My TV Blunder: The System-Shifting God!

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Hadassah

When I worked as a television reporter, my worst on air experience was reporting live one evening during a week-long conference.

I don’t know what happened, but as I was speaking, suddenly my train of thought was derailed. I was on national tv and I didn’t remember what I was supposed to be saying. I got stuck. Trepidation set in. It was unbelievable! Yes, thousands of people watching live and I went silent. I wanted to walk away from the camera on live tv. And I can tell you that in broadcasting, silence for a few seconds could feel like a few minutes. It was an AWFUL experience.

Thank God I was able to recalibrate and finish the report, but I felt so badly that I went home, threw myself in bed and sulked. I was so embarrassed. I beat myself up badly.

I remember entering the newsroom the next day and being told by the main news anchor that she knew how I felt. She then gave me good advice: “Dassah, get straight to the point!” I took that and ran with it. This was my career at stake.

Interestingly, despite my public blunder, I wasn’t pulled from reporting live in the evening lineup the next day. That evening and for the rest of the week, I nailed it!

In fact, I was later told that when I was struggling in those moments the evening of the gaffe, the News Director was in the control room saying, “Come on Hadassah. Regroup!” I couldn’t hear her. I couldn’t see her. And I imagine that is just how God is rooting for us to get back on our feet when we make mistakes and fall.

In fact – and this is the amazing part – the next year when that same conference was held, I was bumped up from being the floor reporter to actually being the HOST of the live evening broadcast. And guess what? It was successful with no embarrassing moments. I went on to LOVE live broadcasts! As I now reminisce, all I could say is what has become my favourite quote: ‘Looka God!‘

I brought up this scenario in my life to prove that just as you are sitting there thinking you might not be worthy of that promotion, you don’t have sufficient experience to chair that committee, you don’t have the best grades to intern at that company, you’re not in the click, you’re too dark, you have no degree, you are the least worthy to represent the department, you are too old, too young, you just got hired, when you see UNWORTHY, God sees WORTHY. When man sees you as unqualified, God has already stamped QUALIFIED!

Let me give you three Biblical examples:

When Gideon was told that he would deliver Israel out of the hands of the Midianites, he said, “My family is poor in Manessah and I am the least in my father’s house (Judges 6:15).” But didn’t God qualify him and MIRACULOUSLY delivered his people?

When Sarah was told she would bear a child in her twilight years, she said, “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? (Genesis 8:12).” But didn’t God raise up seed for this couple?

When Moses was told he was to go to Egypt and lead God’s people out of bondage, he said, “I am not eloquent…I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue (Exodus 4:10). Didn’t God make a way?

I am one who believes in people being worthy, but I am reminded that our version of worthy sometimes differs from God’s. Let’s not forget in 1 Samuel 16, the Lord “refused” SEVEN of Jesse’s sons before choosing David because “…man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart (7). OKAY!

We serve a God who sees differently and is a system-shifting God. Ecclesiastes 10:7 is amazing and is proof as well! Solomon said, “I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.” Wouldn’t God shift the system JUST FOR YOU?

What are you doubting God can do? Don’t box Him in.

Growing in Christ,

Hadassah

Time to Surrender

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Hadassah

From after four this morning, I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about my soul and how I have not fully surrendered to God.

Yes I am a Christian. In 1998, while in my early 20s, I gave my life to the Lord. Every so often my mom – who was a Christian all my life – would encourage me to give my life to the Lord. That morning was different though. The Spirit of God convicted my heart of sin. I got on my knees, confessed my sins and asked Jesus to come into my life.

Twenty two years later and I confess, I haven’t fully surrendered my all to Him. I haven’t laid it all on the altar. There have been some idols (check yourself; you might find one or two and be surprised by what or who they are). As I look over these past two decades, there have been times I embraced the Burger King mentality: Have it Your Way. I realize there were still those, “My will” moments as opposed to, “Not my will, but thy will be done.” Everything has not been left at the foot of the cross. There are times when I haven’t put God first. Self will and not God’s will reigned supreme at times.

When I think about surrender to God, I think about letting go. I think about being satisfied in Him. I think of, “Even if my will doesn’t come to past, I would still serve you Lord.” That’s surrender and today, I want to be there.

In January this year, I was at an event and heard a song that was beautifully sung. But what touched me more than the beautiful voice were the words. I quickly wrote down a few lines and after the event typed them in Google. I learned that the artist was multiple award-winning singer, Lauren Daigle. She is so real and her lyrics have touched those in the secular and Christian world.

I didn’t know Lauren but I did further research and came to love a few of her songs. One of the songs which struck me was, Trust in You. This song has special meaning to me. It’s my favourite of her songs.

Lauren encourages us to lay it at His feet. And even when He doesn’t move the mountains or part the waters, we must trust Him. That is surrender.

Today, I invite you on a journey with me. Today is a new day. It’s a new chance…a new beginning. Yesterday is gone. Let’s start afresh…quit the Burger King Mentality. Not ~~my will~~. May Romans 8:28 become real to us, knowing that all things are working together for our good, no matter the circumstances. Let’s trust Him. Let’s trust the process. Let’s surrender to HIS will.

Growing in Christ,
Hadassah

Clogged Feelings

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Hadassah

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Recently, a small piece of soap slipped down the drain of the tub and as small as that was, it caused a back-up of water. The water was draining out of the tub, but slowly. I contacted my brother, who is a plumber, and he got the job done. The water is now freely flowing down the drain.

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As I thought of that simple situation, my mind went on the fact that so many people sometimes have things which are blocking their freedom. You haven’t been able to get pass how offended you were when your colleague said something to you; you are still holding in a sibling for what he or she did when you were teens; when you hear the name of your college room mate, you want to roll your eyes; you have a problem with the mother who did not invite your child to her child’s birthday party or maybe you aren’t speaking to your neighbour based on an argument over his tree hanging over in your yard. There are a myriad of things which we not only allow to offend us, but we hold them in, allowing malice, hate, unforgiveness…to lodge in our spirits. When we do carry these negative vibes with us, it’s less about the person and more about us, and where we are in our spiritual lives.

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Back in the early 1990s when I was in college, there was a girl who I understood had something to say about me. I didn’t like it one bit! Now, I was never a fighter and had no intention of fighting her, but I surely felt a burning desire to approach her about what I heard she had to say.

I had it all planned. I went as far as going on campus earlier than normal that morning because I knew where she hung out (under a particular tree) and I needed to tell her a piece of my mind. I – with my 110-lb frame back then – was going to fly some words in her face! Well, as per usual, she came walking towards the area with a friend of hers and I confronted her. After I told her my five cents, I walked off, feeling like a champion. I felt I let her know, “I don’t play!” or in modern terms, it would be: “Stay in ya lane!”

Some four years later, I accepted Jesus Christ into my life as Lord and Saviour. I began to grow and change was taking place. Interestingly, about a year into my relationship with the Lord, I was about to go on a fast (it was not my first fast) and the Holy Spirit prompted me. I don’t know why I wasn’t prompted earlier, but God is an on-time God. He brought her face and name to my attention and I instantly knew he was directing me to deal with that matter from years prior.

At that point, I was working and I also knew where she worked, having seen her at that organization a few times. I put pride aside, called her and told her I wanted to apologize for the way I approached her that early morning, under the tree. Believe it or not, she was very receptive and we had a wonderful conversation. And even had she not accepted my apology, most important was to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Pastor of In Touch Ministries, Charles Stanley, coined the phrase: “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.”

When I hung up following that conversation, I was FREE! It was a wonderful feeling and there is nothing like a clear conscious. Honestly, before the Holy Spirit prompted me, I didn’t even think of that incident. When I would see her over the years, she was always far away in distance and we never had to interact. I didn’t feel I was holding her in, but perhaps it needed to be cleared up because she might have been the one holding ME in. I don’t know.

You see, the Bible states clearly in Matthew 5 verses 23 and 24:

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

God knew I had a situation that was not cleared up and it was time to address the matter. Why it took so long for me to be prompted – I don’t know.

Honestly, I’ve had more than one experience like this. I even just had a situation last year, but it took a much shorter time to speak to the individual. In that case, I told her I was VERY HURT. I didn’t even call her; I emailed. She was quite apologetic and I was finally able to move on because before that, just to see her, I would want to avoid her. In fact, I said that had the matter happened BEFORE my wedding, I would not have invited her. That’s how affected I was. It bothered me greatly. I felt she crossed a line. She went too far. I felt I could no longer trust her – if she could go that far.

On the other hand, I’ve had situations where my conscience beat me up and I felt the need to apologize within minutes, hours or within a day or two. God is working on me people!

My prayer is that God will CLEAN ME UP in the name of Jesus because we serve a God who is very forgiving. And of course, we shouldn’t allow people to walk all over us, but certainly, as Christians, we ought not to hold people in. God has called us to “put aside” bitterness, malice etc. (Ephesians 4:31). When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us of ALL unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)! PRAISE YE THE LORD!!!!

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I encourage you to pray and ask God to reveal to you if there are any matters you need to clear up before man and Him. Today, I am more in tune with God, thank God, so to not deal with a matter when I am feeling condemned would be disobedience. The enemy wants to keep us trapped! However: Freedom is beautiful! Unshackle those chains TODAY in the name of Jesus!

Growing in Christ,

Hadassah

Holocaust Survivor Shares Chilling Details

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Hadassah

I’m not Jewish, but I do have a Jewish name and I love the Jewish people. I could not pass up the opportunity to hear holocaust survivor, Eva Schloss back in February 2017 when she visited my country. She shared the chilling details of the inhumane treatment forced upon the Jewish people under the ruthless, tyrannical, myopic regime of Adolf Hitler.

I was one of 2,600 people that packed three ballrooms at the Nassau hotel, intrigued by this very strong, resilient 88-year-old woman who sat in our presence. She spoke of the unthinkable horrors that mercilessly swept through concentration camps, gas chambers and killing centres.

Eva was the best friend of the legendary Ann Frank. She drew a capacity crowd that was expected to be 400, but quickly mushroomed into those 2,600 eager listeners.

“Hitler wanted to conquer the whole world,” she told her audience. The intolerance towards Jews included an imposed curfew of 8 pm and only shopping in Jewish stores.

“People started to disappear. Parents waited for children to come home,” she stated.

“They never turned up,” was the sad reality.

Eva and her family were in hiding for two years. They lived in constant trepidation until they were betrayed and discovered by the Nazis. They were shipped like chattel to a hell on earth, otherwise known as Auschwitz. She was just 15 years old.

They were beaten, called by numbers, heads shaven and only permitted to shower once a week. Others were killed from the day of arrival, walking from the train straight into the gas chamber. There were even those who were burned alive.

By the time the nine months Eva spent at Auschwitz were over, her father and brother were dead, throwing her into a depressive abyss. And for 40 years, she suppressed the atrocities of one of the worse death camps on earth. According to Eva, one million Jews died at Auschwitz. Meanwhile, it is widely known that six million Jews were massacred under the diabolical Nazi regime in an attempted genocide.

Today, how many of us discriminate? How many of us are modern day Nazis – just without concentration camps? How many of us are prejudice against others because of their ethnicity, where they live, how they dress, their disabilities, lack of higher education or even their professions we feel are below our standards?

We ALL bleed red. We ALL want love. We ALL feel hurt and pain. We ALL are truly ONE race. Human.