Month: March 2017

HERE’S HOW TO LOVE SOMEONE YOU DON’T LIKE (OR WHO DOESN’T LIKE YOU)…

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We all have them in our lives…people that we just don’t like, or who don’t like us.

They’re in our families…on our jobs…in our churches…we see them on television…sometimes we’re even married to them.

We may or may not know them, and they may or may not know us.

It could be that you used to be very close, but something happened.

You changed.

They changed.

Life happened and you reacted to it differently.

It could be that you have opposing views on a cause that is near and dear to your heart.

Sometimes you don’t even know why. It could be something very subtle.

Have you ever found yourself saying this?

“I don’t know why, but I just don’t like ___________.”

Or,

There’s something about ____________ that I just don’t like.

We may not like the way they look…the way they behave…the way they treat others…they may have even mistreated us or someone we love.

Stop right now and take a moment to think about the people who you don’t like. 

Be careful, because… DON’T LIKE can lead to HATE.

Or, sometimes, DON’T LIKE is actually HATE in denial.

We all know that God commands that we love everyone, just as He loves everyone. In fact, He goes so far as to tell us to love our neighbor as ourselves…and defines a neighbor in the Parable of the Good Samaritan…

Luke 10:25-37 (NKJV)

 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[h] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[i] 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?” 30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him,and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[j] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “GO AND DO LIKEWISE.”

Jesus chose this example because, as most of you know, the Jews and Samaritans DID NOT like each other. Some say that they hated one another, and through that context He gives us His expectation for us.

God already knew when He commanded that we love one another that we would…

Have opposing views…

Hurt one another…

Betray one another…

Abuse one another…

Sometimes be innocent victims…

But, still He said love EVERYONE!

How do we do that?

Here are a few suggestions to help you love someone you don’t like…

REMEMBER THEY’RE GOD’S CHILD TOO

We were all created in the image of Almighty God. Jesus died for all of our sins, in fact the bible says…

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Notice what King David said after he had Uriah killed so that he could have his wife…

Psalm 51:4 (NKJV)

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak,[a]
And blameless when You judge.

When someone hurts you…they are transgressing God’s commandment to love everyone, so they are hurting God 1st.

Always remember that GOD DOESN’T LOVE YOUR ENEMY ANY LESS THAN HE LOVES YOU! Just because we don’t like someone, doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love them.

Even though they won’t, He wants everyone to accept Him and be saved. As they brutally crucified Jesus, He lovingly said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)

DO SOMETHING KIND FOR THEM

One of the most powerful things you can do for someone who you don’t like, or for someone who doesn’t like you is to make a conscious effort to be KIND to them.

Kindness is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). Being KIND and NICE are two different things… Click here to find out more about Kind vs Nice)

You can be NICE to someone who you hate. You can be NICE to someone while positioning yourself to stab them in the back.

Being kind to someone is LOVE IN ACTION. It’s doing what’s best for them in spite of how you feel about them, or how they feel about you. It’s doing what’s best for them even if it’s unpleasant or uncomfortable for you are them.

Just as in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, being kind to someone you don’t like forces you into showing them love. It plants a seed of God’s love into them and anyone else who may witness the kindness.

Kindness is exercising your love muscle. It allows you the opportunity to not only see them as God sees them, but to act towards them as God does towards us when we hurt Him.

 YOU CAN LOVE THE PERSON AND HATE THE BEHAVIOR

Do you think that God loves all of our behavior? Of course not. He hates sin…and we all sin.

God hates sin, but loves the sinner…and that’s what He expects us to do. When we accept Jesus and repent of our sins, He…

Propitiates our sins…covers or atones for them. (1 John 2:2)

And,

Justifies us…or counts us as being righteous. (Romans 5:1)

And, even those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior are recipients of His mercy He loves enough to withhold His wrath even though He doesn’t LIKE their behavior. (Luke 6:36)

God expects us to look past the sin and love the person that He made in His image. Is it easy? No! But, that’s where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…

Philippians 4:13(NKJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

 Just as God does, we can learn to love the person and hate the behavior.

We can love them, and dislike how the are.

FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH THEM

Another way that you can find it within yourself to love someone who you don’t like is to find something that you have in common with them.

The key to conflict resolution is finding common ground. We all have and will sin. We all have to die one day. We all want to be happy. We all want to be valued.

Look at what the apostle Paul did to reach others for Christ…

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NKJV)

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law,[a] that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,[b] but under law toward Christ[c]), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as[d] weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

We all have more in common than we may think. Sometimes when we don’t like someone, we don’t want to see what we have in common with them.

Finding something in common with them is a way to see yourself in them…hence, “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

 REMEMBER THAT SOMETIMES, YOU’RE THE PERSON SOMEONE DOESN’T LIKE

When we’re honest with ourselves…sometimes we are that person that someone doesn’t like. Not only that, sometimes we have given them a GOOD reason to ‘not like us’.

Lastly, remember this…When we judge that someone deserves to ‘not be liked’, we are placing that same judgment on ourselves…

Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV)

Do Not Judge

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Notice that I didn’t try to convince you to like anyone. Just learn to love them through what you dislike about them.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

6

CREATED FOR PURPOSE…NOT PAIN! #stopbullying

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In the early to mid 1990’s a little girl bounced, pigtails swinging, into her first day of kindergarten. She insisted on going in alone. As her young parents watched her disappear in the door, both their eyes welled up with tears. This bittersweet day that they, both looked forward to and dreaded had finally come – and it was more bitter than sweet.

You see, this little girl had courageously overcome at least one surgery every year to correct birth defects. The doctors said she would be both blind and brain-damaged to her devastated, but faithful parents at birth. Each year, she would desperately reach back for her parents as staff took her from ‘The Bunny Room’ (where children could choose a toy before surgery) off to the operating room. God honored their faith and through the expert staff at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis TN., she was neither blind nor brain damaged – God worked a miracle in her life.

Her mind was sharp, and God blessed her with sight in one eye and a prosthesis that fit perfectly over the other eye that both looked and moved perfectly.

However, as beautiful as she was, there were still some minor, subtle features that made her feel uncomfortable…and we all know how cruel children can be in school.

This little girl walked in with the excitement and hope of all children to have the friends and normal school experience that all children deserve…and yes she did make good friends. But, there are always those children and some adults who love to amuse themselves and affirm themselves at the expense of others.

This sweet little girl was BULLIED.

This sweet little girl would have her expectations of a happy school year ripped from under her EACH year by a few other children who felt she didn’t deserve to be happy at school.

They weren’t there at the ‘Bunny Room’…

They weren’t there for the pain as the scars healed…

They weren’t there as she looked in the mirror desperately wanting to just feel normal…

They weren’t there when she begged morning after morning to stay home from school…

They weren’t there when she looked her parents though tears asking “why don’t they like me?”

This constant emotional, physical and psychological abuse slowly chipped away at her self-esteem as her parents did everything they could to help their sweet child. There are few things worse than sending your child to a hostile environment…with little to no power to change it.

Sometimes as she put her head in her hands to escape to herself for a few moments, children would still poke her in the back of the head. WHAT IF, in a temporary moment of rage she raised her head and blindly lashed out with a pencil striking one of the bullies in the temple with a pencil…who would be made to look the villain in this situation.

She wasn’t the villain, and didn’t ask to be the victim.

As much as violence has no place in our schools, we must ask ourselves WHY when some students lash out.

When I watch some tragic news stories, I sometimes wonder what led to that point. It isn’t always violent video games and music that lead to such behavior…they sometimes provide the fuel for emotions that have been created through bullying.

Yes, some people come out on top after years of bullying, but everyone isn’t blessed with the same coping mechanisms…some just can’t handle it.

This young lady made it through school allowing herself to continue being hurt, without hurting someone else…but if she had, the last thing she deserved was to be portrayed as a villain and possibly imprisoned because she couldn’t take it any more.

I am in no way defending those children who violently attack their fellow students and teachers, but we must be honest enough with ourselves to realize that SOMETIMES…there is more to the story.

Unfortunately, bullying doesn’t stop in school. Adults do the same thing once they begin working. There are bullies in our offices, stores, factories…anywhere people can work. One of my greatest disappointments in ‘growing up’ in realizing how many of us don’t.

When someone is born with challenges that most of us don’t have to endure, let us not allow bullies to ruin their lives. Too many time our culture not only allows, but sometimes supports this behavior. Let us be sensitive to them, Let us embrace them, nurture them…they deserve to enjoy life as everyone else.

This young lady turned out to be a beautiful person both inside and out – to God be the Glory!

Just as the man born blind in John Chapter 9, many times God has special purpose to get glory out of their lives. Their lives are meant for PURPOSE and not PAIN.

John 9:1-3 (NKJV)

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

BE BLESSTIFIED

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LEMONADE WITHOUT SUGAR…

wp-1472302013866.jpgPeople love clichés.

A well-placed cliché makes conversations, speeches and even sermons more interesting. One very popular cliché used when people have misfortune is or difficulty is, “When life gives you lemons make lemonade”.

BUT WHAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY SUGAR?

What if you have a health condition that doesn’t allow you to have sugar?

Sometimes in life we have to faith our way through some difficult days…

Sometimes we have to take some medicine that just doesn’t taste good…

Sometimes you have to swallow a really big pill that’s hard to get down…

Some people can’t have sugar in their diet…

Sometimes your healing comes from something bitter.

AREN’T YOU GLAD THAT JESUS DIDN’T MAKE LEMONADE ON THE CROSS?

2 Timothy 2:3 tells us to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:2 teaches us to look to Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him.

People love quoting Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” when they are trying to make their dreams come true, but this verse is most powerful when we are enduring life’s most difficult situations.

God wants us to always be able to make something good out of difficult situations, and to always see His will in them. As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, sometimes there’s nothing to make some situations feel ‘or taste’ better.

We just have to faith our way through and learn to sometimes drink lemonade without sugar.

 Psalm 3:19 (ESV)

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
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BE BLESSTIFIED!

2

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T FALL APART WHEN THEY REFUSE TO INCLUDE YOU…

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You wanted to be A PART, and they wanted you APART

Most of us have had those hurtful, disappointing, eye-opening moments….You know, that moment that you realize that ‘they’ don’t want to include you!

You ever thought…Hey! Wait a minute! What’s going on here???

They may have excluded you…shunned you…

Given you the cold shoulder…

Ingored, snubbed and left you out….wouldn’t let you ‘play in the reindeer games’.

You wanted to be A PART of them, and it’s clear they wanted you to be APART from them.

You know who ‘THEY’ are…

That group…

That team…

That job…

That family…

That industry…

That organization…

That ministry…

That church…

That fraternity…

That sorority…

Those friends…

That clique…

That relationship…

They don’t acknowledge you. They don’t acknowledge your accomplishments. They don’t acknowledge your value…

But, that doesn’t mean they don’t SEE your value.

That’s may be why won’t let you in. NOT, because you aren’t good enough, but because they KNOW you ARE good enough.

They see your potential and your anointing…and SOMETIMES they view it as a THREAT to them.

Be very careful that you don’t push too hard trying to open doors that God may not want you to enter.

Please click here to read my post, “Doors”, from 9/3/16

In fact, thank God for blocking you from getting in. Thank Him for allowing them to…

Ignore you…

Reject you…

Push you away…

Sometimes God allows ‘them’ to do that to prevent us becoming settled in a place that we aren’t meant to be.

Be sensitive to the Spirit of God and as to where He is guiding you.

Remember the good intentions of Paul and his companions as the set their mind to go preach the word in Asia…

Acts 16:6-10 (NKJV)

 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

As David sought to be a devoted servant to Saul, look at how God allowed Saul to continually try to take David’s life (1 Samuel 18:30, 19:24)…God had something greater for David.

Sometimes God is trying to protect you…to guide you…to point you in the right direction through…

REJECTION!

They’re rejection of you doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not a good place…

It just means that it’s not the place that God has for you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

1

WHAT THE DEVIL WANTS YOU TO FORGET…

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THE DEVIL WANTS YOU TO FORGET…

That he is a liar (John 8:44)…

That God loves you (John 3:16)…

He can only do what God allows (Job 1:12)

God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)…

How much you love your spouse (Song of Solomon 1:2)…
How much you appreciate your family (1 Timothy 5:8)…

What God has already brought you through ( Judges 10:11-12)…

How happy you were the day you got your job ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18)…

That you promised God you wouldn’t do it again ( Psalm 38:18)…

That you asked God for the person you’re now tired of ( Malachi 2:16)…

That God is willing to forgive you no matter what you’ve done ( Matthew 12:31)….

That God promised that He would never leave you nor forsake you ( Hebrews 13:5)…

The enemy wants you to forget he disguises himself as an angel of light ( 2 Corinthians 11:14)…

He wants you to forget that he doesn’t have the keys nor control of Hell (Revelations 20:10)…

That you have power over him through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (James 4:7)…

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV)

11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

1

THE REAL, BOTTOM-LINE REASON MARRIAGES FAIL…

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Marriage is a gift of God. It provides life-long companionship and support when we go about it as God has instructed us…but unfortunately too many marriages, Christian marriages, end in divorce.

Why?

Of course, there are various things that lead to failed marriages, but when you think about it there’s ONE common factor…

It’s not the struggle…

It’s not the challenge…

It’s not the trial…

It’s not the situation…

It’s not even the money…

And, it’s not that DEEP…

MARRIAGES FAIL BECAUSE COUPLES FORGET TO HAVE JOY IN ONE ANOTHER!

Joy is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)…even marriages of unbelievers and other faiths who have joy in one another stay together.

Marriages fail because couples forget how to simply have joy in one another…through it all.

The enemy manipulates struggles; situations; the trials to provoke…

Division…

Resentment…

Blame…

Cheating…

Giving up on God…

Giving up on each other, rather than growing closer.

Look at Job’s wife during his struggle…

Job 2:9 (NIV)

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Struggles in your marriage are a guarantee…

You will always have disagreements.

When you can’t have what you want…

When things don’t work out the way you want…

YOU STILL HAVE EACH OTHER!

Don’t let the enemy manipulate you into forgetting to have joy in one another.

As long as you remember to have joy in just being together….

When God’s love is the bond that holds you together…

Theirs nothing can come between you!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

4

THE LIES WE DON’T INTEND TO TELL (MOST OF THE TIME)…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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SOME OF THE BIGGEST LIES WE TELL ARE…

Not intentionally (most of the time)…have any of these come from your mouth????

I love you…

I’ll pray for you…

I’ll call you back…

That’s okay…

I’m okay…

What’s wrong? “Nothing!”…

That’s hilarious…(and you don’t laugh)

Oh yeah, I remember that…

I don’t remember…

I don’t have it on me…(when asked for money)

That tastes great…

You look great…

I like that…

I’ve got your back…

I love everybody…

I don’t see color…

I’m doing this for you…

That didn’t bother me…

I don’t even care…

I’m over it…

It doesn’t matter…

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 12…

 Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)

 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Take a moment and thank God for His grace and mercy for the lies…

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WHY ‘LOVE ISN’T ALWAYS LOVE’…#GodlyMarriage

It’s one of the most common catch phrases these days…”Love is love.”

Those who believe that marriage goes beyond a man and woman, as defined in the bible…(Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Ephesians 5:31) say as long as two people love each other, then that’s ALL that matters.

But, that’s not the only situation when love isn’t ALL that matters.

Is it okay to be in love with someone else’s spouse?

Is it okay for an adult to be in love with a minor?

Is it okay to be in love with your relative?

Is it okay to be in love with you best friend’s parent?

Some love is forbidden.

Some love is inappropriate.

Why?

For those who believe in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it’s because the bible says so.

Godly love has order and distinct behavior as defined in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.

God’s love is defined and demonstrated all throughout the Old and New Testaments…and it’s not always smiles and good feelings.

Sometimes it’s challenges…

Sometimes it’s discipline…

Sometimes it’s wrath…

Sometimes it’s sacrifice…

Sometimes it’s reconciliation.

Now, if you don’t believe in the bible, there’s not much that can be said to convince you…

But, I’m talking to those who believe the bible is the inspired word of God.

But, more and more Christians are accepting, “Love is love…”

More and more Christians are accepting the thinking that when the bible addresses homosexuality that…”that’s not what it really means”.

But the bible is clear on the topic.

Just because a desire is natural doesn’t make it okay.

We are all created in sin, and our flesh is imperfect.

Psalm 51:5 (NKJV)

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

 

We are all born with different desires that we didn’t ask for…

Some are more naturally inclined towards violence…

Some are more naturally inclined towards being mean…

Some are more naturally inclined towards being selfish…

Some naturally have an unquenchable appetite for multiple sexual partners (just like King David in the bible)

And, some have a natural desire for people of their own sex.

Natural desires lead to multiple sins…

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV)

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Our natural desires don’t make it right, and doesn’t mean that God made a mistake.

God is love, and His love doesn’t permit us to hate anyone.

Love has order…

Love has particular behavior…

Love has boundaries.

And we all have to resist those desires with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Our desires aren’t what dictate what love is…in fact, sometimes they deceive us.

We don’t define what love is…God does.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

2

SEDUCED BY SHAPES…

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As I was driving this morning, I passed a REALLY NICE CAR. It’s a car that’s liked and desired by many people…some call it an aspirational vehicle. I thought about how nice it would be to have a car like that one, but then I also thought…

What makes that car look so good to people. What makes it look ‘cool’ rather than boring? It’s not the color because some cars that people call boring are the same color. It’s not only about the speed because an old jalopy can be very fast, but that doesn’t make people want it.

What is it?

It’s the shape!

Think about it. We were both driving. We were both getting where we wanted to go. But, his vehicle was more desirable to many because of the shape.

People have been ‘seduced’ into going deep into debt, sometimes debt they can’t afford because they were seduced by shapes.

We’re seduced by shapes…

Some people even call some cars SEXY.

How can a car be sexy?

The shape!

Think about the shapes that seduce us as humans…

Curves…

Contours…

Exaggerated features…

Hips…

Thighs…

Muscles…

Shoulders…

Breasts…

And yes, what God gave us to sit on…

Have you ever allowed being seduced by shapes to get you in trouble?

God gave us our senses, including sight, for a reason. He wants us to enjoy the pleasures in life, but not let them rule us or control us. That’s why fasting is so important, as spiritual exercise to bring our flesh into subjection so that we aren’t controlled by our desires.

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

 Remember what Jesus said…

Matthew 18:9 (NKJV)

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

 Of course this isn’t literal, Jesus just wanted to let us know the severity of being seduced by what we see…unless of course you’re that weak, then it would be better to pluck it out if you just can’t help yourself.

Think again of the shapes that seduce you…and make sure that more than anything your seduced by the shape of…

THE CROSS of Calvary!

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BE BLESSTIFIED!

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SOME OLD SCHOOL GOSPEL SONG LYRICS THAT SOUND GOOD BUT AREN’T BIBLICALLY SOUND…

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Sing praises with understanding. (Psalm 47:7)

I struggled about publishing this post because I know how much we love our old school Gospel songs. And, yes they ARE GOOD SONGS, but some contain some lyrics that aren’t completely aligned with scripture. Okay, I already know this may upset some people, but God wants us to speak the truth.

There are some old school Gospel songs that we love…that encourage us…that we sing in worship, but they contain some lyrics that aren’t biblically sound.

These particular songs are more common in some church cultures than others, but I persuaded to believe that all church cultures have them.

We’ve heard our parents and grandparents sing them…

Yes, they make us feel good…

Yes, they we enjoy them…

Yes, those who wrote them were anointed…

This isn’t to diminish the anointing of the song writer(s), but to remind us that when we are using songs to worship God, we must remember what our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ said…

John 4:24 (NKJV)

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God demands that we worship Him not only in spirit…BUT IN TRUTH.

See if any of these lyrics sound familiar…

“If these wings should fail me, I want you to meet me with another pair” #TwoWings

When we are resurrected from the dead, we will all receive brand new SPIRITUAL BODIES. Our natural bodies will be a thing of the past. We will be made perfect. Once resurrected, our new bodies WILL NOT be able to fail. This sounds good, but it’s not biblically sound.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NKJV)

 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

Also, this implies that we will become Seraphim, such as those that flew around the throne of God in Isaiah 6:1-8. This is a special order of angel with a special purpose. The bible does not say we will become Seraphim, or even angels for that matter. Angels are ministering spirits appointed to us (Hebrews 1:14). If we all become angels, who will we minister to?

How about these lyrics?

“If you find anything that shouldn’t be, take it out and strengthen me.” #SearchMeLord

This implies that God removes sin from our lives. Jesus died on the cross to give us power over sin and death, but He gave us the power and responsibility to remove from our lives ourselves…

Colossians 3:5  (NKJV)

5 Therefore PUT TO DEATH your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:8 (NKJV)

8 But now YOU YOURSELVES ARE TO PUT OFF ALL OF THESE: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

 Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV)

 25 Therefore, PUTTING AWAY lying,

Ephesians 4:31(KKJV)

 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, with all malice.

 2 Corinthians 7:1(NKJV)

 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

No where in scripture to we find God TAKING SIN OUT of anyone…He told us to do it. Those lyrics sound good, but aren’t biblically sound.

I’m sure you’re familiar with these lyrics…

“I don’t feel no ways tired” #IDontFeelNoWaysTired

I have witnessed people actually sing this in church, then talk about how tired they are afterward.

I’m sure if Jesus Himself got tired while walking in flesh, that we will too…

 John 4:6 (NKJV)

6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, BEING WEARIED FROM His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Yes, it’s necessary to resolve to keep on going in the Lord, but when we sing these lyrics, we better make sure we aren’t actually lying when we say them.

Okay, I’m sure someone will get upset with me about this one…

“Stepped in the furnace, a long time ago…Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.” #TroubleInMyWay

What’s wrong with that? Well, those were Babylonian names given to Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael by Nebuchadnezzar. Those names honored Babylonians gods (for example, Abednego means servant of Nego, a pagan god) and we’ve thrown them right in the middle of a Gospel song.

They didn’t accept those names. We don’t refer to Daniel as Belteshazzar, so we should immediately stop calling them those blasphemous names…especially in a Gospel song.

Okay, I’m going to stop right there, but we need to be careful about trying to justify what we want to do once God has made it clear in His word that something is wrong.

Some may even say it doesn’t matter, or that it’s a small thing, remember two things…

When God was rebuking Judah for committing sins in the house of God, He asked them, Is it a trivial (or small) thing…

Ezekiel 8:17 (NKJV)

17 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here?

And, God commands the we sing His praises with understanding…

Psalm 47:7 (NKJV)

7 For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises WITH UNDERSTANDING.

Let’s worship Him in spirit and truth.

If this blessed you, please follow my blog…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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IT’S NOT WHAT YOU TELL THAT MAKES IT GOSSIP, BUT WHY YOU TELL IT…

wp-1490191575689.jpg“Hey! You aren’t going to believe this!”

“Have you heard the latest?”

“Guess what _______did!”

“Don’t repeat this…”

“I hate to talk about people but…”

Many times these are some of the phrases that are followed by gossip, spreading rumors and telling other peoples’ business.

Gossip can be destructive to people, families, communities, organizations and even churches.

Some popular television shows are successful primarily for the love of gossip.

The bible is clear that God forbids His people from gossiping…

Psalms 101:5

“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence…”

Proverbs 16:28 (NIV)

“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”

 Proverbs 11:13 (NIV)

“A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”

 Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

 James 4:11 (NIV)

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another….”

 Yes, it’s wrong to gossip…but what makes sharing certain information gossip?

It’s the intent of the heart. It’s not WHAT you’re telling, but WHY your telling it.

Some people gossip to stir strife…

Some do it to help their personal agenda…

Some people just enjoy the thrill of being the first to share certain news…

But, sharing information is not always gossip.

Notice the verses…

1 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)

 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.

 Colossians 1 (NIV)

 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 

 In the two verses above, someone shared information with the Apostle Paul,  how else would he have heard about the dysfunction in the Corinthian church or the faith in the Colossian church?

In the two verses above, we both good and bad information being shared, but neither were gossip because of the REASON the information was shared.

It wasn’t shared to shame…

It wasn’t shared to spite…

It wasn’t shared to slander…

It wasn’t shared to glorify…

It was shared to build up others…to strengthen the church…it was shared to help.

Be very careful about the information that you share and that you receive.

Remember that sometimes it’s beneficial to give the 411 on a situation, but always be honest with yourself as to YOUR personal reason for telling it.

And, if someone comes to you with something and you feel it’s just needless gossip. Once you tell them that you don’t want to hear it…they won’t come to you again.

The responsibility falls on both the person who tells and the person who hears.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:26 (NIV)

 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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WHY REAL, TOTAL UNITY ISN’T REALISTIC…

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IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT UNITING PEOPLE, BUT UNITING THE RIGHT PEOPLE

I often hear people proclaim, “We just all need to come together”.  Or some groups say, “We aren’t together like other groups are”.

The truth is that even though some cultures are inherently more cooperative, that there is no group, family, race, culture, nationality or cause that is truly totally united…at least for a prolonged amount of time.

Think about all of the great social movements, there have always been different approaches and ideas as to how to approach them.

As much as Dr. Martin Luther King is revered now, many of his contemporaries did not agree at his non-violent approach.

Without calling out any particular group, race, nationality, culture or cause… If you look closely into the other groups, races, nationalities, causes or cultures that are so called, UNITED, you will find great fragmentation and variance in all of them.

Progress is made and accomplishments are achieved not by uniting EVERYONE, but UNITING the RIGHT GROUP of people.

It is totally unrealistic to think that we can achieve total unity in any large-scale group in this imperfect world.

Jesus Christ, Yeshua, Himself did not ( and still does not) have total unity in His group, even though that is one of the main things He prayed for before He went to the cross.

John 17:20-23 (NKJV)

 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word; 21 that they ALL MAY BE ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE IN US, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that THEY MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE ONE: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made PERFECT IN ONE, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Jesus prayed for it because He wants us to work for unity. The more we work for unity, the more likely the RIGHT people will come together for the right things.

Yes, it does seem that some groups are more divided than others…but no group is totally united.

Jesus launched the church and changed the world forever…literally forever, with twelve men. He assembled the right group of people is the midst of great division. Those twelve men did the same, they assembled the right groups together to get the job done…and so on, and so on.

Now the and so on falls on US. Don’t worry about who won’t come together…focus on who will.

Because even though total unity is unrealistic, God still expects us to try.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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YOU DON’T HAVE DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

WHEN YOU SACRIFICE YOUR TIME FOR SOMEONE, YOU’RE GIVING THEM PART OF YOUR LIFE.

How much of yourself…your time do you give to others?
Here on earth, time is life. You can get back lost money, but you can never get back time.

When you sacrifice your time for someone, you’re giving away part of your life.

Jesus said….

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE.

Many have given up their dreams so that someone else can pursue theirs.

There are those who spend and have spent years taking care of others…serving others. Serving others is giving up your time for someone else.

Who in your life is giving up their time for you?

Who are your sacrificing your time for?

One of the greatest…

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DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF WHEN YOU’RE DISCOURAGED…

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Sometimes, we can feel bad about ourselves when we have human moments…

When our hearts are troubled…

When we feel that God isn’t listening…

Sometimes, when we in moments of being discouraged, we can feel that we have let God down and that our faith is weak.

God knew we would be discouraged sometimes. He knew that life would be heavy. He knew that we would have both highs and lows.

That’s why one of the spiritual gifts that He gives in the ENCOURAGEMENT

 Romans 12:6-8a

 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a]faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to ENCOURAGE, then give ENCOURAGEMENT;

 Remember even Elijah asked to die…

1 Kings 19:4 (NIV)

 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Jeremiah cursed the day he was born…

Jeremiah 20:14-18 (NIV)

 Cursed be the day I was born!
May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!

 Even Jesus asked why had the Father forsaken Him…

Matthew 27:46  (NIV)

46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[a] lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]

It’s human to be discouraged and troubled sometimes. Don’t beat yourself up too much over that.

Just also remember that Elijah, Jeremiah or Jesus remained discouraged. They had their human moments, but they overcame them.

Praise God in your broken moments. Don’t let them be an opportunity for the devil to influence.

Always stop in the midst of your discouragement and GIVE GOD PRAISE….even if you don’t feel like it…ESPECIALLY if you don’t feel like it.  Your broken spirit is perfect for getting yourself closer to God. He promises to come close to us in our broken moments…

Psalm 51:17 (NIV)

17 My sacrifice, O God, is[a] a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

If you’re discouraged today, remember your human, but you aren’t ONLY human.

1 John 4:4 (NIV)

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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WHEN WE TRY TO ‘MANIPULATE’ GOD INTO BLESSING US…

​It’s interesting how we sometimes try to manipulate blessings out of God.

Sometimes intentionally.

Sometimes intentionally.

Think about it. When we…

Make promises in our prayers…
Fast, but with our own selfish, personal agenda…

Isaiah 58:3 (NKJV) 

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?

Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’

“In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure…”

Give only so we can be blessed…

Go to church as if God owes us something for going…

Serve to be seen or only to be rewarded for our service.

Even when we do all of the ‘spiritual’ things God told us to do.

God knows our hearts…

He knows the true motivation of why we do what we do…

James 4:3 (NKJV)

 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 

This may not be you, and if not…great.

But, if it is remember that we can’t trick or manipulate God into blessing us.

And, the beautiful thing is that we don’t have to.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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when you take your eyes off of YOUrself…

On your darkest day…you can be someone else’s light.

In your biggest mistake…you can help someone else see what’s right.

In the middle of your greatest mess…

You can someone else see how much they’re blessed.

No matter what you’re going through…

God’s given you enough strength for yourself…

And someone else too.

It’s amazing what you can do…

When you take your eyes off of YOUrself.

Romans 15:2 (NKJV)

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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IT’S NOT SELFISH TO LOVE YOURSELF…

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We hurt each other. Sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally.

Sometimes we hurt the ones we love the most.

Why?

God tells us that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Maybe that’s the problem sometimes. Do we know how to love ourselves?

Do we love ourselves as we should?

Think of all of the things you have done…

All of the places you have gone…

All of the things you have said that weren’t good for you.

Think of all the things that people eat, drink, consume that aren’t good for them.

Think of all the situations people subject themselves to, fully knowing it’s not good for them.

We put ourselves in unhealthy relationships.

We hurt ourselves for instant gratification.

We subject ourselves to harm physically, emotionally and spiritually…no one else has to do it, we do it to ourselves.

Maybe that’s the problem. We hurt each other and don’t know how to love each other because WE DON’T FULLY KNOW HOW TO LOVE OURSELVES.

We can sometimes replace a healthy love of self with a form of idolatry, where we are arrogant, filled with pride, conceited and narcissistic.

That’s why we have to read God’s word and ask God to teach us to love ourselves the right way.

When you pray, how often do you ask God to teach you to love yourself?

How often do you ask God to help YOU LOVE YOU?

That’s not a selfish prayer because yes, we must LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL, but we can’t LOVE ONE ANOTHER properly, until we learn to LOVE OURSELVES first.

Today, let’s ask God to help us love Him, and OURSELVES as we should.

Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV)

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[d] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

 

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WHAT’S YOUR PLACE IN YOUR CIRCLE?

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Have you taken a close look at your circles?

You know…

The people who are closest to you. The people who you enjoy being around most, and who most enjoy being around you.

Our circles really say quite a bit about who we are.

It’s interesting to see YOUR place in YOUR circles. All circles have those who have the greatest influence…they are the leaders. And, some have those who are either followers, or just glad to be in a group of people like them.

I think that people can be defined by three types of circles. Circles with people who are:

Surviving…

Thriving…

And,

Nosediving…

SURVIVING

These people have one basic thing in common. They are all making it. They are all getting by, but they are all JUST getting by. They are doing what it takes to survive, and there’s not much more time or money to do anything else. Some are content with this and some aren’t, but they are all just surviving. Within, the group of ‘survivors’ there are still some who are ‘surviving’ better than the others in the group. If this is you, where do you fall in place with your group of survivors?

THRIVING

This group also one thing in common…they are all doing extraordinarily well. They are living in ‘overflow’ of everything they need and the freedom, ability and access to what they want. But, much like the NBA team with players who are superstars, while others are multi-million dollar superstars…they are all in the same prosperous circle, but some are prospering much better than others. If this is you, where do you fall in your thriving circle?

NOSEDIVING

This circle’s common denominator is struggle. Not only is surviving a struggle for those in this circle, but it seems that everyone seems to be losing ground. They aren’t necessarily lazy, but some may be. They may work hard. They may even be wise, but have unfortunate circumstances. Even in this group, some are losing ground faster than others. And, within this circle are leaders and those who have greater influence. It this is you, where are you in your circle?

What ever your circle may be, you can still be a light for God…you can still be a positive influence. Because the truth is that these circles will always exist…

And, God needs to be found in all of them.

Remember this…

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

So, no matter what your circle, make sure that you aren’t just the GOOD influence, make sure you’re the GOD influence.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME…

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I was listening to a lady trying to explain the spiritual benefits of fasting recently on a popular national radio show recently.

This lady was speaking of a 40-day fast. She did a very good job of explaining the physical, but most of all spiritual benefits of fasting.

The show has multiple hosts, and everyone couldn’t grasp what she was saying. One of the show hosts comically ridiculed…”What I wanna do that for…go without eating?!”

There are some spiritual concepts that those who are not in relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or who aren’t spiritually mature just WILL NOT understand.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Even Jesus told us we must use discernment in where we plant our good seed…

 Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)

6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

 It’s always good to plant a seed of faith…in fact it’s our responsibility, but sometimes trying to EXPLAIN and CONVINCE some people can be a waste of time.

We must always use wisdom and discernment of when, how and even why we share our faith.

When pressed, even Jesus Himself said many times, “My time has not yet come”.

Everyone doesn’t have a mind or heart to receive what you may be anxious to share.

Always be ready to share your faith, but use wisdom in how, when and where you do it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DON’T LET YOUR POLITICS ‘TRUMP’ YOUR FAITH…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

wp-1484872758997.jpgDo not put your trust in princes, Nor the son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3

It’s interesting the many ways the enemy can provoke us to sin. Paul even reminds us to keep our eyes wide open to the many tricks of the devil….

2 Corinthians 2:11(NKJV)

lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Have you ever noticed how many times the Old Testament references “the sins of Jeroboam”? In 1Kings Chapter 12 (please read the entire chapter for context), Jeroboam, King of the northern kingdom of Israel became fearful that the people’s loyalty would return to Rehoboam, King of the southern kingdom of Judah and son of Solomon. He thought the people would kill him, so in an effort to prevent this he…

  1. Sought and took bad advice (provoked by his fears).
  2. Built two golden…

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IT’S URGENT…

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[d]

Just take a good look around and you’ll see that this world just doesn’t know God.

In the eyes of man what’s evil is good and doing good just seems to be odd.

We have a job we aren’t doing brothers, sisters… Jesus gave a long time ago.

An urgent mission we were given to get busy and let the whole world know…

That it’s urgent…

A commission’s been given to you…

It’s so urgent…

We all have a job to do.

It’s so urgent…

God left it in your hands…

And, it’s urgent…

That you carry out His plan.

So many people go to church and they think that’s all they have to do.
They sit through service, hear a sermon, leave some money, and think that they are through.

But Jesus said, Go ye therefore in the highways and hedges and teach to man.

Telling them to observe all things whatsoever He did command.

You seek for Him…

You speak for Him…

You teach for Him…

You preach for Him…

You walk for Him…

You talk for Him…

Sometimes God works through you!

Confess for Him…

Witness for Him…

You’ve got to do your best for Him.

It’s time for Him…

So shine for Him…

Let man see God in You.

Performed by Mechelle Johnson

Written by Aldtric Johnson

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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THE SIMPLICITY OF SALVATION…

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Have you ever noticed that some people in Christianity position themselves to be more profound, wise and DEEPER than Jesus Himself? Just as the Pharisees did, some people today would CORRECT Jesus if He were here in the flesh.

As much as we can complicate Christianity through the study of theology and doctrine. By calling interpretation HERMENEUTICS…by calling defending or proving our faith APOLOGETICS…by calling the study of end times or final events ESCHATOLOGY.

As much as we can learn about God in context of HISTORY and CULTURE…

As much as we can make aspects of our faith so DEEP…

As much as so many love impressive titles such as Dry, Bishop, Apostle etc.…

Isn’t it wonderful how simple it is to have a true, meaningful and real relationship with God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Romans 10:8-10 (NKJV)

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”[a](that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:20-28

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 

2 Corinthians 2:1-4

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Psalm 119:130New King James Version (NKJV)

The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.

Yes, we must study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) well beyond the bible to sift through thousands of years of history, culture, translations, conjuncture etc. to understand God’s message as He intended.

But, we can’t make faith seem SO COMPLEX and ‘DEEP’ that it’s not attainable or accessible to all.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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THE REASON YOU CAN’T GIVE UP TODAY…

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Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Joseph ( Genesis 37-50) had plenty of days that he most likely felt like giving up…

His brothers plotted to kill him and sold him as a slave…

He was accused of sexual harassment…

He was thrown in prison for something he didn’t do…

But, he didn’t give up.

He kept his faith in the only living God.

And, through his troubles, he was strategically placed by God to save his entire family.

No matter how intense the opposition you may face…

No matter how it may seem that EVERYTHING is working against you…

Please don’t give up today…

Even if you feel ‘your life doesn’t matter anymore’…

Even if you don’t care about yourself…

Even if it seems all hope is gone…

You can’t give up today.

Because…

Your life…

Your trouble…

Your pain…

Your struggle…

AND,

Your victory…

Aren’t ONLY about you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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IF PREACHERS DON’T PISS US OFF SOMETIMES, THEY AREN’T DOING THEIR JOB…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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It’s amazing how people will ALLOW a coach to ‘cuss’ their children…how they expect a drill Sargeant to sternly say anything get the best out of a soldier…but get pissed off at the preacher for a raised, or using sharp words to reprove and rebuke…

2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)

 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine

To REPROVE is to disapprove, to chide to the face as worthy of blame, to expose, to convict.

To REBUKE is to reprimand, strongly warn, restrain.

EXHORTATION is encouragement..

Those who believe the word of God and accept the authority and hierarchy in the church understand what God expects of a Pastor.

Jesus, Yeshua, Himself spoke strong words to the religious leaders, those who were closest to Him, and those who rejected Him…

Hypocrites…( Matthew 15, Matthew 23)

Perverted…(Matthew 17)

Brood of…

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HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR REGRETS…

wp-1489325386452.jpgWe all have them…regrets.

We regret things we’ve done…

Things we’ve said…

Things we’ve thought.

Even our regrets are an aspect of being created in God’s image.

Genesis 6:6 (NIV)

6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.

 The word regret here, according to Strong’s Concordance, means to sigh, groan or ease oneself.

God’s ‘regret’ wasn’t lamenting over a mistake He made, because He makes no mistakes, but rather His comforting Himself as He progressed with His plan that eventually led to man’s salvation.

God gave us every emotion for a reason…even those we consider negative.

He gave us anger to lead to passion in order to make positive change.

He gave us hate to have hatred for evil and sinful behavior…not people.

And, he gave us REGRET to be seeds to repentance rather than depression.

Sometimes when we think of those sinful, shameful, irresponsible or foolish things that we have said, done and thought, we can allow those thoughts to consume us. If we aren’t careful, they can lead to depression or isolation. They can lead to behavior that not only causes harm to ourselves, but also to those we love.

But, God gave us regret to help us avoid making the same mistakes.

USE YOUR REGRETS!

You can use your regrets to PROGRESS you rather than DEPRESS you.

Let your regrets lead to the Godly sorrow that leads to repentance…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Even if you are dealing with the consequences of what you’re regretting, if God has given you breath in your body…that’s grace to make things right and avoid making the same mistakes again.

RECOGNIZE that you can’t go back in time and change what you regret.

REPENT of those thoughts, words, actions, and behaviors and avoid putting yourself in the positions or even frames of mind that would lead to repeating what you regret.

RESOLVE in your mind that you will not allow yourself to ‘go there’ again.

REJOICE in the fact that when you truly repent, that even if others haven’t, God has forgiven you and has given you grace to go on in peace.

Don’t let your regrets overwhelm or cripple you. Let them be brief, temporary moments that you use to make yourself better.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

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NEW DAY…NEW YOU!

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We all have made some bad choices and bad decisions in life. Sometimes those bad choices can define who we are to ourselves and others.

If you don’t like the person that you have been…

If you don’t like the person that are right now…

Please remember that each NEW day is a NEW opportunity to become the NEW YOU!

Once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, your NEW nature begins to shape, refine and define the NEW you…

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

You begin a life long process of progress…you will no longer be the person you were as long as you walk in the Spirit of God and move away from gratifying the works of the flesh that can define us, our character, our personality and ruin our testimony. 

Galatians 5:17-21

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The NEW you in Christ Jesus is the ‘you’ that is led by and displays the Fruit of the Spirit…

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

Just think for a moment about the fact that there are scores of people who haven’t met yet, but will meet. There’s an innumerable number of people are destined to hear about you even though you may not know them.

These people will only know who are now…these people will only know THE NEW YOU. 

Even in Christ, we will continue to make mistakes, but remember to view each NEW day as a blessing and opportunity to ‘get it right’. 

Get it right with God…

Get it right with your ‘fellow man’…

Get it right with YOUrself…

Each day is a NEW opportunity to become the NEW you. 

BE BLESSTIFIED!!

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THE THINGS THAT SCIENCE CAN NEVER EXPLAIN…

I like to define science as humans’ attempt to give a physical explanation for spritual things.
Every thing that exists was spoken into existence by God, so everthing is a physical expression and extention of our invisible and spiritual God…

Romans 1: 20 (NKJV)

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…”

I’m not against science, we have benefited greatly through scientific and medical discoveries and research. But, rather than disprove God…I feel it proves Him.

Notice the chronology in Genesis 1 is the same as what science claimes…

1st water…

Then the creatures in water…

Then plants and vegetation…

Then the creatures on land…

Then humans.

Physics…

Chemistry…

Biology…

Astronomy…

All Medical Science…

Can explain many things…

BUT,

Science can NEVER explain the invisible attributes of God that define how we are made in His image…

Those NON-PHYSICAL attributes He shares with us…

Those NON-PHYSICAL ELEMENTS that make us ‘look’ like Him.

Think about it…

Love…

Joy…

Peace…

Faith…

Kindness…

Hope…

Consciousness…

Science can NEVER isolate our spirits entering our bodies at the beginning of life…

Or, leaving our bodies at the end of life.

I call them GOD’S TANGIBLE INTANGIBLES…

Those things that your senses can’t exerience…

You can’t see, touch, taste, hear or smell love…

Only your spirit can experience it.

There’s no telescope or microscope that can see it…

No microphone thar can hear it…

No device that can measure it…

No computer that can create it…

Because LOVE IS OF GOD.

Love is even of God in the ungodly.

This proves God’s existence and sovereignty to me more than anything else.

God will never allow science to PROVE everything.

First of all because then man would claim he is God…

But most of all…then there would be no need of faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO CHANGE…

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Sometimes we can get frustrated when we share God’s truth or fresh revelation and people don’t respond the way we had hoped.

They may respond negatively…

They may even tell you that they don’t want to hear it…

They may tell you that you’re confused…

They may tell you that they just aren’t ready to change…

Once you plant a seed, you can’t force it to grow…We plant and water, but God gives the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:6-8 (NKJV)

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

We must remember…we didn’t always immediate agree with everything we heard concerning God the first time.

We didn’t immediately take heed to every bit of good, sound spiritual advice we received.

We didn’t immediately stop sinful practices when someone warned us.

There were seeds planted in all of us that took some time to grow.

There were habits, behaviors and attitudes that we had to work through.

There were difficult truths that we weren’t immediately willing to accept…

In fact, there are still some spiritual truths that we have not yet accepted. Just because we haven’t accepted it yet doesn’t prevent it from being God’s truth.

Pray for an ear, heart, mind and attitude that you can be good soil for the good seed that’s planted in you as in the Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:18-23 (NKJV)

 18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Be patient when you share the word of God, or give spiritual advice to others…

Think about the fact that when Jesus was in His human form, his biological brothers (Mary’s other sons) did not believe in Him…

John 7:18 (NKJV)

 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

BUT,

Eventually they did believe. In fact, the letters of Jude and James are now part of the New Testament.

Give people time to change.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

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THE WALKING DEAD (FEEDING ON FLESH)…

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AMC’s The Walking Dead has been one of television’s most successful shows consistently for years. For those who don’t know…it’s centered around a man, his son and a close, but ever changing, group of survivors in a world where a virus turns all humans into flesh-eating zombies when they die.

The zombies are a terrifying, dangerous threat…however the greatest and most dangerous threat on the show isn’t the dead…but the living.

On The Walking Dead, those who are left are normal people who do unmentionable acts of violence, treachery, even torture to one another to remain alive. What’s worse, many get to the point where they don’t just do it to survive…but they enjoy it.

Yes, that’s television, but if we stop and think about it, the world we live in is not that much different.

Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to bring the worse out of any of us.

When we are led by our flesh…our carnal mind, the enemy can and does convince us to do some horrible things.

God told us through the Apostle Paul…

Romans 7:15-25 (NKJV)

 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Think about this…Even though you didn’t do it, has anyone ever hurt you or someone you love to the point that either you wished them harm, or you would have taken pleasure in their misfortune?

Again, we are warned that if we are led by our flesh, (feeding on flesh) our selfish desires or anger that we can become just like those zombies on The Walking Dead…

Galatians 5:15 (NKJV)

15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

 At first you may have thought this article was going to refer to those who are lost in sin as ‘The Walking Dead, and that is true, but we must remember…

In both the letters I quoted above, Romans and Galatians, God was addressing and warning the church, not unbelievers.

Galatians 1:1 (NKJV)

 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

 Romans 1:7 (NKJV)

 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

 God does not want His people to become, “The Walking Dead” walking in and being led by the flesh…because worse than being like the zombies on the show…

God doesn’t want us to become like the people.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

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ARE YOUR RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
WHETHER YOUR AUDIENCE BE ONE OR ONE MILLION, GOD EXPECTS YOU TO BE RESPONSIBLE…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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There are many celebrities, politicians, athletes and ministers who have huge audiences. They have great NAME RECOGNITION, people know them nearly everywhere they go, listen to what they have to say and even imitate their behavior. They have huge influence with their fans or followers. It’s disappointing to see what some people do with their voice and influence. Some are blessed with a social stage or public platform only to squander their voice and influence on foolishness or themselves.

We may not all be celebrities, but God has given all of us an audience and a voice. In your home, job, school, church, the park, the shopping center, in traffic, the restaurant people are watching you and listening to you. What are you doing with your audience? Many times we claim we want God to ‘enlarge our territory’ just as Jabez prayed in 1 Chronicles 4:10. We ask Him to give…

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