"THE SUPERNATURAL"

Genesis 18:10-15

New International Version (NIV)

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Lets face the truth, there are a zillion times that we all have the Sarah-like feeling of doubt, hopelessness when we know in all reality some things as childbearing child-bearing age cannot be scientifically reversed. At 90 years to be told that you will be having a child in the preceding year is enough to make you want to think humanly that the barrier of the news must be crazy. It would be news enough for you to say what an insult. Scientifically childbearing age as noted by the obstetricians and gynecologists of our time is age 20 to 30. Sarah was 60 years past this mark. 60 years over a time frame that would pose so many risk of deformities, abnormalities and more. But reverse 60 years to 06 days. It took God 06 days to create the heavens and the earth. 06 days for the universe in which we thrive to exist. Truly than 14. is anything too hard for the Lord?  Sarah only used a human reaction that most of us might have used if we were in her position. But the God that we serve is not one to be mocked. When God says it, you should believe it. It is obvious that when in doubt there may be a denial of any thing you might call a miracle. You see God no longer speaks to us as he did in the times of the prophets Moses, Abraham Elijah, but today he speaks to us through the gift of his son Jesus.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds”(Hebrews 1:1-2)

google search moses parts the read sea

Only a fool says in his heart that God is non existent (Psalm 14:1).That He cannot perform miracles and more. I want to inform you He is the same God of yesterday as is today. If He could part the red sea, Exodus 14:13-31(NIV) that is supernatural in itself that should tell you the kind of God He is, if can take the prophet Elijah away without death in the flaming chariot, 2 Kings 2:9-15(NIV) that is supernatural in itself that should tell you the kind of God He is, if He cloud love us so much to send His only begotten son in whom we have hope to experience the supernatural today via a virgin, Luke 1:27-38 that is also supernatural in itself that should tell you the kind of God He is, if He could allow His son to use only 5 loaves of bread and a 2 fishes to feed 5000 and more Matthew 14:13-21, lastly if He could allow his son to be wiped, crucified and left dead for 3days and rise again that is supernatural in itself that should tell you the kind of God He is.

The Supernatural! All the events listed above are bizarre, out of the ordinary things that can only be attached to the work of a deity not of this world.  I got news for you when you trust in God your creator, when you lean not on your understanding and his understanding of your situation, He truly rewards you with the desires of your heart and enables you to experience the wealth of understanding his supernatural abilities, inconceivable things that will come your way.

google search hurricane (photo from the nj.com)

Examples hurricanes came our way, many houses left to your ruins but yours survived with minimal damages to the garage and your basement, or you landed in an accident that caused your car to be crashed beyond repairs but you survived with minimal bruising to your body…Never my friend underestimate the power that God has.  Sarah situation was a supernatural intervention of God stepping in on Abraham’s behalf. The unique thing about Abraham as many theologians have found is that he had a relationship with God beyond all reasonable doubts. He loved God he trusted God that is why God found so much favor with him. He had beyond all unreasonable doubt a supernatural relationship with God. He had a friend in God.

•             May your trust and hope in God bring you to a place of undeniable friendship with     you.
•             May God favor you because he finds you worthy of his friendship
•           May God provide for you because you trusted him first!

Abraham’s life and story is an example of someone who teaches us how to trust God and listen to him. By default He may test your so-called love for Him like He did to Abraham who continued to trust God. Here is the story Genesis 22:1-18

22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram  caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

google search ram ( photo taken from eHow.com)

Because Abraham Trusted God, he obeyed God! Because he feared God, he was going to without doubt scarifies his child as God instructed. The passage did not show once that Abraham was reluctant or did he question or oppose what God wanted of him. He trusted God to the point that when his son asked, “ where is the lamb for the burnt offering” his response was “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” God surely did!  Cause in verse 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram [a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Many of us will not experience the supernatural until we come to recon with ourselves that God is mightier than we’ll ever know or try to figure out. His mysteries are far beyond human comprehension. His mysteries are way beyond the thoughts of man. We only get an peck of understanding when we seek Him and allow Him God to guide us to a place in Him where we come to understand His teachings via the episodes of life that unfold before our eyes. Like the birds of the air that He feeds and the grass that grow today and are gone tomorrow he is capable more than capable to do what he said he would do for you and I.

google image search Elijah and the chariot

“Therefore like Matthew 6 reminds us”, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink”. My favorite part to these scriptures is   “…Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life” See God knows our needs and wants. He also sees the intent of our heart. His only requirement of us is to seek first His Kingdom and all other things will be added unto us. Not one not two but all things. "All"  includes the power  He has to help you to understand supernatural things that have happened in scriptures,  around you and by faith to you because you know the God you serve. To close this thought on "the supernatural" I would like to encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit  to teach you about the supernatural for the Holy Spirit is in fact the evidence of the supernatural that teaches you and I to see and experience things that are not natural to our human eyes and comprehension. When you trust the Holy Spirit the road to understanding  the supernatural becomes an acceptance of God mighty powers shown via  "fire" like horse that lead His servant Elijah to Him. With your trust in the Holy Spirit, you will also be lead into the bosom of God.


Catheirne K.

"THE BEATITUDE"

Olivia Jackson Seward

It’s been the 90’s since I have known Olivia Jackson Seward, a Liberian by origin and now a local Minnesota independent gospel recording artist and songwriter who has and continues to use her experience of God’s power in her life and ministry as a way to enlighten others about the reason God is real and vibrant in her life.

She incorporates different genres and styles of music in her expressions. This combination of musical translations of her inspirational thought process embraces the English and French language. The use of these languages marks the experiences of her life as a Liberian were English is spoken as a primary language and her life as a refugee living in the Ivory Coast for at least 14years before relocating to Minnesota.

From singing in church choirs and plays as a youth to becoming the director of a few choirs in Liberia, the Ivory Coast and now Minnesota she has a vast knowledge of training and expertise on the music ministry. The world has yet to hear the many things she has to offer. Her mission is “to reach people everywhere with the love of God and his saving grace through inspirational music”.

Given the different styles of music that she uses in her singing one might say why not stick with a specific genre of singing. However, that’s a critiques opinion of what she should or shouldn’t be as a musician. But I will if I may say I embrace her boldness to cross boundaries and genera’s of singing that has proven the extent of the range of the musical gift that God has blessed her with. She like her mission statement aims to make sure that someone regardless of their race or musical taste will take away if not 1,2, or 3 elements via these varied styles something that will remind them of God’s saving grace! Further, per the renounced vocal coach of our times Tim Carlson, better yet is a musician who has a wide range of styles because it promotes versatility, depths, richness, and the ability to be more creative as a musician. And this she does beautifully! In many ways I can compare her tonality and range to the likes of Cece Winnins, Yolanda Adams and Aretha Franklins, and more. Although in comparison she is able to uniquely able to switch up to sing traditional West African tunes effortlessly.

Olivia Jackson Seward CD cover designed by Catherine K.

In her recent CD release the Beatitude, I was honored to sing alongside her as one of her background vocalist as well as Designed the cover of her CD. In my engagement with her she remained the same respectful, humble and no nonsense lady that she has always been from my observation of her approach towards her peers and people she leads. Sometimes when folks have reached a certain status quote in their career and life they may tend to walk over the folks that were the reason of aiding them to fulfill God’s destiny for their lives. But she is none of that; she humbly accepted minor changes suggested by the band during the rehearsals that lead up to her 2nd CD release concert held at the Brookdale Christian Center on November 11, 2012. Changes that were much needed due to the quick turn over of band just 3 days before the concert because the original ones had let her down. She was patient in repeating the melodies to us the back-ups as the musicians tackled their part. Soon everyone was singing  his or her tunes and melodies effectively the day before the concert.

Flyer used for Olivia's concert 11/11/12 

The concert was well attended despite the cold chills of the wintery day of November 11, 2012; people from different races, ethnicity and backgrounds braved the weather to be present. With a minimal entry fee, it was affordable for all. Further those who wanted to be there where present! My pastor usually says the ones that God wanted to bless were present to be blessed. We had to make it to the church by 3pm even though the concert was at 5pm. At the church, we would go the little room assigned to us. We bundled in there and prayed in preparation. After the prayer Olivia would prep herself for her grand appearance on stage. Like a pro she was relaxed and seemly unnervous. Than again if she was she did not show it.

Finally on stage, Olivia took us home right into God’s presence and the scene that flashed before me during the prayer section, which I told her about, became more vivid. It was as if the heavens had opened over her head and this radiant shimmering of light was upon her as she lifted her hands in praise to the heavens. I felt and believed than and still do that God indeed had accepted and received her praises to him.

Olivia Jackson Seward finally on stage at her CD
 release concert "The Beatitude" 11/11/2012

The audience were moved by her stories and testimonies of survival over the years from a failed 1^st marriage, to a war experience in which she got nearly killed and when she didn’t she vowed “for the rest of my life I will praise your name” one of the songs tilted on the CD…She told stories of her experience of being jobless trying to make ends meet in taking care of her child as a single parent. She celebrated God for her resent marriage and encouraged the audience to stand fast in the mist of their messes and always praise God anyhow! By the time she was done there where a few who could no longer hold back their tears. The CD release was great and the music and the CD titled the Beatitude can be found on her website at www.jjinspirations.com. With this immense talent that God has Blessed Olivia with she continues to “promote Christian music in the community, collaborate and support charity groups through contributions for projects in Africa, foster an awareness of the creativity of Christian music and Mentor children who have the gift of singing and expose them to the community”, all of which embodies the goal of her music ministry.

Olivia is just a click away from you making her music a part of your life at her website listed above where you can purchase her CD. You can also friend her on Facebook were you'll get frequent updates about what she is up to when she is not in the lights of the stage. May you come to experience God in a different way through the eyes of Olivia…May God increase her and elevate her to levels and places that will give her ministry more visibility in the community that we serve. I am but a small voice that believes in her the message of her Music “JESUS” this is why I am saying it as it is and how it matters to my heart.

Catherine K.