Family God is so awesome! I have been praying about what I now know to be a word from God. Anytime it's a word from God, in the natural it makes no sense. That's why I struggled with it. God will amaze you with the avenues He uses in which to reveal His purpose and give confirmation. It was during a conversation with a friend that this Epiphany begin.
This morning during my prayer and meditation time, I came across 2 Kings 8:6 “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.” I literally felt like God was talking about me!! It made my spirit leap! I don't know what you all read, but, I read God saying to the devil, Give Naila back everything that belonged to her, with interest. You better start seeing yourself in God's word. He is your father, so His promises are for you.
God gave me a word a few weeks ago, to walk away from everything and follow Him. I wasn't sure it was Him until now. It was when I asked for confirmation, this scripture came to heart Psalms 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. Again I don't know what you read but, I read, If I told you to walk away, you will want for nothing and neither will Khalil. I mean NOTHING! Because you trust and obey me. See if you are like me, I let a few things go, but not everything. God told me I want you to let everything go. So I'm going to heed his word, because I would rather walk away than He send someone to take it away. I'm serious. By the time He's done with me I'm going to be walking on water like Peter! :-) Remember what I'm telling you.
Seriously, God told me to simply trust Him! Luke 6:38 says Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” He said I'm going to give it all back and more! Acts 3:19 says Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Go to God and repent for your sins. God is waiting arms open wide. He is ready to restore EVERYTHING you have lost along the way, and then some.
In 2 Samuel 9:7 God shows us that favor on your life will fall on your children and grandchildren. “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Even when I leave my earthly dwelling God will still be restoring me in the favor of my descendants. Whew, my Father God is the TRUTH!!!!
So don't worry about the little things you have lost. I know they may have seemed HUGE to you, but they are nothing to God. He wants to give you something 10x's better. Remember God is watching to see how you go through this storm. I know that God is speaking to some of you, and he is saying stop trying to hold on to that STUFF!!!! If I gave it to you before, I can give it to you again, this time bigger and better. God wants the glory from your situation. He wants you to know that you were redeemed, restored, and revitalized by His hand and not your own. God wants to use you as a vessel. So USE ME LORD!!!! As the song says, my storage is empty and I am available to you. So fill me up Lord. I'm ready, are you?
Dear Lord,
We come to you today empty. Some of us think we have lost everything. Some of us thought we were as low as we could be and then the worst of the worst happened. We now realize Lord that we had to lose all of those things so that we would have room for the enormous blessings you have in store for us. We now know that YOU at the end of this trial, will give us a GREAT REWARD!!! We praise you in advance. Your word says in Psalms 107 if we cry out to you Lord in trouble, you will deliver us from distress! So here we are Lord with nothing, depending on you for everything. We stand victorious knowing that we are the redeemed! Today Lord we stand on your promise in Psalms 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story, those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Therefore we know, you will deliver us and we will live to tell the story. In Jesus name, Amen!
For the rest of the day, you should be singing that verse from the gospel song that says, And I rejoice today, for I shall recover it ALL!!!!
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
WAIT!!!!!
I keep hearing this word...God keeps saying to me wait! You have tried it a million times on your own and where has it gotten you? So why can't you wait. My reward and favor is permanent. It's not temporary or short-lived like the successes you have experienced before. Mine is permanent and well worth the wait. So again, I say wait.
Listen family, I know you are tired. Please hold on. I'm telling you, in this season of my life I have been seeking the heart of God more than I ever have in my entire life. My flesh gets weak and I pray harder and every time I go to God and say Lord I can't take anymore He says wait. James 5:11 says God blessed those who take their troubles quietly and keep on believing. God is full of grace and mercy. So hold on. God has already promised us that trials and tests are only temporary. In His word it says they are meant to teach us patience, endurance, and prepare us to handle the blessings waiting for us at the finish line. So don't give up. I see so many of my friends growing weary and wanting to throw up their hands. Let me remind you, Psalms 77:7-12 says Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” The person writing this Psalm is saying God, just when I was about to give up, just when I was about to given in, throw in the towel, give the devil place, I remembered. I remembered how great you are, I remembered all the mess I was in before and how you delivered me. You have never turned your back on me. So I'm going to praise you now because I know, you are going to do it again.
In James 5:7-8 the word says See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. God wants us to use this time to draw closer to Him. Get in His word and consult God about the plan He has for your life. I can guarantee it is nothing like the one you have mapped out. No matter how simple or cut and dry it appears to you. I can promise you it is millions of miles away from what He has mapped out. I know some of us can look back over our lives and say I never thought I would end up here. Remember, it is all part of the plan.
I know this may not have been the word you wanted to hear today, but I'm telling you, God has something great in store for you. You have to be willing to show Him that you trust Him enough to wait.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today with heavy hearts and minds filled with questions. Questions that only you have the answers for God. We know that you keep giving us the word wait, but Father we are weary. Your word says, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...they shall run and not get weary, walk and not faint. God please renew a right spirit upon us today. We hear you Lord and we are going to hold on. We need you today Lord, the enemy is trying to step in and take place. But we rebuke him in Jesus name because their is no place here for him or his foolishness. Your word says to continually offer a sacrifice of praise to you God and openly profess your name. So Lord we thank you for what you have already done and praise you for what you are about to do. In Jesus name, Amen.
Family I encourage you that while you are waiting, encourage someone else today. They may be going through something God has already helped you to overcome. So be patient family we are all in this together. Instead of asking God if He has forgotten you, remind God of how He has already delivered you in the past and you know He's going to do it again!
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
Listen family, I know you are tired. Please hold on. I'm telling you, in this season of my life I have been seeking the heart of God more than I ever have in my entire life. My flesh gets weak and I pray harder and every time I go to God and say Lord I can't take anymore He says wait. James 5:11 says God blessed those who take their troubles quietly and keep on believing. God is full of grace and mercy. So hold on. God has already promised us that trials and tests are only temporary. In His word it says they are meant to teach us patience, endurance, and prepare us to handle the blessings waiting for us at the finish line. So don't give up. I see so many of my friends growing weary and wanting to throw up their hands. Let me remind you, Psalms 77:7-12 says Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” The person writing this Psalm is saying God, just when I was about to give up, just when I was about to given in, throw in the towel, give the devil place, I remembered. I remembered how great you are, I remembered all the mess I was in before and how you delivered me. You have never turned your back on me. So I'm going to praise you now because I know, you are going to do it again.
In James 5:7-8 the word says See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. God wants us to use this time to draw closer to Him. Get in His word and consult God about the plan He has for your life. I can guarantee it is nothing like the one you have mapped out. No matter how simple or cut and dry it appears to you. I can promise you it is millions of miles away from what He has mapped out. I know some of us can look back over our lives and say I never thought I would end up here. Remember, it is all part of the plan.
I know this may not have been the word you wanted to hear today, but I'm telling you, God has something great in store for you. You have to be willing to show Him that you trust Him enough to wait.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today with heavy hearts and minds filled with questions. Questions that only you have the answers for God. We know that you keep giving us the word wait, but Father we are weary. Your word says, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...they shall run and not get weary, walk and not faint. God please renew a right spirit upon us today. We hear you Lord and we are going to hold on. We need you today Lord, the enemy is trying to step in and take place. But we rebuke him in Jesus name because their is no place here for him or his foolishness. Your word says to continually offer a sacrifice of praise to you God and openly profess your name. So Lord we thank you for what you have already done and praise you for what you are about to do. In Jesus name, Amen.
Family I encourage you that while you are waiting, encourage someone else today. They may be going through something God has already helped you to overcome. So be patient family we are all in this together. Instead of asking God if He has forgotten you, remind God of how He has already delivered you in the past and you know He's going to do it again!
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
You said ask and I shall receive. Well Lord, I'm still waiting?!?!
Again, the Lord has checked your girl in the realest way :-)! I wake up every morning and declare that today is my day of deliverance. Today is my day of breakthrough. Now we all know the flesh is weak. So I say Lord how much longer am I going to have to speak over this thing before you step in and do your thing? I hope you are ready for this because He gave me an answer, but it sure wasn't what I wanted to hear :-)! So here it is.
2 James 4:3 you do not have, because you do not ask. I'm thinking well I have that down to a science, because I'm calling His name all the time with a need or a want. He said wait, keep reading. 2 James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. People I could have been sold for free. I said Lord! You didn't have to do me like that. Now, I have read this scripture before, and it has been given to me in context of a sermon/teaching during church, but I have never heard it the way I did this morning. God is saying that house, car, job, designer clothes, jewelry, etc that you call on the name of Jesus to bless you with, it's to satisfy your own selfish spirit. He wants us to eat the good of the land but, to the glory of Him. Are you asking God to bless you with a job making more money so you can get a car like Mary? Are you asking God to bless you with some Gucci shoes so you can make a coworker jealous? Well guess what? God says you know better and until you do better, the answer is NO!
In 2 James 4:6 God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. We need to humble ourselves. Stop walking around thinking because God blessed us to be able to complete our degrees, get great jobs, and make decent money that we are above someone who hasn't made it where we are yet. One thing about God, if you don't praise Him or give Him credit for what He's done in your life, He can allow it to all be stripped away in the blink of an eye.
Now even though all of what was just said was deep, He wasn't done. Check this out! 2 James 4:13-17 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. So then, if you know the good you ought to do and don’t do it, you sin. Oh I heard you. I will wait, you can read that scripture again. I was like wow God! Again today, He got me together. Because I have been believing for some things to come to pass and I didn't think I was boasting only discussing. God said to me, SHUT UP! If there is something you want from me, pray about it and ask me what I think? Stop looking for man's approval and look to me. None of you know what is best for you because you have no idea what the future holds. I am the only one with that information. That endeavour that you thought you had all figured out down to last dotted i and crossed t. Now you know why it flopped. Now you know why it fell through. That job you took and thought it would solve all of your problems, now you know why you are miserable. He said I'm going to tell you one more time Proverbs 3:6 in ALL your ways ACKNOWLEDGE ME and I will direct your path. Not your mother, father, sister, brother, auntie, cousin, etc but JESUS will direct your path. He placed some of those people mother, father, pastor, and some friends in your life to give advice, but only God knows His will for your life.
God even showed me a scripture in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. He said if you truly turn that situation, that decision over to me, I will handle it. God can do ANYTHING BUT FAIL!
Father God, we thank you for this awesome word today. We vow that from this moment forward we will do nothing without consulting/praying to you. Right now Lord we turn every decision in our lives that needs to be made over to you. Every situation that needs a resolution, we turn it over to you. We give you our family, jobs, cars, homes, our entire lives. Its yours we release them in the name of Jesus. Your word says in Jeremiah 29:11 For YOU know the plans YOU have for us,plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. So right now in the name of Jesus we give you our past to cast in the see of forgetfulness, our present to guide us back to the pathway of righteousness, and our future to walk in favor and prosperity. In Jesus name, we thank you and we praise you. Amen!
Have an awesome day fam!
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
2 James 4:3 you do not have, because you do not ask. I'm thinking well I have that down to a science, because I'm calling His name all the time with a need or a want. He said wait, keep reading. 2 James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. People I could have been sold for free. I said Lord! You didn't have to do me like that. Now, I have read this scripture before, and it has been given to me in context of a sermon/teaching during church, but I have never heard it the way I did this morning. God is saying that house, car, job, designer clothes, jewelry, etc that you call on the name of Jesus to bless you with, it's to satisfy your own selfish spirit. He wants us to eat the good of the land but, to the glory of Him. Are you asking God to bless you with a job making more money so you can get a car like Mary? Are you asking God to bless you with some Gucci shoes so you can make a coworker jealous? Well guess what? God says you know better and until you do better, the answer is NO!
In 2 James 4:6 God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. We need to humble ourselves. Stop walking around thinking because God blessed us to be able to complete our degrees, get great jobs, and make decent money that we are above someone who hasn't made it where we are yet. One thing about God, if you don't praise Him or give Him credit for what He's done in your life, He can allow it to all be stripped away in the blink of an eye.
Now even though all of what was just said was deep, He wasn't done. Check this out! 2 James 4:13-17 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. So then, if you know the good you ought to do and don’t do it, you sin. Oh I heard you. I will wait, you can read that scripture again. I was like wow God! Again today, He got me together. Because I have been believing for some things to come to pass and I didn't think I was boasting only discussing. God said to me, SHUT UP! If there is something you want from me, pray about it and ask me what I think? Stop looking for man's approval and look to me. None of you know what is best for you because you have no idea what the future holds. I am the only one with that information. That endeavour that you thought you had all figured out down to last dotted i and crossed t. Now you know why it flopped. Now you know why it fell through. That job you took and thought it would solve all of your problems, now you know why you are miserable. He said I'm going to tell you one more time Proverbs 3:6 in ALL your ways ACKNOWLEDGE ME and I will direct your path. Not your mother, father, sister, brother, auntie, cousin, etc but JESUS will direct your path. He placed some of those people mother, father, pastor, and some friends in your life to give advice, but only God knows His will for your life.
God even showed me a scripture in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. He said if you truly turn that situation, that decision over to me, I will handle it. God can do ANYTHING BUT FAIL!
Father God, we thank you for this awesome word today. We vow that from this moment forward we will do nothing without consulting/praying to you. Right now Lord we turn every decision in our lives that needs to be made over to you. Every situation that needs a resolution, we turn it over to you. We give you our family, jobs, cars, homes, our entire lives. Its yours we release them in the name of Jesus. Your word says in Jeremiah 29:11 For YOU know the plans YOU have for us,plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. So right now in the name of Jesus we give you our past to cast in the see of forgetfulness, our present to guide us back to the pathway of righteousness, and our future to walk in favor and prosperity. In Jesus name, we thank you and we praise you. Amen!
Have an awesome day fam!
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Difference between Life and Death...My Tongue
I am starting something new. From this blog forward I will offer a prayer regarding the subject of the blog. I am also soliciting any recommendations or suggestion you have that will help strenthen the message for the good of God's people. I would love to hear from you.
Some of you may think this word is not for me but, most of us at one time or another have and will speak negative words against others. Right? I was spiritually put in check this morning. Yep, God put me in check! Forget epiphany he shut me down this morning.
The first scripture He revealed to me was, James 3:1 Those who deliver the word will be judged more harshly. I am not claiming to be a prophet, evangelist, or pastor but God is using me to share his word that he revealed to me. God let me know, that he is holding us to a higher standard. That was the first check and I felt an *ouch*.
Next, James 3:4 take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Wooooooow *in my flavor flav voice :-)* my tongue has that much power.When I think back, there are many times I wish I had kept my big mouth shut...shaking my head. I know I'm not the only one who can reflect back on asituations and say if I had just kept my big my shut that wouldn't have gone down that way. Then, there are times we have said, if I had only said what I was thinking not realizing it was the right thing to not speak. Second spiritual check. This isn't for you either huh? Please keep reading.
In James 3:13 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. If the first two checks did not get your attention, this one should!(LOL) Let me put it this way, would you rinse your mouth with toilet water? Fresh water and salt water can't come from the same spring. So why are blessings and cursings coming from the same tongue. No need to go any further I think you've got where I am going with this. Third spiritual check. Not enough, ok one more.
We are a work in progress. God knows that none of us are perfect. He doesn't expect us to be perfect but, he does expect us to follow his word and work toward perfection. This is why God looks at our hearts, our intentions and our motives. Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. We need to always think before we speak. I remember as a child reciting the following,"sticks and stones may break my bones but Words will never hurt me". That is the biggest lie ever told. We have all been in situations where people have said things to us or we have said things to people that we would like to take back. It is hard to forgive words, because words come from the heart. Fourth spiritual check.
We as human beings will forgive hurtful actions, before we forgive hurtful words. Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. This goes back to my post yesterday on sowing seeds. Let us begin to sow positive seeds with our tongue. Luke 6:28 Bless those who curse you, Pray for those who mistreat you. Take this verse literally! I never said it was going to be easy. Taking the high road is never easy. I learned all of these things the hard way. I was one who took things into my own hands and itresulted in me digging a bigger ditch for God to pull me out of and it took longer because I was so deep in it.
So let's pray and ask God to hold our tongues in situations where it could bring death (stir up confusion, trouble or cause tension) to a situation. Instead let's find the positive point or area in the situation. We may have to pull out our magnifying glass but believe me it's there :-).
I was listening to a pastor the other day. He said God looks at your heart and the good in you. For example, if you work all the time and don't get to spend much time with your family, you may say I'm not a good parent. But God sees you as a dutiful provider. Remembering in that circumstance, test and trials are temporary. Use your tongue to encourage yourself, as well.
So Let us Pray,
Lord thank you for every person reading this blog today. Father, I thank you that we now realize what a powerful tool we possess in our tongue. Thank you Lord for showing us just how much power our tongues have over the outcome of situations and circumstances that we face in life. We know Lord it starts with us but, Father help us to be mindful of the things that we speak into the atmosphere. Lord cleanse our hearts of negative feelings and our minds of negative thoughts. Give us a renewed mind and spirit Father, in you. I pray every eye that reads this today will take the first step by finding the positive and not the negative in every situation he/she faces. Father, I ask that they reap the harvest of your blessings by being obedient to your word. All of you and none of us Lord is our prayer to you today. In Jesus name, Amen.
Speak life today family. It will be well worth the reward.
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
Some of you may think this word is not for me but, most of us at one time or another have and will speak negative words against others. Right? I was spiritually put in check this morning. Yep, God put me in check! Forget epiphany he shut me down this morning.
The first scripture He revealed to me was, James 3:1 Those who deliver the word will be judged more harshly. I am not claiming to be a prophet, evangelist, or pastor but God is using me to share his word that he revealed to me. God let me know, that he is holding us to a higher standard. That was the first check and I felt an *ouch*.
Next, James 3:4 take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Wooooooow *in my flavor flav voice :-)* my tongue has that much power.When I think back, there are many times I wish I had kept my big mouth shut...shaking my head. I know I'm not the only one who can reflect back on asituations and say if I had just kept my big my shut that wouldn't have gone down that way. Then, there are times we have said, if I had only said what I was thinking not realizing it was the right thing to not speak. Second spiritual check. This isn't for you either huh? Please keep reading.
In James 3:13 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. If the first two checks did not get your attention, this one should!(LOL) Let me put it this way, would you rinse your mouth with toilet water? Fresh water and salt water can't come from the same spring. So why are blessings and cursings coming from the same tongue. No need to go any further I think you've got where I am going with this. Third spiritual check. Not enough, ok one more.
We are a work in progress. God knows that none of us are perfect. He doesn't expect us to be perfect but, he does expect us to follow his word and work toward perfection. This is why God looks at our hearts, our intentions and our motives. Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. We need to always think before we speak. I remember as a child reciting the following,"sticks and stones may break my bones but Words will never hurt me". That is the biggest lie ever told. We have all been in situations where people have said things to us or we have said things to people that we would like to take back. It is hard to forgive words, because words come from the heart. Fourth spiritual check.
We as human beings will forgive hurtful actions, before we forgive hurtful words. Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. This goes back to my post yesterday on sowing seeds. Let us begin to sow positive seeds with our tongue. Luke 6:28 Bless those who curse you, Pray for those who mistreat you. Take this verse literally! I never said it was going to be easy. Taking the high road is never easy. I learned all of these things the hard way. I was one who took things into my own hands and itresulted in me digging a bigger ditch for God to pull me out of and it took longer because I was so deep in it.
So let's pray and ask God to hold our tongues in situations where it could bring death (stir up confusion, trouble or cause tension) to a situation. Instead let's find the positive point or area in the situation. We may have to pull out our magnifying glass but believe me it's there :-).
I was listening to a pastor the other day. He said God looks at your heart and the good in you. For example, if you work all the time and don't get to spend much time with your family, you may say I'm not a good parent. But God sees you as a dutiful provider. Remembering in that circumstance, test and trials are temporary. Use your tongue to encourage yourself, as well.
So Let us Pray,
Lord thank you for every person reading this blog today. Father, I thank you that we now realize what a powerful tool we possess in our tongue. Thank you Lord for showing us just how much power our tongues have over the outcome of situations and circumstances that we face in life. We know Lord it starts with us but, Father help us to be mindful of the things that we speak into the atmosphere. Lord cleanse our hearts of negative feelings and our minds of negative thoughts. Give us a renewed mind and spirit Father, in you. I pray every eye that reads this today will take the first step by finding the positive and not the negative in every situation he/she faces. Father, I ask that they reap the harvest of your blessings by being obedient to your word. All of you and none of us Lord is our prayer to you today. In Jesus name, Amen.
Speak life today family. It will be well worth the reward.
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
Monday, July 18, 2011
Are you putting in work?
So I thought today's topic would be; I got rid of my leftovers, but just like God, He gave me a different word concerning my life. So last night, I was thinking about all the things I want (material things and goals) I want to accomplish or acquire before leaving this Earth. So I sat down with my son Khalil and I decided that we would make a list. I explained to him this would be a continuous list of "Things we are standing on the promises of God and believing him for" (that's the name of the list, long title I know). After making the list, I went back through my notes from church, bible study, and daily meditation and I listed and attached a number of scriptures that contained the promises of God (I have listed a few of them on the main page under a tab called the Promises of God). I started this list after my Pastor issued a challenge to the congregation to attach a promise to your problem. I tell you it changed the way I pray COMPLETELY! So I thought surely if I can do that with my problems, I can apply that same principle to my DREAMS! So my son and I prayed over our list, reminded God of his promises, and went to bed.
Well, during my time of prayer and meditation this morning, I was reading James 2. James 2:17 Faith by itself if not accompanied by actions, is dead. Well there it is my Epiphany. If I want to reap the harvest of God's blessings, I have got to accompany it with work. Well I know that I can't just sit on the couch and say Lord I sure do want some Church's chicken. All I really want is some Church's chicken. I would give up my right arm right now for some Church's chicken. OK you get the point. But in all of that, if I don't get up and drive myself to Church's or at least ask someone to go for me. Guess what? No Church's chicken for me. The same principle applies to life if you don't go out there and get it, then how do you suppose it will come to you? Yes you do have to speak of things that aren't as though they were, but there is a little more that you have to do.
So with all that being said, you have to sow a seed. I'm not necessarily speaking of money. However, the principle of tithing is very important. There are other seeds that you should sow as well. The principles of seed time and harvest are very powerful. You may be like me and aren't really sure how? In reality, we sow seeds all the time and often reap the harvest without knowing it. For example, we sow the seed of labor (going to work) and reap the harvest of our paycheck. So I will share with you one of my goals. My son and I listed we want the home of our dreams. Not just any home but one we customize with all the bells and whistles. We told God where we want it and what we wanted in it. Well God spoke this morning to me during meditation and said you need to help someone else build the home of their dreams. So Habitat for Humanity here I come! See I believe God's word in Luke 16:10,“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, So I am believing that if I stand on that promise and sow positive seeds and contributing my time to blessing others to reach their dreams, I trust that God will send someone in my life to bless me with my dreams. If you are believing God for a better job. You may have been on your job for several years, and have become comfortable in the position. You have learned all the loop holes and ins and outs for getting by and truly don't give a complete work day. If you change that routine and begin sowing the seed of excellence in your work and the seed of going above and beyond. You will be amazed at how God will move on your behalf.
Remember this scripture when sowing into the lives of others: 2 Corinthians 9:6 says: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. So if you are expecting a big move of God. You better sow generous seeds :-)!
I do want to say this before I close, our list doesn't just contain big things, it contains small things too. Like my son is asking God to bless him with new cleats for his baseball tournament next week. You may say Naila, why not just buy the child the cleats. Buying him cleats isn't the issue. What we have to understand is, we serve a big God, but that doesn't mean only take to Him the big stuff. Philippians 4:6 says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. There is nothing to big or small that he won't provide. Even what we see as our biggest problems are trivial to Him. So if we will raise our children to trust in a being so fictitious as Santa Claus for all their wants, why not raise them to believe in the true and LIVING God!
Happy Monday guys! Be blessed and above all be a blessing.
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
Well, during my time of prayer and meditation this morning, I was reading James 2. James 2:17 Faith by itself if not accompanied by actions, is dead. Well there it is my Epiphany. If I want to reap the harvest of God's blessings, I have got to accompany it with work. Well I know that I can't just sit on the couch and say Lord I sure do want some Church's chicken. All I really want is some Church's chicken. I would give up my right arm right now for some Church's chicken. OK you get the point. But in all of that, if I don't get up and drive myself to Church's or at least ask someone to go for me. Guess what? No Church's chicken for me. The same principle applies to life if you don't go out there and get it, then how do you suppose it will come to you? Yes you do have to speak of things that aren't as though they were, but there is a little more that you have to do.
So with all that being said, you have to sow a seed. I'm not necessarily speaking of money. However, the principle of tithing is very important. There are other seeds that you should sow as well. The principles of seed time and harvest are very powerful. You may be like me and aren't really sure how? In reality, we sow seeds all the time and often reap the harvest without knowing it. For example, we sow the seed of labor (going to work) and reap the harvest of our paycheck. So I will share with you one of my goals. My son and I listed we want the home of our dreams. Not just any home but one we customize with all the bells and whistles. We told God where we want it and what we wanted in it. Well God spoke this morning to me during meditation and said you need to help someone else build the home of their dreams. So Habitat for Humanity here I come! See I believe God's word in Luke 16:10,“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, So I am believing that if I stand on that promise and sow positive seeds and contributing my time to blessing others to reach their dreams, I trust that God will send someone in my life to bless me with my dreams. If you are believing God for a better job. You may have been on your job for several years, and have become comfortable in the position. You have learned all the loop holes and ins and outs for getting by and truly don't give a complete work day. If you change that routine and begin sowing the seed of excellence in your work and the seed of going above and beyond. You will be amazed at how God will move on your behalf.
Remember this scripture when sowing into the lives of others: 2 Corinthians 9:6 says: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. So if you are expecting a big move of God. You better sow generous seeds :-)!
I do want to say this before I close, our list doesn't just contain big things, it contains small things too. Like my son is asking God to bless him with new cleats for his baseball tournament next week. You may say Naila, why not just buy the child the cleats. Buying him cleats isn't the issue. What we have to understand is, we serve a big God, but that doesn't mean only take to Him the big stuff. Philippians 4:6 says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. There is nothing to big or small that he won't provide. Even what we see as our biggest problems are trivial to Him. So if we will raise our children to trust in a being so fictitious as Santa Claus for all their wants, why not raise them to believe in the true and LIVING God!
Happy Monday guys! Be blessed and above all be a blessing.
Do not forget to show kindness to strangers, for by doing so some have shown kindness to angels without knowing it...Hebrews 13:2
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