Here's a Saw: Chop Your Arm Off...

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." Jesus, Matthew 5:29-30

The idiosyncrasies of life! An idiosyncrasy is a peculiarity of each person's physical and mental constitution. There is indeed power in our mental constitution. Human beings are intricately designed to be intelligent. Therefore, we tend to look for roads of escape for every hardship. Our survival instincts are more powerful than the wildest animal. In the same fashion, we do not want to be bothered with God. He is that figment of our wildest imagination. He is that supernatural atom that provides rules and regulations for us to follow. He is that invisible hand phenomenon that so rampantly puts our minds into fascination. Therefore, we need a way around Him. There must be a way to reduce Him to nothing so we can live a good life...

Today, I dare to pronounce a day of change. The Word of God is not a saw that chops your hands off each time you do something wrong. Neither is it a guillotine, as in the days of the French Revolution! It is not a bunch of regulations that causes lightning to strike a man for his disobedience. It is no longer 'an eye for an eye' or 'a tooth for a tooth.' Jesus came to bring change...a brand new way of life.

Jesus came that the LOVE of God may be manifested. When He said we should be ready to pluck our eyes out if they cause us to sin, He introduced something very spectacular. No, he didn't mean that you should keep a chain-saw in your bedroom and pluck your eyes out when they see evil. Rather, what He introduced was the fact that the kingdom of heaven is the most important destination that we should strive towards. Everything else can only amount to second best, if not less. God's love is so important to have that we must be able to give up our most precious instruments to obtain it. People are dying every day, young and old. In the first five months of this year alone I have heard about three young people who have died, with strong affiliations with my young tender age. One of them was a kingdom child, he had a destination. I didn't know the other two so well.

The bible does not say, "here's a saw: chop your arms off." That would mean painful displeasure. But rather, when your eyes are open to see the power of the love of God, all things that align you to His word will become natural. Speaking from personal experience, the love of God has thrown me into a state of perpetual bliss. I cannot completely understand His love. I cannot completely fathom how Jesus willingly went to the cross, led like a sheep, to get his skull, hands, and feet pierced with nails. He did it for you and me. Therefore, I am thrown into a natural state of love. I obey the word because, well, I feel like it. I obey the word because I want to and not because I am forced to. I do the things I do, not because I am scared of hell...but because I see reasons with God. I read the bible from the book of Genesis to Revelation (not in any particular order) because I see 'love' staring right back at me when I read it. Keep in mind that I have read all sorts of romantic flicks before in high school, from mills and boons to Silhouette romance...from Nora Roberts (whose writings I still love) to Jackie Collins (who could be really verbally pugnacious). Romance novels cannot compare with the Word of God. Neither can my love for Nancy Drew Files, or any other crime investigative flicks. There's just something about the Word of God, so genuine that sometimes it brings tears to my eyes.

That is why I can introduce the "flesh manuscripts" so freely. I do not consider them to be a bunch of rules and regulations. Rather, I find myself obeying because God and His kingdom are what really matters most. I don't own a saw, I don't cut my right hand off when the Word shows me my wrong ways. Rather, I run into the arms of my Knight in Shining armor. The One whose mercy can never run dry. The forgiver of my sins. My Rock of Ages and my Redeemer. He lifts my head back up and places a smile on my lips. I don't cut my arms off, instead I find God's grace.

The word of God keeps me alive. It shows me the right way to become everything I was meant to become. It shows me that when I walk by the highways of life I will fall into trouble, but if I find the narrow way...I and the few who listen and find it, will find life. It gives me the water of life so I can thirst no more.

Today, I release every burden that you, the reader, has been feeling about the Word of God. I rebuke every secret suffering, fear and torture telling you that you are bound by chains. Cast all your fears and burdens to God. Don't let your idiosyncratic mind tell you that you can't do it. You are not a prisoner to rules and regulations, but a prisoner to God's love. He loves you, whether you choose to believe it or not. Yes, you can find God's love. Yes, you can obey His word. And no, you don't have to cut your arms off. No, you don't have to do anything impossible or out of the norm. Just let God's LOVE flow through you...let it come naturally...let Him speak to you...let Him change you naturally, from the inside out! He's ready, but are you even willing?

We're all Human...and we're all beautiful...

Today, May 15 2008, bloggers around the world are blogging for human rights. God created us equally well, and He looked and saw that we were ALL beautiful. No one deserves unequal treatment. No skin color is inferior, neither is any race superior. My blog endorses this day. Have a blessed day. Read all other beautiful posts below...

**Sweet Nothings**

Yesterday it was raining so hard early in the morning. I threw the white big door open and plunged into the misty rain. I half jogged and half walked to the bus stop, waited for a few minutes and saw the bus approaching. I hopped on. Silence. Time passed a little. Then a loud noise. The sounds of the trains approaching. I hopped off the bus and got on the subway. I was reflecting on how good I felt going to work, I had been searching for something like this, but alas my search was over! A shouting testimony! And this was only just the beginning. One day I will be telling the full story to the Nations...from a roof-top.

So back to the train. I opened my book and started flipping pages. In some quick seconds, my eyes began to twitch and flutter. Out of the corner of my left eye I saw them. They were standing with their bodies leaning against each other. And he was whispering what I call romantic "sweet nothings" into her ears. Sweet, sweet, nothings. But she was blushing so those words must really have been sweet. Lol.

He was the lover and she was his beloved. As usual, my mind flipped for a second towards my Lover. My Knight in shining armor, who is also incidentally the Uncreated Creator. I began to distinguish his love. You see, human beings can whisper lots of words, especially in the excitement of the moment. But God is not like that. Every word He speaks MUST surely be true and must come to pass. He has declared His love for us in so many ways. Only this time, they weren't sweet nothings...they were just really sweet! He's been known to say words like, "Behold I will allure [you], bring you into the wilderness, and comfort you (Hosea 2:14)." He also calls you the "apple of His eye," (Zechariah 2:8); He calls you "His bride" while He refers to Himself as "the Bridegroom." (Rev 19:6-8).

The lips of men are sometimes filled with romantic and beautiful sweet nothings, but God offers so much more. He told the woman at the well, "When you taste my water, you will never thirst again." Sometimes our physical bodies ache for the love of another human being. But as far as we remain human, we will always thirst for something more. Our bodies cannot be completely satisfied by the love of another human being. Yes, our other halves may mean what they're saying. But because of their flesh they will get weak sometimes in fulfilling those words. So what can bring pure satisfaction? Look towards the hills...

...For the LOVE of God can never fail...

The Everyday People: the guy from the middle east...

This writing is inspired by a guy I met yesterday, from the middle east. Somehow, the numerical probability for Jaycee to experience a different encounter with a brand new day is pretty high. I cannot tell you if it is because I have an adventurous streak, or if it is merely due to my curiosity of life. Just like my weirdo tag illustrates, it could be an encounter between my stilettos and the leaves or the grass, or just observing the dynamics of birds flying across the sky...but more importantly, it could be an encounter with an inspiring unexpected stranger. I met a stranger yesterday who made me thirst for something more...

~~He was from the middle east~~

A captivating confident Middle east man. He was gray-haired, but his hair was partially covered with a base-ball cap. He sat at the bus stop, while clinging to a big black briefcase. I walked into the bus stop zone and proceeded to sit at the edge of three other people waiting for the same bus. He was at the extreme end of the seat. A boisterous woman walked towards us, and the gray-haired man stood up and said, "please have a seat ma'am." She smiled and gladly filled the space. He smiled back and said, "I have an extra seat for myself," and then he brought his briefcase beside me and sat on it. At this point I was wondering why he was all so excited. His day must be going well, I thought, giggling to myself. Then he began speaking to me. There must have been something on my forehead that screamed "pls approach me, I'm very approachable."

He asked me where I was from. "Ethiopia?" (I get that all the time). And I told him I was from around there (didn't want to disclose any information, in case there was anyone at the bus stop ready to shoot a 419 Naija babe). "Is English your first language?" I said yes. "Do you speak any other languages?" I said I spoke a little French (taking pride in all the French courses I was required to take at my university). That's how he bursted into French-speaking mode. "Je parle Francais aussi!!! Blah blah blah" I managed to blurt out a silly response, "Je parle Francais non beaucoup." Lolll. Not too much French, I was trying to say. I was beginning to feel like Tobenna when he sat beside an old man on his 7-hr flight to Dubai.

He inspired me. I listened and I sat there in awe. He was from a country between Turkey and Istanbul (he told me the name, but I cannot pronounce it...neither can I spell it). I have never heard of it in my entire twenty-somn years. He told me that he spoke 9 languages and taught people from 57 different countries around the world. I told him that I would love to know many languages some day. He said he started out by borrowing a Spanish book from the library (250 pages) and memorizing every tiny detail. Then he would leave his car at a parking lot, take the train to work and look for some Spanish people to practice with. By this time, I was swooning in mere admiration for his zeal.

He told me about his trips to China. He told me that he took frequent trips in his quest to learn Chinese. Then he spoke some Chinese to me (Ching chwan hooo) and I giggled. Then he decided to reveal his true passion and I became lost for words. He said, "I did all these things so that I can spread the love of the Lord Jesus Christ." I was flabbergasted. He ignited a new passion within me and I smiled in delight at his words. He made me want to spread more of God's love abroad.

I asked him what career he chose when he was younger, before he started travelling around. He replied and said, "well, I was in a university at England, studying for medicine. I was 25 years old at the time. One day, I heard God's voice saying "I want you." I told God that of course He could have me any time. I would just finish medical school, become a medical doctor, and send most of my money for missions...helping the poor, far and wide. Then I heard God saying clearly again, "No, it is YOU I want."" That was how he left everything he had plans for and started learning languages to spread God's word. Along the way he got married and had kids, but I love the statement he made at the end..."my kids are all grown up now, they don't need my money. I plan on selling my home and building an orphanage in China."

This is the story of an average man at the bus stop. I'm sharing this to say that I see God in many different ways. He's the Master planner. Sometimes I wonder why I have to use the bus, but there is time for everything. Like Esther, who knows whether I was placed in the kingdom for such a time as this? This man showed me that you can change lives in simple ways. You can meet someone on the train looking depressed, but after speaking with them their joy will be restored. God showed me His love for abandoning 99 sheep just to search for that one lost person.

Are you that lost person? God is calling you out today. You don't have to remain where you are. You do not have to wallow in endless pity. You cannot find any genuine love from human beings, unless inspired by God. God LOVES you!!! He loves you so much that it hurts Him when you're hurting. His arms are outstretched to that one person that needs Him. My thirst has been renewed, and my soul pants for more. More of His love...

The Flesh Manuscripts II: The day we became Lascivious!

Once upon a time, the garden was green. The flowers blossomed and the leaves sparkled. The dew fell on soft green grass, and the birds chirped in the nearest distance. The lions conversed with the tigers, and there was no competition in the food chain. Rabbits chased elephants, and mortals chased guerrillas. But alas, gone are those days. The days of innocence. Lost in the garden of Eden.

Today's manuscript will unravel the mysteries of "Lasciviousness" (KJV) or "Lewdness" (NKJV). These words epitomize 'the power to arouse or excite sexual desires.' This power is inherent. It is in males and females alike. It is in the young and the restless, and the bold and the beautiful. It is also in the old and the wise. It is in each of us, whether we like it or not. But has this power been misused? Yes, it has. It didn't start with this century, there is nothing new under the sun. It started even in the days of Adam and Eve. When God created Eve for Adam, automatically that power to bring forth a sexual attraction was there. But sin came into the world, and this power was averted for the wrong uses.

Lasciviousness is only a part of the things of the flesh (Galatians 5) because our bodies are very important to God. Why, you may ask? God is the Master Potter. He molded us with His hands, and as He did so, He breathed "purpose" into us. Think of a potter. The way he would mold a cup would differ slightly from the way he would mold a bowl...because they have different functions. If a cup carries food rather than drink, it's purpose (what the potter had in mind) would never be fulfilled. If a swimming pool carries sand, it's purpose can never be fulfilled. So also, if you arouse sexual desires that are not meant to be aroused, your purpose would never be fulfilled. That's how I see it. The purpose of sexual desires are for pleasures within marriage. Now, this is not to say that we won't be tempted before marriage or outside of marriage. But there's a difference between "being tempted" and "purposefully following up on temptation."

How does one get lascivious? Lewdness is a synonym for lasciviousness. To be lewd is to be obscene (either in the way we speak or the way we dress, or even in other ways). To be obscene in ways that can arouse sexual desire. The way we talk, if improper towards the opposite sex, can arouse illicit desires. That is why Solomon said in his book, "do not stir up, nor awaken love until it pleases (chapter 2:7)." Because we have the power to awaken love when it is not the right time. Obscene sexual language can arouse illicit desires. If you're really ready to follow God, then you must be ready to drop the obscene language. The way we dress is also very important. Don't let anyone lie to you, yes the times have changed, but the definition of obscenity has not changed. Obscene and improper dressing...the way we cover or uncover our bodies, can arouse illicit sexual desires. There's a proper way to dress, and an improper way to dress. There's "respectable dressing" and "unrespectable dressing." YOU decide which one you will choose, no one decides for you. I'm not saying dress like an "SU" with no appeal (e.g. no earrings, make-up, long sleeves all the time, e.t.c). But there's a way to look sexy and respectable at the same time. Oh, remember that the fact that people will be tempted regardless of the way you dress is definitely not a plausible excuse.

Again, these manuscripts are born to reveal those things of our flesh that we need to do away with. It is NOT enough to know, now is the time to DO. We need to stop being obscene, in the way we talk and dress. We need to drop the baggage we carry daily, so that we can meet God face to face. We need to clean up our houses and our temples. I'm not sure how many people these manuscripts will reach, but it's not for me to decide. It will change whoever God needs to change. It is for those who want to leave their old ways of life and follow God. It is the start of a new beginning...14 more to go...