God Knows Your Need “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NIV) I had just begun a new part-time job and wanted to be a blessing. I consulted with the Lord about it, and he encouraged me to give my offerings to men. What men? I didn’t know. But as the weeks went on, he showed me. The first happened at the bus stop near my apartment, when a gentleman missed the bus to work. Another gentleman and I were standing at the bus stop when another bus that wasn’t ours pulled up. We waived it by not seeing the other gentleman running for it until after it had turned the corner. He was so distraught. And the Lord spoke, “Pay for him to get to work in a cab.” I turned to the gentleman and handed him a twenty-dollar bill, “Here, sir, God asked me to give you this to take a cab to work.” He thanked me and called his cab, which picked him up before our bus came. I didn’t see him for about three days, but he reported to me that God had saved his job. If he hadn’t shown up on time that day, he would’ve been left behind by the boss who was heading out to a project, and if he had not been there, he would’ve been fired. Another time a young man got on the bus with just pennies, not even enough to pay for his fare, but the driver gave him grace and let him ride. Our community bus service charges just $1.00 per ride. The Lord spoke as the young man sat in the seat in front of me, “Bless him.” I pulled out a ten-dollar bill, which was all I had on me at the time, and tapped him on the shoulder, handing it to him in secret. “God bless you,” I whispered, not wanting to embarrass him, as he looked at me in shock and thanked me. Miracles On The Way This bus stop blessings happened on a cold, rainy April day. That morning when I got up to go to work, I was craving sushi. I had never wanted sushi so badly before; but that craving was intense. I made my way to work and spent the entire day thinking about how I was going to get myself some sushi after work. On the bus headed home, I stopped by a Chinese buffet which was at the bus stop, where I would have to transfer buses to get home. I got off the bus and headed toward the Chinese buffet. As I did, I passed two gentlemen having a conversation about how they were stuck. They weren’t talking to me but trying to figure out between themselves how they were going to get back to the city. We were located in one of the counties. As I passed them, the Lord spoke, “Bless them.” I heard him, but I kept walking to get my sushi and debating with the Lord about interrupting their conversation. "I can't just go over there and jump into their conversation all "willy-nilly"; that's rude," I offered, and went into the restaurant. On my way back from getting my sushi, I passed by them again and kept going to the place where my next bus would pick up. I was standing in front of a store in the little strip-mall when a young man walked over to me and proceeded to lay all his burdens on my shoulders. He complained about how terrible his day had been up to that point, and how he had spent his last few dollars to go see his son and didn’t have any money to get back home. As the young man was talking, one of the two gentlemen walked past us. My eyes followed him as he made his way to the laundromat. I was still listening to the young man when he walked past us again to go meet back up with his friend. “Bless him,” I heard the Lord say. That morning the Lord had told me I would be giving out $20 that day. But I didn’t know who the recipient would be. Just as he walked by, I shouted, “Excuse me, sir, God told me to bless you with this,” as I handed him a $10 bill. He was an African American man about 40 years old, and his friend seemed to be about the same age range, but he was Caucasian. Stopping, he turned to me, took the $10 bill and praised God, “My heavenly Father told you to bless me? Girl, you don’t know that you’ve just saved two people’s lives. We are stuck out here and didn’t know how we were gonna' make it back to the city. What’s your name?” he inquired, and I told him. “My name is Andre. May I give you a hug?” he asked. “Sure,” I agreed as I braced myself for a pungent odor, hearing God tell me to give him another $10. "God wanted me to give you twenty dollars, so I'm giving you the remaining ten," I offered. Both gentlemen seemed to be homeless. By the look of their clothing, they had not been bathing much, but he had on a pink babies blanket which was wrapped around his neck, that he must have retrieved from the laundromat, because it wasn’t on him when he first made his way passed us, or when I first noticed him. As he leaned in to give me a hug, I noticed how good he smelled, like a fabric softener sheet. Afterward, he smiled and made his way to his friend, and they got on the bus that had been sitting there when I first arrived. Just as they got on, it pulled off, heading to the city. “Oh my God, I just witnessed a miracle!” the young man shouted, frantically flailing his arms and pacing the sidewalk. “Bless him, too,” the Lord added. So, I gave him my last $10 bill. Then his bus came, and he left. Shortly afterward, my bus came, and I made my way home. When I walked in the door, I couldn’t wait to get into some warm clothes and to my plate of sushi. As I sat at my table, I contemplated what it would taste like, and my mouth just watered. Opening the container with bated breath, I looked down and noticed a long hair sitting just on top of the sliced sushi roll. I was livid! And threw the entire container in the trash can. It was then that I realized why I had been craving sushi all day long. If I hadn’t gone past the two homeless gentlemen on the way to the restaurant, I wouldn’t have heard their conversation and known that God wanted to bless them. And in turn, bless the young man, who just happened to witness God’s miracle. Prayer: Father, you always amaze us. Thank you for allowing us to participate in your miracles. They are not just stories, but lives being impacted by your grace and mercy. Help us, never to walk away from an opportunity to be a blessing, especially when you have blessed us so graciously. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen. Divine Protection One afternoon, I got a message from the Lord, warning, “You will encounter danger in the street. Fast and pray.” I had no idea why he had given me that preemptive warning, but I fasted and prayed. A few days later, as I was leaving my house about 6 A.M., I caught a glimpse of a man hiding behind the dumpster, which was on my way to the bus stop. I was in my early forties, attending college, and on my way to class. Again, the Lord spoke, “If he tries to harm you, bring him to his knees with My Name (Jesus)." I had no fear as I locked up my house and made my way to the bus stop. Initially, he didn’t see me because his back was to me, but as I walked toward him, he turned and noticed me. Just as I passed the dumpster, he immediately ran up behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see how close he was, while I quoted scriptures under my breath. He was so close to me that if I had stopped suddenly, he would’ve bumped into me. I continued to make my way to the bus stop, which was just a few more feet from the dumpster. I could still see my apartment from the bus stop. There was no traffic out that morning; and the only people moving about were him and me. He stayed on my trail; every step I took, he took just behind me. I crossed the little street to get to the bus stop and turned to see him standing eye to eye with me. He stared at me briefly, then ran back across the street and spun in circles as if he were disoriented. He did that about five minutes and then he walked back up the street as daylight broke forth. Just as he walked away, the bus came down the street. I got on and went to school. I’m grateful that God thought enough of me to remind me to put on my armor. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV), “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Because he prepared me, no one was hurt; not me, and not anyone of the people that walked to that same bus stop every morning, usually before I did. The young man who had planned to do harm of some sort could have harmed himself if he had come across the wrong victim. The funny part about it all was that he looked just like the young man I had blessed a couple of days prior to that encounter. Prayer: Father, thank you for your all-knowing ways, your all-seeing eyes, and for the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” And I thank you, Lord, that no one was harmed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NLT) Early in my walk with God, about six years in, I began experiencing God in such amazing ways that I still can’t explain. I had experienced God before, but during this season, the experiences were a different kind of experience; supernatural experiences. One incident happened at a church I was attending. On this particular Sunday, I was on the church bus headed to church services when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Go tell your pastor I am going to do something special in the house today.” I didn’t know what he meant by that, but immediately upon arrival at the church, I went to the pastor’s office and relayed the message. “Sister, I know you're not lying because someone just came and gave me the same message,” he stated. After I left his office, I made my way to the sanctuary and sat down in the second row and immediately went into prayer, which is what I always did on Sunday mornings along with fasting. My time at this church was very peculiar to me. The pastor and his family showed me favor, so that God could use me. But this day, God really used me. During my prayer, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Look up and tell me what you see.” I looked up toward the stage area. We were in a large warehouse, and a stage had been built for the pastor to preach and the praise team to minister in song. “I see the instruments on the stage,” I responded. “I want music in my house,” he declared. We had a keyboardist, an 8-year-old drummer (who was amazing) and a bass player (the bus driver). “I want you to lay hands on the musicians and tell them, I want music in my house. Then I want you to play the piano,” he instructed. Sweat broke out on my forehead, accompanied by trembling, with an intense heat that overtook my body as I lay draped across the chair next to me. I almost fainted, literally! As the praise team took their places, I could only lie there, weak with fear. Then the First Lady took to the podium to open the service. As she spoke, I heard, “Get up now!” He ordered, and I jumped up from my seat and interrupted the service. “Excuse me, First Lady, but God told me he wants me on the stage with the musicians,” I declared, trembling and embarrassed. She paused for a moment, then returned, “Okay, do what God is telling you to do.” I wasn’t shocked because anyway the Holy Spirit wanted to move, they just let him. So, I gingerly meandered to the stage, laid hands on each musician declaring that God wanted music in his house and took my place at the electric piano. As I did, one deacon came up onto the stage, tapped the 8-year-old drummer and relieved him of his seat, then he sat down at the drums. As the praise team got into position, I turned to the keyboardist who sat behind me and inquired, “How to you cut this thing on?” He pointed to the button on the side of the electric piano, which I clicked on and just sat there. Musicians played as the praise team sang melodiously, but I just gazed in despair at the electric piano in front of me. Briefly, I took a quick glance at the congregation that I was actually facing from the front of the stage; the other two musicians were seated behind me. With a front-row seat, I put my hands on the keys and utter noise came out. I pulled my hands back, raising them to God, closed my eyes, and looked up to heaven declaring, “You will have to do this through me; I release control to you.” Then I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Find middle C.” I remembered middle C as a child, yearning to play piano, but only having about three lessons. My desire was still present, but my skills were definitely lacking. I found middle C, then played a C-chord. With both hands on the keys, suddenly, I heard what sounded like an explosion in the atmosphere, and the entire congregation gasped, “Ahhh.” I kept my eyes closed and began to play beautiful music, following the lead of the other musicians and their melody. I didn't open my eyes again until I heard the pastor's voice. That was a memorable Sunday morning. After the service was over, the pastor approached me as I was exiting the stage, asking, “Sister, did you rehearse that with the band?” “No, sir, I didn’t,” I answered, with my head hung low, not wanting to make eye contact with him. I just knew I was in big trouble. As I made my way to the church bus and took my seat, my neighbor and friend, who was seated in front of me, scolded, “Hussy, you never told me you can play the piano.” I froze like a deer in the headlights, trying to figure out how to explain what had happened. “I can’t, God played it,” I responded, realizing she probably didn’t believe me. I wouldn’t have. You probably don’t either. I can’t blame you. Stop laughing, I’m trying to. After I returned home, I sat quietly reflecting on the events of that morning, but I just couldn’t make any sense of it. “Lord, how did you do that?” I shouted. It was then that one of the greatest lessons of my life was taught to me. The Holy Spirit spoke, “All I need is a yielded vessel, and I can do anything through you.” Then I remembered 1 Samuel 15:22, which tells us that “…obedience is better than sacrifice.” He also showed me something I really had not noticed in that season; I was not knowingly active in any form of sinful behavior, and I was completely yielded to the will of God. Whatever he told me to do, I did it; whatever he told me to speak, I spoke it, without question. I did not say without fear, for there was much fear, but not doubt. I fully obeyed his will and his words spoken to me. The Lord continued to expound upon that understanding in later years, when at another church we were doing a Bible study on the book called “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby. One statement caught my attention when the author said, “If you want to experience God, go find out what God is doing and be a part of it.” That was the defining statement of my life. I live by it even now. I learned God can and will do amazing things through his children if we are obedient to his will and faithful to his word. He is always moving and doing extraordinary things, but if we are out of his will because of sinfulness or disobedience, we will miss him. God played that electric piano through me for almost three months until I let fear run me off the stage. I didn't get the memo that it was only a onetime event. Every time I sat down after that day, I would hear the devil remind me, “You know you can’t play.” I should’ve countered him with, “I am not playing anything. God is. And 'I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength'” (Philippians 4:13, NLT). I had submitted to God, but I neglected to “…resist the devil, which would cause him to flee” (see James 4:7). Instead, I let him cause me to flee. As I often have to remind myself, I urge my brothers and sisters also to stay in the Will of God and Obey the Word of God. From this vantage point, you will experience the supernatural power of God, and you will most definitely stand in awe of him. I still do!!! And one more reminder: don't let fear debilitate you. The devil is just angry that he has no control over what God is doing in you and through you, which is interrupting his evil plans. Prayer: Father, I desire to experience all your goodness and your amazing grace, and power. Help me hear you and walk with you in complete intimacy and trust. Help me also to obey you; especially when fear is present in my heart and mind. I thank you in advance for doing supernatural marvelous works through me and for doing amazing things for me. You are so awesome, and I am so grateful that you share yourself with me and through me. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

What Is a Wife? Created: 8-1993 & Published by: The National Library of Poetry A wife is a mate who will stand by your side In sickness and in health, till death do you part, and with pride She will make your house a home with tender loving care Not because she has to, but because it’s only fair She as well has a job and cannot quit until it’s done Cooking and cleaning faithfully, even though it’s not much fun Though the housework may be hard, and the hours extremely long A praise from you occasionally will help her to be strong In the eyes of God, she is your helpmate Not a punching bag, slave, or someone you can forsake Sometimes she may appear unattractive and weary But in times like these, show her more love instead of fury A wife is always there for better or for worse When you become ill, she then becomes your nurse The mother of your children, and a friend to your friends She looks to you, knowing that you are someone in whom she can depend Girlfriends may come and go, and acquaintances may too But a wife stands by your side and will always see you through As the mother of your children, your lover, and your friend, She will never abandon you; she is there with you to the very end! What Is a Husband? Created: 8-1993 & Published by: The National Library of Poetry A husband is a man who proposes on one knee With flowers in hand and a ring, he will offer you his plea To please become my wife and bond with me as one He will not and cannot rest until his bride you have become Though the wedding day may be over, and a few years have passed, He still remains romantically attentive, so you never have to ask Working feverishly to pay the bills for food and clothing too He lovingly provides for his family, for that is what he must do And when sweat soaks his brow, and his muscles ache with pain He works even harder for his family, knowing he has much to gain To see their happy faces beaming with love He gives thanks for his blessings from God up above In times of anger, confusion, and strife He still appreciates being a husband and having a loving wife Strong, yet weak; scared, but brave A husband is a man who is there until he is placed in a grave!

Sunday morning worship service was beautiful as always, but this Sunday was different for our family. My grandson and I attended services; his sister was not feeling well. During this time, I only had my oldest granddaughter and oldest grandson. After our pastor had finished his sermon, he motioned for five people to come to the altar because he sensed in his spirit that there were five people on the verge of giving up. A young couple was the first two to approach the altar, followed by a young woman. My grandson, who was nine years old at the time, turned to me and said, “That’s me, I need to go up there.” “Go ahead,” I encouraged, as he walked up to the altar to be prayed for. Just as he reached the altar, another young boy, who had been sitting next to him during the service, also made his way to the altar for prayer. To see both boys go to the altar shocked me. I did not know my grandson was so grieved to the point of giving up. The other young boy wouldn’t even hold my grandson’s hand during morning prayer as the pastor requested; we all do. But my grandson had inspired him to go up for prayer. As the church watched both young people approach the altar, you could hear sniffles begin to fill the atmosphere. Tears filled my eyes as I watched my grandson burst into tears during prayer by the youth minister. We had a trying week in court again. But this time he saw his father, the man who abused him and his family members whom he had not seen in two years. Although my grandchildren handled the situation well, little did we know they were carrying the burden of the matter on their shoulders. After we returned home from church services, my grandson announced as we were getting out of the car, “Whew, I feel much better; I needed that!” It warmed my heart to know that his heart was much lighter than when we went to services that morning. He had cast all his cares on the Lord, and in return he received peace. I hope the other young man, young woman, and the young couple did as well. This is a friendly reminder that no matter how young or how old we are, God still cares about us, and he will take our griefs and sorrows if we are willing to give them to him. Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) reminds, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Prayer: Father, thank you for your peace, and thank you that we have a resting place in your love, that we can run to any time of the day or night. Thank you for meeting people in their pain and for giving them the strength to endure to the end. If there are more people contemplating giving up, please send your comfort their way as well. May your peace envelop them like a warm blanket. And may their hearts be filled with joy instead of sorrow. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Have you ever found yourself in a good-old-fashioned fistfight? At ten years old, I was confronted with a confrontation that sent chills through me. It was a perfectly wonderful day until a friend of mine came to me as I sat alone on her back porch waiting for her. My house was right next door, and I could've waited there, but I chose to be at her house that afternoon. Suddenly, she came bursting through the door, excited and announcing, "Sherry wants to fight you!" My heart sank as she turned away to head back outside to the front of the house. This was the bully I had tried my best to avoid at-all-cost. My house was only a few houses away from the mailbox to the right. My house was also a few houses away from the corner-store to the left. However, I found it necessary to take the scenic route; going through the alley, over to the next street, then climbing the steepest street I've ever seen, just to put my mother's mail in the mailbox; which was located on the corner of our street. ​ The trip to the corner-store was also a major journey through the alley, and then walking two streets over, just to get to the corner-store down the street from my house. I was trying my best to avoid that bully, yet one of my own friends came bearing the message of bad news. ​ After she left, I sat for a moment, just pondering how I could escape. I had my house key, but I could only get in through the front door. Either way I ran, I would still have to face her because she was just outside my front door. When no escape was feasible for me, anger began to dominate me. I got up, walked to the front door of my friend’s house, then stepped outside to a crowd of onlookers waiting for a good fight. The problem for me was that I didn't know how to fight. That's why I made it my life's purpose to avoid her completely. ​ I walked off the front porch toward the crowd, then stepped face-to-face with my bully (#4 of many). "I heard you said you wanted to fight me," she sneered. Lie, I thought, as the crowd rallied to her evil cause. Before my mind could articulate the situation, I took a small step backward, then threw the first punch. Halfway through the fight, I stumbled over my own foot and fell. She politely waited for me to get up and jump back into the fight. As I was turning to get up off the ground, I noticed the teenage boy across the street laughing himself into tears. But this was no laughing matter to me; I was fighting for my life, or so I thought. Then, as quick as it began, it was over. I walked away from the crowd and back to my house. To this day, I cannot tell you how I felt or what I was thinking. But I can tell you that she never harassed me or my little sister again. As much as I tried to avoid confrontation with her or any of the other bullies, because of fear, I realized that sometimes, you just have to fight. There is no escaping the fight when your life is dependent upon it. Well, that was just one of the many battles I have had to step into. Some were physical, while others were spiritual, and the two major keys that always assisted me were "faith" and "righteous anger." I relied on God's strength and not my own. I was a physical weakling with a heart condition, but I was also spiritually illiterate. Yet, when the time to engage in the battle presented itself, I had to take a stand or perish. Fear is a tyrant that always tries to keep us under its control. The Devil is the #1 bully, and fear is his #1 tactic for getting us to bow to his evil will or flee, which shows him he still has the upper hand. If he can put us in fear, then he has the advantage. God uses faith to strengthen us. However, the Devil uses fear to weaken us. ​ In First Timothy 6:12, the Word of God tells us to "Fight the good fight of faith." Which means to stand our ground. Be steadfast and unmovable in our trust, hope, and faith in God, His Word, and His Will. Even through the fear. Matthew 17:20 (NIV) reminds us, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." ​ Luke 8:50 (NIV) encourages, “Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.’” ​ As we can see, faith covers a multitude of circumstances. The preacher, Timothy, was encouraged to keep his faithful stance in righteousness. While Jairus was encouraged not to fear but to believe through faith in Jesus that his daughter (who by the time Jesus spoke to him had already passed away) would be healed. These words of faith will strengthen us when the fears of life and the raging battles present themselves in our lives. Whether we are fighting our way into God's will, fighting our way out of evil, or fighting our way through an unfair circumstance. Let us remember the words of faith in First John 5:4-5 (NIV)“…For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37, KJV). ​ So let us fight the good fight of faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord!!!

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” (Isaiah 10:27, KJV) The anointing of God is one of the most sacred gifts of God. It is the freedom of God from the power of the enemy (the devil). And it is the most powerful gift we can receive because it directly disconnects us from Satan and reconnects us with God. That process happened in the born-again experience, the moment we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, by believing that he died on the cross for our sins and rose again for our righteousness. Romans 10:9-10 explains, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” As believers, we now have the freedom in Christ Jesus to be God’s best representatives in the world. We are his children and the fruit of his Righteousness. As suitable singles in the family of God, we have the responsibility to represent singleness in holiness and righteousness. How? I’m glad you asked. By letting go of anything that would compromise our walk with God and our ministry in him. One of the biggest obstacles to the Christian walk is “hidden hazards.” You know them; they are the “secret sins.” The ones you do when you think no one is watching. Let me confess to you a few of mine before I was born-again. I wasn’t your average sinner. I did my mess in private, mostly in the privacy of my own bedroom. I didn’t party, I didn’t smoke, I didn’t drink, I didn’t do drugs, and I didn’t flaunt my body. What I did was: lie, curse, watch things I had no business watching. I was hostile, and I wasted years fantasizing about being anybody except me (which robbed me of decades of productivity and fruitful labor) and it put me in a sinful, shameful, fleshly pattern of behavior. Oh, and I was also promiscuous, a lot (I speak about all of this more in my book, Suitable Singles: Every Single Decision Matters). Those hidden hazards (secret sins) cost me greatly. And they will do the same to you if you don’t expose them before they expose you. You cannot be a successful public saint if you are a demented private sinner. The cost will be insurmountable in the form of: intimacy with God (you can’t walk with God and run in sin), your reputation (you can’t be a truthful saint if you’re living a sinful lie), your career (God can’t use you or bless you effectively while you are dabbling in sinful behaviors), and it can sometimes cost you your life (one sinful decision too many can give the devil access to your life, and if you are not careful, he will take it from you). I have heard of many pastors in recent years who have succumb to a secret sinful lifestyle that gave the devil legal access to destroy them and even to take their lives. Just a reminder that those vices (as we sometimes call them) cannot comfort you, but they will harm you if you don’t repent (turn completely away) from them. When you repent of them, you will open the door for the Holy Spirit to govern you, not your fleshly desires. The Bible encourages, “… Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” And… “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him” (1 John 2:15-20, & 27-29, KJV). This scripture is referring to Jesus’ imminent return. And when he returns, we don’t want him to find us in a sinful lifestyle or behaviors that compromise our oneness with him. But while we are here today, let us remain faithful to him while we wait for him as suitable singles. Prayer: Father, help us “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1, KJV). For, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee,” (Isaiah 26:3, KJV). In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) (Skit) I Can’t Live With You! Premise: (A couple is constantly arguing and not getting along, simply because they think it’s all about them as an individual.) Husband—(Comes in from work) Hey, can you get me something to eat? Wife—(Rolling her eyes, responding sarcastically) Do I look like your maid? Husband—(Angry and defensive) You don’t want me to tell you what I think you look like? (Mumbling) Hag! Wife—(Steps up to him and gets in his face) Oh, I got your hag. Husband—(Walks away and takes a seat) Picks up his Bible off the table. (Sits, shaking his head in disbelief) Wife—(With her hands folded and tapping her foot in anger) Oh, so now you’re so religious? Husband—(Shouting) I can’t live with you! (Grabs his Bible) Skimming through the pages of the Bible. (He stops and reads) Wife—(Angry) You make me sick! I can’t live with you either! Husband—(Softly reading out loud) “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” (Proverbs 21:9, NIV) Wife—(Goes and picks up her Bible and flips through the pages—then she reads) “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3, NLT) (They both pause and glance at each other, realizing that they are both wrong, then they walk over to each other and fall into an embrace) Husband—(Looking into her eyes) I’m sorry, Babe. I don’t mean to take you for granted. Please forgive me. Wife—(Gazing back at him) I am too, and I don’t mean to disrespect you. Forgive me. I love you! (They lovingly hold each other) The End! Or Is It? We don’t want to be that couple, but too many times before, we have been. When we don’t understand the needs of our mate or the needs of the relationship itself, then we become frustrated and lash out at each other. Arguments don’t solve problems or address issues; they just escalate them. Communication is the key to relational success. When you stop communicating, not arguing, but talking; you stop negotiating the proper outcome for the situation or issue. Yelling and screaming may get you heard, but not understood. Yesterday afternoon, I was relaxing, contemplating putting up the skit and the next blog, when I was interrupted by an argument going on just outside my window. I sat, not wanting to be nosy. I don’t get into other people’s business unless they or God invite me in. As the voices grew louder, I got up and peeked out of the window. Just as I looked out, I heard the man threaten the woman. Instantly, he walked over to her and hit her. She stumbled and fell, rolling off the curb into the parking lot of the complex. I was shocked as she grabbed her side, screaming in pain. She slowly lifted herself from the street and walked away hurriedly; he followed threatening. They went back around the corner, continuing their very public fight. I began to pray for them, especially for her because she was a small-framed woman who was already hurt, and he was a big-framed man threatening to do her more harm. She was younger than he and more soft-spoken. The sad part about the altercation was that they were fighting over another woman. He was defending helping the other woman, but he was hurting the woman he was with. Generally, our complex is quiet, except for the kids playing. But that argument really disturbed me, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. He threatened to go back to rehab, and she cursed about the other woman, holding her side. I don’t really know them, but their relationship displays classic relational brokenness! As if that wasn’t enough for me to ingest, I decided as I was flipping channels later in the evening to watch one of those fiancé shows where the people make a lifelong covenant with a total stranger. I used to watch them when they first came on, but I began to hate them. What the couple doesn’t understand is that often they are not ready for a relationship, yet they give their hearts over the internet or the phone to a complete and total stranger. Then they work to come together and become one. I’m not judging, because I did the exact same thing with my ex-husband. That’s why God had to intervene to save me from my broken self. Remember the bus incident when God said, “Don’t give your all to a stranger,” that applies here. That word was so inspiring to me that I wrote a play with that title. I had seen that scenario play out too many times, even in my own life. Too often, the couple finds out that they can’t live with each other because they have not properly taken the time to get to know each other. They haven't invested enough time to make an informed decision whether one another is suitable enough to become a life partner or not. Because of emotional neediness, which stems from being desperately wounded in their souls, they rush into an emotional covenant with a stranger. I saw at least four couples break up in the two hours I watched. Relationships are too precious to be entered into lightly. When I was desperately seeking love in all the wrong faces and places, I too found myself hating the relationship that I had established with a person who I didn’t enjoy and who didn’t enjoy me either. If we allow ourselves the time to heal in our hearts and transform in our minds, then we will find ourselves healthier and more prepared as a suitable single, to choose another suitable single. From preparedness comes relational success. Let’s take all the time we need to get to know the stranger who has shown up in our lives, to see if we should allow them to remain. Prayer: Father, I need you to give me eyes to see and a mind to understand, so that I can accurately assess every person who enters my life. I don’t want to continue in a pattern of dysfunctional relationships. And I don’t want to make a lifelong relational covenant in a temporary relational encounter. As you develop me into a suitable single, help me wait on your timing for mating, in your will and your way. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Some years ago, I noticed I was still struggling with one of the same issues that I had when I was first born-again. I couldn’t understand it because I didn’t want to be struggling with that issue; it didn’t represent the new me. But the more I beat myself up for falling back into old temptations, the more I felt like I was bound. I cried about it, prayed about it, I even fasted about it, but nothing seemed to change in that area. Then one day God spoke to me about it, reminding me, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves, (Galatians 5:16, NLT).” He explained that as long as I remained in the old fleshly way of thinking concerning the matter, I would remain in the old fleshly behaviors that my old self engaged in. The problem was that I am a new creation, and old things have passed away. But for me at that time, they hadn’t all passed away. The old self passed away, but the old behavior did not. I had to put it away by walking in the newness of the Spirit. Which meant changing my thinking to match my new life. Immediately, I knew I had to follow the directions of Romans 12:2 (NLT), “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” When I was honest enough to run to God with the problem. He was gracious enough to confront the issue. He explained as my head hung low in shame and grief, "I am so glad you asked me to help you. You have been trying to free yourself from spiritual bondage that was placed on you at 14 years old, when you entered into a covenant of agreement with the devil to engage in that specific thought pattern, which caused that specific behavior. If it took a wrong spirit to walk you into bondage, it is going to take the Righteous Spirit to lead you out. I am he." He was right; I would stop, then start again when I felt like I needed an emotional hit. But in that season, I saw that I no longer had control and I couldn't stop, even though I wanted to because I knew it was wrong. I hadn't engaged in that behavior for years. I am sooooo grateful that I took the matter to God and listened to the wisdom of his Word. You can do the same. All it takes is honesty to confess your mess, humility to listen to God, and obedience to follow his instructions. Since I have changed my way of thinking, I am no longer plagued with thoughts that cause me to stumble into the old behaviors of the old sinful woman that I used to be. I am growing into the newness of life God promised me. Joyce Meyer always says, “Where the mind goes, the man will follow.” She’s absolutely right, so we must change our minds to change our behavior. God asked me to examine what triggered the thoughts, and I saw how they were triggered by me looking for comfort. I know that sounds silly, but do you know that most sinful behavior results from the flesh looking for some kind of comfort or sinful pleasure? Despite my shock, I could clearly see the problem and make the necessary adjustments with the help of my Comforter, the Holy Spirit. I began to understand that I don’t need to use a thing, sinful behavior pattern, or idle thoughts to comfort myself. I have the Holy Spirit for that, and he does all things well! We can’t fail unless we fail to pray, confess our sins, and obey the Word of God. If you are still struggling with any form of sin, consider how you are thinking. Renewing your mind can also transform you. You can do it! I know you can! I’m praying for your success! Will you pray and invite God into the problem so that he can invite you into his victory? He has a better way of thinking that creates a better way of being. Prayer: Father, I give you freedom to show me the error of my ways. It's difficult to look at the truth about myself, but I must face it to overcome the bondage that sinfulness has caused. Help me stay on the right path by being transformed by the renewing of my mind to align with your Word. Thank you for forgiving grace, helping me along my journey because I might stumble along the way, but I'm hopeful and grateful that you will not let me fall. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Scape Goat! Twenty years ago, just at the beginning of my journey toward becoming a suitable single, I had a very poignant encounter with a young man that changed my life. One morning, I was balancing my checking account when I noticed I had been charged two overdraft fees. I had not checked my account in some days prior to that discovery, but when I did, I was livid. I called the bank's customer service line, and on the other end of the phone answered a very polite, jovial young man. He seemed to be in his mid-twenties. I inquired about the fees, and he explained that my account was overdrawn and that the fees were added because of the overdraft. I did something I had never done before: I yelled at the young man, explaining that I had a small income and could not afford to have $70 taken out of my account. He did all he could to continue explaining the situation. I asked if the fees could be waived, and he politely said, “No.” I became indignant and slammed the phone down, hanging up on him, but not before I noticed something about him. As I sat stupefied at my financial blunder, trying to figure out how I was going to rebalance my account with missing funds I didn’t have, my heart sank. At that moment it hit me in my spirit how that young man sounded before I hung up on him. His countenance was somber, and his tone was timid. “You better call him back and apologize,” the Holy Spirit chided. “How? I don’t even know his name?” I countered, realizing it had to be done. It was a holiday weekend, and my heart just could not stand the thought of that young man being sad because of me. Immediately, I called the bank's customer service line and told the young lady who answered what had happened. “Ma’am, I don’t know the young man’s name, but is there any way you can find him and let him know I apologize for the way I responded to him. His countenance was so cheerful, and he was just doing his job; it is not his fault that my account is in disarray. He was just trying to help me, and I yelled at him and hung up. Please let him know I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to steal his joy.” She took my name and told me she would pass the message on. I sat for a few hours, replaying the event in my mind. Later that afternoon, my phone rang. It was the bank, and a young lady on the other end relaying a message from the young man, “Thank you.” She also encouraged me, stating, “We get those kinds of calls all the time, but no one ever calls back to apologize to us. We want to let you know that we’ve waived both overdraft fees and we also want you to know that we value you as a customer.” Oh, I can’t begin to explain to you how relieved I was, and how humbled I was. God had somehow given me favor with the bank, and my account was balanced. That encounter was such a great lesson in relational and financial accountability. That young man and I were in a banking relationship, and instead of me taking responsibility for my financial incompetence, I blamed him (the bank) for it. When I did that, it affected our positive relationship, turning it into a negative relationship that was completely my fault. Listen to me, please! And understand that all our relationships are valuable gifts, but the marriage relationship is second only to the relationship we have with God. Why? Because it is the second most intimate relationship, you can have with any human being. With God, we have a spiritual intimacy (oneness), but with our spouse, we have a physical intimacy (oneness). However, with God and our spouse, we also have intellectual intimacy and relational intimacy. How we relate to God and our spouse will determine the value we put into both relationships, and the value we will get out of both relationships. If you notice your relationships are thriving, it’s because you are sowing into them well. But if you notice they are diminishing, it’s because you are not valuing them enough. Guess who is accountable: you. Okay, take a breath and repent. Then re-evaluate all your relationships regarding how you sow into them. You will see a pattern that needs to be sustained or one that needs to be abolished. When you notice where changes need to be made, just understand that you are not changing them, but you. Early in my relationship with my ex-husband, he made a very valid point. We were discussing our expectations of togetherness when he added, “Just do for me what you would want done for you.” Doesn’t that sound familiar: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets,” (Matthew 7:12, NIV). When we do wrong and neglect to take responsibility, we pass the blame onto the other person in the relationship, making them the "scapegoat." This can happen in any relationship (parent and children, friend, co-worker, or stranger). But the best way to present ourselves in any relationship is to be authentic, trustworthy, reliable, and accountable. This will give the people in our lives the best version of us and help us maintain joyful relational fellowships. Prayer: Father, I apologize first to you for any relationships that I have messed up because I was so messed-up. Please help me find the courage and the right words to apologize to others I may have hurt relationally. I desire to value the people in my life, but sometimes I can’t because I don’t always know how to value myself. Help me see the value in myself, so I can pass this valuable experience on to others. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) A few years ago my daughter and I had a court appearance concerning her ex-husband. He missed his opportunity before the judge, and we were excused from the case. As we were leaving, he was coming into the courthouse. I was following my daughter and only caught a quick glance of him out of the corner of my eye. “Was that him?” I asked my daughter. “Yep!” she replied. It was at that moment that I realized I felt no anger towards him anymore, only pity. I had to examine myself for a moment, because there was a part of me that was very angry, but not at him, only about the things he had done to my child and his children. Don’t get me wrong, there was a time that I wanted to go upside his head. But now, I just want to pray for him. I guess this is a result of God telling my daughter, the children, and me to forgive him. I remember a time in 1993, right before I went into a trial season (time of testing), when God also told me to “Forgive your father for the father that he wasn’t, and honor him for the father that he was.” I heard him, but I didn’t know what to make of it until I thought back on the good things he had done for me. When I recognized that the good out-weighed the bad, I was able to forgive him for the hurt he had caused me and my family. It was only when God asked me to care for him in his last years that I came to value the power of forgiveness. I am grateful to report that my grandchildren have been able to apply the same kind of grace toward their father, after all the suffering and separation. Matthew 18:21-23 illustrates the power of a forgiving spirit, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ‘Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” Now, that’s a lot of forgiveness! Actually, Jesus was trying to teach us about the Spirit of Forgiveness, which in essence is God’s Spirit! And just as much grace that has been extended to us, we need to extend the same forgiving grace to others. I’m grateful for God’s great grace in his merciful forgiveness. I am a blessed beneficiary! With that in mind, I must extend the same to my ex-son-in-law, who is just as much in need as I was, am and probably will continue to be! God forgive us! If there is any unforgiveness lurking in your heart, especially where your enemy, family, or mate is concerned, please pray this prayer with me. Prayer: Father, please help us remember to forgive those who have offended, hurt, or disappointed us; especially those who are closest to us. For you, through your grace and mercy, have forgiven us our sins and iniquities. And help us not to condemn those who may behave as enemies, but to pray for their souls to be saved and for them to have your peace. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!

I was invited on New Year’s Eve 2017, per my pastor's request, to minister on the topic of influence. Initially, I did not know what I would speak about, but when I went into prayer, God revealed my subject. I ministered the story of a little girl that so impacted and influenced my walk with God that God himself asked me to talk about her. Honestly, I had forgotten about her in recent years until he mentioned her. He wanted me to minister to the young people, and he wanted to use her as an example. I'll call her Phylicia (that's how I refer to her in my book, Suitable Singles: Every Single Decision Matters). When I met her, she was 10 years old, and Phylicia was different from any other child or adult I had ever met. I was eleven years old and in the fifth grade for the second time when I met Phylicia through a friend who knew her. I was ashamed, afraid, very shy by nature, and miserable. And her life to me was intriguing because she was beautiful, smart, talented, and happy. At first, I had no idea of her Christianity until one day she was being coerced into taking part in the inappropriate behavior of a group of about seven children that hung with her; I was the eighth. Basically, the group had taken up cursing, and they thought Phylicia should also take up cursing. But Phylicia told them, “I’m not saying that! I’m a Christian!” And she didn’t, not even for the cute little boy who everyone called her boyfriend. That was impressive because everyone else was trying to fit in with the crowd. But Phylicia did not need to fit in with the crowd, because the crowd gravitated to her, not she to the crowd. Her strong stance led the group to create a new language that mimicked cursing without the bad words; and they were hilarious! And as a result, everyone stopped cursing. There was something definitely special about that young girl. I noticed that the more I hung around Phylicia, the more I had unique experiences. Because Phylicia joined the school choir, we all joined the choir, and somehow, I ended up playing a tambourine on television in the background while she sang. I had never played a tambourine before, but somehow I just knew I could. At least in my eleven-year-old mind. On another occasion, our teacher recruited her for an African dance group she was putting together for Black History Month. The other girls had to audition, but Phylicia was chosen. I wanted to audition, but my teacher wouldn’t allow me. I didn’t have the look! So, when my friends went to rehearsal every day, week after week, I went with them. I loved to dance, so I sat in a chair in the corner with my hands folded and just watched them. A week before the presentation, the teacher was frantic because one of the key dancers had gone out sick with pneumonia about three weeks prior. They had hoped she would be back before the presentation, but she wouldn’t be. The teacher didn’t know who was going to take her place, but little Phylicia turned to me and asked, “Don’t you know the steps?” In complete and utter shock, I murmured shyly, “Uh, huh!” My teacher asked me to show her the routine, and I did. One week later, I was on the stage with my friends, dancing with a big smile on my face. None of those experiences would have been possible if a little girl hadn’t been an impressive witness for Christ. Everybody loved her, and she oozed the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I was well hated and constantly bullied, but she never insulted or mistreated me; she noticed me. She and I weren’t close friends, but everyday I would leave my house, which was ten houses from the school, and walk twelve blocks in the opposite direction to her house to walk to school with Phylicia. Why? Because I saw and experienced Jesus through her. I loved how she talked fondly about him and sang songs about him. I also noticed how she never compromised her integrity for her friends. She was the same at school as she was at home. After meeting Phylicia, I desperately wanted to go to church, and a year later I did when I was invited by my best friend. My family didn’t go to church, but I yearned to know God, since he spoke to me at four years old. He talked to me periodically when I needed correction and direction. The more he spoke, the more I wanted more of him, but I didn’t know how to connect with him. It occurred to me as I was preparing my message that if I had not failed the 5th grade, I wouldn’t have met Phylicia, because I would’ve been a year ahead of her. Had I not met her, I probably wouldn’t have developed a deep yearning for church. And had I not gone to church to learn more about the love of God and salvation, I probably would still be a lost soul and unable to minister to you. As the Lord reminded me about little Phylicia's light that shone so brightly before me. He said, “Some people are witnesses of my goodness and glory, but others who claim to be my witnesses make a spectacle of my name.” Immediately, I thought how some elders often refer to glasses as spectacles. Spectacles represent sight or seeing. I like Webster's 1913 definition, "Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight..." Most of the time when we hear the word spectacle, it has a negative connotation. It suggests that one is putting on a fake show. It made me really examine myself, wondering if I am being seen as a witness or a spectacle? I don’t want to put on a performance to a dying world, when I should be “letting my light so shine that men may see my good works and glorify my father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). If I display the Savior's grace, mercy, and loving-kindness authentically, it will open the door to witness to others of his redemption (The Good News of The Gospel of Jesus Christ). And for that reason am so grateful God sent little Phylicia across my path. The funny thing about our relationship is that Phylicia never came to my house or stepped into my dark world. Instead, she invited me into her house and her well-lit world; which was much safer and enjoyable for both of us. Phylicia never knew how she affected and influenced my life, but she will forever be a part of my testimony as a born-again Christian. Prayer: Father, may my walk, my talk, and my living be a witness of your goodness and your reality as God. Help me not to compromise my holiness and righteousness to be a part of a vain world. May you use my life as a testimony of your goodness, and may your light shine so brightly through me that people around me gravitate to you. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,…” Matthew 5:44 (NIV) Have you ever had someone praying against you when they should have been praying for you? I had a relative praying for my marriage to fail years ago because she was concerned for my well-being. After my divorce, she confessed with pride that she had been praying for my marriage to end. I was floored!!! And then I got mad!!! After I had time to cool off, I realized that she was unsaved, and she probably thought she was doing me a favor. However, she wasn’t. And sometimes, we aren’t either, when we pray prayers of defeat over people, thinking we are helping them. Recently, I had to examine how I was praying for the people in my life, specifically for my enemies. You know, those people you want to hate, but the Holy Spirit in you just won’t let you feel that way about them. Especially when they’ve done so many hateful things to you! One day I was praying for an enemy, but I just couldn't figure out what to say about them. I had already prayed the generic: “Father, forgive them for their sins and save their souls.” But I knew because I was in spiritual warfare, I needed to go deeper. It was then that I solicited the help of the Holy Spirit! When I yielded the prayer over to him, I found it easier to pray for them, even though I had no clue what I was saying at the time. My prayer language was foreign to me, but I could feel in my spirit it was most effective. I was praying in the Spirit (in tongues). ​ We are encouraged in Ephesians 6:18 (NIV), "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." When I heard that my niece’s marriage was in trouble, I prayed for them. Then I noticed that in my anger over the situation, I was praying against the marriage instead of for it. The same way my loved one had prayed for me. Then it hit me: pray in the Spirit. When I did, I came away with a sense of peace because I knew I had left that marriage in the best possible hands that it could be in. I love praying in the Spirit because God knows better than I what needs to be addressed and how to address it. I urge all the saints to take up their swords and pray in the Spirit. I have had the most rewarding breakthroughs in my life when I turned my prayers over to the Holy Spirit and let him defeat my enemies for me. Sometimes, he will even wake me up in the “wee-hours-of-the-morning” to have me pray in the Spirit. As sleepy as I am, I know it's wartime! And he has to shake me a few times to keep me alert, but when I become fully awake, it’s on! Don’t miss your opportunity to win the war. Just turn the battle over to the Holy Spirit and let him defeat your enemies, while you pray for them. Prayer: Father, help me pray on all occasions when I have no words to say. Use me to pray effectively over everyone, because everyone is important to you. And help me yield my will and emotions to the Holy Spirit and let him speak through me. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.