Is Anything Too Hard For God?

Hard: difficult to perform, endure, or comprehend.

Throughout the Bible, there are a number of examples of the Lord asking His people if there was anything that He couldn't do. The Lord asked Abraham, is anything too hard for the Lord? As the Lord spoke with Jeremiah, He asked him, is there anything too hard for me? We get his answer in Jeremiah 32:17, "Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee." The word hold true to this very day, there's nothing too hard for God.

There is also no promise that is too hard for God to keep. In Genesis chapter 18, we are reminded of the story of Abraham and Sarah. God had promised Abraham a son with Sarah, when he was a hundred years old and Sarah was ninety. Picking up the story in verse 10 of that chapter; "And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him... Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?... Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." Those of us who are familiar know that’s exactly what happened!

Our gracious Lord woke us up this morning. If you think you woke yourself up when your alarm went off, try this one day - take your alarm clock to the cemetery and see just how many people get up when your alarm goes off. It was definitely not you or your alarm - that was the work of God! Let's allow that to serve as a reminder for us that there is nothing (not any thing, no part or portion. In no way, not at all) that is too hard for God. If some of those five thousand men (not counting women and children) were here; those men who were in the desert, hungry and tired when Jesus feed them with those two small fishes and five loaves of bread; they would surely attest there’s nothing too hard for God! Matthew 14: 19.

My friends, God’s power is limitless; there is no person He can’t change, no problem He can’t solve, and no situation He can’t fix! Just as He did for Abraham and Sarah, and those five thousand in the desert, He will do for me and you. There is nothing too hard for God and there is no promise He can’t keep!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!            

Live A Fasted Life - Part 2

Fast: to abstain from physical nourishment

Let's pick up where we left off last week - living a fasted life. As we talked about last week, there are SO many things we need to fast from, but we are only going to hit on four of them right now. As you remember, we started by talking about gossiping.

In addition to gossiping, we also need to take some time and fast from lying - telling untruths. There are certain things that the Lord hates as noted in Proverbs 6:17 - a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. Not only does God hate lying, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). As you can see, gossiping and lying are serious things with God, therefore there is a great need for us to fast from them.

We definitely need to fast from holding grudges and not wanting to forgive each other. Forgiveness itself means to pardon, to give up resentment, or a gift. Would you believe that there are some people out there who get great pleasure out of not forgiving others? This is because it feels good to the flesh... or so we think! So many times we are angry with people and they don't even have a clue. In essence, it's like we're carrying them around on our backs and in our thoughts. We are weighted down with this anger we are carrying against them and they are going on enjoying their lives without even so much as a thought of us! Have you ever been there?! Forgiveness is our path for healing, not to mention, when we don't choose to forgive we are putting limits on ourselves, for if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. Ephesians 4:32 says, "And be ye kind one to another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." So let's fast from holding grudges and practice forgiveness instead.

Last, but very not least, let's remember to fast from Complaining (an outcry or protest). God gets no glory out of our complaining, and yet it's so common among us that many of us are not even aware of when we're complaining - to us it just feels like we're having a normal conversation - we complain when it rains and we complain when it doesn't rain. We complain when it's too hot, and then we complain when it's too cold. We complain about being overweight, and we complain when we can't find anything sweet to eat after dinner! What we are really doing is complaining because things are not EXACTLY the way we want them to be. We have to stop acting on our feelings and act on the way things really are, because things will constantly change, but the truth will always remain the same! One of those truths can be found in 1Thessalonians 5:18: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Complaining is a poor attitude and completely opposite of what we are suppose to do!

I'll leave you with this: 1 Timothy 6:11, "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Live A Fasted Life - Part I

Fast: to abstain from physical nourishment.

The Bible tells us to fast, or, as the definition above says, to abstain from physical nourishment. Jesus said that there are things that come only through fasting and praying (Matthew 17:21). So that helps us establish the fact that we should fast. Did you know that when we are on a fast that we are not supposed to do the pleasurable things that we would normally do if we were not fasting? That's because we are to use this time to consecrate ourselves or devote ourselves exclusively to the Lord.

Now, usually when we fast, we do so with a specific purpose in mind - maybe it's for a healing or blessing for ourselves, or perhaps it's for deliverance or support for someone else. On occasions, I fast just to show thanks for what the Lord has already done for me. As I'm fasting, I have certain promises  that pertain to my request that I rehearse back to the Lord.

This week, I want to talk to you about how good it would be if we could live a fasted life - not just fasting for a specific moment in time. For instance, how great would it be if we could fast from gossiping, forgiveness, lying, and complaining, and stand on the scriptures about each one of these?? Just think about it... it might be trickier than I sounds. In fact, when I told my daughter what this week's blog was going to be about, she said, "now what am I supposed to do on those days?" She finished up with, "I guess I'll stay locked up in the house on those days, I won't even talk on the phone!" Can anyone else out there relate?!

Let's take gossiping: Proverbs 11:13 tells us that we "a talebearer, revealeth of secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." You see, gossiping can reveal secrets that have the power to break up long term relationships and separate close friends. That's because our words have lasting wounds. So. let's do ourselves a favor and fast from gossiping - not just one day, but every day!

Do you realize that often when we are telling embarrassing or shameful details about others without their knowledge or approval - it's gossip? Even when/if you mean no harm to him or her. The bible warns us against associating with talebearer: "He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips" Proverbs 20:19.

As you can see, its extremely important that we constantly fast from gossiping. We could easily hurt others, not to mention what we are doing to our relationship with the Lord. He takes no pleasure in it, so let's do our best to refrain from it.

Next week, we will continue with the other three woes.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Live With A Purpose!

Live: to be alive, to be active
Purpose: a desired goal, an intention

You probably hear every day of people who appear to be living with no direction or no desired goals; people who seem to be going through life aimlessly - not really living or enjoying God's beautiful creations. Whether we have one dollar in our pocket or one million, there should still be joy and a real purpose for our lives. Although people might feel like if they don't have a pocket full of money, they are not being blessed, but I'm here to tell you that such thinking is not the case. Blessings are not always monetary. In fact, I would venture to say that if you wake up in the land of the living, then you are being blessed, because that means that you still have an opportunity to repent for your sins, to be thankful, and to be alive with a purpose - then that's being blessed!

I feel like we would be tremendously blessed if we woke up each day saying, "Lord, it's not what you can do for me, but instead what would you have me to do for you today? Often times, we forget that we were not created for ourselves, but we were created for the Glory of God and for His purpose! With that In mind, we should approach everything that the Lord lays on our hearts to do with a cheerful heart and purpose... and that purpose should always be to please our Heavenly Father.

You may not be working right now, but that does not justify you having a pity party. We must instead expect things to turn around and for new doors to be opened. Maybe your situation isn't that you don't have a job - it could be a sickness in our body, or maybe our finances are very low. Whatever the case may be, we are all still blessed because we serve a living God who owns everything in Heaven and in earth. Everything includes jobs, sickness, and finance problems, so be thankful and remember that He said in His word that He would be our provider - it's up to us to give Him that opportunity to provide for us.

Live with a purpose, my friends. And if you feel like you don't have a purpose or like you don't have anything specific to live for - well then, live for Jesus and wait for Him to give you the purpose that He wants you to have. Let's not drag our feet by moping around and complaining about this or that, because it's too easy to lose our focus when we are not living each day with a purpose. Our main intention should always be to be thankful and to ask God for direction, because it's within those directions we will likely find our purpose!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!                      

I May Not Know What The Future Holds, But I Know Who Holds The Future!

In today's world with so many bad things happening around us, it's easy to find ourselves worrying or being afraid, but I'm here to tell you that there's no need, because although we don't know what the future holds, we know who holds the future!

We must have the faith of Shadrack, Meshack, & Abednego. As the story goes, the King had issued a decree that said that the people had to fall down and worship the image he had made anytime they heard the sound of music. If they did not, they would find themselves placed in the fiery furnace. The three Hebrew boys refused to bow down as they said, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us  out of thine hand, O King, but if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. And off they went into that fiery furnace!

If you are familiar with the story, then you know that God did indeed deliver them. They didn't know what the future held for them, but they did what they knew to do - worship and trust the One who held the future!

This is one of the reasons my friends that the scriptures tell us in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths." Our God is able to do everything but fail! Maybe you've been in a situation where you've asked God for something, but you didn't see it happen right away. Well, I'm here to tell you that just because it didn't happen yesterday or today, it doesn't mean that it's not ever going to happen. We must have faith in God's ability to do all things and hold on to our faith - both in season and out of season; when things are good and when things are in turmoil.

Consider Noah. The Lord told Noah to build an Ark because He was going to bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh. Noah had never seen anything like that first-hand and he didn't  know what the future held, but he trusted in the One that held the future!

And then there's Abraham. The Lord told Abraham to take his son and offer him as a burnt-offering. Abraham was more than 100 years old when he and Sarah were blessed with Issac. Can you imagine waiting that long to have a child with your spouse only to be told that he must be given up as a burnt-offering? Regardless, Abraham went forward doing what the Lord had instructed him to do not knowing what the future held - but trusting in the One that held the future!

Our God is an awesome God and  is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Remember, we don't know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Let's Leave The Blues Behind!

Blues: Sorry, cast down, weary, grief, sad, depress, heart broken.

Going into the new year the Lord wants us to be thankful, full of joy, and in good spirits. After all, if you really think about it, God has it all in control. Ephesians 5:20 says, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Lord wants us to be happy and thankful every day, now how can we become cast-down, depressed or heart-broken if we are happy?

Here's how we are going to do our part and beat the blues in this new year!!

1. Believe: what are we believing in? The positive word of God, of course! John 4:49-51 tells us, "The nobleman saith unto him, Sir come down err my child die. Jesus saith unto him, go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth." Jesus didn’t have to preach him a sermon, or show him a sign, the man simply believed. That’s the kind of trust we must have in His word.
2. Look for God's Purpose (i.e. Plan): to find God's purpose in this new year, we might have to go through a test; but friends, remember those tests are designed to take us to the next level - not to make us sad or cast-down. We must go through each test with a thankful heart, knowing that God is too holy, too righteous, and too just to allow anything to cross our path that’s not for our good and His Glory. As 1 Peter 5:10 says, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
3. Utilize the Promises in the Word of God: we must be sure to make use of God's word, and rehearse His word back to Him. He said that He would never leave us or forsake us; and that He is a very present help in the time of trouble. Philippians 4:19 says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" and Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." How can we become sad or cast-down if we are utilizing God's word?
4. Encourage other people: this may come as news to some, but it's not always about us - we must spread some cheer among others, encourage, and motivate someone else. As II Corinthians 1:4 tells us, "Who comforteth us in all tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted to God."
5. Sing God's Praises: finally, no matter what our situation is, we must still be thankful. Look at Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26. They had been beaten and put into prison, and despite that, at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. If they can sing praises after all of that, surely we can manage to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and be thankful for the many, many wonderful things He’s done for us.

So you see, it’s easy to beat the blues this new year - we just need to continue to be thankful for all things and all situations. Remember, it’s very important that we give thanks, because God gives blessing by the way we give thanks.

With all that said, let the church say amen... And AMEN!             

The Devil Has Plots, But God Has Plans!

Plot: a conspiracy, to scheme secretly
Plan: a method for achieving some thing, have in mind an intention or purpose

In Jeremiah 29:11 the word of God says, "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." In other words, God knows the plans He has for you. Those plans are of peace (or calm) and not of evil (misery, woe, and affliction). We should trust in His plans for us and know that God had an answer to whatever our situation is BEFORE He ever put us into it. Now, on the other hand, all the devil has are plots - schemes to steal, kill and destroy. As we see in 1 Peter 5-8, the devil is like a roaring lion, walking around looking for lost souls to devour.

The devil's plots are those burdensome, hurtful, and ugly situations that we all find ourselves in every now and then. The thing we have to realize is that the Lord allows these situations to happen, because they are a part of His master plan. God has plans for us and those plans are designed to get us where He wants us to be. When it's all said and done, God's people always come out blessed. I heard T. D. Jakes say the other day that blessings and burdens go hand-in-hand - have you ever considered that? Well, if you think about it, another way to say that is this -- if we can be faithful to do what we know is pleasing in the sight of God in the midst of the devil's plots and schemes (i.e. the burden), we will come out on top (i.e. blessed).

Let's look at the plot of Haman, as told in the book of Esther. Haman is next in line behind the King with everybody in the kingdom bowing down to him - with the exception of one man, Modecai. Haman was so angry that he hatched a plot against the Jews because he was angry with one man. Haman had the gallows (structures made for hanging criminals) built for Mordecai, and then had the King to send out letters calling for the destruction of all the Jews. Little did Haman know that God had a plan! The evil that was plotted against the Jews was returned to his own bosom. Haman was hung on the gallows that was prepared for Mordecai and Mordecai was exalted! The word said that Mordecai was great in the King's house; next to the King, wearing royal apparel and the King's ring.

God allowed this plot to elevate Mordecai, in the midst of that storm, the Jews were fasting, praying, and calling on the name of the Lord -- all of the same things we must do. God is the head of all things, so we must trust Him. If we can do that, God will bring us out in His time and we will see His awesome intentions, purposes, and plans for our lives!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

When A Man's Ways Please The Lord!

To Please: to make (someone) happy or satisfied; to make a choice about what to do, have, etc.

The Bible says, "When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him" (Proverb 16-7). Today, let's spend a little time talking about Joshua and how he pleased the Lord. Joshua's life is a great example for us to follow and he left a profound legacy for each of us. Joshua was faithful to the Lord and his faithfulness kept the children of Israel faithful all his life. We need to be sure that we are living our lives more like Joshua - setting a good example for our children, our employees, our co-workers, and our fellow Christians.

As a result of his faithfulness, Joshua had favor with God. If we do what Joshua did, we will get the same results he got ("same God right now, same God back then" right?!). The Lord told him in Joshua 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

It's obvious that Joshua did as the word said, he was focused and obedient. We can see that by the way he went out to fight a battle. The Bible tells us that God fought for them. It also tells us of how the Lord cast down great hailstones from heaven upon their enemies, and how Joshua had favor with the Lord, so much so that when they were fighting in battle that "he said in the sight of all Israel, Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou, moon in the valley of Ajalon." And my friends, the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies (Joshua 10:11-13).

We may not be fighting a physical war, but we've all got some sort of battle going on - on the inside and on the outside. Some of those battles might be small and some probably feel like giants, but just as the Lord fought for Joshua and Israel - He will bless, fight, and protect us, but of course - we must stay the course! We do this by staying in His word and meditating on it day and night. We must also ask  for directions and be obedient when He directs us; i.e. we must accept the assignment He gives us. When we are pleasing unto Him, He will make our way prosperous. Remember, the walls of Jericho fell down with just praises unto God!

I’m sure that some of those in the battle were worried and that some were afraid, but the Lord took down every giant and there were no survivors. We can experience that same success and overcome our battles when our ways please the Lord. Whatever your battle might be, the Lord is saying the same to us as he said to Joshua - be strong and be courageous!

With all that said, let the church say Amen... and AMEN!

God Is Looking For Honesty!

Honest: Free from fraud or deception; truthful

It takes courage to be honest; but if we want to see God's blessing working in our lives, we must learn to be honest. God rewards honesty, integrity, and faithfulness. We may get away with not being honest for a while - but God knows. Not only does He know, but His word tells us that we will reap what we sow.

Honesty is a reflection of what’s on the inside of us; our actions are a reflection of our faith; and the truth in our actions is a part of being a good witness. Learning how to become a more honest person will also help us keep a clear conscious. If there is something you don’t like, by all means just say, "Lord - I really don’t like this, but help me to do it if it’s Your will." Just be honest with Him, because God is not going to bless a lie. The Lord - and other people - will forgive us if we will simply be truthful. 

While it is sometimes tempting (and easy!) to lie, misrepresent ourselves, or down play uncomfortable truths in an effort to avoid conflict; dishonesty is never good for our relationships. Remember - speaking the truth and living the truth helps those around us come to the truth. 

If something is built on dishonesty, it shall surely fall down, so we must be honest in our heart about who we are. If someone is dishonest with you or about you - you can’t do anything about that - you're not them. What you can do something about is what’s in you.

We should strive to be honest in all things, to all people - even our children. After all, they're people too and it's just as wrong to be dishonest with/to them as it is to any other person. God is looking for honest and fair people; how can He bless us with much when He can’t trust us with little?!

No one can be consistently honest without making a commitment to tell the truth. Speaking the truth and being honest and fair in all things is a mark of a healthy relationship. John 14:6 tells us that "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This means that when we follow dishonesty, then we are moving away from the Lord. Being honest is about following in God’s footsteps - for He cannot and has no need to lie. Trust in the Lord enough to be honest and fair in all things, my friends, so that you may draw nigh to Him.

With all that said, let the Church say amen… and Amen!

                                                                                                            

If You Stay Ready, You Won't Have To Get Ready!

Prepare: To make ready or qualified

You know how it is my friends, when we get that call and find out that company is coming over - to make my point, let's say it's the President. We get busy making things ready; throwing things out - things that probably should have already been thrown out. We start cleaning the house, making sure that everything is in its rightful place. We would really put a lot of energy into it, right? No spots or blemishes in sight; we would work as long and as hard as it takes to get everything just right- after all, the President is on the way!

Getting prepared is work, but just like we would do it in the natural, God is requiring the same in the Spiritual!

When a runner has a track meet, he doesn't wait until the day of the meet to get prepared. No, instead he starts a long time in advance, because if he waits until the day of - it will be too late and he won’t be physical or mentally prepared. That means that every day he should/must be out there doing something to get his body in shape, so that he can qualify for the race. Mentally, he's meditating on it; he's seeing himself first at the finish line. He's going to bed with that thought and he's waking up with that thought. Are you seeing the bigger picture yet?

We are on a spiritual mission and there is someone who's coming who's much more important than the President and much greater than any track meet we could participate in. Our Commander and Chief is coming and His name is Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:14-15 reminds us, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named."

It's a bit difficult to say that you don’t know that He’s coming, it's all over the Word!

• Matthew 24:44 - Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. 
• John 14:2-3 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Friends, He's preparing for us and He expects us to be preparing for Him as well. Remember, at the end of this race, the prize is eternal!

• I Thessalonians 5-2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

It doesn't matter that He's coming as a thief in the night, if we have been putting time into getting our Spiritual house in order, we will not only be ready, but we will also be equipped! It’s imperative that we schedule a prayer time as well as a study time... in the hustle and bustle of today's world, if we don't plan and set aside the time, it's likely that we won't do it and those things that are critical to our preparation will be neglected. God is watching - let’s get prepared!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

We Are All On Death Row

Death - the end of human existence

Our life is like a vapor that appears but for a short period of time and then vanishes away. In other words, from a "natural" standpoint, I supposed that we can say that our lives are more similar to an death row inmate then we might think. Just as that inmate lives in constant uncertainty over when they will be executed, we too live with uncertainty. We don't know when the Son of God is coming for us, for as the word says, He's coming like a thief in the night. Just as inmates have no control over their sentence; neither do we. God is the only lawgiver and the only one who has it all in control.

Many of us say, "oh, I can do that later," or "that work can wait until tomorrow," but in reality, none of us really knows what tomorrow will bring. Which is why you might have heard people say, "if it's the Lord's will, I will do that later," and "God willing, that work can wait until tomorrow." Otherwise, it might seem as we are boasting about our own plans and not the Lord's. Such self confidence never pleases God. Remember, we are all on death row - our life is just as uncertain as an inmate's.

It's important that we don't end up like the rich man in Luke 12:16-20 who said, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he said, this will I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my  goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." That rich man used an awful lot of "I's" in that passage! He clearly did not realize that his life was uncertain and that he was on death row.

Of course, thankfully, we are not on lock down like an inmate, but we have to understand and respect the fact that we are not the true bosses of our lives. We must respect the Lord and come humbly before Him - not instructing Him about what we are going to do - but rather reverencing Him enough to say, "Lord if it be your will and if it won't interfere with your master plan, do I have your permission to do this or that." Remember, we live every day with uncertainty, because we all are on death row.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Praises To Our Gracious God!

Praise: To express approval; to glorify
Gracious: Full of compassion; merciful

Often times we don't give the Lord the praises that are due to His name. So this week, I want to do just that -- take a few minutes to brag on the merciful and gracious God. Our God who was, who is, and who will always be good!

If you have kids, then you probably know how much they love it when you praise them for what they have done. Well, it's not just our children who enjoy that, but if we're honest with ourselves, we would admit that we, as grown ups love it as well - and we have typically only done small things!! If we apply that same theory to our Lord and Savior, then it stands to reason that our heavenly Father loves our praises too, for He has surely done great and mighty things!

We will praise you, my God and King, and bless your name each day and forever; for you are great and greatly to be praised. You are full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord lifts the fallen and those who are bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all mankind look up to you for help; and you give them their food as they need it. You constantly satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. We praise you Lord because you are fair in everything you do, and are full of kindness. The eyes of all look up to you for help; and you give them what they need exactly as they need it.

The Lord is close to all who call on Him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who revere and trust Him. He hears our cries for help and rescues us. He protects all who love Him, and destroys the wicked. I will praise the Lord and call on all men everywhere to bless His Holy name forever and forever, for He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His wonderful name together, for He has done great things and His mercy endureth forever and ever! He is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our strength, the horn of our salvation, and our high tower. To sum it all up in a nut shell, He can do everything but fail - so why wouldn't we want to brag on our Lord who is so very worthy to be Praised?!

"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1)
                                                                                                                        
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!            

If You Pray For Rain, be Prepared to Deal With the Mud!

Rain (verb): to offer, bestow, or give in great quantity
Mud (verb): to cover, smear, or spatter with mud

In the natural, when it rains, there is usually going to be some mud left behind. Things work similarly in the Spiritual realm. However, we cannot allow our Spiritual mud to take us down like quicksand; instead we must understand that it is preparing us for the greater things in life. We must learn to endure, for after all, we're the ones who prayed for rain! It’s not up to us to decide what comes along with that rain.

A long time ago, I had a family member who prayed and asked God for a way out. Their spouse had a serious drug problem, to the point where they had become afraid for their life. It was also a bad environment for their two kids. The spouse would wake up at night saying he saw things climbing the walls and he thought there were snakes in the bed with them. My relative became a nervous wreck and began praying for a way out (or in this case, the rain). Wouldn't you know it, but nearly two weeks later their house burnt down (can somebody say MUD). As many of us would, she began asking the Lord why He would allow their house to be burn down. She then heard a voice that said, "you asked me for a way out." What she didn't realize was that burnt house was just step one in the process of her getting out of that rough situation.

Isaiah 49:15 says, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." My friends, the Lord won’t forget his children. Just remember that when you pray for rain, you had better be prepared to deal with some mud!

Ladies and gentlemen - if you are praying for a mate, you might as well put your boots on RIGHT NOW! I don’t think I need to say any more on that particular line of thinking... I'm sure that we all know what time it is in regards to that!

Even on the job, we might pray for a promotion or for another position. Our God is so faithful and will bless us with it in His time... but look out, because there is likely to be some mud coming right along with it. Mud in the form of longer hours, less freedom, and possibly less family time. You might find that people who used to be your coworkers will now try to take advantage of your relationship or that the boss seems to be harder on you than they are with Jim or Jane. And that’s just a bird's eye view; there are so many things we have to deal with. Just remember, "... promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; he putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalms 75:6-7). Both the rain and the subsequent mud all comes from the Lord.

So here's the good news - God is too Holy, too Righteous and too Good to allow anything to cross our path that is not for His Glory and for our good. He allows the mud to show up so we can learn to trust in him and not in others and to help us grow. The Lord wants us to get to a place where it doesn’t matter if we're knee-deep in a pile of mud; we simply accept His headship with thanks and praise.

With all that said, let the Church say amen… and AMEN!             

Afflictions Have a Purpose!

Afflictions: hardships and trials

All Christians have afflictions -- if you think about it, either you have had afflictions; you are in the midst of an affliction; or just keep living -- you will most certainly face affliction. The good news is that all of our afflictions have a specific purpose behind them. Psalms 34:19 tells us, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." Not only does He deliver us out of those trials, but He also comforts us throughout. This allows us to comfort others who are facing affliction AND allows Him to reshape us into His image and to take us to the next level.

The Lord occasionally uses affliction to bring us back to Him. David said "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word." David also said "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statues." After experiencing  some trials and hardships, David later said, "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." Like David, we are all guilty of putting God on the back burner every now and again, but the Lord knows just how to bring us back to Him. So Praise God for the afflictions that bring us closer to him!

The Lord also uses afflictions to test us. You may be familiar with the story of Job and how the Lord allowed him to be afflicted... a few times! Job complained mighty, saying, "God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but He hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark" (Job 16:11-12). What's important is that Job's suffering was not random or without purpose. The Lord was reshaping Job by getting those things out of his heart that was not like Him. But I'm pleased to report that the end results were awesome! Job eventually passed the Lord's test(s) and he came out on the other side with twice as much!

Remember my friends, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). God is not trying to kill us; He only wants to perfect us because He loves us!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!                      

How To Get The Peace Of God In Your Life!

Peace: Not quarrelsome; free from disturbance; calm

Even in today's world - full of torment, unrest, disturbance, and in the midst of trouble on every hand - we can still have peace. The peace that I'm talking about begins within, where we know that God is with us every step of the way; where we realize that God is the head over all things. Once we really understand that on the inside, it will be reflected on the outside. The word tells us in Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." In other words, when our mind is stayed on Him, we are free from disturbance and  we will have calmness in him.

You might be asking yourself, "Self, how can I get this calmness?" Well fortunately, Paul gives us some answers in Philippians 4:4-7:

Step 1 (verse 4): "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice." We must rejoice because it is written that the joy of the Lord is our strength. My aunt often talks about how the Lord will give you peace in the midst of your storm. For her, these are not just words - when she lost her only child, it was then that she truly realized that God was her peace. 

Step 2 (verse 5): "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." In other words, let every one see your calmness, show that you are unselfish, and be very considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon! 

Step 3 (verse 6): "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." As that old song says, don't worry about a thing; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what your needs are and don't forget to thank Him for His answer.

After we complete these three steps, verse 7 finishes it off for us: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

By following these steps, you will experience God's peace, in an abundant way - which is more wonderful than the human mind can understand or even imagine. His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.

Remember the Lord said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I into you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let is be afraid" (John 14:27).

With all that said, let the Church say Amen and... AMEN!

Rest In The Lord!

Rest: to stop work, peace of mind or spirit, free from anxieties

There is nothing like being one of His - just a sheep in the pasture where we don't have to worry about providing the way. We don't have to worry about providing the pasture (food), or providing the stream (water), or anything else. When we learn that we are just a sheep in His pasture, we are free to feel rested and secure. That's the way it should be - we don't have to worry about what's going to happen today or what's going to happen tomorrow. All of that is in God's hands. Now, if we were the boss, we would have to worry. I'm so glad that I can turn it all over to the Lord and just rest as I walk along with Him. We should be enjoying our journey, not trying to control it.

God promised to give us rest - we don't have to buy or borrow it - we just receive it as a gift. Matthew 11:28-30 tells us, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

We can't burn the candle at both ends - either we are going to rest in God or we are going to try to fix things ourselves. The Lord will let us wear ourselves out to the point of total exhaustion on the inside until we finally see the light and give that situation to Him. Once we do that, He will give us rest and He will refresh and comfort us.

When our children are doing things that we know they shouldn't be, we have to give it to the Lord and rest in what He has said in His word. If it's our spouse, our job, or anything else, we must learn to cease from our actions. God said in His word that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Isn't that awesome?!

I don't know about you, but if I could fix things on my own - I would start with myself! But I can't fix me or anyone else. I'm not in control and it's not my responsibility. It's imperative that we learn to trust God to fix things and that we learn to rest in Him.

Our responsibility is to sit still, in quietness and in confidence, and believe that He can help, save, and deliver in our most urgent need. Remember - we are not the boss, nor are we in control. Psalms 37:7 says, "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." If we don't see our prayers answered today or even tomorrow, that doesn't mean it's never going to happen. Again my friends, I say wait on the Lord and rest in Him!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Our Responsibilities As Christians!

Responsibility: Accountability for one’s action; Obligation

We all have responsibilities - in the home, in the workplace, or maybe even in the Church - regardless of where we are, we typically have some sort of responsibility in some shape or form. However, our first and greatest responsibility is found in Mark 12:30, where the word says; “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

So we know that loving the Lord our God is our #1 responsibility. Did you know that it's also our responsibility to be thankful? And not just in the good times. The word also reminds us “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Another obligation for us as a Christian can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:58. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast (firm), unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. We must not be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. We should always stand firm on the word; not on what we think or feel, but on what the Lord says.

We also have a responsibility to manage our money, time, our energy and our talents. How can the Lord bless us exceeding, abundantly if we aren't able to manage the small things He put us in charge of? Also, we have a responsibility to attend Church, have a prayer and study life, to be soul winners. After all, it would be pretty hard to share God's word if we don't know it, right?

So, as a recap:
1) Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart
2) Give Thanks
3) Be Steadfast abounding in the work of the Lord
4) Manage our Resources appropriately
5) Maintain a personal relationship with the Lord and to bring others to Him

Often times people focus on what others are doing or what they are not doing, but keep in mind that we can't make choices for other people and besides, what they do (or don't do) simply isn't our responsibility. Let's stick with God's plan for our lives and take the high road, because to the low road is WAYY too crowded!

Let's keep our heads up, our focus up, and be very attentive to the responsibilities God requires of us.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen… and AMEN!               

God Has It All In Control!

Control: To have the authority or ability to regulate, direct, or dominate a situation.

We are not just drifting along through this life - no my friends, God has a purpose for each one of us!
That purpose is for us to recognize in each and every situation we are placed in that He is right there, right in the midst of it all with us. God is everything, He is in everything, and He has everything in control. In I Thessalonians 5:18, the word says; "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." If God is not in everything, how can we really give thanks for everything?

We have to remember that God arranges every situation and every circumstance for our lives according to His will. He did not promise that every situation we would face would be pleasant, but what He did promise, we can read in Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." The way you truly have this peace is by realizing that God is in the midst of this situation (whatever that situation may be) and that He has it all under control. You and I can’t fix it and it's essential that we recognize our inability to do so. Instead, we must give Him thanks for His ability to fix it. We must also remember that He started it and He’s more than able to finish it.

When hardship and pain come - and my friends, it will come - we must remember not to run from God, but to run to Him. We also can't try to change the truth, instead let's let the truth change us, and the truth is that God allowed it, He’s the head over it, and He has it all in control. Have no worries or fears, our God is omnipresent which means that He is always right there with us - even in the midst of the storm!

We all like to think that we can fix our own situations and that we can fix other people and their problems, but the truth of the matter is, God is the only one that has the authority and ability to regulate, direct, and dominate every situation.

With all that said, let the Church say amen... and AMEN!                 

Kindness Will Bring Blessing!

Kindness: Quality or state of being kind

Kindness is a choice - it costs nothing, yet it is so wonderfully fulfilling. There are days in my life when things aren't going the way I expected them to go, but when I take my mind off myself and show some kindness to someone else, I usually feel better about myself and those things that weren't going my way that seemed SO important, often become less important. There is just something so powerful about unexpected acts of kindness that even the least emotional people can't stay untouched by such acts.

When Paul was sent to Rome, there was a storm at sea and they became shipwrecked. In Acts 27:44, we find that all aboard escaped safely to land. Acts 28:2 goes on to tell us that the natives of the land showed the people unusual and remarkable kindness; they kindled a fire and welcomed and received them all, since it had begun to rain and was cold. Paul and the rest of the voyagers landed on THEIR LAND, yet the natives weren't hostile, instead, they acted kindly to help keep the travelers warm. Now, that’s the kind of act the Lord calls kindness.

More often than not, when we met a person he or she is carrying a burden inside. A simple, heartfelt smile from us may bring them hope. Opening a door, saying hello, or offering a helping hand may make a major difference in someone’s day. And while we are not doing it for a reward, it's an added bonus that our God rewards kindness. 1 Samuel 15:6 provides us with a great example, "And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites." The Kenites showed kindness to the children of Israel and the Lord rewarded them by sparing their lives.

Our words and thoughts can sometimes be perceived as being mean and thoughtless even when we don't intend them to be. For this reason my friends, we must strive to always have a smile on the inside so that it reflects on the outside. We also must remember to be kind to ourselves, as being kind to ourselves is the first step toward being kind, patient, and loving to others. Every act of kindness, whether large or small, can produce joy, peace, and happiness in yourself and in someone else. Kindness is a choice and it’s free - so let's strive to make good choices!

With all that said, let the Church say amen... and Amen!                 

Just About Preaching Time!

My aunt shared this with me; now I would like to share it with you:

Now there are some people, at least I am told,

who go to the church through heat or the cold.

They act very lively, you'd think they were fine;

but they drop off to sleep just about preaching time.

When they enter the Church they talk loud and long,

and when service has started they join in the song.

Their singing is lusty, they remember the rhyme;

but they drop off to sleep just about preaching time.

They learn all the gossip, catch up on their talk;

to read the responsive they never would balk.

They hear the announcement and put in a dime;

then they drop off to sleep just about preaching time.

I wonder if Jesus should visit the place,

and stand in their pulpit while they look on His face;

if He should share with them some great truths sublime.

Would they still go to sleep just about preaching time?

Now, friends, He is coming; His Glory we'll see,

and go up to Heaven forever to be.

It may be this service His Glory will shine.

So, please, stay awake all through preaching time.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!                     
                                                                                                                              

Count it all Joy!

Count: To command with official authority, to consider

James 1:2 says: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." However, we sometimes lose our joy. I'm not talking about the joy that you might have by getting things on the outside; I'm talking about that joy you have on the inside that you allow to work through you on the outside.

Nearly everyone wants joy, but we often look for it on the outside. Getting a new car won't give you the type of joy I'm talking about; buying a new house can make you happy for a minute, but it still won't get you the kind of joy I'm talking about.

This joy comes from within and we must get the right thing on the inside of us - that thing that will in turn make us radiate with joy. When we have that type of joy, things that might be going wrong on the outside don't affect our joy - because it's on the inside working through to the outside.

Not everyone has joy... some people are happy - usually because something good has happened. But when you get the joy of the Lord on the inside, it doesn't matter if something does or does not happen - you are happy anyway! James 1:2 doesn't say to count it all joy... when you get a new house or a new car... no, it tells us to count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations, such as being lied on, laugh at, and despitefully used.

We put this joy to work by commanding with official authority the Word of God. The world doesn't give us this joy - no, it comes from the Lord. And when we understand that, we can speak to our trials and tribulations and STILL have joy! We won't have to consider them as problems, instead, we can command them to be joy. But first, we must put the Word of God in us. We can conquer any situation by staying in prayer and by speaking the Word -- things like, "the joy of the Lord is my strength," and "this joy that I have the World didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away!"

Stay in the presence of the Lord, my friends because, as Psalms 16:11 tell us - "in thy presence is fullness of joy."

With all that said, let the Church say amen... and AMEN!          

Choices have Consequence!

Choices: Power to chose
Consequence: The natural result from a preceding condition

The Lord is a perfect gentleman - He doesn’t force Himself on us. He doesn’t twist our arm to make us choose right (Him).  He allows us to make choices wanting us to willing choose Him.  He demonstrates His love and mercy toward us by being a shelter from the rain, a very present help in the time of trouble, our El Shaddai (The Almighty God) - the strengthener and satisfier of His people.

1 Chronicles 21:1 and 21:3 gives us an example of a bad choices: "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel... And Joab answered, the Lord make His people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servant? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?" David had a choice, he could have stop the count right then, but he chose to go ahead with it.  David was trusting in the numbers, rather than trusting in God. That choice had devastating consequence, as noted in 1 Chronicles 21:14  - "So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men."

Choices have significant impact on our lives - both positive or negative. David's choice had a negative impact. Of course, when we make good choices the consequences are awesome, let’s take Joseph for an example.

Joseph was hated and rejected by his brethren; cast into a pit; sold into Egypt; AND cast into prison... but despite all of that, Joseph still managed to make good choices.  And as a result, "the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man" (Genesis 39:2). Pharaoh made him an overseer over his house, and all that he had. When he refused his master's wife, Joseph was cast into prison and yet he continued to make good choices. Genesis 39:21 says that the Lord shewed him mercy and gave him favor by way of the keeper of the prison committing to Joseph’s hand all of the prisoners that were in the prison. When there was famine in the land, those same brothers who hated and rejected Joseph had to go to him to buy their food. Joseph could have chosen to be angry, but instead he gave God the glory, for he knew who was behind the master plan. And because of the positive impact of making a right choice, Joseph became the governor over all the land of Egypt and over all Pharaoh house.

Time does not allow me to tell you of Ruth, Daniel, Joshua, Samuel, and many others that were truly blessed - all because they were willing choosing the Lord... won't you please choose Him too?

With all that said, let the Church say amen... and AMEN!

Excuses Only Satisfy the Person that Makes Them!

Excuse: An expression of regret for failure to do something.

Have you ever considered how excuses really only satisfy the people who make them? Seriously - take a minute to think about that. Do you REALLY think the person you're making those excuses to is pleased or happy with them? Not likely. However, luckily for you, we as people didn't just start making excuses, no - this all started with Adam and Eve in the garden! Back in Genesis 3:11, God asked Adam and Eve, " Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" Next thing you know - the excuses were born - "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat" (Genesis 3:12-13). If you know that story, you know that God wasn't pleased with Adam and Eve's excuses then and He's not pleased today with our excuses.

More often than not, when God calls people into His service, they resisted by coming up with a lot of excuses. Moses, for instance, was a perfect example. God told Moses, "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). God even went so far as to say, "...certainly I will be with thee" (Exodus 3:12). What more could a person ask for?? You would have thought that would have been good enough for Moses, but NOOOO! In Exodus 4:10, Moses starts in with his excuses - "And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue;" and the Lord shuts those excuses down in the next verse: "And the Lord said unto him, who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?" Moses' words were truly an expression of regret for failure to do something (aka - an excuse!)

We so often fail to realize that whenever the Lord tells us to do something, He has already equipped us with exactly what we need in order to get that job done. It's time we stand strong in faith! Stop trying to pass the buck. You know, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are really better off than we think; we just need to look through the lens of gratitude and be very thankful that the Lord chose to use us in natural things as well as spiritual things.

Let's remember to give the responses of Mary and Isaiah. When the Lord said, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah answered, "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8). When the Angel said to Mary, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS;" Mary replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:31 and 38). Friends, let's leave our excuses by the wayside and walk in faith!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!      

We Need Much Wisdom!

Wisdom: knowledge guided by understanding

Wisdom is a highly regarded and cherished attribute in the Bible. It's so important that we get and use it and as James 1:5 points out - it's very easy to get: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

We need wisdom in every aspect of our lives and it's right there for the asking! Jesus is the source of it - in fact Christ is wisdom. We don't need to seek wisdom from this person or that to see what they think, we should instead seek wisdom from the Lord. Afterall, it is His master plan, and He is the orchestrator of it all.

The Word of God tells us that wisdom is crying out in the streets, in the openings of the gates, and in the high places (Proverbs 1:20-21). The question I pose to you is - Are we listening? 

In 2 Chronicles 1:10, Solomon prayed; "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?" This prayer pleased God so much that not only was Solomon given the wisdom and knowledge that he asked for, but he was also given riches, wealth, and honor like no other king before him:

"And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."
2 Chronicles 1:11-12

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind being on the receiving end of such! And the awesome thing about it is that the Lord will do the same for us if we will ask for it as sincerely and humbly as Solomon.

Let me share with you two points:

1.) Wisdom can and will deliver us from evil. Proverbs 2:10-13 tells us that, "when wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things, who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness." Wisdom can and will lead and guide us from evil, but we must pray for it every day.

2.) The rewards of having and using wisdom are given to us in Proverbs 3:2 and 4: "...length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."

There are so many benefits to having and using wisdom. It can teach us how to raise our children, how to respect our spouses in marriage, and even how to manage our finances and make sound decisions. So I say again - I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind being on the receiving end of such!

My friends, I leave you this week with Proverbs 4:7, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!             

Turning a Negative into a Positive!

Negative: Expressing denial or disapproval
Positive: very confident; absolutely certain; not negative

Last month I helped out at a golf tournament that my brother hosts once a year to aid the Clearview Golf Course in East Canton, Ohio. I was so impressed with the owner (as well as my brother) at how the owner had turned his negative situation into a beautiful golf course. The owner had a love for golf, but was unable to play because he is a man of color and back in 1946 that was simply not allowed. In high school he was allowed to play because of his skills and his ability to teach other students how to become better golfers, however after a stint in the Army during the war, when he return to his hometown he was not allowed to play on any of the local courses.

His love for the game of golf inspired a desire to plan and develop his own golf course - a course that was built without the aid of any powered equipment. His efforts to acquire bank financing were met with rejections, but that still did not deter his determination to accomplish his dream. He had two friends who were doctors and a brother who gave him the much needed financial support which enabled him to purchase the land he needed and to get started on his dream.

To make a long story short - this gentleman was able to build his own beautiful golf course. Over the course of time, he was able to buy the two doctors and his brother out and maintain and operate a very successful business. My brother, Jessie had the opportunity to met Mr. Powell and was touched by his major accomplishment. At that point, he made a commitment to help by bringing in revenue to help support Clearview. Mr. Powell has since passed on, but his lifelong dream is still going strong.

When I heard of the struggle and how Mr. Powell turned a negative situation into a positive dream, it touched my heart as well and reminded me that we can do the same thing. We are not building a golf course, but we all have some kind of negative situation that we could change our attitude about and with the help of the Lord, turn it into a positive. This is a perfect example of the old saying, "where there's a will, there's a way!"

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Prayer is Not a Request, It's a Command!

Prayer: a devout request

Having a prayer life is so important because that's how we communicate with God. Without proper communication, relationships tend to fall apart. Take, for example, a marriage - if a husband and wife don't communicate, their marriage will fall apart because there is no connection. The Lord wants us to stay connected with Him. That's why having a prayer life is a command and not a request. Of course, the Lord doesn't need our prayers in order to perform His will in our lives. However, the act of prayer is a display of humility and a reminder that we are not in control!

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the word tells us to pray without ceasing. In other words, pray all the time. Prayer should never be our last resort, friends. It should be our first response, because it's really our secret weapon. We can't be everywhere, with our eyes on everyone we love -- but our prayers can! My friend shared a story with me about how the Lord woke her up in the wee hours of the morning one day and she knew that she needed to pray, so she did. The next morning, her daughter called and told her she had just been in an accident and had been hit head-on. Praise God, the only damage to her was from her air bag. What a blessing! My friend's prayers were already there in place. We can't be everywhere, with our eyes on everyone we love -- but our prayers can!

When we pray my friends, we must believe we are going to receive. Acts 12:5 tells us, "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayers was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." Verse 7 continues on to tell us, "And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands." When Peter went where the saints were praying and when they opened the door, they were astonished (surprised) to see him there. That's exactly what they were praying for, and  when God answered, they were amazed! When we ask God for something, let's make more of an effort to believe that we are going to receive!

Remember, complaining won't fix things and it won't solve any issues - but prayer can and prayer will change things. Pray and believe and you will receive, after all prayer is not a request, it's a command!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!               

What Would Happen if Everyone Caught YOUR attitude? You Know They Are Contagious!

Attitude: A mental position, the feeling one has for oneself

Contagious: The transmitting of a disease by contact

God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude for all of the marvelous things He has done for us and for who He is; not one of murmuring, complaining, too controlling or too defensive, depressed, or discouraged. It’s so important for us to remember that our thinking process - which produces our attitudes, which in turn produces our actions - plays a major role in our lives, as well as the lives of others. As Proverb 23:7 tells us, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."

Whether you realize it or not - attitudes are contagious and can be transmitted to someone else at the drop of a hat. Let’s take Lucifer for example - Lucifer had a massive attitude of pride. He really thought he was all that! So much so that he exalted himself. You can read of his boastful thoughts in Isaiah 14:13-14: "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the side of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." That was an attitude of pride. And it was very contagious. If you know the story, you know that a third of the angels caught that same prideful attitude and ended up getting kicked out of Heaven!

Unfortunately, we often try to control our circumstances, our future, and the people around us with our attitude of anger. We must rid ourselves of that diseased perception of reality, because in all actuality, we are demonstrating that we want to be a god... and we saw where that got Lucifer, right? Instead, we must understand that we are creatures and we will never be the creator. The Lord wants us to take on His attitude and His character, so the positive things that people see in us will flow out to them.

Despite what happens during the course of a day, we must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. In other words, no matter what unexpected disruptions, frustrations, or difficulties come our way, we are to respond with a Christ-like attitude. Some people may never read their bible, but they will read/see you and your attitude towards the challenges you face on a daily basis. Philippians 2:5 reminds us to let the Lord be an example for us: "Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus," can be interpreted as 'let the same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.'

Jesus maintained a perfect attitude in every situation - whether being nailed to a cross or being betrayed. He prayed about everything and worried about nothing. We too must seek God's guidance about every aspect of our lives and allow Him to work out His perfect will in our lives without our interference. So I say again - Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching?

With all that said, let the Church say amen… and AMEN!

Everyone has an Opinion!

Opinion: a conclusion held without positive knowledge

Everyone has an opinion, but I think it's safe to say that not every opinion needs to be heard. Once we understand that we can heal or that we can tear down with words, hopefully we realize the importance of using wisdom before we speak. The word informs us in James 1:19, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." While we may truly mean well, we have to keep in mind that our opinion is our "conclusion held without positive knowledge."

In other words, we don't always know the true facts - we only speaking what we think - which we all know is simply our version of reality. When we speak without wisdom, we can easily hurt a family member or a friend, not to mention grieve the very spirit of God. Like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, when they offered their opinion against Moses and Aaron. They said unto them, (this was their opinion) "ye take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord"(Numbers 16:3).

That was truly their opinion, neither the Lord, nor wisdom or knowledge were found in those statements. If it had been, the earth would not have opened her mouth and swallowed them up, "with all that appertain unto them, and went down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord" (Numbers 16:30). They should have kept their opinions to themselves, because it grieved the spirit of God and caused them to lose their lives.

James 1:5 tells us, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." We have no excuse, we can always go to the Lord before we give our opinion to someone else. He loves us and He won't rebuke us for coming to Him to get wisdom. So let's be careful about how we throw words around, as they may come back to swallow us up! Not to mention, every opinion simply does not need to be heard.

As you may have heard people say, "Opinions are just like noses - everybody has one." Just remember that just because we have one, it does not mean that it needs to be heard!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
                                                                                                               

Many Thanks to Both Fathers!

As we all know, this Sunday will be Father's day, so as we approach this special day, I want to give honor and many thanks to my Spiritual Father as well as my Natural Father - without the two of them there would be no me (and in the case of our Spiritual Father, no us).

To my Spiritual Father, I must say "THANK YOU!" Your Word tells us that You neither slumber nor sleep and You are always with us, to be our provider, our healer, to be our banner and to give us peace. Thank you Heavenly Father for being our shepherd, our righteousness and for being a Father who cares and a Father who's always there, and ultimately for dying for us. Thank you Father, for teaching me to love and to always give thanks!

To my Natural Father, I have to say, "THANK YOU!" Thank you Dad, for working long, hard hours to provide for us. Despite what it might have seemed back in the day, it did not go unnoticed that you worked many days with an aching hip, to make sure that food was always on the table and that we always had clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet. Thank you Dad, for the stern looks that always put us back in our place! Thank you Dad, for teaching us that our word is our bond and that a little hard work never hurt anybody. Thanks Dad for showing us love. We are truly blessed to still have you in our lives. Thank you once again for being our support and a great source of strength.

I can't express my love and appreciation enough to either of you, so I simply say to the both of you, "Happy Father Day!"

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Thank God for Being Long-Suffering!

Long-Suffering: Patient; slow; to be slow to anger; tarry long

The Lord does not hasten to punish us, instead He patiently presents us with many opportunities to retrace our evil steps. Our long-suffering Lord is the one who has unlimited patience with His creation (that's us, just in case you were wondering). He’s the one who puts up with us and gives us ample time to use the energy, movements, and powers that He has given us to be used according to His master plan and will. Therefore, He grants us patience and time, again and again.

Our long-suffering Lord wants us to take on His long-suffering nature and to "...walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1-3).

Let's use the children of Israel as an example of how the Lord is slow to anger: He wanted the children of Israel to be a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation (Exodus 19:6), but what He got was a murmuring and complaining group of people - even after they had seen His miracles and wonders.  Despite all they had seen, they got off track. Regardless, every time they cried out to Him, our long-suffering Lord delivered them.

The Lord suffers long with us because he does not want any of His creations to be lost. In Ezekiel 33:11, the Word tells us that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Our Lord is not some mean God that sits on the throne just waiting to beat us over the head when we do some thing wrong. Instead, our longsuffering Lord takes exquisite pleasure in waiting for us to gain the victory in the fight and to struggle against the temptations that come into our lives (using all of those tools He's already provided us with, of course). What an awesome long-suffering Lord!

Our long-suffering Lord is forever giving patient consideration to our weakness and underdevelopment, because He knows our weaknesses can be brought to greatness if we would simply surrender and willingly be obedient to the merciful and gracious, slow to anger, long-suffering Lord. If we would just do that, we can also achieve mature moral development, because the Lord is long-suffering and patiently waiting on us.

With all that said, let the church say amen... and AMEN!

God Wants His Children to be Prosperous!

Prosperous: to be successful; to achieve success

In our day to day lives, we always want God to bless us with this thing or that thing, but how often do we stop and think about what we need to do to receive those blessings? In order for us to get what we want, we have to step out on what God has put in our hearts to do. It's pretty hard to be blessed when we don't put something out there to be blessed. Take for instance, a person with a God-given talent to sing, but doesn't do so. How can the Lord bless their beautiful voice if they don't use it? How can they achieve a successful career in singing if they don't allow God to make it prosperous?

If we want to be blessed, we've got to give the Lord something to bless. Take me for example, I wanted to write blogs and I believed in my heart I could - but if I had not picked up a pen and paper to write, it would still be a desire or a great idea in my mind. Instead, I stepped out of my comfort zone in faith and I gave the Lord something to work with. Now, I may not have completely achieved success, but I have given the Lord something to work with and I have no doubt that He's going to make it prosperous! Have you ever heard the old saying, "if you take one step, God will take two?"

Look at David when he was tending his father's sheep - his sheep were attack by a bear and a lion. David didn't just sit there - no, he took a leap of faith and went after the bear. Because David put action to his faith, God caused him to be successful - He allowed David to take the sheep out of the bear's mouth. Not only was he able to take his sheep, but he successfully killed the bear as well. Now, what if David had just thought that he could protect the flock, but never put forth any effort to do so. It seems pretty reasonable to believe that the bear and that lion would have eaten all his sheep. David's willingness to step out on faith also led to his defeat of Goliath. Here was David - a teenager - and Goliath - a giant - but when David heard him defy the armies of God, he didn't hesitate. I bet it never crossed his mind that he was just a child, nor did he allow what his brother said in 1 Samuel 17:28 (his brother thought that David was coming just to show off), effect him in any way. He knew of his past success and wasn't afraid to give God something else to work with!

That's the way we must be my friends, if we want to be successful in certain areas of our lives. We have got to give God something in or from us to make prosperous. If we want money, we have got to give, because when we give, God has something to work with. He can make it (and us) prosperous and allow it to come back to us. Let's give the Lord something to work with each and every day!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

This is not a Rehearsal!

Rehearsal: a practice exercise

This is not a rehearsal! This is the only practice we get; when God says enough - it's over, there is no second chance. We have all seen performers (actors, singers, dancers, etc.) perform. One of the great things about their jobs is that if they make a mistake, they can typically go back and practice until they perfect whatever it is that they are doing. It's not so with life; on this journey if we fail to make Jesus the Lord of our life, and choose to do our own will instead of living a life that’s pleasing to the Lord... once life is over, there is no returning to this earth to fix things or change things. This is not a rehearsal; we must make every day count.

I can't stress enough the fact that God should be first in our life. It's imperative that we know who the boss is - and just in case you were wondering - it's not us! We owe everything to the Lord, right down to the very air that we breathe; therefore we will have to give an account for how we have lived our lives. We can't be people tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine; we must live and breathe totally within the will of God.

The Lord wants us to enjoy life, He said in John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He wants us to enjoy His beautiful creation and all of the wonderful things He has blessed us with. Of course, we are living in perilous times, but we don't have to become a part of those things, our responsibility is to stand firm on the word of God. If we do fail (and every now and then, we probably will), there is blood to cover every sin - we just need to use it quickly to get back in agreement with God and continue to go forward.

My friends, I say again - this is not a Rehearsal! Revelation 22:12 informs us that His reward is with Him, therefore, once we're gone, we cannot return to this world and fix all the things we should have done years before. All along the way let's encourage ourselves, as well as others, and learn to love others as Jesus loves us.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen… and AMEN!                     

Remembering the Good!

Remember: to recall, retain, recollect

Good: morally excellent, cheerful

God commanded His people to have certain feasts and certain celebrations. One of the reasons for this was for them to remember all that He had done for them. At different times of the year, they would come together and celebrate how God had brought them out of the land of Egypt (slavery), how He had defeated their enemies, how He feed them in the wilderness, and how He protected them. God required them to remember. He is the same today as He was yesterday, so if he required them to remember, how much more is He requiring the same of us.

In the book of Joshua, God commanded them to leave stones as a memorial, these stones reminded them and their children of specific victories, so every time they would look at those stones, they would remember what God had done for them (Joshua 4:4-6). Like them, we should have something to remind us of what God has done for us. It doesn't have to be stones, of course. It could be something as simple as a journal that we maintain to keep all the many victories that He has done for us fresh in our memories.

God doesn't want us dwelling on the negative things in our past. That mean we can't stay focused on that one time our boss or coworker did us wrong and we can't keep harping on the bad times between us and our spouses. It also means that we can't linger on the occasions when our friends whip or insult us with their tongues. Those are the types of things that we are suppose to forget. Of course, those things are going to come to the surface from time to time, but it's our responsibility to quickly change our thoughts. The reason for this is because whatever we dwell on is what we inevitably bring more of into our lives. So let's remember the good things that happen in our lives - like when God has turned situations around; the days our children were born; and the strength and peace He gave us throughout the difficult times and how He gave us beauty for ashes.

Let's remember our successes, our victories, and all the times we weathered the storms in our life because when we remember the good things we are constantly drawing more good things to us! Keep believing and keep remembering what God has done for us -  He's done it before, He's well able to do it again! God loves you, my friends!!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!