I’m Here – Isaiah 6:8

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred fifty-second inspirational message dated Saturday, October 26th, 2019. The title of this message is “I’m Here – Isaiah 6:8”.

The first two words of the title are also the name of the above powerfully sung song/video, "I'm Here" (with lyrics) by Cynthia Erivo from her award-winning performance of Celie in “The Color Purple” on Broadway. I saw the movie, “The Color Purple” when it first came out in 1985 and the movie made me cry.  I had never seen the play – nor Cynthia Erivo sing her song “I’m Here”…until Saturday, October 26th, 2019 – while watching her (Cynthia) be interviewed by Oprah on Oprah’s OWN Network on TV. After I saw a brief excerpt of Cynthia Erivo singing, I knew I had to go to YouTube – and include this song for my next “Namma for Christ” message.  The below passage of scripture (that accompanies this message) is from the Old Testament book of Isaiah - the eighth verse of the sixth chapter:

Isaiah 6:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

 

This is the text that describes Isaiah’s response to the Lord’s “calling” Isaiah to his ministry. Isaiah (who in the previous verses) – had just recently been forgiven of his sins and had just been anointed. What does Isaiah say in response to the Triune God’s question of -“Who will go for Us?”

Isaiah responds,

“Here am I! Send me.”

 

Now – Ask your YOURSELF…

WHAT IS “YOUR RESPONSE” TO God’s "CALL" ON YOUR LIFE?

ONLY…“YOU” can answer that question.

The Lord’s “calling” to Isaiah was for him to  be a prophet and to preach.  "Isaiah's calling" was "his ministry"…to “change the world”, to impact someone’s life, and to be used by God to fulfill God’s purpose for his (Isaiah’s) life.

What is YOUR calling or ministry?

 

Pray to God – if you don’t know, yet.  Seek the Lord as the below bible verse states –

Isaiah 55:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.

 

Our purpose – as the children of God – is to GLORIFY OUR FATHER GOD. God has been so GOOD to us – let us demonstrate our love, thankfulness and gratitude to our Lord by using our lives to GLORIFY HIM! See the below verses:

John 15:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31

 New King James Version (NKJV)

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

 

Matthew 5:14-16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 



 

 

In Cynthia Erivo’s performance (above) – she is singing a song (to the character "Mister") of "where" she’s at – “now” - despite everything that she’s (Celie’s) been through… She’s HERE!

What has GOD brought “YOU” through – so that He could USE YOU to help and bless others?

ONLY “YOU” can answer that question….

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video (with lyrics) as performed by Cynthia Erivo singing her song “I’m Here” sung with power and anointing.


 (I do not own the rights to this song.)


BE BLESSED!

My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)-Luke 23:42-43

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred fifty-first inspirational message dated Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019. The title of this message is “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) – Luke 23:42-43”.

The first seven words of the title are also the name of the above renowned inspirational gospel song originally written and sung by the late Andrae Crouch entitled “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)”.  It is also the song that my very own daughter, Janel Spicer sang at the funeral of her dad, Jimmy Spicer, (my ex-husband and the father of my two daughters: Leticia and Janel). Janel sang this song with power and anointing as her last “tribute” to her dad (see the above video/song). I "also" shared in participating in the service by reading the below passage of scripture - Luke 23:42-43 –

 

Luke 23:42-43

 New International Version (NIV)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

 

The scripture above is part of the text that describes “the thief on the cross” and his last conversation with Jesus. The scripture text of Luke 23:32-43 describes how the thief had an “eleventh hour conversion” experience. Before his last dying breath, the thief believed in Jesus as his Lord and Savior and asked Him to “Remember me when Jesus “came into His kingdom”.  Jesus redeemed this thief and He told him in the below verse (see Luke 23:43 below) – that he will be with Him in Paradise, today:

Luke 23:43

New International Version (NIV)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

 

During his year-long battle against lung and brain cancer, my daughters, Leticia and Janel, continually prayed for their dad, Jimmy Spicer, to accept Jesus, as his Lord and Savior before he died. I kept reminding them of the “thief on the cross”, who believed in Jesus, right before he died - to encourage my daughters that it is possible that their dad could be “saved”. On one of her visits to his hospital, Janel informed Leticia and me that their dad did tell her that he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The joy of knowing that their dad would spend eternity with Jesus gave them “peace” and comfort beyond compare. No matter how much a person has acquired or gained in “this” life- nothing can be compared to God’s mercy, love and being redeemed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To God - be the Glory! Our Lord desires that all believe and be saved - see the below verses:

John 3:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

2 Peter 3:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

 

Romans 10:8-13

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video entitled “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)”– sung with power and anointing by Janel Spicer.

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

 

BE BLESSED!