Questions for the Mother of Jesus

1. Did Jesus every tell you the names of the stars?
2. Did you ever call Jesus YHWH on purpose just to see if He would respond?
3. Did Jesus ever talk to you about Isaiah 7:14? Did He ever thank you?
4. Did Jesus ever prophesy over you?
5. What was it like when the wise men and their entourage showed up at your door? How did it feel to get unexpected, expensive gifts? What did your neighbors ask you about them showing up? How did you respond? Did you tell them Jesus was God?
6. How did Jesus react to girls liking Him while He was growing up?
7. Did you ask Jesus if He knew Joseph would die? Was He acting differently the weeks leading up to it?
8. How did you tell Jesus’ siblings He was God? Did you?
9. Did Jesus ever get lost?
10. How did Jesus meet people? Did He ever forget people’s names?
11. Was Jesus good at every activity? Was there anything He wasn’t the best at?
12. At the market was Jesus good at bartering for fair prices?
13. What were family dynamics like? Did Jesus make sure no one was left out? On outings was He always cheerful, talkative and fun?
14. Was Jesus introverted or extroverted? Did He spend the majority of time alone?
15. How did Jesus display humility as a child? Did He always invite outcasts home for dinner? Did He take punishments from you even when He didn’t disobey?
16. Did Jesus play music? Did He write songs? Were they about the Throne? Or the nature of the Father? Did He sing silly, improvisational songs?
17. Did Jesus collect anything? What was He fascinated with? Or did earthly treasures never interest Him?
18. Was Jesus a good cook? Did He know the way all the spices would work together?
19. Was Jesus the best carpenter in Nazareth? Did He make tables perfectly?
20. How did Jesus react to violence and anger?

Live Lovely

Sin has gripped humanity where outburst of rage and verbal abuse is the norm. There is a decline in the dignity that a human being holds to not live off of emotions and the heat of the moment. Life is consumed by comparison of one’s life versus another. Usually that other comes from tabloids, magazines and gossip television shows boasting of extravagant, self-indulgent lifestyles. In the abundance of excess, where is the heart refreshed? Where is the soul exhilarated? Where is the mind set on things above? Momentary, passing pleasures don’t satisfy. They seem inviting, a solution to the ache of excitement yet increases the longing for more. It’s a hole that doesn’t seem to be filled. A missing piece of an intricate, complex puzzle.


I’ve found the remedy.

Listen. Incline your ear to the rhythm of running. His name is Jealous Jealousy, He’s an all-consuming fire and He won’t stop pursuing His beloved ones who have strayed. No longer will He allow His bride to run after other lovers. The first commandment must return to first place.

Idol worship doesn’t exist just because this is the 21st century. Look at the monuments built to food; our god is in our belly. Consume, devour and supersize. A constant dulling of the spirit, consistent scrambling to satisfy. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5.6) Hunger, longing, fasting, praying, devotion, seeking for more. The bride is obese, no pangs of hunger found in her. She has indulged herself far beyond recognition. It’s time to fast, Church. It’s time to mourn. It’s time to be poor in spirit. It’s time to come face to face with the depravity of human vigor and strength. Oh our frame is but dust yet pride mitigates the true nature of our being.

What about the temples built to our bodies? Millions of dollars spent on clothes. Extra clothes to fill closets to the brim. Hours upon hours wasted wandering up and down streets and through malls lusting over garments to that make us feel better about ourselves because clearly there isn’t enough. There’s never enough. We want more, more, more. Filling and numbing and searching. It’s not a hobby, it’s not a fun pastime, it’s an obsession. It’s an addiction where we’ll even watch shows about it. It’s a waste of precious time. Are we asking the Lord what He thinks about the hours wasted? Are we sensitive to the Spirit on hundreds of dollars being spent?

How will the cry, “Marantha!” ever go out if the bride is perfectly content with weak prayer, prosperity messages, another round of grace for everyone and a completely culture dictated lifestyle? I thought this world wasn’t our home. Aren’t we pilgrims, sojourners passing through on our way to Zion? Why is the bride completely unrecognized in the eyes of society? Kindness is great to show to our neighbors, but why isn’t Jesus preached? Why does it all have to be so anonymous and inoffensive? If it’s not Jesus, it’s not justice.

There’s only one way, one truth, one life, one door to the Father and that’s through Jesus. Not Buddha, not Mohammad, not the Virgin Mary, not good deeds alone. It’s Jesus. He’s the only way to God. We need a right perspective of this Man.

He’s the very nature of the zealous Father of lights who loves to give good gifts to His children. Jesus needs to have preeminence once more. Christ and Christ alone preached in the churches and sung in our worship. It only comes from time in the secret place, tucked away from the eyes of man. It comes in the mundane life of an obedient lover who’s yes is weak and small, but it’s so sincere and moves the heart of God. To linger in the presence of the Lover of the soul should be the best part of the day. We should pant for this time with Him like a deer pants for water. It’s in the Word that we find refreshment, it needs to be our getaway. Sunday morning shouldn’t be the only time in communion with Jesus. Before meals and tests can’t be the only time to pray to the Creator of all.

Eternal glory rests upon this life. Proximity to Jesus forever is determined by this age. Do we truly mourn for Him? Are we truly undone by the fact that Jesus isn’t walking in the midst of us ruling and reigning in righteousness? If Jesus wasn’t in Heaven, would we even be bothered by that?

It’s about Jesus. He’s the very picture of the nature of God. And He is also the very picture of humanity’s image to God. Once saved, we’re clothed in the righteousness of Christ. It’s time to put on our heavenly garments and live lovely. To know we’re enjoyed by God, to know we aren’t condemned by God because of past failures. We repent, move on and delight in the Father delighting in us. For we are the prize of all creation, the joy set before Jesus to endure the pain of the cross. It’s time to live lovely, out of the overflow of being alive to God and dead to sin.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) Live lovely and all else will fall in line.

Bennington Ave Roomates

Dream from the Father

This is a dream I had on November 21, 2010

The man had Xerox copies of all my tattoos on the table; each one zoomed in, concise and clear. He had a tender heart towards me like a father to his daughter and invited me to sit with him. In his hand was a giant magnifying glass and he was scouring over each one right in front of me. The flaws glaring. It made me uncomfortable, I was oblivious the permanent fixtures on my body were so obviously imperfect.

We talked for a while about why I had chosen each tattoo. He asked me, Would you like them to be touched up. I responded with the most truthful answer I could muster up, I would, but I have no money. He smiled silently yet sweetly  waiting for me to continue, wanting me to ask him if he would pay for it. I thought to myself how could I ever ask a complete stranger to throw down hundreds of dollars for me. So I proceeded to skirt around the question, I heard there were tattoo artists at IHOP that give discounts, do you know of any of them? Another smile from the man with kind eyes.

A young man walked up to the table and started looking at the Xerox papers over his shoulder. The man introduced him, This is Joe, I’ve mentored him for a while. He’s an artist. Turning to Joe, What do you think, Joe? Can you fix them for free? Joe looked at me, Yes, gladly.

Suddenly all three of us were outside in a parking lot. I was turning to leave and the older man turned to me, Would you? I didn’t understand what he was asking me. He said, Joe just asked if he could pursue you. He’s still going to fix your tattoos whether or not you say yes. There was a twinkle in his eye as he waited for me to respond to Joe’s question. I turned to Joe, Sure, I’d like that.

Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1 I have nothing, there isn’t a thing I could do to obtain the gift of being refined. The Father offered up His Son for my liberty. He set captivity captive by passing through death that I may live blameless. The seemingly permanent blemishes in my character can be fixed for free. To allow Jesus to romance me not because He demands it from me as prerequisite to life, but because He wants to. The Father sees everything wrong with me yet it doesn’t hinder Him from generously giving all that He has. My brokenness doesn’t scare Him away. 

Light From the Father

In You, God, is all source of who I am. From my first breath in the morning to every sense of happiness. Every single piece of my being is wrapped up in You. How could it not? You commanded the light and put every living creature on this earth. In Your light is where I see light. I can’t even comprehend what that means. The Father of lights, where there is no variation or shadow of turning. How can it be? You are utter light and no shadow is cast from You.

Light is bright, it’s warmth. It contains all source of energy and power. Electricity come from it. The whole modern world runs off of light; every computer, television, iPhone and satellite depends on such. It detects the morning, when all rise from sleep and begin a new day. Light is a vitamin source; health to the body. A lack luminosity from the Sun sends many into a downward spiral of depression. Sunny days provoke picnics, long hours at the beach and all forms of exercise. The effect of light goes unrecognized in the routine of daily life.

You are the Giver of life, all of it You uphold by the Word of Your mouth. You keep me, sustain me, refresh me and see that I know I am loved by You. It’s Your mercy in the heavens; the grace that You’ve put forth towards me. It’s Your faithfulness that reaches to the clouds. The earth is abundantly full of Your nearness, of Your reach to humanity- the ones You’ve fashioned out of love. It’s Your righteousness like the great mountains. You constantly do good with a pure gaze and intention. Your judgments are a great deep. They aren’t shallow. There’s purpose and depth to them . You preserve me, O God, in the land of the living.

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Psalm 36

Frailty in Frame

It may be clothed in weakness,
but my reach for You is sincere

I cannot help my unbelief
only to hold onto the hope
that one day I shall see

Though this tug beckons me to disbelief
my spirit witnesses One who is
altogether unknown and other than

A new creation,
set free in joy

I’ve never met another
as kind in this life

Fasten my heart to Yours

I will go the depth,
accepting of a challenge

Frailty in my frame
yet authentic in my love

Sojourner

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12.2

How often this verse is thrown out yet how little it is actually lived out. To actually tear oneself away from culture and patterns of society in order that God's will may be known is a lot harder than what modern Christianity is. Would the disciples of Jesus actually recognize the Church today as ones who follow the Way? Even as one who strains to pull away from culture and into the wounds of Christ I find my nose being rubbed in the dirt of the spirit of this age, once again overcome by the quick, self- pleasing pleasures of the world.

We may say over and over again, do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6.19) yet look at our houses, look at our cars, look at our iPhones, look at our computers and programs, look at our clothes, look at our extravagant Caribbean vacations twice a year. Now turn your gaze to Jesus. Where was His vacation when for three years straight He travelled the Judean countryside and ministered? Why did He travel on foot instead of acquiring a shining chariot? Why didn't He live in a two thousand square foot home to entertain and teach those who came to Him, but instead He declared that, the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. (Luke 9:58)

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. 1 Peter 2.11 And I beg you, fellow lovers of Jesus, those who desire to experience the fullness of His love and delight over you. I beg you, I ask you to abstain from fleshly lusts. The gospel is offensive, it is not culturally relevant. The greatest marketing team consists of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If a place where the glory of God dwells and love of Christ abounds in the lives of those who serve the house of the Lord then certainly the lost, broken and outcast will find themselves at your doorstep. They will not come to a familiar place that smells, looks, and sounds just like every other trendy showcase out there. They will come where they can find acceptance no matter if extra grace is required. The hurting will come to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge and understanding, where humility abounds and self-preservation and humanistic religion is cast out.

I pray that the Holy Spirit may open up our eyes, that we may see wondrous things from Your law, for we are strangers in the earth. Let us put on Christ and make no provision for our flesh. May we find the narrow path where the poor in spirit, meek, merciful, peacemakers not peacekeepers and pure in heart once found their way.