God Always Has the Last Word

Isaiah 8:10

10Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

"For God is with us" is what the name Immanuel is translated to. Aram and Ephraim had become allies for the purpose of overtaking Judah. God gave a word to the prophet Isaiah that the enemies of Judah would fall. They would not fall before Judah suffered, however, the suffering of Judah was to be short-lived. The sign that the enemies of Judah were to fall was two-fold. The king of Assyria would overtake them. The other sign would be the birth of Christ. The king of Judah was of the lineage of David. The point God wanted to make through the prophet Isaiah was that no matter what strategy evil men plot, it is only God who has the last word. And the line of David would still sit on the throne, this time forever.

Has anyone ever aligned themselves with another to conspire against you? Have you ever watched your enemies attempt to become an army almost overnight? Understand that the reason for the enemies conspiring against you is because they do not wish for you to prosper. They are not prospering at the rate you are or even at all. Alone, they know they cannot win so they get help and think that it will be enough. But who in their right mind can go against anyone who has God with them and think they can win? How can an evil man or woman win against the one who knows what they are going to think before they think it? How can an evil man or woman win against the one who knows what they will do before they do it? That's like trying to outsmart a master of the game of chess. The master knows every move that can be made on a chessboard. The master has studied the eyes, hands and expressions of the opponent and just when they think they have the master outsmarted, he makes the final move. When God is with you, he will show you your enemies. Quite frankly, they often show themselves. And He tells you how to outsmart them. God always has the last word.

P.S. The first winner of the trivia game has been announced on the Get Your JOY In The Morning facebook fan page. You have two more chances to win this week. Like the page on facebook in order to play for your chance to win a free autographed copy of my new book, Shh Don't Tell.
Remember to check out my girl Stubbs of the Leap of Faith Show Monday-Friday from 10am-12pm on www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

The Cause of the Discord

James 4:1

1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

The apostle James wrote a letter to the Christian world at large and under submitting yourselves to God he talks about the discord between man. Now what does the discord between man have to do with submitting to God you ask? Well if your relationship with God is off, so will your relationship with man. Hmm. It is normal for the flesh and the spirit to battle. Meaning that what the flesh wants is the opposite of what the spirit desires. But if you are in Christ, first and foremost, your first desire is to please the Lord. But if you are thinking from the world standards, your first desire is to please yourself. The apostle James is saying that the second mindset is what leads to the fighting amongst each other. Each person wanting their own way but the one in Christ will desire to do God's will. God's will is always the best way for all and incurs less problems. But man's way never sees the end result like God does and therefore has consequences and unnecessary problems. During a heated argument, most usually don't stop in the middle to say, "wait let's stop and pray to see what God wants." What the Apostle James says later in the scripture is that even when one does, it's with the wrong intent or motive and usually for the sake of still pleasing oneself. So how do you lessen the arguments you say? Ask God upfront what His will is and seek to do His will from the start. Now the one who doesn't desire to do so is the one who will be the cause of the discord.

P.S. The trivia game starts tonight to win your free autographed copy of my new book, "Shh Don't Tell". In order to play you must like the Get Your Joy (JOY ) In The Morning fan page on Facebook. There will be three trivia questions this week. Each trivia question will have one winner. The first person to inbox me with the correct answer on the fan page will win. In addition to the free autographed copy, the winner will be recognized on the fan page. May the best man or woman win!

Be Remembered FOREVER

Psalm 112:6

6Surely he will never be shaken, a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Psalm 112 is a eulogy for a godly man as noted in the NIV Study Bible. Have you ever thought about what will be said about you?  This is not an attempt to be morbid but one not often thought about until one is close to the end of their time. It would make more sense to think now and live that way now than to wait until it is all over and there is no time left. Have you ever thought about how your family, friends and colleagues would remember you? Will you be remembered for being a godly man or woman who treats people as Christ desired? Will you be remembered for having unshakable faith? Will you be remembered for helping and caring deeply for the needs of others? Will you be remembered for having raised awesome children who go forth in the land? Will you be remembered for long after you leave here as one who was always happy? Will you be remembered FOREVER with love?

P.S. I know you haven't received messages all week but I BLESS GOD for rest!!!

Don't Lose Sleep...It Is Normal

2Timothy 3:12-13

12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

The apostle Paul was giving a charge to the young Timothy about life in Christ, what to expect as one who preached the gospel of Christ. But Paul's warning wasn't just for Timothy, he says 'everyone' so that means you and I as well. Have you ever noticed the strange looks you get when you bow your head to God in public in order to thank Him for your food? Have you ever had the strange looks and words of discouragement from "so called friends" and even family because you no longer distribute the outrageous drunken behavior you used to that left you sick? Do you get the taunts or those who wrongfully project their issues of being out of line with Christ onto you to make themselves feel better? Do people look down on you because you men and women in Christ now refuse to literally lay down with anyone and everyone except the mate Christ has made especially for you, to avoid getting up with fleas and being left empty and unfulfilled? Then you guessed it? You have been persecuted. King Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun and it is true. Human behavior repeats itself. Do not lose sleep over this persecution because it is normal. Do not backslide because of this persecution. You are a new creature as Paul says. In order to move forward in your life in Christ, Paul says you have to renew your mind. Renewing your mind isn't a one time thing. It's something you have to do regularly by prayer, recognizing and listening to the Holy Spirit, staying in the Word and learning to apply it in your life. What is interesting is that Paul refers to 'evil men and impostors who will go from bad to worse deceiving'. Yes, there really are deceivers in the world and sadly there are those who are being deceived because they cannot seem to put on the 'mind of Christ' long enough to discern when an impostor and deceiver is in their midst. It's time to take off the glasses of darkness and turn on the light. Stop putting yourself in a position where you are willingly opening the door to deceit in your life. Let Christ give you new vision so you can see it and call it out. Trust and believe, when you call out deceivers in your life, they make an exit.



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

It's Okay to Ask for Help

1Peter 5:6

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

The apostle Peter was addressing men both young and elder, Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians alike. Peter himself had to deal with learning humility from the hand of Jesus so he was willing to address the subject. He talked about men refraining from using their power as leaders to lord it over people. And for young men especially to be respectful and humble. God is the true chief and it is God who can help you. It takes humility to ask the Lord for help and to know He will show up at the right time. He is faithful in that once you ask for His help He will show himself as one who loves you and will deliver the help you seek.

Honestly, it takes humility to ask for help period. It means admitting that one cannot do it all on their own. There's nothing wrong with that. None of us was created to do it ALL by ourselves. That is why "the body of Christ" was created. Each person plays a role. And Peter says in verse 5 that God opposes the proud. This doesn't just apply to men but women too. However, Peter was aware that men suffer from it like no one else. Men are taught that they must be strong and carry the weight on their shoulders. If President Obama, a man who carries the weight of a country and the free world, admitted in a speech that he drops to his knees in prayer when he doesn't know what to do, then no man should be ashamed to do so. 

God should not be the last option any of us seeks for help but the first because He is the only one who already knows the outcome.

Is It Worth It?

Proverbs 10:2

2Ill-gotten treasures are of no value but righteousness delivers from death.

The word proverb translated in Hebrew means oracle or parable and is used to describe truths of human behavior as noted under the nature of proverbs in the NIV Study Bible. King Solomon provided another truth from the Lord about anything not obtained the right way. It's of no value. It means nothing as it will not last. And because it was not obtained the right way it will lead to God's judgement. If you stole to get what you have, God's word says you will not have it for long. If you lied and deceived to get what you have, you will not have it for long. The means by which you obtain what is in your possession means a great deal to the Lord. Many believe "if I want it I shall have it". But the real question is, "Did God give it to you?" Is it worth it? Is what you obtained worth the price you will pay later? If the Lord desires for you to have something, He will provide the open door for you to obtain it in His time.


P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs of the Leap of Faith Show Mon-Fri from 10am-12pm on www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

Resistance is Futile

Acts 26:14

14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

The apostle was sharing his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus with King Agrippa. Many of you may remember Star Trek Next Generation. There was an enemy referred to as "The Borg" they were a group of people turned into a single consciousness. There common phrase was, 'resistance is futile'. Per the NIV Study Bible, Jesus' statement to Paul about the goads is translated into the same phrase in Greek. The point is that resisting the Lord really only brings harm to the person resisting. The circle of pain continues until one stops fighting Him. If you read both the Old and New  Testament, it is filled with examples of those who attempted to fight God but no one can fight the creator of Heaven, Earth and everything in it and expect to win. Even the enemy of our souls fights a losing battle. So why resist? Stubborn pride is usually at the root but the Lord says in His word that He disdains pride and He will break a prideful spirit. How far He has to break you depends solely on how long you resist the Lord. Many don't understand but He is such that He presents an offer, you can't refuse.  Resistance of the one who created you really is futile as it's only a matter of time before you have to call on Him.

P.S. Stay tuned over the next 2 weeks for your chance to win a free autographed copy of my new book, Shh Don't Tell!