Innocent Idolatry

Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become am idol in your heart, you endanger that one--as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the fathers undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love. When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.
~ Jesus Calling ~ by Sarah Young

How many of us innocently idolize the love ones in our lives? Husbands, wives, children, parents, grandparents.etc. I too am found guilty of this very thing. I completely understand how you could love someone so much, that God would consider it idolatry. Holding on so tight to the point no one can move or breath, let alone grow. Dear God, help us to let go this morning! God knows what's best. Know that His plan is to give you His very best, even when it feels like He's taking it.
Be Blessed!

HOW MANY WAYS

Today will be a day of reflection for you and for me. From the time we were formed in our mothers' womb, to the time we begin to read this blog, God has been there and HE has been good. With that in mind, there is no way you cannot begin to give Him whats due unto Him. Go ahead and praise Him. I will begin...Lord i thank you for protecting me in my youth, all of those times i ignorantly walked blindly into things that could have taken my life. Lord i thank you that we i decided to experiment with drugs and alcohol that i still to this day remain in my right mind. Lord i thank you that through my years of promiscuity that you didnt allow me to contract a deadly disease. Lord i thank you that when i lost my home you didnt allow my family to live homeless. Lord i thank you that when i lost my job you didnt allow my family to go without a meal. Lord i thank you that when i found myself in a mess you didnt allow my enemies to over take me. Lord i thank you that when my heart is hurt you wont allow depression and grief to consume me. Lord i thank you that when my child was sick you didnt allow death to be its end. Lord i thank you that when i turned my back on you, you didnt allow my end to be hell. Now, what about you? How many ways could you give God thanks and praise this morning? HE DESERVES IT ALL! He's been just that good!
Be blessed!

THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT READ THE ENDING

In Psalms 23, it speaks of how the world, how the wicked ones would love to cut off and get rid of all of Gods people/church so that they could feel free and comfortable doing whatever their lustful hearts desire. They dont want to hear the word and they dont want to see people doing right because it restrains them. They have devised plans and tell lies against Gods people. They are sneaky and wicked in all of their ways. In their hearts their is deceit. BUT they are fools because they do not realize that God has a hidden protection around all of His people, all of His children. What person in their right minds will enter in a battle against an almighty God, who has all power in His hands, who can blow them off the face of this earth in one breath?! Yes, they are fools. Blinded by their evil ways.
People of God...BE encouraged! SINCE GOD IS FOR YOU...WHAT,WHO...COULD BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST YOU??? What plan can oversee Gods plan for your life? What weapon could tear down the barrier of protection that God has around you? Dont fret, dont fear, dont give up...because they obviously have NOT read the ending of this story!
Be Blessed...Be encouraged...BE!!

IF THERE IS SPACE..HE FILLS IT

Good Morning! And what a beauti-FULL morning it is!
When you think about air or oxygen, you may believe that its everywhere. Its needed to breath, so its in our lungs, its in our homes, outside, even if you take a jar and put a lid on it ...its still there in limited supply. Now, think about God.... He IS everywhere! He is in every area of our lives..IF we allow Him to be. And since He is always present, He fills up every space. Every lack we believe we have is just an illusion because He IS. He says He IS the great I AM. That means whatever you stand in need of..HE IS. He IS the space that fills the hole in your heart, He IS that missing piece to complete the puzzle, when you balance your check book and things dont add up to cover all your bills..He IS your surplus! He fills EVERY space, every nook, and cranny in our lives. He's everywhere, He's so wide you cant get around Him, He's so tall you cant get over Him, He's the past, present and the future...nothing surprises Him! Rest assure, exhale, stop your worrying, keep the faith and know that if there is ANY space in your life...HE CAN AND WILL FILL IT!

TRANSPARENCY IS THE KEY

" Let My Love seep into the inner recesses of your being. Do not close of any part of yourself from Me. I know you inside and out, so do not try to present a "clean-up" self to Me. Wounds that you shut away from the Light of My Love will fester and become wormy. Secret sins that you "hide" from Me can split off and develop lives of their own, controlling you without your realizing it.
Open yourself fully to My transforming Presence. Let My brilliant Love-Light search out and destroy hidden fears. This process requires time alone with Me, as My Love soaks into your innermost being. Enjoy My perfect Love, which expels every trace of fear."
Today's (7-28-11) devotional
Taken from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Just this morning i prayed about this very thing. Wanting to continue to allow myself to always be transparent before the Lord. He see's all of our hurt, even though we may wear a mask that says we are alright for the world. He see's all of our sins, even if no one else finds out. He is well aware of our dirt and flaws that remain, although we may boast that we are clean. He is fool proof and nothing gets by His all seeing, all knowing eye. NOTHING! Let His Light of Love shine on you today and He'll show you what to do with your hurt, He'll take away your sin and He will sit you up on a rock to stay. He will justify you, you will have no need in doing so. For whom the Son sets free IS free indeed, and let NO man call dirty what HE has cleansed. But He cannot do any of this until you get honest about all of it. Transparency IS the key!
Be Blessed!

YOU'LL "NEVER" BE SATISFIED

Good Morning All!
This is the day that the Lord has made...let us ALL rejoice and BE glad IN IT!
Today i was thinking about a conversation that my sister and I had had some time ago. We were discussing a future show topic and she said something that really made a lot of sense. We were talking about some things that we as women, or even sometimes men, desire out of our mates. Like for instance, if your mate isnt sensitive enough to your feelings, or if you're not feeling loved like you want to, or even if you are not being financially provided for like you feel you should. And it was like the light bulb came on...what she had said was like God himself standing there asking "what am i...chopped liver or something??" "am I NOT enough?" " Do i not supply all of your needs?" "Do i not love you unconditionally?" "am I not ALWAYS there when you need someone to talk to or to give you a shoulder to cry on?"...we seek these things from our spouses, and dont get me wrong there's nothing wrong with wanting to be loved and provided for, but God is saying IF they dont why are you so upset? We push God away and place man in His place not realizing that NO MAN amounts to Him and that as long as we continue to look for what only HE can provide limitless and consistently in MAN, than we will NEVER be satisfied. So, He gets to the point where he says, "ok...go ahead and go after their limited and selfish form of love..you'll be back. And yes, go ahead and depend on their bank accounts..that i provide for them anyway. Go right on ahead and keep wishing they understood you when they dont even see you the way I do." "Go ahead my child...you will be back, and yet and still the difference between Me and them..i'll ALWAYS be here waiting to love you even the more."
God IS love my brothers and sisters. We have to keep him first and in the forefront of our lives. We have to give Him our hearts desires and allow Him to fulfill EVERY need. We have to stop putting others/flesh/man in His place. Unless we truly understand that He IS all we need..we'll forever be chasing a fantasy. We'll NEVER be satisfied.
Be Blessed

YOUR FEELINGS ...A DOORWAY TO TEMPTATION

Bring Me all your feelings, even the ones you wish you didnt have. Fear and anxiety still plaque you. Feelings per se' are not sinful, but they can be temptations to sin. Blazing missiles of fear fly at you day and night; these attacks from the evil one come at you relentlessly. Use your shield of faith to extinguish those flaming arrows. Affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel. If you persist, your feelings will eventually fall in line with your faith.
Do not hide from your fear or pretend it isnt there. Anxiety that you in hide in the recesses of your heart will give birth to fear of fear; a monstrous step-child. Bring your anxieties out into the Light of My Presence, where we can deal with them together. Concentrate on trusting Me, and fearfulness will gradually lose in foothold within you.
Taken from "Jesus Calling" A 365 Day Journal by "Sarah Young"

What feelings are you allowing the enemy to play on and use for his demise? What fears do you have that he feeds off of? Do you realize that the devil loves to paint you a picture full of "what if's" and "suspicions", just to get you in the doorway of temptation? Ask the Lord today where and what areas in your life you are fearful, be honest with him about your true feelings. Even the ones that you cover up from the world. Dont allow the enemy to use your emotions to trick you into unnecessary pain and heartache.
Be Blessed

BEING "BLIND" HAS ITS ADVANTAGES...

When you think about someone who is blind you may think that their life may be hard and difficult. Although, not being able to see your family and love ones faces and not being able to see the trees, or even your own face may be a bit discouraging. However, i do believe there are some advantages. How many of you have seen the movie "Ray"? It was a movie about one of the most talented legends in history, Ray Charles. He was blind...YET...he became a star. I'd like to wonder if Ray wasnt blind, would he had still become Ray Charles or just another ordinary man. Some say, and studies show that when you are blind, your other senses are heightened and become stronger. Your sense of smell increases, your hearing is more keen, and you can feel the presence of someone else around you without even hearing them speak or move. And i'd also like to say that the blind have an amazing trust level in those around them. Wouldn't you think? Well this is how it should be with God. We go through our periods of trust and faith in God but because we CAN SEE we get distracted and begin to lose hope. Life is full of distractions. But because we can SEE our problems, our SENSE OF HEARING Gods reassuring voice, is muted. Because we can SEE our defeat, we cant SMELL that victory is just around the corner. Because we can SEE tragedy, we cant TRUST that God is our protector. Because we can SEE the turmoil around us, we cant FEEL the presence of God in the mist of it all. NOW faith IS the substance of things HOPED for and the evidence of things NOT seen. I believe God in a sense wants us to take the advantage of being blind to this world and our circumstances and allow our spiritual senses to be matured and heightened. Again, i wonder if Ray Charles would had been a legend, had he not been blind? hmm.. only God knows. But ask yourself, how far could you possibly go..if you'd just allow yourself to be blind. How high will you soar? How much would your trust in God increase? How much more could you hear his voice? Being BLIND DOES HAVE ITS ADVANTAGES!
Be Blessed!

WE ARE NOT TRUSTWORTHY

In prayer this morning i learned that everyone can repent. Not only can everyone repent BUT there is something that everyone can find in their lives to repent about. The fact is, we are flesh, sinful at nature, and as far as im concerned there will always be a war between our fleshly desires and our spiritual desires. Now i know that most of your minds began to think of sexual sins and desires, when you see the phrase "fleshly desires", however, sex is not the only sin that our "flesh" desires. There's hatred,unforgiveness, bitterness, disobedience in any form, jealousy, backbiting, lying..etc. Now think about this. Have you ever heard or have said so your self that you cant trust anyone? Ever consider the reason we cant trust others just may be because we realize that we ourselves cannot be trusted? Yet who on this earth will admit that they themselves cannot be trusted?? Whatever it may be..can you trust yourself to say the right thing? Can you trust yourself not to cheat on your taxes? Can you trust yourself not to lust in the presence of that man/woman? Can you trust yourself to dwell on the right thoughts? Can you trust yourself to keep all side conversations holy? Probably not. Reason being, we are all of a fleshly sinful nature. And flesh is always subject to/and READY.. WILLING to fail. But God NEVER fails and He even commands us not to put all of our trust in man but to lean and depend on Him who will not and CANNOT fail. He'll never let us down nor forsake us. And just because we are flesh doesn't give us right to sin for He even promises to keep those who WANT to be kept. No, we are not trustworthy...but God IS and IN HIM you CAN depend! Trust Him with your life and with others.
Be Blessed!

HOW DIFFERENT THINGS WOULD BE LOOKING THRU THE EYES OF LOVE

"Seek to live in My love, which covers a multitude of sins: both yours and others. Wear My Love like a cloak of Light, covering you from head to toe. Have no fear, for perfect Love decimates fear. Look at each other through lenses of Love; see them from My perspective. This is how you walk in the Light, and it pleases Me. I want My Body of believers to be radiant with the Light of My Presence. How i grieve when pockets of darkness increasingly dim the Love-Light. Return to Me, your FIRST LOVE! Gaze at Me in the splendor of holiness, and My Love will once again envelope you in Light."
June 9 Jesus Calling "A 365-Day Journaling Devotional by Sarah Young

My God my God!...How different things would be if we would actually look at ourselves and others through the lenses of Love. Its not what you can prove that's wrong in someones life that pleases God, but how you can love them. Love COVERS...its COVERS a multitude of sins. Yet, we love to uncover and expose them. What benefit do we get from exposing someone? What benefit to we obtain for placing their sins forever before them? If God receives the repented heart and promises to cast their sins into the sea of forgetfulness... shouldn't we do the same? Are you pleasing God in how you judge others? For the greatest of these..IS Love!
Be Blessed!

Starting over MEANS starting over

This morning in prayer and scripture, we learned in Psalms 53, that there was a point where God had searched and couldnt find one person who truly sought after him. Now being the creator that He is, He very easily could have wiped everyone off the face of the earth and started over. Well He didnt. Instead He came down from heaven and wrapped himself in flesh and made what was wrong right. He gave us another chance. He made the ultimate sacrifice and for that we ought to be grateful! How many times in your life had you wanted to just throw up your hands and say "thats it! i quit! DO OVER!"? Nothing is going quite as you planned so you just give up and start over again. Some of you have; marriages, jobs, children, dreams, businesses, and goals, that may not be working as planned and you have decided to just give up and start over. That i do understand, been there done it and may even feel the same way too. But one thing i have learned this morning is starting over truly means starting over. It doesnt promise that things will be better, and nor does it promise that you wont face the same issues again. It just means you will be starting things over again. From the beginning. However, the process that God is wanting to take you through will still need to be fulfilled. You may start a different job, divorce and remarry, have more children, start a new business...BUT the process will still be the same process. You may have been more than half way through the process, but now you have to start over from the beginning because you failed to make the sacrifice. Whether its the sacrifice of love, patience, long suffering, peace, forgiveness, or understanding. Whatever it may be, wouldnt it be wiser to get it right the FIRST time, than to spend life starting it all over again?? God made the ULTIMATE sacrifice. What He's asking you to do compared to what He gave up is nothing. I pray that God has ministered to you today, that you will think for a moment..is it worth starting over, just to begin the same process over again? Starting over MEANS starting over.
"Those that wait on the Lord..HE SHALL renew their strength"
Be blessed!

HA!....COMPARED TO WHO??!!

Good Morning brothers and sisters!
Wew Lord! God is so deep and His revelation is indescribable!
How many of you have said this?.." I would never do that", " SMH, i dont see how someone could do that, i may have done this but THAT...that is a shame!" "I'm not THAT bad..he is off the chain for that one!"
Sound familiar to you? Ever heard the saying, "Never say Never??"..well God took that a step further this morning. Often times we look around at people and we compare ourselves and behaviors to theirs, and by doing this we get a sense of where we are on the good citizen, wife, husband, daughter, or employee meter. Mary goes out every weekend and leaves her husband home with the kids..i dont do that so im a good wife. Joe has been coming in late every day...im always 10 minutes early so i should get promoted. Her child is constantly in trouble...smh...so glad mine know how to act in public. All the while God is saying ..HA!...COMPARED TO WHO AND WHOS STANDARD DO YOU BRAG??
"You may not go out every weekend like Mary does but you still have not gotten rid of the ungodly conversations with other men like i told you to. Yes Joe may come in late every day but what about those office supplies and tools that you sneak home every night? Sure their children get sent home from school for fighting and disrupting the class, but yours curse YOU out and do NOT do anything you ask them to."
If you place a candle in a dark room, the room will appear lighter..but if you flip the light switch on..your candle is nothing bout a dim flicker.
God is saying when you compare your self to this wicked carnal world and its standards you just may appear better. But when you compare yourself to MY standards and MY holiness that i require, you're still as filthy rags.
Dig deeper today, dont be the one who gains the world's respect by "good" deeds, and yet loses his soul because you've measured with the wrong ruler. You dont want to meet God face to face, saying "that i deserve to go in because i was a good person" and hear God say...HA! ....COMPARED TO WHO?? There is MORE that He requires of US!

WHY CARRY IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO??

"Taste and see that i am good. This command contains an invitation to experience My living Presence. It also contains a promise. The more you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. This knowledge is essential to your faith-walk. When adversities strike, the human instinct is to doubt My goodness. My ways are mysterious, even to those who know Me intimately. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways and thoughts higher than your ways and thoughts. Do not try to fathom My ways. Instead, spend time enjoying Me and experiencing My goodness."
Todays Devotion from Jesus Calling a 365-Day Journaling Devotional by "Sarah Young"


Today God wants you to lay down every weight, every concern, worry, and/or care and just enjoy being in His Holy Presence. God is here to lift the heavy burden. If all He wants is for you to worship Him and rest in Him...why choose to be weighed down instead? Why carry IT SINCE you don't have to??? Today i encourage you to just let go and push through to the place of Holy's. Enter into His courts with praise and into His gates with thanksgiving, for He IS worthy to be praised!!!
Be Blessed!

You Don't Know My Name, I am Lord!

Now, most of us would say we know God. We know He is our creator and we were created to worship Him, but do you really know His name? God said, "I am Lord, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am your father and the father of the fatherless. I am your refuge and your fortess. I am the feeder of the hungry and a gift giver, a giver of good things. I am Jehovah Jireh (I will provide), Jehovah Shalom (I come to give you peace in the mist of your storm), Jehovah Shammah (I am here and I will move among you), Jehovah Tsidkenu (I am the righeousness, and will lead you unto me). I am the lawgiver and the judge, I am your keeper. I am omnipotent, longsuffering, the light and living water. I am the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords and the Lord of Host. I am Love, Lovingkindness, merciful, mighty, a strong tower, never changing, pefect, powerful, promise keeper, forgiving, I am your shield, your protector and through it all I will sustain you, guide you, uplift you, carry you, never forsake you, I am the miracle worker and all you have to do is seek my face, call on my name and I will hear. Know my name, I am the Lord your God!

IN A FIRE EVERYTHING GETS BURNED BUT THE FOUNDATION

Have you ever taken a hard look at a house that has been consumed by a fire? Room to room, papers, mattresses, couches, floors, walls...etc..you name it, EVERY thing burns to ashes! But if you look further, you will notice that the foundation of the home is still there. It may be covered with soot and debris, but it is still there. Now have you ever been in a situation where you were trying your hardest to get someone to see your point of view about something? I can remember times where someone may have been trying to get me to see something, but i just didn't see it that way. It wasn't because i refused to do the right thing but rather i really didn't see the wrong. So instead of good coming out of the situation offense took root, frustration, resentment, bitterness and harmful words were thrown, guards were up and ultimately nothing was accomplished. I have even done this with my spouse, i believed that i was doing good by pointing out somethings that i saw in him that needed to change but he didn't see it that way "at the time", so i kept trying to force the issue and almost immediately at that point he felt he needed to defend himself(as its a natural human mechanism)and eventually it became an argument. Because i wanted to get it right then a fire was created and every good intention and good desire that i had was burned to the ground. Any time that we allow flesh to take over to do Gods will we run the risk of igniting fires. The word of God can not be debated, it needs no defense, it needs no power point to explain it. IT is what IT is, the truth and it cuts deep as a two-edged sword. IT will not be destroyed. Today i am learning to pray about the things i see in others, address it when God says and then to move on and allow the word of God to do the changing. This way i have obeyed God and prevented fire damage all at the same time.
Be Blessed!

WHATS LYING BENEATH THE SURFACE?

Im angry...Im hurt...Im bitter...Im disappointed...all because of what someone else has done.
Me, me me me...all these statements sound a bit selfish. They even sound a bit superficial. We validate these feelings based off of the obvious things that we and others can see. Now dont get me wrong, im not saying that we are wrong for FEELING these feelings, and i believe God created all feelings. He even told us that it was OK to be angry, however, not to allow anger to cause us to sin. Meaning, ok, because i made you flesh i have made you able and capable of feeling...yet dont allow your feelings to control your life. Dont dwell so much on how you feel that it leads you away from the will of God. Your feelings can be very deceiving, only focusing on whats going on ON the surface. Its whats going on UNDER the surface that has more meaning and its whats going on UNDER the surface that God wants from you. Under the surface may be stubbornness, selfishness, arrogance, jealousy, envy, self righteousness, and an unwillingness to yield YOUR will for His. (etc)..your below the surface may not be mine and mine may not be yours. Today i challenge you, along with myself, to go deeper...ask God to show you whats lying beneath the surface. Be honest with yourself and God about those characteristics that are not pleasing unto him. Stop shifting the blame and dont allow those things to be the cause of you missing eternity with our Heavenly Father.
Be Blessed!

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because i have refused him. For the Lord does NOT see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

STAYING IN GOD..KEEPS YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH

Morning brothers and sisters in Christ,

Initially when began to name this post, i was going to say.."Staying on the right track." But immediately i thought about a track and how it usually, if not always, go around in a complete circle, sphere or a sort of oblong oval. And i thought, wait a minute..im not sure if i would want to encourage someone to keep going around and around in a circle. Going at a pace, either fast or slow, just to end up back where they had begun. Didn't sound too positive. When we think about living life in God, His whole plan is to bring us to a place of purpose, a desired destination if you will. Who would want to run miles, sweating and out of breath, just to end back up in the same place again?? Getting no where fast!? I'm sure none of you would raise your hand and say "I DO!" However, that is what some of us do. There are many distractions in life that tend to get us out of the will of God, putting us on a track. Running around and around ending up back at the starting point again. Life with God to me is like an obstacle course. There may be loops, hurdles, and walls to climb. Thanks be unto God that He can be our drill sergeant pushing and encouraging us that we can do it. PUSH HARDER! YOU GOT THIS!! STAY FOCUSED! And if we should get lost with life's detours, He always provide signs and billboards that lead us right back on the right path. But it is up to us to follow them. Trust God will never lead you astray and He will never take you any where without His company, grace and mercy.
Be Blessed!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29;11 (New Living Translation)

LIGHTEN UP A LITTLE..

Learn to laugh at yourself more freely. Dont take yourself or your circumstances so seriously. Relax and know that I am God with you. When you desire My will above all else, life becomes much less threatening. Stop trying to monitor My responsibilities--things that are beyond your control. Find freedom by accepting the boundaries of your domain.
Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart into heavenly places. Your laughter rises to heaven and blends with angelic melodies of praise. Just as parents delight in the laughter of their children, so delight in hearing My children laugh. I rejoice when you trust Me enough to enjoy your life lightheartedly.
Do not miss the Joy of My Presence by carrying the weight of the on your shoulders. Rather, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. My yoke is comfortable and pleasant; My burden is light and easily borne.

Quoted directly from: Jesus Calling ( A 365-Day Journaling Devotional)
written by, Sarah Young

Be Blessed!

It's Not About You!

Today know that it's not about you. Often times when we pray, we pray about and ask for what we want or need, what someone is doing/done or said to us, how we don't like something and asking God to fix it. But have you ever just sat and really thought about all the times your life has been spared, your circumstances have been changed? Today, there are many Americans that are without a home or a loved one due to natural disaster. There are people that have recently been affected by tornados, the thousands of people whom have died within the last couple of weeks, storms raging in areas not expected, Tsunami's taking hundreds of thousands of lives in Japan, earthquakes and errupting volcano's, while we (those not affected) stop to say a two second prayer for the victims and then go right into what we need and want. It's not always about you and how God can help you, but what it is about is being thankful for His grace, mercy, favor, the shield of protection you have over your life, intercessors you have praying for you everyday, the longsuffering of Jesus Christ, and the unconditional love that God has chosen to give you. Take that same love and give it to someone else today and stop letting it be all about you.

NOT JUST FOR THE ELDERS

When I was younger, I used to think that religion or christianity was something that the adults and senior citizens participated in. That none of that stuff applied to me , or that when I got older, I would then get more involved. Some how I thought, "hey I'm just a child...I'm only required to get good grades, stay in school, do my chores, and not have sex." I mean, wasn't that good enough? Wasn't that enough responsibility for a child? Well, sorry to say that the answer is NO. Having a relationship with God is NOT just for your parents, grandparents, or that little old widow humming on the front pew. It is for you as well. All who have breath aught to praise and worship the Lord. As a matter of fact, in the day and time that we live in now, you NEED this relationship with God just to be able to; stay in school, get good grades, not have sex...etc..With all of the pressures from your peers or maybe even family memebers, you need to be able to get down on your own knees and pray for strength. There is no specific age in which you should begin to serve and call on the Lord. Young people are dying so soon these days....heaven and hell is still a factor for you. Give God your life, give Him your heart today. If you don't fully understand all there is to know about christianity, seek a family memeber who you know may have the answers. Or someone in a church. Pray that God will reveal His truth to you, even at your age. God says that you are the apple of His eye, and He keeps you close to His heart. Even when you call on Him HE WILL answer you. Your prayers dont have to be filled with big words, nor does it have to be long. Will you be set apart and serve Him today?
"The day you hear My voice...harden NOT your heart." sayth the Lord
Be Blessed

Don't Let Your Past Predict Your Future!

Some psychologist/society says, "that how we act as an adult typically reflects our childhood." If we had a good upbringing, loving family, nurturing parents, great education and a positive environment, as an adult we will be successful, productive citizens. But, if our life is anything outside of this then we're basically nothing, our chances to success is slim to none. Maybe you were abused as a child, molested, starved, abandoned, put down, being told "your daddy aint nothing and you aint going to be nothing," "I can't stand you cause you look just like your daddy," or "your black, your ugly, you ain't worth nothing, I wish I never had you," etc. Because you are a child being told this by someone you love or look up to, the only someome you have known for the first years of your life, then we begin to accept the things they say and do to us. We begin to take on the spirit of hatred, untrust, the inability to love, or something worse we take on that molesting, sexual perversion spirit and starting treating other kids or people the way you were treated as a child. This then leads to a life of crime being in and out of jail robbing/stealing, or maybe even murder because you don't understand where all of your emotions of frustration, hatred and bitterness is coming from. TRY JESUS! He can take all of your pain away, he is the only one that actually matters when it comes to being forgiven. If you want to be loved then open up your heart to Jesus and let him love you, it will be the best feeling in the world. Unharden your heart and allow Jesus to come in and strip away every unclean layer that the enemy has put on you. Send every bad thing that has ever happened to you back to its sender. No longer allow your past to predict your future. Jesus died on Calvary, he paid the price so that we don't have to accept bad things. But we can speak to every situation, every circumstance and with the power of God and at the name of Jesus everything that is not of God has to cease. Stop being stuck in the past, stop being bound by the enemy, loose yourself right now in the name of Jesus and claim victory over your past and speak life, health, wealth, and prosperity into your future. Believe and recieve and no longer allow your past to predict your future!

WHO YOU PRAY TO..IS WHO YOU LIVE FOR.

Hello there my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! Now, read the title once again. Seems simple enough right? Who you pray to is who you live for. Think about it a little more this time......i'll wait.

I dont know who you pray to, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. So when we rise up and call on the name of the Lord, it sets the atmosphere and prepares our minds to begin our day with the things of the Lord. Everything that happened the day before is washed away and the task at hand is before us. Its at the point of prayer that we relinquish our Will and take on the Will of God. We begin to move throughout the day in the steps that God has set before us. Living for Him, we strive to make the right decisions for the day. Not concerned about what others may think or how the view who they think we are or why we do what we do, because who we have prayed to is who we are living for.

Now think of this. What if we dont pray??? Who do we live for then? When we do not pray than know that someone else is PREYing. We set ourselves up to unconsciously pray to our enemy when we do not pray to God. Our lack of communication with the Father tells the enemy, "hey, im uncovered today..what would you have for me to do for YOU today? what would you have for me to dwell on? Who would you like for me to cuss out today?..What temptation would you have for me to fall into today?"...You get what im saying? We have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, i say there is something far more important than a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee...and that is PRAYER. Not just the fact that you pray...but WHO you pray to.
"Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of Heaven..."
Be Blessed!

HEART SURGERY

Lately we have been dealing with our hearts and the truth that lies within them. If we read the prior post, you would notice that the prayer was " lord judge our hearts and not our actions." Today we will dig deeper and actually get honest about what's in our hearts. Just like discernment shows us the good AND the bad, so shall we examine our hearts. Yes you may truly want to serve God but be honest about the parts that want to sin as well. You may truly want to love unconditionally but be honest also about those parts that hate and are bitter. Allow God to perform open heart surgery on you continuously. "Create in us a clean heart Lord and renew a right spirit within us."
Be Blessed!



HE says, the day you hear MY voice, harden NOT your heart. Let your heart and soul say YES.

JUDGE OUR HEARTS, LORD!

Have you ever felt so burdened down with trying to always say the right things? Do the right things? Make the right decisions and make the right choices? Think the right thoughts? Go the right places? That you just want to scream??! AARRGGG!!! If your answer is yes please believe me, you are NOT alone. I have prayed just not long ago for God to judge my heart and not my actions. I don't know if it was an appropriate prayer in peoples eyes or not, but it was one that allowed me to be honest with my Father. Just in that sentence alone, HE knew that I was saying "Lord I am weak and I am weary, I have been on this road of righteousness a long time now. But at this moment I don't know if I can sustain, I feel my foot slipping Lord, and if I should fall....please judge my heart and not my actions." I trust that God doesnt always expect us to be strong, He knows there will be mistakes made. Not saying you get comfortable with living in sin. I'm saying, quit trying so hard to be perfect and get honest with God. Allow Him to be your strength. IF you should fall..know that you can get back up again. Keep your heart pure and honest before Him...let that be what He finds when He searches YOUR heart.
Be Blessed!

The Way of Love

My heart is so heavy over the abundance of people looking for love and not knowing what real love is. My heaviness lead me to research again what the Bible says about Love. In my search I read I Corinthians 13 and study what the apostle Paul said about love: Love never gives up, Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, doesn't revel when others grovel. It takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. So if you find yourself receiving or giving something not line up with this then it isn't love. We must first learn love then practice love before we can attract love!!!!

Are your afraid of sucess?

We are blessed beyond measure. We ar God's children and he promised us life, prosperity, wealth, health, the ability to speak to our circustance and most of all he gave us all gifts. Gifts that some of us don't even know we possess. Gifts that others see but we can't see in ourselves. If we would only believe in the promises of the Father and have confident in ourselves and the things in which we believe, change the way we think and cast out all fears, then and only then will we be able to walk in victory and recieve those things God has promised us. What is keeping you from being successful? Fear! Fear of failure, fear of not being accepted, fear of what others may think, fear of speaking in front of others, fear of being successful. As of today, take back the desires of your heart and move forth in faith. If you have just a little bit of faith, the size of a mustard seed is all God is asking, which is not a lot, then will he move and he will give you the desires of your heart if they are according to His purpose and will for you. Stop being afraid and let God have his way in you so you can inherit the many blessing God has for you and claim your success today.

BE AFRAID...BE VERY AFRAID

Imagine, those of you who have children, one of them coming in the house crying and trying to get out that someone was either bullying them or picking on them. What would be your initial response? Most of you would immediately get angry just from the site of your child so hurt. Most of you would jump up and start to head out the door to confront the bully. But there are a few of you who may just hold your child and say it's ok, I'm sure it's not that bad. Now, imagine how much our Heavenly Father loves US, HIS children?? How do you suppose He'd react to seeing His child hurt and bullied? Don't you know that God would defend you at all cost?! Those people in your way, constantly stirring up strife and confusion. Those people who live only to keep your past before you. Those people who make it their daily business to sow seeds of discord around you. Those people who prey on you and dig ditches just so you can fall. Those people who lie on you. And those who do all they can to disrupt your home. Daddy is not pleased with how you have been treating HIS children! No one is any match for His wrath. Humble yourself before God and repent, lest you find yourself in a world of trouble. When you speak against HIS children, you speak against Him. "Touch NOT my anointed..and do my prophet NO harm!" sayth the Lord.

WHAT/WHO COMES FIRST?

Spending time alone with God is essential for your well-being. It is not a luxury or an option; it is a necessity. Therefore, do not feel guilty about taking time to be with God. Remember that satan is the accusers of the believers. He delights in heaping guilt feelings upon you, especially when you are enjoying Gods Presence. When you feel satans arrows of accusation, you are probably on the right track. Use your shield of faith to protect yourself from him. Talk with God about what you are experiencing, and ask Him to show you the way forward. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. "Come near to Me, and i will come near to you." says the Lord.
May 15th daily devotion from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young
Be Blessed

Affirming your Future!

Our last post asked, "why is the devil so popular?" Why is that we give him the power and authority to rule over us and our lives, over our children and our family lives. Instead of dwelling over what isn't, what we don't want, what we don't have, how unhappy we are, being focused on other people blessings and worried about other people and why their life is better than ours, how come they have and we don't, or looking down on others, making them feel less of a person, not fitting into your world and trying to change them to think and be more like you. All of these things are falling out of God's will and right into the hands of the enemy (devil). But Jesus said, "peace be still." That means shut your mouth, keep our mouth off of people,stop internalizing and over analyzing things, mind your own business, worry about yourself, stop trying to defend yourself, but let God fight your battle and ask God to reveal to you what his purpose is for you, so that you too can be blessed. We are all different so your life will not be the same as mines or others. Don't allow your mind to be in all of the wrong places and focusing on what you don't want but, start to affirm what you do want in your life, claim those things that are not as if they were, start to praise God for the unseen, praise him for the things that will come, claim your victory now. Don't worry about what isn't or what is right now but start affirming a new thing, God said, "I am doing a new thing." So let him move in your life, your relationship with Him, at work, in school, in your marriage, with your children, your parents, in your home, start affirming life and that more abundantly. God is waiting to give us blessing, exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can think, ask or even imagine, our cup runs over that we have no room receive. This is the type of prayer that should be in our heart each and every day. As we begin to proclaim and affirm what we want then will we receive. Stop glorifying the devil, never be defeated again, and affirm your future today!

WHY IS THE devil SO POPULAR? WHY DO WE MAKE him A PRIORITY??

Have you notice that most of us wake up thinking, "i better pray so i can be ready for what the day brings(negatively)" " oh...i better make sure to put on the whole armor of God so that i can with stand the firey darts"..."..well the devil is busy today"....although it is true that we must be watchful and pray..but what about what God is doing?? We prepare ourselves for the devil but God is saying "behold i do a new thing..will you not notice it?" We dont notice what HE is doing because we are always focused on what the devil is doing all the time. Why do we make him such a priority?! There are so many things and blessings that God is trying to give and do for you today, will you not notice it??? Prepare your mind and heart to receive from Him. I EXPECT A MIRACLE "EVERY DAY!" Today make Gods blessings a priority. HE gets the popularity vote!!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR...

And the greatest of these is LOVE. Have you ever heard that sometimes we are our worse critics? Or we are our own enemies? Well the bible commands us to love even our enemies...so love yourself. YES, today's command is that you take time to look in the mirror and admire, adore, and appreciate yourself!! We easily find the flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings in ourselves and feel guilty or uncomfortable for giving ourselves a silent/mental compliment let alone out loud. And the GREATEST of all of these IS LOVE! Loving myself today...why don't you join me??

What's in your heart?

The bible says, " For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). What's in your heart? Negativity, envy, hatred, bitterness, insecurites, unforgiveness, defeat, no sense of direction, no true feeling of accomplishment or success, not knowing what you want to do with your life, etc. This is how the devil wants you to feel, he is having a pity party on you right now. Just as long as you continue to feel and think this way about yourself, you will remain in the rut you are in. But if you begin to think positive about yourself, about your circustance inspite of what is right now, by changing what's in your heart and how you look at yourself each morning, then and only then will your life begin to change for the better.

As I am posting this comment, I feel the holy spirit upon me. When you begin to step outside of the carnal realm and into the spiritual realm, moving from the outer courts into the inner courts, you begin to see things you never seen before but you have seen the same thing a million times. I am watching the movie "The Distinguised Gentlemen" with Eddie Murphy, where he is a two-bit hustler, hustling the congressman out of his money. But you see, you might be a hustler this day, a drug dealer, prostitue, a crack head or whatever else, but when God puts you in the right place at the right time according to his will and his purpose, he will put the right people in your life and no one would ever know that's why you were there. In this movie Eddie Murphy was there for his purpose, to get money from the congressman through bribery, but after overhearing a conversation, his mind begin to think different and he, which was a nobody but a man without a dream or a vision other than robbing people became a self taught congressman. People were put in his life that help him succeed at something he had no clue about. His speech consisted of one sentence, and people excepted that. He went from thinking negative and doing negative things to doing positive, and My God, did his life turn around? Absolutely! I know you may be saying, that's TV, no that's life. God promised to have life and that more abundantly, but we have to cast all negativity out and allow positivity in our lives. So my word to you today is to think about what your thinking about. If you find yourself thinking negative, begin to think positive and eventually it will become second nature to think positive and you will feel positive and then will your life change and also be positive. What's in your heart?

THE LATTER WILL BE GREATER!

No one said living this life would be easy. We are commanded to take up our cross if we are to follow Christ. We are to suffer as He has suffered. No it's not easy, but He left us a comforter and a sustainer. He even carries us when we feel we can't take another step. God said He'll never leave you nor forsake you. He said he wouldn't put more on you than you can bare. In these last days, we see the signs everywhere, unfolding before our very eyes. Now is not the time to give up and lose heart. Now is the time to draw closer to God. We cannot stress how important it is to form your very own support and prayer group. You don't want to miss out on the greater reward for a few moments of pleasure, riches or fame. For no man knows the hour nor than day that the Lord our God shall appear. Be ready. Get ready. Stay ready. For the latter WILL BE greater!

HE says, the day you hear MY voice, harden NOT your heart. Let your heart and soul say YES.

Where are you?

Where are you? Where are you in Christ? Are you just a babe OR a seasoned saint? Wherever you are, God as given us the same gifts, the same power and the same authority. Authority to speak to our situations, to speak to our illness. He has given us the power and authority to heal ourselves, our children, our spouse and those connected to us. When Christ died on the cross and his blood was shed, He released the same authority He had to you and me. Now all we have to do is take authority, have faith, believe, receive and claim your victory today. No matter where you are in Christ this day, just say the "Lords Prayer" Psalms 23, embed it and keep it in your heart; so when troubles come and storms arise, no matter where you are "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me/you/us all the days of my/your/our life: and I/you/we will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Amen!

A TRUE FRIEND

I was sitting here trying figure out what to post, and there was a post that caught my attention. It caught my attention because this is something that my sisters and i had been talking about a lot lately. We tend to think a friend is someone who never have an arguement with, someone who never disagrees with us, and someone who always knows just what to say. WRONG! A friend is also someone who can give you the truth just when you need it. Often times we get ourselves into situations that we created ourselves, we make excuses for our behavior, why we feel we should repay evil for evil, and we want others to go along with it. "yea girl, i understand..he hurt you so you're only doing this out of hurt." "yea man that dude betrayed you, you should never trust anyone again."..."they dont listen to you anyway,so just do what you want to do." " God doesnt force you to do anything if you dont know any better, religion is not for everyone.""you're single so you can sleep around with whomever you choose, and its her problem if she doesnt know what her husband is doing." "go ahead and do what makes you happy..your kids wil understand" Any of this sound familier?? And the list goes on and on. ADULTS, its time out for hearing just what you want to hear! Wrong is wrong, and the truth is the truth! If you are a friend and you truly care, you'd offer up the tough love. Pull your FRIEND aside and tell them the truth!! Why continue to watch them stay in the state that they are in? Tell them whats right, NOT what they want to hear. Because quite frankly, at the end of the day....THEIR SOUL DEPENDS ON IT!

YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS MOUNTAIN LONG ENOUGH

Deuteronomy 1:6-8

The Lord our God said to Horeb, You have dwelt long enough on this mountain. Turn and take up your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites. behold i have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and to their descendants after them.

Today I believe God is saying enough is enough, you have been in this situation long enough, its time for you to take what i have promised long before you were even born. God has made promises to our fore fathers long before we were even born and HE swore by himself that He would fullfill each and every promise. But to recognize and obtain those promises is your choice. The devil knows what God has promised and he knows what will keep you from obtaining them. Whether it be healing of your physical being or emotional being, God has promised that by Jesus stripes we are ALREADY healed. Whether you are struggling in your financies, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, everything belongs to Him, and since you are HIS child He said that He wouldnt withhold NO good thing, whether its battling the opinions of others, your marriage, your job, God said He has ALREADY conquered the world, the victory is ALREADY yours. You have been on this mountain, this way of thinking, depressed, defeat..long enough! The land has ALREADY been set long before you, GO IN AND TAKE YOUR GOD GIVEN POSSESSIONS! Take it by force! and how you do that is by knowing what God has promised, studying His word and verbally casting down every lie that the enemy tells you! SINCE God said it, let the devil know that that IS enough for you! Fight with the word ( you cant use the word if you dont know it..STUDY STUDY STUDY) and stand firm, giving thanks for the victory is ALREADY won! Will you get off that mountain today??

Will you be made whole?

When Jesus approached the man at the pool who asked him ONE question. "Will you be made whole?"...not what happened to you, not who did what, not who died, not even how he felt. Will you be made whole?? The man began to give excuses why he couldn't get in the pool. Jesus just simply said "Take up thy bed and walk"...he didn't say awww you poor thing, or no wonder why you're the way you are, or I'm so sorry to hear that...Take up thy bed and walk. Many of us stay in our conditions because we choose too. We murmur, we complain and we shift the blame, all just validate why we are the way we are. Today Jesus is telling us to get up and walk!!! Get up from depression! Get up from drug abuse! Get up from promiscuous ways! Get up from low self esteem! Get up from that mans/woman's bed that don't belong to you! Get up from guilt! From pride! From pornography! From homosexuality! From lesbianism! NO EXCUSES! WILL U BE MADE WHOLE????!!

Be Thankful:)

Wherever you turn, news reports, schools, White house, and even in your own lives; there is much to complain about. However, today we want to just take a moment and be thankful for what we do have. Yes, it's that simple, no long speeches, no big articulate words, and no extravagant ways to say it. Just BE thankful! "This IS the day that the Lord HAS made, let us ALL rejoice and BE glad in it!"

Gods way isn't the easy way but it's the BEST way. Take short cuts and you'll get cut short. Father knows best!!

ITS BEEN ALL GOOD!

From a child on to adulthood, we all can sit on the side of the bed and say...weeewww what a ride the journey called life has been! Reflect back for a moment...let it soak in..dont deny ANYTHING that has happened to you. Dont make any excuses, claim total responsibility for your actions and recognize what was done to you. Everything! The child abuse, the abandonment, the divorce, the heartache, the foreclosure, the job loses, the deaths, the betrayals...EVERYTHING! Now that you are broken in spirit, change the focus from where you have BEEN to where you ARE NOW. God has brought us from a mighty long way, has he not?? And through it all we are still standing, well, and alive. And through it all God has been just as good. He has kept you from suicide, He has kept you from homicide, He has kept you from losing your mind, He has kept your children while you were deep in depression, He has kept you from walking out on it all, He has kept YOU ..."all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called to His reasonable service." Yes you have been drug through the dirt but allow God to show you how its all BEEN GOOD. Allow the peace of God, that surpasses all knowledge and understanding, to give you true rest this morning. Now release, now relax, and now let God restore you...because ITS BEEN ALL GOOD! Be blessed!

DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY?

Remember the saying "If you don't have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all?" Yes I'm sure that you do. But how many of you have said nice things but didn't really mean that either? You tell the lady in church that she looks nice in that hat, but soon as she turns her back you're saying just the opposite. You tell your child that they can be all that they want to be but soon as they're out of your site you're saying stuff like, "Lord I dont know what you're gonna do with this child." You say all the nice things to your spouse before you leave out for work but once you're around your co-workers all you do is complain about him. DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY??...
Now let me take it a step further. When we pray and when we witness to others. We SAY that God is a way-maker and a provider, but as soon as the money gets low we're telling our friends."Girl, I don't know what I'm going to do? The bills need to be paid but I have no money." Nevertheless, in the same breath we tell God how much of a healer He is; when we get a bad report its more like,"I just don't know what I'm going to do, the doctor said, 'I have 3 months' .." We tell God the He is a restorer of many things, YET, ".. I'm tired of hanging on to this person..I don't see any change. That's it! I'm filing for divorce!" ...God wants to know DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY? You say I'm a healer, but do you believe it? You say I'm a provider, BUT do you believe it? You say im a lawyer in the court room, but do you REALLY believe that? You say all these nice things about me, you hype me up in your prayers, you make it sound real nice for your friends, BUT I don't think that you truly believe what you say. Who do you say that I am? AND do you believe what you say? I, the Father, has spoken to you and I say that "I Am that I Am" and when I decree a thing it comes to past. I AM who I say I AM and I DO what I say I'll DO. I AM all of that, but what good is it for Me that I know it and yet you still don't believe. 'O ye of little faith'. God is saying don't just talk a good game BE about it and believe that He IS who He says HE is. Watch God blow your mind. 'Faith without works IS dead' These things shall be performed according to the faith that works WITHIN YOU. BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY.

VICTORY!

As the song says, "Victory is mine! Victory is mine! Victory today is mine. I told satan, get thee behind me, victory today is mine!" Glory be to God! How do we have victory in our lives? A wise author said to humble ourselves and know that inspite of our weakness, trials and tribulations, we have victory because God is our Father. Oftentimes we think that weakness means we are not strong. However, the great thing about weakness is that God uses our weakness for something great and strong. It help others overcome their weaknesses, our weakness is our testimony. Our trial and tribulations are our testimony. God gave us the power to move a mountain only if we have the faith the size of a mustard seed. We can command the storm to pass on by us, to go away, to cease and not to return. To send it back to the sender who will be cast into the lake of fire. Because these are Gods words, we have "VICTORY" over everything that is not of God. We claim victory, we receive victory and we have victory!

Taking Territory

Have you been robbed? Has the devil came in and took everything God has blessed you with? Are you ready to fight and win? As we go into battle, put on the whole armour, letting God be the sword and sheild as we take dominon over pricipalities and take back our children, our spouse, our family, our self esteem, our self respect, our integrity, our minds, our body, our soul,our home, our health, our community, our cites, our state, our youth as a whole and whatever else the devil took that didn't belong to him. We claim total victory over our cicumstance because God is in full control. Are you ready for battle, to take back your/our territory?

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

God said, He will move among us if we would only "Get Out of His Way!"  Is there an illness that He cannot heal, a problem that He cannot solve, a mountain He cannot not move, a concern He cannot address, a feeling He cannot remove.  He can do all that He said He can do if we would only move and get out of His way.  He said, "I'm going to move among you, I'm going stay amoung you, just cast your cares on me and I'll move."  God is all knowing, before He formed us in our mothers womb, He knew us.  He knows our heart, our finances, our situations, what builds us up and what breaks us down, and if we would just get out of Gods way and cast our all our cares on Him, He will move on your behalf.  So, when are you going to move and get out of His way?     

Courting God!

In the beginning stages of a new relationship we court the person we have become attracted to.  We think about this person day in and day out.  We want to be in their presence as often as possible and will actually diss our friends just to be with this new person in our life. As we begin to spend more time the greater our feeling become and then before you know it we are in love, doing everything under our power to please and make this person happy.  This is the same type of behavior we should put into God.  We should make every effort in getting to know Him, seeking to please and make Him happy, most importantly falling in love with Him.  That is what we were created for, to love and serve God as we love and serve our husband or wife, our children, our parents and often times our friends.  When we start "Courting God" and building a strong relationship with him, loving him, then will we fill complete and be able live life abundantly in love.

A Call to Minister

Oftentimes, Christians believe that the call to minister is restricted to the pastors, bishops and evangelists.  However, God has commissioned us all to minister to those around us.  There are plenty people in need of a word that may not gain the courage to make it inside to the church walls.  We need to be sensitive to these people. The devil keeps us so distracted with our busy schedules and life, that we don't notice the hurting people. We see them as problems, haters and folk we don't fool with. Jesus didn't come for the Saints, he came for the Sinners. So why do we feel our words of encouragement are only for the body of Christ.  Who needs it more the one that knows Jesus or the one that living like no God exists? Answer the call, people are waiting.

Don't lose your God Perspective!

The fall of Adam and Eve cost mankind a lot.  Most importantly, our ability to see only as God sees.  Before the great sin, Adam and Eve had perceived things in Earth only as God viewed them.  Once the fall, the understanding of  many more views were seen. Now centuries later, mankind has forgotten how to narrow in on God's view.  We constantly fall victim to the understanding of our newfound sight.  Remember once Adam and Eve saw,  their vision distorted God's creations.  They immediately saw each other and became ashamed, despising what God had made.  What are you looking at in disdain and missing the beauty that God created? Focus back in on God and get your sight right!!!

Labor of Love

RealTalkRealWomen have been in a 40 day consecration through which God has been revealing Himself daily.  Today we learned what it meant to travail in prayer with God's special people. I am so grateful to be apart of this great experience. No amount of money in the world can give you the fulfillment you will recieve when you witness God free His people. This is what it is all about. Are you really ready to see people free? Free from low self-esteem and insecurities, heartache, disappointments and all manner of things that hold us down.  Start by travailing in prayer for those people and don't stop till they get the victory.  Amen. Be blessed and touch someone's life today through prayer.

Procrastination vs. Waiting on the Lord

How do you know when doing nothing is procrastination or waiting on God? I ask the Lord today, because I know this is what most believers struggle with trying to decipher.  So I researched the scriptures. I found many that encourage us to wait and then I look that the context they were wrote in. I saw that writer exalted us to wait when being oppressed or weak in place of  moving in our feelings or flesh.  Then I compared them to scriptures that admonished us that God orders the steps of the righteous. He blesses us and everywhere our foot shall tread.  God leads, but to be lead you must be moving.  Fear of making mistakes leads to procrastination.  Did not God promise that all things will turn around for our good? So wait on the Lord to strengthen you when feeling weak or seems that you are being attacked on every side and want to retaliate.  However, trust the Lord that when you move He moves and guides you along the path.

Resolving Conflict

Resolving conflict, God's way requires real love and discipline. He instructs us to go to the person in love that we have had a disagreement with and keep the matter private.  Many times we vent or gossip to others before giving the individual a chance to correct the problem. If in the private meeting, the individual refuses to try to work out the situation then we are advised to get 2-3 witnesses or mediators. That means truly neutral and loving people who want to promote peace in the situation. After you have done all this and your brother or sister still refuses to resolve the issue then you are to consider them no longer family. Now there is difference between inability to see eye to eye and someone not trying to work it out. There will be times where there is no compromise, however, our love for remaining friends or family should outshine the disagreement. However, if someone refuses to acknowledge there is a problem or refuse to talk then that person should be left alone.

The Greatest Accomplishment

Today, I was overwhelmed with sorrow. I kept hearing the song I Give Myself Away. I didn't understand what He was trying to tell me. He showed me I was trying hard to accomplish things but I didn't realize I had already completed my greatest accomplishment. I had surrendered to Him and when I give myself to Him completely I am victorious. No amount of education, wealth, physical fitness or relationship can give me what God does. I had to repent because I pushed these same things on my kids as priorities. Yes, these are good but God is the greatest priority. As a parent, the best thing I can do is introduce my kids to their Creator. So, world I am taking myself out of the rat race and giving myself completely to God, who is my best accomplishment.

A Cheer Leader

To be a true leader you naturally become a cheerleader. A leader's job is to inspire and motivate others to grasp on to the vision. To see themselves in the vision. This means also that a leader must have a vision that encompasses everyone. I remember days back in school when our Southwest Indian cheerleaders would yell, jump and scream to get us to catch the team spirit. They wore the school colors and exhibited the school pride. Leaders become the team mascot, they must wear the colors of teamwork and be compassionate.  There is a saying that goes you attract more bees with honey than vinegar. Leaders can get more accomplished when they lead with love than orders. So motivate your followers, let them know they apart of the dream and no success is real success without the help of all the team.

Whose report will you believe?

Everybody tells you who you are. Even your parents try to give you guidance on who you are. You have thoughts on who you are. However, who are you? Does your past give you insight of who you are? Negative. Your past gives you the story of what you have become. Struggling with issues of the past can become tiresome and absorb too much valuable time. Yes, recognizing what you have become will give direction to which way you need to go.  Ultimately you need to go the the source to find out what you are. Don't let circumstances, people, or your past tell you who you are.

I AM NOT FROM HERE!!!

This was the inspiring message I heard this morning as I dropped my daughter of to daycare. I am not from here. How true! This is not my home and since it is not I not going let this life worry me. I am headed to a better place than here. While I am passing through I will enjoy as many sights that I see and make friends. However in the end, I am not from here!

A Time of Release

How many times have you wounded with your words? Or held someone captive with your thoughts? If you believe that God is real then you must believe that what He says is real. According to God our words are powerful. We have people walking around with curses on the life because of us.  Do we think that God will honor only parts of His word. Yes, even though we are saved people; we can still have ill wishes that hinder us. Still God promises us that it won't prosper. Why? because He will reveal the source and allow us to make amends. Maybe that person was hurt by us and needs to hear a sincere apology in order to let us go. Maybe we need to let go of the people who hurt us.  Salvation doesn't guarantee deliverance, just that we have reserved our place in Heaven. Deliverance comes from abiding in His word and gaining Truth that frees us. However, Truth must be acted on in order to make the difference.

Selfish love

I recall a statement a ex made to me that I didn't care about him. I thought how I absurd. I had been faithful. I had been long-suffering and giving him my all. However, I didn't direct him to God. I was too selfish wanting him to please me, be loyal to me and think about me. I blamed him for making me hurt. Me, me, me. What about God? Every man has a soul or did I not think his was not worthy of salvation. Did I really think I was his Saviour? For it is not my curves that maintain a man's attraction. It is not the warmth of my thighs around his waist that sustains his desires nor is it my down home cooking that fills his appettite. It is the love of Jesus that stops a man from searching, but I was too selfish to let him see Jesus. I wanted him all to myself. How have you been selfish? Maybe he wouldn't be a baby daddy if we had introduced him to a real Daddy.

Surrender! Submit!

These are the two most dreaded words in my vocabulary.  I can't take all the credit for society taught me that this symbolizes weakness. So I gladly rid them from my characteristics. I am Lion, hear me ROAR!!! Yep, that's me.  However, God had a different plan for mankind. We can only be conquerors when we totally submit and surrender to Him.  He amazes me more each day when He requires me to do the opposite and in order to gain what I want. Think on that.........Ok, thought over.  What are you still trying to run in your life? What is still not being submitted to God? Don't allow two words: Surrender and Submit DEFEAT you. Remember you ain't no punk so this shouldn't be a challenge:)

Free to Love

Imagine living in a world where birds chirped, rainbows highlighted the sky and you where walking on clouds. Sounds like a dream. Actually you can experience this, if you allow yourself to fall deeply in love with God. You can experience this piece of Heaven on Earth. The more you lavish love on Him. The more open you become to love and attract real love in your path.  Remember you attract what you are. Be free to love God and let love come to you:)

Worship

Despite our circumstances, God stays the same. He is pleased when we worship. Worship is not limited to a song or music. Worship is a lifestyle.  Worship is devoting our whole existence to Him. I remember hearing a preacher say praise magnifies God and makes our problems appear smaller. Refocus your day and get an attitude of worship!

Truth

Truth is not a doctrine or a phrase or a word. Truth is God and God is Truth.  God embodies all that is. In order for us to partake of this, we must partake of Him. Our finite minds cannot conceive this because our thinking is limited. Our research finds it hard to comprehend anything that is absolute and free from our humanly limitations. Though we strive long and hard for truth we never obtain it. Truth can not be obtained.  It has no shape, color or characteristics. For God can not be described,  He surpasses all of His creation. How can we use it to illustrate Him? Truth is realized through simpleness of Faith. Faith that insults the proud and learned man but encourages the wise and humble.  Yet, with all our abilities, mankind cannot duplicate what Truth is. Truth can only be experienced.

The Unseen World

Many times we forget the effect of the things we don't see.  We aren't sympathetic to the emotional scars or the wounded heart of the people who irritate us because we don't see them.  That child that is acting out in the classroom, can you see the rejection that is in his/her heart? Do you visualize the pain he/she must feel to have to strike out in hopes of relieving the burden?  The bible says, the things that we don't see are permanent and it is what we do see that is temporary. So the pretend smile and the words that say it is okay is just a farce that hides the long-lasting turmoil that will never be revealed through carnal eyes.  How do we take notice to this unseen world that greatly affects are daily lives? By seeing through our spiritual eyes we can discern what a person is truly saying. We will begin to speak and act differently knowing the outcome of our behavior. Remember we are mind, soul and body. What is done to the body will heal itself. However, what is done to the mind and soul is permanent.

Faith

"Faith is a state of mind which may be induced, or created by affirmation or repeated instructions to the subconscious mind, through the principal of autosuggestion.  Refirmation of affirmation of orders to your subconscious mind is the only known method of voluntary development of the emotion of faith" (1937, Think & Grow Rich, Naopleon Hill).

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, but, without fatih it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to Him must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIm.  Therefore do not cast away your confidence (hope), which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise (Hebrew 10:35-36 & 11:1&8, Devotional Bible for Women).

Last night the Women of RealTalk RealWomen attended a fashion show and there was a women of inspiration by the name of Zee. She told her story of when she was little girl how she loved jewerly and fashion and throughout her life the feeling never left but grew stronger.  She didn't know how she was going to make her dreams come true but even as a little girl she had faith that God would show her the way.  Because of her faith she now has Zee Wear, her own line of fashion and we had the priviledge of buying one of her pieces each, which were all lovely. The point of this story is to encourage anyone who has a dream, seek God, have faith and watch him make your dreams become reality.  Yes, it may get rough at times, but speak those things as if they were and do not lose faith but hold on cause your time is just around the corner. 

Time of Preparation

The time of preparation can be tough.  First, God purges you from all the things that had been weighing you down. Then you start to feel better and before you know you are living better. That's when discipline comes in handy.  The new you makes you feel invincible and you may begin to move ahead of God. However, don't jump out before it's time. The premature move could place you right back to the beginning of your preparation again.  So don't rush, enjoy it!!!

Right Motivation

Having the right motivation is important. Many times we are motivated by unresolved issues that point us in a direction opposite of our purpose. Once we achieve these goals we find that is not satisfying and then we go again chasing another goal.  To our surprise we do not find happiness again.  We are just like the hamster inside the wheel. We stay busy accomplishing things but never finding peace. We must uncover what is motivating us and deal with it.

Be Grateful

I hear an Ole Gospel song "Be Grateful" by Walter Hawkins reminding me that there is someone else that rather be in my shoes. How many times do we take for granted what God already has done for us. Yes, life may not be perfect, but we are truly blessed. Your problems may not appear to be so big if you noticed other people struggling around you too. Remember to stop seeing narrowly and notice everyone Else's situations. Realize that you have a lot to be thankful for. God promise He never forsake you and He has done just that if you take time to appreciate everything.  Now, Love Harder, Love Stronger and Love Gratefully!!!

Live, Love and Laugh

Every day life presents new challenges. Everyone is so busy. What drives us to function? Is love, recognition or success.  We need to get back to the basics.  Pull yourself out of the rat race and embrace the fullness of life.  Remember life is to be lived.  Enjoy the time you have as if it is precious above all treasures. Love on one another. Stay focus on what really matters. When you reach the end of the road will you be satisfied?  So live, love and laugh!!! That's what matters.

Are you malfunctioning?

Are you living just to exist? Do you continue to stay busy but go nowhere?  Have done what you were created to do? or Is your life summed up with work just to finish the day with a cold drink and a party on the weekend?  They say you should stop to smell the roses. I say you should stop to learn your purpose. One can't truly be successful if it not fulfilling it's purpose. A coffeemaker isn't successful even if it produces the best milkshake if that was not it's intended purposed. This is called a malfunction. How many people are malfunctioning? Yes, you achieved something good but it not what God intended for you to do. Listen for the voice of God and read His word. Stop malfunctioning and do what God created you to do!!!!

Seeing through God's eyes

I recently held my teen mentor session and the remarks the boys were making were offensive to women. I couldn't believe how they were feeling. I felt discouraged that I couldn't get through to this boys. Then God woke me early the next morning and showed me a scared boy filled with fear and rejection. He told me to tell them He knew them in the womb and has great plans for them. He reminded me that you know the tree by the fruit that it bears. If that tree is bearing hurt that is because it growing from hurt. These boys needed me and needed me to see them as God see them. That scared little boy needed a great big God to tell them it was going be okay and that I got you. We are the representatives of God. How can we represent God when we don't see like He sees?

Parenting and Providing

Parenting can be tough.  Many times, parents get caught up in the grind of providing things.  We lose sight that our children need us to parent.  I know teens act as if they know it all and pretend to want your opinon.  The truth is they are scared and need your help.  Don't miss an opportunity to be apart of their life!!!! Even if their major crisis right not is choosing what outfit to wear. Make sure your available to offer your advice.  Yes, they need the provisions that you provide, but they need you even more.

Maintaining a healthy YOU

Sometimes life throws you a curve that can leave you wounded.  How do you get on after such a blow? Remember everything is temporary.  Trust that God would never put more on you than you can bare.  FORGIVE...This is so important!!!  Don't hinder your growth to extract revenge!! Learn from the experience.  What things could you done different? What have you learned about yourself? Where there any signs that you ignored? Now make the necessary changes and go forth into your next situation.  Believe that just as you mastered your last downfall that you will be able to overcome any new challenges.

Accepting others

Jesus commanded that we forgive even as He has forgiven us. But why do we still hold grudges? We expect people to change. Forgiveness means I accept you for who you are and chose not to hold it against you. People will never live up to all your expectations, however neither do we. Try to remember how much we miss Jesus' expectations of us, yet He still loves and forgives us.

Transparency

Why is it that people are so fake? When you ask how some one is doing they immediately reply, I'm good.  Is that the truth? God never called for independent folk. Throughout His Word He called for unity. He said when two or three are gather together in my name, I will be in the mist. He commanded us to intercede for one another. How can we do this if everyone putting on a front? We got to change our thinking!!! God does not work like man. Perfect love cast out all fear. Do you really believe that no weapon formed against you shall prosper? If so be real and trust that God got your back and open up, God uses people to fulfill His purpose. Stop looking for an angel to speak directly to you. God's got a word in the neighbors mouth if you be transparent.

Displaced Anger

How many times have we blamed others for our unhappiness? Recently, I was corrected when God showed me my current frustration with my children wasn't truly theirs to bare. However, I hadn't dealt with my own inadequacies. I had not forgiven myself for past failures or mistakes. Therefore, I intensified the magnitude of their mistakes. I should have extended love and helped them work through their decisions and learn from them.  So they next time you are angry, figure out why.

Income Cap on Social Security Benefits

The United States is spending out of control. Politicans know sometimes must be done about Medicare and Social Security Benefits, however, nobody will dicuss. Some ideas have been to make it have a salary cap and increase the age requirements. This reminds me of a E! True Hollywood Story where they were going over Hugh Heifner's finances. One of his monetary incomes that he recieves is Social Security Benefits.  I know we pay into it so we can have money when we retire, but where do we draw the line?  Should people in this income bracket forfeit the social security. The money he is recieving from the government is a drop in the bucket compared to what he brings in on his own. What are your thoughts?

Positive Reinforcement

Oftentimes, parents try really hard to prevent their children from making mistakes. Sometimes out attempts lead to criticizing them for their bad decisions. However, God says that our words are powerful. Our children may not be living up to our expectations but trust God's process. Remember to praise the times they get it right. Remind them often of who they really, despite their mistakes, they are loved by God and you. Yes, being a parent can be hard!!!

Success

Accomplishing success starts with a thought. When you think big, you dream big, and when you dream big, you send signals into the atmosphere and the earth.  The earth must fall subject to your thoughts and bring those things that God as put out there for us to receive.  With hard work, determination, and a strong prayer life all things are possible.  Never give up because success is just around the corner.