"Why you gotta be all extra?!!"
. . . was the question posed to me recently, by a county jailhouse clerk, as she processed my release paperwork. That's right, I was thrown in jail again, right before Christmas, for "trespassing" this time for the unauthorized use of a hospital cafeteria's microwave. I should probably be thankful that I didn't get the death penalty, this is, after all, Texas (humor ya'll).
Back to the question posed. My initial, emotionally charged, response was to rebuke and remind the clerk that she had not walked in my shoes, therefore, how dare she judge my testimony or my worship. I'm sure she felt justified and probably thought she was putting me in my place; coming at me in a "sistah skrait out da hood" kind of way. However, as she disheveled my belongings and attempted to push my paperwork to the floor before exerting her power to throw me back into the holding tank for an EXTRA couple hours, I exerted my power (my right as His servant) and invoked the prophecy of Isaiah 54:14: exclaiming to her "My documents hadn't hit the floor and neither had I, but she would." Amen.
Extra . . . hmmm. Why all the praying, singing, testifying, scripture reference, adoration, extra, extra, extra? It's because of the EXTRA stripes He took on my behalf. It's because He stumbled and fell under the EXTRA weight of a cross ladened with my sins. It's because He bore EXTRA insults that were meant for me. It's because of the nails in His hands and feet that should have pierced my flesh and the crown of thorns that, evil warranted, should have been placed on my head. Most of all, it's because He died and descended into hell in my place, that I might have life more abundantly (abundance = more than enough = EXTRA)
In other words, He's worthy.
HE could have refused to suffer the EXTRA punishment that was mine. But, because He made a choice way back then on Calvary, I'm making a choice right here and now in Houston to be "ALL EXTRA!!!"
Look, I know that some people just want me to get over myself and get it together already, i.e. "grow-up!" But, here's the thing, it's not about me, never has been. God called me to purpose, not man, and His timing is perfect, not man's. Despite what anyone else thinks (thoughts that they, by the way, couldn't form had God not given them a brain and caused it to function) Thank You LORD!; I will fulfill His purpose for my life, according to His schedule, because I love Him. I will not shut-up! You can keep your stuff, withhold your little blessings and shove your shekels back into your pockets. There are enough silent Christians, which is why evil continues to run rampant: hatred, lying, stealing, cheating, killing, adultery, etc., even inside the church. Some even have the arrogance to call the evil of adultery "COUNSEL", then run and hide behind grace. Question: How many of you, particularly those in the church, would like for your husbands or wives to be "counseled" in such a manner, simply because the "COUNSELLOR" carries a big bible, wears a robe, sings in the choir, shouts, speaks in tongues, etc.? God is not pleased. There's a reason why sexual sin is repeatedly admonished in the bible. Our bodies are His temples. Some have graciously advised me that my speech is what defiles me. But God corrects and cleanses speech; besides if God tell me to speak (Isaiah 58:1), I will speak. Sexual sin, however, is the only sin, other than blasphemy that renders curse unto death. His temple is where He dwells, i.e., His home. God cannot dwell in an unclean place, it's uninhabitable and therefore condemned and scheduled for demolition. These are not my words: It's in the manual, Deuteronomy.
I understand, appreciate, adore, worship, thank God, etc., for grace, without which, we would all be lost. But it is because of grace that we have the opportunity to choose His commandments; because they are right! Grace doesn't justify or excuse sin, it forgives (it's not a right, it's a gift). A gift which should incline us to keep His commandments rather than to abuse and misappropriate grace. Many argue that Jesus died to the law, true! However, obedience is not about law, it's about love, against which there is no law. I love the apostles, Paul and Apollos alike, and I receive their writings as given by God. But, I love God most of all and God said, through Jesus, who died for our sins, "If you love ME, you will keep my commandments."
DO YOU LOVE HIM?
A song in my heart, still, because there's nothing left to do but say:
"Thank You" Vanessa Bell Armstrong
An extra song in my heart dedicated especially to a jailhouse clerk: "Alabaster Box" Cici Winans
Even though they threw away my food supply, kept the little money that I did have, and even took away my fake Louis V., ya'll, I refuse to give up. So here's a little something EXTRA: Genesis 12:3
I think I'll have a T-shirt made
I'M ALL EXTRA!
. . . was the question posed to me recently, by a county jailhouse clerk, as she processed my release paperwork. That's right, I was thrown in jail again, right before Christmas, for "trespassing" this time for the unauthorized use of a hospital cafeteria's microwave. I should probably be thankful that I didn't get the death penalty, this is, after all, Texas (humor ya'll).
Back to the question posed. My initial, emotionally charged, response was to rebuke and remind the clerk that she had not walked in my shoes, therefore, how dare she judge my testimony or my worship. I'm sure she felt justified and probably thought she was putting me in my place; coming at me in a "sistah skrait out da hood" kind of way. However, as she disheveled my belongings and attempted to push my paperwork to the floor before exerting her power to throw me back into the holding tank for an EXTRA couple hours, I exerted my power (my right as His servant) and invoked the prophecy of Isaiah 54:14: exclaiming to her "My documents hadn't hit the floor and neither had I, but she would." Amen.
Extra . . . hmmm. Why all the praying, singing, testifying, scripture reference, adoration, extra, extra, extra? It's because of the EXTRA stripes He took on my behalf. It's because He stumbled and fell under the EXTRA weight of a cross ladened with my sins. It's because He bore EXTRA insults that were meant for me. It's because of the nails in His hands and feet that should have pierced my flesh and the crown of thorns that, evil warranted, should have been placed on my head. Most of all, it's because He died and descended into hell in my place, that I might have life more abundantly (abundance = more than enough = EXTRA)
In other words, He's worthy.
HE could have refused to suffer the EXTRA punishment that was mine. But, because He made a choice way back then on Calvary, I'm making a choice right here and now in Houston to be "ALL EXTRA!!!"
Look, I know that some people just want me to get over myself and get it together already, i.e. "grow-up!" But, here's the thing, it's not about me, never has been. God called me to purpose, not man, and His timing is perfect, not man's. Despite what anyone else thinks (thoughts that they, by the way, couldn't form had God not given them a brain and caused it to function) Thank You LORD!; I will fulfill His purpose for my life, according to His schedule, because I love Him. I will not shut-up! You can keep your stuff, withhold your little blessings and shove your shekels back into your pockets. There are enough silent Christians, which is why evil continues to run rampant: hatred, lying, stealing, cheating, killing, adultery, etc., even inside the church. Some even have the arrogance to call the evil of adultery "COUNSEL", then run and hide behind grace. Question: How many of you, particularly those in the church, would like for your husbands or wives to be "counseled" in such a manner, simply because the "COUNSELLOR" carries a big bible, wears a robe, sings in the choir, shouts, speaks in tongues, etc.? God is not pleased. There's a reason why sexual sin is repeatedly admonished in the bible. Our bodies are His temples. Some have graciously advised me that my speech is what defiles me. But God corrects and cleanses speech; besides if God tell me to speak (Isaiah 58:1), I will speak. Sexual sin, however, is the only sin, other than blasphemy that renders curse unto death. His temple is where He dwells, i.e., His home. God cannot dwell in an unclean place, it's uninhabitable and therefore condemned and scheduled for demolition. These are not my words: It's in the manual, Deuteronomy.
I understand, appreciate, adore, worship, thank God, etc., for grace, without which, we would all be lost. But it is because of grace that we have the opportunity to choose His commandments; because they are right! Grace doesn't justify or excuse sin, it forgives (it's not a right, it's a gift). A gift which should incline us to keep His commandments rather than to abuse and misappropriate grace. Many argue that Jesus died to the law, true! However, obedience is not about law, it's about love, against which there is no law. I love the apostles, Paul and Apollos alike, and I receive their writings as given by God. But, I love God most of all and God said, through Jesus, who died for our sins, "If you love ME, you will keep my commandments."
DO YOU LOVE HIM?
A song in my heart, still, because there's nothing left to do but say:
"Thank You" Vanessa Bell Armstrong
An extra song in my heart dedicated especially to a jailhouse clerk: "Alabaster Box" Cici Winans
Even though they threw away my food supply, kept the little money that I did have, and even took away my fake Louis V., ya'll, I refuse to give up. So here's a little something EXTRA: Genesis 12:3
I think I'll have a T-shirt made
I'M ALL EXTRA!
