I went to the doctor for my annual check-up. I expected to skip in and out of there with the same glowing report as I always get. “Mrs. Elliott, you’re in great shape. I’m proud of your diligence on your treadmill every morning, your heart is strong, your eyes are bright, and you’re doing fine. See you next year.”

 Not so fast. This year, I should have left after the new nurse complimented me on looking much younger than my real age. But since I had paid my deductible, I stayed to hear what the doctor had to say. After the usual pleasantries, he started with, “Well, you’re overweight and you’d do well to lose about 8 pounds.” (What? How do I do that? I’ve never had to lose weight before. Do I even have the will-power?) “And your blood pressure is high,” he continued. (What? Isn’t high blood pressure an old person’s disease? What’s happening?) “And those pains you’re experiencing in your arms and lower back are nothing to x-ray. They are simply a sign of…” and then he had the nerve to say it, “…the fact that you are getting older.” Yikes.

Well, my doctor told me what to do, prescribed some stuff, scheduled some additional work, and a follow-up appointment. Now the ball is back in my court. Since (as my pastor says) the only disease I’m trying to catch is old age, I intend to be diligent about all the doctor has told me to do to keep my physical life healthy.

Through this I have noticed that it’s actually a lot easier to keep my spiritual life healthy. With my body, I now really have tons of things to think about like exercising, the types of food I ingest, my salt intake, drinking water, taking meds, and whether or not I’ve had too much caffeine. I have one thing to do spiritually – keep in touch with Jesus. God’s prescription is nothing I have to time or calculate. As long as I have my spiritual blue-tooth in my ear (which includes easy stuff like prayer, Bible study, and church attendance), He can buzz me when it’s time for some kind of action, and I can buzz Him when I need to check-in.

See your doctor and keep your body healthy, but don’t neglect your spiritual health.

Listen: Colossians 1:10 “…live a life worthy of the Lord and  …please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (NIV).”

Reflect: How will you live your life worthy of the Lord? How will you please Him in every way? What good fruit will your works bear? What plans do you have to grow in the knowledge of God?

Pray: Ask God to help you answer the questions above with specifics for your life.

Traveling had become a necessity in order for me to carry out the work God has given me to do. Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, my opportunities to travel are temporarily halted. Thankfully, I’ve still been able to teach at conferences virtually, experiencing my workshops by taping them in advance, imagining the people in the seats. Best case scenario for now is the Zoom meetings. At least I have the chance of seeing some smiling faces, if the attendees turn on their cameras. The isolation of the quarantine makes me harken back to how very much I love to travel on the one hand, but when I think of that, I am quickly drawn to remember the realities of the hassles involved with travel on the other.

For example, thanks to 911, there was usually a substantial line at every airport’s security checkpoint through which I had to navigate. There I unpacked my neatly packed electronics, endured the humiliation of being compared to my driver’s license photo, and practically stripped down to prove I’m not a terrorist. On the other side of the scanners, I redressed and repacked, and then began my trek through the terminal to find my gate, which was usually the last one down the hall. Once on the plane, I squeezed down the aisle, found my seat, stuffed my carry-on into the overhead bin and my other stuff under the seat in front of me, and squeezed myself into the cramped space that would be my living quarters for the next few hours, hoping the seat next to me would either remain empty or be occupied by a thin individual who showered that morning.

I could go on about the hassles of the flights themselves, of getting off the plane, of praying that my luggage was doing the same, and of locating the right shuttle or the person designated to pick me up from the airport, but you get the picture. I endured the hassle because the rewards of doing what I do – teaching the Word of God or pouring into the lives of writers – were always worth every airport-airplane-shuttle-suitcase-security-line moment.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (NIV). It was not convenient or comfortable for Jesus to give His life for us. The cross was a hassle, yet He endured it for us.

Whether you are isolated in quarantine or traveling the globe, what hassles will you endure in order to carry out the call God has on your life? Whatever the hassle, endure it. Working for the Kingdom is worth every moment.

Listen: Ponder over Hebrews 12:2 by reading it aloud at least 3 times.

Reflect: How are you being led right this moment to “fix your eyes on Jesus”?

Pray: Tell God exactly where your current hassles are in your life. Ask God to focus your eyes and heart away from the hassles you are currently facing. Now ask Him where He wants you to look instead.

Today, I was thinking back to two of the proudest moments of my life – when my boys graduated from college. Matthew, my eldest, graduated from the Torrey Honors program at Biola University (my alma mater). Torrey is tough to get into and even tougher to complete. The students read and read and read the classic masters, philosophers, and academicians (if that’s even a word – I wasn’t a Torrey Honors student) and then discuss the points and theories in an effort to integrate the thoughts of those great minds with the lives they are currently living. And at Biola, this advanced level of learning is coupled with a study of the Scriptures. Mark graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He chose to attend an HBCU (historically Black college or university – like I had longed to do) where he could soak in and bask in his cultural roots, receive a quality education, and have tons of college fun. At both ceremonies, as my sons walked across that stage symbolizing the completion of the hard work they’d put in, I’m sure the light flashing from this proud mother’s heart must have been able to be seen from the International Space Station!

Those memories caused me to wonder if we make God proud of us, His children, as we move to accomplish tasks that He’s set before us. I wonder if, like the Torrey Honors students, we will dedicate hours to reading and research in order to know that we know that we know the mind of God. I wonder if we’re anxious to discuss and debate the issues in an effort to understand how God’s Word relates to our lives. I wonder if we are men and women who make a difference in our worlds because we’ve been in touch with the Master. 

Listen: Read the following verses:

• 2 Cor. 4:17  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (NIV)
• 2 Chr. 15:7  But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.(NIV)
• Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV)
• Heb. 6:10  God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (NIV)
• 2 Tim. 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day– and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (NIV)

Reflect: What work are you involved in? How can you perform that work as an offering to God?

Pray: Thank God for the work you do. Talk to Him about your job performance. Now govern your work according to His evaluation.

Let’s get out there and make God proud!

(C)2021 Life That Matters Ministries

Throughout the books of first and second Samuel, David usually asked God first before he made a particular move. If enemies reared their ugly heads against him, he would pray something like, “God, should I go up against these people?” and God would give him a yea or nay.

Well, in II Samuel 7, David thought about the fact that he was living in a gorgeous home, but the ark of God dwelt in a tent. He discussed with Nathan the prophet the idea of building a house for God. At first, Nathan thought it was a great idea too. Then God stepped in. God told Nathan to tell David not to start that building project. David’s son would do that. David was to just keep on doing what God had called him to do, namely, to conquer lands and subdue Israel’s enemies.

There was nothing inherently wrong with David’s idea to build God a house. The problem was that it was not what God wanted him to do, so God checked him through Nathan the prophet. It’s interesting that after this, David goes to war and makes decisions and it’s not recorded as much to see David stopping to ask God first before he proceeds. Just three chapters later, David commits the sin with Bathsheba which essentially toppled his influence from then on. Could it be that although David went on doing what God wanted him to do, he was sulking over the fact that God nixed his building plans? Perhaps David avoided close contact with God because what God called him to do was not what he really wanted to be doing. And then that separation from God led David in the only direction he could have gone–down the wrong path, the path that indulged his own desires over God’s.

 Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (NKJ). May the Lord keep us heading in the right direction as we remain open to allowing Him to check our every idea and give us clear direction as to exactly what He wants us to do.

Listen: Read Proverbs 16:9

Reflect: What are your plans? Have you checked with God to see that your plans align with His plans for your life?

Pray: Ask God to clearly show you how to align your plans with His, even if that means throwing your plans out and starting all over by managing the job He wants you to do.

(C)2021 Life That Matters Ministries

In I Samuel chapter one, Hannah prays to have a son. She is so distraught over her distress that she is not even able to eat, so she goes to God with a very specific prayer. She is so serious about it that she adds a vow to her request. She says first, look on my affliction; then, remember me; then, give me a male child. Finally she vows to give him back to the Lord and that no razor would come upon his head. (I Sam. 1:11)

Eli the priest saw Hannah praying and when he recognized her sincerity, he blessed her and prophesied that God would grand her petition. Right then, Hannah stopped crying, changed her whole attitude, and acted as if her prayer had been answered.

That’s what has caught my eye today. Hannah didn’t have her baby; in fact, she wasn’t even pregnant yet, but look at her attitude. Once she received the word from God, her faith in His word took over and she moved as if the manifestation was already there. May we learn to live in faith in God’s word even before we see results.  “For we walk by faith, not by sight” II Corinthians 5:7 ((KJV).

Listen: Read I Samuel 1:1 – 2:11.

Reflect: What do you take away from Hannah’s prayer?

Pray:    Pour your heart out to God about a personal situation, issue, or problem you are going through right now. Do not be shy. Do not mince words. Acknowledge who God is, then tell Him how you really feel, and ask Him for what you really want.

(C)2021 Life That Matters Ministries

By Sharon Norris Elliott – June 15, 2020 #1: Black People are Human like Everyone Else [Click the link to watch the movie Human.]             All kinds of lies have been perpetuated over the years defining Black people. The original lie grew from a perception within one man that he was better than another. Simply […]

Let’s Discuss Books!

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me… Oh, wait, that leads to something else entirely! Still, I am inviting you with any sayings I can think of:

Come one, come all – Be my guest – You’re welcome once, you’re welcome twice, you’re welcome in the name of Christ.

Just know that I want to see you and your comments and questions on Facebook Live at 5pm (PST) for “Let’s Discuss Books!” I will be talking about my writing journey through the stories of my 12 books. We will be discussing the books, how I came to write them, why I believe they are vital for the marketplace, and what was going on in my life and with my writing growth at the time of each book’s release.

We’ll do this together for 14 weeks and culminate with the exciting launch of the newest book, A Woman God Can Bless, along with the simultaneous launch of the “Woman God Can Revolution!” You won’t want to miss a week (but if you must, you can catch the show again – it will be recorded for replay on Facebook at your convenience). And if you missed week 1, here’s the link!

See you soon!

Sharon