… But Did You Die?

Yesterday, I noticed that a good friend of mine posted an image on her Instagram.

The image was the picture below, that says, “… People talk about my driving, but did you die?

 

I chuckled, laughed, and liked the post.

In the quiet, I reflected and thought of all of the things I’ve complained about; things that I heard other people complain about.

Failing tests/papers/classes, being broke, car accidents, being in bad relationships, being sick, being diagnosed with deadly diseases or ailments, being raped, being hurt, spraining both ankles, spouse cheating  … So many things things that may make you wanna cry for days.  Idk,  maybe you did cry for days.

-But as people of God, at the end of the day, we are not dead; the Lord has given us a way of escape!

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Corinthians 10:13).

-At the end of the situation, He has delivered us!

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle (Psalm 140:7).

-He is our refuge and our strength and our help!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

God is saying that He has saved us for a time such as this! Stand up straight, put your head up, and walk on. Don’t waste your life. God has given you a second chance, now do something with it!

I am humbled and honored to say, that I have been through a many things but, no, I did not die.

I am not minimizing the significance of what happened, but I give God glory for seeing something in us and for saving us for a time such as this.  I give God praise for his love, grace, favor, and mercy.  I am thankful for his patience, and kindness for these things are overflowing and unmerited.

#JesusIsMyHelp

#ButDidYouDie

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If You Don’t Like What’s Growing In Your Life Change The Seeds You Plant

Yesterday, I blogged about how people of God should promote peace.

I ended my post with this hash tag:

#IfYouDontLikeWhatsGrowingInYourLifeChangeTheSeedsYouPlant

Take note:

Life and death is in the power of your tongue (Proverbs 18:21).

What ever you say will manifest in your life, Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops (Luke 12:3).

Speak love, love, and be loved.

Speak peace, be peaceful, and surrounded by (people with) peace.

 

Look at the Genesis account,

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:1-4).

Surrounded by darkness, God said, Let there be light, and there was light.  🙂

#StrivingtoBeLikeMyDaddy

God is Able, Forever!

Cast your Cares Onto our Lord, Jesus Christ:

I Kings 8:57
The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

We cast our cares upon him because He is able forever!
Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
—
Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

—
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

He is Able, Forever, So Cast Your Cares on Jesus, He Cares for You!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go

It’s funny that I’ve heard the expression, ‘On your mark, get set, go!’ countless times in my life but feel like just this morning God revealed something unto me about it.

On Your Mark
Being ‘on your mark’ is about being at and in the right place.
Physically, emotionally, mentally…
We need to be able to say:
… Lord, I’m here, with all of me.

There have been many times when I was physically somewhere but mentally somewhere totally diffrent!

On a similar note,there were instances when I was close to, kinda-sorta-almost-where I was supposed to be, but not exactly where I was supposed to be.
I remember when I was a student at FAMU, some of us used to say,
‘I went to the game’ or
‘I was at the game’ or
‘I’m at the game’ lol …

Truth be told, it was a common thing for us to, even if we had tickets, to not be ‘In the game’.
… This is because we saw more benefit of hanging out at the vendors, buying T’s, food, drinks, or snacks, artwork, walking, talking, and laughing … than actually watching the football game in the stadium. We liked the environment outside of the stadium more.

I guess we could say if you’re a vendor or policeman your purpose was fulfilled on the outside and that’s right.

But let’s be honest… In many instances, that’s not the case.  We are simply not where we need to be.

If God directs us to do something, that is what we need to do.
We need to be transparent with God about that.
Sometimes what we are doing is not bad but it is simply not what God wants us to be doing.
If we don’t know where we need to be, take that to the Lord in prayer. #DoIt

Press on!
Press in!

Get Set
Being ‘set’ is about the tools that are required to get the job done.  Do you have everything you need?

If you’ve gotta cut up a watermelon, you’ll need more than a spoon … bring a knife with ya.
You were asked to cut up the watermelon, not eat it. We’ll use that spoon to scoop some out and eat after its been cut!

In other things, don’t show up to a gun fight with a knife.

So remember, just because a certain tool was proper for some event or thing does not mean it’s proper for use in another setting.

So be prepared for the task at hand but also do what I’ve heard one of my mentors say, ‘Go ahead and dress the part before you take the part.’

Understanding this, there are many times we don’t know what we need but our Lord, the Great Preparer, knows exactly what we need, how much we need, and when we need it! We just need to humble ourselves to Him and ask in faith!

Go
People of the Most High King, when we are where we need to be mentally, emotionally, and physically
and
have what we need to go … We simply need to go!
Don’t just sit there!!
Again, God will give us strength, endurance and longevity, if we only dare to go and ask Him for what we need in belief!

Go!

#GoGirl
#GoGoGo
#OnYourMark
#GetSet
#Go
#OnYourMarkGetSetGo

Go Before Me, Lord God

I cannot say that I understand exactly what God is doing right now, but I believe that the Lord is asking me to pray a specific type of prayer.   A prayer of preparation.

Because of this, I am sharing this with you.

Image Source: six11wordpress.com

Lord,

I come to you this morning, thanking and praising you for allowing me to hear you voice, and desire to quickly take heed. Thank you for that.

Lord, in my life, go before me.

Make the darkness light, before me.

Prepare a table before me, even in the presence of my enemies.

Make every crooked path straight!

In the mighty name of Jesus!

Help Me!

Back in December, I promised to continue a blog post about receiving help from the Lord.   Recently, I was scrolling in some posts on Facebook and I noticed a video clip of Family Fued. The question was  about what things men have a hard time asking for.

 

Image Source: Desktopaper.com

I dunno, but for the life of me, why sometimes for men and women  to ask God for help.  I’ve noticed this and have been proactively working trying to be better about asking God for help.

After all, He is the Author and Finisher. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending.

… Most importantly, He Loves Us, O How, He Loves!

Now, Lord, I want you to help me.

Help me be a better daughter, grand daughter, neice, sister, friend, aunt, employee, co-worker, girlfriend, neighbor, citizen, member…

Help me be a better thinker, reader, listener …

Help me better identify what areas of my life I need to change- those secret things.

Help me see what you see.

Help me see what others see that I don’t see.

Help me be swift to make changes that place me closer to you.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

 

The Courageous Go All In

I don’t have very much to say this morning, I have been thinking about the courage that it takes to go ‘all in’. I know that the bible tells us to ‘be of good courage,’ ‘fear not’  ‘do not be afraid.’  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me (Psalm 56:11). Resolve, this day to Go All In with Christ!

He will never leave you or forsake you.

He loves you immensely and will never hurt you.

He knows the end from the beginning.

He is the author and the finisher.

He does not lie,

He does not slumber,

He does not sleep.

– The courage ‘go all in’ because they rely on the Lord. When with the Lord, they are fearless!

Go all In!

#GoAllIn

#Fearless

#FearlessWithChrist

Command the Day

After reading the word as it relates to commanding the day countless times, I now know that God has given me the power to Command the Day.  Last night, in a conference call, I was reminded to Command the Day! I want to share my commands with you!

Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years (Leviticus 25:21 KJV).

The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee (Deuteronomy 28:8 KJV).

Because of my new understanding, I have sought the Lord and now command the morning!

I hunger and thirst after righteousness
I am meek
I am good
I am organized
I am lively
I am confident in Christ
I am gentle
I am well coordinated
I am full of positive ideas and energy
I am pure in heart
I am holy
I am bold
I am agile
I am full of joy
I am kind
I am only persecuted for righteousness sake
I am rich
I am meriful
I am humble
I am mentally acute
I am a pacemaker
I am loving
I am manifester of temperance
I am marked by my ability to think quickly
I am wealthy
I am healthy
I am faithful
I am beautiful
I am loving
I am generous
I am helpful
I am a contributor
I am submissive and obedient to the Lord
I am aware
I am a kingdom seeker
I am patient

I allow the spirit of the Lord to control my body, mind, and spirit.
I bind any spirit that would try to counteract the will of the father in my life, and the execution of the Lord’s perfect will in my life.
I cast them back to the pit of hell, forever, in Jesus name!

Now Look At Ya, You’ve Got That Stuff All Over You!

Remember hearing your mom telling you that?

I sure do! It’s kinda annoying when someone notices what you’ve smeared on you before you notice it yourself.  Chocolate, castup, mustard, mayo, sugary sweets… what ever.

I’m glad that my parents taught me to be neat … taught me to use a napkin and wipe between bites.  To be careful of letting the wrong things smear on me. I’m glad that they taught me those things …

I’m glad that my parents also taught me to pay my tithe.

When I was very young, they gave us an allowance and taught my siblings and I to pay tithes and to give an offering.  As an adult, I do those things without hesitation. This has enabled me to develop trust in God that I would not have developed otherwise. I know that I can trust the Lord.

He already knows if He can trust me; I have proved to myself that I trust Him.

As a child, in those little matters regarding finances, I ran to Him.

As an adult, I do the same. I can therefore quickly trust Him with other matters. If I get sick or need Him in other manners, I know that I can trust Him to do just what He promised in His word.

I can trust Him to keep my mind.

I can trust Him to keep me safe.

I can trust Him to keep my parents and siblings safe.

I can trust Him to help me land and maintain business deals.

I can trust Him to help me be healthy and maintain optimal health.

I can trust Him to be my friend.

I can trust Him to protect me- from dangers seen and unseen.

He is my source.

This obedience and trust in God for tithes, offerings, and my finances has smeared to more important matters.

Likewise, I have have learned to recognize and obey His voice. I know when He is speaking to me. I can distinguish His voice from my carnal mind.

I recognize and have developed an increasingly quick obedience to His instruction. Of course this is all a work in progress, but I am much better than I used to be and most importantly, everyday I want to and work to be better.

I pray that my trust in Him as a kid, with my $2.00 allowance, my trust in Him for healing, and for spiritual gifts thus far will smear into all other areas of my life.

I pray that my obedience of His instruction in my personal life will continue to smear in my life forevermore.

I remember a commercial where the tag line was ‘Look, Mom, I’m eating my oatmeal’.

I dare say, “Look, Mom, I’ve got faith and trust in God smeared all over me! And I ain’t wiping that off!”

I pray that if I ever have children, that I am able to teach them these things, and instruct them to teach others to do the same … and so on. Until that time, I will smear my experiences with friends near and far.

I hope that this ‘voice recognition’ that I have been working on will smear also and allow me to also recognize His voice when He says, ‘Come, my people’, that I may hear and obey His voice for that very important instruction.

#Smeared

A Few Thoughts on Complaining

Why do people complain?

… I mean, what are some of the prerequisites of the complaining spirit?

– Staying away from God and His word

– Letting the enemy get in your ear

– Believing anything (lies) more than God (The Truth)

– Not monitoring faith and trust levels

What does the bible show are some of the consequences of complaining?

1. Consider the angels. Satan complained, rebelled and then got himself kicked out of heaven.  Later many angels listened to satan and became dissatisfied with heaven and were kicked out. Can you imagine being kicked out of a ‘good place’ (to say the least) like heaven?

2. Consider Adam and Eve. They listened to one of the fallen angels, distrusted God, and disobeyed God. Although they did not formally complain, they showed their dislike and distrust of His word.  They got kicked out of the Garden of Eden.

3. Consider the Children of Israel. Murmuring and complaining, they wondered in the wilderness for 40 years because of their thinking and their words.

4. Consider  Ananias and Sapphira they rebelled against God and did not follow the standard that was set for them. Moreover, they lied about it and were killed.

(I’ve noticed that many complainers are ‘In the House’. Those who are outside don’t complain because they don’t care to or because they don’t understand ‘who they should complain to’. Notice that each of the points above were individuals or groups who were connected with closely connected to God or know someone who is closely connected with God.)

5. Complaining spreads unbelief.

a. Satan complained, rebelled and then got himself kicked out of heaven.

b. Satan was disgruntled and then spread his doubt of God and His word onto Adam and Eve.

c.  Adam and Eve’s son, Cain was displeased with life and rebelled against God’s standard for offerings. Cain killed His brother, Abel (Genesis 4:1-8).

d.  Notice that when when the group was asked to survey Canaan, when they returned, most of them complained. Only a two said, ‘we can do it’ (Numbers 13: 30-31).

Numbers 13:3-16 clearly states that 12 men surveyed.

Only two of the 12 believed: Caleb and Joshua hath faith and believed that they could take the land.

With this lopsided ratio, the complaining took prevalence, and as a result, many others were disgruntled and complained, although they did not actually see the land for themselves, they still murmured and complained, the bible says:

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4).

The familiar adage is true: One bad apple can spoil the whole bag!

What are some of the things that you can do to help yourself stop complaining? 

1. Stay in the Word. Read the word, meditate on the word, this reinforces the promises of the Lord. Make sure that you think of His promises than on the situation you are facing.

2. Encourage yourself. Speak life over yourself and avoid people who say things to discourage themselves, you, or other people.  Remember that life and death is in the power of your words: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21).

3. Encourage others.  When you encourage others, you inadvertently encourage yourself.

4. In faith, speak those things that are not as though they are. When given an opportunity, rather than being overwhelmed and full of gloom or doom, be faithful and trust God, saying, ‘Yes, with the Lord, I can!’

5. As the Lord to reveal your team to you:

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (II King 6:15-17).

Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).

Consider Preventive Measures

The only way that I can think to explain this clearly is to do so in terms of my life. Today, I have many things that I want God to do. My salvation is important. I ask God to keep my mind everyday. I want to walk upright. I want every one in my family to be healthy, saved, and prosperous. I have business loans that I want to push through, I want businesses deals to close, various applications that I want to be approved quickly- overall, I want my businesses to grow and flourish. I’m asking God for an abundance in my personal life so that I will be able to seed into the lives of people. I also ask for a long life, so that I may live to see my seeds grow. I need Him in all of these ways!

I refuse to complain, or develop the mindset of a complainer because I need God.

I will not be ungrateful. I will not. I don’t want to live beneath the level of prosperity that God has for me and get ‘kicked out’ of my life’s garden. I don’t want it to take longer than necessary to get what God has for me. I don’t want to die prematurely.

Because I don’t want to exist in the same manner of the the fallen angels, Children of Israel, Adam and Eve, and others that I can’t let myself worry, doubt, live faithless, stop trusting God, or complain.  Simply put, complaining would poison my life.

Finally, complaining is contrary to giving God glory. Every time we complain, we have missed an opportunity to give God praise, honor, and glory. SMH!!

Prayer

Lord,  deal with me when I begin to allow myself to slip away from your word. Deal with me when my faith is challenged.  Keep me in your word so that I may I never begin to complain. Develop trust in you, deep and wide.  Let me never spread distrust in You. Deal with me about all of these things.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

If You Can Use Anything, Lord, You Can Use Me

For quite some time now, the Lord has been waking me up in the wee hours of the morning, and startled, I’ve yelled: ‘Lord, let my life bring Glory to your name!’

I say, If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me.

You used a big fish – Jonah 1:7

You used a gourd – Jonah

You used a little fish – Matthew 24:27

You used the stars and moon – Genesis 1:4, Psalm 19:1, Isiah 13:10, Mark 13:25, Joel 3:15

You used an ass –  Numbers 22:21-31

You used iron – II Kings 6:6

You used seas and bodies of water – Exodus 14:21, Amos:5:8, Psalm 136:13

You used trees, mountains, and hills – Isaiah 55:12

… just to name a few.

Lord Jesus, use me to bring Glory to your name, O Heavenly Father!   I submit my will to yours. Not my will, Lord, but thine will be done- on earth, as it is in heaven.  In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

 

 

Step Out On Faith

---

When you step out on faith, don’t let everybody in your business.

The faithless will not understand.

If everybody could understand, then everybody would be doing it.

If everybody was doing it, you would not need faith!

#ThatsRight

Believing is Seeing

I have often heard people say that they want to be a doctor, lawyer, policeman, or fireman.
When I was in Kindergarten, I wanted to be a fireman.

I remember taking a field trip to the fire station, seeing the firemen change clothes quickly and then jump down the hole on the pole and hop aboard the big red truck to save someone’s life from the threat of death by fire, steam, or smoke.

Many years later, I was afforded an opportunity to travel with some tiny tots as they took a field trip to a fire station also. During this visit, I saw things through a different set of lenses. I saw all of the hard work that it took to sacrifice your life to save some one else’s. I saw something in their eyes that I did not see in the eyes of doctors, attorneys, teachers, and CPA’s.

Unlike the other professionals, was purpose beaming as bright as a star. There is no possible way to lure a fireman in their work duties and responsibilities through salary and fringe benefits. There is some thing- not some thing tangible, but something they could no see or touch that left them returning to fight fire.

I must admit my desire to fight this type of fire quickly faded as I was exposed to other career types in general … I developed interests in other things. I saw myself fighting another type of fire.
I saw myself helping people, hundreds of people …
I saw myself saving people from fire, but not the type of fire that can ruin flesh, or homes or land.

Rather, the fire that can destroy the soul. I could almost literally see myself saving people.

So the question of the day is- if I see myself fighting fire for the lives of people, what am I doing about what I believe that is the purpose of my life?
If you see yourself doing this or that, what are you doing?

… to be continued.

Believing is Doing

Lately, my prevalent thoughts have been concerning Belief. This post- which is my first post on this blog- will contain some of the points that I made in a previous blog posting.

When you believe something, there is some degree of action in your life that runs alongside your belief.

If I am a middle school student who wants to be the star player of my high school team, no matter the weather, I need to be out shooting field goals, 3-pointers, or free throws as much as possible.
If I am a H.S. student who believes that I will be a Master Surgeon, I need to study biology and chemistry and prepare to get in to college and study more of these types of science. I need to get educated on what the requirements are to be who I believe I am and then move forward in those beliefs.
If I am a woman who of God is destined to do great things but has been through many ups and downs, I need to remain more focused on the things I will do than the things that I have been through.

No matter what you believe you shall be, it is necessary to lay before the Lord and ask him for direction.
Is what I am thinking in alignment with your will for my life?
What do I need to do first? Second? Next? …

Whatever it is that I ‘believe’ I need to be moving forward to achieve those goals.

Qs: What do you see your self doing or being? What visible action(s) are you manifesting externally to demonstrate your internal belief?

… to be continued.