God’s gift of intelligence to humans is one of the characteristics that confirms that we are created in His image. It’s an aspect of His character that we too have. Not how He looks, but how He ‘is’.
Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Yes, some animals are more intelligent than others, but we, people, are His unique creation.
However, the intelligence and ability to reason, think logically and draw conclusions can sometimes be a curse. Animals’ lack of intelligence limits them pretty much to what God created them to do other than when we intervene.
It’s unfortunate when the people that God created say He’s not there, and then immediately take a breath of His air.
There are countless people every day who look at the world and universe around them, or study history and culture and decide for themselves God isn’t real, that the bible is written by man and is not the word of God. They use science to discredit God, when science is merely an attempt to give a physical explanation to a world to the spiritual.
People consider themselves to ‘wake up’ or be ‘woke’. When this happens, intelligence has become a curse rather than something to help us better relate to the God who gave it to us
They consider Christians as dumb, naive, silly, gullible and even foolish. But the fact is many of us are just as educated and have considered the same information that they have and still choose to believe in the Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting through His Son and our Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus. When you think someone is naive when they really aren’t, that makes you naive.
When God has given you a creative anointing, and you’re passionately sharing it with the world…
When you’re investing your time, your money, your heart, your reputation…
When your family even has to sacrifice along with you…
It can be very disappointing and discouraging when people don’t react the way you thought they would have, or thought they should have.
You know in your heart that you prayed about it, and you feel in your heart you’re doing what God called and equipped you to do…but it didn’t take off as you expected. And, sometimes it’s been years.
If you aren’t careful you can find yourself WHINING!
WHINING about the fact that you aren’t getting support…
WHINING about the fact that others’ are having the success that you would love to have, even if on the surface they don’t seem worthy…
WHINING that others’ may seem to be an over-night-success…
WHINING that others younger than you are doing so much more…
WHINING that others who haven’t worked as hard or sacrificed as much are doing so much better…
WHINING about the system that is holding you down…
WHINING about the corruption in the system and how you will make it different when you get the influence you hope to have.
WHINING! WHINING! WHINING!
I have to admit that when my wife, Gospel/Jazz recording artist Mechelle Johnson, and I first entered the Gospel music industry, I was very disappointed to have so much of what I heard confirmed. That it’s just another business. That it’s filled with people who are unholy. That it is extremely cliquish, and exclusionary…all true!
I was disappointed to see so many artist within our genre who seemed to be more concerned with begging for votes for awards than begging for souls.
And yes, I found myself complaining.
If this has ever been you too, I have a word of admonition and encouragement for US.
STOP WHINING AND DO WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO!
PREACH!
TEACH!
SING!
PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENT!
WRITE!
BLOG!
PARENT!
MENTOR!
LEAD!
LEAD! Yes, it is not a good example when The President of the United States, leaders and Pastors are whining about how bad they are being mistreated. Just as the bible says “Endure hardship as a good soldier of Yeshua the Messiah 2 Timothy 2:3…SHUT UP AND LEAD!
WORK WITHOUT WHINING!
Notice in the bible when the leaders God called began to whine how He told them to get up, snap out of it, and get to work…
Joshua 7:6-10 (ESV)
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?” 10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?
Notice how God doesn’t allow us to mope and whine after He as disciplined us…
Hebrews 12:10-12 (NKJV)
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no [a]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
When you read your bible, the people complained against Moses for 40 years in the wilderness.
The apostles would have loved to have captive audiences rather than getting run out of town and beaten.
And, most of all, Yeshua our Messiah (Jesus Christ) went to the cross, and though He has already arisen from the dead, He is still waiting on His glory and giving more people time to come to God through Him.
The fact is, if our Savior can wait to receive His glory, so can we.
Remember this, If you truly believe that God is in control, and you truly trust Him, you will reach everyone He intends for you to reach in His timing.
Joshua 1:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall [a]divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may [b]prosper wherever you go.
Okay, I consider my wife and I to be experts on marriage, licensed by over 32 years of ups and downs. Is our marriage perfect? No, but we are perfect for each other.
Even the marriages in the bible were far from perfect. Just go back to Genesis and read about Abraham and Sarah. Neither of them always made the right decisions.
Genesis 16:1-4 (NKJV)
16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall [a]obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her [b]eyes.
Experience has taught us however, how to make the UPs in marriage higher, and the DOWNs less low.
Keep your marriage fun as much as you can through…
MUSIC
What’s ‘your song(s)’? Always remember those songs you used to listen to when you fell in love. Make the music you both love the soundtrack of your marriage, time stamping the years with fond memories that only the two of you share together. No matter how spiritual you are, enjoy romantic, fun and festive songs in your marriage. No matter how much you love God, He doesn’t expect you to get romantic while listening to “Amazing Grace”.
Remember, without music, life would be all talk!
LAUGHTER
Laughter is a gift from God. Never stop doing things to make one another laugh. The longer you live together, the more you learn how to make each other’s smiles turn into sometimes uncontrollable laughter. Make the most of every opportunity to laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourselves too seriously.
Your laughter will be a testimony to the world of the joy in a Godly marriage. Others will notice and be encouraged.
Psalm 126:2 (NKJV)
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the [a]nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
A LITTLE WINE
So many Christians think drinking alcohol is a sin. They are quick to proclaim, “I don’t drink!”
However, when you read the bible in both the Old and New Testaments, wine is a part of life and enjoyed in the bible.
One of the reasons that the religious leaders called Yeshua a ‘winebibber’ is because He drank wine. The fact is when, the wine ran out at the wedding party where he performed His first miracle, He provided the ‘next round’.
Matthew 11:19 (NKJV)
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a [a]winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her [b]children.”
John 2:6-11 (NKJV)
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and [a]manifested Hisglory; and His disciples believed in Him.
Is it a sin to get drunk? YES, YES, YES, YES, YES! Getting drunk is forbidden by God…
Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
However, there are many scriptures that let us know we are free to drink wine as long as we do it responsibly.
Deuteronomy 14:26 (NKJV)
26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
Psalm 104:15 (NKJV)
15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart.
1 Timothy 5:23 (NKJV)
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent [a]infirmities.
So, find time to enhance the mood by enjoying some drinks together as long as you don’t get drunk.
Yes, marriage is work, and there will be times that you don’t even want to talk to each other, but in spite of that, the joy you share can make you marriage get better as the years go by.
Just a quick reminder that we’re never alone, and we’ve never been ever alone. Remember Hebrews 1:13-14…
Hebrews 1:13-14
(NKJV)
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:
“Sit at My right
hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those
who will inherit salvation?
And, what Yeshua, Christ Jesus, told us in the book of Matthew…
Matthew 18:10
(NKJV)
10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say
to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father
who is in heaven.
God blesses us with heavenly ‘bodyguards’ and ‘personal
assistants’ to minister to us and protect us.
We’ve all had dark moments when we’ve done and said things of which we are now ashamed.
We’ve all had moments of weakness and times when we were not representing the glory of God. .
Sometimes we may have been in a place or with a person or people with whom we shouldn’t or sometimes we may have been at home…’alone’.
We all haven’t had the SAME shameful moments, but we have all participated in some work or works of the flesh. Which of these have you been guilty of…?
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, [fmurders, 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
Think for a moment of some of the things that your angel has had to…
Watch you do…
Hear you say…
Protect you from…
Rescue you from…
Hide you from the rest of the world to keep those moments between you, your angel and God.
Stop for a moment and thank God for your own personal angel, and tell Him “I’m sorry” for some of the things your angel had had to ‘put up with’ while taking care of you.
How many times have you looked back in retrospect, and could clearly see how God’s timing worked in your life?
Why some things happened when they did, and why others didn’t happen when you wanted.
Even Yeshua gave us a good example when He told His disciples there are some things He couldn’t tell them yet because they weren’t ready…
John 16:12 (NKJV)
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
God tells us,
shows us,
gives us,
allows us
all in His timing!
Back in 2018 Hidden Beach Recordings, Neo-Soul artist Jill Scott’s, record label reached out and asked my wife to participate in a social media challenge called the #unwrappedchallenge, which celebrated the release in series of compilation albums.
So, she had fun putting a Gospel twist to a song originally recorded by R&B and Hip-Hop artists Ashati and Ja Rule…
It proclaims the Old School church culture cliche, He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always on time!
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.
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 toSTOP 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 willis 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.
A lot of laughter, a little wine, and a lot of ‘lovin’🥰
I recently had the conversation above with my wife. My statement isn’t original, but my wife couldn’t stop laughing.
Marriage has it’s ups and downs, but never forget the reasons you fell in love, don’t stop making one another laugh, and never lose sight of what attracted you to one another.
Keep it fun and frisky😉
Hebrews 13:4 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
4 Marriage is honorable in every respect; and, in particular, sex within marriage is pure. But God will indeed punish fornicators and adulterers.
Humility doesn’t mean that you have to let people ‘run all over you’. It doesn’t mean that they have a right to demean or belittle you, your knowledge, your experience, your character, who you are…especially just to feed their ego, or sense of pride.
It is not a sin to assert yourself as long as you do it in a Godly manner.
Look at what Job said when his friends, who were supposed to be there to comfort him, began to blame his troubles on him…
Job 12:3 (NKJV)
3 But I have [a]understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
So, if someone expects you to feed their ego by belittling you, here’s some help if you ever can’t think of what to say…
I respect you. But, I lick my lips too many times a day to kiss your behind.
After over 32 years, I’ve learned that marriage is work, especially when the wifey is handing out jobs to her hubby all day long…
Don’t forget to…
Will you please…..
Please hand me my…
Are you going to the kitchen?
Are you going out?
One day not to long ago that when I answer her phone, I going to start saying, “Hello, this is HR.”
She fell right into my trap for the punch line by asking me, “Why?”
“Because all you do is give me jobs all day long.”
But, it’s all good though because it’s the little things you do for each other is how you can really show your appreciation for one another and make marriage richer and more fulfilling.
Proverbs 31:28 (NKJV)
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
The wisdom in the inspired word of God is amazing! It provides a guide, a measuring stick and a test for behavior that transcends time, culture and our own personal theologies, you know, what we CHOOSE to believe.
It’s easy to say I love you or to say I don’t love you anymore, but how do you know if it’s really love?
Well, the bible gives us an incredible test to tell whether or not behavior is actually love that we can use daily in our families, on our jobs, in our churches…in every situation.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
If it’s not patient…it’s not love.
If it’s not kind…it’s not love.
If it’s arrogant…it’s not love.
If it’s not humble…it’s not love.
If it’s rude…it’s not love.
If it is selfish…it’s not love.
If it is easily provoked to anger, lust, greed etc,…it’s not love.
If thoughts linger on things against the will of God…it’s not love.
If it rejoices and celebrates evil people, behavior or thoughts…it’s not love.
If it isn’t willing to carry the weight of those who are weaker…it’s not love.
If it isn’t willing to endure, no matter what the difficulty, believe through when belief and faith are most challenged, hope through the the most difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances…it’s not love!
Save this. Copy and paste this. Share this. Use this every day. Look at every situation, and use this as a test to tell…Is it really love?
Many Christians say they don’t do social media, or they are getting off of social media because it’s too messy.
But, you can misuse anything…
Phone…
Television…
A piece of paper…
Even God’s word.
In fact, many people misuse God’s word to fit their own agenda.
So, how do you tell who is in harmony with God’s word when all parties involved are using it?
You can tell by the person(s) most trying to view from God’s perspective…moving their own perspective and desired interpretation out of the way.
Use social media responsibly and, it can be a powerful tool.
And, to those who Christians that say they are unfriending, blocking and deleting so-and-so because they post too much foolishness…
Maybe he or she can benefit from your LIGHT.
Besides, if they haven’t unfriended, blocked or deleted you because of you spiritual posts, then why should you because of their ‘foolish’ posts?
After all, are you going to delete yourself from the world because of the foolishness in it?
2 Corinthians 2:4
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully,
1 Corinthians 5:9-10
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
Have you ever noticed that some people are naturally funny? They have a wit so quick, you wonder, how could they think of that so fast.
Why?
Think about these verses in the context of laughter…
James 1:17 (NKJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Romans 12:8 (NIV)
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously;if it is to lead,[a] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[a] But a broken spirit dries the bones.
I’m convinced that comedy is a God-given spiritual gift of exhortation.
I mean, what is more encouraging than a good laugh? A well-placed laugh in a good sermon only helps keep the audience engaged and possibly drive a point home.
The bible tells us that one of the promises from God is that we will all see trouble during our days on this earth…
Job 14:1(NKJV)
14 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
It’s God’s gift of laughter that gets us through many of those tough days.
I’m convinced that God has appointed some of us Ministers of Laughter…
So, do you know anyone with a special anointing to make the best situations better and inject some encouraging humor into the worst. Those who can make us smile when we feel like crying. Is it you?
Unfortunately, many comedians and comediennes use their gift to glorify the enemy through vulgarity and profanity, but that doesn’t mean the gift isn’t from God. It’s just misdirected.
Are you a Minister of Laughter? If so, walk in your anointing. You’re important to the Kingdom of God!
It happens to all of us. A situation arises where we feel we deserve an apology…but don’t get it.
Think for a moment about Jesus on the cross. As He was being brutalized and mocked, He still had enough love to say, forgive them… Luke 23:34 (NKJV)
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”[a]
And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Think about the fact that Jesus offered this forgiveness and love, without an apology. It’s one thing that the Romans crucified Him, but His own people…those closest to Him consented to and called for His death.
One of the most difficult things to do is move forward with people that we feel owe us an apology…especially if they’re someone close to us.
Yes we still have to work with and relate to people who aren’t close to you, but how do you avoid the lack of apology turning into resentment and becoming a wall in your close relationships.
You may find yourself thinking…
“How can they be so content acting like nothing happened…acting as if they didn’t hurt me?
You may have said to yourself…
“If they loved me, they would apologize.”
Yes, it’s not easy, but here are 9 tips to help you move forward in your relationships without an apology…
BE READY TO FORGIVE IF AND WHEN THEY APOLOGIZE. Sometimes if we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t want an apology…because it takes away our excuse to be angry. If they apologize and you don’t accept it, the burden has shifted from God to you.
DON’T JUDGE THEIR APOLOGY IF AND WHEN THEY GIVE IT. When they come to you and apologize, don’t judge their apology by saying that they didn’t mean it or it wasn’t sincere. Especially if you didn’t like the tone. Don’t find yourself saying their apology wasn’t good enough. Even if they weren’t sincere…many times when we do what God has told us to do, we ‘don’t feel like it’, but God still honors our faith, effort and obedience. Sometimes when we apologize, we don’t feel like it, but in our heart we want to do what’s right.
DON’T LET THE ENEMY ‘FLIP-THE-SCRIPT’. Realize that when you remain upset because you haven’t gotten an apology, the enemy has tricked you into not forgiving them for not apologizing to you.
REALIZE THAT THEY MAY NOT BE AS SPIRITUALLY MATURE AS YOU. Apologizing isn’t easy. It takes spiritual maturity to do so. If you feel they ought to be strong enough to apologize, realize that they might not be as spiritually as you. In fact, the bible tells us the strong must bear the failings of the weak (Romans 15:1 NIV).
REALIZE WHEN YOU ‘VE GOTTEN SOMETHING BETTER THAN AN APOLOGY. Even if they haven’t apologized, if they have stopped the behavior that hurt you…if they aren’t doing the same thing anymore…if they have clearly moved on as if nothing happened…if they’ve completely turned around, but not apologized, you’ve gotten something better than an apology – you’ve gotten REPENTANCE. Think of all the people who actually apologize to God, but don’t really change.
FIND A ‘REPLACEMENT THOUGHT’ WHEN YOU THINK OF HOW THEY HURT YOU. Of course you’re going to think of what they did sometimes, which can make you angry all over again, So, when you think of what they did…When they don’t seem to appreciate your kindness…find a replacement thought. Think of the good times…the best times… Think of the sacrifices they’ve made for you…Think of kindness they’ve shown you in the past…Think of the times they made you smile…or, Think of how you’ve hurt someone and regret it.
REALIZE THAT YOU HAVEN’T APOLOGIZED FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU’VE DONE TO HURT OTHERS. Have you apologized for everything that you’ve done to hurt others? No! Because there are some people you offended and didn’t know you offended them. You can’t apologize for what you don’t know. Sometimes our words hurt, and we didn’t even know it…Sometimes our tone was not taken as we intended…Sometimes we did something hurtful and we didn’t even realize it. Those people are going on without an apology from you.
PRAY ABOUT IT! Ask the Lord to give you the desire and strength to ‘love through’ the lack of an apology. Ask God to give you a heart that doesn’t NEED an apology to move on. This is another situation where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Moving on without an apology isn’t easy, but it is possible. This is another situation where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
There’s nothing like a mother’s love…most of the time.
Sometimes a mom isn’t everything she should have been…sometimes, she is or was far from it.
Some even qualify for being called a BAD MOTHER.
So, does God expect you honor a mother who who wasn’t the best?
What does the bible say?
Ephesians 6:2 (NKJV)
2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:
God didn’t say “Honor your GOOD parents in the Lord”. When God said honor your father and mother, he knew some parents would not be good parents. And ALL parents make mistakes.
Why honor all mothers both ‘good’ and ‘bad’?
Because that’s who HE CHOSE to bring you into the world. He could have chosen anyone, but He chose your mother to birth you.
It’s natural for us to want the people in our lives to be loyal to us, but loyalty to God must always come first.
When we have grown to trust and support someone, we can find ourselves feeling obligated to make excuses for them when they are wrong…
Spouses…
Family…
Friends…
Ministers…
Politicians…
Athletes…
Celebrities…
Public Figures…
Have you ever found yourself feeling compelled to justify, make excuses for or give reasons why someone you support was wrong?
This behavior sets us up for a particular sin…
Ephesians 5:5-7 (NKJV)
5 For [a]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
This scripture makes it clear that when we excuse and justify the wrong of others, we become partakers in their sin.
Now many will say right and wrong are subjective, but the word of God should always be the measure.
Remember, you are never obligated to make excuses for the people you support. True loyalty and real support is letting them know they are wrong.
There is nothing impossible to Him, but there’s still a few things He can’t do…
He can’t die.
He can’t lie.
He can’t fail…
And, He can’t be a MOTHER.
Yes, I know we say He’s a father to the fatherless and a mother to the motherless…and He can fill those voids in our lives, but…
Notice what Psalm 68:5 says…
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
It says that our loving heavenly FATHER is to the fatherless, but not a mother to the motherless.
He’s our FATHER, but,
God gave a special role to women. He gave them honor of being the first connection to every life on this earth. To nurture every life…to introduce every person to the world, and with that role comes a special bond. There’s nothing like a mother’s love.
Even when it comes to our salvation, in the fullness of time, God still didn’t step outside of the authority He gave to women by still using a woman to bring His Son into the world.
Yes, He could have made another man of ‘dust’ if He wanted, but He chose Mary to be a Mother to our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:4 (NKJV)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law,
There’s nothing like a mother’s love!
That’s why it’s possible for some women who didn’t even physically birth a child into the world to still have the anointing to fulfill a mother’s role and love…it is a gift of God to the child and mother.
In those unfortunate circumstances when a mother does not live up to her role, even though a father can step it up or step in…nothing can ‘replace it’. Sometimes there is just a void, unless another ‘woman’ steps in (grandmother, aunt, sister, adopted mother).
So thank God for all mothers, even if yours didn’t live up to her responsibility, because that’s who God chose to bring you into the world.
Music is a gift from God, especially as we spend hours, days, weeks and months together during quarantine. Without music in our lives, life would be ALL TALK!
As many people are complaining about getting on each other’s nerves, in spite of the circumstances, even after being married over 32 years…
WE LOVE THIS TIME TOGETHER!
With four of us together in the house, we make sure we use every room in the house. We have never spent this much time enjoying hanging out in our garage.
But, you don’t stay married over 32 years without making sure you make time for romance, which can be very challenging when the other people in the house can’t really leave the house for an extended period of time. When they can pop up at your room at anytime. When they can holler your name at any time…”Hey Daaaaaddddyyyy!” “Hey Maaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Nevertheless, we still have to make time for love! That’s why the most common phrase that’s come out of mouths during the quarantine is the title of one of our favorite Teddy Pendergrass songs…
“CLOSE THE DOOR!”
Isaiah 26:20 (NKJV)
20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.
How much of your precious time have you lost to worrying? God has given us the cure in two simple verses. Nothing deep here, just God’s powerful word and our challenge and responsibility for us to put them into practice…
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.
Philippians 3:13 (NKJV)
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do ,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
The bible teaches us that it’s God that gives us the power, ability, knowledge and strength to get ‘wealth’, and that is very true…
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)
18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may [a]establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
But, how many times have you heard someone say, or said yourself, “I deserved everything that I have because I worked hard for it!”
You planned…
You’ve worked hard…
You’ve sacrificed…
You’ve made good decisions.
You even had great faith.
Let me give you a quick reminder in humility and God’s grace and mercy…
Yes, you definitely ‘earned’ it, but be very careful before you say you deserve it.
Before you say that you deserve your success and influence because of your hard work and effort, think about…
Yep, I’m going there because I feel this piece will be a blessing to someone.
A blessing to someone who is single or to someone who is married but is in a season of being ‘out of sync’ with their spouse.
Masturbation has got to be one of the most taboo subjects among those who call themselves disciples of Christ. Is it a sin? Is it okay? Too embarrassed to talk about it?
Well, if the bible addresses it, I’m going to address it too!
Let me get straight to the point. Many who claim masturbation is a sin infer it from these scriptures…
Leviticus 15:16-18 (NKJV)
16 ‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until evening. 17 And any garment and any leather on which there is semen, it shall be washed with water, and be unclean until evening. 18 Also, when a woman lies with a man, and there is an emission of semen, they shall bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
Deuteronomy 23:10 (ESV)
10 “If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come inside the camp,
Some people conclude that masturbation is a sin because the bible declares that if a man has an emission of semen that he is unclean until the evening. They are concluding that unclean means sin.
However, the bible also says…
Leviticus 15:19-30 (NKJV)
19 ‘If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be [a]set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. 20 Everything that she lies on during her impurity shall be unclean; also everything that she sits on shall be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 22 And whoever touches anything that she sat on shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. 23 If anything is on her bed or on anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening. 24 And if any man lies with her at all, so that her impurity is on him, he shall be [b]unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.
We all know that it is not a sin for a woman to have her menstrual cycle, so you can’t use the ‘unclean’ argument to equate it to sin. In fact, Numbers 19 states that a priest can become unclean while performing one of his duties…
Numbers 19:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening.
So the very act of masturbating is not a sin within itself BUT,
What a person is doing while masturbating CAN make it a sin…
Watching porn and nude images.
Thinking of someone who is not your spouse to get aroused.
It’s just like sexual intercourse. It’s not the act itself, but how its done that makes it a sin.
So, if masturbation helps keep you from committing fornication or adultery…
If masturbation helps you get through the seasons in your marriage when you aren’t on the same page sexually…
Just like sexual intercourse, it’s the person’s responsibility to make sure they aren’t doing it in a way to make it displeasing to God. When you’re alone it’s between you, God and the angel that’s watching over you:-)
Don’t be afraid to hit like, or contribute to the conversation.
Let me first say that by the grace of God, I’ve never been addicted to illegal or prescription drugs.
I’ve also been gulity of looking in disdain at those who are. I’ve self-righteously shaken my head at those who have overdosed or even died.
Some were trying to escape the realities of life…
Some became addicted after surgery, medical treatment, or due to a chronic (no pun intended) or medical treatment…
Others were addicted through recreational use or just to ‘unwind’…
But, the end result was the same…addiction.
So, before you judge anyone in any of these situations or scenarios, think about this…
What if either of these were illegal, or deadly (and some are depending on your state of health…
Coffee…
Cola…
Over-the-counter pain killers…
Red Bull…
5-Hour Energy…
Beer…
Wine…
Sugar.
I think you get the picture. What if coffee (which many admit they HAVE to HAVE) were as addictive and deadly as opioids?
When you see someone hit rock bottom of their addiction, stop and pray for them.
Then stop and examine your life and your…
ACCEPAPTABLE ADDICTIONS…
Then empathize with them.
But, please don’t judge them. Because the ‘addiction’ comes from the same weakess in all of our flesh, and but by the grace of God, whether you admit it or not…
Could be you. Matthew 7:1-2(NKJV)
Judgenot, that you be not judged.2 For with whatjudgment you judge, you will be judged;and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic many churches have cancelled services and are offering worship opportunities online.
Of course, there are those who are critical of churches that have temporarily stopped having service to prevent the spread of the virus, However, TEMPORARILY cancelling service is not FORSAKING the assembling of ourselves together. Forsake means to abandon, which we are by no means doing…
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
One of the benefits of worshiping together in person is the love, fellowship and support of the love that is shared during the worship experience.
The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, reminds of our our duty to not just say, “I love you”, but to show true kind (a Fruit of the Spirit) affection for one another. The Hebrew adjective used here describes the kind of affection that is expected to be shared between close relatives….kind words, hugs, etc.
Romans 12:10 (NKJV)
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
This affection is one of the greatest benefits of a good, loving church family that exhibits the Fruit of His Spirit.
I know, in many church cultures when you hear the word LOVE OFFERING it’s time to reach for your wallet or purse.
So, for those of you missing the love of your family, enjoy the LOVE OFFERING in the video above.
I often hear many of my fellow Christians say that they don’t believe in luck. They say that since God is in control, there is no such thing as luck. They say that since they have God’s grace, they have no need for luck.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 3:23-25 (NKJV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [a]freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a [b]propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
But, what about those who DON’T have grace?
If grace is ONLY for the believer, what is a SERENDIPITOUS moment for the unbeliever called?
If you don’t have God’s grace in your life, then basically, whatever happens…happens.
Much like if you spin a top on a small table. Using your hands to prevent that top from falling off the table represents God’s grace. But, if you don’t use your hands to prevent that top from falling off the table, that represents that fact that if that top doesn’t fall off the table…it’s lucky.
My wife and I love watching television together. We laugh, joke and make fun of the shows.
In a recent episode of Tyler Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong, we were reminded why we feel he’s much better at plays and movies rather than nighttime soaps.
This scene made us 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 even though I don’t think it was intended to be funny.
Notice how the script immediately flips in the scene above. We both concluded, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind🤣.
And remember, laughter is a stress relieving gift from God.
Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
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!”
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.
That’s why he cleverly slipped in and manipulated you to use a blessing to be nice-nasty. 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.
Just like during the Great Recession of 2008, the word STIMULUS CHECK is again abuzz in American culture. Also, those who are unemployed are getting an additional $600 in addition to their unemployment compensation.
Unfortunately, there are many essential workers who are making less money, while putting themselves at risk, than those who have become unemployed. This has led to many people complaining about this being unfair…and it is.
However, it is a blessing in disguise for many of those who are temporarily receiving more than they would on their regular jobs. When they return to work, they will be earning less.
The bottom line is…’THE SYSTEM’ WORKED FOR THEM THIS TIME!
There are always those who benefit more from ‘THE SYSTEM’ as it moves and evolves according to the political, economic and social environments. There are always those for whom at some point in time, THE SYSTEM works in their favor.
The fact is, some people don’t complain until they feel their ‘benefits’ of THE SYSTEM are threatened or see them working for someone else.
I have even seen some people who are getting more money while unemployed as being lazy. This is wrong to generalize everyone into to one basket. One person even said, and I quote, “The real reason many people don’t want to go back to work and want the stay at home order to be extended is they have actually gotten a pay raise by staying at home and not working.” Wow! Making generalizations like this is dangerous.
Yes, there is an example of this in the bible, when THE SYSTEM worked to benefit those some felt less deserving, leading to complaining from those who thought they were more deserving. Yeshua gave us a relevant lesson in how He views it.
Matthew 20:1-16 (NKJV)
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing [a]idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, [b]and whatever is right you will receive.’
8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they [c]complained against thelandowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For[d] many are called, but few chosen.”
So, what if that happened today?
If many people are honest with themselves, if they lived then or that were today, they would have been complaining about those who began working at the end of the day…
“The real reason they waited until the end of the day is so they could get the same amount as those who worked all day.”
“They were lazy”.
“It’s unfair.”
“The landowner was unfair”
“People like that are the problem with this country.”
The fact is, this particular time, the system worked for them.
Be careful how you judge situations. Judging is when you ‘think for someone else’. When you determine what is in someone else’s heart. When you think you know their motivation.
Remember, you will be judged by the same judgement that you judge someone else.
BE BLESSTIFIED! 