Author: The Manna Chef

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Whose Feet Do You Need to Wash?

The Manna Chef

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to His Father.  He had loved His disciples during His ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very end.  It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God.  So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin.  Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.  (John 13:1-5)

I was raised in a holiness church, so every New Year’s Eve, during watch night service, we had to wash the feet of our fellow saints.  Let me be honest here; it was not one of my favorite parts of the service.  You see, as a child (maybe even as an adult), you don’t always realize the significance of washing someone else’s feet.  All you see is the condition of the other person’s feet.  And then you have to touch those very feet and pray for the person they are attached to?  And after that, you have to allow someone else to wash your feet?  I remember thinking, “Why in the world do I have to wash somebody else’s feet?” 

As children, that moment was lost on us many times.  We’d listened to the reading of John 13:1-5 often, but we didn’t fully understand why we were instructed to reenact that significant action every December 31st.  And your title didn’t matter; even our pastor washed others’ feet.  We were all expected to serve each other.  It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I began to get the revelation of the humility that God was requiring in order to meet the needs of His people through service.

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What Is Your Story?

The Manna Chef

Not long ago, I was asked, “What is your story.  What brought you here?”  It was an interesting question.  When God first told me to pack up my things and move to another city in another state, many folks thought I was crazy.  Why in the world would I leave my family and my church?  It wasn’t like I was a twenty-something looking for adventure.  I was established.  I had a good job.  I had been teaching for a number of years and had finally arrived in the position that I had designed beyond academics.  I was the artistic director, and I’d finally gotten to that point where the work was fulfilling.  Sisters, plain and simple, I was comfortable.  I had settled in the routine and was quite content.  And don’t get it twisted, I was ministering and teaching, and I was extremely active at my church.  I wasn’t just sitting on my laurels; I was trying to represent my Father well on a daily basis.  And right there in the middle of all of my comfort, God spoke and told me to move, to leave everything I’d ever known.  It was my Abraham moment, you know, like in Genesis 12:1-3 when God spoke to Abram and said,

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

At the time, I didn’t think it was as profound as Abraham’s call.  I was just trying to be obedient to the Holy Spirit.  I told my family and my pastor that it was time to move, and I started packing.  It was scary and exhilarating at the same time because I was instructed to move to a city I’d never even visited before.  (Talk about a faith walk!) 

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We Still Thrive

The Manna Chef

My heart has been aching, and the pain is just unbearable today.  I have literally cried out to God on behalf of all of my brothers and sisters.  It seems as if being Black in this country has placed us on an endangered list.  Every time I turn around, someone is being killed, falsely imprisoned, or brutalized for no other reason than, by the very color of our skin, we are perceived as a threat.  I have cried, “Why in the world are we being killed, Father?  Why is hate running rampant in this world?” 

I am not even going to get super-spiritual right now, because my conversations with God are real and raw.  I know the enemy is trying to steal, kill, and destroy, seeking whom he may devour.  I know that.  I have that Scripture memorized.  But I’m talking about right now today, at this moment; I needed to hear from God. 

I needed a word to settle my spirit, so I started with Psalm 27:1-4.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

I don’t know about you, but I need God’s strength right now at this very moment.  I need some light in this very dark time.  But, even after reading that powerful Scripture, I still needed more.

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Do You Believe that He Will?

The Manna Chef

When I was a little girl, I used to love testimony service at church.  I loved hearing about the goodness of the Lord and singing with the congregation.  I remember the saints would say, “God can do anything but fail!” and everyone would shout, “Amen!”  I heard it so often that I believed it even back then.  I learned about the vastness of God, and I witnessed miracles right there in church.  I was taught to have faith in God, to trust Him completely, and to expect Him to move mightily when I was just a child. 

I’m grateful for that foundation I received because, today, I need it more than ever.  I’ve walked with Jesus for a long time, and still I sometimes need to be reminded that He can do anything but fail.  I know that He is not slack concerning His promises, and He has proved to me time and time again that nothing in my life has been left to chance.  I know that God is in control at all times, and He is ordering my very steps every single day.

I want to ask you something today.  How many of you believe that Jesus can move on your behalf, you just aren’t sure if you believe that He will?  There is a big difference.  I encourage you to examine yourself today.  Take a close look at where your faith lies.  If you are believing God for big things, you have to trust that He will actually do them—according to His will.  So, seek His will (and His kingdom) first and watch Him show out on your behalf.  Now, I’m not talking about snapping your fingers and expecting God to perform like your personal genie.  I’m talking about actually seeking His will for your life, obeying what He has commanded you to do, and then walking in total confidence that God will do what He said.

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It’s Not Too Late

The Manna Chef

Sisters, I have a word to encourage your hearts today!  I have been diligently seeking the Lord on behalf of His daughters, and today His word to me has sparked fire in my soul!  God said, “It’s not too late.”  I don’t know what you have placed before the Lord, what promises you are waiting to manifest, or what dreams you’ve allowed to just fall along the wayside.  But God’s word is clear, “it’s not too late.” 

Sometimes we get discouraged when it seems like the season of opportunity has passed us by.  Circumstances may not appear to be ideal, especially right now, but God is not bound by our circumstances or by how things look.  So right now, just hold on to God’s Word and His promises. 

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.  It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.  (Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT)

God has not forgotten you.  He has not forgotten the promises He made to you.  He said His word will accomplish all He wants it to accomplish and will prosper everywhere He sends it.  What has He promised to you?  It’s not too late.  Don’t allow the enemy to plant seeds of doubt in your mind.  You know what God said.  Trust Him.  It doesn’t matter if the odds are against you.  He said all things are possible with Him (Matthew 19:26).

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