Don't Be Fooled

A few years ago, my job purchased a couple of plants that looked like palm trees. We placed one in the front lobby and one in my office. The one in the lobby is doing very well, but I noticed that the one in my office was looking a little “peaked” around the leaves. Each day I came in, I noticed the leaves on the tall tree were starting to brown. Of course I was watering it and even placed it by a window. Last week, I grabbed one of the branches to try and see what was going on and to my surprise, the branch gave way as though it was hollow! What in the world? I knew it looked sad, but geez, I didn’t know it was going to crumble. Knowing I had to make a decision, I asked our cleaning guy to trash it because it was over.

When he pulled the plant up out of the soil and bent the branches to carry it a little easier, I noticed two things.

1. The inside of the branches had some sort of mold or “infection” which appears to have caused the plant to die from the inside out. Go ahead and shout right there. You know what I’m talking about. We go through the same thing when we hold in and harbor negative vibes (thoughts and feelings) and we find ourselves self-destructing. We find ourselves broken and shattered on the inside, but looking like we’re fine on the outside. Don’t be fooled. God loves you too much to let you “keep the mask on” and will send someone to help you through. Refuse to remain hollow and do what you need to do so you can minister healthy.

2. The second thing I noticed is that when he pulled the plant out of the dirt, there were no real roots! That thing was fooling me all this time and I thought the roots were deep. Not so. I was really just wetting the potting soil because the roots were so short, there was no way it was absorbing what was needed. Maybe that’s how the infection got in. When our faith is not deeply rooted in Christ, it’s easy for the enemy to infiltrate our lives and make us believe we’re fine when in fact we aren’t. When our faith is not deeply rooted in Christ, it’s easy to believe the negative things our haters say, the ugly looks we receive because we’re trying to do better with our lives.

When he saw that the plant had no roots, he shook the soil off of it, looked at me and said, “It’s over” and at that moment, I heard God say, “Don’t be fooled. It’s never over for those who belong to Me”. Listen! Shake the dirt off, find yourself another place to settle your spirit, dig your roots deep, and keep on growing. Don’t be fooled, like my friend Maurette Brown Clark sang, “It ain’t over until God says it’s over. Keep fighting until your victory is won”.

Peace,

Rev. Dana

Forget About It

Forget About It

Blessings and Love my Sisters,

I know what you were thinking, “Oh no, I haven’t gotten the July words of encouragement! What shall I do, what shall I do?” Okay, maybe you weren’t that dramatic but in my head, I’d like to think you were devastated. So here’s what’s up – simply put - I have no excuse for not doing July’s words of encouragement. I simply forgot.

In all honesty, sometimes we just need to be accountable for those things we do, as well as those things we don’t do. I mean, I can tell you that life for me has been hectic….tooth abscess causing a toothache (NEVER knew pain like that), July 4th holiday and lazy days, Summer Summit, back at work playing catch up, church commitments, etc., etc., etc. You know what I mean. And in the midst of it all, I simply forgot. No excuses. I just forgot.

So here’s the lesson:

Stop beating yourself up when you forget to do something or forget to show up for something. You can’t do everything for everybody and be in all places for all people. Sometimes life becomes overwhelming and we need to take a voluntary break before the Lord makes us take one and we end up sick, being placed on bed-rest. You feel me?

So, take a look at your calendar and ask yourself, “Do I really need to be there?” and if not, take a break. Treat yourself. Or just go take a nap. Do something for you…without the guilt or shame. You’ll be better for it.

Peace,

Rev. Dana

Sometimes You Have to Walk Away

One Easter, I preached a sermon entitled, “Sometimes You Have to Walk Away” based on Luke 24:12 which states, “But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.”  In this message, I focused on how eager Peter was to get to the tomb, but when he arrived, he just looked in and then walked away. 

Well, recently, I experienced a similar situation where I was eager to run to the “tomb of hurt and despair” for the purpose of ministry; however, on the way, I was called back and forced to turn and walk away.  For some it may not be a big deal, but for me, it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. It was hard walking away from what I saw with my spiritual eyes knowing God has placed something in me that would help.  Listen and hear my heart – for real - it was hard looking away from the struggle and closing my ears to the cries of hurting people.  It messed me up so much that I was unable to sleep and I had to truly seek God in the midst of it all. I dare say, it broke my spirit and caused me to question myself. 

So where are my words of encouragement?  Simply this. Sometimes you have to walk away.  I KNOW it’s hard, but, there are times in our lives and in our ministry when we, as women and women in ministry, must turn and walk away. Maybe it’s because of order and protocol.  Maybe it’s because the person doesn’t want our help.  Just maybe it’s not God’s will or season for them to be released.  How about God is trying to teach us a lesson in humility and patience and He’s trying to grow us up and teach us His timing.  Just maybe God is trying to protect us from something we don’t see.  I really don’t know and I’m sure you can think of other reasons.  I also know I’m not alone and you too have experienced situations when you had to just walk away.  My prayer is that you will share your experience and those moments with other sisters in ministry, especially the “newbies” and you will ask the Lord to allow you to see through your spiritual eyes in how to encourage them so we don’t lose another wounded soldier. 

So here’s the good news!  That’s not how the story ends….In the midst of my hurt, God ministered to me in a way I never expected.  Within 12 hours, He placed three people in my path who would encourage me and remind me I am needed, my ministry is real, and what I do makes a difference.  What a mighty God we serve!

So my sister, if you ever find yourself in this place, settle your spirit, lift your head, and tell yourself….Sometimes you just have to walk away.

Peace, Rev. Dana