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!!!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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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