THE MIRROR EFFECT

     She could spew venom like a snake from her lips to poison your very existence. She could argue a pointless point for hours on end at the top of her lungs. She spoke with such a vile vocabulary that one would wonder did she know any other form of communication. She would become the topic of many, few would say good of her. The one who….she did….she called….she left….. She….

She was never on the happy end of the meter of happiness; it was so brief, blinking would make the happiness dissipate.

     Yes, many would dare to tell her of her downfalls and shortcomings, yet to no avail did she change. She pointed the blameful finger towards others and her environment. Many would come to her aid to fix her, yet the vocal blows of her shortcomings would cause her to react from the pain inside and distance them. 

Who was she? She was me.

     I was once told a statement from long ago in which I was reminded of earlier today. “Look in the mirror, everybody can’t be wrong… maybe it’s something wrong with you!”

     I took this statement and threw it in the trash, so to speak. The source in which it came from was an abusive man, so who really had the issues? Well, we both did.

     As I look back, I don’t wonder how I got here in the sea of deliverance. I’m here because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for me and God Himself used to deliver me. It’s that simple right? No.

     After salvation I was still “her”. It wasn’t like a magic wand was waived around and I magically became some super saint overnight. The process of shedding would just begin. A new me, but new to the refining processes of God.

     I faintly recall looking in the mirror one morning, full of tears, seeing myself for whom I had become. A…. a woman who….a mother who….. But when I wiped my tears and looked again, I could see something beyond me. I could see what my Father in Heaven seen in me before I entered this Earth. His magnificent work! Yet, I saw even more; the capability of my Father to change me into whom He wanted me to become. It was the mirror effect. The cause much greater than I could ever imagine.

     The mirror effect is one where we can look at ourselves in the mirror, not alone, but with the love of God to see all the negative, yet to also see all the power of God Himself to be able to change those negatives into positives. Yes, I admit, when we look at ourselves from God’s perspective we are not so cute, but because of His saving grace and mercy, we are now in right standing with Him regardless of our past. He has the ability to change the most foul sins and create a perfume of praise on our lips because of His glorious power!

     Over the years, I’ve learned to love correction from God because the Bible says that God loves those whom he corrects! So oh boy, he must love me! But in correction, we must accept correction, no longer make excuses and be accountable to that correction. It’s all good to say, “Girl, I need to learn to shut my mouth! Lawd knows I’m working on it”! But at some point and time deliverance must come! Can we honestly say that we have been struggling with foul language as a Christian for twenty-five years?

    We overcome, not succumb. Must we look to others around us, yet speak loudly to what they need to do, understand or get a revelation on and call it discernment, yet whisper to our own faults and shortcomings and have a scripture to back it up?

     Today, I was reminded of this statement as I had to look in the mirror once again. To remove myself from a situation that I hold close to my heart. For God to create in me a clean heart; to refine, refresh and renew a steadfast spirit within me. It wasn’t hard to make this decision, not at all, because I know my Father in Heaven will do as always and refine me to come out polished! Father I thank you that I am your magnificent work in progress! I pray today, as I submit to Your refining once again, as polished silver I will shine so bright before men that they may see my good works gloryifying my Father in Heaven! In Jesus mighty name!

It is my sincere prayer, that we as believers would learn to "love" the correction of our Father. No, our flesh won’t feel good about it; Satan will try and trick us out of it, but correction is always needed. Don’t come kicking and screaming- just come, the journey is more enjoyable.

Be Blessed,  

Dee-Dee (6/19 dlm)

A COUPLE of STEPS BACK FROM HEAVEN

As my co-workers and I were conversing one morning, I jokingly said, “Mark, we could have hung out together in a former life.” He chuckled and responded, “Oh we can still hang out but you would have to take a couple of steps back from Heaven (paraphrased). 

Immediately, I thought about going back to my old lifestyle to “hang” out again. It seemed as if for almost a split second, I missed the fun I used to have. The night clubs, the parties; the no-end drinking; the drugs, and smoking cigarettes. The secular music of rap, dance and r&b; the clothes that showed everything! Oh yea! The bounty of boyfriends and companionship (that’s what I’ll call it!)! Oh yea! Woo-hooo! Tattoos of whatever I wanted! Spending my paycheck as soon as I got it; buying the luxuries of life! YEA BABY! No-holds barred with my tongue, saying whatever I felt like when I felt like it! Come on! Lettin’ ‘em all no that I ain’t playin’ and I don’t take no stuff! The feeling of freedom to do whatever the heck I wanted to ‘cause I lived in the land of plenty- the USA baby! I’mma’ do me! That’s whatz’ up! The…..

Right as I was on “the roll of fun” the Holy Spirit stopped me dead in my thoughts. “Dolores, must I remind you of the consequences of your “fun”? Immediately my heart sank and it was as if for another split second I was in the movie “Scrooge” and an Angel was taking me back through my life. 

…..the night clubs and parties: in which drinks were spilled all over my new clothes and shoes…the music that put me in a certain mood (rap= fighting; r/b= sexing; dance=body pain) the feeling of someone groping me all over my body and the sleazy cheap feeling that I had afterwards…. The running from fights and/or shooting…

…..the no-end drinking…that started before I went to class, yet while in class the burning smell from the curling iron with hair wrapped around it…not on the clients’ head…. The vomiting in a car or on the side of the road; the dizzy spells that lasted for days and the missing work because of my hangovers. The “don’t remember how I got home days…” The drugs that made my heart beat so fast …..that made my heart beat so fast (sorry, I forgot what I was talking about)…..with damaging memory loss. The feeling that I was so high that I was going to die! The smoking cigarettes until I almost died from pneumonia more than once….the coughing and hacking so hard until I was sure the lining of my lungs was in the sink…. The blowing of second hand smoke into my daughter’s face who suffered from allergies and asthmatic bronchitis.

….The wearing of clothes that got the “bad-boy’s” attention as they called me out of my name….calling my body parts the vile names of the world….The friends that really weren’t friends at all…. Illegal activities with jail along for the ride…the run-on sentences and bad grammar and punctuation! Ahh, you’re paying attention! ….
The abusive boyfriends …. The tears, hurt and pain until I thought I didn’t need to live….. And do it all over again the next day, week, or whatever….Is this what I considered “fun”? And yes, at the end of a day, going to Hell in a hand basket because I knew not Jesus Christ. But yes, I called it “fun” and “freedom”!

The Holy Spirit spoke once again, “Is it worth taking a couple of steps back from “Heaven”? NEVER! - I shook my head vigorously! Within all but seconds, I realized that “Heaven” is right here, right now on Earth through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior! First through Salvation! No Hell for me! But there’s more to just not going to Hell, there's more to Salvation….No more shackles of demonic bondages of drugs, alcohol, or smoking! No more abusive relationships, no more anger or depression! Take a couple of steps back from: Deliverance, Restoration, Love, Joy, Hope, Peace, Wisdom, Favor, Insight, Revelation, Supernatural Blessings, Protection and His constant care and Guidance with kept Promise after Promise… along with answered prayer! I don’t think so! Let’s go bowling instead! Sunday after church football, what?! (Without gambling of course!)

….So wouldn’t you rather take a couple of steps TOWARDS Heaven? Are you headed in the wrong direction? Free is me, but it ain't cool if it comes with drama + despair!
I encourage you today to take the first step towards Heaven and receive salvation through JC! Whatever “fun” is to you right now, serving God is whatz’ up! Or whatever “slang” you decide you want to use, but taking steps backwards is never a good idea - in plain ‘ol English!
Scripture References: The Bible
With God’s Love, Dee-Dee McDuffie
**To my readers: - All jokes aside, it’s ok to have “fun” in life (as with the above passage with slang,, etc]…but have “fun” with Jesus. Everywhere. Everyday and Every way. Sincerely, Dee-Dee. Scripture References: John 3:16; See Mt/Mk/Lk for Jesus’ teachings; Ps 91; Ps 23; Ps 31; Pr 2, 3**

Look for my new book coming soon! I'm excited to share my testimony with you! It's not a secret, It's sharing! With Love, Transparency Shares (Dee-Dee McDuffie) .....To God Be the Glory!

A FUGITIVE

Fugitive (www.biblegateway.com) [partial]: Ezek. 17:21, one who has broken away in flight (Heb. mibrah); Isa. 15:5; 43:14, a breaker away, a fugitive (Heb. beriah), one who flees away. All rights reserved. Eastons 1897 Bible Dictionary

As I was conversing with co-workers one morning, one of them asked, “Dolores do you go to church?” As I pondered his question for a few seconds I responded. “Well, yes I go all the time, but if you are asking me am I a Christian, then yes I am.” Quickly he responded, “Well, I was just asking do you have a specific religion?” “No. I am non-denominational, I am a Christian- I follow Christ. I was raised Baptist, but now I’m non-denominational.” I replied. “That’s not easy to do…” my other co-worker chimed in. As I thought about it for a second in my mind, I told myself - “not really, it’s eas….” I caught myself mid-sentence and realized that it’s not easy to follow Christ to an unbeliever because they don’t believe. Some just don’t feel it’s necessary while others’ feel they should be able to do whatever they want, and yet others don't believe there is even a God.  But, as believers [one who follows Christ and his teachings and believes the Word of God as truth] grow and mature, it’s not easy for us either at times, but it is a choice that we make daily - to flee from all unrighteousness and pursue what is good. 

Later that evening, after I returned home from the course of the day, I pondered upon our conversation once again. As I began to write about my day, the show in the background caught my attention. “She’s a fugitive!” ….was blurted out of the television. I looked up from my laptop and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m a fugitive! I immediately thought about how there are two types of fugitives in our world figuratively speaking. People who are on the run or fleeing from God and people who are fleeing from Satan. 

So here I am a fugitive! I made a choice [with the “pulling” or “wooing” of the Holy Spirit] to run from Satan’s residence [Hell - eternal damnation], and accept in my heart Jesus as my Lord and Savior [Heaven- eternal life]. Daily, I decide to follow Christ [and His teachings] and “run” [fight the good fight of faith] from Satan’s lies, bondage, deceit, trickery and debauchery. I choose to allow God, not Satan to run my life! I once too was in darkness with drinking, smoking and drugs; destroying God’s temple. I too, succumbed to Satan’s bondages of abusive relationships and low self-esteem. I succumbed to anger, resentment and hatred in my heart toward others’. I also felt the shame and guilt of my youth and had very little hope for my future. A suicide attempt proved that I had very little hope for my future! I too succumbed to foul language as my primary language and gossip as my secondary one. I also succumbed to a poverty mentality and the other negative traits of my bloodline - discontentment, lying and deceit. I succumbed to the brutal treatment of the Enemy. Now, I submit to God’s way by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I receive His Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy; I receive an intimate relationship with the Most High and most of all receive His deliverance, restoration and refinement! I receive peace, joy, wisdom, favor, rest and much more! Praise be to the Most High!

I encourage you today to be a fugitive on the run from Satan and into the arms of the Most High! He’s able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that you could ask or think! There is peace with God - joy, love, healing, contentment, prosperity [financial peace] and much more! Decide today to do it God’s way! Live life abundantly through Jesus Christ - Lord and Savior. 

Praise Be to God and With God’s love,

Dee-Dee McDuffie

08/15/11

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Scripture Meditations

Psalm 23, 68, 112, 118

James 4:7 New International Version (NIV)7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Amplified Bible (AMP)

11But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart. 12Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses. 13In the presence of God, Who preserves alive all living things, and of Christ Jesus, Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I [solemnly] charge you 14To keep all His precepts unsullied and flawless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), 15Which [appearing] will be shown forth in His own proper time by the blessed, only Sovereign (Ruler), the King of kings and the Lord of lords, 16Who alone has immortality [in the sense of exemption from every kind of death] and lives in unapproachable light, Whom no man has ever seen or can see. Unto Him be honor and everlasting power and dominion. Amen (so be it).