If It Seems Off, It's Because It Is

Jeremiah 40:16

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Don't do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true."

A whole army along with Johanan informed Gedaliah, who was appointed governor over the land by the king of Babylon, that Ishmael was sent to kill him. But Gedaliah didn't believe it. Even after the army had left, Johanan requested that he go and kill Ishmael personally to thwart the assassination attempt on Gedaliah. But as the Zondervan NIV Study Bible states, "Gedaliah's naive faith in Ishmael's integrity would cost him his life." Many see the warning signs that people are not who they say they are because their actions do not match up. But what about when one decides to ignore not only the warning signs given to them personally but to those warning signs given to those around them? An entire army knew something that Gedaliah refused to believe. Here's a thought. Not everyone is your friend that smiles in your face. Not everyone that wishes you well to your face is wishing you well behind your back. Some of those same people are hurling curses  upon your life and attempting to block blessings God has for you. Yes, there are those who may sit around you and follow you around all day but they aren't doing it to glean knowledge for their growth but rather to thwart what God has in store for you. Everyone that says they want to help you may not be helping you out of genuine love and concern but rather so you can be indebted to them and will do their bidding when called upon. Or like Ishmael, may actually seek your life. It can be the SWF Single White Female (movie of the woman who was so jealous she wanted to be her roommate) or simply one who seeks to snatch your blessings for their own gain rather than be content with what God has for them. How can you know for sure? It's called ask Jesus to make it plain and remove the scales from your eyes. But also that your receive the knowledge the Lord reveals to you. What good is it for the Lord to reveal if you aren't willing to receive it? When you ask Jesus for evidence, trust and believe that He will show you and know it doesn't take long. What you may find is the signs were under your nose the whole time. You were just sniffing the decoy clues vs the real ones. Do not be like Gedaliah. Trust that when something seems off, it's because it is off.

Real Talk

Good Morning Everyone,

There's nothing more uncomfortable than being in a  place you're not supposed to be or that isn't promoting your growth. That's why yesterday's message was exactly what it was. People will read about abuse in the news or on the internet but when it hits too close to home it's uncomfortable. When you are growing in Christ, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. How else are you going to mature to the person He has called you to be?  People not wanting to talk about or deal with these issues head on are exactly the reason these diseases of the spirit continue to fester and are passed on to innocent people. When you are dealing with Jesus, it's all cards on the table. He can see your hand anyway. So let's stop faking it everyone. Yes, this is personal for me but it's personal for a lot of readers as well. The problem, it's so personal it's stuck way back in the closet somewhere. Here's what I know, if you don't deal with the issues they will deal with you. 2013 is a new year and it's time to deal.



P.S. Remember to check out Church Beat Radio for Black Friday with J. Black on www.live365.com!

The Problems Are Real, But So Is Jesus

Proverbs 18:15

15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

King Solomon spoke of the ability of one who can decipher between right and wrong and gain knowledge from it. Most importantly, those that are wise will seek the knowledge and hear it. Our scripture for understanding at church on Sunday talked about hearing and how hearing God will cause a response. Several years ago God spoke to me directly about not entering into something and I failed to hear Him. I failed to hear Him because the shackles of some things had me so weighed down that I refused to discern. As I stated to some earlier this week, being transparent is never easy but I know my testimony can help someone else. The Lord has forgiven me. Therefore; there is no condemnation. An interview I did last night on Live and Direct Radio with author and host, CL Reddon,  talks about what happens when one enters into a bad relationship and even how unresolved problems can play a role if one is not delivered and healed by the blood of Jesus Christ. These problems are making headlines right now and yes they are real, but so is Jesus. Here is the link to hear the broadcast:

http://www.spreaker.com/user/goclreddon/red_flag_relationships

Have You Asked Jesus?

Luke 4:43

43But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Jesus had just begun his public ministry for what would be only three short years. In that time He made a great impact in small towns. He was in a town and they attempted to keep Him there. Jesus had to remind them of His purpose and go forth. Jesus knew His purpose and walked in it. But if He came to experience life just as we did as was brought up in our Bible Study last night, then just as Jesus was created in human form to fulfill a purpose, so too were you and I created in human form to fulfill a purpose. Your purpose is not simply to just exist from day to day. But you were created to do something special. Did you know that? Each person has a God-given purpose. But what is it you ask? My question to you is, have you asked Jesus?


Just as the huge storm Sandy was rolling in I was attempting to text a congratulations to one who began to really drive forth in her purpose. But what I encountered was a surprise. The number had been changed but instead my divine appointment was with a woman who had a different testimony. She responded that she was not the person I was looking for but as God would have it, she was the person whom I had to encourage at that moment. She said something terrible had happened to her and if I wanted to know to call her. Now I must admit that at first I thought that was really special but not in the best terms. But the Lord said don't be afraid, but keep texting her. The more she responded to me the more I heard Jesus say she needed prayer. And yes, she knew Jesus as her Savior. So as she began to tell of her horrible accident many years ago that left her paralyzed she still seemed sad. The Lord said to pray over the spirit of depression so I began to do so. What happened next? As she continued to tell her story over text something was missing. The praise! The praise that Jesus had saved her life when the doctors said she wouldn't make it. She said she has tried to tell her story but no one wanted to hear. I said number one, tell it from a place of praise not weeping. People need to hear your story but if you are not telling it from a place of praise, no one can see the blessing. You have to see the blessing in it first. Have you written it down? She said no. And then the Lord brought to my lips, "do you know the Lord saved you from death for a purpose?" She said, "I wish I knew what that purpose was." I said, "Have you asked Jesus?" The answer was no. When we were done, she was in a new place and ready to ask Jesus why she was saved when the bullet she took was meant to take her out. I BLESS GOD for the divine appointment. Yes, it was still about purpose but to help one inquire of it instead of sitting in a spirit of depression because they couldn't find it.

Have you asked Jesus to reveal your purpose?


P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs for the re-launch of the Leap of Faith Show on the Leap of Faith Network on www.leapofoffaithshow.com coming January 2013 and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

A Change That Only Jesus Can Make

Galatians 1:23-24

23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they praised God because of me.

The apostle Paul was writing for the purpose of addressing those who were attempting to bind the Gentiles with Jewish traditions as noted in the Zondervan NIV Study Bible. When Paul's authority was questioned, he gave his testimony. Many of you know that Paul's birth name was Saul. His background was indeed that of one well versed in Jewish teaching and had a hand in the stoning and death of Stephen.  After the stoning of Stephen, Saul went on a war path and received approval from the Sanhedrin to persecute those who followed "The Way" also known as Jesus Christ. Yes, the apostle that is known for writing a good portion of The New Testament was previously a murderer and actually sought the annihilation of followers of Christ. But God! Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus. It was on this road that Jesus made a change in Saul. Jesus changed Saul's name to Paul to reflect the NEW life he received in Christ.

When you see someone who is plagued with evil in their heart and you have sought to show them the way, understand that you have planted a seed but Jesus is the only one that can do heart surgery. Only Jesus can make the kind of change in a person who was once plagued with violence to one as gentle as a dove who seeks to help others. True change originates in the inside first and then on the outside. Anyone can look "brand new" or sporty. Saul was not seeking change. Jesus met him on the road thereby commanding the change. Saul still had a choice. He could have said no but the power of the Holy One was so overwhelming that it was "an offer he couldn't refuse."  Only Jesus can do a work in someone who is bent on creating hell in the lives of others. Only Jesus can truly change someone's heart to the point they are no longer who they used to be. You can't do it and continuously trying is only futile. You did what you were supposed to do. Let Jesus do the rest. When Jesus does it, it will be evident and only God will be able to get the glory.


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!

Stacked Like a Deck of Cards

Habakkuk 2:10

10You have plotted the ruin of man peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

Judah suffered at the hands of Babylon. Though it was prophesied over and over by prophets of the Lord that Judah would be destroyed for its disobedience for a time, the destroyers themselves would be destroyed.  Babylon had no idea that it's conceited ways were being stacked against it like a deck of cards. The more cards stacked by destroying people and cities to add to it's supposed power, the more the Lord planned to deal and hand down punishment. Babylon is bondage whether then or now. Babylon doesn't have to be a physical place of bondage but can represent an emotional or spiritual bondage as well as people who incur bondage on others. Either way, any Babylon will be destroyed by the Lord's hands. Those who plot to put others in bondage have to answer to the Lord if they are touching one who belongs to the Lord. Our Lord is all knowing and all seeing. He knows what everyone thinks before they think it or even what they are going to say before they say it. The Lord is not a man that will tell a lie. When He says something will be destroyed believe it. When He says stop harming and using others, He means it. Babylon was proud and you know what the word says, pride goes before the fall.

Don't Let the Looks Fool You

1Samuel 16:7

7But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Samuel had been sent by the Lord to search for the next king of Israel. The people of Israel had chosen Saul. Saul refused to obey the Lord and the one whom the Lord sent. So the Lord decided that He would pick the next king. By the Lord picking the next king, he would not fail Israel, lead them astray and he would desire to obey the Lord. The people of Israel chose Saul based on his appearance. To them, he looked like a king. Samuel had to look past his judgements as well. Even if left to his own understanding, he would've chosen one of the other brothers. Samuel was not at the home of Jesse on his own accord. He was sent by the Lord and therefore he had to make the selection based on the Lord's understanding. And indeed our Savior comes from the root of David. David's heart truly desired God and to serve His people. Though based on his height, he would've been ruled out as king, but his heart was big.

We judge books by their covers everyday. But focusing on the looks instead of focusing on what's in the heart can prove to be a train wreck. Don't let the looks fool you.  When you fail to see beyond the surface, you get Saul. How do you get a David rather than a Saul in any situation? It's a simple answer really.  Consult the Lord. The Lord will tell you what to look for through the Holy Spirit. He will show you how the person treats others. He will show you their actions but most importantly, He will show you their heart, the compassion and eagerness to help. He will show you their disposition whether it be sunny or not. Don't let the looks fool you. Everything that looks good isn't good for you. The apple on the tree looked good to Eve but we know it was a disaster and Jesus had to be sent to redeem us. It's one thing to look like a king but it's quite another to have the servant heart of one.