Wednesday, June 3, 2020

#BlackLivesMatter

As a writer, people often look to you for words, but there are times when life is so overwhelming the words just aren't there. I have started several posts and then deleted them wanting to be careful of what I said and how I said it.  Then I had a conversation with my editor and she said, you know you should post that final chapter in "A Christmas Wedding." Then the light bulb came on. I don't have the words, but my characters do. For those of you who don't know, I have a romance series entitled A Divine Love Story.  The characters are a group of Christians who are multi-ethnic so the conversations about race and race relations are always transparent, uncomfortable and wrapped in love.  For those of you who don't understand, can't understand or refuse to understand why we say #BlackLivesMatter then hopefully this "conversation" with a group of male friends (black, white & biracial) gives a starting point for those difficult conversations to have with your fellow human beings. My advice listen to hear don't listen to rebut.  Don't deflect and don't change the narrative, just listen to your fellow human beings.  The blood deep in American soil is crying out for justice and change! 

*If you have not read this book THERE ARE SPOILERS!!!*

Excerpt from "A Christmas Wedding" 

Chapter 16: A Toxic Narrative


It was New Year’s Day.  The Walker’s decided to host the gathering to bring in the new year. They’d enjoyed Carmen’s delicious meal and then everyone migrated to their separate corners.  The kids were upstairs playing.  The women were in the living room, while the men made their way to the patio or what was better known as Damon’s “man cave.” 
Their living room was spacious with a large black leather sectional sofa with recliners. The ladies were sitting around with their feet propped up. They were not paying any attention to the movie in the background on the 65-inch TV that hung on the wall over the fireplace.
“Alright, now that the kids are gone, spill it! How was the honeymoon?” Lucy asked Alyssa. 
She blushed.  “Oh my God you guys, the people next to our suite banged on our wall and told us to be quiet!” 
They all fell out laughing. 
“Now that’s how you honeymoon,” Jasmine said giving her a high five. 
Carmen shook her head. “I hope you guys left some money for tearing up their headboard.” 
The laughter continued. 
“Well honey, if you weren’t already with child, I think you would have come back with one,” Keisha added. 
“That is very likely,” Alyssa admitted.  “We definitely made up for lost time.” 

∞∞∞

The guys were sitting around Damon’s back patio.  Dylan had just finished telling them about Veronica’s true paternity and all the shenanigans that resulted from it.  Glad that he and Keisha were on the same page now, he was in a much better place.  They had turned the information over to their new lawyer at Blake’s firm for it to be handled that way. 
“Wow,” Blake said.  “I admire men that take on the responsibility of raising one that’s not their own.  I’m sure I could do it, but I’m glad I didn’t have to. It comes with so many complications and potential issues.” 
Damon gave a slight nod in agreement that only Blake caught.  After all, only his parents, Blake and Jasmine knew he was not Kiamoni’s biological father. 
Brett was absorbing it all and to be honest it was adding more issues of fear of becoming a full-time father to Samantha and his unborn baby.  At the end of the day, she wasn’t his and her real father was bad news.  It’s one thing to raise a child that acts like you because you share DNA. It’s completely different to raise someone else’s because you have no insight as to what the child inherited from the one they share a biological connection to.  It scared him sometimes that he might find himself loving his own child more or even worse, showing favoritism and he knew that could really hurt Samantha in the long run as well as the relationship with her sibling.
Jeremy was feeling some kind of way about the conversation.  It wasn’t the actual issue, but it was adjacent enough to trigger his emotions.  He knew Dylan wasn’t to blame for the issue at hand, but still, it sparked an irritation he had with society at large and the narrative they have about black men and fatherhood.  The scowl on his face said it all. 
“Dude, what’s wrong with you?” Blake inquired. 
“Nothing,” Jeremy said with frustration in his voice as he took a sip of his drink. 
Blake’s brow raised. 
“Clearly you feel strongly about something,” Dylan observed.  “What is it?” 
“It’s nothing,” Jeremy repeated. “Besides this isn’t the right crowd to engage in the issue anyways.” 
“What does that mean?” Brett inquired slightly offended as it was clear he was referencing their whiteness. 
At that comment, Damon clued into what Jeremy was thinking about. 
“I won’t be offended man. Express yourself,” Dylan encouraged. 
Jeremy hesitated and made quick eye contact with Damon.  He gave a slight nod that he understood. 
Breaking the awkward silence, Blake said, “Listen that’s what we do here in this family, and I don’t use that term loosely.  We are blessed to have these tough conversations to help us all grow.  Go ahead and say what’s bothering you.  It’s probably an opportunity for us all to do better.” 
Brett immediately got uncomfortable and wanted to leave. He’d been around them for two years and absolutely adored their makeshift family.  Still, conversations about race relations made him uncomfortable and this group never seemed to be short on them, but he guessed it was unavoidable considering their makeup. He just wished everyone would stop with all the drama and get along. 
For their parts, Dylan and Blake had grown comfortable in these spaces. Not only were they married to intelligent and passionate black women, but they also had their own experiences with race relations as well as the fact that they were raising brown children. Their love for their children shifted their perspective as well as their love for their wives and the day-to-day experiences they had in present-day America that unfortunately, as of late, showed many remnants of a darker past to those of her citizens who were black and brown. 
“I feel you, bro,” Damon said.  “Go ahead. I got you.” 
Jeremy nodded his thanks and stood.  He began to pace looking like an agitated but graceful cat.  Damon chuckled; this brother was fire hot about the issue. 
Blake raised a brow and realized this must be really bothering him. Dylan wondered what it was about his situation that had Jeremy triggered. 
Brett was nervous.  So many times he’d wanted to join in the conversations on race relations but remained quiet. The only other person who he felt could most likely relate to him was Frank, but they were vastly different as was their experience in America so again, he didn’t even see him as a true ally on the subject matter. 
Jeremy began, “Let me start by first saying this.” He stopped pacing long enough to turn and face Dylan.  “I respect what you’re doing with Roni and I love the way you love her. You’re doing a great job as her father and as your friend, I will have your back if ol’ boy ever decides to act a fool.  I mean it’s whatever really.  You feel me?” 
Dylan nodded.  He understood that regardless of what Jeremy was about to reveal, as his friend, he would have his back when it came to Veronica. 
“With that being said,” he continued as he began to pace again. “There are two problematic issues here that this conversation triggered for me.  I have a serious problem with the narrative in this country surrounding black men and fatherhood and I’m sincerely irritated about this white savior complex that continues to be somewhere in every storyline.” 
No one interrupted as they listened to him state his case. 
“What irritates me is that this country’s original sin was exacerbated by white men not being fathers to children they produced by raping the black women they owned, but somehow we end up with the dead-beat dad scarlet letter because of the stereotyping narrative they perpetuated.  I know so many black men that love and take care of their children.  When I’m out with Sophia, I always get shocked responses from white women especially. ‘Oh, you’re such a good father.’  As if me being capable of being a good father was some anomaly.  It really pisses me off.” 
“I feel you, bro,” Damon said thinking of his own experiences.  “I’ve gotten those shocked comments too.  I try my best to ignore their ignorance.”
Blake contemplated how different his experiences was than theirs, especially in the same neighborhoods. It was crazy.
“Now, this white savior thing,” Jeremy began.  “There’s this narrative that gets told to the masses and perpetuated through different forms of media that there always has to be a white savior as if without a white savior we’d perish.  As dope as Black Panther was a white man still had to play a part in saving us and saving us from ourselves at that.  Why can’t our stories be told without the narrative that we need them to intervene to save us?  Oh, that irritates my soul.  You know Lucy and I had an argument about Sophia believing in Santa Claus now that she’s getting older.” 
“What’s wrong with Santa Claus?” Brett asked sincerely curious. 
Jeremy turned to face him.  “Look I work too hard to provide for my family and make sure they have all their needs met.  So, I have a problem with letting a white man take credit for it, I’m sorry. Teaching my brown daughter that her character, as in being good or bad, depends on the approval of a white man.” 
“Dude, it’s fiction,” Brett said sincerely not grasping the depth of what Jeremy was saying. 
“Yes, he is, and I could even make Santa Black in my home, but the fact remains the national conversation and depiction in every movie is that he’s white and I have a problem with it.  For the record I don’t have a problem with Santa as a person being white. I have a problem with the notion of control that’s lorded over children by his list, especially since it’s all made up.  No offense Brett, but you don’t have a dog in this fight. Your wife is the same as you and y’all don’t have brown children. You have no idea what that does to a person’s psyche when they don’t have representation or when they equate their value to only one thing as acceptable – whiteness. It’s dangerous.” 
“He’s right,” Damon said.  “Tis the season too.  I told Carmen the same thing man, but she was more focused on the innocence of it and didn’t want them to miss out on certain things in their childhood.  So, our compromise was that only one gift be from him and the rest are from us.  We make it clear in our house Christmas is about giving and we don’t manipulate our kids with that naughty or nice mess. When they get in trouble they get punished on the spot. I don’t like holding stuff over their heads, but that’s just me.” 
Jeremy nodded his head.  “That’s not a bad idea. I’ll talk to Lucy about it. She’s the same way with the whole innocence and childhood thing.”
“Santa is a problem but depicting Jesus as a white man is America’s biggest white savior con,” Damon said bringing the conversation back.   
“Thank you!” Jeremy shouted feeling vindicated. 
Brett frowned. 
“Yeah, we white folk have got to take the L on that one.  I mean how the heck did Jesus hide in the crowd in the Middle East looking like the doe-eyed man with long silky hair.  It’s not even logical.  Not to mention the description of his hair,” Dylan said.
“Exactly,” Damon agreed.  “What’s crazy is most people don’t even know other places in the world have pictures of Him with a dark complexion and wooly hair.  Everyone needs to watch Hidden Colors. It’s the biggest perpetration of psychological warfare against black people and the sad part is that lie is pulling so many of us away from the church and God’s word. The devil is busy, and people fall for the okie doke because deep down, one side embraces their supposed superiority, while the other side rebel against the notion they are inferior and in the process rebel against all things they feel support the narrative. But what’s more accurate is what is being used to support the narrative based on how it’s interpreted to manipulate.  I mean they actually had a ‘slave bible’ where only the passages left were ones that instilled obedience and upheld slavery.” 
Blake watched Brett as all this information was being passed around.  He knew it wasn’t easy to hear.
“Pope Alexander VI commissioned Leonardo Da Vinci to paint a new picture of Jesus using his son Cesare Borgia which is the image most take as gospel,” Jeremy said.  “But you’re right Damon, the psychological damage that it’s done to our people, which they knew full well it would, is sickening. It saddens me that so many people are pulling away from God’s Word because they depict it as the ‘white man’s Bible.’” 
“You know I always wondered of all the lies that those who colonized told in history why didn’t they just take out the description of Jesus in the Bible that so blatantly dispels their account of what he looked like?” Blake asked. 
“They couldn’t because if they could have, they would have and that alone is the validation of the sacredness of the book in my opinion because let’s face it, white people have been fictionalizing history to fit their narrative for centuries and don’t even get me started on celebrating Columbus Day,” Jeremy tisked as he took another sip of his drink. 
“Here’s something that needs to be considered,” Dylan began.  “When the forefathers set out to create this deception, they deceived everyone, black and white.  Black people believed they were inferior and white people believed they were superior. Psychological warfare was done on both sides. Part of the reason why systematic racism is so hard to dismantle is because white people have to accept that they were lied to as well and are not, in fact, superior and this whole mess is not even a real thing, but a social construct created for a power grab.  Let’s be honest for most that’s a hard pill to swallow,” Dylan added.
They all nodded.
Brett shocked himself by joining the conversation, but he felt he needed to say something.  “Okay, I can understand that, but this conversation started based on Dylan’s situation.  I for one think it’s messed up that you can come at him like this. At the end of the day, he stepped up to do what was right.  He didn’t see color; he saw a child in need and did what a responsible man does.  For the record, I don’t see color either and I think if we all took color out of it and just dealt with people based on their character as MLK asked us to then the world would be a better place,” Brett told them. 
Both Dylan and Blake dropped their heads.  Brett was about to get a valuable lesson in race relations he would never forget. They were married to black women and they understood how dangerous that notion of not seeing color truly was. Damon took a sip of his drink and shook his head.  Jeremy turned to look at Brett finally taking a seat. 
“Alright let me break this down to you.  The fact that you don’t see color tells every black and brown person that you don’t see their plight in life. That it doesn’t exist to you. That everything that comes with the skin they were born in, not only doesn’t exist to you, but it doesn’t matter to you.  As long as you’re blind to color, you’re blind to the struggle of those of us of color.  It sets a dangerous precedent for injustice, low self-picture, inferiority complexes and so much more.  It’s a copout, in my opinion. If you don’t see color, then you don’t have to take responsibility for what you see happening day in and day out.  How old is Jane Elliott’s experiment of asking a room full of white people to stand up if they were willing to trade places with a black person? Not one stood up because they know the truth but like to ignore it, so they don’t have to deal with the part they play in it that perpetuates the oppression of others.  Yes, silence is an action.  Since you brought up Martin Luther King, remember he said, ‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.’”
Brett swallowed. 
“Furthermore, you just proved my point that it’s not a black and white thing if one has to step up and take responsibility, but the character of the man.  Hell, Samantha’s dad is lily-white and trifling as hell and Damon as a black man stepped in to help raise her before you showed up.  He even walked Alyssa down the aisle because the white man who fathered her never even tried to be in her life.  It’s not about seeing color or not seeing color, it’s about seeing a need and fulfilling it and color not being a determining factor when it comes to doing what is right or necessary,” Jeremy said and took another sip of his drink. 
Dylan chimed in, “Uh, for the record I do see color.  My mom put me up on Jane Elliott a long time ago and I have brown children, I cannot afford to not see color.  Because if I engage the world through my white eyes only, I miss the overt and subtle tactics of racism.” 
With that, he sat back and gave Jeremy back the floor.  Brett’s face was red, and they could tell he was struggling with this conversation. 
“Let me ask you this,” Damon interjected.  “How many black people were you around prior to us?” 
“On a consistent or regular basis? Just coworkers.” 
“Is Ken the first person of color to enter your family?”
“Yes.”
“So, no intimate relationships, like ours where you’re consistently involved in their daily lives.” 
Brett shook his head. 
“We can never live the experience of others because you must be in their shoes to walk their path, but we can empathize with others and not dismiss their plight or fictionalize it because it’s not our own,” Damon said. 
“I hope you don’t feel attacked and I hope you take what’s been said here and really think about it.  At any given moment, one of our brown children can be in your care and we need to know that you’re a tower of strength and safety for them with whatever they may face while in your care, even racism,” Jeremy said from the sincerest place in his heart. 
Brett nodded.  He did understand that because the love he had for Samantha scared him sometimes because it often overwhelmed him as did his need to keep her safe. 
“Now, I never thought of it from that perspective. With the kids, I truly get what you’re saying, so I know I need to work on that.  I don’t feel attacked, just uncomfortable, but I guess just like you want me to see it from your perspective, you also have to look at mine.  I don’t think the average white person sets out to prove white is right when they’re out in the world doing good things, I think they see a need and fulfill it. I think it’s jacked up when someone is truly doing something out of the goodness of their heart, and they get attacked for it because of the perceived motive behind it.  At the end of the day, Veronica’s life is better because Dylan is in it, not because he’s white, but because he’s a good man and a great father to her.  Now true, some may gravitate to the causes of marginalized people to appease some level of guilt they feel but mostly people are just trying to do and be better. For me, I taught myself not to see color because it’s a distraction. At the end of the day, even though I grew up in a loving house that taught respect for all people, I grew up in a white world and with that comes the ugly things said and perpetuated about people of color. Teaching myself not to see color was something I used to help me stay away from attaching stigmas and stereotypes of what I’ve been taught just from existing in my white world.” 
“When we find coping mechanisms, we have to ask ourselves some things.  In this instance, are you fixing the issues of the implicit biases created from your white world or are you putting a Band-Aid on them?”  Jeremy asked.
Brett nodded thoughtfully then responded, “I work in security, so I see shady behavior from all types of people. I don’t believe any one group has the patent on being shady. Shady behavior does not have a color.  The narrative is there that white is superior, it’s right and blah, blah, blah. I get that, but for me not seeing color helps me not buy into that narrative because I know it’s not true,” Brett told them.
Jeremy nodded. “I get that, I really do.  If it helps you with your personal convictions, I get why you use it.  I know you’re not racist.  I know you don’t dislike people because of their skin.  We’re talking about the larger issues in society.  Thanks for helping me see that perspective because it’s one I would have never been able to.”  Brett nodded.  “We’re all out here in this world trying to survive, I can’t begrudge you the ways you choose to navigate this crazy world, all I’m saying is don’t just think to the situation, think through the situation.” 
Brett nodded and extended his fist to Jeremy for a bump. Jeremy obliged.
“Alright, are all hearts and minds clear?” Damon asked. 
They laughed. 
“Brett, you good?” Blake inquired. 
“Yeah, for now. You all gave me something to think about. Can we revisit this again if I have questions?” 
“Absolutely,” Jeremy said.   
“Honestly, I was actually hoping to talk to you guys about something else, but Jeremy got in his feelings and threw me off,” Brett said with a smirk.
They all fell out laughing as Jeremy threw a balled-up napkin at Brett.
“What’s on your mind?” Dylan asked.
Brett rubbed a hand over his face before continuing.
“Uh-oh,” Damon said laughing.
“This fatherhood thing scares the bejesus out of me.  I mean I have a great example from my father, but still, it’s a lot.  However, I can’t go to my dad with this issue and I was hoping maybe you guys could help,” he confessed looking at Dylan.  “Sometimes I wonder if I’ll treat Samantha different from the child that does belong to me,” he said with shame coating his voice.
Blake eyed Damon who caught it from his peripheral vision but didn’t acknowledge it. Blake wondered if Damon would tell them of Kiamoni’s true paternity.
“I think that’s a very fair concern,” Jeremy added though he couldn’t give Brett any personally learned wisdom on the matter.
“Well, I can say this,” Dylan responded.  “You’re going to love each kid differently regardless of who fathered them.  Each child is unique and will create their own specific feelings from you.  For instance, Veronica is the child that made me a father and she’s a girl.  Lucas is flesh of my flesh, so yeah, it’s cool to see parts of me in him, and there’s pride because he’s a boy, but the truth is because I’m raising Roni, there will be parts of me in her as well. Maybe not physical attributes, but mannerisms and character for sure.  Once you let a child into your heart as yours, they’re your own and your heart can’t differentiate that.  The differences in the way you parent them will come from many different factors, but biology isn’t one of them because you’re a good human being.”
Brett nodded.
“I’ll add this.  It’s important to spend time with each child individually. Let them have their own spaces where they don’t have to share you with their siblings.  I will also make this confession and y’all gotta swear to me that it doesn’t leave this room, even to your wives. This stays out of pillow talk,” Damon said eyeing each one.  “I just think it will be beneficial for Brett to know it.”
“Swear.”
“Swear.”
“Swear.”
Blake rounded it out with a nod just to be agreeable even though his wife already knew.
“I’m asking that because I told Kiamoni that I wouldn’t blast it to the world.  Kiamoni is not my daughter.  Our DNA didn’t match.”  There were gasps of shock, but Damon continued.  “I know who her father is, but he gave up his rights just like her mother did.”
“Man, that’s crazy she has curly black hair and green eyes, so it’s easy to not look further for physical similarities,” Jeremy said.
Damon nodded.
“Whoa, so what made you take her as your own?  And Carmen was okay with it?”  Brett asked.
“Well we had gotten attached to her and she had no one.  Even though she wasn’t mine we knew we had a home available for her and didn’t want to send her into the foster system. The first day she was dropped off unannounced Carmen said she heard God tell her to show her His love. So that’s what we did.”
“Wow.”
“Whoa.”
Blake just nodded.
“I can tell you that I love her, and I don’t see her any different than my son.  There isn’t anything I would do for Michael that I wouldn’t do for my Kiamoni.  She’s my daughter, period.”
“Thanks for sharing that man.  You too, Dylan.  I feel better,” Brett said sincerely grateful.
Just then the door leading to their kitchen opened.
“Hey, are you guys done with my husband?” Alyssa asked from the doorway.  They all turned in the direction of the disturbance to their male bonding. 
“Oh, our bad.  You can have him back,” Damon said laughing. 
“I’m ready to take you home handsome,” she winked flirtatiously. 
Brett popped his collar.  “Well fellas, I gotta go!” 
They laughed. 
“Dawg, it’s only been a week and you’re already sprung,” Jeremy teased. 
Blake extended his fist for a bump as Brett passed by. “I get it, bro.  Handle your business,” he said as he chuckled. 
Brett grinned and took Alyssa’s hand.  She smiled and waved bye. 
“Well, we won’t see him for another two weeks,” Dylan said. 
They fell out laughing.


~The End~

I'm truly praying for changed hearts and healing in our nation. God bless!

Love,
Melinda Michelle
www.melindamichell21.com

Friday, January 4, 2019

Silence Isn't Always Golden - My Thoughts on R. Kelly


The Bible says, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Where there's evil, there's a trail of money that leads to the root. One of the most sought-after things evil purchases is SILENCE! #RKelly

I generally don't give too much commentary on pop culture unless it's comedic in nature. However, this current discussion about R. Kelly has truly given me pause. I'm disturbed at the continued support of him and dismissal of the pain of these women. I’ve never been a big R. Kelly fan, but I was done once he proclaimed himself the Pied Piper of R&B. How much more proof does one need?! I mean, the whole premise of that tale is a MAN who stole CHILDREN from their parents with his MUSIC. Not to mention his marriage to a 15-year-old and ANYBODY who saw that tape knows doggone well, that was a child. Let's not EVEN get started on his song titles and lyrics.

Whatever demon he's wrestling with is arrogant and vicious. I understand he was abused and yes, hurt people hurt people, but he's a grown man and he knows right from wrong. He has more than enough money to have gotten himself some help for the trauma he experienced. Instead of being a champion for victims, he chose to victimize. There are plenty of GROWN women out here willing to help him let his freak flag fly, but he chose to be a sadistic predator. In my opinion, he's an opportunistic sociopath. 🤷🏾

As black people in America, I get it. We are so used to being oppressed we defend black in all instances and that shouldn't always be the case. If black lives truly matter, then ALL black lives should matter even if the culprit is black. I've seen this on a couple of posts and I totally agree. The reason he is not in jail is because his victims are black. We know doggone well had they been white, he woulda been under the jail. Why? Because no matter how asinine, irrational or disgusting the situation, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, white is right. Because... #ThisIsAmerica. The most disrespected, unprotected and neglected woman… well you know.

As far as these “fast” girls. Victim blaming is just so basic. There are serious psychological and spiritual components that play a part in this. At the end of the day, who was the adult in the room?! There are many people who played their role in this. So much complacency and turning a blind eye. However, NO ONE bears more blame than the perp himself! For those of you that wish to continue supporting him and his music... I guess... To those that can still listen to him and get your groove on knowing, your compartmentalization game is superb. You can’t tell me there isn’t plenty of music out there to assist you in your adult antics. If I'm sickened, I cannot imagine how triggered actual survivors of sexual trauma are by this. Those royalties of his will continue to supply resources for his continued sick behavior. I sincerely hope the women who choose to continue to support him or their daughters never have the horrific experience of sexual assault only to find that the world champions their predator. ✌🏾


Monday, November 20, 2017

Spiritual Wickedness in High Places

Every time we turn on the news, there’s another shooting, another person being outed for their indiscretions and so on and so forth.  It’s exhausting to watch, which is why after 9/11 I stopped watching the news.  Tried again and then Katrina.  It was only last year that I brought back the news to my life.  It’s not any less exhausting, but I realized something.  How can I effectively fight when I consciously blind myself to my enemy?  The Bible says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  (Ephesians 6:12- Emphasis added) 

Courtesy of Google Images
That scripture is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. As a matter of fact, it’s the premise for my entire book series, The Chronicles of Warfare.  As my readers know, there is a whole other world out there moving and influencing the one we live in every day.  The other morning during my boo time with God, I was musing after I had gotten a call about yet ANOTHER shooting.  The fact that an elementary school was targeted is just heart breaking.  I was reading in Psalms 133 that day about the oil flowing down from Aaron’s beard.  I have heard many a preacher say, the anointing flows from the head down.  I believe that to be the absolute truth.  When there’s chaos all around a particular body of Christ, look to the head and see what’s really going on behind the veil.  Just as the anointing will flow from the head down, so will everything else.  In the United States our “head” is the office of the presidency.  

Now before we go any further, let me say this. I believe wholeheartedly in the sovereignty of God. I believe what the Bible says in Psalm 75 about promotion coming from God. I believe one of two things happen during the election of a POTUS.  Either it's God’s choice or God allowed the choice of the people for His ultimate purpose.  Either way, God remains in control and ultimately all things will work together for the good of those who love Christ and are called according to His purpose.  Since this scripture applies directly to my life, I tend not to lose sleep over who sits in the oval, though I must admit, this new one definitely makes it difficult to understand.  Back to my point though, who sits at head (The Oval), whether it’s your choice or not affects the body (America).  

On the campaign trail, this man incited violence (encouraging supporters to harm opposition), he displayed his disrespect for women, his bigoted and racist remarks were cheered on or unchallenged by his supporters, his narcissism has been legendary and he’s basically a “mean girl” on Twitter.  Now, I don’t want 45 supporters to go ham and blow a gasket. I’m not here to talk about the man, because we wrestle not against flesh and blood. I’m here to deal with the spirits that are in play because of him, his rhetoric and those he chose to surround him on his presidential journey.  Like it or not, as a result of this man winning the election, some very nasty spirits have been unleashed.  The Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue.  Don’t be fooled and think that this man’s words have no power and that they don’t influence the spirit world.  It’s not to say these spirits didn’t exist before him, because they did. However, his boldness has given them free access to flourish in the current atmosphere.  

People who allow these spirits to influence them feel like it’s okay to behave the same way 45 does.  If he can do it and get elected to the most powerful position in the world, surely, they can do it too with no consequence.  Spirits like hatred, division, anger, violence, bullying and narcissism are acting a complete fool.  Let’s not forget his sexism that fuels the rape culture in this country that is already out of control.  If you don’t believe me, just look at the news. The violence and the level of aggression is rising.  Each one of the shootings that have occurred are reaching new levels of cruelty - “Worst mass shooting in MODERN American history” or “Deadliest church shooting in American History.”  I believe that the bold and unapologetic actions of 45 are emboldening those with like spirits.  The boldness that has risen in racial tensions is absolutely ridiculous in 2017.  The way racists feel entitled to come from beneath their masks to boldly and openly display their message of hate and superiority is despicable.  I think one of the most reprehensible displays of privilege I’ve seen so far was the injustice for “60 year old white men” being jailed because they only watched child pornography, never mind the traumatic nature of whom the statement came from.  I mean, it’s like, did I just actually write that?  

As these spirits are emboldened, they are also exposing themselves. The enemy cares nothing about you. He will use you as long as you benefit him, the minute you’re no longer useful, he leaves you to the wolves.  Fret not though and see the hand of God exposing and bringing light to dark places.  The spiritual wickedness in high places also exposes the wickedness in HIGH places – the government, Hollywood, National Sports, TV executives and the list goes on and on and on.  Never think that God doesn't know what He's doing.  There is a reason and there is a purpose.  We must continue to do our part and combat the effects of this spiritual wickedness with spiritual warfare.  That is through prayer, fasting and obedience to the Almighty God.  


Finally, to my Christians, be careful with your political label – democrat, republican, conservative, liberal, etc.  Some of us are making this label an idol and putting it not only above COMMON SENSE, but above the Word of God.  But, like my mama said, common sense ain’t common.  Yes, we are to do our civic duty and vote.  Yes, we are to pray for our leaders and yes we are to respect authority, but we are also to stand up for what is RIGHT! Not what is right to man, but what is right to God.  We believers need a heart check quick, fast and in a hurry!  We don’t fight these battles and sins with hateful words, we fight them through spiritual warfare.  Like my late pastor use to say, you gotta catch the fish before you clean them.  You can’t legislate morality.  How do you justify voting for Christian values by electing hate?  This country needs an overdose of unconditional love and it is our job as believers to supply it, not add to the hate AND division.  At the end of the day, the writing is on the wall and the blood of the innocent is crying out from the ground.  The sooner we realize what’s really going on, the sooner we can actually make a difference.

I’m out y’all,

Melinda Michelle
Ways to Get at Me

Monday, November 13, 2017

When God Speaks

They say hindsight is 20/20.  If that's the case, then spiritual hindsight has to be 20/15.  I wrote this line in one of my books, "Color Me Blind:"  "You won’t always understand while you’re in the storm, but when you’re out of it, God’s hand will reveal itself to you more clearly than anything you have ever seen."

Courtesy of Google Images

                                     
My writing comes by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I couldn't have written truer words.  As 2017 is coming to a close, I realized how challenging this year has been.  I mean I've dealt with the types of shenanigans that I never expected to hit my doorstep.  And I'm just talking about GMME world events, not actual world events, which as I'm sure you know has been just... Disturbing to say the least, but God remains sovereign.  I keep coming back to what I learned about when God speaks and yesterday it woke me up, so I'm going to share what I've learned on my journey of faith.

The Bible says that God's ways and thoughts are not ours and that they are higher than our own. So consider this, when He speaks, He speaks at the level of His ways and thoughts and not our understanding. It is up to us to seek Him for insight and revelation into what He is revealing to us.  In the recent past, I learned one of the most painful lessons ever.  As I often say, it's REAL in these spiritual streets.  I was impatient and decided that the opportunity in front of me was the promise I had been waiting for.  This was all based on MY understanding of what God had previously told me.  Even when I began to see little things that nagged me that did not line up with what I know God told/showed me, I ignored it.  I was trying to make a square peg fit in a round hole.  I was determined to make this situation fit God's promise to me.  It turned out to be one of those Father moments, I can show you better than I can tell you




Trust me when I tell you, that is NOT the place you want to be in when it comes to God.  After the situation came crumbling down, I threw my temper tantrum of being mad at God because He let this happen to me.  I received a phone call from a friend and God used her to politely rebuke the mess out of me.  She told me that I already knew that situation was counterfeit, but I chose not to accept it. BOOM!  I had no recourse to defend myself. So I went to my war room aka prayer closet and God began to go slap off on me.  I took what He said and ran with it based on what I thought He meant without getting further insight and revelation.  I was talking trash, but God You said this and You said that. His clap-back was, yes, but I didn't say it in reference to that

Sometimes, we get so comfortable in our relationship with God, we assume that how He worked the last time is going to be how He works this time.  YOU CANNOT PUT GOD IN  A BOX - HE'S TOO BIG!  God is a God of process.  He always lays out the promise in steps.  Once the first step is accomplished, He gives us the next.  In our impatience, we rush things or go in the wrong direction because we THINK we know how God is going to do something. Let me tell you, He is the ULTIMATE King of Plot Twists. You can't figure Him out, so don't assume you know His next move. Let be God be God. 

Many, many moons ago, I had a pastor tell me this guy I was SOOOOOOOOO in love with, was the one.  Never mind that when we met, I had just bought my house and he had just received another job and was moving to another state.  (First Clue) Because this "prophecy" lined up with MY will, I was here for it.  

Wait... pause, let me drop a little spiritual common sense real quick. Even though I believed that he was "the one" I never told him that "God said, he was the one."  We need to be careful how we throw in God said or the Holy Spirit said or the SPIRIT said (What spirit is that?). Often times people use that to manipulate or guilt people into doing things and I'm just gon call a spade a spade - that's witchcraft, plain and simple!  Even back when I was young in my faith, I had enough sense that if God could tell me, He would tell him and bring us together on one accord at the appointed time.  

So, back to the story.  Six months in, he said he just wanted to be friends. I was devastated, BUT my faith was on high, not really, I was just young and foolish, but I digress.  So maybe a year later that SAME pastor had a word for me at prayer.  (This was the real word from God, not the flesh of man speaking into my life)  It was, "God said, when the brook dries up, move on." I'm like huh, what?! A body of water... bruh... what you talkin' bout?! Everybody around me was like that has to be about ol' boy. I said it can't be, it's a body of water PLUS God said, he's the one.  Chile, I'm doing all this fasting and praying while this negro is living his life, dating whoever and got me in the background as "the friend."  About three years into our back and forth, we hung out for my birthday, it was epic.  Had the best time ever.  I just KNEW my prayers had finally been answered and he was going to see what he had been missing.  When I got back, he went back to the same old shenanigans!  I was HOT!  I said I didn't have the tolerance for this crap anymore.  I was done.  God brought that word back to me.  It didn't make any sense still, but this time, the thought occurred to me there was a reason He said it.  I decided to look up the word brook.  According to Merriam Webster, this is the second definition of the word, the verb: 

brook (transitive verb) 
to stand for: tolerate ~ he would brook no interference with his plans

Human mind: When the brook dries up, move on
God's mind: When the tolerance dries up, move on

My mind was BLOWN!  First of all, who knew "brook" had such a meaning. Second of all, God sent word to get me out of this foolishness and save me from unnecessary heartache A LONG TIME AGO.  Third, I really tried myself and could NOT blame God. He did His part.  I had just said I didn't have anymore tolerance for this crap BUT the truth is, I had long ago lost my tolerance for it, I just didn't acknowledge it because I didn't want to let go of MY will. It was never God's will AND He gave me that word to free me from the lie of man.  Not only that, but used the same pastor to do it to get him straight too for prophelying. After God sent my word of freedom, it was on me to accept it.  I just used my faith as an excuse to justify my stubbornness of not letting go of my will, when everything around me was telling me, this isn't God.   Now I know you're thinking, why didn't God just say what He meant.  Well, He did.  His Word already told us His ways and thoughts are higher. It's not His fault if we choose to use our understanding over HIS understanding. His word says: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Those are some shining examples that stay at the forefront of my mind when I hear from God and how I proceed next.  Patience has become my new best friend.  I know she's a drag and no one REALLY likes her, but she's the real deal and you better not only get to know her, but embrace her in this walk otherwise you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of disappointments.  I am going to leave you with some things I've learned and prayerfully they'll keep you in the will of God and not led astray.


1) When God speaks, He's referring to what's to come, not what has been. Don't try to GO BACK and make it fit for something in the past, especially when you get impatient because it hasn't showed up yet. Don't get into the "well maybe He meant this" cycle. Just wait, it's coming.  Instead look ahead for His words to come to pass.  His word will not return to Him void.  God spoke so clearly to me in January of 2016.  What I heard only made sense in parts and I had to link it to past events in order for it to make the most sense, but it still didn't quite fit.  I was so desperate for this promise to be right now, I was going to make it work instead of letting God be God.  I did not receive insight and revelation until October of 2016. When He reminded me of the promise in October after many things transpired that year, everything was plain as day for me to see.  It's now November of 2017 and while I now have insight and revelation, I'm still waiting on parts of it to manifest. Let patience have her perfect work.  

2) When God speaks that doesn't automatically make it His Will. God deals in absolutes, if you ask Him something and He answers, He's going to tell you the truth because He knows the future. Ex: You ask God, "Will I get this job?"  He replies, "Yes."  However, His yes could be contingent on the fact that He knows they will offer you the job, but that doesn't make this job His will for you.  The follow up question to his "yes" should be, "Is this your will for me?" Then go from there.  

3) The timing of when God chooses to speak is not necessarily in reference to what you are going through/dealing with at the moment.  Ex: I have had God give me specific and direct instructions about my husband while dating a counterfeit.  Don't assume you know based on what's going around you.  His timing is His own and up to His choosing and there's nothing to be done about it except to govern yourself accordingly.

Always seek for insight and revelation so that you can avoid delays, disappointments, heartache, unnecessary spiritual battles AND their residue.  We are constantly trying to bring God down to our level when we should be ascending to His.  

Alright y'all, I'm out!

Melinda Michelle

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Personal Inventory

Was scrolling through my Facebook memories and this one popped up from two years ago. It's a bold in your face reminder of what this walk with Christ is all about.  It's also one I needed to revisit. It's funny how life, impatience and world events get in the way of focusing on what's really important. #Ouch

                                                                                                         Photo courtesy of Google images

My favorite scripture is Ephesians 3:20. I think about it all the time, trying to wrap my mind around how powerful it is. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Am I the only believer who feels like because I’m a believer my life should be extraordinary? I mean not necessarily fortune and fame, though some assignments/calling might lead there. I’m talking about walking in power, anointing and spiritual authority and God getting ALL the glory. I don’t feel like I’ll ever be satisfied in my Christian walk until the fruit of my life has tangible results in the form of people being healed, set free, delivered, and changed. Well maybe it’s just me, but if Christ said, “Greater works will we do, if we believe in him…um…yeah…it’s been like two thousand and fifteen years. I ain’t seen these greater works…at least not with any consistency or on any large scale. So then, why is that? Well that’s on us, the Body of Christ…ALL of us. In all honesty, we’re just lazy, selfish and fearful. We are too lazy to put in the work for our relationship with God that it can be more than surface or just lip service. That is spending one-on-one time with God daily, fasting, praying, etc. We love to say we don’t have any time, but we got time to complain and we got time to watch those around us perish. If God told you to do it, he will give you the strength, time and resources to do it. But that takes discipline… I think TV might be most of our problem. We definitely waste so much time watching other ppl work… Ijs. We are selfish because all we care about is our own salvation and our own ticket to the pearly gates. We don’t care if our brother right next to us is headed straight for hell. Which brings me to us being fearful… We are afraid of what it will take for us to have that spiritual authority. We are afraid about what we will have to give up to have that spiritual authority. We are afraid of what we will look like to others to have that spiritual authority. But aren’t we supposed to look different from everybody else? Are we not supposed to stick out from the crowd? We’ve become too accustomed to conforming to the world vs transforming it. When did the church become such a hateful place? There is a church with a website called “God hates fags.” SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY?! I am not here to condone anybody’s sin…including mine, but what happened to love? Not man’s made up definition for it…God’s love… you know the 16 characteristics he laid out in 1 Corinthians? God hates ALL SIN, but he LOVES every single person he created. I wouldn’t want to come to a church where you are openly hostile to my struggle, and think that your sin is less than mine because it yields a different consequence. Ppl should read the whole Bible. Try Ezekiel 16:49 for Sodom’s sin. Hmmm…sounds like America to me and it has nothing to do with THAT sin. Meanwhile… people are so concerned with the sins that are open for everyone to see, but not the ones hidden in our wicked hearts. It was that kind of stuff that kept the Children of Israel out of the Promised Land, Ijs. Yes our hearts are wicked and deceitful. What about that envy, lust, bitterness, jealousy, un-forgiveness, malice, RACISM, anger, drunkenness, complaining, selfishness, nasty attitudes, and all the other stuff we’re walking around holding on to. (Please note: I am ONLY talking to believers here) I have a question… Has holding on to any of this stuff, made your life better? Has it enhanced your life in ANY way, shape or form? Has it made you a better person…at all? I’m thinking…no… let it go. There’s too much at stake. Why would God put his anointing and power in us, when he can’t even trust us with the basic stuff about our walk? We want to participate in everything the world does and then we wonder why we have no power. I’m not anti-fun. I have fun all the doggone on time, but do I lose my WITNESS in this state of fun. That’s when the problem comes in. We are so comfortable in our sinful selves that we don’t want anybody correcting us. Some of us, can’t even FEEL the Holy Spirit’s conviction, we’re so far away from God. We are SO QUICK to say…Don’t judge me or only God can judge me… That baffles me. Have y’all read the Bible? Is God’s judgment something you really want brought on your life?! Seriously? 'Cause he won’t necessarily wait until the end of your life to judge you. Galatians 6:1 tells us we who are spiritual are to restore our brothers/sisters when fault has overtaken him in the spirit of meekness. It also says to consider ourselves unless we are also tempted. So…we GOTTA get that plank out of our eye before we come for the beam in yours…but make no mistake…that beam still has to go whether the plank remains or not. When we are judged we can’t say…well…well…what about what so and so did…it was worse…Nah bruh, that’s not how this works. See, we don’t have time to judge each other, but we do need to correct each other and hold each other accountable. Ezekiel tells us, if we are the watchman and we don’t warn, that blood is on our hands…Ijs… that’s the Word. There has GOT TO BE MORE. But are we willing to live a life of FAITH and OBEDIENCE to see it happen? Will there come a time when people just walk up to a believer and say, “There’s something different about you? What is that? Can you tell me how to get it?” Does our light ever shine? There won’t be any arguing about whether or not our God is real, because his signs and wonders will speak for themselves. Miracles should be so common place that we walk around like my late pastor saying “Who’s surprised?” Do you know there are actually Christians who believe that miracles and such was only in the Bible times? UGH!!! Listen…what is the point of this walk if all we do is live and die. Why even make the choice if we’re not going to go all in? Am I the only person who feels like there has to be more? But we must be willing to do more. When are we going to stop asking for God’s hand and seek his heart? When are we going to surrender our will to his? When are we going to stop fighting the yes in our spirit and JUST SURRENDER? I’m not saying it’s easy…'cause it’s not. But greatness never is. If it was everyone would do it. It’s time to get to work. I don’t know about y’all, but I want a life where evil has to stand down just because I am there, with the spiritual authority God has entrusted to me because I put myself in a position where God can trust me with his power. Every time we turn on the news, tragedy, tragedy, tragedy…and it doesn’t have to be. Anyways, those who have ears to hear, let him hear.

MM

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Prince of the Power of the Air: The Real Culprit

“The Strongman and all the demons that dwelled in the mansion began to screech and scream, thrown off by the unexpected presence of God’s most powerful emissary.  They didn’t want any parts of it.  The fact that his sword was out and his eyes were aflame told them this isn’t where they wanted to be.  At the moment, Michael didn’t engage them, but let them flee.  They didn’t get far because one sixth of a legion of naval angels sprang up out of the Pacific like golden flames.  They emerged in rank and file.  As one rank of 100 would come up out of the water, another would follow right behind them until there were 10 rows of 100 angels each. The water rolling off their wings sparkled like diamonds.  There were countless skin tones.  Their armor was golden and their luminous two sets of white wings had a 15-foot wingspan.  Their wings were tipped with gold.  They stood 13-feet tall.  They waited for their entire squadron to join them before they made their move.  In one mighty united snap of their wings, they began to fly towards the house where they formed a circle of brilliant golden fire around the house.” ~ Excerpt from “Saturday Showdown” Book 7 – A Chronicles of Warfare Novel

There’s a war going on people plain and simple.  So many wonder where God is in the chaos all around us.  My response… He’s everywhere.  He’s not on vacation and He’s not MIA.  He’s also in a place He’s always been, but often ignored – His Word!  The Bible tells us the following:


2 Corinthians 4:4: “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” (NLT)

Ephesians 2:1-2: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sin, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (NASB)

Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.” (NET Bible)

Let’s take the state of America today.  Any person with a modicum of common sense can see that there is something very wrong in America 2016.  The worst of human nature has reared its ugly head while causing division and strife among those who are supposed to be the citizens of the UNITED States of America.  I submit to you that like the Bible says, Satan is the prince of the power of the air and death and life is in the power of our tongues.  So let’s look at the air all around us.  What is saturating our airwaves?  What words have been spoken or are being spoken over America?  The 24-hour news cycle and music that is more attainable than ever before. We walk around with personal computers as our communication devices.  The whole world is in the palm of our hands.  On those devices, we are in constant communication with the world around us, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  Let’s start with the words that are written in the history books of America.  What do those books glorify?  What do those books leave out?  What lies have those books told?  It doesn’t matter, we’ve all been indoctrinated to believe it’s the truth.  Those centuries old lies have birthed the reality we live in today.  Those words were spoken and created our atmosphere.  Let’s talk about the mainstream media – and this is right, left or in between.  Pay close attention at the words they use to describe one set of people versus another for the same exact crimes and offenses.  Discern the photographs they use to sway public opinion of one group of people over another.  It wasn’t by accident, it was by design.  Satan knows what he’s doing and people have fallen for his lies and manipulations over and over again. His version is so loud that the truth gets tossed aside as paranoia and conspiracies.  Either his lies are so convincing or the hearts of those that want to believe his lies are so deceived they dismiss the truth that’s right in their face.

Is God actually missing or is it perhaps that our world has been shaped by the words we have used for centuries.  From the lies in the history books to the strategic manipulation of the mainstream media to the fruitless lyrics of today’s music disguised in a clever beat to the negative words we speak to and over ourselves and our fellow man.  Meanwhile, Satan and his minions continue to stir the atmosphere because our hearts go unchecked.  If we want to see change then we need to check our hearts. What nasty little emotions and thoughts are there that Satan can use to further his agenda?  Maybe it’s time to stop blaming God for all of problems and realize we bring it on ourselves.  It’s greed, hatred, fear and superiority complexes that have led us down this path.  The truth is out there, thanks to the internet but who’s going to be bold enough to tell it?  

For the saints who are praying, my suggested strategy is for God to expose the prince of the power of the air for what he is – a liar, a thief, and a killer.  Let’s ask God to let the truth resound in the hearts of men, women and children.  Let’s pray for the spirit of greed to be exposed and dealt with. Let’s pray for the spirit of hatred to be extinguished.  Let’s pray for the spirit of fear to be annihilated.  Let’s pray for the belief that one is better or superior to others be vanquished from the hearts of men, women and children.  And last, but certainly, not least, let’s pray against the spirit of division.  There is so much division in these United States of America it’s hard to call this country by name without feeling like a liar.  

So many times in life we are waiting on God or asking His whereabouts when He’s waiting on us, asking where have we been.  In Matthew 22, the Bible states: 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. I think before we ask where God is, we need to ask ourselves, His body of Christ, where have we been.  These two commands are a prerequisite to the other laws.  The main ingredient for the two greatest commandments in the Bible is love.  I think we can all agree that is the ONE thing missing from this country.  I believe if we start with love – true, unconditional love, then the rest will fall in place. 

Those who are in the Body of Christ, I challenge you for SEVEN days to cut off the prince of the power of the air from your life.  Turn off the news, turn off the radio, avoid social media if it fuels anything ugly in your heart. Fall on your face and ask God to show YOU everything in your heart that’s not like Him. Ask Him to show you every area your heart is not pleasing to Him and harmful to others. Then pray and ask Him for the courage and strength to go through the process required to change it, as well as the humility to seek forgiveness from those your misguided heart has injured.  

Now, let’s wrap this up.  Verse 8 of Psalm 139 says, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”  This verse tells me there is nowhere I can be that He is not.  So, while Satan may be the prince of the power of the air, he’s still restricted and under the sovereign rule and authority of the Great I AM.  Maybe it’s time we snatched back the atmosphere around us and filled it with love, life and truth.  Maybe we can stop asking God where He is and show God where we are.  It starts in the heart. It begins with love. It ends in victory.  

Until Next Time,
Melinda Michelle
www.melindamichelle21.com