Is it February already? That means Black History month is here. A time to commemorate the sacrifices that many have made for us to be where we are today in the United States of America. I believe that our history here in America is a continuation of our ancestry in Jacob (Yacob) or Israel as recorded in the Holy Scriptures (Bible). Not because we’re “Black” but because of the covenant made between YAHWEH our God and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (name changed to Israel) who happen to be varying shades of Black.

The post-Atlantic slave trade extracted many Hebrews from “Negro Land or Kingdom of Judah” located in West Africa according to the European map of 1774 (E. Bowen). They were distinguished from Africans by the Africans (descendants of Ham) as descendants of Shem-- many of which were brought to the United States of America by ship (and other places) and referred to as Negros (later nigger). The Negro or modern African-American (intentional renaming) are the only people group in the history of the United States that don’t really know their true pre-America origin. Don’t take my word for it; please RESEARCH for yourself.

I believe that God orchestrated the journey of the Israelite Hebrews (living in African Negro Land) to America fulfilling Deuteronomy chapters 28-30. We have been here in America and progressed from slaves to citizens and sinners to saints. No other people group has had such a profound and pervasive impact upon the American way of life. The prosperity of this country is directly connected to the plight of the Negros from “Negro Land” or “The Kingdom of Judah” on the continent of Africa. Ancient Israel was a part of the continent of Africa. I believe that the term “Middle East” was made up concept to hide this fact. Have you ever heard of a “Middle West”? Of course not.

When Jerusalem (Yerusalem) was destroyed in AD 70, many Israelite Hebrews migrated and relocated in west Africa. Many Hebrews (Jews) were dropped off by Portuguese and Spanish on the west coast of Africa to die. But YAHWEH did not forget His covenant and preserved them (us) in their (our) captivity.

In my mind this is not a month for the church to celebrate “Blackness” but to remember the covenant of our God and the salvation brought to us according to 2 Cor. 5:19 “God (YAHWEH) was in Christ (Yeshua Messiah) reconciling the world unto Himself...”. It’s a month to remember what YAHWEH has done.

~Bishop AZ Jones, Jr.

What better word than “rock” to represent God’s permanence, protection, and enduring faithfulness?nWhen you pray to the Lord your Rock, you are praying to the God who can always be counted on. His purposes and plans remain firm throughout history. The New Testament identifies Jesus as the spiritual rock that accompanied the Isrealites during their journey through the desert [I Corinthians 10:4].

Rocks provide shade, shelter, and safety in the wilderness and were used to construct altars, temples, houses, and city walls. Heaps of stones were also used to commemorate important events in Israel’s history. God’s commandments given to Moses, were etched on stone so that all generations would learn His law. The word “rock” epitomizes His enduring faithfulness. The Hebrew noun tsur is often translated “rock” or “stone”, while petra is the Greek word for rock. To worship YahwehTsuri is to echo Hannah’s great prayer of praise: There is no Rock like our God” (I Samuel 2:2 NIV).

Source: Spangler, A. (2023) Praying the Names of God For 52 Weeks, Expanded Edition HarperChristian Resources .

In the ancient world, kings built temples filled with treasures and idols to remind people of their power. But the living God did something different. He walked with His peoples. Can you imagine it? The Creator of galaxies strolled through the garden, side by side with Adam and Eve. Not only majesty. Intimacy. The God who spoke stars into existence wanted to spend time with the people He loved.

Even after sin shattered that first garden routine, God kept moving toward His people. He sought Abraham under the stars, met Moses in the wilderness, and ultimately came to us in Jesus. Immanuel. God with us. From the beginning, His desire has always been closeness. Sometimes we picture God like a far-off ruler who occasionally checks in on us. Or an annoyed manager who only stops by to give disappointing performance reviews. But that’s not the God of the Bible. Ours is the God who walks. Who seeks. Who draws near even when we’ve messed up.

The wonder of Scripture is that the God who could remain far off chooses instead to come close. And He still does today. When you open your Bible, when you pray, even when you take an ordinary walk around your neighborhood, the same God who once strolled in Eden longs to walk with you. He’s not waiting for you to get your life together first. He’s ready to walk with you right where you are.

Reflect: Where can you make space to walk with God—literally or spiritually—this week?

Source: bible.com/reading-plans/62344-awestruck-30-days-of-wonder-in-the-bible

Chronic inflammation hastens the aging process and contributes to ailments such as arthritis, heart disease, and dementia. More than a third of Americans are living with systemic inflammation. Yet a lot of people don’t really understand what inflammation is.

Put simply, inflammation refers to the way our body responds to a threat, such as injury or infection. When you have a wound and there’s redness or swelling around it for a few hours or days, that’s a sign your immune system is putting up a helpful defense to promote healing. This is called acute inflammation, and it’s a normal, healthy response.

Chronic inflammation is another story. It happens when your body’s immune system kicks into high gear and never settles down. The result? The body begins to attack itself and, overtime, damages tissues and organs, and may trigger the development of disease.

Your doctor can determine your level of inflammation by administering two blood tests. One test measures a protein that your liver produces and response to inflammation. The other test measures how quickly your red blood cells sink to the bottom of a test tube (when there’s inflammation, it will be quicker).

If you test positive for chronic inflammation, or just want to prevent it, it is strongly recommended to have a non-inflammatory diet which is largely the Mediterranean diet of lean proteins, whole grains, lots of produce, and healthy fats like olive oil. Also, avoid processed food and try not to overeat or drink too much alcohol. Don’t smoke and make exercise a matter of routine in your daily life. And in some cases, medication may play a role.

Although chronic inflammation is serious, it isn’t a hopeless situation. With a commitment to a healthier lifestyle and help from your doctor, you’ll likely be able to make meaningful improvements. The results can help you feel dramatically better.

Source: Rosenbluth, MD, Dr. Adam B. “Chronic Inflammation.” AARP Bulletin, Jan/Feb. 2026.

Have you ever ignored a nagging sense of conviction in your heart? Maybe you rationalized wrongdoing with the thought that if God were really upset, He'd put a stop to things by disappointing you. Psalm 50:21 reminds us that the silence of heaven does not mean approval. Remaining in sin is an abuse of the Lord's patience.

When God seems slow to react, we might hope He's overlooking our transgressions--we'd like to continue in sin because the momentary pleasure is more appealing than obedience. But thankfully, the Father knows our weaknesses, our innate carnality and the state of our spiritual growth, and He therefore measures His response. Motivated by love and a desire to gently restore his children to righteousness, God refrains from instantly doling out punishment. Instead, He waits for the Holy Spirit's prodding to impact the believer's heart. The weight of conviction is actually an invitation to turn from wrongdoing and return to godliness.

However, we are a stubborn people. There are times when we persist in sin because the
sentence against an evil deed isn't executed quickly (Ecclesiastes 8:1). In this dangerous situation, it's possible to immerse ourselves in sin and harden our heart against the Lord. Then the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance falls on spiritual ears that are rapidly going deaf.

As we learn and understand more about God and His ways, we are increasingly responsible to live righteously. Our Heavenly Father is not slow; He's patient. But don't abuse that patience causing disregard for His statutes. Repent and be holy in the sight of the Lord.

Source: Stanley, Charles F. In Touch Daily Readings for
Devoted Living. In Touch Ministries, 2019.