Happy March my loves!! I hope you all are doing well and staying safe! March can be an emotional time for me, as I always remember special loved ones that I lost during this month. This year I set a goal to change the way I approach this month, so I am endeavoring to change that narrative. I have some very exciting things happening this month and I CANNOT WAIT to share those things with you soon!! But for now, let me share a story that I discovered in the Bible and thought it was something great to share with you all. It was definitely a lesson for your girl! I am always rocked by the lesson before I bring it to you. So, since sharing is caring, let’s get into it!

This month we are going to talk about our brother Zechariah. This whole story is found in Luke 1:5-80. I will give a brief synopsis, but as always, I encourage you to check it out for yourself. Zechariah was married to a lady named Elizabeth and they were seen as righteous in God’s eyes. They had no children and were very old. One day Zechariah was serving God in the temple when an Angel named Gabriel appeared. Naturally, Zechariah was a little shook, as he had obviously never had an encounter of this kind before. Gabriel was like “Be easy my dude. Just letting you know that God heard your prayers, your wife is gonna have a baby.” He instructed Zechariah to name the baby John as his birth would bring great joy. John would be filled with the Holy Spirit before birth and would have a major calling on his life.

Now here is the part where Zechariah reminds me of myself. Other than being shook about that angelic encounter, Zechariah doubted and asked Gabriel how that was possible because he and his wife were both seasoned saints. Gabriel was like “Ok, so you clearly don’t know who I am. Since you wanna doubt, how about you say nothing until the word I was sent to share is fulfilled.” Gabe was confident and walking in his assignment! Zechariah walked out of the temple and couldn’t speak! The people outside of the temple just figured he had an encounter with God, they were right, but he was silenced because his doubt was not invited to participate in this miracle.

Zechariah went back home and had an “encounter” with his wife, and they conceived a child. He still wasn’t able to talk until after the baby was born! According to what I read, he couldn’t speak until about eight days after birth, when they had his circumcision ceremony. At that point they revealed the baby’s name. Everyone thought he was going to be named after his father, but Elizabeth understood the assignment and said, “His name is John.” They thought she was going against her husband, who clearly couldn’t speak. He motioned for them to bring him a tablet so that he could communicate in writing. He cosigned that the child’s name was indeed John, and instantly he was able to speak!! This action showed God that even in his doubt, he still had the ability to be obedient to His instructions.

How many times has God revealed something about our future to us or shown us a particular purpose He wants us to walk out, and we come with the questions? Not sure about you, but I turn into a complete lawyer! I have questions like it’s me against my purpose and my purpose is on trial! Sometimes it can feel as if our purpose is violating us. I ask how, when, why, can you use somebody else, and at times what’s in it for me?! Sometimes we just need to learn the art of silence! In this case, before God allowed Zechariah’s words to contaminate the plan, He took away his speech. Now that we know that story, we can learn from Zechariah and learn how to ask questions using a filter of humility. God doesn’t mind the questions, but we should ask for instructions, strategy, strength, and the capacity to carry out the thing that looks too big for our minds to comprehend.

Isaiah 55:8-9 MSG says “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s decree “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” Just like Zechariah, we can place our limitations on God. Sometimes God wants to bless us in unconventional ways, but because we have never seen it done before or we don’t have a point of reference we dismiss His power. When we speak against God’s promises to us, we restrict Him because our will has already made a decision. God has given us all free will, and he won’t go against our will, but we have to surrender our will to His. His plans are so much better because he knows the end from the beginning. Zechariah was kinda forced to surrender, but God is so gracious to us!

Proverbs 18:21 MSG says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” I am using the Message version because it is straight to the point, it pierces, but corrects our thinking. It reminds me of the auntie at the cookout with no filter! So, what are you speaking? Are you going against the things that you know God has given you to do, say, or carry out? Let’s change our narratives, remove the limitations off of our limitless God, and agree with what He sees in us. He does not ask us to do anything we are not capable of doing. He intricately designed us, filling each of us with different gifts, talents, and abilities. I want to learn to agree with who He says I am and what He says I can do!! So many times, I have disregarded what He has said to me and what the messengers He has sent to speak into my life have to say. I thank God for this message of correction! Shhhhh…..

Father, we thank you for your word of truth. We thank you for being the author and the finisher of our faith. We want to believe what you say about us. Help us to see who we are in you. As we spend time with you, we thank you for revealing ourselves to us in a way that we have never experienced. Help us to speak life instead of death when we can’t fathom the mandate and purpose over our lives. We are not capable in our own strength, but we are more than capable in you. We can’t, and don’t want to pursue without you, but we can do all things through you. Endow us with your wisdom, strategy, and power as we endeavor to proceed. Give us the capacity to think on your level. Help us to allow our thoughts and plans to align with yours. We are thankful that the glory belongs to you and our goal is only to please you! We thank you that others will be blessed as a result. Amen!!

Happy New Year my friends!! I am so thankful for the privilege of seeing another year begin. So, God gave me a word last year that I decided to save until the beginning of the year so that it will give us something to think about. When the new year begins, there are so many uncertainties. We make plans, declarations, and resolutions, but there is something that has to happen in order for those things to come to reality. What is required is action. Let me give you something to ponder at the top of the year.

The parable that God gave me is found in Luke 13:6-9(NLT). It says: “Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden. The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” The fig trees in this parable reminded me of us as people.

Jesus does nothing just for kicks and giggles. He gave this example to show that the tree was in a garden with other trees where it had space, opportunity, and time to be successful but still didn’t produce any fruit. The gardener asked if he could have one more year. This version says the gardener wanted to give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. Another version I read said he asked to cultivate the trees. I love that word, and I’m sure you remember my love for definitions! Some of the definitions I found for cultivate were “To apply oneself to improve or develop, to grow or maintain in culture, and to break up soil for sowing or planting.” Seems the tree had been there for years, but the gardener lacked one thing. Action. When the boss came through and declared the tree useless, the gardener immediately asked for more time to invest in the fruitfulness of the tree.

Just like those trees, we were created to bear fruit. Most think of being fruitful and multiplying as it pertains to bearing children. As I’ve said before, that is not the only example. John 15:4-6 TPT says: “So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless. If a person is separated from me, he is discarded; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire to be burned.” God is the ultimate cultivator. He consistently shows us things about ourselves and those around us that give us opportunities to grow, develop, evolve, and be fruitful. When we are growing and producing fruit, it encourages those around us to do the same. They can get nourishment from what we produce, but we have to stay intimately connected to God.

Maybe we can start with cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit. These are found in Galatians 5:22-23 NLT. It says “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” When we work on cultivating these things, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will begin to see so much fruit! They will help us in our personal lives, our relationships, and how we relate and connect with God. Others will definitely be drawn to those fruit in our lives, which will produce more fruit!!

So, it’s a new year, what will we do with our tree? Will we use this year to take action on the things we know need to be done in order to be fruitful? Will we pour into another person that needs nourishment to cultivate their tree so that they too can be fruitful? Will we continue to see the fruitless tree and move on as if nothing is wrong? I have come to realize that just because a thought process or way of life is the norm for us, that doesn’t mean that it is effective. When is the right time to take action to make changes? Time is the only entity that we cannot get back. Let’s take a moment to reflect on those areas that we know we can begin to cultivate so that we can begin to see fruit. It can be mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The key word is action. The first large step is acknowledging that there is an area that needs cultivation. That is so hard, but so worth it! From there you can make small steps to cultivate those areas and allow God to provide the help you need. Take the steps for you! Understand that you may be met with some resistance from those around you who are used to your tree being fruitless. Set healthy boundaries. Continue on your journey, they will adjust or that branch will fall off! Makes room for more fruit, sis!

So, let’s accept this challenge and take action to see more fruit in our lives and the lives of those around us. I cannot speak for you, but my goal is to be healthy, whole, and effective. I am aware that I will constantly discover things as new people, situations, and encounters arise. I want to produce fruit as God has called me to do, and I want to provoke others to produce fruit as well. Will you join me?

Father, we thank you for gracing us with your presence. We thank you for allowing us to see another year. Help us to produce good fruit. You said that we shall be like a tree planted by the streams that bring forth fruit in its season. Our leaves don’t wither and we can prosper because of our life-union with you. You said that if we draw near to you, that you would draw near to us. Show us how to draw nearer to you individually and collectively. Ignite our passion to pursue you. Thank you for cultivating us and giving us so many chances to produce. Shine a light on those areas where our fruit is needed in the earth. Give us your confidence to see that there is a need for what you have given us. We invite you into our process as we endeavor to produce for your glory alone. Guide us in a way that only you can. We honor you, praise you, and adore you. Amen. Make it an AMAZING year my loves!!