Another Year

It's out with the old in with the new
Resolutions are being made and not just a few
Some have done this so often in the past
They are now just a moment hoping to last

Ten nine eight seven six five
For this new year coming many wont be alive
four three two one and then the start
A new year begins with a resounding blast

Hugs and kisses between loving partners
What a way to start this new year not just for starters
Some have been together for years some are golden
Some do have their partnership engraved or molden

Some are career minded what a challenge for others
Many just take time in strides with not one bother
So, it's a new year with a repeat of all the holidays they say
Another 365 days to do it all over the same way.

The Reason For This Season

It's Christmas night and the thought is clear.
Baby Jesus was born in manger tonight.
His parents were in the stable,
They were told there was no room in the inn.

Was there really no room or
Were His parents appearance not fitting for the inn.
Whatever the reason, had it been known who was about to be born
Room would be made for Him that night.

It's not for us to judge and give our views.
God's plan is fulfilled just the way He would have it.
God's plan is for Jesus to enter the world in humility.
Then rise to glory.

His ways are above our ways
His thoughts are far above our thoughts
God doesn't see the way man sees
Man looks on the outside
God sees the inside, God sees the heart

God looked down through two thousand years and saw the need of you and I
God knew it didn't matter how Jesus was born
God knew that Jesus being born was important
God also knew that the reason for Jesus birth, was essential for you and I

Smile Awhile

You know, it is said, laughter is good medicine
It takes a lot more muscle in the face to make a frown
And a lot less muscle to turn that frown upside down
I bet holding that frown for awhile feels like a lot of work on the face
Why not ease the pressure and send that frown to some other place

Each day lets greet each person we see with a big beautiful smile
You can say something encouraging, even shake a hand, don't say you can't
You know, a hug can make a big difference too, just try it for awhile
You'll be surprise to hear the response, it might be just what people want

Smile awhile, you'll find it soothing, healing and relaxing
Smile awhile, everyone will see you're genuine not acting
Smile awhile, it costs nothing but is a rich gift to give
Smile awhile, you'll find it's the best way to live.
 

Luke 2:11-14 NKJV

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:11-14 NKJV

I Am Laughing Again

I am laughing again
My blessings are overtaking me
Jesus is with me my friend
He promised never to leave nor forsake me

I've got a roof over my head
I've got food, clothes, shoes and love in abundance
I have not felt like this since my wife and I wed
God's blessing is in so much abundance

Lord, thank you for making me laugh again
The last time I was so happy, I can't remember when
Before my wedding It seem so long ago
But the most important moment in my life is when I settled that old account long ago.

Luke 2:1, 4-5 NKJV

[ Christ Born of Mary ] And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
Luke 2:1, 4-5 NKJV

1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1

New King James Version (NKJV)

Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

A Heavenly Inheritance

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen^[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
¹⁰ Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us^[b] they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Living Before God Our Father

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”^[c]
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word

²² Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit^[d] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,^{[e] 24} because

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man^[f] as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”^[g]

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

THE ETERNAL GOD IS OUR REFUGE

The eternal God is our refuge
And underneath are His everlasting Arms.

We know who our God is and whose we are
Yes we know to whom we belong
He is always near, and never too far
He even knows when He is touched in a throng.

Eternal God is our refuge
And underneath are His everlasting arms.

People may ask, "What is your God's name?"
"Some say Jehovah, Some say Jesus, Some say the Holy Ghost; He is three in one."
Father Son and Holy Ghost, He is forever the same.
We praise and glorify the Trinity. He revealed Himself through His Son.

Eternal God is our refuge
And underneath are His everlasting arms.

Oh, our all-powerful and all-knowing Jesus
Oh how sweet is your name
Ever living ever loving Jesus
You're forever the same
Jesus Christ our anointed Savior
Our master, our ruler, our shelter from danger,
We love You today, From your true self You never waiver
To us You are God and no stranger.
Jesus..., Jesus..., JESUS!

Jesus You are our refuge,
And underneath, are your everlasting arms.

THE ETERNAL GOD IS MY REFUGE

The eternal God is my refuge,
And underneath, are His everlasting arms.

I don't need a president or a prime minster
I don't need any government leader
I don't need a King or queen either
I need no man of power to be my deliverer;

The eternal God is my refuge,
And underneath is His everlasting arms.

I don't need anyone of influence to protect me
I've been born again as stated in St. John chapter three
Now I travel all over the land and the sea
And tell God's message because with spiritual eyes I can see
It is my true and living God who protects me.

The eternal God is my refuge
And underneath is His everlasting arms.

My God is my refuge, He is my fortress,
God is my rock and He is my strength,
He's my sword, and He is my shield,
He's my bulwark and my battle-axe,
He is the lifter of my head and the supplier of my needs
God is the comforter of my soul and the healer of my whole being

The eternal God is my refuge
And underneath are his everlasting arms.

My eternal God is the doctor in a sickroom
God is the lawyer in the courtroom  
God is a teacher in the classroom
God is a preacher in the churchroom
God is our all in all!

The eternal God is my refuge
And underneath are His everlasting arms.

MARRIAGE; THE CORRECT WAY.

It was fun while it lasted
But for a way more pleasing to God, I prayed and I fasted
It was time to move on from this life
To God I prayed, not just for pleasure but for a wife

Then seriously I took before God and my bride this vow
'Till death do we part, I meant it then as I do now
Thank You God for your blessing over our holy matrimony
What God has put together will never lead to alimony

Bless be the Lord God Almighty who made us one
With Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we crushed the enemy's plan
Marriage is honorable, then comes the family
God's divine plan in Genesis is sealed eternally.

John 10:7, 9-10 NKJV

[ Jesus the Good Shepherd ] Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:7, 9-10 NKJV

Romans 13

Submit to Government

13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ⁴ For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. ⁷ Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Love Your Neighbor

⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,”^[a] “You shall not covet,”^[b] and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[c] 10} Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Put on Christ

¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Ephesians 1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Redemption in Christ

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, ⁹ having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, ¹⁰ that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both^[a] which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. ¹¹ In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ¹² that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who^[b] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

¹⁵ Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding^[c] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
²² And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

1 Peter 1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

A Heavenly Inheritance

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen^[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
¹⁰ Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us^[b] they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Living Before God Our Father

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”^[c]
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word

²² Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit^[d] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,^{[e] 24} because

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man^[f] as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”^[g]

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Proverbs 9 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Way of Wisdom

9 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
² She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
³ She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
⁴ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
⁵ “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.

⁷ “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
⁸ Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

¹⁰ “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
¹¹ For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”

The Way of Folly

¹³ A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
¹⁴ For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
¹⁵ To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
¹⁶ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.^[a]

Why Worry?

When you're going thru a trial which seems never ending but you know those who are responsible will never be successful because you know whose you are and that He is in total control, sometimes you'll have good days, sometimes not so good days and then sometimes you'll have great days.

Never let the not so good days get you down and never let those responsible get to you. Always remember, there is a reason your God is bringing you through this. Regardless of those responsible agenda your God's plan for you supersedes any man's objective. Be strong, be bold and learn what needs to be learnt. There will always be something to grasp from every battle in your life. Whether you win or lose each one.

Then stay mindful of the fact that anyone who comes against you when you're on the Lord side is on your God's enemy side and the enemy of your God is already defeated. We've read our God's word, THE BOOK tells us in the end God's army triumphs over Satan and his kingdom of darkness.

Glory to God. There's no one like our God. You reign forever and ever. THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE is in your hands and you are in total control. We your children know you are keeping us and we will not worry!

Romans 5 New King James Version (NKJV)

Romans 5 New King James Version (NKJV)

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Christ in Our Place

⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

¹² Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. ¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. ¹⁶ And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. ¹⁷ For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
¹⁸ Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
²⁰ Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Philippians 4 -New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ And^[a] I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippian Generosity

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ^[b] who strengthens me.
¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 42

Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation^[a] of the sons of Korah.

42 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?^[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”

⁴ When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.^[c]

⁶ O my God,^[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
⁸ The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
¹⁰ As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

If I had the Chance to Do it all Over

If I had the chance to do it all over. If life had an eraser.  How sweet that would be for many. Most people would quickly change the things in life they think would make it better but many would soon realize they only made things worse. Ever tried to fix a problem and every time you did something you thought would make your life better you realize you either complicated things or made matters worse.

Taking audit of my life I see that I'm the only son for my mother and the oldest of seven sons of my father. In total my siblings are thirteen. That means there are fourteen children together and my mother only has four of the fourteen. (My mother had six children all together but two went home to be with the Lord).

My mother taught me through word and by example to try my best to take care of my children. My father was out of the picture as soon as I turned one year old. My mother usually tell us that he was forced to leave Kingston and return to the parish of his birth over 100 miles from Kingston because of political warfare in Kingston. I believe there was much more to the story but I was too young to remember, know or understand.

My reason for saying this is I have a brother born in Kingston to another woman and he is only a year younger than I am. Then a sister was born the following year to a woman in the parish of my father's birth and four more children followed from this woman in his parish.

Today I have seven children with four different women and my brother who is a year younger than I am and a very close friend, ( we got close when spending time with our father in the parish of our father's birth), has seven children with four different women too.

Back to my mother's teachings by word and by example. She told me from a young age to wash clothes cook and clean. She said if I end up alone (which she hope wouldn't happen but taught me just in case), or in between relationships, I would know how to take care of myself.  To elaborate, she taught me to keep myself clean at all times, how to know my way around the kitchen and to keep my dwelling clean or be a good homemaker. Then as a single parent I learned by watching my mother make sacrifices for us, her children.

On holidays my mother would take the same dress and shoes out year, after year, after year, and would take us to the store and buy new clothes and shoes for each of her children then give us pocket money and tell us to go wherever we like and be home by a certain hour. When we were leaving our mother would have undressed and be in her nightgown ready for bed. We would ask why is she not going out and she would tell us if she goes out we would have to stay home. I never got that statement until I was grown.

We had to wait for our mother to get home each evening before we would have a solid meal (The only solid meal of the day) before bedtime. One evening while waiting for our mother to come home we heard breaking news on the TV that a bus lost control and plowed into people waiting at the bus stop where our mother gets the bus downtown to come home every evening. It happened at the very moment our mother usually goes to the bus stop. We all started crying not knowing where our meals would now come from and especially losing the only person who was keeping this family together.

Our mother usually gets home by 10 o'clock p.m. this night in particular as we stayed up long after midnight watching the news as there was nothing else we could do as everyone was being told to stay away from downtown so clean up efforts may go smoothly and relatives would be informed as soon as possible of deaths and injuries of loved ones as soon as information was made available. Understand that this was the second largest passenger bus stop downtown. Only the terminus had larger numbers of commuters. 

We were up long after midnight into early morning with teary eyes and heavy heart which made us not feel the hunger in us since we got home from school early to mid afternoon earlier the previous day. Just before dawn we heard the gate open then the door and as it opened up wide enough we were able to see mama standing in the doorway. We all broke down in tears and ran to her each of us finding a place around her to hug her. These were tears of joy.

After all the commotion was over, my mother related the accident and the aftermath to us and revealed how she escaped the carnage. She said she was standing at the bus stop when she remembered a hoist (an item placed under a pot on the stove while cooking) she had bought earlier that day to take home with her. After checking her luggage and realizing it was not with her she walked back to her stall and it took several minutes for her to find it. As soon as the found the hoist she heard a loud noise like metal grinding. She was at a good distance away but saw a forty-seat passenger bus swerving back and forth, left to right and just running over people until it slammed into one of the bus stops out there pinning people under the bus and between the bus and the bus stop.

She said it was just horrible, people were screaming for help under the bus and in the bus stop and no one could help. Then there was blood everywhere. From where the bus starts hitting people all the way to the bus stop.  She wasn't able to get any bus as they stopped running there for the night. She got the first bus that left the terminus the next morning where she and others had to walk to and slept until morning.   

The experiences with our mother and the sacrifices she made for us to have a better life than the one she had made us love her, respect her as the greatest mom in the world and value her as the leader, breadwinner an matriarch among everything else a mother like ours deserve to be recognized for. God saw it fit not to take her away from us until we were grown and independent. She served her family as well a virtuous woman ought to. God bless her. She went home to be with the Lord at age 54 after battling diabetes and hypotension.

I had six children with three different women by 1990. In 1995, knowing the vicious cycle I was living in the neighborhood I grew up in where by fourteen years old a lot of females became mothers and the fathers of these children were not much older than the mothers and could not take care of these teenagers and their babies, I was determined that with God's help I would save my daughters from this cycle. As stated boys were not safe either. They were fathering these babies with these teenage girls and many were turning to crime as a means to an end.

In 1995 I was able to take my oldest daughter out before she fell victim to the cycle and not long after the rest of the children were out too(except one son). I was the only parent working for a long time while my children were growing up in this inner city neighborhood and when it was time to take my children away from this place their mother did not resist.

Looking back over my life and seeing where I was, where I am, and all the struggles and strife God brought me through to where I am today. Much of which has been excluded here because if I were to tell it all it would take a number of books to complete it. If I were to live my life over I would change nothing. Why? Because God had it covered and still does. Thank You Lord.

James 1

James 1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Greeting to the Twelve Tribes

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.

Profiting from Trials

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Perspective of Rich and Poor

⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Loving God Under Trials

¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ¹⁸ Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Qualities Needed in Trials

¹⁹ So then,^[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Doers—Not Hearers Only

²¹ Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
²⁶ If anyone among you^[b] thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

John 14 New King James Version (NKJV)

John 14 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions;^[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.^{[b] 3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The Father Revealed

⁷ “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
⁸ Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. ¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

The Answered Prayer

¹² “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask^[c] anything in My name, I will do it.

Jesus Promises Another Helper

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep^[d] My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Indwelling of the Father and the Son

¹⁹ “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. ²⁰ At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. ²¹ He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

The Gift of His Peace

²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ²⁸ You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said,^[e] ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
²⁹ “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. ³⁰ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. ³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Psalm 18

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
³ I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

⁴ The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
⁵ The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
⁶ In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

⁷ Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
⁸ Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
⁹ He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
¹⁰ And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
¹² From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

¹³ The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.^[a]
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
¹⁵ Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

¹⁶ He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
¹⁷ He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

²⁰ The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
²¹ For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
²² For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
²³ I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
²⁴ Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

²⁵ With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
²⁶ With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
²⁷ For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.

²⁸ For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
²⁹ For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
³⁰ As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

³¹ For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
³² It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
³³ He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
³⁴ He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

³⁵ You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
³⁶ You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

³⁷ I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
³⁸ I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
³⁹ For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
⁴⁰ You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
⁴¹ They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
⁴² Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

⁴³ You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
⁴⁴ As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners submit to me.
⁴⁵ The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.

⁴⁶ The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
⁴⁷ It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
⁴⁸ He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
⁴⁹ Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

⁵⁰ Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.

Ephesians 6:10-20

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.