RISE UP!

I preached a message on the topic ‘Rise Up’ on February 19, 2017 (last year) and decided to share segments here as my Mission Monday blog post today.

I started by sharing the Scripture in Isaiah 60:1-2 from the New Life Vision which reads,

 “Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you. ² For see, darkness will cover the earth. Much darkness will cover the people. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His shining-greatness will be seen upon you.”

I will admit that I have a lot of questions for God. I have always had questions, however, my experience of 2017 my questions have appeared to increase. There was a lot of struggle, pain, and even darkness throughout that year. Not just for me, but for someone people I have talked with.

I for one held out hope that 2017 would go down in history differently than it played out.

I took to Scripture hoping to find solace, and found every scripture in the Bible dealing with darkness would give me space to have a pity party. I have been reading Isaiah 60 looking for the atmosphere to shift. But with each day passing, I found myself more frustrated and with more questions. Day after day in this climate, which we now live, all I could see was the darkness.

As I began writing the ‘Rise Up’ message I was focused on individuals who were struggling, have lost hope, ones who have communicated they are unable to sleep at night and those who were experiencing darkness on a greater level than ever before. Including me. I must admit there have been times where I too have been unable to sleep wrestling with this worldview of darkness that has covered the earth and had appeared to have hovered upon people. I could hear the great poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou ring out, “I shall not be moved!” However, I needed this darkness to move out!

Stories of oppression and depression appear to be the story of everyone I came in contact with. The stories of lost and sickness appear to have magnified. The learning of death both physically and spiritually appeared to be greater than before.

Instead of enjoying the warm temperatures…people focused on climate change.

Instead of scheduling physicals, eye exams, and dental appointments…people are spending their time worring about what may come.

DARKNESS! It all appears to be darkness.

Darkness of breakfast programs for children in poverty being cut from schools.

Darkness of 20 million plus people who may soon be without healthcare.

Darkness of job loss.

Darkness of separation.

Darkness of depression oppression, gloom, and spiritual death.

YES…darkness IS filling the earth.

Darkness IS covering the people…YES…that IS happening,

People were on edge! I heard over and over again this phrase, “It’s all down hill from here.” I too had bought into the lie that it’s all down hill. The moment I found myself getting comfortable in that lie something inside me showed me that there’s a new day rising, and I needed to be ready!

BUT I hear God commanding us to look again!

HE IS commanding us to look through our spiritual lenses!

God is commanding us to turn off our natural lenses that can only see things on the surface AND to focus on the light that is shining through the darkness.

Can’t you see it? LOOK!

Can’t you see God’s hand? LOOK!

He’s here!!! He’s right here in the middle of all that’s going on.

Can’t you see it? LOOK!

What do we see? We see oppressed people rising up!

We see people who have been complacent…rising up.

We see people who have remained silent…rising up.

People are rising up all over!

CANT YOU SEE IT? LOOK!

LOOK! 2.6 million people rose up to MARCH all around the world on January 21, 2017! and many are planning to do it again January 21, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Women’s March.

LOOK! On Thursday, February 16, 2017 Immigrants took a stand, and many refused to go to work. A hashtag was created #ADayWithoutImmigrants.

LOOK! People are rising up mobilizing across the land.

#MeToo is now on the rise.

CANT YOU SEE IT? LOOK!

There is a proclamation.

There is a provision.

There is a purpose.

There is a prophecy.

CANT YOU SEE IT? LOOK!!!

When you look through God’s spiritual lenses…

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

1) See people unafraid!

We see an army of God’s people taking a stand.

Once stagnant. Now mobilizing.

Be unafraid to ACT!

2) See people unashamed

Once oppressed. Now moving forward.

It’s time for all of us to move forward unashamed.

Be unashamed to share your story.

3) See people uncensored

Regardless of your political affiliation…what was suppose to make us silent and torn apart is actually making us stronger and bringing us together.

Once silent. Now speaking up using our voices for the greater good, and for all of God’s people.

Be unafraid to speak.

It’s #MissionMonday! Let’s agree to accept the mission to RISE!

Join me in watching this video by Andra Day (Lyrics below) by clicking the link, and make the decision to rise up!

YouTube Rise Up Video by Andra Day

Lyrics of the Song ~ Rise Up by Andra Day (copyright by Andra Day)

You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
And I’ll rise up
High like the waves
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

When the silence isn’t quiet
And it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we’ll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
Bring it to its feet
And move mountains
And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We’ll rise, oh oh
We’ll rise

I’ll rise up
Rise like the day
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousand times again
And we’ll rise up
High like the waves
We’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
We’ll rise up
And we’ll do it a thousand times again
For you oh oh oh oh oh

Not sure how to rise up? Let me help you get to the root of it. You may start with making a life investment into yourself by purchasing Getting To the Root of It in-depth self study.

Here’s a testimonial: “Gail, this piece is so powerful that I must alert all who embark upon this journey to be truly ready for real freedom from bondage and strongholds. It took me several days to address the “call to action” day one encouraged. I was moved to unmask, undress, unfriend, and unapologetically forgive myself and others for hurts I thought were dealt with, yet were merely suppressed so deep that I remained paralyzed in time unable to progress in an authentic walk through life. I knew then this process would ultimately propel me to become a healthier me. I had to confirm my decision to face head on anything that posed a threat to this endeavor as there can be nothing more important. One must also be unashamed, brave, and fearless to reap the pure benefits that getting to the root of it offers.”  ~ Dr. Kim Carter, The Igniter!