Power Struggle with Jesus

My husband told me the other day that he felt like God was calling  him to be an extension of Jesus to the world. I feel like that’s the call to all of us if we are listening close enough, so he and I discussed it a little further. What is an extension? The first thing that came to my mind was a literal extension cord. One that plugs into the wall and provides power to an object. The extension itself does not “do” anything. It’s simply a conduit for power so that another object can do its job. This rubbed me wrong. I didn’t like the idea of the object (say a computer, fan, power tool, anything you can plug in) getting to have all the fun doing things, while the extension cord simply lays on the ground seemingly doing nothing. It harnesses power, but it itself has no power without being plugged in.

At that moment in the conversation, I realized my problem. I wanted to be the extension AND the object being powered. Because If I’m the extension, then Jesus is the object. He is the one who gets things done! But I wanted to be BOTH and get the glory for it! Maybe I should give a real life example to explain what I mean. Let’s see… Okay, I come across a girl in a store and feel like God wants me to go talk to her. After some small talk we somehow transition into talking about Jesus, the Spirit moves, and before you know it, she becomes a Christian! Leaving that powerful encounter I want to be able to say, “Wow, look what I did! I just talked to her and prayed with her and now she’s a new creation!” (2 Cor. 5:17)

But is that really what transpired? On the outside, maybe. But actually, I was merely an extension. Power moved in and through me to convey Jesus’ love that did the real work in her heart.

So really, I had nothing to do with what actually changed her. I just had the privilege of reaching her. I really feel like I’ve struggled with this for so long—because of my stubborn pride. Anything ugly in us is linked to pride by the way (another discussion for another time) but this really was bothering me. Then our conversation took a turn when I felt God interrupt my thoughts.

“You realize neither of you could do anything without the power SOURCE right?”

BOOM. Mic drop. I hadn’t even wanted to THINK about the fact that the extension cord (me) had to be plugged into the wall—the power source (God) in order to be valuable AT ALL. But I felt like God leaned in and continued. “What if the power was shut off? What if the grid exploded and there was no power ANYWHERE? What good would the object or extension cord be then?” I had to admit. Not much good. Of course Jesus said, “I and the Father are One” (John 10:13) So he can essentially still work since He can be directly connected to the power source itself. But me? I am no good without Him. Jesus said it this way,"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. Funny thing about branches. You never see a branch thriving and blooming that is not connected to anything. Nope, once it is disconnected, it withers and dies.

We were made with a purpose in mind. We are meant to EXTEND the power to the world OUTSIDE where power is Rarely Seen! Have you ever been to a big outdoor event? Especially one at night. You are gonna need extension cords! A lot of them!

This all is just a call to remember who you are. Remember who MADE you and with WHAT PURPOSE in mind. What you do is important. But let’s not forget who made it all possible. We are nothing without Him. But WITH HIM there is no limit to what we can do IN HIM!

“Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” 2 Tim 1:9

Okay, I think what I’ve written so far could stand on it’s own two feet. So you can quit reading if you want, BUT if you’re like me, you like a well-rounded analogy. So here is the rest of that analogy.

God just blew my mind as I was typing this out. HE is not the grid… the Holy Spirit is! (Yeah, can’t leave Him out!) The Holy Spirit IS the Power God put In the Earth.

GOD is the Maker of ALL things Powerful, so He himself is the source of ALL POWER.

You get me? Like, fire, oil, coal, wind, water, the SUN; all these things are USED to generate power, right? Well, God Himself is the Maker of all of it, but HE Himself is Outside of it; therefore, He is even more powerful than POWER ITSELF!

BAM!

My fingers couldn’t type that fast or hard enough. That is GOOD stuff right there.

Wow. It really brings home that song I learned when I was little, “My God is so BIG, so Strong and so Mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do. My God is so BIG, so Strong and so Mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do—FOR YOU!”

There is NOTHING He cannot do, y’all! We serve a BIG, POWER-FULL God. Wow. Thank you God. Forgive me for belittling You, AND the Holy Spirit!! Help me in my unbelief. Help me remember who I am. I am yours. I was created for your purposes in the Earth. Praise God from Whom all blessings—and power, flow. PRAISE FATHER,SON AND HOLY GHOST! Amennnnnnnnnnn

Faith Feeds—Not Greed

I have been chomping at the bits to tell all of you about what God’s been doing lately with our music and in our community. But every time I pick up my phone to make a post or reel, God stops my hand. I want to push through the halt and proceed to share whatever I want to share, but that gentle, firm hand still rests in front of me saying,“wait”. A word I hate almost as much as my now 4-year-old son. He is as energetic as they come, ready to run for no reason at all. Just give him the go-ahead and you’ll only see the back of his head and in a flash he’s gone. A sweet shop-owner recently told me her nick-name for him is Lightning, because that’s how quick he is. I wonder if that’s what God my Father would nick-name me when I try to do things quickly and recklessly without permission. I know He loves me too much to let me have my own way though. I am stubborn, but I also love Him too much to want to grieve him with my quick movements. So here I stay, impatiently waiting for the go-ahead. I have reels and posts exploding in my mind that I cannot wait to create and share, ones that I believe God gave me the idea for! So what’s the hold up? If it’s God-given, shouldn’t that mean I have the green light? Apparently not.

Here’s what He’s doing. He is wrecking my dependance on people. He is demolishing my concern for people’s good opinion. Even the people I love most. Like the man in Luke 9:59 who told Jesus he would follow Him after he buried his father. But Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” God doesn’t want us counting anything more important than following Him. Not tradition, not family, not anything—no matter how good or “important” it is to us. This seems “extreme” to some. But I’m learning that God is, in fact, an extremest when it comes to our devotion to Him. All or nothing. Hot or cold.

I suppose that’s why He has me where I am. He doesn’t want a mediocre representation of Himself out in the world. One tainted by motivations of self. Self-gain or self-importance. Even if He has inspired me—ESPECIALLY if HE has inspired me, HE and HE ALONE should be able to have the say so of when it enters the world. It’s definitely a moment of uncomfortable growth for me. I’m used to, like my toddlers with a snack, just grabbing whatever my Father gives me at the moment He hands it to me, and running with it. But this time God is giving— then saying wait. "Wait for me. Everything coming to you is only possible because of ME. Do you know that?” Hearing that has only stirred up another question in my mind. For years I’ve wrestled with the thought that He doesn’t really NEED anything I have, or anything I DO , to do what HE’S going to do in the world. So my question is this; “WOULD Jesus have fed the 5000 without the little boys lunch?”

If you don’t know the story, you can go read it now in John 6:1-15. Jesus was speaking to thousands of people and it got to be late in the day and they were all hungry. Jesus asked his disciples where they could buy bread. One disciple just focused on how much money it would cost to feed all those people. Another of his disciples had enough faith to bring a little boy to Jesus who had some fish and bread. But then he chucked that faith away after feeling embarrassed that he even brought it up and said, “but what are they among so many?” So much to be said about this amazing passage. But back to my question, would he have fed all those people without the boys’ lunch. And the answer I believe, is a staggering, No! Why? Because Jesus’ goal was not so much to feed the 5000, but rather to evoke and awake the people’s FAITH! In Matt 13:58 it says that He did not do many miracles in that town because of their unbelief! He would have done so much more, but the unbelief—lack of FAITH, caused Him to leave miracles undone! After Jesus received the 5 loaves and 2 fish, the Bible says He Thanked God for it and handed it out, only for the disciples to find out it had multiplied! If He had not been given the loaves and fish, He would not have had anything to Thank God for—nothing to multiply! Okay, I’m not a Bible scholar—this isn’t the ‘end all, be all’ to this story. But it’s what’s God’s teaching me personally right now…

One more fact, from that story, and I’ll sum up. Stick with me, it’s good. God told me to check out the place where it happened. Bethsaida. Where did Bethsaida get its name? It means hunting/fishing village in Hebrew. Wait, what? You mean to tell me that in a fishing village, there was no food given except for by a little boy? Where were all the fishermen, business men, or Peter, Andrew, or Philip’s connections? They were born there! Where were all the goods and resources being hidden while Jesus and all these other folks were flocking into town? People were hoarding them, as people often do. No one had the faith to offer anything they had to Jesus. Except that one boy. Faith feeds people—not greed. Jesus did many mighty works in Bethsaida, but the people there did not repent. (Matt.11:20) They never did have Faith! So Jesus said “Woe to Bethsaida.” (Luke 10:13-15, Matt 11:20-24) It’s a pretty strong warning and curse, let me put it here for you to read. Jesus is not playin’.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

His disappointment wasn’t that the people in the town didn’t give of their resources. His disappointment was because they didn’t have FAITH. Jesus is a MULTIPLIER!! But He has to be given SOMETHING from SOMEBODY in order to multiply it!

He follows that verse of condemnation with this, “Thank you Father that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

He wants US to be more like little Children in our Faith. If you are reading this, you have that invitation. God is revealing it to you, and you can be like a child and believe Him and take Him at His Word. Giving to Him what only He can multiply. What He created and gave to you in the first place! Be like that boy, not like the fearful, hoarding fisherman in the village.

Splinters

Yard work is such a gift. No, truly! I love getting out in the yard and raking or pulling up weeds or any of the cleanup most people find bothersome or even tedious. But before you go saying, “You should come over to my house!” Think about all the crazy wonderful things it provides you! A good sweat, first of all. A chance to rid of toxins and build up of cortisol (or stress) in the body. A chance to get a close up look at what God’s blessed you with. A physical connection to the Earth that provides natural energy. A reminder of nature and it’s seasons and how we too are in a season and how we enjoy and prepare for the next season matters! I’m also thankful merely because I know not everyone has a yard. Maybe a potted plant or two at best. Anyway, thankful thoughts. That was yesterday’s activities. However, this morning I went to read my Bible, but I couldn’t focus because there was a little, tiny, seemingly unnoticeable splinter in my thumb. I eventually had to give up my attempt at reading, put down the book, and take that splinter out of it’s happy little spot lodged under a thin layer of my skin. It was extremely uncomfortable, and took some doing. It seemed like it wasn’t going to budge, but with some persistence and pressure, it finally slipped out all at once. Now with a (somewhat unnecessary, but very cute) bandaid on my little pricked finger, I’m all good. Able to read and write and get on with my day.

It just made me think, what other “splinters” do I have in my life right now? Perhaps while I’m digging in and doing my work, I acquire a “splinter” that distracts me - maybe not in that moment of busyness, but later in the quiet moments. Enough that I can’t focus on the very Word of God.

Splinters can be anything. A nagging comment that someone made while you were at work. You dismissed it then, but now it’s occupying your thoughts. Or maybe it’s something you watched on TV or saw on a billboard, and it’s bothering you. Or maybe it’s the sugary treat you ate earlier and now you’re starting to think that wasn’t such a great idea. Whatever the splinter, it’s high time to deal with it. Don’t just ignore it and get used to it. Do the uncomfortable work of removing it. If it’s a thought, then it’s worth talking it out. Even if it seems “stupid” or “should’t matter” to you. Talk it out with a friend, or in prayer out loud with the Lord. The Bible says in James 5:16, Confess one to another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. There is So Much healing available to you, if you just confess.

Here’s my challenge to you. Ask a friend (or spouse if you’re married) if you can talk to them about Splinters. That can look like, “I have something bothering me, can I talk it out?” If you’re having a hard time focusing on reading the Word of God, or don’t find any joy in doing so, there is a good indicator of a splinter. Talk it out. Heal. And be amazed at how much better your life will be because of it.

If you don’t have someone in your life right now that you can talk to about splinters, just hit the CONTACT US button down below. We are happy to be a sounding board for you - the most important thing is that you just TALK IT OUT.

Walking By Faith

Wow. What a wild ride this has been. It’s 4:40am - day of our last Christmas concert at church. I’ve had a terrible cough for days, but through the night it has dried up significantly - which it usually gets much worse at night - but it’s better than it has been this whole time and I know it’s everyone’s prayers! Thank you, prayer warriors, and thank you Lord for answered prayers!

Speaking of answered prayers… it has been a year of praying, seeking God and becoming.

We were on track for a life in ministry in the church. It’s what we both grew up doing. And as hard as it gets from time to time, it’s cozy and familiar. It’s our church family, after all. But a little over a year ago, that trajectory was halted long enough to make us start asking some questions we should have been asking all along. And that was, “God, where do you want us, really?” If the path to promotion isn’t here - and we have to have the funds to feed our family and grow our family - then where is it? Our first thought on default was, “Maybe it’s just at another church?” Other churches were offering Mayowa a job - and we prayed about each one as they came - but God said no to every one. Well, “Maybe it’s just not the right timing?” we thought. So we continued to just pour in where we were. We grew some more, matured some more. Kept our ears open for anything else from the Lord. In the Spring - wait - no, in February 2024, we had our eye on many different “money-making” side hustles. (You know the ones that pop up unsolicited in your feed on FB and instagram? Promising wealth after selling a course or Etsy product over and over.) Anyway, Mayowa took interest in one in particular that focused on training you to be an Entrepreneur no matter what you want to do. He took the reins while we were on vacation and said let’s purchase the course we’d been eyeing. It was a BIG deal for us. It took every bit of our tax refund (that I had been excited about and had other plans for.) But we, together, made the purchase. And you know what? Something clicked for both of us that day. We became Entrepreneurs, truly - we now held an LLC with our name on it. But more importantly - mentally we changed. Something absolutely clicked within us, and it didn’t happen until we actually made the scary big purchase on faith. So for that, I will always be grateful. From that point on, our eyes were keener - our step and attitude was different. Especially for Mayowa. His enthusiasm at work had all but died at that point and he was feeling so restless and listless. But man, that day, he got his fire back and started proclaiming truth over himself like never before. “I am a leader. I am a successful business man. I am…” Well, I can’t remember all of what he said now, but something had definitely changed within him for the better. It almost scared me at first though. He was not the quiet, submissive Mayowa I knew anymore. I knew our attitudes affected our roles in our marriage, and so I fought it for a quick second - then I realized that that was stupid and I should just decide to change with him and adapt.

God told us 2023 was a year of doing, and boy we did. We did a lot. Of course, even just keeping up with our boys is a lot! They are growing and so is their energy and capacity to learn. It’s hard to keep up! This past year we took a good hard look at what we wanted for our family - and we came up with a good many things - all written down and prayed for individually.

This past year, 2024, He has prepared us. We lived on little-to-nothing, yet still acquired a new car and new house. Say what?? Yes. GOD provided for us over and over - and our faith has exploded. And this is just the beginning. Next year, God has told us to further our faith and leave our home church, leave the 9 to 5, leave the paycheck, leave the comfort - the stability… all the things He’s been preparing our minds for all year long. Throw ourselves into the loving arms of Jesus and just pursue Him whole-heartedly.

With nothing but His promises, we enter 2025 on a GoFundMe faith.

God said 2023 was a year of Doing.

2024 was a year of provision and PRO-vision. (Blog about that later.)

I can’t wait for 2025!!! What does God have in store? Buckle up - here we come!