He Calls Me #Friend –

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Ps 8:4);…and the Lord helped David wherever he went.” (1 Chr 18:6, NASB)~ What an honor, that Almighty God would concern Himself with the affairs of mankind, let alone the tasks of a single man or woman. I’ve often been inspired by some of the “high achievers” that I know. I have wondered at times how they get so much accomplished! While first mind would give credit to their work ethic, their talents and natural personality traits, excessive self-esteem, or grand skills in any discipline or organization, God, who breathed existence into time itself, the mastermind off all things, the One that is above all and who existed before the beginning was…knows when every sparrow falls, knows the count of every atom of every thing simultaneously, has promised to “never leave us nor forsake us.” Each of us is given our ‘own’ individual, personalized and specialized measure of grace. Talents and all of the benefits of human effort and stamina are great things but we must acknowledge God’s provision. High achievement in life is a special gift but not unique for God. In fact, God has promised to help us as well, that by His grace, we are who we are! It’s absolutely overwhelming to ponder the depth of His being and yet realize His consideration of us!

To lament on where we are right now and where God has brought us, it’s absolutely certain just how much He has been there for us; helping us, leading us, blessing us and working things out for us. I can’t keep track of how many times God has moved me into a position that avoids trouble – keeping me out of harm’s way although I might have even seen it coming; and even more that I didn’t even KNOW was coming until I turned a corner; or finally, what could have come but He rebuked FOR MY SAKE; walking with me and even CARRYING me through the valley of the shadow of death! I absolutely believe that having a relationship with Him, although I don’t always maintain it to my best, comes with an incomparable benefit. God truly blesses us in all things and in all times, even ‘through’ our struggles (yes, the struggles..the fact that we live to look back on it proves that He blesses us IN it and THROUGH it).

So, let’s start with acknowledging Him today. Let’s ask God to help us…wherever we go. In asking, commit to go in the paths of His righteousness and not to lean on our own understanding (Prov 3:5-6). Pray that we do not grieve nor quench the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30), thwarting God’s desire to answer our prayers. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness before we seek any other matters of this world (Matt 6:33). And, in faith and thanksgiving, believe that the Lord will help you…wherever you go. Lord how excellent is thy name in ALL the Earth!

Who am I that You are mindful of me;
That You hear me when I call?
Is it true that You are thinking of me?
How You love me it’s amazing!!!
“Friend of God” – by Israel Houghton

He Reshapes Us & Makes Us New – Over Again – #Reset –

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make (Jer 18:4); Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good (Gen 1:31); Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become NEW. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-18) ~~

By our own doing, we’ve seen what we become. By our own hand, we are marred, we are a disappointment, we don’t have the look that God wants us to have, we have flaws, our hearts are hardened, we are dry to each other, our lives are getting more and more messed up, we are stubborn, we are jealous of each other, we are liars, we are hateful, we are evil and rebellious!

In all these things though, God looks at us, His creation and sees the best in us. He sees that we are good and rather than toss us aside, He says ‘Behold, I make all things new’ (Rev 21:5), He takes us in His hand, He reshapes us into what He sees us to be and makes US new ‘again’. He doesn’t throw us out and replace us, so we’re the same person, but in His hand we’re not that marred disappointment, that flawed, hardened, dry, messed up, stubborn, jealous, lying, hateful, evil and rebellious person… anymore!

This isn’t an instantaneous change, but one of molding and shaping and chiseling and fashioning and being put through trials of fire. It is a process where He changes us, takes off of us things that don’t work for us, and with precise adjusting and curing (which will sometimes feel painful to us) creates us new again. Friend, no matter what flaws you see when you look in your spiritual mirror, God sees you as good and in His hands He will shape you and mold you rather than cast you away. Allow yourself to be changed!

In His Hands!

How Will You #CarpeDiem ? ~

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16). Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? (Isa 43:19).

Every night when the clock strikes midnight, you don’t turn into a pumpkin but you are the recipient of a brand new, shining gift. We all receive the same amount of this gift regardless of weight, age, education, beauty, job description or marital status. You are renewed in God’s mercies every morning. Every day is a new chance, with new opportunities and new blessings. When each new day raises its sleepy head, you are the sole owner of 1440 of the most powerful commodity ever known in the history of mankind. At precisely one fraction of a second after midnight, every single day of your life, heaven opens its windows and gives to you 1440 untouched and valuable minutes to spend. How you spend your minutes is entirely up to you! Time is free, but it is priceless!

You can gossip or you can worship – you can be filled with anger or with gratitude – you can jog five miles or watch television all day long – you can read a book or go to the mall. You, and you alone, choose how you will capitalize on this extravagant and priceless gift. You can choose to laugh or to cry – to whine or rejoice – to be negative or to be positive – to be bitter or to be better. These 1440 pieces of time belong to you and to no one else but you! They are not your spouse’s or your boss’s or your children’s to spend.

It is true that there are things that we have to do. Most of us must work but we choose how we work. We can either go to the office with a chip on our shoulder, filled with angst and negativity or we can walk in with a happy heart, a solid work ethic and praying for those in our office. You can hate every minute that you are at work and waste time by gossiping with the girls in the office, playing computer games and sneaking out the door five minutes early. Or you can know that God has set you in this particular office to be a blessing and to bring the excellence and character of God into your workplace.

It is true, you have to take care of aging parents, raise your children and take out that dreaded trash. Nevertheless, you choose how to do your have-to’s. You can march through life with heavy steps and a frustrated heart or you can perform all of the necessities in life with patience, love and joy.

Carpe Diem! How Will You Seize Your Day?

#Tired ~ When Will You Rest? ~

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31)~ When do you get a chance to refresh, renew and replenish your life, your spirit, your health, your body. People say you only live once, but are you living or just working yourself to an early grave? My late Grandmother used to tell me in her own ’southern’ draw “baby you ain’t no iron – you got to rest”. Now, years later I realize what she meant by that. There are some of us that think we can’t function unless we are going 100 MPH with our hair on fire! It is a trick of the enemy to make you overwork and be so busy occupied with the things of this life; careers, activities, relationships, events and busy-work; that you miss going through this life! And you work your mind and body so much you become exhausted to the point that (like my pastor says) you’re so tired your TIRED is tired…. And your body can’t respond to the call of the Spirit. You might think you’re living a great life by being so busy and always on the move and always doing this or that, but is your life really fulfilling? You’re so busy that you gather impressions but have no experiences, you make acquaintances but make no friends, you attend events and church and meetings but experience no encounter…your work is never done. You’re keeping up so much NOISE that you miss that still, small voice of the Lord speaking to you… I think you get the point… How’s that really working for you?

Look my friend, we all know that on the seventh day, God rested (Gen 2:2). But, God did not rest as one weary (because we know the Lord never sleeps or slumbers), but as one well pleased. He took that day of rest to stop and reflect. There has to be a point in your life where you shut it down – take that vacation, that weekkend, that day off…and enjoy the blessings around you. There are benefits to what God placed before you and there is output even from your own works…that you need to get to enjoy. What’s so great about all that you work so hard for if you can’t enjoy it? That career..will be there when you get back. Those people that depend on you so much, will manage and might even impress you with their resourcefulness. Yes, you only live once but I often see this when I think about all I just HAVE to do: My family knows I’m doing it FOR them, but sometimes, they’d love to just have me doing it WITH them! Take some time and REST…GOD did it…Jesus did it…and I’m about to do it…what about you???

Rest – Relax – Reflect – Recharge- Replenish – Reset – Receive Your Revelation – Then Return!

See You In A Few Days!

God’s Sees You Coming And Is Glad About It! #ComeHome ~

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! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him (Luke 15:17-20)~

No matter how far anyone has wandered away from God, no matter how deep we have gone into sin, whenever we turn around… (definition of repent), God is right there to receive us with open arms! When we turn and come to Him, He doesn’t hold what we turned from against us! See, God doesn’t care what we’ve done in our past! He only cares about what we’re doing right now and what we will do in our future! Thanks to the finished work of Jesus, no one ever has to be lost because of their past sins. We are only lost because we will not surrender (stop), repent (turn around), and accept (go back to) what Jesus has done for us.

If you have strayed away in your life, just stop, turn around and come back to the Lord! YES, it’s that simple…no working it off, earning forgiveness or proving yourself worthy! Christ has done the work, by Grace He has forgiven us. We in our guilt tend to feel like we’re not worthy of His grace, but the devil is a LIE!!! My friend, we’re SO worthy that Jesus gave His life to prove it! YOU are restored in relationship and covenant; redeemed of everything that separated you and reconciled to FULL authority and inheritance as a child of the Lord!

God is eagerly awaiting you and will see you from Heaven as soon as you start to return to Him and He will reach out and draw you back to Him and meet you on the way – and what a meeting that is! Don’t stay away friend! God has the light from Heaven focused on you – waiting for you to turn and come Home! Just Come on Back!

He’s Waiting For You!

He COMMANDS You To Be #Strong 💪🏾 ~

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Josh 1:9).

Look, it’s not an option.. It’s a ‘command’! God says that we need not be afraid or worry..He’s with us! It’s gonna be tough sometimes, but He’s holding us up! People will oppose you and turn against you…but HE will never leave you out to dry and in fact: The Lord said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts (Ex 33:21-23).. God will set you in a place where you will experience His greatness, be covered from His wrath and as He allows you to go forward, know that in waiting on Him you can be assured that He has gone before you. So no, you are never alone; don’t doubt what He has created in you; but stay grounded and focused… go get your blessing, though come what may; trusting Him all the way!

God is going before you, standing with you AND…. He’s got your back!

#Stand Strong! God’s Got Your Back! ~

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest (Josh 1:7) –

Be confident in God’s work in you! Don’t be swayed or disturbed due to naysayers or lack of understanding; nor be arrogant or overzealous from pride and self-absorbance; but be humble yet assertive, that your Walk in Authority be God appointed! For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10).

God CREATED us to be strong and successful, with AUTHORITY. Not luck nor chance, not by our own doings, but by His grace we are what we are! Man born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble (Job 14:1). It is just part of life that we will have trials, challenges and opposers. But be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Deut 31:6). God promises us over and over again that there shall be no one who can stand before us and dispute His will for our lives. In other words He’s got our back…

And if God is for us, WHO can be against us???

Just SAY It! #GodKnows ~

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Rom 8:26-27)~

I just can’t get it together. So much is going on in my life, even much from my own doing. I just know I need My Lord but I don’t know what to say or how to say it! My emotions have the best of me and it’s all stirring up and getting me even more confused!

Thankfully, Jesus said He would send a Comforter! The Holy Spirit, the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter, searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. On our behalf, The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.

Just call on the name of the Lord, let the Spirit unscramble the confusion and in faith, let God have it! Amen!

Just SAY it! God Understands!

When Does It Stop??? #ToxicBehavior –

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends (Prov 16:28)~~There are those that would rather go through more pains to do mischief than would be needful to do good. They keep up conversations and activities that defame and destroy the character of others, separate friendships, and lower the reputation of others by any means possible; and they take pleasure and pride in doing so. Sadly, this hateful characteristic is becoming more and more common… even in the people we choose as leaders…. yes, the “dignitaries” we vote on to set the example in this country join the bandwagon to antagonize!

When does it stop? When do we stop talking negatively about others?? Whatever happened to “If you cannot say something good, then don’t say anything”? We hate and cringe at the thought of committing rape or murder – but all this slander and gossip are as bad as both. They violate and kill a person’s reputation instead of their body, and it ruins their joy, peace, friendships and relationships. It’s really sad these days how people love to cause division by spreading rumors, innuendos, secrets, or lies about others. What’s worse is that the world PAYS people for the most outrageous information and will make those willing to participate rich for putting it on display – just look TV, even our news outlets and let’s not even get into social media… yes, there are entire “networks” dedicated to this type of stuff… and the more brashly the hosts of this information come across, the more outrageous their gossip, the more they are respected in their ‘profession’.

When does it stop?? You would use any means to prevent a terrible crime… what if we were to so respond forcibly to verbal wickedness as well? What if we didn’t entertain but instead actively rebuked and purposely avoided gossip, backbiting, slander and negative talk when we came across it… taking the same efforts to shut down all of the “wretchedness”? What if we refused to subscribe to divisive and perverse insinuations… turned away from the reality shows; refused to tune into the media or share the posts that promote negativity and embrace ignorance? Slanders would not be so readily spoken, if they were not readily heard. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Rom 12:18) and seek not to harm others by divisive words. This is the most peaceful and successful way to be. By choosing to be a peacemaker, you are a true child of God (Mat 5:9). The peacemakers are happy. They love, and desire, and delight in peace; and study to be quiet. They don’t delight in spreading more ignorance and broadcasting the best gossip. They seek to keep the peace that it be not broken, and recover it when it is broken. Imagine what we could do, what a difference we could make by building up lives with our words rather than tearing them down; if we looked to bring out the good rather than expose, promote and glamorize the bad; if we would take joy in the positive rather than be entertained by the negative. Purify your heart, and let it produce gracious words at all times; Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Col 4:6).

Stop Toxic Behavior

#Think Deeper… From the HEART! ~

As he thinketh in his heart so is he (Prov 23:7)~ We must strive to be joyful under challenging & troublesome situations as such exercises are allowed in God’s love; and these “tests” of faith and patience will brighten our graces now, and our eternal crown at last. Joy is a state of mind that must be purposely cultivated if you are to live and love and influence others as God intended. Fortunately, Joy does not depend on the outer conditions of your material life, but rather on the inner condition of your mental life. Joy is the result of something strikingly simple, though not necessarily easy: consistently thinking joy-producing thoughts. He who focuses on joy-producing thoughts in this manner will have joy! The Word says in Proverbs 23:7 “As he thinketh in his heart so is he”…indeed we can create our joy in our own spirit!

Now true joy doesn’t just happen, because you think about things. Remember the Word said “thinketh in his HEART”. That means you believe it from DEEP down inside, it’s not just a superficial “front”. When you act it out but it doesn’t come from the heart, it’s more about show. Superficial reactions only consider what others see. But to truly believe from the heart. … That is a sign of true belief and faith. To get there you have to make some changes: Certain comfort thoughts and contentment with your present state will need to be relinquished. Counterproductive habits will need to be abandoned. Tenured excuses must be surrendered. When challenges come up; people say and do things to you, situations go awry and crazy things happen, rather than being frustrated we have to see it as an opportunity to change our way of thinking and pursue the opportunity for joy.

You have no control over what trial happens to you and you may not really know how it will affect you but you have full control over how you respond to it. You are FREE to choose what you think about, and you have billions of options. Those fruits of your spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self control -Gal 5:22-23) must be tried in order to be refined. This is something each of us MUST endure! Every time you find yourself in a situation then, think of it as another chance for God’s hand to be on you. Knowing that alone is a reason to have joy. So if your goal is to have your joy, what specific thoughts would you increase or decrease? What kinds of thoughts will distress your soul? What types of thoughts will nourish and hydrate your soul? What will you allow to steal your joy? What do you think?

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things