Seeing Clearly

What Do You Think? Wednesday

On the way to get my new glasses with the stronger prescription I saw a police car and tape cordoning off a barber shop. I later learned that the police were at the Visible Change barber shop after a three-person shooting. Folks in the barber shop got in the crossfire of one gun-wielding guy chasing another who ran into the shop. If only they had become, and not just run into, Visible Change, the man on the run might be alive and the gun-toting guy might have a better life, but they couldn’t see. I carry no gun, am not on the run from anyone, but I understand their blindness, just really beginning to understand that sight comes from within. This has to be given to us, supernaturally so we can see naturally what’s really going on.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.
If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains.
And a child shall lead them.
And a child did lead them, last week; thousands of them followed the Lemonade Kid for refreshment, not from a physical thirst, but for quenching their dry places of hopelessness, despair, belief in the power of one, in the power of faith, in the power of God.

And even I couldn’t see THIS, even when the Lemonade Kid was 2 and made up his first worship song with the only lyrics “Hallelujah, Amen;” even when from ages 2-5 his favorite pastime was preaching to an audience of none or just his parents; even when at 3 he prophesied to me, twice, “Walk in the power of God” in between sermons with Cat in the Hat verbiage and our founding pastor’s voice; even when at 3 he would wake in the middle of the night to preach a word he had on his heart: “Put in the love. Put it in the heart” being one of his most mind-boggling words.

“He’s going to be a prayer warrior, praiser and preacher, in that order,” my sister said of her first nephew. I smiled, had heard the same but not in order, and his life from toddler to now reflects each of these.

But even I had a hard time seeing these, the supernatural converging with the natural, trying to make me a believer in what my eyes didn’t normally see.

Order my steps.
Guide my feet.
Take my hand.
Open my eyes.

This is the Christian’s constant prayer—my prayer—but without allowing the supernatural to converge then convert the natural, we only discount our prayer for what we could always naturally see. God wants to give us supernatural favor to take the place of our natural flavors. “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him” (Psalm 34:8)!

Last week I began to see, not just with my new glasses but with Holy Spirit lens. The Lord gave me the right prescription for supernatural sight. Without His prescription we will deny our children’s calling, divert our dreams and dance in the safe spaces, around the same circles. We must pray “order my steps; guide my feet; take my hand; open my eyes” then believe what we ask God to do and watch Him do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. . . ” (Ephesians 3:20). Praise Jesus for the power of God in us—the Holy Spirit—helping us to see clearly, the way we were meant to see.

What are your thoughts on the natural clouding the supernatural in your life? Please, tell me what you think.

Civic-Minded Son Fundraises for City of Detroit

Joshua at the Detroit rally for Trayvon Martin


If you read my parenting columns or my blog regularly you likely know that my oldest son, Joshua, has a big heart. He seeks to be righteous and to make things righteous and with a heart of passion and compassion. As soon as he heard that our city, Detroit, was broke he took it upon himself to pray that the City would have the money it needed to operate. He decided he wanted to go beyond his prayers and have a refreshment sale with proceeds going to the City. Please support him in his efforts this week July 30-August 3, 2012. He will be selling refreshments outside our from 5-8 p.m. If you live in the Detroit area, contact me for more details. If you can’t make it during those hours or live outside of Detroit, I’m sure Joshua would appreciate a monetary donation to help make his effort a success. Following are his words that appear on the attached flyer:

My name is Joshua Smith. I’m 9 years old. I wanted to raise money for the City because we’re broke and I felt like I wanted to do that. It came on my mind. May you please help support the City of Detroit. Please buy this popcorn and drinks. It’s not so expensive. I didn’t make it expensive so you would have to spend all your money. The money will help clean up trash on the ground and cut the grass in the parks.

Thank you in advance for your support.