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

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

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

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

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

As a means of seducing her husband…

For her pleasure during times of intimacy…

To be aesthetically pleasing to entice her husband…

For his enjoyment during times of intimacy…

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

Proverbs 5:18-19  (NKJV)

¹⁸ Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be ^[a]enraptured with her love.

Song of Solomon 1:12-13  (NKJV)

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

Song of Solomon 4:4-5  (NKJV)

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

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

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

Song of Solomon 7:8  (NKJV)

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

Song of Solomon 8:10  (NKJV)

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

Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)

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

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NLT)

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

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

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

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

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

4 SIMPLE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE BETTER IMMEDIATELY…

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I know I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with this. I’m sincerely grateful and thankful for the level of blessing and favor on my life. I’m not talking about riches. I’m talking about being thankful that I have food, clothes, shelter, good health and a sound mind…for what many people call ‘the little things’. I’m thankful that my family is doing well, thankful for freedom, peace, safety and yes, I’m thankful for salvation.

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But, sometimes I want more.

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I would love for God to bless me to be able to support my family well through my writing and leave behind a financial heritage for my children. Ohhhh…that would be so awesome!  I would love to be able to do some of the things for my family that I know would make them happy. Who doesn’t want financial stability, good health and peace in their life.

I can’t count the times I’ve been praying to God asking Him to bless my life and stopped and just had to stop and say, “Thank you!”

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Because you see, so many times when I’m asking for more, I think about so many who have less.

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So many times when I lain in my bed worrying about something, I think about the fact that it’s a blessing to have a bed in which to worry. Someone, somewhere at that very moment is trying to sleep under a bridge

God tells us to be content, and I truly am…

1 Timothy 6:6-8  (NKJV)

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, ^[a]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

But, still I want more. Don’t you? I mean God also told us He would give us more, if we have our priorities straight…

Psalm 37:4-5  (NKJV)

⁴ Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit^[a] your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

Do you ever feel conflict over being thankful and wanting more?

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How do we manage being content with our lives without being covetous?

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If you have this conflict too, tell God thank you for the conflict. It’s a sign that you aren’t greedy or covetous.

Here’s a few simple tips on managing that conflict.

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Please be careful when you…

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Feel God owes you better.

Feel what you have isn’t good enough.

Ask God for more, more often than you thank Him for what you have.

Never pray for those who have less than you.

Lose that internal conflict between being thankful and asking God for more.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s unfortunate that too many times, Christians totally disregard what God said. Christians will claim to live by God’s word where it’s convenient for their own personal theology, but in places where it challenges their beliefs or behavior, many totally disregard what the word says explicitly.

“You’ve got common sense.”

“God didn’t mean that”

“Times are different now!”

“They don’t know who they’re messing with!”

“Don’t make me revert back to my old self!”

“I haven’t always been saved!”

These are just a few of the statements made when people want to exercise their own authority over God’s word.

One such statement and commandment that Yeshua (Jesus) made was when He clearly told us to TURN THE OTHER CHEEK…

Matthew 5:38-39 (NKJV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

There’s no IFs, ANDs or BUTs about what Jesus said. We are not to resist an evil person, but we are to do exactly what He did before He was crucified…

Luke 22:64 (NKJV)

^64 [a]And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”

Many Christians are quick to teach their children that if someone hits you, that you are to hit them back. “Don’t let anyone think you’re afraid of them.”

Others will say that God allows you to defend yourself.

They are correct that God allows you to defend yourself WHEN YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. But, someone trying to humiliate or intimidate you by slapping you or striking you is totally different from someone tackling you or trying to overcome you physically. It’s totally different that when someone is really threatening your life.

HERE’S THE PROBLEM WITH IGNORING TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK…

Yes, God give us permission to defend our lives, but when our lives aren’t in danger, its not about self defense…IT’S ABOUT PRIDE!

Pride and the sins that come from pride (arrogance, jealousy, envy, wrath, revenge, etc.) are the reasons that disagreements escalate…

families are dysfunctional…

friendships end…

crime is prevalent in so many cities…

and wars strike up around the world.

Too many Christians are ‘ready for a fight’!

Too many Christians are fantasizing about a situation where they have to ‘stand their ground’!

Too many Christians don’t trust God to fight their battles! (Read 2 Chronicles Chapter 20).

Too many Christians are ready for a physical fight because they don’t trust God to fight their spiritual battles.

We can’t cherry-pick our way through the bible asserting our own authority over God’s. That’s idolatry, and He’s not having it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Don’t worry, I’m not going rated ‘R’ on you but, I really think this is going to bless someone.

This is a much too common insult in our culture, and yes, the bad grammar is always intentional…

“You ain’t worth s**t! Of course, implying that someone doesn’t have the value of feces, crap, refuse, doo-doo, dung, ‘ish’.

It can be very hurtful if you allow it, especially if you are insecure or struggle with self-esteem. Or, if it’s told to a child by a parent, authority figure or peer. It’s damage can last well into adulthood.

So, let me give you a little ammunition with biblical support in case someone ever tells you, “You ain’t worth shiggity!”

God created everything with value. Everything! Even doo-doo! We all know that there’s an industry built around the use of animal dung to make mulch and fertilizer.

Why?

Because God put purpose and power, even in poop. Not only does it have value, but great value.

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People pay good money for a sack of s**t at Home Depot and Lowe’s.

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God, in His wisdom gave waste the power to make things grow…so even waste doesn’t have to be wasted.

But, let’s look at the bible. There, we find the ‘S’-word was used for two ‘F’-words…both FERTILIZER and FUEL. Not only did they use it to grow their food, but they used it as fuel/coal to heat their food too.

Luke 13:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ ⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

Ezekiel 4:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.”

So, don’t get it twisted. God has value for dung. He has a purpose for poo, and He has a purpose for you.

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Feces is used to diagnose illnesses, research for cures for disease, and do scientific research. There’s value in doo doo!

So, if anybody ever tells you that “You aren’t worth s**t,” tell them thank you! Tell them of it’s value. And then, remind them that if they ‘ain’t’ working God’s purpose for their life, tell them “S**t is worth more than you!”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

What were your childhood dreams?

As you grew older, what were the hopes, goals and expectations you had set for yourself by the time you reached…

20 Years Old…

30 Years Old…

40 Years Old…

50 Years Old…

60 Years Old?

How many days have you felt down because you haven’t met your own expectations? Especially on those ‘milestone birthdays.

Many of us may have those moments when we see others our age and compare our accomplishments to theirs.

This is what the word of God warns us about comparing ourselves to others…

Galatians 6:4 (NLT)

⁴ Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

So, remember this the next time that you’re feeling disappointed in what you haven’t accomplished for your age.

There’s someone who’s in a fight for their life.

They’re praying every day for healing…

They’re asking God for deliverance…

Their goal is good health…

Their hope is healing…

They just want to live!

There’s someone who just wants to live to be your age.

If you’re ever feeling down because of what you haven’t accomplished in life…thank God for life. Then stop and pray for someone who’s fighting for their life.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We live in a highly interactive world. Everyone has a platform, especially through social media, to express themselves. We interact with one another in our families. On your jobs. In our schools. As the bible says, “as we go out and as we come in”, we are almost always interacting with someone.

Whoever is reading this is interacting with me right now. What I’m writing right now may be foolishness to you. You may consider it stupid. You may consider it offensive. If so, after reading you have a choice. Do I respond? Or, do I just move on? And, thus to the crux of my short message here…

When you hear something. When you read something. When someone comes ‘head on’ to you with something that you consider FOOLISHNESS…what do you do?

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SOME FOOLISHNESS DOES NOT DESERVE A RESPONSE, WHILE OTHER FOOLISHNESS DEMANDS ONE.

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Some foolishness would die if we would just allow it. While other foolishness is like a spark ready to spread like wildfire.

How do you know?

Well, you have to pray for discernment. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom, and God will grant it in abundance if you ask Him.

James 1:5  (NKJV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Notice how sometimes Jesus responded to those who opposed Him, and sometimes He was rather assertive.

Matthew 15:1-12  (NKJV)

15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ² “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; ^[a] and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’^[b] 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father or mother.’^[c] Thus you have made the commandment^[d] of God of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And^[e] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”^[f]

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?”

While other times, He didn’t say a word…

Matthew 27:12-14 (NKJV)

¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

¹³ Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” ¹⁴ But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

 1 Peter 2:23  (NKJV)

²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

 But, when you DO respond, remember this…

Respond in wisdom.

Respond with reason.

And, please don’t respond in your raw emotions.

We must realize when we are planting a seed of righteousness, and a seed of foolishness.

Proverbs 29:11  (NKJV)

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

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

For those of you who don’t know, not only do I blog, but I write songs for my wife who is Gospel/Jazz artist, Mechelle Johnson. She also sings classic R&B covers of many of the songs that make up the soundtrack of our 30-plus year marriage with her group, Natural Elegance. It’s part of our marriage ministry (Google SONday Blessing videos) that encourages strong, healthy, joyous Godly marriages between a man and woman. Our motto is…

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You minister to the soul with a Gospel song, but you minister to a marriage with a love song!

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We are based in a suburb of Memphis TN, and I must say that except for our very supportive church family at Oak Spring Church and a few others, we have gotten very little support from the ‘church community’. However, we have gotten MUCH SUPPORT from the local non-church community, and on radio in different cities throughout the country. I like to call it Matthew’s House ministry, reaching people beyond the ‘four walls’ of the physical church building…

Matthew 9:10-12 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Soooo, I said all that to say this…

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I see so many Gospel artists and ministers, both locally and nationally either whining and complaining on social media about not getting support or begging for people to vote for them to receive awards.

Let me say this very lovingly…

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STOP WHINING AND WORK YOUR MINISTRY

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If you are faithful with your message, God will promote you in His timing.

He will make sure that the people He wants to receive your message…get it.

The apostles never whined about their message not being received. They never whined about not getting supported, and they definitely never begged for awards. On the contrary, they were blessed to get out of town alive sometimes. They often did not have a ‘captive’ audience. They even celebrated when they were beaten for the Gospel…

Acts 5:41 (NKJV)

⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His^[a] name.

We must be honest with ourselves as artists, musicians, singers, preachers, teachers, ministers, writers, and yes bloggers…

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Do we want influence for the sake of God’s kingdom or recognition and celebrity?

Do we want awards or do we want to inspire people and save souls?

Do we want to bring glory to our name or God’s name?

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Of course, it’s natural to want recognition and to even be paid well for your efforts, but if it’s truly a ministry for you, then you can’t be disappointed and ready to quit if you don’t receive it.

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And, you definitely don’t want to be caught whining and complaining. It weakens the cause of Christ.

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Yes, I would love to sustain my family well and be recognized with my writing, our music and sharing what God has placed on my heart, and the bible supports that…

1 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Galatians 6:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)

But, if you don’t get the attention that you feel you deserve, God allows us to have our private human moments between ourselves and Him, just as the psalmists did in so many of the lamenting Psalms.

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Please don’t publish your woes on social media and chastise the people who you feel are ignoring you.

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Stop complaining and begging for support. When people value what God has placed inside you, you don’t have to beg them to listen to you, watch you, or read what you have to share.

I know it get’s frustrating sometimes. Of course, I’ve been guilty of whining and complaining sometimes myself.

Remember the sharp encouragement in Hebrews Chapter 12…

Hebrews 12:12  (NKJV)

¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

Have your private moment between you and God…

Thank God for trusting you with His word and your gift and…

Preach on!

Teach on!

Sing on!

Play on!

Write on!

Even if you think no one is listening.

If you bless just one person…that’s good fruit, and good seed in good soil.

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STOP WHINING AND START WINNING SOULS!

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Work your ministry.

If this article blessed you, then you might also enjoy these..

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

JESUS WAS NEVER NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD…

WHINING IS A CALM TANTRUM (From my archives)…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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Pray is such as special gift from the God of our creation.

We may not have instant and direct access to the President, the governor, the mayor, the CEO, the Athletic Director, your pastor or even one another sometimes…

But, we always have direct access to God through our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

the Bible teaches us through prayers and supplications to make our requests made known to God…

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

There have been times that after I have finished praying, I have wondered…did I miss something?

I thanked God.

I asked for forgiveness of my sins.

I prayed for provision, protection and other things.

I prayed for others…

Did I forget something?

But, then I remembered that we are created in the image of God. That means that we can have His character…His essence.

We can love like Him. We can nurture like Him. We can take care of our children the way He takes care of His children.

So, our children don’t have to make a point to specifically ask every day for us to:

Feed them…

Protect them…

Provide the things they need.

The fact is that many times if they simply come to us, unsolicited…

If they approach us ‘out of the blue’ and with obvious sincerity expressing, I LOVE YOU…and we know that it’s real.

That sincere and unselfish expression of love provokes us to WANT to do something to show them how much we love them. Sometimes it makes us want to do something special for them.

I think we have that reaction because we are created in God’s image. Maybe He sometimes reacts the same way towards us when we bow heads prayer or lift our hands in praise and unselfishly, sincerely express I LOVE YOU! I TRUST YOU! I BLESS YOU! And, I JUST WANT YOU TO BE PLEASED WITH ME!

Remember, prayer isn’t only giving God a laundry list of our needs, but an opportunity to express our love for Him.

Every now and then, just thank God and tell Him that you love Him.

Psalm 103:1-2 (NKJV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The bible teaches us that it’s God that gives us the power, ability, knowledge and strength to get ‘wealth’, and that is very true…

Deuteronomy 8:18  (NKJV)

¹⁸ “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may ^[a]establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

But, how many times have you heard someone say, or said yourself,  “I deserved everything that I have because I worked hard for it!”

You planned…

You’ve worked hard…

You’ve sacrificed…

You’ve made good decisions.

You even had great faith.

Let me give you a quick reminder in humility and God’s grace and mercy…

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Yes, you definitely ‘earned’ it, but be very careful before you say you deserve it.

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Before you say that you deserve your success and influence because of your hard work and effort, think about all of the people who also planned, worked hard, sacrificed, made good decisions, and had great faith…and for whatever reason, things just didn’t work out.

Think about all of the businesses that fail every day.

Think about all of the relationships that fall apart every day.

There are plenty of people who have planned and worked…

Just as hard or harder…

Just as smart or smarter…

Sacrificed just as much and more…

Made decisions that were just as good or better…

And, things just didn’t work out in their favor.

From the macro-economic environment, to social conditions, unforeseen sicknesses and circumstances, there are innumerable reasons why sometimes hard work is not rewarded with success.

And let us not forget about those people who want to work but can’t because of a disability they can’t help.

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All in all, it’s only by God’s grace and mercy and His plan for our lives that things, work out as we hope and plan.

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Remember…

Proverbs 16:9  (NKJV)

 

 

 

Presented with a dilemma with eternal implications unknown to him, and with Jesus before Him, Pilate asked a poignant question…

John 18:38 (NKJV)

³⁸ Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

The TRUTH is absolute independent of how we view it… just like God.

We defile it…

We pervert it…

We skew it towards our own point of view or agenda.

We make the truth subjective.

This is why the key to finding truth when two people are using THE SAME SCRIPTURE to justify their perspective is totally removing how we WANT to view the scripture and seeking to see it as God intended. WE’RE BOTH USING SCRIPTURE SO…HOW TO TELL WHO’S ‘RIGHT’?

For example, Yeshua the Messiah clearly says we should “turn the other cheek” if someone strikes us, and He gave us that example just before He was crucified…

Matthew 5:39 (NKJV)

³⁹ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Luke 22:63-65 (NLT)

⁶³ The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?” ⁶⁵ And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at him.

However, Christians read the truth in the above scripture, and then reason for themselves how it’s okay to strike someone back when it’s not in self defense. They see turning the other cheek as a sign of weakness. If your life isn’t truly in danger, striking someone back is pride.

In our heated social, historical and political climate, people ‘research’… ‘fact check’… read history and filter the absolute facts we find through our subjective perspectives.

In both the Old and New Testaments the bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a sin just the same as fornication and adultery. However, people who want to justify what they want to do, but also claim to be Christian will say, “That’s not what the scripture means.” WHY IT’S STILL A SIN EVEN IF YOU WERE, “BORN THAT WAY”…

Another example…Benedict Arnold led the British army in battle to the very men that he had previously commanded.

That’s a fact.

But, how history views him is subjective. America views him as a traitor, while people from Britain might not think so. Calling him either a traitor or a hero creates a narrative, so he truth is filtered through perspective.

One last example…a zebra is black and white, however subjectivity creates a narrative when say the zebra is ‘black with white stripes’ or ‘white with black stripes’. Science has determined that their skin is black and their stripes are white per the website LIVESCIENCE.COM…https://bit.ly/3xjAqeA.

We make the truth subjective through our perspective.

When people say they’re LIVING THEIR TRUTH, give them this gentle reminder… “The truth doesn’t belong to you.”

John 14:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

per·vertverb/pərˈvərt/

1. alter (something) from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Them: When’s your birthday?

Me: September 26th.

Them: So you’re a Libra!

Me: Nope.

Have you ever heard anyone make this statement, or have made it yourself?

“You won’t go to Hell for doing it.”

Too many Christians feel as though as long as they are paying their tithes and going to church regularly that, ‘they’re good’.

Sometimes times there will be an issue or behavior that is questionable or vague, or maybe not even addressed directly in the bible. Many times there will be an issue or behavior that we really enjoy, but there is reason to believe it might be displeasing to God. Then there are issues that are addressed, but many people either don’t make the connection, or don’t care about how those issues relate to us today.

There are many Christians who don’t only define themselves as children of God, they also define themselves by ‘their’ zodiac sign.

How does God feel about someone asking, “What’s your sign?”

Zephaniah 1:5-6 (NKJV)

5.“Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But also swear by Milcom (or Molech) 6.Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him.

“I’m a Gemini so you better watch our for me….”

“I’m a Pisces so you can trust me…”

You get the picture?

Most of us know that it became very popular in the latter part of the 20^th Century to refer to zodiac signs to determine if two people were compatible in relationships.

Some people will even check out their daily horoscope for guidance for the day. How many Christians have you seen post the daily horoscope on their timeline?

Have you ever taken the time to research the origin of zodiac signs. Think about this…zodiac signs are treated as proper nouns.

Check this out…

Deuteronomy 4:19 (NKJV)

And take heed, lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.

Remember, worship is beyond ‘going to church’. Think about Romans 12:1…

Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Our worship extends into how we live our lives on a daily basis. God expects us to get our guidance from Him and Him alone. He has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, convict us, to help us make the right decisions.

Isaiah 47:13 (NKJV)

13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels;
Let now the astrologers, the stargazers,
And the monthly prognosticators
Stand up and save you
From what shall come upon you.

One of the beautiful things about the Old Testament is that it gave us extreme examples of what behavior God loves and what behavior He hates. Even though Jesus fulfilled the law, we can gain great insight looking at the behavior of ancient Israel and how God reacted to it.

Think about this. When Moses was given the task of going into Egypt to free the children of Israel, God told Moses to tell them, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). I AM is God’s name. It’s who He is. It’s His essence. It’s what He does. And so are you. Be very careful what you say behind your, “I am”. Check this out…BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY BEHIND YOUR, “I AM…”

“I am a Virgo.” “I am a Libra.” Do you feel comfortable defining yourself as something God has forbidden?

Do you feel comfortable getting guidance from something God has forbidden?

Do you feel comfortable choosing a mate based on something God has forbidden?

Do you feel comfortable basing your personality on something God has forbidden?

Or, do you enjoy it so much that right now you are reasoning within yourself how I’m wrong and looking for verses or justification to keep doing it. That may be a ‘sign’ that you are too connected to it.

Well if God forbids it, why do the personality traits seem so on point sometimes? We all know that the enemy disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

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But, here’s the number one reason I think that people of God should ignore the horoscope…

BECAUSE IT HURTS GOD!

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Even if He won’t send you to Hell for it. Even if you think it’s harmless. If God said don’t do it, that means it hurts Him. When you love someone, there’s some things you don’t do not because you think they will leave you, but because you know it hurts them.

Have you ever noticed that before God got angry, He was always hurt first? Have you noticed how God sometimes pleaded with and appealed to Israel like a hurt lover?

Micah 6 1:3 (NKJV)

“Oh My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.”

The #1 reason we should ignore the horoscope is because it hurts the God of our Salvation.

Please think about this before you ask someone, “What is your sign?”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

No matter how bad you have to use the bathroom…

How strong the urge to relieve yourself…

If you’re in a crowd of people outside, in a meeting, at a ball game, or in church YOU WON’T stop and use it right then and there.

Why?

Because you have RESTRAINT.

No matter HOW strong the urge, how painful, you would rather hold it in rather than disgrace and embarrass yourself.

Too many times we in the Body of Christ use the excuse, “I just couldn’t help myself!”

Too many Christians are perfectly content using profanity…retaliating…and giving in to their flesh, and quickly use the excuse, “I just couldn’t hold it in”!

Peter is well known for his lack of restraint. On the Mount of Transfiguration he quickly blurted out, “Let us build three tabernacles, one for Jesus, Moses and Elijah!(Matthew 17:4).

After Jesus was arrested, when accused of knowing Him, Peter cursed (Matthew 26:74, Mark 14:71). But, Jesus knew of Peter’s spontaneity, and had already prayed for him and told him that when he is converted to strengthen his brothers (Luke 22:32). One of the things Peter was going to have to do was learn RESTRAINT.

One of the fruit of the Spirit is TEMPERANCE or SELF-CONTROL (Galatians  5:22).

It’s true we can’t do anything without the help of God, but he has given us the power to restrain our flesh as well.

You don’t have to use profanity (cuss).

You don’t have to get even.

You don’t have to let everybody know EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL.

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Just the same as you can HOLD BACK when you have to use the bathroom (flesh), you can hold back when that person of the opposite sex is trying to tempt you.

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Let’s be just like our heavenly Father. Because when you think about it, that’s what MERCY is…God holding back the wrath and judgment we deserve.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Just a little humorous reminder for married couples trying to keep the romance strong.

There’s nothing like a sensual shower or bath…TWOgether!

But, don’t MESS it up…literally!

Always, and I mean always take a shower BEFORE you take a shower TWOgether!

Please make sure you’ve washed all the most important body parts BEFORE you get in soapy tub TWOgether!

A bubbly bath is not for ‘bathing’!

A sensual shower is not the time to wash your 🍑.

It’s not the place to wash away the odors of the day…

It’s a place for play!

Song of Solomon 4:9-15 (NLT)

⁹ You have captured my heart,
my treasure,^[a] my bride.
You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes,
with a single jewel of your necklace.
¹⁰ Your love delights me,
my treasure, my bride.
Your love is better than wine,
your perfume more fragrant than spices.
¹¹ Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride.
Honey and milk are under your tongue.
Your clothes are scented
like the cedars of Lebanon.

¹² You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride,
a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.
¹³ Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates
with rare spices—
henna with nard,
¹⁴ nard and saffron,
fragrant calamus and cinnamon,
with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes,
and every other lovely spice.
¹⁵ You are a garden fountain,
a well of fresh water
streaming down from Lebanon’s mountains.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The bible makes it clear forbids ANY kind of pride. Individual… Family… Racial… National etc.

SO BE CAREFUL!

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR RACE, CULTURE, FAMILY OR ORGANIZATION…

Pride allows confidence to morph into arrogance.

Pride allows what should be thanksgiving, to morph into idolatry… worshiping what you should be thankful for.

Pride will have you celebrating what you should be ashamed of.

BE CAREFUL. PRIDE WILL HAVE YOU THINKING THAT…

Only your causes are NOBLE…

Only your opinions MATTER…

Only your reasoning is VALID…

Only your ancestors are HEROES…

Your research is BETTER…

Your decisions are FINAL…

Your sin is ACCEPTABLE…

THAT YOUR SUBJECTIVE IS OBJECTIVE.

Isaiah 23:9 (NLT)

⁹ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has done it
to destroy your pride
and bring low all earth’s nobility.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

We have wayyyyyyyyyyy too many ‘cussing’ Christians!

Our words are so powerful. Their ability to influence and shape our world is confirmed in the word of God.

Proverbs 11:9 (NKJV)

⁹ The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Mark 11:23 NKJV
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

And, just as much as they have the power to influence, our words also reveal what’s inside of us…

Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)

³⁴ Brood^[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

It’s even with our words that we acknowledge and accept God’s gift of salvation…

Romans 10:10 (NKJV)

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

So, God holds those who believe in Him through His Son and our Savior Yeshua (Jesus Christ) accountable for each and everyone of our words…

His expectations of us are very high…

Matthew 12:36  (NKJV)

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

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That’s why it’s catastrophic when Christians curse, cuss, insult, use vulgar, profane or unclean language!

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Too many times, you can’t tell the difference in those in the Body of Christ and those who aren’t by how they talk.

Too many times, Christians choose to express their emotions through words that are displeasing to God.

Too many times, Christians use insults when they disagree.

Too many times, Disciples of Christ allow coaches and those in authority to ‘curse’ their children.

I’ve seen too many of our leaders curse in public and those who call themselves Christians cheer, celebrate and find reasons to justify it.

Saying that, Sometimes got to get down on their level”… equates to saying we have to let the devil handle it rather than God.

Too many times people who claim to represent God equate cursing to ‘strong words’ or assertiveness.

What does God consider unclean words?

James 3:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

What does God consider ‘cursing’?

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KJV Dictionary Definition: damn

damn

DAMN, v.t.

1. To sentence to eternal torments in a future state; to punish in hell.

2. To condemn; to decide to be wrong or worthy of punishment; to censure; to reprobate.

He that doubteth is damned if he eat. Rom xiv

3. To condemn; to explode; to decide to be bad, mean, or displeasing, be hissing or any mark of disapprobation; as, to damn a play, or a mean author.

4. A word used in profaneness; a term of execration.

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Our words can either bless or curse. Our words can either encourage or discourage. Our words can either breathe life into a room…or suck it out!

Words can totally destroy or testimony and credibility as a Christian.

When you curse someone, it isn’t ‘harmless’.

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YOU ARE RELEASING SOMETHING…

YOU ARE GIVING SOMETHING…

When you say, “God bless you!”…You’re giving a BLESSING!

When you say, “Damn you!” or “I’ll be damned!”, or even “Go to hell!”…YOU’RE GIVING A CURSE!

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God never expects Christians to GIVE a damn!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

When Jesus was in the home of Mary and Martha, He reminded Martha that she had become distracted by what was ‘going on in the house’ rather than focusing on ‘who’ was in the house…

Luke 10:41-42 (NASB)

⁴¹ But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴² but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Think about those who call themselves Christians.

Think about those who claim they make their decisions based on the bible.

Think about those who claim that they speak for God.

Has the enemy distracted believers from the core mission and message that Yeshua the Messiah gave us…

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.

Is making disciples a priority?

Is sharing God’s love a priority?

Is ‘being the peace’ in chaos a priority?

Is sharing God’s forgiveness a priority?

Is sharing God’s gift of salvation a priority?

Are we as believers repenting of our own sins? Or blaming EVERYTHING that’s wrong on ‘sinners’?

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.

Have we forgotten that we are all sinners saved by grace?

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Or, have we become distracted, just like Martha?

What do you think?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I hope this short piece sets someone free of their guilt.

Repentance DOESN’T mean that you’ll never think of your sin anymore.

But, it DOES mean that you won’t linger on those thoughts when they enter your mind.

Repentance DOESN’T meant that you won’t desire the sin anymore…Because the enemy will continue to use any temptation or weakness to provoke you to backslide.

Repentance DOES mean that you WILL NOT PUT YOURSELF to hard testing by tempting yourself from that which you’ve turned away. You won’t intentionally put yourself in the position to do it again.

Repentance DOES mean that you have Godly sorrow and regret of your sin…it DOESN’T mean you don’t remember it.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NKJV)

⁹ Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

If you’ve totally rejected your sin and you’re doing everything else to avoid it…that’s repentance.

If you don’t want it to be a pleasant memory anymore…that’s repentance.

If you ‘don’t want to want it’ anymore…that’s repentance.

But, just the way that the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, and though he fled, the bible said he would return at an opportune moment…

Luke 4:13 (NKJV)

¹³ Now when the devil had ended every ^[a]temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Jesus was tempted in all points just like us…

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus understands. Yield not to temptation, and…

Through time, it will become less and less of a temptation.

Repentance DOES mean you’ve turned away from the sin, it DOES mean the sin has turned away from you.

As the song says, “Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin. Each victory will help you some other to win”.

God can help you get to the point that is isn’t a temptation anymore.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Even those who don’t believe in God have heard of it. The mark of the beast. The ‘mark’ that many will submit to showing that they have rejected Christ and accepted the antichrist.

Revelation 13:16 (KJV)

¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark IN their right hand, or IN their foreheads:

The purpose of this quick post isn’t to discuss whether or not the church will still be on earth when it takes place. But, what will it actually be. This could be a long post, but I’m going to keep it short so you can digest it…and pray about it.

There are those who talk about a chip being implanted, a bar code that will be required for buying, selling and living everyday life. There are others who speak of a literal mark or tattoo on the hand and forehead. How many warnings have you heard in sermons or seen posted on social media or in sermon?

I say neither. That’s too simple. That’s too literal. Check out this verse…

Jeremiah 31:33 (NKJV)

³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Notice that God says, “I will put My law IN their minds, and write it ON their hearts.”

If you take an x-ray, will you find actual words written on your brain or heart? Of course not.

When God places something in your mind, it affects your thinking. When He places something in your heart, it affects what’s most important to you.

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It’s the same with Revelation 13:16…

“In their right hand…” In the way you do things.

“In their foreheads…” The way you think.

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John told us that the spirit of the antichrist was already here way back then…

1 John 4:3 (NKJV)

³ and every spirit that does not confess that^[a] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

The spirit of the antichrist has been at work for years affecting how Christians ‘do things’ and ‘think’. Convincing us to compromise when it comes to our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

Here’s a quick example…think about Easter. What does the name ‘Easter’ have to do with Jesus? Nothing. What do bunnies and eggs have to do with celebrating His resurrection? Nothing. But, you can’t convince well-meaning Christians to celebrate without calling it Easter because it has been to deeply ingrained in the way they ‘do things’ and the way they ‘think’. Why not celebrate His resurrection without calling it by a pagan goddess’ name?

Think of all the ways that the enemy is convincing the people of God to compromise.

Think of how the thinking of this world is changing to accept what God has forbidden.

It’s not what what you accept in or on your skin…it’s what you accept within.

Think about it.

HERE’S HOW WE ALREADY CAN’T BUY OR SELL WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING IDOL GODS…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

How many times have you heard someone say a particular evil behavior would “die out” when a generation of people are replaced with a new generation?

However, when the generations transitions, the behavior proves to have the resilience of weeds by persisting perennially.

You can study history and see the same behaviors that occurred decades and centuries ago still persist… chillingly in almost the exact same manner.

Why?

Because demons don’t die. The people of the previous generations allow those demons to continue to thrive as new generations accept their…

Attitudes…

Traditions…

Heritages…

Pride…

Arrogance…

Idolatry…

Cultures.

The reason that the Apostle John relayed the prophecy in The Revelation that the future fallen Babylon is referred to as a “dwelling place for demons

Revelation 18:2 (NIV)

With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’^[a]
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.

This is because the ‘Babylon’ culture provided a comfortable home for them to not just live but ‘thrive’… much like our bodies are intended to be a comfortable temple for God’s holy spirit to dwell…

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who isin you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

So don’t expect racism, oppression, violence and the others extreme evils to die out with a generation of people…because those are tools the devil has used since the beginning of time, and he’s not lying them down

But remember this…

1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

⁴ You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than ^(A)he who is in the world.

Just don’t let those demons live in you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

Here’s a quick story. One day years ago while working a previous job, I was in the office, and I didn’t do a particular job to meet my direct manager’s expectations. That’s just a reality of work and relationships. We will not always meet each other’s expectations.

That particular manager became very angry, slammed his fist on the desk and said very loudly in front of everyone, “You will NOT do this like this again!”

I remained calm, and went to the bathroom to pray and ask God to give me the wisdom to handle the situation.

I then calmly returned to his desk and said, “Listen, my name is not Chris (his son’s name is Chris). I respect your authority, and you can write me up, suspend me, or even fire me, but you WILL NOT DISRESPECT ME AGAIN! The reason we are both here is to provide for our families, and your position does not give you the right to disrespect me.” He spent the rest of the day apologizing to me, and thank God it never happened again.

It’s amazing how some people equate being loud, mean, and difficult to strength, leadership and assertiveness.

Notice that what God defines as the Fruit of His Spirit, the evidence that we are in relationship with Him, are qualities that are considered weak in ‘Western’ culture.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

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

When did it become acceptable for leadership to get a pass on being respectful?

It reminds me of the pass that so many in society gives coaches to use profanity and disrespect to coach their children… https://beblesstified.com/2019/04/06/why-its-not-okay-for-coaches-to-curse-your-children-3/

It’s amazing how some people are impressed with cursing, profanity, insults, condescension, and even blasphemy, even people in the Body of Christ… https://beblesstified.com/2019/10/21/5-catastrophic-implications-of-when-christians-cuss-4/

God expects us to remain in His character, especially when we are in positions of leadership. And, when we work with people who don’t have a relationship with God, it’s our responsibility to hold them accountable.

You can be an influence on the culture of your workplace by how you respond to the negative, difficult situations.

Pray for discernment so you can know in which situations to speak up, and in which situations to remain silent.

You can respond in God’s love, but also in His authority. Control your emotions, choose your words carefully, speak calmly, and be prepared for the consequences of you standing your ground.

Proverbs 15:1  (NKJV)

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Quiet doesn’t always mean silent…

NOTHING INTIMIDATES A LOUDMOUTH LIKE THE QUIET STRENGTH OF HUMILITY.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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How many times have you prayed and God answered your prayers?

He’s done it more times than I can count, sometimes prayers that were for me and sometimes prayers I have made for others.

What unbelievers, skeptics, and critics call COINCIDENCE…believers call CONFIRMATION.

But, one of the things I really love about God is when He sometimes hits the bullseye by answering a prayer so specifically that there is absolutely no way it can be a coincidence.

Every now and then God does something completely amazing to be a reminder in your moments of doubt so that they don’t become seasons of doubt.

How about stopping what you’re doing right now and give Him some love by praising Him. Tell Him thank you! Tell Him you love Him! And, tell Him you trust Him I’m the name of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

Psalm 28:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.

ARE YOU SURPRISED WHEN GOD ANSWERS YOUR PRAYERS?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

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

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

Does poverty breed violence? Yes.

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

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

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

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

Jeremiah 29:4-14  (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

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

Matthew 26:52 (NKJV)

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

We’re Both Using Scripture, So Whose Right?mi mi

It’s undeniable that sincere, devoted Christians don’t always agree on the interpretation and application of God’s word…the bible.

How many times have you been in a discussion and someone uses scripture to support ‘their’ point and you think to yourself, “Ummm, that’s not what that means.

One of the main reasons that there are so many different groups  or denominations within Christianity is because sincere Christians don’t agree on what was meant by what God said in His inspired word.

“Once Saved Always Saved”

No music instrumental music in worship service

Speaking in Tongues

Proper dress for men or women

Female ministers and pastors

Proper day to worship

Should we celebrate holidays

Tithing

Clean and unclean foods

Should there be priest in church

Is it a sin to drink alcohol

These are just a few of the points in which sincere Christians disagree, unfortunately sometimes to the point of contention. Whether it be huge doctrinal issues or individual disagreements in navigating ‘real life’ situations, too many times Christians are at odds when the word of God clearly said…

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.

Jesus Christ Himself was continually called a devil because He challenged how the religious elite interpreted and viewed the scriptures.

So, how do you know who is right and who is wrong?  NO ONE!

It’s not about US being right or wrong, but who is in harmony with God’s truth. We must be careful not to fall into the mindset of trying to prove we are right. We didn’t create the world. We didn’t die on the cross. We have no authority to be ‘RIGHT’.

So our goal isn’t to be right, but to be in agreement with God’s truth. We can only have unity in the body of Christ when we adopt this mindset. Here are a few ways to tell who is in harmony with God’s truth.

Those who are willing to…

ACCEPT NO GROUP HAS IT ALL RIGHT

It’s interesting how groups and denomonations are so different, but each thinks they are ‘the closet to the truth’. As we grow in our faith, we realize that God doesn’t change, but our theology evolves and changes. That’s what Jesus did. He challenged their theology. Look at some of Jesus’ statement I Matthew 5…

Matthew 5:17(NKJV)

17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill…”

27 “You have heard it said…”

31 “Furthermore it has been said…”

33 Again you have heard it was said to those of old…”

We have to mature and secure enough to realize that we can challenge our theology, grow and change our thinking without implying that the word or God has changed. Every group, just as the religious leaders in the New Testament has to be willing to accept that they are currently believing and practicing some things that ARE NOT in harmony with God’s truth.

HOLDING ON TRADITION

TRYING TO JUSTIFY WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE