Romans 12:2
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test
and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The apostle Paul stated to the church in Rome how important it is that
once you become a follower of Christ you are not to follow the pattern
of the world. The pattern of the world is what leads you astray and away
from God's perfect will for your life. God is the one who created you
so He knows what He created you for. The only way to be transformed is
to grow. Unless you are willing to grow, you will eventually go
backwards. The next level in Christ will not just arrive. You have to do
your part, which is to grow in Christ. You have to do the work of
reading more, praying more, talking and listening to the Lord more and
then doing what He says to do. Many people talk to the Lord but don't
stop to listen to see what He's saying. Doing so will lead you to His
perfect will for your life, His perfect will is the BEST choice, not the
good choice for your life. Good choice versus BEST choice has less
consequences for you. The BEST choice allows you to still maintain your
joy and sanity in a world where so many lack both. You have to be
willing to do the work to get to the optimum place. But you say, "what
if I don't want to grow and I'm fine where I am?" Guess what? If you
knew anything about your Heavenly Father, you would know He has
something better for you on the other side of growth. You would know
that He knows you can do more and be more than you ever imagined.
Believe it or not, if you're not growing then you're dying. You're dying
in your spiritual life when you don't grow and it actually leads to
death in other areas of your life. Everything starts in the spirit and
manifests in the natural. So if you're dying spiritually because you
refuse to grow, what else in your life will die as a result of it? Think
twice before you say you don't want to grow and are fine where you are.
God always wants you to grow. And why not want for you what He wants
for you when He desires to give you the BEST life ever?
P.S. Check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.Qliveone.com Saturdays at 8am CT/9am ET!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
He Hears Your Cry
Psalm 6:9
9The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
David like many of us had to endure a rebuke from the Lord and His wrath for sin. But David at least accepted his wrong doing. In the psalm, David asked God to hold back from having him feel the fullness of his sin. It was during David's illness that he found out how many enemies he really had. Nothing like getting kicked while you're down. David continued to praise God even in his bleak circumstances of agony. David cried out to the Lord for mercy, and like a parent who listens for the cry of their child, so God listened for David's cry and accepted his prayer. Do you know God hears every cry from His children? He hears your distinct cry which is different from anyone else's. God sees every tear you shed and those you desire to shed but don't. No matter what mess you've made, if you go to the Lord with a sincere heart of repentance, He'll hear you. If you don't know what to say start with, "I'm sorry God. I've messed up. Tell me what to do. How do I make things right with you?" God hears you and wants to be the problem solver in your life if you let Him. God wants to make it all better for you but He also wants you to get the lesson so you don't have to repeat it. What have you messed up? What agony are you in? God hears your cry. You are not alone.
9The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
David like many of us had to endure a rebuke from the Lord and His wrath for sin. But David at least accepted his wrong doing. In the psalm, David asked God to hold back from having him feel the fullness of his sin. It was during David's illness that he found out how many enemies he really had. Nothing like getting kicked while you're down. David continued to praise God even in his bleak circumstances of agony. David cried out to the Lord for mercy, and like a parent who listens for the cry of their child, so God listened for David's cry and accepted his prayer. Do you know God hears every cry from His children? He hears your distinct cry which is different from anyone else's. God sees every tear you shed and those you desire to shed but don't. No matter what mess you've made, if you go to the Lord with a sincere heart of repentance, He'll hear you. If you don't know what to say start with, "I'm sorry God. I've messed up. Tell me what to do. How do I make things right with you?" God hears you and wants to be the problem solver in your life if you let Him. God wants to make it all better for you but He also wants you to get the lesson so you don't have to repeat it. What have you messed up? What agony are you in? God hears your cry. You are not alone.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The Turning Point
Matthew 26:18
18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' "
The passover meal Jesus had with the disciples is also referred to as "the last supper" because it was the last passover meal before His crucifixion. The passover is the celebration of the Jews being passed over in Egypt when the death angel took the first born of every living thing as a testimony against Pharaoh for not releasing the Jews from bondage. Jesus would soon fulfill the other half of His purpose. He spent three years ministering and preparing the disciples to carry on His work and He would soon release them to go forward but the climax of His purpose had to be reached. Just as in a movie, all the plots are working up to one big turning point. And once the turning point is reached, nothing will ever be the same. Jesus said, "my appointed time is near." He prepared them as much as He could for what was coming. How do you prepare someone for what is going to be an unpleasant experience when you too have to go through it? Outside of telling them, what you can do is pray. Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer and meditation with God the Father. He himself did not want to go through the experience but knew He had to. Jesus knew every piece of the puzzle but couldn't stop it. All He could do was prepare them. Have you been preparing someone for something? Is it unpleasant? Are they prepared? Have you prayed? Have you recognized that whatever it is, the time is near? Are you having that last supper of sorts? Jesus was calm in the presence of the disciples though he knew how bad things were going to get before He and the disciples could celebrate His resurrection. Are you calm and ready for the turning point?
P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!
18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' "
The passover meal Jesus had with the disciples is also referred to as "the last supper" because it was the last passover meal before His crucifixion. The passover is the celebration of the Jews being passed over in Egypt when the death angel took the first born of every living thing as a testimony against Pharaoh for not releasing the Jews from bondage. Jesus would soon fulfill the other half of His purpose. He spent three years ministering and preparing the disciples to carry on His work and He would soon release them to go forward but the climax of His purpose had to be reached. Just as in a movie, all the plots are working up to one big turning point. And once the turning point is reached, nothing will ever be the same. Jesus said, "my appointed time is near." He prepared them as much as He could for what was coming. How do you prepare someone for what is going to be an unpleasant experience when you too have to go through it? Outside of telling them, what you can do is pray. Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer and meditation with God the Father. He himself did not want to go through the experience but knew He had to. Jesus knew every piece of the puzzle but couldn't stop it. All He could do was prepare them. Have you been preparing someone for something? Is it unpleasant? Are they prepared? Have you prayed? Have you recognized that whatever it is, the time is near? Are you having that last supper of sorts? Jesus was calm in the presence of the disciples though he knew how bad things were going to get before He and the disciples could celebrate His resurrection. Are you calm and ready for the turning point?
P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!
Monday, May 21, 2012
He's Just Waiting on You
Psalm 99:8
8O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.
The psalmist provides a hymn recanting the love and righteousness of the Lord. The psalmist also noted those that called on the Lord and He listened to their plea. Just as the psalmist says, though God punished the people of Israel, when they called on Him, He answered. How many times has the Lord punished you for your choice to go against Him? How many times have you attempted to sidestep the growth He desires for you to go through? How many times have you decided you would take to the world's standards instead of the Lord's? When it happens, the Lord will deal with it but His anger doesn't last always. The Lord is a forgiving God. He wants more for you than you want for you. When you call on Him and have a repentant heart, He will answer just like He did many times for the people of Israel. At what point will you call on Him? Will it be when the weight of your choices has you on your knees? Will it be when the echo of your tears is too much for your bear? God is ready to listen. He's just waiting on you.
8O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.
The psalmist provides a hymn recanting the love and righteousness of the Lord. The psalmist also noted those that called on the Lord and He listened to their plea. Just as the psalmist says, though God punished the people of Israel, when they called on Him, He answered. How many times has the Lord punished you for your choice to go against Him? How many times have you attempted to sidestep the growth He desires for you to go through? How many times have you decided you would take to the world's standards instead of the Lord's? When it happens, the Lord will deal with it but His anger doesn't last always. The Lord is a forgiving God. He wants more for you than you want for you. When you call on Him and have a repentant heart, He will answer just like He did many times for the people of Israel. At what point will you call on Him? Will it be when the weight of your choices has you on your knees? Will it be when the echo of your tears is too much for your bear? God is ready to listen. He's just waiting on you.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Micah 2:11
11If a liar and deceiver comes and says, I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer, he would be just the prophet for this people!
The prophet Micah had to relay a message from the Lord about false prophets. The false prophets always say what everyone wants to hear not what they need to hear. The false prophets not only cause their own destruction but the destruction of those they have lied to. Everyone looses when the truth is not told. Pretending that all will be well only delays the inevitable. Israel's destruction was coming sooner rather than later and the idea that everyone pretended it wasn't coming only made it worse. When God says He's going to do something and takes His time to do it, it's not because He's lying, it's because He wants you to get it right before you can't make it right. Believe it or not, God loves each and every single person He allowed to come forth through the birth canal. He doesn't actually desire to bring judgement or punishment on anyone. But when you don't listen, He has no choice. Your feelings, your wants, your excuses for not doing what He wants of you will not be heard. He will turn His head and let whatever destruction must come upon you for you to cry out to Him. Not crying out to Him before the destruction comes is simply your ego and inability to see that you are not really in control. God is the creator of all, therefore He knows what's coming. And by Him thinking enough of you to tell you is because He doesn't want to do it but He will do whatever He has to do to get you to Him. Whatever He has take from you to make you cry out He will take. Whatever you have honored more than Him, will then become your undoing. Those that tell you it's not are deceiving you to ease their own minds but God will deal with them.
P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com! Check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.Qliveone.com
11If a liar and deceiver comes and says, I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer, he would be just the prophet for this people!
The prophet Micah had to relay a message from the Lord about false prophets. The false prophets always say what everyone wants to hear not what they need to hear. The false prophets not only cause their own destruction but the destruction of those they have lied to. Everyone looses when the truth is not told. Pretending that all will be well only delays the inevitable. Israel's destruction was coming sooner rather than later and the idea that everyone pretended it wasn't coming only made it worse. When God says He's going to do something and takes His time to do it, it's not because He's lying, it's because He wants you to get it right before you can't make it right. Believe it or not, God loves each and every single person He allowed to come forth through the birth canal. He doesn't actually desire to bring judgement or punishment on anyone. But when you don't listen, He has no choice. Your feelings, your wants, your excuses for not doing what He wants of you will not be heard. He will turn His head and let whatever destruction must come upon you for you to cry out to Him. Not crying out to Him before the destruction comes is simply your ego and inability to see that you are not really in control. God is the creator of all, therefore He knows what's coming. And by Him thinking enough of you to tell you is because He doesn't want to do it but He will do whatever He has to do to get you to Him. Whatever He has take from you to make you cry out He will take. Whatever you have honored more than Him, will then become your undoing. Those that tell you it's not are deceiving you to ease their own minds but God will deal with them.
P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com! Check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on www.Qliveone.com
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Although I cover this topic in my book Get Your JOY In The Morning,
I found it interesting that a CBS prime time drama covered it. I
thought I would've written this earlier but everything is in God's
timing not ours.
I turned to a show that I only began watching every blue moon after an actor friend appeared on it. The show is called Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan and Donnie Wahlberg. Episode 13: The God Whisperer hit a cord. There was a murder and the daughter of the woman slain was Jewish but one who often talked of hearing from God. Donnie Wahlberg's character and his partner spoke to the woman and she said God told her that her mother was dead and who murdered her. On the show, Donnie's family members are devoted church goers and Donnie's case became the hot topic at the dinner table. Throughout the family there was debate because most thought the witness was crazy and some of the family even admitted they didn't think the Bible was relevant today and whether God speaks. In the end, what the woman received from God helped Donnie and his partner solve the case. Donnie mentioned at one point, "well God has to talk. How else did Noah know to build the ark before the rain came?" Donnie was afraid to admit at first that God does speak and it's not a one-way conversation. But what was so disturbing was the family didn't miss a Sunday of church yet most had no real faith. How many are sitting in the pews every Sunday with no belief? Hebrews 11:1 says, Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Do you really believe God speaks? Have you said, "well something told me to do X, Y or Z," which kept you from a horrible incident? Are you giving proper acknowledgement to the Holy Spirit dispensed by Jesus Christ? Have you said, "the energy"...what it is, is a spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the only spirit that exists. We are also spirit but also flesh. There are many principalities of darkness as well. Remember Lucifer/Satan was once an angel of the Lord. You can feel someone looking at you or can tell when a person has walked in the room because you feel a spirit. Yes, God speaks. Our problem is we often choose not to listen. And whether the Bible is relevant, the same issues that exist in the Bible regarding drunkenness, greed, lying, adultery, fornication, idol worship, baby-mama drama, persecution, corrupt governments, poverty, flat out disobedience,etc all exist. Does this not sound like what we see in everyday life? So the only reason not to see is because one hasn't opened the Bible.
Get Your JOY In The Morning is not to replace the Bible it is to be an aide/study guide to go along with it. Why not read a chapter per day starting with Genesis. If you don't have one you can even download one to your smart phone, kindle, etc....technology has made it easy. The goal or "win" is for all of us to grow closer to Christ. If you have done so while reading these daily messages, then ALL glory and honor goes to GOD, I am only an instrument. I pray that you take your walk with Christ seriously and read the instruction book God has left for us.
I turned to a show that I only began watching every blue moon after an actor friend appeared on it. The show is called Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan and Donnie Wahlberg. Episode 13: The God Whisperer hit a cord. There was a murder and the daughter of the woman slain was Jewish but one who often talked of hearing from God. Donnie Wahlberg's character and his partner spoke to the woman and she said God told her that her mother was dead and who murdered her. On the show, Donnie's family members are devoted church goers and Donnie's case became the hot topic at the dinner table. Throughout the family there was debate because most thought the witness was crazy and some of the family even admitted they didn't think the Bible was relevant today and whether God speaks. In the end, what the woman received from God helped Donnie and his partner solve the case. Donnie mentioned at one point, "well God has to talk. How else did Noah know to build the ark before the rain came?" Donnie was afraid to admit at first that God does speak and it's not a one-way conversation. But what was so disturbing was the family didn't miss a Sunday of church yet most had no real faith. How many are sitting in the pews every Sunday with no belief? Hebrews 11:1 says, Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Do you really believe God speaks? Have you said, "well something told me to do X, Y or Z," which kept you from a horrible incident? Are you giving proper acknowledgement to the Holy Spirit dispensed by Jesus Christ? Have you said, "the energy"...what it is, is a spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the only spirit that exists. We are also spirit but also flesh. There are many principalities of darkness as well. Remember Lucifer/Satan was once an angel of the Lord. You can feel someone looking at you or can tell when a person has walked in the room because you feel a spirit. Yes, God speaks. Our problem is we often choose not to listen. And whether the Bible is relevant, the same issues that exist in the Bible regarding drunkenness, greed, lying, adultery, fornication, idol worship, baby-mama drama, persecution, corrupt governments, poverty, flat out disobedience,etc all exist. Does this not sound like what we see in everyday life? So the only reason not to see is because one hasn't opened the Bible.
Get Your JOY In The Morning is not to replace the Bible it is to be an aide/study guide to go along with it. Why not read a chapter per day starting with Genesis. If you don't have one you can even download one to your smart phone, kindle, etc....technology has made it easy. The goal or "win" is for all of us to grow closer to Christ. If you have done so while reading these daily messages, then ALL glory and honor goes to GOD, I am only an instrument. I pray that you take your walk with Christ seriously and read the instruction book God has left for us.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Closet Follower
Luke 12:9
9But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels.
Jesus makes it plain. To say you don't know Him in the presence of man gives Him the right to say He doesn't know you in the presence of angels. But many say, "Lord you know I love you." The best way you can ever show anyone you really love them is by not being afraid to show you do. Peter disowned Jesus three times because he feared his life was at stake. Not understanding that his life really was at stake but not so much at the hands of the high priests but at the hand of Jesus. Too many fear what man will say because they are closet followers. To be a closet follower means you only want people to know on the days you worship or when it's convenient for you yet every other day of your life you live as if you don't know Jesus. If Jesus is the foundation of your life then He will show in all areas of your life. We are to be the light that draws men to Jesus. How can that be if you're afraid to show you even follow Him? No, it doesn't mean you have to carry the Bible in your hand wherever you walk but what it does mean is that you are willing to tell the truth in love, even if it's unpleasant. When you study the Word of God, it will be within you and you'll show yourself approved as stated in 2Timothy 2. You will eventually be able to recall scripture like Eli in The Book of Eli. It also means you're willing to walk the right way and be a person of action, not just words. No matter what, people will know you by your fruit as Jesus says. A follower of Christ will be willing to stand up for what Jesus wants, even when it goes against what man wants. God always wins but if you have determined you will be silent, then your actions say that you're not following the winning team.
P.S. Check Church Beat Radio's Top Ten Countdown on www.churchbeatradio.com!
9But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels.
Jesus makes it plain. To say you don't know Him in the presence of man gives Him the right to say He doesn't know you in the presence of angels. But many say, "Lord you know I love you." The best way you can ever show anyone you really love them is by not being afraid to show you do. Peter disowned Jesus three times because he feared his life was at stake. Not understanding that his life really was at stake but not so much at the hands of the high priests but at the hand of Jesus. Too many fear what man will say because they are closet followers. To be a closet follower means you only want people to know on the days you worship or when it's convenient for you yet every other day of your life you live as if you don't know Jesus. If Jesus is the foundation of your life then He will show in all areas of your life. We are to be the light that draws men to Jesus. How can that be if you're afraid to show you even follow Him? No, it doesn't mean you have to carry the Bible in your hand wherever you walk but what it does mean is that you are willing to tell the truth in love, even if it's unpleasant. When you study the Word of God, it will be within you and you'll show yourself approved as stated in 2Timothy 2. You will eventually be able to recall scripture like Eli in The Book of Eli. It also means you're willing to walk the right way and be a person of action, not just words. No matter what, people will know you by your fruit as Jesus says. A follower of Christ will be willing to stand up for what Jesus wants, even when it goes against what man wants. God always wins but if you have determined you will be silent, then your actions say that you're not following the winning team.
P.S. Check Church Beat Radio's Top Ten Countdown on www.churchbeatradio.com!
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