STUFF HAPPENS IN THE GARDEN

"Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (CHRIST) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. [Gen. 2:7.]" (1 Corinthians 15:45 AMP)

Adam walked with GOD in the cool of the day. The sin of disobedience occurred in the Garden of Eden. "And to Adam HE said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, you shall not eat of it, the ground is under a curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat [of the fruits] of it all the days of your life ... "Therefore the LORD GOD sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken" (Genesis 3:17, 23 AMP) Once Adam sinned, his relationship with GOD was broken. From that point on, sin has separated us from GOD.

The Bible tells us that while the disciples were sleeping, JESUS was praying to the FATHER, "... if it is possible, let this cup pass away from ME; nevertheless, not what I will (not what I desire) but as YOU will and desire." (Matt. 26:39 AMP) It is in the Garden of Gethsemane we find JESUS agonizing over what HE would soon experience at the cross. HIS suffering is so intense that, "... HIS sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44 KJV)

Nothing stopped JESUS from going to the cross. It was prophesied that the Messiah would be crucified and would rise again on the third day.

GOD's unconditional love could not stand for a man to be separated from HIM because of sin. GOD made a way of reconciliation for us. In the Garden of Gethsemane JESUS prayed and received strength before HE would take on the judgment for all humankind. HE paid the price for sin. JESUS had to endure punishment, torture, and death for our sins.

"Now in the place where HE was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid." (John 19:41 KJV) In Golgotha was the garden of victory. JESUS had just conquered sin and satan at the cross. In the Garden of Golgotha, JESUS becomes victorious over death by HIS resurrection. JESUS conquered death. "O Death, where is thy sting? O grave, where thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV)

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of GOD." (Revelation 2:7 KJV) The Paradise of GOD is the Garden of Eternal Life. The curse of the fall in the Garden of Eden is forgiven, and all true believers can walk with Christ through all eternity.

Stuff happens in the garden. We find sin, suffering, victory and finally eternal peace all happening in the garden.

SUCH AND SUCH

To reach the such and such of prosperity, fame, and fortune, we have to accomplish the such and such of preparation, experience and obedience to the will of GOD.

In 2 Samuel chapter 11, we read that David, in the Bible, committed adultery with Bathsheba. Bathsheba became pregnant. David had her husband, Uriah (one of his mighty men) killed so he could cover his sin and marry her.

Nathan the prophet came to admonish David for his sin. We read in (2 Samuel 12:8 KJV) "And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things."

Immediately we all jump to the conclusion that such and such is what we all are striving for in life. Some even claim that they are already in such and such. Many interpret such and such as going beyond what we already possess, beyond our needs and acquiring all the desires of our hearts. We believe that money and possessions can buy us all the happiness we are seeking. It is true that money can buy us things that can temporarily make us happy but money and possessions can't buy us true love and peace of mind. Money and possessions can't keep us from experiencing poor health, heartache, heartbreak, and death; if that were so, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston would still be alive today.

Often success comes with a price. Many find themselves working endless hours, spending sleepless nights, plotting and scheming to stay ahead. Some individuals sacrifice peace of mind to maintain the status that they have acquired and sometimes sell moral and ethical values to do so.

Spiritual success also comes with a price. The Bible tells us, "But seek ye first the kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33 KJV) "Delight thyself also in the LORD, and HE shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

(Psalms 37:4 KJV) "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 1:2 KJV) My acronym for such and such.

Such And Such

Suffer until change happens

Approachable not disagreeable

Stand under challenging circumstances

This such and such will lead us to the peace of mind that surpasses all understanding. This such and such will take us beyond this temporary life here on Earth to eternity with GOD. GOD possesses all the riches of glory.

To obtain such and such, we have to prepare ourselves. We need to obtain an education, acquire a skill, have a strong work ethic and apply ourselves passionately to what we have chosen to do. We must stop just trying to get by and presenting our finished product in a haphazard and not worthy of praise manner. Such and Such just doesn't happen automatically. It requires hard work, determination and lots of effort to achieve.

OUR PRAYER POSTURE

Have you ever heard people say, "It's not what you said, but how you said it?" So it is not so much what we say when we pray but our attitude and the respect we display when we pray. It baffles me why some Christians, especially those who have unanswered prayers or unmet needs just don't get it. I have learned that the posture in which I present my prayer requests to GOD is key to GOD answering me. We quibble over minute things. Should women cover their heads in the sanctuary? Are we supposed to lift our hands when we pray? Is it proper to kneel or lay prostrate when we prayer? How often should we pray each day? Do we set aside a special day and consecrate it totally to GOD? Why should it be necessary to wear respectable attire in the sanctuary? How significant is that to argue about when we want GOD to meet our needs in prayers?

When I went to the Vatican in Rome, I had my sweater around my shoulders, and the usher stopped me from going inside until I covered my shoulders. When Bishop and I traveled throughout Europe, the Cathedrals were a major part of our tours. We could not enter unless we were appropriately dressed. When we were in Israel, the same standard was upheld. On our recent trip to Abadabi, we visited the Sheik Mosque. I wore a long dress with lace-covered sleeves, but they would not let me in. I had to join the long line of other visitors and give my drivers license to get a borrowed garment that covered me from head to toe. The process was made more wearisome because I was in a wheelchair and Bishop was pushing me in 103-degree heat. I said to myself, "Is it worth all this?" Then I began to reprimand myself and say. "Wow look how much the people respect their place of worship." I could hear the prayers being called out during certain times of the day, and I watched the prayer posture.

We had to wait two days to tour the Mosque because you couldn't visit on the holy days.

I pondered over the years why individuals in some denominations genuflect when they pass the cross. I finally got it. It was a way of saying, "GOD I honor YOU. I am grateful to YOU. I magnify YOUR name. When I see the cross, YOUR place of suffering for me, I bow.

SCRIPTURES FOR THOUGHT WHEN PREPARING TO PRAY

"Let us lift up our heart our hands unto GOD in heavens." (Lamentations 3:41 KJV)

"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the LORD." (Psalm 134:2 KJV)

"I will praise YOU as long as I live, and in YOUR name I will lift up my hands." (Psalm 63:4 NIV)

"I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy 2:8 KJV)

"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." (Matthew 5:23-24 KJV)

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me:" (Psalms 66:18 KJV)

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV)

Preparation is needed before we pray.

1. Respect

When we develop a mature relationship with GOD, we will respect and reverence HIS house. "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve GOD acceptably with reverence and GODly fear: for our "GOD is a consuming fire."

(Hebrews 12:28, 29 KJV). The Bible gives instructions to the people of GOD. "Ye shall keep MY Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary: I am the LORD." (Leviticus. 19:30, 26:2 KJV) "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;" (Romans 12:10 KJV) We should be respectful to everyone, whether we agree with them or not. Showing respect, even while disagreeing, is what we all must strive for. No one can take our self-respect from us. We have to give that away. Whitney Houston sang, "No matter what they take from me, they can't take away my dignity. Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all." The dress code for both men and women should show at least as much respect for GOD as we would expect to show in the presence of the president or the pope. Mature Christians will naturally show more reverence and respect for GOD's presence.

2. Choice of Music

The music we choose for worship should take into consideration the different generations that attend service. We must extend patient forbearance to music that is not our personal first choice. "With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the SPIRIT in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3 KJV) The test of our selection of music in the church should be: are people being edified and drawn closer to the LORD. The mature saint is concerned about the worship experience of others as well themselves. We have an obligation to bring others to CHRIST. GOD's name should be mentioned in some form in every song that is used for ministry. We need to be clear on whom we are worshipping.

3. Honor The Sabbath Day

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on MY holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honor HIM not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." (Isaiah 58:13-14 KJV)

4. Bad Attitude

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD for CHRIST's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31–32 KJV) Bad attitudes are easily identifiable because they are displayed on the outside. Everyone sees it except the individual with the attitude. Negative, critical, rebellious, defiant, impatient, rude, uncooperative, self centered, and disrespectful behavior are examples of bad attitudes, which Christians should reject. Attitudes are internal manifestations of our heart and thoughts. They are the hidden intentions, which will eventually serve as the basis for our outward actions. "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he ..." (Proverbs 23:7 KJV) No one else really knows the thoughts of our heart, except GOD and us. A negative attitude is something that we can change with GOD's help. It is a change, which must take place inwardly.

5. Bodily Prayer Posture

A. Lifting Our Hands Towards Heaven.

"Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven." (1 kings 8:22 KJV) Lifting our hand towards heaven when we pray shows our reverence and worship. We extend our hands to heaven to receive the blessings that we believe are going to come down.

B. Bowing Before The LORD

"And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth." (Genesis 24:52 KJV) "That at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (Philippians 2:10 KJV) We bow before GOD because HE is the KING of KINGs and LORD of LORDs. If we bow before kings and queens we owe GOD even more honor.

C. Kneeling Before GOD

"Solomon had made an end of praying all his prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven Solomon was one of the wisest men that ever lived. I think we can follow his example in how to go before the LORD in prayer. (I Kings 8:54 KJV) So Ahab went up to the to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees," (I Kings 18:42 KJV) It is a sign of personal humility. "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." (Psalm 95:6 KJV) How bad do we need GOD to answer us? The scriptures are clear on how we should approach the throne of grace.

D. Laying Prostrate Before GOD

This is my position when I find myself in desperate circumstances and I need GOD to do something for me right away. We can't get any lower to the ground than laying prostrate before GOD. It shows GOD how badly we need HIM when we are facing a crisis. It shows that we have used all of our resources and we need GOD's mercy.

When GOD speaks to us and gives us an awesome task to perform it is usually when we are laying prostrate before HIM. "And Abraham fell on his face: and GOD talked with him, saying ..." (Genesis 17:3 KJV) "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:20 KJV) The scriptures have given great examples of how we should approach GOD in prayer.

ISHI

"And it shall be at that day, says the LORD, that thou shalt call ME Ishi; [my husband] and you shall no more call ME Baali [my Baal]." (Hosea 2:16 AMP)

Hosea a Godly prophet was commanded to marry a woman whom GOD told him was a prostitute and would not be faithful to him. Hosea's description in the book of Hosea of a relationship so ugly and yet so forgiving would not have been as effective for the man of GOD to write if he had not experienced it personally. Out of his anguish, Hosea shares with us a deeper understanding of the forgiving love of GOD. Hosea continues to love Gomer, and he forgives her when she runs away and sleeps with another man. Even though we do not worship GOD and appreciate HIM like we should GOD continues to love us and does not abandon us.

While Gomer was living in her adulterous relationship, Hosea found a way to make sure she had clothes, food, and money. Hosea finally realized that providing for Gomer's needs was not helping her. She needed to change her heart. Hosea made the decision to stop supporting her and eventually Gomer's lover sold her into slavery.

Hosea's love for Gomer is a picture of GOD's love for us. While many of us are unfaithful to GOD by not placing HIM first in our lives, HE keeps on providing for us. We often use GOD's blessings for our personal goals. However, it is important for us to recognize that just as Hosea never stopped loving Gomer, no matter how low she sank.

GOD never stops loving us even though HE has to stand by and watch some of us be given over to the terrible consequences of our sin.

When we recognize our state and desire to change, GOD is a restorer. We can call HIM Ishi, my husband, when we give ourselves wholly to GOD.

GOD cannot be recognized as our loving husband when our hearts and emotions are divided. We cannot call GOD Ishi when we allow the pleasures of life and selfish motivations to become more important than our love for HIM.

When we think of GOD's loving kindness and that we are alive today because of HIS grace; when we acknowledge that GOD's mercy kept us, we will embrace HIM as Ishi and never let go of HIS love.