Spice Girls

Matthew 5:13-16

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the exciting episode of, “Spice Girls” starring, Cinnamon, Paprika, Maple, Sage, and Rosemary. I’m your host HolyEll, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

Cinnamon: Hey Paprika, I hope all is well.

Paprika: Hey Cinnasugga! Thanks for calling. Girl you know I’m good. Spicing up life, as always! How are things on your end?

Cinnamon: I’m doing well. I’m currently seasoning some buns at the moment.

Paprika: Ooooo I absolutely love your cinnamon buns! They are yum yum yummy!

Cinnamon: Stop it, girl you’re making me blush.

Paprika: Really girl? You are blush lol.

Cinnamon: Funny lol. Anyhoo, I called to ask if you’ve heard from Rosemary. I’ve been trying to reach her for a few weeks, but no response.

Paprika: Now that you’ve mentioned it, it has been a while since I’ve heard from her. I think we last hung out at the “Gathering of the Spices” convention last month.

Cinnamon: (Sigh) Hold on for a second, I’m gonna call Maple.

Paprika: OK. I’ll buzz in Sage as well.

Maple: Hey Cinnamon! How are you?

Cinnamon: I’m keeping my spirits up. Paprika and Sage are on the line as well.

Maple: Hey girls!! Talk to me Cinnamon, tell me what’s going on.

Cinnamon: Well, I’m concerned about Rosemary. I haven’t heard from her in a while, and my concerns for her are growing. I asked the girls whether or not they had any contact with her, but nothing.

Sage: Yeah this is really bothering me. It’s not like Rosemary to distance herself from us. I haven’t heard from her since she called a few weeks ago to ask if it was safe to sprinkle her seasoning on baked chicken.

Cinnamon: Yeah girls, I’m worried. Wait..I have an idea. Let’s all go to her house and see if she’s there.

(Cinnamon picks up the other Spice Girls, then they head to Rosemary’s house)

(The girls arrive at Rosemary’s house)

Cinnamon: (Knock Knock) Hey, Rosemary, it’s Cinnamon and the girls. Are you here?

(Moments pass, then Cinnamon knocks again)

Cinnamon: (Knock Knock) Rose…

Rosemary: I’m coming… Hey there. What are you all doing here? Come in.

(The girls hug Rosemary as they walk in)

Maple: Hey Rose, good to see you.

Sage: Yes, where have you been? Is everything ok?

(The girls all gather in Rosemary’s living room.)

Rosemary: Well, I first want to apologize for ignoring all of you the past few days. I’ve been feeling down, and I think I’ve lost my flavor.

Sage: What?! What do you mean, lost your flavor? The world wouldn’t be the same without you, Rosemary.

Paprika: Exactly! Without you, who would bring life to so many great dishes?

Maple: Yeah girl, you are awesome! You’re especially effective when combined with grains, mushrooms, onions, peas, potatoes, and spinach.

Rosemary: I am humbled by your kind words, but I just feel I’m not as special as you all. Take Cinnamon for instance. Who can work wonders with bread, cookies, pumpkin, squash, or sweet potato pie, churros, and French toast? And who can make creamy pasta dishes flavorful like Sage? I just feel that I’m not good enough to flavor the world as you girls do.

Cinnamon: Rosemary, listen. I understand you are going through a difficult season, and we didn’t come here to judge you, but take a moment to consider all the things you’ve changed in the world. You have literally enhanced foods like chicken, lamb, pork, steaks, and fish. You bring flavor to food that neither of us can compare with. You may feel that you aren’t special, but you were made to make food better.

Rosemary: (Crying tears of joy and appreciation) Thank you Cinnamon, Sage, Maple, and Paprika. I shouldn’t have shut myself away from you. Instead, I should have come to you, rather than allow myself to fall into such a low state.

Paprika: Girl we are all special in our own way, and what I can do, I do it well, but what I can’t do, someone else is equipped to handle it.

Sage: Indeed Paprika. We all have our part to play in seasoning the earth. Just be appreciative of who you are, and focus on what your role is.

Maple: Rosemary, you are greater than you give yourself credit for. By the way, I’m working on a new syrup, and I was wondering if you could add a touch of your flavor to it.

Rosemary: Of course I will Maple. Cinnamon, thank you for encouraging me, and helping me see the value in who I am, and what I was made for. You girls are the best.

Cinnamon: That’s what I wanted to hear. Now let’s go bring flavor to the world.

*The Bible mentions in Matthew 5:13, we are the salt of the earth. But there are times when our potency becomes ineffective for various reasons. Whether we suffer a season of depression, low self-esteem, loss of job, unbalanced relationships, or financial woes, we must not lose our effectiveness in carrying out God’s will for our lives. We were all made special, and we’re also equipped with talents and abilities that help us in fulfilling the works of the Lord. So, during the times when you feel down, or unworthy to contribute to kingdom works, surround yourself with fellow believers, who can edify and build you back up with encouragement, and the power of their testimonies.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Spice Girls”. Thanks for tuning in, and have a fantabulous journey!

Testify!

John 4:25-42

The world seeks for answers to problems only the power of God can resolve, and many trust in other sources that are unable to offer permanent solutions to their issues. It matters not a person’s background, ethnicity, skin color, or language, God reserved salvation for all who would believe. It is the will of God that all men come to repentance, and those who are in the body of Christ can help in inspiring others to believe in the only One who can save them, and give them power to overcome. The testimonies of the Saints are key in revealing to others how God operates and functions in their own lives. All men struggle and face times of difficulty, but knowing and seeing someone come out of a difficult situation, without losing themselves, gives hope and strength to others who may be going through hard times themselves. When a man’s ways please the Lord, He gives them wisdom and direction through His Spirit, to witness effectively to others, but once a person is drawn to God, they can then be filled with His goodness themselves, and be enlightened to a greater level of understanding of the ways of holiness.

You may think your life is meaningless, but God can use your experiences to encourage others. Just as the woman at the well convinced many to believe in Jesus, I’m certain you have the power of influence to do the same. Spread the word, that Jesus saves, and God has a plan for all who follow Him.

Welcome the stranger

2 Chronicles 6:32-33

The modern-day church has become something God never intended it to be. In Scripture, the church (an established people, with ideals and government based solely on godliness) was set in place, so that the name of the Lord could be magnified through His people. While it’s true, God can make Himself known to the entire world without the help of man, it’s so cool that He allows His awesome glory to shine through us as well! In any case, the church was established to accomplish only those things that please the Lord, and to give the body of Christ a place to gather, for moments of edification, sharing of testimonies, and glorification of the name of the almighty God.

The glory churches once held in the past, has faded away, because men seek to become leaders, or attend church for the wrong reasons. Some are interested in gaining positions in churches, solely to get wealthy, whereas others only attended services out of habit. Promoting God has been replaced with selfish men, seeking only to promote their own agendas, and convince the people to believe in their opinions, more than the Word of the Lord.

In my younger days (not too many moons ago) church use to be a place, where service would oftentimes become so intense, until strangers would hear God being glorified from outside, and peek inside our church out of curiosity, too see what was going on. My pastor, during those days, would invite all who came in, to join our services. No one was a stranger after entering the house of the Lord. Some who came out of curiosity, would even leave healed, delivered, or set free from issues they could have carried the rest of their lives, had they continued to walk pass the church, and not come in. Our church wasn’t the only place God performed miracles, but we gave Him the glory due to His name, and He in turn, showered us with His wondrous works.

King Solomon acknowledged that even those who weren’t of the people of Israel, deserved to have their prayers answered by God, so that they would gain a greater appreciation for the Father, in the same way His people did as well. God loves everyone, and has no respect for one nation over another. His will is that all come to repentance, so that they can enjoy the opportunity to fulfill their calling on this earth, and reap the rewards eternally in the next life.

Be mindful of how you treat strangers, because God loves them, the same as He loves you. Never feel as if you are more deserving of the things of God, because you may be well-versed in Scripture, or have an amazing gift. God can use anyone for His glory, so “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 KJV).

Walk in love,

Ell

Testimony of God’s grace

Acts 20:17-24, 32

To what extent would you go to win souls for the kingdom of God? Are you fully committed to the cause of Christ, and serve with all humility of mind, or do you wear the title Christian, because of the supposed popularity that comes with it? Being born-again of the Spirit, means that Christians, from that point on, are given an assignment to do the works of Christ. Just as we work faithfully and diligently on our jobs for employers who care little to nothing about our eternal future, we are to strive even harder to fulfill the works God commanded us to do. Many of us are overly committed to our earthly jobs, so much until we rarely miss a day, and even choose to work when we are scheduled to be off. Some of us even abuse our physical bodies while working when we should be resting. We invest so much time to make another man’s business prosper, while at the same time, neglecting to build up the kingdom of God. Think on that for a moment. God gives us life, health, strength, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, love, and all the other heavenly characteristics that flow from His presence, but we use all those amazing qualities to work a job that does nothing to promote kingdom business. I’m not oblivious to the fact that work is necessary in our society, but I’m only stressing that we should not work so hard for a check, and forget that our spiritual assignments will determine our eternal reward.

The apostle Paul set a good example of how believers should carry themselves as children of God. After his conversion from sinner to saint, he went full throttle for the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, without letting off the gas pedal. His life and experiences outlined what every believer would eventually face during their mission for the Lord. Being apt to teach, with an unprecedented zeal for serving God, Paul kept back nothing that would profit the churches he ministered to, even in the face of persecution. This behavior is foreign to those today who push the “prosperity gospel”, and willingly take from the church, rather than pour into them.

Our lives are to be testimonies of repentance toward God, faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, and all the great things God has done through and for us. The world should see a difference between the church and themselves. They should feel uneasy when you come around, not from a feeling of mistrust or confusion, but from conviction of the things that separate them from godliness. Love not the world, neither the things in the world, but love the people God created, so much until you’ll not let a moment go by without offering them a few words that could change their lives forever. Let your life be a living testimony for others to see that if God can use you to do great things on the earth, and reserve a place for you in His kingdom, then He awaits to do the same for them as well.

Walk in love,

Ell

Jesus sends out the twelve

Mark 6:7-13

One important fact I’ve learned in life is, when a person is serious about a thing, they’ll plan and prepare for it with all diligence. For example, when I turned 16, I wanted so badly to get my driving permit, so I studied and prepared for the exam, so when the time came to test my knowledge, I wouldn’t fail or embarrass myself. Even when I played football for many years, I would make sure I understood our team’s strategy before every game, studied the opponent’s formations as well, and made sure my equipment was in tact, so that I could give my best performance every game. How a person prepares for anything, will determine the effectiveness of their performance, and impending outcomes.

Our text associated with this lesson is preceded by the time when Jesus was rejected in His own country, and by His own people. All Jesus could do was shake His head, as He marvelled because of the people’s unbelief. Rather than whine and complain as to why His own people wouldn’t accept His message of salvation, Christ instead called His twelve disciples, and began to send them out in pairs, to witness to all who would hear them. Before the men were sent out, they had to first be properly equipped to handle the mission, as well as receive proper instruction on how to conduct themselves amongst those they encountered. I often mention in my lessons that it’s unwise to venture out into the world to attempt to win lost souls without following the leading of the Holy Ghost. This is because many are under heavy influence of demonic spirits, and they could react in ways that would cause you to turn and run home with your tail between your legs. Speaking of turning and running, there was a man in Scripture who was demon possessed, and no man could bind him, for he would literally break the chains as if they were made of paper. Everyone kept their distance from him, until Jesus showed up, and set things straight. I mentioned that just to acknowledge the fact that if you try and face evil spirits with human strength, you’ll be obliterated.

Before Jesus sent out the twelve, He gave them power over unclean spirits. Ahhhh, as I just mentioned, we can’t stand against evil on human strength alone, we need the power that comes from the Holy Ghost, to even stand a chance against satan and his forces. After giving the disciples the power they needed to overcome evil spirits, Jesus then commanded them to pack lightly, as to not be weighed down on their journey. He also advised them to be content with whoever received them into their home, and to shake the dust off their feet as they departed from those who wouldn’t receive them. What Christ said in the next verse still boggles my mind till this very day! In verse 11, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Sodom and Gomorrah were two of the most wicked cities in the history of existence! I won’t get too deep into that discussion, but to hear Jesus say that the city who rejects His disciples will be judged more harsh than the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is a very scary judgment to even fathom. Anyhoo, after being meticulously prepared, the disciples went out as instructed and preached that men should repent, cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed all of them.

What have you done for God lately? Are you fulfilling the command to love your neighbor as yourself? Do you preach the Gospel, and compel others to come to Christ? How effective is your testimony in convincing men to inquire about salvation? The power that the disciples operated in as they preached the Gospel and ministered from city to city, can be found the the Holy Spirit that lives in all believers. The same way nearly 75 percent of the world got super hyped and excited as Thor entered Wakanda and saved the Avengers from annihilation by Thanos’ Black Order, is how men and women should feel when they see God’s children literally healing the sick, casting demons from innocent men, women, and children, and preaching the Gospel with such a passion, until souls are convicted and converted to godliness.

Walk in love,

Ell

Good News and healing

Matthew 4:23-25

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, one of the popular things to watch on television was the WWF, or the World Wrestling Federation. Wrestling back then, was exciting and entertaining, as my favorites, Hulk Hogan, Sting, and the Junkyard Dog, would usually come out victorious. What made watching wrestling more entertaining was when contenders would team up and go head-to-head against other joined unions. In moments when a player was struggling to pin down their opponent, or if the match was too easy, they had the option to tag the hand of their teammate who stood outside of the ring, and allow them access to change places with their partner, and showcase their skills and abilities. Tag-team wrestling was the best, and I enjoyed watching the Roc n Roll Express, and the Hardy Boyz perform high flying stunts, while putting their opponents to shame.

I don’t intend to relive my childhood days of watching wrestling, but to acknowledge the tag-team works of Jesus Christ, and John the Baptist. John was Jesus’ cousin, who was filled with the Holy Ghost while in his mother’s womb! That was a testament to the fact that John would indeed be a great asset to the kingdom of God. And he was! He preached holiness, and the coming of Christ with passion, and never wavered to the temptations of sin. When Jesus heard that John was thrown in prison (obviously for preaching the Gospel), He, in a sense, tagged John’s hand, then set out to showcase His skills, talents, and special abilities to the world. Jesus picked up right where John had left off, and continued preaching repentance. As He roamed around Galilee, Jesus began adding strong men to His arsenal, including Peter, Andrew, James, and John. While in Galilee, it’s noted that Jesus taught in their synagogues, preached the Gospel of the kingdom, healed all manner of diseases, and delivered those who were possessed with devils. What an incredible way to start a ministry. Could you imagine if a new church opened up, and held services where anyone who came sick, lame, or had a disease, left healed and delivered? That would be all over the 7 o’clock news.

Jesus had a very unique strategy, not to become famous (although He did), but to show a dying and dark world that life and light could only be found through Him. Christ is the Good News of the Gospel we preach. He is the means by which our sins are forgiven. It’s through Him, that we are saved healed, delivered, and set-free. Although the world rejected Christ, He continues to live through all those who are born-again believers; those who have committed their lives to God, and seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness.

Walk in love,

Ell

Sustained by God

Deuteronomy 8:1-11

If I could travel back in time, when God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, I would hang around to see all the miraculous events take place with my very eyes. I’ve witnessed the hand of God work mightily in my own life, and in the lives of my family and friends, but to actually see the Red Sea parting, or pillars of clouds and fire, would be an amazing experience. I often wonder why God’s people took for granted His sustaining love and grace, because under no other circumstance would they have broken away from their oppression, nor been able to survive 40 years in a wilderness without the necessary resources to survive. In my visit to the ancient past, I would ask God to also send me with an ATV with unlimited gasoline, so that I could ride around and see just how everything played out.

Watching how God tested Israel in the wilderness would be a very interesting exploit. Israel was chosen by God to represent all He stands for to an evil world, so they had to be tested and proven to see whether or not they would represent godliness well. In my opinion, 40 years is more than enough time to prove the heart and intentions of an individual, but apparently, Israel had issues that required more time to reveal. God provided food when they saw no meal in sight. He kept them safe from whatever unknown dangers that possibly lurked in the wilderness. But the miracle I still can’t fathom is how the clothing the people wore didn’t wear out for 40 years! Take into account how often the clothes you wear get worn or torn within a few weeks of wearing them. God is absolutely amazing! God’s plan was to humble Israel, and prove what was in their hearts, whether they would indeed keep His commandments. He withheld food for a time, in order to teach them that men live not only by bread, but by every word that proceeded from the mouth of God. It’s obvious that our bodies require proper nourishment to survive, but what sense does it make to have a perfect bill of health, while heading in the direction of hell and eternal damnation? Think on that for a moment. Many today work hard to maintain a healthy diet, while sacrificing the unhealthy foods they love and desire. But it’s more important to know your place in life, as well as being healthy, because obeying God’s will is what sustains us, as we continue our journey in this life.

After the 40 year wilderness experience, I’d stay a short distance behind Israel as they finally enter the Promised Land. I would bask in the beauty of all the plush trees, waterfalls, mountains, and all ube beautiful creatures that roam the lands. I also read that giants inhabited the land as well, so I’d make sure my cell phone was fully charged to take lots of pics of them as well. When we stay in the will of God, He will take care of us. Like the children of Israel, God loves us, and wants to give us His best, but we must also give Him the best of us as well. I often mention how unfair the scale is how God’s blessings for us are overwhelming, in exchange for simple obedience, but He offers His love without condition. Keep your life hitched to godliness, and the Father will sustain you, and keep you just as a loving parent would their own children.

Walk in love,

Ell

God sent me to preserve you

Genesis 45:1-8

One of my favorite Bible stories is that of Joseph. He was a vibrant and lively young lad, who was always misunderstood by his elder brothers. Those brothers of his would eventually become very jealous of the special treatment he received from their father, as well as from the dreams he would share with them, of how God would one day make him great. I won’t delve too deep into the story, as it would take a while to get through, but the lesson I learned from this story was, be careful how you treat those whom you dislike or don’t understand, because God may use them someday to pull you out of trouble.

This was precisely the case with Joseph. After his brothers sold him into slavery, his journey only seemed to get worse as the days went by, but God was with Joseph through the whole process. He went from being cast into a pit, sold as a slave, then sold again to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh, and captain of the guard. The captain saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper, so he promoted Joseph to overseer of his house. Joseph was then wrongly accused of fooling around with Potiphar’s wife, and thrown in prison. Even in prison, God was with Joseph. He was elevated while in prison, as the overseer of all the prisoners. My my goodness! When the favor of God is on you, there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. From prison, Joseph found favor in the eyes of Pharaoh, after interpreting an important dream he was having trouble understanding. He was then exalted as second ruler over all the land of Egypt.

This was one of the most beautiful testimonies in all of history, but the story got better, as Joseph was soon hit with a very hard test. He remembered his brothers, and how they had treated him extremely ruthless and merciless, but rather than render to them evil for evil, Joseph extended all the help his brothers needed, and he did so in love. Although his brothers thought evil of him, God blessed Joseph and sent him to preserve his wicked family, even though they weren’t deserving of it. This is how’s the love of Christ works toward unbelievers. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, but Christ died in our stead, while we were yet undeserving of his matchless love. For this reason, all men should walk in humility, because there was nothing we could do on our own to remove the stain of sin from our lives. On the same note, Joseph’s brothers were totally unprepared for the coming famine, but God supplied Joseph with enough resources to take care of himself, and his family for seven years.

Be careful how you treat everybody. Learn to love every person you meet, the same way. Read and study how the love of God was shown throughout the Scriptures, and try to mimic that same love in your lives today. Everyone has issues, but those issues may someday be resolved, and God can use the people you once despised, to make His kingdom great. “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Walk in love,

Ell

Live in love and light

1 John 2:7-11

If I was granted permission from God to view the records of your whole existence in the great Book of Life, what would be recorded that proves you lived in love, and walked in the light of God’s Word? On your list of priorities, where was God placed on a daily basis? Just as evidence is necessary to prove a case in the court of law, the way we live our lives is the evidence of whether or not our confession of loving God is actually true.

The same commandment to love, was given from the Old and New Testaments, and exists today. We are commanded to love all the time, because love is God. In essence, as we love others, we are actually exhibiting godly character, and behavior. Real love is only revealed through acts of godliness. Now don’t take that the wrong way, rather understand the context in which I define love. All around the world, you’ll find people doing good things. Whether a gentleman helps an old lady cross the street, or a younger individual assists an elderly person into a building, we all have done things that can be considered good. Unfortunately, there are times when so-called good things, can be done with wrong intentions. For example, some men treat women as if they are the best thing since sliced bread, but only for the purpose of taking advantage of them later. Because they did good prior to fulfilling their evil intention, was that considered love? Is love good, or good, love? Good is love, and love is good, only when the person displaying the act has godly intentions. I’ve learned that you can’t have love without God, and you definitely can’t have God without love.

As I continue turning the pages of your life, think of how you treated those around you. When confronted with a disturbing situation between you and a fellow believer, how did you handle yourself? Did you respond in anger, and follow that behavior with a few choice words, or did you allow the Holy Ghost in you, to help you make uncomfortable situations seem more comfortable? In those moments when coworkers tried to pressure you into engaging in unhealthy discussions, did you submit and give in, or were you wise enough to walk away and ignore unhealthy conversations? Everything we do in this life will be what God attaches to our claims at judgment. There are unlimited situations of which we can apply the love of God. Whether it’s showing kindness to a stranger, giving to the poor, or teaching a child right from wrong, God wants us to live holy everywhere we go. He is holy, so we who profess holiness are expected to live in the same manner as Christ did. We may fall and make mistakes at times, but if our motives and intentions remain pure, we’ll never be overcome by our errors.

While there’s still time to love, make living in love top priority on your to-do list. Treat others as you would expect to be treated. Love without conditions, and be consistent doing so.

Seek peace,

Ell