Continue to plant seeds of love, peace and good cheer! What a man soweth, he also reaps. There is no better feeling than reaping a good harvest! I have enclosed some scriptures below to help you better understand what I’m trying to convey. Most of us know that there’s a flip side too to sowing seed. The bible states it plain! Do good, reap good; do bad and you just might reap just what you sow! So Please, be mindful where you sow, and what you sow. Sowing is more than just money. Sow some kindness and greatness into someone else’s life. There’s no better feeling to hear the words Thank You many of years later from a seed you sowed! That’s what love is all about! Sharing and caring!
Matthew 13:30-35 (ESV) “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. …”
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Psalm 126:6 (ESV) “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
James 5:7 (ESV) “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (ESV) “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”
John 15:1-27 (ESV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. …
Jeremiah 17:8 (ESV) He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Matthew 13:30 (ESV) “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
James 5:7-11 (ESV ) “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Hebrews 13:1-25 (ESV) “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” …
James 2:24 ESV “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
Sowing takes FAITH, and you must believe, and pray to make it happen! Sometimes, it just happens!! That’s the kind of God we serve!
11:33-46 Christ’s tender sympathy with these afflicted friends, appeared by the troubles of his spirit. In all the afflictions of believers he is afflicted. His concern for them was shown by his kind inquiry after the remains of his deceased friend. Being found in fashion as a man, he acts in the way and manner of the sons of men. It was shown by his tears. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Tears of compassion resemble those of Christ. But Christ never approved that sensibility of which many are proud, while they weep at mere tales of distress, but are hardened to real woe. He sets us an example to withdraw from scenes of giddy mirth, that we may comfort the afflicted. And we have not a High Priest who cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. It is a good step toward raising a soul to spiritual life, when the stone is taken away, when prejudices are removed, and got over, and way is made for the word to enter the heart. If we take Christ’s word, and rely on his power and faithfulness, we shall see the glory of God, and be happy in the sight. Our Lord Jesus has taught us, by his own example, to call God Father, in prayer, and to draw nigh to him as children to a father, with humble reverence, yet with holy boldness. He openly made this address to God, with uplifted eyes and loud voice, that they might be convinced the Father had sent him as his beloved Son into the world. He could have raised Lazarus by the silent exertion of his power and will, and the unseen working of the Spirit of life; but he did it by a loud call. This was a figure of the gospel call, by which dead souls are brought out of the grave of sin: and of the sound of the archangel’s trumpet at the last day, with which all that sleep in the dust shall be awakened, and summoned before the great tribunal. The grave of sin and this world, is no place for those whom Christ has quickened; they must come forth. Lazarus was thoroughly revived, and returned not only to life, but to health. The sinner cannot quicken his own soul, but he is to use the means of grace; the believer cannot sanctify himself, but he is to lay aside every weight and hinderance. We cannot convert our relatives and friends, but we should instruct, warn, and invite them.
Verse 35. – Jesus wept. The shortest verse, but one of the most suggestive in the entire Scripture. The great wrath against death is subdued now into tears of love, of sympathy, and of deep emotion. Jesus shed tears of sympathetic sorrow. This is in sacred and eternal refutation of the theory which deprives the incarnate Logos of St. John of human heart and spirit. These tears have been for all the ages a grand testimony to the fullness of his humanity, and also a Diving revelation of the very heart of God (see Isaiah 25:8). It was not aκλαυθμός, as the weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), but profound and wondrous fellow-feeling with human misery in all its forms, then imaged before him in the grave of Lazarus. It is akin to the judicial blindness which has obscured for the Tübingen school so much of the glory of Divine revelation, that Baur should regard this weeping of Jesus as unhistorical.
Jesus wept. As he was going along to the grave, see John 11:28; as he was meditating upon the state of his friend Lazarus, the distress his two sisters were in, and the greater damnation that would befall the Jews then present, who, notwithstanding the miracle, would not believe in him. This shows him to be truly and really man, subject to like passions, only without sin.
35. Jesus wept—This beautifully conveys the sublime brevity of the two original words; else “shed tears” might have better conveyed the difference between the word here used and that twice employed in Joh 11:33, and there properly rendered “weeping,” denoting the loud wail for the dead, while that of Jesus consisted of silent tears. Is it for nothing that the Evangelist, some sixty years after it occurred, holds up to all ages with such touching brevity the sublime spectacle of the Son of God in tears? What a seal of His perfect oneness with us in the most redeeming feature of our stricken humanity! But was there nothing in those tears beyond sorrow for human suffering and death? Could these effects move Him without suggesting the cause? Who can doubt that in His ear every feature of the scene proclaimed that stern law of the Kingdom, “The wages of sin is death” (Ro 6:23), and that this element in His visible emotion underlay all the rest?
Jesus Comforts Martha and Mary
…34and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus wept.36So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”…
Cross References
Luke 19:41
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
John 11:33
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
John 11:34
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV) ” Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
To all of our WIFI family, Friends, and subscribers, we would personally like to take the time to simply say “Thank You” for being a valued individual of ” World In Focus International Ministries“. I just wanted you all to know that this past 18 month journey I’ve been on with the passing of my Father, and all of the residual drama left behind caused a temporary distraction to my personal and spiritual life, not allowing me to focus on the things of God, and resulting in some of our modalities of our online ministry to be neglected. There were times that we were not able to answer your calls, prayer requests, emails, etc. I make no excuses and want to let you all know that life will throw you some curve balls that you had absolutely nothing to do with or asked for.
The bible only instructed us to honor our PARENTS and love them as instructed in the book of Exodus 20:12, which reads as follow: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
Nevertheless, all I went through and is still going through, I do believe that it’s a part of the plan God has for my life!!! This bible didn’t say to honor our parents if they did everything right or wrong. It just instructs us to honor them. That is why I accepted the assignment, dropped everything in my life to help take care of and see after my Father. I did exactly what my father asked me to do from the goodness of my heart. When you love someone, there is nothing too much you could give to them.. You will drop everything, no matter what inconvenience it could cost you. I want to remind someone that in this life, we get one shot, and one shot only! We get one set of biological parents to love, so I have no regrets. The good part is, through it all, I survived, and I’m much stronger in my faith and my walk with God!!
When trying times come in our lives, lean on God’s word that is being released into the atmosphere. I just thank God for various online ministries that imparted into my life when I was so low until all I could get was an online word. I was and still is today, being fed by some of the finest Pastors on this land. When you are in a very dry place, you need others to pray for you, stand with you, and to love on you until your personal and spiritual health has been restored (restoration). Nevertheless, I stood on the word of God, and believed him for the things I did not understand. The guidance that was being deposited into my life was priceless..
Nevertheless, my Father preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and carried the great message of FAITH and GRACE everywhere he went. I want everyone to know that he fought a good fight, and he kept the faith and he finished his course on December 22, 2013. Although, he is gone, what he deposited spiritually into my spirit can’t be bought.. I’m honored that my Father chose and trusted me enough to be his Power Attorney over his life to make many vital medical decisions when he got to the point where he was unable to do for himself, or make his own medical decisions. He knew that we were on the same spiritual FAITH wave link, and I would stand and believe with him for his healing, and carry out the final wishes he wanted to take place in the final chapter of his life. All five wishes were granted. I even managed to make contact with his son that he had not seen since he was 33-years-old. My brother and I both alike are the same age with him being one month older than I, and he has a different mother. It happened in God’s timing. I remember laying in the hospital, and something told me to check my messages, and low and behold when I did there was a message from my brother’s caretaker saying that she would love for my Dad to see his son. The connection was made, and I gave her the information from a hospital where I was being held against my will.
At this time, I was no longer allowed at bedside with my Dad because there was a big confrontation that broke out between the new attending physician and myself who took it upon himself to verbally change my father’s final five wishes, which my Father chose to exercise his faith and do everything possible to keep him alive until the Lord called him home… See, man wanted to plant in his head to go ahead and be a (DNR) do not resuscitate in the case he stopped breathing as they removed him from the ventilator before my very eyes with security standing around me and an irate nurse who had a problem with me asking this physician: “WHAT PART OF MY DAD’S ADVANCE DIRECTIVES DIDN’T HE UNDERSTAND?” From there, everything went downhill after the nurse jumped in my face and their hospital security forcefully threw me out of the hospital after they let me watch respiratory therapy unhook him from the ventilator and all the machines that he did not need anyways because he was already in the palm of the hands of the Lord. It was just a matter of it being his appointed time. So they said I could not return to the hospital because I disrespected the physician. Not in all of my years in the medical field, had I ever heard of anything so assigning. I was the one being disrespected and my Dad’s written advance directives were not being honored and I was livid. They knew that I would enforce my Dad’s last testaments which is called “Advance Directives” that the patient choose how they want to be treated in their final days and all of their wishes are carried out, and my job as a daughter first, and then his appointed Power of Attorney was to give my DAD what he wanted, and that was to exercise his faith down to his last breath. He just asked to be made comfortable with meds. It was a real nightmare, unheard of that a doctor would step in and try and change someone’s advance directives. It was my Dad’s choice to believe that God was going to heal him. Even after they took him off of the ventilator he lived another 30 days, and long enough to receive one final visit from his son, and even so, my brother was given the opportunity to attend his Father’s funeral. I did not attend the funeral because I just was not strong enough at the time; I was broken!!
Nevertheless, all I went through was worth it, because my Dad was not going to leave this land until what he asked for was fulfilled, and God’s will was done in his life.
I want to encourage someone and let them know that God has the final say over our lives, not man! The bible says we shall live out until our appointed time, and he did that with or without me being at his bedside. After which, I called to the hospital throughout the the night to see how my father was doing, only to be treated nasty by various nurses and staff that answered the phones. The next day, the director of the hospital (Mary Ann Patton) told me the next day that she instructed the staff to hang up in my face, which was wrong on all levels even to treat a dog in that manner that was losing their parent. I was grieving. Then the next day, I received a call from that same director of the hospital who stood at my Father’s bedside , and put him on the phone for me to talk to him, and all I could ask my Dad was: “why didn’t you protect your advance directives or me? His final words: “I DON’T KNOW!” I began to weep uncontrollably, because I did what my Dad had asked me to do before he became unable to care for himself. He signed the notarized document which was witnessed by two other people, and his advance directives should have been honored. I told my Dad, if he ever want to check that (DNR) box, that was his right too, and I would have supported him in anyway he wanted the final chapter of his life to end..
So now, in the next hour, I get a knock upon my door, and it was our local Irvine police, saying they were called by the Hospital in Torrance where my Dad was slowly transitioning, asked them to come out and check on me… #really??? I open the door and said: good afternoon officers, may I help you? Then they began to say how the hospital director was worried about me, but they saw I was at ease because I had heard my Father’s voice, which would be the final time ever that I would hear or see him again. I never had a problem with him dyeing, because my bible tells me that when we get to heaven we all will get a new glorified body, and if we live right down here on this earth, we will see our loved one’s again. That is my Dad’s teachings, straight from the bible which often rolled off the fruit of his lips. Daddy was a real praiser by the way!!!
The police went away for two hours, and then returned to my house again, and said they were just checking on me. I noticed this time, every time I tried to go inside my home, one officer just kept talking to me, and again, I was ok, because I had heard my Dad’s voice and I was so happy that he did not expire that night even after being induced into a comma prior to, which I signed the papers authorizing them to induce him into a comma at certain hours of the day so his body could rest. My Dad was very feeble as they removed him from the ventilator, but I was at ease because I knew God was in control of his life… It was never I, but God working all the time. I am certain that Dr. was so wrong on so many levels, but was so right that “your” services, (meaning me) were no longer needed and said that my Dad was capable of making his own decisions. At this point it was evident that none of our services were needed, he was slowly transitioning. It would have been in their best interest to just leave good enough alone since he was going to die anyways, but just not when they wanted him too. He was very adamant about exercising his faith. His faith in God brought him his last final wish, and that was to see his child.. It happened!!
After the Irvine police tricked me and entertained me for over two hours, there drives up the Torrance Police cop car to my house with Irvine police standing back watching as the officer from Torrance jumps out of his cop car, threw me down on the ground in a short dress and no shoes on and began pouncing on me in front of my child who was 10-year-old at the time. He claimed, I resisted arrest, when all I was doing was trying to get my shoes which were at the door as I was being rushed with excessive force which equates to police brutality that I did not deserve. He never read me my rights or said what I did wrong. Later on I was told that the nurse told a lie, and said the night before, I called the hospital floor and talked to her and said I was going to get her. I never said anything of that nature, and to this day, no phone records were produced by this hospital with me saying such, but the Torrance police drove 50 miles to Irvine, CA on a lie, and hearsay with no proof. All hell broke loose from there after I was arrested for only carrying out my Father’s Advance Directives. Of note, someone cut my car tires with a blade that I took over to the Torrance police department a few days before the main incident, and filed a report with them to pull the surveillance video to see who had vandalize my car at that same hospital. To this date, no surveillance camera video from the valet services were produced to address my complaint, but the nurse who I don’t have a clue what she looked like would get prompt services from that same officer that took my police report and said he would help me find out who vandalized my car at the hospital. He was the same officer who took my report , but brought with him the baddest corrupt cop he could find to beat the living daylights out of me for nothing. Once at the station, the same police officer who came to my home with about 10 more officers dressed in hazmat suits came into my cell, put a bag over my head backwards, and rushed me, and I was already on the ground, which I had been there sitting over 2 hours. In my mind, I was thinking, what chance did I have against 10 police officer and one was videotaping the whole ordeal as that same cop who brutally attacked me in front of the Irvine police at my home, took the lead again and it was all she wrote. I could have been killed. The cop thought he would try and finish me off. What he did not know was I have had to fight the enemy all of my life for no reason at all. The other nine officers backed off, and it was just he and I, and I gave it all I had if I was going to die and I did not care. They did all of that, just to put me in a chair that looked like an electrocuting type chair on wheels, only to wheel me over to the fingerprinting station. Surely, I could have peacefully walked over there without being rushed by 10 officers. Then after which, the ambulance team shows up and they transferred me to Harbor General hospital where my Dad’s ex fiance who stuck by his side every step of the way, and she knew my story, would later on be my nurse at the hospital where I found favor. What were my odds of being taken to a random hospital and be cared for by my Dad’s fiance. She literally fed me, bathed me, and called my oldest son to let him know that I was ok and I was in her care. Then later, I would be transferred back to an Orange County Hospital where I was there for almost 2 1/2 weeks, after I had been assaulted and punched in the face by the light skin african american cop who violated me at my home and the police station. The hospital took pictures of all of my scars, wounds and bruises, which I have the pictures in my possession. Only God can make a person like me look so good after being so brutally abused for no reason at all.
After I got home, I found out that the nurse had the audacity to file a restraining order on me that I could not answer because I was in the hospital, and to top it off, the Torrance police sends me a letter after I was released from the hospital, saying there is a warrant for my arrest. Of note, I did not ask to leave the jail to go to the hospital. They took it upon themselves to let me go, and the doctor released me to home. After which, I was not going to the Torrance police station ever for no peaceful surrender. I later would have to contact an attorney, and I did not stop until I got the answers I needed to be free. They instructed me that I could surrender to any city police station, and I did, and it was about a 30 minute process, posted bail and I was on my way, and have been on my way every since, free! One attorney told me that I was facing 14 years in prison for what I did. What did I do? I cared for my Father. To this date all charges were dropped but I’m not satisfied because no justice was served to the hospital, the wicked doctor or the cop who brutally beat me. I want justice but I could not live out a trial, for what they said. So I took the lil deal and that was 150 hours of community service, and 52 counseling sessions. For what? Should I have been treated like a dog for doing good, and what I was asked to do. I want to sue these organizations so bad, but it was so painful and I could not find a good attorney to help me, and to this date, it puzzles me, why did I have to go through all of this? Never had a prior record, and had never been in trouble with the law ever, and all of a sudden I’m a criminal for carrying out my Father’s final 5 wishes. To this date, I do not know what this nurse looks like or would I be able to identify her even the next day.. The nurse was not my concern or my business. I was only concerned about my Dad and his well being.
So, even when we do a good deed for others, you never know what lessons you may have to learn or what God may want to teach you in the process. I learned “LOVE” on a new level. Lets just say, I got the unexpected, and today, I’m still standing tall with a smile on my face as I blog this inspiration to the world. There is a message above in the scripture: Exodus 20:12, and I did my part. See, I hear God speaking loudly saying to someone today other than myself: NO CROSS, NO CROWN!!!!
There is a cross for all of us, no one is exempt. Most of us think we should always be up and no trials will ever come. Wrong, they will come, but the good thing is knowing how to deal with them when they do. That is why it is so important to build our lives on a solid foundation so when the wind blows, your house may crack, and things may shut down but know it’s still nothing besides what Jesus went through. They made him carry his own cross. They beat him; they talked about him; they nailed him to that old rugged cross so you can I can know that we too can take it, and just like Jesus, after he carried his cross, they pierced him in the side and the precious blood came streaming down, but he never said a mumbling word. Sometimes we just have learn how to be quiet and let Jesus fight our battles. What they did not know is that Jesus had all power in his hands to do exceedingly, and abundantly to come up off of his cross if he wanted too, but he said in John 2:19 “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” Jesus, he did just what he said he would do from the 6th to the 9th hour and he got up one Sunday morning with all power in his hands.
It took me longer to get back to you all, because after being misused, lied on, talked about, literally beat down , then could not see my Father the last 30 days of his life was painful, but I kept the faith, and I carried my cross. No it did not feel good, but in the end God fixed it all. God is just sitting back waiting on us to believe that he can do anything but fail. He is able to turn your life around and fix everything that seem so impossible. We will encounter situations that will break in our earthly house and vessels, but if we learn to lean on our eternal father, Jesus who is able to do anything but fail. I’m going to say it again: “Things will break”. Just like a good looking car with a perfect outer body, breaks down too, and when it does, you may find yourself stopped in your tracks, distracted and even frustrated. Just relax, it’s a normal reaction. The good part is, there’s an expert mechanic waiting somewhere to fix your internal problems that you had nothing do with it. I can hear someone saying, well I followed the recommended manual that came with the car, and you did everything you were required to do to keep it running right, but it still did not stop it from breaking down. You changed the oil, you took the car in for a major servicing, and sometimes I even gave it a tune up and put new spark plugs in it, just so it could be dependable on the road. No matter what situation you find yourself in, God is still there. I’ve been in church all my life, I love the Lord with all my heart, I have professed Jesus Christ to be center of my life, but I heard God say: I want to give you some fresh oil, a new burning desire to serve and love me even the more.. I tell you, I thought I had a relationship with God before this ordeal… If I didn’t, I promise you, I do now! I’ve never felt so close to God, because he is close to the person that is broken hearted. All he want us to do is surrender everything for him, and let his will be done in our lives. Sometimes he just wants see if we will remain faithful, and still serve and praise his Holy Name when the road gets rough… You can rest assure he will NEVER leave you alone!!!
I want you to know, just like the Lord did it for me these past 18 months, he can do it for you too! I want to encourage someone and let them know that there is nothing to hard for our God to solve. Our God is faithful, and he waits on us until we are ready. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ever ask or think.. Stop right here, take a deep breath, and just shout out his precious name: “JESUS!”
Remember this when you’re going through: “NO CROSS, NO CROWN!!” I know someone is wondering why must we bear our cross alone? See, there is a cross for everyone and I know there is a cross for me; however, after you have bared your cross, and you stood the test of time, God has a crown waiting on you and I!!!
Love you all so much!! Please continue to keep me and my family in prayer as we resolve unfinished business left behind from my Father’s estate. God is able to fix that situation too!!!
I believe!!!!
Oh yeah, p.s.: Just wanted to share with you all that the precious Lord Jesus allowed me to see another year.. Yes, “APRIL” is my birthday month, and the Lord allowed me to see another year on April 11.. I tell you, I am so grateful and thankful for my life!!! I’ve been celebrating all month long, with family and friends.. I feel like I should celebrate for the rest of my life, after all the hell I’ve been through.. But I am a realist, and until the end of the month, I’m going out of my way to do great things that would deem sufficient this entire month. I just want the world to know that it is ok to celebrate your life, your accomplishments, and celebrate the things you have overcome!!! I’m out family, and I just wanted to let somebody know that with God, all things are possible if we just believe!!! The most important part is that my FAITH is strong, and the sun is shining again in my life because we serve a God of light!!! “Happy Birthday” is in order!! #life #celebrate
Here is an inspirational song that blessed my soul when I was going through… I hope you listen up and be blessed… #sang #vickie
The number one general question most single mothers are asked by their child before the age of 10-years-old is: “Mommy, where is my Daddy? It’s unfortunate that at the time the question is being asked there is possibly no answer.
On the other hand, when you take your child to their pediatrician, the ultimate question you are quite frequently asked when you have a child ranging from an infant-to-10-years-old is: Is your child up-to-date with their vaccinations? Why do they ask? I’m glad you asked? See, getting your child vaccinated on time will help protect him or her against 15 vaccine- preventable diseases and build up their immune system.
Well, the same way the vaccines build up a child’s immune system, a good mother is on the other hand thinking of 15 different ways to survive to raise, feed and clothe her child alone while their character and identity are being built in those impressionable years of their life from 0-10-years old. Whether you realize it or not, those first ten years of life are so essential.
As I sat on yesterday with great joy with the three women that I spent the first 10-years of my life with before I met my father at the age of 10-years-old, I felt like my life had made a complete circle and some and brought me back to a place and reminded me when there was only momma and my two sisters. I was truly an impressionable lad. My mom was always active in her church and community and always teaching us about the Lord and how he delivered her from a bad marriage and how she overcame the death of her 4-year-old son that was tragically killed by a drunk driver. The struggle was real for her, but she made it all look so easy. My oldest sister was 11-years-older than I and she was always like a 2nd mother to me. She is and always will be our Educational Specialist in the family. She was the example of example for girls of her time. Smart, ambitious, intelligent, and just so beautiful from the inside out in every way. She was a high school cheerleader, she worked at the hospital as a secretary when she was a teen and she helped my mom with us. She would cook for us, take us shopping and made sure we were up-to-date in our dress, and she always made school look easy. I was taking notes. Then that big day came and she was getting ready to leave us at 17 or 18-years-old off to a brand new world in Brentwood, CA where she would be admitted into one of the finest colleges in the country (UCLA) where she went on to get her degree in economics landing a phenomenal career in banking where the girl was awesome with that all mighty dollar. I was watching.. She became the best mentor any young girl could possibly have to this very day. We were then exposed to new people, new adventures and great opportunities through people she would introduce us to. The girl had me at 11-years-old, my mom and my sister selling Amway Finest products and we did good! She even inspired my mom to further her education and I remember my mom and my oldest sister both graduating from college in the 70’s. My mother got her degree in Child development and went on and was determined to get them Real Estate license and she has she has been a Realtor approximately 40 years and a retired-school nurse. My mommy even sold my son his first house where she now resides in an upscale community. I’m not bragging, but I”m trying to paint a clear picture of the single home I came from. I have not even got a word in yet about my middle sister who is so dear to me too. She is responsible for that hair, makeup, fashion and she also is an Educated sister with her Masters in Business Administration. She help SPOIL all the children in our immediate maternal side of our family down to my grandchildren and she is my youngest son Justin’s God mommy. I mean the best in the world!! No exaggeration.
I am truly on an amazing journey and I just wanted to share with a single parent or parent that may be struggling with the first question I ask in my opening. Don’t worry or stress about it, give it God, do your part and let God have his way in you and your child’s life. See, the bible gives us instructions in Proverbs 22:6, and it reads
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” It’s simple and it’s true. God made all the difference in our lives. Just because your life does not seem perfect like everyone else, it’s still doable and you can make it!!!
I said all that to say this as I just wrote an insert for my book and life story: “Let My Baby Live” which will be filled with inspirations throughput my almost 50-year journey. Just because you don’t come from the traditional home, does not mean you cannot be a successful person. It took 10-years for me to accidentally run into my Father coming out of cleaners in North Long Beach, CA and our story began from there which was another unforgettable journey that entailed 38-years of my life up to his passing in 2013 that literally took my world apart. Little children need their Fathers too if at all possible.
However, the real journey was where it was at on yesterday with them “Bolden” sisters and Mother Bolden. That’s where it all began for a little old average girl like me!!!
That’s all I will release on today, but this story of my life is truly amazing, and it have not always been easy but it has been what God ordained for my life!!!
Zechariah 13:6 (KJV) “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.”
Proverbs 27:6 (NIV) “Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
I just wanted to share a word of encouragement with all of our WiFI Subscribers, Family and Friend’s.
The word of God tells us that those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends (Brethren) Zechariah 13:6. But the word also tells us that faithful are the wounds of a friend Proverbs 27:6. So, all the times we are being wounded on this earth, we have to view it as coming from God, because if He’s allowing it, them, him or her to proceed with whatever is going on, then He is using it to get the glory. Sometimes we have to give up what we think we know is right and embrace the lesson, no matter who is delivering it. Change is good and most of my change came from God using those closest to me to wound me, abandon me, discard, discount, rebuke, dispute, clown, embarrass and treat me in ways I could never imagine treating an enemy… Nevertheless, it was all for my good. What it taught me is, if I can examine (look at closely) what someone is telling me or showing me – HONESTLY, removing SELF out of the equation and ASK God “What are you teaching me? Show me, Holy Spirit” Watch His revelation. And I know that you know: NO PAIN- NO GAIN! Stay encouraged and remember that you don’t have to prove a point to anyone, just stay true to God… We are to be the Salt of the earth (different in every way!)
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.16 By their fruit you will recognize them.Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
◄ Mark 12:31 ►
Parallel Verses
New International Version
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
New Living Translation
The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
English Standard Version
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
New American Standard Bible
“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
King James Bible
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
“The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
International Standard Version
The second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
NET Bible
The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
GOD’S WORD® Translation
The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Jubilee Bible 2000
And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
King James 2000 Bible
And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
American King James Version
And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
American Standard Version
The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the second is like to it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
Darby Bible Translation
And a second like it [is] this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is not another commandment greater than these.
English Revised Version
The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Webster’s Bible Translation
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: there is no other commandment greater than these.
Weymouth New Testament
“The second is this: ‘Thou shalt love thy fellow man as thou lovest thyself.’ “Other Commandment greater than these there is none.”
World English Bible
The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Young’s Literal Translation
and the second is like it, this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; — greater than these there is no other command.’
Parallel Commentaries
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
12:28-34 Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for men’s transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power except as they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Saviour, and as they led to moral obedience. And because we have not thus loved God and man, but the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy. Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 31. – Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. God is to be loved above everything – above all angels, or men, or any created thing. But after God, amongst created things, our neighbor is above all to be loved. And we are to extend to our neighbor that kind of love with which we love ourselves. Our love of ourselves is not a frigid love, but a sincere and ardent love. In like manner we should love our neighbour, and desire for him all those good things both for the body and for the soul that we desire for ourselves. This is what our Lord himself teaches us. “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, even so do unto them.” There is none other commandment greater than these. St. Matthew (Matthew 22:40) says, “On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the prophets.” There is no commandment greater than these, because all the precepts of the Divine Law are included in them. So that our Lord here teaches us that we ought continually to have these two precepts in our minds and before our eyes, and direct all our thoughts and words and actions by them, and regulate our whole life according to them.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And the second is like,…. “Unto it”, as in Matthew 22:39 and so it is read here in two ancient copies of Beza’s, and in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions;
namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. This commandment stands in Leviticus 19:18 and respects not an Israelite only, or one of the same religion with a man’s self, or his intimate friend and acquaintance, or one that lives in the same neighbourhood; but any man whatever, to whom affection should be shown, and good should be done to him, and for him, as a man would have done to and for himself; as much as lies in his power, both in things temporal and spiritual; see the note on Matthew 22:39.
There is none other commandment greater than these; in the whole law, moral or ceremonial; not the sabbath, nor circumcision, nor the phylacteries, nor the fringes on the borders of the garments, nor any other.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
31. And the second is like—”unto it” (Mt 22:39); as demanding the same affection, and only the extension of it, in its proper measure, to the creatures of Him whom we thus love—our brethren in the participation of the same nature, and neighbors, as connected with us by ties that render each dependent upon and necessary to the other.
Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself—Now, as we are not to love ourselves supremely, this is virtually a command, in the first place, not to love our neighbor with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. And thus it is a condemnation of the idolatry of the creature. Our supreme and uttermost affection is to be reserved for God. But as sincerely as ourselves we are to love all mankind, and with the same readiness to do and suffer for them as we should reasonably desire them to show to us. The golden rule (Mt 7:12) is here our best interpreter of the nature and extent of these claims.
There is none other commandment greater than these—or, as in Mt 22:40, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (see on [1485]Mt 5:17). It is as if He had said, “This is all Scripture in a nutshell; the whole law of human duty in a portable, pocket form.” Indeed, it is so simple that a child may understand it, so brief that all may remember it, so comprehensive as to embrace all possible cases. And from its very nature it is unchangeable. It is inconceivable that God should require from his rational creatures anything less, or in substance anything else, under any dispensation, in any world, at any period throughout eternal duration. He cannot but claim this—all this—alike in heaven, in earth, and in hell! And this incomparable summary of the divine law belonged to the Jewish religion! As it shines in its own self-evidencing splendor, so it reveals its own true source. The religion from which the world has received it could be none other than a God-given religion!
Mark 12:31 Additional Commentaries
The Greatest Commandment
30 ANDlj YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31″The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;…
Cross References
Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Mark 12:32
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
Treasury of Scripture
And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Leviticus 19:13 You shall not defraud your neighbor, neither rob him…
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatever you would that men should do to you, …
Matthew 19:18,19 He said to him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall …
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:27,36,37 And he answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with all …
Romans 13:8,9 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves …
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs …
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall …
James 2:8-13 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall …
1 John 3:17-19 But whoever has this world’s good, and sees his brother have need, …
1 John 4:7,8,21 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one..
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Every since I made the decision, and literally gave away the keys to God’s house, there has been no real peace in MY life…Yes, we still have EVERYTHING in tact, and yes we do outreach ministry daily, and yes we are still prospering and in good health for the most part, etc, but there’s still a void in my life that I just cannot fill… Yes, I love my online / outreach ministry at World In Focus International Ministries (WIFI), it is excellent, and many lives have and are being changed and are being blessed, and lives are being changed as we speak. I know because we read all the mail, emails, and answer the calls, and listen to the voicemails, so we know that souls around the world are being saved, inspired and souls are being led to Christ with what we are sharing nation wide.. The written word or the Lord, and Inspirations.
However, it’s just not like the 4-wall-experience we were use to having at 2nd Corinthian Ministries, Inc., founded by my Father, the late Rev. J.E. Thomas. I must confess, that I have not found a church I really like or have my desires been met since I made the wrong decision that led to the doors being closed.. I have no one to blame but myself for trusting someone else with the key to what God placed in our hands. Yes, I have repented and asked God for his forgiveness for the decision I made… I’m not sure how to fix it, but I know God can if it’s in his will… I do know that God’s work and legacy must go on, and we will continue to do his will with the platform we’ve been given.. When I asked for a church January 1, 2015, I really literally meant that… I told God, I don’t need a house on the hill, or a butler or a driver, or any material things… Just give me Jesus and let me do his will…
This is why the devil is fighting me so hard, because he knows if I ever got my hands on what’s rightfully mine, I would use it to build up God’s Kingdom… I can’t cry over spilled milk, but in God’s timing it will happen again with the prayers of the righteous..
From this day forward, I’m placing the problem that torments me in your hands, and Yes Lord, I hear you speaking loud and clear on tonight, and I’m listening..
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) : “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
James 1:5 (ESV): “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 3:6 (ESV) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
When our family, friends or someone we love and care about deeply transitions, it is never an easy process. Nevertheless, it should make the process easier to accept, find peace and comfort in knowing if they were saved and accepted “Jesus C.hrist” as their personal savior that they are at home safe in the arms of God.
We should rejoice and celebrate their life because in God’s word it tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
The apostle Paul appears to tell us that something better than our current lives, namely being in the presence of God, awaits us after death, when we depart from our bodies.
In the natural, it’s still rough for most of us to process, and for some, it takes a little time, but eventually we will get there. It seems like as soon as we accept one death, there goes another and it seems to never stop, convincing me that you must be ready when God calls your name!
We bring you greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior “Jesus Christ”‼️ We pray blessings of good health, longevity, and prosperity in every area of your life.
We realize with a humble and grateful heart that many loved ones and friends did not make it to see #2015, but we are so glad and thankful to God that each of you reading this post made it to see the year of #2015! “Happy New Year and God bless you all royally!
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come❗️
This song that we’ve enclosed has blessed so many people around the world – I woke up with a one track mind singing with great joy: “I’m so glad I made it!”
So glad I made it,
I made it through
In spite of the storm and rain, heartache and pain
Still I’m declaring
That I made it through
See, I didn’t lose
Experience lost at a major cost
But I never lost faith in you
So if you see me cry,
It’s just a sign that I’m
I’m still alive
I got some scars, but I’m still alive
In spite of calamity,
He still has a plan for me
And it’s working for my good
And it’s building my testimony
So glad I made it,
I made it through
In spite of the storm and rain, heartache and pain
I’m still alive to say
I made it through
I didn’t lose
Experienced lost at a major cost,
But I never lost faith in you
I’m so glad I made it
So glad I made it
I made it thru
I made it thru
So glad I made it
So glad I made it
I made it thru
I made it thru
Oohh,
So glad I made it
So glad I made it
I made it thru
Ooohhh, so if you see me cry
It’s just a sign that I’m, I’m still alive
I got some scars, but I’m still alive
In spite of calamity
He still has a plan for me
It’s working out …..
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