Move On

MOVE FORWARD: God Is in the Details

During my recent move from Chicago, I went to purchase new furniture. Nothing about the day seemed unusual—until it did.

As I walked through the store, I noticed the manager watching me closely. He was quietly changing price tags, unaware that I had seen him. My salesman, who was helping me, began taking photos of each tag on his iPad and checking the inventory on another desktop. I thought nothing of it at first. We continued shopping—room after room, set after set—until it was time to pay.

That’s when everything changed.

Every single price had gone up.

The salesman called the manager over. “We need your code to unlock the prices so I can ring her up,” he said. The manager quickly replied, “Oh no, come over here—I can show you the tags.” But the salesman stood firm. “We don’t need to go anywhere. I have all the tags right here on my iPad.”

I watched as the tension rose between them. The manager reluctantly entered his code, clearly upset that his attempt to overcharge had failed. I paid for my furniture and left the store.

Later that evening, my phone rang. It was the store manager. He said, “I made a mistake. I can’t sell you the dining room set.” I calmly replied, “You did sell it to me, and I expect it to be delivered as planned.” He told me he’d call back the next morning to find something else. I assured him, “There’s nothing else in your store that compares. I’ll wait for your call.”

That night, I prayed.

I said, “Jesus, as I rest, let Your peace settle this situation. Let his heart be softened, and let there be no further discussion and let him apologize to me tomorrow.”

The next day, I missed his call—but when I listened to the voicemail, I heard humility in his voice. He apologized sincerely and said the dining set would be delivered with the rest of my furniture as promised.

And I couldn’t help but think about Pharaoh.

When Pharaoh finally let the children of Israel go, Scripture says he changed his mind and came after them. (Exodus 14) Just like Pharaoh, some situations seem resolved—until suddenly they turn again. You may have been given a yes, only to have that “yes” challenged. You may have signed the contract, received the promise, or seen the door open—only for things to shift.

But hear me: God is still in control.

He knows how to deal with hardened hearts.

Whether it’s a furniture sale or a life-altering decision, God is in the details of your situation. He is routing your steps and even orchestrating your opposition so that His glory will be revealed.

Maybe right now you’re standing before your own Red Sea. You can’t go back, but going forward seems impossible. Yet the Lord told Moses in Exodus 14:15-16:

“Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through on dry ground.”

God said, Stop crying and move on.

This isn’t the time to retreat—it’s time to advance.

He didn’t do it the way you expected because He wants to show your enemies—and you—that He alone is God. When He brings you through, no one will be able to take credit for it.

So, if you’re facing a Red Sea moment—MOVE FORWARD.

God is about to gain glory through your situation.

And like the children of Israel, you will see your enemies no more.

Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Making Decisions with Discernment

Aron Ralston embarked upon a new adventure with the expectation that greatness would greet him on the emerging horizon of his ambition. However, he failed to realize the grave cost of his newfound goal. Caught between a rock and a hard place without acknowledging God can become costly, and he learned this the hard way.

Corporate America wasn't for Ralston, and he decided to quit his job to devote more time to mountaineering. He wanted to climb Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America. But before attempting that, he wanted to do something that had never been done before: He wanted to climb Colorado's 14ers—all 58 of them—by himself, in the winter, before climbing Denali. Ralston's new path would forever change the course of his life.

Have you made major life decisions you thought were best for you, yet you ended up with a totally different reality? Maybe you also quit your corporate job—or maybe you lost it—and decided to invest everything into your dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Or maybe you got that divorce and remarried, but now you realize your first marriage wasn't as bad as you thought. Now, you're dealing with the residue of your past marriage and its toll on your children, while also facing the reality of your new marriage and its real challenges.

In either of these situations, you might feel caught between a rock and a hard place. Neither place is comfortable, and in these places, you face life-changing decisions that will affect the rest of your life and the lives of others. Ralston, determined to achieve his incredible endeavor, set forth without sharing his location with others; he wanted to accomplish this goal without any help from others. On his high climb to success, an 800-pound boulder trapped the mountaineering man. Ralston was stuck ... and alone. Maybe, just as Ralston failed to consult with others about his plans, you've neglected to consult God about your ambitions—and now you feel trapped and desolate.

Are you in a situation where you are wondering if you can ever recover? Desperate measures call for desperate decisions. Ralston thought he was going to die there, but he had a dream. Just like Ralston, God has given you a dream, and He wants you to know you are not going to die in this place. It is hard, but He is with you. Ralston had to drink his own urine and sever his own arm to survive. The cost for his ambitious adventure without consulting others indeed bore a grave cost. This doesn't have to be your story, though.

God wants you to acknowledge Him and seek His wisdom in your decisions, and if you will take the necessary steps like Ralston did—even if they are just as drastic—God will bring you to your expected end.

Facing your fears

“Facing Your Fears”

Facing your fears in life can be one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to overcome.

I remember standing in a long line one sunny day surrounded by laughter and excitement. The smell of popcorn filled the air, children were squealing with joy, and families were rushing to get a good spot. At that time, my 16-year-old son, Jeremy, turned to me, placed both hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eyes, and said, “I’ll be back, Mom. I’m going to face my fears!”

He walked off toward the Giant Drop — one of those towering roller coasters that snatches your breath and drops your stomach at lightning speed.

In that moment, I didn’t just see my son facing a thrill ride. I saw his future. I saw a man who would face life’s mountains with courage because he’d learned that fear doesn’t have the final say. And deep in my heart, I knew that because I had faced my fears, he would learn to face his, too.

At that time in my life, I was in my own “giant drop” season. I was searching for anyone who could understand what I was walking through — the pain, the uncertainty, the moments of silence where faith had to whisper louder than fear.

That’s when I thought about Mephibosheth.

In 2 Samuel 4:4, the Word says:

“Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.”

Mephibosheth didn’t do anything wrong. He was dropped while someone else was trying to protect him. Some of us can relate to that — being hurt by those who were supposed to help us.

Maybe while you were running from one storm, another one hit. Maybe in trying to protect yourself, you still got wounded. Maybe you’ve been dropped in life — by people, by circumstances, by broken promises.

But God has not forgotten you.

In 2 Samuel 9, King David asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

That verse alone gives me hope. Because David’s heart mirrored the heart of God — always searching for the forgotten, the broken, and the dropped.

When Mephibosheth came before David, he fell on his face in fear, thinking judgment was coming. But instead, David said, “Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”

Mephibosheth went from being crippled and hiding in Lodabar — the place of no pasture, no provision, no promise — to sitting at the king’s table, restored and redeemed.

God is saying the same thing to you today: Fear not.

No matter what’s crippled you — mentally, emotionally, financially, or spiritually — the King remembers your name. He knows exactly where you are, and He’s coming to restore what was lost.

The very thing that once disqualified you will become the platform God uses to bless you. What once hurt you will now help you. The same lineage that caused Mephibosheth to fall became the reason David sought him out to bless him.

God is turning the tides.

So face your fears. Stand tall even if your legs still tremble. The King has already prepared your seat at the table — and your invitation says restored, redeemed, remembered.

Don't Choke

Don’t Choke on the Pill Life Is Shoving Down Your Throat

For some people, swallowing a pill comes naturally. For others, they choke. That’s exactly how I felt when I heard the words, “You are a mistake.” Four words from my husband that echoed a lifetime of pain from my childhood. My mother had once said them to me too, and suddenly, old wounds of abandonment I thought were healing resurfaced.

There I was, in a season where God was mending the deepest cracks of my heart, healing the pain of rejection, delivering me from the chains of my past. And yet, at the same time, my husband’s words became a cork, trapping me in a well of brokenness so deep that I began to agree with the enemy: I should not be here. I was choking—choking on life, choking on the pill that life was shoving down my throat.

This was not the way it was supposed to be.

Maybe you know the feeling. Maybe this past year—especially during the chaos of COVID-19—you’ve felt the same way I did. Maybe at times, you’ve felt like Naomi. Let’s not forget her story.

In Ruth 1:21, Naomi says:

“I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?”

Naomi’s name means “pleasant,” and her life once reflected that. She was married, had two sons, and family was central to her life—not just because she loved them, but because her inheritance and prosperity were intertwined with their well-being. But then tragedy struck, and she demanded to be called Mara, meaning “bitter.”

Life had shoved a pill down her throat too. The famine, the loss of her husband and sons, the emptiness of her home—she choked under it all. She could not have anticipated this season of suffering. Maybe you can relate. Maybe before COVID-19, you and your family felt secure. You had stability, hope, a future. And then—just like Naomi—you experienced loss: a loved one, a job, a dream, a sense of normalcy. Life isn’t what it used to be, and the weight of it is hard to swallow.

But here’s the truth: don’t choke. Don’t allow the circumstances around you to dictate your final outcome. Naomi thought she had nothing left, but her wisdom became priceless. Because Ruth listened, she and her daughter-in-law reconnected to God’s blessings. Ruth’s union with Boaz not only restored their lives but also positioned them in the lineage of Jesus.

What looks like emptiness today is not your final story. God can take your pain, your rejection, your heartbreak, and turn it into a testimony of restoration. Trust Him like I did. Trust Him like Naomi did. Allow God to heal your brokenness. Don’t let the pill life is shoving down your throat choke you.

Stay connected. Stay faithful. Keep walking even when it hurts. Your breakthrough is closer than you think, and your obedience now will shape the blessings of generations to come.

Happy Valentines Day: Loves first Kiss

 Loves first Kiss

Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.

Wait a minute……….

The brother broke down just from a kiss.

A kiss….

How many of us as women, would love to be able to capture the heart of our mates the way Rachel did with just one kiss? I’m often fascinated by Jacob and Rachel’s love story. He was not only willing to wait but he was willing to labor. It cost Jacob something to endure to get Rachel. Even after his father-in-law tricked him he did not give up.

Don’t give up!!!

Don’t give up on love even though you may have felt like you were tricked and ended up in a bad situation.

Maybe you married the wrong one at first and it ended in divorce.

Maybe you were lied to and were engaged and let your guards down and ended up pregnant and he doesn’t want to marry you now.

Don’t give up!!!

Maybe you are still married and it wasn’t what you thought it would be.

Don’t give up!!!

Laban didn’t just trick him and he got the wrong wife but he made him work another whole seven years. He had to labor twice as hard to get his heart’s desire. So many don’t want to put in the work.

Are you willing to pay the price to get your heart’s desire?

Laban changed his wages ten times deceitfully!!! Come on!!! This is a lot of drama. Some men would have packed up and left! From my own limited experience, I’ve seen men walk away for much less than this and yet Jacob preserved. He loved Rachel. He discerned her worth despite the foolery.

Will you be able to look beyond the pain of the price it may cost you or has cost you to labor for the love of your life? I choose to believe that Jacob and Rachel are not the only ones that can find true love.

Your loves first kiss awaits you. It will be worth it!

I still believe in happily ever after…….

The heart of my husband

As you already know, Cinderella lost her glass slipper and was the only one that could fit it.  She was clothed in rags and hidden by life’s adversity until a moment in a time became hers and only her foot could fit that shoe.   So, it will be with the heart of my husband and the man that will walk with me.  You will be a man that has been carved and sculptured by the Master and we will fit perfectly. My message will be an echo of yours because you will understand both the times and the seasons of our day and that you were born for the time you would be needed the most.  See the world not only needs you, but I do too.

You have always been a King.  They say the lion is the King of the jungle.  You will be as bold as a lion and as gentle as a lamp.  A man that rules and takes charge in your sphere of influence.  One that knows how to control your atmosphere and emotions.  One that understands the power of his words not just your touch.  You will be able to touch me in places others would not because your words will unlock my deepest desires that are hidden to the naked eye. One that loves deeply and knows how to guard what is yours from allowing anyone to steal, kill or destroy it, not with a gun but with your love. For your love is a weapon. You will know I am yours before you ever touch me because your words will be able to capture my heart.

You will love deeply with an understanding that too much is forgiven the same loveth much.  You also have been forgiven of much as I have, and you will drink deeply from that well.  You have loved and lost.  You have committed your thoughts to the Lord, that he would establish the work of your hands.  You have spent seasons developing yourself so that you will be the best version that I will receive. You will love me with your deeds not only your words.  You have separated yourself from anything that could ever separate you from our love so our future will be secure. 

You have walked through fire and lived to tell without the stench of smoke like Daniel. You understand this same grace, to be delivered from the fire and the lion and now what did not destroy you, you have become.  You are that lion.  You are that Fire.  You will have the confidence of Abraham to believe God for your promises in the face of the impossible and I will be like Sarah. And we shall laugh as we receive our promises together; with the understanding the greatest gifts that we could ever give each other will be love and respect.

The Butterfly effect

The Butterfly Effect: When Small Choices Shape Great Destinies

The butterfly effect theory says that when a butterfly moves its wings, it can cause a cyclone in another part of the world. What a powerful picture—that something so small, so delicate, can create a ripple strong enough to change the course of nature itself. Over time, it’s become a metaphor for how the smallest, most seemingly insignificant moments can alter the shape of history and destiny.

That’s exactly what happened to Peter Parker, Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, Samson—and even my great-grandfather, Elijah Muhammad.

Let’s read on to see how it happened.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” Those were the words Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben spoke—words that would later haunt him. Peter had the power to stop a criminal who ran right past him. But instead of using his power, he let the man go, saying, “I missed the part where that was my problem.”

Not long after, that same criminal would rob and kill his Uncle Ben. One small decision—a shrug of pride, a moment of offense, a refusal to do good when it was within his power—changed his life forever.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:27,

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”

How many times have we missed that moment? How many times have we been wronged and, instead of humbling ourselves to make things right, we wanted to prove that we were right? Sometimes, pride whispers louder than obedience. And sometimes, it’s not the big sins that destroy us—it’s the small refusals that ripple through generations.

Peter Parker’s story mirrors our own. God has placed power in each of our hands—some have the power to forgive, others to give, others to lead, teach, or love beyond what they received. The question is: What is in the power of your hand that God is requiring you to be responsible for?

Abraham had a promise.

Moses had a rod.

David had a sling.

Joseph had a dream.

Samson had a jawbone.

Each of them used what was in their hand to change history. They didn’t always get it right. They struggled, doubted, and even failed—but their obedience in pivotal moments created a ripple effect that still blesses us today.

And then, there’s my great-grandfather, Elijah Muhammad. He had an incredible gift of influence. A voice that carried weight. A heart that longed for justice and identity in a time when Black men were stripped of both. But somewhere in the turning of that butterfly’s wings, something shifted. Instead of using that influence to point people toward the true and living God, he exalted a man—Master W. Fard Muhammad—and built his own religion.

What a powerful spiritual legacy he could have left in the earth had he served the God of his own Christian father. Sometimes I wonder—where would our generations be today? How many souls might have been saved from deception or spiritual confusion? How many of my family members would have known the peace of Christ instead of the prison of a false religion?

That’s the butterfly effect. One decision can carry across decades. One choice can determine the spiritual climate of generations.

So today I ask you—what’s in your hand? What moment are you standing in that could change the direction of your life or your bloodline?

Because when a butterfly moves its wings, heaven and earth take notice.

Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xko4mQQDI20 

Dear Future Husband: Broken and Beautiful

God told me years ago as I was writing my memoir that you would find me at this next level of exposure. I pray you find me soon. I pray that you are preparing yourself like I am. I pray that you are guarding your heart and getting healed, so that we can have our happily ever after. No matter what we both have been through. I pray that you will not be afraid to share your heart and your desires with me. I pray your love will unlock my heart without question that you are the one. I pray that I will be your only desire and that you will never break my heart and give your love away to another. I now understand every time I was rejected that God was preserving my love for you.

I'm ready to love again.

I have submitted my heart and body to God years ago with hope for our future which has given me the focus to wait. I believe in our love. You will have no need of spoil and will be able to trust me with your heart. I pray that you know I will do you good and not evil all the days of my life. I will never leave you. I would rather die by laying down my life for you than to be separated from you: for there is no greater love than this. I pray that you would not read my book like another fairytale. Although, I had to be willing to love a beast in order to exchange the ashes for the beauty, you will now receive. I loved a man that didn't love me back. How much deeper will my love be for you because you will love me back? I pray that I will find great favor in your sight, from the moment you meet me, just like Queen Esther did with her King.

I pray that God will show you my heart. That you will know that my love is real and genuine. That it is patient and kind and everything you will dream it should and will be. I pray that as you read my story, you will understand the price it cost me to become the woman that I am today. It cost me years of tears. Nights of suffering in my flesh to cease from sinning. I had to run through generational troops of pain and sorrow, that were filled with heartbreaks and mistakes. I leaped over generational walls, that were set up by the enemy, of demonic ancestral curses that proclaimed I would never be able to love a man because I was too damaged.

I travailed for my own deliverance and healing from past wounds, so that you would only read of the scars but never have to experience the pain. I came out of agreement with demonic strongholds in my mind, that tried to hold me hostage, to tell me that a man could never love me the way I desire and deserve. I will love you with no fear. I will love you with no shame. I will be honored to take your name and follow you as you follow Christ.

I swam through bitter waters that almost drowned me. I walked on fires of revenge that almost burned me alive without the stitch of smoke to tell, holding on desperately to a wire believing that I would love again. My tears that I sowed created a well that we both will drink from that is filled with love, mercy and grace. I didn't give my heart away. I believe you exist and will find me soon and when you do, know it will take every day God gives us to fully discover the jewel that I am. I pray that while I am yet waiting to be discovered that God will perfect your love that you will be able to love me like Jacob loved Rachael. I pray that you will understand that the value of my love will outweigh the cost of your labor. My hearts desire is that I will become the love of your life not just your wife.

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Love your future wife,

Marie

P.S. Loving me will be easy and you will like me too! :)

Seize the moment

Seize the Moment in the Midst of the Storm

In the midst of the storm, it sometimes feels like we are not going to make it across. The waves are high, the wind is strong, and the fear of failure or loss threatens to overwhelm us. Yet, it is in these very moments that Jesus reminds us of His plan. Before the storm came, He said to the disciples, “Let us pass over to the other side” (Mark 4:35-41). He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He declares the end from the beginning.

When the storm arose, the disciples cried out for Jesus to save them, but when He came, they did not recognize Him. They were so used to seeing Him in familiar ways that they missed the presence of God in the new way He chose to reveal Himself. Don’t make the same mistake. Sometimes the storms are designed to reveal another dimension of Christ. If we are not sensitive to His Spirit, we can miss an opportunity that He has placed directly before us.

An opportunity came in the midst of adversity when everyone was scared. Jesus never called Peter to walk on the water. He may not extend the exact same invitation to you, but that does not mean you cannot come. Instead, Peter asked, “If it is You, Lord, bid me to come.” And Jesus said, “Come.”

There is an opportunity waiting for you right now—but first, you must perceive it is Christ. You must recognize Him, even if it does not come in the way you expected. Will you seize the moment? Peter seized the moment. He looked at the waves, looked at Jesus, and stepped out in faith. Have you ever looked at someone else and asked, “Why them and not me?” Peter’s response in that moment caused him to make history. The same opportunity was present for all, but only he chose to act.

What is God trying to get you through? Have you felt overwhelmed, as if you cannot accomplish what He is asking? Have you felt forsaken? When Jesus came to rescue the disciples, He addressed their faith, reminding them that He had already prepared them for victory. Shortly before this storm, He had miraculously fed thousands of people with only two fish and five loaves of bread—and there were twelve baskets left over. Even in the storm, He ensured there were twelve baskets full on the boat as they crossed.

Why does God want us to remember our last blessings and victories? Because the God who delivered us from our last impossible situation is the same God who will deliver us now. The storms may be louder, the waves may be higher, but He is unchanged.

In the midst of whatever you are facing, God is asking you to seize the moment. Let Him reveal a new dimension of Himself. Remember the last victory, the times He provided when you thought all was lost. Keep your eyes on Him, step out in faith, and trust that the crossing is already planned. The other side is waiting—and it is brighter, fuller, and stronger than you can imagine.

Trust Him. Step out. Seize the moment.

It’s a matter of the heart

Everyone and everything was created with passion and purpose. Racehorses were born to run — it’s what fuels them. Just like those horses, many are called, but few are chosen. Many people are called to the race of life, to run a course that seems impossible, but only a few prepare themselves to truly be chosen. What sets the chosen apart isn’t speed, strength, or strategy — it’s heart.

That’s what made Secretariat my favorite racehorse. Against all odds, he defied every expectation. The world doubted him — he was too big, too broad, and came from a lineage that didn’t guarantee greatness. But Secretariat wasn’t defined by what was seen on the outside. He ran with a heart that set him apart. He became a record-breaking thoroughbred and the 1973 Triple Crown winner — one who didn’t just win races but changed the very standard of what greatness looked like.

God is calling you to be set apart too. He’s calling you to run a race that others may not understand — one that will require heart, perseverance, and faith. You might not come from the “right” family, have the best connections, or feel like you have all the right qualifications. Maybe the odds are stacked against you just like they were for Secretariat. But let me tell you — the odds don’t determine your outcome when your heart belongs to God.

The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7, “…for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

It was the same with King David. David wasn’t chosen because of his size, experience, or background — he was chosen because of his heart. God called David a man after His own heart, not because he lived perfectly but because he pursued God passionately. David understood that to run his race and fulfill his purpose, he needed a larger heart — one that could be stretched, corrected, and filled with God’s love and wisdom.

In Psalm 119:32, David said, “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.” And this heart posture was passed to his son Solomon. The Bible says in 1 Kings 4:29, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.”

When you allow God to enlarge your heart, He increases your capacity — your ability to love deeper, to forgive faster, to lead with compassion, and to carry what He’s called you to do. David accomplished so much, not because he was perfect, but because his heart remained pliable. He knew how to humble himself, repent, and trust in God’s mercy.

So the real question is: what kind of heart do you have? Secretariat had a heart 2.5 times larger than the average horse — that was the secret to his greatness. He could run longer, faster, and stronger because his heart was built differently.

God is searching for hearts like that. The Word says in 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV), “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

Your race isn’t about competition — it’s about calling. Let God enlarge your heart, so you can carry the greatness He’s placed inside you. You were created to run differently. Get ready — God is about to show Himself strong on your behalf.

Heaven's Announcement

It’s Coming Without Permission!”

“You are having a baby!!!

That was heaven’s announcement to Samson’s mother. Imagine her surprise — barren for years, living with disappointment, and then suddenly, heaven breaks through her ordinary day with an extraordinary message. Sometimes, when God is ready to reveal something, it will not come the way we expect it or the way it came before. We have to stay open to the leading of God because when He’s birthing something new, He rarely repeats an old pattern.

I love that God chose to tell the woman first. He didn’t go through her husband. He didn’t wait for a priest. He came directly to her. That alone carries a prophetic message. To every man who says, “If it was God, He would tell me first,” I say—examine the Scriptures. God speaks to women. And men, it’s important that you listen.

There’s something about how God moves that keeps us humble. If we don’t humble ourselves, He has a way of letting life do it for us. When I read the announcement of Samson’s birth, I had to laugh. I went back and read it again. The angel didn’t appear to Manoah, Samson’s father—he appeared to his wife. He gave her the instructions, the requirements, and the purpose for the child that was to come. Sometimes, God will tell her first.

When she told her husband, Manoah didn’t dismiss her. He prayed. He said, “Lord, send the angel again to tell me too.” And God, in His mercy, did just that. Wouldn’t it be great, ladies, if we could still pray that same prayer today? It would save us some arguments, some tears, a few dinners, and maybe even a marriage or two! But the lesson here is this: God knows how to confirm what He’s spoken — not because He has to, but because He loves us that much.

Now, maybe you’re saying, “I’m not having a baby, so what does this have to do with me?” Maybe not a natural one, but what about a spiritual one? What about the dream God planted inside of you — that business, that ministry, that book, that assignment that’s been stirring in your spirit? God is announcing something over your life that will not come through natural means. It’s divine. It’s supernatural.

Samson was born in a time of oppression. For forty years, his people had been bound, and God was ready to send deliverance. When God raises up a deliverer, He gives them the ability to do what others cannot do. Samson had supernatural strength. You, too, carry something that makes you spiritually strong — faith. And your faith will make the difference.

Don’t allow the barrenness of your situation to convince you that you’re not pregnant with promise. Don’t let the silence of this season make you think nothing is happening. God specializes in bringing life out of places that look lifeless. He is requiring that you walk by faith and not by sight.

It’s coming without man’s permission. The dream, the vision, the next move of God — it doesn’t need to be validated by anyone else. Heaven has already confirmed it.

The same God who spoke to Samson’s mother is speaking to you. He’s saying, “You are about to give birth.” And when it happens, it will not be by your power or your plan. It will be by His Spirit.

Stay sensitive. Stay surrendered. Stay in position. God’s announcement over your life is already in motion. The barren place is about to bloom.

Because when heaven speaks — it’s coming, and no man can stop it.

Inside Edition

“God’s Inside Edition”

“The Inside Edition” was one of television’s longest-running, top-rated, and most-honored syndicated news magazines. But long before there was ever a camera crew or a headline story, God already had a way of uncovering hidden truths and turning what the enemy meant for evil into divine advantage. God has always had His own “inside edition.”

Let’s take a peek into David’s camp in 1 Samuel 30.

David and his men had gone out to battle, leaving their wives and children behind in Ziklag. While they were away, the enemy came in, raided their camp, burned everything to the ground, and took their families captive. When David and his men returned, the scene was devastating. The Bible says they wept until they had no more strength to weep. And in their pain, the very men who once stood beside David began to speak of stoning him. Have you ever been in a situation where people who once stood with you began to turn on you because of loss?

But here’s the key—David didn’t retaliate or crumble under the pressure. The Word says he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Sometimes, the only encouragement you will get is the one you give yourself. What situation are you facing that God is requiring you to encourage yourself through? What loss has made you feel like restoration is impossible?

It looked bad. It felt bad. And truthfully, it was bad. But David had a word from God. He sought the Lord, asking, “Shall I pursue?” And God answered, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

That’s the moment when faith meets obedience. David didn’t wait for all the details to unfold—he took the men who were strong enough to fight and moved out. Sometimes God doesn’t give you the full strategy upfront because He wants to see if you’ll move in faith first. When you step out, that’s when He begins to unfold the plan.

And right in the middle of the pursuit, God provided what I like to call His inside edition.

In verses 13–15, David and his men encounter a young Egyptian servant who had been left behind by his master because he fell sick. This young man just so happened to be a servant of the very army that had raided Ziklag. When David asked where he came from, the man admitted, “We burned Ziklag with fire.” That’s when David realized—God had placed an insider right in his path!

When David asked if he could lead them to the enemy, the young man agreed in exchange for protection. And just like that, God used someone who had once been aligned with the enemy to give David the strategy he needed for victory.

That’s how God’s inside edition works. The information that shifts your battle, the connection that unlocks your next level, the very key to your recovery—it may come from someone you least expect.

The answer to your breakthrough may be in the mouth of someone you once called an enemy. Don’t dismiss people in this season. God can use anyone, from anywhere, to bring you what you need.

Everything that was stolen is about to be recovered. The spoils of your struggle are going to become the reward of your obedience. God is sending divine insiders to give you the advantage.

Get ready—your victory is on the inside.

Mission Impossible

A Mission Impossible: Choosing God Over Man

Time magazine’s Richard Schickel once wrote, “What is not present in Mission: Impossible…is a plot that logically links all these events or characters with any discernible motives beyond surviving the crisis of the moment.” When I read that critique, I couldn’t help but think about the spiritual “mission” of my great grandfather, Elijah Muhammad. Much like Schickel’s description, his mission was one that lacked eternal weight — built to survive the crisis of its time, but not grounded in the truth that endures forever.

In an interview with The National Educational Television Network, conducted by KQED in San Francisco, my great grandfather was asked to describe his mission. His answer was clear and bold:

“My mission is to give life to the dead. What I teach brings them out of death and into life. My mission, as the Messenger, is to bring the truth to the world before the world is destroyed…There will be no other Messenger. I am the last and after me will come God Himself.”

At first glance, those words sound powerful — even divine. But as I came to know the real truth, I realized they were also deeply deceiving. Elijah Muhammad claimed to be the last messenger and said God Himself would come after him. Yet the Bible is clear: there is only one who came to give life to the dead, and His name is Jesus Christ.

In 1994, Minister Louis Farrakhan publicly admitted the lies and deception that came from Elijah Muhammad’s mouth. The very system he helped build couldn’t hold under the weight of its own falsehood. When truth enters the room, deception collapses. The Bible warns us about this very thing: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

Elijah Muhammad’s mission was impossible because it was built on human wisdom, not divine truth. His message could awaken minds, but it could never resurrect souls. Only Jesus — who is the Resurrection and the Life — can raise the dead, not just physically, but spiritually. Every other mission is a temporary survival strategy. Jesus’ mission is eternal salvation.

When I think of what Jesus said in the Gospels, His mission was never about self-exaltation — it was about obedience to the Father. He said in Matthew 18:11, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” In John 16:7, He told His disciples, “It is expedient for you that I go away…for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.” And in John 16:13, He revealed that the Spirit of Truth would guide us into all truth.

Jesus’ mission didn’t end with His ascension; it continued through the Holy Spirit — the Comforter who leads us today. Elijah’s “mission” ended in confusion, division, and death because it could never bring the true life that only comes through Christ.

Just as Schickel wrote that the movie Mission: Impossible had no coherent plot beyond surviving the moment, Elijah Muhammad’s so-called “mission” was designed to survive a racial and spiritual crisis — but not to bring eternal life. It was a mission grounded in human ideology, not divine revelation.

The truth is simple: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Him. Every other messenger, mission, or movement that claims to offer salvation apart from Jesus is a counterfeit.

So, I say to you — choose this day whom you will serve. Will it be God or man? The mission of man will always be impossible. But the mission of Christ is unstoppable.

Our next chapter

As history is being redefined and things around us begin to unravel, it’s clear that God is writing a new chapter — not just for the world, but for you and me. We are standing in a divine moment of transition. And just like Jacob, we are about to face something we thought we’d never have to face again — a moment of reckoning, reconciliation, and redemption.

Jacob was about to get a second chance. But before he could receive it, he had to bow. Genesis 33 tells us that Jacob lifted his eyes and saw Esau coming toward him — the same Esau he had deceived years earlier. This wasn’t just a family reunion; it was a prophetic confrontation. It was Jacob’s moment of truth. Esau represented his past, his mistakes, and his unfinished business. And now, all of it was walking down the road toward him.

Maybe that’s where you are right now. Maybe God is bringing something back around — an opportunity you once missed, a relationship that needs healing, or a promise that felt delayed. But this time, how you bow will determine how you receive.

Jacob divided his family carefully, and then he did something powerful: he went before them and bowed to the ground seven times until he came near his brother. Seven — the number of completion and divine perfection. Jacob wasn’t bowing out of fear, but out of humility. He was symbolically submitting everything — his family, his wealth, his pride, his name — back under God’s authority.

It’s time for us to bow in this next chapter. To bow doesn’t mean to give up. It means to surrender our will, our timeline, and our control to the One who already knows the outcome. Bow your attitude. Bow your gift. Bow your finances. Bow your heart. There’s a blessing that only comes through humility.

1 Peter 5:6 reminds us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

We are living in prophetic times — moments where the old systems are crumbling, where pride is being exposed, and where God is looking for those who will bow before Him rather than before culture. The same way Jacob bowed before Esau, we must bow before God. Because humility is the key to acceleration. When we posture ourselves correctly before Him, He brings divine alignment, restoration, and supernatural favor.

As a nation, we are being called to humility again. The same spirit that brought Jacob to his knees is the same spirit God is stirring in His people today — a spirit of repentance, restoration, and realignment. Jacob overcame not through power, but through posture. His humility changed the heart of Esau. What could humility change for you?

Maybe your “Esau” is that unfinished dream, the apology you need to make, or the fear you need to face. Whatever it is, bow before it in obedience to God. The act of bowing doesn’t make you weak — it positions you for restoration. Jacob’s bow opened the door for reconciliation, and what could’ve ended in disaster became the beginning of destiny fulfilled.

Lord, give us grace to trust You in this next chapter. Teach us how to bow — not just in posture, but in heart. Help us to humble ourselves under Your hand, that we may walk into prophetic fulfillment with courage and clarity. May we not operate in fear, but in faith, knowing that what’s ahead is greater than what we left behind.

This next chapter belongs to those who will bow.

The Courtroom of Heaven

My mind immediately reverted to a prophecy I received in September of 2011 from my leader, Apostle Matthew Stevenson. I remember it like it was yesterday. I had rushed into the church that day, running behind my normal time, and the only seat left was in the back — a simple folding chair. I didn’t realize then that Heaven had arranged that exact seat for me.

As I sat there, my heart was heavy. I was weary — not just physically, but spiritually. I had been in a long, painful battle that seemed to have no end. Right there in that folding chair, I began to weep before the Lord. Through my tears, I said, “This is between You and me, Lord. All I want to be is a good mother and raise my children. I’m tired of him fighting with me, God. I’m tired.”

It wasn’t an eloquent prayer — it was raw, real, and desperate. The more I spoke, the more the presence of God fell on me. I didn’t need music, a microphone, or a moment. I just needed mercy.

Then, suddenly, Apostle Matthew Stevenson asked over the microphone, “Has anyone seen Marie?” The sound of my name startled me. I hadn’t spoken to him that day, and I was sitting all the way in the back.

“The Lord woke me up at midnight regarding you,” he said. “Turn around and face the congregation.” I turned slowly, my eyes still full of tears. Then he released a prophetic word that would change the course of my life. He said, “You will never stand in another courtroom with him again. And if you do, the Lord is going to settle it in the courtroom of Heaven.”

Those words hit my spirit like thunder. I didn’t understand how or when it would happen, but I knew I had just heard from God. I tucked that prophecy deep in my heart.

Almost a year later, the word came to pass — exactly as it had been spoken. God Himself settled the matter. What the earthly court could not handle, Heaven had already judged. I didn’t have to fight anymore; God had fought for me.

Looking back now, I see how God was showing me something bigger than my situation. He was teaching me about His justice, His timing, and His sovereignty. Sometimes, when life feels unfair and people seem to have the upper hand, God whispers, “I see it all. I will judge it rightly.”

There are moments when you can’t explain what God is doing — you can only feel His hand moving behind the scenes. That day in 2011, I wasn’t sitting in the back of a church by coincidence. I was sitting in the courtroom of Heaven.

And if you’re reading this and you’ve been pleading your case before God — tired, misunderstood, or feeling unheard — I want to remind you: Heaven still rules. The Righteous Judge still hears. You don’t have to fight every battle in the natural when Heaven has already ruled in your favor in the Spirit.

Sometimes the verdict isn’t announced on earth until it’s already been decided in Heaven.

Lord, thank You for settling what I could not. Thank You for being my defender, my advocate, and my righteous judge.

When Heaven rules, peace follows.

The God that Sees me and you

“The God Who Sees Me”

Through Apostle Eckhardt’s prophetic word, God allowed me to know that He saw me. That simple yet powerful confirmation reached into the deepest parts of my heart. He acknowledged the pain of my past and the struggles I had tried so hard to hide. Sometimes, all we need is to know that God sees us — not just in our victories but in our valleys. When you understand that He sees you, it changes how you see Him.

One of the most powerful examples of this truth is found in the story of Hagar. God had promised Abram and Sarai a child, but when time passed and the promise seemed delayed, Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands. She gave her maidservant, Hagar, to Abram — a desperate attempt to make something happen that only God could do.

Hagar didn’t ask for that position. She didn’t ask to be in the middle of someone else’s promise. Yet, suddenly, she had something Sarai didn’t — a child. And sometimes, that’s how life happens. You didn’t ask for the gift, the position, the favor, or the calling, but God gave it to you anyway. Maybe He elevated you in ministry or blessed you with influence. And sometimes, the very people who opened the door for you will turn against you once you walk through it.

Abram told Sarai, “She’s your servant; do with her whatever you think best.” So Sarai mistreated Hagar, and Hagar fled. Have you ever been pushed aside, mistreated, or misunderstood for something you didn’t even ask for? Have you ever said, “God didn’t call me to take this kind of mistreatment”? I have. But here’s the truth: sometimes God will require you to endure uncomfortable seasons to bring forth what’s inside you.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar in her wilderness and said, “Go back and submit to your mistress.” (Genesis 16:9). That’s not the word most of us want to hear when we’ve been wounded. But submission to God’s word, even through pain, produces power. It was through her submission that God released a prophetic promise.

The angel told her, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count… You will give birth to a son, and you shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” (Genesis 16:10–11).

God met Hagar in the wilderness — not in a palace, not in comfort, but in brokenness. That’s where she encountered El Roi — “The God who sees me.” And it was in that revelation that she declared, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13).

When God sees you, He doesn’t just look at your condition; He looks into your destiny. He gives you a promise that sustains you when nothing else can. Hagar didn’t just receive a word — she received vision. She saw the God who saw her.

There was a time in my life when I, too, felt cast aside and unseen. But through a prophetic word, God reminded me that He saw me. And when I knew that, I could see Him — even in the storm. That revelation gave me strength to endure seasons I didn’t understand.

Maybe that’s where you are right now — running, hurting, or wondering if God still remembers you. Let me remind you: He sees you. In your pain, your confusion, your wilderness — He sees you. And He’s not just watching; He’s pursuing you with purpose.

Allow Him to reveal Himself in your brokenness so you can say like Hagar, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” When you see the God who sees you, everything changes.

He’s still El Roi — the God who sees. And if He saw Hagar, He sees you too.

Overcoming

In March 1991, Apostle John Eckhardt called me to the altar to give me a prophetic word from the Lord. Sometimes in the midst of your storm all you may have is a prophetic word. It was Paul’s prophetic word that brought them to safety when no one else even believed they were going to make it. God was teaching me to trust Him. He was building my faith for my own deliverance and for the deliverance of those I would need to believe Him for. How would I ever really know He could set them free? He was doing it first in me.

These words were life to me. They would serve as an anchor—when I would lose my way in the next chapter of my life. When the enemy would tell me to walk away from God, I could hear

Apostle Eckhardt:

My daughter, the Spirit of God says your whole life has been one of struggle, struggling against the odds and overcoming things that seem to be in the way to stop you and hinder you. And the Lord is saying, He has made you an overcomer, to persevere and press past the obstacles in your home, and your personal life, and the things that would attack you and try to weigh you down. These are incredible odds, but it’s the grace of God, my dear sister, it’s the grace of God that has given you the ability to overcome these incredible odds. Your life will be one of miracles, and the people you meet will be miracle appointments. Don’t trust in what you see in the flesh. My miracle-working power is in your life to break you through incredible odds by the Spirit of the living God.

Tempted to take revenge

Tempted to Take Revenge

It was so difficult sleeping next to my now late ex- my husband that I couldn’t even stand to hear him breathe. My heart had become so bitter. I had invested so much—my love, my loyalty, my prayers—and I couldn’t understand how God was allowing him to get away with how he was treating me. I was torn between two worlds—loving him and hating him. I loved him because I saw who he could be, and I wanted us to be everything God said we would be. But I also hated him and wanted him to feel the pain he caused me. I wanted revenge.

And in that moment, God started wrestling with me. He reminded me of all the things He had forgiven me for—times I disobeyed, times I hurt others, times I fell short. But honestly, I didn’t want to hear it. I wasn’t trying to be convicted; I wanted justice. I was once the villain, but now I was the victim, and I felt entitled to my anger.

Yet God didn’t let me stay there. He said, “If you don’t forgive, I will turn you over to the tormentors.” (Matthew 18:34) That word hit me hard. I realized I was on the edge of losing my peace, my mind, and my purpose. The tormentors weren’t demons coming from the outside—they were the thoughts, the bitterness, the sleepless nights, and the replaying of every painful memory. God was showing me that unforgiveness was the open door.

He was trying to save me from destroying my whole house—from burning down what He was still willing to rebuild. I couldn’t turn to the left or to the right. I was walking a tight robe and my obedience became a matter of life and death and heaven or hell.

Every day, He drew me with cords of lovingkindness, covering me with His mercy. His love was the only thing standing between me and complete breakdown. His banner over me truly was love. I could feel Him holding back the floodgates of bitterness like He held back the waters of the Red Sea. The enemy wanted to drown me in resentment. He wanted me to believe that everything I had prayed for, labored for, cried for, sowed for, and fasted for was all in vain the day my ex-late husband walked out the door.

But God whispered, “Forgive him, not because he deserves it—but because you deserve peace.”

The Word says in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

That verse became my lifeline. Forgiveness wasn’t about releasing my ex—it was about releasing myself. God was trying to deliver me from me.

Then He made me a promise that shifted everything: “You will never be the sacrifice on another man’s altar because of his disobedience.” Translation—some people didn’t obey God concerning you. They mishandled you. They rejected the assignment. But God said, “I have another route to get you to the same destination.”

That revelation healed me. What I thought was the end of everything was really just a divine detour. God wasn’t punishing me—He was protecting me.

I learned that revenge will never give you closure, but forgiveness will give you freedom. The same God who defended David, who restored Job, who redeemed Rahab, is the same God who will fight for you. Let Him handle the vengeance while you walk in victory.

So today, if you’re tempted to take revenge, remember—God sees. God knows. And God will repay. Your job is to forgive, heal, and move forward. Because the same hand that held back the waters for Israel is holding you now.

Petrified of the inevitable

But nothing and no one was going to make me take my eyes off my inheritance or my unsaved family members. God had promised them to me, and that was enough. Even though the enemy had intensified his attacks, I knew I couldn’t afford to waver. I remember going to my husband, trying to encourage him to stay in faith and agreement with me. I said, “God has given me faith to recover all that has been lost.”

He looked at me and said, “But you won’t have me.”

That moment hit like a knife to the heart. He was detaching more and more each day—barely speaking, avoiding eye contact, sleeping in another room, and leaving the moment I walked through the door. The silence was loud. The rejection was suffocating. And yet, somewhere deep inside, I refused to give up on what God had promised. I still believed restoration was possible. I still believed God would fulfill His word—even if everything around me screamed otherwise.

Then, right in the middle of that heartbreak, I got a phone call that would change everything. Charisma Magazine wanted to do a feature article on me—on my testimony, my journey to Christ, and what it was like growing up in a well-known family.

I remember thinking, What an oxymoron! Here I was walking through the valley of my personal Red Sea—watching my marriage unravel—yet God was opening a massive door for ministry. It didn’t make sense in the natural, but it made perfect sense in the Spirit.

It was God’s way of reminding me that He was still with me, that He hadn’t forgotten my obedience, and that He was still going to use my story for His glory. It was as if the heavens opened and I felt the gentle approval of the Father saying, “You are My daughter in whom I am well pleased.”

I hadn’t preached a sermon. I hadn’t reached out to the magazine. I didn’t even have ministry cards or a platform. All I had was a yes in my spirit and a heart that refused to quit. That’s the thing about God—He doesn’t wait until everything looks perfect before He begins to elevate you. He will bless you in the middle of your storm to prove that the storm never had power over His promise.

Looking back, I see now that God was teaching me something vital: His favor isn’t dependent on people’s acceptance. His calling isn’t canceled because of rejection. Sometimes He allows doors to close in our relationships so that He can open doors in our purpose.

In that season, I had to learn that obedience to God will often lead you into lonely places—but it’s in those places where you see His glory most clearly. I didn’t realize it then, but God was shifting me from being known as someone’s wife to being known as His daughter. The very moment I felt most forsaken was the same moment He was introducing me to destiny.

So even though my heart was breaking, my spirit was being rebuilt. I was learning that favor and fire often walk hand in hand. One proves the other. And through it all, I could still hear Him whisper, “You may lose some things, but you will recover all.”

Negatives

There we were framed in a moment of time. We were mounted by a prophetic promise and vow that was holding it all in place. The nails that it hung on, were the same ones that held Jesus to the Cross-love. It began to lean to the side and the picture was now suspended in air. I didn't know if the love was strong enough to keep us in place. The image was no longer clear. I couldn't see him anymore in the picture with the kids and me. I thought mine would be different from all the other marriages that ended up destroyed and torn by adultery. The picture was ripped.

I was suddenly thrown in a dark room.

But in my spirit I had negatives that needed to be developed. I could see us together; we were called to the multitudes. My tears became the solution that allowed me to see the images that were still hid to the naked eye. I was interceding in the dark and even when it didn’t looked like anything; I still kept praying.

1 Corinthians 7:1616 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

When I wanted to stop praying, I couldn't. I was compelled. I was driven to this dark place where only God could help me see what no one else could. He was sharing his eternal secrets and causing the passions of Christ to be developed from the negatives in me.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

It was in this place, that I would discover the beauty of who he had created me to be. Why did I have to go through this? Why me? I was torn, split and I desperately wanted to quit. I didn't even know why I still wanted to be married anymore. But other things began to appear in the negatives as I kept weeping. The solution for the images was producing a clearer picture. It was no longer about what he was or wasn't doing, if he loved me or not, how angry and bitter I had become. I had finally gotten passed me, passed us. I began to see my great-grandmother, Clara Muhammad. I was close enough now to the negatives, that I could hear her cries and her cries became mine.