It’s amazing to me how politics can make the most accomplished people revert back to being, well, just being childish and just plain immature.

It also amazes me how people will get fighting mad with people they’ve known all of their lives supporting someone else they’ve never met. Not only that, they might not like them if they did meet them, and vice versa.

Most of us will never meet Christine Ford, Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump or Barack Obama.

Here’s the deal…No matter how much evidence, or proof. No matter what they have done in the past, or currently doing. People will always find a reason to justify the people they want to support.

Most people will always believe only who they want to believe.

Oh, how I love the guidance of the word of God!

Psalm 146:3-7 (NKJV)

³ Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in ^[a]a son of man, in whom there is no ^[b]help.
⁴ His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.

⁵ Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
⁶ Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
⁷ Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

Be careful who you judge to be a liar, because if by chance they aren’t, you’ve opened yourself up to be judged to be a liar.
Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV)
7 “Judge^[a] not, that you be not judged. ² For with what ^[b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How often do you get bored? How often do you feel ‘there’s nothing to do’?

We have all felt restless and uninterested in our current situation at times. We ‘weren’t feeling’ what was going on. We wanted some type of excitement. However I believe…

The more you focus on your God-given purpose, the less you’ll find yourself bored.

Boredom usually is a result of inactivity or lack of interest in activity. Either way, that boredom can lead to laziness. And, we all know what he bible says about laziness…

Proverbs 19:15-16  (NKJV)

¹⁵ Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.

¹⁶ He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who ^[a]is careless of his ways will die.

It’s truth to the statement that the idle mind is the devil’s workshop. How much trouble in your life is a result of moments when you were bored?

DON’T LET BEING BORED GET YOU IN TROUBLE…

However, when you’re focused on your vision and fulfilling that vision, even though you may relax, rarely ever is your mind ever resting.

You’re always thinking…

Always planning…

Always trying to make the most of every opportunity and every ounce of your time.

Ephesians 5:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

When you’re purpose is your reason for getting out of the bed every morning, you find inspiration in literally everything. You find inspiration in…

The good…

The bad…

And, the ugly…

There’s always something to write about, to sing about. There’s something that always produces a melody in your spirit. There’s always a cause for which to fight. There’s always someone for whom to advocate or defend. There’s always someone to help. There are countless people who don’t believe in God and don’t accept Yeshua (Jesus Christ) as the Son of God, Lord and Savior.

God always has a remedy for being bored…

GOD’S GUARANTEED CURE FOR BOREDOM…

Even that what makes you angry provides the passion to drive you and your vision. That’s why God gave us the ability to be angry.

GET PISSED OFF ‘JUST’ ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE…

When you’re purpose driven, our minds are working during those activities that seem mundane. You’re rarely ever just sitting around twiddling your thumbs.

You may be inactive at times, but you’re rarely every bored.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Hallelujah! It’s our 31st Anniversary. God said in His word that…

 Proverbs 18:22  (NKJV)

²² He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.

 His word comes to life with my wife Mechelle Johnson!

The legendary musical group Switch said, “There’ll Never Be a Better Love” for you!

I’m so thankful to share my life with this woman. Our life together has been one great adventure. God has given us three awesome children, and one grandchild.

She is my partner in ministry, music and business! I trust her with my life and there’s no one else in the world with whom I would want to share this journey.

God uses the analogy of marriage to describe His relationship with Israel and Christ’s relationship with His church. He encourages men to love their wives as Christ loves His church…

Ephesians 5:25  (NKJV)

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Even on our worst days, I have to say my love for her has never diminished. In fact, it’s the dark days that has not just made our love stronger…but confirmed it.

I know that no one can love like God loves us. And, I know your marriage may be good and your love may be strong…but I have to say that when it comes to marriage, “There’ll Never Be a Better Love” than ours:-)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

John 12:27 (NKJV)
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But FOR THIS PURPOSE I came to this hour.

There is nothing more powerful than a person who is certain of his or her purpose, and relentlessly working towards it. But, I hear so many people say,

“I don’t know my purpose!

or ask,

“How do I know I’m walking in my purpose?”

It is clear that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knew His purpose. How else could His human side endure the humiliation, shame and pain of the cross. Every word He spoke, every miracle He performed…led to the cross.

John the Baptist’s declaration that, “He must increase and I must decrease” in John 3:30 implies that he knew his purpose as well. Of course we were all created to glorify God our creator (Isaiah 43:7), if you are a parent, it is God’s will that you be a good parent and bring up your children in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

But, what about the thing(s) we were born to do that no one else can do?

How can we discover that?

Here’s a simple way to help you find out your purpose(s) that God has for your life. I call it the BEBLESSTIFIED.COM THREE P’S of PURPOSE. 

Your Position
Your Passion
Your Pain

YOUR POSITION
This us exactly what it implies. Jesus was born a Jew, and His purpose was to save Israel first then the world from their sins. Acts13:36 states, “For David, after he served his own generation by the will of God fell asleep…”. It is no coincidence that you were born into your specific time, family, socio-economic status, race, culture etc. It was no coincidence that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born into his particular family in the south in 1929 to set him up for his purpose in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Yes he was a husband and father, but his purpose went beyond that. Somewhere in your position, you find your purpose.

YOUR PASSION
In Matthew 25, the Parable of the Talents, Jesus explains how He gives us all talents and has expectations of each of us according to our ability. What are you good at naturally and effortlessly. What do you have an aptitude for? What do you enjoy and get satisfaction out of most? What cause tugs on your heart more than any other? This is the key to your gift and more than likely your calling. Are your using your natural abilities only for your self…Your profession or vocation…Or, to help promote the Kingdom of God?

YOUR PAIN
Philippians 1:29 reminds us that it has been granted to us to not only to believe in Jesus, but to also suffer for Him. It isn’t fair that Jesus suffer and die for our sins and we have a convenient care-free life. We are to share in His sufferings so we can share in His glory as stated in Romans 8:17. We all have situations, storms, circumstances and assignments that we didn’t ask for. You will notice that very few, if any people in the bible who were used by God signed up for their task. You may have been: betrayed by a loved one, had your heart-broken, had a family member murdered, had your parents die while you were young, lost everything, been accused or imprisoned for something you didn’t do…the list can go on and on. But just as Abraham being told to leave his country and go to a place that God will show him, Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, Hosea being told to marry a prostitute, or Joseph being told to marry a woman who was already pregnant by the Holy Spirit…your unsolicited pain, storms, trials, sicknesses, disabilities and circumstances sometimes hold the keys to your purpose in God.

So, look at your life from the beginning until now. Look at your POSITION…your PASSION…and yes your PAIN, and find YOUR PURPOSE.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

(2 Samuel 11-12)

King David of Israel was a man after God’s own heart, but He was still a man. He had personal flaws and weaknesses just as we all do. However, the difference between David and King Saul is that David had a truly repentant heart when He came to the realization of His sins, while Saul did not. That’s what made David not only a man of God, but a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

Psalm 51:1-17 (NKJV)

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just ^[a]when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

⁵ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶ Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
⁹ Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
¹⁶ For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it
You do not delight in burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

We all have done things of which we are ashamed, some worse than others. But, it doesn’t get much worse than sleeping with the wife of a man who is loyal to you, getting her pregnant, trying to conceal the pregnancy, and finally having that man killed so you can have his wife.

That is what David did. And, he paid a huge price for that sin. Read 2 Samuel Chapters 11 and 12 again to refresh your memory of what happened.

It’s interesting that when the Prophet Nathan rebuked David on the behalf of God that God DID NOT tell David could not be King anymore. His sin did not disqualify David’s anointing. God still fulfilled His promise to David.

God went on to use David to write most of the Psalms in the bible. These Psalms teach us how to praise, pray, worship and even lament to God.

The fact is that God knew what David would do even before He chose Him to be King. David did not surprise God when He sinned, and neither do we.

In today’s culture, not only would David not have been allowed to remain king, but once people discovered what he did, they would have wanted to take all of His Psalms out of the bible.

It is important for us to strive for holiness, but God made us and He knows we are just flesh…

Psalm 103:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He ^[a]knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust

This is good news!

Your sin and your failures don’t necessarily disqualify your anointing. Like David, it’s your attitude after you sin that determines if God will continue to use you.

Be careful how you jump on the bandwagon when a Pastor, leader or public figure has a moral failure that becomes public, and thank God that no one knows your most shameful secrets. Please read this… AREN’T YOU GLAD GOD ALLOWED SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE TO REMAIN SECRET?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

In cultures that value youth, birthdays can sometimes be bittersweet. When you’re a child you look forward to reaching double digits and growing up. As a teenager you look forward to the benefits of becoming an adult.

But, usually after their 20’s, many people begin to dread their milestone birthdays…

30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 years old

Those milestone birthdays can give people an overwhelming feeling of leaving their youth behind. You’re reaching those ages that you have always considered ‘old’. You’re reaching a number of years that you may remember your parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents at that age.

You’re getting old!

There’s truth to the old statement that age is nothing but a number. You have the power to enjoy each and every birthday God allows you to see through your mindset. Don’t let society dictate to you how to view getting older…

Romans 12:2  (NKJV)

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

REMEMBER, IT’S A BLESSING TO GET OLD

Unfortunately, there are so many people who don’t live to see old age. Years are a blessing from the Lord. The only way to avoid old age is to die young.

Psalm 91:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ With ^[a]long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

Proverbs 20:29  (NKJV)

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

The only way to avoid old age is to die young. Thank God for every birthday that He blesses you to see. Embrace the blessing of another year because there are many who share your birthday and year who didn’t live to see your shared milestone birthday. Do you have classmates and friends and relatives your age who are no longer here? Be thankful because it could have been you.

YOU’RE STILL YOUNGER THAN YOU WILL EVER BE

As we grow older we are still always younger than we will ever be if God allows us to live.

If you are turning 50, you’re no longer in your LATE 40’s, but you are now in your EARLY 50’s. You are 10 years, 3,652 days, 521 weeks, and 120 months from your 60’s. Enjoy every day, week and year of your milestone and subsequent years. Stop thinking, ‘I’m almost 65’. Enjoy every year of being 64. I think you get the point. You are always younger than you will ever be if the good Lord allows you to continue to live.

Psalm 90:12  (NKJV)

¹² So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

STOP VIEWING YOUR FROM THE AGE YOU WERE

Stop viewing yourself from the perspective of your LATE 20’s, 30’s, 50’s etc. and begin viewing yourself from the perspective of your EARLY 30’s, 40’s 50’s, 60’s etc.

If you’re turning 40, those in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s view you as ‘younger’. Think about how much younger those people who are 10 and 20 years younger than you seem. Too many times we continue to view life from the perspective of when we were younger. As you grow older, let your maturity and level of thinking change with your age.

EMBRACE YOUR NEW ROLES IN LIFE

As your perspective changes you will be able to embrace your new role in life.

Job 12:12 (NKJV)

¹² Wisdom is with aged men,
And with ^[a]length of days, understanding.

With age comes wisdom and respect if we live our lives with integrity and learn from the mistakes of our youth. Embrace those lessons and the respect that should come with getting older. Enjoy becoming parents and grandparents. Be okay with being the oldest person in the group. There are some answers and solutions that only your age, experience and wisdom can bring. There is great value in that. The more that we value the benefits of getting older, the more our culture will shift to respect age rather than look down upon it.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

There are many people in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s in better health and better ‘shape’ than some people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. God tells us to take care of our ‘temples’ (1 Corinthians 3:16,17). Of course there are health conditions that we have no control over, but eating healthy, exercising, getting proper rest, managing stress, and letting God guide you in your decisions can help you maintain a higher quality of life as you get older.

How many times have you heard people say, “40 is then new 20” or “50 is the new 30”. It is true that people these days seem much younger than they did at the same age years ago. That’s okay as long as you aren’t still behaving and thinking as you did when you were 20 years younger.

So if this is a milestone year for you, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy every year God gives you!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

John 10:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

FEAR

Fear is a faith killer.

It steals your hope.

It destroys your purpose.

It stops you in your tracks.

The enemy uses fear to get us to undermine our own future.

The fear of the shame and consequences of failure. The fear of the challenges and responsibilities of success. Some people are afraid of being promoted, afraid of being a leader, afraid of being held accountable. Some people don’t run for public office because they are afraid of shameful secrets from their past that may be revealed by an opponent. Some people are simply afraid of change.

What are you afraid of?

Do you look shamefully on the Jesus’ disciples fear during the storm in the boat, while you may be afraid of flying…afraid of water?  Remember, God did not give us the spirit of fear…

2 Timothy 1:7  (NKJV)

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

If God didn’t give us the spirit of fear, that leaves only one source.

Facing your fears, attacking your fears is attacking the enemy. And, you can’t do that without the power of God. Never try to face your fears without prayer.

COMFORT

Comfort, convenience and luxury are enemies of your purpose because they disguise themselves as success. Most of us would love a comfortable, trouble free life, but that’s simply not an option to purpose-driven people called by God…

Philippians 1:29  (NKJV)

²⁹ For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

 Nothing of value comes without sacrifice. How fair would that be since God had to sacrifice His own Son to pay the required price for sin…

Hebrews 9:22  (NKJV)

²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

 Too many of us won’t sacrifice our comfort enough to be what God truly called us to be. True ministry is rarely comfortable or convenient. People who claim they have a heart for ministry remain in the comfortable ‘four walls’ of the church because they don’t want to get their ‘hands dirty’.  So many real entrepreneurs may have given up a enormous salaries, benefits, and sacrificed some of their luxuries to pursue their vision.

People stay in lucrative careers and dead-end jobs fulfilling someone else’s vision while letting their own vision die.

Big houses, fancy cars, nice clothes, impressive titles all SOUND LIKE success. But when we put all of our energy pursuing those things, how much do we really put into our purpose?

When we achieve those things what are we willing to do to keep them? If you have invested the money that you’ve put into your comforts into your vision, would you be working for yourself right now? How powerful could you be for the Kingdom of God.

The desire for comfort steals, kills and destroys your desire to sacrifice what is necessary to achieve what God has placed you on this earth to do.

Look inside yourself. Is what you’re afraid of holding you back? Look around you. Is what you have and what you want preventing you from being what and who you can be?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s God will that marriage be for life. And, that’s not easy.

Mark 10:8-9  (NKJV)

⁸ and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

We all know that marriage is a series of ups and downs, highs and lows. It’s a lifetime of challenges and confirmations of your love for one another. That’s exactly what these challenges are…confirmations.

The good times are the reward of love, but the hard times are the reasons to love.

After 31 years there are some things that confirm beyond the shadow of a doubt that my wife and I were meant to be together. Here are three…

1. WHEN YOU CAN SMILE ABOUT YOUR BAD MEMORIES

When you think of some of the things you endured together…Some of the things your spouse said to you in anger,…some of your most challenging struggles you survived…it can make smile or shed a tear of joy.

2. WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WOULD MARRY THEM ALL OVER AGAIN

When even though you wouldn’t do everything the same, you know in your heart that you would marry them all over again.

3, WHEN YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO BE WITH ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD

No matter how they look, what they have, what their accomplishments may be or what they can do…you wouldn’t want to share your life with anyone else in the world. You wouldn’t want to share their struggles with anyone else. You wouldn’t want to share your joys and victories with anyone else. It just wouldn’t be the same.

Enjoy one another, and continue to prove your love to one another every day.

You may also enjoy this: MARRIAGE ADVICE: IT’S YOUR DIFFERENCES THAT MAKE YOU A PERFECT FIT…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s no question that our society today values appearances. Many people today love to look good and they want to be seen with people who look good.

Some men and women even consider some people to be ‘beneath them’ or ‘not in their league’ because of their appearance.

Some people expect their friends, associates and even their pastor to have a certain appearance or status.

Be honest with yourself. How receptive are you to people who look less attractive or not groomed as well?

The bible let’s us know that Jesus wasn’t what was considered that times’ standard of ‘good looking’.

Isaiah 53:2  (NKJV)

² For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no ^[a]form or ^[b]comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no ^[c]beauty that we should desire Him.

Would you have taken Jesus seriously based on His appearance?

Would you have been ashamed to be seen with Jesus?

Would you feel comfortable saying, “I’m with Him?”

The fact of the matter is that some people today would have rejected Jesus simply because He wasn’t white (appearance) as He is popularly and falsely portrayed. And, I’m not just talking about ‘white people’.

Revelation 1:14-15  (NKJV)

¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

 Matthew 2:2  (NKJV)

² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Would you have accepted Jesus today if He wasn’t your race? There are too many Christians who wouldn’t accept a Pastor who wasn’t their race.

Be honest with yourself. Would you accept Jesus if He applied to be Pastor at your church? A Jewish carpenter who wasn’t formally educated…

John 7:15-16  (NKJV)

¹⁵ And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

^16 [a]Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

We love to point a self-righteous finger at the religious leaders in the bible that rejected Him, but how would you have received Him?

HOW MANY CHRISTIANS WOULD BE ASHAMED TO BE SEEN WITH CHRIST?

If He was here in the flesh today as He was then, would you be ashamed of Him? Would you have accepted Him? Would you have taken Him seriously?

Your attitude today indicates what your attitude would have been back then.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

What do you hope for? Think about it for a moment. Both big and small, what do you hope for in life? For yourself? For your family? For the world?

Please don’t ever take hope for granted. Hope gives us a reason to get up each morning. Hope gives us a reason to live. Hope gives us anticipation beyond this life.

Hope is a blessing from God…

Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, ^[a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces ^[b]perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, ^[c]character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

As much as faith is evidence of what we can’t see, hope is the expectation and desire of what we can’t and can see. Faith is the belief that we can actually have what we hope for…that it can and will happen.

Faith is hope’s fruit…

Hebrews 11:1  (NKJV)

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

The reason so many rich people are unhappy is because their ability to hope has been challenged.

A life of having everything you want when you want it is a life with literally, no hope!

Those who can put their hands on everything they want can find themselves unhappy and unfulfilled because God wants our hope to be in Him…

Psalm 39:6-8  (NKJV)

⁶ Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they ^[a]busy themselves in vain;
He heaps up riches,
And does not know who will gather them.

⁷ “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.
⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.

Take a moment to thank God for the ability to hope, and ask Him that your hope always be in Him.

I ‘hope’ this message blesses you.

You may also enjoy this: CURSED WITH EVERYTHING THEY EVER WANTED…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Too many people want to look like BIG MONEY —

When God just wants us to be CHANGE!

Mark 8:36  (NKJV)

³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Matthew 5:14-16  (NKJV)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do theyl ight a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Hebrews 10:24  (NKJV)

²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

Matthew 28:19  (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go ^[a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Galatians 6:9  (NKJV)

⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Let me first say that I enjoy football, and I enjoy watching games after church on SONday. I also love our country and I’m thankful to everyone who has sacrificed their lives, comfort and convenience for my freedom. But, most of all, I love God!

Since so many are judging other Americans as unpatriotic because they support the peaceful protest of kneeling during the national anthem, I have a few questions only for the Christians who feel taking a knee is disrespectful…

Which should be MORE sacred to a Christian?

Worshiping on the Lord’s Day.

Or

Going to a football game.

Which should be more offensive to a Christian?

Not standing for the national anthem.

Or

Skipping church and going to a football game.

Both were great sacrifices, but which sacrifice was GREATER?

Those who died for our freedom?

Or

Jesus dying for our sins?

Which is in the bible?

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Or

all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; (US Code)

Which do you think God considers more offensive?

Choosing a ball game over going to church.

Or

STANDING for the national anthem at that ball game.

Which did Jesus rebuke the Pharisees for?

Putting their traditions before God’s word?

Or

Their patriotism to the nation of Israel?

What did Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-Nego) do when it was considered PATRIOTIC to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image when the music began to play?

They did what the national law required.

Or

They were thrown in the fiery furnace for refusing.

If God doesn’t consider kneeling before Him disrespectful, why should we?

Does God consider choosing a game before Him on the Lord’s day disrespectful?

For those of you who worship on Saturday, simply change the day from SONday to Saturday, and game from professional to college and answer the same questions.

It’s interesting how people can justify…

Putting a game before God…

Working seven days a week, or working on the Lords day…

But, can’t tolerate what they consider to be unpatriotic.

God requires:

Faith before Family…

Faith before Race…

Faith before Nation…

No Exceptions!

If you can’t disagree with this post without anger or insults, quite frankly, you need to read your bible.

Even God humbles Himself to reason with us…
Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

So let this post begin a conversation for reasoning with one another.

This is dedicated to all those who fought and fight for our country and appreciate the right to peaceful protest. Their opinion matters too.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

There is not many things more unholy than a cross used for crucifixion. It was the Roman equivalent to the electric chair or a lethal injection needle.

It was an instrument for execution that was used to fulfill the purpose of our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus. There were many other who were killed using a cross other than our Savior, but He is the only one who was raised from the dead.

Today though the cross has become the universal symbol of inspiration for many that represents Christ.

When you are filled with God’s Holy Spirit, there is always inspiration in unholy things. When the children of Israel were deported and dispersed they had to find inspiration in unholy lands.

As our world becomes increasingly ‘unholy’ we have to learn to find inspiration in the ungodly.

2 Timothy 3:1-5  (NKJV)

3 But know this, that in the last days ^[a]perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, ^[b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Galatians 5:19-25  (NKJV)

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[a]adultery, ^[b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[c]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. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 [d]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The apostles and the early church were persecuted and thrown in unholy places, surrounded by unholy people, even faced death but they had to persevere, endure and continue to grow the church.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)

⁸ Be ^[a]sober, be ^[b]vigilant; ^[c]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

The people in the bible couldn’t pull up a playlist of spiritual songs to encourage them through their trials and tribulations. The apostles didn’t always have captive audiences giving them ‘Amens’ and positive feedback and feeding their egos. In fact, many times they were blessed to get out of town alive.

There is inspiration in some of the most unlikely places when we walk in His Spirit. It’s just our responsibility to find it. From jobs to relationships, there are innumerable instances, situations and places when and where we have to reach down and pull out the light and God inside of us.

In a song, movie, book, blog, politician…even witnessing the zeal for another religion.

Yes, sometimes seeing people do what we aren’t supposed to do can further inspire us to do good.

When was the last time you had to find inspiration in an unholy place

BE BLESSTIFIED!

So many times we only measure our effectiveness by who notices, and acknowledges us. But, there are many more people who notice your effort, your hard work, your accomplishments other than those who acknowledge them.

There are people who notice, but intentionally ignore. They make it a point that they DON’T acknowledge you.

As a writer, an artist, a creative, or in whatever you do, these are the individuals who are most impressed by what you do and don’t want to acknowledge to you, or themselves.

These are the people who are likely to imitate you, or modify what you’ve done to claim it for themselves.

So, don’t be discouraged when some of the people you want to notice you don’t acknowledge you. They see what you’re doing.

Remember when you were a child and you intentionally ignored your siblings or friends. You would put your fingers over your ears and say, “Laaaaa, laaaaaa, laaaaaa, laaaaa, I can’t hear you”…but you really could!

Remember, you can’t ignore something you haven’t noticed.

And, though He may seem quiet sometimes, God never ignores you!

Matthew 6:4  (NKJV)

⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you ^[a]openly.

You may also enjoy this similar post:

THE BLESSING IN WHEN THEY IGNORE YOU…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I’m not talking about the path your feet will take, but the path your heart will take.

Which path will you take today?

Forgiveness or Unforgivingness?

Thanksgiving or Complaining?

Understanding or Judgement?

Selflessness or Selfishness?

Humility or Arrogance?

Generosity or Greed?

Release or Revenge?

Calm or Conflict?

Peace or Wrath?

Joy or Stress?

Truth or lies?

Love or Hate?

Just as your feet can’t take two paths at the same time, neither can your heart. Beginning your day with prayer and in God’s word makes it a whole lot easier to take the right path.

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

²³ The steps of a good man are ^[a]ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.

Remember what God warned Cain, and what happened when he didn’t listen…
Genesis 4:7  (NKJV)

⁷ If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is ^[a]for you, but you should rule over it.”

This post may also bless you:

THE ARROGANCE OF BEGINNING THE DAY WITHOUT PRAYER…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Do you ever feel as though you’re running out of time? Like your clock is winding down?

Well you are, and it is.

What are you doing with your time?

Are you working hard to have the finer things in life with little time to enjoy them?

Are you missing your children’s childhood trying to get even more…of more than enough.

Are you just trying to survive?

Are you putting all of your energy, effort, gifts and talents into someone else’s vision?

Are you pursuing your own God-given purpose?

Don’t get your occupation confused with your purpose.

Carpenter was Jesus’ occupation, but that wasn’t His purpose. We didn’t get salvation because He was a carpenter.

We got salvation because He was sensitive to how much time He had to accomplish His purpose and relentlessly pursued. it…
Luke 9:51 (NKJV)
⁵¹ Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

It’s time for you to relentlessly pursue your purpose.

As long as you have breath in your body it’s not too late.

So, make the most of every moment…
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Because yes, we are running out of time.

These posts may also bless you:

FINDING YOUR PURPOSE(S)…

OCCUPATION VS PURPOSE

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Have you ever heard someone ‘successful’ say, “You don’t know what I had to go through to get where I am”?

The struggles, the sacrifices, the costs…

Well, usually the person or people they are telling that to have gone through struggles, sacrifices and paid costs too.

The struggle is both real and mutual…shared by all who are pursuing their God-given purpose.

Be careful not to be unintentionally arrogant in your testimony.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When we feel our efforts are going unrewarded, we can get the point that we’re tired of trying.

Have you ever been there?

Are you there right now?

Does it seem that your best isn’t good enough? Ready to give up?

Think about this. Jesus never ‘tried’ to do anything. The apostles didn’t try to establish the early church.

Jesus just did it. He taught. He preached. He healed. He delivered. He just did it. He did not seek approval, and when He did get approval, He didn’t put too much faith in it…

John 2:23-24 (NKJV)

²³ Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,

Jesus and the apostles didn’t try, they ‘just did it’.

So, if you’re tired of trying, maybe that’s the problem.

Stop trying.

Stop crying.

Stop whining.

Stop trying to get the attention of who you think can help you…

And, focus on working your purpose.

Stop trying and ‘just do it’.

Remember, Jesus never told us to try. He told us to go.

Matthew 28:19-20  (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go ^[a]therefore 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.” ^[b]Amen.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

So many times we are told what we should do, but not told how to do it. It’s easy to teach and preach what the bible says, but it doesn’t do much good if you don’t give people the tools to do it.

One great example is when we’re told to love our enemies. We all know and acknowledge what Jesus teaches us…

Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your [b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [c]tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

But, we all know that can be easier said than done. Especially what he, she or they wish for and work to your harm. It’s difficult when they try to influence other people against you. God never said it was easy, just possible.

God has really dealt with me concerning this. One of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

We also know what God teaches us through the apostle Paul…

Romans 12:14  (NKJV)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:17-21  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have^[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I see other people on the news who hate me because of my race, my faith, my beliefs, and these are people I’ve never met.

In fact, one of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

So, how do you pray for people who hate you? It’s much easier said than done, especially when someone wishes for and works towards your harm, tries to influence others to hate or hurt your, or when someone hurts someone very dear to you.

HERE ARE 7 SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES…

1. ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU IF & WHERE YOU’RE WRONG

Before you approach God about anyone you consider an enemy, make sure you first ask God to reveal to you if you are wrong in the issue, matter or paradigm. Even if you are 100 percent right, ask God to forgive you if you have allowed the enemy to harden your heart beyond God’s required love for your enemy. We must first consider ourselves before we begin to ‘judge’ anyone else…

Matthew 7:1-5  (NKJV)

7 “Judge^[a] not, that you be not judged. ² For with what ^[b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

2. PRAY FOR THEIR FAITH IN GOD TO BE ESTABLISHED & INCREASE

We must always remember that God doesn’t love our enemies any less than He loves us. They were created in His image too. God has called us all to be ministers of reconciliation. So, whether your enemy is an unbeliever or if they are a believer, if they are acting outside His will and character, it’s His desire that they be brought back into right relationship with Him. That’s where our prayers come in. God expects us to be ministers of reconciliation to Him…

2 Corinthians 5:17-20  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

3. PRAY FOR THEIR REPENTANCE

If we aren’t careful, someone can hurt us or someone we love to the point that we can find ourselves not wanting them to repent. That will take away our excuse to be angry at them. But, it’s Gods will that everyone repent and turn to Him…

2 Peter 3:9  (NKJV)

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

4. PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION

There are people that we can find so mean, evil and malicious that we don’t want them to be saved. Knowing that someone is in sin or evil is not judging them, but when we decide they are not worthy of salvation, that’s judgement and condemnation. What if God thought you not worthy of salvation when you were at your worst? And, as Matthew 7:1-2 reminds us, what ever judgement we are placing on someone else we are placing that same judgment on ourselves. Plus, if your enemy is a Christian and they are just in a hardhearted, backslidden, or weak moment, you may be placing condemnation on yourself as well…

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

So, always ask God to forgive you for any judgment or condemnation you have placed on someone.

5. PRAY THAT THEY PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT

It’s also God’s will that we all lead fruitful and productive lives…

John 15:8  (NKJV)

⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Once your enemy is sincerely leading a fruitful life, they can no longer truly be your enemy. You are then on the same team working for the same kingdom goals. Even if you aren’t necessarily friends, you will no longer be enemies.

6. PRAY SINCERELY, NOT TRYING TO MANIPULATE GOD TO GIVE YOU REVENGE

It’s a dangerous thing asking God to give someone what they deserve: SO YOU THINK THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED…REALLY??? Again, that’s judgment, especially when God hasn’t given any of us what we deserve. Too many times people take Romans 12:20 out of context. They merely want to pray for their enemy or even help them to ‘heap coals of fire on their head’. That is the wrong motivation. Sometimes people can even say, “I’m praying for you as an insult, rather than in sincerity: NEVER LET YOUR “GOD BLESS YOU” REALLY MEAN “F*** YOU”…

7. PRAY THAT GOD FORGIVES YOU FOR BEING SOMEONE’S ENEMY

We all have situations in our lives that we have been or are someone’s enemy. Not because they just don’t like us, but because we have done them wrong. We have worked against them. We have spoken evil against them. This could even be someone who we don’t know or doesn’t know us…It could be a public figure. Even though it’s wrong for them to do so, we have given some people good reason to hate us. Always ask God to forgive you for when you’re someone else’s enemy.

Romans 3:23  (NKJV)

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

Praying for our enemies in sincerity isn’t easy, but it is possible.

BE BLESSTIFIED!