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Life Lessons

Hey, Can You Spot Me? Can Anyone Help Me? Is There Anyone There? Help!

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I grew up my entire life always being enriched with wondrous virtues and instruction. Things like:

“Trust in the Lord and He will never fail you”

“You need to be saved in order to make Heaven your home”

“Ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins”

“Hold on through the storm and God will not leave you”

“When no one else will help encourage yourself”

I believed those words from all of those whom spoke these to me that they meant well and spoke it from a good place in their heart. In fact, I have even clung to the encouragement and listened to the instruction that I was told. However I cannot help but feel like that in the day I live in that something feels different than before. The many voices that I use to hear deliver such phrases are declining and I find myself looking inside my soul for strength now more than ever. It made me think, “Is this the way it’s supposed to be? Is it like riding a bike and once you’re off you no longer need that encouragement and kind push?”

At first I thought, “Yeah that’s got to be it. I’m just not praying and working hard enough or I would obviously see what I’ve been told my whole life”. And then after months and months of more decline (almost to silence) I then stood exhausted from all the effort and began to question myself in my feverish pursuit of keeping the bar that I had been told to hold my whole life up completely on my own. Thanks be to God somehow I came through what would have probably broke others down to loneliness and depression. When my pride wanted me to just write everyone off that had seemingly forsaken me the spirit of the Lord quickened me and began to teach me about something I had never realized before.

My revelation was simply this: we all need a spotter from time to time, but sometimes we are to be the spotter when others cannot carry their own load. It put me in the mind of this imagery:

spotting

Then I recalled this scripture:

Romans 15:1 

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Powerful, right?! This helps me to realize that I am not to carry everything alone but I am not to always expect others to run to me either. Until we can learn to help each other as Christ instructed (love our neighbors as ourself) than we are trying to selfishly lift our own weights and demand the world to be our spot.

So what do you do when you cannot seem to carry your own weight? What do we do when no one steps up to help us in a time of weakness?

1) First of all, stop screaming for help from other people. Chances are if no one has come to your aid yet that God has not received your full trust and surrender. Have you confessed to God your shortcomings and the pains and hurts of your life that seem to keep you down. This heavy load we willingly carry needs to be the first thing we get rid of. Cleansing your soul is necessary. Repenting sincerely of things will help you to get up and feel lighter before you make the first effort towards anything.

2) Secondly, stop trying to lift a weight that you cannot carry without God’s help. We cannot continue to try to get to the mountain top without seeing that it takes thousands of steps before we hit the pinnacle. Daily prayer and thanksgiving opens the doorway of your heart to be humbled and at peace with things you cannot change. It also helps you to gain clarity on things that are making it harder for you than it should be.

3) Thirdly, make an effort that you feel like you can handle. Get to a church weekly, read some scripture everyday (you do not have to put yourself to sleep to have a meaningful bible study), pray for a few minutes a couple times a day, listen to some praise and worship at some point and allow meditation toward God, and keep a positive attitude even in the face of adversity. God would have you to walk simple steps of faith than to try and run with so many complexities.

4) Fourth, once you begin to establish your personal connection to God begin to challenge yourself. Step out of your comfort zone every now and then. Praise him a little more than normal. Pray a few minutes longer than normal. Help someone like you would help yourself. For as we challenge ourselves we find that this is where we begin to build strength and get stronger. And as you begin to step out by faith in these moments when you would be afraid God will help you and spot you initially with an overwhelming move of his presence and favor all about you.

5) Finally, once you realize that you can handle some things then begin to look for situations and individuals that you know you can lend a hand too. The bible talks of it being far better to give than receive. I have found that I gain just as much strength helping someone else learn to lift and carry the burdens of life than I do always just yelling for help and never trying.

Remember: we can lift a stronger amount of weight together than if we tried to do it separately on our own. Help others that you know that you can and remember that as you help them it will build you up to be stronger. And as we lead by example I hope and pray that this decline in encouragement begins to cease and that we return to the sincere compassion of Christ.

Understanding The Role Of Compassion

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compassion-word-cloud

Before I get to what I want to discuss today I want to testify about one of the toughest issues of my life. I grew up the first half my life looking for love that was returned the same way I gave it. This varied from time to time from it being family, classmates, and friends. I also grew up my life mostly coming up empty on this search. And after a season of my life passed with this reality of no reciprocity coming back to me I essentially gave up on being a compassionate person. It then became all about me and what others were not doing. It was about living with the proverbial “chip on my shoulder” and being constantly frustrated with what others had not done. It became about how others had hurt me and how I could not let go of why people continued to do so. The bulk of my teenage years were in a selfish self-loathing hatred for those whom never were there and did not care. And as I lived as the victim the enemy was there to be my shoulder to cry on in the form of drugs, alcohol and all forms of hindrances that left me in utter misery and bondage. The greatest part of my testimony is not just the deliverance from the substances and hindrances that held me down for all of my youth; for when I had a heart that was hurt from not receiving an equal or more powerful love God came to my rescue. God’s love came to my detriment and picked me up again. God’s love was ultimately there for me even when I had done nothing or gave anything to God first. God had compassion on me. He not only transformed what was ailing me but caused me to be loved the way I had always longed for!

One of the hardest risks to take with a relationship another person is that the love, respect and understanding you give and share to that person is not given back in the same manner to which you gave it. The fact of the matter is that sometimes it is not or never returned. Sometimes people will only want what you can give and never show reciprocity in kind. And just like a crisp slap in the face reality comes and reminds us from time to time of just how frail our emotions really are when it comes to the impact of others. Whether this circumstance appears in your acquaintances, friend, foe or family does not make the pain any less hurtful to your heart. Boundaries and lines will be crossed, people you would expect more of will let you down, and emotions will flare irrationally and unexpectedly to your preparation. What you have to remember is that what you do for others should cause you to expect little in return and to be content with getting nothing back. Jesus gave his life for all of us who did nothing to be worthy of His love. This same love we should give to all. We should do our due diligence to help others, even when it is in the middle of the night and inconvenient. Compassion is the virtue of God that comes out of us when we still help people in spite of what they do to us.

This is why compassion is so powerful. Compassion does not give regard to reciprocity. Compassion gives in spite of what is given back. Compassion sees the need and meets it despite the want that may lie within. The most powerful miracles that Jesus brought forth as a man on earth all derived from the compassion he had upon those to whom others said were not deserving of love or help. Compassion is not shrouded under the weight of guilt or the obligation of ones duty to do something because they have to. If you want to know the rest of what compassion/charity/love is to be, read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Be reminded that the good you do for others should not be expecting an equal or greater investment back from them. In fact, people may give little or no respect for your life or decisions. And if I could go one step further I would say that they will even come after you to guilt you about what you have not done (even after all that you have already did).That comes as a surprise, right? Even though it does it should not alarm us at the rate it does. In fact, scripture leads us to tackle this sort of behavior with wisdom:

Matthew 7:1-11

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Wait a minute! I have looked at this passage all my life with the wrong outlook.I now know that this is not a call for people to do things just because they want it done right to themselves; this is actually quite the deeper call to society to have compassion for the most difficult of needs. If people need you would you turn the compassion away that was shown you? By the simple fact alone that you were undeserving of God’s love yet you received it should tell us all that there is never a need too big nor too small that we should be attempting to do our best to help.

Compassion says: “I see that I do not have to do this for you. I was once given a love I did not deserve. So by this love I pay it forward to someone else.” The evidence of God in your life after all is that you love your brother with compassion (or as you would have yourself to be loved). I’m at peace today and will spend the latter part of my life doing my best to help others and to accept that it may never return. I’m at peace because I know even when others despitefully use me and give no respect that I have the favor and love of the greatest savior and friend I have ever known. Peace is with me today because of the compassion God gave me through Jesus Christ!

Let this small little blurb be a reminder of what compassion is, what it should mean to you, and what you should be doing with it!

 

Are You Overextended? Five Powerful Thoughts To Simplify Your Situation

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over-extended

I love illustrations because sometimes it helps to explain feelings that do not always have good adjectives to represent them. Is your life defined by all you get done at work? Are you not getting enough done at home? Do people pressure you into doing more because they have unreasonable expectations or want someone to do it for them? Have you or do you deal with people that always seem to put more on you than what is reasonable? Do some situations that people put you in make you want to scream?!?

I guess what I am really asking is, do you feel overextended? Overextend in its meaning towards people means that you impose on (someone) an excessive burden of work or commitments. In reference to objects or ideals it means to make too long. If you really took a minute to look inside of your personal life you will find that in a lot (or maybe even) of the things you do is WAY more than one can accomplish in one day. We only get 24 hours in a day and at least 6 are for rest, all the while we have to work, run errands, do hobbies, put out drama fires, handle emergencies, etc. When the list piles up in your mind it almost makes every day like it’s the worst day to come.

To be honest I have been overextended in many things during the past 8 years. Let’s just hash some personal examples: working 40-50 hours a week, working out 5 times a week, commuting to work two hours for five days a week, preaching full-time, teaching music, attending music practice, working in outside ministry…wait a second…I have not even mentioned anything to do with family, friends, or my brothers & sisters in Christ!  Can you see where it would be easy to lose yourself in being overextended? This was also leaving a huge gap in my intimate adoration and worship to God. I’m happy to say that God has been working on me for the good and I’m reaching out to those who feel the same way to share with you how God has been teaching me to flip the script on busy living and to learn and take a deep breath (and that it’s okay).

Here are five thoughts God has inspired me to share with you:

1) If we have something that MUST be done, God will help you see it through

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

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Deadlines do not just disappear when we want them to. Having to deal with difficult situations do not just leave from our to-do list. To deal with these realities we must pray that God strengthen us for the hour that we will need it (and ultimately is harder than we can handle on our own). Seek God for continual peace through your difficult time and by His spirit you will never feel alone. If you allow God the chance to be there for you the joy you will feel when you come out of it will be as if you were royalty; undeserving of the happiness yet through God’s love its promised to you. That makes me smile.

2) To reduce over-extension we must learn to pray before we simply commit to more

One of the best methods to keep a person from being over-extended is to stop it before it ever occurs via prevention. How do we reduce the chances? Prayer is a very good starting place.

Proverbs 8:17  “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”

This passage not only references starting your day out with seeking God but for those who will allow God the chance to lead them even before a commitment. And once you have been showed by God what can be reduced then simply walk through the door and not worry over it any longer. The lighter we walk the more we embrace the burdens’ that God makes to be lighter!

3) People will only know your limits when you communicate them

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Romans 15: 1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

“seasoned with salt” is a nice way to refer to the fact that we must communicate and handle situations with God’s widsom. By the wisdom of God we learn to know our boundaries and can be shown how to communicate the fact that we simply do not have the time or the strength to add more unto what is going on in the present. Until people hear from you and can understand that you are going through things then there is no one else at fault for this but you. Once you have spoken your boundaries it is then you give people the opportunity to help you bear the load and not continue to put more demands upon you. In fact if we live according to the word at that point those that are strong should change from their demands and begin to help you with your needs.

4) Don’t worry about what people think about you. You can only do so much with your commitments.

Psalm 118:5-6 “I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

The kind of peace that helps you to stop thinking or worrying over the opinions of others only comes by the peace of God. Seek for it that your load may be lighter and that your desire become more aligned with pleasing God with how you live and the good you do with what you’ve got.

5) If you center your life to righteousness you can drop all the things that are “busy attacks” on your focus

Proverbs 23:4 “Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist”

Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;”

If the first priority in your life is God then I can assure you that the things you desire will begin to be aligned to his will. And as this happens you can see the things that come as opportunities as opposed to the things to shun that would just keep you busy all the time. God wants your life to be fruitful without your entire life being centered on making it happen by yourself. You even read in Luke 10:38-42 about Martha who was told by Christ that you are “anxious and trouble about many things but one is necessary”. What was that necessary? It was what Jesus called the “good portion”. There is a way of right-living before God that will reduce all the over-extending and allow you the opportunities to slow down and enjoy the moments that are right in front of you!

So just remember that at the end of the day there needs to be a season for all things, however you must yield to the seasons and not push beyond your means and max limits. Learning to allow God to give you strength when you need it and guidance when you have it creates a more balanced lifestyle. This balance can help you to be a better help to others and will help you realize what you can do with the time that would have been otherwise squandered by the enemy.

Odd One Out?

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Smiley

Recently I walked into a room with a group of people that I know quite well and found that rather than being greeted I was mostly ignored. Upon the quick realization of this silence I tried to compensate maybe assuming some backwardness or shyness and attempted to initiate the opening dialog of conversation. To my surprise this was met with even more resistance, leading to behavior which went to either diving into their cell phone or to begin talking with other people around them.

Once all this had happened and I had sat down for a minute to gather myself I had come to a newfound realization: I’ve been here before. I remember a time in my life where I felt like the odd man out, always fighting and seeking approval from others by efforts and exploits. I remember a time that without the closure of knowing I fit into the perceptual “popular” crowd that I would have been emotionally affected to the point of depression. The difference from when it had happened in the past and today is that I have something within me that has changed my answer on if I need the popular vote of approval.

Now I realize that if for nothing else this experience of mine has caused me to learn and grow in God even deeper. The demand for attention for a person and the behavior that follows this is mostly called having an ego. An ego is defined as a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance. When people live to speak of themselves (or only speak to those for whom they seek approval) and have little interest in others it displays an imagery of pride that we as Christians should not walk in. If we walk humbly with the spirit of God then we find that our behavior is the quite the opposite. In fact, the bible talks about the side effects of each behavior: “for every one that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that abases himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

You might be out there feeling like the odd one out amongst the world. I am here to remind you that it is okay to be that way. It is normal to be the first person to say hello and to ask about how someone is. It is not only acceptable but actually expected of us according to scripture: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

What I am about to tell you takes time to grow in but is necessary if you are to grow spiritually. You must learn to accept that there are people (friends, family, co-workers, etc.) that will have little or no interest in you or your life. Do not struggle to push your way through to get approval or interest. As Christians our primary goal is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Part of this is learning to take interest in other peoples’ lives before your own. If you can learn to inquire of others and accept never getting to tell anything about yourself then you are taking one of the toughest steps in ministry (death of pride).

Always take the first step in the conversation and show interest in others first. This humbleness opens many doors and shows that your Christian witness is not defined by your ego. If you are rejected in your attempts to demonstrate your love by being engaging then simply walk away in your spirit knowing that you did all that you could to walk and talk as God would have you.

Five Actions To Keep Your Relationships Alive

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God has been dealing with me as to how we as human beings must continue to fight for those whom we hold dear. For without the efforts to keep love stirred between others the relationship begins to dwindle to a state of weakness, therefore leaving room for the enemy to intervene with the most foolish of dramatic events/rumors/jealousies/envyings/etc.

Here are five actions we must all learn to perform towards others (that’s right, towards others):

1) To sharpen mental integrity by sound counsel 

Proverbs 27:17 – Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

If you want to be a true friend to another person you must learn to share things in honesty spoken with love. God wants us to continually reveal the truth to each other, even when we find that it hurts. If you know of others that benefit from your counsel then take the time to share the things God has given you to speak. Holding the knowledge within hurts all parties; for it was given to be given and by that obedience to give it you are blessed and favored amongst many. The more of a sound spiritual counsel can be spoken the less the devil overcomes in peoples weakness. So if people around you are important, remember to speak what you know and have learned through Christ!

2) To learn how to agree and disagree 

Amos 3:3 – Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Should you hope to have an honest friendship you must both be willing to accept the fact that you may never agree on specific details (doctrine, scripture, teaching, opinions, etc.). If you can learn to reason in a peaceful manner then I believe that an open and honest discussion of things helps both parties to grow in not only communicating to each other but to also learn more about how they can be a stronger brother/sister in God.

3) To be willing to sacrifice things for the benefit of another

John 15:13 – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

If you are the kind of person that only helps others when it benefits you then you need to strongly reconsider your outlook. God does not bless us with anything just for us to keep it and reap it. God uses his children in the principle of reciprocity (what do you give for what you get). When you begin to become the kind of person that will spend more time to help others than yourself (when it calls for it) then you will begin to reap the blessings of God. Do not always expect an exact return for exact obedience. What you may do to bless someone may never be done exactly to you but this does not mean that you do not get an equal or exceeding blessing either. Sometimes God blesses your need and the want (as it falls in His will). Learn to give up time, money and resources for the greater good of others. It is of far greater benefit to sow more to others; for you will reap more as a friend to them and as an obedient vessel to Christ.

4) To encourage action in others that will bring good thinking and love

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Sometimes words are simply not enough to help someone. You may have to show up in person to get your message across. Having someone call you and tell you that you need to get up and go run is not as significant as having them knock on your door! Texting someone and telling them that you are praying for them (while worthwhile) is not as powerful as calling and praying on the phone or praying with the individual in person. To provoke is an active action to bring forth an action. Take that action for someone else and just see how blessed that you can truly be.

5) To be compassionate to the tribulations of another

Ruth 1:17 – Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, [if ought] but death part thee and me.

At last…this is the one I feel like is most lacking in friendships. Take the time to say “I’m sorry” when someone unloads on you. Offer to pray and be an ear to hear and shoulder to cry upon. When people do not exhibit compassion towards others than they are not a very presentable place for someone to lay their trust in. As ambassadors of God we must be God-like to the capacity of helping others to openly communicate their struggles. As we listen and gain understanding of their struggle we then should exhibit equal or greater compassion. Compassion is the greatest weapon to tear down the walls of fear and doubt, yet is one of the least used weapons of God’s people. Jesus walked, breathed and obeyed out of compassion. We have salvation because Jesus paid the price. Compassion is everything for a Christian and for those whom they encounter in a struggle. Learn to use this virtue in a greater way and see how God can begin to bloom out of others the blessings that will begin to bless you.

Sometimes People Just Won’t Get You

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John 15:18-25

[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
[22] If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
[23] He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
[24] If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
[25] But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

One of the toughest truths to accept when considering the social aspect of being a Christian is that sometimes people just won’t get you.

Let’s read from II Corinthians 12: 20:

[20] For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults

Through the few years of ministry that I have made it through I have found all of the different types of negative behaviors attempt to attack me on a public as well as a personal level. There has been times that even when you are doing all of the right things that someone still finds a way to point something negative out to you. Some people will even tell others about something that is not wrong whatsoever just to attempt to create drama to elevate their status in self-righteousness. Drama happens whether or not you are in presence of others. The part that I have noticed about the enemies tactics through using willing people that will behave negatively is that they are nice to you in person and only feel the authority and power over you to work division while not in your presence. You will also find this behaviour as you read of the demons in the bible whom scared others from even walking by but began to change their tune when Jesus was in the midst!

Matthew 8:28-34

[28] And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
[29] And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
[30] And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
[31] So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
[32] And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
[33] And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
[34] And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

When the enemy is in the presence of the anointed he cannot exercise the same authority he could while working it in the shadows of what you cannot see or hear. Each of these kinds of feelings that people will bring on you are not things that you should take lightly or not prepare yourself against. One of the best nuggets of wisdom God has taught me is that you must not worry about what people will try to do to work against you. We as Christians must learn to work together and to see persecution as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. For when we can endure the present sufferings of peoples’ persecution then we can be blessed by walking in the virtues that God has given and called us to use.

Continue in your calling and be not moved by the words and attempts to bring division. Stay steadfast in the love you have for all people and bless those that will despitefully use you for their own gain. Turn away from the petty attempts the devil uses behind your back to try and ensnare your favor and patience that God builds in us daily. Be strong and keep your mind focused on the one who loves you and forget the things that those who despise you will do. What your enemies will try to do only hinders what God tries to prosper. Jesus even recognized that mankind in its weakened state of sin doesn’t even know at times what we do; for in the greatest moment of suffering on the cross Jesus chose to love us and to prevail against all the things that would have kept us from the eternal fellowship and relationship we remain in with God today!

Blessed Beyond More Than What We Have

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Luke 15:11-18          

[11] And he said, A certain man had two sons:
[12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
[13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
[14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
[15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
[16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
[17] And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
[18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

In order for the devil to try and gain victory he must do something to try to get you out of the house. He had to send a restless spirit. Being blessed and favored of the Lord has no bearing on what you have in possessions. We are always restless, trying to find a way to move in the direction that is opposite of what we are because we think that we are not blessed based on the persecution we are facing. Young trying to act old, old trying to act young, people jobs trying to leave it, people with no jobs trying to get jobs.

The prodigal son only got hindered was because he left the house, thus giving the devil a place where he could work. He had lived his whole life with riches, so we know living with riches wasn’t the season the young man wanted to leave. It was his lust to want to be in control of it that drew him away. What a world we live in. It tempts us to believe that if we move out from God that we can be in more control of our lives. But it is a deception!

We serve God but are always second-guessing how blessed we are even though we are blessed regardless of possession. You need to begin to realize that you are blessed! An indicator that you are is when you are facing hard times and not when you have a lot.

Acts 3:1-7

[1] Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
[2] And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
[3] Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
[4] And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
[5] And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
[6] Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
[7] And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.

People were not blessed with miracles because of the possessions. It was a faith, a substance, a perspective. The young man at Luke 15:13 spent his substance. Do you see the citizen of the country?!?

If we do not keep our substance we fall when we lose our possessions or what we value. You are blessed even when you do not have!

Sometimes You Have To Lose To Win The Bigger Prize

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When I think about all of the times that I have ever felt defeated in my life there was something within me that I could not realize at the time. Day by day after the bad times I felt so awful, longing to go back and change what had happened, making the statements like “I should have never went to begin with” or “Why do I even bother”.

Ultimately when we get stuck on the whys and whats of a problem we tend to lose the confidence that we possess within ourselves to succeed. In his walk on earth Jesus opened up something that totally went against the grain of our discouragement from not seeing or getting what we expect. Jesus began to teach with references to moving mountains speaking to peoples lack of faith from discouragement of not seeing it and boldly stated that through faith renewed in hope that you could ask and receive.

Matthew 17:20

[20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 21:21-22

[21] Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
[22] And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

The bigger picture is even when you lose through hope you can still have the bigger prize. Even when I do not see the blessing with hope within I still have strength to believe in faith regardless of the conditions of the situation. This can be seen in its simplest form when you see amazing people fighting cancer within their body yet they still have the mind power of a perfectly healthy human being. The power of hope renews the hope of faith. And with faith comes the renewing of the mind. And with a renewed mind comes the sanctification of the body through temperance (self-control) to not only keep you at peace but to be disciplined to continue and believe based on what you have knew of God to have done for you in the past!

So you know what? I will gladly take a loss in this life to hope and realize the strength of the spirit and long for Heaven’s gain! As I have said many times in the past, I strive for the mark, the prize of the high calling of God. Do we know what that prize really is? It is faith through hope and belief in Jesus Christ! When you reach the prize you win the race!

 

 

 

The Things We Take For Granted Are Things We Miss When They Are Gone

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As I am learning day by day to be an ambassador of God’s love there is one fact that stands very clear to me: the things that we take for granted are things we miss when they are gone. I apologize if this sounds like a golden-age’ish trip to the past, but I assure you there is a revelation for you.

Starting out in my childhood I never really realized (and we typically do not as kids) how good life really was. Having  little responsibility and having the only worries of what that note said that was passed at school was definitely a care-free time in my life. Sports were great…well…playing sports with an energy that did not run out was great! Christmas was a different experience as a child than an adult; for I can honestly say that the look on my face when I got presents I wanted let me know what pure glee felt like. I never knew that the experiences I would have with my family that we would seemingly be rushing through would be moments that I would give anything to have had more time in. There were people that I got to be around that were such a joy to my life that have passed away as I have gotten older. What I would not give for that chance to thank them with the same love they have shown me.

Moving on into my teenage years I plainly see my attitude was always objective with rebellious actions and always wanting more. I got what I wanted and thought I was entitled to it, as if being totally irresponsible and ungrateful were not enough in my opinion to deserve it. And even though my teenage years had a lot of bad decisions involved I am happy to say that there were some people that still attempted to invest in me. I had 3 teachers I specifically remember that took the time to make sure they knew I cared. I still remember their names and faces and now know what it was they were trying to do for me. I remember beginning to pay attention in church and seeing people do things that went completely against my outlooks and perspectives of things I thought were true as I was discovering life for myself. Yet there were those who still loved me even when who I thought I was changed all the time. Those people have never left my heart and I am so grateful that I was taught by example about what it means to love through God’s love.

I guess it would be safe to say that I am about in the mid-point in my adult life now. I’m not sure how much more time God will give me to live. Since I have been saved and delivered from my addictions life has totally changed. Something else changed: the numerous amount of people that were as a support around me began to let up little by little. I began to wonder if it was something that I had done to have people start only calling when they were in need of something. I thought I must have surely done something wrong to get in a situation where I always gave and never received a return. I went my entire life knowing one way and now was lost in this part of the journey. The one thing I had to learn in what seemed like the hard way at first was that God was there all along! I then began to learn about how much help I could have through God, that it was so much more than just knowing you had salvation. There was a relationship with God that began to bloom in my life that began to feel just like the people that were around me in my past. And now more than ever I now understand that this stage was a transition to God’s full purpose for my life. There are people now, as I have stepped into the faith, that are in great need of that person that will love through God’s love. Sure I could be sad about losing all of the loved ones and experiences I have had, but I now know why I ever got to feel the good times to begin with. It is now my time to pay it forward.

This ministry and the calling God has on my life was built by every good memory, good experience, and good person that invested in all of our lives. We were being built by people who had the love of God that wanted the best for us. When I really think about that my heart goes out for so many. I could never repay them all, just as much as I could ever fathom of repaying God’s free pardon of sin and love that has been shown to me. God’s love for all of us is shown to us so that we not only know God but show that same love in kind to others. It is so important to not stay selfish and always looking to find more for you. As you grow up and mature in your life God can teach you how to change from being selfish to selfless. In closing this thought I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the things I always took for granted are things that I wish I could get back. And though I cannot get back what I had I can still give out of what I had received. That is where the bible all of a sudden opened up to me like a flood and these verses hit me like I had just read it for the very first time.

1 John 4-7-11

[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Who Am I?

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To begin to know who we are we must first recognize who God is:

Genesis 1:1

[1] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

[14] I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Psalms 148:5

[5] Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

Psalms 119:90

[90] Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

1 Samuel 2:2

[2] There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Revelation 19:6

[6] And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Isaiah 44:6

[6] Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Jeremiah 32:27

[27] Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

God wants us to recognize Him as the one true God and worship Him only.

1 Samuel 7:3

[3] And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

So who am I?

Our nature is human ( or Flesh) – made from the dust, born into sin, born to die, a sinner, full of faults and mistakes, righteousness is as filthy rags.

There is none Good in this world except God through us! It overcomes our human nature and brings us into a new standard of righteous living and leads us unto life eternal through Christ!

Ezekiel 16:1-6

[1] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,
[3] And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.
[4] And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
[5] None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
[6] And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

An outcast – father was an Amorite and mother a Hittite

Alone and helpless – thy navel was not cut; was not washed, was not swaddled-none eye pietied me; polluted in my own blood; course of life was headed for destruction-could not help myself and no one else could help

Like the man that went down from Jerusalem to Jehrico and fell among thieves and was beaten and left for dead – Needed someone to come for me as I was and where I was

He came looking for me – As He passed by he saw me for what I was but didn’t turn me aside and leave me to die in my sins. God through Christ had compassion and said live! He did not leave any of us the way that he found us.

If someone comes by and asks me who I am, I can say I am a sinner saved by God’s grace which came by Jesus Christ!

I am:

Blessed because my transgressions are covered, my rough places made smooth, my crooked paths made straight. His blessings overtake me as I go down life’s road

Washed though my sins were as scarlet they are now made white as snow

Forgiven because my sins are cast out into the sea of forgetfulness

Psalms 103:1-5

[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
[2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
[3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
[4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
[5] Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

When I think of who I am now, some words definitely come to mind: Covered, Redeemed, Pardoned, Justified, Free, Delivered, Kept, Whole, Watched, Adopted, a Joint-Heir, Loved, Clothed and in my right mind, Glad, On my way home, more than a conqueror! I am also precious in His sight, standing on a Solid Rock, Anointed, and the list goes on and on. I will always be able to claim each of these, for they are eternal.

The journey of life sometimes brings us hardships, toil and trouble. We get weary, tired, discouraged, worn, lonely, homesick, perplexed, afraid, sick etc. But remember God’s grace and his salvation is greater than, goes further, and is stronger than the trials of life. These are but temporary and will soon be left behind. When life gets hard, encourage yourself with God’s word and His promises. Remind yourself of who you are and who your Father is.

So who are you?