Molars

"Molars"

An excerpt from my new show,  Grace for the Moment.

©Jessica Ann Best

WOMAN: 
No one ever said that growing didn’t hurt. Sometimes it can feel like those molars that are so painful coming in, but they help you the most to chew your food.  You loose your baby teeth-which were so painful as they came in. But after they're gone-you get bigger, stronger teeth that have to break through the gums. Often when you loose a tooth, you get a reward: reward for growing through the pain and growing up! When you loose your baby molars, you get another set of molars and your twelve year molars, which help you to grow...and you chew more food.  Another test of your endurance, a little more pain: yielding healthy growth.  You become stronger. And then of course, your wisdom teeth come in. Everybody has wisdom teeth; but sometimes you can’t see them. So you have to search for them- like treasure. Sometimes, you have to take them out- and that’s painful. Sometimes, life becomes like those wisdom teeth being yanked out of your mouth. Why did we need we ever need those in the first place? Why did we have to go through that pain?

Sometimes, we ask God for things and the way our prayers get answered may not be exactly what we’ve asked for, but He gives us exactly what we need. I’ve asked God to change the world; for a global platform to help others! I didn’t know or realize that what I needed in order to answer what I’ve asked for was molar-like growth. I didn’t realize that what I’ve asked for requires pain, (like your wisdom teeth taken out) so I could gain heavenly wisdom and credibility to have a platform.  In order to be the strongest I can be, I have to hear His voice.

When you’re a baby, you get a teething ring to help cool and calm the pain of your new teeth.  As you become refined in the fire, there is no ring to calm the pain, but there is a promise that God walks with you in the fire!  I don’t think that Daniel was eager to go into the lion’s den, but he certainly had a new perspective of God when he came out. Joseph, rejected by his own brothers, was sold as a slave and later imprisoned. After enduring several years in prison, seemingly forgotten, he was called upon to interpret a dream that would bring great aide to a nation.  He became the Vizier, the highest official in Ancient Egypt to serve Pharaoh.  Moses lost his baby teeth after he left his position of Prince of Egypt. His “molars” took 40 years to grow in-while living in the desert with a shepherd staff. He climbed a mountain and waited for God to speak. Sometimes we have to wait until the space is filled by our new teeth. The strength of the Most High God was infused in Moses-and he had more opposition ahead of him! His new molars now had to be used to ask to free His people: the entire Hebrew nation!  You might say, it seems like “He bit off more than he could chew,” but that’s because it wasn’t ever for him to chew in his own strength anyway.


You see, God gives us these new teeth to keep running the race He has set before us. We need those new teeth (and the growing pains that come with them) to trust Him through the pain. Just on the outside are new and better teeth to fill in the gaps! Sometimes, we need to get braces to straighten out our teeth. Similarly, Sometime we need to realign ourselves with God. Anyone who has ever worn  braces knows that the wire on your teeth is firm and that the alignment process requires motion, time and aching pain. The wire knows what direction to take the teeth-surely and firmly bringing them together to make a perfect smile.

Growth doesn’t always feel good. Asking isn’t always as simple as it seems; but when you allow God to align your life, He’ll fill in the gaps.  He’ll give you stronger teeth and He’ll never leave you alone. You are being made new and have been given the strength of the Most High God to walk beside you all of your life.

 Now, that’s something to chew on.

ENCOUNTER #504 Journey

"Here I am. I stand with arms wide open..."

My Water Baptism: One Year Later.

"All the good You've done for me-I lift up my voice for all to see!"

- lyrics taken from the song: Rooftops, by Jesus Culture

Listen to: Rooftops, by Jesus Culture.

I remember the pressure I felt on my chest. It's where I normally feel the Holy Spirit nudge me. 

"Do it. Now is the time." He said.

I had all of this head knowledge of God and a life that was already proclaiming Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was baptized as a baby and I thought: why now, God? But it wasn't the first time I had felt that nudge. This time, obedience stepped in. I knew it was the time.

I was nervous. My heart thumped. I was embarrassed because I was worried that other people would be in shock that I hadn't done it already.  I'm a fairly "Rooftop" girl- I speak what I know is truth and I do it with a passion. Yet, I was nervous to be an adult and to do it again. 

This time-it was my choice.

There were many times when it wasn't right-baptism had been available to me in other churches, at other stages of my life-but I wasn't ready and the circumstances didn't feel right. Now, at twenty-six year old, in my loving church-it was right. My career was public enough, (I knew an international group of people from singing opera) and Facebook, yes...Facebook- made it very easy to "Go public!" .....Along with the live stream from TFHNY (The Father's House, New York-my home church) that broadcasts globally.....

Well, God knew that it was time for this very public singing girl to make a very public proclamation.

"Here I am-I stand with arms wide open to the One, the Son! The Everlasting God!"

I DID IT!

May 22, 2011.

 I hear the Holy Spirit very clearly, so I knew that I had to be obedient. I remember preparing that afternoon for the service in the evening knowing, knowing- one hundred percent- that my life was going to be different after. I didn't know how or why, but I knew.

Still nervous - but confident, I stood in line and went up to the baptismal font. My dear friend, Becca Johnson, our beautiful worship leader, was singing one of my favorite songs, "Unrestrained," --- and there I was- baptized by my wonderful pastor! Climbing out of the water-filled with new life---- I was full of joy!!!! The entire service was so awesome! It's full of worship: jumping and dancing! I remember feeling so overjoyed and as if Heaven had touched earth!:) 

(Plugging your nose is recommended;)

"Because of You, I freely live.

My life to You, oh God-I give."

The Response

It was pretty awesome! The pictures and videos were posted to Facebook, (Thanks to my dear brother, Greg and his awesome girlfriend, Kim!)... and I was able to talk about it with so many people! 

And...I have a live record of that beautiful moment!

"To share this love throughout the earth..." <3

The fruit of taking that step of faith and making a public, rooftop proclamation has been....beyond what I can describe here in words. But..I will tell you of all He has done since then-the best that I can!

ANOINTING

The anointing on my voice has reached new levels. I know that God is using my music (whether I sing a sacred or secular song), to heal and to speak to hearts everywhere-live and through recordings. 

It's nothing I can take credit for-it's Him using the gift He so freely gave me to reach His beloved people. There have been several moments where I could feel the Spirit of the Lord descend on an audience- and they "stopped." 

God was moving through me. 

People would say, "I don't know why, but that song made me cry," or "You moved me so much." 

I tell you truly: it wasn't me-it was the presence of the Lord-and He was singing right to them.

OPPORTUNITY!

This is pretty amazing. I love telling of His faithfulness! 

Since last year-I have had tremendous blessings in my career. 

I did things I didn't even know I could do-and He gets all the credit!

• I've had incredible job opportunities-by important companies or people-that I've had no hand in!
• I've discovered that I like to write and create art! I started by adapting a monologue and performing it in church-that grew into a helping to write/create and arrange music for an entire Christmas production at our church! 
• God created something out of an idea He planted-and in three months time-a full scale production was born-written, produced and designed...... and.....thousands of people were able to see it over a series of nine performances!  ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT!  (1947-A Vintage Christmas)

Now, I'm writing all the time!:)

RELATIONSHIPS

• I've met the important people I needed to meet to help connect me- ( both professionally and personally), through God given opportunities in and out of church-people that will impact my entire future.

I've met some of my best friends in the entire world:)

MINISTRY

• I've been blessed to be able to sing on our beautiful worship team at church and sing for some pretty incredible events: like our amazing Easter Experience a few weeks ago! I saw approximately 10,000 people come to worship at the Blue Cross Arena. 

Only God can do that! 

• I've led worship several times-while singing away on tour and in some amazing settings: like on an urban New York City........

MISSIONS TRIP!

...that God provided for me to go on with BASIC College Ministries. 

The entire trip was funded by a beautiful friend of mine! Can you imagine!

There I was-singing on a street corner in the middle of Harlem...

And in nursing homes, soup kitchens and group homes

...bringing music to all kinds of people...

because that's what Jesus has in store!

I couldn't have done that on my own-I was too afraid. 

He made me look into faces and see places that I would have never seen on my own.

He changed my heart to love His people

-to see them as He sees them.

I'll never go back.

"Knowing that Your Perfect Grace-Has brought me to this place."

A new me.

A new boldness.

A new passion.

Apart from Him, I can do nothing. 

( based on John 15:5)

I owe Him everything.

He freely gives:)

So, I encourage you!

 If you have considered being baptized and God has put it on your heart-

Go for it! 

*If you don't know Jesus, He wants to know you. 

He loves you and wants to give you His living water. <3

Be Blessed!:)

Thanks for letting me share my story with you:)

Love,

Jess

"So, I'll shout out Your Name! 

From the Rooftops I proclaim-

that I am Yours!"

The Artist Unveiled: A Work in Progress.

MUSIC

There is tremendous power in the rest. For most of us performers, we like to count the rests, to skip forward and push through the rests; to resist the rests- but that's not why they're written. They're written for us to be able to breathe. The composer, (who knows better then we,) the performer, knows the moment we need to breathe: to "tank up," as one of my coaches says- so we can complete the rest of our melodic journey. If we don't take a "pausa," we may loose the emphasis on what just happened, miss the current moment, or not be ready for what's to come. The duration of the rest is up to the meter and rhythm the composer has set and is interpreted by the conductor. When to resume after the "pausa" is indicated when the conductor lifts His baton. When He sees that we are, "tanked up." When He cues us in. If we're moving in tempi and we're watching; we'll be right on cue. If we're too fast or too slow-we'll have to catch up with Him.

Favorably, God is a compassionate conductor and a gracious composer. He'll always write in favor of His instrument and guide them back to finish His piece properly. The performer must merely connect their gaze with Him and watch His hand; finding they are gently led. 

God is our composer and our conductor. I like to say He's my Master Maestro:) The Bible says He already knows all the days of our lives, (Psalm 139)-so, He knows the full score.  He knows every aria of my existence and brings about every duet and every trio...but I don't know them yet. And yet, they're written. 

I am an unfinished work. God is always working on me. I am unfinished composition, an unfinished masterpiece and so are you. God's Word says: 

"He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  -1 Philippians 1:6. 

So to God, we are carried unto completion because He knows all the days and He will carry ours unto completion! 

PAINT

If I were a portrait, I would see layers of myself-perhaps half a face: half shaded and colored, half  drawn. The other half? Invisible ink-completed; yet not visible to my eye. God dips His paint brush and defines my lines as I grow. He's still bringing about new colors and He's actively shading me in. He make me bold and  He makes me elegant. He defines my depth and my texture. He adds the perfect amount of brightness and brings me into perfect scale....even though I can't always see it-I know I'm becoming the vision of  His masterpiece that He envisioned since the beginning of time. And so are you.

POTTERY

If I were a piece of clay- I am still being molded. If I loose my shape, my potter builds me anew. If my pot is cracked, He uses His light to shine brighter through me. If I'm painted, He paints me, If I need to be constructed, He spins the wheel-He hydrates the clay, He molds it-He knows how to mend me. And He knows how to perfectly and lovingly mold you.

A MASTERPIECE

From my perspective, I am an unfinished symphony, an incomplete score, an incomplete work- I do not know where or how I continue-but I know I'm working with the most masterful Living composer ever to compose! How exciting! If He writes a rest, I'll learn to practice the rest- because I know He's setting up my next musical moment.  He's writing in the most perfect harmony; He's gathering the right dynamics-because He already knows the other characters He must introduce (He's also the most introspective librettist) and He knows that I have to be ready to meet them! He's got the perfect form in mind--and I can't make any guess on it. (There's no ABA, or  Rondo or Symphonic form and analysis I can exact!)  I can't go on to the next scene if my character hasn't developed or if the other characters need to move through their own plot line! He can't bring me in on the next phrase if I'm not connected with Him. Maybe I messed up and I need to rehearse the piece again-but it's ok! He's not looking for perfection; He's just looking for me to let Him guide me:)

CREATIVE CREATOR

The King of Kings is still painting me. Though I am an artist, I am an unfinished work; a work in progress. A masterpiece by the Master Painter. He is the only one who sees its completion. I know that He will certainly carry me unto completion because He's sees the whole vision. I'm going to follow and step in time-letting Him gently lead. I'll glady be shaded and molded and pause for the res-t so I may take the next step. This Artist and Master Creator is certainly well pleased with His work. He poured out His love into me-and He does the same in you. 

So don't worry if You can't see the whole picture-It's incredibly breath taking from His perspective:-)

What a masterful work you are and how He loves you very much:)

Read Psalm 139:)

The Relief Bus! A life changing journey!

This is a note a shared on Facebook following my recent ministry trip with BASIC College Ministries! I wanted to share it with you:)

I've just returned from a missions trip with BASIC College Ministries to New York City where we partnered with the New York School of Urban Ministry!  I wanted to share with you one of my favorite ministries that we partnered with-It's called, The Relief Bus.  Here we met Josiah and his team of volunteers on an incredible bus which provides food, clothing, counseling, information, prayer and community in specific areas of New York City and New Jersey. My team had the pleasure of serving with The Relief Bus on Friday morning from 10 am to 2 pm. My eyes and heart were opened to a community and a people in Harlem that I will never forget.

I began serving in the back of the bus, where we distributed clothing: socks, shoes, coats, shirts, pants; whatever was available to whomever needed it. It was incredibly beautiful to watch people climb up on the bus and receive. I really enjoyed  talking with people  and finding out what they needed. We were able to give socks to everyone- but we did not have enough clothes, the right sizes or amount of clothing to help each person. Many people really needed hats, scarves, and coats-anything to keep them warm as they were living on the street. Once we were out of the items- we were out. I hated the thought of someone freezing out on the streets, (we had served in several soup kitchens and homeless ministries earlier in the week) and the conditions are beyond description. My heart broke from each person; some trying to find clothing for their children, some for themselves; each dressed meagerly. Some had amazingly positive spirits, some incredibly broken-but all came with attitude of thankfulness!  I was humbled as I walked beside our new friends; watching them eagerly come to receive food and clothing. I only wished they could all receive what they needed. That's where I would like to help. I'm going to be packing up several coats, gloves, shoes and clothing items and sending them on their way to New York so Josiah and his team can distribute them. I'd like to encourage you to consider searching through your closets or buying some items to help someone in need. 

After I served in clothing distribution, I joined in with my team who were  praying and talking with people on the street. My team served some delicious soup, bread and hot chocolate, as we shared community with anyone who like to have some soup and fellowship. We talked about life, we prayed and we listened. I especially like to listen and observe what people are not saying. A person's posture can tell a whole lot about a person. Many people were in desperate need of a Savior. All of them needed hope. Their postures were often limp and weighty. Their bodies showed malnutrition and implications of drug use. This little corner of Harlem needed someone to reach out and speak light and life into each person!  Some just wanted to tell their stories; so we listened. Some could feel the power of Christ's love and they knew He would respond to them! So we prayed and we talked. And on that street corner in Harlem, Heaven came to earth and the Lord provided.

It's not the only day Josiah and The Relief Bus bring a piece of Heaven to Harlem. The Relief Bus servers several times through the week and also in New Jersey. People may receive counseling and information on employment, shelters and health care; among others. It's a safe place to come and receive love and God's grace, as He so freely gave it. One young lady, with the help of Josiah and our BASIC team received more than soup: she was able to get on a train to a rehabilitation center in upstate New York hours after she came to get help. Heaven responded to her cry for help through listening ears and eager hearts who became Jesus' hands and feet! Praise be to God!

There are many other success stories for The Relief Bus. Some we may never know and so many wonderful stories of transformation have been reported!  I know my heart has been changed. The prissy opera singer from upstate New York is no longer afraid to be outside of her comfort zone. I was even able to bring some opera to that corner, (due to the encouragement and team of my friends)...and through a lifted acapella song, we prayed with an awesome lady for healing and brought the healing power of music to the area. I'm sure the angels were singing along! 

If you feel like you want to make make a donation to The Relief Bus or find out more information, you can visit their website at:www.reliefbus.org. If you would like to join me in sending items, you can mail them to: 

NYCR-295 Walnut Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201. 

They also can be found on Facebook! You too can make a difference!

If you would like more information on BASIC College Ministries, please visit them on the web at: www.thebasicsite.org. This really awesome guy named, Greg Best, is on staff as the Traveling Team Coordinator. He's the reason I became involved. (He's also my little brother;) You can also visit them on Facebook.

If you would like information on the New York School of Urban Ministry, you can find them on the web at: http://nysum.org.

Thank you for letting me share my story with you! 

May God Bless You and Keep You!

With Love,

Jess

Speak to the Mountains. A Climb of Faith.

Good news, my friend! Life is not an equation. If we could apply a + b = c, how boring our life would be! If we could figure everything out on our own, we would miss out some amazing things. If it was up to us, we'd pick something mediocre when God has something incredible! Surely, most of us want to know what's going to happen in our life. We want to know the why, the where and most importantly- the when! And yet, that's not up to us. You see, God has greater things in store beyond what we can see! Beyond what we could ever dream! So, don't get discouraged because you can't see where you're going-you're on a climb of faith! You're going up a mountain- and good news, my friend-you never take the journey alone. When you've reached the top and you look down-you'll be glad you took the climb!

You see, my friend, God is with you each step of the way. He already knows everyday of your life. (Psalm 139:16). If you trust in Him, you're going to be in for a wonderful journey. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"- the things God has prepared for those who love him." One of the cross references to this verse is Isaiah 64:4, which says, "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!" Note: We can't see it, we can't hear it, we can't conceive it-but God is working on behalf of those who love Him! He's preparing. He's moving. You prefer the tangible evidence? You'll get it-in hindsight.  You've got to walk by faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). You see, God has good planned for you! His word promises you "...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11). I cling to that verse. I claim that word over my life. Maybe I can't see how something is going to pan out: I speak to the mountain-I claim that verse...and many others- that tell me what to expect and how to live as a child of the Most High God!

Does it work? Yes. As I've climbed my mountain, I've not always found a clear path. I have a vision for the way up, but it's not always clear where the path will take me...yet it's always going up. If I'm not sure of the way, I ask my Heavenly Father and He'll guide me. My Gentle Shepherd leads me. I've passed by a lot of things that entice me on the journey; but my Good Shepherd sends me better nutrition, better refreshment, better rest. The things that enticed me were like junk food, gold plated jewelry,  or movie front homes- they look appealing, but there's no true substance and nothing of real value. What Jesus can offer me is true. It's life in abundance and it's real. As I've made my climb, I go less and less around the base of the mountain and truly start to climb up-in faith-because I know the journey upward is perfectly mapped out.

What God has planned is beyond your own logic- beyond your own self-help.  Beyond what you can fathom! It's better than that! :) Once you learn to let go and enjoy the climb, up you'll go!