Amid The Storm, Look For The Rainbow

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

Genesis 9:16

A rainbow is very significant in the eyes of a child of God; It means more than just an arc with a dazzling array of colors as some see it to be and we as Christians should all draw a since of God’s presence and protection upon seeing this symbol of His love and awareness…  Today’s focus verse reminds us of the fact that God will give us signs of His existence and attendance in our everyday affairs and lives; however, it is our task and duty to see the signs for what they are instead of being too bogged down or occupied with the cares of this world to notice them… This devotion speaks to those who say that they are waiting on the Lord and have not received in answer, the truth of the matter could be that God has given you the answer already; its just in a form which you did not expect it to be… You have been dealing with trials and tribulations, you have been praying and waiting and instead of showing up and showing out, God sends you a sign of things to come…  Your breakthrough and victory is in the sign and not God simply overthrowing your adversary; for the believer in Christ, the answer is in the rainbow spoken of in this passage taken from the book of Genesis… You are protected, you are safe and you are going to be victorious in the affairs of life because of the symbolic meaning of the rainbow spoken of in today’s focus verse… There was a time recorded in history when God was appalled at the life of mankind stemming from the fall of Adam and Eve… The disgust that resided with the Lord almighty led to the great flood in the day of Noah that removed mankind from the face of this earth… Up until those 40 days and 40 nights it had never rained upon the earth; however in these days the only remaining survivors were Noah and family along with 2 of every animal… After this purging took place, Noah came out of the ark and built a (n) alter to the Lord; God spoke these words recorded in this verse to know informing him of the love and commitment He had to him… Knowing that God has the authority over this earth and that we have evidence that He can wipe out mankind in a blink of an eye tells me of the great mercy and grace He has dispensed upon my life each and everyday that I live… Rainbows are most apparent after it rains; this provides a source of hope for all children of the Most High… When the rains of life are falling at your doorstep know that the covenant God has with you will not fade… When you are under the floods of bills and debt, know that the rainbow reminds you that you will not be consumed… God says He will remember the covenant, He will not allow the rains to wipe you out; He will not allow the storms to overtake you or the creek to rise too high…

We are promised security in the arms of the God and so we can embrace (James says consider it pure “joy”) the rains knowing that the rainbow is coming and God’s hand will remain upon us… God made a promise to Noah and the land through the form of a rainbow… His promise was to never flood the earth again; His promise was to be our guide and send us a savior… Through the disobedience of Adam and Eve we all enter this world as sinners and God has promised us a chance of salvation if we accept the offering of His son! Let us take this opportunity to examine the rainbow as it relates to God and His promise: A rainbow symbolizes peace and harmony; when one sees a rainbow, it means that a storm has occurred, but more importantly that it has passed… Most of the time people have gone inside because of the storm and the rainbow presents the end of it… Take note of that in your life, that the beauty of a rainbow is seen when the storms of life have occurred; you see the beauty of a rainbow after you have gone through your trials and tribulations, there is a quite peace with a rainbow that allows us to focus on God and know that He is still in the midst and sees everything that takes place… Notice when it rains how quite things become once the rain ends, this is true of your trials as well; when the rain ends focusing on God allows Him (the rainbow) to ease your fears and give you peace! Noah endured a flood that wiped out all humanity, he was ordered by God to build a (n) arc and take two of every animal of the earth… Understand that God prepares you for the storm and assures you of the coming rainbow… The storms you are facing now, God has already prepared you for and not only has He prepared you, but He has already delivered you… Everyday that we see on this earth we are covered in the blood of Jesus and equipped in His armor… God has made a covenant with you that if you are in the shadows of the almighty you will not be defeated… The Psalmist said that a thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you if you make the Lord your dwelling place… The dwelling place of God is covered by the rainbow of peace, you may see tragedy, you may observe storms, but know that an end is promised and the rainbow (Jesus Christ) will come back upon the face of this earth to call you up to be with Him forevermore… Also, when we see a rainbow we see many colors; God will touch our lives in many ways and forms, He will show up and dwell with us without even knowing! A rainbow is present during a storm; it just isn’t seen in the storm because we aren’t focused on trying to find it! God is indeed present all the time; however, sometimes we become so bogged down with our circumstances that we take our focus off of Him… The rainbow to Noah was a sign of God’s commitment to him and the land; God is committed to us and is with us through all we go through; sometimes we don’t see Him or acknowledge His presents because of the things we face, but the reality is that He has been there the whole time! Through your storms, look for the rainbow, look for the light of hope, look for God’s presents and know that He is always with you…

ALL FOR HIM!

Christ Came To Show The Way

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

 

Luke 1:77-79

 

As we studied on yesterday regarding the door which God has left open to all; today, we examine scriptures from the gospel of Luke which speak to the love and desire of God concerning His creation… We all know that Jesus declared that He came to this earth that you might have life and have it more abundantly; however, there is another message which Jesus brought to this earth which is outlined in today’s focus verse… He came not only to give life, but to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins… The mission of Jesus and the message of Jesus go hand and hand as we can come to the conclusion that in order to have life and have it abundantly one must first know that there is a way to overcome the mistakes of yesterday to obtain the joys of tomorrow… Not everyone knows that it is not to late to overcome and be what you have been designed to be; there are some of us who continue to sink deeper into our sin not knowing that there is a safety net which can reach to the darkest and gloomiest of situations and pull you out… This is the knowledge which Jesus came to impart to all mankind, this is the task at hand that we as Christians carry, we must bring the message that if a person will turn from their path of sin than there is surely light at the end of the tunnel… Remember that in the beginning God formed us from the dust of the ground; however, it was not until He breathed the breath of life into our nostrils that we became living beings… This bit of information speaks to the life that we receive only through the authority of God… Today, Luke records the reasons why Jesus came to this earth… Zechariah is prophesying tin praising the Lord for his son “John the Baptist who would prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ… “To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of God; whereby the dayspring from on high and hath visited us…” John was called to give knowledge that we are nothing with the one to come, that we will see the break of day, the hope for tomorrow and the promise of eternal security when the one from on high hath visited us… It’s through the tender mercies of God that we can experience these things… Today, take note that God’s mercies are new every morning, remember that His compassions fail not and that is why we are not consumed… It isn’t your alarm clock that allowed you to see another day; it wasn’t the touch of your mate that woke you this morning, but God’s grace and mercy… Jesus has visited us each and every day; He resides in the heart of all believers and is preparing a home for your eternal rest… The mission that was laid out for Christ and His cousin John is recorded here in the gospel of Luke… Christ came to save and John “to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins…” Until the coming of Jesus Christ salvation was not possible, everlasting life was not a reality… Jesus came to pave the way; He came to show us that there is hope for a better tomorrow and a brighter future…

 

As we walk this journey of life we make choices constantly; however, Jesus came to show us that our choices don’t have to have grave results and that if we repent from sin we can be made whole… I once heard a man say that Satan isn’t worried about the people of the world because he already has them and there is a lot of truth to that statement… So many don’t know the path they lead nor do they understand that hell awaits there arrival once they are born… John, like Jesus, came to give knowledge, He came to inform us that we are in bondage to sin but don’t have to be; He came to teach us that we are born sinners but can be saved by Grace, He came to show us that we are lost in confused (in darkness) but can be transformed and brought into the light… This knowledge that Jesus came to give was made possible by the tender mercies of God… If it were not for God wanting to see you succeed, if it were not for God withholding the punishment that we so rightfully deserved, if it were not for God sending His son we would surely not be able to rise this morning, we would not have a job to go to and we simply would not be alive… The bible says that “…God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son…”Jesus came to this earth because of His father’s wishes; it was because of God’s love that “the dayspring on high hath visited us…” Don’t get it twisted; every day that you see is a blessing from above, every hour you partake in is a blessing from above and the greatest blessing we have came in the form of Jesus Christ… One of the most critical steps in getting from point A to point B is knowing where point A is… Luke says that Jesus came to give light to them that sit in darkness (the entire world) and in the shadow of death… We all sit in darkness, when we are in the shadow of something we are in its path and close to it… Point A in our lives was the verge of death, it was the way of the world, and it was engaging in sinful acts and being disobedient… Christ came that we may have life (opposite of death) and that we may have it more abundantly… I don’t know about you, but I am thankful that I was in the shadow of death and not dead, I thank God that He came to shine His light and pave the way… Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the light…” Let us follow His lead today realizing that without Him we are nothing and hell indeed does await us… With His death on the cross, we were given a light to direct our lost and forsaken path. I am reminded of how bogged down we can get when we take on a daunting task, I am reminded of how the road seems to steep and someone will always say “Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel?” Walking this journey as a Christian is a daunting task, but by the offering of Jesus on the cross we are assured that there is a light at the end of the tunnel… Keep your eye focused on that light and know that when you do you are no longer walking in darkness…

 

BE BLESSED!!!

Come And Drink Of The Lord

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely…

Revelation 22:17

You have a invitation from the Lord today to have your life transformed and taken to another level… There is a door that is upon unto all mankind and the word of acceptance is found in the word which is repeated throughout this verse come… It doesn’t matter the mistake, the decision or the flaw, God reveals to John that He desires you to come… It doesn’t matter how far you have fallen or how much you have messed up in your journey of life, God wants you to know that all is not lost, stumbling blocks can become stepping stones and the missteps of yesterday can be corrected by your decision today to come before Him… The spirit of God knocks at the door of your heart beaconing for you to come unto the will of God to experience the pleasures and delights that He offers… The bible tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above; you must realize that the good gift you need, the perfect gift you desire can only come from God… You must align yourself with the will of the Father, you must put yourself in position to seek the savior, and you must turn from the desires of mankind and focus on things eternal… Look at the call that is placed in John’s revelation written in this 22^nd chapter… “And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst come…” People all across the world are daily with different types of issues and hardships… The call is unique to one particular problem, but to all that don’t know Christ… The person who has heard the ways of this world can now hear the good news of Jesus Christ bloodshed on Calvary… The person who has thirsted after the successes of this world can now drink from the rivers of life and never thirst again… Wherever you are today, know that God loves you; understand that the call has gone forth and that He desires for you to “come…” The beginning of this chapter talks about God being the light for mankind… No longer will you need to worry about seeing when you are under the authority of God… You won’t have to worry about your steps when they are ordered by the Lord and you won’t have to worry about falling when you are walking in His will… John says, “The spirit and the bride say, come…” Jesus came to this earth to seek and save that which was lost, the spirit of God is here to guide and direct us through this treacherous journey that we call life… The call from the bride and the spirit simple tells me that we have walked in darkness long enough… We have experienced the weight of sin long enough, we have done things that displease God long enough and the call is set before us to turn to Him while we still have time to allow our sins to be forgiven and our slates to be wiped clean…

Even though the call is put forth, we must take the step in order to receive it… There are so many people who are thirsting right now; however, they don’t know where to get the things to quench there thirst… There are so many people on this earth who are seeking answers right now; however, they are listening and hearing all the wrong things… This is why John says that we must take of the “…water of life…” We must understand and come to know that there is only one source to drink from; there is only one word to hear… The door is open; however, we must realize that there are multiple doors before us… We can hear the word of God, but we also can give ear to words of discouragement, words of fear and words of temptation… We can thirst for His righteousness; however, we also can find ourselves thirsting for acceptance, thirsting for power and thirsting for material things… Whatever you are facing today, know that the call of God is the choice to take and be made… I’m pretty sure you can look back on your life and realize how many times you followed the broad road as oppose to the narrow road and where did it get you…? I am pretty sure you can think of a time in which you followed the path that many men have traveled as oppose to the path that God has carved uniquely for you and where did you end up? Today, stop drinking from the fountains of deceit and manipulation; stop drinking from the fountains of worthlessness and self pity; instead drink from the fountain of salvation, drink from the fountain of hope, drink from the fountain of restoration, drink from the fountain of eternal security; drink from the remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross… Christ gave His life for us; when He was about to be handed over to the courts, Christ had one final meal with His disciples… At the meal He offered bread and wine, after giving thanks He said this is my blood that is shed for you, drink this blood in remembrance of me… Matthew 26: 27-29 says, “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Know that in losing your worldly life, you shall fine your eternal home… Drink all of the trials you face, drink the cup that has been placed before you because you will have another cup in the father’s kingdom…Drink ye all of it!!!

BE BLESSED!!!

God Has An Expected End

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 

Jeremiah 29:11-12

Though things appear dim or the chances seem slim, take courage in knowing that God has a plan… Even though things may seem to be on the verge of destruction, we must have enough faith to stay the course knowing the plans and desires that God has for us… Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, he lived during the bondage that the Israelites encountered under the hand of the Babylonians and witnessed the oppression of God’s children… Even while in captivity and seeing the hand of the enemy prevailing, Jeremiah records this message that we all can live by today… Jeremiah records that God knows the thoughts that He thinks towards you, He knows the path that He wants you to travel; He knows the levels of greatness which He wants to see you reach! His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace (tranquility, happiness, and joy); not of evil or wickedness! He has an expected end for you life… Here in the midst of trials and tribulations Jeremiah is reminding the people of God that the Lord has not forgotten about them; he is preaching to the masses that even though storms have entered your life, understand that God is still there and He will deliver you… This scripture has as two-fold meaning; the first is that God has thoughts of peace for your life; He wants to give you the best… However, the second is that your bondage is a result of the choices that you have made… Often times we want to blame God for the snares we face, we want to question God’s authority when we face trials, but Jeremiah reminds us today that God wants nothing but the best for you, your family and your life, but just like a parent, He must allow you to learn from your mistakes and sometimes you will have to take the rough road and rugged terrain of hardships to experience the promises of God… Proverbs 3: 11,12 says, “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Even though the trials seem evil and the storm seems wicked know that God’s plan is to produce in you a crop that will last longer than your temporary pain… The fact that God has an expected in shows us where He wants to take you; however, the route that you take to get there is determined by your actions of everyday living… I can get to my grandmother’s house in North Carolina in about 5 hours from my parents doorstep if I try hard enough, at the same token it could take me 7 hours to make the same journey if I procrastinate… 

The point is that I will arrive to my destination; however, the time that it takes me to get there is determined by me… God wanted to bless His children, He wanted them to prosper under His leadership, but they choice to defy God, which lead them into captivity and the bondage that they currently face… God never wants evil to enter your life, He doesn’t desire to make things hard for you, but will make sure that you learn from every experience and eventually understand the reasoning for your suffering… This passage tells me that God sees your future and promise that is bestowed within you, but He also acknowledges in this passage that there will be twist and turns along your journey, that’s why it says that He has an expected end… Jeremiah concludes that, “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you…” Now that you understand that the trials that have entered your life are from the works of your hands, God is waiting for you to call upon Him, He is waiting for you to turn from your wickedness and seek His face… God said, “If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray…” God will not act until you do! He has plans for you to prosper, plans for you to succeed, plans for you to prevail, but you have to turn, you have to confess, you have to repent… The funny thing about the Israelites bondage is that they had the key inside them to be freed; likewise, the key to your freedom lies within you! Call upon His name, throw your hands up in prayer and humble yourself before the Lord knowing that you can’t make it on your own… Hearken unto his word, adhere to His commands, and trust Him in the time of battle and turmoil! Understand that God will see you through, know that you will be lead through the valley of the shadows of death, but you should fear no evil! David didn’t fear evil because he understood that, “Thou are with me…” God is with you, He is right by your side waiting and hoping that you will allow His thoughts of peace to transcend your life… You should remain confident that you will be victorious; you should keep your faith that you will prevail and that the devil will be and already has been defeated! The enemy wants you to give up, he wants you to throw in the towel, but Jeremiah reminds us that God knows the thoughts he thinks toward you and when you pray unto Him He will hearken unto you...

ALL FOR HIM!

A Godly Woman Is Priceless

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

 

Proverbs 31:30

 

What is your motivation as you get up from bed and prepare to head out to your occupation or school…? Are you focused on catching the attention of your peers or are you simply focused on conducting yourself in the environment with which you are entering… The intent of your actions reveals more about you than the actions themselves… This proverb reminds us today that you can have all the physical tools that a man or women desires (nice hair, skin, figure etc…) You can be the kind of women that turns heads everywhere you walk, or constantly receives compliments on how you carry yourself, but this passage reminds us of the emptiness that lies within a person who is not under the authority of God. This verse starts off by saying Favor is deceitful, this means that you may have many compliments, and you may receive many gifts, but those who are on the giving end may be expecting something else in return (motives that are not Godly), those who are praising you may be the same ones that are trying to stab you in the back or cause you harm. In the same vain, you can favor one person over another and end up regretting your decision… There are so many relationships that fall by the wayside because people have favored looks over humility… This is why we must come to know that favor is in fact deceitful as it will lead you down a road of empty promises, regret and mistreatment... Not only do we need to know that favor isn’t what we should seek from the eyes of mankind, but the writer goes on to say that beauty is vain; this tells me that a woman of character isn’t just about looks. This implies to me that there must be something more that the woman brings to the table other than her body. I have seen many relationships that revolved around a physical attraction and within months it is over. 

I have known women who look beautiful but are weak within, they don’t have the strength to withstand temptations or hardships so they so they lure people in with their physical beauty; however, inwardly they are so ugly and dark that this soon leads to complications and heartbreak…  Beauty is vain because looks fade, beauty is vain because the stress of life alters your appears; it is a ineffective resource that people used as a crutch for far to long… Favor and beauty is what derailed Sampson with Delilah, favor and beauty is what derailed David when he saw Bathsheba; however, the fear of God is what kept Joseph from accepting the invite from Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her, it is also what allowed Esther to stand on behalf of the Jews before the king… This is why the passage goes on and reads “but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised…” When a woman fears the Lord her true beauty shows from within… She doesn’t have to seek favor on this earth because she has the favor of God upon her life… Even though this scripture refers to women, men can learn as well… Men don’t need to be focused on fleshly desires nor acceptance from their peers… Remain humble and seek the favor of God through the fear (reverence) of God… This journey through life will not be made by looks, and lust. This Christian walk on this earth will be lonely sometimes; it is a daunting task that will leave you scarred, bruised and tired (not exactly things that one can endure when they are worried about their outward favor or beauty)… Your mere beauty will not help, the favor of men won’t complete the void in your life; all these things will steal, kill and destroy you… When you seek these things through what is apparent in the world, you take misguided steps which lead to your demise… If you want to be praised, if you want to be honored if you want to be respected, then learn to fear the Lord. This journey of life will be completed by those who believe in the Lord, and trust him at his word, though this course is long, you will cross the finish line… Learn to appreciate what God thinks and not man; when you do that ladies you will come to know what this proverb also says 20 verses earlier, and that is that you are WORTH MORE THAN RUBIES!!!!

 

ALL FOR HIM!!!

He's Given Us His Spirit

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Luke 3:16

As a child of God we all must make a decision in life, this decision is the choice that we make to live our lives according to the will of God instead of adhering to the designs and plans of the world… Baptism is a result of the decision that we just looked at in the previous verse; when one is baptized you are displaying not only your faith and acknowledgment of your sin, you are also showing that you have a changed outlook and mindset internally by the visible steps you have taken which are outlined by being baptized… It is a privilege and indeed an honor for one to be able to be baptized… This is why I started off by saying that we will examine the main reason to be thankful which is that God has allowed you a golden opportunity to be transformed from your life as a sinner and be molded into the child which He specifically designed you to be… Remember that Jesus made His mission and assignment clear in John 10:10 when He said I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly… This is the fire and Holy Ghost that we receive when baptized by the one who is mightier than John… We indeed can decide to be about the work of God; however, you must have the indwelling Holy Ghost to serve as your comfort and guide along the way and then ignite the flame of faith which will allow you to overcome storms and obstacles that are meant to break and deter you… The only way to reach your divine destiny is to be baptized into the divine will of God… This step can only be obtained when you are under the guidance and rule of the savior… John the Baptist himself was not able to define the purpose and plan of a believer which is why he classified Jesus as the one, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose… There is nobody who can get you to where God has ordained you to be, nothing of this earth which can be bought or given to obtain the abundant life which Christ came to give… I say this to reinforce the point of why we must always be thankful to God, knowing that He did not have to give us the very life and chance that we have today… You are blessed beyond belief without having every need met because God has offered you another chance to turn your life over to Him and begin to really live… Understand today that you are alive because of the mercies of God and your abilities to reach all the avenues and levels which he designed for you are made possible by today’s focus verse…

Luke records that John was going throughout the land baptizing people and preparing the way for Jesus; John later says that there is one coming that will baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire… Through this story we see how much that John was dedicated to do the work of the Lord (he was later beheaded) he gave himself up and prophesied to the nations of the coming of the Lord; later on we see the prophesy fulfilled when Jesus comes and performs numerous miraculous signs before leaving this earth! As Jesus was preparing to return to heaven he states to the disciples that I will not leave you comfortless and a (n) assured them that the Holy Spirit would come! It is in the book of Acts that we find the Spirit placed within the hearts of the disciples and the power of the Lord being instilled within them… Let us remember not only to be thankful on thanksgiving but to be thankful everyday of our lives for all the bountiful blessings that have been poured out! Be thankful for the John’s of this earth that have poured themselves out to the work and will of the Lord and prepared you for Christ to enter your life! Let us continue to examine the task that was given to Jesus and the sweat that was shed in the garden in the form of blood! Jesus gave and lost everything so that you could gain salvation; He died so you could live and became poor that you may inherit the riches of eternity… When you feel isolated and abandoned by loved ones, know that Christ has poured out the Holy Spirit to comfort you, to guide you and to protect you! The spirit goes to God on our behalf and is entrusted to guide our footsteps; the spirit wipes our tears late at night and holds us in His arms so that we can sleep in peace! It is through the Spirit that we have direction, purpose and a plan! Christ gave the spirit unto all that believe and trust in him! Let us be thankful today for the sacrifice of Christ, but also be thankful for Jesus giving us His Spirit… After all Thanksgiving is being thankful in giving (Jesus is thankful that He gave us the Spirit, let us use it to grow closer to Him)!

BE BLESSED!!!

Stay Fixed On Jesus

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

 

Jude 1:20-21

 

The key word for today’s devotional is maintain; Jude reminds us today that as we grow in Christ we cannot allow our maturation process to be hindered by a lack of focus and remembrance… Often times the struggles that overcome a Christian are not turning to Jesus Christ, but maintaining that relationship over the course of our life from the first time that we confess Him as Lord and Savior… Jude says that we are to build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost… When situations arise or storms approach, you cannot neglect your faith; as a matter of fact, this is where your faith is of the utmost importance and this is why Jude says that we must build upon it… Satan was mad when you turned to Christ and he will stop at nothing to alter your path and change your mind… Understanding the desires of the enemy allow us to gain an understanding of how important our foundation is… Jesus once spoke a parable regarding two men, one built his house upon a rock while the other built his upon sand; when a storm approached, the house built on a rock was the only one left standing… I incorporate this parable today to make the point that we all (no matter the foundation) will encounter storms; however, if we maintain our faith and hope on Jesus Christ and unlike others we will be able to survive and overcome the most daunting challenges… As a child of God the first thing we must do is make sure that our foundation is secure… Jude teaches us that we must build ourselves up on the most holy faith which is Jesus Christ… The bible declares that without faith it is to please God, the bible says that the just shall live by faith and that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith… Surely we encounter various obstacles and temptations in this world and because of this we must be sure that our faith is unwavering and built upon the precious blood and promises of Jesus Christ…The challenge that faces every Christian is their ability to remain steadfast in there faith and stay focused on the will of God! In this season of thanksgiving, one will usually reflect on past years and study how they have grown and ultimately draw a conclusion of what they are thankful for… Let us not forget where we have come from, but more importantly, let us remember where we are going…

 

Jude reminds us today that we must build ourselves up on the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost and staying in the love of God… Today examine the things that are around you, the task that you have set to complete and ask yourself where God is in your equation… How much time to do you spend with Him and how often do you seek a closer walk! Often times we neglect our relationship with God and become focused on worldly gain that leads us down a path of corruption… Not only are we to build ourselves up in faith, but Jude says that we must keep ourselves in the love of God… A foundation is critical for building; however, it is useless if it isn’t used… We have established our foundation upon Christ when we gave our lives over to Him; however, if we don’t continue to abide in His word and will we will fall out of fellowship with Him and open the door for Satan to thwart our path to becoming all that God has called us to be… Make sure that your eyes are not set on things of this world, but on the mercies of God… We must stay focused on the Lord all the days of our lives; Lot was called to leave the perverted city he called home, when he gathered his family to leave and was a great distance away God begin to burn the city down… The bible says that Lot’s wife looked back (went against what God told them) and was turned into a pillar of salt… When we take our eyes off the Lord we allow Satan to creep in, we allow him to remind us of the evil we use to do and we are enticed to relapse and turn away from the Lord… Today let us establish that foundation of which Christ is the cornerstone and build our house up with the promises of eternal bliss and streets paved with gold… When you think about what you are thankful for, make sure that the offering that Christ poured out on the cross is number one… Make sure that you are thankful for God’s direction in your life which has spared you and lead you to the point you are at today; Jude says that we must look for the mercy of Jesus unto eternal life! We must recognize that we have not gotten here by ourselves and that there is nothing we can do, say or buy to receive eternal life… True happiness and success in found in the will of God, peace and understanding our found in the love of God and salvation and eternal life are found in the mercy of God! Today continue to study God’s word, continue to pray, and continue to exalt the Lord and stay focused on the will of God which will lead you to eternal prosperity and happiness…

 

BE BLESSED!!!

Open Your Heart; Not Your Mouth

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

 

1 Peter 3:9

 

Just yesterday we looked at the gospel of Luke and how we are called as Christians to love our enemies, bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you… Today, we examine other aspects of our walk that lead to growth and display our acceptance of Jesus as the model for our lives… Peter was a man that faced many challenges, from the time he wept in the courtyard to standing before the courts of the Pharisee’s, Peter saw many trials and tribulations… It is in today’s reading that he reminds us that we can’t act like everyone else in the world, we can’t conduct business the way people conduct business and we cannot stoop to the levels of society that would lead us to straying away from our walk with the Lord… Peter was known as a man that didn't care for too many shenanigans; many scholars speak of Peter as being the kind of guy that you would think twice before messing with… All these things lead me to believe that Peter had a very quick temper; however, under the guidance of the Lord Peter teaches us today that we can’t be reactive, we can’t jump to conclusion, we can’t be like everyone else… How hard is it for you to turn away from somebody who has done you wrong? How hard is it to walk away from a person who has insulted you and/or gotten under your skin…? Peter reminds us today that as a child of God we show our faith by taking these actions! Despite how we may have reacted as a product of the world, today we are reminded that we must have a different approach as a child of God… Quite frankly there are things in our lives that we use to do which will not be accepted nor tolerated in living a life that is pleasing to our Lord…

 

I know that biting your tongue can be difficult, extending a loving hand to your adversary may be challenging and turning the other check can be a daunting task; however, the words from Peter are not only that these are things that you must do, but that these traits are obtainable when walking under the authority of God… You are and will be called blessed by adhering the desires of God and being about His business… As you grow in Christ, He will begin to mold you so that you can repay evil with good and insults with blessings… This is not something accomplished overnight and I know that there are many times that we would like to give somebody a piece of our mind, there are many instances where we have felt that we were wronged and wanted to retaliate or address the situation. We must know and realize that by retaliating we are fueling the fire of sin and anger and replacing the promise of God (vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I will repay…) with our own agenda. Temptation comes in many forms and “evil intentions” is one of the main forms that the devil will use to try and gain your attention and distract you from doing the will of God!

 

Understand that by walking away you will inherit blessings; this is not a sign of weakness but maturity… As a Christian we all need to remember that God didn't repay us for our evil and sin, He responded with a blessing in the form of Jesus Christ… Blessings poured out in times of evil reap a harvest of glory and honor to God! Jesus didn't repay the roman soldiers that hung Him on the cross, He sought there forgiveness than bowed His head; now He sits at the right hand of the father and all power has been placed in His hands! Let us draw strength from His example, live your life according to the will of God, when evil arises in your life, pour out the spirit of blessings that God has poured out on you… Speak a kind word to your enemy, lend a hand to someone who has betrayed you, and seek there forgiveness even when they have sought forgiveness from you… When you do these things, you rebuke Satan’s attack and store up more blessings from God in heaven… God has promised that you will be exalted in the face of evil (thou preparest a table for me in the presences of mine enemies…) so stand on faith in God and don’t take matters into your own hands… The Lord knows how many times you keep quite and don’t overact; He will do the talking for you and will reward you openly with blessings…

 

BE BLESSED!!!

Love Regardless

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:27-28

As we have studied the last couple of days, today’s devotional deals with the fact that as a Christian we are held to a higher standard or way of living… Today’s message echo’s our focus this week which elaborates on the fact that you are to love your enemies and do good to them which hate you… Understand today that how you handle people is a direct example of who you feel Christ has dealt with you… Remember today that you were undeserving of His love, grace and mercy just like the people who irk your nerves; however, we have to model Christ and continue to love others even if they don’t know how to love you in return…  Again, as we have studied throughout the week, know that as believers in Christ we are held to a higher standard… We must go the extra mile and extend hands of kindness to those who may not be grateful… In this journey of life we must speak words of encouragement to those who may be gossiping about us and we must stay focused on exalting God through our living… Jesus gives us instructs that we are called to live by today; we are not called to extend helping hands to just believers in Christ; we are called to see each and every moment in our lives as a chances to display our faith and God’s faithfulness… We give not expecting anything in return, we give showing that we are of Christ and that we want to bring praise and honor to the name that is above us… Jesus goes on in this chapter to say what good is it to give to your brother, even sinners do that… If we were just focused on living within the church we wouldn’t be able to bring others to Christ and the church wouldn’t grow… Jesus called disciples from all works of earth and from every religious background of position… Matthew was a tax collector, Peter was a fisherman and Nicodemus was a Pharisee… It didn’t matter what you were when you encountered Jesus, but what you became after you walked with Him… Know that we are called not to judge people, but to allow them to encounter Christ through the beacon light that He has placed in us… A child of God is a person who continues to grow under the guidance and direction of the Lord… The key to your Christian walk is growth and one of the biggest forums that your growth is displayed in is how you treat your enemies… We all have heard the saying that “not everyone will like you;” however, the challenge is put forth by God’s calling upon our lives to be able to extend a hand of love to any and everyone that we come in contact with… Luke says that we are to love our enemies, bless them that curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you…

An enemy is one who simply opposes you, they constantly go against the grain and challenge you daily; we are called to love that person, continue to try and lift them up, continue to try and show them the right way, continue to try and impact their lives…  To bless means that you consecrate, approve or exalt… When someone curses you, you in turn bless them by exalting their name before the Lord; you bless them by covering them in the blood of the lamb and not retaliating according to the errors of their ways… One of the most difficult things we are asked to do as a Christian is to pray for those who abuse us (mentally or physically)… Prayer is a conversation between you and the Lord, when we pray it is very hard to put our own desires aside and left up another person, especially if this person has wronged us and has evil intentions… Prayer takes time and focus, as a child of God we must put aside anger, malice and evil thoughts to bring about repentance, peace and God’s love… When we can love, bless and pray; we are growing in Christ and are a child of God… Time and time again you have heard me talk about how this walk as a Christian is not easy, today is more evidence to that statement… God calls us to be His child, with that calling we are called to go above the norm, be better than we were and achieve greatness within His will… In order to accomplish these things we must be able to overcome the snares of the devil which can be a person who is your enemy or who curses you or who despitefully uses you… Luke reminds us that as a child of God we are to simply love unconditionally; we are to embrace our enemies and do good to those who hate you… This is much easier said than done, but this is a measure of your faith within the will of God! Many times we allow relationships to end and terminate people from our lives because of mistakes that have been made, when this occurs we are allowing the weight of sin and bondage to be placed in our lives and the lives of others! By not forgiving and seeking resolution we allow this conflict to fester and ultimately guide our footsteps in a way that removes us from the will of God… Remember the grace that God bestowed upon you when you were His enemy and bestow that same grace upon your enemies as a child of God…

BE BLESSED!!!

Jesus Came To Serve (Do Likewise)

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

Jesus came to this earth with one assignment which was to serve the very creation of His father by laying down His life… Knowing that Jesus was and is the Savior allows us to place Him in high esteem or regard; however, we must know the submissive nature that He displayed to reach and obtain such a noble calling… We have to examine the life He lived which was indeed a life full of service and not one which was built upon people serving Him… Through today’s devotion we are challenged to remember the humility with which we are called to live and know that our duty as Christians is to assist others instead of seeking our own will and having others assist us in reaching it… This is not to be confused to say that you cannot have goals; however, what the passage says to us today is that we must be about the work of Christ which is extending hands of love and gratitude toward our fellowman if we want to reach and obtain these aforementioned goals… One of the biggest struggles in the church today is living a life of service… We can all shout, we can all quote a scripture, but the true definition of a Christian is found in their ability to minister… As we studied on yesterday, we are all called to the Ministry of reconciliation; however, this calling will be null and void if we are not able to submit ourselves to the will of God which requires us to submit to our brothers and sisters here on earth… Make sure that you are living your life with the right purpose and the choices you make are for the right reasons… Mark reminds us today that Jesus in all His glory came unto this earth to minister unto all who would accept His offering which was poured out on the cross… We are reminded of this today, because the call we have on this earth is not about “me, myself and I” but to minister unto those we come in contact with… We shouldn’t be focused on obtaining financial wealth for ourselves, we should be focused on be successful so that we can lend a helping hand to our fellow brothers and sisters… In the Old Testament, the Hebrews were instructed to lend resources unto their brothers without interest, it was the duty of the brothers to help out in times of need and not take advantaged of one another… In this world today, the goal is to get rich quick, the mindset is that only the strong survive and the focus is on taking care of your house… The reality of all these things is that that if Jesus lived this way you and I wouldn’t be here… Think about how troubled your life has been, is or may become and now think about the life that Jesus laid down on your behalf… We may want riches; however Mark is reminding us that Jesus was the richest of all… He is alpha and omega, the beginning and the end… He’s is the first and the last and yet He still gave His very life for my sin… When you think about doing stuff just for yourself meditate on this verse… Mark says, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto…”

Jesus wasn’t here to be pampered, He wasn’t here to receive praise and for people to gloat over His success; He was here to do the will of the father, He was here to fulfill the plan that God had for His life and He was here to drink the cup put before Him… Mark starts this verse off this way because we can’t get things twisted… Even Christ came to minister… We are here to minister, we aren’t even close to being in the same category of Christ; however He still washed the disciple’s feet and laid down His life… If Christ, in all His majesty was able to do that, what does that mean as far as our responsibilities on this earth… See this passage helps me to stay grounded in knowing that being a child of God is more than just saying you love Jesus… This passage instructs me today that being a child of God is more than just going to church and spending time with brothers and sisters in Christ… This passage reminds me that our lives must be totally sacrificed to the Lord… We must offer ourselves a living sacrifice as Paul writes in the 12^th chapter of his letter to the Church of Rome… A living sacrifice means each and everyday, each and every hour and each and every second we are walking the will of God and ministering to those around us… Your ministry doesn’t just live on Sunday, your ministry is speaking kind words in the midst of gossip, your ministry is turning the other cheek in the midst of a confrontation, your ministry is loving those who don’t love you back… Christ new He came to this earth to transform lives and pave the way to Salvation… Your life is more than just having a good job and driving a nice you’re your life is far more than living in a nice community and having money… You’re here to transform lives and lead other to Christ… This ministry is the foundation that all Christians stand on… We are called to impact the lives of others… We can do that if we are worried about buying this or diving that… We can do that if we are worried about what people may say or what obstacles may come our way… Whenever you are faced with a choice think to yourself, “What Would Jesus Do…?” I say that because we already know the answer as to what He did… He ignored the desire to maintain a reasonable life for Himself… He didn’t acknowledge the desire to lookout for self and even in the worst of times, He didn’t give into the temptation of resisting the cup of God’s plan which was laid before Him… Jesus came to serve His people and bear witness to His Father’s mission for us all. To be a true Christian is to serve throughout your life. Give to the needy, pray for your enemies and be a beacon light in this dark world.

BE BLESSED!!!

You're Called To Be The Bigger Person

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:9

As a child of God you are held to a higher standard… The way in which others may deal with situations should not and cannot be the same way in which you deal with situations… Peter reminds us of this higher standard when He says Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insults… As you go through this life there are two principles which you must adhere too.. The first is that you must remember who you are representing; this means that you must carry yourself as a child of the Most High God doing things that bring honor to Him which is what we examined on yesterday… The second is that you must mature daily in the ability of controlling your tongue… Remember that James tells us that the tongue is unruly evil which no man can tame… These two principles are what display Christ to others and bring exaltation to His name… When you walk in love you will not indulge in evil and when you control your tongue you will lift up and edify instead of breakdown and curse… Not only must we avoid these two pitfalls, but Peter even takes it to another level when He says that we must repay with blessing…You have to be able to rise above the sin to promote a love and opening for the sinner… This requires a strong and intimate relationship with God…  Some of us have learned how to handle situations as far as avoiding the snare of the enemy; however, we still have not mastered the test as we have yet to transform that stumbling block of evil and insult into a stepping stone of love and compassion… How you handle evil and the ability to transform situations is what displays Christ and therefore promotes His grace and mercy in the lives of others… This passage simply reminds us today that we cannot walk around this earth with bitterness, unforgiveness and therefore leave an area or void of separation between us and anyone whom we come in contact with… You must reconcile and rebuild as Paul told the Church of Corinth…

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Sure people with double cross you, they will offend you, but your ministry is reconciliation which means that you cannot repay with evil and insult… How hard is it for you to turn away from somebody who has done you wrong? How hard is it to walk away from a person who has insulted you and/or gotten under your skin…? Peter reminds us today that as a child of God we show our faith by these actions! There are many times that we would like to give somebody a piece of our mind, there are many instances where we have felt that we were wronged and wanted to retaliate or address the situation. We must know and realize that by retaliating we are fueling the fire of sin and anger and replacing the promise of God (vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I will repay…) with our own agenda. Temptation comes in many forms and evil is a main form that the devil will use to try and gain your attention and distract you from doing the will of God! Understand that by walking away you will inherit blessings; this is not a sign of weakness but maturity… As a Christian we all need to remember that God didn’t repay us for our evil and sin, he responded with a blessing in the form of Jesus Christ… Blessings poured out in times of evil reap a harvest of glory and honor to God! Jesus didn’t repay the roman soldiers that hung him on the cross, he sought there forgiveness than bowed his head; now he sits at the right hand of the father and all power has been placed in his hands! Let us draw strength from His example, live your life according to the will of God, when evil arises in your life, pour out the spirit of blessings that God has poured out on you… Speak a kind word to your enemy, lend a hand to someone who has betrayed you, and seek there forgiveness even when they have sought forgiveness from you… When you do these things, you rebuke Satan’s attack and store up more blessings from God in heaven… God has promised that you will be exalted in the face of evil (thou preparest a table for me in the presences of mine enemies…) so stand on faith in God and don’t take matters into your own hands…

BE BLESSED!!!