B-SIDE GIRL

I have been labeled a “B-side” girl. I’m called that because I like the B-side of an album more than the A-side with all the popular songs heard on the radio. Consequently, I sing and talk about songs most people never heard of. However, they are missing out. Some of the best love songs are B-side songs. Songs like “Love You Anyway” by Cameo, which is about loving someone even if they don’t love you back.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, NKJV).

The Cameo song is an excellent illustration of the relationship between some of us and God. His love is unconditional; our love is not. His love is on the B-side—in this world but not of it. Our love is on the A-side, worldly and popular. We say we love God, but do we really?

I HAVE NO SPADES AND ONLY ONE FACE CARD

I love to play Spades. For those of you who have never heard of it, Spades is a popular card game where three to four players compare cards one at a time, and the highest valued card wins the others. The spade cards are the highest valued and usually win. However, face cards are also highly valued. You can ask for a re-deal if you are dealt no spades and no face cards. Otherwise, you play the hand you are dealt. I remember one game, in particular, where I had no spades and one face card. It is one of the worst hands you can get. To a novice player, this would have been a problem. However, I consider myself a Spadologist, which means that due to my history and experience, I knew how to play and play well. The outcome of the game was typical for a Spadologist. We won, but how?

34 “But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it, and killed it.” 49 “Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So, David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand, he struck down the Philistine and killed him” (1 Samuel 17:34-35, 49-50).

One other thing I forgot to mention about Spades is that in a four-person game, you have partners. Whatever my hand lacked, my partner picked up the slack. The combination of history and partnership made us unbeatable regardless of the hand that I was dealt.

David was the youngest and smallest of eight boys. His older brothers fought battles while he tended sheep. However, tending sheep sometimes meant facing fierce opposition. His victories against that opposition prepared him for his battle with Goliath. David’s victory over Goliath was part of God’s plan for his journey to becoming King of Israel. Do you have a passion due to something in your history? Have you acted on it? If not, why? Are you fearful? Do you feel inadequate? Don’t forget you have a partner. God is your partner in this game of life. Like David, God has equipped you for your purpose through your past experiences. You will do more than you can imagine, even with a sling and some stones or no spades and one face card.

“Father God, You use all things for my good and for Your purpose. Please give me revelation to see Your guiding hand in my Dashing Journey, knowing that, with You, I will do more than I can imagine. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

I Will Take Door #1

The great persecution forced Philip out of Jerusalem. He was pushed out of his comfort zone. God knows how to get us out of our comfort zone, into our destiny. He will open a door and close it behind us. That closed door is God pushing you. Maybe you've been pushed out of Jerusalem, so to speak, through a bad break, a disappointment, a betrayal or just through natural disasters. Don't be discouraged. God knows what’s best for you. If it weren't going to work for your good, God wouldn't have allowed it. Jerusalem may have closed, but Samaria was open. God wouldn't be pushing you if He didn't already have a door open. God is pushing and stretching you out of your comfort zone and into your divine purpose. It was in Samaria that Philip saw his greatest days of his ministry. Tell yourself if I stay in Jerusalem, I will never reach my full potential. God has something bigger, something better, something more rewarding for your life. So walk through that open door no matter how it was opened and keep #dashing.