THE DAY HE CALLED

Do you remember the day that the Lord called you?  Not to preach or to teach; not to sing or to heal; not to exhort or to prophesy, but simply to enter into relationship with him.  The day that he called you just to say yes to him as Lord and Savior to accept his gift of salvation; the awesome reward called redemption.  Do you remember THAT day?  It was a simple invitation that simply said, “follow me;” tongues not required, prophesying not required, jumping and shouting not required, knowing how to pray not required, previous church and kingdom experience – not required.  Just simply, follow me and I’ll teach you all things that are needful for you to know of me and my kingdom.  That day, do you remember it? 

In Revelation 3:20 (KJV) the Lord says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup (dine) with him, and he with me.”  In other words, the Lord is saying, I am asking for entry into your life and on the day that you hear me asking to be let in, if you let me in freely and voluntarily I will come in and fellowship with you intimately as one does when dining with others and as we dine I will feed you with my word that will give you what you need to live this life.  Dining with someone (breaking bread, if you will) is an intimate experience.  No one dines with people they don’t like or get along with or trust.  Just as it was in ancient days we dine with those whom we have close, intimate relationships with or with those with whom we are trying to build such relationships.  Jesus wants to build relationship with each of us just as he did with each of his disciples as told in the four gospel accounts in the New Testament.  He called each of them with a simple invitation to, “follow me.”  There was no need for a whole lot of fanfare or rhetoric, just a simple invitation that required a simple yes from a heart that was simply willing to trust with the innocent trust of a child.  Hence Jesus said in Mark 10:15 that “unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in” (MSG).  Salvation is not complicated, but simple and it is in the simplicity of it that we find the beauty of it. 

I remember the day of my invitation like it was yesterday.  It is such a sobering reflection for me.  There was no fanfare, no secret handshake, no requirement to pay dues, no repetition of a creed, just a pure drawing of His Spirit and a simple conviction or sense of knowing that I need Him.  I never want to lose that awe and that simple need of Him.  If you’ve already accepted Christ’s invitation to follow him, praise God and don’t ever forget that day or cease to be thankful for it.  Be intentional about living every day of your life in such a way that your life will bring him glory. 

If you have never accepted Christ’s invitation to follow him and you would like to, you can do that today.  The scripture tells us in Romans 10:9-10 (NIV), “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  However, the scriptures also let us know in Mark 1:14-15, Luke 13:3, and Acts 3:19 that in addition to confessing and believeing we must also repent of our sins (sinful life), which is to turn away from that sinful life and change our mindset towards it recognizing that it is wrong and desiring not to walk that way again.  It's just that simple and if you make this decision today, I praise God for your decision and I pray that God will lead you to a church where the principles of the word of God are preached, taught, and lived.  If you're already in a church and have made this decision then let your pastor know the decision you have made to follow Christ so that he/she can help guide you along this Christian journey that you have begun.

It is my prayer that as you travel this Christian journey that you will keep Christ at the center of all that you do and that you will allow him to equip you, encourage you, and empower you to do his will and that your life will bring him glory.

- Dr. DeShonda Bailey 

 

RESTING THROUGH THE STORM

     Storms don't always come with a warning; many times they come unannounced.  One morning when I awoke I was told that it had stormed in my area around 2:00 a.m. that morning.  When I walked out of my house I saw the evidence of the storm in the plethora of debris all over the ground and the wet pavement and asphalt.  This was before I had the conversation where I was informed that it had indeed stormed. While it had stormed greatly on the outside, on the inside all was peaceful rest.  I slept through the whole thing.  I was told that there was thunder and lightning that caused some to awake, but I heard nothing. My slumber, my rest was unbroken.
           There are times when we experience individual storms in our lives whether in our health, finances, family or even socially.  The storm can be an emotional one, a spiritual one, a mental one, or a physical one.  Storms will come and they will go, but what really matters is how we manage the storm.  What really matters is how we navigate the storm.  This reminds me of the time when Jesus and his disciples entered into a boat to cross to the other side of a lake in Luke 8:22-25. Once they were in the boat Jesus fell asleep, no doubt tired from ministering throughout various cities that day as mentioned in the beginning of this eighth chapter of Luke.  After Jesus was asleep a storm arose on the lake, which placed them in danger (jeopardy as mentioned in verse 23).  The storms that would arise on this lake where Jesus and the disciples were geographically located would be violent storms that would arise suddenly seemingly out of nowhere.  So, this storm was a violent storm that caused their boat to be filled with water making the disciples fearful yet Jesus was asleep. Jesus was at perfect rest in the midst of the storm. Why is it that Jesus could be at rest in the storm when the disciples could not be?
          1.  Jesus understood dominion, the disciples did not.  We first see this word, "dominion" in Genesis 1:26 where God said that we should have dominion over all the earth and everything in it.  To have dominion means to rule or reign over, to subjugate (to bring under control and governance), and to prevail over.  While Jesus understood that he had this dominion, the disciples did not so they asked in verse 25, who is this man that he prevails over nature; that nature even does what he says?  Understand that we were designed from the very beginning to have dominion as revealed in Gen. 1:26.
          2.  Jesus understood purpose, the disciples did not.  When you 
understand your God given purpose you know what is meant to threaten you as opposed to what is meant to take you out.  Jesus understood the purpose for which he was placed on this earth.  There was much work for him to do for the sake of the kingdom and so, his time was not yet to leave this earth nor was this the means by which it would happen.  Jesus called these disciples for the purpose of planting the principles of his kingdom into their hearts so that he could release them into the world to perpetuate this kingdom principle planting process throughout the world.  If they understood this, they would have known that the storm did not have the power to destroy them.  They had God given purpose, but lacked understanding.
          Sometimes we are like the disciples in that we grow fearful when the storms of life blow our way.  What we must realize is that the storms do not come to terminate us, but to test and try us.  The storms of life will come to try our faith and test our stamina and spiritual fortitude.  We have no control over the storms arising in our lives, but we do have control over how we respond in the midst of the storm. The next time a storm arises in your life, how will you respond? Will you walk in your God given dominion knowing that it is you that has the power to prevail over the storm rather than the storm having the power to prevail over you?  Will you rest through the storm assured of your God given purpose knowing that the storm does not have the power to and is not assigned to take you out?  Build up spiritual stamina that you might endure the storms of this life by walking by faith and not by sight trusting that God did not allow the storm to come to break or destroy you, but to try you, reveal the posture of your faith, and to strengthen you.  It is my prayer that though the storms of life may blow and even threatens you jeopardizing your comfort zone that you will be able to rest through the storm knowing that God abides with you in it and will bring you through it.
                - Dr. DeShonda Bailey

THE FEET OF JESUS

There are three ways that people approach Jesus.  The First category belongs to those who seek his hands asking for things such as material possessions and seeking what he can do for them.  They treat him like he’s a genie in a bottle only going to him when they want something.  Many parents can identify with this because oftentimes this is how children go to their parents; only when they want something always asking for money or things.  But our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is not a genie in a lamp that we go to when we have three wishes nor should he be treated as such.  Then there are those who go to him in a negotiating fashion trying to bargain with him promising to be good, more committed or more faithful if he would just grant them their wish.  We are not to seek things, but God.  As we live in obedience to His word we will reap the blessings that He has for us (Deut. 28:1-14).

          The Second category belongs to those who seek his face.  The face of God represents His presence as in Psalm 27:8 and His divine favor as in Daniel 9:17.  There are many scriptures on seeking the face of God where we are instructed and encouraged to seek His face.  The believer should always be in a posture of seeking God’s face because the believer is in vital need of God’s presence and favor.  As it is written in Psalm 16:11, in God’s presence is the fullness of joy… and according to Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is your strength.  We need His presence because in his presence we are strengthened.

          The Third category belongs to those who seek his feet.  The feet of Jesus represent a place of submission, humility, learning and promotion.  In Luke 10:38-42 we are told of the account where Jesus visited the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha.  While Martha was busy with preparation of the food and the house for their guests, Martha was seated at the feet of Jesus listening to him as he taught.  Martha was upset with Mary because she felt that Mary should have been helping her with the preparations for the guests, but Jesus said something very interesting that lets us know that Mary was in the right posture (seated at his feet).  As a matter of fact, he said that Mary had chosen that which was needed (the position of submission and learning). 

In Luke 7:35-49 a sinful woman stood behind Jesus at his feet weeping to the point where she washed Jesus feet with her tears and then dried them with her hair after which she anointed them with the precious ointment in her alabaster box.  The Pharisees who were present criticized Jesus for allowing this interaction with this sinful woman but Jesus saw it differently.  When it was all said and done Jesus told the woman and the hypocritical Pharisees that the woman as a result of her posture at his feet and the posture of her heart at his feet that she was forgiven of all her sins.  In this we see submission and humility on her part as well as promotion.  She was promoted from rank of sinner to a position of relationship with Christ.  This reminds me of another woman who was promoted when she sought Jesus’ feet.  The woman with the issue of blood for 12 long years who in Luke 8:43-50 pressed her way through a crowd of people as she yet hemorrhaged just to be able to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.  She didn’t seek his hand or even his face, but bowed low to touch the hem of his garment, which was a lowly position close to his feet.  It was in this posture that she was promoted from a position of affliction and outcast (because of her unclean condition) to a position of daughter (relationship with Christ).  

As you seek God, remember that there is honor in humility.  As you grow in Christ and as you are promoted in and by him, always seek his face, but never leave his feet.  Never leave the place of submission, humility, instruction because it is in that posture that you will surely gain promotion in God's divine timing.

- Dr. DeShonda Bailey

 

THE GARDEN, THE CROSS & THE GRAVE

THE GARDEN

The Garden of Gethsemane was a place of struggle and decision for Christ.  It is the place where he struggled with his assignment of going to the cross.  Christ was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit all for the purpose of dying on a cross to redeem mankind from the grips of sin.  It would be on this cross that he would embody the sin of all mankind then, now, and to come, which would cause him to be separated from God, the Father.  Who could imagine that Jesus, the Son of God would ever be separated from/forsaken by God, the Father, but at that moment when he became our sin that is exactly what happened.  What torture this must have been for Christ, but it had to be so.  It was this tortuous thought that Christ agonized over in this garden.  A garden is normally a place of beauty and relaxation, but here it was a place agony, struggle and decision.  This bitter cup of suffering and separation is what faced Jesus in this garden so, he cried in Matthew 26:39, “O my Father, if it possible, let this cup pass from me.”  This is the struggle between his humanity and his divinity.  The divinity in him knew and understood the assignment set before him, but the humanity in him could not bear the thought of it and struggled against it.  However, it does not end there; there is a continuation of that scripture.  Christ comes to a tipping point, the place of decision.  As he struggled, Jesus came to a decision; a decision to submit his will to that of God and he said, “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."  His struggle gave way to decision. 

THE CROSS

The Cross was a place of suffering and submission for Christ.  It is the place where he suffered the physical pain of being nailed through his hands and feet to the cross, pierced in his side, ridiculed, and mocked all while wearing a crown of thorns on his head.  Though many who stood around him mocking and reviling him did not realize it, he was the suffering savior. Suffered he did, not only through the physical torture to his body, but also through the spiritual separation from his Father, God evidenced by his fourth statement on the cross, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  It was at that moment when Christ took on and became our sin that God could no longer look on him or be present with him that God the Son, Jesus, was forsaken by God the Father.  What suffering indeed.  In the midst of all this suffering Christ submitted to the will of God and gave up the ghost evidenced by his last two statements on the cross, “It is Finished” in John 19:30 declaring that his assignment (the work of redemption) was done and “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” in Luke 23:46 declaring his return from whence he came.  In humble submission he finished the task set before him through suffering submission.

THE GRAVE 

The Grave was a place of triumph and witness for Christ.  It is this place where Jesus’ declaration of resurrection in John 2:19 became reality bearing witness of his declaration.  When the disciples of Christ went to the grave (the tomb where Christ had been laid) they found it empty except for the linens that Jesus had been wrapped in (John 20:1-20).  While many, including Mary, initially supposed that Christ’s body had been stolen or moved, Jesus revealed himself to Mary and then to his disciples who were behind closed doors in his resurrected body.  Triumphant indeed because death and the grave had no power over Christ. As it is written in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting: O grave, where is thy victory?”  From a place devoid of life sprang forth life, the resurrection and the life, in the person of Jesus Christ.  Triumphant he rose on the third day just as he said.  What some saw as the end was actually the beginning made available to us all who would believe on him who gave his life for all.

From Struggle to Decision - through Suffering Submission – to Triumph that Witnesses to us even today, over 2000 years later.  JESUS IS LORD!  Accept him by faith as your lord and savior today.  As it is written in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

-          Dr. DeShonda Bailey

 

A Biblical Perspective on Justice

I am sure that all of you who are reading this blog message are aware of the unfortunate circumstances that have befallen young Trayvon Martin, a young man of 17 years of age who found himself at the mercy of George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida.  This great injustice has caused great public outcry from people of all races, genders, ages, and socio-economical backgrounds in our nation.  Many are saddened, outraged, infuriated, frustrated, disappointed, discouraged, fed-up, and confused at how such a thing could happen in 2012.  All of these emotions are justified and understood because, after all, young Trayvon was simply walking down the street in a community where he had a right and reason to be, carrying a can of ice tea and a bag of skittles.  With all of the public outcry for justice behind this situation and my heart being burdened with the injustice of it all, I thought it fitting to see what God has to say on the issue of Justice. 

In Isaiah 1:17, God gives an instruction to His people about doing what is good and seeking justice.  He said, “Learn to do good, work for justice.  Help the down and out.  Stand up for the homeless.  Go to bat for the defenseless.” [MSG]  There are a lot of things that we go about doing on our daily journey called life and much of it is for ourselves, but it is required of us that we seek justice, not just for ourselves, but for others.  We must stand up against oppression and injustice by reproving (correcting) it when we see it and come to the defense of others.  The word for justice as used here in Isaiah 1:17 is taken from the word judgment in the King James Version of the bible, which in the Greek means “right, cause, lawful, and order.” [Blueletterbible.org]. So, when you seek or work for justice you are seeking and working for that which is right, cause worthy, lawful, and in order.  Standing up for justice is standing up for order in the sight of God.

In Proverbs 31:9 King Lemuel’s mother warned him against injustice by telling him, “open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”  The New Living Translation puts it this way, “speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”  King Lemuel’s mother was speaking to her son in this way because he was a leader, one who would rule the people and she knew that it was important for a leader to be just in his decisions and actions in how he interacted with people, especially a leader who represented God.  It is important for leaders to stand up and not only seek justice, by speak out against injustice on behalf of those who are at the mercy of others, but it is not only for leaders to seek and advocate for justice on behalf of others.  It is incumbent upon us all to open our mouths and speak up on behalf of others that they might get justice.  God is a God of justice and deals justly with mankind and requires us to deal justly with one another. 

When I think about the atrocity of the killing of Trayvon Martin and the fact that his mother and father had to bury their child I am reminded about another young man whose mother had to bury him because he was cut down in his youth because of the color of his skin, Emmet Till in 1955 at the age of 14.  As I think on these unfortunate events my heart aches and I am moved to tears.  I do not believe that God, the righteous judge who is just and angered by injustice, will allow Trayvon Martin’s death to be in vain.  I believe that his death will lead to change in what is acceptable and right in the realm of social justice in this world that we live in. 

Justice is not only a legal issue, but also a social one.  It governs how we interact with and respond to each other; it speaks to our very humanity and sense of what is right not in our own eyes, but in the eyes of God.  Life is precious because we are all created in God’s image so, we cry out, stand up for, and go to bat for all the Trayvon Martin’s of this world whose voices have been silenced at the hands of the wicked and sanctioned by the blind eye of injustice.

-          Dr. DeShonda Bailey

 

GIVE THEM WINGS

     Children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3).  Children are gifts bestowed upon us from God as a reward and God charges parents with the awesome responsibility of raising or as some would say in generations past, rearing our children in such a way that they would become disciples of him and that they would be equipped to successfully function and operate in society in every area of their lives.  However, parenting can seem a daunting task for some in this 21st century, post modern world with all of the distractions pulling at our children and vying for their attention.  Many parents are working hard trying to earn a living that will provide for their family and when they come home they are tired and weary of the day's challenges and troubles.  These challenges and troubles can weigh a parent down to the point where they don't have the energy or fortitude to sit with their children to find out about their day and instruct them in the way that they should go.

            In Deuteronomy 6 Moses instructed the people (adults) on how they were to live according to the commands and ways of God and that they were to instruct their children and grandchildren to do the same and by doing so they would live successful lives in the land that the Lord was positioning them to inherit.  Moses instructed the people that they were to instruct their children in the ways of the Lord every chance they got (upon waking, when lying down, when sitting at home and when walking about throughout the day on their way to and fro).  It was to be a constant, habitual process of teaching, discipling, mentoring, equipping, and encouraging of their children.  While this occurred in the Old Testament, the same is just as true and important today.  If our children are going to be successful (according to God's definition of success) and if they are going to be positive, godly influences in society, we are going to have to indoctrinate our children in the ways of God.  It's either that or continue to let the world indoctrinate them with the wicked principles of this world system.  

           The word of God addresses every area of our lies and speaks to everything that we need to know in how to get through this life in a victorious manner in harmony with God.  We must instruct our children in how to handle their finances (how to be faithful stewards or managers over the money that God allows them to earn and receive).  We must teach them how to justly interact with others in society, whether in school, on the street while going to and fro, in the marketplace, at work, and in various business arenas.  We must teach them how to have compassion on their fellow man and that they are to love their neighbors as they love themselves recognizing that their neighbors are those whose paths they cross and not just those who live next door to them.  We must teach them to take responsibility serious by being committed to that which they agreed to do and not to give up on it because the thrill of the newness of the idea is gone.  We must instruct them in how to approach courtship and marriage and family planning.  We must provoke them to consider their future in a multidimensional way that looks at the big picture and steer them away from tunnel vision of simply self pleasing motives.  We must teach them that ministry is to be taken seriously and provoke them to seek God for their place in it.  

          By doing this we give them wings.  Children are not given to us so that we can hold onto them.  We don't raise boys to be boys, but men.  Likewise we don't raise girls to be girls, but women.  There comes a time when they must leave the nest and make their own way in the world building their own lives, but we must give them the wings to fly.  When birds have babies (chicks or baby birds), they nurture them for a season in the confines of the nest, but there comes a time when each baby bird must fly.  The momma bird, if you will, feeds and nurtures the baby birds to a level of independence at which time it provokes the baby bird to take flight. By nurturing the baby bird for a season the momma bird is strengthening and equipping the bird to survive independent from her constant care and supervision. In order to have a successful flight birds have to know how to control their speed, how to land properly feet first, and must have the right body mass (weight).  Some birds will cut back on the amount they eat as they prepare to take their first flight. The point is there are preparations made before birds take their first flight, much of which is instinctive.  Unlike animals, humans have a will and are not just creatures of instinct.  We have a will to choose to do right or wrong, to be productive/fruitful or barren or unfruitful, to be successful or a failure, to be positive or negative, to be good or be bad.

          Parenting is work, a 24/7 job, but it is the most important job you will ever have.  While you are giving your children toys, gadgets, money, and other material pleasantries, give them wings by equipping them at every stage of their lives so that they can not only survive in this world, but walk and live victoriously & face and meet every challenge that comes their way.  Their lives depend on it.

            - Dr. DeShonda Bailey