Everyday I walk around my college campus...going to and from class...stopping in different offices...hanging out at the library...today was different though...I was walking to the parking lot looking for my car...when it hit me...I'm in college...now if you know me...then you know that I have been in college for quite sometime...but today the the thought that crossed my mind...was I am on a college campus...I am surrounded by people who decided that graduating high school was simply not enough...I am surrounded by dreamers...people that hope their academic pursuits land them in the careers they dreamed about as children...one could easily draw the conclusion that...these people have a purpose...
Yet all the time people tell me in one way or another...that they have no purpose...even people that have graduated from college...have a degree...working a good job...still feel empty...unfulfilled...yet on paper...you would think...this person is walking in their purpose...because there resume looks great...they interview well...polished presentation...but without purpose...So what are we looking for? What is your purpose?
Rick Warren, author of the bestseller A Purpose Driven Life...says in chapter one of his book...that our only purpose is to worship God...that is it...I wish I could tell you something different, but according to Rick...that is all we were created to do...so let me help you find your purpose...If we were created to worship...before we can find our purpose...we need to know how to worship...Jesus says in John 4:23...that true worshippers will worship God in spirit and in truth...real worship...is a lifestyle...not a type of song...or a holy dance...not even speaking in tongues...we worship God in our lifestyle...the way we treat people...is worship...the way we talk...what we do when no one is watching...it is all worship...Paul says in Romans 12...that giving our lives back to God as a living sacrifice is our reasonable act of worship...it's what we ought to do...so with that being said...What is your purpose?
I believe that we all have different gifts...all of us have that one thing that we have always wanted to do...at first it may be juvenile...but as we get older...we slowly see ourselves headed in the direction of our childhood dreams...(at least it has been that way for me)...with these natural...God given gifts...it is our responsibility to use them to worship God...to bring glory to God...to redirect the attention of the world to the God they can't live without...
Some people can sing...some people can dance...I am not one of those people...I remember as a child being asked by my Pastor's wife...to enter the church talent show...I at that age didn't think I had any talents...I wasn't a great athlete...I couldn't sing...play an instrument...nothing...the one thing I could do...and do well...was speak in front of a crowd...I could write really well...and I loved to teach...but I never saw how that would translate into a "talent"...little did I know she had shown me my gift...I entered the talent show...I went up last...I spoke to the congregation about hearing the voice of God...the church gave me a standing ovation...I had discovered my gift...and I used that gift to bring glory to God...and now years later...I am a youth minister at my church...I teach Sunday school...and Bible study...I am about to finish school...and become a History teacher...all because I found out what I was good at...and gave it back to God...
You purpose is right under your nose...Did you know your brain is advanced as it is ever going to become the moment you are born...God gave you everything you needed...to do what He put you on Earth to do...Jeremiah 1:5 says...
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Before you ever uttered your first word...God has been guiding you toward accomplishing the very task He put you on this Earth for...Take a moment...look back over your life...look at where you want to be in six months...and start your new life...doing exactly what it is God put you here for...Let's pray...
Lord we want to understand our purpose...As we pray Lord speak to our hearts...allow us to know exactly what it is you would have us to do with our time here on Earth...we want to please you...we want to do what is right in your eyes...so help us Lord...help us to get in line with your will for our life...we don't want to waste another day...so speak Lord...we need you...and we love you...in Jesus' name we pray...Amen...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Living Single...
No...this blog is not about Queen Latifah's short-lived sitcom on the Fox network...this particular blog deals with the good, the bad, and the ugly of living single in this day and age...If you have not read my previous blog entitled...Christian seeking...I advise you to do so now...as this is a continuation of some previous ideas expressed in that blog...
In my last blog...I looked at being single...getting married...finding 'The One'...all as God intended things to be...I want to deal with the other side of being single...the day to day life of Christian singles...so what happened between...Genesis chapter two...and 2008...(a lot...duh...lol...) No, seriously...the major thing was the fall of man...the original sin...After sin is introduced to the world...mankind is removed from God's peaceful paradise...and cast into the world we know today...A world full of sickness, disease, war, hate, adultery, fornication, homosexuality...things God never intended for us to know....
The divorce rates among Christian households and non-Christian households are pretty much the same...Christians struggle with sexual immorality...fornication...adultery...homosexuality...all because we are confused as to what it is...we SHOULD be doing...we date...club...mingle at Happy Hour...just like everyone else...finding ourselves in situations God never intended for us to experience...I know what you are thinking...as a single person...I shouldn't date??? How will I ever get to know if we have anything in common? My only answer for you is...only God knows...sounds hard to swallow...but is it really...Is it really hard to trust God to make the right decisions for you??? I know that being single...means being alone...and for some of us that is really hard to do...Being in tune with God's will for your life is the best thing we can do right now...Dating only pulls your attention away from pleasing God...and works at pleasing your flesh...I am not a Bible scholar...yet...lol...with that being said...I don't know of any scriptures that deal directly with dating...but I will share with you Paul's opinion on being single...check it out...First Corinthians 7:32-35...
32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
Early in this chapter, as well as chapter 6, Paul speaks against against sexual immorality...in verse nine...He says that he would rather a person be married than to burn with passion...Marriage went from being God's holy union of a man and a woman...in chapter two of Genesis...to becoming a bail-out for those with no self-control...sin tainted God's plan...and now women seek women...and men seek men...in marriage...people get married at a drop of a hat...as soon as we find someone slightly decent...the interrogation begins...Where do you work? What's your credit score? Are you saved? In verse 32 and 33, Paul is saying as singles we ought to be more concerned with what the Lord would have us do...because the husband/wife (boyfriend/girlfriend) relationship distracts you from the things of the Lord...and places your attention on the affairs of this world...Paul goes on to say in verse 35...I say this not to restrict you...but that you may live in undivided devotion to the Lord...
What are you searching for? Are you lonely? Do you want what you see on tv...the fairy-tale...prince charming...happily ever after...storybook ending? Better yet...do you intend to carry all of your emotional baggage into every relationship from here on out? I find myself comparing one woman to the next...searching for my bride...and God is simply saying...when you are done...I'll start...When we get done with our laundry list of things we need and want in our mate...God will step in and give us His version...He will give us exactly what we need...the question is...Do you trust Him??? Allow God to step in and mend your brokenheart...to help you with self-control...so that He can plan your wedding...Let's pray...
We never stop to say thank you for the little things in our life...so Lord we just want to say thank you...thank you that when I woke up this morning I was in my right mind...that as we rushed about our day...you kept us from all hurt, harm, and danger...thank you for being our keeper Lord...for being our provider...for standing in the gap for us...Thank you most of all...for sending your Son...Jesus Christ...to die for our sins...Lord we want to be holy...remove everything out of our life that keeps us from serving you...Lord help us to control ourselves in every relationship...Lord we want everything you have for us...we don't want to miss one blessing...so help us to understand our purpose in your kingdom...Lord you know what we stand in need of...so bless us according to your will...we need you Lord...and we Love you...it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Ephesians 3:20 says...
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Trust me...what God has for you...is better than anything you ever dreamed of...
In my last blog...I looked at being single...getting married...finding 'The One'...all as God intended things to be...I want to deal with the other side of being single...the day to day life of Christian singles...so what happened between...Genesis chapter two...and 2008...(a lot...duh...lol...) No, seriously...the major thing was the fall of man...the original sin...After sin is introduced to the world...mankind is removed from God's peaceful paradise...and cast into the world we know today...A world full of sickness, disease, war, hate, adultery, fornication, homosexuality...things God never intended for us to know....
The divorce rates among Christian households and non-Christian households are pretty much the same...Christians struggle with sexual immorality...fornication...adultery...homosexuality...all because we are confused as to what it is...we SHOULD be doing...we date...club...mingle at Happy Hour...just like everyone else...finding ourselves in situations God never intended for us to experience...I know what you are thinking...as a single person...I shouldn't date??? How will I ever get to know if we have anything in common? My only answer for you is...only God knows...sounds hard to swallow...but is it really...Is it really hard to trust God to make the right decisions for you??? I know that being single...means being alone...and for some of us that is really hard to do...Being in tune with God's will for your life is the best thing we can do right now...Dating only pulls your attention away from pleasing God...and works at pleasing your flesh...I am not a Bible scholar...yet...lol...with that being said...I don't know of any scriptures that deal directly with dating...but I will share with you Paul's opinion on being single...check it out...First Corinthians 7:32-35...
32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
Early in this chapter, as well as chapter 6, Paul speaks against against sexual immorality...in verse nine...He says that he would rather a person be married than to burn with passion...Marriage went from being God's holy union of a man and a woman...in chapter two of Genesis...to becoming a bail-out for those with no self-control...sin tainted God's plan...and now women seek women...and men seek men...in marriage...people get married at a drop of a hat...as soon as we find someone slightly decent...the interrogation begins...Where do you work? What's your credit score? Are you saved? In verse 32 and 33, Paul is saying as singles we ought to be more concerned with what the Lord would have us do...because the husband/wife (boyfriend/girlfriend) relationship distracts you from the things of the Lord...and places your attention on the affairs of this world...Paul goes on to say in verse 35...I say this not to restrict you...but that you may live in undivided devotion to the Lord...
What are you searching for? Are you lonely? Do you want what you see on tv...the fairy-tale...prince charming...happily ever after...storybook ending? Better yet...do you intend to carry all of your emotional baggage into every relationship from here on out? I find myself comparing one woman to the next...searching for my bride...and God is simply saying...when you are done...I'll start...When we get done with our laundry list of things we need and want in our mate...God will step in and give us His version...He will give us exactly what we need...the question is...Do you trust Him??? Allow God to step in and mend your brokenheart...to help you with self-control...so that He can plan your wedding...Let's pray...
We never stop to say thank you for the little things in our life...so Lord we just want to say thank you...thank you that when I woke up this morning I was in my right mind...that as we rushed about our day...you kept us from all hurt, harm, and danger...thank you for being our keeper Lord...for being our provider...for standing in the gap for us...Thank you most of all...for sending your Son...Jesus Christ...to die for our sins...Lord we want to be holy...remove everything out of our life that keeps us from serving you...Lord help us to control ourselves in every relationship...Lord we want everything you have for us...we don't want to miss one blessing...so help us to understand our purpose in your kingdom...Lord you know what we stand in need of...so bless us according to your will...we need you Lord...and we Love you...it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Ephesians 3:20 says...
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Trust me...what God has for you...is better than anything you ever dreamed of...
Christian seeking...
I'm single. I'm 24 years old. My friends are getting married. As a matter of fact...I know at least one person my age who joined a mate in holy matrimony in every month since May...Did I mention I'm single??? I feel some pressure...not necessarily social pressure (from family and friends)...you know...but personal pressure...to be nearing the altar...jumping the broom...hearing the melodic tones of wedding bells...the heat is on...and my search for the perfect bride continues...I'm a Christian seeking...
If you can identify with anything I have said so far...then I am glad you are reading this blog...As I mature in age...and in Christ...I have an overwhelming desire to find "The One"...if you are a hopeless romantic...you may have dreamed about the day you will cross paths with your 'One'...if you are like me...you know how they will look...how you would propose...how many kids you want...you may even have an entire list of things you want and need in your spouse...It wasn't until recently that a friend urged me to find out what Christian singles ought to be doing...in the meantime...Here is what I have come up with...Genesis 2:15-22 (NIV) says...
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
I want to make four quick points from this passage of scripture...
The passage begins with Genesis 2:15...here we see God placing Adam in the garden to work...this was on the Sixth day of the creation story...when God made man...the first thing that singles need to know is that you were created to do God's work...if you are single and you are not doing what God would have you do...you need to figure it out...and get to work...if you want to be the husband or wife God has called you to be...you have to be busy doing what God has called you to...verses 16 and 17 deal with the "rules" God set forth for Adam...just a quick question...What trees have you been eating from???...make sure you are in God's will...living outside of His will for your life leads to more problems...
Secondly...look at verse 18...God said it is not good that man should be alone...I will make a helper suitable for him...What I find interesting is before Adam even realized that he was alone...God said I will make a helper for him...It is God's desire that you experience the "oneness of marriage"...that you be complete...I like what God says hear...I will make a helper...not I will find a helper...or I will send Adam to the club to find a helper...I will make her unique...to suit his needs...a helper...which takes me back to the first point...Why would God send you a helper? If you aren't doing anything that requires help???...in verses 19 and 20 we see Adam...hard at work...doing what God had purposed him to do...and it wasn't until then that I realized it was at this point that Adam felt he was alone...after naming all the livestock...and seeing them paired together male and female...he realized that he was alone...not realizing that God already knew this...and was in the process of "making a helper suitable for him"...Singles...God knows you are lonely...He knows that you are 'seeking'...but he wants us to rest in His providence...His 'never-failing' ability to meet your every need...which leads me to my third point...
Verse 21 says...that God caused man to fall into a deep sleep...we have to fall into God's peace...just relax in Him...knowing that He is able to send to us that perfect individual equip with everything we need to continue working for the Lord...in unity...where the two become one...this is the hardest part about being single...when you are alone...you have to find rest in your relationship with God...or you will want to try online dating...and use these social networks like Myspace and Facebook to find a mate...or even listen to your friends who seem so happy...my only advice is to wait on God...find rest in Him...the rib is significant...it shows man's role to the woman...the rib is located under the arm and near the heart...symbolic of man's desire to protect and love the woman...
Finally in verse 22...we see God presenting the woman to man...don't seek...allow God to find your mate and present you to one another...King Solomon in all his wisdom said..."If man is the head...than the woman is his crown...." My wife will be my confidence...my pride...my glory...she will compliment me in every way...we have to trust God to do what He has always done...and that is give us exactly what we need...Let's pray...
Lord you are so awesome...we love you for loving us like no one else can...I am so glad that you know us better than we know ourselves...you know what is good for us...you know what we need...and for that we are thankful...Lord help us to allow you to show us our mate...Lord forgive us of our sins...forgive us for trying to substitute our relationship with you for physical/carnal relationships here on Earth...help us to discover our purpose...so that we can do your will as you prepare our spouse to join us...forgive us for all the people we may have hurt trying to be "grown"...shower us with your grace and mercy...show us how to love like you...we love you Lord and we need you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Check out this link...for more concerning this topic...
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Before-You-Do/TD-Jakes/e/9781416547280
If you can identify with anything I have said so far...then I am glad you are reading this blog...As I mature in age...and in Christ...I have an overwhelming desire to find "The One"...if you are a hopeless romantic...you may have dreamed about the day you will cross paths with your 'One'...if you are like me...you know how they will look...how you would propose...how many kids you want...you may even have an entire list of things you want and need in your spouse...It wasn't until recently that a friend urged me to find out what Christian singles ought to be doing...in the meantime...Here is what I have come up with...Genesis 2:15-22 (NIV) says...
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
I want to make four quick points from this passage of scripture...
The passage begins with Genesis 2:15...here we see God placing Adam in the garden to work...this was on the Sixth day of the creation story...when God made man...the first thing that singles need to know is that you were created to do God's work...if you are single and you are not doing what God would have you do...you need to figure it out...and get to work...if you want to be the husband or wife God has called you to be...you have to be busy doing what God has called you to...verses 16 and 17 deal with the "rules" God set forth for Adam...just a quick question...What trees have you been eating from???...make sure you are in God's will...living outside of His will for your life leads to more problems...
Secondly...look at verse 18...God said it is not good that man should be alone...I will make a helper suitable for him...What I find interesting is before Adam even realized that he was alone...God said I will make a helper for him...It is God's desire that you experience the "oneness of marriage"...that you be complete...I like what God says hear...I will make a helper...not I will find a helper...or I will send Adam to the club to find a helper...I will make her unique...to suit his needs...a helper...which takes me back to the first point...Why would God send you a helper? If you aren't doing anything that requires help???...in verses 19 and 20 we see Adam...hard at work...doing what God had purposed him to do...and it wasn't until then that I realized it was at this point that Adam felt he was alone...after naming all the livestock...and seeing them paired together male and female...he realized that he was alone...not realizing that God already knew this...and was in the process of "making a helper suitable for him"...Singles...God knows you are lonely...He knows that you are 'seeking'...but he wants us to rest in His providence...His 'never-failing' ability to meet your every need...which leads me to my third point...
Verse 21 says...that God caused man to fall into a deep sleep...we have to fall into God's peace...just relax in Him...knowing that He is able to send to us that perfect individual equip with everything we need to continue working for the Lord...in unity...where the two become one...this is the hardest part about being single...when you are alone...you have to find rest in your relationship with God...or you will want to try online dating...and use these social networks like Myspace and Facebook to find a mate...or even listen to your friends who seem so happy...my only advice is to wait on God...find rest in Him...the rib is significant...it shows man's role to the woman...the rib is located under the arm and near the heart...symbolic of man's desire to protect and love the woman...
Finally in verse 22...we see God presenting the woman to man...don't seek...allow God to find your mate and present you to one another...King Solomon in all his wisdom said..."If man is the head...than the woman is his crown...." My wife will be my confidence...my pride...my glory...she will compliment me in every way...we have to trust God to do what He has always done...and that is give us exactly what we need...Let's pray...
Lord you are so awesome...we love you for loving us like no one else can...I am so glad that you know us better than we know ourselves...you know what is good for us...you know what we need...and for that we are thankful...Lord help us to allow you to show us our mate...Lord forgive us of our sins...forgive us for trying to substitute our relationship with you for physical/carnal relationships here on Earth...help us to discover our purpose...so that we can do your will as you prepare our spouse to join us...forgive us for all the people we may have hurt trying to be "grown"...shower us with your grace and mercy...show us how to love like you...we love you Lord and we need you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Check out this link...for more concerning this topic...
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Before-You-Do/TD-Jakes/e/9781416547280
Monday, September 15, 2008
Agape
This past weekend I shared a Word with a few friends...I spoke on love...not just any love...the unconditional love God has for us...you know...love is a word that we throw around so carelessly in our culture...we tell people all the time we "love" them...we "love" to shop...or we "love" ice cream...Love has lost its affect...our culture attempts to water down its power...the same "love" used to describe our "love" for our family...is the same "love" used to describe an addicts need for another hit...When was the last time you said you "loved" something? In what context did you use it...did you abuse it??? Love isn't an emotional thing...it is totally spiritual.
In the Bible love is used in three different ways...you have eros...which is a romantic love...like the love a man has for his wife...then you have phileo...which describes the love you have for your friends and family...a brotherly love...and then there is agape love...the unconditional love God has for us...
I looked up Agape in my Strong's concordance...and it says...
Agape--To love; in the New Testament usually the active love of God for His Son and His people, and the active love His people are to have for God, each other, and even their enemies.
I love this definition...the word that stands out to me the most is...active..the active love of God...Love is an action word...Just think about God's active love for a minute...His active love...is what keeps you...you know...that night you drove home drunk...His active love kept you...when you found yourself in that situation that you didn't think you could get out of...His active love gave you a way of escape...when you thought you could never forgive...His active love gave you peace...and the definition doesn't stop there but this love is the love God the Father...has for His Son...John 3:16 reminds us of this love...
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God's love is sacrificial...For God so loved the world, that he gave...the definition of agape...says that we ought to have this same love...an unconditional active love for everyone...in order to love like God...we have to be in relationship with Him....we have to really die to ourselves...sacrifice...in order to please God with our love...
The easiest definition for love is God...God is love...1 John 4:16 says...
16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
God is love...so be careful how you use this word...love...everytime you fix your mouth to say it...think...Do I really "love" this thing? Can you put "God" every where you put love? According to 1 John 4:16...you ought to be able to...God is love...and that is awesome...Let's pray...
Thank you for loving us...like no one else can...thank you that nothing makes sense unless you are apart of it...Lord you know us inside and out...so help us to be the men and women you called us to be...You deserve our very best...so help us to be all that and more...for you...for our families...for our loved ones...we need you Lord...we love you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
In the Bible love is used in three different ways...you have eros...which is a romantic love...like the love a man has for his wife...then you have phileo...which describes the love you have for your friends and family...a brotherly love...and then there is agape love...the unconditional love God has for us...
I looked up Agape in my Strong's concordance...and it says...
Agape--To love; in the New Testament usually the active love of God for His Son and His people, and the active love His people are to have for God, each other, and even their enemies.
I love this definition...the word that stands out to me the most is...active..the active love of God...Love is an action word...Just think about God's active love for a minute...His active love...is what keeps you...you know...that night you drove home drunk...His active love kept you...when you found yourself in that situation that you didn't think you could get out of...His active love gave you a way of escape...when you thought you could never forgive...His active love gave you peace...and the definition doesn't stop there but this love is the love God the Father...has for His Son...John 3:16 reminds us of this love...
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God's love is sacrificial...For God so loved the world, that he gave...the definition of agape...says that we ought to have this same love...an unconditional active love for everyone...in order to love like God...we have to be in relationship with Him....we have to really die to ourselves...sacrifice...in order to please God with our love...
The easiest definition for love is God...God is love...1 John 4:16 says...
16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
God is love...so be careful how you use this word...love...everytime you fix your mouth to say it...think...Do I really "love" this thing? Can you put "God" every where you put love? According to 1 John 4:16...you ought to be able to...God is love...and that is awesome...Let's pray...
Thank you for loving us...like no one else can...thank you that nothing makes sense unless you are apart of it...Lord you know us inside and out...so help us to be the men and women you called us to be...You deserve our very best...so help us to be all that and more...for you...for our families...for our loved ones...we need you Lord...we love you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
It's a new season...
So my family just endured the wrath of Hurricane Ike...news reports say that the storm was the size of Texas...with windspeed peaking at 145 mph...The Gulf Coast was battered by the storm...sending residents of Galveston County, Texas fleeing for safety...As Hurricane Ike blows over...I can't help but look at this natural phenomena in the spirit...
Growing up in a coastal region...hurricanes and the threat of hurricanes are nothing new to me...hurricane season usually happens as the seasons change from summer to fall...and in some areas from spring to summer...but whenever the seasons change you can expect a storm...As Ike tore up the Gulf Coast...I was encouraged in my spirit...because Ike was a simple reminder that when storms arise in my life...I shouldn't run for cover, but be reminded that my season is about to change...that God is preparing to take me to another level in Him...In my Winter days...God will put a Spring in my step...when things are too HOT...God will allow you to Fall into his many blessings...
Paul tells us that there are more than four seasons...in Galatians 6:9...Pauls says...
9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
In the natural we have four seasons...Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter...but Paul says don't forget about DUE season...lol...God is faithful...He will do it...in your storm don't grow weary in well doing...keep the faith...because right around the corner...is your DUE season...and you shall reap your harvest...Amen...Let's pray...
Lord you are holy...and we love you for loving us the way you do...thank you for all you've done...when we couldn't see our way out...you kept us...and we are so thankful for that...Lord we need you and we can't deal with life's swift transitions without you....forgive us of our sins...help us to be obedient to your will for our life...Lord bless the families of every person effected by Hurricane Ike...Lord we know you are able to restore things perfectly...so do everything in your power to bring peace to that situation...Lord thank you for reminding us that our storms are just setting us up...for the "crazy" things you have in store for us...Lord we love you and we need you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Growing up in a coastal region...hurricanes and the threat of hurricanes are nothing new to me...hurricane season usually happens as the seasons change from summer to fall...and in some areas from spring to summer...but whenever the seasons change you can expect a storm...As Ike tore up the Gulf Coast...I was encouraged in my spirit...because Ike was a simple reminder that when storms arise in my life...I shouldn't run for cover, but be reminded that my season is about to change...that God is preparing to take me to another level in Him...In my Winter days...God will put a Spring in my step...when things are too HOT...God will allow you to Fall into his many blessings...
Paul tells us that there are more than four seasons...in Galatians 6:9...Pauls says...
9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
In the natural we have four seasons...Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter...but Paul says don't forget about DUE season...lol...God is faithful...He will do it...in your storm don't grow weary in well doing...keep the faith...because right around the corner...is your DUE season...and you shall reap your harvest...Amen...Let's pray...
Lord you are holy...and we love you for loving us the way you do...thank you for all you've done...when we couldn't see our way out...you kept us...and we are so thankful for that...Lord we need you and we can't deal with life's swift transitions without you....forgive us of our sins...help us to be obedient to your will for our life...Lord bless the families of every person effected by Hurricane Ike...Lord we know you are able to restore things perfectly...so do everything in your power to bring peace to that situation...Lord thank you for reminding us that our storms are just setting us up...for the "crazy" things you have in store for us...Lord we love you and we need you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
In all things...
I heard a Word a few Sundays ago...it has really stuck with me...I decided to take a closer look in my private study...and now...I really can't stop thinking about what Paul had to say to the church at Thessalonica...First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says...
16Rejoice always;
17pray without ceasing;
18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
At first glance...this seems "do-able"...rejoice always...pray without ceasing...in everything give thanks...and then it hit me...rejoice always...pray without ceasing...in everything give thanks...So what do you mean Paul??? Paul you can't mean rejoice in sadness...pray when I'm broke...give thanks when I am stabbed in the back...
Easier said than done...Am I right??? What I like about Paul...is he didn't suggest something that he had never done...in his second letter to the church at Corinth...Paul gives testimony of his sufferings...2nd Corinthians 11:23-30
23Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
29Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
30If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.
Paul says...if I can do it...so can you...and trust me you haven't had it like me...
Paul goes on to remind us in verse 18 of Thessalonians 5...that this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus...that you never stop rejoicing...that you never stop praying...that you never stop giving thanks...you can only take on this Christian attitude...IN Christ Jesus...you have to be in relationship with Christ in order to smile...when life suggests otherwise...to pray until something happens...to give thanks when in need...it is God's will that you lean and depend on Him...that you tap into the supernatural...Let's pray...
Lord you are so awesome...you know us better than we know ourselves...so Lord forgive us of our sins...all of them...everything that keeps us from you...remove them now...Lord you are so holy...and it is our desire to be just like you...so help us where we are weak...Lord we really want to please you...although our daily decisions sometimes don't line up with your will for our life...we ask now that you take back our minds...take back our bodies...and use them for your service...that you may get the glory from our lives...help us Lord to rejoice in all things...the good and the bad...to pray without ceasing for ourselves...our families...our community...our nation...we need you God to remind us to give thanks in everything...so Lord stir up the gifts among us...that we might give you all the glory, honor, and praise you deserve...we ask these things in Jesus' name...Amen!!!
16Rejoice always;
17pray without ceasing;
18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
At first glance...this seems "do-able"...rejoice always...pray without ceasing...in everything give thanks...and then it hit me...rejoice always...pray without ceasing...in everything give thanks...So what do you mean Paul??? Paul you can't mean rejoice in sadness...pray when I'm broke...give thanks when I am stabbed in the back...
Easier said than done...Am I right??? What I like about Paul...is he didn't suggest something that he had never done...in his second letter to the church at Corinth...Paul gives testimony of his sufferings...2nd Corinthians 11:23-30
23Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
29Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
30If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.
Paul says...if I can do it...so can you...and trust me you haven't had it like me...
Paul goes on to remind us in verse 18 of Thessalonians 5...that this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus...that you never stop rejoicing...that you never stop praying...that you never stop giving thanks...you can only take on this Christian attitude...IN Christ Jesus...you have to be in relationship with Christ in order to smile...when life suggests otherwise...to pray until something happens...to give thanks when in need...it is God's will that you lean and depend on Him...that you tap into the supernatural...Let's pray...
Lord you are so awesome...you know us better than we know ourselves...so Lord forgive us of our sins...all of them...everything that keeps us from you...remove them now...Lord you are so holy...and it is our desire to be just like you...so help us where we are weak...Lord we really want to please you...although our daily decisions sometimes don't line up with your will for our life...we ask now that you take back our minds...take back our bodies...and use them for your service...that you may get the glory from our lives...help us Lord to rejoice in all things...the good and the bad...to pray without ceasing for ourselves...our families...our community...our nation...we need you God to remind us to give thanks in everything...so Lord stir up the gifts among us...that we might give you all the glory, honor, and praise you deserve...we ask these things in Jesus' name...Amen!!!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Carrot, The Egg, and The Coffee
These are not my thoughts...my mother emailed me this story...and I thought I should share it with you...check it out...
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling - it seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.''Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 'Which are you?' she asked her daughter.
'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?' Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along theirway. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. It's easier to build a child than repair an adult.
This is so true...
May we all be COFFEE...
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling - it seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.''Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 'Which are you?' she asked her daughter.
'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?' Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along theirway. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. It's easier to build a child than repair an adult.
This is so true...
May we all be COFFEE...
Sunday, August 24, 2008
God is enough!
We live in a world of instant gratifcation...Our cars come with GPS navigation...that can help us get to our desired destinations the quickest way possible...we can shop from our desktop...and email from our cell phones...we live in a microwave society...we want things ASAP...the sooner the better...patience...is a virtue not high on our list...Now is great and later is frowned upon...
In this age of now...we apply this mentality to every aspect of our lives...we want great money...now...we want the perfect spouse...now...we want our degrees...now...that promotion...now...we want everything...now...now...now....
As Christians, what should we do? When everyone else around us...prospers...everyone else seems to have the things we have been working so hard for...When your patience is tested...and the ungodly shine...what do we do???
David says...wait...in Psalms 37:34...the psalmist tells us, "Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it." The 37th number of Psalms...speaks of how we should not "fret" when we see "evildoers" prosper...David urges us to rest in the Lord...and wait patiently...verse 34 says...wait on the Lord...keep His way...and he will exalt you...to inherit the land...simply put...God is enough!
God is enough...when we wait on Him and honor Him with our obedience....God will lift us up in the presence of our enemies...and give us that which we desire...The wicked will be cut off...and you won't miss it...It is God's desire that you prosper...that you live a full life in obedience to Him. He will reward us for keeping His way...in this age of now...wait on God...allow Him to order your steps...and He will show you that He alone...is enough!
Let's pray...Lord you are so holy...we desire to be more like you...Help us to keep your way...show us what you would have us to do...now...so that you may get the glory in our lives...Lord forgive us of all our sins...that we may please you in all that we do...we need you Lord...and we love you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen!!!
In this age of now...we apply this mentality to every aspect of our lives...we want great money...now...we want the perfect spouse...now...we want our degrees...now...that promotion...now...we want everything...now...now...now....
As Christians, what should we do? When everyone else around us...prospers...everyone else seems to have the things we have been working so hard for...When your patience is tested...and the ungodly shine...what do we do???
David says...wait...in Psalms 37:34...the psalmist tells us, "Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it." The 37th number of Psalms...speaks of how we should not "fret" when we see "evildoers" prosper...David urges us to rest in the Lord...and wait patiently...verse 34 says...wait on the Lord...keep His way...and he will exalt you...to inherit the land...simply put...God is enough!
God is enough...when we wait on Him and honor Him with our obedience....God will lift us up in the presence of our enemies...and give us that which we desire...The wicked will be cut off...and you won't miss it...It is God's desire that you prosper...that you live a full life in obedience to Him. He will reward us for keeping His way...in this age of now...wait on God...allow Him to order your steps...and He will show you that He alone...is enough!
Let's pray...Lord you are so holy...we desire to be more like you...Help us to keep your way...show us what you would have us to do...now...so that you may get the glory in our lives...Lord forgive us of all our sins...that we may please you in all that we do...we need you Lord...and we love you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen!!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Have you lost your mind???
Have you ever been asked this question before...no really...have you??? Maybe it was an angry parent that was seeking to understand your thought process...or a rhetorical question posed by a friend...better yet...have you ever asked yourself this question as you stood in the mirror after a long night of bad decisions...whatever the case...the question still remains...Have you lost your mind???
Well, the apostle Paul, sure hopes so...in Romans 7:23...Paul speaks of the struggle with sin that begins in our mind...read his words... 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. In chapter 7 of Romans...Paul tells of the struggle to do what Christ has called us to do...due to the weakness of our flesh...in Romans 12:2...Paul gives us the solution to this problem...check it out...2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...a renewal of the mind...replacing the old with the new...Paul says that by renewing your mind you can be transformed into that man or woman that understands God's good and perfect will...His will for your life...His will for your ministry...His perfect will...
So again I pose the question...Have you lost your mind? I sure hope you have...Paul doesn't quit with these two passages, but also in chapter 8 of Romans...Romans 8:6-7 says... 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. To be carnally minded means to follow after your own mind...to follow after your flesh...to move as impulse leads...to follow your own mind leads to sin and death...but to have the mind of Christ means life and peace...verse 7 simply means that your mind can't even submit to God...it has no desire to obey God's commands...so even at your best...you would bust Hell wide-open...
We need the mind of Christ to understand the things of Christ...1st Corinthians 2:11-12 says...11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. We need the Holy Spirit...to show us...to teach us...to develop the mind of Christ in us...We need to lose our minds and ask God to come into our hearts...and help us to understand His will...
Let's pray...Lord...forgive us of our sins...help us to lose our minds...so that we might please you...Do a new thing in us...a total renewal of the mind...that we may be transformed into the Christian men and women that you have called us to be...you are so holy...and it is our desire to be just like you...so do it now Father...help us to please you...help us to make sense of the mess we find ourselves in...so that we can forever bring glory to your name...we love you Lord...and we need you...and it is in Jesus' holy name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Well, the apostle Paul, sure hopes so...in Romans 7:23...Paul speaks of the struggle with sin that begins in our mind...read his words... 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. In chapter 7 of Romans...Paul tells of the struggle to do what Christ has called us to do...due to the weakness of our flesh...in Romans 12:2...Paul gives us the solution to this problem...check it out...2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...a renewal of the mind...replacing the old with the new...Paul says that by renewing your mind you can be transformed into that man or woman that understands God's good and perfect will...His will for your life...His will for your ministry...His perfect will...
So again I pose the question...Have you lost your mind? I sure hope you have...Paul doesn't quit with these two passages, but also in chapter 8 of Romans...Romans 8:6-7 says... 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. To be carnally minded means to follow after your own mind...to follow after your flesh...to move as impulse leads...to follow your own mind leads to sin and death...but to have the mind of Christ means life and peace...verse 7 simply means that your mind can't even submit to God...it has no desire to obey God's commands...so even at your best...you would bust Hell wide-open...
We need the mind of Christ to understand the things of Christ...1st Corinthians 2:11-12 says...11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. We need the Holy Spirit...to show us...to teach us...to develop the mind of Christ in us...We need to lose our minds and ask God to come into our hearts...and help us to understand His will...
Let's pray...Lord...forgive us of our sins...help us to lose our minds...so that we might please you...Do a new thing in us...a total renewal of the mind...that we may be transformed into the Christian men and women that you have called us to be...you are so holy...and it is our desire to be just like you...so do it now Father...help us to please you...help us to make sense of the mess we find ourselves in...so that we can forever bring glory to your name...we love you Lord...and we need you...and it is in Jesus' holy name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
He's my friend...
I was looking a Jesus' life...He was as much a human as you and I...I was thinking about his family reunions...Can you imagine Jesus playing kickball with John the Baptist??...they were cousins...around the same age...He had to be a pretty popular guy...because some bride and groom invited Him and his friends (the disciples) to their wedding...kind of cool...huh? That same Jesus...that same nice kid from Nazareth...died for my sins...He wanted to be my friend...I don't know too many carpenters, but there is one that knows my name...my every weakness...my every mishap and mistake...and He still loves me...He still wants to be my friend...
Let's pray....Lord you are so awesome...I don't know why you chose to be our friend...but you did...and for that we are grateful...Lord we don't deserve anything, but death...and your grace and mercy keeps us from pulling the plug on our own life...thank you for Jesus...thank you for allowing Him to know exactly what we struggle with...for meeting us where we are...and offering us an eternity with you...so Lord teach us your ways...show us how to love you back...help us to guard ourselves from the temptations of this world...you are so awesome...you are so faithful...we know you can do it because you have done it so many times before...thank you for the call on our lives...thank you for always requiring more of us...so we ask you Lord to make sense of our mess...and allow us to draw even closer to you...we need you Lord...we love you Lord...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Let's pray....Lord you are so awesome...I don't know why you chose to be our friend...but you did...and for that we are grateful...Lord we don't deserve anything, but death...and your grace and mercy keeps us from pulling the plug on our own life...thank you for Jesus...thank you for allowing Him to know exactly what we struggle with...for meeting us where we are...and offering us an eternity with you...so Lord teach us your ways...show us how to love you back...help us to guard ourselves from the temptations of this world...you are so awesome...you are so faithful...we know you can do it because you have done it so many times before...thank you for the call on our lives...thank you for always requiring more of us...so we ask you Lord to make sense of our mess...and allow us to draw even closer to you...we need you Lord...we love you Lord...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
How to handle your haters...
This is not my original work...but it sounds a lot like a sermon I preached last month...check it out...
A hater is someone that is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.
When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters... That's why you have to be careful who you share your blessings and your dreams with because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed...
It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God wanted you to be like somebody else He would have given you what he gave them.
You don't know what people have gone through to get what they have... (The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story...) If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too.
We've all got some haters among us:
Some people don't like it that you can
* Come to church
* Get your praise on
* Bless His Holy Name
* Haters don't want to see you happy
* Haters don't want to see you succeed
* Haters don't want you get the victory
Most of our haters are people that are supposed to be on our side.
How do you handle the haters who you at least expect to have your guard up against?
You can handle your haters by:
1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are
2. Having a purpose
3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation.
Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.
You will always be trying to get stuff because the more stuff you have will improve what others think about you, but what others think will last as long as the stuff last.
When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters,
"Don't look at me...Look at who is in charge of me..."
Remember, it ain't about you, but it's all about God.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Prayer will fix it everytime...
So the lesson I learned today...is PRAYER CHANGES THINGS...when we ask for supernatural help...we get supernatural results...if we try to "fix" life's tough situations on our own...we may find ourselves in a bigger mess...
God has got our back...we should walk in the knowledge of this victory...it is like the pro basketball players...when the team is up by 30 in the fourth quarter...the coach takes the stars out of the game...and ice their knees...
Well...it's late in the fourth quarter...Jesus is already on the bench with his knees wrapped in ice...God is calling the plays...You are the point guard...the awesome thing about this is...you are not on the court alone....the Holy Spirit is your big man...and the two of you are running out the clock...The game is already won...The VICTORY is already yours...You don't even have to do anything...Just let God call the plays...and when you feel pressure...pass it to the Holy Spirit...and it is a slam dunk...everytime...
Let's pray...Lord thank you for Jesus...thank you for sending him to give us the victory over sin and death...we need you Father...to prune us...that we might bear the fruit you desire...strengthen us so that we may begin to walk in the victory you have predestined us to experience...we love you Father...we need you...and it is in the matchless name of Jesus...we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
God has got our back...we should walk in the knowledge of this victory...it is like the pro basketball players...when the team is up by 30 in the fourth quarter...the coach takes the stars out of the game...and ice their knees...
Well...it's late in the fourth quarter...Jesus is already on the bench with his knees wrapped in ice...God is calling the plays...You are the point guard...the awesome thing about this is...you are not on the court alone....the Holy Spirit is your big man...and the two of you are running out the clock...The game is already won...The VICTORY is already yours...You don't even have to do anything...Just let God call the plays...and when you feel pressure...pass it to the Holy Spirit...and it is a slam dunk...everytime...
Let's pray...Lord thank you for Jesus...thank you for sending him to give us the victory over sin and death...we need you Father...to prune us...that we might bear the fruit you desire...strengthen us so that we may begin to walk in the victory you have predestined us to experience...we love you Father...we need you...and it is in the matchless name of Jesus...we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Fasting...Our greatest weapon...
In my walk with Christ...I have found that through fasting...I have gained greater insight into God's will for my life...I consider fasting our greatest weapon in our battle against Satan...the sad thing is not many Christians fast...a lot of times it is due to our spiritual immaturity...not realizing that through fasting a lot of the answers we seek from God will be reveal to us with great clarity...
I define fasting like this...fasting helps us to put our "flesh" in subjection to our "spirit"...fasting helps us to put God's will over our own will...in doing so...we find ourselves more sensitive to God's pull on our hearts and minds...
In preparation for a fast...I googled "fasting" for more insight...and I came across a webpost by a Dr. Bill Bright...in this webpost Dr. Bright introduces an interesting concept...the concept of Spiritual Breathing...much like natural breathing...Dr. Bright says that Spiritual breathing is a process of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure...You exhale by confessing your sins immediately when you become aware of them, and you inhale by inviting the Holy Spirit to re-take control of your life...
Fasting properly means that your motive must be right....you should not fast to find God's hand in the midst of "life's ups and downs", but you should fast in order to seek God's face...as an act of worship...True spiritual fasting focuses on God...
You should allow God to speak to your heart concerning fasting...and allow Him to move you toward a greater committment to His will for your life...
Let's pray...Lord you are so good...you are so faithful...forgive us of all of our sins known and unknown...allow us to grow closer to you...do not allow us to be hindered by anything...as we seek to be closer to you...Lord help us to learn how to fast properly...so that we may stand in the gap for our families, churches, communities, and the world...we need you Lord...we love you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
For more help with fasting check out Dr. Bill Bright's webpost...
http://www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/how-to-fast/index.aspx
I define fasting like this...fasting helps us to put our "flesh" in subjection to our "spirit"...fasting helps us to put God's will over our own will...in doing so...we find ourselves more sensitive to God's pull on our hearts and minds...
In preparation for a fast...I googled "fasting" for more insight...and I came across a webpost by a Dr. Bill Bright...in this webpost Dr. Bright introduces an interesting concept...the concept of Spiritual Breathing...much like natural breathing...Dr. Bright says that Spiritual breathing is a process of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure...You exhale by confessing your sins immediately when you become aware of them, and you inhale by inviting the Holy Spirit to re-take control of your life...
Fasting properly means that your motive must be right....you should not fast to find God's hand in the midst of "life's ups and downs", but you should fast in order to seek God's face...as an act of worship...True spiritual fasting focuses on God...
You should allow God to speak to your heart concerning fasting...and allow Him to move you toward a greater committment to His will for your life...
Let's pray...Lord you are so good...you are so faithful...forgive us of all of our sins known and unknown...allow us to grow closer to you...do not allow us to be hindered by anything...as we seek to be closer to you...Lord help us to learn how to fast properly...so that we may stand in the gap for our families, churches, communities, and the world...we need you Lord...we love you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
For more help with fasting check out Dr. Bill Bright's webpost...
http://www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/how-to-fast/index.aspx
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Thinking of the Master's plan...
Today...I was helping out at my church...The Youth Department had a Back to School Bash...for the youth of our church...it was a very successful event...I had the opportunity to sit in on a seminar facilitated by a local elementary school principal...after a dynamic presentation...the two of us began to talk...one thing lead to another...and I accepted an invitation to speak to the entire elementary school on their first day of school...which is this Wednesday...
So here I am...with absolutely nothing to say...I have no idea what I could say to a body of small children...I have no problem speaking to my peers...I have no problem speaking to teenagers...but the little ones...intimidate me...I have imagined myself hearing "the crickets chirp" as I try to rely a relevant message to the mass of Hannah Montana and Spongebob fans...
As I struggle to find the words for my speech...What would you say? If you had the opportunity to speak to the masses...now Wednesday my "masses" will be a group of students grades K-5...but everyday...we cross paths with our "masses"...at work...at church...at school...in the grocery store...and God has charged us to be ready at all times to speak an encouraging word into the lives of our "masses".
Our Sunday school lesson this week...deals with James 1:22-27...Being Doers of the Word...
22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Hearing the Word of God and not doing it...James says...is like looking in the mirror and forgetting what we look like...The Word tells us what we should look like, but we forget what it says we should do...James says in verse 26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but decieveth his own heart, this man's religion is in vain."...We have been charged to talk right...to use our voice for God's purposes...for we seem to be religious...we have a form of Godliness...when we choose not to speak an encouraging word to our neighbor.
James is begging us to put on holiness...to seek to be more Christ-like...allow the word to show you how to live your life...give in to His authority...Let's pray...
Lord...you are so holy...we desire to be more like you...we want to everything you have called us to do...Allow us to grow in you...give us a boldness for you...a desire to intercede on behalf of our "masses"...God we love you...we need you...Thank you for Jesus...Thank you for grace and mercy...Have your way in our lives...that you may get all the glory and your kingdom be advanced...it is in the matchless name of Jesus...we pray this prayer...Amen!
So here I am...with absolutely nothing to say...I have no idea what I could say to a body of small children...I have no problem speaking to my peers...I have no problem speaking to teenagers...but the little ones...intimidate me...I have imagined myself hearing "the crickets chirp" as I try to rely a relevant message to the mass of Hannah Montana and Spongebob fans...
As I struggle to find the words for my speech...What would you say? If you had the opportunity to speak to the masses...now Wednesday my "masses" will be a group of students grades K-5...but everyday...we cross paths with our "masses"...at work...at church...at school...in the grocery store...and God has charged us to be ready at all times to speak an encouraging word into the lives of our "masses".
Our Sunday school lesson this week...deals with James 1:22-27...Being Doers of the Word...
22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Hearing the Word of God and not doing it...James says...is like looking in the mirror and forgetting what we look like...The Word tells us what we should look like, but we forget what it says we should do...James says in verse 26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but decieveth his own heart, this man's religion is in vain."...We have been charged to talk right...to use our voice for God's purposes...for we seem to be religious...we have a form of Godliness...when we choose not to speak an encouraging word to our neighbor.
James is begging us to put on holiness...to seek to be more Christ-like...allow the word to show you how to live your life...give in to His authority...Let's pray...
Lord...you are so holy...we desire to be more like you...we want to everything you have called us to do...Allow us to grow in you...give us a boldness for you...a desire to intercede on behalf of our "masses"...God we love you...we need you...Thank you for Jesus...Thank you for grace and mercy...Have your way in our lives...that you may get all the glory and your kingdom be advanced...it is in the matchless name of Jesus...we pray this prayer...Amen!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
When facing the deep end...
My parents recently adopted my little cousin Diamond...She is 9 years old...she is a great kid...God is constantly growing her into the woman He has called her to be...it is exciting to watch her come of age before our eyes...like most kids during the summer time...she is taking swimming lessons...she has been coming along pretty well...you know...swimming in the swallow end of the pool...3 to 5 feet of water...She is doing excellent...she is really beginning to look like she is going to be a great swimmer...Her instructor informed her that in Level 2 of the swimming program...the swimmers will have to jump off the diving board into 12 feet of water...and swim back up to safety...Diamond an excellent beginner is going to have to swim in the "deep end"...
One day on the way home from swimming class Diamond asked my mother to pray with her...about swimming in the "deep end" of the pool...I was happy to know that Diamond has already began to understand that we need to pray and ask God for help when something we don't think we can handle is looming in our future...
I only wish that I could remember this valuable principle at times...As adults we get so caught up in life's swift transitions...that we forget to pray before the storm...we wait until our boat in filling with water...before we call on the Lord...or in the case of our story...we wait until we are drowning at the bottom of the pool...before we call on Jesus...take a lesson from Diamond...pray before your test...I know you'll be better for it...
Let's pray...Lord...thank you for reminding us that you are able...Help us to call on you when things are going well...not only when things seem beyond repair...Lord help us to grow in the areas of our life where we are weak...we need you Lord...we love you Lord...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
One day on the way home from swimming class Diamond asked my mother to pray with her...about swimming in the "deep end" of the pool...I was happy to know that Diamond has already began to understand that we need to pray and ask God for help when something we don't think we can handle is looming in our future...
I only wish that I could remember this valuable principle at times...As adults we get so caught up in life's swift transitions...that we forget to pray before the storm...we wait until our boat in filling with water...before we call on the Lord...or in the case of our story...we wait until we are drowning at the bottom of the pool...before we call on Jesus...take a lesson from Diamond...pray before your test...I know you'll be better for it...
Let's pray...Lord...thank you for reminding us that you are able...Help us to call on you when things are going well...not only when things seem beyond repair...Lord help us to grow in the areas of our life where we are weak...we need you Lord...we love you Lord...and it is in Jesus' name we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
Go in Peace!
My sister recently graduated from nursing school at Grambling State University in Louisiana. If you know anything about the nursing degree...crossing the stage...doesn't mean that you are done with test...she has been studying for a major test...a few of her colleagues have been telling her that this test is so hard...people tell her all the time about other people from "more prestigious" nursing schools...that have failed this test...unknowingly planting seeds of doubt in her mind...You know...doubt in her ability to pass this major test...There are other people that remind her to "think positively"...to believe that she can pass the test...and she will pass the test...so she has been studying like crazy...taking as many of those Kaplan practice tests as she can...everyday reading something new...and quizzing herself over and over...it wasn't until a few days ago...that we had a conversation about the severity of this coming test...she revealed to me everything that could be effected by her failing this test...after she had laid out the "laundry list" of things that could backfire if things didn't go well for her...I shared with her the story of the centurion...
This story is found in Matthew 8:5-13...
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Whenever we face difficult times in our lives it is important that we understand the God we serve...you don't have to look back very far...to see God's hand at work in your life...He has provided for you time and time again...when things were much worse than they are now...God has always made a way...so what makes you think He won't step in this time...
The significant thing about the centurion was...his faith was not in the man...but in the power of God...he had probably heard so many things about what Jesus could do that he knew...that Jesus was God...and didn't even have to come to where his servant was...the centurion knew that all Jesus had to do was say the Word and his servant would be healed...He recognized God's power...and allowed God to do what He had always done...work miracles...so when you are facing difficult times...rest in the fact that God is able...God can and God will take care of you...
Let's pray...Lord you are awesome...you know us better than we know ourselves...we need you Lord...we can't do anything without you...so stand up in us...allow us to become the men and women that you've called us to be...remove everything that hinders us from getting to the place that you called us to...position us to be a blessing to someone else...allow us to meet the needs of your people...Do a new thing in us God...we know that you are able...allow us to find rest in the peace that only you can provide...Lord we need you...we love you...and it is in the matchless name of Jesus...that we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
This story is found in Matthew 8:5-13...
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Whenever we face difficult times in our lives it is important that we understand the God we serve...you don't have to look back very far...to see God's hand at work in your life...He has provided for you time and time again...when things were much worse than they are now...God has always made a way...so what makes you think He won't step in this time...
The significant thing about the centurion was...his faith was not in the man...but in the power of God...he had probably heard so many things about what Jesus could do that he knew...that Jesus was God...and didn't even have to come to where his servant was...the centurion knew that all Jesus had to do was say the Word and his servant would be healed...He recognized God's power...and allowed God to do what He had always done...work miracles...so when you are facing difficult times...rest in the fact that God is able...God can and God will take care of you...
Let's pray...Lord you are awesome...you know us better than we know ourselves...we need you Lord...we can't do anything without you...so stand up in us...allow us to become the men and women that you've called us to be...remove everything that hinders us from getting to the place that you called us to...position us to be a blessing to someone else...allow us to meet the needs of your people...Do a new thing in us God...we know that you are able...allow us to find rest in the peace that only you can provide...Lord we need you...we love you...and it is in the matchless name of Jesus...that we pray this prayer...Amen!!!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark...
I can remember being afraid of the dark as a child...I use to hate walking down the hallway to my bedroom to try and sleep in the dark...I would leave my door cracked or leave the bedroom light on until I fell asleep...if my mom or dad wasn't screaming for me to turn out the light...one day at school (2nd grade) HL&P (Houston Lighting & Power) gave a seminar on safety and every student in attendance received a night light...now I don't know about anyone else, but for me the night light was one of the greatest inventions known to man...because although I was in the dark...I still had light...
The moral of this story is a simple one...sometimes in life we are going to have some dark times...there are going to be situations that are out of our control and if we allow them to...they can get the best of us...but the Word for you is this...Jesus Christ will be your night light...so DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK...Jesus is a night light...He will bring comfort in those dark times...in those times when you are looking for peace...Christ can be all you need and more...and if you don't believe me give Him the opportunity to make you into a believer...
Let's pray...Lord, forgive me of all my sins known and unknown...allow me to experience the peace and joy that only you can bring....remind me in those dark times that you still have everything in control and that as long as I submit to your will for my life...everything will be just fine....in Jesus name...Amen...
The Little Girl and the Bubblegum Machine Ring...
I was in Wal-Mart the other day...as you can see the Waltons get most of my money...lol...but seriously I was in Wal-Mart the other day and I was standing in a very long line...you know how the lines in Wal-Mart can be...I was standing behind this father and his little girl...she was begging her father for a quarter so that she could go to the front of the store and get one of those rings that are in the bubblegum machines...you know what I'm talking about they're fake, but kids love them...so she was just hollering and screaming making a scene...so in an attempt to quiet her down her father made a deal with her...he said if I give you this quarter I am going to put Barbie back on the shelf...she thought about the proposal as she continued to yell...I started to go into my own pocket and give her a quarter because her yelling was getting on my nerves...well she decided to return Barbie so that she could get the quarter for the ring...so the father gave her the quarter and she hurried away to get the ring...by now I am next in line and the cashier is bagging all of the father's groceries...the little girl returns, but instead of an expression of great joy...she looked like someone had killed her dog...her father asked her what was wrong and the little girl said...I didn't get the ring that I wanted...
Then it hit me...so it is in the spirit...we as Christians we beg God...for stuff...fake stuff...stuff that He doesn't even want for us...God is putting Barbie (His will for us) back on the shelf in the spirit...while we settle for the fake things this world has to offer us...Don't delay your blessings for the enticing things of this world...the little girl took a gamble...the ring she may have saw on top...was not the ring at the bottom...Satan will show you exactly what you think you want, but God knows what's best...ask God to show you His will for your life.
Cheetos...
Once I shared a bag of Cheetos with my adorable two year old niece, Khrystian, or "Kritty" as she is known...after leaving her unattended with my bag of chips...which turned out to be a bad decision...because when I returned to my bag of chips and begin to eat them I found that she had sucked all of the cheese off the chips and returned them to the bag...So instead of a crunchy treat...I got a soggy mess...I found out that my niece liked the cheese on the Cheetos more than she actually like the chips... The moral of this story is be careful who you share your "chips" with... You are going to come in contact with some great people, but that doesn't mean that you won't have some not so great experiences...Be careful who you share your mind and your heart with...
There it was a perfectly good bag of Cheetos ruined all because they fell into the wrong hands...Be careful who you share yourself with...pray and ask God for discernment whenever you encounter new people...ask the Lord to show you His purpose in each experience...
There it was a perfectly good bag of Cheetos ruined all because they fell into the wrong hands...Be careful who you share yourself with...pray and ask God for discernment whenever you encounter new people...ask the Lord to show you His purpose in each experience...
Repentance is a cast not a Band-Aid...
Here is a Word that God spoke to me and I want to share it with you...Repentance is a cast not a Band-Aid...Repentance is a process not a quick fix...that is the misnomer in the body of Christ...we believe that all we have to do is ask God for his forgiveness and promise never to sin in that matter again and we are done...not at all...God has to break us (like a bone is broken) and set us back in place (as in a cast) We were born into debt...When Jesus died on Calvary he gave us credit that we didn't deserve (Grace & Mercy)...so that God could see our bill (our lifestyle...our walk) as paid in FULL...a Christian spends his/her life trying to get back to where God wants us...on top...in a position of power...in a position of authority...not so that we can boast...but so that we can pour into others and restore them to their rightful place in the Kingdom of God...Amen...
Forgive and Forget...
*Forgive and Forget*
Someone close to me once asked me if I thought it was possible to forgive and forget...the question caught me off guard because I had never thought about it before...the answer I gave was something that you might hear in any Sunday school class...anywhere in America...you know...Turn the other cheek...be the bigger person...I said everything and nothing all at the same time...so after thinking about it a little more...I've decided to put more thought to my answer...and answer the question, "Is it possible to forgive and forget?"
The answer to the question is Yes and No...let me explain...Is it possible to forgive Yes...is it possible to forget No...this advice, to forgive and forget, sounds very hard to put into practice...especially when you have been cut deeply by someone you know or even care about...when you Forgive and Forget you are saying to this person...not only do I forgive you for doing me wrong...I am going to forget that it ever happened...
Now the latter seems impossible...How can I forget the way in which I was wronged? The truth is you can't forget...everytime you see this person...or everytime you are reminded of the incident...the scab is ripped off and your wound is new again...when you have TRULY forgiven someone it IS possible to forget, but not in the way that we think...
When you forget you are saying that I am not going to put (the person who wronged you) on trial everytime your paths cross...you won't give dirty looks...or talk about this person behind their back...you won't send them on a guilt trip every chance you get...Forgiveness is a commitment...I think that is why Christ said turn the other cheek...it is not because being a Christian means you have to be weak and submissive...turning the other cheek means that you are strong enough to handle whatever attempts Satan has at knocking you off your narrow path...Peter asked Christ how many times should I forgive my brother...Christ replied 70 times 7...Who could actually keep track of that? No one...Christ is asking you not only to forgive but forget about it...not because He wants you to look like a fool...but because He wants you to look like Him. What better person to learn forgiveness from then Christ? How many times have you wronged Him? Everytime you need Him, isn't he always right on time? As Christians, we strive to be Christ-like...so the next time someone does you wrong...don't rub their face in their mistakes, but forgive them and forget about it...
Through the resurrection Christ gave us the power to forgive...The Holy Spirit was sent to remind us of these things to comfort us at all times...The Bible says that all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) We were born sinners...what do sinners do?? Sinners sin...my Pastor and mentor once said to me...The distance between your Expectations and Reality determines your level of Frustration...Don't allow failed expectations to get you down...when the reality of the situation is so clear...no one is perfect...people make mistakes...take it from me...Your days will go a lot smoother...
Forgiveness is a commitment...a choice...choose to forgive...
Someone close to me once asked me if I thought it was possible to forgive and forget...the question caught me off guard because I had never thought about it before...the answer I gave was something that you might hear in any Sunday school class...anywhere in America...you know...Turn the other cheek...be the bigger person...I said everything and nothing all at the same time...so after thinking about it a little more...I've decided to put more thought to my answer...and answer the question, "Is it possible to forgive and forget?"
The answer to the question is Yes and No...let me explain...Is it possible to forgive Yes...is it possible to forget No...this advice, to forgive and forget, sounds very hard to put into practice...especially when you have been cut deeply by someone you know or even care about...when you Forgive and Forget you are saying to this person...not only do I forgive you for doing me wrong...I am going to forget that it ever happened...
Now the latter seems impossible...How can I forget the way in which I was wronged? The truth is you can't forget...everytime you see this person...or everytime you are reminded of the incident...the scab is ripped off and your wound is new again...when you have TRULY forgiven someone it IS possible to forget, but not in the way that we think...
When you forget you are saying that I am not going to put (the person who wronged you) on trial everytime your paths cross...you won't give dirty looks...or talk about this person behind their back...you won't send them on a guilt trip every chance you get...Forgiveness is a commitment...I think that is why Christ said turn the other cheek...it is not because being a Christian means you have to be weak and submissive...turning the other cheek means that you are strong enough to handle whatever attempts Satan has at knocking you off your narrow path...Peter asked Christ how many times should I forgive my brother...Christ replied 70 times 7...Who could actually keep track of that? No one...Christ is asking you not only to forgive but forget about it...not because He wants you to look like a fool...but because He wants you to look like Him. What better person to learn forgiveness from then Christ? How many times have you wronged Him? Everytime you need Him, isn't he always right on time? As Christians, we strive to be Christ-like...so the next time someone does you wrong...don't rub their face in their mistakes, but forgive them and forget about it...
Through the resurrection Christ gave us the power to forgive...The Holy Spirit was sent to remind us of these things to comfort us at all times...The Bible says that all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) We were born sinners...what do sinners do?? Sinners sin...my Pastor and mentor once said to me...The distance between your Expectations and Reality determines your level of Frustration...Don't allow failed expectations to get you down...when the reality of the situation is so clear...no one is perfect...people make mistakes...take it from me...Your days will go a lot smoother...
Forgiveness is a commitment...a choice...choose to forgive...
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