long-sleeved, hooded overcoat that covers us all the way around. Consider that the overcoat has a hood that protects your head. The mercy of God protects us from the stinking thinking that we are prone toward. Our thoughts can be selfish, calculating, impure, and unjust. God’s mercy keeps us from pursuing the things that our mind lures us to concoct. The hood of the overcoat has a connecting cloth that covers our neck also. It is easy to become distracted and turn to the left when we should be looking forward. When we are tempted to turn back to the former sins we left behind, the mercy of God keeps us focused. When we lose focus and begin to stray to the left because what we see looks alluring, God’s mercy gently pulls us back onto the path and prods us in the right direction. When we veer to the right to pursue something that may in itself be good but may not be right for us at the time, God’s mercy nudges us back onto the road and moves us forward.

The back of the overcoat is like a brace or a strong support. When Satan tries to bring up your failures you can lean on God’s promises and rest in His grace. No matter how good you think you may have been, you had some darkness in your life. Yes, some people’s past is lurid, painful, and very sad, but God does not think of them any less than those whose past seems almost unblemished. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), and all are dead in sin (Eph 2:1-3) without Christ’s resurrection power. So, when Satan tries to tell you that you are not worthy of being in the position that you are, do not believe him. When the Schemer tells you that people are not going to like you if they were to find out all the things you did in the past, do not listen. One young lady recently told me how an older Christian reacted when she shared something that she had done in the past and it broke my heart to see how snobbish some Christians are toward others. There are those in our churches who are quick to embrace newcomers and even quicker to discard them once they find out that the newcomer “has a past.” May that not be you. I have been attending church since I was a kid, and I have seen it over and over again, and I continue to see it. It is a sorry situation and it hurts my heart. Remember, God delights in using broken vessels. He doesn’t keep them broken. He simply takes what is broken, mends it, and begins to pour out of it. God uses people. He wants to use you, but Satan desires to accuse and misuse you. We must not allow ourselves to become a tool for him. He is our foe and we must resist him at every turn. God is able to give you the strength you need when you feel like giving up.

When we feel like giving up, we must trust God to guard our hearts. The front of the overcoat protects the chest area, which also houses your heart. God’s mercy covers your sinful heart and makes it pure. The heart is inherently deceitful and wicked (Jer 17:9), even for those pretty Christians who seem to have it all together. The heart, left to itself, will murder, tear down, and uproot what is planted—except for God’s quiet hand that quells it in its fury. When you are tempted to rush ahead of God and seize things that are not in His will for you; God’s mercy keeps your heart undivided. A divided heart is like half eaten cake presented to a couple at their wedding reception. That would be insulting to them and embarrassing to their guests. A divided heart is insulting to God (Jas 1:5-8). But God is greater than our heart (1 John 3:19-22). When we recognize what He has done for us and in us, we cannot serve Him half-heartedly. That is insipid to Him. He wants all of you and me.

Just as all of us belong to Him, He seeks to protect every part of our lives. The sleeves of the overcoat protect our arms. God’s mercy is stronger than our self-will. When you are tempted to pull your arms out of His, God hangs on to you. When you try to squirm like a worm out of His grasp, God’s mercy pulls your arms up under His like a lover does his beloved. God will not let go of you. Jesus says that he will lose none of his sheep (John 10:27-29). He will present all of us, intact, to the Father on that Day. There is a great Day coming when we shall see Him face to face, and we will bow before Him in utter obeisance and worship. I look forward to that day. But until then, let us encourage one another and hold each other’s hand. Let us pray for one another in fervency and sincerity. May God bless you and keep you. Thank you for praying for me.

Last month, I took the time to read through the book of Genesis. I should not have been surprised at the new things I saw in some of the chapters that I had read several times before. However, I was taken aback by how much I had missed in my prior readings. There were some things that caught my heart’s attention, and for several mornings I found myself in deep contemplation as I meditated upon various elements of Joseph’s life. At times I was moved to tears, other times my eyes widened as I thought about the scenario that threw this young Israelite into opposition from his brothers, into a land that was unknown to him, and among a people that had prejudices against him because he came from a line of shepherds (Gen 43:32; 46:34). Consider for a moment how you would feel if that were your life. What would you do if your family turned against you and sold you into slavery? Would you continue to trust God if you were in a country that was anything but godly? Would you choose to love the very people who treated you like you were unclean, simply because you looked different than they or because of your lowly job status? Let us examine the way Joseph handled himself in those situations, and let us allow God to open our eyes to His love and grace.

The grace of God reached down into Joseph’s heart and life in the most extraordinary way, as it has reached into your heart and mine. Joseph did not use the best tact when he told his brothers about his dreams, and he suffered for it. In his first dream his brothers’ sheaves gathered around his sheaf and bowed down to it; next, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him also (Gen 37). This caused his brothers much consternation and they were not happy. The fact that they were aware that Jacob, their father, had a deeper love for Joseph (Gen 37:3-4) only made matters worse. It was under those circumstances that Joseph was kidnapped by his brothers and sold into slavery. Being sold into slavery was the lesser of the two evils; the other was death. His older brother, Reuben, had intended to secretly rescue Joseph, but it is highly unlikely that the others would have allowed this.

Fast forward to Potiphar’s palace where Joseph worked, and as God would have it, has now  gained Potiphar’s admiration and respect, which then led to Joseph being promoted to Potiphar’s personal attendant and household manager. Why? Because the LORD was with him. The word LORD there refers to God’s personal name (cf. Exod 3:14). God was with Joseph. The LORD was with Joseph when he was sold to the slave traders. The LORD was with Joseph when he was working for Potiphar. The LORD was with Joseph when Potiphar’s wife lied about him. The LORD was with Joseph during his time in prison. The LORD was with Joseph when he revealed the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. The LORD was with Joseph when he stood before Pharaoh and explained his dreams. The LORD was with Joseph when he devised a plan to store up enough food for the famine to come. The LORD was with Joseph when Pharaoh gave his relatives a personal invitation to make Egypt their home, provided wagons for their move, and guaranteed them the best that Egypt had to offer. The LORD was with Joseph when he settled his relatives in the land of Goshen and Pharaoh approved of it. The LORD was with Joseph when he requested leave of office to go and bury his father in Canaan and Pharaoh not only approved it, but made available the senior courtiers of his household, the senior officials of the land, chariots and horsemen, to accompany Joseph. My friend, it was no coincidence that Joseph was sold to an Egyptian and not someone else. God had enacted a divine plan to provide for His people.

Have you noticed that your life has taken twists and turns that you never, in your wildest dreams would have thought possible? Have you noticed that God has been there all along, setting things in order, bringing people in and out of your life to help you? Do you know that nothing that happens to you is out of God’s ability to control? God desires to teach us lessons, lessons that will move us to deeper dependence on Him. His ultimate goal for Joseph was that His grace and His glory would be made manifest. His ultimate goal is the same for you and me today.

There are three messages that I see in the story of Joseph’s life. I see the message of hope, the message of deliverance, and the message of forgiveness. When Joseph was thrown into that caravan of slave traders, he must have prayed. When he was sold to Potiphar, Joseph must have placed his trust in Yahweh for safekeeping and protection. When Joseph began working in Potiphar’s house and saw all the fine things and the delicious foods, he kept honesty at the forefront of all he did. I submit to you that Joseph did not have a pity party or go into deep depression. He decided to hope in God and God delivered him in a great way. Joseph’s deliverance began in Potiphar’s palace even though it was partly thwarted by his imprisonment. But God delivered Joseph out of prison also. I see irony and poetic justice in the fact that God allowed Joseph to have leadership over people who would not have chosen him. God delivered the slave boy into Pharaoh’s inner circle and placed him over people who detested his heritage. For whatever the reasons, Egyptians did not eat with Jews, but Joseph, who was Jewish, was Pharaoh’s right hand man and his background did not prevent him from excelling. God can take you anywhere He wants you to go and He can cause you to find favor with whomever he deems (Prov 21:1). God turned Pharaoh’s heart toward Joseph and Joseph turned his heart toward God. He accepted the challenges and promotions with grace and gratitude. He did not allow his background to impede his progress among the Egyptians. Don’t let your past get in the way of your future.

I also believe that he did not allow himself to be overcome with bitterness and unforgiveness. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness, and had he fostered both, they would have hindered his ability to hope, progress, and excel. God cannot do the things He wants to do in us and for us if we hold on to bitterness and anger. No matter what has been done to you, give it to the Lord. Let Him soothe you, and in time He will mend the brokenness. Letting go of unforgiveness is a matter of our will. There are some things that our flesh will not do, but we can determine that we are going to do it just because it is what God says we should do. If the Word declares it, do it! When we begin to take God at His word, He will make even our enemies become peaceful toward us (Prov 16:7). Joseph must have thought of his dear father and longed to see him. Tears must have come to his eyes when he remembered how his brothers pulled his coat off of him, taunted and jeered him, and handled him like an enemy rather than like a brother. Yet, I believe he forgave them in his heart. After Jacob was buried, his brothers were worried about their future but Joseph assured them that they were forgiven (Gen 50:15-21). When the bad memories come into your mind, cry if you want to, but don’t let the thoughts linger. Turn them over to God and thank Him for the way He has provided for you and continues to keep you. Thankfulness will always drive away bitterness.

We get to see Joseph’s life in one big sweep, but for him, it was a daily trust in Yahweh with no knowledge of how things were going to turn out. Joseph did what was right although he was among strangers. No matter where you or I find ourselves in the future, let us do what is right. If your house burns down tonight, trust God. If you lose your job because someone lied about you, trust God. If your family speaks ill of you and puts you down, trust God. When you trust God and do what is right, He will always deliver you. The Psalmist David attests to that. Use the right words even when you are being mishandled. Maintain your gaze on the One who keeps heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be shaken nor make you a laughing stock to the ungodly. Do not worry about the limitations that people may try to place on you. Get a grasp of how God has gifted you, recognize who you are in Christ, and follow Him with all your heart.

Daniel B Towner wrote: Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go, anywhere He leads me in this world below; anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade, anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid. Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone, other friends may fail me—He is still my own, Tho His hand may lead me over dreary ways, anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise.

May that be true for you and me for the rest of our lives.

Happy New Year to you! Each day gives us the opportunity to start over, the ability to accomplish something different from the day before, and the possibility to make right what was wrong from the day before. The same things are true with the start of each year, and we are able to begin afresh on a grander scale. While some people are suspect about resolutions and refrain from even using the word, I think it is helpful to take the time to assess the past and make goals for the future. Assessment of any kind takes time, introspection, and objectivity.

What areas should we assess? Every Christian must assess her walk with God. By “walk” I mean communication, intimacy, affection toward, and obedience to God. Each day we walk with Him and though the walk may not always consist of the aforementioned qualities, it is nonetheless “your walk.” We must assess our time management. We must determine if we are out of balance with the important things in our lives. We have to determine what is important to us, and the things that are none-negotiable. Every woman must have things with which they do not compromise. I think our time with God, taking care of ourselves, upkeep of our homes, maintaining important relationships, investing in someone else, and pursuing your goals, should be a part of what we all do this year.

If we do not spend time reading God’s Word and praying, we will not have a good relationship with God. We must take the time to make the time with our Lord, a top priority. Since we are His flowers and as flowers, we must bloom, we need His light in us. We must meditate on His word so that we can hold our tongue when we are angry, have wisdom in knowing how to handle the difficult situations that we will face, and have the right word to encourage another sister in her time of need.

People are watching you. If you don’t believe me, do something that is not good, and see how many people would chide you. Don’t risk that, just trust me—someone is always watching you. So, with that in mind, take the time to dress nicely and look presentable. The unbeliever will have a hard time hearing your message if you look like a broken down barn. Every woman is beautiful and special in her own way, so fix up your self. Part of taking care of yourself includes exercise (even a walk around your block every day), proper nutrition, and stress relief. Do you know that if you are stressed out your body will show it. Stress relief can include prayer, time with a friend, a walk, sitting in your backyard just looking at God’s creation, and even a stroll in the park. I do not recommend eating and going to the mall for stress relief☺. Those are too tempting and could get us into trouble.

My mother always told me to keep my surrounding clean. She once said, “Janet, even if you live under a tree, sweep underneath it and keep it clean.” I was about ten years old, but I never forgot that. Keep your home presentable. If it’s even the living area and bathroom, keep them clean in case someone pops in unexpectedly. I once asked to use someone’s bathroom and I will not tell you what was sitting in the toilet when I went inside. It was disgusting. If you have kids, make them clean up. Use them to help you (like my mom did me) and you will be teaching them invaluable skills in the process. I love to have my house looking pretty. I am not saying it is always spic-n-span, but I can only stand things being out of place for a short time. I become uncomfortable if there is too much clutter. We are all different, and our concept of what is clean will vary, but we must upkeep our homes because it is a part of our stewardship.

It is important to maintain friendships. My Aunt Carmen commented a couple of summers ago that every woman should find a friend before she needs a friend. If you only have one friend, let her know how much you value her friendship. Just don’t say it, SHOW it! I have an older lady named Linda in my church, and she has a hard time getting around, but she prays and sends emails to people. That is one way to encourage a friend. I am very encouraged when I find out that someone is praying for me. You should find ways to let those people who are important in your life, know it. Don’t wait until they die and then go around telling how much they meant to you. Let them hear it while they can. The kingdom of God is an investment. It involves time with God and time with others. You must be investing in someone else. Seek God for His help in showing you where you can meet a need, and when you meet that need, do not sound it aloud. Keep it private, and God will reward you in due time. Maybe you have people in your own family with whom you can begin to encourage and help. Consider yourself to be God’s flower and the other women around you as God’s flowers. When you notice that their leaves are wilting, offer some “water” because it may be that that is what they need. Depending on the level of friendship you have with them, you may be able to offer some “fertilizer” because water alone may not do. Listen, if you and I begin to water one another, not in pious religiosity, but with a genuine heart of care, the church in which you worship and the neighborhood in which you live, will bloom. We are God’s flowers women, and there is a lot to be done. Just look around you and you will see.

I want to see God’s glory in my life as well as in others. It does not happen by chance. It’s an investment. Too often we look at others who are successful and we talk about how much they have, etc., but what we fail to recognize is the hard work and investment that went into that success. It is a new year, we all have goals, and we all have the opportunity to make a difference. Whether or not you do, will be up to you. I encourage you to embrace diligence, patience, perseverance, determination, and a heart of mercy. May the Lord of all lords, the King of all kings, the God of all gods, and the One we pursue, return to find us focused on Him and investing in others. Lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where no moths or termites can destroy them.

I dare you to bring up a discussion about God at your next office party. I suspect that if you work in a secular marketplace, some people will immediately walk over to the cheese table to avoid the conversation. You would risk upsetting your co-workers and perhaps even your boss. People are either enamored and intrigued, or aloof and suspicious when discussion of the Divine ensues. Yet, everyone believes something about the Divine and what we believe about God affects how we treat people and the choices we make daily. Why is it that some people become encouraged and intrigued when God’s name is mentioned, while others wince or retreat in discomfort? It boils down to belief and encounter.

I first encountered the Divine as a little girl growing up on a very large farm in Jamaica. My grandparents, “Mum” and “Papa” taught me about God. They took me to church with them. I heard them pray and read the Bible aloud. They taught me to reverence and honor God. They told me that if I told lies I would go to hell (Prov 12:22 [KJV]: Lying lips are abomination to the LORD…) and they taught me to respect and obey authority (Exod 20:12: Honor your father and your mother). I am forever grateful to them for all they drilled into my sometimes-stubborn will. My mother reinforced much of what they taught me, although at the time she did not attend church regularly. I grew up with an awareness and healthy respect of God. I believed the Scriptures were true but I did not immerse myself in them until much later. What I do remember is that whenever I read the Psalms, I felt comfort and solace. I felt like God would always deliver me from the perils of evil.

However, by my freshman year of college in Connecticut, I had questions about my religious beliefs and I was hesitant to tell my family that I was not sure there was a God or that I needed to follow His principles. I was afraid they would deem me a heretic for even daring to question the existence of the Divine, let alone my desire to break away from what the church taught. I had become a skeptic and I was not sure I was a Christian or wanted to remain one. I felt Christianity was limiting because of its many prohibitions, but in hindsight, it was not the Scriptures that were limiting, as it was the many rules of the local church I attended during high school. Not to mention that over time I had seen much hypocrisy in the church and had at times fallen victim to it. I became jaded about Christians and was uncomfortable in their presence.

Thankfully, the Divine presence of God did not leave me, even when my faith sunk to its lowest. Scripture assures us that He will never ever abandon us—no, not ever (Heb 13:5)! At twenty-three, feeling strong and driving a newly purchased sports car, I felt good. Life was good. I was content because I had dreams and aspirations that I knew I would fulfill and I was pleased with my accomplishments. I remember pressing my head against my headrest and glancing up toward my open sunroof, and shouting, “God, if you are there, reveal yourself to me!” That began my second encounter with the Divine.

I am not sure how many people pursue the Divine or search for answers, but those who do are not afraid to talk about Him. God, through providential occurrences, as well as through the Scriptures, revealed Himself to me. While I cannot pinpoint any particular event that convinced me that God is real, I know that I became convinced (over time) that He is real and wanted a relationship with me.

Many Christ followers will tell you that there was a specific encounter that drew them to Him. This is the salvific encounter, and most important of all encounters, which becomes the foundation for all others. All Christians testify that God touched their heart and drew them to Him. He draws people in different ways and for many, that wooing takes place gradually. Others have defining encounters that change their life forever. Be that as it may, I am sure that Christ takes the initiative to draw people to Himself (John 6:44; 12:32). He desires for each of us to encounter Him—daily. These daily encounters are poignant in the sanctification process. They become the sandpaper and the shea butter in our Christian growth, which in the long run, cement our faith in God.

Our encounters help us recognize the alluring beauty in Jesus. The Holy Spirit residing in us speaks to us and literally leads us in every step that we take, if we are willing to follow. I often liken the Holy Spirit to a tour guide. He will take you and show you what you need to see and do. He knows the terrain. You can always decline taking the journey, but He knows the way and He always has the big picture in view—the Father’s plan for your life. He helps you to become familiar with God’s plan bit by bit. He opens your eyes to God’s ways and God’s astonishing grace. When you become aware of how wonderful and kind God is, it changes your life.

I have a type-A personality and for those familiar with the DISC personality evaluation, I am a high C and D personality. I enjoy work and I pay much attention to detail. I am not afraid to do the hard tasks and I enjoy working with people who are driven. So, I was greatly disturbed when Scripture revealed that all I had to do to be saved is simply to accept Christ’s finished work on the Cross (Rom 5:8-11; Eph 2:4-9). I wanted to earn my salvation. I did not want anything for free; I wanted to earn it. How could I take eternal life for free when Jesus gave His life for it? That part of the Gospel made me uncomfortable until I grew to accept it. The Holy Spirit began to show me just how lovely God truly is. When I spend time in God’s Word, I see that God is absolutely magnificent. When He helps me through difficult situations, I am reminded of His care and provision. You cannot come face to face with the Divine and remain the same. It changes how you view God, regardless of your relationship with your earthly father.

The Christian life is grounded in biblical truth but there is also the experiential element and you cannot divorce the two. One cannot divest herself of her experiences. Scripture solidifies our experience with God. For example, Scripture says God reigns supremely over all, but that we will all experience suffering (Ps 103:19; 1 Pet 4:19). When painful things occur that we know God could have prevented, we must still love and trust Him. When we ask the “Why” questions and there are no answers, God is still 100% in charge. We trust the Divine has a plan that we do not yet understand. He is the Word and the Word is embodied in Him. On the other hand, when His goodness fills our life, we have to thank Him and remember that Scripture says He is good. You recognize that you are unworthy, but His love for you is not based on your performance.
Christ’s love reveals your sin and leaves you humbled in His presence. The love of God breaks the iron cages around your heart and enables you to love people. Human effort cannot bring about an encounter with the Divine—they are always divinely ordained. Only God can open your eyes to Himself and when you see Him you cannot resist Him. He is irresistible. Which one of us would not gravitate toward beauty. His beauty is captivating. It breaks you and rebuilds you simultaneously. It is overwhelming and leaves you speechless, except for the praises you utter. When God encounters people they are changed forever. None can brag in His presence because only His brightness deserves recognition. Everything else pales in comparison to the radiance of our Lord. The heart melts like the sun melts snow. Beauty catches everyone’s attention and keeps it, whether it is the beauty of nature, art, or the snow-capped mountains of Colorado. God wants to capture you, every one of you.

Those people who are uncomfortable about God have not yet encountered Him or they are in the process of knowing Him. Whenever you feel conviction for the wrong you have done, God is initiating an encounter. Do not ignore the prodding of your heart. As we journey through life, we have encounters; some shape us and others change us, but all affect us. An encounter with the Divine is the most life changing and intriguing experience of my life and I would suspect, for yours also.