The Immaculate Conception: Grace in Egypt
Keep in mind the affiliate-members of this workshop. That they are what we consider the “Athletics of an interceding spirit”. Their role in cases such as this, would be to re-establish healthy relations. What’s even better is that affiliates have the opportunity of earning commission in the process as well. Regardless of your own methods of good health & wellness, always ask yourself the question, “what are my objectives?” This is what will also inherently establish your vision! Take the three wise men for example.
When they had heard the king, they departed; & lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came & stood over where the young child was.
& when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. -Matthew 2:9-10
As it pertains to the body, we know that those who minister about holy things, live of the things of the temple. The Divine knows how to establish us in our way. & likewise on the foundation of this faithful thing, those that wait at the altar are partakers with the altar. The three wise men, in the understanding of their own faith, we’re able to perceive these things to be true.
& being warned of God in a dream that they should not return unto Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
& when they were departed, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, arise, & take the young child & his mother, & flee into Egypt, & be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
When he arose, he took the young child & his mother by night & departed into Egypt. -Matthew 2:12-14
The Grace of Egypt
I see the grace of Egypt in that it gave place & reason for the dreamer to live out their DIVINE purpose; like a good neighbor. A dream such as delivered by American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. & he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. - Matthew 10:41
The year was 1963, during the march on Washington, where King ascended the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, reminding citizens to rethink the heritage & promise of America. The speech we’ve come to know as “I have a dream”, was delivered to a crowd of over 250,000 people. The ideas reflected King’s social experiences of ethno-centric abuses & exploitation of the black identity.
He began his speech with reference to the emancipation proclamation, which declared millions of slaves free in 1863, yet stating that 100 years later, the negro is “still not free”. It was toward the end of the speech that King makes improvisation, being urged by the renown Mahalia Jackson’s cry to “tell them about the dream”. This part of the speech is said to have excited his listeners the most, as he foretells his dream of freedom arising from a land of slavery & hatred.
“I still have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream-one day this nation will rise up & live up to it’s creed, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!”
Of this moment in time, it’s said that King was able to bring much needed attention to a necessity for civil/economic rights, as well as an end to racism in the United States. It was the march on Washington that is said to have put pressure on the Kennedy administration to advance it’s civil rights legislation in congress, as well as influence the federal government to take more direct actions to more fully realize racial equality.
This is essentially what objective fasting looks like! For affiliate-members of this workshop looking to make money while making a difference, we re-direct our focus toward a more effective kind of fasting in this fashion.
It’s the clarity of vision that is written to be the TRUE potential of the dreamer.
& even in this day & age, we find the necessity of vision for the dream even in this very moment. That same giving of vision whereby we may collectively become a solution both for ourselves & others. Take Black America for example.
It was 60 years ago, where we find King acknowledging that 100 years after the emancipation proclamation, that the negro is “still not free”. & we find this same truth remains, even still till this day. How can this be?
The experience for black Americans in this country has been a very unique one. Both the good & the ugly fills that history with both troubles & triumph. Along with natural talents we’ve contributed to the constant re-crafting of this thing we call the American Dream. That same dream that transcends the very lows & woes every citizen faces at some point. Each of us, of many cultures have taken on this American Dream, & it is to us a reflection of what we’re made of.
The issue we find with Black America however, is that despite all that has been contributed to the development of this Dream, we still find Black America under-developed, & dependent on the dreams of others, in a way that so many others were not subject to.
This isn’t to paint the wrong narrative of who we are & what we’ve been here in this country. Every contribution adds to the accomplishments of what is commonly known as “Black Excellence”. These things are indeed of a “higher standard” which has it’s great purposes. But besides these things, it’s with-in me to see that we have an even HIGHER calling. I see our standard as many witnesses to our capabilities with that call.
It was never the case that we were incapable of achieving what many others have made of this dream, I am a living example of one who on their journey was “ever learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. (2 Tim3:7) But what is it that was preventing me all along? I lacked in guidance. & more than occasionally, I found myself distracted, wrestling with the dreams of another.
WHEN Israel was a child, then I loved him, & called my son out of Egypt. -Hosea 11:1
I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of Love: & I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, & I laid meat unto them.
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. -Hosea 11:3-5
RECOGNIZING OUR CHALLENGES & OBSTACLES
Through-out scripture we find many perspectives of how a very spiritual journey “taken by force” can very easily take a turn for the worse, simply due to an abuse of higher power, & the authority to do so. Even in this very moment I find myself on unfortunate grounds of circumstances with-in my own journey. One where rules & regulations once again become a closed door of opportunity for growth & progression, leaving me blind & naked. It’s also moments like these where we tend to develop those necessary results, as supplications rooted in the works of our own humility process. This is where vision journaling comes into play as our supplications made, for what becomes the athletics of an interceding spirit.
Our intention behind vision journaling aims at transcending those many “lows & woes” of this dream through being of better service with-in it. With this fasting-workshop, we collectively envision a regenerative culture of new core values each within our own journal. Being able to recognize our own core values, helps us to better encourage these with-in the Black American experience.
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria & the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, & the Egyptian into Assyria, & the Egyptian shall serve with the Assyrians.
In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt & with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, blessed be Egypt my people, & Assyria the work of my hands, & Israel mine Inheritance. -Isaiah 19:23-25
For me, Journaling serves as navigation for the process of the journey, giving us a glimpse of the journey from a spiritual perspective. For those who will to discern, take the time & allow spirit to direct your own journey in way of these principles. That through a remission culture of giving, we transcend the dream through being of better service with-in it,
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee Israel? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned with-in me. My repenting are kindled together.
I will not execute the fierceness of mine Anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, & not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: & I will not enter into the city.
They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, & as a dove out of the land of Assyria: & I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, & the House of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, & is faithful with the saints. - Hosea 11:8-12
KWANZAA is an African American & Pan-African celebration of family, community, & culture.
& by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, & by a prophet was he preserved. - Hosea 12:13
Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. - Hosea 12:5
& In mind of this, the Grace of Egypt, I welcome the spirit of KWANZAA, which also aims at transcending the “lows & woes” spent living this dream.
UMOJA (Unity) - To strive form & to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, & race.
KUJICHAGULIA (self-determination) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves & speak for ourselves.
UJIMA (collective work & responsibility) - To build& maintain our community together & make our brothers & sisters problems our problems, & to solve them together.
NIA (purpose) - To make our collective vocation the building & developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
KUUMBA (creativity) - To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful & beneficial than we inherited it.
IMANI (faith) - To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, & the righteous & victory of our struggle.
& the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; & they borrowed of the Egyptians Jewels of silver, & jewels of Gold, & raiment:
& the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. & they spoiled the Egyptians.
& the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to succoth about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
& a mixed multitude went up also with them: & flocks, & herds, even very much cattle. -Exodus 12:35-38