BeyondSeeLevel

A letter….To Him…..

I realized that since my young, adult years in the church, I’ve taken pride and refuge in the male presence in my congregations. Grandfathers. Fathers. Uncles. Brothers.  I don’t have close relationships with most of them, but their presence offered me a sense of security that I’ve lacked my entire life. And recently, that presence has seemed to fade to black. The ones that are present are posted up, but not making a difference. They seem ok with just showing up and have no urgency to lead the people of God or even be spiritual examples-lacking spiritual integrity. The church once disconnected me from the brokenness of my own blood family. No men. No leadership. No support.  No protection. The church men represented  for me hope, examples and someone I could at least point to and say to my girls….”that’s a good one right there”. But now, it is reminding me of the brokenness of my family and forcing me to feel like I have to lead there too. It grieves me on a different level because of what the church came to mean to me as a fatherless woman raising fatherless children. And once again, I feel like I’m being forced to wear the pants when I really want to wear a dress. Then get criticized for wearing the pants. *Sigh* This realization actually had me in tears. To be honest….I’m tired of clapping for men just because they showed up. Apparently, this has set a new standard of leadership and accountability. I think I’ll hold my applause for the ones that power up, not just show up. I mean, where do we draw the line between what’s meant as encouragement and what’s simply stroking an ego–an ego that’s built up on coming to class but never passing the test? I refuse to stop having expectations. I’m still looking for them to be present and make a difference; not just make dents. My nature won’t allow me to. I’ve learned that people will resent you for charging them and expecting them to do what they’re supposed to do. I’m cool with that. No one wants to be told that they’re missing the mark. Neither do they want to be told what the mark is. Especially not by a woman. Sooooooo….what now?

Signed

Sincerely, Grievously, Disappointed, Agitated, Frustrated

Her

*Tressa Jo

I purchased 2 new pair of eyeglasses. I had worn the pair that I replaced for 4 years. They were still in good shape. But because I had transition lenses and they were old, it seemed that I just couldn’t get them clean. I thought they were pretty fashionable. They were a solid, deep burgundy color. The arms of the glasses were very thick or wide (however you say it). It gave me a classy look. But as fly as I thought I looked, they limited my peripheral sight. I had spent the last four years of my life looking fly without peripheral vision. I had been limited so long, I adjusted. As a matter of fact, after a while, I didn’t even give it a second thought that I had no peripheral sight. I had gotten comfortable. I adjusted to my limited vision.  

As I mentioned before, I bought two new pair of eyeglasses. Once again, I thought I looked pretty fly. One pair was a light, clear-like colored tan color. The other, a solid dark blue color. Both pairs have the same thick/wide arms like the 1st pair. I thought I looked better in the tan pair. But I found myself being more comfortable in the dark colored pair. I would start my work day out in my tan pair. But by lunch, I would switch to the dark blue pair.

Why!? Why would I switch if I felt like I looked better in the tan pair? When I got off work one day, pulling out of a parking garage, I realized why. I had gotten so used to the old pair, it was difficult for me to adjust to the new pair. I had no issues with the frames; they’re actually the same style, just a different color. But I was actually having trouble adjusting to this new found peripheral sight that I had when wearing the tan pair. Whenever, I’d be in a well lit place (particularly outside on a sunny day), I found myself desiring the dark blue pair; the pair that limited my peripheral sight. Crazy right?! I know you’re probably saying to yourself “Ok! What’s the point of this? Where is she going?”

I’m so glad you asked. 

Every Tuesday night, for the past few years, I have convened on a conference call bible study with some of the best Christian women in America. Anyway, that particular week, we had an additional call on Monday night. It was unplanned and requested at the last minute by one of the ladies.  We just got together to pray. We all felt the need, so we did. There’s nothing like praying women! We had some general prayers. There were prayers of adoration, forgiveness of sin and thanksgiving. Then we had intercessory prayer for one another. I asked the ladies to pray for me. I stated that I could see how God was working in my life; how He was illuminating my mind; and how He was answering my prayers. But my request was that God help me to stop resisting the illumination the Holy Spirit was giving me. I was fully aware of how God had answered my prayers for encouragement, confidence, boldness, wisdom, understanding and motivation to move forward and embrace the calling He had placed on my life. In spite of me being aware and God providing me with everything I needed to move forward, I was in a tug-of-war. I was struggling to embrace what I knew was good and best for me. I was struggling to receive what I had asked for. 

Again, I asked why? Back to the eyeglasses. The Holy Spirit revealed to me a parallel between the eyeglasses and my resistance to how the Holy Spirit was working in my life. He showed me that, because I had been limited for so long, I became comfortable in my limitations. When I step outside in the sunlight, I felt like it was just too bright. There’s too much illumination out here! Then, I would voluntarily, put on my blinders to dim the light. (Hallelujah!) Spiritually speaking, because I had been limited so long, I had become so comfortable in my perceived limitations, that I rejected the power of this new illumination. I kept putting back on my blinders. I kept sabotaging my peripheral vision.

I felt like a ground hog. I had been in the dark so long, I was tripping out with all that sunshine; all that illumination. And I volunteered myself to crawl back into my dark place with no peripheral sight; with no illumination-stripping myself of the power that God had given me to see better, to do better and to be better. 

Is this for you today?  God has empowered many of you and is giving you everything you need in order to embrace the light; embrace the power; embrace the strength; embrace the abilities. But because you have adjusted to the limitations in your life, you’ve forfeited power; you’ve forfeited growth; you’ve forfeited God’s calling on your life. Understand that you will adjust to the light! It may take some time. You may have to squint your eyes for a little while until you get used to it. But the light won’t hurt you. Stay in the light! This is only way you will adjust.

We are so busy embracing and supporting the limitations in our lives,  that we can’t even accept the new and improved vision that God has given us. Some of us have been praying to go to the next level in our spiritual lives. We even ask others to pray for us. Then God gives us a word. He gives us exactly what we need in order to position ourselves to receive the blessing of that request. He gives us a word of admonishment, empowerment, correction and instruction. He says fast and pray. He says read My word daily. He says pray without ceasing. He says repent and turn from your evil ways. He’s says forgive your brother. He says……………………. But you resists. You put your blinders on and continue to accommodate the very thing you’ve been asking God to deliver you from. You stay in dark places instead of coming into the light.  

Have you been accommodating your weaknesses? Have you been putting your blinders on instead of trying to adjust to the light? You can’t expect a harvest when you refuse to allow seed to be planted. And even if you’ve allowed them to be planted, you still can’t expect a harvest if you don’t continue to nurture and cultivate them (in the light). 

*Tressa Jo

I once had an encounter with someone I was very familiar with. I had known this gentleman for over 10 years. We have a business relationship. But I also consider him a friend. Over the course of the years I’ve known him, he has been a big support and source of encouragement to me. The nature of our friendship would remind you of an uncle and his niece. I’d share with him the events of my life and he’d encourage me to “keep going in that direction and you’ll be ok”. I always got a feel from him that he was genuinely concerned about the welfare of me and my children.

One visit, we repeated the same usual routine. I shared. He listened, advised and encouraged. Now normally, that would be the extent of it. However, on this particular day, his words were different and immediately caught my attention. I would always let him know how God was working in my life and how He keeps on sustaining me and my girls. I would talk a little about how God was using me and positioning me in spite of me for His glory and my growth. I’d also mention many of the great things my church was doing.

But this day, he looked at me and said “You don’t have to be at that church all day.” In my mind I thought to myself “Where in the world did that come from?!” When did I every express to him that I spent all day of any day at church? He then continues on to say that it’s not necessary to spend so much time at church doing “church stuff” because God doesn’t require all that. All God required was one service. He said that there are bigger demons in the church than there are in the world; from the pulpit to the pews. He then asked me something that he hadn’t asked me before. He asked me what church I attended. I told him then he continued with his rant.

As he spoke, I said “Well, it works for me.” I, silently, wondered why would he discourage me from doing what apparently had been working for me as long as I’ve known him? If my commitment to “church stuff” keeps me out of trouble and “going in the right direction”, why instruct me to stop? But when I looked at his face and saw a disturbed countenance, I knew that that comment wasn’t about me at all. It was coming from his own place of frustration and disappointment with his own “church” experiences.

Because I respected him so much and valued his opinion, I could have allowed his words to take root in my spirit and followed suit. But of course, I didn’t. I realized that there was a message beneath the words he spoke. His message was “I’m frustrated! I’m tired! I’m angry!” But none of it had anything to do with me or my “church stuff”. Although, his words were directed to me, they weren’t for me. His words exposed his own personal struggles at that time in his life. I’m so glad that the Holy Spirit whispered that to my spirit in the midst of our conversation.

But even more calculating than the fact that his words to me weren’t even about me or for me, was the fact that his words were the words of the enemy trying to discourage me and detour my path. Yes, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “Sift through those words Tressa! They’re not for you.” In the like, Satan was whispering at the same time. He attempted to whisper words of determent and distraction. Satan knows the path that God has me on. He also knows that it’s a path destined and purposed to glorify God and affect the lives of many. I’m thankful that the whispers of the Holy Spirit overpowered what Satan was trying to put in my ear that day. I was able to look my friend in the face and say to the enemy, “Get thee behind me Satan!”

Praise God for His small still voice! Be mindful and watchful how Satan whispers in your ear. Recognize that it has little to do with the vessel he uses to speak through. But it has everything to do with the influence beneath the words of that messenger. We don’t war against flesh and blood. Many times, Satan chooses to whisper; not shout. He uses friends; not foes to do his dirty work. Don’t be deceived by the sound of a genuine sounding, gentle whisper. Always consider the power beneath the words.

I still hold my friend in high esteem and respect him greatly. But I also know that the closer the relationship of influence the more likely Satan is to use them against me. I also know that whatever I feed will lead. What empowers me to have discernment in the influence of words is the fact that I have the Word. I have Jesus! May the words of Satan through the mouths of man never mute the words of God in my ears!

*Tressa Jo

It  amazes me how one of the biggest lessons I’ve ever learned about living the single life, was actually learned while I was married. During the course of my first marriage, I, like many, have experienced the trauma and drama dealing with an unfaithful, adulterous spouse. Considering he was my “first love” and we had our first child, you can imagine the emotional roller coaster I was on. During this time, I began my journey towards a “committed” walk with the Lord. I had come to the Lord about two years prior. But I still hadn’t committed to Him yet. You do know that you can come to the Lord and not be committed right? Anyway….I would pray for God to “fix him”–show my husband what he was doing to me. I deserved so much better than this because I was faithful and committed to him, in spite of his lack of faithfulness to me. It was during this time of new dedication to the Lord that God showed me ME. 

First, God revealed to me that my prayers were selfish and didn’t really even consider my husband; only what he was doing to and for me. It was literally like a light bulb came on in my spirit. I realized at that moment that I prayed ABOUT my husband, but I never prayed FOR my husband. Wow! God showed me my own offense as I brought my husband’s offenses to Him to deal with. Wow again! After that, I still struggled praying FOR my husband because he was still hurting me. I didn’t have thoughts of his welfare or him becoming a better man of God. I was only concerned about him becoming a better man for me. He was still unfaithful and I still wanted him to be faithful. I wanted my family to stay together. I was open with God about my struggle to pray for him. In the meantime, I started praying for myself. I knew that I had been so focused on my husband’s sin that I could no longer see the ugliness of my own sin. I know, had I not truly committed my life to God after coming to Him, I may have never had this personal revelation. So even though I was struggling to pray for my husband, I started to pray for myself. I didn’t consume my prayers with wanting things to be better or the state of my marriage. I focused on my relationship with God and becoming the woman, mother and even the wife God had positioned me to be. I started to understand that all of the hats I wore were hats of stewardship. God expected ME to steward my marriage, motherhood and myself in a manner that would bring Him glory. Even if I had to accept the grief of a failed marriage and a broken family, I was still responsible for glorifying God. And I purposed to live that exact way. Sometimes, I had to glorify Him through tears, struggle and sleepless nights. But I did it! I really started to grow in my relationship with God and I no longer gave my circumstances the power to dictate how I would act, live or who I would be. I became emotionally responsible and personally accountable for the choices that I made. God delivered me from a spirit of retaliation. Even though the marriage failed and I dealt with the aftermath and shame of being a divorced, struggling, unsupported mother, I still felt no desire to see him suffer or pay for the things he had done against me or was failing to do for our child.

The second thing God revealed to me was that my relationship with my husband (although it was dysfunctional) was more of a god to me than God was to me. I remember sitting at the dining room table about to eat a meal I had prepared. I don’t remember if I had gotten a knock at the door or a phone call from another woman (again). But my countenance fell immediately. I completely lost my appetite. My husband and I had just had another “meeting of reconciliation” the previous day. So needless to say, I was feeling good and hopeful about my marriage. But that encounter forced me accept the fact that they were just words and nothing more. As relentless as I had been trying to “make things work” I was officially tired. I still loved him, but I was tired. I was too tired to keep trying, but not tired enough to quit. So being separated was fine with me. But as I sat at that table staring at my food in tears, God whispered some words into my spirit. He didn’t rebuke me. He didn’t even comfort me. But He asked me a series of questions that I pray I never forget as long as I live. God asked me the following questions:

Have you ever cried when You didn’t hear from Me?
Have you ever lost your appetite when you felt disconnected from Me?
Have you ever lost any sleep waiting on Me to show you some love and affection?
Have you ever manipulated your schedule to make sure you were able to spend time with Me?
Am I really your #1 priority?

Wow!!!! God used my dysfunctional relationship with my adulterous husband to show me that I was an adulterer in my relationship with Him. I wasn’t fully committed. Hearing the voice of God was not enough of a priority in my life that I would cry about it if I didn’t hear from Him. I had never really felt disconnected from God because I hadn’t truly connected to Him from the beginning. As much as I desired the touch and attention of my husband on those many nights he didn’t come home, I’ve never stayed awake waiting to feel the touch and presence of God. And the most time I would give God was Sundays and Wednesday nights. But that was convenient—no manipulation needed. How dare I keep coming to God treating Him more like my Shuga Daddy than my Heavenly Father! I learned in a nutshell, that I had an “out of order” kind of affection and desire for my husband and for marriage. I wanted to be good for my husband but being good for God wasn’t a pressing priority.

As a single person, desiring marriage is honorable. However, it can also be out of order. Often times, the single person will seek to perfect themselves to qualify for the choicest prospective spouse. They present the best them in order to attract the best. They learn to talk right and act right. They perfect domestic or provisional abilities. They say, “I’m preparing myself for the man/woman God has for me.” All the while, failing to remember the fact that God created you for His good pleasure–not your own or a spouse’s pleasure. God tells us in His word that He is a jealous God. How do you think God feels when we put forth being our very best for another, but not Him? What do you think He thinks when we have more urgency to acquire and maintain romantic relationships, than we have to maintain a pleasing relationship with Him?

Have you ever had love and lost it? Do you remember how you felt? Did you cry? Did you lose any sleep? Was your mind consumed with thoughts of him/her? God could be asking you the same questions He asked me almost 20 years ago. Be honest in your assessment. Do you have an out of order kind of affection or desire for romance?

*Tressa Jo

Many of us don’t even realize the fact that we are slaves to our own personal desires. We stand in the way of our own purpose in God for our lives because what we want for our lives supersedes what God wants and has purposed for our lives. God didn’t create us or save us to be about our own business. He created and saved us to be about His business. He created us for His good pleasure. When we live life in light of eternity, our focus changes from “How much pleasure am I getting out of life?” to “How much pleasure is God getting out of my life?”  God wants us to worship Him. Worship is not a part of our lives; it is our life. When we live a life of worship, God’s expectations are the beginning, middle and end of everything that we do. This means that He’s sought before we go. He’s sought as we go. And He’s sought as we arrive–not just His presence or His blessings; but we seek His approval and His guidance. Our lives are saturated with the Holy Spirit of God. But too often, God doesn’t have our minds/hearts. And because He doesn’t have our hearts,  He’ll never really have the rest of us. We will have a form of godliness but deny the power of godliness. Many of us have consumed our efforts trying to remove any obstacle we feel is in the way of us having what we desire in this life. But the truth is, most of us simply need to realize that we are our biggest obstacle. We need to learn that it’s not about us; but it’s about the One that purposed us, created us and positioned us in this life for His glory; not for our own. The Word teaches us to deny ourselves in order to follow Christ. When we fail to deny ourselves, we deny Him. And because we’re denying Him by failing to deny ourselves, we can not follow Him. When we fail to have a lifestyle of worship, we fail to walk in our purpose. We need to ask God to help us get out of our own way of the purpose HE has for our lives.  Ask Him to help us die daily so that He can live in and through us daily-walk in our purpose not our pleasure. Pleasure can be very deceptive.  It’s deceptive because it has the ability to minimize any sense of urgency we should have to stay connected to God and our purpose in Him. It’s very possible to live a pleasurable life without living a purposeful life. I’m sure many will say that God wants us to experience the abundant pleasures of life and that we don’t have to choose between our purpose and or pleasure.  We can walk in our purpose and have pleasure at the same time. Well….Jesus was faced with the same decision.  He chose purpose. Not My will (my pleasure) be done,  but Thy will be done.  And like Jesus,  we will be faced with choosing between our pleasures and our God given purpose.  Which will you choose?

*Tressa Jo

Most of us have sought to accomplish something, to acquire something or to go somewhere in our lives.  And we pray or wonder are we doing the right thing. Are we headed in the right direction? We prepare ourselves for the task at hand and feel good about where we’re going.  But then, here comes the road blocks and detours. Is this the enemy trying to keep me away from my destiny? I’d much rather believe this because I really do want what I’m pursuing.  Or could this detour or road block actually be a Divine warning to let you know you’re chasing the wrong thing?

Most of us believe that if we ask God for something,  He’s going to give it to us.  He tells us in His word that we have not because we ask not.  So what’s with all the detours and road blocks?! We’ve asked. We’ve prayed.  We’ve pursued. We should be receiving!

Well…..consider this.  God says that He will give us the desires of our heart ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND PURPOSE for our lives.  Could it be that what you desire for your life isn’t what God desires for your life?  Could it be that you and God are not on the same page when it comes to the course of your life?

Sometimes the detours and road blocks are Divinely orchestrated by God to protect us, guide us and even purpose us.  Purpose us? We have three agendas in life: our agenda for our lives; other people’s agendas for our lives;  and God’s agenda for our lives.  Any time our agenda or other people’s agendas supersede God’s agenda for our lives,  we are out of order and headed in the wrong direction.  God saves us for His good pleasure,  not our own.  Therefore,  sometimes the detours and road blocks are strategically positioned to warn us that we are actually about to step outside our purpose going after whatever it is we’re going after. Just because it has the potential to bring us pleasure doesn’t mean it’s in God’s plan for us.

There’s a man in the bible named Balaam that had the same problem we do.  He wanted something that was outside of God’s will for him.  And like Balaam,  we go for it at all cost and usually don’t realize the purpose of the road blocks until it’s too late or until much damage has been done.

Numbers 22:22-34
22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

WARNING #1:

The 1st warning was mild. It gave Balaam much room to maneuver and still put him in a position to comfortably, make his own decision and choice. It was to get his attention. This opposition is not a delay. It’s a Divinely orchestrated detour. Pay attention! God will position, promote, push and prepare you for what He approves of.

Numbers 22:24-25
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

WARNING #2:

The 2nd warning was a little more bold; a little more “in your face”. As Balaam purposed to do his own thing (instead of God’s), he had to put forth more of an effort to accomplish what he wanted to do. He resisted God even more. There were now, stumbling blocks in his way. When we want what we want, we will find ways to do or get what it is that we want (even if God doesn’t want the same thing for us). In addition, Balaam’s foot was crushed against the wall by the donkey. How often do we sustain injury (emotional, mental, physical or spiritual) or acquire additional hardship, as we pursue what God has not purposed for us? Money problems; relationship problems; health problems; problems on the job; etc.  Sometimes, we still go limping and in pain, dissatisfaction and distress. We even convince ourselves, that “the Devil is just trying to block my blessing.” No! God never intended that for you in the 1st place! Some of us are so consumed with listening for God to say “YES”, that we can’t even her Him when He says “NO”.

Numbers 22:26-27

26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

WARNING #3:

Sometimes, God will eliminate your choices all together. Access denied! God will be merciful enough to shut and lock doors we refuse to take our hands off of and accept the fact that it’s just not His will for our lives. Did you forget that it’s not in us to direct our own steps? He knows best. Pay attention when your donkey lies down and refuses to get back up.

Stumbling blocks and detours aren’t designed to grieve or worry us. They’re designed to warn us. And if we humble ourselves and take heed to God’s merciful warnings (particularly before we even get started in our pursuit), they will actually, save us from lots of grief and even save our lives. A crushed foot is better than a dead soul.

*Tressa Jo

Often times, we will find in the midst of struggle, that we can actually do something to improve our situations in life. Therefore, we put in the work to do what we can to make things better for ourselves. In the meantime, we recognize that the work we put in to improve our circumstances, is actually the work we should have been putting in all along before the circumstances ever arose.  Nevertheless, the progress we make is actually good but achieved out of disease and a sense of desperation. Something had to get sick before we did what we were supposed to do. We had to have our backs against the wall, desperately looking for a way out.  But God wants us to make progress in life out of devotion, dedication and discipline. He wants us to be good stewards of our blessings; not have to wait for the urgency of desperation before we do what we’re supposed to do.  Wow! If we’re not careful, consequence will be our biggest motivation to do what we’re actually supposed to do; and not conviction. The love we have for God and the calling placed on our lives calls us to be good stewards of our lives. The motivation for doing what you’re supposed to do has to be intentional in living a life purposed to glorify God in all that you do. Many of us suffer unnecessarily because we simply fail to do what we’re supposed to do. We fail to be good stewards of what God has given us–health,  money,  relationships, etc. Then when those things suffer, we don’t accept the fact or even realize that’s is our own fault. We’re suffering because we didn’t do what we were supposed to do; not because of happenstance.  The simplest bit of advice we can all benefit from: When you learn better do better. If you don’t know, learn. Irresponsibility and ignorance are never good excuses for hardship.

*Tressa Jo

I got off work one day and headed to the grocery store, before picking up my little one and heading home. I pulled into the parking lot and decided to back into my parking space. When I turned the car off it wouldn’t crank back up. As a matter of fact, it wouldn’t do anything. My initial thought was “I knew it was coming!” I had heard a humming sound for about a week. But I was actually grateful that it didn’t stop on me in the parking garage I parked in at work. Then I thought to myself “Man, I don’t have anyone that I can call to help me right now.” After a few failed attempts to start my engine, I decided to give my mechanic a call. Fortunately, he was still at the shop. He instructed me to try to get a boost then take it to Autozone so they could check my alternator and battery. He said it sounded like it was the battery. So I proceeded to pop the hood of my car and open my trunk. I took out my battery cables and connected them to my car battery and waited to ask someone for help. I even put a $10 bill in my pocket to offer anyone that was willing to assist me. Well, I stood there a few minutes trying to identify anyone that I thought would be able to help me. I didn’t want to ask a woman. I was hoping a gentleman would walk by. It seemed that no one would look my way as they looked like they were in a rush. Well, I waited next to my car for about 10 minutes. Then an older gentleman pulled up, blew his horn and motioned. He asked me if I needed his help. I nodded yes and gave him thumbs up. He jumped out of his truck, grabbed the other end of the cables hanging from my battery, gave me a boost and drove away in less than 5 minutes.

The Autozone guy tested my battery and alternator. Alternator good! Battery bad! But he couldn’t remove the battery to replace it because it was encased by other car stuff. Lol He said they weren’t allowed to remove the other things and that I would have to have someone do that 1^st, and then bring the battery back. So I called my mechanic and asked would he help me gain access to my battery. He told me to come to the shop which was less than 10 minutes away. So I go in a rush to the shop. He removes my bad battery then places a loner battery that he had in his shop. He told me to go get the new, put it in my trunk, then swing back by Monday, and he would hook up my new one and retrieve his loaner battery. So I go to an Autozone closer to where I was and got a new battery at no charge. My dead battery was still under warranty. Great!

I’m up and running again about an hour and ½ later. Praise God! I was just overwhelmed with how quickly God had worked things out for me and how he had placed the right people in the right places at the right time to help me. My mechanic is an older man and usually closes shop early on Fridays. And he no longer works on the weekend.

My mind went directly to a friend that had been in the hospital that week. I texted her “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” We both understood that even though she was sick in the hospital, God had allowed her to lie down in a state of provisions. Excuse me while I shout!!!!!! Meaning, He made sure she had everything she needed in place in spite of her “break down”. She could have been consumed with having to lie down in the hospital. But, at least at that moment, she chose to celebrate the green pastures. She chose to focus on the fact that, in spite of the break down, God strategically positioned her in a place of provisions.

I thought about how God strategically orchestrated my break down. He made sure that the car died in a safe place; not on the freeway. (This is the 1^st thing my 7 y/o said when I told her where my car stopped.) He put on my mind to back into my parking spot; which made it more convenient and accessible to get a boost. He placed that gentleman on the right side of the parking lot to see me and offer to help me. He made sure the Autozone guy was available to check my battery. (Sometimes, they’re too busy.) He then made sure that my mechanic was still at his shop and that he answered his phone. (Sometimes, he doesn’t answer, even though he’s there). He made sure I had booster cables in the trunk of my car. And finally, he made sure that I didn’t have to come out of pocket 1 dime to get going again. Bonus! He made sure that if I had to come out of pocket to purchase a new battery, that I had it in the bank. He sho nuff made me to lie down in green pastures! Look at God!

How awesome is God to provide for us in spite of break downs?! We know that we will have break downs in life. We will have to lie down sometimes. But God never promised us that we will be problem free in this life. But He does promise to never leave us nor forsake us. That’s a guaranteed booster cable in the trunk of your ride!

When we face the break downs of life, don’t focus on the dead battery under the hood. Don’t focus on the inconveniences. Don’t focus on the change of plans. And don’t focus on the lack of available support. Focus on the booster cables. Focus on what you DO have; not what you don’t have. Satan is a joy stealer. He doesn’t want you to be able to see the “right now” blessings of God. He wants you wallow in the sorrow of your break downs. This is why we are instructed to focus on the “whatsoever things ARE”; not were or will be. God is a God of right now blessings. Right in the middle of your break down, God is still providing. But complaining, whining, faithlessness and panic will only disable you from being able to see all of the provisions in the green pastures God has already provided. Don’t be blinded by the break down. Praise God for green pastures!

*Tressa Jo

Every since I was a child, I’ve always loved the rain and thunder. I would sit on the porch and gaze into the streams of rain. I’d look up high to see if I could see its beginning. Then I’d look to the ground to see its ending crash to the ground. I absolutely, love the sound of rain. The harder it rained, the harder my spirit smiled on the inside. I also loved the sound of thunder (still do). I felt like I was in heaven if I could witness a hard rain and hear the thunder at the same time. Even now, if I feel stressed, the sound of rain is like a hug from heaven.

One day, as I sat by the window during my lunch, I noticed the trees as it rained. Trees are so beautiful. My favorite color has always been green. The green leaves beautifully highlight creation on a sunny day. They actually look happy. But during the heavy rain, they aren’t so perky and happy looking. They sag underneath the weight of the rain. They droop and almost look sad. The rain has a way of giving the leaves a countenance of defeat or sorrow. But when the rain stops and the sun starts to shine, it’s seems that they are greener and even more vibrant than before.

As I pondered the thoughts rolling around in my head from some grief I was experiencing at that time, the Spirit whispered words of comfort. He reminded me that the leaves on a tree during a storm are much like the life of a child of God. In life, we are so vibrant and beautiful during the seasons of sunshine. There’s no mistaking that we are with God and God is with us. Our countenance is the most beautiful green you’d ever want to see. But every now and then God will send the rain. Then our countenance starts to change. But even though our countenance is different, we’re still green and we’re still attached to the Tree.

Our spirits start to droop from sorrow and sag from the weight of burdens. Sometimes, we feel troubled on every side. The Spirit whispered to me that the same rain that causes the leaves to droop and sag is the same rain that washes them clean and give them what they need to survive the next season. So it is with life. There will be times in our lives that cause us sorrow, pain, hurt, distress and the like. We will droop and sag in our faith; in our spirit; in our hope. We may even get to the point of wanting to give up; let go of the branch and wither away. But then, God allows the rain to stop just in time. He allows the sun to shine another day.

He reminds us that the rain washes us and prepares us to produce and bare good fruit. He says “If I don’t send the rain, you won’t produce any fruit.” The rain cleanses us of the bad stuff in our spirits. Like Jesus, we too, have to learn obedience by the things we suffer. The rain also provides that life source that we will need to make it to the next season. We can’t live without rain. We can’t live without water.

When you think about the nature of any plant or tree, it takes water, light and soil to survive. You have to be planted and rooted in the good soil. You have to be exposed to the life giving Light. And you have to receive the cleansing and nurturing element of the rain water. When God sends the rain, He knows just the right amount it will take to get you to produce and bare fruit. He sends the rain for your growth and ultimately and primarily for His glory. Therefore, next time the rain comes, realize that the same rain that brings you down is the same rain that God purposes to lift you up.

*Tressa Jo

Are you struggling to forgive someone? One of the major reasons we struggle with forgiveness, is the fact that we give people ‘Source status’ in our lives, when they should only have ‘Resource status’. It’s misplaced, misapplied & self-defeating when we put trust and confidence in people to a degree that exonerates them from the faultiness & failures of humanness. We ALL fall short and are subject to let people down; rather unintentionally, haphazardly or intentionally. When we hold people to Source standards, we place on them unattainable standards, simply because they’re human. People are resources. They serve as conduits of the unfailing nature of God; the completeness of God; the perfection of God. But they are not God! They are not to be substituted for the unfailing nature of God. God is the only Source that will never fail—because He can’t fail. People will let you down. People will always need forgiveness. YOU will let people down. YOU will always need forgiveness. One of the most needed (and perhaps, unappreciated) attributes of God is the fact that He forgives us even with the reality that we don’t deserve forgiveness; not even when we repent, do we deserve it. He forgives us because we are weak; not because we are strong. He forgives us although we are unworthy, simply because He loves us. He’s an ‘In spite of’ kind of God desiring children with “In spite of’ kind of hearts. He wants his children to have hearts like Him. In spite of your unworthiness, I forgive you–One, because in spite of my unworthiness, God forgave me. And two, I love you.

Here are 10 honest questions we have to ask ourselves that will empower you to forgive others.

1. What kind of standards have I placed on others—Source or Resource?
2. Do I struggle to forgive because I struggle to love?
3. What’s my unspoken desires when faced with forgiving someone, retribution or restoration? Judgment or Mercy?
4. Do I really have the heart of God? Am I able to see beyond other’s faults and see their needs?
5. Am I trying to forgive in my flesh, instead of in my spirit? In my flesh, I require perfection. In my spirit, I extend grace in spite of imperfections.
6. Am I not able to see the demon in myself because I’m consumed with the demon of my offender?
7. Has my own pride brought me into the bondage of entitlement? Am I fueling this bondage with feelings of perpetual disappoint & hurt? (It happened! It’s not happening!)
8. Am I willing to admit that God has an expectation of how I respond to those that hurt me? I still have to operate in my Spirit-man and resist the natural inclinations of my flesh-man.
9. Do I understand that forgiveness requires me to consider my offender and deny myself? It’s really not about you. (God doesn’t forgive you to feel better within Himself. He forgives you for YOU; to position you to be restored and reconciled back unto Him. It’s not about what you FEEL. It’s about what/Who FILLS you.
10. Am I willing to repent of my own sin for not operating in the Spirit of God, denying myself, having a prideful spirit & not loving the way God loves?

I often say, “You can’t fix a spiritual problem with a physical sacrifice.” This basically means that we can’t rely on things in the flesh when we are called to duty in the Spirit. The ability to forgive is accomplished in the Spirit. We tie our spiritual hands when we expect or require things on the outside to be the source of our power on the inside. This isn’t an issue of getting over your hurts & being able to move on so that you can have a better life. Forgiving others, definitely positions us to be forgiven by God. But the pinnacle of forgiveness is looking more like our Father in heaven; baring His fruit. Therefore, there’s nothing wrong with extending forgiveness in order to get forgiveness. But as children of God, our desire to forgive should be motivated by our desire to look like our Daddy when we look into our spiritual mirrors. This is the maturing of going from being “ME-minded” to being “MASTER-minded”.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.–Philippians 2:5

*Tressa Jo