What's Up in Sherrice's World?

Master.  Savior.  Healer. Redeemer. Wonderful.  Our Lord is all that and so much more.  How many of us know that deep within our hearts, yet find it hard to stand on in times of trouble.  I stopped by to tell you that you are not alone.  You are in good company.  For even the father of many nations experienced similar issues in his life.  In Genesis 37:35, Jacob (who we know as Israel) was in an extremely sorrowful state.  His children tried to comfort him, yet, he refused their consolation.  How many times have we been in extreme pain, seeking comfort, yet refusing what the Lord has to offer?  Some of us have been on a pain roller coaster for years.  I hear some of you saying that you want it to go, but just don’t know how to let go.  I hear others saying that I have mastered this.  Yet, still, others are saying, pain is my friend.  What would I do without it? 

If you are experiencing pain, just know that it is taking up resident in your life and not paying “a lick” of rent.  When one does not pay rent in the natural, the landlord serves a notice of eviction.  Today is the day that you will evict pain from your life.  I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying that He will perfect whatever concerns you.  You are his masterpiece, a fine work of art.  You command a price far above what you can imagine.  So why, beloved, are you walking around in pain.  Godly sorrow builds contenance of the heart, not worldly sorrow.  I speak inner healing into your mind, body and soul.  Release it to the Lord.  Its acceptable to weep, yet know that weeping may endure for a night, but joy, comes in the morning.  Bind the spirit of pain and sorrow.  Forgive those who have hurt you.  Take a chance and show the Lord’s unconditional love.  What do you have to lose?  Absolutely nothing, because your current state of pain is causing you not to function at your God-given level.  You are called, chosen and selected to be a part of a wonderful kingdom.  Live out loud with a purpose. 

So, for those of you who are in pain, I declare and decree that the Word of the Lord will permeate your heart and begin to heal each and every hurt from your past.  I am believing that those who are in bad situations will be set free.  The chains will be broken off today.  Take a moment to live out loud and give the Lord the praise that He is due with the fruit of your lips.  Praise Him out loud until you get a breakthrough!  Praise!  Praise!  Praise!  Your breakthrough is here and you don’t see it yet!  Don’t stop!  Praise! Praise! Praise!  The Lord is healing your heart with each word of praise that proceeds from your mouth!  Praise! Praise! Praise! Your destiny has been held up for too long.  Satan, I bind your retaliatory spirits and counter attacks, in the name of Jesus!  Praise! Praise! Praise! Until you can see your path is clear! 

What about Jacob?  He stopped wallowing in his misery and became Israel, the father of many nations.  You are a part of his purpose and destiny.  Praise! Praise! Praise!  Live out loud with a purpose!  Praise! Praise! Praise! The shackles have fallen off your feet and hands!  You are free to run, free to dance, free to set others free in the name of Jesus!  Live out loud with a purpose and praise!

During our walk with Christ, we often come to a place of spiritual renewal. A place where we go to another level in the Lord. Gilgal was physical manifestation of this spiritual place in the Bible days. It represented a rolling away of the reproach from the past.

Here are a few notable events that occurred at Gilgal.

- The Israelites camped out here when they crossed the Jordan, before they conquered Jericho. Joshua 4:19

- The memorial stones from crossing over Jordan were brought here. Joshua 4:20

- The Israelites circumcised the men who were born in the wilderness here. Joshua 5:1-5

- Saul was given another heart at Gilgal. I Samuel 10:8-9

- David was met by the people of Judah to restore his kingship when his son Absalom died. II Samuel 19:15

- Elijah and Elisha were on their way to Gilgal when Elijah was caught up in the whirlwind. II Kings 2:1

Gilgal was definitely a place of change, physically and spiritually. Now is the time for your change, your spiritual renewal. While you are camping out here, prepare to conquer a few giants, walk in your calling and assume your position in the royal kingdom. Cut away anything that’s unclean and build your memorial. You will be given a new heart that is even more in tune with the Lord. Expect new things to begin to occur in your life. Roll away the reproach of Egypt and embrace Gilgal.

How many of you have ever felt like you do not belong here on this earth? It seems that the more you try to live for Jesus, the more the world is against you. Brothers and sisters, I am here today to let you know that there is a reason that you feel like this is not your country. Almost like an illegal alien in a foreign land with different laws and different types of people. No matter what takes place in their new country, they always long for their birthplace because there’s no place like home.

We are a citizen of the United States of America, but as a Christian, we have dual citizenship. Dual citizenship in the United States is interesting because even though the government allows a dual citizen to maintain citizenship in another country, that person must agree to the following requirements.

1. Solemnly swear to uphold the constitution of the United States
2. Renounce all allegiance to any foreign leadership.
3. Support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, including those in your home country.
4. Join the military as one who bears arms or one who does not if the U.S. government needs your services

Even though this person is a dual citizen, it is almost like his or her home country does not exist when it comes to the laws that govern life. It is important to keep in mind that some other countries laws may not correspond with the U.S. definition of dual citizenship. This is where global conflict comes in to play. Which laws should this person follow? How is this person to live his or her life?

The dilemma is similar for a Christian. We struggle with not feeling welcome in our country of birth because we are truly not from here. If God formed us in our mother’s wombs and breathed the breath of life into us, then our original home is Heaven. The spirit of life He breathed into us belongs to Him. Since He is in Heaven, then technically, so are we.

Many of you may say, I have not ever been there before. From the physical perspective, that is true. Since the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you have a dual nature; a physical and a spiritual nature. We are unique because we have a physical body indwelled by God himself. Since your spirit is of God, you live here, but you do not belong here. You may be an American, but you are a citizen of Heaven, looking forward to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). Even though we are called to obey the laws of the land, our allegiance is to the Holy Word of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 22:15-22, the Pharisees were trying to get Jesus to speak against the government by asking whether or not a believer should pay taxes. Jesus said we should render unto Caesar what Caesar is due and render unto God what God is due. This speaks to our dual citizenship. Our responsibility to Jesus and our responsibility to our country. We are in this world but not of this world, however, as American citizens, we are able to do things like vote, pay taxes, call our Congressman with complaints. If you don’t know the phone number, see me after Bible Study. In Titus 2:12, the Lord reveals that we are to live soberly, righteous and godly before the world. Matthew 5 tells us that we are a light shining bright on a hill. We must shine this light on the world. If we as Christians stop participating in the world’s system, this would give the world the edge they need to be even more corrupt than they already are. Eventually, the world will become so corrupt that there will be a time when believers must totally separate themselves, but as for right now, we still have an obligation. We are the moral and spiritual barometers of the world. Without us, more unborn babies would be dying and people living unholy lifestyles would have no one to remind them of Jesus’ original design for their lives. I have stopped by here to tell you about a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem, where you and others with your same nationality will dwell with Jesus in righteousness. Its time to turn in your green card and get your New Jerusalem ID. You are no longer an alien in a foreign land because there’s no place like home.

Tolerance is one of the most popular buzz words I have been hearing lately in diversity circles. After hearing the term 100 times, I thought about exploring the concept to see how it links us with the teachings in the Bible.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines tolerance as sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own or the allowable deviation from a standard. Hmmm….an interesting concept. So that means if someone decides to worship the a chair in their living room (believe me, it happens), we must be willing to be tolerant of their belief system. We are expected to behave in this manner even if it is detrimental to a person’s well being and spiritual destiny. Hmmm….once gain, an interesting concept. I decided to solicit some thoughts from my network of friends on Facebook. Here are a few of the responses…

• An attitude that you develop to deal with a situation, while you may not like it, you adapt to deal with it for the sake of someone or your own sanity
• The ability to deal with people and situations when they don’t line up with truth
• Being able to work with the people I work with
• The ability to deal with others in spite of what they do and how they act towards you! Prayer closet where you at?
• Dealing with foolishness. That’s funny. I always say I have a low tolerance for foolishness. Meaning…if it’s foolishness, I deal with it but only for a (short) season. I deal with it according to God’s standards. Outside of that, if a person does not want to change their foolish ways (after a while of effectively ministering to them), I give it … Read More to God and let Him deal with them accordingly. I believe this is the only way they will learn their lesson. You can’t make someone do what you feel is right for them to do. I’m sure you heard the saying, “you can lead a….but you can’t make him drink it!”
• Tolerant is the ability to endure thru love. For instance, one can love a person in spite of that person’s trespasses against them.
• I say, “thru love” otherwise, we just put up with them, but that type of “tolerance” is giving up on the person.

These were personal definitions from strong, spirit-filled believers. It seems that we are all willing to work with someone, yet, only for a season. I believe the Lord allows us to be tolerant so that we can get to know a person and win them to the kingdom with love. What is your definition of tolerance and how do you operate in that realm?

I am gathering you, so draw nigh to me. I am gathering you into a unified body of believers to come against the enemy and take back everything he has stolen from you. I am gathering a people who are set free from generational curses to release generational blessings. Send Judah first. Praise me, my people. I am gathering you to a place of praise, a place of deliverance, a place of zoe, abundant life. I am gathering you to an awakening. A praise awakening, a spiritual awakening.

Praise me with your mouth and your hands. Praise me with instruments and banners. Praise me with all your heart. Release my praise as I desire to hear you praise me. Your praise binds the enemy, yes, it stops him in his tracks. He has no power in the midst of your praises. Stop looking to and fro for a word from me. Praise me and I will inhabit your dwelling. I will saturate you with my word and reward you for your praises. I declare that you are royalty. Royal people with a divine calling, walking in righteousness. Praise me and I will restore you, refresh you and refill you. I will renew you and release you from the bondage of those things that are holding you back. You are the head, not the tail. You no longer owe a price you could never repay.

Beloved, declare me righteous and I will declare you righteous. I will not withhold my good things from. You are child, as I have adopted you in the Spirit. I am gathering you, so come to me and I will set you free. For whom the son is set free is free in deed. Now, go live like you are free.

Last month, I went to the Black Writer’s Conference and Reunion (http://www.blackwriters.org/) in Las Vegas, Nevada.  My first writer’s conference ever!  Thanks to fellow writer and co-worker, Dasaya Cates, I am making my debut in the writing world.

In the past, I simply wrote for fun.  I was not concerned about editing, finding an agent or getting published. Then, one day, I had an ephiphany - I could write for a living.  At the conference, I learned if I wanted to make writing my career, those things I was previously not concerned about needed to be added to my game plan. My prayer life and overall life philosophy changed as a result. Here are a few things I learned while gleaning from other writers at the conference.

1. You must be able to get along with people if you want to sell your books.

2. You must know how to write a query letter and book proposal.

3. You can advertise on your blog and earn a little extra cash on the side.

4. Weak character development equals a weak book.

5. In order to write full-time, it is a good idea to have multiple streams of income.

6. Self-publishing is hard work, yet can be lucrative if you properly market your book.

7. Publishing companies do not necessarily provide you with a marketing budget.

8. Editing and copysetting and keys to success.

9. Write everyday.

10. You must be a reader to be a good writer.

11. All writer’s conferences are not created equal.

12. N. Kali Mincy has a great Fiction Writing Toolkit (http://www.coachgreatwriters.com/).

13. Tia Ross is the hardest working woman in event planning and editing (http://www.tiaross.com/).

14. William Patterson is a marketing genius (http://www.baronseries.com/).

15. ReShonda Tate Billingsley (http://www.reshondatatebillingsley.com/), Sophia Simmons (http://www.sophiasimmonsonline.com/), Monique Mensah (http://www.moniquedmensah.com/) and Donna Deloney are great writers.

After leaving this conference, I no longer see myself as a training consultant. I now see myself as a writer. I was born to do this and I plan to fulfill the dream. I am a writer on a journey to destiny. How about you?

Update: This article has been published on the Black Writers Reunion and Conference website.

Every since I was in Kindergarten, I knew two things about myself.

1. I was different than the other children and my family members.

2. I was meant to be a queen.

During my formative years, my parents opened our home to those in our hometown who had the desire to transition to a city where jobs were readily available. When I was in the 1st or 2nd grade, my Uncle Martin and his friend were our latest guests and they treated my sister and I like queens. The friend always picked me up and swung me around, which I absolutely loved. He told me that I was a Nubian princess destined for greatness and that when I grew up, I would be a Nubian queen. I was so excited because finally, someone else realized that I was royalty. In my mind, I had known it all along! This was just the boost that I needed. If only my family, friends and classmates would accept this concept, we would all be fine.

My uncle’s friend began to explain royalty to me from a secular perspective. He told me that I should travel only in the royal chariot and that my maidservants would feed me the best green grapes, green olives and chunks of cheddar cheese. These were my favorite snacks so he definitely had my attention. My uncle added to this by telling me that I was beautiful and that I should never settle for less. He made sure that I understood that I only deserved the best. You would think that these words would have made me stuck-up and unapproachable, however they did just the opposite. I felt that a queen should be approachable and loyal to her servants so I began to love on people more and more. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and savior of my life, I began to see what being royalty really meant.

As I was worshipping and I heard the words, “You are royalty, so what do you decree?” Immediately, I thought about my uncle and his friend sharing that with me from a secular perspective. I believe that they were imparting my destiny through those prophetic words, as the gifts are given without repentance. Keeping this in mind, I began to recall all of the scriptures related to servants of Christ being royal.

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. I Peter 2:9

I began to meditate on those words and the Holy Spirit began to speak a prophetic word into my spirit that I have been commissioned to share with my fellow believers.

You are royalty, so what do you decree? I am the King of King and the Lord of Lords and you are mine. Spiritually grafted and adopted into my divine family. I receive you as a joint heir with Jesus and as a holy descendant, you have the right to my fortune. I am your heavenly Father, rich in houses and land. I own the cattle upon a thousand hills and much more. I have promised to provide all of your needs according to my riches in glory. You are royalty, so what do you decree? Delight yourself in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. As you grow in me, my desires become your desires. I grant what is in my will, just praise me and worship me in spirit and in truth. Your destiny is in my hands. You are mine and I am the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are royalty, so what do you decree? I have given you the keys to the kingdom. Use them. I have given you access to my throne room. Join me there. I have treasures stored up for you in Heaven. Stop living like a pauper and live like you are rich, because you are. Not just monetarily, but spiritually. You are spiritually rich and you have divine access. Use it. My capacity to bless you is limitless. I can bless you more than you can imagine with your human mind. Tap into the spiritual realm and seek my plan for your life. Declare it and decree it in the heavenlies and it shall be. Through me, your words have the power to unlock your destiny. Be careful what you speak. Remember, you are royalty, so what do you decree?

This word blessed me more than you will ever know! If I were you, I would begin to declare and decree some things over your life, your family and the future generations to come. Isn’t it funny how someone can speak something into you as a child and it comes to pass? I am royalty! That’s what I declare and decree. I simply want God’s will for my life. That’s what I decree! What about you?

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7-8

As I started out my day, I thought about the law of reaping and sowing. How many times do we help people out without consulting the Lord? Many times, we find that the person’s situation continues to get worse as time goes on and we cannot figure out the reason. As believers, we tend to help people no matter what. We will give them our last dime and pray for the Lord to bless us to survive until the next installment of money comes our way. We open our homes, share whatever we have and continually give, give and give. Our forms of outreach ministry all involve giving. The scriptures tell us that it is better to give than receive (Acts 20:35), however, when do we know that we have gone too far with the giving?

In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul speaks to the law of reaping and sowing. When you live holy, you are sowing spiritual things and will reap spiritual blessings, like eternal life. When you sin, you are sowing to the flesh and will reap corruption. There are some occasions when we overstep our bounds by not being obedient to the Holy Spirit and do not allow the law of reaping and sowing to play its course. So, let’s say if your brother or sister keeps falling into a certain sin and calls you each time to get him out of it. You drop whatever you are doing, not thinking about the Holy Spirit at all to help your brother or sister and guess what? You have officially become an enabler. You are aiding and abetting a fugitive from the authorities when they should be locked up based upon the law of reaping and sowing. Aiding and abetting a fugitive is against the law in all of the United States and according to the Bible. I used a brother or sister in the example, however, parents do this with their disobedient children, children do it with their disobedient parents and some of us will do these things for people we do not even know.

What is our primary offense in this matter? Disobedience to the Holy Spirit. We cannot do what we want to do in the name of helping someone and be disobedient to the Holy Spirit. This causes you to enter into your own cycle of reaping flesh and sowing corruption. Now, you have let someone else’s bad decision to cause you to sin and fall out of favor with the Lord. This has opened the door for Satan to have legal ground in your life.

My brothers and sisters, please pray and seek the Lord on this matter. You may have given Satan legal ground unintentionally. If this is your case, please seek the Father and repent. Do not return to this disobedient behavior no matter how badly the person tries to put a guilt trip on you. Renounce your affiliation with the activities and forgive the person if you feel bitterness rising up in your heart. The next time they call, seek the Lord for the answer before jumping in to bail them out. As Prophet Stanley Jack would say, this is your prophetic bail out plan. Once you begin seeking the Holy Spirit and taking action based upon that direction, you will come up against some challenges, however, you will begin to see the chains that had you bound drop off and you will be free. Whom the Son is set free is free indeed, so I can no longer live like one in bondage. Be free to run, free to dance, free to launch, free to be who God called you to be, doing what God asked you to do and not what you believe or what you are guilted into doing. Freedom! Be free in the Holy Ghost! I would love to hear your testimony about getting free!

The Lord is looking for seekers. Diligent seekers with a heart sold out to Him. He wants those who continually seek His presence and desire His loving kindness. Seek Him with all your heart and all your soul. He is not pleased with idolatry, so burn your graven images. Allow the baptism of fire to permeate your very being. Rid yourself of pollutants and junk that keep you from worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth. Signs and wonders will follow you as you seek Him. Leaving a trail of changed hearts, changed lives and changed circumstances. His desire for seekers is not about us. It’s about glorifying His name and bringing more lives back to Him. The more we seek Him, the more the lost will find Him. Seek the fire, seek the love. Seek Jesus and you will find Him.

Have you ever felt that there was something strange in the atmosphere. You can’t explain it, you just know that it is eerie. Last week, was that kind of week for me. I could not sleep well and wrestled throughout the night with strange dreams. I prayed in the Spirit over and over again, even while driving and doing menial tasks. Then on Friday, I started talking to my husband about Satanic High Days. He looked at me like I was crazy, yet being the sweet person that he is, he listened to me. I was almost in tears as I shared that the Holy Spirit was sharing with me that it was a Satanic High Day. A day of animal and human sacrifice to their god, Satan.

Side Note: The Holy Spirit often reveals things to me that I am reluctant to share with people. Who wants to be known as “that kooky prophetic girl”? Not me! Regardless, the Holy Spirit keeps on doing what He does. Thank you, Jesus! I may not understand it or even like it yet I am willing to do whatever you say! Obedience is the key. So now, I am going to share the rest of this with you all.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I am telling my husband about Satan’s desire to steal God’s worship. That’s why the cherubim guard the throne (Revelation 4). Not only are they worshipping, they are guarding God’s worship. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty! I share some information that I read in Rebecca Brown’s book He Came to Set the Captives Free and how it coincided with the vision from the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday, we went to church and I learned that there was a Psychic Fair right here in Columbus on Friday the 13th. I am not superstitious, yet I am super sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Those people had probably been speaking death into the atmosphere and strange incantations against whomever and we were blatantly sitting back doing nothing. The Holy Spirit impressed it upon my heart that the prayer warriors must start cracking some things in the spirit. Its cool to pray for someones healing or a problem to be solved, but let’s get to the root cause. Satan does not like ANYONE and wants EVERYONE to worship him even though he has nothing to offer in return. He hates us, loathes us and deplores us!

Just today, the Holy Spirit showed me a missing person being taken away into a field. The person was placed in the middle of a pentagram. Those surrounding the pentagram were chanting some strange incantation. This lets me know that missing people aren’t just killed for no reason or sold as sex slaves at bath houses, they are being sacrificed on Satanic High Days. There are people in high places who are involved in these rituals, too. Don’t believe the stories you were told when you were younger! Satan is real and he is waging wars in the heavens, as he is the prince of the power of the air. We serve the most high king, Jesus Christ, and have all power to tread upon serpents and scorpions. We have power to cast out demons and speak life! If you don’t believe me, read the book of Mark. Don’t read it as literature, read it in the Spirit.

As you read this blog entry, I am praying in the Spirit for you. I pray that the Lord will surround you with a band of angels who are linked together letting no demonic or human spirits penetrate. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, when the righteous run into it they are safe. Blessed be the name of the Lord and His name is Jesus! Call on the name of Jesus and you will be safe from the demonic forces of the world. I pray that you open the eyes of your heart and become more and more sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

That kooky prophetic girl is loving you!