God demands that His name always be handled with reverence and respect…ALWAYS!

Matthew 6:9 (NLT)

⁹ Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy

Exodus 20:7 (NLT)

⁷ “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

Remember, God’s name is not GOD. And, yes He has names that describe attributes of His character, (Yahweh or Yah, Yehovah Yirah, Yehovah Sabaoth, Yehovah Shalom, etc.) but God’s name is also His authority, His essence, His heritage,…and that of His Son and our Savior Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). His name is WHO HE IS.

Exodus 3:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

¹⁴ And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

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

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.

Those of us who claim to be called by His name and belong to Him….Those of us who claim the responsibility and honor of representing the authority of His name, his character and reputation… most of us want our names handled with respect. Most of us want people to respect the names of our parents, and those who are a part of our heritage with respect.

So, it’s unfortunate when the children of God think it’s okay to ‘play with the name of God’ by referring to Him with disrespect, in jokes, and even playing with prayer.

In conversations, movies, songs, comdey, memes, GIFs etc. people misuse and reduce God’s name to silliness for jokes for impact…

‘DEAR BABY JESUS’…

‘LAWD HAM MERCY’…

‘OH LAWD’…

‘HALLELU-YER’…

Shouting ‘JESUS CHRIST’ as an exclamation…

The list goes on and on.

One popular Writer/Producer/Director/Actor has made ‘HALLELU-YER’ extremely popular.

The fact is that the YAH syllable in HALLELUYAH is actually one of God’s names…

“Hallel- TO PRAISE OR GLORIFY Yah- SHORTENED FORM OF YAHWEH

When people jokingly pray to ‘BABY JESUS’, the Jesus that died for our sins wasn’t a baby. Our salvation at the time He was a child had not yet been secured. It’s silly and irreverent to pray to BABY JESUS for the sake of a joke. That’s not keeping His name holy.

What’s also unfortunate is that when called out on this rebellious behavior, many who claim to be Christian will immediately look for reasons to justify it, and explain how it’s not a bit deal…it’s not that serious. Too many times Christians ignore what the word of God explicitly says and finds excuses to do what they really want to do.

This equates to telling God what He must accept from us, rather than submitting to His clear expectations.

Even though we can’t tell those who don’t believe what to do, those of us in the Body of Christ should be the first to KEEP HIS NAME HOLY and hold one another accountable in doing so.

I love having fun, but some things need to left alone….Especially by Christians.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Throughout the history of the world people have committed horrible atrocities to one another.

In His sovereignty and for His ultimate purpose, whether it be for example or judgement, if you believe in God, just as with Job, you have to accept that God allowed those atrocities that were provoked by the devil to happen.

The devil has to submit to God’s power, and he gets no access unless God allows it.

Job 1:12 NKJV

And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Even today, the most vile, evil and remorseless people are being influenced by the devil, the adversary…Satan.

There’s a world of evil, crime, oppression and opposition that many people like me only know about from the news or movies.

So, when we get upset at how the devil is allowed to frustrate our lives in many ways…our families… our jobs and careers… our finances… we must stop and thank God there are horrible levels of evil that God doesn’t permit the devil to release into our lives.

This isn’t meant to diminish any level of resistance someone may be facing right now, but for most of us… it could always be worse.

Stop right now and thank God for how He restrains the devil and His emissaries from your life.

Stop and thank God for YOUR angels who minister to you and fight for you in both the physical and spiritual worlds.

Hebrews 1:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said:

^(A)“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

^{14 (B)}Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will ^(C)inherit salvation?

And, remember to release prayers for those who are under a more severe level of attack than you.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

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

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (NKJV)

⁷ For ^(A)the ^[a]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[b]He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

(1)Teachers: (2)We (3)will (4)lighten (5)your (6)workload (7)and (8)increase (9)your (10)compensation (11)to (12)be (13)commensurate (14)to (15)your (16)expertise, (17)responsibility, (18)accountability, (19)and (20)legal (21)liability.

Even though the scripture below contextually applies to ministers, we should also consider it for those who teach our children…

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NKJV)

¹² And we urge you, brethren, ^(A)to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and ^[a]admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. ^(B)Be at peace among yourselves.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We have all had people speak badly about us behind our backs. Sometimes it was true, and sometime is wasn’t true.

If we are honest with ourselves, we have all done it ourselves at sometime or another.

Many times we will hear something said about someone we care about, someone we love or someone we respect and rush to let them know as soon as possible. But, is that always the right thing to do?

Is it always good for the wife to tell her husband what her dad said about him?

Is it always good to let one co-worker know what another co-worker said about them?

Is it always good to let one friend know what another mutual friend said about him or her?

Yes, I said ‘mutual’ friend. Some would contend to say that if they were a real friend they wouldn’t say anything negative, but that’s not true. Our love for one another isn’t perfect. Our friendships, marriages, families and relationships are not perfect. We all say and do things to hurt those close to us. When this happens it doesn’t mean that there is no love, it just means that our love isn’t perfect.

Loyalty is not always telling EVERYTHING that was said about someone. When is it appropriate? That’s where wisdom, discernment, discretion and restraint come into play.

We must also examine ourselves and our motives for telling them. Do we want them to know? Do we enjoy the excitement of telling them? Do we want them to dislike the person who said it? Why are we repeating it?

This is why God gave us this powerful, but often overlooked wisdom through these two Proverbs…

Proverbs 17:9 (NKJV)

9 He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates friends

Proverbs 16:28 (NKJV)

28 A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

Remember, some things are best left unsaid.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Parenting level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest…

What level parent do you think you are?

By what, and whose objective and/or subjective standards should be used to determine this?

As a parent, what if the decision as to whether or not you can keep your children was based on a standardized test that your children took? What if that test was based on how you managed your children at home and how they performed outside of the home?

What if your child or children were given a test based on everything you taught them as a parent throughout the course of a year?

As a parent, are you able to control how well your child or children master what you teach them? Are you able to control what they watch and listen to all of the time? Are you able to control their behavior? Do your children always comply and submit with humility, or do they sometimes give you attitude? Does your child or children ever rebel against your rules? Do they ever sneak and do things they aren’t supposed to do?

How many macro issues are going on around the world that influence and affect the culture of a home and how children learn and behave? How much is beyond a parent’s control?

The truth is that every adult still struggles from some behavioral, social, intellectual and emotional issues inherited from their home no matter what the race, culture religion or socio-economic status may be.

So, what if in everything you did as a parent, your name was accompanied by a number/score by which you would be judged?

Why do we have this unrealistic, unfair and highly-subjective metric placed on our educational professionals?

Many educators are parents too, with the same struggles and challenges.

Yes, test children to get a snapshot and benchmark of what they’ve learned. But, don’t base the EFFECTIVENESS of someone who has to share the dedication they have for their own children with two to eight dozen other children who aren’t their own.

How many good parents would lose their children based on a test score?

For those of you who consider yourselves to be Christians, there’s no better parent than God our Father right?

Do we base His effectiveness as God and a Heavenly Father on how well His children obey Him and master His expectations?

James 1:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning

WHEN GOD’S CHILDREN GET ANGRY AT HIM…

WATCH ALDTRIC JOHNSON PREACH SIBLING RIVALRY: WHEN GOD’S CHILDREN THINK HE’S NOT BEING FAIR

Please share this with someone who you think…will read it and think.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Notice what Jesus prayed for before He went to the cross in John 17. Notice how many times He said,”ONE”.

John 17:20-23 (NKJV)

 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Now, notice how many times He said I and my father are ONE.

John 10:30 (NKJV)

 ³⁰ I and My Father are one.”

Think about what who bears witness in heaven.

John 5:7 (NKJV)

 ⁷ For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one

What did Jesus Himself say about marriage?

Mark 10:8  (NKJV)

 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; [a] so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Notice that we’re told to speak the same thing and there be no divisions in our churches…

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)

 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

NOW…

Also notice something significant about the demons cast out of the man in Mark Chapter 5.

Mark 5:9 (NKJV)

9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

Take note in Matthew Chapter 12 what demons do when they find a comfortable dwelling.

Matthew 12:43-45 (NKJV)

 43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. 

Notice what atrocities Hitler was able to accomplished by getting people to agree with His agenda.

Look at what the LBGT community has been able to accomplish contrary to the word of God by banding together in agreement.

Why?

Because no force other than God and His love is more powerful agreement.

Oneness. Agreement. Unity. Works for both GOOD and EVIL. RIGHT and WRONG.

Think about it…

Marriage…agreement.

Family…agreement.

Church…agreement.

Street gang…agreement.

Mob…agreement.

All are only successful through ONENESS. AGREEMENT. UNITY…a force so powerful, it works for good and evil.

Why do you think the devil works so hard at trying to divide people who love one another…people who have so much in common?

God is love, and satan is not (yes, lower case on purpose.)  Love covers all and conquers all…

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

 ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

God’s love is all powerful, but think about this…

UNITY, (AGREEMENT or ONENESS) is the only force and power that the enemy can use to try and RIVAL the power of God’s love on earth to accomplish his agenda.

That’s why in John Chapter 17, after praying for Himself, then praying for His disciples…He prayed for us (vs.20), and He prayed that we are ONE in Him and in one another.

Because other than love, there is nothing more powerful on this earth than UNITY.

So be very careful who and what you agree with!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

As a minister, positive feedback makes preaching easier. However, from the Old Testament prophets to the New Testament apostles…the bible confirms that preaching and ministry will not always be easy, convenient or even safe.

It is easy however, for us as modern-day preachers to become spoiled and even intoxicated by…

…people eagerly and happily receiving what we have to say.

…’amens’ and people showing their approval.

…captive audiences.

It’s easy for ministry to become a means of validating ourselves and having our egos fed. If we aren’t careful we can not only find ourselves whining and complaining, but even fussing at people for not listening to us… agreeing with us… making ministry easy for us.

This is when we need to remind ourselves of the apostles. Notice the response to the Apostle Paul in Iconium in Acts Chapter 14 after healing a lame man and receiving praise from the people…

Acts 14:18-20 (NKJV)

¹⁸ And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. ¹⁹ Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. ²⁰ However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

He was stoned and presumed dead, but he didn’t stop preaching…

Acts 14:21-22 (NKJV)

²¹ And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

No whining. No complaining. No fussing at the people for not listening…just continuing with their calling.

When WE preachers find ourselves whining and complaining about not getting enough ‘Amens!’. We owe Peter, Paul, James, John… the apostles… the martyrs and most of all Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) an apology.

Churches aren’t our little kingdoms and the members our subjects. The church is the Body of Christ.

WHEN YOU FEEL YOUR MINISTRY ISN’T GETTING ENOUGH ATTENTION…

BE BLESSTIFED!

When Andrew Jackson was elected president in 1828 the phrase, “To the victor go the spoils’, was used by New York Senator William L. Marcy referring to the ‘spoils system’ (patronage) in the early days of American politics…the practice of giving civil jobs to supporters and friends. Of course, well-qualified, high-performing people have to be fired to do this.

However, we all know that new leadership getting rid of good people is by no means exclusive to politicians. Countless people have fallen victim to loosing their job because new leadership either wanted to give jobs to people who they felt better suited them, or just didn’t like the incumbent group.

When someone makes up their mind that they want to get rid of you, there’s no good you can do to change it.

Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever done this as a new leader? Is it ethical? Is it godly?

Is there a biblical example?

YES!

Joseph of Genesis was strategically placed 2nd in command to Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) in order to save His people. Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams and god-given management abilities gave him favor with the king and Joseph was given the power to make decisions and only answer to him…

Genesis 41:37-44 (NKJV)

³⁷ So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. ³⁸ And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be ^[a]over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”

But, despite Joseph’s favor with the King that ‘hired him’, when a new Pharaoh arrived, he didn’t value Joseph and could care less about his influence…

Exodus 1:6-8 (NKJV)

⁶ And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. ⁷ But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and ^[a]grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

⁸ Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

This king subjugated Joseph’s people, the nation of Israel which led to 400 years of bondage in Egypt.

Have you ever had a Pharaoh come along who didn’t know you?

But, back to the question, for ‘bosses’ who call themselves Christian, is it ethical? moral? is it a sin? Let’s refer to the words of Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ…

Luke 6:31 (NKJV)

³¹ And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

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!”

Yes, we can!

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!

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.

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!

If you believe in God and angelic influence in our lives, then you have to believe in the devil and demonic (fallen angel) influence in our lives as well.

The bible not only gives examples of the devil influencing our behavior…

Luke 22:3-4 (NKJV)

³ Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. ⁴ So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

But, it also makes it clear that even some doctrines taught in the church have demonic origins…

1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)

Now the Spirit ^[a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

It’s unfortunate that from race, to religion, to fraternal organizations, to business, to ‘heritage’, to family…too many cultures and traditions have either intentionally or unintentionally been established and endured due to demonic influence.

If it contradicts the word of God, then it’s not of God.

God has given us clear insight in how to tell if there’s been demonic influence in culture or tradition, but too many times we ignore, justify or excuse it because we’re too committed to our traditions etc.,

Mark 7:7-9 (NRSV)

⁷ in vain do they worship me,
    teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

⁸ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”

⁹ Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition!

The knowledge is available, but too many times we choose willful ignorance…

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

Here’s some explicit, biblical examples of how to tell if a culture or tradition has been established or influenced by demons…

1. IT CONTRADICTS THE WORD OF GOD…

This one was stated above, but let me give you a perfect example that someone is sure to deflect, justify or explain because the feel compelled to continue the tradition. Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), and the Book of James clearly tells us to never swear an oath and goes on to say that when we do IT IS FROM THE DEVIL…, but from court, to public office, to public servants to the military, the tradition has been established to make the first act of office or service A SIN by swearing an oath. It’s even written in the United States constitution to ‘swear or affirm’. But, the Lord said…

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.

James 5:12 (NKJV)

¹² But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into ^[a]judgment.

WHY THE WORD ‘SWEAR’ NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSTITUTION, ASAP…

One way the devil gets demonic traditions to survive for thousands of years is to convince people they are depriving their children of something. For example, God made it clear that we should not only avoid to worship pagan Gods, but to refrain from allowing their names to come from out lips…

Joshua 23: 7(NKJV)

⁷ and lest you go 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,

The devil has convinced well-meaning Christians to blaspheme every time they mention a day meant to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by calling it by the name of a pagan goddess. This tradition is so established that not only do many Christians not know why it’s called Easter, but they feel compelled to defend it once the find out that it and it’s traditions are pagan. Celebrate without calling it Easter and ‘hunting eggs’ NAMES MATTER (WHY WE SHOULD STOP CALLING EASTER…EASTER)

2. IT’S BASED ON PRIDE

God hates pride and explicitly forbids it. However, from family, to nation, to race, to organizations, people proclaim that pride is a part of the culture and tradition.

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before ^[a]a fall.

James 4:6 (NKJV)

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Anytime we feel compelled to use the word pride, thankful is always more appropriate

REMEMBER THIS THE NEXT TIME YOU SAY YOU’RE PROUD OF ANYTHING…

3. WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO BECOME A PART OF IT OR PARTICIPATE

There are so many cultures and organizations that either force people to sin to become a part of them, or to sin to participate in them. One thing that I couldn’t ignore when I was living on campus when going to college is the sinful behavior in which pledges (of all races) had to participate to become a part of a fraternity or sorority. And, once a member some frats very reputation was of sinful promiscuity and overindulgence in alcohol (watch some people push back on this one)…

It’s amazing that despite how easy God makes it to become a part of His organization (The Body of Christ or the church) that we can make it so difficult to become a part of some of ours.

THE UNHOLINESS OF HAZING: TRADITIONS FROM HELL…

Many toxic corporate and organizational cultures flourish because people are forced to make unethical and ungodly decisions. Many of these cultures pervert what God calls strength… FOR THOSE WHO PERVERT WHAT GOD CALLS TRUE STRENGTH…

4. IT EXPLICITLY HONORS THE DEVIL

God takes names very seriously. He changed Jacob’s name to Israel. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham. He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. He continuously reiterated the fact that He takes His own names very seriously…

Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

⁷ “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

So this being said, why would anyone want to name a sports team with a name that has anything to do with the devil or devils? You literally has to shout cheers for the devil to support the team! WHY AREN’T CHRISTIANS CONCERNED WITH TEAMS WITH A DEVIL AS THE MASCOT…

This short list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully it provokes thought and conversation about what it truly important to God.

2 TOXIC, CULTURAL DEMONS THAT ARE OFTEN DEFLECTED IN THE BLACK & WHITE COMMUNITIES…

BE BLESSTIFED!

We inherited all of our emotions from God…we were created in His image, so we can experience His emotions. God gets frustrated at us when we willingly sin.

So, He understands that we will sometimes feel frustrated at life… at some of His decisions… at what He allows.

Jeremiah 12:1 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?

Sometimes we can feel guilty over our frustration.

But remember, getting frustrated isn’t a sin unless…

It causes us to be ungrateful.

It causes us to be in thankful.

It causes us to complain rather than lament.

It causes us to doubt God.

It causes someone else to doubt God.

It causes us to lose our faith.

It causes someone else to doubt God.

When you feel frustrated or even angry at yourself, others, life or even God…do a Google search for Psalms of Lament.

Notice how God teaches us to responsibly express our frustrations as long as we always end with expressing our trust in Him.

Psalm 13 (NKIV)

13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
^(A)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;
^(B)Enlighten my eyes,
^(C)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.

Ephesians 4:26 (NKJV)

^{26 (A)}“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

Don’t let your frustrations keep you down.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One day a man who had been walking, catching rides and using Uber to go to work every day was given a car by a family member. He was so thankful. All he had to do was have a few things fixed. As he drove it home, he stopped to get gas and the car wouldn’t start. Wow! He had to have the car towed to the shop. After they fixed it, as he drove it home he let the window down and it wouldn’t come back up. He said, “Are you serious!!!!”

As he drove back to the shop so they could fix the window he noticed stains on the seats.

He said, “Why does everything I get have to have something wrong with it? Always ‘STAINED’?”

He then immediately remembered that he had transportation to work, the store or to take his lady friend out on a date. He also remembered the fact that the price he paid for the repairs was still better than having a car payment for years. He immediately thanked God and asked him to forgive him for so quickly allowing frustration to take away the excitement of his blessing.

So many times God will bless us and if it’s not exactly the way we wanted it or comes with some imperfections, inconveniences or responsibilities, we can find ourselves with an unthankful attitude.

The bible reminds us that every gift God gives is perfect…

James 1:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

The next time you begin to see stains on your blessings, remember that every gift from God is perfect.

Any stains we see are on our eyes and not the blessing.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the incredible ‘ripple effects’ of the COVID-19 pandemic is that after those who either lost or left their jobs because to the shut-down of the economy, many of those workers haven’t returned. To some workers, the federal and state unemployment compensation was a ‘windfall’, giving some people more income than they have ever earned in their lives.

Many of these jobs are considered ‘low skill’ and aren’t desirable to many Americans, especially if they have achieved certain levels of education.

The result is a huge worker shortage.

However, remember this… LOW SKILL DOESN’T MEAN NO SKILL!

From the people who make fast food ‘fast’, to the professionals who collect our garbage, the shortage of so-called ‘low skill’ workers has revealed that their absence can cause a huge disruption to our everyday lives.

With restaurants either closing early or closing their doors all together…

With essential services such as garbage collection being disrupted…

The real value in those who have been undervalued is being revealed.

My wife and I owned a small retail store in our twenties, and we understand the value in the people who work the register and protect your inventory.

As much as many people feel these workers don’t deserve $15 an hour, the fact that many workers who make only $8 an hour bring more value than that amount of money to the company.

The fact is that even though many top-level CEO’s make millions, they still don’t bring that much VALUE to the company. There is no justification for that much of a companies resources to be wasted on one person, especially while many of the front-line workers who make those huge salaries possible are dismissed with what equates to ‘pennies’.

I was once a Marketing Manager at the headquarters of a Fortune 300 company. Everyone above manager level received an annual bonus based on performance, while those below didn’t. Each year they were encouraged to help ‘hit that target’ that would ensure wonderful bonuses for all of us who were manager level or above.

What was their added incentive to work even harder for a reward that didn’t belong to them?

If anyone deserved a bonus it was the people who helped make the bonuses possible.

Sure many of these ‘lower-level’ jobs have traditionally been filled by high-school students, that still doesn’t diminish the value that they bring to our society.

Even in the bible, the landowner who was seeking workers to optimize his property, valued workers so much that he paid the workers who worked one hour the same amount of money he paid those who worked all day…

Matthew 20:8-16 (NKJV)

⁸ “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ ⁹ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. ¹⁰ But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. ¹¹ And when they had received it, they ^[a]complained against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ ¹³ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last. For^[b] many are called, but few chosen.”

Think about this, how long would it take for you to miss you local garbage collectors if they were on strike because they wanted more money?

Just because they’re working with garbage doesn’t mean they don’t deserve it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

God has blessed my wife and I to teach at the same school.

Her class is just down the hall, and we LOVE being TWO-gether all day!

That means we also get to enjoy our HARD EARNED Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer breaks TWO-gether!

While many couples are looking for opportunities to be apart, even after 34 years ( I was 18 and she was 17) we’re excited about spending our Fall Break TWO-gether.

So today, we left school right behind the kids🤣

Proverbs 5:18 (NLT)

¹⁸ Let your well be honored, and be happy with the wife you married when you were young.

It’s easy to make our relationship with God ALL about us if we aren’t careful.

God called us to make disciples of Him through His Son and our Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20  (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go ^[a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ^[b]Amen.

One of the best approaches at studying the bible is to look specifically how the Lord REACTED to certain situations, conditions and behavior.

Look at the Lord’s reaction when He silently looked upon a multitude of lost people…

Matthew 9:35-38  (NKJV)

³⁵ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease ^[a]among the people. ³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were ^[b]weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Now look at how He reacted at those who had hard, hypocritical hearts…

Mark 3:1-5  (NKJV)

3 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. ² So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might ^[a]accuse Him. ³ And He said to the man who had the withered hand, ^[b]“Step forward.” ⁴ Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. ⁵ And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored ^[c]as whole as the other.

Above in Matthew, Yeshua, felt compassion for those who were lost. He wasn’t judging why they were in their particular situations…He felt compassion. Then He commanded us to pray to THE LORD OF HIS HARVEST to send workers into HIS harvest. How many times have you prayed for that? How many times have you had an interaction with an atheist and instead of praying for them, felt contempt. How many times have you gotten intensely angry at a drug addict, gang banger, racist, politician, someone who you consider to be a ‘great sinner’…(we are all sinners saved by grace Romans 3:23). These are all opportunities to plant seeds of God’s…

Word..

Love…

And to pray specifically for these people, even calling out their names if you are made aware of them. Hey! WHAT IS SECRET, CYBER MINISTRY…

I have had to stop and ask God to help me make that a priority in my life. I have had to ask myself, “Aldtric, do you really care enough about God’s harvest, are or you just concerned about your own?”

Now, let’s quickly look what made the Lord angry above in Mark Chapter 3. It wasn’t compassion, but anger at the religious leaders were looking for a reason to accuse Him, ignored the good He was doing, and was angry at their hardness of heart. Again, this is a sign of someone who is lost and doesn’t know that they are. God expects hypocrisy and hardened hearts to make us angry, but we must respond to that anger with lifting them up in prayer, praying that God softens their hearts to His love, will, word and salvation.

Have you ever asked yourself if you hare concerned enough about those who are ‘lost’? Have you stopped to consider how you react to those who claim to be His own, but aren’t exhibiting their best behavior?

How often do you pray for HIS HARVEST rather than your own?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you weren’t aware of the decades of allegations against R&B singer/songwriter/musician R. Kelly, then you probably were after the Lifetime Network documentary, “Surviving R. Kelly” that originally aired a few years ago.

His recent convictions for racketeering, sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery, sex trafficking,  threaten to over shadow his creative genius. His inability to control his flesh will likely cost him his freedom for the rest of his life.

There’s no question that R. Kelly had intimate relationships with many women. He admits that himself. And, it’s no question that his lust for women has gotten him in trouble. His problem is that many of these women have been underage. He’s accused of summoning women to his ‘palace’ and abusing his power to influence them and take advantage of them. Some of the women’s families have accused him of brainwashing their daughters. The women interviewed stated that R. Kelly abused his ‘power’ and influence to control them.

But, there is another man in history who had a love for and quite frankly, lust for many women. The bible lets us know that he was intimate with numerous women. This man was even identified as a man after God’s own heart…King David.

Acts 13:22  (NKJV)

²² And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

But, even though David was a man after God’s own heart, he wasn’t perfect. None of us are.

King David was also a singer/songwriter/musician.

As he was relaxing on the roof of His palace he saw a woman bathing outside. This woman, Bathsheba, wasn’t only another man’s wife, but she was the wife of a man, Uriah, who was devoted and loyal to David. Uriah was one of the soldiers in his army. David was attracted to her and abused his power as king to summon her to his palace. In fact, David summoned many women to become his wives. I’m sure she felt pressured to please the king, just as many of the women said they felt pressured to please R. Kelly.

After King David was intimate with Bathsheba, she became pregnant and to make a long story short, after the scheming and manipulating to hide the pregnancy didn’t work, he had Uriah killed. He then he took Bathsheba to be his wife.

We see that David and R. Kelly had some things in common,

But there was one big difference in David and R. Kelly.

As of the time of his convictions, R. Kelly hadn’t acknowledged or repented of doing anything wrong.

After being confronted with his sin, David repented…

2 Samuel 12:13 (NKJV)

¹³ So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

Psalm 51:4  (NKJV)

⁴ Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just ^[a]when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

David’s repentance is what confirms he was a man after God’s own heart.

R. Kelly has a huge library of music and some of his songs are even spiritual and sung in churches. However, there are many people today who refuse to listen to R. Kelly’s music anymore. Radio stations all over the world are refusing to play his music. There are those who are demanding to ‘Mute or Erase R. Kelly’.  Again, Mr. Kelly has not yet acknowledged or repented of any wrong doing.

We all know that David, under the inspiration of God, wrote most of the Psalms which of course are songs. They teach us how to worship, pray, praise, celebrate and even lament.

If David was living today, even though he repented, there would be many people who would refuse to listen to or sing many of the Psalms. There would be people wanting to ‘Mute or Erase David’ because of his serious sins. But, here’s the difference…again, David repented.

Both David and R. Kelly’s sins were revealed and made public.

We all have something in common with both of them…

Everyone of us has had dark moments. Moments of which we are very ashamed.

Our shameful moments maybe not to the extreme of David and R. Kelly, but nevertheless, moments that we don’t want anyone to know about. Take a moment to think about some of the most shameful things you have done (or are still doing) and thank God for allowing them to remain secret.

AREN’T YOU GLAD GOD ALLOWED SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE TO REMAIN SECRET?

If you haven’t already stopped habitual, sinful behavior, stop it now and repent, just like King David did.

And remember this, the same forgiveness that was available to King David is available to both R. Kelly and to all of us. His spiritual story isn’t over yet. What if David died right after his sin with Bathsheba? Would his Psalms be included in the bible? Would his influence on the kingdom of God be erased?

Because just like King David, you can be a man or woman after God’s own heart, too.

I know there will be some people who will be critical of me comparing R. Kelly to David. But, God let’s us know that everything in the bible, especially the Old Testament, was written for our example…

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ Now ^[a]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our ^[b]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

We must use the examples of both David and R. Kelly to help us with your relationships with God.

Remember, the entire bible reminds us that His grace and mercy through Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, endures forever.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The power of true love is almost incomprehensible…

Most teachers I know are passionate and take their responsibilities very seriously. And, and those that are parents share the parenting challenges as the parents of their students.

It’s unfortunate when their dedication, devotion and integrity is challenged through unrealistic expectations.

Sometimes parents, administrators (most of whom used to be teachers) expect teachers to do what none of US as parents can do…monitor everything their child does 100% of the time.

For example…

A student writes an inappropriate note and passes it to another student. The teacher discovers the note, corrects the student, but has to report it to administrators because of the level of inappropriateness.

How many times has the response been, “You need to do a better job of monitoring your students? How many parents can monitor their ONE, TWO or maybe THREE children all of the time?

The same scenario arises when students jump onto unauthorized websites while using technology in class.

How many parents can make sure that their children are always being responsible with technology?

As stated above, the fact is that many, if not most educators, administrators, and district officials are parents too. They have the same parenting challenges as any parent.

In a field where the professionals are under-compensated for their education, workload, level of accountability and legal liability…the culture can’t continue to be poisoned by a never ending list of tasks, unrealistic expectations, and deflected blame.

Americans must stop equating teachers expressing their concerns to whining and take their concerns seriously.

One Tennessee legislator in early 2021 was quoted as saying, “People are listening to the teacher’s union instead of the parents.” This infers that teacher concerns don’t matter.

My wife has been an educator for 20 years and has noticed the negative shift in culture since she started.

After working in manufacturing, owning a retail store, originating home loans, radio marketing consulting, a decade as a corporate marketing manager and copywriter, as well as prison and homeless ministry…my mid-life career shift to teaching has been the most challenging but fulfilling work I’ve done. I love it!

My wife and I happen to teach at the same school at a school and district with a very healthy teacher culture…that needs to spread across the country.

We’ve got to do better or fewer younger people will go into this necessary profession.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If there’s one consistency between both the Old and New Testaments, it’s the fact that names matter to God. From God changing Abram’s name to Abraham to Yeshua changing Simon’s name to Peter (Cephas).

In an age when so many in the Body of Christ are politicizing sins that society considers BIG, while excusing those they consider small, the bible is clear that God takes how we identify ourselves very seriously…

Not many Christians are quick to name their children, Satan or Lucifer.

Why?

Because those names are used to identify the enemy, the accuser of the saints…the devil.

That’s why I don’t understand that while Christians are so passionately ‘campaign’ against the so-called BIG sins, why they never speak up against teams, many of which they allow their children to be a part of, that identify themselves with a devil.

They wear sports paraphernalia, fly flags, display bumper ‘stickers’ and worst of all cheer for, root for, in a sense ‘praise’…and glorify THE DEVILS!

Right now someone reading this knows in their heart it’s not right, but they are naturally inclined to do what Christians do when they want to continue doing something…look for reasons to justify it.

Do you think God is cool with you allowing your child to be identified as a ‘devil’?

Do you think God is okay with allowing a school, AAU team, or professional team to be identified as the DEVILS? The RED DEVILS? The BLUE DEVILS? etc.?

Names matter so much go God that He demands we be baptized in the NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here name doesn’t mean the combination of consonants and vowels that make up ‘Yeshua’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Emmanuel’, Adonai, or even Ruach ha-kodesh (Holy Spirit). Names denote authority, character…who you are, or what it is. Think about the fact that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.

Think about the fact that most Christians are content with calling a day chosen to commemorate Yeshua’s (Jesus’s) death, burial, and resurrection by a pagan goddess’s name (Easter), which is the same as (Eostre, Ishtar, Ashtoreth) one of the very names He forbid us to make mention of, one of the very names that Israel and Judah invoked (said) and provoked God to anger.

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

Joshua 23:7 (NKJV)

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,

Names matter, so we should stop trivializing what is important to Him.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Too many people who call themselves Christians have a perverted view of strength.

They equate being proud, angry, loud, aggressive, insulting, retaliatory, impulsive, impatient, mean, ruthless, hard-hearted, violent and unforgiving to being strong…

While equating being humble, meek, quiet, patient, kind, gentle, self-controlled, merciful, willing to yield, soft-hearted, forgiving and turning the other cheek to being weak.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

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

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.

On social media and verbally, people brag about how easy it is for them to…

Cut people off…

Hold onto a grudge…

Revert back to their less patient, less forgiving, more hard-hearted and ready to ‘strike-back’ self.

They say, “You don’t know who I used to be” with pride rather than regret.

They boast, “I haven’t always been saved”.

They assert, “I can come down to your level.”

They lament about not being able to ‘cuss you out’, and brag about how they would have ‘back in the day’.

They infer that in some situations, they have to let Satan handle it instead of God through their behavior.

All-the-while these people who claim to be in the Body of Christ are impressed by people who ‘keep it real’ and say ‘just what’s on their mind’, even though the word of God prohibits that behavior…

Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ A fool vents all his feelings,^[a]
But a wise man holds them back.

When called out on either engaging in or celebrating overly assertive behavior that clearly doesn’t meet God’s expectations, they quickly want to call out Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) turning over money changers in the temple…as if that was an example of strong behavior, but allowing Himself to be beaten and hung on the cross wasn’t.

But, even when the Lord was turning over money changers, He didn’t strike one person. New Testament Christians love to revert to the violent Old Testament to justify their visceral behavior rather than the New Testament that doesn’t give ONE example of Jesus allowing us to violently respond…

Matthew 5:38-40 (NLV)

³⁸ “You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, do not fight with the man who wants to fight. Whoever hits you on the right side of the face, turn so he can hit the other side also. ⁴⁰ If any person takes you to court to get your shirt, give him your coat also.

When challenging so-called ‘strong words’, too many people mention when Jesus was calling the Pharisees hypocrites, a brood of vipers and sharply rebuking them, as if remaining silent before Pilate wasn’t strength.

People brag, “MY CUT-OFF GAME IS SO STRONG!”

People are competitive about how assertive and aggressive they can be to ‘get ahead’ in the world.

What if people bragged, “MY FORGIVENESS AND KINDNESS GAME IS SO STRONG!”

What if people were competitive about how gentle and willing to yield they can be to ‘get ahead’ in the Kingdom of God?

God doesn’t conform to the demands of our culture and standards…

We conform to His.

Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the ^[a]earth.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Psalm 127:2 (NKJV)

² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Are you tired? You went to bed. You had time away from work, but you’re still tired? Is your mind always racing? Are you either trying to get ahead? Stay ahead? Or, catch up? Maybe you’re just trying to hold it together.

So many of us our so busy. So many of us are either worried, stressed or obsessed.

Then what do we say when someone transitions from this life…”Rest in Peace!”

I want to encourage you today to learn to rest in peace BEFORE you die!

One of the enemy’s greatest manipulations is to keep us spiritually weak because we don’t rest. He wants us too tired to read and study God’s word. He wants us too tired to take the time to pray before we eat our food, before we go to bed at night. He wants us too tired to go to worship.

How many times have you said, “I’m not going to church today…I’m too tired!”

Rest is so important to God that He commanded we rest one day every week (Exodus 20:10). He told us to do no work! But, I’ve noticed that in some church cultures people will go to morning worship, then they will leave and go to another church and worship having what’s called ‘afternoon services’ or ‘special days’….Men’s Day, Women’s Day etc.  Then some will even have another service in the evening.

Just as much as it is God’s will that we don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together and that we worship regularly, it’s not His will for us to spend all day in church to the point that we don’t rest at all. That is establishing our own righteousness (Romans 10:3).

I have to admit when it comes to not getting enough rest. I’m guilty. I’m guilty of sometimes letting life’s problems weigh too heavy on my mind. I’m guilty of not stopping to just do nothing and rest my mind, body and spirit

I encourage you to learn to rest in peace before you die. Learn to rest your body. Learn to rest your mind. Learn to rest you spirit. Learn to refresh yourself in God’s word and prayer. Learn to say NO. Learn to say I can’t do that. Learn to say I need some time to myself. Think of how Jesus would withdraw to Himself (Luke 5:16).

The Lord has promised to help us with our ‘rest problem…’

Matthew 11:28New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Learn to get yourself some rest because if you don’t…you’re being disobedient.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

For those whose work schedule allows them to have a normal Saturday and Sunday weekend…Mondays can be tough. Especially if your job is challenging, if you have to work with difficult people, or if you work in a toxic culture.

Monday can also be difficult because the euphoria of the weekend is over. The reality of bills, errands and obligations come rushing back.

I’ve even found myself finding it hard to sleep well on SONday night…have you?

Monday CAN seem like a mountain, it can seem more like MOURNday if we let it.

If any of this is true for you, I have some suggestions to not only help get you through Monday, but make it seem quicker.

Here are 3 Simple Suggestions to Make Your Mondays Easier and Faster…

Work Harder/Have Fun

There are two sure fire ways to make time seem to pass by quicker…working harder and having fun.

When you’re focused on a job or completing a task, you can look at the clock surprised at how much time has elapsed. Anyone who works in a deadline based environment can attest to the fact that not only hours ‘fly by, but days and weeks. If you’re focused on your computer screen…your customers…your phone…your assembly line…your project…your students…your patients…your task, you’ll find yourself suddenly at the end of your work day.

It’s always good if you can find a way to make your job fun. Starting your day with and maintaining a smile sets a mindset, not only in you, but those around you. Find the humor in difficult situations…conversations…meetings. There will always be those who appreciate that you lighten the mood. Of course there will also be those who are annoyed, but that’s on them.

Listen to music, sermons, pod casts, etc if you can.

Play work goal games with yourself…I can make difficult customers smile…I can get this done faster with fewer mistakes.

Find a way to enjoy each day!

Make your it goal to be easy to work with. You can get joy from being the positive voice…from being the encourager.

Don’t Complain

God let’s us know through out His word that He hates complaining…

1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 

God also said do our jobs as if doing them for Him…

Colossians 3:23  (NKJV)

²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 

That being said, we should learn to work without complaining…

Complaining not only makes you feel worse, but it’s either contagious, or it makes people want to avoid you.

When you feel yourself ready to complain, remember how happy you were when you found out you were hired.

When you feel like complaining, try giving God some praise instead.

Pray Often During the Day

The truth is that Monday is always a blessing, and God deserves to be thanked first thing and all day. Even a job you hate is still a blessing…link

Pray and be thankful when things are going well…

Pray for strength when days get challenging…

Pray for your coworkers or customers who make your job difficult or work against you.

Just as you take a lunch break, dedicate some regular time as your prayer break.

Pray without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17) should not be taken lightly…prayer is your key to make God a part of your work day and help you maintain His character and integrity. It is also good to read some of His word during the day as well.

Every day is a gift, and we should treat each as such. We don’t want to find ourselves wasting days in anticipation for the weekend, holidays and vacation. It’s best when we can learn to enjoy every day…all day.

But, as we mature in our ability to enjoy each day, I pray these tips can make your Monday easier and quicker.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Too many those of us who attend church regularly criticize or judge new members who joined but drifted away.

Nothing deep here, just four things I think we should consider before we open our mouths…

1. They come to church looking for something and it doesn’t happen fast enough, so they leave.

2. They come to church looking for something and it happens quickly, then they leave.

3. We, who should be mature in the faith, run them away because we forget they are weaker, OR we aren’t nurturing enough, OR we’re too self-righteous.

4. They came seeking something other than God. This is usually the reason for 1 & 2. (That will be discussed in tomorrow’s post.)

Romans 14:1 (NKJV)

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Romans 15:1 (NKJV)

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the week, and not to please ourselves.

BE BLESSTIFIED!