https://youtube.com/shorts/rkF6MlnGDPY?feature=share

I’m a preacher, soooo if we can’t laugh at ourselves sometimes, then we’re taking ourselves too seriously.

It’s hilarious to me when some preachers ‘go live’ on social media with a video full of cliches that they promise will ‘change your world’…

But why do they post their personal CASH APP THOUGH🤣

I hope my parody makes you smile.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Most of the teachers that I know are dedicated professionals who genuinely love children and want the best for them.

Teaching, however, is a professional that has morphed into one of less prestige and unrealistic expectations. Many districts have allowed politics and ad hoc solutions to erode the culture for teachers, administrators and support staff to levels of toxicity that have many either considering or actually leaving a profession they genuinely love.

The problem is that when teachers lament or express genuine concerns about the unrealistic expectations, workload and deflection of all responsibility and blame to them, they are considered to be undedicated, complainers, whiners, and unprofessional.

Too many times teachers are expected to do ANYTHING IT TAKES FOR THEIR STUDENTS…ANYTHING.

They’re expected to accept a never ending list of tasks because it’s ‘best for children’ while often ON THEIR OWN TIME THEY’RE EXPECTED TO give up their duty-free lunch to ‘build relationships’, as well as…

Contact parents…

Oversee extra-curricular activities/clubs/organizations…

Plan…

Create and update reports…

Create intervention logs…

Aggregate data…

Study data…

Report data..

Make and adjust plans according to data…

Make accommodations…

Assume the legal liability if they aren’t executing those accommodations with fidelity in a fast paced…

Unpredictable environment…

Neglect the needs of their own children…

…and maintain the highest levels of emotional intelligence so they don’t react to that environment in a manner that could cost them their career or freedom.

In the corporate world there are functional areas and specialists that support the organization’s work, but teachers are expected to be both subject matter specialists and generalists.

This is because government and districts do a poor job of managing human bandwidth and seeing the importance of allocating funds to do so.

Most large organizations have seen the importance of a functional area that manages internal culture, while in most districts it’s non-existent.

This sets administrators, teachers and staff up for dysfunction, conflict and ‘tribal warfare’ in the school…

All this for the politically correct phrase, “We’ve got to do what’s best for children.” — that serves as an excuse to add an endless list of tasks.

During the height of the COVID/19 pandemic, one Tennessee politician in early 2021 made the complaint that, too many people are listening to the teacher’s union rather than the parents. This implies you can’t consider both and that the teachers don’t matter…this establishes culture. “

The problem with our school boards is that they come up with these plans to reopen. First it was January, then it’s February,” he said. “Now, who knows when it’s going to be. They are changing their plans purely because of the teachers’ unions. And that’s the only pressure they are listening to and they need to be listening to parents about when to get these children back into school.” ~Brian Kelsey

Society must stop shaming, questioning the dedication and placing blame on teacher as they react to a culture and environment they didn’t create.

It’s impossible to DO WHAT’S BEST FOR CHILDREN while IGNORING THE QUALITY OF LIFE for those who are paid too little to nurture and take daily responsibility for them.

Let me say this…

I left a career in corporate America to teach because I watched the dedication of my wife for 20 years. I actually took and passed two PRAXIS tests in 2008, but was immediately offered another corporate job that paid what many principals were making…I went for the money. However, after leaving corporate in 2018, I began teaching in 2019. My first two districts were a complete mess, however…

I absolutely love teaching and take this work very seriously.

My current district and school have created a great culture for teachers to teach. Yes, they have to react to the macro-expectations, and of course isn’t perfect, but have proven to be intentional in their care for teachers.

And, I haven’t once heard, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT’S BEST FOR STUDENTS as an excuse to add to the list of unrealistic expectations.

Teaching is a ministry.

Ministry is simply serving others.

In spiritual ministry, God states that we must treat those who minister to us with the highest level of respect…

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NIV)

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

It would be wonderful if our society would do this in education — they used to do so.

This is a legitimate concern of education professionals. Anyone who sees it as just another complaint is part of the problem.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When you selflessly help someone in need, at that particular moment, you’re the most important person in the world to them. God gives us opportunities every day to be someone’s hero, and too many times we chose not to do so. Here’s 5 easy ways you can be someone’s hero…

1. STAND UP FOR SOMEONE BEING BULLIED OR TEASED…

Whether it be a child in school or a co-worker, bullying is one childhood behavior that extends into adulthood. Some of those scars come from the abuse, while others come from the fact that no one stepped in to stand up for the person being abused.

How many times did you witness a child being bullied in school, and even though you didn’t bully them yourself, you didn’t stand up for them. Intervening means EVERYTHING to someone when everyone around them is having fun at their expense — and the cars last a lifetime. Let’s teach our children that bullying and teasing isn’t okay, and let’s make sure we aren’t letting that same evil behavior continue ruining lives into adulthood.

2. HANDLE PANHANDLERS WITH LOVE…

One of the most common responses to people begging on the street is either judging that they are drug addicts, alcoholics, or people who have lived foolishly. Many people reason that they are trying to scam people to feed their habits. However, years of ministering to homeless people has taught me that there are plenty of hard working, honest people who had catastrophic misfortunes leave them destitute. And, there are countless mentally ill people who are living on the streets. There are others who spend all day trying to beg for enough money to either feed their children or have a place to stay for the night. When you buy a meal or give a few dollars to someone who is genuinely in need…you’re their hero for the moment. Your $10 sacrifice is like $1,000 dollars to them. And, even if they are trying to scam, we leave behind a testimony of God’s love. Most importantly, God told us to do it…

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the ^[a]gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, ⁸ but you shall ^[b]open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

1 John 3:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

3. ACKNOWLEDGE SOMEONE WHO FEELS NO ONE CARES.

There are so many lonely people in the world. So many people watching others laugh, smile, have conversations as they long for someone to acknowledge them. The beautiful thing is that a simple conversation or simply listening to someone who feels no one cares is free. There are even some homeless people on the street who don’t want you money, they just want to be acknowledged and be made to feel human. The sad thing is that when ignore someone who feels no one cares…we prove it to be true. But, simply acknowledging them is sometimes an answered prayer.

But, here’s the thing. We can’t stand up for someone being bullied, buying dinner for someone in need, or visiting someone who is lonely can’t be done to make ourselves feel like heroes. We can’t do it to make ourselves feel better than them. We can’t do it simply to let others see how ‘righteous’ we are… any of those reasons turns it into a selfish act…

Matthew 6:2 (NKJV)

² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

So, show God’s love to someone today, and let Him be the hero.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Six years ago this month at the age of 47 I was awarded my master’s degree. I still have so much that I want to accomplish for God before I sit down or lie down, fruit that remains for God and my family long after I’m gone…do you?

But, some days the work can make you so tired.

That’s why you have to recognize when it’s time to stop and thank God for what He has allowed you to accomplish…

And encourage yourself by celebrating yourself!

If no one else notices, rewards, or celebrates you and you find it getting you down…

Stop and do something to encourage yourself by celebrating yourself while giving God glory. Remember, you can’t love anyone else properly until you learn to love yourself…

Mark 12:30-31 (NKJV)

³⁰ And you shall ^(A)love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ^[a]This is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ^(B)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than ^(C)these.”

If you stop and celebrate yourself, someone else will join you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Years ago, when I was in the radio industry, a prominent doctor was scheduled to record his own commercial in the studio. He arrived on time, but the studio was running behind and he was furious because he had to wait…

Think about it…A doctor was furious that he had to wait about 30 minutes after his scheduled appointment time. Think of how long doctors‘ patients have to wait for them.

In America, children have traditionally been asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“What do you want to be?” instead of “What do you want to do?”

It’s at that point we begin to program future adults that we define ourselves by what we do for a living. This unfortunately feeds a class system that bases peoples’ value in society on what they do every day whether than who they are every day and what KIND of person they are.

Think of how many people who claim to love Jesus Christ today, that if they are honest with themselves, would have looked down on Him if they lived during His earthly ministry because of His ‘social status’ . 8 REASONS WHY MANY OF TODAY’S ‘CHRISTIANS’ WOULDN’T HAVE FOLLOWED ‘CHRIST’…

Too many people get so caught up into their job title and authority ON the job, that they forget that they are EQUAL to their subordinates in the roles of father, mother, son, daughter, sibling etc.

They forget that on any job, in any school, in any office, in any manufacturing facility, in any organization we are all EQUAL in the role of just being people earning money to sustain our lives and families. Too many people begin…

“Smelling themselves…’

“Believing their own press…”

…and go to work seeking to get their egos ‘fed’ by others.

This is one of the reasons I feel that no adult has the right to ‘CHEW OUT’ another because they didn’t meet expectations or to discipline them at work. There is a process of consequences that can lead to termination. These consequences can be administered with respect…even when one feels that the employee doesn’t deserve it. WHY A BOSS SHOULD NEVER ‘CHEW OUT’ AN EMPLOYEE…

In some cases people expect other men, women, fathers, mothers to ‘kiss their butts’ because they are their ‘boss’. WHEN SOMEONE EXPECTS YOU TO ‘KISS THEIR BUTT’…

I’ve seen people in authority interrupt their ‘subordinates’ conversations at work, or duties they themselves assigned for something trivial, while they expect the same people to wait by their office door while they talk to their spouse on the phone, or joke around with another employee.

Unless it’s important, interrupting is rude,disrespectful and arrogant no matter what your job title.

From the CEO to custodian, principal to paraprofessional, manager to machinist… all employees of an organization are CO-WORKERS trying to earn a living, and the organizational hierarchy and authority stops when they are not doing job duties…and even when they are, no one trumps anyone else when it comes to deserving respect.

Never let your occupation or career TOTALLY define ALL of who you are because God could change that in an instant, and remember this…

We didn’t receive our gift of salvation because Jesus was a carpenter.

Mark 6:2-3 (NKJV)

² And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Himwere ^(A)astonished, saying, ^(B)“Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! ³ Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and ^(C)brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they ^(D)were offended at Him.

There’s more to you than what you do.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

What if you smelled like your thoughts?

What if your odor revealed what’s on your mind?

What if people could sniff what’s in your heart?

Would it reveal a dirty mind? Or, a mind meditating on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy?

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Would it reveal the works of the flesh or the Fruit of the Spirit?

Would it reveal malice or good intent?

How would you smell at work? At school? While sitting in your home? While looking at your smartphone?

How would you smell while sitting in church?

How often would you smell good? How often would you stink?

What do you think?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The Chamber, that’s what they called the room on the 4^th floor in which the Information Technology team worked. They were intentionally shut off from the rest of the building…There were no windows. They enjoyed the privacy and freedom from interruption, but unless they left the room, they didn’t know if the sun shined or if it rained.

Unfortunately, one day something went wrong with the alarm system, and they didn’t get warning there was a fire in the building. As Jim, the Department Manager opened the door he noticed smoke coming from the stairwell designated as the fire exit. He quickly told his team they must hurry into the fire exit before it’s too late. However, rather than rush into the fire exit as Jim said, the team immediately team looked at Dorothy, who was an Analyst.

Why?

Because Dorothy was the person on the team everyone went to with their problems. She was kind. Dorothy always seemed genuinely concerned. She always listened. She always honored her commitments. She remained calm at times of crisis, and she very rarely complained. In fact, she was almost always positive in negative situations.

They liked her.

They respected her.

They trusted her.

Jim had the TITLE, but Dorothy had the INFLUENCE.

Dorothy paused a moment and deduced the fire might have actually been set in the fire exit , and she advised to take the main stairwell, which would normally be avoided. The team quickly moved on Dorothy’s advice and exited the building.

You don’t have to be the President, CEO, Governor, Mayor, General Manager, Director or Pastor to change things…all you need is influence.

When people feel you believe in them, they will believe in you.

Remember, Jesus took a rag-tag group of men, and inspired them to change the world after a shameful death.

If you inspire people, make them smile, or comfort them, they will always value you.

Use your influence to be a blessing to the Kingdom of God…

Use your influence to save souls…that’s why God gave it to you.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV)

²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Some things never change. Yeshua the Messiah made the ‘religious people’ so angry that they wanted to kill Him, and with the help of the Romans they did…at least thought they did.

Many Christians of every race claim to be His disciples, but we prove how we would have responded if we lived then by how we respond today. We prove on which side of history we would have stood by where we stand now.

The fact is that many of the people who claim to be Christians would have rejected Jesus, and here are 8 reasons why…

1. WOMEN SUPPORTED HIM WITH THEIR MONEY

Few people ever talk about the women who followed Jesus and supported Him financially, Not, just the women, but the ‘type’ of women…

Luke 8:1-3 (NKJV)

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and ^[a]bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, ² and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and ^[b]infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for ^[c]Him from their ^[d]substance.

So you had a woman who many believed was a prostitute, wives of ‘important’ men and many other women who were following the LORD and supporting Him financially — we all know that would be beyond scandalous today. How many men would co-sign on their wives following and giving money to a broke, uneducated, controversial traveling preacher?

2. HE THREATENED THEIR TRADITIONS

One of the most common complaints today is ‘cancel culture’. Too many people today are devoted to traditions, memorials, statues, etc. to the point of idolatry. Several of our modern traditions are clearly in direct contradiction to the word of God, such as swearing in officials…

Matthew 5:34-37 (NKJV)

³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let ^[a]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (Can’t get more clear than that)

…but, some people would rather die than change. To many, patriotism, nationalism, racial pride, the economy and institutional traditions have become psuedo-religions. But, Yeshua made it clear that they were prioritizing their traditions over the Word of God…

Mark 7:7-9 (NKJV)

⁷ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—^[a]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” ⁹ He said to them, “All too well you ^[b]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

3. HE HELD THE ‘LEADERS’ ACCOUNTABLE

Jesus openly rebuked the Pharisees, Scribes and teachers of the law concerning their hypocrisy, arrogance and pride. These were equal to respected political, religious and professional leaders today. But the LORD called them out and pissed them off. No matter what political or religious affiliation, how to react when those whom they respect are held accountable?

Matthew 15:10-13 (NKJV)

¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” ¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” ¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Matthew 23:13-36 (NKJV)

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ^14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. ¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of ^[b]hell as yourselves. ¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁷ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that ^[c]sanctifies the gold? ¹⁸ And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁹ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? ²⁰ Therefore he who ^[d]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. ²¹ He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who ^[e]dwells in it. ²² And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. ²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. ²⁴ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! ²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and ^[f]self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. ²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and ^[g]adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. ³³ Serpents, brood^[h] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? ³⁴ Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

4. HE WASN’T EDUCATED OR ‘CULTURED’

How many people only hire Pastors who hold multiple degrees? How many people don’t feel leaders are credible unless they have achieved an expected level of education or status? Many people were amazed at how well Jesus spoke because they knew He wasn’t educated.

John 7:15 (NKJV)

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

Even the Apostle Paul said we shouldn’t be overly impressed with words of man’s wisdom, but in the power of God…

1 Corinthians 2:4-6 (KJV)

⁴ And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: ⁵ That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ⁶ Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

5. HE HUNG OUT WITH THOSE WHO RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LOOKED DOWN UPON

It’s amazing how we can allow our education, achievements, connections, affiliations, social status and even our faith to arrogantly allow us to think we are ‘better’ than others. We can look down on others because of the decisions thy have made…such as drug addicts, prostitutes, or homeless people…but, those are the people with whom Yeshua the Messiah came to make the most intimate connections. Many people today would complain about the company that Jesus kept, just as the ‘religious’ people did then.

Mark 2:13-3:6 (NKJV)

¹³ Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. ¹⁴ As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. ¹⁵ Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. ¹⁶ And when the scribes ^[a]and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, ^[b]to repentance.”

6. HIS ETHNICITY

The fact is that if Jesus came today of the same ethnicity, that many who so passionately claim to love Him would not accept Him as a leader. As much as it may be unintentional… cultural and racial biases are real. If Yeshua would have come during this era…born in the ‘Middle East’ (the fact that it’s even called Middle East relative to Europe) with the same skin tone, language, etc.,…how many people who call themselves Christians would actually follow Him? WHEN PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO LOVE ACCURATE HISTORY ARE COOL WITH A ‘EUROPEAN-LOOKING’ JESUS…

John 1:46 (NKJV)

⁴⁶ And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

7. HE DRANK ALCOHOL

How many people today would have rejected Jesus because of the fact that He drank wine? Some try to ‘sanitize it’ by saying that it wasn’t fermented, but that simply isn’t true. Jesus said Himself that unlike John the Baptist, he came both eating and drinking wine…

Matthew 11:18-20 (NKJV)

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a ^[a]winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her ^[b]children.”

He was called a ‘winebibber’ because He drank wine. Did He get drunk? NO! But, how many self-righteous ‘Christians’ would rebuke Christ for drinking wine?

8. TODAY, JESUS WOULD BE A MILLENNIAL

How many ‘established’ leaders and Christians today wouldn’t take Jesus seriously because of His age? He began His earthy ministry at 30 years old.

John 8:57 (NKJV)

⁵⁷ Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

So, be honest with yourself…how would you have received Jesus if you lived back then? How would you receive Him if He had come in our generation?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

What is the beginning? When did everything ‘start’?

Genesis 1:1  (NKJV)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Time/tīm/noun (Oxford Online Dictionary)

1. 1.the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.”travel through space and time”
2. 2.a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon.”the time is 9:30″

If you are a parent who believes in the the Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting through our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), then you have heard this question from your child or children in some form…

“Where did God come from?”

“When was God born?”

“Who created God?”

I know most of you already know this, but please humor me so I can make my point. Besides, even the Apostle Peter let us know that we sometimes have to be reminded of what we already know…

2 Peter 1:12-13 (NKJV)

¹² For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. ¹³ Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this ^[a]tent, to stir you up by reminding you,

God introduced Himself to the world of many beliefs and many ‘gods’ through the perspective of a people He raised up to create a faith. FAITH, NOT RACE…

He created this people through a man named Abram, later changing his name to Abraham…

Genesis 12:1-3  (NKJV)

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
² I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

I love the way that the bible refers to God as “The Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting” in so many places. Yes, it’s a mouthful. Yes, it’s a lot to type, but it is exactly who He is…

Psalm 41:13  (NKJV)

¹³ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.

Psalm 106:48 (NKJV)

⁴⁸ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord!

That is the New King James Version but, look at how the Complete Jewish Bible says it…

Psalm 41:14  (CJB)

^14 (13) Blessed be Adonai the God of Isra’el
from eternity past to eternity future.

I love that…“from eternity past to eternity future”. The thought of eternity past infers that there was NO BEGINNING.

God does not require a beginning. He does not require a birth. He does not require an origin. Why?

Because He exists outside of time.

God, Adonai, our Elohim is an eternal being that was never created. He has consciousness, emotions, feelings and the ability to communicate…but no recognizable form that our eyes can understand. GOD IS NOT ‘THE UNIVERSE’ & THE ‘UNIVERSE’ IS NOT GOD…

God created TIME for our benefit. So we can measure and have context to our lives, history and the future.

Galatians 4:4-7 (CJB)

⁴ but when the APPOINTED TIME arrived (IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME), God sent forth his Son. He was born from a woman, born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm, ⁵ so that he might redeem those in subjection to this legalism and thus enable us to be made God’s sons. ⁶ Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). ⁷ So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son you are also an heir.

Think about it. Even when scientists who say the universe BEGAN with a BIG BANG, you can ask, “Okay, what was there before the BIG BANG?”. One could very easily reason that when God said, “Let there be…” there was a noise and physical manifestation.

Some things are difficult for even the ‘greatest’ scientific minds to understand, and one of those things is TIME. After all, I think of science as our attempt to give a physical explanation to a spiritual world.

IF YOU BELIEVE IN SCIENCE, YOU CAN BELIEVE IN GOD (HERE’S A PERFECT EXAMPLE)…

THE THINGS THAT SCIENCE CAN NEVER EXPLAIN (From my archives)…

FAITH VS. SCIENCE…

WHEN SCRIPTURE & SCIENCE AGREE…

The fact is there are some things we won’t understand until Yeshua returns and we share in His eternal kingdom.

Look at the mess we’ve made of the world. Look at the mess we’ve made of time. Just think of how bad it would be if God gave us the ability to understand eternity.

God doesn’t need a beginning because He IS the beginning.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We have all messed up some stuff in our lives…

Money…

Marriages…

Relationships…

Credit…

Reputation…

What have you messed up in your life?

We also know that even when you’re in relationship with God, there are still real consequences for sin, bad decisions and weaknesses. And even now, many of us are living out those consequences.

It’s God’s will that we learn from our experiences, the mistakes of others, and listen to good Godly advice. We must learn those lessons of…

Repentance (Completely turning from our sins and changing our behavior. Not just asking for forgiveness, but actually changing.)

Accountability (acknowledging and owning where we need to change).

Stewardship (carefully managing the resources that God has given us).

Responsibility (owing and living up to our responsibility)

Relationships ( making sure we are doing everything we can for healthy relationships with God first, then one another)

Once we learn the lessons that God requires for our growth, even though we are living out the consequences, God can still restore all of the things we have screwed up through out mistakes, if He chooses. Time after time in the bible Israel and Judah hurt God and suffered the consequences, then after crying out, He heard them and restored what they lost….after repentance.

Check out these encouraging scriptures about restoration…

Psalm 23:3  (NKJV)

³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

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

Joel 2:25-26  (NKJV)

²⁵ “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.
²⁶ You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.

Isaiah 1:16-19  (NKJV)

¹⁶ “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
¹⁷ Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke ^[a]the oppressor;
^[b]Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.

¹⁸ “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;

Isaiah 54 (NKJV)

Sing, O barren,
You who have not borne!
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud,
You who have not labored with child!
For more are the children of the desolate
Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
² “Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
³ For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabited.

⁴ “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
⁵ For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
⁶ For the Lord has called you
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.
⁷ “For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
⁸ With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.

⁹ “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me;
For as I have sworn
That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,
So have I sworn
That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
¹⁰ For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”
Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

¹¹ “O you afflicted one,
Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems,
And lay your foundations with sapphires.
¹² I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
Your gates of crystal,
And all your walls of precious stones.
¹³ All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
And great shall be the peace of your children.
¹⁴ In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
¹⁵ Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.
Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

¹⁶ “Behold, I have created the blacksmith
Who blows the coals in the fire,
Who brings forth an ^[a]instrument for his work;
And I have created the ^[b]spoiler to destroy.
¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.

Job 42:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ And the Lord ^[a]restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

If you know in your heart that you have learned from your mistakes, as well as the trials that God has allowed to arise in your life, it’s okay to ask God for restoration.

God can and sometimes will…

Restore your relationship with Him…

Touch the hearts and minds of people that you’ve hurt for restoration in relationships…

Work miracles to restore money and property that you thought will never see again…

Work situations so that your credit can be restored…

Bless you with opportunities to restore your influence and reputation.

GOD CAN DO IT IF YOU TRULY TRUST HIM!

God loves you. Just like a parent who has a baby that had a horribly messy bowel movement that leaked out of the diaper and spread all over the child’s body…the parent doesn’t throw away the child. He or she gently cleans washes the child and restores it to it’s original cleanliness and beauty. That’s what God does for us.

So, begin to ask God during your regular prayer life that as you repent, learn and grow to deliver you from the consequences of you sins, bad decisions and weaknesses.

A SHORT PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF BAD DECISIONS…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Every good, long-lasting marriage has seasons of newlywed-like affection and quiet, less intimate distancing from one another.

This is a word of encouragement for those less intimate seasons, because it’s easy for a husband or wife to think their spouse’s ‘coldness’ is about them…

When your spouse is less affectionate, it’s not always about you.

They aren’t always cheating…

They aren’t necessarily ‘not into you’…

They’re not always putting work or friends before you…

Sometimes they’re not into themselves.

Sometimes they don’t feel sexy or as attractive.

Sometimes they’re struggling with their own…

Self-esteem…

Broken dreams…

Failed expectations of themselves…

Stress on the or career…

Spiritual battles…

Mental health.

Sometimes your spouse has internal conflicts that have nothing to do with their love or lack of love for you.

This is why communication is so important.

They have to be honest.

You have to listen.

Even if you can’t understand how they feel as they do, don’t make their stress worse in your reaction.

This is simply a reality of marriage and a part of ‘better or worse, in sickness and in health.

This is when real l❤️ve is proven.

Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV)

² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

BE BLESSTIFIED!

While many Christians are conscious of ‘politicized’ sins and feeding conspiracy theories, there’s 3 sins and conspiracies that have slipped through their radar and been accepted.

Yes, abortion is sin. Yes, homosexuality is sin. Many people who identify as Christians are passionate about rebuking and rejecting these sins, as they should be. However, these aren’t the only abominations in the bible. The fact is that many evangelicals reject some sins while excusing those that either don’t bother them, or that they want to continue committing.

So, if you want liberals to accept that abortion and homosexuality are sins, are you willing to accept…

1. Allowing your children to participate in Halloween is symbolically sacrificing them to idols?

God became very angry at Israel for adopting the customs of the heathen and sacrificing their children to Molech and allowing them to ‘pass through the fire’. Halloween’s roots are undeniably pagan. Either a Google search or scholarly research can easily prove that. The devil knows he can’t get Christians today to ‘sacrifice’ their children literally, so he does it symbolically to spite God. The easiest way for the enemy to allow sin to continue through generations is to make people feel as though their children are missing out on something, and that’s what he does. God made it clear that we are not to ‘learn the way of the heathen’…

Jeremiah 10:2-5 (KJV)

² Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them?

If you want liberals to accept that abortion is wrong, are you willing to accept that Halloween is a pagan practice that should immediately be removed as a National holiday (holy day)?

2. Calling our celebration of our Lord and Savior’s resurrection ‘EASTER’ is blatant blasphemy?

It’s undeniable that the name EASTER has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ, (Yeshua the Messiah). It is derived from the name of a pagan goddess named Eostre, who is the same goddess as Ishtar, and Ashtoreth who God continually rebuked and punished Israel for worshipping. The devil has allowed this worship to continue by defiling the celebration of Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection. Notice what God told His people before they entered the promised land…

Joshua 23:6-7 (New King James Version)

⁶ Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, ⁷ and lest you go^[a] among these nations, these who remain among you. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE MENTION OF THE NAME of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,

God is very clear here. DO NOT MAKE MENTION. But, the devil has convinced Christians to do exactly that EVERY TIME they refer to a day set aside to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection. Putting any name where God’s name belongs is BLASPHEMY. Look at how angry God was at His people acknowledging idol Gods when they were rebuked for worshipping Tammuz who is directly associated with Ishtar…

Ezekiel 8:14-18 (NKJV)

¹⁴ So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for ^[a]Tammuz.

¹⁵ Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.” ¹⁶ So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.

¹⁷ And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. ¹⁸ Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

These are the abominations that got His people exiled into Assyria and Babylon. It’s amazing how Americans who are so concerned with losing their freedom ignore the sins that actually made Israel lose their freedom — the Spiritual adultery, not the actual heathens in the land themselves.

If you want ‘sinners’ to accept that abortion and homosexuality is sin, are you willing to accept that calling our Savior’s resurrection celebration ‘Easter’ and continuing the customs of hunting eggs, especially in church is blasphemy and an abomination?

NAMES MATTER: WHY WE SHOULD CELEBRATE JESUS’ RESURRECTION WITHOUT CALLING IT ‘EASTER’…

3. Celebrating our Savior’s birth by erecting a tree in your home is setting up a shrine to an idol in your home?

It is also clear that the origin of Christmas trees is pagan as well. I myself had vacillated about this for years. But, notice what Encyclopedia Britannica says concerning Christmas trees…

“according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, “The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmas time.”

It is clear what God told His people in Jeremiah when referencing how they harvested trees to carve idols…

Jeremiah 10:2-5 (NKJV)

² Thus says the Lord:

“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
³ For the customs of the peoples are ^[a]futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
⁴ They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple.
⁵ They are upright, like a palm tree,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For they cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.”

Too many Christians are perfectly comfortable telling their children that Santa Claus is watching them all year. They are comfortable letting their children think that Santa Clause “knows when they are sleeping, and knows when they are awake…knows if they’ve been bad or good.” Only God can do these things! This again is blasphemy. The devil has convinced Christians that it’s harmless, but notice that God states in Ezekiel 8:17 that God doesn’t see anything as trivial…”Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here?” Again, one of the enemy’s strategies to allow sins to go on for thousands of years is to convince people that their children are missing out on something.

The fact is that if God forbade all of the three practices above, they are symbolically very much like the ‘accursed things’ that Achan coveted from the heathen people of Ai. He took it and hid it bringing the wrath of God on himself and his family. Please go back and read Joshua Chapter 7.

If you find yourself searching for excuses to prove the above statements wrong, if you’re ‘pushing back’, then you’re no different than the ‘sinner’ who supports abortion or homosexuality — they are all equal abominations to God.

Too many people, as the Apostle Paul said, have a zeal or passion for God, but not according to knowledge. And, just like the people of that day, we have gone about to ESTABLISH OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Romans 10:2-4 (NKJV)

² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Too many people politicize the sins that bother them, while excusing those that don’t. They excuse the sins they wish to continue. Many of these sins are the very sins that provoked God to enough anger to send them into exile.

I have heard so many people give the reason for their political choices based on ‘sins’ as ‘the lesser of two evils’. In God’s eyes sin is sin, so there is no lesser of two evils.

WORRIED ABOUT LOSING YOUR FREEDOM? LOOK AT YOUR OWN PRIDE FIRST…

HOW PRIDE HAS BECOME THE ACCEPTED ABOMINATION… 7 REASONS THAT PRIDE MAY BE THE DEADLIEST SIN…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Exodus 20:3 (NKJV)

³ “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Let me first say this is NOT a condemnation of football. I enjoy football. I enjoy playing and I enjoy watching. But, the purpose of this article is for my fellow Christians who enjoy football to give themselves a self-examination…

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

I’m talking about going beyond enjoying football to loving it. I’m talking about going beyond loving it to allowing it to become your God.

How? At what point?

Football may have become your God when…

You put regularly going to or watching games before going to worship (whether you worship on Saturday (College) or SONday (Professional)…

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.

You know all the players on the roster of your team – all their stats from high school, college and professional, but you can’t name the 12 disciples…

When you do more evangelism and witnessing for your team than you do for Christ…

When you talk more about the game on Saturday or SONday and say absolutely nothing about the sermon, worship or spiritual seed that was sown in you over the weekend.

When you become more offended when someone disrespects your team or favorite player than when they disrespect God…

When you lift up your hands and shout, cheer and celebrate your team but are ashamed to or claim ‘it doesn’t take all of that’ for God…

Psalm 134:2 (NKJV)

When you don’t mind sitting through triple overtime for a game but complain if the preacher preaches ‘too long’…

When you teach your children that football (games, practices and discipline) is more important than worship by allowing them to miss church for it…

When you allow a coach to use profanity and unholy language to get the ‘best’ out of your child when the bible forbids use of this type of language…

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)

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

When people can tell that you’re a fan but can’t tell you’re a disciple…

When you regularly put it before your family…

When you’re more proud of your team than you are your Savior…

You get more angry at your quarterback getting sacked than you do about Jesus being nailed to the cross…

When this cross…

Means more to you than this cross…

Be honest with yourself. Enjoy football, but God knows what comes first in your heart, and He refuses to come second.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We must be careful that we treat EVERYONE in our facilities as respected coworkers, including the professionals who keep our buildings clean… and those who serve food.

I once worked with a lady who cleaned up our office building. Let’s say her name is Sara

She was middle aged, older than some and younger than others, and she was Black.

Out of respect most people in the office called her Ms. Sara Except me and a few others. We called her Sara. She was my elder, but I sensed she didn’t the title Ms. before her name.

I asked several people, Black, White and other races why they called her that, and they confirmed it was out of respect.

So, I asked Sara how she felt about it. She also confirmed she didn’t like it, and it was exactly for the reason I thought.

She was our coworker. Even though she wasn’t a Manager, Analyst, Salesperson, Director, VP, or CEO, she was a coworker. There were other coworkers older than her, of all races, that were referred to by their first name only.

Calling her MS. unintentionally designated her as a servant. It made her feel like a MAMMY.

I reminded everyone to please just call her by her first name just like everyone else.

So many times we can mean well, but unintentionally insult, disrespect, and belittle others because we are culturally insensitive.

Be very careful when you think people are being too sensitive. Remember, we serve a sensitive God.
WHAT TO TELL PEOPLE WHO ACCUSE YOU OF BEING TOO SENSITIVE…

Exodus 34:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you knew…

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,

BE BLESSTIFIED!

In His darkest moment, those closest to Him abandoned Him…

Matthew 26:31 (NKJV)

 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be 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.’

But, I think that Jesus was cool with that. I know He wasn’t surprised. It was prophesied and He knew they would all scatter.

He knew Peter would follow, but far away. He knew he would deny Him three times to the point of cursing…

Matthew 26:74

Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

Many times, in the comfort and conveniences of our 21^st Century lifestyles, we will read about or hear in a sermon about the disciples scattering and deserting Jesus just before He went to the cross. We may even think to ourselves, “What a shame”.

We may wonder what we would have done had we been in that situation. I can quickly and confidently answer that…we would have done the same thing.

How do I know that?

Because it was God’s will that they scatter.

What could they have done to prevent Jesus’ crucifixion? Nothing…because it was God’s will.

What good would it have done if they had died with Him, because that’s exactly what would have happened had they stood with Him.

Had they stood with Jesus at that time and were crucified with Him, how would we have gotten the Gospels? Who would have told us of what they experienced while they were with Him?

He was preparing them to spread the Gospel, not to die with Him.

He was preparing them to GO….not DIE….at least not yet.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Think about it like this…

Jesus could have stayed here longer. He could have put off the cross until His disciples were stronger…but He didn’t.

Jesus left them while they were WEAK enough to scatter and desert Him, but STRONG enough to get it back together and continue.

I believe that Christ was glad they scattered.

So, stop worrying about those who have…

Left you…

Abandoned you…

Deserted you…

Ignored you…or

Betrayed you.

Stop and look for God in it.

The next time that someone leaves you…look for God in it.

And, remember, that sometimes we must share in His sufferings…

Romans 8:17 (NKJV)

 And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Yes, they deserted Him and scattered, but that’s not how the story ended…And, that’s why I believe that Jesus was glad they left Him alone.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We have all been hurt, wronged, betrayed, mistreated, let down, disappointed. used and abused.

It’s a part of life.

Sometimes we feel we have been wronged when the other person of people actually meant no real harm.

Sometimes we feel we were wronged when the other person or persons was actually doing something for our own good.

Sometimes it’s us who was in the wrong.

In many situations we can’t change how we are treated, but we can always control how we react to when we are treated badly….ALWAYS.

So, I have a quick reminder for you. God expects to not only forgive, but have an attitude of forgiveness, even when the other person doesn’t seem as though they are sorry.

Have you ever had a person apologize to you and you weren’t ready to hear it? You want to remain angry…

YOU’RE HOLDING A GRUDGE, AND GOD AIN’T HAVING THAT!

Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

GRUDGE (Oxford Online Dictionary)

Noun: A persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury.‘she held a grudge against her former boss’.

Grudges are birthed from pride.

Grudges require huge amounts of mental, emotional and spiritual bandwidth.

You can’t be grateful, thankful, forgiving, joyous, kind, or love the way God requires while holding a grudge.

Grudges our a spiritual drain and they ruin your testimony.

It is impossible to move forward while you hold a grudge.

The fact is…

THAT GRUDGE THAT YOU ARE HOLDING IS ACTUALLY HOLDING YOU!

How many blessings is God trying to put into your hand, but He can’t because you’re holding tightly to a grudge?

Please, let it go.

HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN APOLOGY…

ARE YOU EASY TO APOLOGIZE TO…?

WHY WE SHOULD STOP SAYING, “FORGIVENESS ISN’T FOR THEM, IT’S FOR YOU…”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the favorite arguments of atheists is the ‘foundations of the earth’ language in the bible. And, honestly, this is one of those things in the bible that’s difficult for believers to understand explain too.

Let me help with a very practical explanation.

First of all, the bible acknowledges that the earth is round…

Isaiah 40:22 (NKJV)

²² It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

I think everyone will agree that circles are round. But, what about all the language referring to the ‘foundations of the earth’ such as…

Psalm 104:5 (NKJV)

⁵ You who ^[a]laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever,

Think about this. Even though the earth is round, the home in which you live still requires a foundation. Every building that we build requires a strong, immovable, preferably flat foundation. The very flat ground that we walk on, build on…live on has it’s own layers or ‘foundations’.

The fact that the world is round does not prevent the ground from being flat and requiring foundations.

Did people in the ancient world think the world was flat? Yes. But the fact that God didn’t reveal the fact that the world was round to everyone at that time doesn’t negate the fact that He is real and He lives. Think about all of the mysteries of the physical and spiritual worlds that WE still don’t know.

Don’t allow your blessings of intelligence and sense of logic be a curse to prevent you from understanding and accepting the mysteries in the word of God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Posts and statements like the one in the image are encouraging, get a lot of amens, and ‘LIKES’, but they are dangerous.

BE CAREFUL when people QUOTE FOR GOD as if He said it word-for-word.

Be careful when people say, “God told me to tell you.”

Especially when…

1. It’s not scripture.
2. It’s too universal. It’s not true for everyone who reads this… “THIS WEEK” as stated in the image. Some people are going through storms, discipline, and ‘dry seasons’.
3. God doesn’t bless everyone the same way at the same time.
4. If a miracle doesn’t happen this week, it can cause people to lose faith. It can cause people to lose faith and discredit our faith much like television ‘faith-healers’ who seem to never go to the hospital.
   There’s a difference in being inspired by God and QUOTING as if He said it verbatim.
5. Even Old Testament prophets weren’t always able to give the exact how, when and where.
   

There’s a difference in being inspired by God and quoting Him with our words as if He said it verbatim.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV)

²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

No prophetic statement will contradict God’s order.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

This is not scientific or philosophical, but it is God breathed. And, there is some degree of randomness as it is for the most part stream of consciousness…

More and more people are falling into modern, popular culture pantheism. They are replacing God with ‘The Universe’.

“The universe will bring it to you.”

“The universe is on your side.”

“The universe will judge you.”

“The universe has heard you”

“The universe sees you”.

This doctrine is straight from the devil (who loves the fact that many don’t believe he exists).

In short, rather than acknowledging the one true, living and sovereign God, these people say everything is determined by the natural laws and natural order establishes and ‘maintained’ by ‘the universe’.

And, there are some who try to actually give the universe ‘consciousness’. However, they don’t even imply that God is the universe, but that the universe is God.

GOD IS NOT THE UNIVERSE, NOR VICE VERSA.

God created the universe..

Hebrews 11:3  (NKJV)

³ By faith we understand that the ^[a]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Even Hebrews Chapter 3 says, “the worlds were framed”.

God is an eternal, invisible Spirit. Quite frankly, He is not an ‘old, bearded, grey-headed white dude’.

Colossians 1:15  (NKJV)

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

John 4:24  (NKJV)

²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Romans 1:20  (NKJV)

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[a]Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Science contends that the universe had a beginning. God had no beginning. Yes the bible says, “In the beginning” for our benefit to reference when God began His relationship with our perception of reality and man, but an eternal God needed no beginning. It that was so, what happened before the beginning.

If the universe had to have a ‘beginning’, by what or whom did it begin?

The universe is not alive.

The universe doesn’t have a will.

Here’s the problem, science and our ability to learn and draw conclusions from what we learn is only as good as our ability to understand.

Even the brightest human minds are incapable of understanding the infinite deep knowledge of God, or even the universe.

In fact, I define science as our attempt to give a physical explanation to the spiritual.

Think about this, God is has not beginning and has no end. He cannot be created or destroyed. Sounds a lot like the Law of Thermodynamics…

This law states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed,

but can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another. sounds a lot like God doesn’t it?

Science looks for planets similar to earth that can sustain life, but God can create and sustain life that can live in -200 degrees below zero and breath methane gas if He so desired.

Science, philosophy and all this world’s knowledge will never be able to understand the mysteries of the universe, and definitely will never understand the wisdom of God…

Isaiah 55:8-9  (NKJV)

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts

People think there is no God because they feel earth is too small relative to the entire universe. But, if God chose to have life on a million planets, that would still be small relative to the entire universe. The fact is that ten million light years away, God is still God.

And, just as you can’t see the internet, but can be ‘on’ the internet in your Tennessee, while millions of others are on the internet all around the world, while someone else is on the internet in space, God can be everywhere at the same time.

I’m saying all that to say this. God is alive and He is bigger than the universe. It takes just as much faith to believe in ‘the universe’ as it does to believe in God.

Just open your heart and believe.

1 Corinthians 1:25-31 (NKJV)

²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ²⁶ For ^[a]you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many ^[b]noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the ^[c]base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Salvation is a precious free gift of God, that cannot ever be taken away by anyone. This gift provides us with eternal security…

Ephesians 1:13-14  (NKJV)

¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who^[a] is the ^[b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

This inheritance is reserved for those of us according to how we manage our walk on this earth.

 1 Peter 1:7-9  (NKJV)

⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not ^[a]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Yes, we can never lose the gift of salvation. It is always available as long as we are alive on this earth no matter what we have done.

However, we must not allow the syntax of “once saved always saved” confuse us of its application.

Consider this…

Every day of our lives, God is preparing our spirits for eternity.

He’s conditioning us to freely surrender our free will to His will.

Matthew 16:24-25 (NKJV)

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

When our lives are over on this earth, our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, to be replaced with new spiritual bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53  (NKJV)

⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a ^[a]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Our bodies will be new, but our spirits will not be renewed when Jesus returns, they are being renewed right now.

 2 Corinthians 4:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

We have a lifetime of refining our spirits for eternity. It’s our responsibility. He’s encouraging us to remove those things from our spirits that come between our relationship with Him. We are all born with ‘stuff’ that we don’t need. That’s what circumcision represented, the cutting away ‘flesh’ that we don’t need.

Romans 2:29  (NKJV)

²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose ^[a]praise is not from men but from God.

2 Corinthians 7:1  (NKJV)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

God is teaching us to allow our new nature to overcome our old nature.

2 Corinthians 5:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

God has kicked those who allowed their spirits to be corrupted out of His Kingdom once, but He’s not going to do it again.

Isaiah 14:12  (NKJV)

¹² “How you are fallen from heaven,
O ^[a]Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!

Ezekiel 28:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ “By the abundance of your trading
You became filled with violence within,
And you sinned;
Therefore I cast you as a profane thing
Out of the mountain of God;
And I destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the fiery stones.

 Revelation 12:7-9  (NKJV)

⁷ And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, ⁸ but they ^[a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for ^[b]them in heaven any longer. ⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

If your spirit isn’t worthy, you just won’t get in.

Manage your health, manage your money, manage your relationships, manage your life, but please don’t neglect managing your spirit.

Now is the time to get resist all the filth that corrupts our spirits…

Galatians 5:19-21  (NKJV)

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[a]adultery, ^[b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

Your salvation is not a license to do wrong. Remember, the warning of Galatians 5:19-21 is not just for the sinner, but it’s for the church…

This is huge and often overlooked. Galatians, and all of Paul’s letters were addressing the church and all those who are ‘saved’ in the church (as well as both of Peter’s letters). Notice the greetings to each letter…

Galatians 1:1-5 (NKJV)

Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), ² and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

³ Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (NKJV)

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

² To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are ^[a]sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the ^[a]bishops and deacons:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Colossians 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father ^[a]and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Ephesians 1:1-2  (NKJV)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the ^[a]pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

 2 Peter 1:1  (NKJV)

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have ^[a]obtained like^[b] precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Notice that the greetings to these letters address ‘the brethern’, the ‘sanctified’, ‘the saints’ ‘the elect’, ‘in sactification’, ‘those who have obtained precious faith’. And, every warning in each of those letters applies to them, not just the unsaved. I encourage you to go back and read through each one thoroughly.

And, remember this, no one can be an apostate to something that they were never a part of…

 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV)

³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of ^[a]sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

 Please never forget the warning that Jesus gave us…

Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ^14 [a]Because narrow is the gate and ^[b]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

So, honestly ask yourself this question, “Is my spirit ready for eternity?”

This may also bless you: WHY MOST PEOPLE WILL GO TO HELL…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It happens to all of us. A situation arises where we feel we deserve an apology…but don’t get it.

Think for a moment about Jesus on the cross. As He was being brutalized and mocked, He still had enough love to say, forgive them…
 Luke 23:34 (NKJV)

³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”^[a]

And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Think about the fact that Jesus offered this forgiveness and love, without an apology. It’s one thing that the Romans crucified Him, but His own people…those closest to Him consented to and called for His death.

One of the most difficult things to do is move forward with people that we feel owe us an apology…especially if they’re someone close to us.

Yes we still have to work with and relate to people who aren’t close to you, but how do you avoid the lack of apology turning into resentment and becoming a wall in your close relationships.

You may find yourself thinking…

“How can they be so content acting like nothing happened…acting as if they didn’t hurt me?

You may have said to yourself…

“If they loved me, they would apologize.”

Yes, it’s not easy, but here are 9 tips to help you move forward in your relationships without an apology…

1. BE READY TO FORGIVE IF AND WHEN THEY APOLOGIZE. Sometimes if we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t want an apology…because it takes away our excuse to be angry. If they apologize and you don’t accept it, the burden has shifted from God to you.
2. DON’T JUDGE THEIR APOLOGY IF AND WHEN THEY GIVE IT. When they come to you and apologize, don’t judge their apology by saying that they didn’t mean it or it wasn’t sincere. Especially if you didn’t like the tone. Don’t find yourself saying their apology wasn’t good enough. Even if they weren’t sincere…many times when we do what God has told us to do, we ‘don’t feel like it’, but God still honors our faith, effort and obedience. Sometimes when we apologize, we don’t feel like it, but in our heart we want to do what’s right.
3. DON’T LET THE ENEMY ‘FLIP-THE-SCRIPT’. Realize that when you remain upset because you haven’t gotten an apology, the enemy has tricked you into not forgiving  them for not apologizing to you.
4. REALIZE THAT THEY MAY NOT BE AS SPIRITUALLY MATURE AS YOU. Apologizing isn’t easy. It takes spiritual maturity to do so. If you feel they ought to be strong enough to apologize, realize that they might not be as spiritually as you. In fact, the bible tells us the strong must bear the failings of the weak (Romans 15:1 NIV).
5. REALIZE WHEN YOU ‘VE GOTTEN SOMETHING BETTER THAN AN APOLOGY. Even if they haven’t apologized, if they have stopped the behavior that hurt you…if they aren’t doing the same thing anymore…if they have clearly moved on as if nothing happened…if they’ve completely turned around, but not apologized, you’ve gotten something better than an apology – you’ve gotten REPENTANCE. Think of all the people who actually apologize to God, but don’t really change.
6. FIND A ‘REPLACEMENT THOUGHT’ WHEN YOU THINK OF HOW THEY HURT YOU. Of course you’re going to think of what they did sometimes, which can make you angry all over again, So, when you think of what they did…When they don’t seem to appreciate your kindness…find a replacement thought. Think of the good times…the best times… Think of the sacrifices they’ve made for you…Think of kindness they’ve shown you in the past…Think of the times they made you smile…or, Think of how you’ve hurt someone and regret it. 
7. REALIZE THAT YOU HAVEN’T APOLOGIZED FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU’VE DONE TO HURT OTHERS. Have you apologized for everything that you’ve done to hurt others? No! Because there are some people you offended and didn’t know you offended them. You can’t apologize for what you don’t know. Sometimes our words hurt, and we didn’t even know it…Sometimes our tone was not taken as we intended…Sometimes we did something hurtful and we didn’t even realize it. Those people are going on without an apology from you.
8. PRAY ABOUT IT! Ask the Lord to give you the desire and strength to ‘love through’ the lack of an apology. Ask God to give you a heart that doesn’t NEED an apology to move on. This is another situation where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Moving on without an apology isn’t easy, but it is possible. This is another situation where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We as writers and ministers can find ourselves seeking to share something ‘deep’. Something profound that makes one sit back and say, “Wow!” If we aren’t careful we can feel pressured to validate our anointing or education with quotes, discourses, and words of wisdom that confirm God speaks through us. The fact is, when we are fortunate enough to do so, it IS God and not us.

Have you ever been around someone who never talks normal, but feels every word must be a divine revelation? Every sentence must be crafted perfectly? Every moment is a teaching or mentoring moment…they can’t just have a simple conversation?

Have you ever noticed how a very charismatic speaker can make something really simple sound deep? That’s why we should never confuse charisma with anointing.

But, even God Himself isn’t always DEEP.

John 3:16 (NKJV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…

That’s simple.

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…

That’s simple.

Luke 6:31 (NKJV)

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise…

That’s simple.

Even the Apostle Paul admitted he wasn’t always deep either…

1 Corinthians 2:1-2  (NKJV)

2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony^[a] of God. ² For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

It doesn’t take much reading to discover God’s word is full of simple truths and expressions of His love.

God knows how to feed us with milk, and how to feed us with meat. He knows what we need and when we need it…

1 Peter 2:2  (NKJV)

2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,[a]

If God can humble Himself to sometimes keep things ‘simple’ for us, then we can to.

And, don’t get to the point that your expectation of the deep allows you to miss what’s profoundly simple.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Do you know anyone who seems to love drama? Dysfunction? Chaos?

Do you know anyone who confuses peace with boredom?

Some people can become so used to toxic environments, cultures and behaviors that they consider that to be normal. They are so used to negativity that they begin to unknowingly enjoy it. They enjoy creating it. They enjoy watching it. They enjoy talking about it….that’s why I think reality shows are so successful now.

They can create their own poison to what would be a good relationship…friendship…job. They sometimes aren’t even comfortable with peace within themselves because they anticipate something bad is going to happen.

I hope this is not you. We must be very careful that we don’t reject the very peace that God seeks to GIVE us. We must not be uncomfortable with the peace that God GIVES us through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Not only does He give us peace…He gives us HIS peace…

John 14:27 (NKJV)

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

His peace is more powerful than any trouble or fear that we have the tendency to allow to overwhelm us.

Think about it. The enemy, just as he did in the book of Job roams around looking to disrupt the peace that God has given you…

Job 1:7 (NKJV)

⁷ And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because^[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

 God has given you the power to ‘be the peace’ in any given situation.

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.

Claim your own peace. Be comfortable with it, and walk in the authority God has ordained for your life.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I’m admitting two things in this piece…

ONE: I’m jealous of something.

TWO: Foolishness could be considered subjective.

However, we were created in God’s image, meaning that we are capable of having His characteristics and attributes. One aspect of His character is Godly jealously. Our emotion of jealousy is an example of the fact that we are created in His image.

Exodus 34:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

Deuteronomy 4:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Jealousy becomes a sin only when it’s perverted through our own pride.

God gets jealous when we put sin and other priorities before Him. We get jealous over the same thing sometimes don’t we?

So, that’s why I don’t feel so bad about the fact that I’m jealous of much of some of the foolishness that gets so much attention, and the success people enjoy from it.

As a blogger and published songwriter, of course I want my writings and music to be read by and listened to by millions upon millions.

I want people to be inspired, informed, challenged, admonished, amused, encouraged, entertained. I want their relationships to be enriched. I want them to grow with me as I struggle to master Emotional Intelligence. And, I want us all to be brought into more intimate relationships with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah).

I also admit that I want to enjoy seeing people blessed by what God releases through me, YES, I want to get credit for the work that I have done…

Proverbs 3:3-4 (NKJV)

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴ And so find favor and ^[a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Furthermore, as much as ‘foolishness’ could be considered a subjective term, I’m using it to describe behavior that is in direct contradiction to what God demands of those who consider themselves to belong to Him.

The fact is that some of the ‘stuff’ that ‘goes viral’, influences behavior, and leads to ‘success’ does so because of the support it receives from people who call themselves Christians. Some of those who overtly promote lifestyles clearly contrary to the word of God are encouraged and positioned as ‘wise’ by many believers. For example…

Yes, everyone has a right to live as they choose and endorse what they choose, but if many of the same people who claim to be Christian would give the same support to much of the Godly writing and music, it would boost the influence of writers and artists like myself.

I sometimes envy the success that people enjoy through what God considers sin. I admit that my jealousy vacillates from Godly jealousy to my own sin. f I’m a work in progress…

Psalm 37:1 (NIV)

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;

Yes, I know know that ultimately God will make sure those who He intends to see or hear what I release…and I do trust Him with that. But, sometimes it’s good to vent responsibly, just like the Apostle Paul did when stating His rights as an apostle…

1 Corinthians 9:1-18 (NIV)

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? ² Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink? ⁵ Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas^[a]? ⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? ¹⁰ Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. ¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

So, if someone reads this and says, “He’s just jealous of the success of others.” I readily and humbly admit, “Yep, you’re right”.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Just because someone auditions you for their drama…

it doesn’t mean you have to accept the role.

No drama today!