2 Peter 1:8-9  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 

Friend, loved Boney James, smiling, beautiful, strong, loving, loved the older women in her ministry, special, daughter, high standard of spiritual living, easy to love, adviser, people magnet, always pleasant, smiling, loved All in the Family and Good Times, angel on earth,  impartial, encouraging, dreamer, listener, embodiment of Christ, appreciative, loved books, joyful, helpful, saint, an example, faithful, woman, loved God, gentle corrector,  a sewer and a sower.   “That was Lynn!,”  Our beloved sister and Charmin’s best friend who passed October 16^th 2018.  Now home shining free with both fathers in heaven!

Today is Giving Tuesday, a nationally recognized holiday started in 2012.  Following Thanksgiving and Black Friday, it is a time people are encouraged to kickoff the holiday season by giving back to their community. About 25% of Americans plan on donating money or volunteering to a charitable cause. Created to combat commercialism and consumerism, this day seeks to benefit society.  For the Christian, God creates us to give everyday in service and in thanks for our Lord and Savior Jesus (Eph 2:10).  So we aim to give generously to others out of gratefulness and in response to Christ’s sacrifice and demonstration of love on the cross.  That is our root.  From that stem our leaves grow in reflection of how we conduct ourselves and practice our doctrine.  Also, how we show love to the family of believers and non believers, neighbors and even our enemies-these are our fruits.  Though it may be more expedient to give money rather than time…what kind of person willingly gives their very self?  Literally speaking, as vain as we women can be, I was no less than curiously astonished after seeing the radical hairdo of one of my sisters in the faith. “I cut off my hair”, says Charmin. Why?

This is the interview I had with Charmin Wells.  Fitting for this season, fitting for this day. Demonstrating the type of magnanimous love that Jesus speaks about. Where one lays down their life for their friend John 15:13.  Though not to be fully compared to the martyrdom the Savior speaks and show us of.  This act calls the very core of our nature, naturally selfish and self preserving, not simply to question but to the higher levels of covenant devotion to one another.

“I dreamt I cut my hair and just did it…I wanted to encourage her”.  Charmin says with tears that stay welled up in her eyes.  (Lynn and Charmin both had long hair and after undergoing chemo treatments, Charmin cut off all of hers to look like her best friend  Lynn).  Lynn smiled,  heartened by the gesture.

After some moments of silence, those tears fell.  So I asked Charmin, what was she feeling.  “I feel the absence of my friend”.  Lynn was not only her sister in Christ but devoted in friendship comparable to the relationship between Jonathan and David (2 Sam 1:26) “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women”. Charmin reflects on the times they shared together.  “She was my prayer partner for years”, “She gave me a surprise 50^th birthday party… You don’t announce things, when people truly love you they know.”   “She had the keys to my apartment, I also had hers.”  Charmin was there whenever Lynn would call as soon as possible-meaning ASAP! Lynn had multiple sclerosis and when she fell beyond ability to recoup, Charmin got there to pick her up. (Ecc 4:9-12)   MS is one among other Qualities that were not described at the top of this article.  Honestly, Lynn was bigger than, let’s not say disability, but her ineQUALITIES.  Additionally, she was never married, childless, lived at home with her father taking care of him until his death; and stayed in that home being taken care of until hers.  A life that most women never imagine dreaming of.  But Lynn did it!- with all the joy, liveliness and thankfulness of a person overflowing with everything. Because she knew and trusted in the Father that was everything.

At our closure, Charmin displayed the beautifully crafted jewelry Lynn had made that she keeps in remembrance.  Furthermore, she shared a favorite scripture of Lynn’s that helped her persevere through life (1 Thes 5:16-18) “ Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Another jewel.  Do what God wants you to do is what motivated Lynn to the finish line.  It is also what inspires Charmin to continue in strength while facing such a great loss (Phil 1:27; Ps 73:23-28) and 2 Pet 1:10 ^“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”   There is propelling joy in receiving that eternal reward from God and innervating hope to rejoice with Lynn again.  No more tears then, I am sure.

Concern (C): Sister, do you have a David/Jonathan covenant relationship with another?

Encouragement (E):  Your love for that other should mirror equally or even more than how you love you. 1 Sam 18:3-4 “And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.  Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.” Jonathan gave to David not only his weapons of protection making himself temporary vulnerable, he also took the very clothes of his back and became barer for his beloved friend.

Act (A):  If you do have such a relationship,  how can you increase your levels of consistent love and constant devotion?  In essence, lay down your life for your friend? Perhaps in their illness, loneliness, homelessness, hungriness etc? What way has God prompted your heart?  Pray about it.  And if you do not have such a covenant relationship why not pray to God to draw someone to you and in the interim show unfailing kindness to your circle of friends.  Amen!

This blog is dedicated to Lynn-Personally having known you, I am so grateful you took me to a greater level of gratitude. To smile in trust that God has everything in control.  Giving thanks to God our Father in His son’s name because he sent you to our ministry.  Until we meet again. I love you and thank you so much for leaving your legacy of the girls’ angel outfits for my play.  We are indeed so blessed you left little pieces of you with us.  Hug Mr. George for me.  Well done sis! Well done!

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate  Thank you for giving to end Multiple Sclerosis

Bomey James Beautiful Watch “Boney James – So Beautiful” on YouTube

 John 4:18  NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

 Zombies, ghosts, goblins, chainsaws, spiders, bats, snakes, werewolves, clowns, cemeteries, creepy- crawlies in ever increasing darkness, skeletal fingers out from nowhere, reaching for your shoulder. Turn around if you dare. Cold, chilling sensations grips you paralyzing your every movement. You scream in horror, as its looming closeness overtakes and overpowers you. Wake up! It’s just a nightmare or is it? Vincent Price’s haunting chilling laugh comes in as a chained chamber door closes in locking echoing sound. Whew it’s over, catch a breath, pick up the phonograph needle, put down at vinyl’s beginning. Replay! “Wellllcome!” Oh how I loved that audio Hallloween storybook album as a child. How I begged my mother to keep the bathroom light on for 2 weeks. I tell ya Michael Jackson had the right guy at the end of his Thriller song.

Oct 31^st is Halloween (popularized in America around 1920s & 30s) a celebration also named Allhalloween/All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Eve. It starts the beginning of a 3 day observance of Allhallowtide that remembers the faithfully departed. From martyrs to saints, many of today’s religions still practice this tradition. Following Halloween is All Hallows Day/All Saints’ Day Nov 1 then All Souls’ Day Nov 2. Whether you celebrate or not, believe it is of Christian, Celtic, Pagan origins or not—Halloween is a time many reflect on the concept of death which can be frightening.

Okay I’ll admit (somewhat to my shame) that I enjoy the occasional thriller, psychological and flat-out scary movie. Jaws, Omen, Abby, The Exorcist, Psycho, The Birds, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Dracula/Blacula, Frankenstein, It, Jigsaw, Final Destination, Slasher you name it.  It baffles me how those characters don’t know not to go there, to do that thing that they shouldn’t and basically act unwisely. It’s straight up stupid. Don’t they hear me advising them through the TV, Netflix or at the movies (sorry my fellow patrons). Don’t they listen to the advice of their buddies, don’t they listen to their own inner voice that says GET OUT! Nope, in ignorance and sheer pride..(in Beethoven’s 5^th symphony) dun dun dun dunnnn…just like I tried to warn them…they get it.  Blood and body parts splat everywhere. OH! It’s the end for them and most times it’s by their own fault!

In spiritual perspective, DON’T WE DO THE SAME THING?! We know we shouldn’t go to that place, and we shouldn’t do that activity and we do it anyway. For example: Getting drunk, getting high, being promiscuous, etc. We may end up in dark places and dangerous positions more than planned and less than desired (such as the hospital, the jail cell, the grave).  Dr. Christine Blasey Ford had a real life horror story that was recently televised from Congress. In front of millions of viewers she shared her very traumatic, personal experience caused by inebriated, sexually assaulting youths looking to have a good time.  She stated, ” The details about that night…are ones I’ll never forget.” At the very core guilt, shame, post traumatic stress disorders and bottomline pain can haunt us up to a  lifetime. And hurt a person, not just one person but everyone involved with them -by perpetuating and manifesting itself for a long time in various aspects.

In negative consequence, some cry out to God to come rescue.  Perhaps even bargain with Him to save our lives with promises of being good, changing our lives and never going back again. Only.. to do evil again and again.  Firstly because we are inevitably sinful and secondly nearsighted and blind- forgetting its Jesus whose blood saves us. Prov 26.11 Thirdly we are prideful, treating the gift of Grace as trash and our garbage as God. Heb 10:25. This is the scenario for the struggling Christian.  People saved through the waters of baptism and the profession of faith in Christ being Lord.  But what about those who are not saved?  For the non-Christian there is absolutely zero hope.  They face a dreadful end to come without faith, hope or love. Heb 10:31.  What?  See no one should expect to not know God their whole life and at the end suddenly have Him open the doors to His place in paradise.  He won’t know you! Would you let in a complete stranger to your home to live? Matt 7:23. The future scenario for people not in the Book of Life is eternal and ultimate damnation, where Satan and his demons provide no exit.  No Jesus.

Many Youtube videos of people having died and come back to tell the story of heaven or hell puts a healthy fear in me.  A fear that is healthy is respecting God and obeying His very word as the only way to salvation.  John 12:48. We can’t afford to get this thing wrong! We got to tell everybody! The way to Jesus is this way! John 14.6.  Our love needs to be even greater than our fear.  Love and Fear of God are both necessary as we navigate our salvation and persuade others to be saved.  As we are becoming perfected and driven in love, we will fear less and become fearless (2 Tim 1:7) Additionally we will become more confident, strong and courageous as we trust in Him. Heb 4:16,

Praise God for Jesus that took death on his body for us to have life! That is our happy ending-salvation and eternal life with all the saints in heaven.  At home with Jesus, where there’s no more death, mourning or pain Rev 21:4.  Its better than the most beautiful dream.  Now you can turn around sister let your heart be in relief.  That hand on your shoulder is stalwartly warm, glowing of guiding light, profusely merciful, brimming with love. Thank God it’s the Lord!

Concern (C): Sister what scares you even to the point of death?  List your every fear. Bills, disease, kids safety, parents well being, flying, being good enough to get to heaven, so forth.  God knows what terrifies you, concede it.  Then allow His Love to bolster you.

Encouragement (E): Wipe out every worry and tear up every terror in the name of Jesus who cares for you.  1 Pet 5.7 Seek the kingdom and do what is right Jesus will suffice for the rest. 1 Pet 3:6 The Word says..You are her daughters (Sarah) if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Act (A):  Face your fears. Fix eyes on your relationship with God. And move Forward singing a Psalm about God’s love  that lives Forever! The night before Christ died he sang the Hallel, Psalms 113-118 it prepared him to face his future.  His future included death of the body but focused on the everlasting life of the spirit! I love to read, sing, memorize Psalm 23. Envision relaxing within the embraces of my Lord who is always with me.

Psalm 23. A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

For further study:

https://www.businessinsider.com/brain-sexual-assault-trauma-christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh-2018-9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7FkyF4ux70

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vj0qKthCgg **Former atheist college professor has death experience** 

https://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/craig-blomberg/the-threefold-antidote-to-timidity.html

Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ² It is like the precious ointment upon the head..” KJV

On Aug 3 of the new millennium, my first born child, Chauncey will officially be 18,  As an adult he’s now capable of voting in the 2020 election and every one thereafter, sue or be sued, open a bank account in his name, serve on a jury, get a tattoo (which I hope not), see any film in the movie theatre, get married (again which I hope not) and so many other conditions.  My son can do this all legally without the need for parental consent because the state laws have deemed him as chronologically capable due to his coming of age.  As I told him to brush his teeth before going to bed, as repeatedly done for years, he replied, “Mom I’m a man now, no offense, but I don’t have to listen to you anymore. “

Oh yeah? After 17 plus years of feeding, nursing, guiding, disciplining, admonishing, loving and protecting him -I no longer have a say.  He does inventory on me of all the things he feels that he is now entitled to- like hanging out later with his friends, being on his cell or computer past midnight and not being told what he needs to do anymore.  For a sec I was thrown off.  All my feelings rushed in a moment like this-happy me said he is absolutely right, my job is over I’m free, anxious me said Oh no he didn’t to oh no you won’t, emotional me said pass a tissue where did all the time go and where do we go from here. Then…

“Oh yes you do have to listen!  God said so”, my daughter quickly chimed in from her bedroom next door.  Feebly attempting to quote Exodus 20:12, Chailynn paraphases the scripture that states to “ Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”.It’s a fact that God has given parents a  biblical provision since Old Testament times that lasts through death that even man made laws cannot overrule. In that I ended up smiling.

Before I can answer ‘the baby of the family”’s, “Right mom?” question; my son proceeds to tell her to mind her business. Just as scheduled, for more times than not, they continue to go back and forth until one of them gets bored of the match.

My daughter who turned 17 July 26^th thoroughly enjoys mutual teasing her brother to practically torment. But she takes extra pleasure in taunting him during the one full week they are the exact same age in years.  This time annually, we celebrate their very close birthdays.  In my heart I’m thankfully praising God for his favor on them one more year-growing in health, stature and (coughing) wisdom.  Then my daughter’s mocking will break those sentiments with,  “Hey ugly how old are you? And how old am I again? (not waiting for his annoyed look response ,she’ll continue.  “Well since we are both the same age, how is it that you say you are older so I have to listen to you?  Tell me what’s the real difference?” My son in perfected pause throws the knockout normal blow, “Who was born first, moron? Hey dad, isn’t the first born the most important one? Again it’s a rhetorical question which he’ll defend without the necessity of my husband’s fullest reply. With his biblical understanding of scriptures substantiating the firstborn’s blessings he will simply ignore her counterarguments about how they can be stolen. With both feeling they won, its God’s word that’s victorious! Prov 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he will not depart from it”.

My husband of 20 years and I look at each other impressed with their bible knowledge realizing they grew up in the church that showed them love and affection since they were infants.  God’s words have not been without effect (Isaiah 55:11). Yes my children call each other “loving” names like ugly, stupid and the like that sibling rivalry may conceive.  Still more times over they go shopping, laugh over silly tv or Youtube videos, hug, dance, sing, play basketball, split and share the same headphones, take pleasure in  music from Taylor Swift to Chief Keef, joke over their parents’ music.  They just sincerely enjoy hanging out–together.

Sure there are moments where they would race to me with Chauncey saying (his arm draped on my shoulder reinforcing his height advantage), “Mom do we really need her?”, and she would reply cuddling up under my other arm, “Mom, why do we still have him living with us when you have me?”  Whereas, I would respond hugging them both close to me, “Because dad and I love you so guess it’s the only right thing to keep you with us..for now.” I ensue with cleaning as they walked away unamused with my final answer.

We as the Henderson family delight in these regular fleeting moments of playfully joking with one another.  To the outside world I can imagine these expressions may seem harsh and rude.  On the contrary, it is a part of our loving family dynamic of how we show our mutual affection and strong bonds for each other.   We are reminded of God’s loving affection on us and how He loves us as his children by living harmoniously with one another as brothers and sisters.

Concern: Sister, is your life sparkling? Great.  Challenging you mow to take it higher and have a blast with your brothers and sisters in God’s kingdom of believers? Take your fellowship life higher by getting closer and knowing one another more deeply. 1 Pet 4:8 Love one another deeply.

Encouragement: Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

Act:  Jesus spent most of his spiritual walk with his disciples -his family. Mark 3:35 “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Feel lonely?  Set up hang out times with someone today.  Go to a free summer concert, take a group boatride on the river, enjoy a destination vacation together, or go out to pray by water.  Winter, fall or spring there is always something you can do even if its just hanging out in one another’s homes to eat and watch a movie. Show hospitality. Take a chore and have someone join you or join them-Grocery shopping, laundry, taking your dog to the park. Bump it up by bringing a friend you are introducing Christ to. We all need to feel and share in the love of God. It feels a lot like heaven!

Henderson siblings. Dedicating post to them. Happy Birthday to my babes! Love mom.

Ephesians 4:6– One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. NIV

Just days after Father’s day on June 19, Antwon Rose Jr, an unarmed 17 year old was fatally killed by a police officer in Philadelphia who is now facing criminal homicide.  In the Bronx, Leasandro ”Junior” Guzman-Feliz, a 15 yr old member of the NYPD Explorer Program was fatally stabbed to death on June 20 in a case of mistaken identity.  How can such evil live in people I often wonder.  Scriptures like Ephesians 4:6  make me struggle with believing God is in all people. ALL people, really?  Even the ungodly?  How could God be in the member of a murderous gang or lethal police officers when the innocent are slaughtered?  It is hard to suppose that God loves them as much as he loves the Juniors or any one of us today.  But He does.  He genuinely does.

In reading the news articles about both of these young teens, no mention of their fathers was found.  Yet I am confident that they both had a Father.  The same Father who is in heaven and who truly loves them.  Though I, like no one can else can exactly explain why this happened.  God is not the blame for the consequences of this fallen world.  Just know a Risen and Just God is above us all.  He does not sleep or slumber or make a mistake.  Praise God His will though heart wrenchingly challenging for us at times Be done.  Death since the Garden of Eden is not God’s will- only eternal life.  But it is Satan’s.

Looking at my son about the same ages as these two young men, I try to understand and figure out God’s love.  Even my own son has hurt me, being human subject to err and sin, but truth is I still love him.  I cannot help it. I think I will always love him and perhaps risk my life for him.  At least I believe so.  When he and my husband talk together, watching basketball one minute then arguing on whose turn it is to do the dishes the next.  It makes me realize that God is staying in it all the way for the relationship with us. Most likely he cannot help it.  He’s so full of love.

He is our Father.  He just Loves, Loves, Loves us.  Since the beginning of time with Adam and Eve he’s longed to be among us and have a relationship with us.  Longed through sending us the prophets and sending out the disciples.  Even though we do wrong. He loves us so much that his eternal plan was ultimately to maintain that Father/Child relationship with us. Costing him the sacrifice of his own Father/Son relationship with Jesus. So you can literally say He loved us to death.

One thing though, Jesus was perfect and we are not.  He was infallible in every faculty -yet took on our plentiful deliberate and in deliberate wrongs.  Taking on your sin, mine and every one of those gang or police members- Jesus is God Jr.  Our response can be one of two things Thank you or No thank you.  If we seek a relationship with him we say Yes and live a new life, with a new mind and new behaviors. If we say No, we walk away from the greatest love we could ever know in this life.

Concern: Sister, are you in a Father/daughter relationship with God?

Encouragement: 2 Cor 6:18 “And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Act:  Godliness means to be “Godlike” or “Christlike”.  Having an active devotion to God.  With God as the center of your life, to please Him will become your nature. Fear him, revere him and love Him. Allow God to be the wheel within your wheel-will bring you value for all things. 1 Tim 4:8 “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come”.