If you knew that tomorrow would be your last day on this earth, what would you do differently today?

• Would you have a little more patience with your children?
• Would you be more forgiving of others?
• Would you attempt to right all of your wrongs from your past?
• Would you stay up a little longer?
• Would you make certain to enjoy the things we coin as “simple”- long walks, stopping to smell the fresh flowers, pausing to feel the warmth from the sun on your face, etc.?
• Would you love unconditionally?
• Would you hold others accountable by letting them know the err or their ways in love?
• Would you read your Bible more, today?
• Would you talk more with God, today?

The truth of the matter is- we do not know. So what keeps us from doing these things daily? Wouldn’t it make sense to live life as if it were your last day everyday, versus trying to play catchup in one day?

If you only knew how close to death we really are, then…maybe you’d be more willing to speak life urgently.

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,” 2 Peter‬ ‭3:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When seeking for a place to dine for a special event such as an anniversary, birthday celebration, or reception, we tend to research restaurants which have a reputation of quality. Not only in the food being served, but also the service provided to its patrons.

There is something about dining at a restaurant with waiters who take pride in their service and who they represent. The dinner seems to be much more enjoyable. The evening could be classified as perfect. Being served makes you feel special – knowing that your food is prepared to your liking as opposed to receiving food through a drive-thru or buffet.

Whether you have dined and the best of the best, what you may not realize is that you have been served the best of the best. The question then becomes, did you accept what is on the menu?

“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew‬ ‭20:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God sent His best representation of Himself. Jesus humbled Himself and came to this world, to offer us life eternal.

Just because you say you will eat, does not imply you will become full. Daily bread is being served along with living water. Are you seeing a quick, drive thru meal with minimal to no nutritional value, or sustainment to get through to your next meal?

“Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John‬ ‭6:32-33, 35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You’ve been served. Are you ready to eat?

How many times have you heard someone say: “Give God thanks,” read a scripture about being thankful or a social media post? What does being thankful really mean?

Being thankful invokes an emotion. It’s not just a word or a statement. It’s a feeling that follows- you know that feeling; it is sincere appreciation and gratitude.

• Someone offered to take you to lunch. 
• Someone cooked one of your favorite dishes and brought you a sample. 
• You received an unexpected text or call just to say “I appreciate you and love you.”

Are we really thankful for what the Lord has done for us or has it become a formality- just something we say? Does it invoke an emotion? In other words, after saying thank you, do we really think about what could have happened IF the Lord did not do what we said we were thankful for?

Webster defines thankful as: “glad that something has happened or not happened…”
Are we REALLY thankful that we woke up this morning?

Are we REALLY thankful that we have our health and strength?

Are we REALLY thankful for the job that we have?

Consider this: When YOU do something for someone, whether they expect it or not, you at LEAST want them to acknowledge your act of kindness, right? So…(clears throat) why wouldn’t we think the Lord, our Father, His would not want us, His children, to give Him a sincere thank you? After all, we were made in HIS image and likeness, which probably means He has feelings too!

You don’t have to be thankful FOR all, but THROUGH and IN all.

“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let’s pray: Lord, forgive me. Forgive me for the times I just said thank you but didn’t really mean it. Had I meant it, my next statement would not have been a complaint or a “…but.” We take things for granted and have even placed a weight on a blessing – small or big. Jesus, whatever you do, is mighty. Every blessings is GREAT. It doesn’t take a Red Sea parting experience for me to know that you are faithful, you are good and you are not required to do anything. Since you have done what pleases you and that it is all for my good, that alone invokes a sincere emotion of gratitude. I love you forever. I humbly ask that you accept this prayer. In Jesus name, amen.

In late March, I attended some events with my husband in support of marketing and networking during the Gospel Music Stellar Awards festivities. The events were held in Las Vegas.

On that Friday evening, we were going to head out. He was going to hang with some guys he knew that came down during the week and I was going to connect with some people I had met. However, I developed a migraine and he was fighting a bad cold. So, we decided to go take meds and get in bed. Not to mention, there was an early morning event my husband received an invite to attend, of which he was not sure if he was going because he didn’t feel good, was out late the night before and only had 1 ticket. The 1 ticket was not an issue for me. Pshhh, I was going. We are one. I’m just saying. 1 plus 1 in my marriage equals 1 😂

We got up, Marlon decides to go. While getting ready, I see I missed an early morning text. Someone asked if we were okay. That seemed odd. I respond with yeah, we are feeling horrible but thank God…blah blah blah- all the fluffy jargon. The person goes on to say oh okay no, I’m texting about me seeing that there was a robbery in our hotel last night.

Some men with tuxedos and pig masks robbed one of the stores. We had NO idea. We were sound asleep, God covered us. Imagine if we had gone out though? Right in the midst of the time it occurred, it is likely we would’ve been headed back in to the hotel.

See, when things happen and don’t go as planned, they really are planned. I was frustrated that I had a migraine because I was not even tired or stressed, which are usually my trigger points. But oh God- it was all for my good.

My mind began to race. She thinketh now. She’s talking to Jesus on the inside (I’m referring to myself) and I begin to magnify His name. “I shole thank you for covering us, Sir!”

So, we head over to this early morning event- sluggish from the NyQuil, taking DayQuil (by this time I wake up with my hubby’s cold symptoms) 😱

We go past this double decker bus and this “start” sign was posted. Marlon (my husband) says: “I wonder what they doing and why there are all so many police?” Here I go – my self gone say…”hmph looks like they setting up for a run or marathon on the strip. That’s cool.”

I told you we had NyQuil. I was whoozy. Smh. After the event, we get in a cab, go to the hotel to get more meds and sleep, so we can return home later that evening on the plane. The Cab driver says: “Something is going on, down this side of the strip. They have it blocked. Someone was shooting and they believe he is in your hotel or the one next?’

Now! I’m ready to go! Now, I’m praying and talking within myself again to the Lord. See I talk to Jesus, just like I’m on the phone speaking with someone and having a conversation- He and I converse. I need to make sure I remain on His page and I do not turn the page unless He says it’s good to. So I’m like…”okay, Jesus – sooo I thought we were good on the testimony part? Ummm- so, I wasn’t really seeking for another testimony. I know I struggle in some areas, and…I know you are a protector. You’ve been that for me for years! I got testimony on testimony. Every time we go some where, we come back home with a story???”

We get up out of Vegas. Turns out the double decker bus we went past so casually, was an active scene and the shooter was on the bus and had already shot someone 😳

Sunday morning, I’m thanking God for keeping us and bringing us back home – still thinking like – really? Why do we always come home with a story? I was excited to get to service. I was feeling horrible in my body, but I needed to let God know that I do not take His mercy, love, grace and protection for granted.

So, I’m in the bathroom still pondering the events that just took place the night before. I repeated again: “Why do we always have to have these experiences?”

I heard the Spirit say: “The testimony is a reminder for you of who I am and it’s proof to them who don’t yet believe.”

OH MY GOD.

He said: It’s a reminder for YOU and proof for THEM.

Then He gave me the scripture:

Psalms 27:5-6 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord

I was done and immediately went into a praise.

As you continue your Monday, let me encourage you to trust the process. Nothing happens by chance. It is all on purpose.

Have you ever felt as if every time you made some progress, you have taken two steps backwards?

Ever felt like the more you pushed, the more opposition you faced?

Have you ever felt as if all of the good you are doing is somehow devalued?

I have some exciting news for you, but it will require your full effort and undivided attention.

You ready?

Here goes…

Change your focus!

That’s it, that is all, that is the Big Bang. Change. Your. Focus.

We are so accustom to seeing the negative and focusing on the distractions that we become blinded to the success and progress we have made.

Believe it or not, you have more people for you than against you. Tap into that resource and I bet your mind will change. I’m speaking spiritually. If God be for us, who cares who is against us?

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Open you eyes…

“And Elisha prayed, and said, “ LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If you were to pause and make a list of things that you were grateful for today, what would you mention?

Waking up? The ability to move around under your own will? Family? A job? A roof over your head? Yes, we are certainly grateful for these and people take them for granted.

Now that you are in a grateful mood, have you considered the amazing gifts of compassion given to us? I’m speaking on grace and mercy. Thank God for His mercy and grace that has kept us for years. Here’s the kicker: We did nothing to be deserving of it! It was all because God loved us. 

Oh, I’m so emotional this morning. Because of your love, God, you redeemed us back to you. Because of your love, you continue to look beyond our shortcomings. Here we remember every negative thing someone does or says, and you forget what we have done.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ‭‭I John‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So what exactly has Jesus kept you from and continues to keep you from?

Consider this:

• The job that you considered to be your dream job, but God knew it was closing its doors in a few years.
• A man/woman you thought you would marry but God knew you would become so lost in that person, they would take your focus away from Him.
• The regular route you normally take to drive home from work but you felt the urge to go in the opposite direction. Later you learned that a major pile up/collision occurred on the freeway at the time you would have been commuting .

Now that we have made a list, ACT like you’re grateful.

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. (‭Psalms‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬ NLT)

What if you saw a boxer enter the ring with oven mitts? Wouldn’t it look crazy if a football player wore hockey gear on game day? Your initial reaction may be one of: “Oh, the game is fixed. They wanted to lose!”

As crazy as this may sound, that is how we look trying to fight a spiritual battle with our fleshly mind.

For example. You’re having a pretty good day and all of a sudden, you receive a call that just disturbed your entire atmosphere. The weapon used was carnal, but the source was spiritual.

You had everything planned out for the day and what you were going to do to enjoy your “me” time. Until your adult child calls with some not so good news because they made a decision based on a temporary emotion. The weapon used was carnal. The source was spiritual.

You prayed early this morning, had your gospel music blasting, and you were focused and ready to take on the enemy. Just as soon as you sat down, someone came to you with some shenanigans and now you can’t even focus. The weapon used was carnal. The source was spiritual.

The job of the enemy is to take your focus off the Lord. He wants you focus on the problem and not the problem solver. If he does that, then you lose desire to seek the Lord and you enter the battle unequipped- in your flesh. It’s a setup! If you fight in the flesh, you will lose.

As difficult as it may be to understand this, our battles are spiritual! Jesus told us who we are fighting:

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ NLT)

•  Your enemy is not the person who stole from you.
• Your enemy is not the person who gossiped about you.
• Your enemy is not the person intentionally hurt you.

Your enemy is the enemy and whoever allows the enemy to use them, they have kindred spirits. 

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” ‭‭John‬ ‭8:44‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Anything that is not of God is sin. That enemy could even be yourself and your mind.

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. (‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭8-10‬ NLT)

Just as God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us to teach and guide us (John 16:13) the spirit of the enemy dwells in others to deceive the people of God.

The Lord gave us the tools to win, we have failed to learn how to use them.

We cannot go into battle unprepared. Otherwise we will find ourselves like the sons of Sceva-who we’re unequipped for the battle and found themselves running, naked, and Afraid.

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Acts 19:13-16, KJV)

Hey! It’s Monday. My typical Mondays are “blah” mode. 

It seems like Saturdays are racing with Sunday to see who can end sooner, and Monday is a recollection of how fast it all passes me by. Hello somebody!

But you know what? I decided to change it up a bit this morning. Since it is the first day of Spring and all, and the Lord woke me up, it is time to push forward. 

I’m pressing and stretching. I heard my Pastor say that every day won’t be good and every day won’t be bad, but at least I got a “day.”

So I’m thanking God for a day. A day to make the most of it all. A day to remember how Good the Lord is. A day to be thankful for my Lil ole life and my lil ole family. 

Since nothing won’t change if I don’t change my routine, I’m switching up a few things. Still need my ice, coffee and my word – but I am making myself accessible for my Father to benefit from my life. Shoot, since He handed out benefits, I may as well make it beneficial for Him as well. 

What about you? Stretch and Press! 

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Father in the name of Jesus. Lord I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for who you are. You are God and there’s nothing to be said to that. Given that you are who you say you are, there are some who still do not know you.

Sometimes, we forget where and who is our source. We resort to everyone else but you. Our communication line is through prayer, which connects us to you. Oh Lord, we attempt to fight a spiritual warfare with our physical senses. But on today, we recognize the devices of the enemy. If he can get us to respond carnally, knowing that we are limited in power, then he wins. Not TUHDAY!

We have been here before. We have been through uncertainty. We have gone through tragedy. We have felt as if we would not make it, but today…it will be different. There are more with us than against us, when we invoke the Angels of battle. Every time, you have come to our rescue. 

…GOD, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, GOD, your God, will get you out of there.”‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:3-5 MSG

I ask if you would continue to be a shelter and place of refuge during the day for us. We NEED to be more like You. We all need to be more like you. Give us the strength to endure the trials in our lives. Help us to love the people who are hard to love and to forgive the people who have hurt us, taken advantage of us or maybe even abused us, and help those who feel hopeless. Burn away the sin in our life, so that we may live for you. Create a clean heart in us and renew our minds. Fill us with your Spirit so that we may reflect your character.

We are thankful for your love that you continue to demonstrate consistently and without failure. 

Forgive me, when I have said “no” when you said yes. I say yes. Yes to it all. Even when I’m scared. I say yes. I’m more afraid of life without you than the “no” to my purpose. I give you my yes. Even when the work you require of me falls beyond my level of comfort. I recognize that someone’s soul requires comforting which requires me to stretch. When I am weak, you are strong through me.We need to realize what this is all about. Life is not about what we can do, but who we can reach. Who we can reap. Who we can impact. Who we can SAVE!

We desire to be closer to you. It may be uncomfortable – but yet any change is uncomfortable. This, however, is worth it. I humbly ask that you accept this prayer. In Jesus name, amen.

“To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” Jude‬ ‭1:2, 20-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬