Her name was Vilma. She was my aunt. She died at 12 years old of Typhoid Fever. She rests in an unmarked grave next to the infamous John Dillenger at Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN. I never knew her, of course. She died because she and other children had been drinking water from an old water pump in the neighborhood. My paternal grandmother was self-educated. She left school in the third grade to help at home. When Vilma began to show signs of physical distress she did as many parents and utilized home remedies that were generational. She had believed her middle child of three was ill with a cold or flu. When home remedies did little and her daughter’s condition became grave, she took her to a hospital that would accept children of color and learned the devastating truth of the illness. She learned that it was too late now.

This mother’s regret of not knowing the truth weighed upon her for decades. She refused to ever give advice on giving care to a child. She would not even prescribe an aspirin if asked. Today I am remembering Vilma and my grandmother. What does this have to do with faith? One day my son needed her wisdom. My child was ill and I was afraid. My mother was away and my child seemed to be behaving strangely. I called my grandmother. I needed her to help and I needed her to calm me. She answered the phone. Momentarily she stalled, but then she heard my panic and heard my need. On that day, my grandmother abandoned her fears. She went on to explain why she had always refused to tell young mothers how to help their little ones. She could never do it she said, because she had believed she killed her child by trusting purely on tradition and instinct. She could not bear that burden again. This day, “Mamma” decided to trust God with it all and then began to tell me all the right things to do. My son was not as terribly ill as I had imagined, but my grandmother who had been spiritually ill without knowing was delivered from fear, from regret and from guilt when she put her trust in God.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Pastor Pam Emmanuel

Elijah and Elisha crossed it on dry ground, Naaman was healed there, John the Baptist ministered there, Baptism was/is done there. Jesus was baptized there, crossed there and took refuge there. It’s the Jordan. It’s a body of water that is blessed by God. Men and women and children find revelation there. Peace, cleansing and healing is at Jordan. There is power at, near and in the waters of Jordan. It’s waters anointed the head of “The King”, and have been procured to christen heirs of Christian royal houses. It is a place that calls to the heart of Christians, yet it is a place that compels every one that goes to it to walk away from it.

Some of us are at the Jordan symbolically. We have received our healing and our refuge. We have found understanding, comfort, knowledge and love, but now God is saying that it is time to go. It is time to move forward. It may just be time even to go towards the city or the countryside or the prison or the hospital or to the house of that one you have not forgiven. We have been cleansed of the refuse (trash) that came with and within us, we have been passed the mantle of power and after receiving our marching orders are still at Jordan’s shore. What are you supposed to be doing beyond Jordan? John 10:39-40 said that Jesus had taken refuge at Jordan. This had been the place where He had been baptized. What if… Jesus Christ had never left from there?

Getting up can be an effort for sure when there is drag weighing you down. Not only will drag keep you from getting up, it will try to prevent you from standing up! Your lift off will depend “souly” (sic) upon your faith in God and faith in the scriptures to face up to the obstacles that operate against you. Drag is the aerodynamic resistance to the motion of an object. In this observation you and I are the object. We, the objects, are trying to move higher. We are on a mission. The obstacles that are most usually determined to thwart our trajectory are sickness, sin, haters, doubt and fear. Someone or something occasionally wants to hold us down and prevent our lift off! Its time to drop those dead things that stop us from getting up! Look, if it’s not causing your growth, its time to drop it!

If you want to get up and fly like the eagles, if you want to gain momentum, you must have enough faith (lift) to overcome the weight (drag) that does not want you to soar. The amount of faith (lift) needed is determined by how much weight (drag) that you are up against! And how much you are willing to let go of. You can’t move it all, but the power of God (Thrust) can overcome every weight (drag). The power of God (Thrust) will wake you up, sit you up, move you up and clean you up. Are you ready for takeoff ?
John 5:8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up!”

On last night, my dearest husband, Greg (Superman) and I had the joy of singing with the 82nd Annual Tommy A. Dorsey Reunion Choir at the Tommy A. Dorsey Convention in Indianapolis, IN, at the request of a dear friend and musical director. The music seemed to invoke a sweet savor in that room. Certainly God’s presence smiled in appreciation of the praise that was given Him. As I sang I was conscious of the triumph in Mr Dorsey’s trials and how tragedy gave this man a new song and a new life.

Known as “Georgia Tom”, Tommy A. Dorsey (1899-1993) was an accomplished jazz artist, record company agent and composer. He had written over 400 songs. “Tight Like That” sold over 7 million copies. He was on top. He was moving and grooving. In 1932  however, he would face an episode in his life that would literally bring him to his knees. He experienced the depths and darkness of a horrendous pit experience. In 1932 his wife died in child birth. Two days later the child, a son, also died. That asphyxiating experience of grief lead him to write “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”. This man, changed his life and a world because of God’s grace and mercy in his personal pit experience! He penned a song of his trust and faith in the mightiness of God in the midst of despair and in doing so, showed millions that if we just trust Him, God will put a new song in our hearts and deliver us! Thomas A. Dorsey went on to write “Peace in The Valley” and “Highway to Heaven”. Many Gospel Greats are authored by Thomas A. Dorsey. To God be the glory!!!!

Psalm 40:1-3
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

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There is a salvage yard in my city called “Pic-A-Part”. A car owner in need of anything from a steering wheel to a fender can come and pick through junked cars in an effort to restore their personal vehicles. The parts are from battered and crashed cars that were no longer of value to the previous title holder.  Some believers might feel picked apart like those old beaten up, discarded cars. An old soldier of the ministry once said, “Believers are often picked out to be picked on.” You’ve heard the questions; Why me? Why now? How long?

So beneficial the day I found joy in the more critical question; “Why Not?” Those who pose little threat to the enemy are held in low regard by him as a force to bother with. True kingdom soldiers should not be surprised however by attacks, nor should they take it personally. When the indwelling of the Holy Spirit lives within and you walk in obedience, you are marked for enemy engagement. This too is a level of favor! Consider it not strange!

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happens unto you.

Mustard seed faith is not enough for me! I knew it long ago. Matthew 17:20 records, 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. 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.”

Indeed Jesus Christ said that even if your level of faith was the equivalent of a mustard seed, you could do miraculous things. He said that nothing would be impossible to you. I however had been given a super sized assignment from God that would need me to have a warrior mentality. I had been given instructions to live a life that would be ridiculed by some, disrespected and challenged in the hearts of others. God, while disseminating the vision He had called me to, wanted me to broaden my kingdom stride and leap forward! For this I spiritually carry about a supersized seed for supersized faith! For me that mustard seed is not enough. My seed, my faith had to be the size of the giant Fan Palm or Lodoicea Maldivica. It is only found near the Indian Ocean. It’s fruit bears the largest seed on this planet. Seeds from this tree can reach 44lbs.

I’m on a supersized journey! I have a supersized God! What He has given me…. Takes supersized faith. That mustard seed was the “at least” requirement to move a mountain! To do the ministry He calls me to, I’m trying to move “mountains”, valleys, unbelieving souls, attitudes……. Whew! Lord Jesus I need fire!!!

Once in a while I love to allow my skin to breathe. I allow it, even if temporarily, to enjoy being liberated from make up. Yes, I use make up! So don’t judge, just pray if it is your stumbling block. In my arsenal I include a tube of concealer. It helps to hide the tracks of age and any scars. Concealer can handily illuminate the shadows, cloak the wear and tear of youthful tears, stress and the repentant years of neglect. Concealer is certainly for those of us who wish to display the illusion that we are unblemished; “well put together” as my Dad would say.

Through the blessedness of spiritual transformation, God has taught me that I became a more valuable kingdom warrior when I stopped concealing scars; more specifically those spiritual and emotional ones. In the kingdom, I found that my former brokenness was a useful tool. It was a weapon that when exposed was able to bear witness and give hope to others about the Goodness of Jesus! Each wound, each heartache, every sin was cleansed, tossed aside and reinforced by His blood!

In the late 15th Century, the Japanese discovered the physical process akin to how God binds our brokenness. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with a lacquer most often dusted with powdered gold. Kintsugi is also seen as a philosophy that bears “similarities to the wabi-sabi philosophy of embracing the flawed and imperfect (Andrea Codrington 2010).” The repairs to broken ceramic pottery were found to be ornamental and increased the value of the vessels. Not only did the visible repairs of gold lacquer, which sealed the cracks, increase its beauty and it’s worth it also made each break and crack stronger and more resilient.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

Like many children of my generation, part of the Saturday morning ritual included episodes of the Flintstones! My preference of characters however was not Fred or Barney. I was a fan of Bamm Bamm; especially his toddler episodes. I remember one episode where he tries to help Pebbles walk. He was stronger and more advanced than Pebbles. He carried a club and used it and his strength to protect his family and others from danger. How does Bamm Bamm fit within the faith factor? The Holy Spirit brought this cartoon character to my recollection as I searched for words to help a friend who was extremely depressed. God will often use uncomplicated experiences to reveal messages to me. This time it’s the adopted child of Betty and Barney Rubble.

A friend has been suffering. She is still in that dark grip of grief that tries to encompass us by blinding us to the presence of joy, trust and hope in spite of our loss. I knew that an onslaught of comforting words and texts fall on infertile ground when you hurt so badly. I had visited that street called “Grief” too often and understood. God then reminded me about Bamm Bamm, which connected me to the 23rd Psalm. He told me not to preach and not to reason, but to remind my grieving friend of the wonderous basics; The Lord is Her (My) Shepherd. David’s poetic song of our magnificent Shepherd declares that the Lord’s Shebat (rod) and Mishenah (staff)… they comfort me! The Lord uses His rod as a symbol of His sovereignty over every condition and situation. It is the symbol of His authority. He uses His staff to hold me, to defend me and to deliver me. In my grieving and yours, remember that He will help us to walk through, within and in spite of our loneliness, regret, sorrow or fear.

Psalm 23:4 “…for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…”

An awesome gentleman often swaps faith history with me. We each have known the grief of losing a mother and father within abbreviated periods and in close succession. I delight in his wisdom and his friendship. A former tennis pro, he had revealed to me once that he desired in his past to join the priesthood. After returning from a recent absence away from the office, he stopped me. He eagerly wanted to share with me an incredible testimony.  He had been blessed by a miracle while he was away. He explained that he had joined with family for a seasonal return to the waterfront vacation home he enjoyed with his parents. This time however both parents would be absent.  Dad, widowed a few years prior, had not so very long ago passed away. He told my friend that he was dancing with his wife. After those words his father closed his eyes and peacefully left them.

One day, while on this recent sabbatical, my friend stood on the beach and watched as his grandson enjoyed playing and swimming in the water. He suddenly noticed that his grandson was struggling in the water. The child had been over taken by a rip tide. My friend raced to his grandson and dove into the waters to assist him only to find that they were both now in the tide’s grasp. He struggled and stroked and fought, but the tide pushed them further and further from help and land. His grandson started going under. My friend knew he had to use all of his strength to hold up his grandson and keep them both above the waters. The fight proved too much for both and each slowly fell lifelessly into the deep.

They were far from shore and far from the help of man. My friend said that he realized he and his grandson were perishing. But then…he saw the face of his father. He felt a sense of readiness and peacefulness and closed his eyes. He is uncertain of the transpired time. He doesn’t remember any pain. He understood it was likely his end. He was no longer conscious of anything around him. He knew his fight was over, but then…he woke up! When he opened his eyes he found that it was as if God had reached down from heaven and gently scooped  up he and his grandson’s lifeless bodies from the abyss and laid them on the shore. There was no one around. No man was responsible for saving them! No man heard or witnessed their fight. He knew without hesitation or doubt that God had grabbed them.

Psalm 144:7  “Send thine hand from above ; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters …”

Yes God is real! What has He done for you lately?

Today I am reminded of God’s plenteous blessings and the authority He allows all connected to the branch. When we find our lives overwhelmed and confusing we petition and send our supplications heavenward and wait for the promised answers. We pray for escape and we long for our deliverance from the evils and the circumstances that have separated us from our peace, our finances and our spiritual, emotional or physical health. Sometimes we become restless. Let’s be honest, sometimes we grow angry with God because we believe He is not moving swiftly or perhaps He is not paying us any attention.

The truth is that many situations have been without resolution, because the situation is waiting on us! Us? Yes us! One of my favorite films is “The Wizard of Oz”. God revealed something of importance once as I watched. Dorothy sang songs, sought the help of a wizard, succumbed to a sleeping agent, skipped down a yellow brick road and ran from flying monkeys for more than 1hr and 30mins. She was looking for help and answers when she already had both! She was already empowered and had been given authority.  Just like us!  Did Jesus Christ not say, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John14:12 NIV. The “you” is us/we!

Go ahead and try it! Speak to your mountain situation!