God is Reliable!
• ALL that God promises, He fulfills - Hallelujah!
• He will not take back even one word of what He says - Hallelujah!
• God can also be trusted to save us as He promised He would - Hallelujah!
• God is, has been and shall always be reliable - Hallelujah!
"My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalms 89:34 NKJV)
Having liberty in Christ Jesus allows me to live my life better and more importantly safer than ever before! However, my enemy is tricky and clever always trying to bring me lower than what I've been Saved to become.
It's alright to enjoy the finer things in life, but I have to be watchful that I'm not putting more delight in the gifts instead of giving glory, honor and thanks to God who is the Giver of all good things.
It's alright to have a nice home, a great car, the corner office job, beautiful friends and money in the bank. What's not OK and what we need to be watchful over is our placing all of our attention on these things and less attention on our Lord whose hands have provided all that we have.
Be careful that you are not overcome or mastered by anyTHING or anyBODY! God has given you and I authority over ALL THINGS!
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (I Corinthians 6:12 NKJV)
We have to know that the "Stuff" that we are chasing after will never chase after us. We put way too much emphasis on wealth, possessions and celebrity of self.
Placing everything that identifies you on the "Stuff" of this world is like placing a Bandaid on Cancer and thinking that all will be well.
The Precious Blood of Jesus alone Saves us! Keep that other "Stuff", I'll take Jesus and I shall plead The Blood of Christ over my family, my home and those whom God has and continues to bring into my life.
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)
There are those who will tell you anything and everything to keep you from achieving, to keep you from prospering and to keep you down on their level. Yes, misery loves company!
They say to you, "Yeah man, you don't need anyone to help you. You're going places and these folks in the church are a drag. They don't understand you and they never will."
HOLD UP!! Just where do you think the folks in the church have come from? Don't get it twisted, we came from the same streets that you think you're running game on; the same streets where you think that you're monkey business is undercover; the same streets that has you being, acting like and looking like a FOOL!
I know what you're being told because the game hasn't changed, only the players have changed. Don’t assume that the streets will protect and love you, they have no heart, they're hard and cold, and they will only take from you until there's nothing left that even resembles the son and daughter that was born with such a great joy, love and hope.
Pray today. Pray right now. Talk to The One who can change EVERYTHING about YOU faster than you can blink your eye. Pray to The One that can truly take you higher than any high that you have ever experienced. Pray and be forgiven. Pray and be loved. Pray and be lifted, Gifted and accepted!
I tell ya, God's done it for me and He'll do it for you. The Church, we're not Hypocrites, we're folks who have been where you are. The difference is that we STOPPED TALKING TO THEM AND WE PRAYED TO HIM!!!
"God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son He loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating." (Colossians 1:13-14 MSG)
When Ezra stood on the platform surrounded by 13 ministers and read God's Word in front of all of the men, women, boys and girls lives were changed. Today, we need to be very careful to listen intently to EVERY WORD that is read so that our lives may also be changed.
We have God’s Word plastered on Billboards, over our radios, televisions and mobile devices. We mustn't allow for God’s Word to become so common that we become dull to what God is saying to us and immune to its teaching.
Secondly, the hearing and understanding of God’s Word should lead us into worship. But know this, the discernment of God’s Word may not manifest itself in vibrant and jubilant worship with happy Hallelujah shouts. Sometimes it's a Holy Hush.
Worship is not about how loud we can be. Sometimes, there needs to be a reverential silence. Sometimes, the most intensive times of worship consist not of singing the loudest but of bowing the lowest.
Sometimes, my greatest moments in the presence of The Lord is between the hours of 3:30am and 5:30am, in the quietness of the early morning while it's still dark outside, reading EVERY WORD and hearing God’s Word and discerning my Call and Purpose. It is after time spent each morning that I simply bow my head, think on His goodness and mercy, and say, "Thank you Lord. Amen"
"So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord , the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground."(Nehemiah 8:2-4,6 NKJV)
Audrina week! Well, tomorrow is The Walk for Epilepsy and my family is all set to walk in support of me and others that live with Epilepsy. Me? I'm planning on setting the pace, I'm going to be out front, I'm in it to win it! Who's with me?
I give you all much love for your kind words and support. #TeamAudrina
Audrina week! Pastor Marvin Winans has a song titled "Draw me Close to You/Thy Will be Done", that is speaking to me concerning my special girl. In this song the refrain is, "I've Seen You Work in Others and I Want You to Work in Me". This song has become an anthem to me in regards to Audrina and this morning it is my prayer: Lord, I've Seen You Work in Others and I Want You to Work in Audrina. IJN, Amen. #TeamAudrina
There are so many issues in our lives that we each are going through and dealing with. Brothers and sisters are dying because of senseless violence and our young folks are addicted to and dying from drugs. The cost of living has skyrocketed while wage increases have not kept pace.
In these last days and during these difficult times, family unity is so very important and necessary. It's a family that is united and strong that can support one another when issues come. It is family that comes to the rescue when troubles rise up against you. It's family that truly has your back!
Get over the pettiness that separates you...forgive. Get over your own stubbornness and need to be right all of the time and forgive. Get over yourself and learn to say sorry and end the separation of family.
Forgive and GET OVER IT!
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4 NKJV)
Know this:
• You're Called when the weather is perfect and you're Called when the storms are raging
• You're Called when there's harmony in the church and in your home, and you're Called when all Hell is breaking loose
• You're Called when you feel like preaching and you're Called when you don't feel like preaching
• You're Called when you have plenty and you're Called when there's a deficit
You're Calling doesn't go on break when you get tired or in a bad mood; when you catch a cold or go on vacation. No, YOU ARE CALLED and YOU ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!
Paul says it like this:
"For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship."
(I Corinthians 9:16-17 NKJV)
In other words, If we preach willingly, we are rewarded. If we preach unwillingly, we are STILL ACCOUNTABLE!
I'm preparing to preach this weekend. Self motivation this morning. 😃
What does this mean? A Little While? It means that Jesus GOT IT! This means that in Him trouble won't last always. This means that we shall never face anything alone. This means because He sits at the right hand of The Father as our Advocate and since He has promised to send The Holy Spirit, that we shall have peace, joy and love...in a little while.
There may be someone who has given up on hope. I just need to tell you to hang on for another minute longer, because in "A Little While", your grief will turn to joy, if you give it Jesus!
Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. (John 16:33)
Concerning spiritual gifts. I hear often of folks talking about which gift one may have. I've witnessed lately the sharing of one of many spiritual gift assessment forms. I have even been asked which signs have I seen or have been given to prove the manifestation of a particular gift such as Healing or Prophecy.
I truly believe that God will and does show His love through us as needs present themselves day by day. I personally don't claim to have any particular gift, but I do have "THE GIFT".
Remember, Christians don't follow signs; signs follow Christians! Remember that Jesus, THE GIFT of God lives in us, and in Him are ALL good gifts!
Me, well I'm simply one who gets to carry and present THE GIFT. You? Well, it is up to you to open and then to receive THE GIFT.
That which we allow ourselves to consume the most is usually the same that consumes our mind and thoughts. Staying in God’s Word, reading, meditating and the study of God's Word saturates our mind and thoughts with the "knowledge of God". That knowledge and the thoughts that accompany this knowledge is that every believer is a new creation, and being so, his/her thoughts are to be loving, caring, truthful, encouraging, healthy and good! All other thoughts come from the enemy and are contrary to who you are and to whose you are, and these thoughts MUST be resisted.
As Saved brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we MUST continually resist wrongful thinking, harmful jealousies and unhealthy opinions from entering our thoughts. The ramifications are that if we don't change our thoughts, we can and will return to many of our old ways. Sadly, there are some who have new hearts, but old heads.
The Bible tells us what we are to do. The Word of God instructs us that when evil, unhealthy and ungodly thoughts creep in, that we are to completely resist by:
"Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV)
BE ON GUARD - Keep Your Mind On Christ and He will give you perfect peace...Peace in your home, in your family and in your relationships. Do away with contrary thoughts.
Now, I'll ask again, "What's on YOUR Mind?" Prayerfully, The Love of Christ. Operate in Grace today!
I have IDENTITY with DIVINITY!
"The Lord knoweth them that are His." (2 Timothy 2:19 KJV)
