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!!!!