It’s natural for us to want the people in our lives to be loyal to us, but loyalty to God must always come first.
When we have grown to trust and support someone, we can find ourselves feeling obligated to make excuses for them when they are wrong…
Spouses…
Family…
Friends…
Ministers…
Politicians…
Athletes…
Celebrities…
Public Figures…
Have you ever found yourself feeling compelled to justify, make excuses for or give reasons why someone you support was wrong?
This behavior sets us up for a particular sin…
Ephesians 5:5-7 (NKJV)
5 For [a]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
This scripture makes it clear that when we excuse and justify the wrong of others, we become partakers in their sin.
Now many will say right and wrong are subjective, but the word of God should always be the measure.
Remember, you are never obligated to make excuses for the people you support. True loyalty and real support is letting them know they are wrong.
There is nothing impossible to Him, but there’s still a few things He can’t do…
He can’t die.
He can’t lie.
He can’t fail…
And, He can’t be a MOTHER.
Yes, I know we say He’s a father to the fatherless and a mother to the motherless…and He can fill those voids in our lives, but…
Notice what Psalm 68:5 says…
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
It says that our loving heavenly FATHER is to the fatherless, but not a mother to the motherless.
He’s our FATHER, but,
God gave a special role to women. He gave them honor of being the first connection to every life on this earth. To nurture every life…to introduce every person to the world, and with that role comes a special bond. There’s nothing like a mother’s love.
Even when it comes to our salvation, in the fullness of time, God still didn’t step outside of the authority He gave to women by still using a woman to bring His Son into the world.
Yes, He could have made another man of ‘dust’ if He wanted, but He chose Mary to be a Mother to our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:4 (NKJV)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law,
There’s nothing like a mother’s love!
That’s why it’s possible for some women who didn’t even physically birth a child into the world to still have the anointing to fulfill a mother’s role and love…it is a gift of God to the child and mother.
In those unfortunate circumstances when a mother does not live up to her role, even though a father can step it up or step in…nothing can ‘replace it’. Sometimes there is just a void, unless another ‘woman’ steps in (grandmother, aunt, sister, adopted mother).
So thank God for all mothers, even if yours didn’t live up to her responsibility, because that’s who God chose to bring you into the world.
Music is a gift from God, especially as we spend hours, days, weeks and months together during quarantine. Without music in our lives, life would be ALL TALK!
As many people are complaining about getting on each other’s nerves, in spite of the circumstances, even after being married over 32 years…
WE LOVE THIS TIME TOGETHER!
With four of us together in the house, we make sure we use every room in the house. We have never spent this much time enjoying hanging out in our garage.
But, you don’t stay married over 32 years without making sure you make time for romance, which can be very challenging when the other people in the house can’t really leave the house for an extended period of time. When they can pop up at your room at anytime. When they can holler your name at any time…”Hey Daaaaaddddyyyy!” “Hey Maaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Nevertheless, we still have to make time for love! That’s why the most common phrase that’s come out of mouths during the quarantine is the title of one of our favorite Teddy Pendergrass songs…
“CLOSE THE DOOR!”
Isaiah 26:20 (NKJV)
20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.
How much of your precious time have you lost to worrying? God has given us the cure in two simple verses. Nothing deep here, just God’s powerful word and our challenge and responsibility for us to put them into practice…
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.
Philippians 3:13 (NKJV)
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do ,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
The bible teaches us that it’s God that gives us the power, ability, knowledge and strength to get ‘wealth’, and that is very true…
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)
18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may [a]establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
But, how many times have you heard someone say, or said yourself, “I deserved everything that I have because I worked hard for it!”
You planned…
You’ve worked hard…
You’ve sacrificed…
You’ve made good decisions.
You even had great faith.
Let me give you a quick reminder in humility and God’s grace and mercy…
Yes, you definitely ‘earned’ it, but be very careful before you say you deserve it.
Before you say that you deserve your success and influence because of your hard work and effort, think about…
Yep, I’m going there because I feel this piece will be a blessing to someone.
A blessing to someone who is single or to someone who is married but is in a season of being ‘out of sync’ with their spouse.
Masturbation has got to be one of the most taboo subjects among those who call themselves disciples of Christ. Is it a sin? Is it okay? Too embarrassed to talk about it?
Well, if the bible addresses it, I’m going to address it too!
Let me get straight to the point. Many who claim masturbation is a sin infer it from these scriptures…
Leviticus 15:16-18 (NKJV)
16 ‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until evening. 17 And any garment and any leather on which there is semen, it shall be washed with water, and be unclean until evening. 18 Also, when a woman lies with a man, and there is an emission of semen, they shall bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
Deuteronomy 23:10 (ESV)
10 “If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come inside the camp,
Some people conclude that masturbation is a sin because the bible declares that if a man has an emission of semen that he is unclean until the evening. They are concluding that unclean means sin.
However, the bible also says…
Leviticus 15:19-30 (NKJV)
19 ‘If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be [a]set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. 20 Everything that she lies on during her impurity shall be unclean; also everything that she sits on shall be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 22 And whoever touches anything that she sat on shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 23 If anything is on her bed or on anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening. 24 And if any man lies with her at all, so that her impurity is on him, he shall be [b]unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.
We all know that it is not a sin for a woman to have her menstrual cycle, so you can’t use the ‘unclean’ argument to equate it to sin. In fact, Numbers 19 states that a priest can become unclean while performing one of his duties…
Numbers 19:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening.
So the very act of masturbating is not a sin within itself BUT,
What a person is doing while masturbating CAN make it a sin…
Watching porn and nude images.
Thinking of someone who is not your spouse to get aroused.
It’s just like sexual intercourse. It’s not the act itself, but how its done that makes it a sin.
So, if masturbation helps keep you from committing fornication or adultery…
If masturbation helps you get through the seasons in your marriage when you aren’t on the same page sexually…
Just like sexual intercourse, it’s the person’s responsibility to make sure they aren’t doing it in a way to make it displeasing to God. When you’re alone it’s between you, God and the angel that’s watching over you:-)
Don’t be afraid to hit like, or contribute to the conversation.
Let me first say that by the grace of God, I’ve never been addicted to illegal or prescription drugs.
I’ve also been gulity of looking in disdain at those who are. I’ve self-righteously shaken my head at those who have overdosed or even died.
Some were trying to escape the realities of life…
Some became addicted after surgery, medical treatment, or due to a chronic (no pun intended) or medical treatment…
Others were addicted through recreational use or just to ‘unwind’…
But, the end result was the same…addiction.
So, before you judge anyone in any of these situations or scenarios, think about this…
What if either of these were illegal, or deadly (and some are depending on your state of health…
Coffee…
Cola…
Over-the-counter pain killers…
Red Bull…
5-Hour Energy…
Beer…
Wine…
Sugar.
I think you get the picture. What if coffee (which many admit they HAVE to HAVE) were as addictive and deadly as opioids?
When you see someone hit rock bottom of their addiction, stop and pray for them.
Then stop and examine your life and your…
ACCEPAPTABLE ADDICTIONS…
Then empathize with them.
But, please don’t judge them. Because the ‘addiction’ comes from the same weakess in all of our flesh, and but by the grace of God, whether you admit it or not…
Could be you. Matthew 7:1-2(NKJV)
Judgenot, that you be not judged.2 For with whatjudgment you judge, you will be judged;and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic many churches have cancelled services and are offering worship opportunities online.
Of course, there are those who are critical of churches that have temporarily stopped having service to prevent the spread of the virus, However, TEMPORARILY cancelling service is not FORSAKING the assembling of ourselves together. Forsake means to abandon, which we are by no means doing…
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
25 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.
One of the benefits of worshiping together in person is the love, fellowship and support of the love that is shared during the worship experience.
The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, reminds of our our duty to not just say, “I love you”, but to show true kind (a Fruit of the Spirit) affection for one another. The Hebrew adjective used here describes the kind of affection that is expected to be shared between close relatives….kind words, hugs, etc.
Romans 12:10 (NKJV)
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
This affection is one of the greatest benefits of a good, loving church family that exhibits the Fruit of His Spirit.
I know, in many church cultures when you hear the word LOVE OFFERING it’s time to reach for your wallet or purse.
So, for those of you missing the love of your family, enjoy the LOVE OFFERING in the video above.
I often hear many of my fellow Christians say that they don’t believe in luck. They say that since God is in control, there is no such thing as luck. They say that since they have God’s grace, they have no need for luck.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 3:23-25 (NKJV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [a]freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a [b]propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
But, what about those who DON’T have grace?
If grace is ONLY for the believer, what is a SERENDIPITOUS moment for the unbeliever called?
If you don’t have God’s grace in your life, then basically, whatever happens…happens.
Much like if you spin a top on a small table. Using your hands to prevent that top from falling off the table represents God’s grace. But, if you don’t use your hands to prevent that top from falling off the table, that represents that fact that if that top doesn’t fall off the table…it’s lucky.
My wife and I love watching television together. We laugh, joke and make fun of the shows.
In a recent episode of Tyler Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong, we were reminded why we feel he’s much better at plays and movies rather than nighttime soaps.
This scene made us 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 even though I don’t think it was intended to be funny.
Notice how the script immediately flips in the scene above. We both concluded, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind🤣.
And remember, laughter is a stress relieving gift from God.
Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
How many times have you heard this (or done this)?
There’s a disagreement…an arguement…a debate…a discussion…a contention… a situation where someone rubbed you wrong.
It could have been politics, religion, relationship, sports, work, or whatever…
But, they pushed the right button (or wrong button) and whether you admit it or not, they ticked you off (or pissed you off).
However, you are a Christian and you love God, so you ‘dismiss’ them with a “God bless you!”, or “I will pray you!”
Hmmm, when you’re honest with yourself though, you didn’t mean that in your heart.
You would never say, “F*** You!”. And, the devil knows it too.
That’s why he cleverly slipped in and manipulated you to use a blessing to be nice-nasty. Your mouth said, God bless you, but your heart really said “F-You”.
The person to whom you it, and those who heard it could tell what you really meant…and so could God.
We all have human moments, but we must be very careful not to allow the enemy to make us guilty of what the Psalmist said… Psalm 62:4c (NKJV)
“…They bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly.”
Remember, we must give an account for every word that comes from our mouths…
Matthew 12:36
(NKJV)
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Just like during the Great Recession of 2008, the word STIMULUS CHECK is again abuzz in American culture. Also, those who are unemployed are getting an additional $600 in addition to their unemployment compensation.
Unfortunately, there are many essential workers who are making less money, while putting themselves at risk, than those who have become unemployed. This has led to many people complaining about this being unfair…and it is.
However, it is a blessing in disguise for many of those who are temporarily receiving more than they would on their regular jobs. When they return to work, they will be earning less.
The bottom line is…’THE SYSTEM’ WORKED FOR THEM THIS TIME!
There are always those who benefit more from ‘THE SYSTEM’ as it moves and evolves according to the political, economic and social environments. There are always those for whom at some point in time, THE SYSTEM works in their favor.
The fact is, some people don’t complain until they feel their ‘benefits’ of THE SYSTEM are threatened or see them working for someone else.
I have even seen some people who are getting more money while unemployed as being lazy. This is wrong to generalize everyone into to one basket. One person even said, and I quote, “The real reason many people don’t want to go back to work and want the stay at home order to be extended is they have actually gotten a pay raise by staying at home and not working.” Wow! Making generalizations like this is dangerous.
Yes, there is an example of this in the bible, when THE SYSTEM worked to benefit those some felt less deserving, leading to complaining from those who thought they were more deserving. Yeshua gave us a relevant lesson in how He views it.
Matthew 20:1-16 (NKJV)
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing [a]idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, [b]and whatever is right you will receive.’
8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they [c]complained against thelandowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For[d] many are called, but few chosen.”
So, what if that happened today?
If many people are honest with themselves, if they lived then or that were today, they would have been complaining about those who began working at the end of the day…
“The real reason they waited until the end of the day is so they could get the same amount as those who worked all day.”
“They were lazy”.
“It’s unfair.”
“The landowner was unfair”
“People like that are the problem with this country.”
The fact is, this particular time, the system worked for them.
Be careful how you judge situations. Judging is when you ‘think for someone else’. When you determine what is in someone else’s heart. When you think you know their motivation.
Remember, you will be judged by the same judgement that you judge someone else.
Remember, you can’t whine, complain or be petty at the same time.
Remember, whining, complaining and praise are all contagious.
The next time you’re feeling sorry for yourself and wanting someone else to notice and feel sorry for you…STOP, and give God some praise that things aren’t worse.
TURN YOUR PITY PARTY INTO A PRAISE PARTY!
It’s when you feel worse that praise is an actual sacrifice. You have to dig deep into your faith, confidence, trust and love for God and with the fruit of your lips praise Him in spite of __________.
Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Here’s a quick story. One day years ago while working a previous job, I was in the office, and I didn’t do a particular job to meet my direct manager’s expectations. That’s just a reality of work and relationships. We will not always meet each other’s expectations.
That particular manager became very angry, slammed his fist on the desk and said very loudly in front of everyone, “You will NOT do this like this again!”
I remained calm, and went to the bathroom to pray and ask God to give me the wisdom to handle the situation.
I then calmly returned to his desk and said, “Listen, my name is not Chris (his son’s name is Chris). I respect your authority, and you can write me up, suspend me, or even fire me, but you WILL NOT DISRESPECT ME AGAIN! The reason we are both here is to provide for our families, and your position does not give you the right to disrespect me.” He spent the rest of the day apologizing to me, and thank God it never happened again.
It’s amazing how some people equate being loud, mean, and difficult to strength, leadership and assertiveness.
Notice that what God defines as the Fruit of His Spirit, the evidence that we are in relationship with Him, are qualities that are considered weak in ‘Western’ culture.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
When did it become acceptable for leadership to get a pass on being respectful?
God expects us to remain in His character, especially when we are in positions of leadership. And, when we work with people who don’t have a relationship with God, it’s our responsibility to hold them accountable.
You can be an influence on the culture of your workplace by how you respond to the negative, difficult situations.
Pray for discernment so you can know in which situations to speak up, and in which situations to remain silent.
You can respond in God’s love, but also in His authority. Control your emotions, choose your words carefully, speak calmly, and be prepared for the consequences of you standing your ground.
Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)
15 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Quiet doesn’t always mean silent…
NOTHING INTIMIDATES A LOUDMOUTH LIKE THE QUIET STRENGTH OF HUMILITY.
9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
Eventhough Jews and Samaritans were all the ‘seed of Abraham, because the Jews felt the Samaritans were ‘less pure’ they detested them and did not associate with them.
Sound familiar?
Racism and prejudice have been around long before then though. But, let me first clarify that you can’t equate God’s prohibition from the Jews ‘mixing’ with other people as the equivalent to racism. This was purely spiritual because the nations around them served other Gods… It was a matter of faith and not race…
Since I’m always writing, I thought I would share one of her live performances at Hard Rock Cafe in Memphis TN (above), as well as her music video below.
It’s the late 70’s and I’ve been outside playing for hours. My grandmother had a peach tree, and there was something extra special about grabbing one of those peaches, even if they weren’t sweet. Our neighbor had a grapevine, and yes, we would love to run through her mature trees that sheltered it and feast on those wonderful, free grapes.
But, there was no pleasure quite like that of finding honeysuckles dancing in the wind. Now, that was a treat! Most of the time, you caught their aroma before you saw them. “I smell honeysuckles!” Then you would begin searching, following your nose. When you found them, you had to pull them just right for that treasure of sweet, moist droplets that each one yielded. It was just enough to make you want another.
I wonder how many children today have or take the opportunity to take a treat from the hand of God as they play outside.
Do you have childhood memories of eating from GOD’S CANDY STORE? If so, please share them in the comments.
Song of Solomon 2:12 (NKJV)
The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land.
Think about your relationship with your husband or your wife, your parents, your siblings, your friends…the people who are important to you.
Have they ever done anything to hurt you? Now, have you ever done anything to hurt them? If you are still in relationship with them, then either two things have happened. Either you’ve hurt and forgiving one another or, you are living with a grudge over…something.
And, if you are living with a grudge then you are putting your relationship at risk because that grudge gives the enemy a foothold to gain influence in that relationship.
Now, think of those relationships that you are no longer involved in. A broken marriage. Siblings who don’t speak. Friends who have become enemies. There is one reason those relationships no longer exist…something happened that you can’t forgive.
Nothing deep here, must a quick reminder. If the relationship is important to you, be ready to forgive. Because whatever it is that you feel you could never forgive, most if not all of the time, that’s what the enemy will use to destroy your relationship.
Remember this…
Your relationships are only as strong as what you are willing to forgive.
So, not only should you be ready to forgive, but if the relationship is important to you, be ready to move on and forgive without an apology. For more on this, read HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN APOLOGY ( 8 TIPS)…
Proverbs 19:11 (NKJV)
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory isto overlook a transgression.
What do people say when confronted with doing what God expects of them or has called them to do?
Why don’t you go to church?
Let’s go feed the homeless.
Let’s go visit and minister people in prison and hospitals…
Why don’t you give the firstfruits of all your increase to
God?
Usually before we make an excuse, we usually give a big BUT…
“I would, BUT the people in church aren’t right themselves…”
“I would, BUT those homeless people will just spend it on drugs,
cigarettes and alcohol…”
“I would, BUT I can’t afford to…”
“I would, BUT I don’t have time to visit…”
“I would, BUT my kids have sports…”
Yeshua, Christ Jesus, gave us a parable to illustrate how
much He hates our excuses. He let us know how much He hates our BIG BUTS…
Luke 14:18-24 (NKJV)
18 BUT they all with one accord began
to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I
must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I
have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have
me excused.’ 20 Still
another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and
reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry,
said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city,
and bring in here the poor and the[a]maimed and the lame
and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you
commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into
the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my
house may be filled. 24 For
I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my
supper.’ ”
Notice that each of these excuses addressed the same excuses
we give today.
BUSINESS. WORK. CAREER
“I bought a piece of ground…”
“I bought a yoke of oxen…”
SPOUSE. CHILDREN. FAMILY
“I have married a wife…
These excuses made the master of the house (Jesus) angry.
So, He invited the very people who those who were initially invited were called
to serve instead.
He then said those who makes excuses and rejected His
invitation will not ‘taste His supper’ (will not enter His Kingdom).
Jesus hates our excuses! However, the enemy loves our BIG BUTS! He loves our excuses.
Don’t let your BIG BUT keep you out of the Kingdom of God!
I recently saw a post on social media from someone questioning why would someone symbolically drink the blood and eat the flesh of a ‘white man’, and what good does that do.
Many people responded in support asserting that Jesus never lived. They were calling Christianity a white man’s tool to enslave and subjugate black people and to hold them down.
Many of these people were making blasphemous statements about God, and calling those who believe in Him through Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) fools, stupid, brainwashed etc.
No matter what the context of the statement or conversation, posts and conversations like this are a hidden treasure for believers.
They provide a list of specific names to call out to God in prayer.
Here’s the thought…
Sometimes you can’t let people know you are praying for them.
You can’t respond, “I will pray for your” or “I’m praying for you” because that means nothing to them at the time, and will just fuel the flames of their rage. It will just stir up the demons inside them that are stirring them up.
In you response, pray for wisdom, and plant a good seed of faith through what you say…Then pray for them consistently. Write their name down. Screenshot it. Memorize it, and call it out to God consistently.
Ask God to give increase to any good seed that’s been planted in them. Seeds of faith in the Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting through His Son Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). Seeds repentance. Seeds of salvation. Seeds of fellowship and peace with Him. And, seeds of a lifetime of much good fruit through their lives. Also ask God to kill the bad seeds that have been planted in them, and to cast our any unclean spirits and command that they never return.
Call out their names in prayer…consistently. Maybe that’s why God allowed you to cross paths with them.
Most of us get angry at those we love the most…it’s just a part of relationships. All children, both small and adult children, get angry at their parents at some point and time…it’s just a part of the relationship.
Most of us who believe in God also claim to love Him and be in relationship with Him…We are His children.
Soooo, it’s doesn’t seem outside of reason to assume that those of us who are in relationship with God, have gotten angry with him at sometimes or another…if we are willing to admit it.
God’s children get angry at their Heavenly Father.
Have you gotten angry at God because…
You thought He ignored your prayer…
You thought He said no…
You thought He was being unfair to you…
You thought He should have intervened…
You thought He was being too harsh…
You thought He favored someone who didn’t deserve it…
You thought those who are evil continue to win…
You thought…
Well, I could go over possible reasons all day, but you know why you were angry with Him…if you’re willing to admit it.
King David, a man after God’s own heart became angry with God. As he was having the Ark of the Covenant (which represented God’s presence) brought back, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled and as Uzza reached out to hold the ark steady, God became angry at him for touching it, (because no one was to touch the ark), and struck him dead. This made David angry and afraid of God…
1 Chronicles 13:10 (NKJV)
10 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
Throughout the book of Psalms, there are hints of frustration with God…
Psalm 13:1 (NKJV)
“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
Psalm 77:3 (NKJV)
“I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.”
Psalm 94:3 (NKJV)
“How long will the wicked, Lord, how long will the wicked continue to triumph.”
Habukkuk cries out…
Habakkuk 1:2 (NKJV)
O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. 3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. 4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Jeremiah laments…
Jeremiah 12:1-4 (NKJV)
Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? 2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;
They grow, yes, they bear fruit.
You are near in their mouth
But far from their mind.
3 But You, O Lord, know me;
You have seen me,
And You have tested my heart toward You.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
And prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long will the land mourn,
And the herbs of every field wither?
The beasts and birds are consumed,
For the wickedness of those who dwell there,
Because they said, “He will not see our final end.”
Jeremiah even cursed the day he was born…
Jeremiah 20: 14 (KNJV)
Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me.
Remember this…Men and women of God are merely, MEN and WOMEN of God. Only human.
God remembers that we are only human…
Psalm 103:14 (NKJV)
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 78:39 (NKJV)
39 For He remembered that they were but flesh,
A breath that passes away and does not come again.
Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Even Jesus, Yeshua, Himself cried out…
Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)
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?”
God allows us to have human moments, but He expects us to ‘come to ourselves’, trust Him and honor Him. He allows us the opportunity to express our humanity in reverence and respect.
When you read the bible, after these men and women of God were angry…after they lamented…after their frustration….THEY TRUSTED GOD!
In the midst of their ‘complaint’ was PRAISE. Each of the Psalms mentioned above ended in PRAISE for God.
Jeremiah 20: 11-13 (NKJV)
But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One.
Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten. 12 But, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You.
13 Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor From the hand of evildoers.
They praised God in their pain to activate their faith….They continued to press in to the purpose that God had for their lives.
Anger is one of the ways we were created in God’s image. God becomes angry sometimes, but His anger doesn’t last.
It’s human and natural to become angry at God and doubt, but He told us…
1 John 4:4 (NKJV)
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
…So it’s superhuman and spiritual to overcome our anger and trust Him.
God knows we will have PITY PARTIES, but He expects us to turn them into PRAISE PARTIES.
When you’re sharing God’s love, it frustrates the devil.
But, he has absolutely no power over your life except that what God allows…
Job 1:12 (NKJV)
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [a]power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
God gets glory out of our lives when we overcome the devil, just as He did when He allowed the enemy to have temporary access to Job.
He bragged on Job, and sometimes God is bragging on you…
Job 1:8 (NKJV)
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you [a]considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and [
God uses them to pollinate plants so the plants can reproduce. As you probably already know, God uses plants to produce the oxygen that we need to breathe.
So, God uses BEES to multiply.
To make more plants…to make more fruit…to make more oxygen, so we can live.
God uses bees to fill the earth.
In the beginning one of the first things God told man to do is multiply…
Genesis 1:28(NKJV)
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
God also told us to bear fruit…
John 15:8 (NKJV)
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
When we bring others to Christ…
When we make disciples…
We’re bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom.
Fruit isn’t WHAT you obtain, but WHO you obtain.
When we plant the seed of God’s word, we’re pollinating God’s Kingdom.
When we’re doing what God told us to do, we’re BEEING what He created us to BEE.
BE BLESSTIFIED! 