PREACH IT, SISTA !

I don’t preach religion – I teach spirituality. My love for my husband exacted a deep – very deep – physical attraction. We could have sex on the dime and give you back a nickle change in no time flat. It was that intense. At times, I would have to turn away from him, because even if our eyes only met, sex was inevitable. Then nothing – absolutely nothing. The magic was gone, the intimacy was gone, the enjoyment was gone – and emptiness took the place of love. That was the end of the BEGINNING.

During that dark period, this family was in dire straits – physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially. My husband and I had both lost our jobs within days of each other, and within a week of Christmas, and the family was rapidly drifting apart. We were in a downward spiral – and there was no stopping it. I tried talking to my husband, but he wasn’t much for conversations, and I certainly didn’t want to speak to the bill collectors. So, in a desperate plea, I turned to God – hoping he would become my spiritual conversationalist. Unfortunately, God didn’t have much to say to me on the issue, either. In fact, he remained silent for quite some time. I had to seek him – beseech him, really, really impress myself upon him, and then Kaboom! Without any warning, I was hit with an onslaught of scriptures, poems, messages, doctrines – and then nothing. Just as suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. It seemed like what God did was to send me the appetizer, and then forgot the main course. Needless to say, I was not impressed. My life was a morbid mess, and God was playing war games. However, it was in that moment, when I was at my lowest point, that I discovered, the grace of Almighty God. You see, God sent the appetizer to stimulate my spiritual palette, and then He brought me the main course in one sentence: “Be still and know that I am God.” That was in March 1996, and my life has never been the same since then. Much to my amazement, and subsequent delight, out of the ashes, we rose like a phoenix – and the family remains intact. The following poem came out of that encounter – It was my wake up call to spiritual intercession and divine restitution.

Be still and know that I am God—I am with you always!

Sometimes we get to feeling that life dealt us a rotten blow

But if we take a moment to reflect, we’ll see that it’s not so

The sun does not stop shining simply because the sky is gray,

Once the cycle has begun, there is a price to pay

 

Sure, we did not start this cycle, nor will we end it, true

But the withdrawals of tomorrow start to day with you

God is a just accountant; He seeks to cheat no one

If you make no withdrawals, the interest passes on

 

Whatever your contribution, the interest will be paid

So before you make your deposit, in the bank of life

Think about this fact, God says they are multiplied

Your dividends keep paying long after you have died

 

Life is a relay, a race run by many and won by few

Life is not a marathon, there is no winner here

Life’s withdrawals does not equal life’s deposits

Tomorrow’s withdrawals are being deposited today by you

 

Will your dividends bring peace and love, or strife?