Connect – Martine Brice

YOU CALLED?

YOU CALLED?

Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James4:8

God looks forward to us coming closer to Him else He wouldn’t have said come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). He meant that. The same keen, attentive hearing you’ve developed now, sometimes, don’t you wish you had that exact keen hearing from the start of your faith walk with God with the obedience to follow and fall in place? When you look back and recognize mistakes made along the way and having learned better now, sometimes don’t you wish you could’ve jumped ahead into quick obedience? Well, it doesn’t work that way. Life’s essence is based on trial and error, and for most people, to learn the lesson thoroughly; they had to have had the bitter experience, learned from the harsh sting and live to testify it, instruct it, preach it, & glorify God through it! Either way, God will receive His glory! Unless a lesson is learned, the experience isn’t embedded deep enough in the core being. It has become so much easier to turn a deaf ear to God throughout time so much that no one tries to listen anymore, while many denies he speaks at all! This is The Revival that still needs to be had, that still need to reawaken within the soul of many believers. It’s a spiritual tone deafness that causes even the most fervent hearts to be impaired in their judgment because the Holy Spirit has long since been stiffled. If your source of comfort is stiffled then the people will have had committed spiritual suicide. They would result to becoming a walking corpse, a bleached (whitewashed sepulchres-Matthew 23:27) tomb, a flower that’s lost its fragrance, a sun that lost its shine, salt without flavor! How then will you savor the anointing? For just as we who are many have become one body in Christ, (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) so also, the group efforts of all senses are necessary for the whole to be absorbed. How, oh how will we ever be able to perform effectively? Dear believer, never stop listening for God’s voice and always check to confirm what’s heard. It’s best to stifle all other voices but to tune in to God, rather to stifle God and tune in to all other voices which seem to have been the trending occurrence. It’s detriment to the existing and coming generation the deafening silence that’s imposed. Isn’t it already too evident how such a state has fallen too deeply rooted within the very core of our young ones beings? No longer are we raising Samuels who come seeking out Elis for response of God’s divine calling (1 Samuel 3:4-10). The rhythm and vibration of one’s spiritual hearing must always be aligned into God’s word for the evil one tires not and the world waits not on you catching up before targeting its victim’s void! The seal (plonb), that has filled too many’s ears must be lifted finally for the effectiveness and plenitude of complete revival to be sbsorbed. As the Shofar has many sounds (tekiah, shevarim, teruah, and tekiah gedolah), to alert the listener, so also must each believer learn to listen and recognize the voice, tune, rhythm, sound of God’s Spirit that constantly calls out to His own. Samuels, be attentive, LISTEN to God’s comfort drawing you near! Never be afraid of asking God, “did You call me?”

Don’t be the reason why others stop listening to God, rather, be part of the reason why they run to God asking if He spoke. THIS IS A CALL TO SPIRITUAL ARMS. The armors of God (Ephesians 6:11), isn’t the only arms needed for these times, with ALL your being, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit! Tune your ears to His Words, His Words is revelation to draw in souls! There’s been alot of talking true, but if it isn’t God or Godly, it’s effectiveness on the soul is nought. SAMUEL, BE OBSERVANT, REVIVE AND LISTEN!!!

07-18-2023
MBM

CHEESE PLEASE!

Can you think back a minute to when telling someone to shut up was such a rude way of talking that you’d get in trouble for it as if you had said a curse word? Or to speak a certain way was considered cross? So saying shut up or being cross wouldn’t be on your to do list to prevent being grounded. Those cheesy days taught us what being human was all about. It taught us to be courteous to our neighbors. We did it so well we didn’t need any escort looking over our shoulders checking to see if we’re behaving. It was simpler living and to most today it would be considered cheesy, lame, bland and boring. But you know, instead of being too bold, uncaring, inhumane without compassion for society wouldn’t it be best to add a little cheese on society today to preserve human flavor? Think about it! We’re constantly losing flavor as human beings. Soon there won’t be anything left to season or salvage. If you don’t believe me, with a clear and stable conscience take a good look at society as a whole!

It’s not nitpicking, honestly. And it’s not stirring anger in others either, it’s just an honest look at society that most elders usually have to go through as they watch their time fading and new time take over. It’s that moment when you realize you’re so old, this generation is so new and there’s a clash in difference. You don’t fit yet to find a common ground may take some time you don’t have. Because by then it might even be time to go because like I said, you’re old! So you reminisce those good days as if you could bring them back. You hardly have anyone to reminisce them with because everyone you knew mostly have passed on leaving you holding the fort. In this fast-paced world all you have left for comfort are those cheesy memories of yours and no one to tell them to. You’re itching to tell anyone who would listen but they’re busy living and your pace is slowing down hence you can’t catch up.

There should be a site! A site where the older folks could post their nostalgia to the world and they can even post anonymously. They should call it REMINESSENCE! The essence of reminiscing in a bulk would be good for society as a whole. That would give older folks an outlet, a chance to share their wisdom with the younger generation. How cool that would be! It could contain stories or sayings, testimonials or daily posts of attempts to connect to the present world. It could even be a youtube channel. I know this would be a very long shot because not all elders are computer literate but isn’t it a grand idea though? (It kept you reading on this far)!

There are simple acts of kindness that could even keep away sicknesses like alzheimers, dementia, senility, withdraws, or the likes. I don’t think elders should be boxed into a corner as if to say it’s not your time anymore so quietly occupy this space as a dunce till you’re no more! Instead I think we should embrace them into society as legacy workers in the field that ought to be commemorated as they exit; only we would be celebrating them in this small version as they live!

Let each testimonial be a learning source for the younger generation! Who knows? Some parents might even start to use that site as insight for their own children’s rearing. One of their chores could be to log into that site and to retell the parent of a testimonial they read that seemed shocking or different than what they’re accustomed to. That would be wisdom being passed down! You’d be surprised how much wisdom is hidden within an elder’s brain, of course that’s when it’s remembered!

Maybe this should be on someone’s to do list! I had to put this out here since it surfaced my overwork brain. I hope it reaches someone somewhere enough to act upon it in a productive way for the benefits of all of society.

Written 01-23-2021

MBM-Tine Brice

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

Who can forget January 12, 2010, Really? The Whole world united and reached out in aid to one HAITI! GOD DUG INTO THE POCKETS OF THOSE WHO USE TO GIVE, TO GIVE MORE AND WENT FURTHER INTO THE POCKETS AND HEARTS OF THOSE THAT WOULD RATHER NOT, TO GIVE EVEN MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR! The work is far from being done because no matter how much value you try to instill in a child, until the child himself feels the need to and decide within himself by himself to seek progress with what little is given and to make it work proudly, the child shall forever remain what my native language calls KATA! ALAS, THE ROOTS OF OUR HANDICAP IS BURIED IN OUR STAGNANT BELIEFS! Even if God were to send an Ezechiel prophesying to the dry bones for them to live again, what heart of stone would humble long enough to be transformed to a heart of flesh? Sigh! Growing up, I often heard the saying, “to be beautiful one must suffer.” Never would I have thought this young lady, à fleure de l’âge to have gone through so much and having to go through still, as if she has to pay the price for being the FIRST BLACK INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC! DID JESUS BLOOD NOT SUFFICE? MUST THERE BE EVEN MORE BLOOD SHE’D FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SAVIOR THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD? THINK YOU THAT YOUR SINS THOUGH REDDER THAN CRIMSON CANNOT BE CLEANSED BY JESUS ROYAL BLOOD? HAITI, RANMASÉ DRIV OU TANDÉ! OU TWÒ JÈNN POUW LAGÉ KÒW KONSA! YOU’RE NOT STRONGER THAN THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND THE PIG BLOOD DID YOU NO JUSTICE, BECAUSE YOU’RE STILL PAYING FOR IT FROM ANCESTORS TO NOW. Beautiful Pearl from the Islands, do you not yearn to seek the GREATEST BEAUTY GOD OFFERS? As when God told Moses to put the blood of the lamb on the door posts to deliver the Hebrew first borns from the destroyer/death spirit, so also I yearn to bathe you in THE BLOOD OF JESUS so that you can be cleansed from all unrighteousness and be delivered forever from past and present curses to begin a new slate sealed with THE BLOOD OF JESUS! YOU, AYITI ARE A PROMISE!!!

MBM-Tine Brice

Prayer Bits

(Consider saying this often)

Lord please show me enough of your grace that I may receive pardon. Give me grace overflowing enough that I may forgive self and others Jesus. Through the forgiveness I give to others Lord please let them see the goodness of your loving grace so that my forgiving isn’t taken in vain. Because you said in your word, “where sin abounded grace did much more abound.” Romans 5:20. As I strive to become better for you Lord, shine through me to reach others, please!

MBM-Tine Brice

Unconditional Love

My love for you is as a rainbow colored rose spreading hope in every direction where it’s needed and giving warmth and affection at each moment, in every situation. My love for you cannot be bought, bargained, or beckoned. It cannot be conned, coaxed or conjured. No! It is bestowed gently on the being in the depths of a yearning heart to bloom, blossom, and burgeon anew. My love for you desires not to have purpose for it’s golden, it just is!!!

MBM-Tine Brice

ACKNOWLEDGE

One of the far-fetched or set-up phrases often heard is “witchcraft can’t do anything to you,” or “if you don’t believe in it then it can’t harm you,” or another, “that’s all fake.” Fake or not, believe it or not, whether it can do something to you or not, you should know how to arm yourself against the wiles of the evil one. (There’s nothing wrong with being informed).
You might think a knife is no threat to you but in the hand of your worst enemy or a robber it can end your life! Putting a cute little dress on slavery and calling it integration does that stop it or change its course? The wind though unseen can cause extreme catastrophic damage during a storm. You never know when your house is going to be a target of attack but you arm yourself with weapon, alarm and guard dog. You never know when sickness will befall you yet you have health insurance to tend to your health issues. You know there might never be a flood in your neighborhood but still you make sure your home insurance covers flooding for those rare possibilities. How then do you not arm yourself for the rare possibilities of witchcraft, voodoo, wiccans, santería, brujería, wangoma, abominations of this world? (Ephesians 6:10-18)
A serious relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that begins with accepting Him into your heart, receiving His gift of salvation for your life and making Jesus your life role model; doing your utmost best to live as He did, constantly repenting along the way because in the flesh we err, that’s the only absolute way! Even if you didn’t believe in the rain, when it comes down would it skip you in respect to your wishes or would you still get drenched in the rain? Whether you believe God exist or not, that doesn’t stop His existence, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence and at your point of need He still shows up for you who believe Him not! Whether you believe Jesus can heal or not there are times when your belief gets an override for your life to be saved or just so your soul won’t go to waste. (That is God’s grace and favor). Whether you believe there’s a heaven and hell or not, the fact still remains that when your heart stops, the blood flow through your vein ceases, when you close your eyes in this world for the last time, you will meet your maker and a judgment will be pronounced based on how you lived. (Ecclesiastes 12:14) It’s your ignorance that keeps you in the guessing game so that evil can have its way with you in the end because to not choose a side is to choose evil. (Luke 11:23)
Whether you did the act or not in this world if all the evidence points to you and you’re found guilty by the court, you serve the time. When you’re the child of the King of kings, your affairs are not tended to the same way as in the secular world. The seal of the blood of Jesus marks your every possession, that includes you! Be clothed in God’s righteousness because He holds you dear as the apple of His eye! Isaiah 61:10-11
Psalm 17:8-9, Zachariah 2:8
Being the apple of God’s eye, think not He would throw His own to wolves, savage beasts or mockers. You Dear, have worth in His eyes! He would give Egypt in ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place Isaiah 43:3. If He considers you of such worth shouldn’t you at the very least turn to Him who would have mercy on your soul? He’s God of all the ages and holds in the palm of His hand the heart of men both wicked and not. He controls the circumstances, the seas obey His every command. He can handle anything you lay before Him, so surrender it all to God through Jesus for you won’t be put to shame! If even the wicked person’s life God respect, would He not pity yours? Ezekiel 33:11-12
To believe is to be aware, accept as true but to be ignorant is to lack knowledge of the obvious. To repudiate the obvious on the other hand is to refuse to acknowledge, validate or associate. At times sadly, we find that those who refuse to acknowledge a truth that exists is often the source of the problem or the carrier that transfuses the load. When you choose to arm yourself with Godly armors you’re telling the devil that you refuse to become his advocate, you’re taking a stand and won’t be his agent, ambassador or instrument. Once you’ve received Jesus’ transfused blood through salvation that connects you to the Father and you’re now one with Royalty and heir to the throne, evil has no hold on you providing you keep your focus with constant repentance. Because as I’ve said before while in the envelope of the flesh you will err but it’s of utmost importance to ask forgiveness to God then to fall into place. Soldiers shouldn’t dawdle. Linger no more Dear one. Suit up, show up, guard post for you to be found there at last! Remain in God’s word while guarding post for you should be well equipped with time.
MBM-Tine Brice

Wangoma-combined word of wanga which refers to majic/voodoo works in Creole and the african sangoma which refers to a person that provides such service.

FOR THE BRAVE

Often times when we’re not paying attention, the enemy sends his provisions into our lives. And because we were not praying and watching as God’s words requests of us, we fall into the plots of temptations of all sorts and desires of the flesh, realizing too late often how far we traveled from God’s will, grace, mercy and presence. Never remembering all the while that the armors of God are not carnal but powerful by God’s virtue. Usually this is the furthest from our minds because of the intense pulsation of the desire to satisfy the flesh, we let go and eat of the forbidden fruit once again. If we considered for a moment the outcomes of our actions as we embark in our sinful journey would the road sliding downward be so smooth? I think not. But at that moment where we cease to care and open a world of sinful opportunities and consequences to our hearts doorsteps we fail to recognize also that death happens to be there lurking, waiting to devour every inch of our human flesh and lusting soul. At that point I tell you the consequences are furthest from the human mind. Speak not of temptations unless you’ve been there. No one really knows the weight of any sin or its consequences even though that person has at least once in life wrestled with a certain sin and has won or has come to or is close to winning. Only Jesus who died for all sinners can truly give you a partial overview of the sin’s weight. Still not all can be revealed to you because the human mind, heart, body is limited in what it can withstand and endure! But of sin, some takes on an outward appearance and everyone can gnaw at it as they see fit to undermine the wrestler. But when it takes on an inward appearance, and everyone seem to compliment the person’s outward walk without a clue of the inward battle raging; it is then I tell you that one of the greatest battles ever known to mankind dwells. There, where no one knows of its existence but the bearer who is getting gnawed at with its grinching teeth and sharp claws shredding every piece of human dignity that did ever exist within, not all at once but a little at a time through the years in more than ninety-five percent of the human lifespan. Talk to me! Life is more than a battlefield I tell you! It’s murder to the untamed heart, mind, body, soul and spirit. For this and so much more you need JESUS to reprogram and redirect your path into self reconstruction for your own soul’s eternity to benefit! Are you hearing me? Turn not a deaf ear to Godly words of advice for a day will come when your desire to receive and accept it will not revive it where it lays; for the time will have expired and the door to God’s grace through Jesus would have ended in this world. And even the everlasting power of the presence of the Holy Spirit that dwells within the Word of God as Jesus prayed for us in John 17 will no longer be effective in this world! For God’s infinite power would have moved on unto eternity and take with Him all that was at our disposal for the repentance of souls! So the time to receive and store God’s grace within is now! The moment to gain complete victory over what’s ailing you is at this second! The last hour has indeed creeped up on us all! Because a thousand years in God’s sight is merely a day or overnight to man yet and still often people think there’s still time, never having a true concept of the span of time wasted and the gifts that could have been acquired in the wasted moments! Let your heart be tamed by the Word of God, by the presence of the Holy Spirit the greater teacher of all times who never misses in an opportunity to convince or direct the heart when steering it right! Come to Jesus and stay with Him until you behold Him face to face in glory!

Written on the late eve of 06-08-17 to early morning of 06-09-17