Greetings!
If I never thought God heard me, this morning was proof that He does, and not only does He hear me...He moves. He knew that I was going to need a word that was going to strengthen me through the days and months ahead. Because He loves me...He came for me...
I am relying on God right now like never before. If I didn't have God in my life, I know I wouldn't make it. Today I needed to know that I am not alone in this thing. I know that He is right there with me, and nothing is greater, nothing is bigger, nothing is more powerful than our God. I just needed to be reminded that faith is more than believing...it's hearing, seeing, knowing, because when all the chatter around you stops...faith listens.
This morning, my pastor preached from Isaiah 43:1-3, and it blessed me so much I thought I was going to explode. He pulled six words from those three verses that will stay with me always. Those six words were life changing for me, and they were...
But God.
Fear Not.
I AM
I wanted those six words to stand out on the page. Say them out loud. Meditate on them. Let your heart hear them. Make them a part of your daily affirmations. Our God is all-powerful, and nothing can come against us because this scripture says that we belong to Him...He has redeemed us and called us by name. We belong to Him. That is comforting because I know that no matter what...He is in the midst right along with me. I am never alone. I belong to Him, and everything that concerns me concerns Him and the word says that He hears me when I call.
Until next time...
Be blessed
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Teachable Spirit...
Greetings!
On Friday night, I spoke at my friend's church. It was an excellent service. And I am under the belief that you just don't come out on a Friday night and not come expecting God to do something awesome. Our theme was being a "true servant" for God. The theme was perfect for this season, because typically around this time, we start to get a little tired. It's toward the end of the year, we are getting ready for the holidays, and looking forward to a new year. The problem is...the enemy knows we're tired too (Mostly because we keep speaking it out of our mouths), and he finds every opportunity to make our lives miserable, and we're so tired we leave ourselves open to all kinds of foolishness.
What I realized on Friday was that we are not perfect, and our expectation shouldn't be to try to do everything perfectly but to do everything with a teachable spirit. I was the first speaker, and I don't know why, but I wasn't ready to be first, and because I didn't prepare for that I was so off. I forgot to thank the pastor and his wife...I even forgot to thank the person who had asked me to speak. Of course, I beat myself up for a while, but then I got over it. I decided to chalk it up and use it as a learning experience. That's growth for me. I remember a time I would have been messed up for months.
The thing is that God uses us in whatever way He chooses. When He wants something to happen, you better believe it is going to happen. Even though I felt that I had messed up all over the place, after I spoke, one of the other speakers said that I really blessed her, because I made her look at herself differently. Our God is so awesome. When we stay close to Him, He will teach us those things we will need to be a blessing to His people.
Until next time...
Be blessed
On Friday night, I spoke at my friend's church. It was an excellent service. And I am under the belief that you just don't come out on a Friday night and not come expecting God to do something awesome. Our theme was being a "true servant" for God. The theme was perfect for this season, because typically around this time, we start to get a little tired. It's toward the end of the year, we are getting ready for the holidays, and looking forward to a new year. The problem is...the enemy knows we're tired too (Mostly because we keep speaking it out of our mouths), and he finds every opportunity to make our lives miserable, and we're so tired we leave ourselves open to all kinds of foolishness.
What I realized on Friday was that we are not perfect, and our expectation shouldn't be to try to do everything perfectly but to do everything with a teachable spirit. I was the first speaker, and I don't know why, but I wasn't ready to be first, and because I didn't prepare for that I was so off. I forgot to thank the pastor and his wife...I even forgot to thank the person who had asked me to speak. Of course, I beat myself up for a while, but then I got over it. I decided to chalk it up and use it as a learning experience. That's growth for me. I remember a time I would have been messed up for months.
The thing is that God uses us in whatever way He chooses. When He wants something to happen, you better believe it is going to happen. Even though I felt that I had messed up all over the place, after I spoke, one of the other speakers said that I really blessed her, because I made her look at herself differently. Our God is so awesome. When we stay close to Him, He will teach us those things we will need to be a blessing to His people.
Until next time...
Be blessed
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Spirit of Excellence
Greetings!
The word today is excellence...
God has really been working on me to have a spirit of excellence. He is calling me to be more than I have ever been. What I mean is...sometimes we do things out of habit, because that's the way we have always done it. But, we can't afford to be haphazard about anything we do...not with our work on the job, and not with our families at home or at church. There is too much at stake. We are in a time of great turmoil and unrest. Our families are being attacked, and our country is being attacked. The enemy has really stepped up his game, and he is out to make our lives miserable, and we can't let him.It doesn't matter what is happening in the world. The Bible says, "If God be for us, who can stand against us" (Rom. 8:31).We have to keep looking to the One who has all power in His hands...
We are going to have good times and bad times, that's how life is, but we can't let the seasons of our lives dictate our future. God has put us here in this time and space for a specific purpose. We have something that the world needs. If we didn't...we wouldn't be here. That means that whatever God has called us to do, we need to do it with excellence.
God doesn't make mistakes. He knows exactly who we are and what we are capable of achieving. He knows, because He gave it to us. He set our destiny in motion at the beginning of time. He knew we would be exactly who we are. What we may see as a burden is really God's opportunity to show off.
So, whatever God has placed in our hands...do it with a spirit of excellence. That's the least we can do for Him...
Until next time,
Be blessed
The word today is excellence...
God has really been working on me to have a spirit of excellence. He is calling me to be more than I have ever been. What I mean is...sometimes we do things out of habit, because that's the way we have always done it. But, we can't afford to be haphazard about anything we do...not with our work on the job, and not with our families at home or at church. There is too much at stake. We are in a time of great turmoil and unrest. Our families are being attacked, and our country is being attacked. The enemy has really stepped up his game, and he is out to make our lives miserable, and we can't let him.It doesn't matter what is happening in the world. The Bible says, "If God be for us, who can stand against us" (Rom. 8:31).We have to keep looking to the One who has all power in His hands...
We are going to have good times and bad times, that's how life is, but we can't let the seasons of our lives dictate our future. God has put us here in this time and space for a specific purpose. We have something that the world needs. If we didn't...we wouldn't be here. That means that whatever God has called us to do, we need to do it with excellence.
God doesn't make mistakes. He knows exactly who we are and what we are capable of achieving. He knows, because He gave it to us. He set our destiny in motion at the beginning of time. He knew we would be exactly who we are. What we may see as a burden is really God's opportunity to show off.
So, whatever God has placed in our hands...do it with a spirit of excellence. That's the least we can do for Him...
Until next time,
Be blessed
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Live Abundantly
Greetings!
I have been in an evangelism class since the beginning of the year, and now we are working towards doing a presentation. Although I'm not looking forward to that, I am enjoying the class. Yesterday, we reviewed the information that we would need to present, and then we had a discussion afterward. The class was good, but the discussion afterward was life-changing...
The director of our ministry spoke about the things we consider sins and challenged us to look at it differently. God has definitely given him a teaching anointing. He has a way of presenting things that stay with you for months....even years afterward. For some reason, God has connected me to him and He constantly speaks to me through him. He never fails to give me a message that is both timely and relevant.
Whenever I am in one of his teachings I leave wanting to be better. And I think that's what we all want. We want to make an impact on the world for God. We want God to use us to be a blessing to His people...at least I hope we do. I know that I do. I want my life to reflect the goodness and grace that God has shown me. I want to live a life with no limits. I want to live abundantly, and I want to help others live that way too.
What I learned yesterday is that we are so focused on not messing up, that we miss the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Our teacher showed us how the enemy can't take our salvation, but he can keep us so focused on not being a sinner, that we miss living. That was such a revelation for me. I try so hard not to do anything wrong that I forget about all the things that I do right. I forget to celebrate those little victories, and I don't think that I'm alone. There are many people who are out there not living for fear of messing up, and that's not living all.
Let's begin today to live the life God created us to live. We are not going to live looking over our shoulder. We are going to stay focused on God, and keep looking ahead to the things God has already lined up for us to do. We are going to live that abundant life knowing that making a mistake doesn't make us a failure...it makes us human.
Until next time...
Be blessed
I have been in an evangelism class since the beginning of the year, and now we are working towards doing a presentation. Although I'm not looking forward to that, I am enjoying the class. Yesterday, we reviewed the information that we would need to present, and then we had a discussion afterward. The class was good, but the discussion afterward was life-changing...
The director of our ministry spoke about the things we consider sins and challenged us to look at it differently. God has definitely given him a teaching anointing. He has a way of presenting things that stay with you for months....even years afterward. For some reason, God has connected me to him and He constantly speaks to me through him. He never fails to give me a message that is both timely and relevant.
Whenever I am in one of his teachings I leave wanting to be better. And I think that's what we all want. We want to make an impact on the world for God. We want God to use us to be a blessing to His people...at least I hope we do. I know that I do. I want my life to reflect the goodness and grace that God has shown me. I want to live a life with no limits. I want to live abundantly, and I want to help others live that way too.
What I learned yesterday is that we are so focused on not messing up, that we miss the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Our teacher showed us how the enemy can't take our salvation, but he can keep us so focused on not being a sinner, that we miss living. That was such a revelation for me. I try so hard not to do anything wrong that I forget about all the things that I do right. I forget to celebrate those little victories, and I don't think that I'm alone. There are many people who are out there not living for fear of messing up, and that's not living all.
Let's begin today to live the life God created us to live. We are not going to live looking over our shoulder. We are going to stay focused on God, and keep looking ahead to the things God has already lined up for us to do. We are going to live that abundant life knowing that making a mistake doesn't make us a failure...it makes us human.
Until next time...
Be blessed
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Divine Connections
Greetings!
I want to talk to you today about divine connections. God's plan is so perfect...we all know that. But, sometimes He has to remind us that He is in control and that everything He has set in place will happen...in due time.
I went to an event in Washington, DC yesterday, and there was a speaker that had a powerful message about how all of our lives matter...especially to God. That phrase has become pretty familiar to many folks these days, because of the Black Lives Matter movement. I have my own feelings about that issue...but that is for another post. Yesterday, at the event I attended, I met some women that I felt I had known all my life. You could tell that they all traveled in the same circles, but I didn't feel like an outsider. They were all from the DC area, and I was the only one from Baltimore, but it was like we had been traveling together for years.
That's because God knows what He is doing. This is how God works. I have been working with this gentleman for a few years now, and for some reason, this year I decided to ask him if his wife was a part of a women's ministry. Why I did that now had to be because of God's prompting. It was like he had been waiting for me to ask. He didn't even hesitate. He gave me her contact information, and by the time I got home he had already told her about me, so she was expecting my call.
God did that. The thing is...God has led me down this path before, and I sabotaged my own destiny. I was too afraid of the path ahead of me. But, God didn't give up on me. That's the awesome thing about our God. He keeps pursuing us and setting us up to win. This time, I don't want to disappoint Him. I am keeping my focus on Him, and allowing Him to order my steps. I can't wait to see what He is going to do next.
Until next time...
Be blessed
I want to talk to you today about divine connections. God's plan is so perfect...we all know that. But, sometimes He has to remind us that He is in control and that everything He has set in place will happen...in due time.
I went to an event in Washington, DC yesterday, and there was a speaker that had a powerful message about how all of our lives matter...especially to God. That phrase has become pretty familiar to many folks these days, because of the Black Lives Matter movement. I have my own feelings about that issue...but that is for another post. Yesterday, at the event I attended, I met some women that I felt I had known all my life. You could tell that they all traveled in the same circles, but I didn't feel like an outsider. They were all from the DC area, and I was the only one from Baltimore, but it was like we had been traveling together for years.
That's because God knows what He is doing. This is how God works. I have been working with this gentleman for a few years now, and for some reason, this year I decided to ask him if his wife was a part of a women's ministry. Why I did that now had to be because of God's prompting. It was like he had been waiting for me to ask. He didn't even hesitate. He gave me her contact information, and by the time I got home he had already told her about me, so she was expecting my call.
God did that. The thing is...God has led me down this path before, and I sabotaged my own destiny. I was too afraid of the path ahead of me. But, God didn't give up on me. That's the awesome thing about our God. He keeps pursuing us and setting us up to win. This time, I don't want to disappoint Him. I am keeping my focus on Him, and allowing Him to order my steps. I can't wait to see what He is going to do next.
Until next time...
Be blessed
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