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!

.

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

I know you’ve noticed it.

If you’re a man you might have done it.

You may be DOING IT.

Overcompensating: Taking measures that could be seen as excessive to attempt to correct a self-perceived weakness, problem or error.

Have you ever noticed how many men overcompensate with…

BIG TRUCKS…

BIG MOUTHS…

BIG MUSCLES…

BIG MONEY…

BIG GUNS…

BIG EGOS…

AND, THE CLAIM OF BIG ________S!

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Instead of prioritizing having a BIG, CLEAN HEART!

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Psalm 51:10 (NKNV)

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I never thought we would live in an age when both men AND women would proudly boast of having BIG BALLS!

Do you know anyone guilty of overcompensating for what should be a BIG HEART? Is it you?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How many times have you said this, “I’m bored!”? How many times have you heard your kids say, “There’s nothing to do!”?

We live in a society with so many opportunities for entertainment and engagement that we can find ourselves in ‘paralysis by analysis’.

We expect our jobs to be entertaining. Our education to be entertaining, and even our worship to be entertaining.

Now, don’t get me a wrong. I’m by no means condemning being entertained. But, we do need to manage our expectations.

People also love ‘being busy’. We value hard work to the point that some people consider you a slacker if you ONLY want to work ‘9 to 5’…no over time. Since when did doing a hard days work and going home at a decent time become lazy?

Well, I’m saying all that to say this…

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The older I get, the more I appreciate moments of having ‘nothing to do’.

What some people call boredom, I call peace.

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I’m encouraging you to enjoy those times and places where there’s nothing going on.

While some people search for active tourist destinations there are others looking for that small, quiet country town with absolutely nothing to do.

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The next time you find yourself thinking or saying, I’m bored…stop, sit back and thank God for a moment free from chaos and a break in responsibility.

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It’s actually an ideal time to spend some quality time with God in His word.

The next time you hear your kid’s complain about being bored, take their smart phone and pull up a bible app for them.

The next time you’re bored, thank God for a moment of peace.

Remember that trouble, confusion and chaos are never boring!

In a world that’s always demanding our attention for something, learn to enjoy the mental and physical vacation of a moment of boredom.

Learn to appreciate and enjoy the blessing of being bored.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you’re a parent, there will be days that you may feel that your children don’t appreciate you.

Sometimes you may even feel that they resent you.

And, it’s even more painful when you know in your heart that as much as you love your children…that you haven’t always made the best decisions as a parent.

All parents have given their children some legitimate reasons to ‘feel some type of way’.

Remember that from Isaac, Rebecca’s and Jacob’s favoritism to Lot offering his daughter to be raped…parents in the bible were far from perfect.

But, think about this...there is no better parent than God our Father. Yet, many of the very ‘children’ that He created in His own image don’t acknowledge Him, blaspheme Him, and mock Him while breathing His air and enjoying His sun light.

Matthew 5:45 (NKJV)

⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

And, even those ‘children’ who do acknowledge Him, frequently complain, doubt Him, embarrass, rebel against, disobey, and in some situations deny and betray Him when we make a conscious decision to sin when we know it’s wrong.

But, our God is always willing to forgive.

The next time you feel your children don’t appreciate you, think about their behavior and then stop and think about when you have displayed the SAME behavior to God.

Then offer your children the same grace, mercy and willingness to forgive that God offers us through Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

Arguments in relationships, families, on the job, even in church are unavoidable.

Do you know anyone who actually enjoys arguing?

On the other hand, there are others who do everything they can to avoid an argument.

Even on social media there are some people who won’t respond to you unless they disagree. In fact, social media has given people the ‘distance’ to be insulting, disrespectful, and condescending.

But no matter where the arguement takes place, there is one thing that remains true…

Many times our pride won’t allow us to stop arguing until we get in the last word, especially when we know in our hearts we are right, and sometimes when we know we are wrong.

But remember this, when Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) died on the cross, those who crucified Him went home that day thinking that they had won.

Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)

⁷ He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.

Matthew 27:13-14 (NKJV)

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.

Notice how Joshua and Israel’s army allowed the army of Ai to thing they were winning as a strategy to defeat them…

Joshua 8:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.

The one way to stop an argument is to humble enough to let someone else have the last word.

Proverbs 26:4 NKJV

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.

That’s right, plant the most important seed, make the most important point respectfully and then shut up!

Remember, letting someone else have the last word, isn’t LOSING the argument, it’s STOPPING it!

Sometimes, just as Yeshua The Messiah (Jesus Christ) did, it’s best to let them think they have won.

WHY YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO LET YOUR ENEMIES THINK THEY’VE WON…

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!

So many times we are told what we should do, but not told how to do it. It’s easy to teach and preach what the bible says, but it doesn’t do much good if you don’t give people the tools to do it.

One great example is when we’re told to love our enemies. We all know and acknowledge what Jesus teaches us…

Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your [b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [c]tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

But, we all know that can be easier said than done. Especially what he, she or they wish for and work to your harm. It’s difficult when they try to influence other people against you. God never said it was easy, just possible.

God has really dealt with me concerning this. One of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

We also know what God teaches us through the apostle Paul…

Romans 12:14  (NKJV)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:17-21  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have^[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”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.

I see other people on the news who hate me because of my race, my faith, my beliefs, and these are people I’ve never met.

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In fact, one of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

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So, how do you pray for people who hate you? It’s much easier said than done, especially when someone wishes for and works towards your harm, tries to influence others to hate or hurt your, or when someone hurts someone very dear to you.

HERE ARE 7 SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES…

1. ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU IF & WHERE YOU’RE WRONG

Before you approach God about anyone you consider an enemy, make sure you first ask God to reveal to you if you are wrong in the issue, matter or paradigm. Even if you are 100 percent right, ask God to forgive you if you have allowed the enemy to harden your heart beyond God’s required love for your enemy. We must first consider ourselves before we begin to ‘judge’ anyone else…

Matthew 7:1-5  (NKJV)

7 “Judge^[a] not, that you be not judged. ² For with what ^[b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

2. PRAY FOR THEIR FAITH IN GOD TO BE ESTABLISHED & INCREASE

We must always remember that God doesn’t love our enemies any less than He loves us. They were created in His image too. God has called us all to be ministers of reconciliation. So, whether your enemy is an unbeliever or if they are a believer, if they are acting outside His will and character, it’s His desire that they be brought back into right relationship with Him. That’s where our prayers come in. God expects us to be ministers of reconciliation to Him…

2 Corinthians 5:17-20  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

3. PRAY FOR THEIR REPENTANCE

If we aren’t careful, someone can hurt us or someone we love to the point that we can find ourselves not wanting them to repent. That will take away our excuse to be angry at them. But, it’s Gods will that everyone repent and turn to Him…

2 Peter 3:9  (NKJV)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward ^[a]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

4. PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION

There are people that we can find so mean, evil and malicious that we don’t want them to be saved. Knowing that someone is in sin or evil is not judging them, but when we decide they are not worthy of salvation, that’s judgement and condemnation. What if God thought you not worthy of salvation when you were at your worst? And, as Matthew 7:1-2 reminds us, what ever judgement we are placing on someone else we are placing that same judgment on ourselves. Plus, if your enemy is a Christian and they are just in a hardhearted, backslidden, or weak moment, you may be placing condemnation on yourself as well…

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

 

So, always ask God to forgive you for any judgment or condemnation you have placed on someone.

5. PRAY THAT THEY PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT

It’s also God’s will that we all lead fruitful and productive lives…

John 15:8  (NKJV)

⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Once your enemy is sincerely leading a fruitful life, they can no longer truly be your enemy. You are then on the same team working for the same kingdom goals. Even if you aren’t necessarily friends, you will no longer be enemies.

6. PRAY SINCERELY, NOT TRYING TO MANIPULATE GOD TO GIVE YOU REVENGE

It’s a dangerous thing asking God to give someone what they deserve: SO YOU THINK THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED…REALLY??? Again, that’s judgment, especially when God hasn’t given any of us what we deserve. Too many times people take Romans 12:20 out of context. They merely want to pray for their enemy or even help them to ‘heap coals of fire on their head’. That is the wrong motivation. Sometimes people can even say, “I’m praying for you as an insult, rather than in sincerity: NEVER LET YOUR “GOD BLESS YOU” REALLY MEAN “F*** YOU”…

7. PRAY THAT GOD FORGIVES YOU FOR BEING SOMEONE’S ENEMY

We all have situations in our lives that we have been or are someone’s enemy. Not because they just don’t like us, but because we have done them wrong. We have worked against them. We have spoken evil against them. This could even be someone who we don’t know or doesn’t know us…It could be a public figure. Even though it’s wrong for them to do so, we have given some people good reason to hate us. Always ask God to forgive you for when you’re someone else’s enemy.

Romans 3:23  (NKJV)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Praying for our enemies in sincerity isn’t easy, but it is possible.

 

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The enemy wants you to keep your head down. The enemy wants you silent about the Lord. The enemy wants you to sit down on your calling, anointing and purpose. He does this is by manipulating you to FOCUS ON YOUR FAILURES AND FLAWS. He wants you to feel unworthy to speak up or ‘live out loud’ for Christ. You may have made huge mistakes, FINANCIALLY, IN RELATIONSHIPS, even MORALLY…you know what haunts you.

Please notice that God continued to use David as a psalmist and leader, even after he had a man killed to take his wife, God didn’t tell him that he couldn’t continue to serve as King (2 Samuel 12:1-13).

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In fact, some of David’s most powerful psalms came AFTER his greatest sin.

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God already knew the sin that David would commit even when He initially anointed him. Because of his repentant heart, his sin didn’t disqualify his anointing.

Psalm 51 (NKJV)

Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,^[a]
And blameless when You judge.

Our greatest challenge sometimes is walking with spiritual confidence, walking with our heads up, speaking in God’s authority when people KNOW HOW WE HAVE MESSED UP. God is raising us up to walk boldly for Him even in the midst of our humanity.

Paul spoke boldly even though he persecuted the church and consented to the death of Christians, such as Stephen (Acts 7:1-60, 8:-1).

Peter stood strong for Christ even though he openly denied Him during the darkest hour (John 18:13-27).

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So, if people tell you, “You can’t tell me anything based on what you’ve done!” You tell them, “God has given me grace and mercy, and allowed me to still be here to tell you DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES THAT I’VE MADE”.

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So even if you’re working through the consequences of your mistakes, God expects you to KEEP YOUR HEAD UP and SPEAK BOLDLY IN LOVE FOR HIM. Sometimes it takes years to work through the process of restoration and recovery, but that doesn’t mean you are to be silent in the meantime, BE ENCOURAGED!…KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, STAND UP AND SPEAK UP FOR THE LORD!

Your failures don’t have to disqualify your calling!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

So many jobs are based on meeting deadlines. From projects in business, standardizes tests in education to playoffs in sports…When you’re working towards a deadline, you sometimes don’t notice the days between that deadline When the project is completed, You can find yourself  saying, “Wow, this week went by fast!”

Even on a personal level, setting goals and giving oneself deadlines is important to being what many call ‘successful’.

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Whether it be deadlines, goals, hopes or dreams. Don’t forget to live and enjoy each day as you work towards them.

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For example, you may be in your early 30’s and have a certain goal you want to achieve by the age of 40. Don’t be so focused on your goal that when you reach 40 you look back and say, “What happened to my 30s” – whether you reach that goal or not.

Life is short enough without making it seem shorter trying to get to the future. Many people spend their 8am trying to get to 5pm (guilty). They spend Monday trying to get to Friday. They spend January trying to get to December. They spend their 20’s trying to get to their 30’s.

Many spend their work days trying to get to holidays and vacation. They spend their days trying to get to the day their car or mortgage is paid off. Many are trying to get to the carefree days of retirement.

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DON’T MISS THE PRESENT TRYING TO GET TO THE FUTURE

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Get there, but enjoy the days in between.

It’s always good to remember that tomorrow is not promised…

 Matthew 6:34  (NKJV)

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

That being said, don’t let working for your tomorrows, allow you to miss out on your todays. Let this be your declaration every day…

Psalm 118:24  (NKJV)

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

We have all been there. Those moments when you aren’t angry at God. You aren’t angry at God. You aren’t angry at the world…you’re angry at yourself and the sins, bad decisions and mistakes you have made.

Most of the time we feel this way because we’re living out the consequences of those mistakes, or it’s because we are silently noticing how our decisions have had a negative affect on those we love.

Yes, there are things beyond our control. Yes, there are times the world hasn’t been fair to us. And, yes there are times that God could have moved on our behalf and He didn’t.

But when we’re honest with ourselves, much of the difficulty we face in life is a result of our own sins or bad decisions.

When we admit this to ourselves, it can lead to moments or seasons of depression. So, what do you do?

1. REMEMBER THOSE USED BY GOD IN THE BIBLE WERE FAR FROM PERFECT

Remember that everyone in the bible who was used by God was far from perfect. From Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to the patriarchs. From Noah to Moses to David to Peter to Paul. From Sarah to Rebecca to Miriam to Job’s wife…the men and women in the bible made horrible mistakes. However, they were still used by God.

2. YOU DIDN’T CATCH GOD BY SURPRISE WHEN YOU MESSED UP

God was not surprised when he sinned with Bathsheba. God knew that was going to happen when He anointed David king years before. Also know that YOU didn’t catch God by surprise when you messed up. Especially if it’s due to one of the weaknesses that He gave you. Many of our weaknesses are innate. Some people are naturally horrible with managing money. Others have an unquenchable appetite for sex that can only be controlled with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. While other people have a natural tendency to quickly get angry and act before thinking. These are all weakness that we need God’s help to overcome. This is His way of nurturing a relationship to keep us close to Him…but too many times we allow our weaknesses to overpower our strengths. Never forget that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses…

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NKJV)

⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

3. GOD MADE YOU AND KNOWS THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN ‘FLESH’

God knows that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41)

He has compassion on us when we are repentant about our ‘human’ moments…

Psalm 103:10-14 (NKJV)

¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
¹² As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He ^[a]knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

4. GOD CAN DELIVER US FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINS, BAD DECISIONS AND WEAKNESSES

God is a keeper ( Yehovah Raah, The Lord is our Shepherd) and is able to sustain us in spite of our mistakes. There are those who have made the same mistakes you have and have lost much more… have suffered much more… and some didn’t even survive. But, He kept you…sustained you… nurtured you… and had mercy on you through your weakest, darkest moments. David remained king after he repented and remained a man after God’s heart. God restored to Job twice as much as he had after he prayed for his friends who made his ordeal much worse (Job 42:10-17). After denying Christ, Peter went on to be one of the most influential Apostles. No matter what you’ve done, if you repent and it’s God’s will, He can deliver you from the consequences of your sins, bad decisions and weaknesses. Especially if it’s an innate weakness He gave you. Make this prayer a part of your regular prayer life:

“Heavenly father, I truly repent of how I have let you down. Please forgive me and if it’s your will deliver me from the consequences of my sins, bad decisions and weakness.”

5. REMEMBER THAT GOD ALLOWS US MOMENTS TO LAMENT AS LONG AS WE STILL PROCLAIM OUR TRUST IN HIM

One of the most beautiful things about the Psalms is that they teach us how to express our regret and even question Him in respect as long as we end those moments reaffirming our trust in Him.

Psalm 13 (NIV)

¹ How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

³ Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
⁴ and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

So, don’t be too hard on yourself wen you’re feeling down and depressed. God made you and He knows you. Just as parents don’t enjoy seeing their children cry when they are truly sorry of their mistakes, God is compassionate. Do just what David did as he lamented the kidnapping of their women and children and bore the blame of those closest to him. Encourage and strengthen yourself in the LORD and keep it moving! Remember, God gave him the victory then too.

1 Samuel 30 (NKJV)

Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, ² and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. ³ So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. ⁴ Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ⁵ And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was ^[a]grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

Have you ever been caught up in thoughts, behavior, habits, relationships, etc, that you wanted to STOP, but found STOPPING to be an enormous struggle?

Are struggling to STOP doing something right now? Are you fighting that battle between the flesh and the spirit?

The Apostle Paul even admitted to and described this struggle…

Romans 7:18-20  (NKJV)

¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. ²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Many times, in the heat of this struggle, one might ask God, “Lord, please MAKE me STOP!

Remember this, YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE WAY THAT GOD MAKES YOU STOP!

When you read God’s word, He doesn’t want us to ask Him to make us stop. When we choose sin, we are choosing sin over him. It’s a relationship decision, much like a spouse choosing a rival over his or her spouse. No one wants to make a husband or wife stop choosing someone else over them. A spouse would want their loved one to CHOOSE TO STOP seeing someone else.

God gives us the power, strength and responsibility to STOP ourselves.

Notice where God places the responsibility in these verses…

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Ephesians 4:31  (NKJV)

³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking BE PUT AWAY from you, with all malice.

Colossians 3:8  (NKJV)

⁸ But now YOU YOURSELVES ARE TO PUT OFF ALL OF THESE: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

2 Corinthians 7:1  (NKJV)

7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

It is clear that God does not want us asking Him to make us STOP doing anything that is displeasing to Him.

STOP on your own!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

Should there be consequence for when reasonable expectations aren’t met on the job? Yes, of course!

But, in our current culture it’s become all to common for a boss to ‘chew out’ and employee who isn’t meeting those expectations…who makes a mistake…who needs correction.

No matter where someone sits on the hierarchy of organizational structure, the fact is that workers are all just people doing a job to take care of their families or themselves…to make a living.

It’s true some jobs are much more impactful on society if someone messes up, for example if someone is setting up an operating room for emergency surgery, but the fact still remains that all workers are equal citizens doing a job.

But think about this. Outside the workplace, your boss is just another person. He or she is someone else’s wife, husband, son, daughter, father, mother…just a person. They have absolutely NO authority over your life outside of your commitment to the company or organization.

Because we are all just equal citizens trying to make a living, no one has the right to overly assertively reprimand another adult at work. Offices, factories, schools and churches are not the military.

No one has the right to belittle you… insult you… embarrass you… or even threaten you because they think that’s leadership. This usually happens when the correction is affected by emotions.

Every organization has consequences in place for when expectations aren’t met.

Verbally warn me with respect!

Write me up!

Demote me!

Fire me!

But no one has the right to belittle, insult, embarrass, threaten or treat another adult like a child, even if they have organizational authority over them.

Real leadership isn’t achieved through fear, intimidation, or adult bullying.

When a person is hired, make sure that the progression of consequences are clear, and proceed through them with respect.

No one wants to be disrespected, not even when they mess up.

Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)

¹² Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

What do you think?

BE BLESSTIFIED.

• 

Okay, I know this has never happened to you, but let’s just pretent that it did.

You just finished taking a shower. You brushed your teeth, put on your antiperspirant, cologne or perfume and got dressed in your best. At that present moment, you very well could be the cleanest person in the world. And then it suddenly hits you…

Unfortunately, you have been constipated for several days. And, now just as you get ready to leave your home you can tell that problem is over!

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It’s #2 TIME! RIGHT AFTER YOUR GREAT SHOWER.

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As you are relieving yourself of the excess weight that you’ve been carrying it is by no means pleasant. It SMELLS LIKE you haven’t been to the bathroom in three days! You’re spouse shouts, ‘Are you alright in there’ hoping that you’re still conscience or haven’t lost your short term memory?

Think about this…

No matter how clean you were after your shower…

No matter how well you were dressed

No matter how good you smelled…

Everywhere you went while you were constipated, the source of that horrible smell was hidden inside you!

It’s the same with our spiritual condition. No matter what we look like on the outside, when we have sin in our lives, we are filthy on the inside…

Isaiah 64:6  (NKJV)

⁶ But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like ^[a]filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.

But when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He provided a one-time sacrifice for those who put their faith in God, our Elohim, through Him.

1 John 2:1-2  (NKJV)

2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

To keep it simple, PROPITIATION means covering or atoning sacrifice. Yeshua the Messiah literally ‘hides’ our sins and places us back in good standing with God.

So just the same as we can’t see the feces, urine, blood, bile, mucus or any other fluid that’s always hidden under our skin. Our Savior covers the lies, lust, greed, selfishness, hatred, malice, jealousy, rage, wrath, hatred, envy, doubt, discontent, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, etc. that hides inside the hearts of those who are fighting against their flesh every day…

Galatians 5:16-25  (NKJV)

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

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

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

So, while you’re thanking God for the good things in your life, food, shelter, clothing, health, your family, your job, your home, peace, safety, freedom, please don’t forget to thank Him for sending His Son and our Savior Yeshua, the Messiah to provide atonement for our sins when we repent.

Thank God no one can see what’s inside you!

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

WHEN YOU CAN’T SMELL YOURSELF STINK ANYMORE…

WHAT IF YOU SMELLED LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS?

WHAT IF YOU COULD SEE YOUR SOUL? (From my archives)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How many times have you heard this (or done this)?

There’s a disagreement…an arguement…a debate…a discussion…a contention… a situation where someone rubbed you wrong.

It could have been politics, religion, relationship, sports, work, or whatever…

But, they pushed the right button (or wrong button) and whether you admit it or not, they ticked you off (or pissed you off).

However, you are a Christian and you love God, so you ‘dismiss’ them with a “God bless you!”, or “I will pray you!”

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Hmmm, when you’re honest with yourself though, you didn’t mean that in your heart.

You would never say, “F*** You!”. And, the devil knows it too.

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That’s why he cleverly slipped in and manipulated you to use a blessing to be nice-nasty. Your ‘blessing contained venom! Your mouth said, God bless you, but your heart really said “F-You”.

The person to whom you it, and those who heard it could tell what you really meant…and so could God.

We all have human moments, but we must be very careful not to allow the enemy to make us guilty of what the Psalmist said…
Psalm 62:4c (NKJV)

“…They bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly.”

Remember, we must give an account for every word that comes from our mouths…

Matthew 12:36

(NKJV)

³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Remember, real blessings don’t contain venom!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

From education to business to the nonprofit sector, so many decisions are based on data.

In today’s educational, political, social, religious and anti-religious climate, between good discussions, debates, dialogue, commentary, arguing and talking AT one another… people love to preface and punctuate his or her points with “I HAVE THE FACTS TO BACK ME UP!”

If I learned one thing in my years as a Marketing Manager and professional Copywriter it’s that facts can be both interpreted and applied subjectively.

Every television station, radio station, business etc., can be #1 at the same time to a different demographic.

Medical research can be manipulated and delivered to satisfy the marketing efforts of pharmaceutical companies.

Decisions are made in education based on data, but that objective data is always filtered through subjective evaluations and opinions…always.

Historical facts are presented through particular perspectives that support preferred narratives.

People have twisted God’s absolute truth to satisfy their own agendas and narratives.

People will quickly assume that the facts and research that fits their particular point-of- view as superior.

This is why in a court case, both the prosecution and defense present their OWN experts that support their OWN story…both armed with FACTS.

After those who sought to ‘kill’ Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) presented their ‘facts’, Pilate replied…

John 18:38 (NIV)

³⁸ “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.^(A)

John 14:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am ^(A)the way, ^(B)the truth, and ^(C)the life. ^(D)No one comes to the Father^(E)except through Me.

We must be honest with ourselves when handling ‘facts’ and the ‘truth’. Because ultimately it’s not about us proving we are ‘RIGHT’, but about us being in harmony with God’s truth.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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Pornography, fornication, adultery, abortion, homosexuality, violence, racism, hatred, drunkenness, addiction…

The list of sins that Christians cherry pick as those most necessary to avoid goes on and on. Many Christians arrogantly stick out their chests and point self-righteous fingers at people who sin differently than they do. Yeshua our Messiah gave us a classic example of this type of self righteousness…

Luke 18:9-14 (NKJV)

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be ^[a]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

What sins could you replace with those stated by the publican to make that you in the parable?

The fact is that sin is what makes our bodies ‘comfortable’ places for devils to live and thrive. People under the influence of demons isn’t always manifested as in the movie, “The Exorcist”.

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. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

But notice it wasn’t the sins often vilified by Christians that made Babylon a DWELLING PLACE, HABITATION OR COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR DEMONS TO THRIVE…

Revelation 18:2-3 (NKJV)

² And he cried ^[a]mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! ³ For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the ^[b]abundance of her luxury.

It was the spiritual fornication of the greed that had been accepted as part of the culture…capitalism on steroids. Capitalism isn’t a sin, but even eating in excess is though. Paul even said that greed equates to idolatry…

Colossians 3:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

It wasn’t just the sins of lust that the Apostle Paul stated would be so prevalent in the last days…

2 Timothy 3:2-9 (ESV)

² For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 

Notice the first three mentioned were IDOLATRY, GREED, PRIDE and ARROGANCE!

However, the idolatry of worshiping ourselves, greed, pride and arrogance have become celebrated in our current culture and even accepted and justified by many people who claim to be Christians.

Think of the atrocities that happened and were justified in this great country in the name of progress and to maintain a ‘way of life’…

The Trail of Tears…

Vigilante violence, lynching and terrorism during The Reconstruction and Civil Rights Movement…

Gangs terrorizing their neighborhoods…

Think of how pride has become accepted…

Black Pride…

White Pride…

National Pride…

God has not permitted us to have pride, but rather be thankful, and it’s this level of pride and arrogance that has led to a culture that’s easily recognized as described in 2 Timothy 3:2-9.

A culture as described only exists through demonic influence.

The sins listed in Galatians chapter 5 are PRACTICED because

Galatians 5:19-21(ESV)

¹⁹ Now ^(A)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(B)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(C)those who do^[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The key to making our bodies uncomfortable for demons and comfortable for God’s Holy Spirit is what is considered by too many Christians and weakness…

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.

It’s our responsibility to get rid of everything that we allow to defile our bodies and spirits…

2 Corinthians 7:1-2 (NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

How much pride, arrogance and greed have you accepted into your life?

BE BLESSTIFIED!