Friday, January 11, 2013

The Power of Appreciation

Job 12:15

15If he holds back the waters there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

Job was referring to God's sovereign or total power, authority and wisdom to do things in the earth. As a whole, the United States is very blessed with many natural resources but those resources are taken for granted. Even in individual lives, many take what they have for granted. The cliche of "you never miss the water until the well runs dry", is a very true statement. Sometimes God has to make things disappear or remove them from your grasp before you notice the significant role they played in your life. That role can make a difference between a smile or frown, peace or unrest, etc. Taking for granted anything God does is a sure way to get Him to reverse the tide. God doesn't have to do anything.God doesn't have to ensure that you have breath in your body today. He created you and if He decided that today was your day to leave here, there's nothing you can do to change that. If God decided to allow a drought in your life in any format, there's nothing you can do to change that. Yes there is  you say? Anything you attempt could turn to sand. Job even says in verse 14 that what God tears downs cannot be rebuilt. Job was referring to the fact that man cannot recreate what God has severed or destroyed. When God destroys something, only God has the power for it to be rebuilt. God will topple anything anyone attempts to recreate if He doesn't want it to be so. Do not take for granted any blessing God has placed in your life. He has the ability to remove it just as quick as He presented it. Holding back the water or letting that well run dry is God's way of teaching you the power of appreciation.

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

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Is There An Accounting Error?

Luke 16:2

2So he called him in and asked him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer."

What if the Lord came to you at this very moment and asked you to give an account of every gift He has given you? What would be your response? Would the ledger show that you have used every gift He has placed in your possession or would there be an accounting error? What about that idea for a new business He gave you at the start of the year? Did you take any steps? What about that wonderful gift of seeing through a lens what others miss with the naked eye? What did you do with it? What about that wonderful ability to lead others? Are you leading or are you just sitting in the background being someone else's follower? Are you using your ability to communicate ideas, concepts, etc through visual media? The list of assets in your account are numerous. But what if the Lord came to you and said you cannot manage them any longer? What if you were in danger of losing every gift and blessing He's placed in your possession because you did not utilize it properly? What if He said that you didn't appreciate the way He has blessed you therefore all those blessings and gifts would be given to another? What would you do? We are to utilize what the Lord has given us for the purpose of helping others. Our wealth isn't just measured in dollars/euros/yen/etc. Many have wonderful gifts that God can convert into wealth but the first thing He wants to know is how much will you give away? How much will you share with others? An accounting error can be as simple as misplacing an asset as a debt or it can be as complex as not liquidating it. Do you have assets that you misplaced as debts in your life because of the lack of time or pure laziness? Or do you have assets that you have chosen not to liquidate out of selfishness? Either way, when the Lord decides He is ready to do an audit in your life, will He find an accounting error?

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

To Be Well Pleased


Matthew 3:17

17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

For most children, to hear those words from their parent (s) is a comforting sign of approval. For Jesus it was comforting because His Father, Our Father, was in favor of the mission for which He brought Jesus forth in a virgin womb. What more can a parent want but to see their child go forth in a mission they have approved. But what if the mission your Heavenly Father desires if different from what your earthly father or mother desires? Then what? Jesus said in His word , "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." He was not discounting his earthly family but also that God sent Him on a mission. Obedience to God is above the family lineage. Obedience to God can bring in alignment that which is out of alignment. Obedience to God in the mission and purpose He has set forth for you will break shackles in your own family. Obedience to God will eventually bring your life in focus for others to see, including earthly parents and they will know it is by the hand of God that you walk forth. Obedience to God will cause Him to say to you just as He said to Jesus that He is well pleased. When you please God, eventually, man will understand and get in line with God's direction. For God to be well pleased, means everyone else that needs to be, will be, in God's time.