Tuesday's Truth: God always gives strength enough for the next step.

Useless, Frivolous, Waisted Effort, Trifling, Foolish, Juvenile, Senseless and Pointless.

Have you ever heard these words or words with similar meanings aimed at YOU when you have made a decision to do something to better yourself that may not aligned with those thoughts for your life by some "Negative" People in your life?

To put it simply, "Negative" People can and will WEAR YOU OUT! They bind you with their fears of normalcy, they weigh you down with their own idiosyncrasies and they tire you with their constant "woe is me" pity parties.  Dealing with negative people is dangerous because you can easily become akin to those whom you spend your time with. In other words, "Birds of the feather flock together".

BREAKAWAY from negativity! Do it right now! Negativity has robbed you of living an abundant life, a fulfilling life and a joyful life. Negativity has sapped you of your rigor and strength. Negativity is keeping you from your purpose and God's promise. Negativity has you standing still instead of moving in the power and authority that is inherently yours in Christ Jesus.

God told me to tell you, "Just take one step in My direction and I'll do the rest".

Trust God today to take away the negativity and give you far more than you can ever think or imagine!

He will give you the strength to break free...you just have to want to be free.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29 NIV)

"BODY"building

When we were born, we were neither left-handed or right-handed. However, very early on in life, we began to favor one hand over the other and really, there is no explanation (at least, I can't explain it). In doing so, the hand that we used more often became more dominant, therefore more powerful. Some prefer the right-hand others the left-hand, but whichever hand we choose, the other becomes weaker and the one that we prefer or use more often becomes stronger.

I truly believe that the weaker hand is only weak because of it's inactivity and under-utilization. However, if I were to begin to use my opposite hand, it will indeed get stronger.  In reality, It is not lacking strength, it is only lacking utilization.

The same can be said about our physical life and our spiritual life. We tend to exercise or utilize our physical nature and not exercise or utilize our spiritual nature. We often struggle when faced with the spiritual because that part of us is far weaker than our physical self.  Can you imagine how strong we all would be if we exercised our WHOLE-selves? Our spirit is limitless, without boundaries; our spirit senses, discerns, protects via instinct and holds us accountable via our conscience. When was the last time that you have even thought about, let alone, exercised your spiritual self?

Well, if you are spiritually out of shape, Church is a good place to exercise your spiritual nature; studying God's Word is excellent for building up your spirit and the ultimate spiritual exercise is to exercise your faith in Christ Jesus!

Let's not be fooled...not only are you a physical-being, you are also a spiritual-being.  The Apostle Paul says it like this:

"If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:44 NIV)

Meditate on this: As we stay in the Word of God, our spirit man grows stronger. One day, our physical bodies will exist no more, they will grow old, they will become afflicted, they will degenerate due to disease or abuse and they will grow weaker and weaker regardless of how much working out you've done in the physical. However, the time spent in the exercising of your spiritual-self, will reward you bountifully for all eternity.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with bodybuilding, but don't forget the building up of your spiritual-self in the process. In doing so, we will truly be "BODY"Building" and the strengthening will be that of our WHOLE-selves!

Praising God

Hallelujah! You who serve God , praise God ! Just to speak his name is praise! Just to remember God is a blessing— now and tomorrow and always. From east to west, from dawn to dusk, keep lifting all your praises to God ! God is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies. Who can compare with God , our God, so majestically enthroned, Surveying his magnificent heavens and earth? He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who’ve been thrown out with the trash, Seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best. He gives childless couples a family, gives them joy as the parents of children. Hallelujah! (Psalm 113:1-9 MSG)

"Commit Yourself Unto Him"

Wednesday's Word: "Commit Yourself Unto Him"

What have we committed to? To what or to whom have we pledged ourselves? To what and to whom have we deposited our intimate thoughts, our daily hope and eternal faith?

If we have committed to anyTHING or to anyONE or to anyBODY other than Christ Jesus, please know today that whatever we have committed will be lost as it cannot be kept by what, in and of itself, is temporary...only our eternal Savior can eternally keep what you have committed to Him.

Commit Yourself unto Jesus!

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Tim. 1: 12)

Today and everyday, I commit my family, my home, my trust and mySELF unto Him. I can trust and believe that what and who I have committed into His Mighty Hands shall be kept!

- When my money is funny - I'm still kept
- When I don't live up to expectations - I'm still kept
-When my children are out of my home and in the world - they're still kept

You see, life has its issues and we're all going to make mistakes, but the difference is, when we commit ALL things, both good and bad unto Him, He will work them out for our good.

Quit relying on others and COMMIT UNTO HIM!

A Clean Separation

Tuesday's Truth: A Clean Separation!

It is both necessary and needful at times for us to make "A Clean Separation" from the areas and things in this life that no longer are favorable or functional to right living.

We stay in situations because we have settled in our minds that "this" is all that there is. Perhaps we stay because we have listened to the lies of the enemy and for some "dumb" reason, we believe the lie of the enemy instead of the TRUTH of God. Lastly we stay because staying in worthless, useless, unprofitable, unhealthy, unsafe and ungodly situations actually have become familiar and commonplace in our lives (my, my, my...how far away are we from who we were meant to be?)

But Today, I am here to tell you that there IS LIFE beyond our situations; there IS JOY beyond our despair; there IS HEALING for our Soul; and there IS A PROMISE, PURPOSE AND PLAN for our lives in Christ Jesus.

It is about time to look past our afflictions and move on. It is about time to do away with addictions and dependencies on "stuff" and look toward freedom and cleanliness. It is time to move on from our childhood/street identities and become the Man and Woman of God that we were created to be. IT IS NOW THE TIME TO MAKE A CLEAN SEPARATION AND LIVE OUR LIFE!!

"Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South." (Genesis 13:1 NKJV)

God had big plans for Abram, but the plan nor the purpose would be experienced in Abram's current situation, Abram had to make "A Clean Separation".

Truth is...so do we. Be blessed

What Do You Want?

Monday's Meditation: What Do You Want?

Oftentimes we act out and act up; we show out and show off all to get attention from someone. With all of this attention seeking, my question this morning is: are we prepared to give an answer?

The scripture that I'm sharing with you this morning amazes and excites me...yet it causes me to pause as I ponder my very own response. Think about it, we meditate on the Word of God, we read His Word and we pray His Word. However, when I read this particular passage, it makes me think about how I would answer The King of kings and The Lord of lords, The Creater; The Alpha and Omega and as John has told his disciples "The Lamb of God".

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”   When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” (John 1:35-38a NIV)

As I sit here preparing for this day, my response to Jesus' question is simply, "I want to see others just as you see them". Tomorrow (I'm thinking), my response may be different as my mindset very likely will be different. However, I'm elated in knowing that WHATEVER we want, in Christ Jesus we ALREADY have it.

I'm glad that He asks of us today and everyday "What Do You Want?" I pray today that you meditate on this question and if you don't yet know Jesus as your Lord and Savior...or even as just a friend, that you will respond to this very same question with saying "YOU. I want You Jesus". He's seen our acting up and acting out; He's see our showing off and showing out...and He asks "What Do You Want?"

- If it's love, He is love
- If it's hope, He is our hope
- If it's peace, He gives peace that surpasses all understanding
- If it's healing, by His stripes we are healed
- If it's help, He is our advocate
- If it's protection, He said to stand still for the battle is not yours but The Lord's
- If it is restoration, He says Today, you shall be with me in Paradise
- If it is confidence, release from addiction or oppression, He has led captivity captive and has even taken the keys of your enemy that has held you captive... You are freed and free of captivity in Jesus.

I can go on and on...WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Thank you Jesus...I WANT YOU!

Mom The Encourager

Thankful Thursday: So much to be thankful for...today I will share with you a message from my Mother who encourages me every day as I strive to encourage others. Bless you Mom!!!

"Good morning Keith!  This is the day The Lord has made let's rejoice & be glad,  Love you. Mom"