I know I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with this. I’m sincerely grateful and thankful for the level of blessing and favor on my life. I’m not talking about riches. I’m talking about being thankful that I have food, clothes, shelter, good health and a sound mind…for what many people call ‘the little things’. I’m thankful that my family is doing well, thankful for freedom, peace, safety and yes, I’m thankful for salvation.
But, sometimes I want more.
I would love for God to bless me to be able to support my family well through my writing and leave behind a financial heritage for my children. Ohhhh…that would be so awesome! I would love to be able to do some of the things for my family that I know would make them happy. Who doesn’t want financial stability, good health and peace in their life.
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…
Joy lives on the inside. Happiness only comes from the outside.
God’s joy lives independently. It is self sustaining and sustains.
Joy creates…It creates hope.
Determination.
Peace.
Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)
Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD IS your strength.”
The joy of the LORD “IS” implies that joy is established…just like God Himself. God IS. This is because joyis a Fruit of His Spirit and an aspect of His character. Joy has power.
Joy protects the peace inside your heart.
Happiness is symbiotic, depending on the temporary condition that created it.
They both live and die together.
Happiness depends on something to happen. Notice this…
It wasn’t fair! It wasn’t right, and they knew it. But, yet they still did it. They hurt you. They hurt someone you love…maliciously. They didn’t apologize. They are still glad they did it, and would do it again.
They were cruel. They made your life a living Hell. You didn’t want to get out of the bed, go to work, go to school…all because of them.
They have influenced others against you. They have taken from you that what you will never get back. They have gained at your expense.
They turned their back on you when you needed them most. They could have come to help you. They could have rescued you, but they thought about it and decided NOT to do so. You weren’t worth the trouble to them.
They hate you. They genuinely hate you. And, you’ve done nothing. Or, you have asked their forgiveness and…
Be very careful when you say, “I can love them from a distance!”
“I’m not ‘fooling’ with them anymore!” “I’m not dealing with them anymore!”
There’s usually a form of this statement for every regional or social dialect.
Have you ever heard anyone say something like that? Have you ever said something like that yourself?
Yes, sometimes things can happen when relationships will never be
the same but be very careful when you judge that someone doesn’t deserve fellowship
with you anymore. Matthew 7:1 is broad in its application…
Matthew
7:1-2 (NKJV)
“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.
When you judge someone doesn’t deserve your fellowship are you
opening up yourself to the same judgement from God?
Not only is forgiveness one of the greatest gifts we receive from
God, but we are supposed to forgive AS He forgives us…not LIKE He gives us. We
are supposed to forgive in the same way…
Ephesians
4:32 (NKJV)
32 And be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in
Christ forgave you.
So, what if God said, “I forgive YOU, but I’m not going to ‘fool with you’ anymore.”
How much are you worth? Can you really quantify your value to…
Your family?
Your relationships?
Your church?
Your job?
God has created us and gifted all wonderfully and uniquely. No one
else can be as good at being you than you!
Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV)
13For You formed my inward parts; You [a]covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for [b]I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
It is our responsibility to recognize, nurture and
perfect what God has placed inside of us. And to use it not only to sustain our
lives, but to build God’s kingdom and make the world a better place.
Luke 12:48
(NKJV)
48 But
he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten
with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required;
and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
God has created us all with great value!
So much so, that no one should ever be able to pay us what
we’re worth.
How much money do you make? What’s your salary? What’s your
hourly wage?
Do you feel that’s ALL your worth? Do you feel that’s ALL
you bring to the table?
We should all be irreplaceable. Not only in your job description
but also in the intangibles. There should be a void any time we leave a
workplace, relationship, church etc.
Your energy, positivity, love…your very presence should be
missed. You should bring those things that can’t be trained or taught. Those
things that go beyond experience, such as being the person everyone looks to in
a crisis.
Even if they can replace YOU, they should never be able to
replace WHAT YOU DO! Anytime you feel you aren’t bringing enough to the table…YOU
AREN’T.
We are placed here to be God’s representatives in every
environment and relationship we occupy. God blesses us to bring glory to God
through the anointing on our lives, the gifts He’s giving us and the seeds we
sow.
Some of the things your Pastor thought you wouldn’t want to hear another sermon…
Some of the things the politician you respect most did, you wouldn’t vote again…
Some of the nasty things your doctor has done, you wouldn’t want him or her touching you again…
Some of the things your spouse thought you wouldn’t trust them again…
No matter who we are or what we do, we are all FAR from perfect.
Before you judge someone unworthy of your respect and love…
How much would YOU respect YOU, if YOUR secrets EVERYONE knew?
Romans 3:22-25 (NKJV)
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all[a] who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We all know that no matter how we portray ourselves to the world, God knows what’s really inside our hearts…
1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [a]refused him. For[b]the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
None of us are perfect. We all have areas in which we need to grow. Sometimes our weaknesses, bad attitudes, selfishness, prejudices, pride etc., are hidden in our hearts from others and even sometimes from ourselves. Our lives are a lifelong process of learning our true selves.
But, God has a way to allow issues, circumstances and even opportunities to arise and reveal what’s really inside us.
As I was growing up, I never did really grasp how young Dr. Martin Luther King was when he stepped onto the world stage.
Then he became involved with the Birmingham bus boycott at the age of 26 he wasn’t trying to make history, he was just trying to do his part to make a difference.
At the age of 35 he was the youngest man at the time to receive the Nobel Peace prize.
At the young age of 39 he made his historic “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” speech that prophetically eluded to his death the very next day.
In 39 short years Dr. King changed the world. His wife and children had to share husband and father with history. And, his children grew into adulthood without their dad.
Many of you reading this who grew up hearing and reading about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have outlived his 39 years.
What have you accomplished in your time here so far?
Maybe you haven’t changed the world, but have you been a good father? mother? sibling? son? daughter?. Have you been dependable to the people in your life?
Can the people in your circle of influence count on you? Are you fulfilling your purpose of being God’s representative in every relationship and environment?
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)
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
You may not be Dr. Martin Luther King, and really should thank God that the weight of your purpose isn’t as heavy as his…
You don’t have to change the world to make history, you just have to change the world around you.
I’m pretty sure we have all done this. You may be in this situation right now. You said or did someone and you know you were wrong. You told them you’re sorry and you’re ready to move on. But you may need to go back and apologize again…
Why?
HOW did you say, “I’m sorry?”
Did they tell you, “You owe me an apology!” and you angrily and grudgingly snap back, “I’m sorry!”
Did you tell them you were sorry just to shut them up from nagging you… wanting them to drop it?
Did you tell them you were sorry only to demand of them to get over it and move on?
Did you tell them you were sorry because you know God expects it, but you really didn’t mean it?
Did you tell them you were sorry because you just didn’t want them to be upset?
Do you know anyone who tries to get affirmation and
validation by claiming that they don’t need it? Have you ever heard anyone say
that? Have you said it yourself?
People usually say this because they are really ‘in their
feelings’ because they want affirmation, validation or appreciation and feel
they aren’t getting it.
Yes, it’s good to be confident in who you are and not need
anyone else to tell you, but the truth of the matter is that God created us for
relationship, and one aspect of relationship is affirmation from others.
Whether we admit or not, we all need validation and
affirmation sometimes. We give God affirmation and validation by praising Him.
GOD LOVES PRAISE!
Praise is affirmation of His greatness, holiness,
sovereignty, justice…His love for us and our love for Him.
GOD LOVES PRAISE and there’s nothing wrong with that.
So here’s the thing…
We all need a little praise sometimes too. We all need affirmation
sometimes. We all need validation sometimes…especially by those who are closest
to us.
Do you know why?
Because we were all created in God’s image, and it is our
duty to affirm Him with our praise.
Does God NEED our affirmation to be God? Absolutely not! He
has Holy angels to declare His greatness day and night…
Revelation 4:8
(NKJV)
8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were
full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy,[a] holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!
God teaches us to honor our parents in the Lord…Affirmation.
Ephesians 6:1 (NKJV)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
The bible teaches us to esteem others better than ourselves….Affirmation.
Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than himself.
We’re told ordain those set aside for the ministry by the
laying on of hands…Affirmation.
The key is to not feel disqualified by God when we don’t
receive affirmation, and certainly don’t let it go to our heads. Jesus taught
us this early in His ministry…
John 2:23-25
(NKJV)
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,25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man,
for He knew what was in man.
People are very fickle. Remember many people cried “Hosanna!”
to Jesus at the beginning of the week and ended the week crying “Crucify Him!”
So. don’t feel to guilty for feeling the need for
affirmation sometimes. Don’t let it go to your head when you get it. And, don’t
feel like God doesn’t value you when you don’t.
I know some of you are thinking, “What are you talking about preacher?”
Whether they admit it or not, everyone wants good sex. Well here’s the thing…God knows that.
He made us that way.
That’s why he created the desire. He created our bodies to attract one another, and most importantly, He created Godly marriage between a man and woman, so that we can enjoy good sex.
GODLY SEX IS SEX BETWEEN A MARRIED MAN AND WOMAN
Matthew 19:4-6 (NKJV)
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made[a]them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’[b]5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?[c]6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
The fact that the enemy knows how much people crave good sex is why it has been such a powerful weapon for him throughout the ages. If the enemy can use it to be stumbling block to a man after God’s own heart like King David (2 Samuel Chapter 11), then we know it can be a stumbling block to any of us.
Sex is ordained by God, and the enemy has always manipulated situations to pervert what was meant to be Holy.
Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
He has perverted it through tempting God’s children through…
Fornication…
Adultery…
Homosexuality…
Pornography…
Prostitution…
Rape…
Voyeurism…
The Strip Club…
And the list can go on and on.
OUR SEXUAL DESIRE IS INNATE, BUT GOD ONLY PERMITS US TO FULFILL IT ONLY AS ORDAINED BY HIM.
Just because someone naturally has an unquenchable desire for the opposite sex does not mean it’s okay to fulfill it with as many people who will agree to sleep with them.
Just because someone naturally has a desire for his or her own sex does not mean that it’s okay for them to sleep with someone of their own sex.
Just because someone’s spouse is not fulfilling their marital ‘duty’ does not give them an excuse to step outside of their marriage.
I think any couple that engaged in premarital sex, but then married will agree that the best sex is when they have made it ‘legal in the eyes of God’.
There’s no greater satisfaction that when two married people are not just connected physically, but also connected mentally, emotionally and most of all spiritually.
Here are just a few verses stating what the bible has to say about good, godly sex…
Proverbs 5:18-19(NKJV)
18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love.
Song of Solomon 1:2(NKJV)
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—For your[b] love is better than wine.
Song of Solomon 4:9-11 (NKJV)
9 You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart With one look of your eyes, With one link of your necklace. 10 How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices! 11 Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments Is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
Song of Solomon 5:16 (NKJV)
16 His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!
Whew! That’s the Word!
Not only is there nothing WRONG with a little wine, music and romance between a husband and wife – it is absolutely RIGHT!
Yes, there are seasons when married people are not always on the same page sexually, but that’s why sex is spiritual and holy. Notice what God advises us through the apostle Paul…
1 Corinthians 7:4-5 (NKJV)
4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
So, if you are engaging in sex that is not ordained by God…
No matter how much they make your toes curl…
No matter how intense the climax…
No matter how much you look forward to seeing them again…
No matter how good they look, feel or smell…
No matter how you choose to excuse it…
It is unholy, ungodly, unethical, immoral, rejected by God and puts you at risk to go to Hell.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT FEELS, IF IT’S NOT GODLY IT’S NOT GOOD
But, when you know that both of you are enjoying one another within the will of God, your intimate time together can be good through 10 – 20 – 30 – 40 – 50 years of marriage and beyond.
Remember, even though his wife Sarah suggested it, Abraham’s sex with Hagar was not ordained by God, and it led to bitterness and trouble in his marriage. But, once He and Sarah believed God’s promise of a son in their old age, they saw pleasure again as they did in their youth…
Genesis 18:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
ENOUGH WATER to
wash your hair, car or water your lawn.
ENOUGH CLOTHES for two days.
ENOUGH SHELTER to cover yourself.
ENOUGH STRENGTH to bathe yourself.
ENOUGH SENSE to
know your name.
ENOUGH FAITH to
know God through Yeshua, Christ Jesus.
Remember that many of our worries spring from worrying about
tomorrow. If God has given you enough for today…
You’re blessed!
If you have something left over for tomorrow at the end of
the day…
Your abundantly blessed!
There are many in the world would LOVE THE LUXURY of a snack, clean water and a change of clothes for
two days.
Don’t let our society and culture of excess allow you to
become unthankful or think God is mistreating you because of what you don’t
have. Do most people you know have more than enough for one day?
I encourage you to stop and take a moment to thank God for
what you have TODAY, especially if you’ve been complaining or worrying about
what you don’t.
Matthew 6:31-34
(NKJV)
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.
1 Timothy 6:8-10 (NKJV)
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to
be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from
the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows
This is a picture of my family in a van traveling to Florida. Before we left home, we all held hands and asked God for His divine protection. We asked for each of our angels to be with us. We asked Him to put a hedge around us, just as He did Job (Job 1:10). We asked for a safe trip…a safe stay and a safe return home.
As we left Memphis at mid night we traveled safely through the night on schedule. I drove the entire time. Around midday we crossed over the Georgia/Florida county line and made a last stop for gas and get something to eat.
We were then on our last stretch of the trip.
As I drove down I-75 near Gainesville, I was in the fast lane of a three- lane stretch of highway. The interstate was extremely busy because this was the Friday before Christmas. Every lane was full of cars and trucks…BIG TRUCKS.
Suddenly, immediately in front of our van a huge cloud of smoke appeared. As I drive into it I discovered that not only could I NOT see the cars around me, I couldn’t see 1 inch in front of us. I couldn’t even see the windshield wipers!
I WAS DRIVING BLIND! We were definitely riding by faith and not sight.
I expected to hear vehicles crashing around me any moment. My wife told me to stop the van, and everyone was bracing themselves.
As she told me to stop the van, I calmly replied, “No”, but did stop accelerating as I eased over onto the shoulder of the road with only a small guard rail separating the oncoming traffic on the other side, hoping and praying not to slam into a wrecked or stopped car in front of me, while also praying that a car or truck didn’t slam into the back of us.
All I could think about is the multi-car pile-ups I have seen in white-out snow or blinding fog. Everyone in the car wondered if this was the day we were going to die or be severely injured.
I was driving, but I definitely was NOT in control! After driving several seconds in the smoke, we emerged and there was no accident. The man in the car next to us looked at my wife as if to say, “What was that?”
Here’s the thing. With dozens of cars enveloped in the smoke, how likely is it that abosolutley not one car, one truck, one SUV or crossover…not one 18-wheeler stopped? If only one vehicle stopped it would have been catastrophic.
ONLY GOD PREVENTED ANYONE FROM STOPPING!
We immediately began thanking and praising God.
God answered our prayer before our trip. Our families could have been receiving a horrible phone call later that day.
Two weeks later after returning home, I was watching the news and saw a report of a multi-car accident on the same interstate, in the same area and one of the vehicles involved was a van. Not only that, 7 people were killed and 7 people were injured.
It was 7 people in our van that day (one person can’t be seen in the picture above).
I pray God’s strength for the families involved in that accident, but God quickly reminded me that could have been us.
So many times after near death experiences or after living foolishly many times people say, “I shouldn’t be here” as a testimony of God’s grace and mercy.
But I have learned that those experiences are confirmation that, WE SHOULD BE HERE! It’s confirmation that God still has purpose for our lives.
That experience gave me brand new appreciation for…
Psalm 118:17-18 (NKJV)
17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord has chastened[a] me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 20:6 (NKJV)
6 Now I know that the Lord saves His [a]anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
Just as Psalm 118:17 say, “ I will declare the works of the Lord!”
When God delivers us, saves us, rescues, protects us from certain hurt, harm, danger or death it is our responsibility to let the world know.
God delivered my family from death that day December 21, 2018. We still don’t know where the smoke came from.
I do know that God proved to us that when trouble, pain or uncertainty, surrounds you like a cloud.
When you seem to be enveloped in darkness and you can’t see your way through.
Picture this. You’re sleeping comfortably in your bed and are awaken by a rattling at your window. You quietly get out of bed and notice that someone is trying to break into your home.
Or, You’re relaxing watching television and you’re shocked out of your show as your burglar alarm suddenly goes off.
In either situation do you go and let them into your house?
Of course not! You…
Call for help… you dial 911 if available.
You prepare to defend yourself with your weapons if available.
Our bodies are temples for the LORD to live inside of us, and it’s our responsiblity to protect them…
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in…
40 years ago today, January 11, 1978, my uncle LARRY HENRY JOHNSON was killed over a case of mistaken identity.
He just turned 24 years old the month before. He had recently moved back home to Lexington TN with his new wife a little over a year earlier to be near his mother because his father died about a year and a half before ( July 4, 1976) as a result of injuries from an automobile accident.
I was excited to have my uncle back in town. He got blamed for someone else’s foolishness and became the target of a jealous husband. Larry was innocent. He asked for help from the local police and they gave him none. They only told him to get a gun. As I think back, I remember him telling his mother (my grandmother) in the kitchen, “Momma, I don’t even know the woman.” He was very upset. At 9 years old I didn’t understand it at the time.
If you are caught up in some foolishness…please stop it now! It always affects someone else.
By the way, Larry managed to get to his truck, get his gun, and get one shot off. The jealous husband died too. What a waste of life. Larry Henry Johnson. Husband of Jaqueline Gentry Johnson. Son of Charles H. Johnson, Dorothy M. Johnson, Brother of Diane Johnson, Charlene Johnson and Peggy Walker.
Aren’t you glad that Jesus died for our foolishness?
Prayer is a privilege of a real relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Prayer is a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare. But, unfortunately we can unintentionally or intentionally misuse prayer.
“I’m praying for you.” We need to very careful how, and why we say it. How many times have you said it without sincerity or out of malice as a retaliation in an argument? How many times have you heard it said out of arrogance rather than concern?
God lets us know through James that prayers is ineffective and unheard when we pray with the wrong motives in our hearts…
James 4:3 (NKJV)
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Be careful when we pray for others, about others and with others that we are praying for God’s will to be accomplished in their…
The purpose God has for each of us on this earth is so much
greater than us or even our knowledge of our purpose. It isn’t necessary for us
to fully know ALL the reasons that God has us here to be successful in fulfilling
our purpose. Don’t stress not fully knowing your purpose, just keep working for
God with a loyal and sincere heart.
Notice that John the Baptist was not even fully aware of his
own purpose…
When asked who he was, he responded…
John 1:19-21
(NKJV)
19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the
Prophet?”
And he answered,
“No.”
But Jesus confirmed to His disciples that John fulfilled the
prophecy of Elijah returning…
Matthew 17:10-13
(NKJV)
10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say
that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming [a]first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that
Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever
they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their
hands.” 13 Then
the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Be sensitive to the Spirit of God.
Be consistent in reading and studying His word.
Pray for wisdom, understanding, discernment and revelation.
Even if you are unsure of your purpose, God’s will…will be done through your life…
Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Think about this, God made all of us. We are all His creation. He gave us all strengths, abilities, talents, gifts and virtues to advance His kingdom and to sustain our lives…
2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
However, if we are born with innate strengths, we are also born with innate weaknesses, inabilities, and vices. No matter how hard we try, there are some things we just can’t do, or naturally can’t help without the help of God or one another.
I think God does this to create interdependence and balance among those created in His image.
Some people are physically stronger than others.
Some people are ‘smarter’ than others in certain areas, but everyone is ‘smart’ in something. For example, some…
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…
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!”
When you stop and take look, you can see God’s wisdom in everything…and I mean EVERYTHING!
God’s first institution established in His Kingdom was the family. He put man and woman together with a plan. He told us to be fruitful and multiply because God wasn’t going to continue creating men from dust or women from men’s ribs.
God gave us the gift of physical intimacy (sex) to bring children into the world, and to enhance our marriages. God wants us to enjoy one another just as much as he wants us to enjoy Him, and that’s very clear in the bible.
Proverbs 5:19 (NKJV)
As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.
Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
It happens every New Year. Many preachers giving promises of peace and prosperity from the pulpit. First of all let me say that sometimes God does send prophetic proclamations of good news to His people, but not every year.
There are many preachers out there who make the same promise
every year…
“This is your year!”
“This is your season!”
But, the prophets in the bible didn’t always deliver good
news. In fact, many times they were tasked with warning the people of what was
to come. God is loving enough to not let His people be caught off guard without
warning.
But, beware of preachers who deliver only good news.
Promising prosperity and good news every year plays on the
emotions and hopes of those who God has entrusted to watch over their souls.
Through this many preach through their flesh whether than
God’s Spirit. Some to feed their egos. Some to keep members engaged. Some to
manipulate money out of the people.
How is EVERY YEAR GOING TO BE YOUR SEASON?
Remember what God told Ezekiel…
Ezekiel 33:1-9
(NKJV)
Again the word of
the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your
people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the
people of the land take a man from their territory and make him
their watchman, 3 when
he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the
people, 4 then
whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the
sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the
trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who
takes warning will [a]save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees
the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned,
and the sword comes and takes any person from among
them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at
the watchman’s hand.’
7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of
Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for
Me. 8 When
I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and
you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall
die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn
the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall
die in his iniquity; but you have [b]delivered your soul.
I pray that God grants you a year of peace and prosperity…but I can’t promise it.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REWIND 
I’m pretty sure we have all done this. You may be in this situation right now. You said or did someone and you know you were wrong. You told them you’re sorry and you’re ready to move on. But you may need to go back and apologize again…
BE BLESSTIFIED! 