Social media gives everyone to instantly vent their frustrations and anger. They quickly give their opinion on, well everything and everyone.

Just scroll the the comments on a controversial post on your choice of social media.

People are working one another into a frenzy with their rants. And if you by chance don’t agree withthem or if you’re on the other side of the arguement, debate, issue, then you are a…

Blankity blankin’ *@!*!!#!!!!!!

And, many of these people claim to be disciples of Christ.

We have got to learn to disagree without insults because that same anger, that provoked you to insult…

Is the same anger that can provoke you, yes you, to kill.

But, I didn’t just come up with that, Jesus did…

Matthew 5:21-22 (NKJV)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause[b] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

My friends, and those who don’t consider yourself my friend…

We have got to learn to disagree without insults.

So, when you see, or hear insults being hurled around vocally or in the cyber world.

Don’t let your anger draw you into the dissipation. Let God’s Spirit abide and rule inside you. Speak or type peace into the situation…the environment…the post, and even your family or relationships.

You honestly may save a life, or even better…save a soul.

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I reaaalllyyy enjoy riding my bicycle. God allowed me to be taken off blood pressure medicine, and biking has helped me control it for the past several years. One evening a few years ago after I arrived home from the office, I asked my boys if either of them had ridden my bike because it wasn’t in the garage. The garage door had been left open the night before. They both said no sir. About the same time my neighbor was in front of her house, and I noticed that her SUV was not in her driveway. She informed me that some individuals went through our neighborhood checking for ‘soft’ targets…she had left her car unlocked. I went in the house and told my wife, “Well, I will never see that bike again… $600 bucks down the drain.”

I then called the sheriff’s department to report the theft. They sent out an officer and I filled out the report. Less than an hour later I got a call from the sheriff’s department asking me to describe my bike! They found it…Across town…In the back of my neighbor’s SUV! Wow! They said it wasn’t damaged! Look at God!

Three guys from across town worked our neighborhood. Even though my WORDS showed no faith, my ACTIONS of reporting the theft and filling out the report were FAITH IN ACTION. I got my bike back that night, brought to me by an officer who lived in my neighborhood…it was undamaged. My neighbor didn’t get her truck back for over a month, and it had damage.

God used an OBJECT, my bike to give me an OBJECT LESSON in faith.

Jesus teaches us that we can move mountains with our faith in Him…

Matthew 17: 20-21

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

When things seem impossible, never loose your faith. And, please do better than me, let your WORDS agree with your ACTIONS.

#OBJECTLESSON
noun
a striking practical example of some principle or ideal.
“they responded to emergencies in a way that was an object lesson to us all”

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

Matthew 15:7-12  (NKJV)

⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And^[a] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”^[b]

¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

Jesus called the religious leaders “Hypocrites”, which was a pretty significant insult in that time. So much so, that His disciples called Him to the side and said in today’s terms… “Uhhh, you know you pissed them off right?”

But, Jesus didn’t say it to make them angry. Jesus didn’t say it to insult them. He didn’t say it to hurt them, He said it to help them, and help us too.

Jesus didn’t insult them, but they were insulted. But, many times we all are when we are confronted with truth about ourselves…we sometimes naturally get defensive.

Even today, truth is a viable defense when accused of defamation. If it’s true, it’s not libel or slander…and what Jesus said about them is true.

But, we should only say something BAD to or about someone if there is some GOOD to come out of it.

We should only say something bad to or about someone with an intention to help them and not hurt them.

It should be our intention for them, or those who hear it be better. It should be our intention, help them submit to God’s will, His word…His standards.

Jesus also proved you should never say anything about someone who you would not say to their face.

If Jesus had called them hypocrites to hurt or embarrass them, it would have been wrong.

If Jesus had called them hypocrites when they weren’t present to belittle them, it would have been wrong.

But, Jesus never sinned, so we know He wasn’t wrong. We know His intentions. But even when you have good intentions, it doesn’t mean that people won’t be insulted.

The same goes with us today. We should be willing to give and accept constructive criticism, so we can grow and mature in the LORD…that’s when an insult isn’t an insult.

We should pray the discernment to determine when to be loving and when to be sharp.

How many times have you sincerely told someone something to help them and they were insulted? When was the last time someone told you something to help you and it was insulting?

It doesn’t even have to be as sharp as calling them a hypocrite.

“You are unorganized”

“You are lazy”

“You are selfish”

“You’re too promiscuous”

“You’re too loud”

“You’re too insensitive”

“You’re too sensitive”

“You don’t listen”

“You’re too wasteful”

“You’re a bully”

“You’re too timid”

“You are a coward”

You are intimidating”

And the list goes on and on.

Has anyone said any of the statements to you before? Have you ever said any of them to anyone?

It’s WHY it was said that determines whether or not is an insult.

Now, most people who are confronted with something that needs to change about themselves will initially be insulted. But, much of our growth comes from that uncomfortable moment of truth and self-examination.

When Jesus called the religious leaders hypocrites, it was His intention for them to acknowledge it, repent and grow.

So the next time that someone, ‘insults’ you, even if they meant to hurt you, ask yourself, “Is this true about me”?

Even if they meant to insult you, if it’s true, you can take what was meant for evil and turn it into good. You can turn what could have been bad fruit into good fruit.

Genesis 50:20  (NKJV)

I’m pretty sure we have all done this. You may be in this situation right now. You said or did someone and you know you were wrong. You told them you’re sorry and you’re ready to move on. But you may need to go back and apologize again…

Why?

HOW did you say, “I’m sorry?”

Did they tell you, “You owe me an apology!” and you angrily and grudgingly snap back, “I’m sorry!”

Did you tell them you were sorry just to shut them up from nagging you… wanting them to drop it?

Did you tell them you were sorry only to demand of them to get over it and move on?

Did you tell them you were sorry because you know God expects it, but you really didn’t mean it?

Did you tell them you were sorry because you just didn’t want them to be upset?

Did you tell them you were sorry because you didn’t want them to treat you differently?

Did you tell them with a sticky note, text or email?

Did you tell someone else to tell them for you?

Or,

Did you tell them you were sorry because you had true remorse, regret, contrition, shame and sorrow for hurting them?

Remember this…

There’s a difference between saying, “I’m sorry”, and a true apology.

Notice that even God doesn’t necessarily ask us to tell Him we are sorry, but He does require Godly sorrow and repentance…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

A true apology comes from the heart and not just from the mouth.

When we are truly sorry, we want the person to feel that it hurt us that we hurt them. And, when we are truly sorry our continued behavior reflects that apology, even if they have a human moment in bringing that hurt back up again.

Think about it. Do you need to apologize to someone again? Yes, you said you were sorry, but maybe, just maybe, you didn’t really ‘apologize’.

And, when you are on the receiving end of an apology, please BE EASY TO APOLOGIZE TO… because sometimes accepting a harsh, so-called, insincere apology with grace and humility can soften their heart. That’s the power of God’s love. Think about the times you’ve had to apologize remembering…

It takes just as much humility and love to extend a sincere apology as it does to accept it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Much of my job is based on meeting deadlines. Through that I’ve noticed something that you may have noticed too. When you’re working towards a deadline, you sometimes don’t notice the days between that deadline When the project is completed, I find myself saying, “Wow, this week went by fast!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get there, but enjoy the days in between.

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

 Matthew 6:34  (NKJV)

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

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

Psalm 118:24  (NKJV)

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s interesting how many people quickly claim, “God’s on my side!”

Sometimes it’s people (or on a larger scale denominations) on both sides of an argument, issue, situation…how is God on everyone’s side?

Many times people will go through the bible, selfishly  hand picking scriptures out of context  to prove their point.This is reading or using the bible carnally.

God promises TO BE WITH US, as made perfectly clear in…

Romans 8-28-38. Verse 31 asks rhetorically, “If God is FOR US, who can be against us?” 

But notice verse 28 says all things work for the good of those who are “CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE”.

Yes, God is with us, but God is WITH US when we are on HIS SIDE.

In John 15:16, Jesus tells us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

Jesus told us no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). When Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead, all power in heaven and earth was placed in Him

( Matthew 28:18)…it’s HIS SIDE because He paid for it with His blood.

When we accept the call of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are ON HIS SIDE, so if we are on His side, then by default He’s with us….our battles become His battles as God told Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:15.

Notice when David slew Goliath, David  wasn’t about proving how mighty he was, but he was standing for God and His armies. (1 Samuel 17:45) 

We are on HIS SIDE and, it’s our responsibility to be in harmony with His truth. Issues, situations, disputes and disagreements are much bigger than whether or not we are ‘RIGHT’ or ‘WRONG’.

We can easily get caught up in trying to prove we’re ‘RIGHT’, or someone else other group is WRONG, rather than be in harmony with God’s truth. We as individuals and groups can get caught up in being more concerned with what we want to believe, and our preferred view of the bible, which becomes a static doctrine that we feel compelled defend rather than trying to defend our faith and be in harmony with God’s truth.

That’s how you can tell who is in harmony with God’s truth when two people or groups are looking at the same scripture with two points of view…which person or group is removing how THEY WANT TO see it and their own will out of the way and is only seeking God’s point of view and His will. So, let’s be careful how we loosely throw around, “God’s on my side”, and strive to always be on His.

NOW HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS!

When you are on God’s side…walking in His Spirit…living according to His will…

HE IS ON YOUR SIDE!

Psalm 118:6  (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s happened to most of us. You suddenly feel your muscles ache, fever, stomach ache and nausea…you have FOOD POISONING. Something you ate, something that was supposed to nourish you made you sick. Something that was supposed to give you strength made you weak, something that was supposed to help your body…hurt it.

Sometimes something can look delicious, smell delicious and taste delicious and still be deadly. Salmonella, Botulism, Listeria are just a few are bacteria that make good food toxic. They infect what’s good….You have fever, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea because your body is trying to get rid of it. Your muscles ache making you weak and unfit for work.

The same is true with the WORD OF GOD.

THE WORD IS MEANT TO NOURISH YOU…

1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

THE WORD IS MEANT TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND INCREASE YOUR FAITH…

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

THE WORD IS MEANT TO BUILD YOUR SPIRITUAL HOUSE AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

 Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

But, sometimes the Body of Christ can get SPIRITUAL FOOD POISONING…

 1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

Demons are like spiritual bacteria that want to infect you and the Body of Christ. Their goal is to deceive and pervert the teaching and preaching of God’s word. They influence the ‘message’ to come from flesh instead of spirit. They want to infect the word so that it’s carnal instead of spiritual…and it can be very subtle:

For example, many people have learned to give selfishly. They have been taught ONLY to give so they can receive a blessing. Not, out of love…Not, out of obedience…Not, out of concern for others…but so they can be blessed. Give so you can get! Yes, God is willing to pour out blessings that we don’t have room to receive, but if that’s the only reason we give, that reducing giving to a ‘blessing bill”.

Be careful when the word of God is cloaked in carnality, sometimes it’s unintentional – but most of the time it isn’t. Watch out when the message contains…

Too much prosperity

Too much condemnation

Too little bible

Too much personal opinion

Too much tradition of man

Lies

Hypocrisy

Selfishness

Racial Pride

Idolatry

Blasphemy (Some preachers actually want you to worship them, or yourselves)

Or, when it elicits emotions from flesh…for example, if it makes excuse for or justifies sin or causes you to take pride in the way you used to be. I have heard preachers say, “I haven’t been saved all my life” in an arrogant way that eludes to the fact that they can revert back to their old behavior, or in other words, ‘let the old become new again’

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

We have to read and study God’s word for ourselves and pray for discernment, so we can intelligently and responsibly listen to the word of God. Just like food poisoning, it can be disguised in eloquent words, charisma, elaborate presentation, engaging personality etc. It can sound good, look good and make you feel good, but it’s got to be in line with the bible and not twisted to fit a human agenda.

Spiritual food poisoning makes the Christian and Body of Christ weak, ineffective, unproductive and unfit for Kingdom work. It makes the Body of Christ sick. It actually does more harm than good…and it takes place in church.

The old adage that you are what you eat is true. It doesn’t just apply to allowing worldly influences to enter your spirit…but just as the bible says that the devil disguises himself as an angle of light…

2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

The enemy doesn’t mind you going to church or hearing the word, as long as he can come along and twist it….infect it and poison your spiritual food.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I once heard a preacher erroneously teach Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 16…

He said in essence that we are to approach God ‘boldly’, even saying, “Do it right now Lord!”

Uhhh…No!

As you already know, it simply means we have direct access to God (Yah), through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua).

It does NOT give us permission to tell God what to do.

Even though we don’t have to always be on our knees when we pray YOU’RE ALWAYS IN POSITION TO PRAY/ 9 PROPER POSTURES (REBOOT)…, We do always have approach God with a humble spirit.

Look at how Jesus Himself fell on His face in the garden…

So, please be careful! It’s easy to allow the passion of our desires, our confidence in Him, the urgency of our need, and especially during worship to allow ‘the intensity of the moment and worship experience or the charisma of the ‘leader’ to turn our prayer into a bold demand on God to meet our expectations when and how we’re ready.

Even in the lamenting Psalms such as Numbers 3,4,5,7,12 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 44, 126, or 129 ( there are many others, I suggest you do a study of them if you haven’t already) God is teaching us through how to lament, and express our ‘disappointment’ in and ‘impatience’ with God in reverence and respect.

Prayer is a beautiful privilege of being a child of God, but we must remember that that’s just what it is…a privilege.

Let us not give those with authority over us in our lives more respect than we give God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Have you ever made Him feel you’ve forgotten Him?

How many times have you started your day without saying, “Good Morning”?

How many meals or snacks have you eaten without saying, “Thank you”?

Have you gone a day without ‘calling’?

Have often do you check what He’s ‘posted’ in His ‘HOLY MEDIA’?

How many times has He tried to get your attention and you responded, “Not Now!”

How many times have you asked Him to leave ‘your house’ and invited the devil in?

Even when you’re diligently seeking Him, He sometimes may seem far away… because no matter how close you may THINK you are to Him, you can still be closer.

No matter how much faith you THINK you have…we all still have some unbelief.

Remember this…

Every person used by God in the bible at some time felt forsaken…including His Son.

Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

If you feel God has forsaken or forgotten you, read Psalm 13. Notice how it begins in sorrow, but ends in an affirmation of trust and praise…That’s why He seems far away sometimes. So we can follow even closer behind Him.

Psalm 13 (NKJV)

13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?
² How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
⁴ Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

⁵ But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Doors…They provide access. They allow us to enter one environment while at the same time exit another. When closed, they keep things in and keep things out. We all want God to open doors for us to better things. We may even pray for God to open doors for us. Doors lead to the things we desire…

One day a man had to hurry in the bank before he picked up his daughter from school. He didn’t go to the bank his normal bank location because he decided to stop at the one closest to his daughter’s school. At 2:45 as he pulled up and read the sign on the door that said, “Open 8:30 – 5:00”. He pulled to open the door, and it was locked. He pulled again, and again. As he looked through the glass and through the lobby he could see the tellers behind the counter and became angry. “What are they doing?” “Bankers make me sick!” “They know it’s just 2:45!”  “They see me out here!” Furious, he now shook the door violently. “Let me in you lazy…!” Suddenly, he saw someone come to the door and he began lecturing the employee as he rushed into the building when he noticed the employee locking the door back and felt someone aggressively grab his arm. The bank was being robbed!!! His daughter stood waiting for an hour before her horrified mother picked her up as they waited and hoped for hostages to be released.

We need to remember that some doors God has closed for a reason. 

Some things you have your heart to do, some places you have your heart set to go, some people you have your heart set on, some jobs you have your heart set on, some loans you hope to get, even some things you sincerely want to do for God…are not meant for you.

Some things we want aren’t His will for us. 1 Chronicles 22:7, David states that it is in his heart to build a house for God, but that wasn’t God’s will for David. Acts 16:6, the Holy Spirit prevents Paul and his companions from going to Asia.

Sometimes people denying you access, ignoring your resume, ignoring your text messages is God keeping you from something that’s not for you. Sometimes people ignoring your gifts or choosing someone not as gifted is God’s way of getting you to move on to where you are meant to be.

We need to be very careful when we find ourselves trying to unlock and force our way into doors that God may have shut for a reason.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The older I get, the more I learn the value of praise. Not only does it make you feel so much closer to God, but it releases so much power into your life. Have you ever noticed what King Jehoshaphat did when they were outnumbered in battle in 1 Chronicles Chapter 20?

2 Chronicles 20:21-22  (NKJV)

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.”^[a]

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.

The tribe of Judah, (which of course means praise) was sent into battle singing praise to God. I like to call it the ‘battle cry of praise’…

“Praise the LORD”,

For His mercy endures forever.”

God gave them the victory, and the weapon was praise. They didn’t whisper a prayer silently, before the battle, which they could have done. They gave a very loud and public praise which served as a testimony to everyone who witnessed it.

I’ve learned to not be ashamed to praise God in public. I’ve learned to not be concerned with what people think. After all, people aren’t concerned what people think when they have public displays of affection in public with their loved ones. I’m not talking about disrespectful displays, but simply holding hands or hugging.

So, we shouldn’t be ashamed to lift up our hands and give God a HOLY HUG…

1 Timothy 2:8  (NKJV)

⁸ I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

And, remember David was so excited over the return of the Ark of the Covenant, that he danced until his clothes came off, embarrassing his wife…

2 Samuel 6:20-22  (NKJV)

²⁰ Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” ²¹ So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. ²² And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”

I’ve grown to lift up my hands on my front porch of my house…to bow and pray at my desk at work…to lift up my hands in my car…to stop and bow on the sidewalk.

You see, for me praise is powerful therapy. Psalm 16:11 is so true…

Psalm 16:11  (ESV)

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 It is impossible to praise God and complain at the same time.

I can’t count the times I felt overwhelmed, and then stopped and praised God. He blessed me with an uexplainable, but very real feeling of peace and contentment. I said to myself, “HEY! WHERE’D THAT PEACE COME FROM?”  There are days when I thought I would go crazy, but praise calmed my spirit.

So, if people look at me a little funny, I don’t care because…

I would rather look crazy than go crazy.

That’s my challenge to you today. Give God a public display of affection. Prove to yourself that you aren’t ashamed. I promise it will be easier after the first time.

I don’t own the rights to this music.

Don’t forget this…

Luke 9:26  (NKJV)

²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When it sometimes seems God is ‘TION’ing  (shunning) you…

Isaiah 54:7-8  (NKJV)

⁷ “For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
⁸ With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.

On those days you may think God has turned His back on you.

Those days you think He is avoiding, ignoring or even rejecting you…

For the days you think God is ‘TION’ing (shunning) you…

Maybe He is trying to take you to a higher level of…

ConsecraTION and SactificaTION

Joshua 3:5  (NKJV)

⁵ And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

So you can refocus your…

ConcentraTION…

Colossians 3:2  (NKJV)

² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

On His gifts of…

JustificaTION…

Romans 5:1  (NKJV)

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

ReconciliaTION…

2 Corinthians 5:18-19  (NKJV)

¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

RestorationTION…

Psalm 23:3  (NKJV)

³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

And, not take for granted His gift of…

SalvaTION.

Romans 10:9  (NKJV)

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

And, maybe, just maybe,

You’ve been…

‘TION’ing Him.

Jeremiah 3:22  (NKJV)

²² “Return, you backsliding children,
And I will heal your backslidings.”

“Indeed we do come to You,
For You are the Lord our God

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Is this you?

For whatever reason things have become very difficult for you.

It could be in your family…

In your career…

In your ministry.

Has an area that was once very successful, very lucrative, very easy has dried up?

Is your best not good enough?

Does no one seem to understand you?

Will no one let you inside your circle?

Do you receive resistance for the good you do?

You don’t get acknowledged, while others are being celebrated.

Well, when your best isn’t good enough, that’s their problem not yours.

When no one understands you or your vision…Good. That’s why God entrusted it to you.

If no one will let you inside their circle, then maybe God is trying to build His own circle around you.

Remember that demons got restless whenever Jesus came around.

If you aren’t being celebrated, not only did Jesus not receive any ‘awards’…He was killed by His own.

He’s not dead, and the same power that raised Him from the dead is available to you.

Jesus entire earthly ministry was filled with conflict.

So, here’s your good news…

If you are at an uncomfortable place in your life…

Anything great is birthed from CONFLICT and not COMFORT.

Remember in 1 Kings Chapter 17 how the prophet Elisha was being sustained by God at the Brook of Cherith? The brook provided his water and God commanded that the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and evening. But, the brook dried up…

Why? Because God had to move Elisha from his place of comfort to his next assignment. Had God not allowed what was sustaining Elisha dry up. He made it uncomfortable.

In Acts Chapter 9 The Apostle Paul was going about his business when Jesus knocked him down on the road to Damascus and suddenly, he went from destroying the church to building it up.

If you have conflict in your life, maybe God has you in a place of transition.

Maybe He’s trying to birth something great from your life.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Many people have been eager to offer their opinion on Snoop Dogg doing a Gospel album. It’s not my place to judge who God chooses to use. Consider this…

Most of our most beloved Psalms were inspired by God through a man who killed thousands of people, and had a man killed so he could have his wife (King David). If you were living then, and you knew David from the context of what He had done, would you be receptive to his Psalms?

Even though God strictly forbids the homosexual lifestyle along with other sins, many of the Gospel songs that we love, that touch the hearts of countless people, and have even led people to Christ, were written by homosexuals. (That by no means excuses or justifies the sin, but the truth is the truth).

Even the apostle Paul said that some preach with ungodly motives and others with a sincere heart…but he was just thankful that Christ was preached and despite the selfish motives, people received the word.

Philippians 1:15-18 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: ¹⁶ The former^[a] preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

So, if Snoop Dogg recording Gospel music that sincerely inspires someone or strengthens someone’s connection to God…then to God be the Glory.

It’s God’s sovereign choice to use whomever and however He chooses.

It’s not our place, no matter how evident it may seem to me by his current and past ‘fruit’, to judge what is in Mr. Calvin Broadus Jr.’s (Snoop Dogg’s) heart. Or, how he is developing and growing in his relationship with God. It’s not our place to judge how He uses his talent and resources to honor Him… That’s between him and God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When an atheist loves or does good, is it from God?

Is a spiritual truth from another faith still wisdom from God, even though it may not be attributed to the one true God?

The fact of the matter is there are some atheists and people of other faiths more loving, friendly and generous than many of us Christians.

We were all made in God’s image. God IS love, and any love that is in us is from Him. Just because some people don’t attribute that love to Him doesn’t mean it doesn’t come from Him. Love definitely cannot come from the devil.

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.

But, being made in God’s image doesn’t mean that we look like Him physically because He is a spirit.

John 4:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

In fact, Jesus represents our invisible Father in bodily form…

Colossians 1:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Colossians 2:8-9(NKJV)

⁸ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

But, being made in His image means we look like Him spiritually. It means we can have His character…His heart…His attributes…His mind.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?”^[a] But we have the mind of Christ.

It means we can love like Him. We can hurt like Him. We can be angry like Him. We can feel like Him.

He gives EVERYONE of us a measure of faith…

Romans 12:3

³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

He also gave us free will, and because of that free will, some choose place that faith in idol Gods…other religions…themselves…or no one at all.

It’s just like a son who looks just like His father but resents and rejects him saying, “You’re not my father!” “I look nothing like you!”

Consider this verse…

Romans 2: 14-16

14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Anyone’s ability to love and do good comes from God, even if they don’t believe in Him, it still originates from Him.

Also, since God is all-knowing, and the source of all knowledge…then even the wisdom of other religions is still from God. They just don’t attribute it to Him….

Romans 1:20-23 (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 Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Just because that same son we mentioned earlier doesn’t want to admit that he inherited his intelligence or talents from his father or mother, doesn’t mean that he didn’t.

It’s evident in everything the son does, he proves he came from his parents, he proves they exist or existed…whether he admits it or not.

So, when unbelievers love. When someone of another faith speaks wisdom. When either of them are generous…it still comes from God. They are still created in His image. They just don’t give Him credit as the source.

For example, the wisdom behind ‘karma’ is still the same Godly knowledge of ‘reaping what you sow’…

Galatians 6:7-9(NKJV)

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

When you hear truth coming from an atheist or someone of another faith…the fact that they don’t believe in the one true and living God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ doesn’t prevent it from being truth…in fact, they are proving God is real.

It is our responsibility to convince them to give their measure of faith to God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

God only had Israel march around a city seven times to bring the walls down…ONCE. (Joshua 6)

There was only… ONE…man who had superhuman strength through his hair. (Judges 13-16)

We only know of Jesus putting clay on the eyes of a man to heal his sight…ONCE. (John Chapter 9)

Why?

God wants us to have faith in WHO did it, not HOW He did it.

Putting faith in HOW God did it builds…

SUPERSTITION instead of FAITH.

Put your faith in THE WAY, not THE WAY He does it.

Don’t allow superstition to sneak into your faith.

John 14:6 (NKJV)

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

BE BLESSTIFIED

If you see my head bowed at…

My desk…

A red light…

My meal or snack…

In the waiting room…

While standing in line…

In the aisle at the supermarket…

As I approach the voting booth…

While I’m at the ball game…

During the meeting…

On my front porch…

There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m just acknowledging God in everything that I do.

Proverbs 3:6  (NKJV)

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

The older I get, the more I realize I can’t make it through a single day without praying…a lot.

1 Thessalonians 5:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ pray without ceasing,

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When God gives you a gift for His glory, it’s not only good…it’s excellent!

James 1:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ 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.

I enjoy writing and sharing what God has placed in my heart. I love teaching and preaching as I have opportunity. It makes me feel so alive! And, God gives me inspiration EVERYWHERE! In good and in evil. In joy and in pain. At work and at home. In the profound and profane. God has fresh revelation to His unchanging word everywhere…and I have to write and share.

I must admit that most of the time, when I finish writing or saying what God has placed in my heart in my own style, I sometimes say WOW! That’s pretty awesome, but not because of me, but because of my awesome God!

I guess we are all spiritual plagiarists, because nothing anyone writes or says is original, it all comes from God.

But, here’s my point. No matter how good I may feel about what I have shared. No matter how many ‘attaboys’ and pats-on-the-back I get…

I ALWAYS read, hear or watch something that someone else has shared that is even MORE awesome and powerful that what I have written.

Someone is always revealing something that I never knew. Someone is always, in their own style, sharing something that makes me stop and say WOW! Someone is always confirming something that God has placed in my heart.

It humbles me to see how powerfully God speaks through and uses others.

When I’m reminded daily of how God uses so many anointed, talented, gifted people, it keeps me humble, as I realize that even though He is using me in a powerful way…His Kingdom work can go on just fine without me.

Let me encourage you to never diminish the power of what God has placed inside you, but at the same time never let your gift, your talent, your ability, your education, your popularity, your accolades, or awards to allow you to become arrogant, proud or vain.

Unfortunately, there are too many spiritually arrogant preachers, teachers, ministers, pastors, authors, writers, bloggers, artists, singers, musicians…

Our challenge is to not allow the power of what God has placed in us to provoke us to glory in ourselves. Let us never forget that if anything good comes from us, all glory goes to God.

Here are just a few scriptural reminders…

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  (NKJV)

³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”^[a]

2 Corinthians 10:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”^[a]

 Psalm 115:1 (NKJV)

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

You don’t have to humiliate yourself to be humble.

Remember this…

I respect you. But, I lick my lips too many times a day to kiss your behind.

You don’t have to surrender your self-respect to validate someone else’s.

It’s not a sin to assert yourself.

Job 12:3 (NKJV)