Janina B.

When the prodigal son received his inheritance early(before he was mature enough to handle it), he no longer represented his father. He took off his identity because he never truly valued it or understood it. He had to learn the hard lesson of what happens when you are wasteful and ungrateful.       This son got so low that the food of pigs was better than what he could afford to eat. I’m sure his confidence was shattered, but he learned humility.       This son returned to his father and expected to be mistreated because he knew that his behavior was wrong, but his father ordered that the best coat be put on him. The coat, shoes, and ring that he was given was more than clothing, it was symbolic of him being given his identity back. He was a beloved son. He was valued and never forgotten. His return was celebrated because he now understood what he truly had and who he truly was. There was no way he would make the same mistake twice. He was celebrated becau...

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) There I was, a senior in college looking forward to finally graduating until I got the dreaded email that I was lacking 3 semester hours. In that moment, I was upset with myself and wondered how, after working so hard, I managed to still be unsuccessful. Even though I was one class away from earning a degree, I was standing at the tail end of a 6- year journey that should have only taken 4 years.  I had to re-face the fact that I had failed many previous classes and I had also almost gotten myself placed on academic suspension due to bad grades, but by the grace of God, the computer somehow skipped my name, and I never received a notification that I would not be able to resume classes. God showed so much grace to me, but not being able to graduate made me angry with Him. I felt like a failure, and I thought that He w...

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV).        Sometimes what inconveniences you is purpose calling. David came  home from his job (training) to  check on the sheep that he loved (he loved what others considered to be insignificant). His father told him to  take some things to his brothers who were on the battlefield. Most of us would have wanted to argue that we need rest, but purpose  had placed a demand on David and he went.      David had training in everything that God planned for him. He was trained as a Shepard to seek God and to be brave. He didn’t go around telling people that he could fight wild animals. Some of you don’t go telling people about the demons that you have slayed through  the Hold Ghost in private.      David saw what Saul didn’t. David saw how a  kingd...

“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice” ( 1 Kings 19: 11-12 NKJV). One the things that I love about a snippet of what Elijah encountered was that he was over it. Despite all that he was used to do for God, he got so overwhelmed that he wanted to hand over his well worn towel. God allowed us to see this part of purpose because He does not ignore it. He knows how we feel and what we battle through individually. God sees the tears and the sadness, but this does not mean that we are allowed to give up. For many of us, when we try to give God our purpose soaked towels, he throws  them back to us and tells us to put...