Daily Devotional: 11/10/2018 - Scripture Series Pt. I (CT - Suicide Nets)

"You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28

This is a new series that I started back out towards the end of July, The Scripture Series. I was inspired after going on an encouragement date with a sister from Long Island and one with from our region. Usually at the end of these dates like the next day later or whenever they have the chance the sisters will write a card. And because I am me and I feel if someone gets me something I have to get them something in return, so I decided to combine the love for art and Scripture into one. But then I was like "BRAIN BLAST" why not make one for all the sisters in our campus for an encouragement for the upcoming semester and year. That was how The Scripture Series was created and this is only Part One with hopefully many more parts to come so we can encourage and give sisters hope all across the world.

• Women have it hard no matter where they go or what they do. They lack equality in every aspect. They are constantly objectified and are constantly being taken advantage of. It is our job as men and as human beings to treat all these women with respect, love and the dignity they deserve.
• I am going to try and keep these relatively short, but if God leads long we go long. Going to throw some fun facts and some scripture and call it a day.

Here are a couple fun facts for you, the first being that we usually call the sharp spikes on the stems of roses "thorns". However, these are in fact technically "prickles". They look like hooks which facilitate bonding to other plants (in the climber types of roses) and protects the stem from herbivores. The second fact being maroon is often used to represent intense and passionate things like: confidence, creative thoughts, excitement, power, risk, passion, love, ambition, courage, strength, warmth, and beauty. I read when doing this research, "harsh experience has probably matured the maroon person into someone likeable and generous. It is often the favorite color of someone who has been battered by life but has come through it."

• Take a second to listen to this song before you finish the devotional, Suicide Nets (feat. Emily Allman.

Now that you have cried it out and hopefully composed yourself we can continue. This is a song that I cry out to God and gets me every time. It is a song that solidified friendships that will last a life time. If you are okay with it, I am going to do a study on it since this song connects to the verse of the day and the fun facts (this is going to be fun, I promise). This is something that helped me get through the dark times and is full of life, love and Scripture.

Chorus:

And I'mma take all your burdens ain't no problem…

So won’t you fall into my arms, don’t you know that you ain't going to fly yet (I'll keep you safe)

So when you jump I'll be your suicide net (You just need faith)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Life gets hard but there is a way out. This is done through the hands of God. The Bible encourages us to give all things to him, for he can and will take all on for us.

• God's love and protection is life a suicide net, every time that we jump or fall he is there waiting to catch us. Isaiah 59:1 says, "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear."
• There is nothing greater or stronger than our God. He screams, "I'll keep you safe…You just need faith."

Verse 1 Bars 1-5:

Immanuel catch you when you fall, He the hand you held

Like even if you went and made your bed in hell

He be knocking at the door like housekeeping

Let Him kick out demons, treat that evil like a cancer cell

Radiation from this salvation and he done paid your medical bills

"Where can I go from the Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea , even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." Psalm 139:7-12

No matter where we go God will go with us, even if where we are going is away from him (just look at Jonah). God knows best for us and he will always know best for us. He knows all things and he knows what is best for us and what is not the best for us. He does all things with the intentions of greatness.

• If our own blood worldly parent will warn us not to touch a hot stove, how much more will our Heavenly Father do for us?
• He is always knocking on the door and all we have to door. And all we have to do is open it. His death on the cross healed our pain. Our debt is paid for.

John 3:17 says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

• By the grace of Jesus we are not only saved from sin, but also took away the sin and helps us no longer have the appetite for it. Through him we have salvation. Through him we are safe and sound.

Verse 1 Bars 6-8:

Sometimes its hard to remember the reason for living, even when you Christian

Lots of your brothers and sisters get really offended if you thinking different

Even your mind is against you and people will tell you its minor dismiss you

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chose you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:18-19

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

The world hated Jesus and they will hate us too. Do not let that discourage you, because he will keep our lamp burning, for his Light will shine bright in the darkest of dark. His light is eternal and everlasting.

• He set the example for us.

Verse 1 Bars 9-17:

You can use me as a tissue if you in a hole I'm gonna climb in it with you

Spread your wings but don't you jump off that cliff yet

This redemption's story you just read the cliff-notes

You gonna be okay but not 'cause dyllie said so

You gonna be okay 'cause Jesus paid the debt for you

So if you running you should come home

For my siblings I'm all ears like I'm dumbo

You gotta a brother over here if it's trouble

Show you the one that loves the lowly and the humble

This goes to anyone that struggles in life, you are not alone. I do not have all the answers, barely enough to fill a page. However, I will be all ears, I will be that shoulder to cry, I will be that crutch. There is one that has all the answers and he is the ultimate ear, the ultimate shoulder, and the ultimate crutch. And I will show you him for he is "loves the lowly and the humble".

• "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may life you up in due time." 1 Peter 5:6
• "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'" James 4:6

Verse 2 Bars 1-6:

You got me and Jesus but the mirror tell you starve

All that space in a grocery buggy that's a Stellar Kart

All those faces say you ugly that went to your heart and

You use make up just to cover up those blatant scars

Seems it ain't even or fair, doctor can't give me no cure for despair

But merciful king yes he cares, grace - that means you do not even prepare

Everyday we face hate, there is no getting away from it. The world is full of it and full of themselves. People will do anything to bring you down to their level. They will point at and poke at our insecurities, our faults, our failures, and our imperfections. But, there is one thing and that is they do not have or know the Truth.

• "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:3
• "God saw all that he made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day." Genesis 1:31
• Do not be afraid of your scars. They help make us who we are, but they do not define us. They show that we go through battles, but came out victorious. We serve a God that has the cure for all things. He heals all pain. You are beautiful in every aspect of the word.

Verse 2 Bars 7-14:

Even the demons are scared they shiver whenever they speak to the Heir

Even the demons are scared they shiver whenever they speak to the beacon and they know that he got the peace that you seeking, they see the bleeding and leaking

You see a beast that need feeding

He see the key to your freedom

He be the strength in your weakness, I'll be the shoulder you lean on

I'll give you this space like it's Zenon

Frustration like Zetus Lapetus

Suicide Net caught you falling when you thought you'd fly

Out that high nest, but His Highness gave you life when you want to die

Who am I then? Wasn't righteous, cause of Christ's death I'm alright

Now I'm riding by your side

With no helmet that's ride or die

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believed that - and shudder." James 2:19

• Even the demons are scared of our God. They know that is the Almighty. They know that he has all the answers and that he brings us peace (John 14:27).

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

• God is with those who suffer. He is our strength in our weakness. He is our suicide net. He will catch us as will fall. His arms are always open.

God is our suicide net, he catches everything. He is with us even when we run away. Rose have prickles to protect themselves and to bond themselves to other plants in order to climb up higher. God is the same, he protects us and if we lean on him and trust him he will lift us up higher. Maroon is a strong color with several different intense meanings. It shows strength. It shows that you have been through a lot, but that you have made it through. You have scars, but we all do. They just number our victories. 

• We have to be the light in this dark world. Allow God to give you strength and wisdom. He turns all things for his and our benefit. His Light is ever-lasting.

There's a Spirit from above and He's descending like a dove

Like He descended on the Son

When Father said he was the one

Don't you know that it is done

Don’t you know the battle's won

Gave His Son for you

Now embrace the comforter

Lord, thank you for all you do. You catch us when we fall. You lift us when we are down. You are the perfect example. You bring and give life. You give meaning. You are the almighty. You are the light. There is no darkness in you, for you are perfect. Help us knock and seek. Give us the strength and the wisdom to follow and lean on you. Thank you for being our suicide net. I pray all this in your son's name, Amen.

#LetsBeAMovement