Friday, July 27, 2012

Using You For A Cause

Romans 12:20
20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Last Sunday the Lord gave me this scripture early in the morning before turning on my computer. I had learned of a public figure's tragedy and posted the example without posting the scripture on purpose to see if anyone would get it. The Lord has brought me to this scripture again. The apostle Paul had addressed the church in Rome regarding love. He recalled the words of  Jesus who said you and I are to love our enemies. First and foremost, revenge is not for you and I to execute but for the Lord in His time. Have you ever had someone mistreat you, talk about you, cast you to the side or mock you? Then later, they have to come to you and ask for help? Or even better, God sends you to help them? Why? In the case of Usher (ex from Facebook) his ex-wife needed his help to get to her son. But she had dragged his name through the mud in the custody battle over the children they had together. When she asked for help, he helped her. Unfortunately, she lost her first son. A new perspective for her to now value the remaining children and know that children are precious to the Lord and are not to be pawns to obtain a means. What about you? Do you have a story of someone coming to you or the Lord sending you after one has mistreated you? Zondervan's NIV Study Bible translates the scripture as the following that brought so much clarity to me and He has compelled me to share with you.

"heaping burning coals on his head. Doing good to one's enemy instead of trying to take revenge may bring about his repentance."

So basically, you helping your enemies is not for your satisfaction nor is it to torture you. The Lord simply wants to use you to cause them to repent for their actions and turn to Him. Now if they don't, that's between them and the Lord. He will punish them the way He sees fit at the time He sees fit. For some, the punishment is simply having to receive help from you while knowing what they did. It's called guilt. The guilt is supposed to bring them to the point of humility that they repent. If they are too stubborn, then God will allow more suffering to plague them that their pride will break.

Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.Qliveone.com on Mondays and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Can the Lord Call You His Friend?

Psalm 25:14
14The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

David wrote the psalm to ask God's forgiveness of his sins and to be delivered from the schemes of his enemies. David confided in God as his friend especially because there were so few he could trust as king. If you love the Lord and set out to befriend Him understand that He does the same with you as long as He knows you love and reverence (respect and fear) Him. A covenant relationship is a bond. God told Abraham in Genesis 18:17 "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" God considered Abraham a friend; therefore, He confided in him His plans for Sodom and Gomorrah. The closer you desire to get to the Lord, the closer He will get to you. What does it mean to confide? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines confide as 1: to have or show faith: trust in a friend 2: to tell confidentially a secret 3: entrust. So if you trust God, there will be a mutual trust between you. You do not have to be called to the office of a prophet for the Lord to show you what is coming. He can use anyone to show what He is going to do. But as you can see, God prefers to trust those He can call His friend. You hear all the time about covenant relationship but the first relationship outside of parents that will count most, is your relationship with the Lord.  Is there a mutual trust between you and the Lord? Can He call you His friend?

Remember to put Saturday, August 25th on your schedule for the Get Your JOY In The Morning Book Signing Event from 12-4pm ET at Family Christian Bookstore in Elkridge, MD!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Working It Out For Your Eventual Good

Romans 8:28
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The Apostle Paul was addressing his letter to the Roman church. It was a letter to encourage their continued path of living by the Holy Spirit and to note the evidence of treasure to come. God is sovereign. Scripture has said it and we see it every day. For God to be sovereign, it means He has all power and authority to do whatever He pleases. It means He is in control at ALL times; especially when things seem out of control. Why is this important? Many of us have had some form of disappointment, tragedy, loss, pain, etc during a life span. But He's working it out for your eventual good if you truly love God. Our asst pastor always says, "pain causes a conversation." Honestly, it's true. But it's that disappointment, pain, etc that will get you to not only speak to the Lord but often gives you a new perspective on the life He has given you and how He's blessed you. That new perspective, is a growth spurt. The new perspective most often gets you going in the direction the Lord desires you to go. Why does it have to be that way? Because as God's children, we respond to pain and are often stubborn and disobedient. Taking off the traits of Adam and putting on the traits of Christ is a long road. The only way to get a child's attention at times is to discipline them. But there are moments when things seem out of control not because you have been disobedient, but because you have been obedient. He is still working it out for your eventual good. It's in that moment you might be an example for someone else. It's in that moment that your faith may be taken to a new level. And it's in that moment that He reconfirms His love for you and how highly you are regarded to Him. If you profess Christ as your Savior and love God, then you are called. The pieces of the puzzle may not seem right at the moment but  down the road, it will make more sense and the lesson and blessing in it will become clearer. It means He's working it out for your eventual good no matter what you're going through today, tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. Know that He loves you and is thinking of you every step of the way.

P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Easy Way Out

Jeremiah 2:25
25Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said, 'It's no use! I love foreign gods and I must go after them.'

The prophet Jeremiah exposed Israel's deeds. God chastised Israel for their backsliding. Israel admitted to their sin to the point of giving up on ridding their life of it. They chased after things and countries that did not worship God. They defiled the land God promised them. Israel even rejected the correction the Lord brought against them. But to say it's no use is saying, "oh I can't help it so I'm just going to do it." The Lord created you and I. He knows exactly what we are capable of. And He already sent Jesus to free you and I from our sins. The problem? Many don't want to be freed. "It's no use" is the easy way out of responsibility and growth in the Lord. Do you really think God is going to settle for that response? For those of you who have played sports or were in the military, God is the coach or army sergeant that is in your ear continually and won't let you be. He knows you can be better and do better than what you are doing. Yes, you have free will to say, "oh it's no use" and attempt to take the easy way out. But if you have a covenant relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, He will hold you to that oath which makes everything else null and void. Therefore, the hand smacking will continue and will hurt each time until you get it. There is no easy way out with God.

Remember to check out Church Beat Radio's Top 10 Countdown with DJ Ambermay on www.live365.com!