I once worked with a lady who cleaned up our office building. Let’s say her name is Elsie.
She was middle aged, older than some and younger than others, and she was Black.
Out of respect most people in the office called her Ms. Elsie. Except me, I called her Elsie. She was my elder, but I sensed she didn’t like the title Ms. before her name.
I asked several people, Black, White and other races why they called her that, and they confirmed it was out of respect.
So, I asked Elsie how she felt about it. She also confirmed she didn’t like it, and it was exactly for the reason I thought.
She was our coworker. Even though she wasn’t a Manager, Analyst, Salesperson, Director, VP, or CEO, she was a coworker. There were other coworkers older than her, of all races, that were referred to by their first name only.
Calling her MS. unintentionally designated her as a servant. It made her feel like a MAMMY.
I told everyone to please just call her by her first name like everyone else.
So many times we can mean well, but unintentionally insult, disrespect, and belittle others because we are culturally insensitive.
Watch this fresh revelation and relevant application to the current challenge to public worship. This is Pastor W. Michael Martin giving strong scriptural support that worship isn’t regulated to the building we call church.
Sometimes it’s difficult to explain how our invisible God can be everywhere at the same time, or omnipresent.
Maybe this example will help.
Where is the internet?
On your smartphone?
On your laptop?
On your tablet?
Is the internet in the air?
Is it in Indiana, Idaho, India or the International Space Station?
Do we have to take turns to access the internet or can we all connect at the same time?
Just because you can’t see it, taste it, touch it or hear it…does that mean the NETWORK isn’t there. Yes, you see the evidence there is a network through the information, videos or audio files…but you can’t see the actual network.
If you can understand how the invisible internet can be OMNIPRESENT in a sense, then you can understand how our invisible God, our Elohim, the Father of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, can be everywhere at the same time.
I think we all want to be valued as a person. In our families…In our relationships…In our professional life…In our spiritual life…We all want to be valued.
We make room for what and who brings value to our lives. No one, and I mean no one avoids anyone who brings value to their lives. And, the greatest value is in the intangible things that money can’t buy. I like to call them intangible tangibles. You can’t see them, but they are so real.
But, I’m not going to talk about the typical intagibles that commonly first come to mind…you know love, joy etc. etc.
I’m talking about 3 intangibles that when you possess these abilities, people will always value you. And they all spring from a spiritual gift…exhortation!
Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who EXHORTS, in EXHORTATION; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
A good strong exhortation encourages and strengthens.
People with these attributes can even tend to be ‘used’, but no one uses anyone that they don’t value.
You will always be valued if you can ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE AND ENTERTAIN…
ENCOURAGE…
Everyone needs encouragement. The fact is, that not only do we need encouragement when we are down, but we also need encouragement when we are up. Think of the people in your life who are encouraging to you. Most of the time it’s the same person or people with whom you seek out to share both your good and bad news. It’s the one with whom you want to share your good days, and the one you know you can depend on to help you want to go on during your bad days. Now think of the people who you can depend on to discourage you. Who do you value more in your life?
INSPIRE…
Who inspires you? What inspires you? Who makes you want to be a better person? Who makes you want to pursue your purpose? Who makes you want to accomplish the impossible? Is it a family member? Is it a former teacher? Is it a great leader? Is it someone that you have seen endure incredible odds? Is it someone who came from what we call ‘nothing’ to achieve greatness? That’s why we love heroes because they inspire us. Inspiration is so powerful that even evil people are inspired by other evil people. When you inspire people, they will want to be around you on their best day and worst day.
ENTERTAIN…
Even though we aren’t all entertained in the same way, everyone loves to be entertained. In this harsh world, we all need temporary breaks from reality to refresh ourselves. Everyone loves being around someone who entertains them. It may be someone who always has an interesting story. It may be a gifted musician, singer, poet, artist or author. It may be someone who is very engaging to talk to…it may be someone who always makes us laugh and smile. I believe that comedy is an aspect of the gift of exhortation…what’s more encouraging than a good laugh? (Read this…ARE YOU A MINISTER OF LAUGHTER?
Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[a] But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Think about how David found favor with Saul because he was a skilled musician…
1 Samuel 16:23 (NKJV)
23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
Everyone love being around someone who makes them laugh. Someone who makes them feel better. Nothing lifts one out of despair like a well-timed laugh. If you have the ability to entertain…sing, dance, speak, act, are you athletic…whatever makes the heart feel lighter…whatever helps us escape from reality, you will be valued.
These gifts are to be used to be a blessing to one another and bring glory to the God of our salvation.
So, how has God blessed you to encourage, inspire or entertain? Know your gifts because that’s where others will find your value.
If your parents, siblings, friends or even co-workers don’t like your spouse…
Ask yourself is it because of what you’ve said to them in your anger or frustration?
Part of honoring your spouse is bearing with one another through keeping some things between the two of you only. When you share something they have done to hurt or anger you with someone else, especially family, when the two of you have moved on…others may still hold a grudge.
Remember, your marriage is your business!
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)
I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Don’t let the reason that someone dislikes your spouse be because of what you’ve said about them.
Psalm 144:1 “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers to do battle”
Men and women of God, TODAY IS TRAINING DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! God is training you for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12).
Today is another opportunity to get familiar with and get better at using your weapons (Ephesians 6:10-18).
You will be confronted with situations and challenges that will determine not only your future, but the future of those you love and the future of your fruit, you know, those who God assigns to you along the way.
Just like in the movie starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, the new detective (Ethan Hawke) was assigned to a veteran detective (Denzel Washington) for training. The new detective had a good heart, but he was confronted with and partnered with the devil (Denzel) on his first day.
The entire day was a string of situations that required Ethan Hawke’s character to make the right decision, and the decision wasn’t always easy. At the end of the day, the decisions made by both determined their futures, and the devil tried to sabotage the new detective’s future.
Ethan Hawke’s character’s decisions saved his life, while Denzel Washington’s character’s decisions cost him his.
Who will you be at the end of the day today? Ethan Hawke or Denzel Washington?
The devil is trying to sabotage your day. Just as He did Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11. He is trying to get you to make decisions in one day to high-jack your future. He goes about as roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He is trying to steal, kill and destroy your testimony, your fruit and your future. Jesus, Yeshua, the Living Word, has come that you can live an abundant life (John 10:10). But, that abundant life shouldn’t be just thought of carnally. God had called us to be abundant in fruit for the Kingdom, in making disciples and Kingdom building. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
So be encouraged! You are guaranteed the victory if you walk in the Spirit and are led to make the right decisions throughout the day (Galatians 5:16-18).
Remember, that one bad decision at the end of the day can negate all the good decisions made earlier that day.
God is your training officer. He is preparing you for battle (Psalm 144:1). TODAY is your TRAINING DAY. Be strong in the Lord, fight the enemy with the word of God, just as Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11, and the enemy will flee…but just as he left Jesus until another opportune time, he will be back….
Yehovah Yireh provides perfectly through our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
We must always be careful that we never dishonor Him because we have our wants confused with our needs.
It didn’t take long for Israel to get tired of the ‘bread from heaven provided by God…
Numbers 11:1-20 (NKJV)
11 Now (A)when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; (B)for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the (C)fire of the Lordburned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people (D)cried out to Moses, and when Moses (E)prayed to the Lord, the fire was [a]quenched. 3 So he called the name of the place [b]Taberah, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them.
4 Now the (F)mixed multitude who were among them [c]yielded to (G)intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: (H)“Who will give us meat to eat? 5 (I)We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now (J)our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”
7 Now (K)the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and (L)its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. 9 And (M)when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and (N)the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 (O)So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the [d]burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, (P)‘Carry them in your bosom, as a (Q)guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You (R)swore[e] to their fathers? 13 (S)Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 (T)I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and (U)do not let me see my wretchedness!”
16 So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me (V)seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and (W)officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. (X)I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. 18 Then you shall say to the people, [f]‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept (Y)in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 (Z)but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have (AA)despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, (AB)“Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?” ’ ”
How many times have you looked in the refrigerator, pantry or cabinet and said, “There’s nothing to eat” because it wasn’t what you wanted?
How many times have you complained about the job you prayed for and God is using to sustain your life this season?
How many times have you complained about the spouse, children or family that God gave you because they don’t always see eye-to-eye with you? Remember the children of Israel complained in the wilderness against Moses’ leadership over and over again.
Complaining is one of the sins that pisses Him off the most…
1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)
10 nor complain, as (A)some of them also complained, and (B)were destroyed by (C)the destroyer.
Remember, complaining is the opposite of thanksgiving.
Have you ever felt overlooked or ignored by someone whose attention you REALLY wanted?
Is there someone in your life who when you see they’re calling you on the phone you pause and say, “Oh No!” because you don’t want to be bothered by them.
Do you know someone who gets on your nerves because they’re always ‘bothering you’ at the wrong time.
Have you ever wanted the attention of someone who you felt had influence, authority, prestige while getting the attention of those who don’t?
Never take for granted those who see value in you because you don’t see enough value in them.
Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)
40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (A)inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Let me first say that I absolutely believe that God gives us the right to arm ourselves as individuals. Notice what Yeshua, Jesus, told His disciples…
Luke 22:35-36 (NKJV)
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?”
So they said, “Nothing.”
36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
The Lord told His own disciples that if they don’t have a weapon they should get one…to defend themselves. Jesus made this clear when Peter used His sword when Jesus was arrested.
Matthew 26:51-52 (NKJV)
51And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will [a]perish by the sword.
John 18:10-15 (NKJV)
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
However, even if God permits us to arm ourselves, just as He doesn’t want us to put our faith in riches, He also doesn’t want us to put our faith in our guns…as if they are what insures our salvation when attacked.
Psalm 33:16-18 (NKJV)
16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a [a]vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
Psalm 44:6-8 (NKJV)
6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. 7 But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us. 8 In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah
Remember God delivered Israel from Egypt without one weapon. He fought for them.
Remember also, though out numbered, God fought for Judah because Jehoshaphat put his faith in God…
2 Chronicles 20:15-23 (NKJV)
15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the [a]brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.
20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they [b]had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
In Joshua’s farewell address, He reminded the Israel of the real source of their help…
Joshua 23:8-10 (NKJV)
8 but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. 9 For the Lord has [a]driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.
Too many people in our society have prioritized their weapons over what’s more important to the Lord…just as when Yeshua rebuked the Pharisees of neglecting compassion while prioritizing their tithes…
Matthew 23:23 (NKJV)
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
There are some people who quickly react when they feel their guns are threatened, but are silent when it comes to JUSTICE, MERCY and FAITH.
Just as God allowed Israel and Judah to be taken into captivity, God can allow GUNS TO BE TAKEN and loss of freedom because of PRIDE, ARROGANCE, COMPROMISE, COMPLACENCY, ASSIMILATION, and SPIRITUAL ADULTERY! That’s why God said…
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.
The most powerful weapon we have is the word of God. That’s what Jesus used to resist the devil while He was in the wilderness. The word of God is more powerful than any weapon ever made…
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Remember God’s promise through the Prophet Isaiah…
Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)
17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
Yes, America has a history of fighting for freedom abroad, while minority communities were second-class citizens at home.
Yes, there’s still merchandise like this stocked by a major retailer that’s going out of business (my sister-in- law took this picture)👇🏾
Yes, terrorism began in America over 100 years before extremists set their sights on America…
However the fact remains that…
There’s too many Black people killing Black people!
There’s too many Black people terrorizing Black people!
There’s too many Black people doing racists a favor by doing their job for them!
RACISTS DON’T HAVE TO FIRE A SHOT OR TIE A NOOSE WHEN BLACK PEOPLE ARE KILLING ONE ANOTHER!
And marches…speeches…block parties…the police or politicians can’t solve it.
No matter how the world views or treats us, we have to accept the challenge of establishing a culture of Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual accountability to the One, true and living God through Yeshua the Messiah. We have to do the work to fix it just as so many people recognized as White must and deal the pride, arrogance entitlement and need for Emotional Intelligence t in their community.
Even in slavery and exile, He demanded excellence and personal, family and corporate accountability from the Children of Israel..,
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, (A)and pray to the Lordfor 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 (B)deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy (C)falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.
10 For thus says the Lord: After (D)seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to (E)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 (F)call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will (G)listen to you. 13 And (H)you will seek Me and find Me,when you search for Me (I)with all your heart. 14 (J)I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; (K)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.
This article is going to make some people who look like me angry, and make some racists feel justified…and that’s part of the problem.
You’re resting in your bed and you hear your neighbor’s car or home alarm loudly echo throughout the neighborhood.
Do you look?
Or, do you roll over in your bed because you assume that just like you sometimes do…they accidentally set off their alarm?
In the bible trumpets were historically used as alarms not only to warn, but to announce it was time for something to take place…either way, the trumpet meant take action.
Numbers 10:1-10 (NKJV)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps. 3 When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you. 5 When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey. 6 When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys. 7 And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an [a]ordinance forever throughout your generations.
9 “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Numbers 29:1 (NKJV)
And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.
Psalm 98:6 (NKJV)
6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.
Alarms are meant to be alerts that something is wrong and immediate action needs to be taken. But when those alarms are ignored, not only are the useless, but when something is really going wrong action won’t be taken.
God has given us many alarms throughout His word. He has given us alarms, signs and warnings to get our attention.
However, because God has allowed many of these signs to take place in each generation (so no generation would become complacent) many people ignore the signs and alarms…
2 Peter 3:4 (NKJV)
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
So please don’t ignore the signs that God’s giving to our generations…
Matthew 24:7-12 (NKJV)
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, [a]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
2 Timothy 3:2-5 (NKJV)
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [a]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Be careful of how the enemy may be setting the stage by manipulating hearts and minds to accept what God has forbidden…
Daniel 7:8 (NLT)
8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV)
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Please read the Word of God carefully from the perspective of LOOKING FOR THE SIGNS.
Don’t let your allegiance to traditions, politics, heritage, race and your own personal theology cause you to ignore the trumpets!
Joel 2:1 (NKJV)
Blow the [a]trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand:
1 Corinthians 15:52 (NKJV)
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
TRANSPARENT TESTIMONY THAT I LIKE TO SHARE ON EACH ANNIVERSARY OF MY BLOG.
A few years ago I was sent an invite to receive a monthly Christian newsletter from a group of ministers at a church I used to attend in Memphis.
I have to admit it hurt and offended me that I wasn’t asked to contribute, especially since I was writing professionally for a living. Hey, we all have human moments. Then I asked myself, if they asked me, would I be able to have good content once a month.
Fast forward to 2016 when God leads me to begin my website, BEBLESSTIFIED.COM. I made a commitment to make an original post every day. Since then God has given me inspiration every day. Some days, I can’t believe what God places inside me. I love blogging!
Oh yeah, being ignored at that church led me to the church that God meant for me to be. Had the Pastor not ignored me, I might still be ‘planted in the wrong field’.
I’m saying all this to say, that if God is allowing you to be excluded or ignored…maybe He is leading you down YOUR path, and not someone else’s.
Oh, and by the way, that newsletter is no longer being published.
It may be a group of friends, professionals, artists, singers, musicians or preachers.
It’s a circle that you wanted to be a part of…
That you tried or even prayed to get in…
And, they rejected you.
It may not have even necessarily been a ‘bad’ group, that’s why you wanted in.
Even if it’s a good group doesn’t mean that it’s the group God has ordained for you.
You have influence too!
You are anointed too!
You have purpose too!
God has purpose for you that’s beyond and sometimes greater than that group or circle you wanted to be a part of.
And, even that group had to start with somebody. Every industry had to start with a single idea.
So, here it is…
The reason some people won’t accept you into THEIR circle is because God is trying to build HIS circle AROUND you.
Look at Yeshua, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Psalm 118:22 (NKJV)
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
He was rejected by His own…By those He came to save…By the religious leaders who were supposed to represent Him.
John 1:11-12 (NKJV)
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Don’t try to force your way into a circle when God is trying to create one around you.
How do feel when you give someone a gift from your heart with the intention for it to be a huge blessing to them…and they throw it away?
It hurts us that they thought so little of our gift and can make us angry when they disregard the love with which we gave it.
That’s how God feels when we forsake His Day of Rest. It makes Him so angry that He left behind the example of commanding a man be killed for picking up sticks on His Day of Rest…
Numbers 15:32-36 (NKJV)
32 Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him.
35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.
Even though God doesn’t require we be stoned to death anymore in the fact that we aren’t under that law, He still expects us to honor His Day of Rest.
He expects us to continue to make The Lord’s Day holy. That means sanctify and separate it for God. It must be different…
Exodus 20:8 (NLT)
8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Yes, Yeshua said we are free to do good and to do what’s necessary on the Sabbath day…
Luke 14:4-6 (ESV)
4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son[a] or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.
However, that doesn’t mean that God permits us to leave an ox in the ditch that fell in there earlier in the week to remove it on God’s Day of Rest.
He doesn’t intend for us to push the ox in the ditch just to remove it.
How many times have you SAVED WORK that could be done another day to do on The Lord’s Day?
How many times have you taken a job or promotion that required you to work on The Lord’s Day when you previous didn’t have to work.
As Disciples of Christ embrace the scripture that asserts we don’t FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES together, let us be just as devout in making sure we DON’T FORSAKE HIS DAY OF REST.
It’s a gift. It’s a weekly holiday. Enjoy it…don’t forsake it.
In my life I’ve received the best and worst of every race equally.
It just proves that you can’t trust anyone simply based on race, but only as they submit to the love, word and will of God through Jesus Christ.
That’s what Jesus did…
John 2:24-25 (NLT)
24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
Most of the time it’s because their perceived ‘values’ are totally opposite of yours.
It could be that they support a cause, sometimes passionately, a cause that you’re totally against.
They could have hurt, betrayed, abused, neglected, or mistreated you or someone you love.
It may be a world leader, an enemy or a relative.
There are countless ways that the devil can manipulate us into ‘strongly disliking’ someone. Their actions or words may make hatred almost seem justifiable…but God forbids that we hate anyone. He even insists that we pray for those who mistreat us and look for ways to bless them…
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.
President Trump…
President Obama…
Louis Farrakhan…
Al Sharpton…
An uncle…
A bully.
The fact is that when someone does something bad enough to convince us to hate them…that’s all the devil wanted.
One of the greatest lies that we tell ourselves is that we don’t hate anyone.
We must be very careful of the excuses we give why we aren’t doing what God has called us to do.
What do people say when confronted with doing what God expects of them or has called them to do?
Why don’t you go to church?
Let’s go feed the homeless.
Let’s go visit and minister people in prison and hospitals…
Why don’t you give the firstfruits of all your increase to
God?
Usually before we make an excuse, we usually give a big BUT…
“I would, BUT the people in church aren’t right themselves…”
“I would, BUT those homeless people will just spend it on drugs,
cigarettes and alcohol…”
“I would, BUT I can’t afford to…”
“I would, BUT I don’t have time to visit…”
“I would, BUT my kids have sports…”
Yeshua, Christ Jesus, gave us a parable to illustrate how
much He hates our excuses. He let us know how much He hates our BIG BUTS…
Luke 14:18-24 (NKJV)
18 BUT they all with one accord began
to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I
must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I
have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have
me excused.’ 20 Still
another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and
reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry,
said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city,
and bring in here the poor and the[a]maimed and the lame
and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you
commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into
the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my
house may be filled. 24 For
I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my
supper.’ ”
Notice that each of these excuses addressed the same excuses
we give today.
BUSINESS. WORK. CAREER
“I bought a piece of ground…”
“I bought a yoke of oxen…”
SPOUSE. CHILDREN. FAMILY
“I have married a wife…
These excuses made the master of the house (Jesus) angry.
So, He invited the very people who those who were initially invited were called
to serve instead.
He then said those who makes excuses and rejected His
invitation will not ‘taste His supper’ (will not enter His Kingdom).
Jesus hates our excuses! However, the enemy loves our BIG BUTS! He loves our excuses.
Don’t let your BIG BUT keep you out of the Kingdom of God!
Peter denied Christ (John 18:13-27), but that wasn’t the only sin he committed…God allowed them to remain hidden.
The Apostle Paul had a ‘thorn in the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12), but the bible does not let us know what is was…God allowed it to remain hidden.
Mary the mother our our Lord and Savior Yeshua (Jesus) was blessed among women (Luke 1:28), but she wasn’t perfect. God allowed her sins to remain hidden.
Your testimony can be powerful in letting people know that they can overcome what you have overcome. But, sometimes knowing too much about you can be harmful.
Yes, we are supposed to confess our sins to one another, but you can confess your sins (James 5:16), you can share your testimony without telling ALL your business.
Sometimes when people are caught up in a sin, the only way He can get them to stop is allowing them to be exposed. That’s why it’s good to NEVER ask God to MAKE you stop doing anything. He has given us the power through His Holy Spirit to stop on our own.
So, if there are some things about you that God has allowed to remain secret, and you’ve truly repented…sometimes it’s best to not let the world know.
There is great power in maintaining an aura of mystery and wonder at some level.
You don’t need to let the world know everything that’s in your heart…
You can’t let everyone know your hopes, dreams or regrets…
You don’t have to always let people know how you feel…
You CAN’T tell everyone EVERYTHING that crosses your mind!
For example, if you knew everything that runs across your Pastor’s mind, it’s thought it’s a good chance you may never want to hear another sermon preach again…Pastors are human.
Some people aren’t strong enough to understand your weaknesses.
Pray for discernment at what to share and what to keep between you and God. If God allowed it to remain secret…
There are different levels of accountability—-personal, family, social, professional, spiritual etc., this piece is about inter-racial accountability.
If I’ve learned anything as a Black man living in the United States of America, it’s that people don’t discriminate at letting you down.
As much as I want equality for myself and my children, I have to also recognize that I have been hurt, betrayed, undermined, overlooked, ignored, mistreated, misjudged, misunderstood and taken advantage of EQUALLY by people of color (not only Black) just as much as white people.
There are times that people who look like me had an opportunity to help me and refused.
There are times people who look like me complained about the system only to BECOME the system when they became part of the system…or created their own ‘system’.
I’ve seen people who complained about those who abused their authority and influence do the same when it was placed in their hands.
Too many times people who complained about THE MAN became THE MAN.
Yes, some of ‘my people’ who were overlooked because of their skin color have overlooked a more qualified candidate of their own race for a less qualified ‘frat brother’ or ‘soror’. I’ve seen Black people (some very Pro-Black) represent their organizations with Greek letters for generations…when they could very well do it with letters of an African alphabet or the Hebrew alphabet if they call themselves disciples of Yeshua. Why isn’t this considered a remnant of White supremacy?
I’ve seen Black people ‘throw away’ Black people because they don’t do, say, or think as ‘a Black person should’. This happens in every race, but I’m addressing my own. It’s possible someone will ‘throw me away’ because of this truth. That’s fine as long as Yah, my God doesn’t throw me away.
I’ve seen discrimination, favoritism, nepotism, abuse of authority, hatred, and ‘shady’ behavior within my own race.
No matter what your race, everyone who looks like you doesn’t love you.
I love all people.
Yes, I want equality and equity for people who look like me…but there are those ‘who look like me’ who can’t expect any more of others than they do of themselves.
As we fight for equality and social justice, let us never forget that we have allies and enemies of every color.
John 2:24-25 (NLT)
24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
John 1:11 (NKJV)
11 (A)He came to His [a]own, and His [b]own did not receive Him. 12 But (B)as many as received Him, to them He gave the [c]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
To sum it up, White and Black people have both helped and hurt me on a personal level…equally.
Do you remember when Yeshua (Jesus) told His disciples that he would make them ‘fishers of men’?
Matthew 4:19 (NLT)
19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
And, do you also remember that the Lord told us to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into His harvest?
Matthew 9:38 (NKJV)
38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Also, do you recall how Yeshua met Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus to make Him an Apostle and a Laborer for His harvest?
Acts 9:1-6 (NKJV)
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
And finally, we all know the Great Commission that the Lord left for us to do…
Matthew 28:19 (NLT)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Social media provides a vast pool of ‘fish’ to ‘cast our net’ for Christ. It provides innumerable amount of possible ‘Laborers for His harvest’. There are millions of atheists, skeptics, mockers, scoffers and backsliders and people of other religions social media every day.
There are many groups, on Facebook for example, dedicated to atheist or atheists vs believers groups who love to debate, debunk and belittle Christians about the One true and living God.
So here’s the strategy.
JOIN THESE GROUPS. MONITOR THESE DEBATES. NOTICE THE SPECIFIC NAMES.
THE RIVER…LAKE…OCEAN FULL OF FISH:
Social Media
THE BAIT…
Don’t argue or debate, but watch the responses and comments. Occasionally make a post, ask a question or comment. persecuting the Body of Christ before he was converted, so they WILL comment, respond, mock, scoff, insult you and God. This is the bait, and they WILL bite! Atheists are just as passionate as Saul/Paul was in persecuting the Body of Christ before he was converted, so they WILL comment, respond, mock, scoff, insult you and God. They will go on your profile and check you out (even in cyberspace, you have to count the cost). But don’t argue, but notice their names.
THE NET/COMMISSION
Continually lift these names up to God in prayer. Pray for that God give increase to any good seed that’s been planted inside of them.
Seeds of faith..
Seeds of repentance…
Seeds of salvation…
Seeds of fellowship with God…
Seeds of a lifetime of much good fruit for Him…
Pray that God make them Laborers for His Harvest just as He did the Apostle Paul.
God can do it. This is one of the situations when “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is most applicable (Philippians 4:13).
Remember, don’t be drawn into arguing or debating unless God truly gives you a seed of faith.
And, also remember that they don’t have to know that you are praying for them for God to respond. In fact, sometimes it’s best you don’t tell them because it will most likely harden their hearts even more.
This is an effective way to intentionally use social media as missionary field. You plant the seeds…water them with prayer…and allow God to give the increase. I call it SECRET CYBER MINISTRY.
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.
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.
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 you accept on your skin…it’s what you accept within.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Some people see, hear, taste, feel and smell better than others.
Some can’t at all.
Some animals’ senses are exponentially better than humans.
Just because we can’t sense something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Our senses help us experience our environment.
There are some people who are more gifted at sensing spiritual things just as some are more gifted in the physical world. The devil wants to pervert these gifts as psychics, fortune tellers etc., but that’s not of God, and even prophets in the bible never prophesied at will.
The atheist must understand that there is a spiritual world beyond our physical comprehension, which will make its physical ‘proof’ impossible…that’s why it’s called faith, the sense that gives us awareness to what we can’t see.
Faith is your spiritual antenna, microscope, telescope that is activated making you aware of what was always there. Even the Christian as he or she grows in faith is made more aware of what he has been ordained to see through his or her level of spiritual sensitivity…just as some people are blessed to see better than others (everyone with eyesight doesn’t have 20/20 vision).
The spiritual sensitivity that results from faith along with using God’s word as the measuring stick and God’s wisdom for proper understanding allows us to experience God at a greater level, making Him more real to us than ever before.
Just as we work to enhance our natural senses to better experience and understand the physical world (glasses, hearing aids etc.), let us work to master our spiritual senses as well.
Isn’t it interesting that people can tap into radio waves allowing us to receive radio, television, cell phones and GPS signals which we can’t see… but can receive once you have the proper receiver? And, that receiver won’t work unless it has the proper antenna. Faith is that antenna that taps into the world we can’t see, allowing us to receive messages from God.
Even though we can’t see Him, we know He is there and He is everywhere at the same time.
In fact, how is it people can accept an ‘omnipresent internet’, but not God. You can’t see the internet, however you know it’s there. Plus, you can be on the internet on your phone, your computer, at home, at work, in Spain, in outer space, and it’s all the same internet…and all connected.
How can people accept that truth, but can’t understand God can be everywhere at the same time and connected to everything?
How is it we can accept that a man can be a father, a son, a doctor, preacher or teacher, a husband, brother, coworker and friend and still be one man…different authorities and relationships in one man, but can’t accept that God can be Father, Son and Holy Spirit and still be one…different authorities and relationships in one God.
As we grow in faith, knowledge of the word of God and His wisdom, our understanding and perception of the world we can’t see, touch, taste, smell or feel will grow.
I’ve found the most intimate refreshing place to pray at my home. I love sitting in my chair on my front porch and enjoying quality time with God in prayer. When I’m out there, it’s like it’s just Him and me. Yes I pray everywhere. But, that place is special.
And yes, I said sitting.
You see, it’s good to get on your knees in submission to God, but contrary to what many may have been taught it’s not mandatory. That is not the exclusively acceptable prayer posture.
Your proper prayer posture isn’t the position of your body, but of your heart and spirit…
To a humble spirit… it’s about humility.
Psalm 51:17 (NKJV)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise
1- On Your Knees
Ephesians 3:14 (NKJV)
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[a]
2 – In Your Bed
Psalm 4:4 (NKJV)
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
3 – Out Loud
Psalm 34:6 (NKJV)
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
4 – Silently
1 Samuel 1:13 (NKJV)
13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
5 – Hands Lifted
1 Timothy 2:8 (NKJV)
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
6 – Eyes Open
John 17:1 (NKJV)
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
7 – Head Bowed
Genesis 24:26 (NKJV)
26 Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord.
8 – Prostrate
Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
9 – Standing
Mark 11:25 (NKJV)
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
God just wants you to be humble. Many have even misunderstood “come boldly” in the book of Hebrews…
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
It’s not about ‘telling God what to do’, but direct access to Him. We don’t have to go through a priest, or a preacher to talk to Him…just submit to Him humbly in prayer through our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ.
So, bow your head, lie in your bed, fall on your knees, lift up your hands, as long as you’re sincere…God will hear.
God created the universe and the earth to be self-sustaining. There is evidence of His work that testifies of Him since He decided to create the continuum of time…
Romans 1:20 (NKJV)
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and [a]Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
But there are some things that God creates new every day just as He did manna for the Children of Israel.
Exodus 16:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. 19 And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” 20 Notwithstanding they did not [a]heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.
There are some things that can’t be carried over to the next day.
There are some things that can’t be carried over to the next moment.
There are some things that even though humans can make out of something that God continues to create out of nothing.
1. A DAY
Out of all of the accomplishments God has allowed humans to achieve through science, medicine and technology there is nothing humans can do to create A NEW DAY. There is nothing that we can do to prevent the next day from arriving. Only God can make a day. No matter what may keep you awake all night making you dread tomorrow…if Yeshua delays His return, the Lord will continue to do what no one else can…create a new day for you.
Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
2. A BREEZE
Have you ever wondered where a breeze comes from? Yes, science will tell you that a breeze is a product of the difference between the temperatures of the earth and land. As air rises and grows warmer over land and forms low pressure, it interacts with cool air in high pressure…then it travels accross water and land. As land heats up during the afternoon, air above it begins to rise forming a low pressure area near the land. Then cool air, situated in high pressure areas, spreads across the water and moves in over land. BUT WHO MAKES THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY? God controls it.
Exodus 14:21 (NKJV)
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.
Mark 4:39 (NKJV)
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace,[a] be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
3 & 4. A BREATH & HEARTBEAT
Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that every time you exhale, God has a new breath waiting for you? Anyone who suffers from asthma will remind you to never take that for granted. That’s why it’s a shame that some people who God gives breath, uses that breath to say He doesn’t exist. Yes, God has allowed humans to make respirators to breathe ‘for us’. But, there are many people who are on life support who are actually dead because they don’t have ‘the breath of life’ inside them. God gives us a new ‘breath of life’ every time we exhale.
And, even while we sleep, our hearts keep beating. After each beat God continues to give us another each and every day. Even an artificial heart is nothing without a power source. God is the power source of the heart he created.
Genesis 2:7 (NKJV)
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
5. NEW MERCIES
Grace is God’s unmerited favor towards His people, but everyone benefits from His mercy, whether they acknowledge it or not. It’s God’s mercy that prevents Him from dealing with us as we deserve. We are created in sinful flesh, and even when we try to do our best, we still fall short of His expectations. However, each day God gives us brand new mercies for each new day.
Aren’t you thankful that God doesn’t deal with you as your deserve? Aren’t you thankful that when God watched you stop and consider committing sin, knowing fully that it was wrong but still chose to do it anyway…yet God did not strike you down?
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Psalm 103:10 (NKJV)
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
This list is not exhaustive. There are many things that require to be created new every day. THINK ABOUT IT…(the ability to think for yourself is one of them).
One of the best ways for a teacher to establish his or her classroom culture and expectations is by modeling that behavior.
The tone of our culture troubles me.
Our society has legitimized a culture of insults, profanity and retaliation.
This behavior is being modeled by too many of our leaders, while being justified, excused, ignored and mimicked by their supporters.
People are so impressed by ‘keeping it real’, telling it like it is, and avoiding being Politically Correct that many have lost the value of exercising Emotional Intelligence, tact, kindness and restraint.
Too many people see being loud, proud, obnoxious and visceral as strength, while seeing meekness, humility and patience as weakness.
Our children are having this negative behavior modeled every day.
Even in our movies, we feel the ‘bullied nerd’ is weak until he or she stands up to the bully violently.
Remember, Yeshua Himself said don’t repay evil with evil, but turn the other cheek. He said don’t resist an evil person (unless of course your life is threatened). But of course, striking back if someone slaps you isn’t about self-defense, but pride. Returning an insult with an insult is about pride.
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.
Adults who call themselves disciples of Christ are going to have to do a better job of setting the example of walking in the Fruit of the Spirit, which the world sees as 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.
Our children are learning to fight instead of keep the peace…
They’re learning to argue instead of reason…
They are learning to place blame and accuse instead of looking for solutions…
They’re learning to hate instead of love…
They are learning to make excuses to satisfy their will instead of God’s will.
Could many of our childish adults be the children who were spoiled when they were growing up? It’s time to stop the erosion of decorum in leadership.
Many times those involved in ministry, creatives and extroverts will be told, “You just like attention!” “You want attention!”
YOU LOVE ATTENTION!
This short quick answer to those accusations is ammunition and encouragement for those of you who want attention for the right reasons…
To bring glory to God…
To help others…
To encourage…
To inspire…
To instruct…
To make the world a better place…
The next time time someone tells you that you love attention, you tell them…
“SO DOES LIGHT!“
Matthew 5:14-15 (NKJV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
John 8:12 (NKJV)
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 3:19-21 (NKJV)
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
BE BLESSTIFIED! 