Obedience is a True Sign of Love

John 14:23
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Did you know that obedience to the Lord is a true sign of love? Many say they love the Lord but when He says to do something they won't do it. That's not you is it? Jesus spoke to the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Judas had just asked why Jesus would show himself to them and not the world. Verse 23 was the answer. Of course Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus. He didn't love Jesus but turned his back on Him for money. He sold Jesus out because he was more in love with money than he was with God. The Lord knows your heart and He knows if you're not willing to obey Him that you're not in love with Him as much as you claim to be in the public eye or even in church on Sunday. Maybe you're just not at that level yet you say? But if you're not even willing to work at it, then you don't even want to be. It's the same as what the apostle Paul talks about in a marriage in Ephesians 5:21. Many do not know but a true marriage is supposed to replicate the relationship between Christ and the church. There is a mutual submission/obedience that takes place. Not doing so to one another is saying to each other and to the Lord that you're not really in love with the person you married. It's a true sign of love. A husband who does what his wife asks does so because he's in love with her and wants to see her happy. The wife who obeys her husband does so because she's in love with her husband and wants to see him happy. The obedience to the Lord is not a means to an end neither is obedience to your husband or wife. You do it out of love. Your relationship with Christ or the lack their of will reflect in every area of your life. How many times have you said you love the Lord? Do you know when you submit to Him you're saying you're faithful to Him? He will return that love as well. That's what Judas didn't understand. All he saw was money even with the bottle of perfume that was used on Jesus' feet.

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

Revelation in Dreams

1Kings 3:5
5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

Solomon had just taken the reign as king when David died. Solomon was young as many kings were during that period. But this isn't really about Solomon's reign. It's more about revelation brought forth  in a dream. In psychology, it is taught that dreams are the way your subconscious mind speaks to you. And while some of that is true, especially if you are listening to the radio or watching TV just before you fall asleep or thinking of the events of the day, what your mind is receiving can be played back in a dream. But scripture says that it can also be a way the Lord speaks to you as said by Job's friend Elihu in Job 33:14-15 "For God does speak-now one way, now another- though man ma not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds,"  In Genesis 37 Joseph has several dreams and one revealed his future and what his brothers would be doing. Joseph telling the dream was the catalyst to him being sold to the Egyptians but was still part of his destiny that God worked for his good that ultimately led him right to where God showed him in the dream. Joseph not only had prophetic dreams but God gave him the ability to interpret them as He did Daniel after the Israelites were captured by the Babylonians. God gave revelation to Aaron and Miriam at the tent regarding dreams In Numbers 12:6 he said, Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams."

Yes, there are many references to dreams in the Old Testament but there are references in the New Testament as well. In Matthew 1:20 Joseph was going to rid himself of Mary after it was found that she was with child but she was carrying our Savior, Jesus Christ. The angel spoke to Joseph son of David in a dream to console him. In acts 2:17 which is a reference to Joel 2:28 talks of dreams being more prevalent in the last days. The purpose of all of this is not to say that if you have a dream you are a prophet. The office of a prophet is completely different. There is a gifting of prophecy that God can bestow upon anyone at any given time to reveal what God is doing and His direction but also a warning that requires a person's actions to change. The best way to tell if what you've seen in a dream is real is to inquire of the Lord. He says in His word that when you ask it will be given to you. This is as long as you believe and ask with the right intentions. The Lord desires to speak to you. The way in which He speaks to you is decided on 1) His preference and 2) what you are most receptive to. Remember, the Lord knows you better than anyone because He created you so He knows what you will respond to. If a dream is the way He gets your attention, then it will be so.

May you be blessed and receive comfort.

Please join me on Thursday, August 2nd at 8pm ET as I will be on WordThirst Radio with Ashea Goldson for an interview to promote my book, Get Your JOY In The Morning!

Who's Making it Happen?

Philippians 4:13
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The apostle Paul was very thankful to the church of Philippi for all their wonderful kindness in providing gifts to him. There was a slight delay as his travels were not set in stone. But he noted to them that he was content regardless of receiving them or not. Many of us have heard this scripture often use to justify the agenda of the one saying it. But here's a question for you. Is Christ making it happen or are you? Remember the apostle Paul says "through him". So we are not to do anything on our own accord without Christ. But how many do? When you are the one doing it and not Christ, quite frankly, it's short lived. Remember Christ is from ever lasting to ever lasting. Before Abraham was, "He is". Present tense. It is Christ who outlasts the world and Satan. So therefore, anything done in Christ's strength is guaranteed to last. Just saying this verse doesn't make it so. It must be the Lord's plan for you. If it is not His plan for you nor His time for you, then whatever has been done can blow away like the wind. The Lord stated in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Remember the key words, "For I know the plans". Are you working on the Lord's plans for you or your own? If they are your own then you are not doing them in His strength but yours. Therefore you are making them happen. When you are following the Lord's plan for your life, they outlast what you could ever do on your own. See, when it's temporary, it doesn't have to necessarily come from God. You could be receiving assistance from the enemy and not even know. The enemy is a liar, cunning and seeks to steal, kill and destroy. What better way to set you up then to let you think, "you got it" like that, only to find out that if Christ had done it, you would be fine. So again, Who's making it happen? Is it you or Christ?

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

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!

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!

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!

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!