Stay Humble

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:3  

As a child of God, one of the biggest signs of maturity is how you deal with situations and people… Just as Jesus made it clear that He wants you to give from your heart, Paul reminds the church of Philippi that we are to strive to do things out of love and not out of strife, which is friction, discord or rivalry… How do you respond when someone ask you to do something, do you act like it is the end of the world, do you pout and let out a despairing cry? This letter to the church of Philippi urges the true disciple to focus on living for God and not worldly respect! There are two main points that we must understand when it comes to dealing with things through strife… The bible says that we aren’t suppose to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing, this simple means that we are to be about the work of God without worrying making sure that people see all that we do… First, many of us have lost sight of humbling ourselves before the Lord and exalting God through our living. Instead, we have wanted to make sure that everyone and their mother knows what we have been asked to do or how difficult people are making our lives… 

We will throw our hands up with a massive sigh as if to say that this is a ton of bricks which have been placed upon our shoulders. The second thing to this is that we try to draw attention to ourselves so that the people around us will praise our efforts… Jesus said wherever your treasures are there your heart will be… If you are focused on pleasing men and seeking their approval, you have lost sight of God and His approval which is the only one that matters… Paul says to us today that we need to stop acting foolish, stop looking for physical gain and popularity (vainglory); instead, we need to be focused on understanding what being a child of God in tells. We are called to lift each other up (not tear each other down), but in lifting each other we are to do it without murmurings or disputes… Paul says we are to be in a lowly state; this calls for you to check your ego at the door, this informs me that I must examine the motives as to why have acted and make sure that in all that I do God is glorified and not me… Remember Paul was faced a challenge with the church of Corinth, people had begun to follow Him instead of Christ and Paul was quick to refocus them toward God and not man… Let us learn from Paul and remember that we aren’t hear to please man, we aren’t here to be put on a pedestal, we have been given a chance on this earth through God’s grace and must live accordingly… Even though Paul dealt with people wanting to boast His ego; we have no better example to follow when it comes to this topic than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… 

Let us examine Christ when He came to this earth, what if He throw His hands up when He saw the cross that He would have to carry and be strung out on? What if He nagged and complained about all the people who asked for healing and cleansing? What if Jesus was looking for vainglory, so He started to adhere to the false teaching of the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees? More importantly, what if Jesus decided to forgo the cross because there were no people on earth worthy of His sacrifice… This is what Paul is talking about today, Christ lowered Himself and nobody was worthy of His offering, we must have a (n) attitude that will allow us to help others even when they may not deserve it, we must be able to lay aside malice and take steps toward fulfilling the desires that God has for our lives, we must stop seeking materials and elevate our minds spiritually… If Jesus would have taken this approach, you and I wouldn’t have the life that we enjoy at this present day… In short, we would not be here and heaven would not be a possibility… The bible says that just as a sheep before His shearers is silent, He never said a mumbling word! Christ didn’t complain, He didn’t call attention to all the good deeds that He did (remember He constantly told those He healed to keep silent), so Paul tells us today be focused on God, help those in need, and witness to the lost and confused! Most importantly remember that God sees your deeds, so you don’t need to broadcast them all over the place!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Blessed Is The One Who Trust The Lord

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Psalm 40:4

How you live your life demonstrates who the head of your life is and what matters most to you… The Lord cannot be “our trust” if we give up the value He has within our lives to fit in with others… This verse taken from the 40^th psalm informs us of what it takes to be called BLESSED! So often we hear people say that they are blessed and highly favored… Highly favored coming from the announcement made to Mary by the angels that she would give birth to Christ! Notice that Mary was an upright women who lived a life adhering to God’s will and standard of living, she adapted to every situation she faced and never gained an ego nor lived by the worldly views… One who trusts in the Lord remains humble while being exalted; they stay the course in rocky situations and seek to fulfill the desires of God… There are stipulations that come with this territory of being called BLESSED. If you claim that you are blessed, than that means you trust the Lord, aren’t concerned about the respect of peers and aren’t caught up in the ways of this world… To be a blessed individual, there are a lot of sacrifices that you must make and they are broken down below: Keep in mind that we all are blessed, but we must understand that this doesn’t just mean that God has favored us or brought us through storms, to be blessed is indeed a validation to where you stand as a child of God!

1)      You must trust the Lord: Trusting is not only believing but also expecting in any and every situation (whether good or bad)… This means that even in the dark days of your life you must continue to hold to God’s word, when things are uncertain, your faith must remain certain and when tribulations face you daily you must believe that HE is, and that HE is a reward of them that diligently seek him! Trusting God is not simply praying, but withstanding the test without complaining… Do you trust Him?

2)      Respect NOT the Proud: How hard is it for you to ignore what the world views as success, how hard is it for you to stand still despite what people may say and hold to God’s hand? There will be many chances in this life for you to show your trust in the Lord and dealing with peer pressure is one of them. Christ came to this earth and went against the Sanhedrin and Pharisees; He turned the tide and went against the grain… To be blessed you must do the same, it is a lot easier to be of the world then to just be in it, but a true BLESSED child of God will go against the status quo and deliver a powerful witness against those who proclaim the ways of evil!

3)      Nor turn aside to Lies: This last task may be the most daunting of them all, we are called to walk upright before the Lord and this means that we must avoid the temptations of this world and sacrifice our sinful nature daily… Walking a Christian journey is filled with ups and downs strengths and weaknesses… Due to this fact there will be many opportunities for you to lean away from God’s calling. People will come against the Lord at your weakest hour, they will blaspheme Him when you feel alone and isolated, but you must be capable of rising against the falsehoods and staying focused on the one who is THE AUTHOR AND FINSHER OF YOUR FAITH! God has started a masterpiece in your life, but it will not reap the rewards until every stroke has been completed. Sadness is a stroke, pain is a stroke, healing is a stroke, perseverance is a stroke, endurance is a stroke, and these things will mold you into the masterpiece He has called you to be! It is in the weak hours that Satan will try to plant lies within you that will lead you to question your faith; you must turn them aside and stay the course…

You are blessed not because God has let you see another day, but because you trust the Lord, you are blessed not because things are coming with ease, but because you don’t respect the proud and egotistic persons, and you are blessed not because you have many things, but because you do not adhere to the lies that will come against your God! Jesus said, “Take up your cross!” Another way to interpret these words is to simply ask the following question:

Are you truly BLESSED and do you have what it takes to be called BLESSED?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Sheep Know His Voice

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28

A sheep is a (n) animal that is steered and directed towards a certain destination; unlike many animals, sheep are aimless, harmless creatures that must be guided daily and must be protected… The bible refers to mankind as sheep and this analogy fits us to a tee… Just as sheep, we wonder through this life aimlessly with no sense of direction and if we aren’t guided will end up in harm’s way and be devoured…Sheep not only must be watched over just as we need to be, but they also must develop a sense of trust and obedience with their shepherd… Over time sheep learn the voice of their master and will follow without hesitation, this speaks to the maturity that takes place in the lives of Christians, because of the sinful nature you will not willingly follow Jesus at the outset, but with time you will not only learn to trust Him, but you will be able to decipher His voice from the voice of the enemy… Christ says in this passage taken from John that His sheep hear His voice and that He knows them just as they know Him! 

Notice the first statement is rather general to the point that His sheep hear His voice, but the next statement shows that intimacy that must be present within our lives as a Christian… Christ says, I know them and they follow me… Christ understand that you aren’t perfect, He knows that you make mistakes and what this passage informs me of is that He is ready and willing to protect you, but you must first hear His voice and follow Him… So many people hear the voice of the Lord calling them, but they don’t follow, they pretend to be okay and don’t seek the help and cure that only God can provide… A shepherd must protect His sheep or they will be lost, Jesus wants to protect you, but you must follow Him or you will indeed be lost… Jesus goes on to say, “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish…” As I stated earlier, sheep are aimless creatures, but here Jesus reminds us that He will give your life a sense of purpose, He will guide you in all your ways and will make sure that you don’t’ perish… There are always times when a sheep is in danger, but a good shepherd not only can sense these times, but also can save the sheep… Jesus is informing us today that you will have times of trials, you will have times of despair and you will find yourself in times of uncertainty and danger, but Jesus wants you to find courage in knowing that if you are following Him that He will save you… Your trials won’t break you, your obstacles won’t deter you, and your enemies will not be victorious… 

Not only does Jesus guarantee eternal life, but He also says, “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand…” Once you have accepted the offering that was poured out on the cross, once you have accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, once you have entrusted your life into His hands there is nothing of this earth that can deny your place in God’s kingdom… Many people miss the fact that when you turn you life over to God that is when your trials will become real, many people overlook the fact that Satan isn’t worried about attacking you until you make Jesus your Lord… God is telling us that you will be tried when you follow Him, you will be tempted when you are doing His will, you will experience spiritual warfare once you decide to follow Jesus and He wants you to know that no weapon formed against you shall prosper, He wants you to know that all those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved and He wants you to know that in His father’s house are many mansions… Sheep are useful animals that have value in so many forms (wool, meat, diary, landscaping etc…) They just must be directed in order to reach there potential… You have a lot of value in this life that hasn’t been seen, Jesus wants to direct your path so you can reach your full potential… Jesus told the fisherman, “come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men…” The sky is the limit when Jesus is your Pilot…

Listen to his voice, continue to walk in his path and believe in his word!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He'll Give You The Power & Strength

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Isaiah 40:28-29

Do you know the God that you serve? I hope that you know and understand that as a co-heir with Jesus Christ we serve a God that is limitless and all mighty… Even though you may have experienced a setback or may not be where you desire; Isaiah has a question for you while you are in the midst of your current circumstance… “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard…?” If you really feel like giving up or throwing in the towel today you must know realize the authority and power which lies in the hand of the God you serve… If you are waving your white flag in the direction of the enemy as a sign of surrender than you must not know the everlasting God that is bigger than any situation or conflict… The bible declares that God is every present, the bible also declares that we must rung this race with perseverance… This means that we must believe and stand in faith that the word of God is true when it says that “you will reap a harvest in due time if you faint not…” No matter what has taken place in your life, no matter how great or mighty the storm may appear to be, you can find comfort and solace in knowing that you serve a God that is unmatched and like no other… He is as Isaiah records in today’s focus verses “the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator…” Despite what you me be facing right now, proclaim through your faith that the word is true and you serve notice to the enemy today that God is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that he should repent… 

Does he speak and not act, does he promise and not fulfill (Numbers 23:19)… His promises are real and will be manifested as He said… The songwriter said,“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…” Isaiah reminds us today that in times of despair we have a reason to smile, when things seem deem we have a glamour of hope, when darkness has filled our lives we have a ray of sunshine, when storms rage and ravage the land we can find shelter… As a child of God we must remember that even at the darkest hours of our lives God is at work, we must hold on to the fact that even when the mountain seems to steep God is right there and will never leave us nor forsake us… Times of despair teach us where we stand as a child God, but also help us to focus on strengthening our faith in Him… When trials surface, we are to take them in stride and showcase the work that God has begun in us… We aren’t called to whine about our situations or current circumstances, we aren’t suppose to throw our hands up as if we have been defeated, we aren’t suppose to complain to each other about our problems and we aren’t suppose to give up… We may not understand the trials that we face, we may not comprehend the current situations, but we find joy in knowing that God will deliver us, we find peace in knowing that He will never put more on us than we can bear, we find strength in knowing that God has a plan for our lives… The bible says, “He who has begun a good work will complete it…” The bible says, “For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, thoughts of prosperity, hope and a future…” Don’t become discouraged because you have indeed heard that God doesn’t become weary, you have heard that He hears your faintest cry and has all power in the palm of His hand… Paul said, “When I am weak, He is strong…” 

Isaiah reminds us today that God will give you strength to make it through the day, He will give you authority over every trial, and He will give you power over every stronghold and will turn every obstacle into a stepping stone… Your weakest point will become your greatest showcase of faith and God’s faithfulness… The fact of the matter is that your trials display the truth of where you stand as a child of God… If you think that you can’t win, if you think that you have no hope, if you think that the enemy has won, if you think that your children have strayed to far, if you think that your marriage can’t be fixed, if you believe that your debt can’t be wiped out, if you think that this journey is to hard to take, if you complain at every storm that comes your way; then Isaiah wants you to know that you don’t know the God you serve… You haven’t heard of the delivering power He poses and you haven’t understood that He is the way, the truth and the light… You can smile in the face of adversity, not because you enjoy the current predicament, but because you know  and have heard of the God you serve which is mightier than any tribulation… The Israelites went through bondage and the desert before reaching the Promise Land, your journey will produce the same steps but more importantly, it will produce the same results…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Power Comes From The Cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

When I want to give up on this journey I find strength in the cross… When I feel like I can’t make it another day, I can go to sleep with a smile on face because of the cross… It is through the cross that children of God find hope and strength… In suffering the most humiliating death on earth Jesus obtained the greatest victory known to man which is death… The cross reminds me that nothing thrust against me will overcome the will and divine plan of God… The cross reminds me to accept challenges, endure hardships and embrace obstacles because in the midst of my pain and suffering a victory is being obtained that will far surpass my current predicament… There are people who are in this world and don’t know the hope that they have or can have in Christ Jesus… There are people who you encounter on a daily basis that don’t know the authority the enemy has over them is only given to him by them because the cross has set them free… People don’t know that they have been freed and are in bondage by choice and not circumstance… Since people don’t realize what Jesus did and haven’t realized that the situations they face and the chaos that surrounds their everyday lives is a result of their own actions “the message of the cross is foolishness…” Your life can be better than it is, you can have a peace that is stable amidst this unstable world, but you must let go and allow God to work… Jesus let go after praying for the cup to pass from Him, as a result God not only delivered Him but placed Him in high esteem… As a Christian, our faith lives in what took place on the cross… 

Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth reminds us today of the biggest obstacle that stands not only between believers and non-believers, but also what separates us from all other religions… All religions believe in a form of God; however, the discrepancy comes into play when you focus on who Jesus is… Most religions see Jesus as a prophet, most recognize Him as a messenger, but only Christianity sees Him as God in the flesh and the savior of all who believe in His name… The message of the cross is our inspiration as a Christian; the message of the cross represents a new beginning and the ability to overcome insurmountable odds… Foolishness is stupidity, idiocy or silliness; those who are dying haven’t realized it, nor do the see the saving grace that God bestowed through His son… The message is foolishness to them because they haven’t understood the path that they have journeyed, they haven’t realized the place they will spend eternity without Gods help and have not recognized the errors of their ways…As a Christian we confess the sins we have made, we acknowledge that we are filthy rags and don’t deserve any of God’s Grace or Mercy, to us the cross symbolizes and demonstrates the love the God has for His creation, it shows us the grace of God in that He sent His only begotten son to die for our sins… The message of the cross is foolishness to those who perish because they can’t comprehend the love that God has for us… 

It is through this act that we know that God desires mankind to be with Him, it is through the cross that we see that God doesn’t want to see us perish or fall short, it is through the cross that we see that God desires for us to reach the highest of heights and live a life full of prosperity… Not only does the message of the cross showcase God’s love, but Paul goes on to say that it is the“power of God…” Often times we look at the cross and all the Jesus endured during His great suffering, but Paul challenges us to recognize the other piece to the puzzle… Jesus dying on the cross was the cornerstone to Salvation; however, the foundation lies upon Him being raised up from the dead… Jesus received all power in the palm of His hand and now sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf… We see God’s love through the cross, but also are encouraged by His power that He was able to lift His son up from the very grasp of death… This lets us know that there is no pit God can’t snatch you out of, there is no snare that God can’t deliver you from, there is no bondage to great that God can’t break the chains and plant you on solid ground… The message of the cross is a stumbling block for many people in this world; however, the message of the cross also is the stepping stone for Christians to come out of the pits of sin and have all there past mistakes and failures forgiven… The cross represents death for all who don’t believe, it also represents life for all who call on His name…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

My Peace I Give To You

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

You may not see Him, but there is evidence of His presences in your life… Jesus encourages us today to know that we can find comfort through our sleepless nights and tear-soaked pillow cases… You have been going through a rough patch in your life, you have been challenged and have felt the weight of the world upon your shoulders; however, know that you have a symbol of hope in the remnant of God’s peace… Jesus says,“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…” It was the peace of knowing that He would have victory that allowed Him to be mocked and whipped… It was the peace of knowing that He would be reunited to the Father that allowed Him to be strung out on the Cross and it was the peace of His coming ascension which allowed Him to descend into the belly of this earth… Christ calls for you to take courage in knowing that you can be at peace today because the war has already been won… He lives His peace to you today so you can know that storms on the horizon have already been passed through by His nail scarred hands and His blood will keep you safe from all harm… Psalms 91 says “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…” 

Today, even as you encounter obstacles and hardships you have the opportunity to be at peace with the trials and tribulations that you will face or are facing… Christ has left you peace as He endured the cross and prepared for His transitioned from earth back to heaven! What does it mean that Christ has left you peace? Peace is calm, quiet, tranquility, and harmony! It is great to have peace in the realm of harmony and quietness; however, Jesus even takes it a step further by saying that He not only left us peace but that He left us His peace… The word of God says “my peace I give unto you…” There is something fundamentally different about the peace we have in Christ… The peace we obtain in the world will have us in the mindset that we are stable; however, the peace we have in Christ allows us to think outside of the box and know that not only will I be okay, but I am going to come out of this storm better than I was before it hit… “My peace” will allow acts of love to destroy snares by the enemy, “my peace” will allow for kind words to be spoken toward a (n) adversary… Christ says He will leave you peace which declares to me today that peace is a spirit… The peace we obtain in Christ is not built on emotions but dictates motives and actions… The peace we find in Christ will allow us to seek forgiveness for those who oppose us, understanding that they really don’t understand what they are doing (the same words Jesus spoke from the Cross)… 

When you have the peace of Christ you can look at people and say that even though you have tried to harm me, you really have given me a opportunity to show forth my faith so that God can demonstrate His faithfulness… I am at peace with what has transpired in my life because I know the one who is head over my life has great things in store for me… The peace Christ refers to today is a spirit that is poured out on those who walk in the light of God… Christ leaves us peace today because He knows all that we will have to go through; He understands the trying times that we will face and the tribulations that we surely will endure! Notice He says that He gives it, not as the world giveth… There are no strings attached to this wonderful blessing that Christ has assured His children! When you receive it, it will not be taken back from you nor will you lose it… When we are given something in the worldly standard we are expected to give something in return; Christ constantly preached about giving from your heart and He is living the words that He spoke for all to hear. You can be at peace with everything you endure if your come to the realization that it will produce something better in your future… This is why, even in the midst of your trying times Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…” The battle has already been won, the victory is assured and you just have to walk the path that Jesus has already paved for you… Don’t be troubled today by what you see or what transpires in your life… Jesus said that “He has gone to prepare a place for you…” The best is yet to come, so you can be at peace with where you are today… Go ahead and speak peace over your household knowing your relationship can be restored, speak peace over your children knowing that even though they may be of the world now they will return home… Smile today no matter what you are going through because you know that you will be okay and everything will work out; in other words, be at PEACE…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Door Is Still Open

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Revelation 3:8

Despite what people may have told you or even have attempted to persuade you to believe, this Christian journey isn’t easy… From the time we wake up until the time we lay down again we are surrounded by temptations and snares... While you are resting the enemy is devising new plans to be carried out against you to steal, kill and destroy all that God has in store for you… You may be wondering why the minute you come out of a storm there is another one on the horizon; this coming and going of obstacles can wreak havoc on your physically and mentally; however, through John’s revelation today we are reminded that God “knows thy works…” No matter how daunting the task may appear to be, no matter how much sweat and tears are poured out or energy is exerted through your ordeals, be encouraged today that your perseverance will pay off and even though it may feel at times that God isn’t there, the truth of the matter is that He is right by your side… The Lord sees your struggles; He knows the desires of your heart and has provided you a way of escape and a means of obtaining victory by “setting before thee an open door…” 

Often times we can get overwhelmed by the things that we are faced with and never realize the path which God has already paved for us to not only make it through but to overcome and excel… I can recall a very strong piece of advice that my sister once told me; she said, “don’t tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is…” I quote this powerful statement as a means to challenge you to accept the hand that you have and know that the God you serve will make sure that it plays in a way that you will not only survive it, but will come out better than you were going in because of it… Instead of focusing on the why; learn to be thankful for the when… God has promised to set before you an open door because He has seen your works… Stop allowing your day to be consumed by asking why I have to deal with this or why this is happening to me and learn today to be thankful for God’s grace and mercy which has kept you this far and start declaring “I don’t understand why, but I know it’s not a question of if God will deliver me but when…” This word today is one to encourage you to hold on just a little while longer… God has opened a door for your exaltation, He has setup your path to claim your victory, and He has prepared the way for you to accept your reward! John records this verse with the mindset to encourage us in our daily walk, to give us a power boost or surge of energy so that we will not circum to the evil plans that wait before us. John was exiled to the island of Patmus; however, this is exactly where God wanted Him to be… 

The revelation knowledge came when John was placed in isolation (getting the point)… Accept your trials and tribulations, trust that what you are dealing with “was not meant for evil” as Joshua reminds us in the book of Genesis… The enemy wants you to believe that you don’t have a future in Christ because that is only way that He can stop you… The door that God has opened for your ascension, the door that He has opened for your victory “no man can shut it…” God not only knows thy work, but because you “have kept His word and not denied His name” you are about to be taken to higher levels than you can even fathom or imagine… As the psalmist David wrote, “He is preparing a table for you in the presences of your enemies…” Again, this passage says that God knows thy works, he has seen your struggles, he has heard your cry, he feels the pain and anguish that you have faced, and understands the trials that you have been through! Christ needs you to understand that your trials are set for your benefit, your faith is bringing about prosperity, and your tribulations have set the open door to salvation before you! It is because of thy works, it is because you have risen above the perilous times, it is because you never gave up, it is because you fought the good fight that there is a crown laid up for you! God acknowledges that we are weak, that we are not perfect, but he sees that you have kept his word, you haven’t denied Him before men; so He is preparing your riches, he has gone to set you up for a greatness never imagined and a victory never seen. No man can thwart God’s plan, so keep the faith and know that God has prepared your exaltation!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Everything Will Be Revealed In Time

For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Luke 8:17

There are times in life when we don’t understand, there are points in your Christian journey where we are puzzled by some of the situations that we face… Today, Luke reminds us that everything will be revealed to us in time…The songwriter said “Ooo by and by when the morning comes, all the saints of God are gathered home, we will, tell the story of how we overcome and we’ll understand it better by and by…” Let us realize today that as the years past and we grow in Christ the understanding as to the path and reason behind every turn will be clearer and clearer for us... You may not understand why this or that happened right now, you may not have a clue as to what impact this situation that you are going through will have on your life, but Luke assures us that at God’s appointed time, we will understand… 

God informed us in the 55^th chapter of Isaiah about the lack of understanding that we would have at times in our lives… We can’t comprehend the magnitude of God’s actions; the word says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Our faith shouldn’t rely on living a life of harmony, but on accepting every avenue that this Christian journey takes us on knowing and believing that God knows what’s best for us… God has a special and ordained plan for your life! The turmoil you face is for a reason, the heartache and pain has a purpose, and the chaos and confusion is divine. There will be days where things don’t make sense, times where you feel bewildered and puzzled about your current circumstances, surely there will be instances of shaky ground and conflict! Luke records for us today that there is no secret that shall not be manifested, this passage does not tell you the everything will make sense when you want it to, it doesn’t say that the puzzle pieces of life will fall into place just as you expected, but what is does tell us is that every time and purpose will bring you to a ultimate joyous conclusion… What is does tells us is that as long as you are walking in the spirit and will of God everything well work for your benefit! Luke says things will make sense and you will be enlightened; the key is that all this will take place at God’s appointed time… The struggles that we face in this life are treacherous, the pain we face is agonizing, but when we are called up into the air we will understand every tear that was shed, every ache that was felt and every storm that raged upon us… One can ask why it was that Christ had to die on the cross, one could if there was a simpler way to handle Salvation, but what we can’t deny is that Christ sits at the right hand of God with all power in His hand… 

The bible is filled with times of uncertainty and confusion… Joshua was sold into slavery by his brothers, through his slavery he became a king! Joshua later declares, “Though it was meant for evil, God meant it for good!”Your current imprisonment is bringing about your freedom and salvation, your breakthrough is coming! Even though, you may not understand everything to the degree you wish, understand that God never fails, know that he has a destiny that you will reap a bountiful harvest… Gold must be put through the fire in order to reap its true rewards and worth… Your trials are you fire; the uncertainty that hangs over your life are the flames that are burning away the impurities the lie within you, so don’t lose faith in God because of the things that don’t make sense; on the contrary, trust Him more now, so that in the end you will be better than you are today! Everything will be revealed in time, you will understand your hardships when you reap your rewards, you will understand your trials when they have completed the maturing that was to take place in your life, you will understand your heartache when you child comes back through the doors… The Lord told Habakkuk to, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.” You are the tablet that God is writing on; you are the message of hope to a dark and confused world… Your trials are rays of hope and God will make it plain when He brings you out and places on solid ground… God has a message that you are to deliver to this world, a message that will be made plain, a message that will be clarified and message that will not be hid from you… The message is of His divine love, authority and faithfulness… You may not understand right now, but keep running because it will be revealed for all mankind to see…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Wants To Shower You With Love

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

If you want the experience the power and might of God allow Him into the midst of you… Jesus said behold I stand at the door and knock and we are informed today that God is mighty and when we allow Him in He will save us! Zephaniah reminds us today that it doesn’t matter how far you have fallen, it doesn’t matter how far you have strayed away or even how many mistakes that you have made; God still sits high and looks low, He still has all power in the palm of His hand and can save you… One of the most interesting things that I also see in this passage is that God’s power can only be manifested by your allowance! This verse starts off by saying that “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty…” God must first dwell in you in order to display His mighty hand… You must sacrifice your desires of the flesh and strive to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord… We often talk about the trials that we are facing and how much anguish we are in, but the bigger storm in our lives is whether or not God is in the midst of thee… Is God the head of your life, is He the focus of your daily walk, is he the driving force behind your purpose in life? If so, Zephaniah tells us that the God who dwells in you will surely save you… 

It is of the utmost importance that we establish a relationship with God in order for Him to enter in and mend our heart… Zephaniah is speaking to a people who are in a confused and dark place, he is speaking to the hearts of a people that have rebelled against God and found themselves in the lowest of places, Zephaniah is speaking to a people who have lost hope and feel as if there is no way out… Zephaniah is speaking to you when you feel that the pain is too much to bear, he is speaking to you when you feel that your household is in shambles, the prophet is speaking to you when your job becomes so hectic, your finances are in flux and your children have strayed off the course of promise and hope… This message is for the true believer in God when you feel that God isn’t present, this message is for the person in prayer that hasn’t seen any results, it’s for the parent who is trying to make ends meet but can’t seem to stay afloat… The answer to all your struggles begins with your relationship with God! One of the greatest evangelist and apostles was Paul, as he grew in age he begin to have some medical challenges in his life… Paul said in 2^nd Corinthians the 12^th chapter that God have given him a thorn in his flesh… He continuously prayed that God would remove, but went on to say that God answered by saying, “My grace is sufficient; my strength is made perfect in weakness…” 

Later Paul says, “When I am weak, He (God) is strong…” Paul wanted to experience better days than he was facing, he wanted to be able to move freely without pain or suffering, but he also understood that even in the midst of hardships that God is mighty… Don’t be discouraged when trials come knocking at your door, don’t become weak when situations go south and opposition rears its ugly head… Zephaniah says that, “He will rejoice over thee with joy…” Believe it or not, but God rejoices in your trials because He knows that you are being developed, He knows that you are being purified and that you faith is growing stronger… God rejoices because He knows that even though the situation may be uncomfortable at the moment, your reward will surpass anything that you have dealt with… Jesus endured the cross and now sits on the throne with all power in His hand… God wasn’t rejoicing at the sight of His son bleeding and in pain, but He was rejoicing to have another relationship established with mankind and to have His son resurrected from the dead… James said that we are to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials, not because of the trials but because of the development the trial brings… Keep your focus on pleasing God, don’t be discouraged by the obstacles that life brings and don’t allow your faith to waver… Zephaniah reminds us that if we have a relationship with God, He will surely be there in times of trouble and hardship… God knows how much we can bear, but also will always provide a way of escape… Rejoice in the trials that come your way, rejoice in the storms that approach your do not because they are fun to endure, but because you know that Jesus is Lord of your life, you know that God bestowed all power in His hands, but more importantly because you have been assured through this passage that God will save you!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Watch & Pray

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:41

As a child of God you must always be on guard… The moment you become comfortable is the same moment when you become susceptible to the devices of the enemy… Being alert is not a (n) optional trait that we carry, but a command from the very mouth of Jesus which was spoken to His disciples as He begins to prepare for crucifixion… If you want to reach the levels that God desire and has planned for you to reach, you must learn to “watch and pray…” Today, through this passage we learn how easy temptation can seep into our hearts and minds… It is through these words that we learn how much danger lies at our doorstep every morning or even cuddles beside us in our beds… Jesus speaks to the disciples about temptation knowing that they didn’t even realize what was taking place… A lot of times we overlook the small things (like falling asleep) but Jesus teaches us today that we need to learn to deal with the small issues in life before the lead to bigger problems… 

There are a lot of things that lead us to temptation; there are a lot of doors that we have left up in our lives that entice us to do wrong… Some of these doors could be acquaintances that we need to shut off, some of these doors could be old habits that we never fully removed from our lives or even places that we visit. The point that we need to learn today is that no matter where you are in life temptation is around you… So many people think that they are above certain things based on their economic or social standing; however, the truth of the matter is that when you begin to put confidence in your flesh you open the door to the enemy taking advantage of your weaknesses which is why Jesus goes on to say “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak….” You can overcome the attack of the enemy; however, the only way to conquer him is through the presences and power of the Holy Spirit which is realized by submission and prayer… Whether you realize it or not, there is a battle that is taking place within you everyday of your life… We naturally sin and fall short of the glory of God, the desires that we are born with are desires that alienate us from God and lead to destruction. You never have to teach a child to do wrong; you never have to show them how to be disobedient of unruly… We are born with a rebellious nature, we are born with a desire for the flesh and when we accept the call of God upon our lives the battle begins… It is because of this that we are told that we must “Watch and pray…”Remember when Jesus was baptized, the bible says that right after coming from the word He was lead into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil… 

The devil knows what comes natural to us; he will use whatever he can to grab our attention and that most easily is done by focusing on things that we already desire from the outset of life… It is because of this very fact that we are told here in the gospel of Matthew that we must “Watch and pray…” We are called to be vigilant and observe the things around us… Notice that if we watch and pray we can resist, but if we don’t than we will enter into temptation… When we start to take things in our own hands instead of relying on God we enter into temptation… When we think that things won’t be that bad we enter into temptation, when we try to straddle the fence we enter into temptation… It is so simple and subtle to fall by the wayside and that is why Matthew records that we must “Watch and pray…” The temptations that we face are things that appeal to the desires of our flesh… The temptations that we face are things that we have experienced before and found pleasure in… Jesus knows that this battle is overcoming what comes naturally; that’s why He says that, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." We must come to know and realize that the desires that we have within our heart will not overcome the desires that we have in the flesh without the presence of God and His spirit… This is why we must be vigilant and continue to pray… We cannot defeat Satan on our own and we can look at how many times we have tried and failed to know that that is true… Paul says in the 7^th chapter of Romans, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” We will continue to fall short and miss the mark if we try with our own might… Once we realize that this battle is real and we take it to the Lord in prayer we will overcome the temptations in our lives and live a life that is pleasing in His sight…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

A Good Man Falls And Gets Back Up

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." 

Psalm 37:23-24

From the time you are born until the time you die; your life will travel in whatever direction you choose… Even if you decide to remain where you are, you have chosen to travel in a stagnant direction which will produce lackluster results… The psalmist reminds us today that every man or woman will take steps in life (whether it is a step in the right or wrong direction is your choice)… The steps you take can produce many different outcomes; however, when your steps are ordered in the Lord victory is the certain result… Despite how many hardships or storms you have encountered, you are charged to be encouraged today that even when you slip, even when you want to give up, even when you feel like you are at the end of your rope; “the Lord will uphold you with His hand…” God won’t let you fall to far, He won’t let your life spiral out of control beyond what you can stand and in the end the stumbling blocks you overcome now will transform into stepping stones leading you to your divine destiny. The gospel of Matthew records in the 18^th chapter the very love that God has for His creation and the fact the even when you fall, He’s right there, “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” If you are that wandering sheep today, know that God hasn’t given up on you and is searching to reclaim you in the lost and confused state that you are in… 

If you allow Him to order you steps, know that even when a storm arises in your life, the steps taken in the Lord are the right steps that you had to take… Looking at this passage in another aspect brings me to two quotes that I am sure we all at some point have heard… Often have heard women say that a “good man is hard to find”, I have heard men say that a“good woman is a rare catch”; however the psalmist tells us today how we can identify the man or woman that we seek… A lot of times we get caught up in the physical attractions, the financial security and what someone can do for us, but today we learn that if we want to find the right mix we need to look no further than the Lord… The bible tells us that “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” This informs me that there are many imposters in the world, many that appear to be good; however the definition of what is good and what is bad comes from whom or what it is that orders their steps… Even in the midst of trials and tribulations a good man/woman is able to keep a positive outlook, when others around you give up he/she continues to fight, he/she continues to speak kind words and he/she lifts you up instead of tearing you down. A good man (or woman) is sympathetic to your needs and desires to exalt God by their living. Let us not misunderstand what a good man (or woman) is; this doesn’t mean they are perfect, it doesn’t mean that they will be without fault and it doesn’t mean that you will not have ups and downs. 

The psalmist says, “Though he fall…” The question is not if he/she falls but when. We all will make mistakes, we all fall short, but the difference between a man/woman and a good man/woman is that there heart is in the right place and they will do their best to right the wrongs or learn from their failures… It is because of the desire to do right and the desire to grow in Christ that “…he shall not be utterly cast down...” It is because of their intent that they will be able to overcome and persevere through their present circumstance… When you steps are ordered in the Lord you don’t worry about things of this earth, when evil seems to have the upper hand you stay focused and pray. A good man/woman shows their true character in the face of adversity, it isn’t the flowers they send you on your anniversary or the nice dinner that’s cooked; it isn’t the five-star restaurant of the trips around the world… These are all things that we naturally desire, but what the Psalmist is teaching today is that it’s better to have a good man/woman than any of that. The flowers are nice, but soup when you’re sick is better; vacations are cool, but being able to discuss problems and going to God in prayer is much more relaxing. God is the source and answer for every good man/woman as the word declares “…for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." Even in trials that good person will delight themselves in the way and will of the Lord… “A Man or Woman's Heart Should Be So Close To God, that the person who seeks them must go to Him to find them…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Have To Make A Choice

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24

The bible is clear on the fact that you cannot serve two masters. No matter how much effort you put forth, this cannot be done because the God you are involved with desires your full attention… Deuteronomy 6:15 says, “for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.” There are some of us who are wondering right now why it is that your prayers haven’t been answered, why it is that you have not been able to get out of the rut you are in or even why it seems like the ditch you are in keeps getting deeper and deeper… If you are that person today, the question I have for you is quite simple; is the shovel in your hands or Gods…? Are you stuck because you are trying to figure your own way out or have you really turned it over to the Lord…? The bible declares in Jeremiah 29:13 that, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” 

The only way for you to find God is to seek Him with all your heart; this in turn requires that you leave the other master spoken of in our focus verse from the book of Matthew alone… The problem in your life isn’t that God hasn’t heard or doesn’t hear your prayers; the problem is that you are so distracted by the things of this world and your peers that you cannot recognize the answer that He has placed right before you… This is why you feel like you’ve been praying all this time and haven’t gotten a response, this is why the walls keep closing in on you; you say your waiting on God and the reality is that He is waiting on you… You can’t have one foot in Christ and the other in the world… You may think that it can be done, you will be the exception to the rule; just know that so many people have tried this and ended up missing out of the blessings of God… Trying to appease two things will at some point require you to make a decision as to which is of the most importance… Understand today that two masters aren’t just limited to living two lives or trying to sit on the fence with your religion! Two masters can simple be anything that you have put on the same level as our God… The most interesting thing that I find in studying this passage is the fact that there are so many people who are trying to serve two masters without even knowing it… A simple way to check with you fall into this category is to analyze your everyday affairs… How many times do you oversleep and wake to say a “quick prayer” before leaving out the door… Have you ever cut your devotion time with God short (if you even spend time with Him other than Sunday’s) to go tend to another need that you deemed more important…? 

Answering these questions let you know if there is another master in your life and it may also very well lead you to understanding why things have not taken a turn in your life for the better as you had hoped or expected (yes there are test, trials and hardships that we must endure; however, there are also some things that we encounter in our lives that are self-inflected because of our focus or attention being in other places… Serving two masters is something that takes place at some point in all of our lives; one of the most common instances where this occurs is in finances, we are so devoted to making money, that money becomes our life. We miss secret devotion because we have an opportunity to make a couple extra bucks, our kids are at home yearning for attention because we feel like the extra hour or two won’t hurt them, but will ultimately provide a better foundation for them to grow. We must be careful when it comes to financial stability (you could very well end up with a lot of money and the back and a lack of love in the home… We must be sure that money doesn’t become are Lord or guide to how we live! When something is your master, it rules over you, and controls you. Make sure that you aren’t being controlled by a source other than God! Just because you are at the church, doesn’t mean you are apart of it. Life is full of choices, we choose whether we want to go to work, we choose whether we want to get up in the morning, and we choose whether or not we are going to be committed to this Christian journey!

So what is your choice, answer this question by your service and not your words?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It's All Possible Because Of His Mercy

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Titus 3:5-6

Humility is a trait that is easily carried out when the things around us appear to be humbling; however, the true test of a Christian is your submission to the will of God when you have little and when you have abundance… It never ceases to amaze me how many people can blame God when they are dealing with a misfortune, but they take the credit when they receive a blessings or promotion… There is nothing that you can do on this earth to deserve a heavenly home… Today we reminded that we must remember who has made Salvation possible for us and who has opened up doors in our lives that provide us opportunities to prosper and receive blessings from above… Without the offering that Jesus Christ poured out on the cross we would not be here, without the blood that ran down His side there would be no remission of sins and if it were not for His resurrection we would not be able to overcome any obstacle that we face…Simply put, don’t get it twisted; you have done nothing to deserve the saving power that came through God’s beloved son. Don’t lose sight of the fact that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God, through His mercy gave us a clean slate and refocused our minds on Him by the sending of the comforter the Holy Ghost. 

All this was made possible because Christ thought it not robbery to leave his home in Glory, all this came into existence because the stone they rejected became the corner or capstone. Through the blood of Jesus we can inherit eternal life, through His poverty we can become rich, through His suffering we can go to a place where they’re will be no pain, by Him laying down his life we can live! As much as you want to take credit for things in your life, start to take credit for all the things that are messed up with your life instead… Recognize today that you aren’t perfect and start to seek the perfection of Jesus… When you begin to assume the position that is God’s by saying “I did this or because of my hard work” you in essence are placing yourself on the same level as the Father… This is the same things that Lucifer experienced and we all no where that got him… The whole point to today’s study is that we have been saved by God’s mercy; we have been washed and renewed by the Holy Ghost… This simply tells me that #1 – I was a filthy mess and #2 – I was in need of saving; which equals #3 – that there is nothing that I can take credit for because without the presences of Christ on this earth I would not be here… The book of Isaiah gives us a better overall understanding of what is it that we must comprehend today from our study passage taken from Titus; in the prophetical writing of Isaiah, it is in the 9^th chapter and verses 6 and 7 that we find these words recorded, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” 

We thrive and succeed because of the son that was given, we have authority because the government is upon His shoulders, and Jesus is indeed wonderful and mighty… There will be no end because He reigns forever and it is through His father that this is and was done… Don’t lose sight of what God has done for you, don’t take credit for the blessings He has bestowed and the life that he breathes into you every morning… God has touched you, clothed you and started you on your way… He makes the sun rise and the stars shine and we are here to bear witness to His awesome works because of His unfailing love and grace… Again, don’t become so prideful that you forget that humility is the key to salvation. Paul said, “not by works of my hand, lest I should boast!”Remember that you truly are a sinner saved by grace and that grace was not obtained by your labor; but rather, by God’s mercy and love shown through His son! In times of despair, when you feel lost and confused, remember that God has brought you this far and the Holy Spirit dwells with you right now to ease you pains and guide your life… Every step you take toward prosperity is made possible by the steps Jesus took going toGolgotha and the door that God opened in raising Him from the dead… Don’t rely on your hands, God already knew you couldn’t do it on your own and that’s why Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!