Isaiah 40:13
Who has understood the mind of the Lord,
or instructed him as his counselor?
Have you ever attempted to give the Lord "advice" on how to bring you out of your situation? The Lord used the prophet Isaiah to bring comfort to his people. But its difficult to be comforted by one that the people didn't trust fully. Unfortunately, many of us are like the people of Israel. We are looking for comfort but because we don't fully trust the Lord, we either begin to dictate to the Lord what we believe will bring us comfort or even turn to idols that cannot measure up to the Lord. As the prophet Isaiah asked a relevant rhetorical question, we must ask the same question of ourselves. Since the Lord created heaven and earth, knew exactly how the body should be built and created the most magnificent scenery within the earth, do you really think he needs your guidance on how to handle a situation? Now we can submit our requests but we ought to remember that everything must be according to his will or it will always be second best. Maybe you wanted that motorcycle you've passed by everyday but the Lord said no. Do you know there's a reason for it? Maybe the kick stand is loose or the reserve tank has a hole in it. Or could simply be that there's an emergency about to come up and you're going to need that money for something else. Whatever the reason, trust God enough to know best. Let him be the guide as our power is limited only to what he determines we ought to have.
P.S. Remember, if you live in the DC/MD area you can obtain a copy of Get Your JOY In The Morning from John 3:16 Christian Bookstore in Lanham, MD otherwise it can be ordered at any online bookstore or special ordered via Borders, Books-A-Million, Family Christian, Cokesbury and Barnes and Noble.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Resurrected Life
John 14:20
On that day you will realize that I am in my father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Jesus had just promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would be with them. He promised this after relaying the news once again that they wouldn't see him for some time. Jesus was coming to the end of his physical ministry and time with the disciples. But it's in this statement that he reveals the resurrection and it would be at that they understood why Jesus came. Quite frankly, there are many in the pews but some need to witness a resurrection in their own lives before they believe that Jesus is present. How much more does Jesus have to show you before you believe? Is that some must feel the wounds of Jesus before they believe the presence of the Holy Spirit and how he operates in truth? What will it take before one starts listening and viewing with new eyes? What will it take before one allows the Holy Spirit to be the guide? Jesus promised the presence of the Holy Spirit. He's there alright but we've been turning a deaf ear. Let us know longer have a deaf ear and blind eye and let us accept his presence in our lives.
P.S. Remember, if you live in the DC/MD area you can obtain a copy of Get Your JOY In The Morning from John 3:16 Christian Bookstore in Lanham, MD otherwise it can be ordered at any online bookstore or special ordered via Borders, Books-A-Million, Family Christian, Cokesbury and Barnes and Noble.
On that day you will realize that I am in my father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Jesus had just promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would be with them. He promised this after relaying the news once again that they wouldn't see him for some time. Jesus was coming to the end of his physical ministry and time with the disciples. But it's in this statement that he reveals the resurrection and it would be at that they understood why Jesus came. Quite frankly, there are many in the pews but some need to witness a resurrection in their own lives before they believe that Jesus is present. How much more does Jesus have to show you before you believe? Is that some must feel the wounds of Jesus before they believe the presence of the Holy Spirit and how he operates in truth? What will it take before one starts listening and viewing with new eyes? What will it take before one allows the Holy Spirit to be the guide? Jesus promised the presence of the Holy Spirit. He's there alright but we've been turning a deaf ear. Let us know longer have a deaf ear and blind eye and let us accept his presence in our lives.
P.S. Remember, if you live in the DC/MD area you can obtain a copy of Get Your JOY In The Morning from John 3:16 Christian Bookstore in Lanham, MD otherwise it can be ordered at any online bookstore or special ordered via Borders, Books-A-Million, Family Christian, Cokesbury and Barnes and Noble.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
House of Cards or Brick
Proverbs 12:3
A man cannot be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
How did you get what you have? King Solomon said it so plainly. It doesn't matter how much the wicked may seem to have at the moment, eventually, they will lose it all. A wicked man is one who does not follow God. If a wicked man obtains what they have in an incorrect manner, it will be the same way in which they lose it. One who obtains anything based on God's will it cannot be snatched. Put in the easiest of terms, this is the law of reaping and sowing. Whether one believes in God or not, God set this law in motion and it's universal. Whatever one puts out, one will get in return. What God has for you is for you but if God didn't intend for someone to have something and it's obtained through means that are not of him, it won't be long before it's gone. It may not happen this year, next year or even the year after that, but it will happen. And when it's gone it cannot be obtained again if it wasn't of God. Anyone who builds a house with a deck of cards knows it's unstable and will eventually fall. So it is with anything one attempts to build through ways that are not of God. But a righteous man, one who loves God and desires to follow him, who obtains anything the correct way and in accordance to God's will cannot be uprooted. It's the house made of brick that cannot be easily toppled. Which would you rather have, the house of cards or house of brick?
A man cannot be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
How did you get what you have? King Solomon said it so plainly. It doesn't matter how much the wicked may seem to have at the moment, eventually, they will lose it all. A wicked man is one who does not follow God. If a wicked man obtains what they have in an incorrect manner, it will be the same way in which they lose it. One who obtains anything based on God's will it cannot be snatched. Put in the easiest of terms, this is the law of reaping and sowing. Whether one believes in God or not, God set this law in motion and it's universal. Whatever one puts out, one will get in return. What God has for you is for you but if God didn't intend for someone to have something and it's obtained through means that are not of him, it won't be long before it's gone. It may not happen this year, next year or even the year after that, but it will happen. And when it's gone it cannot be obtained again if it wasn't of God. Anyone who builds a house with a deck of cards knows it's unstable and will eventually fall. So it is with anything one attempts to build through ways that are not of God. But a righteous man, one who loves God and desires to follow him, who obtains anything the correct way and in accordance to God's will cannot be uprooted. It's the house made of brick that cannot be easily toppled. Which would you rather have, the house of cards or house of brick?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Not What You Were Expecting
John 18:5b-6
"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)
6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was approached by the guards sent to arrest him and Judas who was to identify him. But as it turned out Jesus was didn't look at all to be what the guards expected. According to the NIV Study Bible, Jesus looked very majestic and powerful. Jesus looked more of his true identify as he was ready to fulfill his purpose. The guards were expecting someone other than who they saw and the surprise caused them to show respect.
Has someone's impression of you been one way only to find that when coming into your presence or vice versa, the imagined impression was not correct? Like the guards, we sometimes assume that the people will encounter will be one way but quite a surprise, their appearance is different. And it may not be in the physical nature that their presence is different but their character or even essence is either stronger or weaker than we thought. Like the guards, the surprise causes re-evaluation. The re-evaluation may be good or bad but either way, the assumption must be taken off the table because the realness is in complete view. Are you exactly what someone was expecting? Was someone what you were expecting? Has the Lord shown you what you need to see as was the case of the guards?
"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)
6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was approached by the guards sent to arrest him and Judas who was to identify him. But as it turned out Jesus was didn't look at all to be what the guards expected. According to the NIV Study Bible, Jesus looked very majestic and powerful. Jesus looked more of his true identify as he was ready to fulfill his purpose. The guards were expecting someone other than who they saw and the surprise caused them to show respect.
Has someone's impression of you been one way only to find that when coming into your presence or vice versa, the imagined impression was not correct? Like the guards, we sometimes assume that the people will encounter will be one way but quite a surprise, their appearance is different. And it may not be in the physical nature that their presence is different but their character or even essence is either stronger or weaker than we thought. Like the guards, the surprise causes re-evaluation. The re-evaluation may be good or bad but either way, the assumption must be taken off the table because the realness is in complete view. Are you exactly what someone was expecting? Was someone what you were expecting? Has the Lord shown you what you need to see as was the case of the guards?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
More Than Words
Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Words are more than words. As the wisdom filled King Solomon noted,words are piercing like a sword. We don't always think about it but if the Word of God is a sword for dividing truth and untruth, God called the world into being with words, then one can rightly determine that words are very powerful. When we speak to one another if it's with attitude other than love, then it will hurt. Truth sometimes hurts anyway but we usually don't want to hear it but when someone is is cruel with words, it leaves a nasty taste. One thing we must recognize is if it doesn't feel good when done to us, why then do it to someone else? We don't always think before we speak. We have a tendency put things out in the universe but they can never be taken back.. The wheels are set in motion whether it's a person's reaction to the words or the lack there of. But one who is wise knows that words cannot be changed and will seek to provide encouragement.
What you say is more than words, it can lift or break a spirit. And once a spirit is broken by your words, God has to be the clean up man.
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Words are more than words. As the wisdom filled King Solomon noted,words are piercing like a sword. We don't always think about it but if the Word of God is a sword for dividing truth and untruth, God called the world into being with words, then one can rightly determine that words are very powerful. When we speak to one another if it's with attitude other than love, then it will hurt. Truth sometimes hurts anyway but we usually don't want to hear it but when someone is is cruel with words, it leaves a nasty taste. One thing we must recognize is if it doesn't feel good when done to us, why then do it to someone else? We don't always think before we speak. We have a tendency put things out in the universe but they can never be taken back.. The wheels are set in motion whether it's a person's reaction to the words or the lack there of. But one who is wise knows that words cannot be changed and will seek to provide encouragement.
What you say is more than words, it can lift or break a spirit. And once a spirit is broken by your words, God has to be the clean up man.
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Right Opportunity
Acts 8:34-35
34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Do you know when the right opportunity has appeared? An Ethiopian man who wanted to understand the scripture but there was no one present to assist him while on the road so the Lord sent Philip the evangelist to help understand. Philip didn't immediate shove Jesus down his throat but assisted in the immediate need the Ethiopian had. When the opportunity arose, Philip took that moment to introduce the man to Jesus. Philip was sent to introduce the man to Christ but he first addressed his immediate need. Sometimes God sets circumstances in place that we must meet a need then ears are more receptive to hearing His word. We cannot always lead with Christ but we can lead with Christ like character. How so? Most times people were introduced to Jesus by him meeting their need first, then they were receptive to following him. We have to show the character of Christ before we can open our mouths about Christ. We have to show love, humility, kindness, joy, appreciation, etc. Jesus did these things and it was through his willingness to help those who asked for help that men and women wanted to know more. We have to see the opportunity when it arises. The Lord gives us clues but we do not always pay attention or we hesitate out of fear. If God has presented the opportunity to introduce Christ, it's because the person is at a place to receive. Learn to see the opportunities but also know when it's about meeting the need.
AMEN PRAISE HIM!!!
P.S. There will be no message on Monday, July 4th. May you spend that time in reflection. For those in the United States may you enjoy the holiday. But all readers, may you reflect on the freedom you have in Christ but remember it came at a dear price. Just as blood was shed here in the United States for freedom, Jesus shed his blood on the cross so that we may live. PRICELESS!
34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Do you know when the right opportunity has appeared? An Ethiopian man who wanted to understand the scripture but there was no one present to assist him while on the road so the Lord sent Philip the evangelist to help understand. Philip didn't immediate shove Jesus down his throat but assisted in the immediate need the Ethiopian had. When the opportunity arose, Philip took that moment to introduce the man to Jesus. Philip was sent to introduce the man to Christ but he first addressed his immediate need. Sometimes God sets circumstances in place that we must meet a need then ears are more receptive to hearing His word. We cannot always lead with Christ but we can lead with Christ like character. How so? Most times people were introduced to Jesus by him meeting their need first, then they were receptive to following him. We have to show the character of Christ before we can open our mouths about Christ. We have to show love, humility, kindness, joy, appreciation, etc. Jesus did these things and it was through his willingness to help those who asked for help that men and women wanted to know more. We have to see the opportunity when it arises. The Lord gives us clues but we do not always pay attention or we hesitate out of fear. If God has presented the opportunity to introduce Christ, it's because the person is at a place to receive. Learn to see the opportunities but also know when it's about meeting the need.
AMEN PRAISE HIM!!!
P.S. There will be no message on Monday, July 4th. May you spend that time in reflection. For those in the United States may you enjoy the holiday. But all readers, may you reflect on the freedom you have in Christ but remember it came at a dear price. Just as blood was shed here in the United States for freedom, Jesus shed his blood on the cross so that we may live. PRICELESS!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Full Circle
Proverbs 11:17
A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
A man of strength is often praised. But what about kindness? King Solomon noted that a kind man benefits himself. But what does it mean to be kind? According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary kind is defined as:
1: of a sympathetic, forbearing or pleasant nature
2: arising from sympathy or forbearance ~deeds
In a nutshell, a kind man is a man that shows mercy. Jesus was such a man and had many followers. But demonstrated so much strength while beaten and nailed to the cross. As much pain as he endured, he did it to show mercy and love for us. A cruel man brings trouble. According to King Solomon, just as a kind man draws benefits to him, a cruel man repels. We all reap what we sow. Whatever we put out we will eventually get in return. It may not be today or tomorrow but somewhere in our journey, we will receive the kindness we have shown to others or we will receive the cruelty we have displayed to others. It may be a matter of perspective to some but God's laws cannot be changed or manipulated. The law of reciprocity goes into effect the moment we open our mouths or exert any action. Know this and know it well, kind describes Jesus' heart condition but strong does so as well. No one else can do what he does! He is called counselor, doctor and many other names besides savior. What can be used to describe you? Are you one that can be called kind or cruel?
A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
A man of strength is often praised. But what about kindness? King Solomon noted that a kind man benefits himself. But what does it mean to be kind? According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary kind is defined as:
1: of a sympathetic, forbearing or pleasant nature
2: arising from sympathy or forbearance ~deeds
In a nutshell, a kind man is a man that shows mercy. Jesus was such a man and had many followers. But demonstrated so much strength while beaten and nailed to the cross. As much pain as he endured, he did it to show mercy and love for us. A cruel man brings trouble. According to King Solomon, just as a kind man draws benefits to him, a cruel man repels. We all reap what we sow. Whatever we put out we will eventually get in return. It may not be today or tomorrow but somewhere in our journey, we will receive the kindness we have shown to others or we will receive the cruelty we have displayed to others. It may be a matter of perspective to some but God's laws cannot be changed or manipulated. The law of reciprocity goes into effect the moment we open our mouths or exert any action. Know this and know it well, kind describes Jesus' heart condition but strong does so as well. No one else can do what he does! He is called counselor, doctor and many other names besides savior. What can be used to describe you? Are you one that can be called kind or cruel?
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