Check Your Drip!

I love young people and urban culture. Heck I love old and middle-aged people and rural and suburban cultures. I think I just love people and culture- period. Young, urban people are full of life, creative and a bit edgy- just enough to guard against stagnancy. 

I was recently out at a store and heard one of the young men tell his friend "man check her drip." He was admiring this sister's attire who was carrying Hermes, wearing Burberry, and walking in Christian Louboutins. I think she had a little Cartier, Chanel, and Patek Philippe sprinkled in as accessories. 

"Drip" and "dripping" are words  popularized by Atlanta, GA rappers such as Gunna and Young Thug.  If you're  "dripping" it means  you wear "drip." Drip is high end clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.

"Drip" is beautiful and nice to enjoy. As Believers,  before we put on any other "drip" we should focus on robing ourselves with the virtues of God. Apostle Paul encouraged the church to do so in Colossians 3:12-14. 

"You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity." TPT

Paul lists some of the virtues of the Lord all of which we should emulate. We're reminded in this text that the Lord is: 

Holy

Merciful

Industrious

Understanding

Selfless

Compassionate

Kind

Collaborative

Gentle

Humble

Unoffendable

Patient

Forebearing

Empathetic 

Family-oriented

Kingdom-minded

Forgiving

Merciful

Loving 

What are you wearing today? Check your "drip"!

No Other Help I Know

God usually wakes me with a song in my heart and on my lips. I wake up singing unto the Lord. This morning's song is a hymn- "Father I Stretch My Hand to Thee". 

I LOVE hymns. This one immediately brings several scriptures to mind- Psalm 121:1; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 25:5;  Hebrews 12:2. I'm sure as I sing it and meditate on the words other scriptures will drop into my spirit. I encourage you to read these scriptures, meditate on them, read the below pasted lyrics, meditate on them, write down other scriptures which come to mind, read them, and meditate on them.  As you meditate on the Word of God, REST in God's presence. 

As you meditate on God's Word, my prayer for you is that you will: 1. Taste and see that God is good. 

2. Receive fullness of joy and the manifold blessings of God. 

3. Receive the mind of Christ, heart of the Father, and an appetite and passion for God and the things of God. 

4. Be positioned, pruned, and empowered to bear much fruit of the Spirit

5. Be strengthened in your faith to operate in the gifts of the Spirit. 

In Jesus name. Amen. Shalom!

Words: Charles Wes­ley, A Col­lect­ion of Psalms and Hymns 1741.

Music: Na­o­mi Hans G. Nä­ge­li. Ar­ranged by Lo­well Ma­son, 1836 

Father, I stretch my hands to Thee,

No other help I know;

If Thou withdraw Thyself from me,

Ah! whither shall I go? 

What did Thine only Son endure,

Before I drew my breath?

What pain, what labor, to secure

My soul from endless death! 

O Jesus, could I this believe,

I now should feel Thy power;

Now my poor soul Thou wouldst retrieve,

Nor let me wait one hour. 

Surely Thou canst not let me die;

O speak, and I shall live;

And here I will unwearied lie,

Till Thou Thy Spirit give. 

Author of faith, to Thee I lift

My weary, longing eyes:

O let me now receive that gift!

My soul without it dies! 

The worst of sinners would rejoice,

Could they but see Thy face:

O, let me hear Thy quickening voice,

And taste Thy pardoning grace.

Listen to the Morgan State University Choir's rendition of this beautiful,  timeless hymn: https://youtu.be/Z8PkINdctoM

In His name,

Dr. Lyn 

A Word for April 2021

A Word of Exhortation and Instruction for Relationships in April 2021- "I am the God that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26 

April  is a favorable, providential, advantageous, promising, heaven-sent, opportune, suitable, well-timed month for healing in every area of our lives. 

In the area of relationships: 

1. April is  a favorable time for inner healing from soul wounds. This will positively impact how you see and relate with self and others.  Engage in a period of introspection and self-reflection to capitalize on this opportune time for inner healing. 

2. April is a promising time for reconciliation and the restoration of loving, generous, considerate and pleasant interactions within broken marriages, families, and god-ordained relationships. With sincere effort, yesterday’s missed opportunities for reconciliation can become today’s achievement. It’s never too late. Pray for peace and wisdom. Believe and hope for the best. Take action, reach out, and extend the olive branch. 

3. April is a heaven-sent time for the roots of rebellion and stubbornness which yield fruit of  dysfunction in marriages, families, and god- ordained relationships to be plucked up. Trust God to break the cycles and patterns of loss, sorrow, and unfavorable conditions and outcomes that began as a result of these sins.

4. April is an opportune time for  repairing the breaches which have negatively impacted your relationship with the Lord. Be intentional about nurturing a more intimate relationship with the Lord. As you draw nearer to the Lord, He will repair the breaches and make things right.

Be determined to receive your breakthrough during this providential time for healing. Confess your sins. Ask God for forgiveness for you and your relations. Be remorseful. Plead the blood of Jesus which says "not guilty" and silences the accusations of your adversary. Speak topical affirmations from Scripture over your lives. Repent. Take Holy Communion. Renew your covenant with the Lord. Receive afresh  the Lord's pardon and power for salvation, deliverance, healing and restoration.

Watch Your Six!

One morning  recently during my quiet time I heard "Watch your six!" Military members commonly describe direction using the hours of a clock. Whichever direction the vehicle, unit, or individual is moving is the 12 o'clock position, so the six o'clock position is to the rear. With that in mind several things immediately came to mind.  I've shared a few of those things in this blog post. Stay tuned for part 2. 

"Watch your six!" Be careful, be alert. "Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping." 1Cor 16:13-14 MSG.  Watch, fight and pray! Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 21:36

Watch your six! Beware of not so friendly fire from those on your team. Discern well. Know those who labor among you. Pray. Ask God for a discerning spirit and wisdom. "Even my ally, my friend, has turned against me. He was one I totally trusted with my life, sharing supper with him, and now he shows me nothing but betrayal and treachery. He has sold me as an enemy." Psalm 41:9 TPT

Watch your six! Effectively deal with past failures, hurts and disappointments  or your past will negatively deal with you, your peace, happiness, joy, and fulfillment.  

Here are some strategies for effectively letting go of negative things from the past:

1. Speak scriptural affirmations aloud into your hearing and atmosphere throughout the day.  

2. Be gentle with yourself. Show yourself kindness and compassion. 

3. Allow negative emotions to flow when they come up. It's ok to scream, holler, cry, shout, etc. Shutting out emotions short circuits the letting go/ healing  process. 

4. Accept that some offenders may never apologize. 

5. Desire to be healed, whole, happy, and at peace more than you desire to be vindicated. 

5. Engage in holistic self-care- spirit, soul and body. This isn't simply going to the spa. This involves intentionally engaging in activities which support your overall health and well-being. 

6. Surround yourself with positive people. 

7. Find your voice and talk/write/vlog about your feelings, thoughts and desires. Tell your story. 

8. Seek help for supernatural healing and deliverance, therapy and/or counseling. 

9. Meditate on God's word. 

10. Move forward in the timing of God. Don't rush yourself or allow anyone to rush you.  And don't get stuck and wallow in a sea of negative emotions.

Watch your six! Let go of things from the past that don't serve you well. Apostle Paul says it this way: "I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus." Phil 3:12-14 TPT

Watch your six! May the glory of the Lord be your rear guard!

In His Name,

Dr. Lyn

Guard Your Heart

Matters of the Heart

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life."- Prov 4:23 AMP

 

In this verse, heart is the Hebrew word levav. It's the most commonly used word for heart in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). It includes our thoughts, our will, our discernment, and our affections. So what are a few strategies to  guard your heart?  Pluck up weeds from the garden of your soul. Quickly dislodge arrows of offense from your mind, heart and inner most being. Consider seeing a counselor or therapist. 

A dear sister, friend,  and woman of God taught me the power of  performing the prophetic demonstration of pulling arrows and daggers out of the body and soul by faith as led by God's Spirit. Trauma which could be the result of an offense committed against you can pierce the body and soul like an arrow or knife. As you perform the prophetic demonstration of pulling the knives, daggers, and arrows out of your back, heart, gut, soul, etc., pray. Ask God to grant you the grace to forgive. Ask God to release healing into your body and soul. Pray that the shalom (peace, healing, wellness, restoration) of God permeate your soul to guard your heart and mind from further injury. Ask God to restore your  body and soul. 

Do not allow  bitterness or anything else that's not of God that entered in through trauma to take root in your heart, grow and bear fruit. Don't allow wounds to go untreated, get infected and develop spiritual sepsis.  Spiritual sepsis can cause organ failure and death. Unresolved trauma, untreated wounds which resulted from an offense against you, and the resulting toxins of bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, and  resentment can literally and figuratively cause organ failure and death. 

When we're wounded we MUST be intentional about praising and worshipping God, fasting, praying, asking God for wisdom to respond to the world around us and the people in it. Rest in God. Don't try to fix anything, defend yourself or put anyone in check. Dont even try to explain why you're feeling what you're feeling to anyone except God and your counselor or therapist

The Redeemer Knows Your Name

The Kinsman Redeemer Knows Your Name! I love Tasha Cobb's song "You Know My Name!" This song has lyrics that tell  Truth found in Scripture. 

In Isaiah 43:1-7 we see that Jacob was created, but Israel was formed.   God is the one who changes our character and nature (Gen. 32:28).

Sometimes  God uses adversity to do so. Psalm 34:19 tells us MANY are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them out of them all. And sometimes the way OUT is THROUGH. God's presence as we go THROUGH the darkest valleys  is the Deliverer (Psalm 23:4). Rest assured there is no price too high for God to pay to set us free and deliver us (Rom 8:32). 

Any suffering we endure doesn't compare to the quality and quantity of glory that will be revealed in our lives (Romans 8:18) and the lives of our spiritual and natural descendants. In Isaiah 43:7  Isaiah prophesys of Israel’s restoration and foretells of a great harvest among the nations as a fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. This is to be fulfilled all for God's glory. We were created  for God's glory- to bring God glory and experience God's glory (Rom. 8:30; Rev. 4:11).

Biblical Meditation

Christian meditation isn't the same as other forms of meditation. Here's an excerpt from an email I sent to a  ministry recipient about how some engage in  Christian meditation: 

1) Take a seat: Find a place to sit that feels calm and quiet to you.

2) Set a time limit: If you’re just beginning, it can help to choose a short time, such as five or 10 minutes.

3) Notice your body: You can sit in a chair with your feet on the floor, you can sit loosely cross-legged, you can kneel—all are fine. Just make sure you are stable and in a position you can stay in for a while. It also helps to create a space specifically for Christian Meditation. It should be clean, clutter free, and  refreshing. You can use incense and include plants, a fountain, or scented candles. Its important that this isn't a space that is used for other forms of meditation.

4) Breathe: Take several cleansing breaths until you feel fully relaxed (at least three). Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. Breathe deeply. Hold each breath a few seconds. Breathe out intentionally through pursed lips. Don't hold the last breath. Fully fill your lungs and blow out the last breath hard and fast.

5) Open your bible: Read  a short  scripture- perhaps 1-4 verses. Usually the shorter the better. It's good to take small bites of scripture for meditation. Write down the words which really jump out and resonate with you. Perhaps 4 or 5 words.  Think about why these words jumped off the page. Ask God what God is saying? Be still. Be quiet. Write down what you think the message is. Ask God to help you understand the message and apply it to your life. Be still. Be quiet. Write down what you understand. Write down how you will  apply this. Be still. Be quiet.

You may ask "How do I decide what to read?" You may 1- Ask the Holy Spirit, 2- Follow an established reading plan, 3- Read a scripture that is relevant to your circumstances, 4- Read a scripture that focuses on a specific topic, 5- "Randomly" select one. 

7) Close: When you’re ready, gently lift your gaze (if your eyes are closed, open them). Take a moment and notice any sounds in the environment. Notice how your body feels right now. Notice your thoughts and emotions.