More Than Enough: Jesus: The Author Of Infinite Possibilities 5s1r5v

MORE THAN ENOUGH

Jesus: The Author of Infinite Possibilities

LEILA HENRY RILEY

Copyright © 2019 Leila Henry Riley.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7702-4 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-9736-7703-1 (hc) ISBN: 978-1-9736-7701-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019915794

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/25/2019

Appreciate and tap into the infinite possibilities that God designed for you.

To some of the most important people in my life:

My 102-year-old mom, whose dedicated life demonstrated to me that prayer is the greatest weapon in a Christian’s warfare

My ive daughter and family who have encouraged me to trust God to turn all impossible situations into possibilities

“Wonderful Jesus” J. P. Denton / James Rowe (1896)

Verse One Wonderful Jesus! Glorious friend! He will be with me unto the end, Cheering, upholding, keeping me strong, Fearless and loyal, shielding from wrong

Chorus Wonderful Jesus! Marvelous King! Ever His Praise My spirit shall sing, When I behold His glorified face, How I shall praise His wonderful grace!

Verse Two Wonderful Jesus! Showing the way into the blessed kingdom of the day: Guiding my footsteps, holding control, making me happy, Keeping me whole.

Chorus

Verse Three Wonderful Jesus! All through the night. He’ll enfold me, giving me light; Then when the morning breaks on the shore, This He will whisper, “Mine evermore.”

Chorus

CONTENTS

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 A Warm Hand on My Shoulder

CHAPTER 2 Favor for the Season

CHAPTER 3 The Journey Down Eumaeus Road

CHAPTER 4 Storms on the Horizon

CHAPTER 5 The Chain Breaker

CHAPTER 6 Always on Duty

CHAPTER 7 Yes, Jesus Is the Answer

CHAPTER 8 Bridge Over Troubled Water

INTRODUCTION

Being the beneficiary of the incredible, dynamic, and authentic power of God for more seasons than I can count, it’s easy to declare to all who are dealing with situations that seem impossible that “God is more than enough.” When the lightning dives from the east and settles in the west, that—to me—is amazing. When all the flowers dressed in their decorative costumes extend a gracious invitation to the butterflies who are showing off their hip-hop moves on their regular rounds, that is stunning. It’s when the blue sky securely hinged to its assigned post refuses to make earth its vacation spot at any time declares, “This is the distinct creative power of the Almighty God in action.” When I’m down and out and on my face, thinking that there is little or no one to help me out, there comes to my rescue the God of infinite possibilities. By all s, each experience in my life is an opportunity to acknowledge the phenomenal authenticity of the Creator of the ends of the earth. He is the One who is more than enough, and His magnificent power generates the confirmation that He is worthy to hold this exalted title. Many may speculate how He designed the lightning to display its elegance as it dashes across the night’s sky, but in retrospect, this, for me, is the ultimate dynamic power of the mighty God in action. Fresh in my mind is the launch of the awesome opportunity to take a leisurely stroll down memory lane. Unlike any other adventure, this was the gift of a lifetime. A visit to the hall of fame was not on my bucket list; however, what amazed me as I strolled along is the fact that the faces of those who decorated the halls were in no way Hollywood stars, but rather heroes and heroines of faith. It is safe to say “elegance stared me in the face” as I gazed steadfastly on each. No replication of any face was unveiled; however, carved in my consciousness was the familiar face of the giant who taught me in fifth grade. Ms. Hyatt engraved in me all the instructions I needed to develop my self-esteem and become the winner I was preordained to be. Her name was inscribed there as well. Sister Ettie, as she is affectionately called, was my Sabbath schoolteacher

and my dear mother. If at all I wanted to compete in the race called life, the opportunity was carved out because in her own unique way, she bestowed all the lessons I needed to embrace in life. Dominance protruded from my father, Uncle C. Fortunately, with the mantle ed down to him, came also the authority to be my preacher and spiritual leader. Accordingly, he mastered the use of the written word and made sure to use it to build spiritual wellness. These were heroes of the day, who mastered their assignments with ion and dignity, thereby leaving the rail for me to hold on to. Not one ounce of irresponsibility dominated any section of their résumé. From them, the invaluable lessons needed for my stability and growth were deposited into my life. Ultimately these lessons have impacted me in exceptional ways, so I am the person who is able to rise out of every adverse situation, bounce back from every fall, and light up the corridor for others following on my path. However little earthly wealth I have acquired in life, it is correct to say, “I am the wealthiest person living on this side of the planet because I am the recipient of God’s infinite, unconditional love and grace.” Etched on the pages of this book and meticulously arranged are the epiphany of inspirational testimonies that have been documented to

• cement the fact that God is more than enough because He is the only one who will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory; • serve as rails for pilgrims who are faced with impossible situations; • encourage and build the faith of other travelers who would dare to pick up their batons and dash for the finish line; • clarify questions in enquiring minds about the God of more than enough; • fully publicize the distinct power and authenticity of the God who is more than enough; and • provide opportunities for you to have your own testimonies of the God who is

the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Inevitably, everyone experiences seasons of impossibilities in their lifetime. Moreover, the Lord declares, “I am the Lord, is there anything too hard for me to do?” (Jeremiah 32:27). In case you are wondering about the answer to this unique but thought-provoking question and should there be the least doubt in your mind as it relates to His declaration that there is nothing too hard for Him to do, I suggest that you pause for a moment and think. Did you know that as an eight-year-old child, I heard the audible voice of the Lord, cementing the information that He would be with me always and that there is absolutely nothing too hard for Him to do in my life? Little did I know how soon after this occurrence that He would call me into ministry. Amazingly, this experience was the beginning of my forever change. It led me to the conclusion that God is no respecter of persons because many years before me, Josiah, the son of King Amon, only eight years old, was commissioned to be the ruler of the greatest nation in his day. He took up the challenge and diligently ruled for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. What an example! Undoubtedly, the infallible King, our Lord and Creator, is the architect of this vast universe. Though many questions His supremacy, I am confident that wherever you are, you can observe that there is the almighty power that called this unique universe into existence. You can agree with me that He is present on every continent at the same time; therefore, He is the omnipresent One. He is also the omnipotent and omniscient One. No one is more powerful, and no one else knows everything. He’s able to be more and do more than enough in my life and in everyone’s lives. In as much as More Than Enough is my story, I can truly report that the countless lessons garnered from the lives of patriots and prophets of yesteryear have immensely impacted my life in positive ways. Through their experiences, I have learned to stand firm in the belief that troubles don’t always last. Another lesson that has had an immense impact on my life is that God will make a way out of all adverse situations because He keeps all His promises. Make no mistake, More Than Enough is the book that dispenses practical instructions and real-life testimonies that are worthy for people of all ages to

emulate. Hence, those who emulate them will maintain their permanency during their stormy seasons. You see, during my journey, not one problematic encounter was clever enough to dissuade me from my pursuit of the living God. Humiliation could not stop me, as you will see. Gaining degrees were in no way a deterrent in my pursuit of becoming a servant leader. Living a life punctuated by various kinds of illnesses were not given the chance to steal my love for the King. Permanently deposited in my life’s treasure box are resilience, opportunities, and infinite possibilities. These have helped to mold and motivate me and enhanced my growth and steadfastness despite adversities. My affirmation is, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19). Do you know that what He has done for me, He will do for you? Will you let Him intervene in your situations and fashion you into the servant leader that you are ordained to be? Will you trust Him to prove to you that He is the author of infinite possibilities? You’ll find out that He’s impartial in all His dealings with man.

CHAPTER 1

A WARM HAND ON MY SHOULDER

W hen was the last time that you had a near miss and God intervened, snatching you with His righteous right hand? The instruction in Isaiah 41:10 is written to dispel the fears that haunt us on our unpredictable journey. “Fear thou not for I am with thee: I will help thee; I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” What could be more reassuring than to have the right hand of God guiding? Even if there is a near-miss situation, protection is guaran teed. One would think that on this warm Sunday evening, Mandy, the shy girl living on Rose Lane, would be sitting in her cozy living room, watching TV with her family; however, this was quite the opposite. As the last drop of juice was drained from her glass, with her furry dog trotting alongside her, she was on a mission. This mission was clearly to enjoy a leisurely stroll down the pebbled, winding street in her small but buzzing town. This was not only awesome, she thought, but safe because she stayed clear of the edge of the path. One more step though, and to her amazement, what was magnified by her highly bifocal glasses were two cars racing down the dimly lit street. Quick as a flash, the cars collided, and they would have caused considerable harm to her if that power had been delegated to them. Whether Mandy had the time to process her thoughts as to the direction to sprint for safety would be anyone’s guess. It was obvious that she was in a stunned mode. The two cars burst in a thundering clash and, to her surprise, went up in flames. Automatically this shock paralyzed her with fear, she was frozen. Then the hot tears falling from her beady eyes formed a curvy flow down the side of her face. It’s difficult to think that someone would not be saturated by this intense scare. Mandy stood trembling, but soon the Almighty Guide came to her rescue. Although she was trapped in this unusual situation, the knowledge that she was in the company of notoriety consumed her; moreover, on her petite shivering shoulder, an extremely warm but gentle hand took its pitch. You would’ve thought that the parade was in town again because immediately after the collision, people from the neighborhood flooded each side of the road. The search for answers to satisfy their curiosity was apparent. Without another moment to spare, a medium-built gentleman wearing a skimpy

T-shirt and high boots spotted the little girl standing on the far corner, away from the accident. The fright was observably still ripping through Mandy’s frail body. Nevertheless, this was understandable. Shockingly, but to everyone’s delight, the little girl and her shaggy dog were unharmed. They were safe under God’s umbrella of possibilities. Almost out of breath, the kind man walked over to her and did what any father or concerned person would have done: he struck up a lively conversation. “How did you get over here, little girl?” he asked. In a muttering sound, Mandy responded, “Don’t know. Can’t say. These beady eyes were shut tight! I was too scared to take a keen look around. Why are so many people milling around at this time?” Reflecting on Mandy’s experience, I find it helpful to compare that leisurely stroll to the Christians’ walk. In 1919, Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest, said, “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are. It’s not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves.” In all certainty, Mandy’s stroll revealed a relevant lesson. God provides us with the opportunities to conquer our fears and experience His abundant protection. Aren’t there times in our lives when we aimlessly wander along life’s road, not thinking of the calamities that could pounce upon us? Undoubtedly, the failed attempts to hold true to our convictions jump out of their hiding places and corrode our minds. Like the clashing of the cars, all categories of indecisiveness swoop down on us and overwhelm us with massive perplexities. That’s why we cannot become what we need to be without submitting to the One who can change us into consecrated servants who are always watchful. We must possess the tenacity that is unbreakable and strive to acquire the strength needed to overcome our impractical encounters in life. We must depend on Jesus to foster the determination in us to run the race with patience, with the goal of becoming champions. As time went by, complacency became the order of the day for me. I comforted myself in thinking that I had it all together and conquered self and that I could leisurely meander down life’s path. Church attendance was at the top of the agenda for me, and somehow, I thought that only churchgoing would keep me unmovable. But I soon found that to be far from reality.

On any Sabbath, besides the teachers and Sabbath school personnel, I was sitting in another nearby classroom. I wanted to hear how every single question I had studied during the week matched up with the answers of the assigned teachers. As they discussed, I listened intently and made any necessary corrections. Later, during my regular class time, I was certain to answer every question correctly. If the opportunity presented itself, I would dominate the hour. To some of my friends, this act was the most uncommon one that any young girl could have participated in. However, it was my delight to come into compliance with the instruction in 2 Timothy 2:15, which reminded me that those who seek a close relationship with God should study His Word. This was my ion. I knew that if I studied and hid the words in my heart, my bond with Jesus would stand the test of time. Though I fail, I would rise to attain favor with Him. What happened next was by no means a part of the design for my life, but life happens. I tripped and fell hard. The scenes began to roll, and during this episode, my joy and love for the Lord was interrupted. I spent less time thinking about the goodness of the Lord and studying the Word, and I limited my time in prayer. This is when I began to question God. Was I really trusting as I should have, or was I just having a leisurely stroll in life like Mandy was?

HE LOOKED BEYOND MY FAULTS Have you ever wondered how the nets that were designed to trap you and drain the enthusiasm for the things of God lose their ability to achieve their ultimate goals? Ask Brother David. He is quite familiar with this game, and he spoke out clearly in Psalm 57:7. “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give praise.” In these times, we know that the angel of the Lord encamps around us and delivers us out of these challenges. During the period when my zeal was at its lowest ebb, the God of mercy and love saw me drifting and came speedily to my rescue. I literally felt his warm hand on my shivering shoulders, guiding me out of the murky water that I was stuck in. What he said to me in John 8:12 was heartwarming. “I am the light of the world: he that followed me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” This not only brightened my eyes but also my heart. Knowing that I didn’t want to be permanently confined to the rut, I started to think about what I needed

to do to get to the next level, where my life would be directed only by my Lord and not friends. On the billboard, the direction was plain to the naked eyes: if any kind of problematic situation ever traps you, you should know that the Lord of all power will show up and remove every net that was designed to ensnare you, and He will fill up all potholes. On my own, it is highly impossible to win over from self and friends. The potent catchphrase “Catch the vision,” which often decorated my now-deceased pastor’s sermons, was designed to propel his congregants to look out for the attacks of the evil one. As we were finding every truth in his sermons, it is accurate to say that when our lives demonstrate ion, discipline, and the knowledge of God’s holy words, this is sure proof that we have obeyed the instruction to catch the vision. On the other hand, individuals who permit themselves to be pressured by conditional love and uncertainty of faith have ignored the instruction to catch the vision (Psalm 119:11). As highlighted in the scripture, during Hannah’s problematic situation with Peninnah, her challenger mentioned in 1 Samuel 6:6–16 that she had the opportunity to resolve the conflict violently; however, the irable thing she indulged in was to endure the internal pain, thereby preserving the word of God in her heart. Following through with her resolve paid off in abundance, for in time, the heavy burden took a hike, and her tired brow basked in magnificent relief. Her reward package was a genuine proof of that. A bouncing baby boy named Samuel was wrapped up securely in her reward package. That is what happens when we refuse to fight our own battles and instead let God resolve our issues. It is true God keeps all His promises and tangibly honors those who catch the vision and keep the word of God hidden in their hearts. What a reward for Hannah! I had all reason to wonder if someone were in the room with me this night. Audibly, He spoke to me in the language that I understood. “Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). I recognized that His voice was just the warm hand I needed on my shoulder to escort me back to my faithful position in Him. Not only were the words soothing, but they arrested me and forcibly drove me back to reality.

Again, the airstream propelling me to rekindle my love for the Father I had grown to adore changed places with my stubborn will. As the conviction lingered in my heart, a sincere petition rang out from my inner being. “Hold me close to you, my Father. Lift me up when I fall. Please never let me go from your presence.” Although the friends were still lingering around, my agenda was now under new management. Ultimately, their influence over my life was broken, and God breathed new life into my soul. It was then I challenged myself daily to pray the words of this prayer:

Dear Father in heaven. I come to You on bended knees. I am grateful to You for Your unconditional love. Thank You for not giving up on me. Today I ask forgiveness for all my disobedient acts. Because I need Your continual guidance, I promise to please You daily for the rest of my life. Please stay near me, and never leave me alone.

Incomparable joy is what followed. Knowing that Jesus focuses on turning darkness into light and continually looks beyond my faults and sees my needs was the comfort that flooded my heart and drove peace into the very core of my being. In Galatians 5:1, Paul instructs us to “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set you free and be not entangled again in the yoke of bandage.” In life, I learned that the only deterrent to my freedom and growth in Christ is self; therefore, I was determined to daily keep a close check on self, as Paul implored. Amazingly, it worked for him, and I am convinced that it would work for me just as it did for him.

BENEFITS OF THE CHANGED HEART It is said that “change is the only constant there is.” The profound message in this familiar saying has invaluable nourishment for the soul and has stood the test of time. Who knows the benefits of a changed heart more than the woman at

the well? It was her time for change when she met up with Jesus at the well in her town. It was as if He were there to enjoy an undisturbed rest, but in fact, He was on a mission. This mission would change a stranger’s heart. It didn’t take long for this job to be accomplished, for as soon as she approached the well and even before she had the chance to dip her bucket to draw water, the conversation struck up, and the intense discussion that followed resulted in great success. Jesus said, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst again” (St. John 4:14). The changing agent was offered, and after much resistance, the woman at the well humbled herself and accepted the living water, which served as her changing agent. John 4:15 reads, “The woman said unto Him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” And so gradually her darkness changed to light. The seed that was sown changed to fruit. The unbeliever became believer; the sinner changed to saint. Her changed heart went on to change the hearts of many others in her community. To be a beneficiary of God’s providential love and grace in the process of changing, I found it necessary to reflect on the depth of His love for me. It was still unfathomable; therefore, I paid attention to His onition, where He invited me to stand fast in the liberty in which He has set me free (Galatians 5:1). Furthermore, the reminder made it transparent that His patience and love for me will never run out. Neither will it be temporary. Constantly I am on His mind, and that is why the love note that was sent my way spoke volumes to me. Jeremiah 29:11 echoes, “For I know the thoughts I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” In His words, all the ingredients I needed for the change were provided. Since my plan is to live forever with God, I must bend to His boundless forgiveness. All too soon, my new attitude and desire to move forward with the process of change was visible. In one session with my sister, she observed the difference and inquired what new thing I was involved in. This was certainly the invitation I was waiting on to share my newfound love. Enthusiastically, I explained my situation to my sister, and I soon found out that I was on to something great. I itted to my failure, and like David, I cried out,

“Create in me a clean heart O Lord” (Psalm 51:10). He came quickly to my rescue. What I understood was that my sister was not anxious to hear about my predicament, but her interest was more like Nicodemus’s question: “What must I do to gain the change that I see in you?” First, the acknowledgement of a backslidden condition must be brought to the surface, I explained, so God can see the repentant heart. A simple prayer of regret and a promise of not returning to the conditions that were a distraction should be high on the agenda and practiced daily. If steadfastness is to be maintained in this process, the sincere love for and the interest in reading the words must be implemented. Knowing that God can keep us from falling is one other principle that’s highly necessary. His guidance and protection over your life must be pursued with vigor and perpetuity. Always to adopt the attitude of the saints of old; maintain your joy by singing songs of praise and adoration. “Yes, I have gotten it the Bible Way,” was my sister’s response. I need that joy and that renewal. “Purge my heart, oh my Father,” was my sister’s sincere prayer. “Please make it ever new.” It wasn’t long before her request was granted, and she knew it right away. What a wonderful day when she accepted the Lord as her Savior, following up with baptism by immersion. The ripple effect of change was quite evident. My changed heart led to my sister’s changed heart. Truly, there are benefits to a changed heart. Will you let Him change your heart? As the old saying goes, “Time waits for no man.”

DRESS RIGHT FOR THE FIGHT! Night services were held three times each week in the church I attended, and I made sure not to miss any of them. Not only did I attend services, but I was involved as much as possible. No activity was out of bounds for me. At times, I volunteered, and at other times, others volunteered me for service. Thinking back, it was my belief that this kind of involvement would keep me focused on my path, but no, subtle distraction settled in, and I took a detour, which landed

me in the different path. I began to wonder if I were dedicating my all to my loving Father or just mere a churchgoer. Why then was I being attacked so fiercely? The truth is that I was in a fierce fight for my soul, but so was David, who cried out, “Have mercy upon me, O God according to thy loving kindness.” His prayer was heard. He knew the battle was not his to fight, but the Lord’s. How often I come to the end of self and my only hope is to lean and depend on the Lord. Reading is good, and praying is great, but faithfulness in obeying all His commandments is certainly the desired beauty. This is what keeps me focused on the Lord and my hand in His. He is the only one who holds me up and keeps me from falling. Regrettably, the fierce war raged on. After regrouping, my armor was carefully selected, and finally, without a dress rehearsal, each piece was correctly fitted on. “Ready for the challenge!” was my slogan. Safeguarding my soul’s survival was what I was ready to do. Not only was I wearing the required protection, but that which I was dressed in was known as the whole armor of God, as outlined in Ephesians 6:13–17. This was the unique invisible dress code; moreover, no literal weapon could pierce through it. As much as I know, the loins were girded about with truth. The breastplate of righteousness was in place. The feet were covered, and the shield of faith was carefully tacked in. Sure enough, there was the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. Prayer was the super glue that kept each piece intact (Ephesians 6:18). With each piece of protection set in its respective positions, I knew that I would survive, no matter how fierce the challenge was. Considering that my Father designed the dress code, this signified that it would stand the test of time. Goliath the giant could not compete with my kind of dress. Mine was the special one-of-a kind design; though invisible, it would stand always in the resistant mode, just like the one that David wore during his many battles. Often, I’ve heard individuals proclaim that their motto is, “You can’t keep a good man down.” Without an apology, my observation is what I consider awesome news because neither can anyone keep a good woman down, especially a woman whose trust and confidence holds fast in Jehovah. Certainly, there were the times when I was shaken to the core, but I didn’t go under. Like the old oak

tree, the winds of doubt rocked me, but visibly, my roots of faith were stronger and kept me grounded. The gracious dynamic and caring hand of my more-thanenough Father lifted me up each time. He has lifting power for all who call upon Him in times of trouble. His exhortation is, “Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will be your deliverer” (Psalm 50:15). Did you know I called? Yes, I did. I called often, but there were the days when I would have slept past my prayer time at 5:00 a.m. How remarkable it was to have the angel literally tapping me on the shoulder to awake me for prayer time. I benefited from this intervention. Only a deep desire for the things of God could have kept me seeking for His warm hand in times of difficulty. I needed Him more than anything else in my life. Enduringly, the mothers in Zion avail themselves for service; therefore, whenever I needed help, I could call on them to solicit God’s intervention on my behalf. To my knowledge, Hezekiah was a testament to this kind of dependence on God. As illness plagued him, the only choice in his head was to summon the Creator for assistance. Immediately and if on wings, his request soared to God’s throne room, and noted was the favorable answer. Beautifully wrapped in the most decorative sense was the gift of fifteen years, hand-delivered on the salver (2 Kings 20:6). That’s the way the God of more than enough works. He’s an ontime friend who constantly encourages us to fight on. This was the year and the season to fight on. I was just about ready to attend St. Joseph Teachers’ College, but I soon found out that this wasn’t going to happen. Not this year. The dart that was thrown directly at me unfortunately found its mark and detoured me to a new line of thinking. News from the doctor hit me like it was a ton of bricks, and the pain traveled down my spine and locked onto my feet, which kept them grounded no matter how hard I tried to move them. I was literally stuck. Never did I know that words could punch such severe blows. Never did I imagine that they were like missiles that could penetrate through any solid frame. Well, today, the information dished out was not anything on my radar. Naïve, that was me. “Yes, Miss,” the doctor blurted out, “are you ready to be the next mother on the block?” “The what?” I stammered. This was in no way funny, and just as I was about to fire back at him fiercely, the words that escaped his lips locked my jaws.

“You will be a mother soon!” Almost as soon as the last word bolted from his lips, I became dumbfounded. What I said next was a shock to the doctor. “Are you crazy?” For sure, someone was acting irrational. Someone was crazy, but it was most certainly not the doctor. The revelation drove me into the crazy mood. Do you know that people act strangely when they experience severe trouble? I declare to you that tangible distress pulls out all the craziness securely hidden in the secret places of individuals and puts them all out on display. Isn’t it true that David acted like a man and spat on himself when he was caught in a predicament? Saul went to a seer when he couldn’t hear from God, and Daniel opened his windows in a heathen land, ignoring the laws of the time that forbade him to pray to his God. He prayed three times for the day. Misfortune has a way of driving you into displaying silly behavioral patterns, and it happens quite often. Ambling down the flight of stairs after collecting my articles was the most problematic task for me on this day. You would imagine that there was a ton of bricks on my shivering shoulder, but I had to go. Like a windmill, my head was spinning at top speed, and there was the inability to control the thoughts that were twirling around in my head, like the traffic at 42nd Street in downtown Manhattan. Despite this devastating experience, my only protection and hope was to find the strength to firmly grip to the rich promises of the Lord. Suddenly the sound of a calming voice born on the wings of the wind came hovering over me, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Hurrah for the gift of this rich promise to me. In no way was I going to let go of it. With every bit of energy, I held on to it for dear life’s sake. On my taste buds, it was like honey in the rock. You should have been somewhere observing my state. With each step, sadly the torrents of tears rolled down my cheeks unceasingly. Washcloth and paper towels dove into the rescue and prevented the dam from overflowing its banks, landing on my freshly laundered clothing. “How could I have failed the love of my life?” I whimpered.

The questions kept filling in quickly, one after the other, giving me no time to answer. How was I going to face my brethren and friends and explain this to my family? How was an unwed mother going to hold her job at a prestigious Catholic prep school? These were too many questions to answer; however, one thing was certain. “Life goes on.” I had failed Him, but what I learned is that He has never failed me, and He will not fail me, neither now nor never. There is nothing that I can do to provide the basis for Him to see me in the trench of sin and leave me in that quandary. Do you know that He is the God who is more than enough, and He produces the willpower to lift me or anyone who asks for help out of every fallen state? He will pull me out of every ditch, greet me with loving, open arms every time I return to Him, put a ring on my finger to show ownership, and make the biggest feast to celebrate my return? Did you know that His promises are sure? When He said, “His grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians12:19), I believe He was talking to me. God gives out grace just because He is the God of more than enough. He spends time with the fallen. He watches out for the ditches and the nets. He produces the soul-cleansing agents to wash souls whiter than snow. And so, my request is, “Here I am. Take me by my hand, my dear Father. Lift me up and lead me on to complete victory.” Wise words from my now-deceased younger sister were ed in my memory bank. How could I ever forget the distress and bewilderment that tore through her, altering the cool demeanor that marked her life? When she saw the tears and my repentant heart, hastily she mustered the courage to offer some consolation. “Sis, you’re in a strange land. This is wilderness journey, and in it, there are firebrands that you must face. Things to cause excruciating pain will prowl around your way, but with God, you will make it.” I was brought back to realize that my battles are in the hand of the greatest champion, who has never lost a battle. He’s promised to fight for me, and in time, I will celebrate my victory. Parched as my esophagus was, the words served by my dear sister could be compared to a cool drink of lemonade on a hot summer’s day. Running through my mind was the reminder to cast my care on the Lord and He

will sustain me (Psalm 55:22). This is what He always does for all who lean and depend on Him. In obedience to His kind instruction, I slowly started to see Him at work in my life and it that He’s not a God to show partiality. My sister is correct. God deals with each fallen child as one who deserves ultimate comion. I am a beneficiary of His infinite comion, and it gives awesome satisfaction. What about you? His comion fails not. Deserving of ultimate punishment was one of Jesus’s favorite disciples, the fisherman-turned-team leader and fisher-of-men. On this day without giving the episode a second thought, he was engaged in an unpleasant task. In as much as Peter consoled himself that he was defending his friend Jesus, this was not victory but defeat because this action was in opposition to the teaching of “turn the other cheek.” What would have motivated him to forget the punishment that would have been measured out to him for this unkind act? In hindsight, he had every right to be fueled with anger because his master was treated unfairly. Contra-wise, Jesus’s fatherly onition to Peter, his dear child, was, “Put up your sword!” (Matthew 26:52). It certainly was not the time to emulate or practice the teaching of an “eye for an eye,” for Moses was long gone and presently the doctrine of the time was “forgive seventy times seven or turn the other cheek.” The importance of attaining maturity and remaining levelheaded was explained to Peter time and again; however, the lesson was often forgotten, and this action took its toll on his reputation for a while. In all sense of the word, he brought a tainted lifestyle that framed his earlier life into the team, and this was unlike the prerequisite for his new assignment. In fact, for this job, he needed an immaculate resume. As is noted, although Peter was in Jesus’s company, he was not yet matured in the word; therefore, the milk was what he needed. Patiently, Jesus fathered him; hence, it was safe to say that he was still learning and growing. After one of his teaching sessions, Jesus, knowing of his ability to make a difference in peoples’ lives, gave this encouragement to him. “Peter, when you are converted, strengthen the brethren.” Jesus was sure that the time would come after feeding on the word of God, Peter would achieve maturity and serve well in his position as team leader. How unlikely was it for Jesus to relate to Peter in this

way when he was already a follower? Limitation in humans shows up every time, and there is nothing that we can implement to prevent God from detecting our state of immaturity. He does not only know the beginning but also the end of all things. There is no secret with Him. If by chance you are thinking to hide under the water, He is there, and if you should think of going to the sky, He lodges there. He knows our vulnerable stages in life. It is true: no one can create any hiding place outside of God. His eyes are watching us, wherever we go and whatever we do. He watches out, not so much as to catch us doing bad, but so He can provide the help we need when we are in trouble. In what area do you need help? Turn it over to Jesus. He wants to dress you for the next fight. As I learned the lesson, maturity took its course in Peter’s life after his sessions of training; hence, he was now able to resist and his tests. Obviously, the unique bond between Jesus and Peter had lasting effects and is worthy to be emulated by all determining to have an entrance in the New Jerusalem. Of course, the enemy will never cease trying to punch holes in our relationship with the Lord. He certainly taxed Peter heavily, but eventually the overcomer was Peter and ultimately the matured team’s leader after Jesus’s ascension. He was now levelheaded and dependable. What a change! He became a force to contend with. He was one who was dressed for the fight and exhibited a life worthy to be celebrated. In my mind, everyone who knew our principal knew that she possessed a strong personality more like a drill sergeant of our day. Sitting in her courtroom to resolve any case favorably would be an accomplishment. What I conclude is that God is the chief heart specialist. As a heart specialist, His plan is to transform hearts so they would function uniquely in obedience to His directives. They would enter into surgical procedure of a special kind and reenter the world with a new heart. Based on my request, that’s what He did to my principal. He gave her a new heart just like he did for Peter, which benefitted me. When I thought that the possibility of a suspension or dismissal from the job was imminent, it was quite infuriating. What happened next though was nothing short of a miracle. My principal showed me great sympathy as I sat with my head bowed low in humility opposite to her during the revelation of my failing experience.

After listening to my plight, Sister laid out an agenda that delighted me. “Not to worry,” she said. “You will be provided with an assistant teacher. This will give you added rest time and less pressure on your feet as you go through your stages.” What a God! The invitation to return to work after my extended recovery period was the awesome answer to my prayer. Who could have designed this kind of intervention but the God of all possibilities? Yes, for me, Jesus’s warm hand was on my shoulder again, helping me out of the danger zone. He was my refuge and strength in the case. Will you let Him lay His righteous right hand upon your shivering shoulder as He did for me? You might come upon a difficult situation in your place of employment, but if you call upon the heart specialist, He will change the heart of your firm superiors to benefit you. That’s His specialty. Transformation is guaranteed as He dresses you.

MEMORABLE DAY Permanently inscribed in my mind is an amazing Sunday in May. This was a memorable day when prancing like a little pony my daughter made her entrance in her new world. She was the most exquisite baby girl. She was stunningly beautiful. Her black shining hair was about ready to be put in a ponytail, and her skin was as cool as cucumber. The wide-ranging tone of her voice awakened you to the knowledge that she was ready to sing a tune of thanksgiving and a “Hello, world! Here I am!” Evidently the scenes raced in high speed, straight into my heart, and locked themselves there. Even when I was sleeping, the vivid slides were still on parade. Why would anyone want to forget this picture? First, it was the pitiless war and, of course, danger, which pulled the whimpers from under the covers of my heart; however, galloping close behind was shouting time. Victory time! Time to put on my dancing shoes and let the show begin. You should have been there when I raised my head to match my face with my baby girl. With the little strength in me and a husky voice, I played backup for my imaginary choir and sang in my own words, “I worship and adore You, O Lord! How I worship and adore You! For You have done so much for me. O Lord, I worship and adore You. You have done great things for me.”

As you can see, the experience was fierce, but I went through it and came out victoriously. My baby girl entered the world evenly proportioned. Like Joshua’s ordeal, after seven days, the walls of Jericho fell in, and the victory song was heard in all the land. The trumpets sounded loud and clear because of his victory over his oppositions. The timbrals and the horns brought distinct melodies. Then the jubilee was summoned, and small and great ed the celebrating band. Unlike Joshua’s experience though, the march I embarked on took a little longer time. For nine long months, I marched around my imaginary wall, but what kept me going was the belief that after the storm, then comes the calm. Victory was ahead. Then this was the victory. She was embraced with loving arms. Surrounding her were blankets of joy to keep her warm and sheets of tenderness to welcome her safe arrival. Have you ever felt the warmth of God’s hand on your chilly shoulder pulling you out of ditches and into safety? This is what He does. Let no one tell you anything different. God specializes in things that seem impossible, and He can do what no other can do. Again, I could feel the warm hand of God on my shoulder. Along the journey, struggles dim the light in me, making it oh so difficult to see the way and the danger traps that lined the way. It seems as if my two shriveled hands were used as covering for my face. However, it’s comforting to know that help is provided when I heed the call to “lean on the Lord’s everlasting arms and listen.” As I listened, the unfamiliar voice on the radio exclaimed what it means to “take my yoke upon you and learn of me” (Matthew 11:29). This is the invitation issued to all people and nations. Willingly, I gave heed to the explanation and the invitation. Because the fight for my stability in the Lord was unavoidable, falling down in humbly penance was necessary. My petition was, “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me” (Psalm 51:10). In response to my cry, I saw and felt not only His warm hands on my shoulders, but His love, mercy, and comion. His lifeline was provided for me, and it is for all others who may trip in the race of life. Deliverance finally came. The pebbles that lined my path gave way to God’s instructions as I negotiated my way on the road of life. With the victory banner in hand, I was able to share the life-giving words, “I am rescued by the forever life-giving boat. The waves came furiously dashing to

cover me but thank God the lifeboat came and rescued me.”

EMBRACE THE NEW DAY How could I ever forget this day? It started out as normal as any other. However, as the evening shadows were closing its shutters, the news arrived. “Come quickly!” With haste, I made my way to Nan, as she was affectionately called. Nan, the caregiver at the time, saw my need of a job and sent the urgent message. For some unknown reason, the fear that the message drove in me was piercing through my bones. What could this mean? Was my baby girl ill? Was she no longer able to care for her? There were several unanswered questions. As I entered the door of the house, the uncertainty beckoned my heart to bounce like trampoline; however, that quickly took its flight because I heard her giggling and saw her frolicking like a tadpole in a little stream. What a delight she was! What a relief to exit that trampoline experience. “Turn it over to Jesus and everything would be all right,” was one of my mother’s favorite sayings. The message is always appealing. As I reflected, Jesus is the one who knows all things, the end from the beginning. The urgent message Nan sent was not because my daughter was ill. It was another door God was opening for me, proving to me that He is my way-maker. He always carved out infinite possibilities to help those in need. I was desperately in need of a job. Look how He made the way for me. What is your need that you desire Him to fill for you? He will open and close doors for you. Isn’t He the God who holds the future? He always looks beyond our faults and sees our needs. Within a few days, I had a job, the opportunity to be near to my daughter, and the ability to provide financially for her. That’s how the God of more than enough works. He looks beyond our faults and not only sees our needs but addresses them. This gave me reasons to sing along with James Rowe, who wrote this beautiful song in 1896, “Wonderful Jesus! glorious friend! He will be with me unto the end. Cheering, upholding, keeping me strong, fearless and loyal, shielding from wrong.”

Ever since the early days, this song has proven to be my solace in times of life’s complications. I learn that just to have something to hang on to helps to preserve the sanity and, in some way, provide the determination to ascend to the next plateau in life. I wonder how you deal with your hurdles. Do you quit, or do you seek the assistance of the God of infinite possibilities? I know that He never fails! His love and patience go on into infinity. There is proof that He never changes. This was true in Abraham’s case, and it is true for me. He provided a ram for Abraham in a time of dire need, and He provided a caretaker and a job for me when I urgently needed them. How can we go wrong when we trust and obey our Creator? And how can I say thanks for all the things He’s done for me, the things He’s doing, and the things He will do for me? Every day I live in expectation of His grace and mercies, and not one day has He failed to come through for me. He’ll come through for you also! It is true that “the blessings of the Lord, it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). irably my daughter went through kindergarten, elementary, and high school. These stations marked the steps of success for her. Her grades were above average, and topping it off, her conduct was immaculate; moreover, every call was a welcomed one. Therefore, I awaited them because they served to reassure me of her exceptional progress. To receive progress reports and achievements trophies were excellent signs that God answered our prayers for success. How can I forget the new day when she stood before the graduating class, reading the scripture after she had ed her common entrance exam? Looking back, this was an early sign of a life of success. I was the most satisfied mother. If you had seen me then, you would’ve surely ed the praise team and rejoiced with me. Truly the stage for progress was set from those early years, and I am thankful to God who made it possible for me to embrace the new day.

INSIDE OUT Because life is ever changing, the quicker we accept that fact, the quicker we can agree to take and deal with the situations that are meant to work out for our good and even mature us. High school for my daughter came with its challenges, as it did for many others. She was faced with the assiduous task of making new

friends. Looking around, there was no one to speak on her behalf at PTA meetings. No one showed up to escort her home after the day’s hard work, and she certainly worked tirelessly. No hugs were awaiting her at the school gate at dismissal times. No matter how hard you try, you cannot imagine how this loneliness relentlessly hammered at her emotions. Besides pulling down the tears from her swollen eyes, the feeling of neglect shoved her into a corner where she thought her parents rejected her. Indisputably these hurdles marked her journey, and in no way could she just act as if they were not happening. To prevent them from consuming her, it was imperative that she take a leap, that is, a leap of faith, and deal with situations as best as she could. That determination to keep her focused was splendid. It was certainly not her intention to allow the exposure to negatively affect her self-esteem or her grades. Later in life I learned that “hard times are sometimes a blessing in disguise.” Quite often, this has been proven to be true; therefore, the undesirable instances that prowled around enabled my precious one to push ahead, gaining many opportunities to develop her commanding independence. Like Joseph, the difficult times made her stronger and wiser. Not only was she strong mentally, but emotionally and spiritually. They made her not only smart, but for sure “world-ready.” Ms. Campbell, now deceased, was my daughter’s guidance counselor and her guardian angel. She was the shoulder provider for her to lean on, and those same shoulders came in handy in times when I had to work two jobs. It was so refreshing to know that her focus was on the goal and nothing was going to dissuade her from that. Every so often, she would hear the words, “The sky is the limit.” It became a part of her motto. With God by her side, she was going to maintain her stability and true to the task of excellence. Just as often as I checked the mailbox, there was a certificate announcing the achievements at college. The dean’s list certificates came in every term. This helped me to know that she was stepping in the right direction. Dr. Carr, now deceased, was her father figure, and he saw to it that there was no deviation from the plan. As her advisor, he held her able for her achievements. Success at the highest level was the expectation by all parties, and no one was disappointed. It was a pleasure to be standing at her graduation. With God, all

things are possible, and victory is assured. Not deviating from the path, the climb continued, and exuberant joy poured out profusely because all signs directed to the next rung on the success ladder. Nevertheless, this next move for sure was going to be our indisputable dependence on the God of more than enough. “Mom, this is the school I would like to attend for my master’s, Carnegie Mellon!” Pretending not to hear, I went on washing my dishes. “Did you hear me, Mom?” “Yes, I hear you, Daughter. Nonetheless, I must inform you that my financial situation is unlikely to facilitate your request. Furthermore, if I were to work without taking a break for the year and withhold all the bills, go on a long-term fast, and wear as little clothing as the pygmies do, it would be impossible to make the first semester’s payment in this university. The Lord of more than enough, who is our provider, would have to intervene and work His miracles for us. Oh, yes, I know He’s our provider. And yes, Daniel’s God surely will deliver.” “Lord, help me,” I prayed in silence. “What must I do?” To break the monologue, the voice of faith pitched in and calmly made a simple but philosophical request. Searching diligently for the core of my faint heart was the unusual plea from my daughter, who never asked for much. I know it was not her intention to embarrass me, but that was the scene displayed on my worn-out face, and it was easily detected. Momentarily, the earnestness of her plea continued and hit the exact spot like a bull’s-eye. “Mom, please give me one hundred dollars.” It was unnecessary to make any inquiry because I knew the voice of determination was in the air. Nothing was going to steal her earnest craving to attend Carnegie Mellon, but first, the entrance fee must be paid.

A few seconds were allotted to think things through, and this gave me time to know that this was the right thing to do. After all, during my adult life, I was obligated to make sacrifices. Engaging in just one more wasn’t going to damage my pride or take me out of the frame of serving sacrificially. Unquestionably, securing the insignificant amount was priority because Carnegie Mellon was going to be a reality. Oh yes, with every fiber in me, I knew this would happen; moreover, I was determined to trust God and see Him work at what He does best, provide. In keeping with His command, I cast all that care on Him, confident that the God of more than enough would honor His word. Time went into eternity as we waited and prayed. Then one day, the reassuring and comforting instruction written by John H. Sammis in 1887 came floating through the air to our minds, “Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.” I knew it. This was meant to reenergize my faith. Although waiting is an art that must be mastered, I told myself that waiting is only productive if active waiting is practiced, as opposed to ive waiting. In recollection, Harriet Tubman learned to read in hiding while she waited for her freedom. Frederick Douglass acquired the ability to read by indulging in reading scraps of newspaper and from those who were fortunate to attend school. Obviously, they kept busy during the wait. For them, the wait lavishly paid off. What a privilege it was for them to wake up and live the life they had dreamed of for years. Not only did they bask in the freedom to visit any library and read extensively, but they were afforded the distinct pleasure to live out their dreams, to serve others, and to be who they wanted to be in life. Thankfully, that lesson didn’t die with Harriet or Frederick. My daughter and I grabbed hold of it with both hands as we waited and prayed without ceasing. Through the lives of these two noble persons, the value of waiting was preserved, and others are benefiting from its preservation. Then the month of May came and went. June dove in with slow motion. The truth is, on my shoulders and my conscience, the weight of waiting became extraordinarily heavy. No other choices presented themselves, so we continued the wait for a little while longer.

Something was different during this evening’s devotion. You would think that there was the choir in session as we tuned joyfully to the well-known song composed by Ira Forest Stanphill.

I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day. I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray. I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said, and today, I’ll walk beside Him, For He knows what is ahead.

How true this was for us! As the song melted into our hearts, we confessed that the future was unknown to us. We were living from day to day with the great expectation that God would again eventually prove Himself mighty in our lives. We were determined to see His hand at work. The record proved that Joseph was promoted from a pit to a palace, from a servant to second-in-command to the king in the land of Egypt. The truth is that promotion comes not from the east or the west, but from the God of infinite possibilities. Joseph became ruler in a heathen land. “How did a heathen king recognize the God in him?” is the question on everyone’s minds. What a comfort to focus on the revelation that we serve a great big, wonderful God who is the absolute way-maker. Not only that, but He is also a miracle worker. He makes things happen, especially in desperate times for desperate people. Reassuringly, there is nothing that is too hard for Him to do. In fact, throughout the ages, His specialty is in undertaking the things that seem impossible to man, but to Him categorically, it’s within His authority. The precious lesson of casting our every care on the Lord is not new. Its revered worth has been preserved throughout the ages, and it continues to provide the comfort needed, as it did the first time it was uttered. It has earned the distinguished right to the treasure list. Those who hold dear to this lesson, as in my daughter’s case, is certain to receive tremendous benefit from the God of all possibilities. He is the one who turns things inside out for our good.

NEVER GIVE UP

For decades, I’ve heard my mom singing this song written by Fanny J. Crosby in 1903, “Never give up to your sorrow. Jesus will bid them depart. Trust in the Lord. Sing when your trials are greatest. Trust in the Lord, and never depart.” This onition prevailed in my consciousness and kept me riding out my storms. How could I forget when I had to sit for this important exam? Two times before I had attempted this exam; unfortunately, I experienced no success. The third time, I was absolutely bent out of shape by utter shame and disgust, but I kept plodding on. Eventually, the day arrived when the saying was different. The good news flew in on wings, like a dove. My breakthrough was the talk of the town. I agree with the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” This was relentlessly hammered in my head from as early as I can , and I followed through with my eyes set on that sign board for success. I was going to sit for that exam as often as I needed to until I saw the words, “You’re successful!” Giving up for sure was not mentioned in my DNA. Success was what I was claiming. If I had to sit for that exam a fourth time, then that’s what I was prepared to do. The goal was to be a success. Old barriers would be shoved out of the way, and new ones were set up to be broken again and again. The conclusion was to begin somewhere. Why not here? Then it happened during the last week of June. “Who’s going to the mailbox this evening?” This was the rhetorical question asked every evening. “Well,” said my daughter, “I will go. Today might just be the day, Mom! Yes, today might just be the day we get the good news, and then we’ll be able to raise the victory banner high.” With all my heart, I wished that this would be true, and I watched her walk slowly to the mailbox one more time. In my heart, hand in hand, I walked along with her. On the way back to the house this time, her gait was remarkably different. Briskly, she walked past me, went to her room, and closed the door behind her. In her hand were a few letters, but what was different was the large brown envelope. She held the letters in her hand, but the only thing I was holding on to was, my confidence in the Lord and the result of the wait.

Then something extremely strange happened. The sound of crying burst through the thin wooden door like a gush of wind; however, soon after the distressful moaning was assuaged. For me, that was an extraordinarily good sign; nevertheless, this did not sit well with me. Hence, I kept my distance. My heart was not only doing the hopscotch, but it was beating as if I were on the last lap of any marathon. By now, my patience was wearing thin, and all I could do was pray and pray some more for the good news we had waited on for so many months. As the conductor was in place, the change in the chain of events was evident. My bed was now the trampoline, and like a puppet on a string, she was just bouncing away. It was then laughter overtook the crying, and it filled the room like the aroma of the sweetest perfume. There was a shift in me, and more than ever, I longed to go and see what was happening, but I held on and waited for the invitation that was delaying its speed. Shortly after that scene, the door sprang open as if there were a gust of high wind shoving it from the northeast. Following fast on its heels were words that tasted like honey in the honeycomb and descended my esophagus in slow motion. “Mom look at the working of the God of more than enough. This is nothing less than His warm hand on my shoulder. He turned impossible into possible, difficult into easy, and no way to the way.” “Go on, Daughter!” “Look, Mom! This is my acceptance letter. Tuition, housing, and books paid in full. I have pocket money to the max. Mom, fellowship and scholarship. Hurrah to the God of infinite possibilities!” Winning the prize of maximum amount could in no way compare with this unspeakable joy that we felt during this episode of our lives. In obedience to the onition in Psalm 136:1 to “give thanks unto the Lord for He is good,” one could be a mile away and still hear the shouts of thanksgiving that were rattling every zinc on the roof of the house. If you must know, it was evident that God showed up and showed off to benefit us. What is impossible with man is possible with God. Yes, He rolled the waters by, He made a way where there was no other way, and He rolled the waters by.

What’s your struggle? What are you waiting on? How long do you think that you will have to wait to have that victory shout? Just know this, those who wait on the Lord to open doors will not be disappointed. According to the author, “Those who wait will be richly rewarded.” Keep pursuing. Never give up. One of the great virtues in my life is the ability to understand and depend on the promises of the Lord. The following record confirms that He is an on-time God who keeps His promises. “I am the Lord, that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8). It began to become crystal clear that the battles I am drawn into are not mine to fight on my own, for surely the battle is the Lord’s. To establish His promises, He generally presents situations that only He alone has the power to successfully deal with. Looking back on the whole ordeal as it relates to my daughter, I concluded that in no way was I able to pay the tuition for two years for her to attend Carnegie Mellon, the Ivy League university. With my salary, it would be highly impossible to pay the first semester’s tuition because it surely was just a drop in the bucket. Ultimately, out of limits would be the ability for me to pay any other expenses. Assuredly, it was the fight of my life to find the one hundred dollars to pay the entrance fee. This was truly the test of my faith. But look at God! It is true. He is amazingly thoughtful and holds everyone’s interest at heart. Harriet E. Buell in 1877 declared, “My Father is rich in houses and land. He holds the wealth of the world in His hand.” God provided the one hundred dollars on time by providing extra hours on my job, which I grabbed hold of in order to address the emergency on hand. I had to have a plan. In time, God took care of all other expenses and paid them all in full, even to the overflow. Yes, He did. That’s what He does for all who wait on Him and never give up. He supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory. Publishing this is my greatest delight. I urge you to hold on to your faith in God and never give up.

CHAPTER 2

FAVOR FOR THE SEASON

I n spring, new buds peep up among the branches automatically. Grass presents a different hue of green because they obey the ordained cycle. Gardens are decked out in gorgeous colors, inviting the busy bees and butterflies for brief visits. Light colorful sweaters replace thick coats. This certainly is a welcome change, as winter moves out of the way into hibernation, and it is safe to say that spring hands over the baton to su mmer. As I watch, it comes and spreads its wings, flying over the land and bringing heat and the sunshine with it. In some places, the vehement heat that bears down on folks draws perspiration from their brows like dripping raindrops as they hurry back and forth to accomplish various chores. Activities of all kinds fill this season. Then autumn drives in full speed and decks the trees in their finest apparels. Often it is said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and if this is true, the attraction is contagious because every curious eye in every village, town, and community comes out to celebrate the welcome change. During winter though, for some, the scene is more dismal. Leaves begin to take their leave from their parents, leaving their resting places empty. Colors and beauty in the environment begin to take a hike. People move about, but they are cuddled up in thick clothing to defend them from the terror of the freezing cold. The streets are less crowded. Little or no shades of colors are seen in the garden, and the beautiful butterflies have taken a well-deserved break. It is known that these seasons do not come along on their own accord or because of their strength. They come along because our master has all the power to put the necessary changes in place. Based on my colored experiences, it’s not unnatural to conclude that “life bestows seasons of a different kind and color on everyone.” Each of these seasons comes with its unique challenges and blessings. It is true that acceptance of any speckled season will determine the strategies necessary to win the battles that are designed to mature us. According to Confucius, “My greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time I fall.” This profound statement speaks to my true desire. To stay down when I fall: that concept is not carved anywhere in my being. Micah, the ancient prophet, is certainly my source of inspiration. The pattern that he painted and distributed was to rise up from every fall, and he proclaimed as

loudly as he could in Micah 7:8, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.” The reality is that falling is not failure. Electing to stay fallen when I fall, to me, is failure indeed; however, the wonderful news is that a winner rises every time he or she falls and finishes the race. Usain Bolt, the unbeatable track and field champion from Jamaica, is the best example of this falling, getting up, and finishing the race. It is true: the winner never quits, and the quitter never wins. Not to worry, for He who is my maker created me uniquely different and says that He knows how much I can bear. Before birth, this determination was initiated, and I am profoundly grateful that the all-inclusive message declared by the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 clearly echoed, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” And because He has the knowledge of my strength and my weaknesses, what is clear is that I will be guided without partiality. He will not give me more than I can bear. Often though, the questions I asked are, “What invaluable lessons have I learned through my encounters? What ignorance has been emancipated from my heart through my speckled seasons?” Due to the array of challenges decorating my life, predominantly stamped on my mind is the exclusive power of the One who specializes in the things that seem impossible. His ability to help is infinite; on the other hand, mine’s finite. His knowledge is vast; mine is limited. His comion is dynamite; mine is weak. He is all-powerful; I am powerless. Who can better express His function in my life than the elect singer Fanny J. Crosby in 1890?

A wonderful savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful savior to me, He hideth my soul in the cliff of the rock, where rivers of pleasure I see. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock. That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand, and covers me there with His hand.

Although my way of dealing with experiences during the seasons may be diverse from others, one thing is certain. “We live in a changing world, but our Father is an unchanging God. The promise he made that He will be with me during my seasons has stood the test of time. I am not traveling alone. In fact, anyone who

waits on the Lord does not travel alone. This I have proven; therefore, there is no reason to doubt Him.” Not one single individual was in sight on this day, so the story was told at the family reunion by Grandma. John thought that he was the only one strolling by the seashore on this memorable day. Little did he know that he was not alone but was in the company of a person of notoriety. Regrettably, the difficult season in his life drove him to hang out into hopelessness city. How often do we linger in this city? We refuse to it to having difficulties and resort to saying that it makes no sense to ask for help. We think we should never it to pain but bury it deep because only the weak complains, and complaints are considered cheap. John, on this day, with his imaginary paintbrush in hand, resorted to painting a bleak picture of his present season. On his canvas was an abstract scene, one that was devoid of beautiful colors and theatrical action. One by one, his unfortunate circumstances were narrated. Whatever convinced John that he was not anywhere near to receiving help was anyone’s guess. In his mind, he saw loneliness, which was depressing. He saw his pain and suffering. He saw his poor financial situation. Then he came to the point where he invited doubt to hop onto his conscience and take a wild ride with him. It was then he repeated that not even the King of Glory was with him. On his canvas, the scenes painted were nothing short of despair and gloom. Voluntarily, the tears rushed down at high speed, along his protruding cheekbones, and the sensation accompanying it was like hot lava, climbing out of the belly of Mount Saint Helens. On his face, the distinguished trail of tears carved out a trail that was vividly seen. How unfortunate that he was bathing in his overload of weariness. Being too weary and engrossed in his sorrow gave him no chance to take note that his season was about to be changed. Then, a soothing calm voice whispered, “Look around, my son!” The silence was suddenly broken. “My son, look around!” The distinct voice continued the appeal in a message that was much like Romeo’s soliloquy intended to hit Juliet’s ears. “There is only one set of footsteps,” He said.

“You see, my child, the times when you were too exhausted to wipe the tears from your tired brow, I spent much time drying them. When your feet were too beaten to take one more step, it was then that I picked you up, put you on my shoulders, and carried you along the path designed for you and you alone. You couldn’t afford the money for school, and you went on a scholarship plus a fellowship. How could you forget the time when you were sick with that terrible migraine and I remedied your condition with just ordinary medication? that I am present during each season of your life. Don’t forget that it is my plan to guide you as you travel this trail. My unbroken promise to you is, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you because you are my dear child.’” Other words to encourage John descended and hit his ears. “You are never alone, my son. No, you are never alone. I promised never to leave you on your own.” These encouraging words were meant for John on the seashore and to all the Johns who have reason to think that during their seasons they are left to travel alone. Like John, David, the shepherd boy turned giant, had some dark and dismal days that could have led him to run into frustration, times when he could have leaped into the depth of complaint when he was out in the wilderness minding his father’s sheep. He could have run away from the lions, the bear, and any other fierce animals that tried to ambush his flock. He could have refused to seek out his brothers’ welfare when his father, Jessie, sent him. In no way would he entertain those inconsequential thoughts; instead he willingly defended his animals with his bare hands. He stood the tests of time and remained faithful to his God. Normally these threatening experiences would have driven the fear in others and put them on the run, but the proof was truly in the pudding. David stood up and ed each test. However, not all giants are as famous as David is. Not all have conquered lions and bears. Not all have slain a Goliath. David was the giant of all giants. He dethroned the giant Goliath and was confident of the copious ability of the One who was with him, affording him the capability to be the victor. Based upon his words, it was evident that he would stay in the fight until the fight was over, with no running away, no giving up, and no throwing up of hands in the air. Certainly, he bathed in the conviction and echoed, “Though I walk through the

valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” This is one powerful testimony left on the annals of time for our edification. It is true that David encountered dark days, rough paths, enemies on every hand, and broken friendships when they were needed most, but with confidence he confessed that he was not alone as he marched through his seasons. Nothing could be more enlightening and encouraging than the life of David and all his victories. To be quite honest, it is unparalleled. It is comforting to know that the good shepherd is still providing green pastures. He is still providing safety from enemies. He is still the Great Physician. If you are wondering what is next, what is next is that He has provided the eternal place of rest for all trusting souls. The Good Shepherd is always at His best, preserving our survival as He leads us through our colorful seasons. The story of the little engine, though old, is told to encourage those who are having challenges in life. In its journey over hills, the little engine kept on saying, “I think I can. I think I can.” Finally, when it was finished its mountain climbing, it said, “I knew I could.” Like the little engine, with God’s help, we will keep on pursuing and reach our destination. This is good news! The God of mercy has big plans for us; therefore, the promise of traveling with us all the way is guaranteed assurance of His unconditional love. On this particular day, my trip took me to Laughing River. Sitting on the edge on the huge rocks, watching the water fall over the bodies of fellow fun lovers was a beauty to behold. In a panoramic view, my gaze was held captive on the scene of the unmatched waves unfolding their wings and uncontrollably dashing up barrows of sand on the shores. I could not but recall the strong winds I have endured, dashing up barrows of sands of a different kind in my life. Nevertheless, I will always that their stay was temporary, cutting short the agony and pain. This holds true because God is the present help during all my seasons. Obviously, without His intervention in all my affairs, I would’ve been swallowed up by the unyielding winds that blew in my direction.

GRACIOUS PROTECTOR Observably he displayed questionable behaviors among his peers in the

community in which he grew up. On this particular day, I realized that Rudy was tempted to inflict harm on some of his neighbors; however, God intervened and changed that plan. My faith in God gave me the confidence to go about my daily chores, not doubting his power to protect me. Prayer was the medium by which I was going to win this war, so I engaged in sincere prayer daily for protection as I navigate my way on some lonely roads. This was the day. It happened as I was returning from a summer sewing program. No other person but Rudy and I were on the road. The fear that hit my heart was like a ton of bricks, and it caused my heart to sink to its lowest ebb. What was happening to me? Was I losing my grip on faith? Suddenly my feet lost its ability to hold me up, so the brick wall nearby became my crutch. “Could this be happening?” I asked in fear. In a brief moment, 80 percent of all the faith and bravery I had laid claim to faded away and left me hanging in the balance of fear. With the small amount of trust left in me, I whispered, “Lord, help me!” I reflected on the words that tell me that God is the present help in trouble, and He is my refuge and strength. For me, today was another test that I would have to . Soon I realized that this occurrence was no reason for me to faint or to complain because on this day the God of favor would show up and defend me. I knew that the might and favor of my God is from everlasting to everlasting. He was at work, the work of delivering me out of the path of danger. Then it was like any plane flying low. Surprisingly, the bicycle on which Rudy was riding suddenly grew wings, and he flew past me. Moreover, he took to the other side of the rocky and unpaved road. If he looked in my direction, it was uncertain due to the speed in which he was traveling. If you asked me, I believe that God, the gracious protector, stepped in and presented His protective covering over me so he could not see anyone on either side of the road. Even if it were his intention to do harm, that thought grew wings as well and flew as fast as Rudy did. Gracious protector, this is God’s nature. He is the protector who is always on duty. He will hide his children from any danger in practical ways even as Rahab

did for the spies who came to her for protection. When I think about what could have happened to me on that lonely street if God were not my protector, I shivered and echoed, “Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings on me!” If there is one exhortation worthy to be stamped indelibly on our hearts, this would be the one, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). Thank God that I learned that lesson early, and when my faith was put to the test, that was what sustained me. His helpful delivery system is always in full gear; moreover, the protection needed will be handdelivered to you during your “Rudy experiences.” You will never go unprotected. I was directed to see the wonder-working power of God through all of this. Although Rudy’s pain was quite evident as he went about in the community, one thing is certain, and this is true, “The angel of the Lord encamps around them that fear Him, and He delivers them” (Psalm 34:7). If He protected me, He will do the same for you and your family. It’s wise to always be on your double watch and that your Rudy will come, maybe in a different way. However, in whatever form he comes, that you are not alone. The Lord calls you His dear child. He has much investment in you, and in no way will He leave you unprotected. Like me, perhaps you have read or heard the compelling story of the man who walked on water. To think of this happening in our time would make you raise your eyebrows. This must have been a frightening sight to the onlookers. Undeniably, it drew the attention of the disciples. He wanted to experience the thrill in this venture. Soon after Peter’s adventure began, he started to edge his way to the other side of the little boat. He then realized that the waves were extra powerful, so his faith began to deteriorate. Man walking on water was not a common practice in those days, and neither is it in our time. It was definitely a first. Well, the powerful guide was there. Peter took one good look down at the furious waves and thought to himself, this is not happening! The ferocious waves growled at him furiously. Little did he know that this action would awake the doubt that was lying dormant on the inside for a long time.

Suddenly the voice of fear called out, “Lord, save me!” Just then, Jesus’s mighty hand reached out to Peter, and he was guided safely through his fitful encounter. As inconceivable as this scene was, people in every era experience similar occurrence. For many, it is not the literal water, but just the same as any test of faith. As I recall, my first real with the Lord was like edging my way to the other side of my boat on the rough sea. I was locked in my room this evening because I was running an extremely high temperature. Out of the corner of my eyes, I watched to see if my mom were in sight. She had warned me that I was not to go out in the night dew. More than anything, I wanted to attend the service. This was the opportunity to get some fresh air and socialize with my friends. As soon as I opened the door to venture out in the night, I was greeted with the words, “You can’t!” In the end, I got the message and reluctantly returned to my room, crawled into my bed, and sobbed. No one else was in the room but me during this episode, but soon after I pulled the cover over my head, the resounding voice came over, crisp and clear, “You will soon be able to go to all the services you want to!” Nothing was more convincing to me. I had heard the voice of the Lord. Those words were locked securely in the closet of my heart. This experience signified that the hand of Jesus had reached out to rescue me from the devastating waves that would come my way on the sea of life. He proved to me that I would be kept afloat and through His directives, I would be able to ride out the waves that are intended to knock me off my feet. The frightening experience that ambushed Peter’s consciousness was not unique to him only. During this period, as I know it, devastating circumstances attack at different times and in different ways. They sometimes come with different intensity and may affect us in different ways. However high or low the intensity, sudden the attacks, or frequent the situations, it is wise to recognize that these distractions have one major goal, to detour us from the straight path and from standing true to our faith in our risen Lord. As I knew it, Franklin D. Roosevelt, four-term president of the United States, was paralyzed from the waist down by polio before running for office. He was

not on the literal water, but he had challenges that could’ve prevented him from achieving his goals. Climbing down the side of his imaginary boat was as frightening as Peter’s experience on the literal water, but he fitted on his bravery cap and waded out in the deep with the sole purpose of securing the future of his fellow men. True, the waves were dashing at his feet at a frightening speed. It was obvious that his fortitude to succeed at his job intimidated some; however, in the end, he triumphed over his obstacles. It is true to say that many give credence to the barriers that are placed to block our progress in life. How often does feebleness take over instead of developing dependence on the unfailing power of the One who never fails, the One who is the author of all possibilities? How many times do we grow faint and thus the invitation to give heed to the lesser power prevail and cause us to drown in deep waters? How many times, instead of focusing on the Almighty and His awesome power, do we delight to first check out the rolling waters at our feet? If you are wondering what our Father’s deep desire is for His children, from my point of view, His desire for His children is to possess the tenacity to face every obstacle, whatever they may be, and trust Him completely. The faith that is needed, He will supply. He’s interested in all our affairs, struggles, and successes. Who would think though that a normal person could walk on water? Initially Peter’s demonstration of courage was a remarkable lesson. From his determination to go into the water, I learned that the rough tides in life will come in and rise at my feet at any time, but the marvelous assurance is that Jehovah Nissi (the Lord’s our banner) has no desire to see me knocked down or out by any fearful situations. He will preserve me from the effects of the snarling waves dashing at my feet. Incredibly, the sight-impaired person’s safety depends primarily on a guard dog to assist him as he negotiates his paths in life. On the other hand, dignitaries or ambassadors secure bodyguards to see about their safety and well-being, even when they are on their missions. Daily, school guards provide safety for schoolchildren as they weave their way to and from school. Parents watch over their family , and it’s their job to provide for their safety. Regardless of the weather, these guards’ assignments involve providing and ensuring that the securities of others are carried out. Notice though that there is a profound difference between the two scenarios. With the guards, there is a shift

system. Their endurance and capabilities are limited. They take breaks or vacations. With them, the ability to protect is temporary because they are only human. How comforting it is to know that my Jehovah Shammah, the God who is always there, spoke and it was done. With such guarantee, He will not let the waves take me under any raging waters. He is not only my guide but certainly my guard. Reassuringly, He is always on assignment; thus, my protection is guaranteed for the long term. I am immensely privileged to be guaranteed with around-the-clock service. I know that He will guide me, not around my problems, but through them; therefore, I have concluded that I will stay under His umbrella of protection even if I am literally challenged to walk on water. When I’m challenged, my song will be the well-known song written by William Williams in 1717, “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but thou are mighty. Hold me with thy powerful hands.” This has become my daily request as was modeled for me. Statistics have proven how impossible it is for man to direct his own affairs successfully.

FAINTING YET PURSUING While it is true that opportunities for enhancement in life, including financial growth, are often delayed for some folks, others, on the other hand, are guaranteed grand achievements because of their heritage, generous gifts, hard work, and sometimes the games they play. I can recall the events of this season. Relentlessly, the desire to succeed haunted me to the point where it hammered vehemently on my self-image. This disconcerting feeling made it highly necessary to seek out the way to put closure to it. After much prayer, this inexorable and ionate hammering gave birth to a holy determination to rise and pursue my realistic goals. For some unknown reason, the energy needed for my next move was just standing in a balance. This feeling went on until I understood what it means to “pursue although I was fainting.” With this realism, I pledged that I would do what the scriptures outlined for me, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” This was done with the understanding that, with His guidance, I would make the right decision. Seeking Him in prayer cemented the assurance that there is

nothing too hard for Him to do. Now it was transparent that I was about to embark on a monstrous project; however, I took comfort in the knowledge that above everything my Father wants me to prosper and be in health. I had learned a valuable lesson from the ant a long time ago. According to Proverbs 6:6–8, in summertime, it searches diligently for its food. With fervor, he digs, collects, pushes, and then stores up until the winter, when it is unable to dig for any food. Determined to make the lesson of the ant true in my case, I went about the preparation of my business plan, which would lay the foundation for my future. I was ready to climb the ladder of success. I called to memory that ancient proverb written in 1742 by the poet and dramatist Edward Young (1683–1765), “Procrastination is the thief of time.” Although there were occurrences that tried to dissuade me, I pushed them out of the way with the knowledge that it was the time to make my move and embark on the search for the treasure I had envisioned. In pursuit of my goal, it was necessary to relocate. New York City was the desired spot. One of my longtime friends made accommodations for my arrival. Adding to my optimism, there was a church in the neighborhood that I would attend. This was certainly sheer joy. You can’t imagine the joy. I refer to it as God-directed. I could see the hand leading me along and making the way. The thought of me moving to an environment where there was no place of worship would make me feel like a fish out of water. This scenario opened my eyes more to see the hand leading me. Obtaining a job was a top priority on my vision board, so with the assistance of a newfound friend, the search began early on the following Monday morning. The interview went well. Immediately I ascertained that the interviewer was a Christian. This newfound knowledge reassured me that Jesus was right there with me. The thrill of this newfound knowledge bounced to the center of my consciousness. Armed with this power-packed information, my posture was now more modellike, and my confidence level drove right into maximum gear. Within two days, which could be compared to forever, the call that I was anxiously awaiting blew in like an autumn leaf. To say the least, I was anxious, yes, very anxious, but favor had its course.

To my delight, at the end of the other line, the gentle voice dispelled my fears when it said, “Please show up for work on Monday morning.” To say I was pleasantly thrilled was an understatement. This was certainly the best news that I had experienced for a long time. I just chanted the song I wrote, “Good news God has made the way for me. He took my fares and opened up new doors for me. Now I am happy and free. New doors are opened up for me.” My praise to God for providing guidance through the interviewing process was profusely poured out. In this instance, I understand and could relate to the sentiment of the following words, “He’s able. O so able; I know he’s able to open doors. He provides favor to those who are pursuing their dreams even when they are fainting.”

WATCH OUT FOR PITFALLS With limited experience as a telephone receptionist, I made one of the biggest blunders that one could ever make on this job. My job description included filing and computer data processing, but during one fateful lunchtime, I was asked to fill in for the receptionist. Wanting to make more money to complement what I was earning, I attempted to use the company’s phone to apply for an evening job. In no way did this go as planned. The entire office heard my conversation on the phone, all because of my incompetence in this area. Surprisingly, the same boss who had applauded me on how well I was doing at my assigned post a few days prior called me into his office on the following Friday and said calmly, “Your service isn’t necessary any longer; therefore, I have to let you go.” This statement was like a jackhammer crashing down on my emotions. It pulled at the good strings of my eyes, and the tears rolled down my face like torrents of rain. Tears, nevertheless, I recalled the beautiful promise of my Father, “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). It was then that I dried up my tears, held my head high, thanked him graciously, and walked with dignity out of his office with the intention of seeking another job. Lessons from my ancestors had taught me that when I didn’t have a job, “my job is to find a job,” so off I went again in hot pursuit to secure employment.

Continuously, I was given the assurance that I was not in the pursuit by myself, so the following words of comfort became my motto and were repeated several times: “Be not afraid. No need to worry for I am with you.” Each interview gave me the chance to be a little bit closer to my desired goal. God only knows just what was good for me, so I resolved to keep following the lead that He presented, always looking out for the pitfalls. One of my quests on this day was to obtain a yes. This willpower navigated me from Long Island to Brooklyn, the Bronx, and finally Manhattan. In some way, moving from one location to the other was like a marathon runner desiring his first medal. Inquiries were made to ascertain the location of even one school that was hiring. To my knowledge, because of the freeze, everything was at a standstill. If this had any impact on me, it certainly was not negative. In no way was I going to be intimidated by this negative information. To me, this was not a pitfall that would detour me. What the undesirable responses did was to lavishly generate the fuel I had anticipated to pursue my dream. Like the little engine, I kept going and chanted as I went, “I think I can. I think I can. I know I will succeed.” Knowing that I was not alone during this period made me ecstatic. With renewed strength, I went along on my rounds with comfort. Added to that, the garden of my heart was watered daily with power-packed revelations and affirmations, which I kept faithfully declaring, “I am not the tail but the head. I am not the borrower but the lender. I am not beneath but above. I am not a loser but a winner. I am not a failure but a success. I am not a novice, but I am filled with wisdom. I am not a coward, but I am brave.” Like the eagle, I spread my wings, embracing the fact that success was in sight. The light was at the end of the tunnel. Unlike the grasshopper, it was my cherished desire to emulate and preserve the mentality of the eagle and soar.

THE TIDE WILL CHANGE Then the tide changed. This was one chilly day in late autumn of 1987. Visiting this Bronx school was the last item on the to-do list for my day. No one could tell me any different. I knew I was about to hit the jackpot. Anything outside of

no would be a jackpot for me on this day. I knew I had put in a full day’s work, yet today I was determined to put in a little OT over time. Quickly my gait took me up those winding stairs and onto the last rung of the stairs. Fortunately for me, the very first person I met was the person I wanted to see. Politely, I greeted him and began my inquiries to ascertain the possibility of a job. Here was the opportunity I was waiting for, so I grabbed hold of it. ionately, I outlined my desire to the principal; thereafter, he repeated a line that I had heard from many other persons. However, what ensued next was just what the doctor ordered. His next statement made a world of difference. This added information gave me sweet assurance that certainly my King was leading me and making the way. In my hand, he placed the application that would lay the groundwork for my ascent to the next rung on the ladder of success. What do you know? This positive sign lifted my self-esteem and offered an answer to my prayer. This was heading in the right direction, I concluded. Eager to keep the ball rolling and not to miss a beat, my next move was to deliver the completed documents to Room 504 in the Department of Education. Within a few hours of my arrival, the application was reviewed and delivered to the assigned office. A few steps down the corridor, an open door issued the invitation I had envisioned, and I entered. Within a short time, my fingerprints were completed. The sound of music was now directing every beat in my heart. It beckoned me to simultaneously choreograph a waltz and skip down the three flights of stairs. On my merry way home, it was time for a praise to the Lamb, who walks with me, talks with me, and tells me that I am His own. Waiting for the discontinuation of the freeze was certainly an arduous task. I soon found out that nothing could be more unproductive than ive waiting. Nothing that I had bargained for included ive waiting, so I decided to bury that useless mold and resuscitate active waiting. Years before, I had learned the important aspects of active waiting, as opposed to waiting ively. With this knowledge in mind, I investigated the possibility of going into some business, with the hope I would make some well-needed extra cash. The research on this matter opened my blinded eyes to facts that were not on my mind. Little did I know how much funds it would take to start up a business, no matter what kind of it was. With such limited funds, the only

alternative was to call up my plan B, something more manageable. Selling Avon products came to the rescue. Regrettably, selling was not a skill that I was proficient in; therefore, the loss was much greater than my gain. Thank God though, there were the few dependable customers who would make a payment just on time to fill the gaps. Although the business brought me little gain, it kept me busy, and there was always food on the table. Absolutely no one could predict the time when the freeze would be lifted and jobs would be freed up, so I kept waiting actively. Deep in my heart, I knew the freeze would one day be broken and I would have a real job. This would be the answer to my prayer and proof that the God I serve is the way-maker and He would change the tide. April 1988 drove in slowly as an engine in third gear; however, the cargo was a fantastic breathtaking news. It was not the Super Bowl; nevertheless, it was something delightful to shout about. Finally, the freeze was over, and I was invited in for an interview. I often say that God has a sense of humor. Could you believe that in that same period, two other jobs were offered to me? It was then that my task involved making the intercession for my King to lead me to make the correct choice. By now, I had learned many invaluable lessons that would guide me in comprehending His leading. I knew that He knows what’s best for me. Also, He knows the intents of my heart.

DO WHAT YOU KNOW HOW TO DO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO Compliance with the instruction in Isaiah 55:6–7, “Seek the Lord while He may be found,” has usually given me the drive I need to keep plodding on. I learn that for me to obtain any form of success, it is imperative to ask for the Father’s direction. At the top of my agenda was to obtain the job where I would make a profound and positive impact on lives. What do you know? His directives led to a school that was in one of the largest prisons in New York City. Don’t forget that I told you that the Lord has a keen sense of humor. Although I had taught for many years, this was a new domain for me. Teaching in a correctional setting was going to be the adventure of a lifetime and without

any doubt a priceless learning experience. As the days went by, I became overly curious to find out how this would play out; therefore, during the process, it was imperative to reflect on the goal I had in my mind for years, to help those who need the most help but could not repay me in any form. Ideally, individuals on every continent that I know hoped to obtain jobs in communities where they reside, and this was true for me. In this instance when I desperately needed a job, this opportunity was counted as a gift, and distance was not a problem. Not only was this a big break for me, but it was an answer to prayer. The prospect of regaining my total independence was the joy that saturated my entire being. Think of unspeakable joy! This thrill was so tremendous that it took away every desire to make any inquiries about the school. In the back of my mind, I thought that it was as normal as any other, so I remained busy. As the interview progressed, I had the opportunity to ascertain the full description of the school. The answers totally surprised me. Overtaken by surprise reduced my entire body to a nervous image. The obvious expression on my face told my story. Observing that I needed clarity on the information that was disseminated, the principal quickly volunteered, and in her own unique way, she explained adequately. This was done with the hope of assuaging the fierce tension in which I was engulfed. What quickly drew me back to the interview was the truth that I was desperately in need of this job; therefore, the question that followed grabbed my attention and forcibly transported me back to acknowledge my need. I had no other alternative but to follow where He leads me. “Do you still want to work here?” asked one of my assistant principals. There was absolutely no reason to delay my response, so I sat upright in my chair, turned slowly to face each one of them, and replied, “Yes, ma’am. Yes, sir. Yes, ma’am.” After what seemed to be forever, the interview ended; hence my heartbeat went back to its normal rhythm. With distinguished posture, I proceeded to walk over to the interviewers and expressed my profound gratitude for their invitation to sit in this interview. Then the most wonderful thing happened. Ha! Ha! Ha! Because of this one

thing, my anxiety was again appeased, and it was unnecessary to return home wondering if I had the job. Right then and there, like a balloon, the following words came floating through the air, “Miss, congratulations! You are hired!” These words were like the melody of the symphony. Undisputable, this was one time in my life when I didn’t know how to respond. It was difficult to contain the joy that clothed me. Without moving my lips, I whispered, “Thank You, Lord.” Then I wanted to laugh out loudly or say, “Holy Moses!” Eventually, I managed to get my emotions in check, and in a clear, crisp tone, I profusely expressed my appreciation for the opportunity to the staff of I.A. April 13, 1988 tracked in, and it was undeniably a very memorable day. Yes, this was the first day that I had showed up to my colleagues on the job. Awaiting me behind the huge black and brown door was the assistant principal. In her greeting, she extended a very warm welcome to me. One by one, other on staff trekked in, and I was introduced to them as they came by to clock in. Each person appeared to be quite friendly, and this was one more gesture that calmed my nerves. Although this school was unlike the others that I was familiar with, without any doubt in my mind, I knew I had made the right choice. To be clear, I felt that there was a hand guiding me right from the very start. In no way could an ordinary leading direct me to this job, not by any means. Here, the possibility of being engaged simultaneously in dual vital life enrichments was apparent. Besides helping students to learn the three Rs, this was going to be my mission field, a place where I would be able to bring hope and direction to the students by teaching them how to resolve their conflicts nonviolently and develop their self-esteem. What a God! I was giving to others who could not repay me, and that is living the life the more-than-enough God wants for me. The message is crystal clear. When God has preeminence in our lives, when we allow Him to hold us fast and be our guide, there is no way that we can deviate from the path He has designed for each one of us because He’s the God of more than enough. Unquestionably His unambiguous directives are purely designed for our success. It’s all to His honor when we in the sing-along, “No, we’re

never alone. No, we’re never alone. God’s always with us, and He has promised always to lead us. And it is true. When we do not know what to do, it is best to do what we know how to do.” Unlike any other day, this was the long-awaited day. Yes, it was the first day of the work week, and who do you think was sitting in the middle of my class waiting to observe me? That was my new principal. He was sitting in my class. How could I ever forget this experience on the job? It was normal to close the door and pray before class every morning. My assistant was a trooper, a Christian who ed me in keeping the students on track. Interchangeably, we interjected prayer session during the day; however, this was a different day. The twist was truly unwelcomed for several reasons. We were under new management. Class started, and the students sat and waited for our prayer session as usual. I was driven into one of those I-don’t-knowwhat-to-do positions because sitting in the middle of my class was my new principal, who had come to observe me teach. Not knowing how he would react to me conducting a prayer session in my class commanded a longer than usual pause. This setting put a heavy weight on my shoulders, and I moved even more slowly with my morning rituals. Soon one student echoed, “Ms., we haven’t prayed yet, and the clock is ticking away.” In a quick response, I lashed out, “Oh, we’ll do that after this session.” Little did I know that I was in for a rude awakening. The students were not satisfied with that comeback. By this time, I could see the principal dangling his pen as if he were rehearsing his square dance steps. His page was blank. The chorus that followed alerted me to get on with the business of teaching. “We need to pray, Ms. How can we begin this lesson without prayer? You know how it is, Ms. We can’t function without the prayer because it settles our nerves and gets us in the mood to learn. You know how much I want to this test!” By now, they were pleading to have prayer. Then from the back of the room came the voice of the commander of the pack, “Eyes closed. Heads bowed. Now we’re ready, Ms.!” By this time, the pounding of my heart was without mercy. It was at the point of

jumping out of my chest. Suddenly something happened, and I was shaken back to my normal self. I recalled that it is better to obey God rather than man. As hesitant as I was to pray, when the courage came, it drove the fear far away from me, and I knew that when I opened my mouth, God would fill it with the appropriate words because “Men are always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). If it is one thing that I know well, it is how to pray; therefore, I began a sincere prayer:

Father, in Your name we come. Our heads are bowed in humble submission to You. We are thankful for the opportunity to come to You because You are the only one who will not turn Your back on us at any time. We have disobeyed You by our actions, but we ask for Your forgiveness. We are asking You to be with us today and guide us from all dangers. Open our understanding to learn the lessons today. Please help us to respect ourselves and all others. Amen.

Then the chorus rang out among the students, “Amen!”

“Ok, Ms. We are ready to go,” echoed the students in unison. At intervals during the lesson, my curiosity invited me to check on the face of the principal, hoping that I would be provided with some information that would apprise me if I were in deep waters or not. The evidence was not imminent, so I progressed with my lesson, persuaded by the sole intention of making the most captivating impression. The participation made by everyone was commendable; moreover, they conducted themselves in an honorable way. You would have thought that their classroom was in a prestigious charter school, but in fact, their charter school was in a correctional institution. Forty-five minutes were carried away on the wings of a dove, and the principal exited the room to my greatest relief. Not one remark was sent my way; however, the students were generously complimented on their conduct and participation in the lesson. Yes, he did it profusely, and it was now time for me to wait for my evaluation.

Early next morning, I was made aware of the fact that my meeting with the principal was first on the agenda, as was expected. My heartbeat and the tick of the clock was in serious competition as I awaited the summons to his office. Well, I’ve always trusted God’s defense plan on my behalf in every challenge, and now nothing was going to intimidate me. By some means, the self-talk took over and began like this, “I’ve never received a U rating in all my years of teaching. Why should it start now? I was always punctual. I volunteered in every activity, and I worked overtime. Under my belt as a special education teacher, I have mastered the distinct ability of teaching in every grade with much success. I was loved by my students and the staff. Besides attaining my BA and MA in education, I pursued and was successful in the acquisition of certification in supervision and istration in educational leadership. I was credentialed as an exceptional teacher, mastering the task of teaching through questioning, which is rare. There was no way that he could terminate me because my record over the years has been impeccable.” “Daniel’s God surely will deliver” was the last thing on my lips before I rapped on the door of the principal. By the time I was shown to my chair, I was literally out of breath; however, there was no doubt in my mind that I had obeyed God and was confident that He would defend me. Yes, He would be the lawyer in the courtroom. If ever a time I needed a lawyer, it was now. Anyway, my lawyer was not only in the room, but He was in my heart. He has always been my present help in trouble, and He has never failed me. “Sit down. Please sit down,” said the principal. “My plan for seeing you first thing this morning is to alleviate your anxiety.” It was the right thing for me to opt out of any form of response, in case a word would have escaped my lips that would add fury to fire. “Thanks for your kind consideration,” I said, hoping to keep a calm head. Then the plausible words that escaped the lips of the person I feared were just what the doctor ordered. “Your lesson was exceptionally planned and executed. Now I see how you cultivate the fortitude in the students to produce the way they did. You started a little late, but I can see why.” In my mind I said, “Oh yes! Indeed!” Every category on that sheet of paper had a positive comment. In bringing

closure to the review, he added the icing to the cake. “Thanks for your commitment to serving with such diligence and integrity,” he said. Isn’t God good? Not once did the principal mention any negative remark about my praying openly in the classroom. It was as if that were blotted out of his consciousness. Prayer worked for me then, and it’s still working for me in all my situations. I love the clarity in the following commands. Luke 18:1 says, “Men are always to pray and not to faint.” It truly is better to obey God rather than man. These words are hidden deep in my heart, and like a bank with distinct pleasure, I can withdraw all my dividends when necessary. It is my pleasure to share the lesson with you, “When you don’t know what to do, pray on!” And do what you know how to do. Then watch God work things out favorably on your behalf.

CHAPTER 3

THE JOURNEY DOWN EUMAEUS ROAD

L ike leaves falling from the trees in autumn, roofs were twirling from the top of homes, one after the other. All around, trees of all sizes and shapes were staggering and falling like they had taken one too many alcoholic beverages. The catchment of water from the pond nearby was overflowing its banks and rushing to cover the unpaved roads. It then spreads its wings and rushed through homes and into gullies. What started out to be a peaceful night turned out to be one of invasion and confusion. What was that? This was the question. What does it look like? Watch out! Look around. It’s called a storm, a physical s torm. “Descending on earth are storms of all categories” was the explanation given to the group in the meeting. “And they arrive in every era and with great force and vengeance.” With mouths wide open, the expression on the faces told that the information was a bit scary. Often storms drag along with them disharmony, death, illness, and poverty, to name a few in their network. The duration for some can last from minutes to hours or even months and beyond. Because of the punches they throw, no one likes to be caught in their paths; nor do they enjoy the fury they dish out. Mortal hands needn’t try to quench these because it is highly impossible. Though most storms have the capability to do maximum damage on the land, it is always so reassuring to know that there is One who has the ultimate power and capability to calm them down and ultimately put an end to their fury. This of His power to calm storms of all kinds is vividly documented in the annals of life. As much as I know, storms are natural disasters. They visit every continent in our known world at one time or another. They descend in the form of hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, typhoons, volcano eruptions, tsunamis, flooding, and mudslides, to name a few. From my experience, there are times when the warning is sent out over the airwaves to inform residents of an impending disaster. In instances when this is done, people devise means to protect their properties and lives. Sandbags are collected and set out in assigned areas to aid in protecting lives and properties, but no matter how many bags are allocated for these specific areas, they are

insufficient and serve worthless as the force of the storm bears down. Sometimes buildings are boarded up, but all too soon, the wind dashes against them with all its fury and destroy all in its path. When my friend Mia learned that people in every stratum of life and of every color, height, and size come face-to-face with devastating and unexpected problems called storms, she had a multitude of questions. Later she found out that the experiences that invade and terrorize human lives are infectious and bring on just as much ruin as natural disasters. When their ferociousness bears down, the hits are crucial and leave permanent scars internally as well as externally. Just like a natural disaster, they are not anyone’s invited or welcomed visitor. The two followers of Jesus, as recorded in Luke 24:32, were on their journey down Eumaeus Road on this gloomy day. They were in deep conversation about the storm that had ambushed the Christian world. In presenting their concern, they shared how Jesus was crucified and laid in a tomb, leaving the disciples and followers lonely and hurt. The sorrow that was piercing through their hearts was evident on their faces. What they were not aware of is that the grave could not hold their supernatural friend, Jesus, in captivity. What a change that blew over them when Jesus revealed Himself to them. The confession was, “Did not our hearts burn within us?” (Luke 24:32). Jesus then ed the conversation and brought clarity to their understanding about the recent incident that related to His death, burial, and resurrection. This declaration brought not only clarity to their understanding, but comfort to their aching hearts. Not to worry though, our faith enables us to preserve our stability in difficult times. It is proven that when we heed the instruction to trust Jesus, complete protection is guaranteed. Joshua cried out, “Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” The Almighty hides us securely in the secret place “until the storm es by,” whatever storm that may be, natural or otherwise. We can face them with the knowledge that we are not alone on our journey.

NO NEED TO WORRY

Listening to the conversation at the dinner table one evening, my father communicated a comical story, but one filled with morals about a little girl. She was traveling on a ship. The story related the experience of turbulence on the high seas. As the storm raged on with the highest magnitude of ferocity, the little girl showed no sign of panic or anxiety. To the onlookers, this was particularly strange. Even though others were showing signs of apprehension, this little Mary showed perfect composure, “keeping her cool.” In fact, that was just what she was doing, “keeping her cool.” To the observers, this picture was too offensive for them to sit by and take it easy. Hence one crewmember, who could not hold his peace any longer, stood up. He pulled himself close to Mary and whispered timidly in her ear, “Little girl, why are you not exhibiting any form of apprehension?” Another question quickly followed. “Don’t you see the massive storm that is about to devour us?” Displaying no sign of irritation on her face or in her attitude, the little girl turned in slow motion and gazed steadfastly into the inquirer’s gloomy eyes. Her face was decked out with an eclectic smile, which stretched from ear to ear. Then a hold was put on her smile as she held her gaze. Then she responded unpretentiously to the inquirer, “Of course not. Why should I be afraid of this storm? You see, mister, this little girl has no need to be nervous or even worry about the storm on this sea.” “Why not?” he inquired. “Sir!” she said without a harsh word on her lips or any doubt in her mind. “My daddy is the finest captain ever. He is the first captain of this ship, and He’s traveled this route several times. Moreover, mister, you bet He knows that His little girl is on board, and He will see to it that no harm comes to his favorite little baby girl!” This proclamation projected by the little girl painted a vivid picture of the distinction that is attributed to the Lord. Everyone in her group was made aware that God travels with whoever welcomes His presence. You can therefore be calm during all unfortunate situations that may rock your boat on the sea of life. Knowledge of the power of the captain, as declared in the story, brought comfort to all the listeners.

Here, we are reminded that God is all powerful and the things that are impossible with man are possible with Him. How would you have accepted the news if you were on that ship? What would you have done? Would you have maintained your composure as this girl did, or would you be terrified? I wonder! Would you have summoned your present help, or would you have summoned your phone to say your final farewell to your families and friends? Well, Matthew’s onition is to prepare us for that day since we do not know the day or the hour when the wind will swing by our way. Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angel of heaven, but my Father only.” David set the example in his experiences. When his winds picked up, he did the only thing that would stand the test of time. “I will lift mine eyes to the hills from where I get my help,” were his words in Psalm 121:1. This is the onition that is given to all, and it will do us good to give heed to them in these eventual times.

HE KNOWS YOUR NAME When the waves of the sea of life become tumultuous, as I know it, the Lord, who is manning the ship, will not forget the engers on board, for He keeps an accurate of each person. In fact, He knows everyone by name, and His is that He knows every strand of hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30). He knows our addresses, and there is nothing we can do to disguise ourselves, so He is unable to recognize us. He can differentiate between males and females, no matter the tucks, lifts, and changes in our bodies. We learn from the scripture that we cannot hide from God. His eyes are watching us (1 Peter 3:12), wherever we go and whatever we do. Mapped out for us is the route we must take as we negotiate our way to our final destination. It is documented that our Father has directed trillions of rough seas, and not one person in His company has ever gone unnoticed or uned for. He comes highly qualified; therefore, His knowledge about rough seas is certainly incontestable. For me, one more storm was getting into high gear. Anxiously I awaited the result from my college interview. The wait was only a few months, but it seemed

like forever. During this period, I relied on a familiar lesson that I had learned in Sabbath school and kept tucked away in my memory box. It says, “God can do everything but fail.” This was an unforgettable lesson, and it kept me grounded as I waited. During this period, the small town in which I resided was classified as remote; hence, electricity, telephones, and internet were still in the womb of some inventor. The wait kept getting longer and longer, but comfort came flooding in through the following words that have stood the test of time, “Wait on the Lord and be of good comfort” (Psalm 27:14). To say that I love the job was an understatement, but the contract read “temporary.” In this job, the opportunity to impart knowledge to the fragile minds of little tenyear-old children became the love of my life; however, according to the contract, I had only a few more months until the expiration date showed up, and this was the reality. Information about a possible vacancy in a neighboring district landed on my ear, and it was good news. I began to comfort myself by repeating the following words, “The Lord will make a way somehow.” Honestly, I relish the idea that I was not forgotten and that my wait was not going to be in vain. Day in and day out, the thought of the letter announcing the good news of my acceptance to college inundated my mind. How much longer was it going to be though? How long? Did they mislay my letter? Was it sent to another person with the same last name? Did someone else collect my letter at the post office? Repeatedly, the questions rushed out of my inner beings, operating like a busy intersection in downtown Manhattan. Thus, my brain was in overdrive. Although there was no way for me to find out what was happening, I kept hoping and trusting that soon something would be made clear to me. I had faith that it would. In some way, the postmistress must have conceived the thought that I was acting like a stalker. Often, I was standing opposite to her, requesting letters for my family from Rose Street. Well, this was another trip. I assumed she was just standing there at the window awaiting my pleading voice. After work on this sunny afternoon in May, I was at it again: the hip pity-hop walk down the winding, unpaved road to the only post office in the community.

Halfway down the winding path, I felt the strongest jolt in the deep recesses of my heart. This was nothing but an excellent sign. Yes, the knowledge that something good was about to happen danced in my mind. You would think that the fortune-teller was in town. Quickly, I mustered all the strength I could after a hard day’s work, and I added a little pep to my steps. As you can imagine, the question I normally asked whenever I went to the post office was on the tip of my lips, so before my feet could touch the edge of the first rung of the stairs, I began my usual question. “Any letter for my family from Rose Street, ma’am?” By the time the question was finished, there I was, standing right in front of the window, facing the postmistress. Nonetheless, she was really startled. “Oh, let me see,” was her quick response. “Oh! Here you are, Ms. Henry!” Her quick response to my inquiry indicated that she knew how important this meant to me. Of course, everyone in my small village knew the sequence of events in everyone’s life; hence they were able to share in the joys or sorrows, the successes or failures. “Thank you, ma’am. Thank you so much,” were the words released from their cages after so many months of imprisonment. Accompanying the release was the famous song, my favorite, “Wonderful Jesus glorious friend. He will be with me unto the end! To the end!” First things first. Voluntarily, the hand holding the letter went up in the air, another gesture of thanksgiving. Cautiously, I then tore open the right edge of the envelope and anxiously searched for the word “congratulations.” The line I wanted to see couldn’t appear soon enough, so I read on. Then here it came! “Congratulations. You have been accepted to attend our noble institution in the fall!” As if the rest of the letter were of no importance, I concluded the reading, folded the sheet of paper on which the irable news was inscribed, and again gave another praise to our God. Flowing voluntarily from my lips were words that reminded me of the faithfulness of the God who is more than enough. He truly knows my name.

“Fear thou not for I am with thee: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:10). It was my time to experience the Father’s help. Like honey from the rock, these words glided down my esophagus, and I felt the kind of comfort that no one else could give. This statement above was true for Isaiah and so many others in his day. It is certainly true for all men in every era and true for me. The words of comfort kept flooding my heart, one after the other. These were words that I treasured and would invite all others to taste and see that the Lord is good. “Wait on the Lord and be of good comfort.” This is what I practiced throughout the waiting period for the college’s acceptance letter, and God came through for me. When I have to walk down my Eumaeus Road, I learn to treasure these words dearly. It is true that some individuals store up treasures, believing that their value will last into infinity, but what I learned is that these earthly treasures will rot and decay and certainly lose their value, but the ones that will stand the test of time are of greater importance. And so, I pray, “Lord, hide Your words in my heart. Let them be my treasure.” Anyone who has traveled this route called life has experienced rough seas just like the men on Eumaeus Road; however, those who trust the Almighty Captain are aware of His qualifications, and He will not forget anyone’s name. Therefore, there is no reason to waste precious time worrying. On the other hand, if the information that you have amassed about your captain cannot be authenticated, then there certainly are countless reasons to ponder over your safety as you travel this route. So, let us check the questioner. Do you know your captain’s name? Is He qualified to be your captain on the sea of life? Does He know that you are on board? Have you verified His qualification? Would you be safe if there were a storm on your sea? Would He in your conversation on your Eumaeus journey? Does He acknowledge that you are His child? In other words, “Is He your daddy?” As I recall, history records the name of an infinite number of Bible characters who acknowledged that Jesus knows them by name. They testified that they could call on their captain for help at any time and He would come to their rescue. This time, the scene was on the sea. Jesus was in the hinder part of the ship having a well-deserved rest after one of His tiresome expeditions. The wind

started to pick up as the disciples navigated leisurely across the Sea of Galilee. After a short time, it became extremely boisterous. They knew that this was an emergency and they had to do something drastic. Immediately the rapid search for buckets ensued, and the arduous task of bailing water was tackled. Every man had a bucket and didn’t delay the process. Determined to preserve their lives, the exhausted disciples in their husky tones began to repeat, “I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord. Come quickly and abide or life is vain.” This song was written by two famous writers, Annie Sherwood Hawks, a hymnist, and her pastor, Robert Lowery, in 1872, much later than this incident. By trying to fix the problem by themselves, weariness set in, leaving the disciples limp and weak. When there was nothing left in their power to do, they mustered all the strength that was left in them, and at the top of their lungs and in unison, they screamed to their master, “Lord save us!” (Matthew 8:25). This sound echoed far, even to the hinder part of the ship. This is what I imagined the disciples said, “Come to our rescue! Help us, or we will perish!” How often desperation sends people in a supplicatory mode. From my knowledge, little children have mastered this art, for as soon as they see a candy bar or hear the horn of the ice cream truck coming around the corner, their plea begins. Most often, their cry is rewarded favorably. In response to the disciple’s feverish plea, the sympathetic captain was jolted from His nap. He set His steadfast gaze on His friends, and what He saw was nothing but a bunch of petrified men. Immediately He did a right about turn, facing the furious water, and in the most commanding voice, much like an ardent drill sergeant, He ordered the wind to hold its peace and refrain from exhibiting unacceptable behavior. “Peace be still!” (Mark 4:39). These words coming from the captain’s lips were like cannonballs. They crippled the forceful waves, and reluctantly they vanished into thin air like ice cubes. It is a fact that the after effect of any storm is long-lasting and the damage is not easily calculated. In many ways than can be counted, lives are negatively affected, buildings are demolished, and joy is diminished from the faces of residents leaving families to become dysfunctional and, in some cases,

displaced. According to the author, many believe that storms are in the same class as highway robbers or pirates. They pounce upon the scene and steal away a lifetime of savings and all treasures accumulated, and then they hibernate. However, God will never forget your name.

CHAPTER 4

STORMS ON THE HORIZON

E very news channel in town blared out the news, and each news reporter was on the warpath to paint the most convincing vivid scene. The idea was to make the news so real that people would see the effects and seek refuge from the monster, Sandy, like a hungry, nondescript animal clawing into the flesh of humans. The venom-infested lives spread devastation for miles. From east to west, from north to south, and anywhere in between, people felt the predatory claws of this giant. They had to check in for the eight hundred-meter race and dash for sa fety. This by no means was a relay, not at all. Each man had to hold his own baton and sprint with steadfastness in search of safety. Others who were unable to the race for their lives had to be rescued by boats, planes, and ferries. The Fourth Man rescued many others. “Who is this Fourth Man?” you inquire. His name is Jesus. Yes, He is more than enough and the God of all possibilities. Far and wide, the awesome manifestation of the chief captain, the one who is more than enough, was evident because no ordinary person could combat the power of this storm, Sandy. If it were left to Sandy, to this day, he would still be prowling around, devouring all in his path. He was most certainly acting like a hungry animal. Come to think of it, this animal kept plundering about for more time than he should have. It displayed his powers for months, just as if he were put in charge as the overseer or, to be precise, “the man of the hour.” The good news to treasure is that the chief captain, as He is known, has all power to calm all storms. His omnipotence alone called a halt to Sandy’s fury and preserved lives at every site in its path. Natural disasters, as in the case of Sandy, are not the only forms of storms that Jesus, the chief captain, has the power to dismiss. On the pages of history are recorded the accurate array of storms that He spoke peace to. Fortunate for us in this age, He is still speaking peace to the various storms that invade our lives. Just as many of us that have experienced natural storms are familiar with financial storms. We encounter them on a regular basis. These storms are constant uninvited visitors to our homes, no matter the continent on which we reside or the era in which we live.

She had no money to feed her children; neither did she have money to pay her debtors. When the demand for money to pay her bills came, she was not only crushed but scared that her sons would be held for ransom. Not knowing what to do, the unnamed lady in 2 Kings 4:1 set out to have her last meal and then prepare to die. This thought was reversed when the God of more than enough sent the prophet Elisha, who dictated to her how to achieve the funds to pay her debts and save her family. “Who is in charge?” you asked. The answer is the One who looks beyond our faults, sees our needs on every continent and in every era, and then does something about these needs. The brief synopsis of each person named in Hebrews 11 describes the contribution to the workforce on the sea of life. In their line of work, they encountered diverse forms of storms, but these propelled them to keep spreading the good news as they travelled. Although each scenario brought sorrow to some hearts, the lessons provided hope for deliverance in the future. When we recall the strength that each hero and heroine exhibited, we can determine that they didn’t overcome issues by their own strength. Because their dependence was on the Lord, all the accolades that were circulated—and are still circulating— should absolutely be bestowed on our Father While it is true that storms have the potential to blow at top speed, the captain on board with you will make all the difference. No one knows this better than Isaiah; therefore, it is of great benefit to faith with him in saying, “When thou est through the water, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” “No, you can’t keep me from falling in love with my Lord. No power on earth can change my confidence in His word. You can take all my treasures and all materials I own. But you cannot keep me from falling in love with my Lord.” Many often repeat these words to foster determination during stormy days. And this is true: experiences in the life of Job leave no doubt in my mind that they portray an array of events that can be characterized as storms. Can anyone deny that at one time or another he has not experienced a mental breakdown known as a storm? No matter what stratum of life you fall in, there are certainly

times when the mental fatigue becomes unbearable. So destructive is the experience that at times one must cry out for help. It was now Job’s turn. As the first gale force wind picked up, it tackled Job’s mental situation, and the ensuing escapade hit with immense force. This explosion produced the onslaught of his oxen, his asses, and his servants. The report that came was dismal; moreover, this first servant had no choice but to narrate the episode, though sad it was. One would think that Job would have been blown away by this huge wave that flew in with absolute fury, but he stood his ground. Unflinchingly, he braced himself for the next major gust. Although Job was not forewarned that this storm would invade his territory, he was aware of the acute impact of storms. For him, it was his stormy season. Often when I see others going through their stormy seasons, I am left to wonder what day my storm will make landing and then invade and attempt to rob me of my tenacity, joy, and material gains. It’s then that I am reminded to cast my care on Jesus, who is my refuge and strength. He alone brings enormous comfort and protection to my soul. The declaration is loud and clear. “Of the day and the hour knows no man, therefore, keep a watchful eye and be ready to take shelter under His protection when your storm hits.” This is the safety for everyone, regardless of fame, heritage, or gender. If we believe it, we can experience it. There is only one power who is determined as the present help in all of our troubles, and no one has any reason to second-guess this. King David had his fair share of storms but notice that he never was alone. His testimonies, left on record, dictated his dynamic security in Jesus. Because of his experiences, the invitation is issued to sing along with him, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God, in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2). Truly Job was no stranger to storms, but during this stage of his life, this was a serious predicament for him. On this fateful day, his animals were discretely feeding in the assigned pasture when suddenly the rain descended upon them in torrents and, like hungry wolves in a closely- knit pack, initiated surmounting havoc. The assigned servant, seeing what had happened, was taken by surprise. Like a flash of lightning, he took off at full speed with the gloomy news. Vividly, he

painted a picture of the scene that created an atrocious image on Job’s mind; nevertheless, he stood his ground. One could only imagine why his head was shaking like a puppet on a string. The news flash that was just hand-delivered made him heave a sigh and wonder, “What’s next?” Inevitably, there was not enough time for Job to even redirect his posture because he was now faced with another servant, who was out of breath. The announcement he brought was enough to crush the hardest rock, fifty feet tall. Slowly Job shifted gear and landed in another uncomfortable position. Certainly, he didn’t see this one coming. Yes, it was another weary messenger with austere, nerve-rocking notification. By the look on his face and the dust on his feet, it was obvious that he had come a mighty long way. As he was gasping for breath, the stage was set again, and the scene was gaudily played out. Horrendous destruction of the servants and sheep, as the servant described, carved a picture that drove Job into ponder mode. “Is this for real?” he whimpered. “When is this gale force wind going to die down?” If you are living in this era, you will agree with me that there are tons of reasons to ask similar questions. “How much longer, Lord? How much longer? When is this going to end? How much more can I endure?” Yes, it is true. Storms make their landing anytime in any land, and there is something marvelous that we are required to do. “Take shelter in the arms of the chief captain, who is our Savior.” Can you relate to a time when there was no money to pay the school fee? Did you have to walk on pebbles because there were no shoes on your feet? Was there a time in your life when the only form of transportation that you could count on didn’t show up to take you from point A to point B? Do you when the only bus that ran in your neck of the woods didn’t come by on this particular day when you had an interview or business transaction? Was it ever your experience when there was so much rain that the weight it brings fractured the roof, inviting the water to pour down in your house, soaking everything in sight? In some strange way or another, I am convinced that we are familiar with these or similar occurrences. Yes, we all have similar experiences, and as such, we

have no choice but to face them head-on. These we learn to call storms, and if we must tell the truth, they affect us in different ways, and we deal with them differently. Just like Job, we are unaware of the onset of these episodes. We are stunned at the frequency and the deep effect on our hearts. At times, we think it is over, and then out of nowhere, there is one more strike and another and another. In a flash, another scene was being played out right in Job’s face as another servant took his place on the set. He braced himself and narrated the newsflash in a most solemn but dramatic tone. “The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee” (Job 1:16). By this time, the news of the storm that was consuming and terrorizing Job’s life was blowing all around the surrounding territory. It made the headline in the local papers. The graphic description grabbed hold of everyone’s attention. It was evident though that this experience came about to test Job’s faith; nevertheless, the key word on his heart was “endurance.” This was evident when he echoed in the ears of all the onlookers, “Though he slays me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). Indelibly etched on Job’s face was the expression that convinced all the onlookers that he was going to look to his master for his help. This was a great example of the trust that each spectator could emulate. One would think that these experiences were too much for any one person to endure. Noticeably, there was little or no break in the intensity of the gale force that was coming at Job. The wind came plundering and prowling and kept going at the highest speed ever documented in history. It was enough to consume the senses of any human, yet Job stood on deck and was in no wise afraid. He was cognizant of the fact that he would be alive after the wind died down. All observers stood still because one more time, right before their very eyes, they could see the curtains rolling back, and in this scene, there descended another frightened servant with the additional gloomy newsflash. He painted for everyone to see the vivid picture of the entrance of the Chaldeans. “The camels are taken by the Chaldeans” (Job 1:17) was the report. “And they have even devoured the servants with the sword.” As the words slowly escaped

the lips of this servant, they burned Job’s ears like hot lava. The news was the worst that this trusted servant wanted to deliver to his kind master. Certainly, he was the last person who would want to see any hurt come to him, but to my understanding, he was the only one on the scene when the disaster occurred. And luckily for him, he escaped by the skin of his teeth. The lot therefore fell on him to make the gruesome disclosure to his master. As this scene was fading regrettably in the dimly lit background, there was another alarming scene riding in and in slow motion. Surely the servant muttered, “Your beloved children were having a good time in one of the eldest brother’s beautiful house and out of nowhere came a wicked fiery wind. Unfortunately, it destroyed the whole house. The young men are all dead” (Job 1:16). What could be more agonizing? This was incomparable hurt that stuck the core of Job’s heart. Despite the intensity of this grave tragedy, Job stood his ground. Yes, he held on to his integrity, and he never fell into a panic mood. Anyone who has lost family tragically can relate to this intense feeling of hurt and pain that was Job’s experience. Often words to indicate agony are not easily verbalized; instead there are groans and tears, which speak volumes in soliciting the empathy of others. In Job’s case, however, not one known word was uttered, but the groan that left his innermost being painted the most gruesome picture of grave torture. In considering the validity of the disseminated by the news anchor on Channel Faithful, the love Job had for his children was incomparable. This love propelled him to often pray for them, that if in case they had committed sins during the day, they would receive a pardon. With them gone, it left a void that nothing could replace. However, throughout this devastating storm, Job did not lose his faith. He was assured that his captain knew that he was on board. The storm would last a little while longer and make a few turnarounds, so the song that resonated in his heart dictated his confidence in his God, so he sang melodiously, “Keep me safe, blessed Lord. Be my refuge and strength until the storm is over. Till the storm takes it leave.” Knowing that the news of his many storms made it to the front page of the evening paper, Job echoed, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked

shall I return thither: The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Job knew that the people were waiting around to see what would happen next.

TRUSTING SERVANT During Job’s stormy experience, I learned that his expression of trust in God was of the highest standard. It is true that the storms we must endure come to assess our faith in Captain Jesus and implore us to have a closer walk with Him. Is there a storm that is coming your way? Even as we speak, there could be one on the horizon coming your way or mine, but Captain Jesus has the distinct ability to still any storms that blow in our direction. His résumé as chief captain is immaculate. In fact, he gives every storm its name because he’s the author of the grading system. No ordinary weatherman can by any means know the intensity of the storm that will blow your way. Neither can he tell the time of the arrival. He certainly cannot accurately read the clouds, no matter how heavy and dark it gets. He cannot truthfully determine the duration, not one bit. This, for sure, is out of his league; therefore, our Lord left us a message that tells us that He will not give more than we can bear. Isn’t this dynamite security? We will be able to endure our storms because our captain is familiar with what we can bear. This is assured protection. He is familiar with the name of each storm and is also aware of the ferocity with which each descends on us; hence, with His divine power, He will say in His most calming voice, “Peace be still!” I learned that the instruction to everyone is “put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against all the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). This armor that we are advised to wear to protect against our storms is unlike the one Goliath wore as he went up against little David, who was an astute musician. Goliath’s armor could be pierced through, and this happened easily. It was heavy, but it was not made of the material that could stand the test of time. It took only a stone from a slingshot to take him out of operation. Just think about the armor that God gives. It’s invisible, but it covers the interior as well as the exterior of faithful saints with the ultimate protection.

“Set your affection on things above and not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2) is the instruction given to everyone. If we adhere to it, we will be able to maintain our sanity and will be kept afloat when we lose our earthly possession by any form of storm. You see, possessions on the earth benefit us in abundant ways, but they are temporary. They eventually fade and lose their value, but the minute we put our affection, love, and thoughts on the things that are above, that settles it. The sweet peace infiltrates our souls, and we secure our comfort in the protecting arms of our Lord who sustains us. Genuine assurance invades our territory and gives us the distinct aptitude for riding out any storms that we encounter. Continuing the screenplay for Job, a high-pitched voice in the distance echoed, “Read it in the papers. It is there for all to see!” “What could that be?” everyone wondered. “Job has lost all his earthly positions!” the voice continued. The storm is still flaring up on his side of town. There is no end in sight. This time he is facing a physical storm. As the props for the foregone scenes were fading away, taking its timely unpredicted gait to the forefront of the stage is the disfigurement of Job’s frail body. Boils descended in all their vehemence, covering his entire body like the locusts did in the land of Egypt. It was almost impossible to fathom how intolerable the pain was. The anguish of heart caused by the torture galloped in with full force. This phase was the ongoing fury of the storm in his life. There seems to be no hush in sight but seeing that he was accustomed to this high wind, there was no letting go for him. To exhibit the kind of faith that will stand the test of endurance, this is what Job exclaimed, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). Or in Paul’s case, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians1:21). In this era, various opportunities are presented to us to teach us how to emulate the strength displayed by Job. All who face rough seas are encouraged to “hold your chin up and take courage.” The wind will die down in time. It will be done at your captain’s command. When it is over, it will be the right time. This will be the saying, “The Lord has chastened me sore, but He has not given me over to death” (Psalm 118:18).

To add to his misery, Job’s wife of many years, mystified by the duration of the storm and astounded to see the havoc it had on her husband’s life, spoke ionately to her husband. Her sympathy for him drew out questions that at one time were inconceivable. Presumably she would say it in this manner, “Husband, why are you still holding on?” Without waiting for the answer, she continued, “Why don’t you reject your chief captain?” Petrified by these thoughtless remarks, Job, with his two shaking hands, held on to his head as if he were suffering from excruciating migraine pain. He was unquestionably not expecting this insensitive counsel from anyone, not to mention his wife of many years. This was the woman of his dreams, whom he loved and trusted. I imagine that this punch got Job where it hurt most, and immediately his jawbone began its descent in slow motion. In times when the wind is raging and you need a force to help you hold on, the very one you think would have your back is the one with the least desire or fortitude to give you that helping hand. At times, that someone would try to pull the knot and cause you to lose your grip. It is during these times when it is comforting to have a friend that sticks closer than a brother, one who would be a friend indeed and in need and will say, “Hold tight, my friend! Land is in sight!” Clearly, during a storm, relief of any kind is welcomed. The greater the devastation is, the more the relief is welcomed, but when this is not forthcoming, the mind is sometimes reduced to a mangled wreck. Although this is true for so many, we do not lose hope, but we always keep at the forefront of our minds the knowledge that Jesus is the best friend to have. He will neither leave you nor forsake you. He is more than enough, and this is true. “No man is an island; no man stands alone,” is a statement coined by John Donne in the seventeenth century. This statement, though old, has preserved its awesome moral for centuries. A friend is a precious commodity as we journey through life. Though friends come and leave, there is one who goes into infinity. There’s no need to wonder who that friend is, for God is the only friend who will never leave you. He will be the friend to the end. He alone remains closer than a brother.

VICTORY AT LAST Looking back on the many colorful scenarios in Job’s life, it is clear that he is not a superman; neither have I heard of any other normal person being one. Most certainly I am not one by any means; however, one thing is true. It is necessary to seek help when it is needed. For this reason, church leaders appeal to their congregants for funds to build churches, and politicians make their pleas to citizens to them in an election. Job solicited comfort from his friends; however, he soon found out that his help comes only from the Lord Jehovah. It would preserve our sanity and save us much frustration if we make sure that we’re seeking help from the right places and persons. Outside of that, we may find ourselves losing our hope because of the rejections. Looking anywhere else will also leave us defenseless during our storms. David caught the vision, and after many disappointments, he left this information for all, “My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:2). It would do us all the good to follow in his steps and consistently ask our Lord to help us run this race victoriously. In my discourse with my longtime friend the information I ascertained was,” if you want to know your friends, then you’ll have to fall by the roadside. You will soon find out who would come to your assistance or to act as your Good Samaritan”. Would it be the priest or the deacon? May I assure you that at every time, it is going to be that Good Samaritan, that sympathetic person. When Terry took one look at his limp leg, he observed that he was hurt badly. This was due to an encounter he had with his opposition. How he wished that the man would have turned around and rendered some assistance. Since this did not happen, he thought that next person walking by would help, but along came that next person whose eyes were glued to his phone, and it even appeared that there were plugs in his ears. Terry’s voice was weak, so his plea for help couldn’t be heard in the distance. Luckily for him though, a dog walker came by and was just in time to offer the assistance that was needed to keep him alive until the ambulance arrived. Surely, she acted as the Good Samaritan during the sick man’s storm. In each episode of stormy weather in each person’s life, there is a vital lesson to be learned and is also worthy to be publicized. Storms do not last forever! No matter what kind they are. They cause their havoc and then hurry along to another land. You are then able to pick up the pieces and go on the mend.

Welcome the good news, “Storm’s over!” Finally, the time came when the storm was over for Job. He came out a distinguished figure waving the victory banner. In my mind’s-eye, I can see the banner waving in the gentle breeze. Victory at last! The Father who is more than enough was with Job for the duration of all his storms. He monitored their irritability and pace. He directed their routes and controlled their intensity. He even meticulously selected their companies. Then came the encouraging words, “So, shall thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:4). This statement, I believe, was designed with Job in mind, but all who endure storms of any kind are beneficiaries. The Lord Jehovah is the Father whom we can trust indefinitely. Lingering in many hearts is the screenplay of Job’s roller-coaster life during his stormy days. How can we forget that last episode when the storm died down? Words painted a vivid picture. “So, the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yokes of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters” (Job 42:12–13). “More than enough?” you say. Yes, Jesus is more than enough! There is certainly no reason to second-guess this profound statement. What the Lord expects from each one of us is determination. As He was with Job, so He’ll be with each one of His children. Our task is to trust and benefit from His unconditional love.

HE WILL DO IT AGAIN 1988 was the action-packed year when I was caught in the most devastating storm. Unlike the storms that bore down on Job, I was faced with a financial storm. It was so fierce that it caused my head to twirl around like a top spinning at maximum speed. The wind bore down on me with such fury that I thought I would be lost at sea and that would be the end of me; however, my Lord had a better plan. Almost out of nowhere, the wind picked up speed. It was then that I lost my job and I had to seek refuge in an undesirable abode. Having a roof over my head to

secure me from the dew of the night was one thing that I was most grateful for; however, to enjoy a night’s rest was another story. It was necessary to add security devices to ensure my protection from all invaders and uninvited guests. During these periods, there was the desire to relocate, but the lack of funds held me captive in my own cage-like experience. Not forgetting the power of God and the discipline of trusting that I had learned over the years, I began to lift my eyes, not to the hills, but to God, the place where I secure my help. This is true, no matter how hard I struggled to budget, the finances were insufficient. This drove me to call to mind the following beautiful words penned so beautifully by my Master, “I wish above all that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers” (3 John 2). This profound statement brought comfort. To me, it was like a cool drink of water on a hot summer’s day. I learned that it is possible to prosper, and the way to do that is through hard work and proper financial management. With renewed momentum, I went to war against the odds. I secured two jobs, and though I was tired after each shift, I enrolled in college; hence at six o’clock each evening, I was sitting in the classroom preparing for another degree in education. It came through clearly that this was a financial storm that was raging; however, I never failed to remind myself that this too will sooner than later. Praise the Lord! “Storms do not last forever!” “Bring in the tithes and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there will not be room to hold it” (Malachi 3:10). This was the age of solace that was securely hidden in the deep recesses of my heart as I waited for my blessings. The truth is, although the building was in a deplorable state, I was most grateful for the covering because I escaped homelessness and whatever else that goes with that circumstance. If I must emphasize though, it is always good to “tell the truth and shame the devil.” This house was not my dream house. During my stay, the desire to maintain the best hygiene was a mammoth challenge. God knows that I tried, but it was almost hopeless. The uninvited guests marched around as if they were part of the family, and there was little, if anything, that anyone or anything could do to escape their uninvited and unwelcomed presence. They were not ashamed to show up anytime.

To add to this dilemma, when the brutal winter approached and took over the baton from autumn, the cold was unbearable. What happened during these times is a storybook description of a glacier floating down its track in the backside of Alaska. Around the heave of the house, icicles stood in form, like soldiers on guard at Buckingham Palace. In some places, it formed a carpet on the pavement that led to the house. The brutal cold would force its way through the crevices and find its way through the thick layers of clothing shoving and locking my whole body into shivering mode. How could I omit from this scene that there were times when there was no drinking water? There were the times when there was no water to do anything because the pipes were all stock on frozen mode. Aside from the rattling of teeth, during these times the silence was deafening. The sole reliance was on heaters that generated some heat, but the fumes had us all choking to the point that it was unbearable. During this time, nothing else could be done but resort to making the best of a bad situation and setting realistic goals. I grew up learning and treasuring the benefits of having a plan B. In this situation, the plan was to save enough money to secure a place of my own. A home of my own was my plan. I was awfully cautious not to dictate to my more-than-enough Father, but instead, pray in this way “in your own time” (IYOT) and then depend on His mercy and leading like Job did. Unfortunately, during these planning sessions, the storm did not withdraw its fury, not in any way. It kept raging war against me. Neither my physical nor mental strength was in any way a match for it. It kept bearing down. It seems like this was a never-ending storm, but I never lost my focus. The example of Job’s tolerance during his storms kept me grounded. Certainly, not once did I ever think to lose my praise. I held on to that for dear life’s sake. This propelled me to keep my eyes on the leader who would inform me when the storm was over. Although the wait seemed like forever, the instruction that came to me was crystal clear. Wait! “Wait on the Lord and be of good comfort and He will strengthen your heart” (Psalm 27:14). These were the words that played sweet music in my ears and kept me sane every waking day. Not only did it satisfy and keep me grounded, but it served as an invaluable lesson that I shared with my friend when she was desperately in need of direction for her next project.

During this waiting episode, I fought long and hard for my survival. In no way was I going to give control to this financial dilemma and thereby extinguish hope in my God who is more than enough. I was determined to wade it out. Quitting was not any item on my prescribed agenda, but truth be told, I was obviously disturbed at times anyway. I stood my ground. I guarded my faith with every nerve in my being, always keeping on the forefront of my mind that “my situation should not change my praise, but my praise should definitely change my situation.” Encouragement from the lyrics that kept my mother grounded during her stormy days flooded my mind. If they kept her grounded in faith, they would do the same for others and me. Quite often during my storms, I would turn to them for my solace. Among the favorites is Mrs. Emily D. Wilson’s rendition of “I will Pilot Thee,” written on May 24, 1865.

Verse One Sometimes, when my faith would falter, and no sunlight I can see, I just lift my eyes to Jesus and I whisper, “Pilot me.”

Chorus Fear thou not for I’ll be with thee, I will still thy pilot be; Never mind the tossing billows, Take my hand and trust in Me.

Verse Two Often, when my soul is weary, and the days seem, oh, so long, I just look up to my Pilot and I hear this blessed song

Chorus

Verse Three When temptations round me gather, and I almost lose my way, Somehow, in the raging tempest, I can hear my savior say:

Chorus

Fear thou not for I’ll be with thee, I will still thy pilot be; Never mind the tossing billows, Take my hand and trust in me.

To add to the collection of comforting words and testimonies, this was one of my favorites from my collection. It also kept me afloat as I waded through rough waters. “My Jesus rolled the water by and He rolled the boisterous wind by. And He spoke to the wind and it lost its power to control me, and God rolled the water by.” In my imagination, I could hear the angels ing in the song with me. The melody truly caressed my soul and gave me peace. Although I was resolute to endure my storms and grow gracefully, unexpected humiliation marked the way as I pressed forward. Often the remarks from folks drew tears from my eyes, matching those raindrops coming through the roof. The only thing missing was the bucket to catch them, so instead paper towels came to the rescue. In all of this, I refused to yield to negativity and allow it to seduce me to stain neither my integrity nor my peace of mind. How can I forget this day though? I consider it to be my black day. The disturbing comments made during this meeting glided slowly through the air. Although uninvited, they slithered from bench to bench, lingering longer in the environment than was necessary, just so that some would be entertained by their presence. The glaring eyes of all twenty-seven persons bearing down on me made it uncomfortable for me. Then the sting of the loaded statements silenced my ability to utter a single word in English.

If I must confess, the rent was not at all exorbitant, quite the opposite, but to me, it was just unmanageable. That which I was earning was just enough, so the thought of relocating had to be placed on the back burner. Maintaining my composure during this meeting was the most rational thing that I could hold on to, and I was determined to let my Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, take control and negotiate my route during this storm. This is what He does best. Daily my prayers were, “Lord, preserve my confidence in You. Help me to rely on Your power to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place.” The consolations I had received in my early days were stored securely for the times when I would need them most. This was the time, and these were the words from Jerimiah 29:11. “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” This was like ice cream on pumpkin pie. Even the aroma was satisfying. Like a lonely child clutching to her favorite teddy bear, with all the strength in my being, I kept clutching to this awesome promise. In the meantime, I conceived strategies to implement when the wind would die down, and I obtained my real job, which would provide enough money to deal with my financial obligations. Initially the plan was to save at least five checks when I got my real job. This was certainly going to be a sacrifice, but this strategy was to strengthen my awareness of how my God stills financial storms. What do you know? I was successful in achieving that major goal. Certainly, the desire of my heart was kept securely tucked away in my memory bank, for I know that God would make a way somehow. Unquestionably the departure from that house would come, and I would be moving into my own home. In no way would I lose my focus on the finale. “Financial storm over!” Unfortunately, during this huge financial setback, in blew a less ferocious storm. I had an accident. Can you believe this? It is true God moves in mysterious ways. I thought that this was the worst thing that could have happened to me now; however, what do you know? God was busily shoving the financial storm out of my path; however, I was lacking that understanding. Through this experience, I learned the true meaning of “out of evil comes good.” Following the accident, I was taken to the hospital because of my injuries. The car was totaled, they informed me, but this little storm did not steal my joy.

Repeatedly I asked God to preserve my joy, all the while repeating these words of comfort, “No good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). Finally, the case was settled. From the accident, I received a check, which came in good timing. It was time to breathe a sigh of relief, prove that out of evil comes good, and shout, “He knows the plans He has for me.” It was time to say, “I love You, Lord” and “The Lord has made the way somehow.” It was time to say, “He knows what is best for me because He’s more than enough.” The truth is that this experience was nourishment for my faith. My prayers were answered, just not the way I had imagined, but I learned that no one—absolutely no one—can dictate to God. He will answer all our prayers in His own time and in His own way. This was true in Joseph’s case. He was rescued from a pit and sold into a heathen land. Little did he know that he was on his way to preserve life for his own family. Reassuringly, that money came just when it was needed. Not many days after I had gone to see the realtor, I visited the first of three homes. Upon entering the threshold of the third home, some musical chord struck up in my heart, and somehow the assurance was given that I was on the right path. It was an answer to prayer. In a previous vision, I had seen a picture resembling the third house. This convinced me that God directs our path when we trust Him. After two days, the processing of the papers began, but unfortunately halfway into it, I was turned down because I had already cosigned for another person. Another storm, but a minute one. At first it was troubling to know that the opportunity for independence could be delayed because of someone’s negligence. Again, I was shaken but not moved. The two things that I held on to were my faith and my money. I did not misuse it. I knew that the Lord would stand by His words. He would make a way somehow out of this little storm. Who would think that after the third week, the seller would engage another buyer? But what do you know? God always looks beyond our faults, and for sure, He sees our needs. He does not only see them, but He finds the way to address them and most times favorably. I learned that delay is certainly not denial. I drew strength from the lesson in Elijah’s case when he had a need for company

in his problematic time. The comfort came when he was informed that God had reserved along with him seven thousand other prophets who did not bow to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). “Yet, I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which have not kissed him.” Anyone who is familiar with the great prophet Elijah would agree that among the enlightening episodes in His life, the single most dominant one was his trip to Mount Carmel. He was always about his Father’s business. No hurdles could slow him down. In his day, there were no carriages to escort him on his journeys. There were no family on this side of town; however, these challenges were not enough to cast doubt on the reward that was awaiting him for his diligent service to his Maker. Serving with the prophet Elijah was his cherished and faithful servant Elisha. Frequently, he would travel through Shunem, and the journey was long. At times, he became very tired, but there were no inns or hotels in town to accommodate him; however, God saw his need just as much as He sees ours. He then took drastic steps to solve Elisha’s problems. What He did was nothing short of making provision for him. This is how I imagined Elisha gave thanks by using the words of the writer Isaac Watts (1719), “I love the Lord. He heard my cry and pitied every groan. Long as I live, and troubles rise, I’ll hasten to His throne.” The God of more than enough selected the wise woman of God to observe the need, and after conferring with her husband, he provided a shelter, a resting place for the man of God. Don’t you know that the God of all possibilities takes care of His own? Yes, He does. In His own time and in His own way, He remains our refuge and strength. Look out, enemy! God is in control. Just as much as God did not forget Elijah, or Elisha He did not forget me in my financial storm. Then the news came that this new buyer for the house I was interested in had just relocated, and guess what? The house was again offered to me. It was time to engage the service of another realtor, and speedily the processing of the documents began. See God at work: The cosigner was now my very own sister. There was no need to go outside of the family. This is how God works, and it is true. Just as how you can’t keep a good man down, neither can you keep a good woman down, especially a female who knows the power of prayer and the God who is more

than enough. Embracing the invitation to lean on the Lord was rewarding, and the assurance that He would direct my path became quite transparent, so it kept me grounded. There was no need to concede to the impact of all the high winds that were appealing to my endurance; instead I gathered every fiber in me and worked even harder at saving, often denying the things that would bring more comfort in my life. From reading the biographies of people like Frederick Douglass, and Maya Angelou, I knew the sun would come out for me one day eventually, and with such knowledge, I waited. After many tortuous months, the long-awaited day arrived. This was the spring when the directives came for me to go to the closing. After g what seemed to be one million and one pieces of documents, from the opposite side of the huge table came the most melodious sound, “Congratulations. Enjoy your new home!” Indeed, this was one among many memorable times in my life. The keys for the house were placed in my hands. The clutch was involuntary, and this my shaking hand knows right well. a prayer of thanksgiving and a hallelujah to the Lamb of God, who is more than enough, came floating from my heart to my lips. This is phenomenal news. Storms are seasonal! Whenever they come, Jehovah takes delight in saying to them all, “Get going! Move on out of the way! Peace be still!” If there is one important lesson, I would implant in you, this should be it. Storms will come; however, storms must go! Looking on the billboard, the encouragement is, “Do not allow the ferociousness of any kind of storms to blindfold you; instead learn to lean and depend on our more-than-enough Father of all possibilities to bring you in safely. He has the plan that is designed to suit your financial needs.” The instruction is “wait patiently on the Lord always and be of good courage.” There is awesome reward in waiting on the Lord to still any kind of storms. Joseph waited as a boy, and even though he was thrown in a pit, that was neither his destiny nor his destination. He waited for his change. One would think that because he was sold to Egyptians that was the end of him; however, that was just the beginning of his elevation. That is why we are told to

let the Lord lead our lives. Psalm 46:10 instructs us, “Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth.”

CHAPTER 5

THE CHAIN BREAKER

W orking in one of the largest prisons of our nation, I saw more people in chains than I could ever count. Going to work, people were chained individually, and sometimes they were chained in groups. It was obvious that they were struggling to get to their several appointments. Coming home from work, again in my rearview mirror could be seen people bound in chains, fighting through the shades of blackness to get to their “extended shade of darkness,” known as “living quarters.” Noticeably, the chains drastically altered their gait and overwhelmingly hammered at their self-esteem. Adding to their demise, the chained folks often literally fell flat on their faces, with a thundering crash. At other times, they bumped into walls and other people. The obvious conclusion is that chains alter or limit the movement of those who are chained. Chains hold people captive and keep some in complete confinement and solitude and, for some, a long time. Presumably, chains are not only used to physically hold people captive. There are chains that clutch people emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes financi ally. This is just like Daniel’s predicament, when he was captured and sent to Babylon. The chain that he experienced in Babylon was not physical, but emotional. Even as a young man, he knew he had a special friend and that his friend was not imaginary. He just couldn’t be seen with the natural eyes, not in this dispensation. Daniel’s friend lived and reigned in his heart. He was present in the conversations with him according to Daniel 9:20, “And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel.” Verse 22 says, “And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” Daniel knew that His special friend would stick by him through thick and thin, and to him, this was not only comforting but reassuring. However, opening his window to pray three times a day brought him into the danger zone in his environment because this was Babylon, the heathen country. Naturally you would think that he had some physical presence in his room; on the other hand, you could think that he was a bit crazy for the public heard him soliciting help from his friend, the chain breaker whom they couldn’t see. Finally, he was innocently accused and sentenced to severe punishment. During his time in confinement, he prayed the more. Fortunately for him, he was guided and delivered supernaturally by the righteous right hand of his chain breaker.

Although he was thrown in the lion’s den, the terror of the lions was not unleashed on him. In several unique situations, unlike that of Daniel’s, some friends are considered imaginary because they cannot be identified with the naked eyes; however abstract, they survive and thrive in clusters and sometimes negatively impact the lives of their subjects in ways too numerous to mention. Some of these characters with whom I am familiar are stress, loneliness, pain, and the fear of interaction. These closely- knit friends develop and carry out their destructive missions successfully. In the process, their goal is to exaggerate the damage that is already done due to obstacles that trip others in the race of life. It all started on this eventful evening just after the Sabbath had drawn its curtains and the first day was creeping in. I headed to the nearby village pump to acquire a bucket of water. At first, it was sheer joy as I munched on a thick slice of potato pudding, which was held so tightly in my hand that not even the great wind could take a simple whiff. Looking back at the scenario, the return journey was quite the opposite. It was full of drama. The sharp pain in the lower part of the left side of my abdomen was to be blamed for this hit. Single-handedly, the pain grabbed hold of me like the fierce sting of a spider. Its choppers tore into my delicate flesh and speedily drained the energy out of my frail being. I was left at the mercy of the chain breaker. No longer was I able to clutch onto the bucket on my head; hence, slowly it began its pitiful glide downward, and there was no break until it splashed on the ground as a shooting star. By this time, the strength was completely gone from my frail body, and reluctantly I bent over and summoned a nearby tree to lend me its arms so I wouldn’t hit the ground with a deafening thud. Soon after this experience, a minute spark of energy emerged in my being, and I began slowly to ascend the hill to my home, weak and fainting and with an empty bucket. In this scenario, the narrative of the hare and the tortoise is old, but one that is filled with invaluable lessons of determination and courage. Based on the moral, victory is not necessarily displayed in speed as in a flat race, but as demonstrated by the tortoise, it emanates with devotion to the task with tremendous tenacity. Like the tortoise, pain or stress in no category could deter me from reaching the finish line. This was the picture in mind, home, and there was no change to the script.

Unfortunately, about eight yards away from home, the unwelcomed severe pain began to regain its momentum. This severe feeling tremendously altered my gait; thereafter, I moved as cautiously as I could to prevent hitting the dusty ground again. As you could tell, this was a monstrous task. With each step I took, I prayed a sincere prayer, asking my heavenly Father to take me home without another frightening incident. Thankfully my request was favorably answered. On entering the front door to my humble abode, my parents hurried to the door, swung it wide open, took one good look at me, and announced, “You need to see the doctor!” while simultaneously istering home remedies. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. As early as 9:00 a.m., I was in the doctor’s office for an evaluation, which felt like a thorough drill or invasion of privacy. What do you know? The result was unexpected; moreover, it was not anything that my parents or I could have prevented. To everyone’s astonishment, the inflamed appendix was the chain that was holding me hostage and distributing the pain in my abdomen. Following this disclosure, the doctor sent me home with instruction and medicine. In his instruction, he emphasized that it was imperative that I revisit his office in a week. This follow-up visit would lead to further evaluation and possible surgery, if there were the reoccurrence of any level of pain. Armed with the knowledge that there is an unseen doctor who is always on duty, a doctor who breaks chains, I came home with a made-up mind to let Him carry out a complete assessment of my entire being. I know that there would be no inconsistencies in His diagnosis because He’s the supreme Great Physician who breaks chains of all categories. On bended knees, right in my tiny and dimly lit room, I sought the Lord sincerely for help. The lesson from David was good for me. It was so comforting to know that I didn’t have to make an appointment. I did not have to dial through to an operator. I never once thought of the possibility that I would be put on a hold. To be honest, I honed the knowledge that this line was never busy. Never would I hear “Hold on. The receptionist will be with you shortly.” Never would I hear the peep sound on the other end of the line. Never would I hear “If this is an emergency, call 911.” Never would I hear “The line is busy. Call back at another

time.” Never would I hear “Call back tomorrow between eight and nine. The office is now closed.” My great chain breaker’s office hours are 24/7 from dawn to dusk and everywhere in between those times. There was absolutely no desire to wonder if He would do a new thing in my body because every word that comes from Him is accurate. “I will not leave you nor forsake you,” was one such comfort and faith builder that He gave me to hold on to, along with the chorus I’m reminded that “he’s the God that heals every disease. Me.” Literally the sound of the falling chain could be heard hitting the floor. There was no doubt in my mind that this was a love note that He wrote and left for me a very long time ago. In it, He emphasized that He would hear me when I call and that he would answer me while I am still speaking (Isaiah 65:24). As His dear child, I am reminded of His benefits in Psalm 16:10, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption,” This was certainly another of the statements that brought great comfort to me during this period, and I relish in it. Of a truth, there is no chain too difficult for Him to break. Finally, the appointed day for my visit to the doctor’s office arrived, and what do you think happened? The excruciating throbbing pain that I had experienced subsided immensely. There was no visible obstruction. Neither was there anything to operate on, nothing at all. This miracle mesmerized the doctor to the point where he was reduced to being dumbfounded. What a God! Yes, what a mighty God! He is the healer in the room who breaks chains of every kind. Take Him at his word. “I am God,” He says. He is the God who supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory. He is the God who breaks. Reflecting on this journey I had taken, I rejoiced that the chain breaker came to my rescue in the nick of time, or my swollen appendix would have swallowed me up. He set me free from the pain that was meant to hold me bent out of shape. He broke the chain that literally altered my gait. It certainly was not the doctor’s care that brought me home, fit and whole. It was the caring hand of my loving Father. He who cares for the lilies reinforces the statement that I am worth much more to Him (Matthew 6:26). For this reason, I can testify that He’s my chain breaker. Not in any way, shape, or form is He an imaginary friend. No other words could emphasize it better than the following words written by Mr. A. H. Ackley. In his writing, praise was given to the chain breaker, and I gladly

accepted the invitation to sing along with him.

I serve a risen savior. He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer. And just the time I need Him He’s always near. He lives. He lives. Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and He talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives. He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart.

CHAIN BROKEN BY THE TOUCH Truly, good health is one commodity that everyone requires in fostering longevity; additionally, it is sought after with much persistence. This search is not unique to this era, but it is true for every known dispensation and on every known continent. Documented for our perusal are the multitude of people who have experienced remarkable healings and some whose names do not make the list. This is certain: these people came from various background throughout the regions and have marched across numerous trails in search of deliverance from their stints of diseases. Like me, the lady in Luke 8:43–48 longed to have her poor health chain broken. This was a situation that needed her full attention. Immediately the grueling quest to find the remedy to alleviate her discomfort began. In my assessment of what is documented and from my very own experience, the search for her healing took her to numerous cities. Although the list did not provide the names of the vast amount of famous health-care providers nor the kind of specialists, it is evident that they were the best and brightest. The woman with the issue of blood did not just secure appointments with them. She kept them. Regretfully, she was forced to spend much of her life saving, seeking the help she so desperately needed, with little satisfactory result. Diagnosing the cause of her complaint was out of their league, so they were unable to prescribe any form of medication that would alleviate the discomfort she was experiencing. What followed is that her visible deterioration continued; nevertheless, she kept on pressing, though fainting on some hot summer days. Assuredly, her faith and strength were incomparable, and I imagined that this was her profound

statement, “I am going to keep on trying! I’m not giving up!” This day was like Christmas to her. She was like a little kid waiting for her Santa to climb down the chimney, making her wish come through. The visit of the Great Physician spread like wildfire in and around her neighborhood. To her, this was her long-awaited gift that would bring awesome relief. My mind goes back to the days when Oral Roberts first came on the scene. In every town that he ventured, people congregated around him, waiting for some chains to be broken. Every hotel in town was sold out. There was standing room only in most stadiums. People pressed their way to secure a touch so they would experience healing. The knowledge of the Great Physician’s visit to her town filled her heart with incomprehensible joy. This joy fueled her resolve to go after Him. Almost in a dash, she set off to fulfill her longing desire, repeating as she went, “If I may touch but the hem of his garment, I shall be whole” (Matthew 9:21). Upon reaching her desired destination, her eyes glanced over the vast crowd and finally landed on Jesus, the Great Physician and chain breaker. Without asking any question or making any excuses for her irrational behavior, she began to shove her way, ing everyone. Her tenacity provided the fuel to push harder than any other person in the vast crowd. No one, nor anything, was going to prevent her from getting the liberty that she had been searching for all these many years, all twelve of them. The diagnosis was uniquely and discretely performed, and the evaluation was disseminated. The only stethoscope used was the Holy Ghost’s spirit and power. It was an awesome feeling to hear the words, “Jesus is my chain breaker because I can hear the chains falling!” Finally, this was the long-awaited result, for as soon as the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of the Great Physician’s garment, there was a shift in her health. Something wonderful happened. The picture of her hands extending upwards in praise created a vivid scene on the canvas, for immediately she was delivered from her complaint. The immediate falling off this chain was truly evident in her expression of exorbitant praise and her quick steps. Charmed by the fervor to pursue although fainting, delightfully her perseverance and faith paid off. Therefore, she added to her collection of acknowledgments of the chain breaker words and phrases for those who would come after her. “Never

give up; Jesus is your deliverer. Hold on. Help will come your way. The darkness is just before dawn.” These power-packed tunes lingered on her tongue. Just as much as the experience was true for me, it was for the woman with the issue of blood. I am confident that it will hold true for all who will search conscientiously for the Great Physician who is willing and able to renew our strength. He only is the permanent and authentic chain breaker. From my recollection, it’s not uncommon to find people seeking healing for their several complaints in every way possible. When there is no help from friends, we move on to people in the communities. As soon as this list is exhausted and the symptoms are persistently doing more harm, we bend our way to doctors. These doctors then send us on to see specialists of all kinds. Visiting these doctors often exhaust our financial reserves. For some of us, it is only when the doctors fail, and our money is exhausted that we turn to the only one who can heal all disease. He is the great chain breaker, who is always supplying all our needs according to His riches in glory. Yes, He is the Great Physician. This is who He is, and what He does is breathtaking. He is skillful enough to diagnose all kinds of sicknesses. How comforting it is to know that He writes prescriptions after the diagnosis is completed. Because He is so learned, there can be no mistakes in that area. One more piece of information: He also distributes the medications. There’s no need to worry about an overdose because He always carries around the correct measurement. To top it all off, he makes house calls. You see, His GPS system is of the highest caliber. The rating is five stars and above. It will not go off course; hence, He will not miss your house, for He is known as the “on-time God.” He may not come when you want Him, but He is always there on time. As is vividly demonstrated, the woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus. What I have learned is the vast difference between the brush and the touch. Instead of the laying of hands or anointing the head with oil, the touch was the connection that made the difference. It is true. Touching Jesus makes the difference in your life, and you will feel the change that comes with the touch. Why don’t you do a touch when the chain is an illness? He specializes in breaking that kind of chain. Just in case you’re wondering if there is a specific pattern to solicit the attention

of your chain breaker, there is absolutely none. Neither is there any specific time of the day or place. The unique requirement is “ask, seek, and knock” (Matthew 7:7). He will come to your rescue.

RELEASED FROM THE PRIDE CHAIN For some people, it is difficult to seize upon the bidding to accept their deliverance from whatever that has chained them. History detailed that this was a gigantic problem for Naaman, the captain of the host of the king of Syria. For some unknown reason, he thought he was too wealthy and too connected to comply with the unique order to achieve his deliverance. When he was told to dip in the Jordan River, he bluntly refused at first, telling himself that there were better rivers in his hometown. Little did he know that the chain breaker had come to his rescue and it would be in his best interest to comply with the orders given to him to get rid of his chain. For him, it was his lucky day, although he didn’t know it at the time. Constantly his maid encouraged him to be in obedience and he would see the distinct result, that of getting rid of the leprosy that covered his entire body. Looking back on the journey that he had taken to get to this spot, it would certainly be impractical to return home, leaving behind what he had come in search of. Patience exhibited by his wife’s assistant was commendable, and her plea to him to accept the help came face-to-face with the wall of pride. Finally, after his confession of better water in Damascus, Naaman conceded and ambled into the murky water of Israel. He forced himself to dip, not one or two times, but seven. Each time he went under the water, he was hoping he would not need to complete the round of seven; however, after a while, the assignment was completed, and his leprous body regained its brilliant texture and color. For him, this was a glorious day. The return journey was a happy one. This time, it was different. Naaman had no need to be wondering what it would be like to have clean skin again; therefore, he basked in his gift of smooth skin given by the chain breaker. He’ll do it again. I know. He will.

MARRIAGE CHAIN BROKEN

Did you know that many parasitic conditions affect relationships and cause emotional and physical pain? These conditions are also classified as chains. Recently I was apprised of one such case. Efforts to get her spouse to respond favorably to her requests were futile. It was then that my friend solicited my help to deal with the concern. The only help I could offer was prayer, so in obedience to the instruction in Luke 18:1b, “Men are always to pray and not to faint,” we wrote prayer in our schedules. For weeks and months, we prayed over the situation, never giving up. The day came when he related to his wife the battle that he was single-handedly fighting. She was not mad with him, not for one moment. Instead she searched for and engaged additional methods that would help to alleviate the problem. She read books with him, had friendly communications with him, and continued to pray. She ed the directives given in the chart as we spoke about the hurt and the pain. In 1 Peter 5:7, it is instructed, “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” The battle for deliverance was given over to the Lord. All three of us ed hands and heart together and solicited the Lord to take total control of the situation. We waited for the chain breaker to demolish the chain. Over the next several months, there was a good result. The problem was resolved. God, the chain breaker, waits on us to cast our cares on Him. There is no problem that he cannot resolve. The thing to do is “take it to the Lord in prayer and watch Him work for us.” It was fascinating to observe how the chain breaker came through and healed the marriage. These steps are not new, but each must be followed as directed for your success. Identify the problem. Make sure it is not a judgment call due to your insecurities. Open up the communication between the two persons involved. Read the pertinent scriptures for your guide to resolve the issue. Seek out a trusted friend who will listen to you. Budget daily prayer for the situation. Be patient and show that you care. Always the following verses are helpful:

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindnesses and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so thy youth is renewed like the eagles? The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to

anger, and plenteous in mercy. He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:4, 5, 8, 10)

ANGER CHAIN-REVERSED “We are informed that as newborn babes, we should desire the sincere milk of the word, which will help us to grow in grace” (1 Peter 2:2). Throughout history, this profound message has not lost its value. This is true: the newborn babies need milk to grow. This growth process is accompanied with learning to walk. In this process, the baby crawls on his knees, hitting some pebbles and hard surfaces. Time after time, he stands and falls to the ground, sometimes hurting himself, but again he stands and takes another step and another. Over time, maturation is achieved after drinking much milk, tripping and falling, and falling and rising. In 1990, I was anxiously awaiting the time for the meeting to convene. Not knowing the order of the items on the agenda increased the anxiety to a point that was abnormal. Immediately after the minutes were read and accepted, the agenda was distributed. Suddenly I noticed that I was slated to disseminate information that was not part of my assignment. As soon as I saw this, perspiration began to roll down the side of my face in torrents, and my brain was muddled up like a mud pie. It became necessary to make a quick decision. I could silently leave the room, or I could stay and let myself be squeezed into a snowball. “Item number two,” the chairman said in his monotonous voice. “There is only one person with the information.” I was squeezed in the tightest corner. Minutes later, I was on my feet trying to produce the information that was not my place to explain. Frustration rode in, along with some amount of anger too. An abridged version of the information was disseminated, nevertheless in the crudest way that did not give glory to God. With prodigious remorse, I folded my hands and sat down with my head, hanging down like a loose coconut limb. I could hear the chain breaker whispering, “Child, you didn’t honor me with your words and attitude today.”

With humiliation setting in, I left the room and headed for the door. After this incident I was not at peace with myself. Little did I know that the anger chain had me bound and was slowly squeezing the Christ-like attitude out of me. I had to do something about this, and it demanded haste. Monday was another workday but getting that anger chain broken and making it right with my God was now my immediate priority. It is true. Jesus gave the remedy for breaking all chains. Soon after He called His disciples and gave them their assignments. He told them to look out for chains that would seek to bind them. They would have to do something drastic to get rid of those chains. His advice was to “pray and fast.” Compliance with His instructions would bring tremendous result. It was time for reflection. The day I gave my life to the Lord, my deepest desire was to stand with a pure heart before my God always. During this ordeal, I repeated, “pride goeth before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18), and I was convinced that this is not what I desired. I didn’t want to fall or fail. The resolve was to be a woman of integrity indefinitely. “God breaks all kinds of chains,” echoed the preacher on the radio this evening. From a distance, I heard it loud and clear. For me this time, it was the chain of anger. Wanting desperately to get rid of this chain, the next day, I laid prostrate before the chain breaker and pleaded for Him to break this chain. This was not a good feeling, so I wanted it gone. As I continued to pray, the tight grip of the chain was getting loose. My vision and mission were to display a lady of impeccable honor and integrity. Day one was over, but I was not convinced that the chain was totally broken. I couldn’t bask in the freedom that I had anticipated. It had not yet happened, but I was not giving up. Day two came, and again I felt the need to go into another day of intercessory prayer and fasting. By noon after much intercession, freedom flooded my entire being. The chain was broken. The anger chain fell off my conscience, and the freedom from anger was accepted and celebrated. Now I was able to repeat the following words, “Free at last! I’m free at last. All praise to the Lamb, I’m free at last. No longer in bondage. No more in chains. My soul is free. Praise to the Lamb. He broke my chain and set me free. Free at last.” If there is a lesson to be learned, I learned it firsthand. This anger chain limits

your growth in the Lord. It also puts limitation on your praise and causes you to be found wanting. The good thing is the God of more than enough breaks every kind of chain. Take your chain situation to the Lord and declare to Him how it has taken you hostage. Ask for your freedom. He’ll come to your rescue. Then you will be able to shout, “Free at last!” Peter was a recipient of God’s chain-breaking power. He was rash in his behavior and quickly drew his sword to defend Jesus during his trial. Peter showed how angry he was; however, Jesus believed in his ability to become a great peace maker. Jesus told him to put up his sword. Then He said in Luke 22:32, “When you are converted strengthen thy brethren.” Peter’s chain was truly broken, and he became a great leader after Jesus’s departure.

CHAPTER 6

ALWAYS ON DUTY

G rowing up in the rural area of this island, I had to contend with long dusty roads and pitch-dark nights. There were the days when I had to walk for miles to get transportation to complete errands. There were the times when the nights were dark, and the only available guide was our faithful and trustworthy dog. The story is true. Jack would wait at the door for anyone who was about to take a trip. To me, he saw it as his duty to be our guide and our guard. Jack was not only guide to us, but he provided his service to all who had to travel in the dark. One could see him trotting alongside as we walked the long, lonely miles. The thing is, as soon as we got our transportation and was off, Jack would be on his way home. Nevertheless, the minute he saw another person walking in the dark, he would retrace his steps and accompany another individual to the bus stop. This went on for many years. To everyone, Jack was a valid guard dog who was always on duty. After many years of faithful service, Jack began to show signs of aging. It was evident that he wanted to carry on his duties, but strength failed him. Finally, one morning, we looked for Jack to be at the door, but he was not there. He had made his last trip with me to the bus stop the day before. On the sleeping mat, Jack was stretched out after taking his last breath. For days and years, I mourned his death. Jack served well as our guard dog, but his service was limited and temporary. He had taken his last trip. He did his last good deed. Unlike Jack, my gracious protector, the God of glory, serves valiantly from eternity to eternity. He calls himself the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 1:8). His service is not only known in this era but throughout the ages, even before the foundation of the world. This unique drama began to unfold as the Israelites were given their discharge from Pharaoh. No one saw this coming. It sent chills down their spines. Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to recapture the Israelites, but the everlasting protector had a different plan in mind. He was going to defend His people and demonstrate to Pharaoh and his confederates that the strategies He had for the deliverance of the Israelites were superior to their thinking. Right before their very eyes, the dust from the hooves of the horses was seen rising in the atmosphere, and the sound of the hooves was sounding off as if they were in a disorganized tapping contest. That was behind them; however, when

they looked ahead, there was the gigantic body of water flapping its wings. Nonetheless at the command of God, Moses stretched out his rod, and with rapid speed, mountains were carved out on either side of the sea, laying a path for them to make their getaway on foot. This was a sight to behold. Never was this done before. In place of water, there was dry land. This was the getaway path designed by the more-than-enough God. Hurriedly, the Israelites forged their way across without any injury to the faintest of them. What a getaway! Have you ever experienced a Red Sea chapter in your life? What were the scenes and episodes like? Did you use a rod, or were you on bended knees? Well, everyone has a time to face a Red Sea of some kind. To some, prayer gets the job done, but at other times, fasting must be added to prayer and days and months of it in any one episode. When answer is granted favorably, there is much rejoicing. With voices lifted high in every tone, I imagined that the Israelites rendered their song of praise, which went up to the Lord as sweet-smelling incense. “My Jesus rolled the water back, and He rolled the water back, and He made a way when there was no other way. And He rolled the water back.” This was their song. A mountain of water turned into a walkway. What a getaway! What a sight! All through the ages, instances created by our Great Protector prove that there is no one more worthy to receive praise, honor, and glory. That’s why brother Paul reinforced the theme, “No need to worry or to fret; for the Lord, has never failed me yet” (Acts 27:25). No one knows this to be truer than Jan. The story was told of this young lady living in the neighboring community. As she was returning from visiting relatives in a nearby town, she decided to take a short way. The short path was one marked with unimaginable disguised death traps. Although she could not see the danger, she knew that there was a powerful protector who was always on duty. Entering the path, a song was in her heart and a prayer on her lips. Midway down the path, a suspicious-looking man emerged. A little shaken, she walked on, knowing that she would be all right. Readily, she grabbed hold of the famous prayer in Psalm 23, and she repeated it all the way home. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4). The promise of protection over those who trust Him is always available. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” says Deuteronomy 31:6.

Over and over, she repeated the following verse, and to her, she was under God’s umbrella of protection. “When you through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:2). Edging her way, ing the strange man, never once did she closed her eyes, but if he saw her, it was anyone’s guess. Not once did he attempt to lift a finger to hurt her. It was as if he were transformed and there was no cruelty on his mind. Morning came, and the news was alarming. The unfortunate death of another young lady was announced. As she ed, the suspicious man who was lurking in the alley pounced upon her and took her life. To the surviving young lady, this brutal attack was devastating. The news shattered everyone in town. Fortunately, the murderer was captured and brought to the jailhouse. Among others, this young lady was invited to the lineup to identify the killer. The trial went on for weeks, and he was finally found guilty. When the trial was over, this young lady asked the official to allow her to ask one question. When the opportunity was given to her, she met the murderer face-to-face to ask him the question. She looked in his eyes and asked, “Why did you let me go by?” The murderer declared, “Too many people surrounded you; therefore, there was no way to get around them to touch you. I could not touch you at all!” Could it be any more profound that our God knows and protects His dear children in every age? He protects from storms, financial embarrassment, sickness, diseases, and even those who would seek to cause harm. He said He will have mercy upon whom He will. Just think of how many times you felt sick and prayed and how He healed you. Just think of how many times you are alone, and you could have been attacked, but you were delivered. Just that always that the angel of the Lord encamps around you (Psalm 34:7). This is certain our Father does not discriminate among male and females. I had my own experience of the protector who is always on duty. This was one dark night returning from visiting my parents in the country. The danger zones were marked, so if you had valuables, you knew that you had to secure them before exiting the bus. This is just what I did.

Unknown to me at the time, two young men had entered the bus a few blocks before. Looking from the corner of my eyes, I saw them trying to disguise themselves. It was clear that they were up to no good. They had no bags, and it was certain that they were not traveling from the country, or I would have seen them before. Off went the bus driving slowly, giving me time to have a good look at these boys. Soon it was my stop, which was in a very lonely area. Quickly I collected my items. Just then I looked up. There were the boys exiting the bus through the back door. This was not sitting well with me, so I said a quick prayer. God answers prayer, so we are onished to pray always and not to faint (Luke 18:1). God answers prayer in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. So, let’s keep the prayer for protection going. Before I could move two steps, there came another bus. It made a stop right beside me, and oh, was I elated. Joy filled my heart for the God on duty who knows the needs of each one and saw that I was in danger. I boarded the bus as quickly as I could, and it drove off, leaving the two boys behind. The Father who knows all things intercepted their plan. He delivered me out of the mouth of the lions. That which the devil meant for evil, the Lord turned it around for my good. My faith was built, and I had another testimony to share. The news flash was not negative the next day. I was preserved. The eyes of the Lord are always watching you and me. How could you be alone and left to danger and robbers if Jesus is walking with you and shielding you? Most assuredly, challenges, great and small, will pounce on all of us from time to time. Not all of them will lead to death; some will evidently serve to strengthen our faith in the risen Lamb. Do you Joseph, a young boy? What could he have done to deserve such a punishment as to be thrown in a pit or for his beautiful coat to be taken away from him? What could he have done to be sold into Egypt, to be lied on by Potiphar’s wife, or to be thrown in a dark, dusty jail? Consider how the hurdles prepared him for his delayed assignment and how his life was preserved as he emerged out of the pit and out of jail to reign as governor to live in a palace and finally to sit on a throne. Unimaginable transformation!

PRAYER Dear heavenly Father, thank You for this new day. I have not always trusted You to protect me. Today, I thank You so much for the reminder that You are all powerful. Your power to protect is, without question, the best. You can protect me in every area of my life. Today, I ask You for Your help to build up my faith so I will be able to trust Your protecting hands. You will protect each one of us as you protected David, Paul, the spies, Elijah, Daniel, and the Hebrew boys. Please help me to keep these words of David, the giant killer, safe in my heart always. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

CHAPTER 7

YES, JESUS IS THE ANSWER

O ccasionally in our everyday communication, gestures are the preferred choice. This is not elected because of the lack of one’s extensive vocabulary but to activate the power of choice, and this is a good thing. In instances when the words and sentences seem to delay their entrances, it is then that a fitting gesture is introduced. Because words leave lasting impression in all deliberation, wisdom should be used in each discussion. The wise man Solomon’s advice in Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore, get wisdom, but in all thy getting get understan ding.” Who knows this better than little April? She was late for school this morning, and when she was asked why, quickly the reply danced out of her mouth. “My mother was ill and couldn’t get up to make the breakfast.” This was a valid answer, and although punishment would have been measured out, this answer got her out of that punishment. At times, meaningful answers are given; however, the wait for that answer that gives satisfaction takes more time than we had ever bargained for. Have you ever been asked about life and death, gift and blessing, or faith and purity? Yes, it takes buckets of wisdom to search out and produce the correct answers to questions about life, yet there is one who does not have to search for the answers to any question. He is the ready-made answer to all questions asked in any language. Recently I was presented with some mountaintop questions, and answers were needed urgently. Like Hannah, I searched diligently for answers. Although some answers were coming, not one gave the remedy for my situation; therefore, my only alternative was to keep on searching. On a bright sunny Wednesday afternoon, coming back from one of my pursuit for answers to questions pertaining to my health issues, a delightful thing happened to me. This gave me great assurance that Jesus is the answer to all our questions, whether they are expressed verbally or otherwise. Clearly, He knows the intents of the heart; hence, nothing can ever be hidden from Him. It was almost six months into my illness, July 16, to be exact. I was returning from one of my pursuit in Virginia. There, I went to see a specialist about the recent devasting diagnosis that I was given. The free flight was a gift from Angel

Flight. Politely, the pilot greeted me, and after the introductory statements and a brief description of my experience, the exceptionally sincere pilot profusely poured out his concern and offered his sympathy. It was easy to bathe in this comfort, for it brought relief to my weary heart. The vacant seat next to him was offered to me, but I respectfully refused and took my place in the row exactly behind him. Fifteen minutes into the flight, my eyelids became so heavy that the energy to resist was no match. Eventually it lost the battle, and soon I drifted off into a deep sleep to the wide-ranging hum of the engine. During this time in my dream, I began a discussion with my more-than-enough Lord. In this intense discussion, I voluntary outlined my predicament. I reflected on the date when I was diagnosed with this illness. Continuing, I listed the numerous doctors I had been to and the many different supplements that were prescribed to help to alleviate the symptoms of this disease. I was in the most intense fight for my life; however, I was determined to be the victor in this one. Obviously, the ultimate healer, or the Great Physician, has never lost a fight, and there was no reason to doubt that. One by one, the day-by-day activities that were challenging to accomplish were outlined in the dream. There was not one stone left unturned. I am certain that there was someone listening at the other end of the line. Recounting how much my finances were diminishing came in plain view as it was laid out. In the dream, I mentioned how devastating it was that I had to retire in an untimely manner and how my beloved family were stretched to full capacity in ways that they were obligated to assist me in my daily routines. Still in the dream, it was now time to explain the toll it took on me as I went on my many trips to the different doctors. After each visit, the doctor’s calculated evaluations and recommendations were mind-boggling, to say the least. I reiterate the expense of the organic food I was told to eat and how I needed to abstain from certain food, no matter how much the desire charmed me. Magically, I was propelled to continue the story, so I told of the advice that came from friends, people on the job, and individuals in the church. Eloquently, I told of the days when I felt breathless and weak and how I had to call out to God for help. I repeated the times when my pastors and brethren came to visit, sometimes in

van loads. They came to my home to offer prayer on my behalf. Paul, in one of his testimonies, used the phrase, “prayer was wont to be made” (Acts 16:13), meaning that prayer was made often. In the dream, I reminded my silent listener, the supernatural one, that sometimes when I was alone, the burden I experienced could be compared to the load on a pilgrim’s back. That’s how heavy it was. There were days when the desired deadlines couldn’t be completed without insurmountable efforts and difficulties. I did not forget to mention the numerous ways in which I contributed to the society. There were no tasks too small or too great for me to do in helping someone. There were the times when I had to spend money to provide school supplies, clothes, lunch money, and even the doctors. As the conversation continued, I related the days when I had to serve as the church maintenance person and how I had to walk for miles on rough paths just to attend church services. I needed the money during this period, but instead of spending it to supply my needs, I offered it up to begin the first summer program, which I operate every year to help children develop their social skills, build their self-esteem, and learn to read. After all the information that came floating in my mind was released out of my somewhat shriveled memory, I heaved a sigh and said profoundly, “I have tried everything that I was told to do. I have served unselfishly in every capacity that I was asked to serve in. I have gone to all the doctors that were recommended, and I have eaten the foods and drank the juices that the doctors, friends, and family ordered.” To this date, no measurable improvement was evident. The nodes were still swollen, and the pain in my abdomen was like a house on fire. My strength was waning daily, and most days, I was so cold it was as if I were locked up in a freezer box. My expectation from this doctor brought absolutely no comfort. In fact, the picture that was painted by his blunt description of the illness was that of gloom and doom, nothing short of the death warrant. It stripped me of some hope that I was banking up. Now my faith was challenged, and my strength was depleting. I was going downhill, and I was downright worn out. Ending my deep, reflective, and somewhat complaining conversation, I was convinced that someone was still listening intently at the other end of the line.

Out of my mouth flew the final words with a magnitude of force, “I do not know what next to do!” This was my last statement, and it was said so emphatically that I am certain that it landed right into God’s throne room; moreover, I was convinced that it did not disturb His everyday activities because His ears are always open to our cry (Psalm 35:15). “I do not know what to do!” Still, in the dream mode, I heard a phenomenally profound response. “Jesus is the answer!” This exclamation startled me. “Jesus is the answer?” Immediately I was awakened but was still in a daze. A frightened look hovered over my face, and the thought that the pilot was a silent listener to my complaints scared me for a minute. Soon that thought faded, and it was comforting to know that he was not a part of my conversation with the God of all possibilities. It was my dream, and for sure, he was not in it. The conversation was between my Jesus and me. Thank God, Jesus is the answer to all our questions. He’s not only able to save, heal, and comfort, but He speaks audibly to all who will listen to Him. It is His nature to answer the call from those with challenges in the form of physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental. Astoundingly, the answers that are ascertained are sometimes audible, yet other times, they come through dreams, prophets, people, and everyday people, but most importantly through His written Word. “Every cloud has a silver lining,” is the excellent statement that was whispered in my ears, and I know that it has its merits. The Israelites didn’t dream of the day when they would be told to pack up and be ready to march out of Egypt. It is true that they endured much suffering, great neglect, and much injustices. They prayed and waited for the answers, and although the wait was long, their deliverance came. The lesson is, if we wait long enough, our answers will come. Yes, they will come, but certainly not in the way we design it. Jesus assured us that they will come at different times and certainly in different ways. As my fabulous and dramatic Sabbath schoolteacher told me many years ago, two gorgeous sisters, Mary and Martha, were living in the town of Bethany. Their only brother, Lazarus, died, and at that time, their dear friend Jesus was in another town where the disturbing news was hand-delivered to Him. For all we

know, He was the sole person who was the answer to their question. The thing is, when all fails to give an answer, the Father says profoundly, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. He continues to say, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:29, 31a). This is wonderful news! Favorable answers to our questions on any topic give comfort and oftentimes healing. Jesus, the Savior of the world, is the answer. After His long and tiresome journey to the town of Bethany, He didn’t linger to socialize with anyone. Instead He proceeded straight to the tomb of Lazarus, and after giving the order for the stone to be rolled away from the tomb, in an extraordinary loud tone, He echoed, “Lazarus come forth!” (St. John 11:43). Quick as a flash, the man who was dead for days came out walking, but in his grave clothes. Right then, Mary and her sister, Martha, knew that their answer was in town, and when He is in town, it makes the world of difference. As this extraordinary episode was played out at the tomb, the resounding theme convinced all that Jesus, the Son of God, answers our cry for helps. His command to all is, “Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8). Obviously, our search for the answer is most certainly not money; neither is it fame or fortune. Financial stability is not the answer; neither is degrees from the most elite educational institutions. What questions do you have that you need answers to? If you are sick and cannot get help, the advice is to turn to Jesus. He is the doctor who is always on duty. All that you are earnestly required to do is come to Jesus in faith. Over the years, His diagnoses of all diseases have been tested, and a proven aboveaverage track record has been conferred upon Him in every situation. He maintains the super sovereign approval. Down through the years, prophets and patriarchs have gotten answers to satisfy their thought-provoking questions and inquiring minds. I fondly recall the question asked by Saul on his way to Damascus and the impact it made on many curious minds. You see, he was known to work for his supervisor in a distinct position by their standard. They could count on him. On one of his assignments to persecute the saints, he was met by the One who has all the authority to

interrogate him. This was an astonishing event when he was required to answer a difficult question. I can imagine that the well-known saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” came floating in his mind. He was in a dire spot because quite often he was the one asking the questions and giving the orders, but not today. For him, this day was an exceptional one. He most certainly was not the most famous character in this scene. “Why persecutest thou me?” was the question in Acts 9:4. If there were one thought-provoking question ever, this was one, though simple. This was the question asked by the Lord, and it undoubtedly demanded an immediate answer from Saul. The intense authoritative voice drove the fear into him and forced Saul to answer with much timidity. Trembling, he whimpered, “Who art thou Lord, and what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). If there were ever a shift in a conversation, this was a great example of one. However, this was the beginning of the rescue plan Jesus designed for Saul. You see, Saul was living in a danger zone for some time, and he didn’t even know it. As you know, time certainly catches up with you, and this was true in Saul’s case. What an awful line of business to be involved in, one would say, but it gave Saul the prestige that he needed to satisfy his ego. Treasuring the contract that he had signed, he went joyfully from town to town and from village to village, taking incomparable pride in hunting innocent victims. His heart was unfriendly to Christians, to the point where he was at the stoning of a godly man, Steven. Saul’s position put him in the way to sit and make decisions with his superiors. To him, this was a pleasant feeling. He thrived on the accolades that were thrown on him. Unknown to Saul, he was being watched closely every step of the way to see how his unique ability could be channeled in a way that would bring glory to the name of the Lord. Not once did Saul think that he would not be getting the medal of honor for this present assignment. Not once did he think that this mission wouldn’t be accomplished that day. He thought that he got it settled. Everything is going smoothly as planned, he thought. To him, this was another victory lap. Soon he would be on the grandstand to receive his commendation.

He could smell the victory, but to his amazement, this was a turnaround situation for him. The powerful presence invaded his space and literally knocked him off his high horse. Ordinarily, he would have retaliated, but this was classically a different kind of face-off. Nothing to compare with this authoritative power. Before this, Saul did not answer to any other person than his known supervisors; now he was about to be enlisted in a more excellent army, that of the Lord’s. In some way, Saul was about to be embarrassed in the worst way. The very same people he was pursuing were going to become the ones he would have to minister to. He was now someone else’s servant. He had a new employer. Without any form of resistance, he acknowledged and accepted the directives to work with a new commander-in-chief. In preparation for his new and challenging job, he visited Ananias, and literally his eyes were opened; therefore, he was now ready to go on his assignments with a more excellent title, Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). The instruction that he received was an astonishing shock to him. To be an apostle to the Gentiles was not exciting news in no way. Undoubtedly, the fear that took hold of him was immeasurable, but somehow, he knew he could not evade that God-given responsibility. He was hooked for life, and he couldn’t do anything about it but follow through. Often when we get answers to our questions, we are reassured of the capabilities that we possess. It builds our faith, gives a tolerance for the hurdles in life, and makes us able to run the race with patience. It is true that at times, we are startled or frustrated by the answers, and this drives us to ask more questions, like in Saul’s case. “What wilt thou have to do?” Ready for your assignments? Saul, for starters, received a name change. He became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. He got his answer to his first question. I imagine that in Paul’s life, he had many other sincere questions, but he had no reason to be afraid, for he soon found out that Jesus is his answer to them all, even the one he didn’t verbalize. There’s nothing to lose if you obey His command, “Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). He is the answer. There’s no way around that.

HE’S ALWAYS ON TIME

This was a memorable experience in my life. It was the last day for me to pay for the exam, which was only given once a year. I have on more times than I can count taken the time to remind Mom and Dad that the money was due in two weeks. For some reason, this was one date that I didn’t want to miss out on. All the children were bringing in their money. Every evening, just before dismissal, our teacher took time out to remind the class to bring in the required amount. She did not want anyone to miss out on the privilege to sit for this important exam. She said, “Children, time is running out for the exam fee.” Everyone would say, “Yes, ma’am. We .” The children had prepared all year for this test and were ready to prove that they had learned the material. Each child wanted the compliment from her teacher, parents, and friends. They worked hard and even competed with others in classroom tests. My teacher was pleased with us all. She was sure that the children were not only anxious but ready. In this preparation class, there were twenty-one students. Two mornings before the exam, all but me had taken in the money to my teacher. When the last reminder was given, I was the only one who did not have my money. I was crushed on the inside, but I produced and kept a brave heart and did not cry, although the tears were swelling up in my eyes. My teacher looked over to my desk, and although she did not call my name, she just repeatedly expressed the ultimate urgency for the money to be brought in by the next day, which was the last day for the exam fee. You can imagine the stress that was laid on my brow. She collected her books, and after everyone had left the room, slowly I walked to her desk, startled a bit, and stammered, “Ms., I am sorry to take this long with my fee, but I will take it first thing in the morning.” “Don’t forget, young lady” said the teacher. “Tomorrow is the last day. There is absolutely no form of extension.” “Yes, ma’am,” I said and then slowly walked out of the room. I was on the run home this evening, faster than ever, to remind my parents that the money was needed in the morning or I would not be able to sit for the exam.

Mother replied after she had heard the reminder all six months, “You will get that money. Yes, you will take that exam, and you will be successful.” Hurriedly I finished my homework, completed my evening chores, and sat down with the family for dinner. After the thanks were given and everyone was enjoying the meal that Mother prepared, there was an opportunity for me to bring up the matter again. “The money for my exam is due tomorrow. It’s the last day. Please do not disappoint me. I assured my teacher that I would take the money to her first thing in the morning. Please do not forget.” In silence, they finished the supper. Mother gazed intently at Father because they were the only ones who knew that there was no money in the house. In Mother’s heart though, she knew that God would provide, even at the last moment. In the meantime, both were hoping for a miracle to happen and to occur by the morning. The next morning, everyone was up early. This was an important day. I was dressed and ready to go. Suddenly I noticed that Mom was nowhere in sight. Where did she vanish to? Just where did she go? I called out, “Mom, I am ready!” But there was no answer. I called out even louder, “Mom, I am ready to go!” It was getting late, and Mom was nowhere to be found. Suddenly Mom appeared, and she was out of breath. “I did not see when you left. Mom! Mom! Where did you go? I am left alone to walk to school by myself. All the other children are gone. May I have the fee?” Mother handed over the money to her daughter. I looked amazed at Mom and said “thank you” again and again. Then I ran off like a bullet out of a gun. I was the happiest girl in the whole world. Just as she was about to close the envelope to hand over to the principal, a gust of wind pushed open the door, and there I was, standing before my teacher, with the entrance fee. “I am not late, I hope?” “No, child, you are just on time.”

An invaluable lesson was learned. “God is not only our provider, but the supplier of all our needs. Just so you know, He’s the on-time Father.”

JUST SO YOU KNOW My Lord is my constant friend, just so you know. And He sits on the throne forever as king. With eyes wide open, He’s always on the go. He sees every need, but bids you always to sing Every need He will supply; you just need to ask. No need is too great, and no request goes unnoticed, For your ears are always on the alert, not one’s missed. Your storehouse is full and suited to every need. The invitation is call! Just so you know.

CHAPTER 8

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

A ccording to Matthew 16:13–17, in one of Jesus’s many discourses with His disciple, He asked a very important question, “Who do men say that I the son of ma n am?” The answers flowed out spontaneously from the disciples, one after the other. Each one was convinced that he would produce the correct answer because each one had been with Jesus long enough to know Him well. Using my imagination, resoundingly, this smart disciple shouted over them all, “I know who you are!” “Some say that thou art John the Baptist: Some, Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14). The surprise that spread over Jesus’s face was quite evident. This is what I imagined He said, “You have articulated your answers very well.” “Yes, that’s what ‘they’ say; However, my question is to you, my disciples who have been walking with me” (Matthew 16:13). The disciples were astounded when they heard Jesus’s firm words. Suddenly Peter came to the rescue. He was known to be the bold one among them. He was undeniably the spokesperson. He had what it took to redeem the others, so he spoke emphatically, “Thou are the Christ the son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). With this reply, Jesus was very pleased. In His recommendation of Peter, He said, “Blessed are thou Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is heaven” (Matthew 16:17). It was enlightening to the disciples when they found out the meaningful identity of Jesus. This goes to prove that we can be walking with persons or even living with them and still do not know whom they truly are. However, it is prudent to know the people who are in your company. More importantly, it is imperative to know who you are, especially in this changing world. Some may think of you in different ways other than what you think of yourself, and it is certain that if you are not optimistic about who you are, you are likely to be affected by what others say or think about you. Not so with Jesus. He knows who He is, and He desires

all his children to know who they are. Some people may even call you names, which in most cases are disturbing; however, with the genuine knowledge of who you are, you will be able to maintain your identity and integrity. You will be able to affirm loudly and with conviction, “I know who I am. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am created in my Father’s image. I am blessed without measure, so I can walk with my head held high.” It is of paramount importance that we maintain our distinctiveness as we encounter our colored experiences in this life. Adhering to his instruction will enable us to become a force to be reckoned with in this world. In my understanding, Jesus was quite aware of who He was when he directed the question to his disciples. Nothing has changed His identity over the years. He declared it emphatically for all, “I am the Lord that is my name and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8). Also recorded in St. John 1:1, 14, He further explained that He was with His Father from the foundation of the world, existing as the word. Then He took on flesh and became a man. This is such a beautiful and educational explanation of who he is. If you are still wondering who Jesus is, Matthew 1:21 paints a vivid picture of who He is and leaves absolutely no room for guessing, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus is our Savior. A young virgin became the mother of our Savior. What a precious gift to Mary and the rest of the world! This was the first memorable and blessed Mother’s Day gift. Jesus is the Son of God, a precious gift to the world. In every era, many occasions present themselves for gifts to be exchanged. This occurrence is not unusual. I had no car to take me back and forth to work. My old car was in shambles, and this challenged my attitude, causing me to bow penitently to an attitude adjustment. This state of mind was quickly readjusted because my daughter came to the rescue. She was leaving college and had saved up enough money with the hope of starting her business. What she did mystified me; nevertheless, I was grateful. When she saw I that I was desperately in need of my own vehicle, she gave me the money to purchase a car. This act of selfless giving made me the happiest person in town.

Yes, Jesus, the Son of God, is the giver of many gifts to individuals; however, He is known to specialize in giving joy to the whole world. The joy, like the one that filled Mary’s heart on this day, made it impossible for her to contain herself. With haste, she packed her traveling bag, and upon the long and dangerous road, she journeyed to share her joy with her favorite cousin, Elizabeth. Luke artistically created a vivid picture, displaying the sheer joy (Luke 1:39–56). The picture could only be compared to any project designed by a famous artist. From his description, I painted my own vivid picture of her journey. The path looped around the corner for miles. Up the hill, she went and then down the dusty, winding path. She crossed the river, hopping on the rugged rocks that formed the bridge. Wiping the dust from her eyes, she crouched to prevent the lingering branches from blocking her path. Every now and then, she stopped to shake the pebbles and sand out of her sandals and then wipe the hot, salty perspiration from her tired, parched brow. She was running, skipping, spitting up, and at times throwing up her hands, not just because she was weary but in thanksgiving for her gift. The difficult trip she took was nothing to be compared to the joy she expressed in Luke 1:46–50.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, she echoed, and my spirit hath rejoice in God of my savior. For He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

This expression of joy would have gotten millions of hits on Facebook and Twitter if they were captured in this day; nevertheless, the creation has an enormous impact on all who are able to visualize this picture. The Creator and giver of joy arrived on the scene nearly two thousand years ago, and He’s still giving joy. It’s like a ripple effect. When He came to Mary, He gave her joy. Mary gave it to Elizabeth, Elizabeth to John, John to his followers, and the disciples to people. Then they it on to us.

The life-giver came to us. It is recorded John 10:10 that He came so we might have life and have it in abundance. The declaration was, everywhere he went, he was doing good. He healed the multitude and preached the message of salvation. When the people heard him, they started walking and talking, as they should. His presence blessed them. The relevant lesson I learned many years ago is that Mary’s son, Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice and joy giver, is known by many names. We use each name as we experience different circumstances in our lives. This was true in the life of Peter’s mother in-law. She was having a high temperature during one of Jesus’s visits. This kept her in bed. Immediately as Jesus saw her suffering, He sprang into action and pronounced healing on her. She arose, full of gratitude, and made him dinner. I’m certain she went about singing, “It could have been the other way, but Jesus is my healer in the room. He is my Jehovah Rapha (healer)!” In relating to this experience, I was just a teenager when I left home. For weeks, I had no job and none in sight. Money was scarce, and the financial obligations were many. As faith would have it, a job offers came in after searching diligently. This was acted out like a play on Broadway, full of drama. You see, I left home under a disguise because if my father were apprised of my intention to vacate the remote area called home, my chance of an opportunity to progress in life would have been delayed and for years. But I took ‘a leap of faith’, as many would articulate when they face challenges. The leap of faith proved worthwhile for me, and I was extended an invitation to sit for an interview at a prestigious prep school. The interview was put on hold because the sister had another engagement on that day. That was a good thing for me. The next day being Monday and the first day of the new school year, I showed up for the job and was told that someone was already employed; however, both of us were going to be put on probation with the specific job description. In a month’s time, the person who mastered the necessary skills would be the one to obtain the position. Jesus was at work on my behalf because I was a country girl coming to work in the big city for the first time. Then came the end of the month. What do you know? I was summoned to the sister’s office. What followed was nothing short of a miracle. The good-news package was delivered to me, and in it I was chosen for the job. And right there,

I was given an increase in salary. Now I had great news to share with my father; however, this news would give him the shock of his life because he had plans for me to pursue a career in nursing. This began my ascent on the ladder of success. The ancient gospel refrain that lingered in my heart and on my lips testified to the fact that Jesus made a way when there was no other way. Yes, Jehovah Jireh is truly my provider. From this experience, I learned that Jesus is the great I AM. He’s not only my bridge over troubled waters, but certainly the God of more than enough. Because of His infinite power, many other descriptive names are attributed to Him. These names are used as we encounter various experiences in life. Among the names are the following:

• Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals • Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner • Jehovah M’Kaddesh, the Lord who sanctifies • Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace • Jehovah Elohim, the Lord our God • Jehovah Tsi Kenu, the Lord our righteousness • Jehovah Rohi, the Lord our shepherd • Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide • Jehovah Shammah, the Lord Jehovah is there

Yes, He is Jesus, the Son of God, whose earthly mom is Mary. He is the one gift with several names, which are all excellent descriptions of who He is and what He does. Among many other names He has, I call him “bridge over troubled water.” Yes, He is Jesus, my bridge over troubled water. As I reflect on his power, I can hear his voice of comfort whispering,

If ever you are weary and worn, my child; if ever you get frustrated and disappointed; or if ever you are tempted and want to give up and retrace your steps, talk to me first about it. My righteous right hand will lift you up from out of the dust where you have fallen. I’m standing by and will never let you give up and die. Always like a bridge over your troubled waters, I will transport you to the other side, renewed and in safety.

If anyone could literally walk across any huge body of water, then there would be no need for a bridge. In the Bible, one person’s name is recorded as being the sole person to successfully walk on water. He didn’t need a man-made bridge, for He Himself is the supernatural bridge for all. He has the ultimate ability to do all things. Not only is He able to walk on water (John 6:19), but He controls the fury of the water. Figuratively compared to the fury of waters are life’s trials. It is highly impossible to depend on our knowledge to deal with or overcome our challenges. Therefore, it is appropriate to solicit the assistance of Jesus to rescue us. He is the one who takes us through our troubled waters. Moses was the leader at that time, and the children of Israel was at the point of breaking when they saw the Egyptian band under their leader, Pharaoh, on their heels. The water was towering over them, and escaping was out of their hands. Like Peter when he tried to walk on water, they needed supernatural help. It was then that they had to call upon God for that help, or they would have been captured and returned to hard tasks in Egypt. If they had attempted to walk across, the raging water would have swallowed them up. Their animals could not help them, and there were no boats or carriages in sight. Undoubtedly, for them on this gloomy day, Jesus was their only bridge over their troubled water. In this scenario, the water depicts the trouble Moses was in. So often trouble invades our lives in different forms. It could be illness, loss of jobs, turbulence, worry, death, tornado, hurricane, rejection, financial deficiencies, divorce, pain, and even frustration. These turbulences wear you down and sometimes cause you to act out of frustration in making the wrong decisions. They dash your soul in pieces and cause tears to rain down your faces in torrents. Then you must

make the desperate call for help during these critical situations. This is true: anyone who asks Jesus for help is never turned down. The only requirement is to ask in faith. In some cases, I had to wait, and that was all right. Waiting continuously brought good result, and it is said, “Wait on the Lord be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). This was the convincing onition. After completing my BA in special education and my MA in correctional special education, I was anxious to pursue a degree in istration and supervision. At first, it seems to be impossible, but then I that Jesus is the bridge over troubled waters. To me, this was the troubled water that I was unable to cross for the following reasons. There was not enough money to cover the cost of tuition; neither did I have the money to pay for transportation or books. My only alternative was to ask for help. Not knowing anyone in the community who was in the position to help me, I turned wholeheartedly to the only permanent help. I refer to Him as my bridge over troubled water. He is the only one whom I know would help me cross over, the only one who I am positive would provide help in every case. His name is Jesus, the God of all possibilities. The assurance in Jeremiah 33:3 was what I relied on. “Call upon me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” After interceding for assistance, help came. God heard my sincere prayer, and He answered. St. Rose was the college that I was going to attend. While here, I pursued my degree in supervision and istration. Within eighteen months after many sleepless nights, horrendous travels, dozens of visits to the library, thousands of research papers, and daily rigorous work, I achieved my degree. This was an achievement that I attained only through Jesus, who made it possible by providing the scholarship. He took me over!

CROSSING OVER: DELIVERED, SET FREE! Glancing back on the Israelites, under Pharaoh’s harsh rule, they were in desperate need of deliverance, and so they cried out. Several occurrences of plagues interrupted the lives of the Egyptians. Many years of waiting and praying by the Israelites broke God’s heart, so He said it was time to terminate the punishment on His children.

But the Red Sea further down the road was waiting to stall the progress in their deliverance. There, in the not too far distance, they came upon the rampant body of water that they thought would swallow then up. Somehow, they forgot that the same bridge, which provided their deliverance from the fury of their taskmasters in Egypt, would never leave them or forsake them. He is always a present help in all troublesome situations because He is the supernatural bridge. At His command, Moses used what he had in his hand, which was his rod, to stretch across the gigantic body of water. Then the tired Israelites went trekking through on dry land. What a miracle! Without any further glitches, they landed on the other side, singing, “Across the bridge there’ll be no sorrow. Across the bridge there’ll be no pain. The sun will shine across the river, and I will never be unhappy again.” Uncertainties were the order of the day for this servant of God. You could feel his pain. As he reminisced on his sad experiences and those of the Israelites, these were the words he echoed, “At times I can’t move forward. At times I can’t go backward. At times I can’t move to the right nor move to the left. For before me there is the Red Sea. And beside me, there are the mountains, and coming behind me is Pharaoh’s army.” To this day, many people are repeating these words due to horrifying experiences with our present-day Pharaohs. Well, I stepped off the plane on a sunny day in April. To say I was thrilled to be going home to visit my aged mom was an understatement. Soon after collecting my luggage, I edged my way in my moderate gait to the main entrance to wait for my daughter, who was ing me on the visit. Although the sun was beaming in my direction, I was so cold that I had to seek out a place where the heat from the sun would wrap around my entire body. Soon after my daughter ed me, and we started the two-hour ride home. Each corner that we turned, the cold temperature was ripping through my body to the point of terrorizing me from head to toe, internally and externally. I longed to be in a bed where I could wrap myself in a warm blanket, but there were many more miles to go. Finally, I reached home. I greeted Mother with hugs and kisses. Then I went to get a warm bath and scrambled into bed. By now I was not only freezing, but the brutal pain in my back was paralyzing me. This pain was so intense that it pulled the tears from my eye well. All the homemade remedies that we tried brought little or no help. At intervals during the night, I was able to close my eyes and

sleep for a few minutes, but too often the intense pain awakened me. By morning the pain was unbearable, so I went to see the doctor in the nearest town. After his keen evaluation, his strict orders dictated that I return home as quickly as possible. The doctor’s suggestion brought some concern that was unparallel; hence, I decided to take his instruction seriously. My daughter bought the ticket, and that next Friday, I was back on a plane headed for home. On reaching the airport upon my return to the United States, that was the nearest point I got to my home on this solemn day. Thanks to the God of more than enough that I got that far alive. From the airport, the next place I ended up was the Hospital at Celebration under the doctor’s watchful eyes. My diagnosis was so serious that within a few days I was again transported by a medical airplane to another hospital to a doctor who was prepared to perform the delicate surgery. Thank God that He is truly the bridge over troubled waters. This water for me was so murky and boisterous that it was only the God of more than enough who delivered me out of it. It was by his direction that I left home alive. It was by His directives that the medical plane was engaged to take me to get the surgery in another hospital. It was His guidance in the operating room why the doctor was able to perform so skillfully to drain the poisonous inflammation from my body, thus preserving my ability to walk and ultimately the ability to enjoy quality life. After lying for six weeks in a post-surgery home confined to a hospital bed, undergoing around-the-clock medical intervention, dosages of medicines of all kinds, and antibiotics to clear up the residues of the inflammation, my health was timely returning. Then there were the odious tasks of physical therapies, arranged visits to various doctor for x-rays, blood tests, and evaluations. These were not easy on my frail body, but what a feeling of certainty that I was with the right bridge, a bridge of hope and the extension of life made possible only by the author of all possibilities. This supernatural bridge is our present help who reigns from everlasting to everlasting. Anyone can benefit from the services He offers. In no way is it only for those who lived in the ancient days; rather He is the bridge for yesterday, today, and forever. This bridge is our God of more than enough who supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory. If you need help, pursue Him with much urgency. He will take you from ill health to perfect health and stability in Him. His desire is that “we prosper and be in health” (3 John 2:2).

Ask me about this bridge who is the God of all possibilities. I can tell you that He is an on-time God who preserved my life after the surgery and now refreshes my soul daily. So along with the 1907 gospel writer, William C. Poole, I sing, “Just when I need Him most, Jesus is there to comfort and cheer, just when I need Him most.” It’s a delight to publish that Jesus has never failed to keep any of His promises in any era. Just as much as He was their refuge and strength, He is ours. He keeps His promise as our present help in trouble. There is no need to fear or be discouraged about how we are going to get over or deal with our challenges, no matter the severity. God’s unchangeable promise is recorded in Malachi 3: 6. “For I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Let’s trust Him! He is our forever bridge over all our troubled waters. He is known as the God of infinite possibilities and most certainly the God who is more than enough.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leila Henry Riley holds a BA in special education, an MA in correctional special education, a diploma in supervision and istration, and certifications in mentoring, victim awareness, and conflict resolution. She is also a certified holistic life coach, motivational speaker, district coordinator for her church, and founder and president of the Leila May’s HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Excellence) Foundation, summer program for children. Leila has authored several articles, poems, short stories, devotionals, and sermons. She currently lives with her sister in Florida.