We need to learn to replace the words ‘blame’ and ‘fault’ with ‘responsible’.

Blame and fault are negative; Responsibility is positive.

Blame shifts responsibility or refuses to accept it.

Fault encourages one to pass the buck to protect themselves.

Have you ever blamed someone else when you were responsible?

Telling someone ‘I blame you’  or ‘it’s your fault will likely make them defensive.

But, telling them ‘It’s your responsibility’ or ‘we all make mistakes’ is more will likely make them be accountable.

The enemy is always looking for opportunities to provoke us to sin so he can blame and accuse us.

Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Romans 14:11-12  (NKJV)

¹¹ For it is written:

¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Galatians 6:5 (NKJV)

⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.

God expects us to hold one another responsible and accountable, sometimes with rebuke…

Proverbs 27:17  (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Let me first quickly say this. Warning people of consequences of sin is not judgement. That’s our responsibility. Judgment is deciding what’s in their heart and deciding in your heart that they aren’t worthy of God’s grace and mercy.

Telling someone “you can go to Hell for that” isn’t judgment. Telling someone “you will go to Hell for that” is judgment.

Judgement takes place in the heart, but is always ‘pronounced’, stated, verbalized.

How many times have on looked on in joy when something unfortunate happened to someone thinking, “That’s what you get”?

How many times has someone confronted you and you had to ‘eat your words’?

In the book of Isaiah God makes promise to those who love Him…

Isaiah 54:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.

Here’s the Amplified Version…

Isaiah 54:17 (AMP)

¹⁷ 
“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;
And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn.
This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.

God promises to give us vindication when people ‘put their mouths on us’ and say  that we are deserving of ‘judgement’, the wrath of God, getting what you deserve…for whatever reason. God also promises that WE will be the ones who condemn those who rise up and open their mouths in judgement against us, and that condemnation comes from Him. So…

Be careful when you say someone is getting what they deserve.

Be careful in when you say that someone is not worthy of forgiveness for what they have done.

Be careful when you say that someone doesn’t love God because of their particular weaknesses with which they may be struggling.

Be careful when someone asks for forgiveness, says they’re sorry, or even accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and you say, “They don’t really mean it”.

Be careful when you say what someone else has in their heart…

Especially when they too are a part of the Body of Christ.

We all HAVE sinned and WILL CONTINUE to short of the glory of God…

Romans 3:23  (NKJV)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Because just as much as God has promised to vindicate His children when people rise up in judgment against them, this promise also works among His children too. We must be very careful how we carelessly or with forethought open our mouths in judgement against one another within the Body of Christ.

We as Christians are going to have different political, social, economic and spiritual views. Those views can ignite passionate disagreements and feelings that lead to judgment of peoples’ faith and love for God.

Just as much as you may cling to this promise when someone has judged you, God will hold you accountable too when you judge someone else. God promises justice.

Be very careful how you talk about fellow believers, even when they are wrong because you are wrong sometimes too.

If this blessed you, you may also enjoy this post, SO YOU THINK THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED…REALLY???

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How many times have you heard someone say that actors, singers, athletes…those whose job is to entertain us should remain silent with it comes to American and world politics and social issues?

They say they are unfairly taking advantage of their platform and influence in matters that they do not know? They say they are using their notoriety to push their own personal agenda. Wow! How arrogant is that?

Doesn’t everyone use their notoriety, influence, platform, connections to push their own agenda?

Isn’t everyone in America supposed to have a voice no matter what their occupation?

I contend that any entertainer or actor who is a member of the Body of Christ has the responsibility to use their platform, influence and notoriety for the cause of Christ.

How better can you leverage your talent to entertain or athletic ability than to use your influence for any political or social cause that has godly implications?

Anyone who doesn’t use their God-given platform responsibly is wasting it.

God gave 12 unknown men notoriety and the platform to change the world and only one of them wasted it (Judas). Then comes Saul/Paul, who was well-known, a religious elite superstar in his fight against the church.

Philippians 3:4-5 (NKJV)

⁴ though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

Once converted by Jesus and appointed apostle to the Gentiles, he used his influence to build the kingdom of God instead of fight against it. Of course it got him in trouble with those in authority. He took his fight for the cause of Christ all the way to the political capital of the Roman empire by appealing to Caesar while on trial.

Acts 25:10-12  (NKJV)

¹⁰ So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. ¹¹ For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

I may not agree with every entertainment and athlete activist, but they would be wasting their fame if they didn’t use it for what they believe in…especially those who call themselves Christian.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It seems that social media has revealed how much some people didn’t pay attention when they were being taught grammar in school. It’s amazing how people sometimes type the way they talk. Plus, understanding grammar and sentence structure is key to getting good understanding of scripture.

Think about how much one comma totally changes the meaning of this sentence…

Luke 23:43  (NKJV)

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:43 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The first example is written in the NKJV. It implies that you will be in paradise today.

In the second example, I moved the comma. It implies that the statement is being said today, but not necessarily that you will be in paradise today.

Saying or writing ‘mines’, ‘these ones’, or I seen is never appropriate, but even at that, there are still at least 4 instances when bad grammar says it best…

1. QUOTING

When you quote someone, you can’t clean up the grammar to make it sound better. That’s not what they said. We must always work to quote people as accurately as possible.

2. CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE

In some conversations using incorrect grammar is simply more appropriate. It just doesn’t make sense to try to clean up cultural clichés, colloquialisms and idioms. Sometimes ‘y’all’, ‘you guys’, ‘up in here’, ‘alls I know is’,  etc. makes more sense. Can you think of others?

3. MORE IMPACTFUL

Sometimes it’s just more impactful to say “I ain’t gonna do it” rather than “I’m not going to do it”! Plus, it can help prevent one from using profanity and unclean language to be more impactful.

4. IN A SONG, POEM OR WRITING

Many of our favorite or classic songs, poems, and literature would be ruined by proper grammar. Think of how silly the old spiritual, “Down By The Riverside” would sound if it said, “I’m not going to study war any more”. That language gives us the history, time, culture and context of when that song was created. Can you think of a song, poem, book or work of art when good grammar would totally mess it up?

It’s good to sound smart, but let us never be too smart for our own good.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

All of us want to be appreciated and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem comes in when we allow not being appreciated to not only cause us disappointment and stress, but to allow us to stop doing what God expects us to do in regard to others and Him.

Learning to have joy, even when being unappreciated, is a part of being spiritually mature.

We are not going to be appreciated when we have selflessly given our best and sacrificed for others.

They won’t always get it…

They won’t always care…

They will sometimes even say, “I didn’t ask you to do it!”

We won’t always be appreciated or respected…

At home…

At work…

Even in your church.

You won’t always be appreciated not only by those who don’t know you, but also by those who are closest to you. WHY THE ONE’S YOU LOVE MOST SOMETIMES DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU…

The truth be told, when you’re honest with yourself, do you fully appreciate everyone that you should? Do you fully appreciate the sacrifice that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made for our sins?

You won’t ever experience the true peace and joy that God intends for our lives until you learn to have joy when being unappreciated. God still loves us and gives us His best even when we don’t appreciate Him. Oh, yes we say we do, but our actions sometimes say otherwise. Every time we complain, we ‘say’ we don’t appreciate God’s sovereignty over our lives…

Philippians 2:14 N (NKJV)

¹⁴ Do all things without ^[a]complaining and disputing,^[b]

 1 Corinthians 10:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

7 REASONS GOD HATES COMPLAINING (BIBLE)…

I recommend, if you already don’t,  that you make asking God for help in learning to have joy even when unappreciated a part of your regular prayer life. Yes, it’s hard, but that’s one of the reasons He told us through the apostle Paul that we can do all things through Christ…

Philippians 4:13  (NKJV)

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

Learn to have joy and be satisfied in seeing the fruit of the good seeds you’ve planted even when those who benefit don’t appreciate you or acknowledge you. And realize that some never will. Just as some never will appreciate God.

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God’s wisdom in how He designed us both physically and spiritually is truly amazing.

PAIN, we all know, whether it be physical, psychological or emotional is an indicator that something is wrong. It’s an alert that we need to take action to protect ourselves, to preserve ourselves…to survive.

If your hand gets too close to fire, God has designed us with a physical warning to immediately move.

CONSCIENCE is a God given indicator to those who aren’t saved that something is wrong spiritually. It lets us know that our thinking, our behavior, our attitude, our character has stepped outside of what is acceptable to God.

Conscience is our internal meter of right and wrong designed to lead us to God…

Paul elaborately describes this in the Romans chapter 2…

Romans 2:14-15  (NKJV)

¹⁴ for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

 And, it leads to reaction much like some of those to whom Peter preached in Acts chapter 2…

Acts 2:37  (NKJV)

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

CONVICTION is when those who have accepted Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior and been filled with His Holy Spirit are convinced of their sin. There are times when we can become so hardened that our conscience doesn’t bother us, but when we have accepted God’s gift of salvation, it is impossible to be comfortable and content in sin without His Holy Spirit producing the spiritual guilt, godly sorrow and shame that leads to repentance and change.

Jesus told this to His disciples before He went to the cross, as recorded in John chapter 16…

John 16:7-8  (NKJV)

⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Conviction leads to reactions much like those in 2 Corinthians chapter 7, the response to His strict rebuke of the behavior of those who were in the Body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10  (NKJV)

⁹ Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Conscience and Conviction are both necessary spiritual pain. So, just like physical pain…

If your hand gets too close to hell fire, God has designed us spiritual warnings to immediately move.

Don’t ignore your pain!

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Have you ever had someone ask you for help or just want to talk at a time when you…

Were busy…

Were not interested…

Didn’t feel like talking…

For whatever reason felt that they didn’t deserve your time…

Or you were overwhelmed with your own issues, concerns or problems?

Remember this.

That ONE time someone calls you and you decline their call, may the ONE time that they needed you most.

That ONE time that someone needs you when the world seems heavy on your shoulders may be the one time you save their life.

God is building us up to be strong enough to still help someone else even when we are at our weakest point…and it’s not easy.

When Jesus told us that there’s no greater love than when we lay down our lives for our friends, He wasn’t necessarily talking about dying to do so. ( YOU DON’T HAVE DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE…)
John 15:13 (NKJV)
¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Time is something that you can’t get back. Every time you give up your time to help someone else is giving up little portions of your life…

So if someone says they need you, please think twice before you decide you don’t have time for them.

God answers some calls for help through you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Please don’t let this world and even many of those in the church’s perverted view of the word ‘blessed’. Here are quick reasons to stop right now to stop and tell God thank you…

CLEAN WATER

There are many people in the world who have to walk for miles for access to dirty water. But, most of the people reading this today not only have access to clean water, but they have it on demand in their homes through multiple faucets. How much money do you spend on bottled water? Think about it, while some people have to dig…and dig…and dig searching for wells or have to drink the same water as their livestock, most of us have water to wash our vehicles and water our lawns.

Stop right now and thank God for the blessing of clean water.

ENOUGH FOOD FOR TODAY

God told us in His word that we are not to worry about what we should eat or drink. Not only that He told us not to worry about what we are to eat and drink tomorrow. There are people not only in third world countries without plenty of food to eat, but also many in lands of abundance.

Look again at Matthew Chapter 6…

Matthew 6:25-34 N (NKJV)

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one ^[a]cubit to his ^[b]stature?

²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not ^[c]arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

If you went to bed last night with one slice of bed left or one can in your pantry, you went to bed with more than enough than yesterday…that’s overflow.

Stop right now and thank God for the blessing of enough food for today.

ABILITY TO BATHE YOURSELF

I think this is one of the most easy-to-overlook blessings. There are many people in the world who don’t have the full use of their body. Their minds are sharp, but their bodies, for whatever reason won’t do what their mind tells it to do. Having to depend on someone else to bathe your or clean you after you use the bathroom can be very humiliating. Many people have to deal with that daily.

Stop right now and thank God for the blessing of being able to bathe yourself.

Psalm 103:1-2 (NKJV)

 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How many nights of you lay in your bed warm, cozy, safe bed worrying?

How many times have you made the statement, “What are we going to eat tonight?”

How many times have you prayed and asked God for more, while you already have more than enough?

Think about what Jesus told us in His Sermon on the Mount…

Matthew 6:34  (NKJV)

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

God is telling us that when we have enough for today, we are blessed. However, when we have more than enough for today, we are abundantly blessed.

It’s easy to take things for granted in our abundant society.

The next time you find yourself worrying about or asking for something you don’t need, stop and thank God for what you already have. Because…

Someone wishes they had a bed in which to worry.

Someone is asking, “What are we going to eat tonight” not out of choice, but out of desperation.

While you are worrying about tomorrow, someone is praying for enough for today.

1 Timothy 6:6-8  (NKJV)

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, ^[a]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

If this blessed you, please check out my post and video…WHY SOMEONE IS FANTASIZING ABOUT YOU…

WATCH ALDTRIC JOHNSON PREACH SIBLING RIVALRY: WHEN GOD’S CHILDREN THINK HE’S NOT BEING FAIR

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Jesus told His disciples that there will always be poor people…
Matthew 26:11 (NKJV)
¹¹ For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

How many times have you made eye contact with a poor person, a beggar, a homeless person, and you quickly looked away because you didn’t want to be bothered? You had enough money to help one of their immediate needs. Of course you couldn’t ‘save them’, but you could give them one meal…a pair of shoes…a room for one night.

Often we don’t help because we say they’re scam artists, or reason that they brought their situation on themselves and, yes we must use wisdom and discernment in how we give.

But, I do want to remind you though that God has given us the responsibility to showing kindness to those who are in need.

I even go as far to say that when someone in genuine need reaches out to you, that they are doing you a favor…they are giving you and opportunity.

Here are 7 reasons it’s really a blessing to have someone in need reach out to you…

THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OBEDIENT

In Old and New Testaments, God has given us the instruction to help those who are in need. And, we don’t even have to wait for them to ask us. We simply have to see them or notice them…
Deuteronomy 15:7 (NKJV)
⁷ “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the ^[a]gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
Luke 6:35 (NKJV)
³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend, ^[a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
1 John 3:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV)
²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with hishands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

When someone asks you for help, they are giving you an opportunity to be obedient to God.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE

Jesus expects us to love one another, just as He loves us. And, to demonstrate that love by sharing it… REAL LOVE ISN’T JUST STATED…IT’S DEMONSTRATED!

He then taught us that there’s no greater love than when we lay down our lives for others. Well, the fact is that YOU DON’T HAVE DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE…, When you sacrifice your time and money, you are giving up yourself. You can’t get time back, when you take the time to talk to someone, to pray with them and to help them you are giving back something you can’t get back. You are giving little moments of your life for others, just as Jesus has given His life for us.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THERE ARE STILL GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE ANSWER TO A PRAYER

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE BEHIND A GOOD TESTIMONY FOR ANYONE WHO WITNESSES

THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF

​Transparent Testimony:

A few years ago I was sent an invite to receive a monthy Christian newsletter from a group of ministers at a church I used to attend in Memphis.

I have to admit it hurt and offended me that I wasn’t asked to contribute, especially since I was writing professionally for a living. Hey, we all have human moments. Then I asked myself, if they asked me, would I be able to have good content once a month.

Fast forward to 2016 when God leads me to begin my website, BEBLESSTIFIED.COM. I made a commitment to make an original post every day. Since then God has given me inspiration every day. Some days, I can’t believe what God places inside me. I love blogging!

Oh yeah, being ignored at that church led me to the church that God meant for me to be. Had that previous Pastor not ignored me, I might still be ‘planted in the wrong field’.

I’m saying all this to say, that if God is allowing you to be excluded or ignored…maybe He is leading you down YOUR path, and not someone else’s.

Thanks for stopping by and…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You may also enjoy this…

THE BLESSING IN WHEN THEY IGNORE YOU…

How many times have you heard someone say, “You aren’t supposed to judge people”, or “only God can judge me” after being called out or warned of the consequences of a particualr sin? Calling out sin is not judgment or condemnation, it’s our responsibility as members of the Body of Christ. And, since we are all sinners saved by grace…

Sin will ALWAYS be called out by ANOTHER sinner saved by grace.

People love to say, “you can’t tell me anything because you sin too”. They will even call you a hypocrite.

Well, all lawyers break the law (they may speed). All doctors get sick sometimes ( they may even smoke, have a poor diet or never exercise), but that doesn’t diminish the professionalism of their advice.

How many people would ignore their doctor’s advice to eat healthier to save their lives just because the doctor was overweight?

God hates sin but loves the sinner.

He expects us to hold one another accountable and warn one another about the consequences of sin.

Romans 6:23  (NKJV)

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the ^[a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 6:1  (NKJV)

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Proverbs 11:30  (NKJV)

Has God anointed you? Are you amazed sometimes at what He does through you? Do you ever do anything, look back and say to yourself, “That was clearly not me, but God!”

You’ve been anointed, empowered and ‘gifted’ for His purpose. However, there are times that sincere people mishandle their anointing. So, allow me to give you some of the ‘fruit’ of my anointing, experience and mistakes I’ve made…

Here are 7 things to remember about managing your anointing.

1. YOUR ANOINTING WILL CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TO BE THREATENED BY YOU

Yes, of course we know that God’s presence in you will offend people who don’t believe as you do. Remember how restless unclean spirits sometimes became whenever Jesus came around…

Luke 9:41-42 (NKJV)

⁴¹ Then Jesus answered and said, “O ^[a]faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and ^[b]bear with you? Bring your son here.” ⁴² And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

And, remember how an unbelieving crowd reacted, even after seeing Jesus casting out demons. They wanted Him to leave.

Mark 5:14-17 (NKJV)

¹⁴ So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. ¹⁶ And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon possessed, and about the swine. ¹⁷ Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

But, unfortunately there are also those in the Kingdom of God who will feel threatened by what God has placed inside you. Some pastors, some ministers, some singers, some evangelists, some artists, some authors, some co-workers, some relatives, some writers…some bloggers. They can sometimes feel your abilities are a threat to them. Don’t let yourself be threatened by someone else’s gifts. We must always remember that this isn’t a competition…we’re all on the same team.

2. REGULARLY FEED AND NURTURE YOUR ANOINTING

No matter how naturally and easily things may seem to come to you, never get to the point that you think your anointing doesn’t need to be fed. Regularly spend quality time with God by getting away to yourself, to read and study His word, meditate on it, and allow God to minster to you. Make sure that everything that you do is backed up by and measured against the word of God. Prove every inspiration, every thought, everything that you feel God has placed inside you and measure it by the word of God in full context of the whole bible, not cherry picking scriptures to satisfy how you want to see it.

Remember what God told us through the Apostle Paul…

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

3. DON’T JUST USE YOUR ANOINTING FOR YOURSELF

God has anointed you to build the kingdom of God, but He also gave it to you to sustain your life…

1 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

1 Timothy 5:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.

Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

However, there are some gifted men and women of God who have gotten their priorities mixed up. They’ve been distracted, and caught up in using their anointing for themselves, and neglecting God’s kingdom. Remember why God has blessed you. And, also remember that you don’t have to prove to anyone else how anointed you are…that’s pride. It’s very easy to become intoxicated by the pats on the back, encouragement, praise and even financial blessing that can come from what God’s placed inside you, but never get to the point that you expect all those things or that you’re discouraged if you don’t receive them.

4. DON’T BECOME ARROGANT OR CONCEITED

My wife is a Gospel Jazz artist, and I can’t tell you how many events we have attended with other artists who were, ‘smelling themselves’. They were good, they had a ‘following’, and they acted as though they were above everyone else there. I’ve also run into pastors and preachers who behaved the same way. REALLY? So many men and women of God have the charisma that commands respect and adoration. It’s very easy to become arrogant or conceited if you aren’t careful. It’s a very subtle way the enemy can manipulate a sincere man or woman of God. Never let your gift allow pride to be your greatest weakness. Remember what Jesus told us…

Matthew 23:12 (NKJV)

¹² And whoever exalts himself will be ^[a]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be ^[b]exalted.

1 Peter 5:2-3 (NKJV)

² Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but ^[a]willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ³ nor as being ^[b]lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

5. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONDEMN OTHER MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD FOR THEIR WEAKNESSES

Before you condemn any man or woman of God for their weakness or in mishandling their anointing, remember this… even the most anointed men and women the bible had their own personal shortcomings and failures. No matter how anointed or prominent, no one has ever mastered everything they preach and teach. And, when you have an opportunity, reason with them in humility, bearing in mind that you too can be tempted.

Galatians 6:1 (NKJV)

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

6. NEVER CLAIM GOD’S GLORY FOR YOURSELF

No matter how much education, how powerful, how persuasive, how influential no matter how much ‘weight’ God what’s on your life, remember He’s the one this carrying you. Never forget the source of your abilities. Never claim God’s glory for yourself. If you ever find yourself saying, “I did…”, say instead, “I AM did…” We all know what God said…

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before ^[a]a fall.

7. YOUR ANOINTING DOESN’T DISQUALIFY YOU FROM HAVING FUN

You’re anointing does not require that you be serious all the time, or disqualify you from having fun godly fun in your life. It’s okay to laugh, to have a simple glass of wine, to enjoy your wife and family, to dance… Your anointing needs balance. It’s the gift of God to enjoy your life…

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)

²² A merry heart ^[a]does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Fulfilling your purpose and walking in your anointing can be DRAINING. It’s okay to laugh and love as long as you remain within God’s character and His will.

Manage your anointing wisely:-)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You’ve matured to the point that you can sincerely pray for your enemies…that’s good.

You’ve prayed for their submission to God’s will…

You’ve prayed for their faith to be established and increase…

You’ve prayed for them to have a repentant heart…

You’ve prayed for their salvation…

You’ve prayed for them to be a fruitful and productive part of God’s Kingdom.

Now, don’t mess it up.

Don’t let the enemy pervert it. Don’t let the enemy snatch it just as he tries to snatch the Word of God after it’s sown…

Mark 4:15

15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 

How?

By cursing them after you pray for them. By gossiping about them, and keeping yourself in anger by going on and on about what they’ve done or are doing to you.

Even if they continue to ‘mess with you’…keep your mouth off of them.

You can’t bless them one moment and talk bad about them the next…

James 3:10  (NKJV)

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Learn to pray for your enemies and then let it go.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Many times after we have hurt someone, and they have ‘forgiven’ us, it angers us and hurts us when they bring it back up. We quickly remind them that ‘you are supposed to forgive and forget’. We remind them of how God says He will never remember our sins anymore…

Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

God is letting us know the power of His forgiveness, but do you think our omniscient, all-knowing God can’t recall what we did? Do you think He actually can’t remember it anymore?

This must be understood in proper context. God forgives us and doesn’t hold our sins against us WHEN WE REPENT. But, what is repentance? Repentance is godly sorrow over what we’ve done (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is a change of heart, and doing our best to never do that again. Repentance is making every effort to not put ourselves in the path of temptation for those sins. Repentance is an all out, sincere effort to turn around. But, Israel sometimes continued to rebel against God. Israel sometimes continued in the same sins…that’s not repentance. Israel sometimes put themselves in the path of temptation making it easier to fall.

You will notice that when Israel returned to their previous sins, that God STERNLY AND LOVINGLY BROUGHT UP THE PAST.

God was always first hurt, and then angry when Israel backslid. It’s not that they surprised Him. He already knew what they would do, when He forgave and restored them. How many times have you forgiven someone, but you fully suspected they weren’t yet strong enough to resist going back or hurting you the same way. When they did it again, you thought to yourself, “I knew it”, and it made your flesh even more angry because you expected it. You expected it because you could see them slipping back into old habits.

When ISRAEL backslid after being forgiven by God… BROUGHT UP THE PAST, HE CALLED THEM OUT, HE REMINDED THEM in a stern and loving manner. In your free time read these scriptures, and these are not the only ones, where God BROUGHT UP THE PAST. I suggest you read the entire chapters for context…

·       Judges 2:1-4

·       Judges 6:7-10

·       Judges 10:10-15

·       1 Samuel 10:17-19

·       Ezekiel 16

·       Ezekiel 20

·       Psalm 81

Following God’s example, when someone repeatedly hurts you with the same sin expecting you to ‘get over it’, expecting you to not allow it to bother you, expecting not to have to have anything to say…remember that, in love, God called out ISRAEL when they fell back into rebellion against Him. He reminded them of everything that He had done for them. How He delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians, gave them a land inhabited by others, made their enemies subject to them. He reminded them of all He had done for them and pointed out what they did.

When someone blatantly hurts you, just like God, you have a right to remind them of your love for them, and bring up the past responsibly….in the spirit of love, STILL WILLING TO FORGIVE. This works both ways. You are willing to forgive no matter how many times they do it (Matthew 18:21,22), as Jesus commanded. And if they care about you, reminding them pricks their hearts, hopefully leading them to repent and have a sincere desire to not do it again. God said if we delight in Him He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). If it’s our desire to not do these hurtful things again…then we won’t. It works both ways towards forgiveness and repentance.

Read the scriptures I’ve listed above. Study this topic. See how God sounds like a hurt lover when His people chose evil over Him (Judges 2:2). Notice how He sternly, but lovingly reminds them His love, their sin and their promises. Then look at how He is willing to forgive again, and how they are led to repent. BRINGING UP THE PAST IN LOVE….it all works for both parties involved.

So, if you find yourself to hurt someone in the same way you did before, and they forgave you, have enough humility and respect to allow them to remind you of their love and your promise. And, if someone blatantly hurts you again after you’ve forgiven them, ONLY BRING IT BACK UP IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, fully ready to forgive again…and again…and again.

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

After Jesus died on the cross, everyone who witnessed it went home thinking that He had lost…

Luke 23:48  (NKJV)

⁴⁸ And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.

 He allowed His enemies to abuse and mock Him…

Matthew 27:27-31  (NKJV)

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the ^[a]Praetorium and gathered the whole ^[b]garrison around Him. ²⁸ And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹ When they had ^[c]twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. ³¹ And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

He suffered embarrassment and shame in front of His supporters and allowed them to think He failed, because He knew that wasn’t the end of the story…

Hebrews 12:2  (NKJV)

² looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]author and ^[b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is our perfect example of the fact that sometimes you have to let your enemies think they have won.

So, if it seems your adversaries, enemies or antagonists have the upper hand, keep trusting God.

Don’t take matters into your own hands seeking revenge, that belongs to God. But, God rise up to vindicate those who put their trust in Him…

Psalm 35:23-27 (NKJV)

²³ Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

²⁷ Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the Lord be magnified,

Remember, revenge is taking matters into our own hands to satisfy our pride and bring glory to ourselves. But, waiting for God to vindicate us is putting our trust in Him to get His glory out of our situation…and our enemies will witness it, while our supporters praise God.

So, let them scheme, plot, conspire, mock, even strike you.

Let them fire you.

Let them abandon you.

Let them accuse you.

God is watching.

Let them think they have won just like Jesus did.

When they think they’ve won, they let their guard down. They shift their focus away from you, while God maintains His focus on you…and them.

Be patient and trust God, in His timing He will get glory from the anointing on your life and your situation while planting seeds of faith…seeds of repentance…seeds of salvation and seeds of much good fruit.

Just as Jesus claimed His victory three days and three nights later, you will enjoy your victory too in the presence of you enemies…

Psalm 23:5  (NKJV)

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

So, don’t avoid your enemies. Stay strong and work your purpose. How can God prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies if you don’t invite them to the table?

BE BLESSTIFIED.

The power of true love is almost incomprehensible…

How does it make you feel when you hear someone whining?

Whining is a total waste of energy…

It’s a verbal expression of worry…

Whining is a verbal pity party.

Whining is a form of complaining, and God hates complaining …

1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)

Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

It establishes the whiner’s perceived weakness and powerlessness.

Not one time in scripture do we find Jesus whining…

He rejoices…

Luke 10:21a (NKJV)

²¹ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…

He weeps…

 John 11:35 (NKJV)

³⁵ Jesus wept.

He rebukes…

Matthew 17:8 (KJV)

 ⁸ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

He even pleads….

Matthew 27:46

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”^[a]

But, He never whines.

Very few people want to hear you whine…

Very few times does whining change the situation….

Have you ever noticed how a group of people whining together feed into each others’ misery?

It becomes a pity party…they validate one anothers’ complaints but accomplishes nothing.

Yes, there are times that we are displeased, dismayed, overlooked, overworked, unappreciated, unhappy…

Sometimes we may even need to rebut, rebuke, protest or protect our interest…

But, do it in strength not weakness.

Don’t whine…

Turn your WHINING INTO WORSHIP

Turn your PITY PARTY INTO A PRAISE PARTY!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I just want to give you a quick word of encouragement. If you are trusting God for something in your life, and it seems that your resistance has become much more intense…

THE DEVIL IS TRYING TO BREAK YOU DOWN…DON’T GIVE UP!

If you like sports, think about this. The defense always intensifies when the opponent is about to score.

Your ‘opponent’, the devil does the same thing. He doesn’t want you to score. He doesn’t want you to reach your goal, and his resistance is relentless…

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

The enemy is trying to break you down! Don’t let him win! Just as God gave the children of Israel the land, he still commanded that they go and get it. He told them to be strong and very courageous…

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 So please…

Don’t let the devil break you down before your breakthrough.

2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV)

⁷ But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

These posts may also bless you:

DON’T GIVE UP IN THE ‘TURN AROUND’!

QUICK WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT: GOD HAS ALREADY COMMANDED YOUR RESCUE (VIDEO)…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Have you ever gone through a season in your life that, yes, you were praying. You were even praying regularly, but if you’re honest with yourself it was more…

ritual than relationship.

You would quickly get out of your bed, (or on your bed) and rush through a quick prayer, maybe even the same prayer, every morning or evening just to say, “I prayed”.

If you’re like me, when I was little, I was taught that you could also quote a ‘verse’ rather than bless your food…so I would quickly blurt out “Jesus wept” so I could begin eating.

Now, I’m not saying prayers have to be long, but they must always be meaningful. If we truly take our privilege of having direct access to God through our risen Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus, then we would make the most of it every time…

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

After all, we want all of our conversations with those who are important to us to be meaningful. We want that time to be quality time…and God is no different.

You may also enjoy these posts:

THE MISTAKE OF TEACHING TO GIVE SELFISHLY (GIVING TO GET)…

FALSE PROPHETS: TAKE YOUR PRAYER CLOTHS & MIRACLE WATER TO ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Isn’t amazing how people give coaches a pass? They don’t want the teacher or police to ‘curse’ at their children, even if they are disruptive. They don’t even want the preacher to speak too ‘harshly’ to or of their children – but the let the coach say what he or she wants and how he or she wants. Some will even let a coach hit their children…hit not spank.

Have you ever heard anyone say they had to talk to someone ‘on their level’ to reach them, especially when they are disruptive or have harsh speech themselves.

God says very clearly that we are not to allow corrupt communication to come out of our mouths…

This applies to coaches too!

Ephesians 4:29  (NKJV)

²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

He clearly tells us that we aren’t to swear (an oath) or to curse ( cursing is pronouncing condemnation)…

Matthew 5:37 (NKJV)

³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

That means it’s sin to say “Hell yes!” or “Hell no!”. Jesus says that “anything more is from the evil one”.

To reason that it takes profanity or cursing to get the best out of someone is to imply that it takes ‘the evil one’ rather than God to do that. Why do people trust their children to language straight from the devil. In other words, we are saying God can’t handle it, but the devil can. God forbid!

Some say it prepares them for the real world or competition. I say that teaching them how to get the best out of you according to God’s will prepares them to be light in the real world. Remember, God is sending us out like sheep among wolves…that’s how He prepares us.

Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)

 ¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

There is no game, competition or battle on earth than the one Jesus endured on the cross. There was no profanity and cursing in preparation for that…only submission and humility.

If I don’t curse or use profanity to get the best out of my children, I’m not going to allow a man or woman to do so when it’s within my power.

Giving a coach the thumbs up to curse out or belittle your child is another way that a parent can provoke their children to wrath.

Allowing a coach to curse your children is cursing your children…

Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)

⁴ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

There are plenty of coaches out there are very effective and do it the right way. But to those who don’t…God will hold them accountable and hold the parents accountable for allowing it.

Just because our culture has normalized this behavior as acceptable doesn’t make it right. Trust God’s word and not the ‘devil’s words’ with your children.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

No matter how many problems you have. No matter how many issues you’re struggling with. No matter how little money, influence or resources you may have. God has still given you the solution to someone else’s problem.

Even if your meal is free, God has equipped you to bring something of value to the table.

It may not have a dollar $ign…

Encouragement…

Inspiration

Entertainment

Education

Strength

Support

A shoulder…

An ear…

A voice…

To the friendship…

To the marriage.

To the team.

To the organization.

To your church.

To a stranger.

Even if you’re broke, you can be the key to someone’s breakthrough.

Not only no matter your situation, but BECAUSE of your situation, God is strategically positioning you with the people and places where you can be a blessing.

Remember this…

James 2:5(NKJV)

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Now…Get out there and bless somebody today!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

YOU AREN’T SORRY FOR WHAT YOU DID…

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.

YOU AREN’T ASHAMED OF WHAT YOU DID…

Jeremiah 31:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Surely, after my turning, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh;
I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated,
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.

WHEN YOU SAY, “IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN”…

Hebrews 10:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

WHEN YOU HAVEN’T FORGIVEN SOMEONE WHO HAS HURT YOU…

Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)

¹² And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.

WHEN YOU HAVEN’T REPENTED…

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Everyone won’t get this pic, but for those of your who have experienced the ‘afternoon or evening church service’ or revival… you’ll get it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!