This post is dedicated to one beautiful woman of God, who has gone on to be with Jesus, Annesha McKennery, I know right now you are part of the “Cloud of Witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1. Not yet 50 years old, unexpectedly to us He called you quickly home, it came as a surprise to us – but not to Him. We are reeling with the loss of you, but you are NOT lost. You are right there with our Savior who you lived for, who you testified of with your life, who you worshiped, who you had faith in ALL the days of your life. What a testimony to your anointed family! Although God only gave me precious few moments to know you, He touched my life by the way you gracefully served Him. He used you to extend the right hand of fellowship to me, as you shared things, I currently am experiencing that YOU experienced, and God brought you through – isn’t that why God gives us sisters and brothers in Christ? To link arms with because Ecclesiastes 4:12 says:
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Rica, Holy Spirit gave me these words this weekend – words I think you and your two sisters, Kayshon and Natasha (also strong, beautiful women in Him) would want me to share, because the three of you with your strong, beautiful faith and your bright addicting love for Jesus and for each other, became examples to me of a modern day version of the story, “Little Women” the love, devotion, strength and faith that the three of you share as sisters linking arms I’m quite sure have blessed (and will continue to bless) MANY lives. What do I think you would say to the people who read this post? I think you would say, in the beautiful, calm, filled with grace, matter-of-fact way that I have heard you counsel your sisters (and me, an un-biological sister, but one nevertheless under the blood of Jesus). The following:
“LIVE. Even if God has you go out like a bright shooting star as He did me. LIVE for Jesus. Let your faith shine bright so that others can see Jesus in you. Let them see JESUS. Let them know that OUR Jesus IS the same today, as He was yesterday, as He will be tomorrow. Shine bright like a shooting star leaving the testimony of ALL He is- Let that be the thing that people see in your trail. THAT is what is everlasting. And know that at the end of your walk with Him, you will stand, as I stand in the presence of the One I served, in the One that I love, receiving a crown with MANY jewels, being shown wonderous things. Now knowing ALL things because the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” More blessed now than I was in life, because I am now WITH the giver of life. My Lord, and My Savior and I am hearing the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” I am complete, surrounded by perfect love and I am at perfect peace, and I WILL see you again and we WILL be together with our Savior for ALL eternity. Live for Jesus and proclaim to ALL who now have ears to hear, eyes to see and hearts to receive that Jesus IS Lord.”
I believe that is what Rica would say. And so, this post that I write – is for Kayshon, Natasha, Mr. and Mrs. McKennery and ALL those who loved Rica as I was beginning to love Rica. In honor of her life. May you, the reader be blessed and live as Rica lived – loving Jesus and serving ALL those around her. Thanks be to God!
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Holy Spirit gave me a word for this time in my life, and maybe it is appropriate for this time in yours – one that I think is appropriate to share with all of you who consider you to be “part of God’s Called Remnant.”
In the book of Daniel, Chapter three, we read about King Nebuchadnezzar, the king at that time who had set up a golden statue and decreed that ALL should bow down and worship or they would be thrown into a furnace of fire. Three God fearing men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refused to worship this golden image and because of that, were thrown into a fiery furnace. Here is their story (Daniel 3:8-30):
“At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down, and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.”
God’s Word is the same today, as it was yesterday, as it will be tomorrow. There are MANY of us who are currently being forged by fire, how we choose to handle it is a decision that God leaves up to us because He has given us free-will, we can either let the situations that are fiery furnaces destroy us and turn us into ash OR we can do as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did which is STAND IN FAITH that NO MATTER what life throws our way our Lord and Savior goes before us! He is with us! We are NOT alone! Matthew 28:20 says:
“…And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”
We live in dark times, but we who have made Jesus Christ Lord of our lives, chosen and accepted Him to be our Savior hold within us the Light of Christ. We are called to let the light of Christ SHINE THROUGH US. Remember, as in Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Are you wallowing in the darkness? Forgetting who it is YOU belong to? Look! There He is! Right beside you as He was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! Do you not see Him? HE IS our strength! He IS the author and finisher of our faith! As He was with the disciples, He is with us EVEN now! Nothing comes as a surprise to Him! Death has NO hold on us! He is LIFE! The words we read in our Bibles were written there to sustain us, to know that our God is Sovereign. We are to look upon the examples of those who went on before us, knowing that God is STEADFAST. As He was there for His people of old, He IS there for us in this day and age. Our trust is to be IN HIM, we are not to be tossed to and fro by life’s fiery furnace type situations. We can walk confidently, and rest assured that GOD IS WITH US. Remember the story in Mark 4:35-40?
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
As those who belong to God, especially in these last days – we are the Remnant! Our faith has never been in ourselves, it has always been in Him! We choose as to whether or not our oil will run out or remain full! (See Matthew 25:1-13). We not only choose to praise God when things are well, but we choose to praise God as Peter and Silas did in prison (see Acts 16:25). Our level of faith in God is not based upon our circumstances, which change daily! But on the steadfastness of God, who is an ever-present help in times of trouble! When we look back at our own individual walks with Him, we can see what God has brought us through – what God has done. God IS trustworthy! When we find ourselves in fiery trials (as we will during this life) we need to stand in faith, knowing that while things come as a surprise to us, NOTHING surprises Him! God IS in complete control! Though the wind and the storms try to beat us down, try to turn our head, try to discourage us we are NOT to lose sight on Him who is GREATER. Is not the Creator GREATER than ANYTHING that ol’ slewfoot and his nasty dominions can try to throw our way? Does NOT God’s Word say in 1 John 4:4:
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
Our strength, our trust, our purpose, our lives were never found in ourselves, but if we are children of the UTMOST HIGH God, our strength, our trust, our purpose, our lives are IN HIM. So, when we find ourselves in the fiery trials that many of us find ourselves currently in – turn to the One who is in control. Turn to the One who holds YOU in the palms of His very hands. Turn to the lifter of your head. Turn your eyes to Jesus. Trust in Him, walk in Him, depend on Him because He will NEVER be put to shame. He IS with you and as Jesus Himself said, “He will be with you unto the end of time.” THAT is where our strength comes, THAT is where our faith comes. We CAN depend on Him. Let’s keep walking, let’s keep believing, let’s keep trusting because NO MATTER WHAT WE FACE – OUR God IS with us. He IS in control. Each and every step that we take IS ordained by HIM. WE BELONG TO HIM. What is your life testimony saying about the God that you serve? Do you not know that the Bible IS filled with the testimonies of those that followed God and testified to what He can (and still does) do? If you keep a prayer journal or a diary, do you not know that one day someone MAY read YOUR testimony as to how YOU lived? What YOU believed as the disciples wrote about Jesus and their lives in Him? What does YOUR life testify? Whose report are YOU believing? And when your days are done, and God has called you home – how will YOU be remembered? Remember, the fiery trials that GOD ALLOWS is meant for REFINEMENT not destruction. Stop looking at the trial around you and look at the One who is there beside you. What is HE saying? Listen to Him. Know that when ALL is said and done, you will come forth as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – unharmed and stronger in Him. Because WE stood forth IN FAITH and God was (and is) with us. Let your life be what it was meant to be – a testimony to Him! May it be so in you! May it be so in me! Praise His Holy Mighty name! AMEN.
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