How many times have you heard or quoted this scripture when something did not happen as you expected or there was an unexpected trial or test or suffering?

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• What if the Lord had to remove you from the “good” job, to teach you how to trust Him and to understand that He is your source?
• What if the Lord had to uproot you and your family from the “good” location and place you in a locariin where you can truly develop and walk in His purpose for you?
• What if the Lord had to disconnect you from the “good” relationships to create a GREAT relationship with Him?

Abraham had to leave His family to receive the promise of God. Are you willing to leave what’s familiar, comfortable and “good” to experience a spiritual awakening?

“Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Today, I have no ah-ha moments, concepts, or ideas; no defined words, or breakdown of scriptures. I just have thoughts:

1. What will it take for you to really live for the Lord?
2. Why is it that He has to “do” something for you, take something (or someone) away from you, or allow the enemy to test you, for you to adhere to His word?
3. Why is it that after He moves on your behalf, you develop amnesia and return back to the source of your pain?
4. To receive a full paycheck, you have to earn it by working a full work week. How come you feel it should be good enough to give the Lord part of you and still receive His full benefits? 
5. How is it that you KNOW the doors opened for you are from the Lord and you openly express this, but yet your heart is so far away from Him? 
6. How is it that seeking Him is not a priority but when you felt as if you were going to lose your mind from your own inward battles and demons, you stayed on your knees and in your word? Now that the storm has eased up a bit, you’re back associated with the same people, or types of people, who initially separated you from the love of God. 

How can you be content with an inconsistent life?

The Lord sought and fought for you and believe it or not, even with you ignoring Him, He is still chasing after you- pleading with you to turn from your ways. How you may ask? I shouldn’t have to name them but with all the increases in crime,  loss of jobs we see around the world, rumors of wars, terrorist attacks, children being shot, kids stealing cars, and God STILL covering you?

Just don’t wait too long. Just as you get tired of being used (and He did say He made us like Him, in His image) I’m sure He gets tired of being used, bad-mouthed, and  neglected as well. 

“You neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth. “The LORD saw this and drew back, provoked to anger by his own sons and daughters. He said, ‘I will abandon them; then see what becomes of them. For they are a twisted generation, children without integrity.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭32:18-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You had trials and issues before you came to the Lord, but your eyes were blinded to them. When your eyes became opened, your spiritual being became aware of the trials and who you are fighting. Why would your enemy need to fight against you if you’re on the same team? When you changed teams, the enemy became more belligerent and angry, magnifying your troubles so they would seem that much worse.
So…what’s it going to take for you to consistently serve the Lord? There’s a song my granny would play on her record player. I don’t recall who sang it but some of the words are. OH WAIT! I remember. The song was by Prince Dixon: “There is No Excuse”. 
“There is no excuse, there is no excuse, there is no excuse! There is no excuse for not serving the Lord.”

There is no excuse, but it is going to take everything you got. 

Have you ever felt drained from life? No, I’m talking about feeling as if life was sucking the life out of you? Every time you think you are making progress, something from an unexpected source, feels as if it is pulling the oxygen from your lungs. Even more so, when you decided to completely surrender your life to the the Lord, you were hit and hurt on every angle. We must remember that with the Lord, the pain we experience produces a purpose.The Lord always provides us with examples of affliction, sufferings, patient endurance and triumph.

In 2 Corinthians the 11th chapter, we learn of some of Paul’s sufferings for Christ Sake:

• 5 different times, he was whipped by the Jews and received 39 stripes.
• 3 times he was beaten with rods.
• He was stoned once.
• He shipwrecked 3 times.
• He spent an entire day and night adrift at sea, left for dead.
• He had been robbed, gone without food and water and enough clothing to keep him warm.

One beating alone could have handicapped or even killed Paul. Yet after allllll of this, Paul says: “I believe God.” Paul looked beyond his personal afflictions and recognized his sufferings equipped him and empowered him.

Paul endured many afflictions. He went from being an atheist to an activist of Jesus. I felt something right there- I’ll say that again:

PAUL WENT FROM BEING AN ATHEIST TO AN ACTIVIST!

What about you? After all the hardships, pains and tragedies in life, will you believe God? Or will you give up at the sign of struggle or the moment your prayer isn’t immediately answered? After all, Jesus told us:

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

The world may press us hard, but God’s strength, presence, and comfort will not allow us to be crushed. If you see someone not like themselves on today, help them by noticing them. Give a smile, give an encouraging word, pray for them, give a listening ear. Be willing to help someone live.

“May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God. That is because we receive so much comfort through Christ in the same way that we share so many of Christ’s sufferings. So if we have trouble, it is to bring you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is to bring you comfort from the experience of endurance while you go through the same sufferings that we also suffer. Our hope for you is certain, because we know that as you are partners in suffering, so also you are partners in comfort.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3-7‬ ‭CEB‬‬

It is the only book that has stood the test of time.
It is the only book that has been referred to the most by other books.
It is the only book that has never gone out of circulation.
It is the only book that has foretold all that has happened, all that is currently happening, and all that is to come.

It is the ONLY book that strengthens faith.
It is the ONLY book that gives sustainable hope.
It is the ONLY book that allows us to know our Father better.
It is the ONLY book that allows us to know and learn who we truly are and our purpose.

The Bible, our road map to navigate through life, has been the focal point of many discussions to refute the existence of God. The Bible does not seek to prove the existence of God, but rather the demonstration of His love. Regardless of the arguments, rebuttal and negative opinions, God is still the same, it does not change and the things mentioned come to pass.

Always remember this: Anything that has purpose MUST go through a test. Your test is designed to bring you to your purpose. Suffering, ridicule, judgmental attitudes, and personal attacks NEVER feel good. Even a diamond goes through a process, before it is determined to be valuable. When a diamond is found, it is rough and undefined. Diamond cutting is the practice of changing a diamond from a rough stone into a beautiful jewel. However, not just anyone can cut a diamond – and due to the difficulty, diamond cutting requires specialized knowledge, tools, equipment and techniques. I’m going somewhere.

Everything is coming together to develop you and wean you from the spiritual bottle and prepare you for adulthood. When the Lord found you, you were hopeless and drained from life. You felt there was no reason to live. Due to the hurt you had experienced by way of yourself and others, not just anyone could tell you anything. You have been sold a dream so many times, that you have felt no one and nothing was real. It took someone with the love and compassion of Jesus to get your attention. He has all the special equipment to change your life and make you shine bright like a diamond.

He is omnipotent.
He is omniscient.
He is Sovereign.

All the specialized tools, equipment and techniques are outlined in The Book– the Bible. It is the only book that provides us with God-centered visions rather than a self-centered direction and yet…it is the ONLY book that we do not refer to or we open sparingly.

Psalm 147:3 (NKJV)
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds

The Book!

You know, I’m starting to believe that Mondays are designed to be a test day: A test of your faith and character traits in Jesus. After all, Sundays are known as a day of rest, but also a universal day to enter the house of the Lord and to refuel for the week that lies ahead.

But Monday???!!!!!

I write these devotions, and send posts and images through various social media channels that reflect who I am, being transparent without offense. In fact, I stretch daily through writing and speaking. These are areas of business that I would have never personally gravitated towards. Why? Because I have always applied a “non-disclosure” agreement to my life. What does this mean? I would never share personal information just to be sharing. I have always viewed my life as confidential, unless I needed to encourage someone through my experiences, but that is a one-one-one situation. I worked behind the scenes. Even in corporate america,  my positions did not require personal interaction or face-to-face with the business. I built servers, networked and troubleshoot this issues. I participated in an on-call rotation during the evening hours to resolve technical issues, while the Team Lead explained to the Business Manager what the issues were and how they were resolved; that is…until I was asked to fulfill a Liaison/Project Management position; but I was asked, I did not desire it by any means.

I do not gravitate to things that would require me to be the focal point of the attention – but here I stand, in the midst of a career, transparent and often the center of attention (to some degree) to motivate, uplift and encourage others.

With all of that and just trying to do what is right all the time, it is so disheartening how people have no genuine compassion. When you do all that you can to help others, show no respect of person (not intentionally), to be kind and to be a living example and people STILL find a way to judge you, what do you do?

Use that energy to be more kind, more loving, more sincere, more thoughtful. I do not like having enemies, but I also had to learn that if everyone speaks well of you, then consider if God is pleased. If Jesus was criticized, the one we say we are modeling our lives after, then how much more will we be criticized? If you do not have enemies, then your godliness is probably not showing very well.

Luke 6:26 (NKJV)
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

I have adopted so many mottoes, but one that rings clear: If they don’t know you personally, don’t take it personal. 

Learn the difference between forgiving and trusting. Forgiveness is free and is required for us to receive from our Father.

Mark 11:26(NKJV)
But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses

Trust is earned. I can forgive you for your ill intent, but I do not have to allow you back into that space because you have broken the bond of trust. I can block you, remove you, or physically disconnect from you without wishing any harm on you, but the relationship we once had can no longer be. Listen! There is nothing wrong with that. Jesus forgave Judah, but He did not trust Him. HELLO SOMEBODY! Being a peacemaker is a gift. If my peace means staying away from anyone or anything that looks evil (that is bible) that SHALL I do.

Thessalonians 5:22 (NKJV) Abstain from every form of evil

If a person that you have sacrificed to help through your time, personal resources, motivation, encouragement, late night texts and early morning calls…meetings upon meeting upon meeting…is willing to walk out on you or speak ill against you, be spiritually strong enough to let them leave, yet compassionate enough to pray for them. Most of the time, their frustration is displaced, you  happen to be the recipient of it.

Luke 17:1-4 (NKJV)
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Did you pass the test today?

Luke 6:28(NKJV)
Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you

It’s Friday. You may have felt as if you have been beaten and trampled over all week. Let me leave you with this. 

Maybe you feel worthless and you struggle with depression. Maybe you are feeling empty which makes it hard for the people that you love and who love you.

When the enemy tells you (sometimes it’s not the enemy, it’s the “inner me.”) that you’re standing in the wrong place. You don’t belong. When he tried to make you doubt that the Holy Spirit has your journey already mapped out. Don’t fight the enemy on his terms; Don’t clap back. If you respond on his fleshly terms then he wins and you have no covering. You enter the battle uncovered.

The bible says in 2 corinthians 10:4 that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty THROUGH God to the pulling down of strongholds.

Fight the enemy with the word of God.

• Adjust your hair.
• Fix your little carmex or lip gloss
• Wipe your brow.
• Make sure your heels are planted firmly in the ground or your tennis shoes are laced right.
• Adjust your skirt or your jeans.
• Fix your blouse –ladies, make sure you are not exposing cleavage. We need to make sure we are hidden IN Christ
• Men, straighten up your tie.

In case you haven’t noticed by now, every area I mentioned is covered by the armor of God- PUT IT ON!

1. Gird your waist with truth.
2. Cover your breastplate with righteousness.
3. Cover your feet by being fully prepared in the Gospel of Peace.
4. Get your shield of Faith and your helmet of salvation.

That is the only way we can stand, and having done all to stand- what you supposed to do? STAND!

So – As you’re standing and the enemy is ranting and raving and taunting you, telling you that you don’t belong, you aren’t qualified, you can’t do what they do, or noone will listen to you. He may say to you: Look at your past and where you came from. When he’s done with his shenanigans you tell him this:

‬‬“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A law consists of rules and regulations required by citizens of a place to be governed by.

Laws bring control and order to a situation. If you think about it, our lives consists of rules and regulations, even within our home. For example a law for our children is not to play with any electonics until the weekend. No computer privileges, unless you have to research a topic for school.

Schools have laws. We have to pickup and drop off our children at specified times.

There are laws to be followed while driving.

Restaurants have laws:No shoes, no shirt, no service. 🚫

Christ also has a law, but I wonder if we adhere to His law like we would if we wanted to eat at an upscale restaurant. If an upscale restaurant requires you to wear specific attire- no gym shoes or shorts because of the atmosphere and the prestige they would like to uphold, we will undeniably and without question, adhere. Why? Because it is what we want, where we want to go, and the restaurant upholds a reputation.

What will force us, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, to abide by His law? We know His reputation and what she stands for, and YET, we question the requirements He has of us. We try to find escape goats and loopholes. Here is the law of Christ:

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:1-2 NKJV

If you encounter a fellow believer struggling to abide by God’s ordinances, are you going to comfort them and restore them in the law of Christ? The law of Jesus Christ is love! Everything He has ever done is and was contingent upon the love He has for us.

• Your motivation to be obedient to the Lord, should be driven by the love He has shown you.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• Your motivation to demonstrate the law (love) of Christ through you, is for others to experience what you have. When you felt you had no reason to live, bae baee, Jesus extended His arms of compassion and lifted you out of your pig’s pen. 

When we realize the invaluable sacrifice of Jesus …JUST FOR US?? We should have no problem giving thanks and honor and demonstrating our gratitude by becoming law-abiding citizens of the Kingdom of God. 

“Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark‬ ‭12:29-31 ‭NKJV‬‬

A law abiding citizen- abides in love. What are you abiding in?

In Genesis chapter 1:1, it states that the Earth was without form and it was void. Void implies emptiness- there was no value, no real purpose, and unoccupied.

As we navigate through the first chapter, look closely at the specific steps God followed to produce beauty from emptiness.

The first three days, God made some divisions: light from dark, waters above from waters below, and land from sea.

In order for us to see the presence of God in our life, we need to make some adjustments. There needs to be some divisions – SEPARATE!

“Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” II Corinthians‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

After God divides, He populated where division occurred: He adds vegetation to the land, He adds skylights, fills the sea with animals, the sky with birds, the land with animals and then finally the creation of man- who He created in His image.

Once we have repented and emptied ourselves of everything that distracts us from being in total submission to God, then we can experience spiritual population:

“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” ‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Holy Spirit desires to be with us and in us, so that we demonstrate His personality:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” Galatians‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Once man was created, God gave us control over everything else and then God takes a break- He rests.

Listen. The same thing applies to our life. Do you see the parallels? Once we totally surrender, we are given power to do the works of Jesus. He even said greater we can do because He goes back to His Father.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John‬ ‭14:12-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So where is the disconnect? We have to take deliberate action to get the flesh under subjection. He is destroying everything connected to you, including you and you’re allowing it.

Wake up to his devices and tactics.

God came and brought life to a dark and empty place of which we have made our temporary home. Have you emptied yourself to receive what our Father truly has for us?

God creates something from nothing and then finds it good. Allow the Holy Spirit to take rest in us!
Let us not continue to walk around void of life.

It used to mean something when someone would ask another why he or she does not indulge in certain things and the response of that person would be: “I’m saved!”
Do not misinterpret what I have stated. It still means everything. To give up our own ways as a sacrifice to our Savior – then Him using our testimony to save (help) others should be the common goal. However, it is the lack of respect for the statement and the distorted image the world has been presented with, from those who proclaim to be representing Jesus Christ that tarnishes His image. 

• There is no love. 
• There is division. 
• There is no distinction. 
• There is lack of accountability. Instead of showing someone their error, we choose not to get involved. 
• Instead of being peacemakers, we are truce breakers. 
• The oil does not flow- in other words, there is no anointing! 

There used to be a time when you would hear someone say: “There is something different about you!”
Where is the differentiation? We are in the world, but not of the world. Now this of course is not everyone’s story, but it is an epidemic that plagues congregations across this world. 
The foundation of holiness principles is love. Everything God does for us, by us and through us, is because of His love towards us. 
Come on family, you have to recognize the schemes of the enemy. He is working overtime to destroy you and anything connected to you. 
Where is the love? Jesus told us already what we would see during these times. 

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

True love cannot grow cold if it is rooted and grounded in Jesus. Which leads me to believe that if we are not immovable and unshakable in our profession of faith, we will become self-righteous, bitter, and hateful. Jesus is able to keep us from falling- if we desire to be kept. 

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” Jude‬ ‭1:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Save people; Let us make a half-time adjustment, get in the game, and get back to work, which is saving people. I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna stay saved, by any means necessary. Because my life depends on it. I cannot imagine what tireless roads I would’ve traveled had I not submitted totally to the Lord. When I said yes- I meant it. What about you? I’m not turning back. Back to my old ways, old thoughts, old attitudes, naw- not me. I may have to lose some friends, but oh what a friend I have in Jesus. 
Save people, save people!

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke‬ ‭22:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬