Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Pilate, Caeser and Hitler all had one very important thing in common. They were not able to do anything by themselves. Their powerful influence began with words. Whether people were forced to do what they wanted or willingly complied, no leader was able to accomplish anything on their own. They had to work through those who followed them.

That’s why we must be very careful of our attitude towards those who lead us. Whether it be governmental, spiritual, career, social or family.

Be very careful that you don’t agree with EVERYTHING a leader says or does. Be very careful that you aren’t excusing or justifying when they are clearly or even vaguely wrong, especially in regard to the word of God.

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Any person who agrees with EVERYTHING that any leader says or does, is more dangerous than that leader.

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Most of the time…leaders don’t pull triggers, they don’t actually arrest, they don’t actually execute, imprison or persecute. They do it through their followers. Notice how quickly people turn on family and friends to support their ‘leader’. Notice how people insult or even hurt others to support their leaders statements and agenda. Notice the heated, insult filled discussions on social media because people are supporting their chosen leader.

I think the two of the most powerful forces in this world are INFLUENCE and AGREEMENT.

People follow the one who influences them the most, whether it be God or the enemy. And, agreement/unity/oneness is so powerful, that it’s the last thing that Jesus prayed about before He was betrayed… THE POWER OF UNITY WORKS FOR BOTH GOOD AND EVIL…

John 17:20-23 (NKJV)

²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will^[a] 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.

Remember, you are not obligated to agree with, condone or excuse everything that a leader whom you support says or does. They are human, just like you and will make mistakes.

Remember also that when you support a leaders’ wrong, God will hold you accountable along with that leader.

1 Kings 14:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ And He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and who made Israel sin.”

Agreeing with anyone 100% of the time is too close to worship for me. There only One who we should reserve that place for…God.

So, watch out for people who support or defend a leader no matter what he or she does, especially if it is a controversial leader. Be careful of what their passion will allow them to do. Many times, the followers are more dangerous than the leader.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

Be careful of what’s in your heart when you decide to “KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS”.

That IS NOT what God told us to do. He told us to love our enemies.

Love’s intention is to give life, not kill.

Love’s intention is to build up, not tear down.

God says don’t seek revenge, that belongs to Him. God says don’t repay evil for evil, but instead to help your enemy.

The problem is, that many of us choose to ‘kill them with kindness’, ONLY to “heap coals of fire on their heads“. Many of us are only being kind because we see heaping coals of fire on their head as just another way to get even.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we may just be showing kindness to show them up, to annoy them, to make them feel bad…if that’s the intention then we’ve totally missed God’s meaning.

Helping your enemy is an exercise in developing God’s character. It is planting seeds of  love for the enemy and those who witness. It’s allowing everyone to see the power of God. The goal is overcoming evil with good. Well, what about the coals of fire on their head? That’s just the end result of how acts of kindness affect an enemy…it’s a result, not an intent.

The goal is REPENTANCE AND RECONCILIATION. Remember, ‘kill them with kindness’ is catchy, but not of God.
Romans 12:19-21
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

Two of the most common insults in today’s society is calling someone COUNTRY or GHETTO!

People use these insults to call people…

Low-class…

Lazy…

Not fashionable…

Not ‘cultured’…

‘Slow’…

Uneducated…

Sheltered…

Not progressive…

And, the list goes on and on.

However, people who look down on these demographics of our population could actually learn a lot from them…

Some of the strongest parents are in the COUNTRY and GHETTO…

Some of the strongest families are in the COUNTRY and GHETTO…

Some of the most resilient and focused students are in the COUNTRY and GHETTO…

Some people in the COUNTRY and GHETTO have the most grit, determination, commitment to those who are important in their lives.

Some of those with the strongest integrity and character are in the COUNTRY and GHETTO…

Some of the strongest values are in the COUNTRY and GHETTO.

And most of all, some of the strongest FAITH in GOD is in the COUNTRY and GHETTO!

I grew up in a small town that had many of the big-city problems on a smaller scale, such as drugs for example. Everyone knows the correlation between drugs sand crime.

However, there was one difference. When I grew up, there were also drug addicts of every race just as in the city, but EVERYBODY KNEW EVERYBODY in my small town. So, no matter how bad their drug habit was, they kept some sort of job to support their habit. And remember, smaller towns have fewer job opportunities. The result…less drug-related crime. Also, that sense of community led to people helping one another when in need rather than just turning their nose up at them. Those are distinct cultural differences.

As much as people in big look down on ‘trailer parks’. In smaller towns, those people who live in the smallest most humble trailers aren’t homeless.

One of the things that attracts people to ‘gang’ culture is the sense of belonging and loyalty. How much loyalty and what sense of belonging do you find in corporate America, politics, manufacturing, education, or in some of the most ‘affluent’ and ‘upper-class’ neighborhoods?

Some of the strongest family ties are in the COUNTRY and GHETTO. There are people who work two and three jobs to make sure their families are taken care of.

Many people label the ghetto as being filled with ‘deadbeat‘ dads because they say they aren’t there for there kids and don’t support their children.

However, I can’t count how many ‘professionals’ who are ‘deadbeat’ parents because even though they have the same address as their children, they are absent in their lives as they prioritize career over family…sometimes throwing money at their children to replace true parenting.

Many country and ghetto families keep their heads to the sky…knowing the only one they can truly trust with their lives, families, safety and future is God.

Remember what the Bible says…

James 2:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Listen, my beloved brethren: ^(A)Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be ^(B)rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom ^(C)which He promised to those who love Him?

I was raised in a small town and protect many of those values that were instilled in me. I’m unapologetically COUNTRY!

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!