The Act of Acknowledgement

Psalm 50:23
23He who sacrifices thank offerings and honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.

The psalmist speaks of the awesomeness of God but also of how the people of Israel thought that only sacrifices would please God. When we were children, many of us learned how to say 'please' and 'thank you' as soon as we could talk. We were and are to say it as often as we can as a form of acknowledgement of the assistance of others. But what about God? How often do we thank Him. The psalm points out that it's in acknowledging God by thanking Him and praising Him that He loves most. It has been said that man loves recognition more than money. The recognition is the acknowledgment of the work done. God is no different. He wants our acknowledgment and thanks because He doesn't have to do anything. He decided to make us in His own image so we are like the one who created us in that we desire acknowledgement for a job well done. God does more than enough every day. He wakes us up, keeps us breathing, He even protects us from things seen and unseen. He does so much and has such a thankless 'job'. But it's the toughest job that He loves to do because He loves us. Putting in the offering plate is great and so is saying thank you and showing gratitude to Him even by treating thy neighbor well. All these things God sees when we make our sacrifices. But if we don't say thank you and we don't treat each other well, God will rebuke us as the psalm poins out. Do you tell God thank you every day? Do you praise Him every day?

P.S. Have you read the book Get Your JOY In The Morning? Do you know that it was because God gave me a second chance at life when the doctors said I didn't have one that the daily messages exist? If you haven't read the book, I encourage it. You can order it from nearly any online bookstore. If you've already read it please feel free to give a review on the following website: http://phillybookpicks.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/book-pick-for-the-week-23-2/#comment-21069

Securing What Didn't Belong

Matthew 27:65
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."

Pilate heard rumors that Jesus would be raised from the dead. His perception of 'raised from the dead' involved Jesus' body being stolen by his followers. What Pilate didn't understand was followers wouldn't be taking Jesus' body. For Jesus had the power to pick His own life back up just as He willingly laid it down. What does it mean to secure? According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, there are a few definitions for secure:

1a archaic : unwisely free from fear or distrust : overconfident b : easy in mind : confident c : assured in opinion or expectation : having no doubt
2a : free from danger b : free from risk of loss c : affording safety d : trustworthy, dependable
3: assured 1

Pilate charged the guard with securing something that didn't belong to Pilate. All the security devices in the world at that time did not matter. Jesus' resurrection was proof that death nor anything else could not hold him. Sealing the tomb and placing a guard outside just meant no one could get in. Pilate and the high priests underestimated Jesus' power and ability to get out. ALL authority has been given to Jesus by God the Father which means He can do anything, even the impossible to man's naked eye. One can not secure something that God has not deemed belongs to them. Jesus' life didn't belong to Pilate or anyone else who sought to take his life; therefore, their security attempts failed. Jesus did what was deemed by God the Father because it is to Him that He belongs. The only security we have is that in Jesus.

P.S. Get Your JOY In The Morning is Book Pick of the Week on the following website: http://phillybookpicks.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/book-pick-for-the-week-23-2/#comment-21069! If you've already read Get Your JOY In The Morning please go and rate it!! If you haven't but have thoughts on the book cover, your comments are still appreciated!! THANK YOU!!!

STOP the Drama!!

Jeremiah 2:17
17Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord God when he led you in the way?

Sometimes we bring on our own drama. Just as the prophet Jeremiah said, God already said what we need to do but we hem and haw, stall and even attempt to go in the opposite direction of where He said to go. And we wonder why there's confusion and problems. We go in the opposite direction of where God has led us usually because we don't TRUST God enough at His word. When the Lord says He's got it, then He does. We waste time in our lives when we don't even know how much time we have moving around in circles going nowhere fast. When we were supposed to be at least 50 feet ahead. And all because we lack courage. The drama that exist in our lives is often man made by us because we refuse to move when the Lord says move or stand still when He says to stand still. Some must confess to being drama kings and queens. The constant battling and confusion provides some people with something to talk about because they're not willing to move forward and as long as the confusion is taking place hope no one notices that they're not moving. But alas, STOP the drama! Move when God says move and stand when God says to stand. Let us learn that confusion is not of God. Our God is a God of decency and order. What drama are you causing in your own life? Are you using it to cover up lack of courage to move forward? God already knows. He's already led the way, just follow Him.


P.S. Get Your JOY In The Morning is Book Pick of the Week on the following website: http://phillybookpicks.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/book-pick-for-the-week-23-2/#comment-21069! If you've already read Get Your JOY In The Morning please go and rate it!! If you haven't but have thoughts on the book cover, your comments are still appreciated!! THANK YOU!!!

Woe to Them

Luke 17:1
1Jesus said to the disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.

Jesus was quite clear to the disciples that no matter what sin will be present. But if one is blatant in stirring up sin in others then truly they will cause their own downfall. Without repentance for causing others to sin whether it be in anger or anything else, causing strife is not just done to the Lord's precious one, it's also being done unto the Lord. In essence, you hurt his children, you hurt Him. One who is full of sin who would send others that may be weaker down the hole of sin destroys themselves. Remember that we are to "love thy neighbor as thyself." One full of sin is on a destructive path and if they are not willing to see how much the Lord wants to love them so they can love as He loves, how then can one love thy neighbor? They can't. Unfortunately, one who desires sin and leads others down that path doesn't care for their own future so they are incapable of caring for the future of others. Jesus said back in Matthew 18:15 that one whose brother sins against him should go and show his brother his fault. But how many are willing to admit to that fault? It will prove exactly as Jesus said to the disciples, woe to that person.

P.S. Check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on Qliveone.com Saturday at 8am CT, 2pm CT and 8pm CT and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment! Thank you to the Church Beat Radio Family at www.churchbeatradio.com for giving away a copy of  Get Your JOY In The Morning during the Top 10 Countdown!

At the Mercy

Isaiah 16:3
3Give us counsel, render a decision. Make your shadow like night-at high noon. Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees.

Isaiah gave a prophecy against Moab. The people of Moab fought against Israel more than once and kept its thumb on Israel. But the tables turned and it was Moab which sought leniency. The Moabites fled to Judah seeking cover from their enemies. Are you used to being the one calling the shots? God has a funny way of humbling us by putting us at the mercy of someone we'd rather not be. Better yet, being at His mercy will bring one to their knees. Those who constantly have their thumb against God's people unjustly surely have to feel the same fate at some point. No it's not pleasant but the one in need will gain a greater understanding of their actions against others. It puts in perspective the need to be just at all times. Moab was looking for Judah to assist by making the decision to give them refuge. It is in this time that God shows who He is. When He turns the tables, he seeks to teach a lesson that one will never forget. Has your oppressor turned to you for assistance? Are you the one to whom which the lesson is being given?

P.S. If you've read the book Get Your JOY In The Morning, please give your review of it on www.amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and booksamillion.com. If you have a book club and would like to have Get Your JOY In The Morning as your book of the month, I would love to take part in your discussion group!

Stop Sitting in the Dark!

Luke 11:33
33"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.

What is the point of turning on a lamp if you're only going to sit it in a place where no one can see it? Our Lord Jesus Christ is our lamp and He's provided each true believer in Him with His light as a lamp. But if we are bent on hiding ourselves in places and doing things where no one can see His light in us, then what was the point of Him turning on our lamp? If we know that Jesus' light shines through us, why would we still desire to act as if the light was never turned on? What do we think we will miss? Not only do we do a disservice to ourselves when we suppress Him in our lives, but also to anyone around us. We are to be a light to help draw others we come in contact with to Jesus. How can we do that if we think, speak and do like those who are still operating in the dark? What happens when we are in a room of complete darkness? We stumble and bump into things and hurt ourselves and/or someone else if they're near. We hurt ourselves and others in ways we wouldn't if there had been sufficient light. Jesus gives enough light. We must make the choice not to sit it in the dark.

P.S. Check out my girl Stubbs daily on the Leap of Faith Network at www.leapoffaithshow.com!

Thorns and Snares

Proverbs 22:5
5In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stay far from them.

What are thorns and snares? Thorns cause distress. On the stem of a rose if one is not careful, one can be pricked and caused to bleed. Is this not distress? Who wants to cause themselves to bleed?  And snares are traps that cause one to become intertwined. In other words, those who plot and live in wickedness cause their own distress and are so entangled in it they have to fight to keep it going. But the one who guards his soul stays away. The soul consists of the heart and mind. One who lives in and by the word of God does not delight in causing themselves to be caught in thorns and snares. Those who desire what is of the Lord does not desire to plot evil nor live by it. Those who desire to live in wickedness plot destruction of others but in the end cause their own destruction. The best way not to cause ones own destruction is to not live that way. Did not Jesus say to Peter in Matthew 26:52, "For all who draw the sword will die by the sword?" When one lives with wickedness in their heart and plots it for others, they cause their own demise. The only way to stay far from snares and thorns is to live in and by the word of God. It must not just be words read on a page but it must be absorbed in one's mind and heart. For the heart is where everything flows as King Solomon said in Proverbs and the warning Jesus gave to the Pharisees. Without the Lord, one will not guard anything but their wicked schemes. For the interest will always be of self-preservation and nothing more. Walking in wickedness leads to destruction far greater than one who plots it.

P.S. If you've read the book Get Your JOY In The Morning, please give your review of it on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. When the messages are silent, it's because God wants to know that you're interested in seeking Him. He shouldn't always have to seek you.