Proverbs 29:25
25Fear of man will prove to be a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Too many of us fear man way more than the Lord. How so? The Lord tells us to do something but we are more fixated on what man will think about what the Lord directs us to do. When the Lord tells us do something, He has already made provision for the naysayers, ones that seek to harm us or those who can't or won't understand. He wants us to come to a place where we are willing to press through those feelings of rejection and focus on Him. Jesus did it. When we fail to listen and trust His guidance, we set in motion the self-made snare or trap. In other words, we can cause our own destruction listening to man versus listening to the Lord. First and foremost, Isaiah 58:8 says our thoughts are not His thoughts and our ways are not His ways. The Lord often has us do the exact opposite of what most would do and though it seems backwards to them, we can't focus on them. Trusting the Lord's guidance is ALWAYS the best course of action. He knows the things we can't see coming and He's like our guide dog navigating us through. When we learn to let go of the need for man's constant approval and are more concerned with that of the one who holds our life in His hands, we will always have the fence of safety with us.
P.S. Tune into my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.Qliveone.com at 8:30am CT, 2:30pm CT and 8:30pm CT Saturday. Check out V's interview with Filipino soul artist Tracy Cruz and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
What If You Knew?
2Corinthians 4:13
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore we speak.
Have you ever noticed that the more you believe something in your heart, the more you say it? That is distinctly what the apostle Paul is getting across. The more we believe something, the more comfortable we are in sharing what we believe. It's not just a mental belief but it's deep within the heart. The more we believe something, the more passion we have. The more passion we have, the more we share. For some of us we share about our favorite sports teams because we believe they are the best. We share our favorite foods because we believe they are the best. We may share about our hobbies, fulfilling work, etc because we believe it's the best. But when it comes to our faith in Christ, do we share? Do we believe He is the best? The greater the belief we have in Him, the more we are willing to share. The greater the faith, the greater the testimony and the more often we will share it. The more testimonies heard, the more people (who are open) will inquire of Him for themselves. And the more new believers will be added to the body of Christ. What if you knew for a fact that your testimony was a catalyst to a new believer in Christ? Would that make the difference in whether or not you speak? Truthfully, you'll never know what your testimony will do for someone when God gives you the opportunity if you never use it.
P.S. Check out Personal Development Blogger Sharman Monroe at Sharman's Journey at http://myjourneytome-thediscovery.com.! And check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network at www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore we speak.
Have you ever noticed that the more you believe something in your heart, the more you say it? That is distinctly what the apostle Paul is getting across. The more we believe something, the more comfortable we are in sharing what we believe. It's not just a mental belief but it's deep within the heart. The more we believe something, the more passion we have. The more passion we have, the more we share. For some of us we share about our favorite sports teams because we believe they are the best. We share our favorite foods because we believe they are the best. We may share about our hobbies, fulfilling work, etc because we believe it's the best. But when it comes to our faith in Christ, do we share? Do we believe He is the best? The greater the belief we have in Him, the more we are willing to share. The greater the faith, the greater the testimony and the more often we will share it. The more testimonies heard, the more people (who are open) will inquire of Him for themselves. And the more new believers will be added to the body of Christ. What if you knew for a fact that your testimony was a catalyst to a new believer in Christ? Would that make the difference in whether or not you speak? Truthfully, you'll never know what your testimony will do for someone when God gives you the opportunity if you never use it.
P.S. Check out Personal Development Blogger Sharman Monroe at Sharman's Journey at http://myjourneytome-thediscovery.com.! And check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network at www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
It Only Takes One Action
2 Chronicles 32:26
26Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
Do you know that it only takes one action to change things with the Lord? One action? King Hezekiah had been cured of his illness by the Lord's hand in 2Kings 20. The Lord even provided a miracle as proof of his healing. But Hezekiah was not truly grateful. Just as quick as he was healed, he forgot the Lord. There were envoys from Babylon that arrived to see this wonderful miracle that had occurred. Hezekiah took it upon himself to showcase the blessings he received from the Lord as if to say it was by his own might that the riches were obtained. Unfortunately, Hezekiah was not thinking about the idea that the Babylonians were there to "case the joint". In other words, a good thief has already done his homework to see what valuables are ripe for the taking and where they are kept. Hezekiah showed the Babylonians every treasure he had in the kingdom. It was only a set up for them to take the treasures from him and the entire kingdom. Simply put, there are some that should never receive an invitation because they're only reason for coming is to see what they can take. Soon after, Isaiah asked what happened. And when Hezekiah so pridefully said he showed them all he had the judgement was pronounced against him that the Babylonians would take everything and even imprison the king's family. It was then that the one action was taken. The action of repentance. Hezekiah's repentance delayed God's judgement so that it would occur only after Hezekiah served as king and not during. His repentance didn't stop the judgement but it delayed it so that it would not come quicker. To repent means to turn away from sin and to reform. How many times have we received the opportunity to repent? How many of us actually take action?
P.S. A special Thank You to Sharman's Journey and Anointed Women In Christ (AWIC) for their support!
26Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
Do you know that it only takes one action to change things with the Lord? One action? King Hezekiah had been cured of his illness by the Lord's hand in 2Kings 20. The Lord even provided a miracle as proof of his healing. But Hezekiah was not truly grateful. Just as quick as he was healed, he forgot the Lord. There were envoys from Babylon that arrived to see this wonderful miracle that had occurred. Hezekiah took it upon himself to showcase the blessings he received from the Lord as if to say it was by his own might that the riches were obtained. Unfortunately, Hezekiah was not thinking about the idea that the Babylonians were there to "case the joint". In other words, a good thief has already done his homework to see what valuables are ripe for the taking and where they are kept. Hezekiah showed the Babylonians every treasure he had in the kingdom. It was only a set up for them to take the treasures from him and the entire kingdom. Simply put, there are some that should never receive an invitation because they're only reason for coming is to see what they can take. Soon after, Isaiah asked what happened. And when Hezekiah so pridefully said he showed them all he had the judgement was pronounced against him that the Babylonians would take everything and even imprison the king's family. It was then that the one action was taken. The action of repentance. Hezekiah's repentance delayed God's judgement so that it would occur only after Hezekiah served as king and not during. His repentance didn't stop the judgement but it delayed it so that it would not come quicker. To repent means to turn away from sin and to reform. How many times have we received the opportunity to repent? How many of us actually take action?
P.S. A special Thank You to Sharman's Journey and Anointed Women In Christ (AWIC) for their support!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
If Your Heart Isn't In It
Isaiah 29:13
13The Lord says:
"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
The prophet Isaiah was given a word of judgement against the house of Israel and its spiritual state or lack their of. "People come near me with their mouth". We can say we love God but does our life reflect it? God always searches the heart to see what is true and what is false. Words are words but where is your heart is what He wants to know. True worship of God means giving him not just the praise of our lips but of our heart and with our life. If your heart isn't in it, God will know it. And just as He did with the people of Israel, the Lord will close our ears and eyes to wisdom. When the worship to the Lord is false, it will be reflected in one's life. A relationship with the Lord that is not true, will produce with it many areas of life that are not true. What does He see when He looks at your heart?
P.S. Remember to catch my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network at www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!
13The Lord says:
"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
The prophet Isaiah was given a word of judgement against the house of Israel and its spiritual state or lack their of. "People come near me with their mouth". We can say we love God but does our life reflect it? God always searches the heart to see what is true and what is false. Words are words but where is your heart is what He wants to know. True worship of God means giving him not just the praise of our lips but of our heart and with our life. If your heart isn't in it, God will know it. And just as He did with the people of Israel, the Lord will close our ears and eyes to wisdom. When the worship to the Lord is false, it will be reflected in one's life. A relationship with the Lord that is not true, will produce with it many areas of life that are not true. What does He see when He looks at your heart?
P.S. Remember to catch my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network at www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Modus Operandi
John 10:10
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Jesus used the analogy of sheep and shepherd to describe his love for all He calls by name. And yes, Jesus calls us by name. True sheep will only respond to the voice of their shepherd. A shepherd always go ahead of his sheep to make sure they are safe and they follow him. But a hired hand or one who is only interested in what they will gain cares nothing for the sheep and will let them go to slaughter. Why this analogy? Shepherding or sheep herding was indeed a common profession. It was even the profession of David before he became king. A shepherd cares about his flock and desires to see them safe at all times. It is how Jesus sees us. We are His flock. But the enemy of our souls, Satan, is a thief. His concern will always be about him and him only. That's why he was cast out of heaven. His concern was about him and his vanity to be number one as opposed to lifting up the one who created him. Simply put, whatever the enemy can do to undermine the Lord he will attempt it. Did he not attempt it through Judas? A person who thrives on sin and willful ignorance (unwilling to learn the truth) in their life becomes very open to Satan. Satan is a spirit. Ephesians 6:12 says our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against spiritual forces of evil. Satan and his cronies are opposite that of the Holy Trinity: God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. So just as the Lord can use someone, Satan can too but his modus opporandi (Latin for mode of operation) is always about himself and distracting anyone he can away from the Lord. He and his cronies mask themselves very well. But as Jesus said, sheep will not respond to a strangers voice, they run from the stranger. Our task is to press into the Lord more via studying His word in the Holy Bible, consistent prayer and doers of the word not just hearers so that we know the Lord's voice and will not respond to a stranger. Jesus always wants the best for us and does not seek our death but our eternal life.
P.S. Thank you to the Church Beat Radio Family at www.churchbeatradio.com on Live365 and the James Allen Library at www.jamesallenlibrary.com for their continued support!!!
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Jesus used the analogy of sheep and shepherd to describe his love for all He calls by name. And yes, Jesus calls us by name. True sheep will only respond to the voice of their shepherd. A shepherd always go ahead of his sheep to make sure they are safe and they follow him. But a hired hand or one who is only interested in what they will gain cares nothing for the sheep and will let them go to slaughter. Why this analogy? Shepherding or sheep herding was indeed a common profession. It was even the profession of David before he became king. A shepherd cares about his flock and desires to see them safe at all times. It is how Jesus sees us. We are His flock. But the enemy of our souls, Satan, is a thief. His concern will always be about him and him only. That's why he was cast out of heaven. His concern was about him and his vanity to be number one as opposed to lifting up the one who created him. Simply put, whatever the enemy can do to undermine the Lord he will attempt it. Did he not attempt it through Judas? A person who thrives on sin and willful ignorance (unwilling to learn the truth) in their life becomes very open to Satan. Satan is a spirit. Ephesians 6:12 says our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against spiritual forces of evil. Satan and his cronies are opposite that of the Holy Trinity: God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. So just as the Lord can use someone, Satan can too but his modus opporandi (Latin for mode of operation) is always about himself and distracting anyone he can away from the Lord. He and his cronies mask themselves very well. But as Jesus said, sheep will not respond to a strangers voice, they run from the stranger. Our task is to press into the Lord more via studying His word in the Holy Bible, consistent prayer and doers of the word not just hearers so that we know the Lord's voice and will not respond to a stranger. Jesus always wants the best for us and does not seek our death but our eternal life.
P.S. Thank you to the Church Beat Radio Family at www.churchbeatradio.com on Live365 and the James Allen Library at www.jamesallenlibrary.com for their continued support!!!
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