I Believe I Can Fly... Maybe

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11

Today's Reading: Ezra 9-10; Acts 1

What an exit!!

Jesus was like yeah homies… I’m here, been chillin for several days with holes in my wrists and now it’s time to bounce.

And he FLEW AWAY.

It’s stories like this that make me wonder why super religious folk trip when it comes things like Harry Potter and other magical stuff in pop culture. I remember when I was younger that there were kids I knew who couldn’t watch or read anything having to do with “magic”. It was as if watching or consuming that stuff would infect their kids with heathenism and they’d all of the sudden start cussing out their parents and having babies out of wedlock.

But did you just see read that? Harry Potter and them couldn’t walk on water or fly or feed thousands with scraps of food. Sure, he may have been able to do some cool tricks but man… when it comes to supernatural fanciness… you really can’t touch the Bible.

But sadly, it seems that this wonderfully magical aspect of the Bible isn’t taught. Sure the stories might be referenced and what not but they aren’t really explored. They are presented as if they are out of reach or perhaps not really true…

But what if we are capable of doing some of these things? What if we can move mountains, heal the sick, and feed many with very little all by the power of faith?

Yes, I know that many folks out there think that the Bible is hogwash all together. And even some of those who believe in it don’t believe that these fantastic things explained in the Bible could happen today.

But my question is… why not? What makes these people in the Bible different from you and me?

Perhaps this is the little kid in me who always wanted to be a superhero talking right now but yo, it would be pretty cool to be able to fly.

If I figure it out one of these days… maybe I’ll teach y’all how.

Redemption: A Letter to Peter

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 John 21: 15-19

Today’s Reading: Ezra 6-8: John 21

What up Pistol Pete?

Man… You must be blown away homie. Jesus told you that you were going to deny him three times and you did it.

You were crushed.

And now only days later Jesus not only forgives you, but tells you to be the first leader of his people when he goes away for good?

What are you thinking right now?

I bet you’re thinking… ummm.. I ain’t the one. Why me? I’m not worthy? Pick the other guy? There must be someone better. I started doubting you in a nanosecond and you make me the head of the fam? Why?

I think this is pretty amazing too but it kinda makes sense. One thing that I’ve noticed is that the folks who have come from the lowest lows are the ones who are most gangsta about riding for God to the highest highs.

Sometimes we gotta fall to learn how to stand tall. And you did that. You had all kinds of pride and then you fell way way low. But in that fall you learned to appreciate the value of trust, loyalty, honesty, responsibility, and love. You learned it because in those moments of doubt you let you fear block you from expressing every one of those virtues.

But in the end it’s all good. Jesus knew your heart. He knew your love, and it is based on that zealous love that you were chosen to lead.

That’s pretty fresh.

Thanks for the lesson and the hope that when I fall, I will have a chance to get up and rise higher than I ever dreamed that I would before the fall.

Thanks man.

C3

P.S. It was kinda cold-blooded that Jesus asked you if you loved him three times… obvious irony is a rough game sometimes isn’t it?

From One Doubting Thomas to Another

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Excerpt from John 20: 24-29

Today’s Reading: Ezra 3-5; John 20

What up Thomas,

Ok... some jokers might look at this scripture and say the following:

“I can’t believe that he was so hard headed as to not believe what the others said. If the homies saw Jesus then why wouldn’t Thomas believe? He should step his faith game up.”

And to them I say shut your traps.

I’m gonna keep it really real in the field right now. I wouldn’t have believed either. Let one of the homies come to me telling me some hogwash like that. I’d laugh him out of my presence with the quickness. There is nothing about Jesus rising from the dead that makes any kind of sense at all.

I’m not saying that you were right for not believing… I’m just saying that I understand.

It took a lot for me to believe too… and in my own way I had to see to believe. I stubbornly went about life the way that I saw fit and things didn’t move like I wanted them too. It was only when I started to take some chances, and started to obey some of the things that I thought God was telling me to do that I actually started believing.

And I started believing because I saw God come through like a champ.

Ok fine, I didn’t “see” like you saw… but God did have to make things pretty crystal clear for me to get the picture.

So, I won’t let anybody talk bad about you man. I got your back.

I do know one thing for sure… it is pretty cool that if folks are hard headed like you and me, God will actually go through the effort of showing himself so that we can believe.

That’s quite nice of him.

Your brother from another mother,

C3

Miraculous Living

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom… Ezra 1:1

Today’s Reading: Ezra 1-2; John 19: 23-42

Uh oh… here God goes again talking to folks that we don’t expect Him to talk to.

Cyrus sent out a written proclamation throughout the entire Persian kingdom saying that God’s house was to be rebuilt in Jerusalem and anyone who wanted to roll out and make it happen could roll.

Have you ever had someone that you least expected tell you something that was so true for your life that it was almost scary?

Well it happened to me when I spoke to Manny.

Some people say that miracles are not real. They say that they are either figments of our imagination, or humanity’s way of understanding the unfathomable.

But miracles do happen. We just have to keep our hearts and spirits open to see them.

Each and every day as we walk along the path of life we experience miracles. It is these miracles that keep us on our path or encourage us to get back on when we have fallen off.

Sometimes they come with flashing lights and pyrotechnics and smoke clouds. But most of the time they come in random occurrences, strange coincidences, and advice from loved ones and strangers.

But either way, one must believe in order to see them.

That belief doesn’t have to be a steadfast, unwavering faith in the supernatural (I mean who really can say that they have mastered that kind of faith in anything?).

Sometimes believing happens in a blink of an eye. Sometimes that believing is a momentary flicker when our hearts and spirits dare us to take a chance on the impossible.

The trick is figuring out how to turn those flickering sparks into flames. As we practice believing, by taking those chance, leaps of faith, we learn how to light the fires of our hearts.

And with our hearts ablaze or lives become the miracles that we previously could not believe.

God Was Down with Egypt Too?

But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.” Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. - 2 Chronicles 35: 21-22

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 34-36; John 19: 1-22

This story is fascinating to me because it does a smooth job of making an important fact crystal clear.

God didn’t just speak to the people of Israel.

The story here is that the king of Egypt came up to fight against one of Judah’s neighbors. Josiah, the king of Judah went to fight against the Egyptians. Then before getting there the Egyptian king sent the above message to Josiah essentially saying the following:

“Say brotha… My beef ain’t with you… it’s with them other fools that God told me to fight. Now, if you want to roll with them and get smashed out by all means… do what you do playa… But tread lightly son… tread lightly…” – New King Clarence the Third Version

So what happened you might be wondering? Yep.. Josiah jumped in the battle and took one too many arrows.

Game over.

The fact that the Bible speaks of other folks having an intimate enough relationship with God to refer to him by name and actually speak to him is a big deal. For me this doesn’t challenge the notion of Israel being the chosen people. The promise to Abraham was that through him the promise of God would be revealed to the world.

Seeing that our Jewish brothers and sisters are still here after enduring millennia of targeted hatred and assault speaks volumes. And not just still here… but still here as gatekeepers of the Word…

Super powerful and impressive… also the whole Jesus thing works for me. Last I checked he was Jewish.

But yo… God was not only with other nations, but was speaking to them directly and guiding their paths if they chose to listen!

It makes me wonder… what role did God have in some of the other ancient faiths that predate Jesus…

Food for thought… I’m just sayin…

Getting Back On Track

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” 2 Chronicles 32: 7-8

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 32-33; John 18: 19-40

In the spirit of the Great Challenge I went out on a limb last night and took a chance. There was an opportunity that seemingly came and went about a month ago that I have been wondering about.

It’s one of those things where you let something slip away because of life’s circumstances. I got real busy and buried my focus into things that really mattered at the time.

No regrets… I had to grind.

So last night when I contacted this person I was expecting to hear that the opportunity had past but to my surprise the window was still cracked open. As a matter of fact the timing for my reentry into the game was pretty perfect.

All things happen for a reason right?

Well I don’t know about all that. I’m just glad that I had the courage to make that move when I felt the urge to. No more questioning. No more over thinking.

Time for some action.

And that is something that we must always remember. When we are on the path toward fulfilling our purpose nothing can stand in our way. God and the universe always conspire in our favor when we are moving toward joy, love, life and fulfillment.

Let’s get it!

The Great Challenge

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31: 20-21

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 30-31; John 18: 1-18

So I was chillin the other day in a flu induced stupor and I started thinking about some things. There’s nothing like the flu to get you to start thinking about life.

I’m one of those people that stays running around in entirely too many directions. I try my best to meditate, focus and all of that good stuff; but sometimes I lose track of what is important while chasing the urgent things in life.

The flu sure fixed me man…

On Monday I was trying to push myself through work while shivering from fever induced chills and I started thinking… man, this ain’t right.

So I stopped, chilled for a minute, and then that little voice spoke to me.

Not the one that tries to lead you astray but the ones that tries to get you to do the things that you have always wanted to do but were too scared to try.

Well yeah, we actually had a bit of a conversation. It went something like this.

Little Voice (LV): What up homie.

Me: Sigh… you again huh… You always come around when I’m laid out.

LV: I been here fool… you’re the one who chooses not to listen.

Me: Touche… what’s good?

LV: When are you going to do what I say?

Me: *crickets*

LV: I have a challenge for you… why don’t you try to do what I say without question for the next month or two and see what happens.

Me: That again huh?

LV: You’re hard headed… you should have been listening.

Me: Touche again… I’ll shut up now.

So yeah. That’s what I’m gonna do. The first time I did this I ended up reading the Bible from cover to cover. The last time I did this I started this blog. Who knows what this next time will bring… but one this is for certain… gotta live life to the fullest.

Life is about stepping out on faith... challenging ourselves to follow that little voice inside that whispers our dreams.

So… let’s get it!

Stay tuned for periodic updates. I’ll be sure to share the miracles when they come.

The Allure

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his father David had done. For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. 2 Chronicles 28: 1-2

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 28-29: John 17

So we’ve been reading about all of these kings of Judah and Israel. Some of them followed the example of David and good things happened. Most of them did not and bad things happened.

You’d think they would get the clue right?

I mean really. How many generations do you need to look back on to get the pattern. Following the law is good. Not following the law is bad bad bad.

But let’s keep it real for a minute here. The allure of the dark side is strong man…

Very strong.

Ok stop judging me like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You don’t have to be an outright scoundrel and rapscallion to understand what I mean here.

We have all dabbled in the darkness.

You know that old story about the kid who got caught with their hand in the cookie jar? There is something exciting about taking that chance; taking that risk, looking for shortcuts to get what you want. Often times those short cuts aren’t criminal, but what if they require stepping on someone else to get ahead? What if they require us to compromise our beliefs, even just a tad bit?

It’s these incremental compromises that lead us down the wrong path. One little white lie here, one selfish act there, and all of the sudden we see the objects of our desire coming closer and closer if only we do a little more dirt to get them.

But it’s a mirage.

Even we do walk that shady path and get what we thought we wanted to be, we will soon find out that it is not what will fulfill our lives. And then we will look back on that path that we carved out in the sand and see nothing but destruction in our wake.

So if you are thinking about taking shortcuts to get to where you want to be, be very very careful. Make sure that you analyze the path that you are on. Ask yourself what must be compromised to walk it.

Because odds are that IF you reach the finish line intact… the reward will be nothing compared to what you left behind.

Father's Day

I awoke at 7 am to the sound of my phone ringing. I looked at the caller ID and smiled.

It was my Dad on the line.

He was calling me to confirm where we were going to meet for our Father’s Day lunch later that day. In the past I would have been annoyed at him calling me so early in the morning.

Couldn’t have you just texted a brotha?

But over the past several years my attitude has changed. I am finally starting to understand the true value of my Dad.

This path towards understanding and appreciation wasn’t always a smooth one. When I was a little boy I looked up to him so much. He was one of the engineers that helped design the three rockets on the back of the Space Shuttle (he was not the O-Ring guy). I thought this was incredibly cool. For all intensive purposes my dad was a rocket scientist.

How many kids can say that?

But in a lot of ways that’s all that I knew about him. I knew he was super smart and by extension I was smart, because of course how could I not be? But I didn’t know much else. I could tell you this though… I sure knew that he always had something to say about what it means to be a man.

Dad: Ok Mayne your chore is to take out the trash.

6 year old Me: But why, why can’t Shawnte do it?

Dad: Because women don’t touch trash, men do. That’s the man’s job.

6 year old Me: FINE!

Growing up was a lot like this. Sometimes I felt like an indentured servant. He had me scrubbing the carpets, weeding the lawn (it was all weeds!!!), hauling rocks, cutting the grass (when we had grass) cleaning the garage, planting flowers, changing tires... Every time that he had me do these things he would help for the first hour or so. We would do it together so that he could show me how it should be done. Then he’d leave me to do it myself.

Man I hated that.

He also made us go to church every Sunday. He’d always connect some life lesson that he had for me with some scripture in the Bible.

Super annoying!!!!

I even decided to read the Bible from cover to cover in high school just to see if all that stuff he was saying was true! (drats… it was).

The first time that I began to understand these lessons he was teaching me was in high school. He had a 1988 Toyota Tercel while my Stepmom was stylin’ in her Bonneville. One day on the way home from school the following conversation happened:

Dad: do you know why I’m driving this car and she is driving her car?”

Me: No, why?

Dad: Because if anyone has to drive the beat up car it’s the man. If you have two cars and one might stop on the road then you drive that car. If you have one car then she gets to drive it and you take the bus. It’s the man’s job to make sure his wife is safe and secure.

Years later when I look back on all of the lessons, and nagging, and hard labor I realize that he was doing the best that he could to prepare me to be a good man.

Being a man means being a leader. And being a leader means being the biggest servant.

As I have grown into being a young man I am seeing the fruits of his labor in my values. Just like the rest of us my dad wasn’t perfect, but he did always try his best to be the best man and father he could be.

So when I was stirred from my sleep at 7 am Sunday morning I awoke with a smile on my face. I was happy because that phone call meant that I still have the opportunity to learn more and grow more with the guidance of a great man in my life.

It may have taken me a while to fully appreciate it, but I’m glad that I do not take it for granted any more.

Thanks Dad.

Twitter Rant: Challenging Our Beliefs

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. John 16: 1-2

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 25-27; John 16

I was talking to my buddy Adam last night at Yohance’s birthday party. Earlier in the day he posted this great thought about the writers of the gospels that was a bit challenging.

“Thinking a lot about writers. And Gospels---well, biographies. Is your best friend a good writer too? Is the person who holds the truest, deepest understanding of you capable of writing your biography? Wondering if Jesus had any BFFs who were just bad writers. Anyway. There.” - Adam

Verrrrrry interesting question that could go in many different directions. Awesome.

so we were talking about how sad it is that folks don't challenge scripture and how questioning is the path to true understanding. Then he said something that was so true...

Why be scared to challenge the scriptures? I'm pretty sure they can stand up to it.

That's real as steel. They've been around for 2000 years. I think they'll be aight…

If we don't challenge our beilefs can we truly say that we have faith?

I don't really think so.

Yes, faith does require a leap. But I also believe that it requires careful consideration and understanding.

When we believe in things that we don't understand we've just been brainwashed.

It is up to each of us to do the work to understand why we believe what we believe… regardless of what that may be.

Pruning Hurts So Good

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. John 15: 2-3

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 23-24; John 15

This has been a tough one for me personally.

As a child and even into adulthood I used to hold onto friends a bit too much. I have always been a very loyal person and someone who tries to see the best in others that I deem trustworthy. But not all of those “friends” were really friends.

Have you ever depended on another person and had them let you down? It’s a really wack feeling. Each time I opened up to a new person I felt like I was let down. Sometimes it was just my perception, other times it was true… but with each encounter my heart grew colder. I got to a point where I just didn’t let anyone in at all.

Then I got to college and started to challenge this. I tried to open myself up again and had some great results. I met some great people who are still in my life to this day.

But even the best of friends aren’t perfect. Sometimes they let you down.

This happened to me several years ago. I thought to myself… damn… not again. This is what I get for opening myself up.

But then I had a second thought… wait a minute… I can’t keep on cutting people out of my life. What the heck is wrong here?

And that’s when I realized my problem. I put way to much faith in other people, and not enough in God.

Sometimes we have to experience some form of loss in order to reach our full potential. When we have folks in our lives that we love, but aren’t going in the similarly positive direction then they can pull us off track.

That’s where the pruning comes in.

As those dead branches are cut away we realize that our energy, our spirits, and our lives were not dependent on these branches anyway. But as long as those branches are still attached, we continue to pour energy into them, preventing our ability to bear good fruit in our lives.

So if you have noticed that things are being stripped away from you; just roll with it. Odds are it is just dead weight that is keeping you from flying.

It may be hard to see that now… but have a little faith… It will all work out in the end.

Chickens Always Come Home to Roost

Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who were better than yourself, behold, the LORD will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day. – an excerpt from 2 Chronicles 21: 12 - 20

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 21-22; John 14

Gooooooood Grief!!!

In the words of the wise sage DMX, Jehoram was “not a nice person”.

He killed all his brothers to maintain power and led Judah astray. God didn’t look too kindly upon that so He made the above happen.

Them chickens sure do come home to roost don’t they?

There is this concept called the law of the harvest. I will write about it more extensively at a later date but the general concept is this. We plant seeds to yield crops. If we look at this pattern of nature and apply it universally one thing becomes clear.

We reap what we sow.

In the same way that an oak tree will not sprout from a kernel of corn; positive, life affirming results will not come from dastardly actions.

Jehoram left all kinds of destruction and misery in his path and that’s what he received in the end.

That’s the game.

But let’s flip it for a second. What happens if we plant good seeds?

We get GOOD fruit in return.

What kind of seeds have you planted in your life? What kind of fruit have you received?

I’m willing to bet that if you ask these questions of yourself and search for honest answers you will find that the law of the harvest holds true.

We do in fact reap what we sow.

The Critique Ain't New, But it Still Rings True

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34-35

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 19-20; John 13:21-38

So the homie Yohance of Merc80.com sent me this link to the video below.

My first thought was damn… it’s a REALLY dope song. I love the message and I think that what Rhymefest is saying is on point. If one were to watch many of the ministers that you see on TV you get the sense that we can just pay for blessings. If we pray and ask God for what we want and pay the church their 10% then Boom! It’s all gravy baby!

This is not a new critique. This very real notion of selling blessings goes back to the selling of indulgences. Martin Luther did an even better job than Rhymefest on this issue back in 1517.

The critique is really really old.

But that makes me think about the passage above. Are folks who claim to be Christians really dedicated to loving those around them?

Ok true, the folks we see on TV are not a representation of all Christians but at the same time I’m sure you can dig what I’m talking about here. If love were at the forefront then there would be no room for these perceptions.

Personally, I’m getting tired of seeing songs and art and other forms of commentary like this. I’m not tired of it because it is offensive or wrong. I’m actually not offended at all.

I’m just tired that after hundreds of years of this same issue a talented artist like Rhymefest can make this point and it still rings true.

I guess that’s the thing with people. None of us are perfect. There will always be a select few who choose to pimp a good thing to their own benefit. It happens with every religion and system of thought really.

I’m just tired of it.

Dope song tho…

At a Loss for Words

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13: 12-17

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 17-18; John 13: 1-20

So I did the reading for this one Monday night with the plans of getting a head start on Tuesday’s post. Now it is Tuesday and I’m still at a loss for words.

Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, one by one. One of which he knew would sell him for some scraps of silver. And another who would publicly deny him three times.

Wow…

All I can say here is read those words above. That is what a true leader looks like. Whether you are the leader of your family, an organization, a company, or a country; if you cannot lead from a place of loving service then your leadership won’t be leadership at all. It will be self serving.

The power in this message just astounds me.

Don't Shoot the Deputy

Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. - 2 Chronicles 16: 10

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 15-16; John 12:27-50

Good gracious! Ok… here’s a quick recap.

Asa, king of Judah, was in a predicament. Baasha, king of Israel, was preparing to attach Judah and Asa didn’t think he could do anything to stop him. So instead of going to God for help he went to Syria, paid them tribute, and asked their help. After this occurred a seer (a person in that time who God used to speak to folks) named Hanani told Asa that God said Judah would have many wars all because Asa trusted Syria rather than trusting God in his time of trouble.

I swear… it seems like some of these cats in the Bible and seem to win for losing! But that’s for another post…

The thing that jumped out at me was the end of the passage. Asa didn’t like what Hanani had to say so he locked him up.

That’s not a good look mayne…

Have you ever had someone in your life that you respect and care about tell you exactly what you did NOT want to hear? How did you handle it? Did you give them attitude? Did you ignore or marginalize them? Did you assume that they were hating on whatever it was that you were trying to do?

I have one small suggestion… stop and think before you shoot the messenger.

Sure there are times where folks are just trying to rain on our parade. But other times they have our best interest at heart and are trying to save us the trouble of learning the hard way.

How do we know the difference?

That’s a tough call, but the way I see it is this. Generally if what the person is saying is in line with my values and is constructive and life affirming… I will take it into consideration.

We have to remember that although God may speak to us in miracles and visions and dreams; often times God uses the people around us to get his message across.

And that message ain’t always so sweet.

So, before we shoot the messenger, we should check to see who sent them. Their message might save your life.