There are time in our lives that life seems to take us by surprise. We get up and go about our daily business or chores expecting things to play out the same every time. We know exactly how much time needs to be spent, we know exactly how every scenario should play out and we rarely ever leave room for the unexpected. While it's understandable to have certain expectations it is completely unreasonable to rule out the unexpected; especially if you are a child of God. Life is full of twists and turns that we don't foresee, but should be prepared for.
James 1:2 tells us My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (NKJV). So why is it that when these unexpected circumstances occur, we seemingly fall apart at the seams? Why do we as children of God lose hope when things happen to us we were not expecting? Part of the problem is due to the fact that as a society we have allowed worldly mindsets to infect the church. We allow those who don't possess biblical wisdom to taint the word of God by infusing man made or man accepted practices into Christianity. As believers we cannot allow or thought or understanding of God's word to be infected by what the world deems as a reasonable "exchange". What is a reasonable exchange? Reasonable exchange states that if I give or do a particular thing for you, that I should expect a particular thing back from you. How do we try to enact "reasonable exchange" with God? Well we say things like: " God I am faithful & I tithe so why I am struggling so hard?"
As hard as it is to deal with lives unexpected & hard issues we must understand that being faithful, living righteous, and remaining obedient does not exempt you from hardships. Job is the perfect example for this truth. The bible says Job was an upright & righteous man yet God recommended him for hardship. As believers we should never be taken by surprised or get angry with God when they happen. Instead we should begin rejoicing because we realize God has recommended us and know that if he recommended us He will keep us. So what do we do when unexpected hardships com? Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)
Be Blessed
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
GOD WILL STILL DO IT
As children our parents do their best to encourage us to set goals for our lives. They ask us what our passions are and do their best to help cultivate them. As we grow up and attend school our teachers join the team trying to guide us on the right path for our lives. As we come to know God in our own personal relationships our Christian leaders come aboard to further encourage us to become who God has designed us to be. While the majority of people experience this healthy system of guidance, the truth is that not everyone does. Leaving many to fight and fend for themselves merely tumbling through life trying to find their niche. Many know within themselves what God has spoken to them, but because of the lack of guidance in the natural they fail to see the possibility of it manifesting.
Those without proper guidance do find their way but usually after many hardships and failures. Because they’ve suffered along the way their mindset usually places them in a state of distrust and hesitance in letting others in. While their hesitance is understandable their tendency to equate these feelings to God is not.
What must understand is that no matter what we experience with others on our journey to fulfilling our life’s plan, we should never hold God hostage with our emotions because of other sinful fallen men. First off, “God is not a man that He should lie.” (Numbers 23:19, NASB) No matter how long ago God made a promise to you, HE Will complete it in you until it is accomplished!
Just like He promised the children of Israel in Genesis 28:15 “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (NASB)We must know without a shadow of a doubt that God is always with and for us, even when we stray. The children of Israel strayed in the sight of God, yet He fulfilled His promise to them, albeit with latter generations, but He never went back on His promise.
Know that even if you stray of course but you repent and determine to get back on track, God is still with you and guiding you. Just like God kept His promise to them, He will do the same for you!
BE BLESSED
Those without proper guidance do find their way but usually after many hardships and failures. Because they’ve suffered along the way their mindset usually places them in a state of distrust and hesitance in letting others in. While their hesitance is understandable their tendency to equate these feelings to God is not.
What must understand is that no matter what we experience with others on our journey to fulfilling our life’s plan, we should never hold God hostage with our emotions because of other sinful fallen men. First off, “God is not a man that He should lie.” (Numbers 23:19, NASB) No matter how long ago God made a promise to you, HE Will complete it in you until it is accomplished!
Just like He promised the children of Israel in Genesis 28:15 “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (NASB)We must know without a shadow of a doubt that God is always with and for us, even when we stray. The children of Israel strayed in the sight of God, yet He fulfilled His promise to them, albeit with latter generations, but He never went back on His promise.
Know that even if you stray of course but you repent and determine to get back on track, God is still with you and guiding you. Just like God kept His promise to them, He will do the same for you!
BE BLESSED
REJOICE IN HIM
And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides you, nor is there any rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:1-2 (NKJV)
There are times in life where rejoicing seems like an unattainable task. We go through various trials and circumstances that seem to try and drown out our hope, peace and happiness. We get so sidetracked by what we are dealing with that our perspective and emotions become clouded with what we feel. We get so bombarded by the words and actions of others towards us, that we allow them to suck the life out of us by giving them a place in our lives.
Sometimes we go through seasons of lack where what we need or desire is not. We walk around depressed, frustrated and angry with God that our situations haven't changed, and that our enemies haven't let up. But like Hannah we have the ability to keep our mind, hearts and lives focused on God and His attributes while we wait on Him.
In today's scripture we find Hannah rejoicing in God after He has answered her prayer. She is rejoicing in who he is and what He has done. But this wasn't always the case for her. In 1 Samuel we can read that Hannah who is the wife of Elkanah couldn’t conceive children. She desired more than anything to give Elkanah a son, an heir from her womb and the fact that she couldn't caused her great distress. Compounding her issue was Elkanah's other wife Peninnah who was able to bear children and rubbed it into Hannah's face. Now while all of these things weighed on Hannah and caused her great emotional distress, she still kept her faith. Although what she wanted hadn't happened yet, she continued to trust God’s ability to move in her life. Eventually God answered her prayer and she conceived a son. She had a grateful heart and rejoiced in Him because she recognized who He was, how He showed up and that there was no one like Him.
So, keep the faith and keep trusting God and while you wait rejoice in Him!
BE BLESSED
There are times in life where rejoicing seems like an unattainable task. We go through various trials and circumstances that seem to try and drown out our hope, peace and happiness. We get so sidetracked by what we are dealing with that our perspective and emotions become clouded with what we feel. We get so bombarded by the words and actions of others towards us, that we allow them to suck the life out of us by giving them a place in our lives.
Sometimes we go through seasons of lack where what we need or desire is not. We walk around depressed, frustrated and angry with God that our situations haven't changed, and that our enemies haven't let up. But like Hannah we have the ability to keep our mind, hearts and lives focused on God and His attributes while we wait on Him.
In today's scripture we find Hannah rejoicing in God after He has answered her prayer. She is rejoicing in who he is and what He has done. But this wasn't always the case for her. In 1 Samuel we can read that Hannah who is the wife of Elkanah couldn’t conceive children. She desired more than anything to give Elkanah a son, an heir from her womb and the fact that she couldn't caused her great distress. Compounding her issue was Elkanah's other wife Peninnah who was able to bear children and rubbed it into Hannah's face. Now while all of these things weighed on Hannah and caused her great emotional distress, she still kept her faith. Although what she wanted hadn't happened yet, she continued to trust God’s ability to move in her life. Eventually God answered her prayer and she conceived a son. She had a grateful heart and rejoiced in Him because she recognized who He was, how He showed up and that there was no one like Him.
So, keep the faith and keep trusting God and while you wait rejoice in Him!
BE BLESSED
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Watch Your Mouth
Are you mindful of what you say, before you say it? Do you consider the impact your words will have when they land in the ears of others? Do you stop to think about the influence your words have? More often than not people speak various things to, about and at others without any real understanding of how their words touch the lives of others. The world teaches the principle of speak your mind so you can be heard but The Word of God teaches the contrary. The word says in Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (NKJV)
The word corrupt can be boiled down to one word: evil. The bible teaches us not to speak words of evil to one another but words that edify and bring life. Many often quote Proverbs 18:21 when it comes to their personal life where it states Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (NKJV), but they mistakenly leave this declaration with a one sided view. While we should be mindful to speak life and not death over our own lives, we must be equally mindful and concerned to speak in the same manner over others. The word has given the command and responsibility to us to Watch what we say. Now you may be thinking that this is just a little to hard for you to maintain on a constant basis. You may be thinking, well you don't know how I get when I'm angry or that you don't know how to even get it under control. Well one sure fire way to watch what comes out your mouth, is to watch what goes into your mind.
Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (NKJV). When you begin meditating on these things it will decrease the possibility of anything evil coming out. The more good you deposit in, the more good will come out. What's the goal to guarding & watching you ask? Simple that the hearer may receive an abundant about of grace & that God your father is pleased with you!
Be Blessed
The word corrupt can be boiled down to one word: evil. The bible teaches us not to speak words of evil to one another but words that edify and bring life. Many often quote Proverbs 18:21 when it comes to their personal life where it states Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (NKJV), but they mistakenly leave this declaration with a one sided view. While we should be mindful to speak life and not death over our own lives, we must be equally mindful and concerned to speak in the same manner over others. The word has given the command and responsibility to us to Watch what we say. Now you may be thinking that this is just a little to hard for you to maintain on a constant basis. You may be thinking, well you don't know how I get when I'm angry or that you don't know how to even get it under control. Well one sure fire way to watch what comes out your mouth, is to watch what goes into your mind.
Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (NKJV). When you begin meditating on these things it will decrease the possibility of anything evil coming out. The more good you deposit in, the more good will come out. What's the goal to guarding & watching you ask? Simple that the hearer may receive an abundant about of grace & that God your father is pleased with you!
Be Blessed
Friday, March 7, 2014
JUST RELAX AND BE READY
We often face temptations, trials, hardships & setbacks that catch us by surprise, but truthfully they shouldn't. As believers we have become complacent & careless in being prepared for these times, because we adopted a fierce mentality for prosperity & "happy" times. We've allowed ourselves to constantly be on the lookout for our seasons of blessings, that we leave ourselves unprepared for seasons of hardships. While as the children of God we should look fr blessings, we should also expect hard times to occur in our lives. Why? Because in James 1:2 we are reminded "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (NKJV). The latter portion of this scripture says "when you fall into various trials, this tells us these seasons of hardships are inevitable.
So then why are we often shaken when they show up? Why are we rocked to our core as if we are totally out of the loop from their presence? Because we've allowed ourselves to adopt a "that won't happen to me" mindset. But the real question is, why not you? I Corinthians 10:13 tells No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (NKJV).
NEWSFLASH these types of hardships are common to mankind, and guess what that includes you! So how do you prepare for these times? Well let's look at a few things:
First, Stop thinking immune to hardships. Expect & accept that things are bound to happen.
Second, Know that what's happening to you has happened to others. What your facing isn't some unknown phenomenon. You'll make it just as they have.
Third, God loves you so much that He will not allow you to deal with anything above your capacity to handle. Although it may seem rough, know that you've already been equipped to handle it.
Lastly, Don't give in under the pressure. Know that God planned your escape route, before the season even started. God doesn't wait to see how your going to handle it, to decide how to get you out. The season comes with the exit plan, but you have to persevere through the process to get to the end.
BE BLESSED
So then why are we often shaken when they show up? Why are we rocked to our core as if we are totally out of the loop from their presence? Because we've allowed ourselves to adopt a "that won't happen to me" mindset. But the real question is, why not you? I Corinthians 10:13 tells No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (NKJV).
NEWSFLASH these types of hardships are common to mankind, and guess what that includes you! So how do you prepare for these times? Well let's look at a few things:
First, Stop thinking immune to hardships. Expect & accept that things are bound to happen.
Second, Know that what's happening to you has happened to others. What your facing isn't some unknown phenomenon. You'll make it just as they have.
Third, God loves you so much that He will not allow you to deal with anything above your capacity to handle. Although it may seem rough, know that you've already been equipped to handle it.
Lastly, Don't give in under the pressure. Know that God planned your escape route, before the season even started. God doesn't wait to see how your going to handle it, to decide how to get you out. The season comes with the exit plan, but you have to persevere through the process to get to the end.
BE BLESSED
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Down But Never Out!
Down but Never out!!
We are now sixteen days into this new year. A year in which many believe will hold great breakthrough, revelation & new opportunities. Yet with all of the greatness expected the reality seems to be the opposite. Instead of great breakthrough there is great bondage, instead of great revelation there is great confusion & instead of new opportunities we see the same closed doors. Many are facing trial after trial, test after test and it feels like the reality of life is overshadowing the hope of your faith. It seems as if the more you believe for change the worse things get. It seems like the more you pray for relief the more adversity you face, and your emotions begin to overwhelm as doubt & defeat try to creep in.
But as believers we must Never give in to how things seem.
When you hit this season of storms or rough patches, when the weight of your emotions try to over power you and bully you into giving up, when you can't see a way out of your circumstances; remember God's word found in II Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV) We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
The reality is that a will face many trials in our lives, as we are reminded in James 1:2 to count it all joy when we fall in various trials. Now we don't actually "fall" into trials, but God in His divine wisdom allows us to go through different trials for a purpose. However you must first must be assured that what you are experiencing is not meant to destroy you but make you stronger & to show the power & might of God in you life. While James admonishes us to count it all joy in these rough season we will never do so if we have the improper perspective.
No matter what you face always remember that: No matter bad it seems, God is still in control and because He is in control it doesn't matter how low you my get; you'll never be out!
We are now sixteen days into this new year. A year in which many believe will hold great breakthrough, revelation & new opportunities. Yet with all of the greatness expected the reality seems to be the opposite. Instead of great breakthrough there is great bondage, instead of great revelation there is great confusion & instead of new opportunities we see the same closed doors. Many are facing trial after trial, test after test and it feels like the reality of life is overshadowing the hope of your faith. It seems as if the more you believe for change the worse things get. It seems like the more you pray for relief the more adversity you face, and your emotions begin to overwhelm as doubt & defeat try to creep in.
But as believers we must Never give in to how things seem.
When you hit this season of storms or rough patches, when the weight of your emotions try to over power you and bully you into giving up, when you can't see a way out of your circumstances; remember God's word found in II Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV) We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
The reality is that a will face many trials in our lives, as we are reminded in James 1:2 to count it all joy when we fall in various trials. Now we don't actually "fall" into trials, but God in His divine wisdom allows us to go through different trials for a purpose. However you must first must be assured that what you are experiencing is not meant to destroy you but make you stronger & to show the power & might of God in you life. While James admonishes us to count it all joy in these rough season we will never do so if we have the improper perspective.
No matter what you face always remember that: No matter bad it seems, God is still in control and because He is in control it doesn't matter how low you my get; you'll never be out!
Change Your Mind Change Your Life
Every year people around the world embrace the incoming year by enthusiastically declaring their resolve to be better & to do new things, however many fail in keeping these newfound commitments. They walk into the new year fully determined to do their best in changing their behavior but they fail to correct the most vital part to the success of their commitment; changing their mindset. Many fail to realize that merely changing their outer actions without changing their thought process, patterns or beliefs will only cause detriment to their progress. You see trying to change what you without changing how you think is pointless. As Luke 5:37 (NASB) no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins & it will be spilled out, & the skins will be ruined. Holding onto the same old mindset while trying to incorporate new actions will prove pointless, because at some point that old mindset will break thru causing your behaviors to revert back & damaging what little progress you made.
As believers we cannot afford to only view Christ as Savior but we must know & accept that we cannot change who we are until we fully accept & surrender to Christ as Lord. We must understand what Christ meant when He told us in John 10:10 that He came that we would have life & have it abundantly. How joyous to know that we have the capacity to live abundant lives in Christ. But in order to have this abundant life we must also accept the responsibility believing in Christ brings. When you believe in Him that came to give you salvation & an abundant life, you must be willing to now walk in a manner that I both worthy & pleasing unto Him. We are admonished in Ephesians 5:7-10 (NASB) Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
When Christ is Lord over your life, you are no longer stuck in the darkness of this world but you are the light of this world and you have the power & ability to manifest that light in your life. Your desire to exude this light daily exist because you want to please the one who has given it to you.
As believers we cannot afford to only view Christ as Savior but we must know & accept that we cannot change who we are until we fully accept & surrender to Christ as Lord. We must understand what Christ meant when He told us in John 10:10 that He came that we would have life & have it abundantly. How joyous to know that we have the capacity to live abundant lives in Christ. But in order to have this abundant life we must also accept the responsibility believing in Christ brings. When you believe in Him that came to give you salvation & an abundant life, you must be willing to now walk in a manner that I both worthy & pleasing unto Him. We are admonished in Ephesians 5:7-10 (NASB) Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
When Christ is Lord over your life, you are no longer stuck in the darkness of this world but you are the light of this world and you have the power & ability to manifest that light in your life. Your desire to exude this light daily exist because you want to please the one who has given it to you.
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