Archive for July, 2011
You Are Set Apart!
Posted by: | CommentsIt has been said that the current population of the world is between six to seven billion people. Yet you would think that with so many people, somewhere in the world is another individual identical to yourself.
But my friend, the amazing truth is that we serve a God who has set us all apart. We are all unique in many ways. Jeremiah 1:5 says, that even before you were formed in the womb, the Lord knew you and set you apart.
In the past, you may have thought, “I’m just ordinary.” “I’m not special, I have nothing that stands out.” No, your thinking should be, “I’m extraordinary. God has set me apart for a purpose.”
The scripture says in Luke 12:7 that even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Now, I must admit, I’m not a “numbers” person. There are some out there Read More→
You Have Been Approved!
Posted by: | CommentsToo often, we look to others for approval in life. Every since we were children, we were taught to “get in where we fit it.” And that’s okay, it’s a natural thing but we should not esteem the approval of others too high.
Your true validation comes from what God says about you. All throughout the scriptures, He validates us. Man may tell you that it’s impossible, but God says that all things are possible.
Man may tell you that you don’t have the talents or abilities but God has equipped you with all the gifts you need. Man may convince you that you can’t win, but if God be for you who can be against you. Man may place a curse on you and tell you that you’re nothing, but God declares that you’re blessed and highly favored.
Fortunately, you will encounter others who will build you up, but there will also be haters and naysayers who will tear you down.
Figuratively speaking, seeking validation from others is equivalent to building your house on an unstable foundation. No matter how expensive the house, if it’s built on a weak foundation it will crumble. Even if the house was built to withstand hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, if it doesn’t have a solid foundation it will cave in.
My friend, we live in an unstable world. One person may build you up and the next may tear you down. If you build your self-worth on Read More→
ShareEnlarge Your Hopes!
Posted by: | CommentsThere comes a point in life when our doubt level increases and our faith level decreases. When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, you’ll hear answers such as: a fireman, a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher. Some will even go as far as to say president of the United States. Oh, what it would be to have those ‘child-like’ hopes again.
But unfortunately, we lose that level of expectation that we once had. At some point in time, someone comes across our path and kills our hopes, dreams and expectations.
But I want to encourage you to hope again. Develop that same level of faith that you once had as a child. Don’t let doubt sink in. No, increase your level of belief.
The scripture says, “every man has been given a measure of faith.” If you knew the true power and potential you had at hand, you would be drawing up big plans. You’d be hoping and expecting big.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” How can you have faith if you have no hope. Faith aids in making our hopes come to pass and hope gives us something to have believe in.
I heard someone say that faith in the unseen world is equivalent to money in the seen world. Imagine that someone just handed you a handful of cash and gave you Read More→
ShareAppreciate the Resistance
Posted by: | CommentsFor most people, hardships and difficulties create a certain level of discomfort. In the interim, we find ourselves resisting obstacles and seeking comfort.
But if the truth be told, it’s the things that create resistance in life that cause growth. After all, no pain- no gain right?
We can learn from the Apostle Paul. He said in Philippians 4:12, “I’ve learned to be content in any and every situation.” My friend, that’s the way we should be. We should learn to be content and appreciate the resistance that life brings.
When doors of opportunities are closed, that’s resistance. When things don’t go our way, that’s resistance. When friends walk away and talk bad about you, that’s resistance. These things come about so that we can grow stronger.
You will never be able to handle the open opportunity that God has for you if you don’t learn how to appreciate or accept the discomfort of a few closed doors. You wouldn’t learn to appreciate the company of a few faithful friends, until you’ve had many friends walk out on you. It’s this kind of resistance that takes you to the next level in life.
When I go to the gym, I learn that most of my growth comes from the resistance of weight training. So appreciate your struggles. Thank God for your haters, critics Read More→
ShareHe’s A Very Present Help!
Posted by: | CommentsIsn’t it great to know that we serve a God who can be everything we need Him to be? No matter what your need is in life, God can supply all your needs.
Whether you are in trouble or you have a specific need, He comes to your aid just in time. Maybe you’re lacking moral support. He fills in the gap and meets your need in every area of your life.
I love how Psalm 46:1 says, “He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble.” Notice how the scripture says He’s a very present help. It doesn’t say He’s a past-time help. It doesn’t say He’s help to come in the future. No, it describes Him as a very present help.
That means He’s an on-time God. I heard someone say, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.” Someone else said, “He steps in right in the nick of time!”
One interesting thing I found about the scripture is that the word “help” is a very general term. In other words, it doesn’t limit God to just one profession. No, it means He can be anything you need Him to be.
Throughout the scriptures, He’s described as many things. One scripture describes Him as a father to the fatherless. He can be a friend who sticks closer than Read More→
SharePresent Your Case Before The Lord
Posted by: | CommentsWhen troubles come our way, we have a tendency to lose hope. Over a period of time, we stop declaring what God has promised us.
The adversary, would have you to think that all hope is lost and that you can’t win. But instead of falling prey to those negative thoughts, choose to make positive declarations over your circumstance.
Isaiah 41:21 says, “present your case before the Lord, set forth your arguments.” Therefore, when you’re faced with the trials of life, take your trial to what I like to call the “heavenly court.”
You see, in the natural when we have a dispute, we’re to appear before a judge in a court of law. But in the spiritual, there is an even greater Judge, my friend. And He is no respecter of persons. He abides by the greatest law which is the law of love. He is a just God and a Lord of vengeance. But in order for Him to deliver His verdict, you have to present your case.
Remind Him of what His Word says about you. If you’re in need, remind Him that He is a God who shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches. If you’re Read More→
ShareAlways Count The Costs
Posted by: | CommentsWhen we pray for material things, we often forget that they come with a cost. We forget that God requires a sacrifice for everything.
Sometimes He requires the sacrifice up front, and other times the cost comes after the blessing is given. For instance, in order to reap a harvest, you must sow a seed. It may not always be a seed in the form of money. The Lord may require a sacrifice of praise given unto Him, extra time or extra efforts put into a certain task.
Other times, the good Lord may require us to pay the cost after the blessing is given. In this instance, it may be in the form of maintenance. An example would be, If God blesses you with a house, acres of land, and a shiny new luxury car, you’ll required to keep them up.
My friend, I want to encourage you to always count the cost. It’s not that God doesn’t want you to have the things that you ask, it could be that He’s waiting on the right time to give it to you. That’s why He’ll test you first. He’s trying to see where your faith is- He wants to know that you handle the up-keep that it takes to sustain the blessings that He has in store for you.
Many people want more money, more power, more success or more material things but you should always count the costs. A wise man said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” The scripture also says, “to whom much is given, much is required.”
It may be that your faith level is not at the level of your blessing. In other words, you may not be sowing a big enough seed up front to meet the level that requires your blessing. Whatever you do always count the costs.
In your everyday actions, always count the cost. When you’re tempted to turn left when God says turn right, know that there is a cost for the disobedience. When you sow a seed of love into your neighbor life, you will reap Read More→
ShareThink on These Things!
Posted by: | CommentsYour most dominant thoughts will determine what you will acquire most out of life. Too often, we go around allowing negative thinking to cloud our mind. For many, the glass is half empty when it should be half full.
But if you make a decision to change the way you think, you will surely see a change in life. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the way we think is tied to our faith. In other words, If you think that you’ll never rise to a new level in life, then that’s the level you’ll achieve. If you think that you’ll never be made whole, then you’re limiting God’s healing power on your life. If you think you don’t have the talents, abilities or the skills then you will never fulfill what Philippians 4:13 says about you- that you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “So as a man thinketh, so is he.” If you think about things that are mediocre, or things that are not admirable, or things that aren’t worthy of praise, then you’re setting a low ceiling for your level of faith.
But I dare you to do what the Apostle Paul declares in Philippians 4:8, “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, whatever is lovely, admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” This is a guideline of how we should think.
Notice the scripture doesn’t say whatever is deceiving, lacking virtue, detestable, evil, whatever is full of doubt, whatever is depressing, or Read More→
ShareThere Is Rest for the Weary
Posted by: | CommentsNo matter how dark the day seems, there is always a brighter day ahead. Even when the burden seems hard to bear, know that God is working behind the scenes to lighten the load. He wouldn’t put more on you than you can bear.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says “come to me all you who are weary and carry heaven burdens, and I will give your rest.” As you can see, it’s not God’s plan for you to be burdened.
The world has coined a famous saying- “No rest for the weary.” But I want to encourage you today my friend, know that there is rest for the weary. If you’ll simply go to God with all your problems and your troubles, you’ll find that He has a way of escape.
He’s waiting to lighten the load for you but first you must go to Him. You have to seek Him. Don’t try to take the problems in your own hands. Don’t stress out over them. Don’t worry about them, but carry them to the Lord.
Philippians 4:6 say’s do not be anxious or worry about anything, but in Read More→
ShareMake The Most of Every Opportunity
Posted by: | CommentsToo often, we find ourselves looking towards a certain day or a certain moment. We look either too far in the future or too far in the past and in doing so, we find ourselves missing out on the current opportunity.
We live in a day in time where our minds are going a million miles an hour. We have deadlines to meet and chores to get done. We even dwell on the things that are far in the future.
And don’t get me wrong, it’s okay to look forward to things in the future that are worthy of praise, such as that long awaited vacation, or the trip to see your best friend for instance. But don’t delight yourselves too much in those moments that you neglect the good in the current moment.
Know today that every moment that is given to us from God is a blessing. Whether you’re in rush hour traffic, on your daily commute to your job, or waiting in line at the bank, you should look for the good in every opportunity in life.
Ephesians 5:16 tells us to make the most of every moment in these evil days. Notice it didn’t say to make the most of moments to come. It didn’t say make the most of the moments long gone. No, it says to make the most of every moment in these evil days.
Remember, tomorrow is not granted to you. The next hour isn’t even promised. So make a decision today, to find the good in every situation and opportunity of life.
Even until this day, I can remember moments in the past that at the time Read More→
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