The formal definition of choking is: “The inability to breathe caused by a blockage in the throat or windpipe.”

What’s choking you? What noun (person, place or thing) is blocking your ability to breathe and take in the word of God?

Mark 4:19
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Ever wonder why the word doesn’t seem to “work” for you, but you hear of how it works for others and how God is moving in their lives? It’s not that God has respect of person. No He told us that.

Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

It’s our own fault. We make the word unfruitful in our lives. How so? There are many ways. As Mark 4:19 states, we allow circumstances in life to make the word void (nonexistent). We hear the Word of God, yet we don’t apply it. Or, we hear it but we don’t believe it. 

How do we not receive God’s word? By not doing what God says and not allowing His word to take root, we demonstrate our unbelief in the power of God. 

What am I saying? 

When roots form to create a tree or plant, they spread deep beneath the surface of the ground to establish a foundation. They then draw resources required (nutrients from the soil, water, etc.) to grow and spring forth above the ground. We see and smell the end result of beautiful flowers but we do not fully understand the process it took to develop under ground.

When you allow the cares and pressures of life to take root in your life, they become the source or foundation of everything that drives you and it spreads. Instead of allowing the word to take root, we allow lies, lust, fear, anger, gossip and depression.

Get rid of the choking hazards in your life and open the airways to hear the Lord speak to you.

 

Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭24-25‬ NLT)

Have you been cooking and then found that you didn’t have all the ingredients you needed? So you quickly ran to Walgreens, CVS, or the corner store. These are called convenient stores. 

A convenient store is a store with extended opening hours, and within a convenient location- close by. They stock a limited range of household goods and groceries. Oftentimes, the products offered come in smaller quantities but it’s just enough to provide you with what you need until you can get what you really need. 

Convenience means: A quality or situation that makes something easy or useful for someone by reducing the amount of work or time required to do something. 

 

Are you comfortable with asking someone to do something for you, if you do not know them? Would you ask a stranger to watch your child while you went grocery shopping?  Or, if you were eating at a restaurant and had to go to the bathroom, but you were the only adult and had 3 small children with you. Would you ask a stranger from another table to watch your babies?

That’s how we do Jesus. We come running to Him and then expect for Him to do what we ask and we really don’t know much about Him. Then we give the “or else” clause. 

• “If you don’t do this, I’ll go back to doing that.”
• “If I don’t get this job, I’ll go back hustling.”
• “Forget it, He didn’t answer yet. Everybody else got somebody. It doesn’t take all that. I want to be married too.” I have a good judge of character. 

Uhh hmmm- so…how can you give God an ultimatum? We’re talking about the true and living God. You know, the one that raised Lazarus from the dead. Yeah, the one that parted the Red Sea. 

Oh I see- I get it. These examples are not “real” to you because you didn’t live during those times. Yeah- it’s just a “biblical story.” Okay. How about the one that covered you when bullets flew from every direction but did not harm you? How about you been doing everything you knew to do right, and still didn’t have enough to feed your family but SOMEHOW He touched someone’s heart to get you groceries? What about that procedure you had to have performed on your body and doctors gave you a 50/50 chance of survival, but God raised your percentages? Oh yeah, or when you weren’t sure if you could register for college because your financial aid didn’t “kick in” and He stepped in right on time? 

We want to lay at the altar and give our lives as a sacrifice to God, but only…when it benefits (or conveniences) us. The Lord has already given us many conveniences we didn’t deserve.

• He conveniently provided you with a job, but you inconveniently did not honor Him and give Him the first fruit of your increase (Tithes and offerings). 
• He conveniently allowed your child to be born with no health issues when you inconveniently decided to give in to temptation – confessing Christ the entire time, making His power of no effect in your life. 
• He conveniently covered you even when you inconveniently decided not to separate yourself from the people, places and things that YOU KNOW would bring temptation. 

Your matters of convenience is inconveniently separating you and blinding you from what should matter most in your life: your relationship with Jesus, which everything else should be built upon. I’m reminded of an older hymn:

“My hope is built on nothing less…on Christ, the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand”

“He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” Psalms‬ ‭62:6-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you ever asked yourself the question: “Why me?”

Well, I did. Not that I thought I would be exempt from trials but, well if I be honest, I just did not know what I was going to have to deal with. Even if I had a mind to think of various trials I could go through, I still would not have come up with this stuff.

I graduated from high school with honors at age 16, started college at 17, majored in Business Management and Information Systems, took a year off before starting a Master’s program. Completed the program with a degree in Telecommunications. I met my husband, we remained abstinent until we wed and have been together for almost 15 years…and my dad has not been in my life consistently since the age of 4. Not because I had not tried, he just didn’t respond to the attempts from my mom, as a child and from me as an adult. 

Now I am no saint and there is a lot of testimony missing. In fact, it was the issues with men 🙄 that brought me back to my foundation and first love – which is Jesus Christ. 

Having done everything “by the book,” so I thought, the war began. I had to learn how to fight, spiritually. I’m not exempt for tribulation, shoot and didn’t think I would be. Paul had to learn. When he was Saul, he fought against the Lord. Paul (then Saul) killed anyone who named the name of Jesus. Then his name was changed to Paul and he fought for Jesus. He knew how to carnally fight, but he had to learn what the spiritual battles were and how to win them. 

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭NKJV

Here were some of my battles:

• Our first child was delivered through C-section because her heart rate decelerated.
• 2nd child had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck three times. It was so tight that when I would contract, her head would snap back. At that point, it’s not about me: “Get my baby out! I screamed.”
• After 2 C-sections, I miscarried. I wondered Lord what did I do? Did I upset you? 3 months later, pregnant again. At this point, a 3rd C-section is inevitable.
• 4 girls later, not planning to have any more children, the boy comes.

Yes!!..but another C-section. At this point risks with my age and the number of C-sections I had, my son’s life was at stake and so was mine. I had to put my faith in check. It wasn’t until my husband became a Pastor and I began to understand my purpose, that I soon realized what had been accomplished through me.

PURPOSE had been filled. Faith had grown. Character was developed. My trials had nothing to do with me but everything to do with who the Lord desired for me to reach and compel. My troubles were my spiritual training camp. 

Could your worst trial be Jesus’ desire to fulfill His purpose through you?

Who are we kidding here? Fighting is painful. It hurts. Blows from unexpected places sometimes happen. But we must learn how to fight, to soften the hit. 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Where are your war clothes? Get your mind right, so you can be prepared. You are already a victor because Jesus is fighting for you. Walk in the victory that’s been handed to you. 

Gird up your loins soldier. Training camp has begun. 

Have you ever witnessed a fight? Back in the day, Mike Tyson had the boxing world at a standstill, waiting for his next fight. The entertainment of it draws people. Think about MMA and UFC fighting- how brutal geez; but if you literally think about fighting someone, it is not entertaining. There is blood, there is anxiety and nervousness. There is so much that happens in a short period of time.

Reality: fighting is NOT pretty.

In 2 Timothy 4, we find Apostle Paul encouraging Timothy, and yet expressing what he has gone through for the Lord and how he had to fight. His salvation had a price.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Paul could encourage Timothy because Paul had been through some stuff. He knew what it was to suffer. He was beaten with rods, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and the list goes on and on (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

Truly, Paul could say that he fought. He FOUGHT! But He could also witness that he won the fight.

2 Timothy 4:8
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Honey, if that’s not a win, I’m confused. To know that you know, that you know you have a crow of righteousness- pshhh Paul could look beyond the suffering towards his eternal future.

Salvation does not come without a price. Let’s be honest. Life is going to bring many hardships. We will have to endure either as believers or non-believers. I’ll take my chances with Jesus. What about you?

What are you willing to fight for? Are you fighting because you refuse to lose Jesus? Will you fight for the salvation that was sacrificed through the death of another and might I add, not because we deserved it?

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians‬ ‭1:21, 23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If someone was willing to die for us, surely we can be willing to fight for keeping the relationship with them. I am talking about Jesus. Are you willing to look beyond the suffering towards the purpose and beauty that will spring forth?

Keep fighting!

Our mind produces so many visions and dreams.

• When I was in elementary school, I envisioned how big the kids would look in middle school.
• When I was in middle school, I envisioned the kids would be even bigger in high school. 😱
• When my mom and I moved from Milwaukee to Little Rock, I envisioned how much I would hate it (without even giving it a fighting chance, but it wasn’t all so bad).
• When I was planning my life and how it would be as a college student, I envisioned being horrified, only 16 years old and a virgin, among adults who looked like the Jolly Green Giant.

🤢🤢🤢

• When I was single, I envisioned how my life would look as being married- boy was I wrong.

We have visions for our future, our careers, our children and retirement. I mean, after all, God even said:

“Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” Habakkuk‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We have a vision for everrrryyyyy thing. But…what about a vision for how you would like your day to start and end with The Lord?

Did you invite Him into the high-profile meeting you had today on the job?

Did you welcome Him in to request His protection?

Did you speak with Him today or have any conversation or produce any sentences which did not involve asking Him to do something for you?

Stop. Acknowledge him. If you have abandoned your ways to live by the principles your Father has set up, then you are in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who sent the aid of the Holy Spirit to help us with this relationship. Why not talk to the one who we say we live for?

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:46‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It is a parental relationship that requires conversing. He is with us all the time but imagine how uninvited He feels? Just, invite him in. 

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭ NKJV

What vision are you writing? Does it entail being so close to God that He trusts you to carry out Kingdom Business- saving souls. Is it a vision where if you ask anything, as Moses did (Lord if I find favor in your sight…) the Lord will adhere to your request? Does your vision involve the Lord answering you – midstream, while you are still talking?

What vision are you writing?

The Bible says that there is a time and a season for everything.

There’s a time to be born and die. To feel happy and sad. Time to work and a time to relax. There is a time to speak and to refrain from speaking. There is a time to to say yes and a time to say no.

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There is a time to stop making the same mistakes over and over and begin to learn from previous experiences. Listen. There is even a time to stop eating. Keep trying to eat that sweet potato pie when you know you full. Your body will reject it and you’re going to fill sick.

🤢🤢🤢

There is time for everything, but there is also one thing that I feel we devote too much time towards: Proving who we are to other people. 

You can make one bad decision or one mistake and people will become unforgiving, forget allll of the good things you have done or stood for, and then throw you under a bus and pray that you get hit by it- all from one minor mishap. Oh how the dirt that they have swept under a rug quickly becomes unnoticeable.

God said it best:

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew‬ ‭7:3-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I want to encourage you today. Overcome evil with good. When someone is deliberately being hateful, rise above their opinion and be great. Responding to their hate with hate does not make you any better. I’ll admit, that is not easy. Oooh my GAWD it is not…carnally, but spiritually, it is very much so possible and should be the attitude we should strive towards. Most acts of malice come from a place in a person’s life where they have either been hurt or are unhappy with themselves.

Be good, but don’t waste time trying to prove it!

The Heavens testify of your glory. The angels declare you’re worthy. The sun demonstrates your infinite wisdom. The birth of a human from within the internal structure of another human.

You alone, are God.

The winds cease at your command. Large bodies of water roar as they approach the coastal lines, but then return back to their original habitation – unless you command them to overtake the land through boisterous winds and storms we call tropical storms and hurricanes.

You alone are God.

To love me through my ignorance of your love. To take care of me when I was careless with my own life. To protect me when I placed myself in harm’s way.

You alone are God.

To totally forget the sin that separated me from you, and not even remember it anymore. To erase the conviction of death (of which I was clearly guilty of receiving) through your mercy and grace. And then…to request of an introverted and shy young lady to deliver your word and help your children.

You alone are God.

You are truth. You are life. You are He who was and is and is to come.

You ALONE are God. And you are God, my Father.

He desires to be yours too, but it comes with a cost. A sacrifice known as a cross that we must bare and yet it is not merely enough of a compensation for what He has done and continues to do for us.

Are you willing to be a living sacrifice for The Lord?

“For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.” Psalms‬ ‭86:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometimes we hold on to what we don’t need and we get rid of what we need to hold on to.

It is time to make some minor adjustments. Let’s begin right here. If we be honest, there is a lot we need to rid ourselves of and there is also one thing everything elsenshould be contingent upon:

Lose the foolishness.
Lose the doubt.
Lose the gossip.
Lose the half-heartedness.
Lose the pride.
Lose the senseless acts.
Lose the sin.
Lose the anger.
Lose the maliciousness.
Lose the hurt.
Lose the frustration.
Lose the disrespect.
Lose the heard-heart.
Lose the thoughtlessness.
Lose the insensitivity.
Lose the bitterness…

And keep the faith.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If you gotta hold on to something, hold on to your faith.

When everyone else seems to be settled and you feel like you have a spiritual imbalance…hold on. 

Your tenacity will help the others in their time of crisis. For we are laborers one of another. 

If death were staring you in the face what do you think you would be thinking about? Your family? Children? Spouse? Your dreams and aspirations? What about places you have not gone or things you have yet to experience? Regrets? Worries? Or, how about the attitudes and behaviors you have had that reflect the opposite of who you say you’re representing- would it even matter?

I am certain I would think of my babies and my husband. I’ve read and seen stories where people who have experienced life flashing before their eyes, begin to think more simplistic. Such as having the ability to read a book to your child. Tucking them in at night. Taking a walk or just laughing with those closest to you.

Why wait until tragedy happens to be compassionate, kind, thoughtful, or loving? It does not have to be this way. Why can’t we be forgiving now? What reward is received from seeing who can hold the longest grudge? Like- what do you get for that? What badge of honor do we get for being difficult to work with?

Live each day as if it is your last. Treat others with respect and be a sure follower of Jesus. Death is just as close as your next breath.

Don’t take anyone or anything for granted.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬