Freaking Out!

image by: wonderfreakish.blogspot.com

I know God can do the impossible so why am I freaking out about what he’s telling me to do next?

Impossible example:  In Jamaica beaches are the norm.  Sadly as citizen we don’t appreciate and enjoy them as much as visitors from other countries. One day though on a family day out, I was sitting on the shores in a period when I was just getting to know God. It was a season in my life where my faith needed to be built and I was sitting a little away from my family and friends, talking to God.

“God its so hard talking with You and not hearing an answer.  I know you hear me so I don’t know why it seems so hard for You to respond to me.  I wish I could see a fish jump and flip over right in front of me right here on the shore lines (almost impossible).  That would surely prove to me that You are hearing me even if you are not responding in a manner I would like. Nah, that could never happen”  I concluded as I sadly placed my head between my legs.

I held up my head looking out into the deep when suddenly before my very eyes a huge fish about 15 inches in length freckled with colours of the rainbow jumped out of the ankle length water flipped twice before me and then disappeared under the surface of the water.  I began to holler… I was so startled. I turned to the persons beside me and shouted “Oh my God, did you see it, did you see it?”  ”See what?”  “The fish, the fish!  Did you see the fish?”   “Aum… fishes don’t come to this part of the beach.  it’s not exactly the ocean or a fishing site you know”.  “I know, I know but a fish just flipped up out of the water right here in front of me!” I yelled in excitement.  I think they believed the sun’s rays had penetrated my skull and I had gone nuts. “That’s kinda not possible“  They replied with much skepticism.  “No, It is! It just happened! You never saw the fish?” I ecstatically answered with much drama in my face and conviction in my tone.  ”Amo…fishes do not swim on this part of the beach worst on sandy shores that have water less than even ankle deep”  They slowly, in a monotone and cautiously concerned voice re-informed me like a tactical officer trying to calm a potential suicide victim who is about to jump off a ledge to certain death.

In that moment I recognized this was a kairos moment in time with Jesus and I. I smile broadly and told them “okay” trying to assure them I haven’t lost my marbles. I then began to jump and holler like a mad teenager meeting their Hollywood crush for the first time. They walked off slowly like “who she? we do not know her…no affiliation at all to this nutcase”.  I could’ve cared less.  I knew what that event meant for me.

God did it! Right there in front my eyes.  He proved to me that He was listening and was hearing me even though He was not responding in a manner I wanted.  He did the impossible just for me – He’s awesome.

That is just one of the many times that God has proven to me that He is able…so, why am I now freaking out [freaking out being a serious understatement] about what He’s putting in my heart to do at this point in my life?

Isn’t He able?  If He was able then – which He was; Isn’t He able now?  Will He not forever be able? Isn’t He able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can think, ask, conceive or imagine?

My friend, please pray for my faith!    It’s been seriously stretched, possibly like its never been before.

I need your prayers.

Just Drive

image by: insuranceandstuffs.blogspot.com

 

One day a young lady went out for a ride with her dad.  Not long after they began the journey, they came upon a storm. The young lady asked her father “Daddy what should I do?”, he said “keep driving my daughter”. So she proceeded.

As they drove along they noticed, cars began to pull over to the side because the storm was getting worse. “What should I do?” The young lady asked again, ”Keep driving” her father replied. On up a few feet, she realized eighteen wheelers and other heavy duty vehicles were pulling over also. She told her dad “Daddy, I really feel like I must pull over as well. I can barely see ahead. It is terrible out here. Look at that – everyone is pulling over.  Shouldn’t I pull over as well?”. Her father told her “Don’t give up sweetie. Never mind those who are stopping. Keep your eyes on the road whether you can see clearly or not and  Just keep on driving”.

Now the storm was awful, but she never stopped driving.  She obediently adhered to her father’s advice believing Him even though she wanted to do otherwise and soon, to her surprise, she could see a little clearer. After a couple of miles she was on dry land and the sun was out.  The skies were blue again and everything seemed back to normal.  Even the road she was now on, looked better paved than the one on which she began.

Her father turned to her and said, ”now pull over and get out”.  She said ”What?” Somewhat puzzled “why now?” He replied softly “get out, take a good look back at all the people that gave up and is still battling in the storm. My dear, you never gave up and now your storm is over”. 

 It doesn’t matter what you are facing… Don’t give up.  Your heavenly Father is ready and willing to help you get through it. Even the ones that appear to be the largest and strongest give up at times, but you don’t have to because if you keep on going, your storm will pass away and the sun will shine upon your face again. If you press on and don’t give up, your sun will come out sooner than you think. You will make it my friend… I guarantee that you will.

Be blessed.

 

author unknown.  Borrowed and modified from an email received.

Guidance??

When I meditated on the word Guidance, 
I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.     
I believe doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.

image by:gtsjazz.wordpress.com

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.   
The movement doesn’t flow with the music,   
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.   
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,   
both bodies begin to flow with the music.   
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back   
or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. 

It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.     

image by: http://www.clickkwne.com

The dance takes surrender, willingness,   
and attentiveness from one person   
and gentle guidance and skill from the other. 

image by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/olemik/3188072378/

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance .   
When I saw “G”: I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i”.   
“God, “u” and “i” dance.”   
God, you, and I dance.   
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust   
that I would get  guidance about my life..   
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

image by: jojofeelings.wordpress.com

My prayer for you today is that you will become God’s best dance partner. May you abide in God, as He abides in you.     
Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead   
and to guide you through each season of your life…   

author unknown, borrowed and modified from an email received

The Big Fish…

image by: fishingkayaksforsale.info

Two men went fishing. One was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn’t. Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back. The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing the man waste good fish. ‘Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?’ he asked. The inexperienced fisherman replied, ‘I only have a small frying pan’.

Sometimes, like that fisherman, we throwback the big plans, big dreams, big jobs, big opportunities that God gives us. Why? Well because our faith is too small. We may laugh at that fisherman who didn’t figure out that all he needed was a bigger frying pan, yet how ready are we to increase the size of our faith? Whether it’s a problem or a possibility, God will never give you anything bigger than He can handle. That is the key to the big fish.  He gives you what is seemingly out of your reach so He can get it to you from His distance. [How awesome!] Starting that new business, launching out in that ministry, studying at a higher level, a healing that is needed… whatever it is that will increase our level of faith from where it is now, will require taking a bold step into the “next adventure”.  Launching into the deep and increasing our faith means we can confidently walk into anything God brings our way.

You can do all things through God. Nothing is too big for Him!

This week why don’t you look at ways in which you can use a “bigger frying pan” for your self or even someone else instead of throwing away their or your big fish.

“Stop telling God you’ve got big problems. Tell your problems you’ve got a BIG GOD!”

author unknown – borrowed and modified from an email received.

The New Amo’s Medical Centre

**FRIDAY’S FALL BACK**

With the surge of pornagraphic and sexual content plus the various lusts overtaking the world today, I have found that it’s getting even harder to stay in Christ especially if you are a young person. I went into the archives and pulled this one as my remedy for the problem. My heart yearns for young people across the nations to know Jesus and make Him their Lord and Saviour completely – RADICALLY!  Hope you enjoy your visit to my medical centre today.

I read a blog recently about a young girl who came from a good christian home, went to college and got involved with a “player type guy”.  This guy declares that any girl who hooks up with him has to engage in certain explicit sexual activities. It was also confirmed that this particular young lady (as the guy had said) surely granted him those “special favours”.  [What a pity]  It was truly heart-aching to read.  The person who wrote it titled the document “Christian-Girl-Gone-Bad”.   

I honestly believe that if young people (especially christian ones) truly gain an identity of who they are in Jesus, certain things they will abstain from and even if they do fall into them, they will ask forgiveness, turn away and bounce back stronger than they were previously.  I am certain of this because Proverbs 24:16 says: “ A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again…”  [The bible never lies baby].

I have therefore acted on God’s behalf to try to remedy the situation.  After consultation with the infected child (hypothetically), and analyzing the documents presented, Doctor Amo says:

Illness: Christian-Girl-Gone-Bad (CGGB)

Signs: Lack of interest in church activities, irregular to non-church attendance, ill-placed lust, the excuse factors, loss of christian appetite, dusty bibles, cobwebbed godly relationships.

Diagnosis: Boring church services, incomprehension of kingdom life, religious nut-cases, social pressure, hypocrisy, rigid church rules and regulations, lack of identity, media and culture influenza.

Prognosis: Unfulfilled lives, purposelessness, despair, brokenness, sadness, guilt, hurt, sometimes success without happiness, fornication, spiritual adultery.

 

Prevention Prescription:
Intimacy: Hourly love-making and passion with Jesus.

Healthy Eating: Daily feasting from the buffet table of the Bible.

Radicality: Be real and true to yourself and your gifts at all cost – Authenticity is massively important.

Work: Don’t be busy, be active. Look for opportunities to help serve and honour others. This is key to preventing the gangrene of selfishness, the parasite of pride and the growth of idleness.

Anointing: Daily dose of the anointing before, during or at nights.

 

WARNING:Take anointing ONLY as directed. Overdose might cause heavenly experiences and fun-filled earthly lives.

Pass the word around the next time you see a full blown CGGB or a potential CGGB in the making.  We can make special arrangements to have them transported here to the centre for rehabilitation.  Simply leave us the information and we will do the rest.

Thanks for making it Doctor Amo’s Medical Centre.

 

copyright © 2010

 

Party in Heaven

Last night I was sitting in the dark listening to a sermon from Bishop Tudor Bismark that he did at Bishop T.D. Jakes Church – The Potter’s House in Dallas, Taxas entitled: “Don’t Choke“. He is one of my favourite speakers and his wife is also very good – Pastor Chi Chi Bismark.  They inspire me much when I listen to them as they present the truth of God’s word in grace and skillfulness.  My dear reader, truth is what I am writing about today has nothing to do with Bishop or his wife…hahahaha.  Just wanted to mention  I was listening to them because I love them and want to introduce you to them in case you’ve never heard of them. smile.

Okay on with the story….

So, my son who was sleeping woke up and realised we were in the dark.  So he began to whine and complain “Mommy place dark, turn light on, on with light mommy…”  So I got up and went to turn on the light but I switched and instead dashed around the corner with my phone light leaving a trail for him to see where I went.  Naturally he didn’t like it because now he couldn’t see me anymore.  He began calling me: “Mommmy, mommy, mooommmmyyyy…”.   Since the phone light had now faded he was stuck but he had followed closely behind and got  very near to where I was when the light I was carrying went dim.  I was standing right where he was but he couldn’t see me.  So on his fourth call “mommmyyyy”  I answered “yes baby,  here I am”.  He couldn’t see me but he could hear me.  So he put out his hand trying to find me, listening intently from where the sound was coming .  I answered again realising that he still didn’t find me and of course since the place is completely dark I didn’t want him to bump into anything.  Although I was standing right there he could’ve  just easily turned around if I didn’t answer fast enough, then bump into the wall or the bookcase so I answered even louder just to reassure him to continue because even though he couldn’t see me in the dark, if he listened for my voice he surely could hear me and then find me.

Upon being certain that he heard me correctly, he proceeded with arms outstretched and then in one more step, he took a hold of me.  I was so overwhelmed and ecstatic that he followed my voice in the dark and eventually found me.  As I grabbed him placing a thousand kisses over him and turning on the lights so now he could see his way, he said “mommy, I found you in dark” with a huge smile on his face. I replied equally overjoyed “yes baby. You sure did”.  I told him how proud I was of him and that I love him.

The Lord then spoke into my heart “if it pleases you so much that you’ve found your son and he found you in the dark of your home,  how do you think I feel when my children who are in the darkness of sin in a world that’s not their home, eventually find Me, grab hold of Me and then realise their true Home? How do you think I feel to have them wrapped in My arms?”

I smiled and said “my Jesus, I can only imagine”.

I thought about it and then this scripture tells me explicitly what happens – PARTY IN HEAVEN!

“I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.”  Luke 15:7 (GWB)

 

 

 

Related article:  A Walk of Faith on My Dreams and Visions.

Pretty Little Killers

Living in the lush tropical paradise called Jamaica we are blessed to have fruit trees  growing almost all year round and so its easy to anticipate whatever fruit is in its specific season. Cherry is a wonderful little fruit that is round and red when ripe and is very delicious when blended to make cherry juice. It can be blended with pineapple or our Jamaican apple and gives a really great caribbean flavour that’s intoxicating and almost addictive when tasted.

I noticed midway last year that some nice little additions to my cherry tree were evident all over the branches and root of the tree. These flowerless but nice little blossoms were everywhere on the tree. I thought “wow, these little blossoms are so nice and the many clusters of them look quite decorative on the tree”. Honestly, they reminded me of little Christmas tree treats used to lively up one’s tree during the Christmas season.

After a while, something began to bother me though, because my tree is normally loaded with cherries but for some reason it looked dry, brittle empty and cherry-less.

An example of parts of the dry brittle fruitless tree

So I went to my husband quite concerned.

“Baby, what’s happening with the Cherry tree? There’s hardly any cherry on it. It looks dry and thirsty. That is quite unlike it to not be bearing. Do you know what is going on with it? I saw some nice little blossom thingy on it. I think it should be producing much more since its blossoming now”. (Cherry trees don’t exactly grow blossom my dear reader but I never knew that).

My husband replied “Sweetheart, those blossoms are not blossoms at all. They are actually parasites that are feeding off the tree so they themselves can live. The more they feed the more the tree will die. They are slowly killing the tree dearheart”.

“What? Eyes wide open, appalled and devastated, I responded… “so those cute little things are actually pretty little killers?”

“Uh huh”.

“Oh no.  Poor tree” I said fighting my tears.

“Now you feel sorry for the tree right?”  He said, smiling and reading me and my face like an open book.

My eyes welled up. He hugged me realizing my tears were not far from my cheeks.  I couldn’t believe it.  All this time, I thought those cute little blossoms were helping the tree but in reality they were killing the tree.  They feed off the life of the tree. In order for them to survive, the tree must support them surrendering its life whether it wants to or not.  They are invasive, parasitic and lethal .  I could only imagine what the poor tree must be undergoing.  They were choking the very life from the tree.  This tree that once bloomed and flourish with pride was dying and there was nothing the tree in of itself could do to survive.  It needed help. Help from something or someone greater than itself.  Everyday I would go out and try to pick off as many as I could.  They were sooo many and most of them were higher than I could reach. Also the limbs makes your skin itch big time when they come in contact with you. All those factors put together with the attraction of bugs and mosquitoes that the warmth produces were working against me helping it further. I lamented for the tree almost daily. It’s like I could feel the tree’s pain.

During the Christmas holiday, I was so tired after all the work that naturally comes with Christmas.  I went in and took a nap.  I awoke to smoke and was quite concerned   “Smoke…my son…my husband…wait, where is everybody?”  I ran almost frantically outside to hear my husband talking with someone and I was thoroughly amazed.

My husband brought a chair outside, stood on it and was pulling every single one of those little monstrosities off the tree.  Those little murderous fiends… and he made a small fire; burning them to ashes.  Yay! My heart bursted and overflowed with gratitude and love for this man.  He said “Surprise Baby!”  He had been out there for the last two hours diligently pulling, tugging and scraping every last one of them from the tree.  I was ecstatic and speechless.  He was bruised, bitten, battered and banged up pretty good. There were scrapes and cuts and swellings all over him because when the tree touched his skin and he scratched it, it became swollen.  I was so grateful I couldn’t say a word but smiled broadly.  I joined him in picking up the ones that did not yet fall in the fire.  I enjoyed watching the little suckers burn to dust… those, those, little hellions.  When he was through, I had to nurse him back to health. Sanitizing the cuts and stuff but I was so overjoyed, I didn’t mind his usual whining and whimpering about every little bruise. This time, the whimper was well accepted. Smile.

Everytime I think of this incident it reminds me of my Jesus.  Our sins act like those parasites. They look good on the outside, (sometimes even cause us to feel good or justified) but underneath they are slowly killing us bit by bit.  Our unforgiveness, our lies, fornincation, rebellion, jealousies, puffed up pride, lusts, cheating… a mean you name it.  All these things that make us feel good, but underneath everything about us – the real us, is being lost.  We can’t help ourselves in our own strength (although for some reason mankind think they can fix themselves).  We need Someone higher than us to do so.  We need Someone who is willing to pay the cost in blood, sweat and tears to set us free.  Well like my husband did for this tree, Jesus did for us.  He took all our sins and washed them all away with his dreadful suffering on the cross just so you can be free, flourish and bloom in your purpose.  He loves you and wants you to be free to live life to the fullest in His grace.  He wants us to thrive…

My tree is now blossoming and I smile to myself when I realise just how much on a daily basis the tons of cherries that are ripe and are ready to be eaten. I mean – DAILY!  Its flourishing even more than it use to and I believe it is its way of saying thanks for freeing me to do what I was created to do.  It now provides much needed vitamin C for me and my family, others, insects and birds too.  Its wonderful to live life empowered and purposeful.

My son with a few cherries ripe and ready to eat… Yummy!

Now my son can reach up, pick, wash and eat.  Isn’t it great to be free on the inside as well as the outside?

To All The Mom’s

*Gigantic smile*
*Beaming…*
My husband just surprised me with my mother’s day gift. He hid it in my handbag I was packing up to go to church with later while I wasn’t looking. I am esctatic! It’s what I wanted and I am feeling on the moon.

It feels good to be appreciated and loved. Its good to know you have someone who listens to you and wants to grant you all your heart’s desires. All I have to do is speak it! This, my earthly lover who loves me like Christ loves His church, reminds me of my heavenly Lover who loves me enough to actually die for me – His church. Such beauty, wonder and fascination touches every facet of my mortal being and personality.

So I just want to take this time to say to all my fellow blogging moms, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY and BLESSED MOTHER’S DAY!

You are special. You are a world changer never forget that!
Many blessings and love from my famiy to yours.
Hugs and kissess to you!

Never Stale

I have quite a number of spiritual kids and I love them very much. I am blessed and fortunate to do what I do. I am destined to reach souls yes, but God has anointed me to reach young people in a way that many can’t – simply because I am anointed to do so…no other reason.  I am able to operate in God’s grace, love and mercy with them more than the average person – simply because I am anointed to do so…no other reason.  I live and dream about finding ways to get them saved and into their purpose – simply because I am anointed to do so…no other reason. Its my passion.

It took me a long while to understand this however and along the way I lost myself several times.  Now I’m flowing in it and its problematic for some persons.  I know of parents stopping their children from attending my ministry or events of my ministry not because I am fake or false or ungodly or a terrible leader, or too radical or too unorthodox (though some find my radicality frightening) or lacking integrity or unrighteous or anything of that nature. They forbid them because “they talk about my ministry and me way too much. They’re too excited about what’s going on in our ministry”.  That’s kinda funny.

I smile because I wonder if when we say we want our children or even our friends and loved ones changed to serving Christ, if we really do or we want them conforming to our idea of change. When our kids get radical and excited about the things of God that we find way too “out there”, we get nervous and try to pull them back into the old traditional or cultural way of things and reject anything new because it makes us feel comfortable and ‘in control’.

Our God is as evolving as the times. Thinking about it, He’s not exactly evolving but our ideas and knowledge of Him keeps shifting and changing which makes Him appear to be evolving.  Its like the sun appears to be moving when in reality its the earth that is and not the sun itself.  God’s words, laws and principles remain the same but His methods are never outdated  He’s never stale! He is the Inventor of inventions, the Original of every copy, the Creator of creativity and the Author of newness.  God is so much into newness that even His mercies are NEW every morning.  How about that?

I’m simply saying if we want true heart transformation in our friends, family and loved ones, then we must be ready to embrace whatever godly radical change it carries.  Paul was knocked off his donkey and was blinded for three days but Cornelius was hit by the Holy Spirit in his house while listening to Peter’s sermon.  Two different methods but same heart transformation.

God choses how to do what we need, when we need it. Let’s embrace it instead of tagging it fearfully and treating it like a diseased bug we want to squash.  Its the One God with different methods to reach a diverse people that He created. He knows how to get us what we require. After all who knows us better than the One who created us?

Pop, pop, crackle

Life with and in Jesus is awesome!

I love being in relationship with Him! A mean, I really do (except for when I want an answer from Him for a specific thing and He refuses to answer for reasons known only to Him).  Otherwise, having an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus ROCKS! Totally!

Who wouldn’t want to be in love and involved with a loving Know-it-all?  A mean, a true know it all?  Not an arrogant, puffed up, self-proclaimed narcissistic know-it-all, but a Divine Being who truly knows it all?

Take for example on Friday of last week, a typical day, I went to use my microwave to heat up some lunch for myself and my son, when the Lord said softly to me “FIRE”.  I went “Fire?  hmmm”.  So instead of walking away like usual I stood there wondering if the fire was gonna come from the microwave since He said it as I closed the door and turned it on. About half way through the heating process I heard ‘pop, pop, pop, crackle, crackle, ssttt, ssstttt and poof’. Immediately a fire ensued. Whoa! The plug began to burn and the kitchen began to fill up with fumes.  I nervously grabbed it and unplugged it from the socket. It would not budge because it began to melt.  I ran to the other socket and yanked it with all my might and then it finally popped out.  Good Gracious! It was quite a scary event.  I was glad my son did not come running in there because I would not want him to see what was happening.

When everything became calm and under control I smiled and said “Thank You Lord!”.  Imagine if He didn’t tell me before it happened?  I would’ve just put the food in, walk away and maybe by the time I realised what was happening, it would be a tragedy of some sort. Whew!  Yay God!

Friend, Jesus loves you and just wants to be close to you. He wants to direct your life so you can live to the fullest. I want to encourage you to get deeper with Him if you are already in relationship with Him.  Having a dynamite relationship with the Lord of the world, is worth all the pain and sacrifice it takes to maintain it.  If you don’t know Him, I’d invite you to get to know Him.  Believe me it’s the best decision you can make in your entire lifetime. His love will give you purpose and present you with a life actually worth living.