Spirit

Encouragement from the Scriptures necessary for spiritual wellness.

My Vote Doesn’t Matter

by ladypbwiggins

How much effort do you put into stopping something that doesn’t matter? I suspect very little to none. If your vote doesn’t matter why are people working so hard to make it difficult for you to cast it? Why are they closing polling places near you? Why are they trying to institute disguised poll tax on you before you can vote? Why is mail-in being questioned during this pandemic. It’s been working in several states with no problem? Could it be that once that ballot is placed in the mailbox it is a federal offense to tamper with it? Seems like a lot of effort if it doesn’t matter.

There are very real reasons you should vote. I’m speaking to my Black family now. Many have bled and died so you could. It was a birthright that we were denied. Did they, your grandparents, great-parents go through that because it really didn’t matter. They recognized that it gave them a powerful voice that they had been denied.

Additionally, if you don’t vote you prove Massa was right. You aren’t capable of making such weighty decisions. You are triflin’ and lazy. You need the safety and protection of Massa on his plantation. You will get scraps to eat, a few rags to wear and a shack to live in and it’s not free. You will have to accept working hard for no wages, rape when he feels like it, beatings because you forgot and tried to express independent thought. This is what giving up your powerful voice will look like once again.

I, for one, will not return to this. I lived through the 60’s struggle. I lived in the Jim Crow south. While I was never beaten, I had friends who were. I lived under the daily threat. I went to the meetings and participated in local marches that could have resulted in that kind of brutality. I saw the look on my grandparents faces when they had to swallow their pride and go to the back door to get food at roadside restaurants. I had to watch my strong, proud great-grandmother say yes m’am to a white girl younger than me because it meant survival. I had to live with the colored/white only signs. The accommodations were separate but not equal. I lived the “back of the bus” experience. I also participated in the boycott. That was economic power in action. If am going to live and work on this plantation called the United States of America, I am going to have a say on how it’s run. I am going to have a say in the laws, privileges, benefits, punishments and my relative safety.

Your vote matters. Don’t give up your power. Don’t become a slave because of cynicism, past disappointments, a feeling of powerlessness. These are the tools Massa is happy to use to get you to give up your power. If nothing else vote to make him a lie.

VOTE! It’s your voice. It’s your power. It matters!

Disturbing My Peace

by ladypbwiggins

In that early morning quiet there is an indescribable peace. Birds are not even singing yet. It is a calming, stressless atmosphere. There is no desire to think about reality. Just dream and meditate. A time to hear and feel the Presence of God.

What was that? Noise!

A car just drove by, its music blaring. Someone dropped what sounded like wood slats. Man!They woke the birds. With each added sound, the reality of responsibility crept in to disturb my peace. Now it’s time to work. All I have left is the memory of early morning peace and calm. And I’m not even a morning person. 😀

Humiliating Worship

by ladypbwiggins

This morning I woke up with King Solomon’s Temple dedication on my mind. It is clear from God’s response that the celebration was acceptable but what made it so?

Solomon made sure the Temple was built according to the specifications given to David. All the previous materials and workmanship were the best of the best. The priest consecrated themselves in preparation to go into that holy place. The priest, the people, and the King made sacrifices, too many to count. There was music and singing and praising the LORD. The LORD was the guest of honor and they made sure He knew that He was welcome.

Solomon stood on a scaffold to address the people. He could have said, “Look at what I’ve built. Look how grand I’ve made it. Instead he recounted the promises made to David by the LORD. He said the LORD had built the Temple and kept His word by making it His home. He viewed himself as an unworthy servant. Then he turned toward the Presence and laid prostrate. The people bowed low with their faces on the pavement. To an outsider this could appear very bazaar and humiliating. Seeing the mighty Solomon in such a public display. The priests should surely do this but the King? Solomon cared more about loving his God and being an example to his people than appearances. Can you imagine that day? All that singing and celebrating with a whole nation lying down before their God. Their God was worthy of all that and more. Oh that we would worship with such abandonment. That we would come before our God with one consecrated voice and lay ourselves low before Him. As a result God’s Presence overwhelmingly filled the Temple. Just thinking about experiencing that takes my breath. I have felt His Presence before which was overwhelming to me but nothing like that. I’ve wanted it and now I see I am the cause of not having it. I have work to do on my Temple and my worship. One of my spiritual sisters, Sharon, said to me today that we have strayed from graciousness to self-entitlement.

We say we know we don’t deserve His Presence, His blessings, His grace yet that is exactly how we behave. Yes we are The King’s children but we are priest(esses), servants as well. Servants bow down in complete abandonment. Let’s worship like Solomon did.

God’s Response To King Solomon’s Prayer

by ladypbwiggins

2 Chronicles 7:12 (NKJV)
12  Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

After all the people had gone home, Jehovah appeared to Solomon in the night to speak to him one on one. The very first thing Jehovah said to Solomon was I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place. Basically, He said, Son you have done well and everything including your worship I have found pleasing. If that wasn’t enough he was about to find out what Jehovah’s decision was for each request.

Just as Solomon presented his request with “if-then” clauses, Jehovah responded. However, when I checked the Hebrew for “if” I discovered the word could also be translated “when.” Some Bible translations have that. This made an impact on me because in my world, “if” is a maybe and “when” is a certainty. For all of you who have been taught that Jehovah does not cause bad things to happen, read this section of scripture. This will clear up any confusion you might have.

2 Chronicles 7:13 (NKJV)
13  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,

Notice Jehovah is saying when these things happen, He causes or commands it. He continues the statement with the scripture of my focus

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

I will try to quickly go through the chosen key words to explain why I think there is so much more than I usually think about. The study aids I used were Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, The Complete Word Study Old Testament-Zodhiates, and New Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies

Called – to be called by the name of a person denotes the standing in a peculiar relation to him or being his property, his people, city etc.

Name- 1. The name is supposed to correspond to the nature of a person or thing; or express some qualities or circumstances relating to them 2. to act in a person’s name is to act by his commission or authority; 3. to call by name is to single our and appoint a person for any work, is eminently qualified for it, or as the object of special favor.

Humble – to bend the knee; hence to humiliate oneself

Seek – to search out that which is uncertain and doubtful, with the desire of obtaining, and with care and attention

Face – the part that turns; a face or surface. This Hebrew word is also translated Presence, or Present

I substituted these definitions and the scripture reads

If My people, who cry out and express my nature, qualities and authority in their behavior would bow down to humiliate themselves before me, to search out the uncertain with a careful attentive desire to obtain my Presence, and pray, turn away from their evil ways, then from heaven I will hear them, I will forgive them and heal their land.

So the questions I had to answer for myself were

1. Do I reflect His nature, qualities, and authority in my behavior? I call myself by His Name.

2. Do I bow down truly with an attitude of humiliation or entitlement because I am His?

3. Do I truly search out His Presence, His Presence when I pray? Do I give that careful attention?

4. Have I turned from my evil ways or am I holding on to a few favorites just in case I need to handle someone?

He heard Solomon’s prayer because he did all these things. He then told him that if the people did this He would hear them. Can I then conclude that He will do the same for me?

Jehovah concludes His response with the statement that His eyes were open and ears attentive to the prayers made in that place. I know He was referring to the Temple but the principle and promises do not change. I believe just as He wrote the law on our hearts(minds), I believe the Temple refers to us in that the Holy Spirit resides in those who are called by His Name.

King Solomon’s Prayer

by ladypbwiggins

II Chronicles 6

King Solomon stands on the scaffold in the midst of the Temple court yard. He kneels, spreads his hands toward heaven and prayed. Was it a prayer of praise? Did he make requests?

First, he acknowledged his God. That He was like none other: a covenant keeper and merciful to His servants who walked before Him in obedience with all their heart. He acknowledged that God kept His promise that He made to David.

Second, he asked God to verify this promise. That He would dwell among His people on earth. He ask for this verification because he knew nothing man-made could contain the Presence of God.

Next, he asked God to listen to the prayers and supplications made by him (Solomon) and the people in and toward the House of God. He asked that he hear them and forgive them if they repent. King Solomon listed all the offences he could think of that Israel could committ against each other and against God. He covered captivity, no rain, pestilence, famine, locusts or plagues because these are things God used to punish Israel when they sinned against him in the past. He asked God to forgive Israel of each offence if they truly repented, confessed and turned from their sin. Solomon was wise enough to know, some would give lip service. He asked God to hear and judge them ” according to their ways whose hearts you know.”

Now this is the part I really like. Up to this point it is about the behavior of the children of Israel. Verse 33 makes the prayer inclusive to non-Israelites. Regarding the foreigner who is not of Israel but has come because of your great name and pray, hear him. Why? So that all peoples of the earth may know your name and worship you as Israel does. And that they may know this house is called by Your Name. That includes people like me in the prayer if I fulfill the conditions. Solomon completes the prayer with asking God “to come to His resting place, You and the Ark of your strength and power. Let your priests be clothe with salvation and let your godly ones rejoice in your goodness. O Lord God, do not turn away and reject the face of your anointed; remember Your lovingkindness and faithfulness to Your servant David.”

When Solomon finished praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the House. There was such power in His Presence that the priests could not enter God’s House. When the people witnessed this, they bowed with their faces to the ground and worshipped (prostrate) and praised with outstretched hands. The King and all the people offered sacrifices, burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings. There was so much that he had to use the scaffold on which he had been standing for the sacrifices because the brazen altar was not able to accommodate it all. Then they feasted for seven days.

2 Chronicles 7:10 (NKJV)
10  On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.

In my minds eye, I see the multitudes going home recounting all that had transpired. The House of God in its magnificence was completed. The Presence of God was evident and they were witnesses to His coming. They watched their King humble himself before the Lord and them. He is one of us, they might have said. My western sensibilities would have been acutely aware of the smell of slaughtered and burnt animals that were sacrificed. Solomon on the other hand, I imagine, stood in the courtyard and watched the people leave. Then his attention turned to the House of God and His Presence. Oh how awe-some the feeling must have been.

Then God appeared.

If My People……

by ladypbwiggins

Lately, since the Covid-19 outbreak I have heard the scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14 repeated more and more. I began wondering if there was more to the scripture than what we seem to espouse. I mean was there more intensity or emphasis placed on anything that our English translation did not express as well. So I did my usual when in these kinds of quandary. I began to do a word study. I am not a Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek scholar but I have become pretty adept at reading lexicons, dictionaries and other study aids. So with that said I jumped into my research. As I was studying the thought came to me, “What is the context?” Why did God say this? Verses 11,12 says God spoke after Solomon finished the temple and his (Solomon’s) house and prayed. What did he ask in prayer? Was it just a prayer of praise or did Solomon ask something of God? Might knowing that offer added insight? I stopped the word study and backed up to read the prayer. My God, My God, that prayer and all that was happening is a study in itself. So I am going to back up and begin before the prayer.

Picture this.

There standing on a hill in Jerusalem believed to be Mt Moriah, was this magnificent temple and the King’s house. In the courtyard stood the brazen altar and a bronze scaffold. A multitude of people were there with all their animal and grain sacrifices to offer as they dedicated the temple, the House of God.

At the dedication of God’s house stood the elders of the tribes, the priests and the Levites. All the Levitical singers were present, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthum with their sons and relatives. They had a variety of instruments: cymbals, psalteries and harps. Across from them stood 120 trumpet blowing priests. There was going to be some seriously loud praising going on.

Solomon stood on the bronze scaffold and addressed the people. He blessed the whole congregation as they stood. He praised God. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel….who made a promise to David and today has fulfilled.” Then Solomon knelt down before the people, spread his hands toward heaven and prayed.

Can you see it? Solomon, the King, let the people see him, humble himself before the altar of God. And he prayed.

Tomorrow: Solomon’s prayer.

Faith or Sight? Choose! Revisited

by ladypbwiggins

Several years ago I posted this during a personal medical crisis. I felt led to repost as a reminder to me and other believers as we walk through this most recent national health crisis.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

I have heard that scripture cited so very much over my life. I even thought I knew what it meant. I thought….

On Friday, April 10, 2015 I realized I didn’t get it before. God said to me “Your behavior does not match your words. Are you really walking by faith or are you really walking by sight wrapped in limited faith.”

Let me give you some context.

At Eagles Wings Christian Church, we have been focusing a lot lately on “Walking by Faith, Not by Sight.” There are new activities that we want to accomplish and it will require faith to do it.

On Sunday, March 1, 2015, God spoke through our praise leader that everything would be alright. She uncontrollably kept repeating “everything will be alright.” We said Amen. What we didn’t understand that a few short minutes later, the pastor, my husband, would pass out just before taking the pulpit. Apparently, his blood pressure dropped and so did he. The emergency response team was called and he was revived and taken to the hospital. That morning the believers swarmed him with prayer. I felt no fear just prayerful power. After all we had been told “everything would be alright.”

The teachings continued and we as a church expected every week for a miracle. Little did we know God had an object lesson planned. On March 26th, God’s lesson began. “In That Moment” and “After the First Moment” tell the story so I invite you to read those posts.

This is where the Friday conversation becomes relevant. We talked about walking by faith and not by sight at church and among believers. That basically means we live, make decisions based on the faith that we have in some thing or someone not by what we observe in the circumstance. The scripture that was laid on my mind when my husband had his heart attack was Psalm 91 especially verses 14-16. I told everyone that I was standing in faith on this scripture for my husband’s recovery.

Here was my contradiction.

Sight said

He had a loss of oxygen. Brain damage

His heart has a 10-20% refraction – doesn’t pump blood strongly enough

Needs a defibrillator or other surgery

Prognosis is not so good.

The practical and realistic thinking person says let’s do what is medically necessary to save and improve his life. I mean it is reasonable right?

Faith says Psalm 91

Psalm 91:14-16 (NKJV)
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me,

therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him

and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.”

God said “You said Psalm 91 was your faith anchor while you make preparations to satisfy sight.” His question was clear. “Will you totally and completely trust me and my word? Choose.”

Do I listen to faith or sight? I chose faith. In that choice, I signed up to behave or live according to faith not what I see. Yes, I gather all the information from the doctors. I ask questions to understand what the doctors are doing. I then turn all that over to God and remind Him what He said.Until God says something different, I am expecting everything that He said in Psalm 91. My husband fulfills the conditions and I choose to trust God’s Word. It is my choice to live, walk, behave according to faith not just mentally believe.

The Universe Will….

by ladypbwiggins

I am confused. When people say or declare that the universe will act on their behalf who or what are they referring to exactly? I thought I knew what the universe was but I thought maybe I missed something. I looked it up. It is defined like this.

The Universe is all of space and time and their contents,including planets, stars, galaxies, and all other forms of matter and energy.

So are the galaxies going to operate to solve those people’s problems? Is space? Is time? Help me please.

Science is the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.” Simply stated if we can’t physically or naturally observe it or experiment with it, we can’t know it.

I am all for the knowledge we have gained through observation, analysis and experimentation. But all that has been done scientifically cannot explain why supernatural attributes are given to the planets, galaxies, etc. Have there been observable, repeatable experiments that support this? I think not.

Many scientific minds have convinced our society that if you believe in God, you are unlearned, unintelligent, superstitious or some combination of those. Yet, those same minds accept attribution of God’s abilities and our expectations of Him to the Universe. I can have faith in the Universe but ridiculed if I have faith in God. That is illogical.

It seems to me that we have an innate knowing or need to believe that there is someone or something greater and more powerful than ourselves that we can look to for assistance.

I am reasonably intelligent. I like science. I am somewhat learned on a few things. If I am going to believe there is something or someone more powerful than mankind to look to I choose a purposeful, loving, faithful and merciful God. He is not vague and illusive. I have experienced Him and have observed His faithfulness and love. Trying His Word is repeatable with consistent outcomes. I think that stands up to the scientific method. But here is the clincher. These observations and repeatable experiences were not done in the physical or natural realm but in the spiritual. Does that make them less valid? Less real?

“GOD WILL….” has been proven. At least in my life.

Not The Hospice You Know

by ladypbwiggins

In many ways this has been a God-send for Carl and I. Like most people the word Hospice is scary and says it’s over; prepare for the end. This is not the focus of palliative care. Whether it’s short term quality of life or  long term, the medical team helps both the patient and the family.

The treatment regimen prescribed by his cardiologist is continued. He has a music therapist who gets him to exercise along with discussions about music; a nurse that checks him once a week and reports to the doctor; an aide to help him with showers; a social worker who assesses emotional and mental well-being and any needs I might have; a chaplain and a doctor. Since Carl was a pastor he and the chaplain have some enjoyable discourses. Equipment that I would normally have to buy or pay a co-payment, durable and disposable is 100% paid for through Medicare. It is my hope that his next heart assessment will show it’s increase in strength. If we are successful, he won’t need this kind of care. If not, I am glad to have it.

Attached is a link that explains palliative care. It’s a quick but informative read.


https://getpalliativecare.org/

Strong Shallow Roots

by ladypbwiggins
My roots are strong but shallow!

Knowing your roots is important. If you don’t know where you came from, how can you know where you are going? Non-colored people are more likely to shout this epitaph and are thrilled to go to Scotland or that little village in Italy to discover their roots. I was watching Project Runway All Stars and in one of the episodes the 23 and Me founder offered the designers free DNA tests. She talked about the importance of knowing your ancestry, knowing your roots. There was great enthusiasm for this activity and its results. Then a commercial for Ancestry.com came on and echoed the same thing. My mind turned to my ancestry. What is it? I know it’s African but which country. Is it Ghanaian, Nigerian, Kenyan, Zambian? More often than not the response when a black person speaks about not knowing and the effect of not knowing is “Get over it. You are American.”

Because I can’t reach in to Africa with specificity of country, how deep can my roots go?

My known ancestry tree is planted in Alabama. Each branch is strong. I am the granddaughter of strong women and men. I am the great-granddaughter of strong  women and men. I am the grandneice of strong women and men. I am the mentee of strong women. They all survived Jim Crow south with wisdom and grace. They taught me how to see and perform to survive.

My roots are shallow but strong.

Can you imagine how much stronger I would be if my shallow roots ran deeper; deeper back to the black soil of a specific country, a specific city or village, a specific tribe of Africa.
Inspite of all this, I am grateful and proud of my Strong Shallow Roots!