• 

Never take for granted how clever the enemy is at trying to come between us and the God of our salvation.

He has been busy at trying to influence the lives of God’s children for thousands of years. The bible tells us that he disguises himself as an angel of light…

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  (NKJV)

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

He is a deceiver and the father of all lies…

As you may already know, the very word devil comes from the Greek word diablos meaning slanderer, accusing falsely, deceiver. Even Jesus calls him out when rebuking the religious leaders…

John 8:44  (NKJV)

⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources,for he is a liar and the father of it.

One of his favorite methods is to use us (most of the time unintentionally) against the one’s we love.

He disguises himself inside of sincere love and good intentions. Remember how Yeshua, Christ Jesus, responded to Peter when he spoke up in what he thought was support of Jesus…

Matthew 16:21-23 (NKJV)

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ^[a]“Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are ^[b]an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Jesus didn’t even address Peter. He addressed the enemy directly.

Think of the fact that the enemy used Eve to get to Adam and Adam quickly shifted the blame to his wife…

Genesis 3:12-13  (NKJV)

¹² Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

¹³ And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Wow! So, how many times has that happened to us in our lives?

How many times has the enemy used husbands, wives, sons and daughters to distract their loved ones from their focus on God’s word?

How many times have you seen a loved one being misused and instead of telling them to turn the other cheek, you told them to retaliate?

How many times has someone been ready to speak up against sin, wrong or injustice and because of the certain backlash a loved one said, “You better leave that alone”.

How many times have we held a love one back who was maturing and growing in Christ because of the changes it would force us to make?

How many times has a loved one wanted to give help to someone in need and we discouraged them…for whatever reason?

How many times have we hurt or hated someone because they hurt or hated someone we love?

How many times has a loved one given bad advice contrary to the word of God from their flesh?

How many traditions that God has forbidden have we allowed to continue through thousands of generations because we felt we were letting our children miss out on something?

Once when I spoke up against the sin of homosexuality, a family member told me (just for the record, it was not my wife), “You better leave that subject alone because if might make some people angry and prevent your music and your ministry from being accepted”

This relative didn’t mean any harm. They made that statement out of genuine concern for me, but they were being just like Peter. God wants me to trust Him with my ministry and music despite what people may say or do.

Can you think of a time when the devil used a loved one against you? Can you think of a time you have do so?

The good news is that God has given us discernment, so the enemy doesn’t catch us by surprise…

2 Corinthians 2:11  (NKJV)

¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Be very careful of your ‘Peter’ moments. Don’t let the enemy use you against the people in your life.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

It’s been said that “hurt people, hurt people”. How many times has someone hurt you…disrespected you…betrayed you…embarrassed you…abused you, or hurt, disrespected, betrayed, embarrassed, or abused someone you love — and you wanted to see them hurt too?

You want to see them experience the same pain that they caused. You want them to know how you feel, and regret how they treated you or your loved one. This is wrong, but this is natural and one of the burdens of our sinful nature.

There is a classic example of this in the bible. Easu, Isaac’s first born twin, was enraged at is brother Jacob for taking his birthright and stealing his blessing…

Genesis 25:29-34  (NKJV)

²⁹ Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. ³⁰ And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called ^[a]Edom.

³¹ But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”

³² And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”

³³ Then Jacob said, ^[b]“Swear to me as of this day.”

So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴ And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 27:1-29  (NKJV)

27 Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”

And he answered him, “Here I am.”

² Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. ³ Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. ⁴ And make me ^[a]savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

⁵ Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. ⁶ So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ⁷ ‘Bring me game and make ^[b]savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ ⁸ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. ⁹ Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. ¹⁰ Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”

¹¹ And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. ¹² Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”

¹³ But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” ¹⁴ And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made ^[c]savory food, such as his father loved. ¹⁵ Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. ¹⁶ And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. ¹⁷ Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

¹⁸ So he went to his father and said, “My father.”

And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

¹⁹ Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”

²⁰ But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”

And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”

²¹ Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” ²² So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” ²³ And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.

²⁴ Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?”

He said, “I am.”

²⁵ He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. ²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” ²⁷ And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:

“Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.
²⁸ Therefore may God give you
Of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
²⁹ Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

So, because of this, Esau comforted himself daydreaming about killing his brother…

Genesis 27:42 (NKJV)

⁴² And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.

Even if you didn’t want to see them killed, how many times have you comforted yourself with the thought of seeing someone else hurt?

Be careful! When you judge in your heart that someone else deserves pain because of the pain they caused…that’s condemnation and judgement. And, we all know what the bible says about when we judge (condemn) someone else…

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.

You are pronouncing that judgment on yourself!

Remember, we have all hurt, disrespected, betrayed, embarrassed, or abused someone. Even if we didn’t intend to do so, their pain was real.

When those thoughts enter your head, immediately ask God to forgive you, then pray and ask God to forgive them and touch their hearts with His love. Bless them…

Luke 6:28-36  (NKJV)

²⁸ bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ²⁹ To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. ³¹ And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

³² “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend, ^[a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. ³⁶ Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

When you’re hurting but not in pain,

When your head is clear but you feel insane,

When you’re fast asleep, but you get no rest,

When a constant heaviness is in your chest,

There’s people all around, but you feel alone,

Music in the air, but you hear no song,

They try to comfort you, but you’re not at ease.

The air is fresh, but you can’t breathe,

Your soul is bleeding, and the flow is profuse,

The enemy whispers in your year, “What’s the use?”

When you feel no strength remains,

Pray for God’s peace, and trust Him with your pain.

Think of everything He’s already brought you through,

Cast all of your cares on Him, for God cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Please allow me to sub-title this piece, “JUST LIKE JUDAS”, since I couldn’t make up my mind.

Many of us shake our heads in self-righteous shame at Judas betraying our Lord and Savior for 30 pieces of silver.

But, if we think back on our lives, sometimes we don’t have to think very far back, we will realize that we have betrayed Him for what was many times much less.

Each time we sin… Each time we know right from wrong…Each time that we know His holy standard…Each time we have a clear choice and think, “No I should not do this”, and then choose to do it anyway, we betray Him just like Judas did.

Those seeking to put Jesus to open shame and kill Him presented Judas was with a transaction, and he agreed to a price to accept the transaction.

Matthew 26:15  (NKJV)

¹⁵ and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.

The enemy daily presents us with transactions (usually through our desires) seeking to hurt…to discredit…to put to open shame our Savior Jesus, and daily we accept them – and consequently betray Him.

James 1:14  (NKJV)

¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

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So, how much have you accepted to betray Jesus?

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What transaction does the enemy prevent to you to convince you to sin?

What level of attention?

What level of affection?

What level of influence?

What level of affluence?

What level of pleasure?

What level of revenge?

Who was it?

What was it?

Was it only a kiss?

Was it only a promotion?

Was it only a glance?

Was it only a taste?

Was it only a touch?

Was it a laugh?

Was it a whisper?

Or, did you do it for free because you were angry at Him?

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Did the enemy use you as the ‘middle man’ to provoke someone else to betray Him?

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It’s not hard to identify how the enemy manipulates and provokes us to betray Him. The bible makes it clear. It’s usually…

1 John 2:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Always remember that Judas realized the 30 pieces of silver weren’t worth it, and wanted to give it back. It’s the same for us today the enemy pays you to hurt our Lord, but the ultimate wage is horrible…

Romans 6:23  (NKJV)

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

So, at the end of each day, thank God for His grace and mercy to forgive us when we repent. Then think about the choices that you’ve made and ask yourself a powerful question to help you refine your walk and relationship with Christ. Think about the spiritual transactions you’ve made and ask yourself…

Was I more like Jesus today, or more like Judas?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 

Do you ever have days that you truly feel like giving up? Not necessarily suicidal, but just giving up on everything and everyone.

Do you have days or seasons when it seems that nothing you do works out?

When no one understands you or what you’re doing?

Days when your feel you’re fighting for your physical, emotional and psychological health?

You’re not just trying to hold it together. You’re fighting for your very life.

Seasons when you truly wonder if God has forsaken you?

Think about Jesus hanging on the cross.

Those closest to Him had all scattered…

Matthew 26:31 (NKJV)

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be ^[a]made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Even His own brothers did not believe in Him at the time…

John 7:5 (NKJV)

⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

He had one last human moment expressing that His Father had forsaken Him…

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?”

But, Yeshua suffered that shame and disgrace for us. And, it’s only fair that sometimes we share in His suffering…

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,

Not just suffering FOR Christ, but suffering WITH Christ is a part of our calling.

1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV)

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The truth is that we will sometimes unfairly suffer. Sometimes it comes straight out of nowhere! On those days and in those seasons remember this…

SOMETIMES WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE OUR TURN ON THE CROSS

In the words of the old hymnal written by Thomas Shepherd, “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone”: “Must Jesus bear the cross alone, and all the world go free? There’s a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

There is an account in the bible (2 Kings Chapter 7) of 4 men with leprosy who were at the entrance to the gate of the city of Samaria waiting to die. The city was being besieged by the Syrians, so there was famine within the gates. These men were diseased and rejected, the enemy was on the outside and there was no help or resources on the inside. They reasoned that rather than just sit and die, that they would go and surrender themselves to the enemy.

What they didn’t know is that God had caused the Syrians to think they heard a great army attacking them and fled leaving EVERYTHING in their camp behind. They left EVERYTHING. They left their tents, their horses, their food, their drinks, their silver, their gold, their clothes…they left EVERYTHING.

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When the lepers arrived at the enemy camp, they had a wonderful surprise from the LORD.

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Those rejected lepers who thought their situation was helpless and hopeless, once they stepped out on faith, suddenly found themselves with more than they needed.

2 Kings 7:3-8  (NKJV)

³ Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? ⁴ If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” ⁵ And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. ⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” ⁷ Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives. ⁸ And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.

Throughout history when a victorious army was able to freely help themselves to what a defeated enemy left behind it has been referred to as…THE SPOIL, THE BOUNTY, THE BOOTY!

In fact, Merriam Webster defines booty as:

Definition of Booty 

(Entry 1 of 2)

1: plunder taken (as in war) especially : plunder taken on land as distinguished from prizes taken at sea

2: a rich gain or prize

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TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS…OR BOOTY!

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In 2 Kings Chapter 7, God provided the BOOTY!

When you feel overwhelmed in your life. When you feel there’s no one to help you. When you feel your situation is hopeless. When you feel like you have no good options…all you have left is your faith in God.

You have to do what those four lepers did. You have to step out on your faith and let God fight for you just as He did Judah when they were overwhelmed by enemies in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20.

The same God that blessed those lepers and blessed Judah is the same God who can confuse your enemies and provide for you from their resources.

Psalm 111:6  (NKJV)

 

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever made Him feel you’ve forgotten Him?

How many times have you started your day without saying, “Good Morning”?

How many meals or snacks have you eaten without saying, “Thank you”?

Have you gone a day without ‘calling’?

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Have often do you check what He’s ‘posted’ in His ‘HOLY MEDIA’?

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How many times has He tried to get your attention and you responded, “Not Now!”

How many times have you asked Him to leave ‘your house’ and invited the devil in?

Even when you’re diligently seeking Him, He sometimes may seem far away… because no matter how close you may THINK you are to Him, you can still be closer.

No matter how much faith you THINK you have…we all still have some unbelief.

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Remember this…

Every person used by God in the bible at some time felt forsaken…including His Son.

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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?”

If you feel God has forsaken or forgotten you, read Psalm 13. Notice how it begins in sorrow, but ends in an affirmation of trust and praise…That’s why He seems far away sometimes. So we can follow even closer behind Him.

Psalm 13 (NKJV)

13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?
² How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
⁴ Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

⁵ But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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We’ve all been there in marriage, family, with friends or with an enemy…

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You’re in a heated exchange…

An extremely contentious argument…

You’re going back and forth…

You walk away, or hang up, or get interrupted, or…

They make a point that leaves you speechless, or…

Your response, your ‘come back’ is just weak…

Then, 5, 10, 15 minutes or maybe even a day later the most awesome response pops up in your mind! “WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT THEN” you think to yourself.

The moment is gone. It’s like a ruined punch line. You can’t go back, call back, or snap back, “Yeah, and another thing!” It’s too late! How can you bring it back up? Do you try to get the argument started again?

DONT!

Maybe it’s God’s will that you couldn’t think of that response at the time.

Maybe it was God allowing you both the time to cool down…or just let it go.

Once words are released, they are impossible to take back, and can cause permanent damage to a marriage, relationship, friendship, employment, or in the case of enemies, could lead to retaliation.

Maybe God helped you hold it in. Maybe His Holy Spirit restrained you.

Pray about it.

If it’s a point that REALLY DOES need to be made, wait and talk about it when neither of you are angry.

Wait until it can be both said and received in love.

Remember this…

Proverbs 15:1  (ESV)

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

The cross of Calvary was shameful, humiliating and excruciatingly painful for our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

It was ugly.

It was disgusting.

It was public.

It was as real!

Imagine the nails digging into His flesh as He tries to adjust Himself on the cross.

Imagine blood, sweat dripping into His eyes…Birds trying to peck His face and eyes and He couldn’t wipe or swat.

Imagine all His enemies thinking they had won.

All this takes place on a stake of execution.

• 

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

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

He shared in the punishment reserved for the worst criminals. He suffered ‘a curse’ on our behalf. He allowed those who antagonized Him to think they won as He shamefully hung from a Roman cross…

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV)

¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 

The ‘execution stake’ was the equivalent to the electric chair, lethal injection needle…hangman’s noose.

Matthew 27:38 (CJB)

³⁸ Then two robbers were placed on execution-stakes with him, one on the right and one on the left.

So, what if?

What if Jesus views Christians, disciples, believers, members of the Messianic community wearing crosses around their necks, hanging from their ears, on their t-shirts and on top of their churches…

What if Jesus views that the same…

As you would view someone wearing a noose if your only son had been lynched in front of an evil, angry mob who claimed God supported their foolishness.

He told us to take up our cross and follow Him, not celebrate the instrument of His temporary death.

Think about it.

BE BLESSTIFED!

.

This short piece isn’t a debate on the validity of calling crime in the Black community ‘Black on Black crime’.

It’s simply coming from a Black man with a wife, a daughter, two sons and a granddaughter.

Every time I hear a headline about someone who looks like me senselessly killing someone else who looks like me, it pisses me off!

Does poverty breed violence? Yes.

Are there some residual affects of decades of institutional racism that contributes to violence? Yes.

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No matter what’s going on externally, it’s time for an INTERNAL SPIRITUAL and CULTURAL REVOLUTION!

There is absolutely no excuse. Every culture has to address its internal threats as well as external. While some communities must face their own pride and arrogance, others must address the violence within their subcultures.

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God demands excellence from all of His children no matter what situation they are in. Look at what He told Israel and Judah when they were exiled in Babylon…

Jeremiah 29:4-14  (NKJV)

⁴ Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

⁵ Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. ⁶ Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. ⁷ And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. ⁸ For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. ⁹ For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.

¹⁰ For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

They were exiles in a foreign land who had lost their freedom. But, God still expected them to thrive and live up to His standards. He expected them to pray for the peace of the city in which they lived, not contribute to it’s destruction.

I encourage everyone who hates racism, don’t give ammunition to a racist’s argument or hatred with the bullets that come from YOUR gun.

Matthew 26:52 (NKJV)

⁵² But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will ^[a]perish by the sword.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

Let me preface this piece by stating that I’m not saying this is ‘the mark of the beast’, but I am pointing out how easily the devil (I’m not capitalizing devil on purpose) is a great deceiver. I’m illustrating how even the greatest so-called theologians can take the word of God, which is so eloquently delivered in figurative language literally — especially in The Revelation and Daniel.

So many people are looking for microchips, tattoos, even the COVID-19 vaccinations as the mark of the beast from The Revelation

Revelation 13:16-18 (NKJV)

¹⁶ He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ and that no one may buy or sell except one who has ^[a]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

As people through the centuries have speculated as to what that mark may be, let me remind you that when God told us that He would write His word on our hearts, there are no literal words written on our hearts.

In the same manner, we could easily assume that having the ‘mark’ on our hand or forehead isn’t literal either. On our right hand could very well mean in the way we do things and on our forehead could mean the way we think.

Keeping that in mind think about the fact that the world has accepted the Gregorian calendar names months of the year and the names for days of the week. The months of the Roman calendar are named to honor a mix of gods, goddesses and rulers. The days of the week our named to honor Greek gods — idols.

No one can make a purchase, execute a contract without a date. Each time a date is written or printed on a receipt, contract or even a school assignment it is acknowledging an idol god, goddess or ruler other than the Lord God of Israel through our Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

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It is impossible to legally by or sell without accepting the ‘mark’ that was left behind by those who created the Gregorian and Julian calendars.

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Remember that God warned us through Daniel…

Daniel 7:25 (NKJV)

²⁵ He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute^[a] the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.

Changing the calendar and days of the week could be a fulfillment of that prophecy.

Again, I’m not saying this is the actual mark of the beast, but illustrating how easily the enemy can convince the world to conform to his thinking and way of doing things.

Think about it, and read this WHY THE MARK OF THE BEAST WON’T BE A CHIP, BAR CODE OR TATTOO…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

God has made it clear in His word that our Adversary the Devil, and those that the bible describes as his ‘ministers’ disguise themselves as ‘light’…

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NKJV)

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Notice that God tells us through the Apostle Paul that his followers are ‘deceitful’ workers. The devil can’t deceive the people of God by doing evil. The term ‘ministers’ isn’t limited to ‘preachers’, but those who are serving the devil’s agenda rather than God’s.

Some people’s sins are very overt and obvious. There’s no deceit in that…

1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NLT)

²⁴ Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.²⁵ In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

However, too many Christians are being deceived by ‘ministers’… preachers, politicians and leaders who disguise themselves in ‘good works’. That’s why God teaches us that ‘good works’ can’t save or justify us…

Ephesians 2:9-11 (NKJV)

⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) also taught us that the false messiahs, (false deliverers) would try and deceive the ‘very elect’…

Matthew 24:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

This won’t be done by acts of overt sin and evil, but by pretending to care about the concerns of true disciples. It’s too often that believers are putting their hope or trust in a man or woman to ‘deliver’ rather than God. That’s elevating that man or woman to the level of messiah.

So, how can you tell the difference? God makes it clear.

“BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM.”

Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV)

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

“BY THEIR CHARACTER”

No matter what ‘good’ they may claim to support or even champion, if they do not display the Fruit of the Spirit —

If they don’t display the behavior, attitudes and character that God gives as EVIDENCE that He lives in them — If they refuse to repent or be accountable for the wrong they’ve done —

If they constantly cast blame and accuse, which is evidence of the Accuser of the saints —

If they take pride in never giving in, apologizing or being willing to yield —

If they don’t clearly display God’s love—

Then they are not of God.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

James 3:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Don’t be deceived. Yes, people can change, but a person who has never been know for their character, integrity and faith, and has not publicly repented of that reputation can never lead disciples of Christ…politically or spiritually. WHEN ‘CHRISTIANS’ CHEAT ON JESUS WITH ANOTHER ‘MESSIAH’…

It was King David’s heart of repentance that made him a man after God’s own heart.

You cannot determine if someone is a ‘Laborer for the Harvest’ by the ‘good they do’.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

Profanity! Insults! Rumors! Gossip! Retaliation! So, many times we say, “I just had to say it!”

So many times we assert, “I couldn’t hold it in!”

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Yes, we can!

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You don’t have to say it!

You don’t have to curse them out!

You don’t have to let them know how you feel!

You don’t have to tell them what was said about them!

You don’t have to spread that rumor without any facts!

You don’t have to say everything on your mind!

You can hold it in!

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Just as no one embarrasses themselves by blurting out a loud, smelly fart in public…just as we one restrain the hot air that comes out of his or her behind

We can also restrain what comes from our mouths.

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No matter how bad one’s stomach may be ‘upset’, not matter how severe the case of diarrhea may be — no one will every embarrass themselves by just ‘letting it go’.

You do everything you can to ‘hold it in’.

We need to learn to do the same thing with our mouths. If we can restrain the hot air that comes from our butt’s, we can restrain the hot air that comes from our mouths. RESTRAINT!

Proverbs 17:27 (NKJV)

^{27 (A)}He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

• 

During the COVID-19 pandemic many well-deserving workers have been recognized as heroes and essential. From medical professionals to shipping and logistics to retail workers and educators — many workers have consistently receive recognition and honor.

However, one group of essential professionals are consistently forgotten or ignored. — Sanitation Professionals . ( I made it a proper noun on purpose). In most cases, these hard-working professionals are Black.

One of the reasons the bubonic plague was so devastating is because of waste. It doesn’t take long for our waste to accumulate in our homes and on our streets if it isn’t quickly and properly disposed of.

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As much as many people missed their sports, favorite restaurants and entertainment during shut-down days, Sanitation Professionals have continued working through the pandemic and many of them got sick. Hardly no one talks about that. What would you have missed first? March Madness? The NBA Finals? The Super Bowl? or your garbage being taken away?

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down while in Memphis TN as he came to fight for the rights, and dignity of Sanitation Professionals. The fact that these heroes have been ignored proves some things never change. The workers pictured above are in a suburb of Memphis.

If you happen to be around when your Sanitation Professionals are doing their job, tell them they are appreciated. Shout them out on social media. Show them some love.

And please thank God for them and mention them in your prayers…

Ephesians 1:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

• 

• 

Sex is a gift from God. Even though it’s the means He intended for us to be fruitful and multiply, it is also meant to be enjoyed within the bonds of holy matrimony between a man and a woman.

Our bodies with their various curves, shapes, textures, contrast of colors, smells etc., are meant to provoke sexual arousal. It’s up to us to control these urges so that they are only fulfilled within marriage.

One of those divine combinations of curves, shapes, textures, and contrast of colors is the female breast.

Yes, these were created for mothers to make sure their children are nourished, but that’s not all.

They were also created for the mutual pleasure of the husband and the wife. Breasts were created:

As a means of seducing her husband…

For her pleasure during times of intimacy…

To be aesthetically pleasing to entice her husband…

For his enjoyment during times of intimacy…

The fact is that even though God created female breasts to nurse their children, that boobs aren’t just for the babies. Check out these bible verses about female breasts and intimacy within marriage.

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 ^[a]enraptured with her love.

Song of Solomon 1:12-13  (NKJV)

¹² While the king is at his table,
My ^[a]spikenard sends forth its fragrance.
¹³ A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me,
That lies all night between my breasts.

Song of Solomon 4:4-5  (NKJV)

⁴ Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built for an armory,
On which hang a thousand ^[a]bucklers,
All shields of mighty men.
⁵ Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle,
Which feed among the lilies

Song of Solomon 7:2-3, 8(NKJV)

² Your navel is a rounded goblet;
It lacks no ^[a]blended beverage.
Your waist is a heap of wheat
Set about with lilies.
³ Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle.

Song of Solomon 7:8  (NKJV)

⁸ I said, “I will go up to the palm tree,
I will take hold of its branches.”
Let now your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
The fragrance of your ^[a]breath like apples,

Song of Solomon 8:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ I am a wall,
And my breasts like towers;
Then I became in his eyes
As one who found peace.

Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NLT)

² But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

³ The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. ⁴ The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

⁵ Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

So, couples enjoy one another, and may your marriages…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You may also enjoy these BE BLESSTIFIED articles on Godly marriage…

GODLY MARRIAGE: WHAT IF THE ‘BIG O’ WAS TOO BIG (Adult but Holy)…

GODLY MARRIAGE: HOW SEX IS SUBMISSION AND HONOR PERFECTED (Graphic but Holy)…

4 SIMPLE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE BETTER IMMEDIATELY…

GODLY MARRIAGE: YOU CAN’T GET ROMANTIC WITH A HYMNAL…

MARRIAGE ADVICE: IT’S YOUR DIFFERENCES THAT MAKE YOU A PERFECT FIT…

BE BLESSTIFIED!