Esther 6:6
6When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be
done for the man the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought to
himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?"
Haman was the Agagite (direct descendant of King Agag of the
Amalekites) who didn't tell the king upfront that he wanted to kill the
Jews. He hid the identity of the people so he would receive full
cooperation from King Xerxes take their wealth and kill them. King
Xerxes wasn't able to sleep the previous night and the book of the
chronicles used to put him to sleep recorded that Mordecai, Esther's
cousin, had exposed a plot to kill King Xerxes. Haman considered
Mordecai his arch enemy. He had already planned to hang Mordecai on a
gallows that stood seventy-five feet high. Yes, that's some serious
hatred. But for Haman, who was puffed up in his own imagination, thought
he was the deal and he was indeed the one the king wanted to honor. The
king had many in his court but out of all, Haman thought he was most
important. Sounds like a case of narcissism. Have you ever known someone
who thought and acted as though they were more important than anyone
they knew? Do you know anyone who will stop at nothing to be the center
of attention in every situation or every group setting? If they sense
they are not the center of attention will they then begin to act out to
make it so? Then this may be a case of the "puffed up" syndrome. One in
which the Lord will aptly burst the bubble like he did with Haman. Haman
was furious when he found out King Xerxes wanted to honor his arch
enemy Mordecai. It was bad enough it wasn't him and he gave the king
advice as though he would be the one honored so he actually had two
bubbles burst by the Lord. In situations where the ego is so bruised, be
careful. Haman planned to murder Mordecai for the same reason, his ego
had been badly bruised. Those with puffed up syndrome actually have the
most fragile egos. As the Lord brings them down they often decide it's
the fault of others rather than taking responsibility for them thinking
more highly of themselves then they ought. Haman met a most ugly fate.
Hopefully, you are not this type of person.
P.S. Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist show Saturdays on www.Qliveone.com at 9am CT/10am ET and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment! The show will soon change to Mondays.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Coming Out on Top
Matthew 26:59
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
The chief priests and Sanhedrin wanted so bad to kill Jesus they were willing to lie if necessary. Now they tried Jesus in their own court yet they planned to do so with false evidence. What is false? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines false as 1) not genuine: artificial 2) intentionally untrue 3)adjusted or made so as to deceive 4) tending to mislead: deceptive 5) not true 6)not faithful. In their own courts, they were planning to present evidence that was intentionally untrue and adjusted to deceive. Now the Word says they didn't find any evidence they could manipulate but false witnesses came forward. What did Jesus do that was so bad that people wanted to lie on him and deceive others in order to kill him? Simply put, Jesus told the truth of God, lived and demonstrated it and had a big following. Not to mention His words convicted the chief priests and Sanhedrin. In urban terms (Jesus called them out). Sometimes calling out the falsehood in which someone lives, walks and talks is simply done by being, doing and saying the opposite. Jesus was the opposite of everything they were and gave people hope while the chief priests and Sanhedrin were looking for the spotlight and those who would idolize them. Are you being and doing the opposite of those who walk in the world? Is the insecurity that plagues the lives of those around you causing them to present false evidence against you? Maybe you just need to change the company you keep. Is it causing false witnesses to come against you? Keep doing and being the opposite of the world and those who dare not to follow Christ. Continue to walk boldly for the Lord. Not that Jesus was laughing but He did and still does get the victory. When you walk in the ways of Jesus, no matter what artificial evidence is thrown at you, you will always come out on top.
P.S. Remember to Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com! To get a copy of my book, Get Your JOY In The Morning, go to www.amazon.com/author/joyriley
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
The chief priests and Sanhedrin wanted so bad to kill Jesus they were willing to lie if necessary. Now they tried Jesus in their own court yet they planned to do so with false evidence. What is false? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines false as 1) not genuine: artificial 2) intentionally untrue 3)adjusted or made so as to deceive 4) tending to mislead: deceptive 5) not true 6)not faithful. In their own courts, they were planning to present evidence that was intentionally untrue and adjusted to deceive. Now the Word says they didn't find any evidence they could manipulate but false witnesses came forward. What did Jesus do that was so bad that people wanted to lie on him and deceive others in order to kill him? Simply put, Jesus told the truth of God, lived and demonstrated it and had a big following. Not to mention His words convicted the chief priests and Sanhedrin. In urban terms (Jesus called them out). Sometimes calling out the falsehood in which someone lives, walks and talks is simply done by being, doing and saying the opposite. Jesus was the opposite of everything they were and gave people hope while the chief priests and Sanhedrin were looking for the spotlight and those who would idolize them. Are you being and doing the opposite of those who walk in the world? Is the insecurity that plagues the lives of those around you causing them to present false evidence against you? Maybe you just need to change the company you keep. Is it causing false witnesses to come against you? Keep doing and being the opposite of the world and those who dare not to follow Christ. Continue to walk boldly for the Lord. Not that Jesus was laughing but He did and still does get the victory. When you walk in the ways of Jesus, no matter what artificial evidence is thrown at you, you will always come out on top.
P.S. Remember to Check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com! To get a copy of my book, Get Your JOY In The Morning, go to www.amazon.com/author/joyriley
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Fruitful Again
Jeremiah 33:10-11a
10"This is what the Lord say: 'You say about this place, "It is a desolate waste, without men or animals." Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither men nor animals, there will be heard once more 11the sounds of joy and gladness,
The prophet Jeremiah had already pronounced the judgement God had given to His people. The judgement was seventy years of captivity in Babylon. The impending judgement had been called over and over but it was about to arrive. The judgement came because of the sins Judah and Jerusalem had committed against God. The beautiful thing about our Heavenly Father is His anger doesn't last always. Jeremiah was also given the word from God that the judgement would be reversed at the time He appointed. Many would have declared Judah and Jerusalem desolate. Desolate is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as deserted, abandoned, forsaken, lonely, barren. God can give life to anything He chooses at the time He chooses. And God declared that after seventy years He would have cleansed the people and restored them to the land He promised and the land would be theirs again and they would be joyous. If you have suffered from the choices you made that were against God's ways, you can be restored. If you are in captivity, you can be set free. If you are in a place without life, know that God can bring to life anything He so chooses. His anger over your mistakes won't be always if you confess and repent. You can be fruitful again.
--
Remember to check out Church Beat Radio on www.live365.com for the Top 10 Countdown with DJ Ambermay!
10"This is what the Lord say: 'You say about this place, "It is a desolate waste, without men or animals." Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither men nor animals, there will be heard once more 11the sounds of joy and gladness,
The prophet Jeremiah had already pronounced the judgement God had given to His people. The judgement was seventy years of captivity in Babylon. The impending judgement had been called over and over but it was about to arrive. The judgement came because of the sins Judah and Jerusalem had committed against God. The beautiful thing about our Heavenly Father is His anger doesn't last always. Jeremiah was also given the word from God that the judgement would be reversed at the time He appointed. Many would have declared Judah and Jerusalem desolate. Desolate is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as deserted, abandoned, forsaken, lonely, barren. God can give life to anything He chooses at the time He chooses. And God declared that after seventy years He would have cleansed the people and restored them to the land He promised and the land would be theirs again and they would be joyous. If you have suffered from the choices you made that were against God's ways, you can be restored. If you are in captivity, you can be set free. If you are in a place without life, know that God can bring to life anything He so chooses. His anger over your mistakes won't be always if you confess and repent. You can be fruitful again.
--
Remember to check out Church Beat Radio on www.live365.com for the Top 10 Countdown with DJ Ambermay!
Friday, June 15, 2012
An Anxious Heart
Proverbs 12:25
25An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
King Solomon talked of those who are filled with worry or anticipation about something to come or what one thinks will come. No matter the person, worry is a sure way to take away days from your life, not add to them as Jesus said in Matthew 6:27. The apostle Paul talks of being anxious for nothing but that we must submit our requests to God and with thanksgiving that we may have peace of mind. Peace of mind is so valuable. You don't know how important it is until you don't have it or are in danger of losing it. King Solomon talked of a "kind word" cheering up a worrier. A constant worrier or one constantly having anxiety about a situation is actually a spirit of fear. God is not the author of the spirit of fear. Where you find the spirit of fear, surely you will not find God in the situation. He does not operate in such a place. And having a spirit of fear or worry actually blocks your ability to focus on God. A kind word usually cheers anyone up. But one filled with the spirit of fear set in worry and anxiety may throw away the kind or uplifting word just as quick as it's released to them. For some, they thrive off of it because they think it makes them work harder and more efficiently. But in actuality, working in fear and anxiety doesn't keep one at peace so even if they obtain their desired results, they're too worried to enjoy it. One who is willing to overcome this will gradually get better with prayer as it will lead to deliverance. Peace of mind goes a long way.
P..S. Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment this Saturday at 8am CT/9am ET!
25An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
King Solomon talked of those who are filled with worry or anticipation about something to come or what one thinks will come. No matter the person, worry is a sure way to take away days from your life, not add to them as Jesus said in Matthew 6:27. The apostle Paul talks of being anxious for nothing but that we must submit our requests to God and with thanksgiving that we may have peace of mind. Peace of mind is so valuable. You don't know how important it is until you don't have it or are in danger of losing it. King Solomon talked of a "kind word" cheering up a worrier. A constant worrier or one constantly having anxiety about a situation is actually a spirit of fear. God is not the author of the spirit of fear. Where you find the spirit of fear, surely you will not find God in the situation. He does not operate in such a place. And having a spirit of fear or worry actually blocks your ability to focus on God. A kind word usually cheers anyone up. But one filled with the spirit of fear set in worry and anxiety may throw away the kind or uplifting word just as quick as it's released to them. For some, they thrive off of it because they think it makes them work harder and more efficiently. But in actuality, working in fear and anxiety doesn't keep one at peace so even if they obtain their desired results, they're too worried to enjoy it. One who is willing to overcome this will gradually get better with prayer as it will lead to deliverance. Peace of mind goes a long way.
P..S. Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment this Saturday at 8am CT/9am ET!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Taking it to the Brink and Beyond
John 11:14-15
14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
Jesus was frank with the disciples that He had to let Lazarus die. It may sound harsh because it's a man's life that was at stake and a lot of people who cared about Lazarus suffered grief. It was for the sake of the disciples faith that it happened. Remember, Jesus told the disciples He wouldn't be there forever. Jesus had to get them to a place where their faith was strong because He knew what they would encounter during His crucifixion and beyond. Jesus wanted the disciples "to know that they know" without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus is and what He can do. So sometimes the only way to do it is to take it to the brink or even past it. Yes, Jesus had to do it with someone's life. What a way to increase faith by letting someone die! But Jesus knew they would believe more in Him and that's what He needed. Taking it to the extreme is sometimes the only way the Lord gets our attention. He will allow a situation to get so bad that it appears from all angles to be hopeless. Ah but Jesus said in John 10 that He had the authority to lay down His life and pick it back up. So Jesus also has the authority to allow someone to die and to bring them back. Jesus can do it with anything. But it's for your sake. Is your faith at stake? Is Jesus taking it to the brink with you? How much else does He need to do to prove who He is and what He can do?
14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
Jesus was frank with the disciples that He had to let Lazarus die. It may sound harsh because it's a man's life that was at stake and a lot of people who cared about Lazarus suffered grief. It was for the sake of the disciples faith that it happened. Remember, Jesus told the disciples He wouldn't be there forever. Jesus had to get them to a place where their faith was strong because He knew what they would encounter during His crucifixion and beyond. Jesus wanted the disciples "to know that they know" without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus is and what He can do. So sometimes the only way to do it is to take it to the brink or even past it. Yes, Jesus had to do it with someone's life. What a way to increase faith by letting someone die! But Jesus knew they would believe more in Him and that's what He needed. Taking it to the extreme is sometimes the only way the Lord gets our attention. He will allow a situation to get so bad that it appears from all angles to be hopeless. Ah but Jesus said in John 10 that He had the authority to lay down His life and pick it back up. So Jesus also has the authority to allow someone to die and to bring them back. Jesus can do it with anything. But it's for your sake. Is your faith at stake? Is Jesus taking it to the brink with you? How much else does He need to do to prove who He is and what He can do?
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
You've Been Delivered!
Psalm 116:8
8For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
Have recovered from a near death situation? Have you walked away from an accident that according to the laws of physics, you should be dead? Have you ever been declared dead by doctors and suddenly your heart began to beat? Have you ever been told you had an incurable or terminal illness with a short time frame to live, yet you live and are no longer sick? If you have said yes to any and/or all of these questions, then you've been delivered! Have you ever been so overwhelmed with grief that nothing consoled you but suddenly your tears stopped? Have you ever been so hurt by another's actions towards you that your lips could not part to speak and only tears could fall yet suddenly they stopped? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then you've been delivered! Were you ever at a fork in the road and you were about to make the wrong choice but the door suddenly closed? Have you ever actually made an incorrect decision but you came out of it nearly unscathed? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then you too, my friend, have been delivered! Many take for granted the power of the Lord. The king who wrote psalm 116 did not. We are not the orchestrator of any of these instances of deliverance. It's only by our Lord. Yet many do not take the time to truly consider what the Lord asks of you and what is said in His presence. Do you take your deliverance seriously? Has the Lord's mercy upon you caused you to shift gears and live for Him or do you just think He did it because He had to? Remember, the Lord is "judge, jury and executioner". He does not have to hear anyone's plea yet He heard yours in the depths of your heart where no one else can hear and see. The Lord heard you just as He heard the king reciting Psalm 116. If you've been delivered, start acting like it.
P.S. Remember to check out my Stubbs on Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!
8For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
Have recovered from a near death situation? Have you walked away from an accident that according to the laws of physics, you should be dead? Have you ever been declared dead by doctors and suddenly your heart began to beat? Have you ever been told you had an incurable or terminal illness with a short time frame to live, yet you live and are no longer sick? If you have said yes to any and/or all of these questions, then you've been delivered! Have you ever been so overwhelmed with grief that nothing consoled you but suddenly your tears stopped? Have you ever been so hurt by another's actions towards you that your lips could not part to speak and only tears could fall yet suddenly they stopped? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then you've been delivered! Were you ever at a fork in the road and you were about to make the wrong choice but the door suddenly closed? Have you ever actually made an incorrect decision but you came out of it nearly unscathed? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then you too, my friend, have been delivered! Many take for granted the power of the Lord. The king who wrote psalm 116 did not. We are not the orchestrator of any of these instances of deliverance. It's only by our Lord. Yet many do not take the time to truly consider what the Lord asks of you and what is said in His presence. Do you take your deliverance seriously? Has the Lord's mercy upon you caused you to shift gears and live for Him or do you just think He did it because He had to? Remember, the Lord is "judge, jury and executioner". He does not have to hear anyone's plea yet He heard yours in the depths of your heart where no one else can hear and see. The Lord heard you just as He heard the king reciting Psalm 116. If you've been delivered, start acting like it.
P.S. Remember to check out my Stubbs on Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Stop Wailing
Luke 8:52
52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."
A woman who had fallen at Jesus' feet in desperation just wanted her daughter to be healed of her sickness. Before Jesus could reach the woman's daughter someone came to report the woman's daughter had died. But Jesus had already declared the little girl healed. Hmmm. Jesus said, "just believe and she will be healed." So no matter what it looked like, Jesus declared victory. Everyone at the house was wailing. But Jesus said to stop because the little girl was not dead just asleep. Like Lazarus, Jesus raised the young girl. It took a lot of faith to believe that someone who appeared defeated actually had victory. But healing comes in different ways. Jesus sometimes allows things to get to the point of no return and then He shows up. Why? Because He wants everyone to know that it is through His power that victory takes place. When Jesus works a miracle, no one else can dare get the glory. What does it mean to wail? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines wail as 1)weep, 2)making a sound as a mournful cry 3)complain. Everyone in the house thought hope was lost. They all wailed. Now in regards to the death of loved ones, this is normal. In regards to death of situations, this too is normal. But! Yes, there is a but. If Jesus has told you that you have victory over a sickness or situation, then no matter what it looks like, believe it and stop wailing or complaining. If Jesus said, something is yours, then it's only a matter of time before He manifests it. How strong is your faith? Is your faith strong enough for you to stop wailing? Will you be like everyone else in the house of Jairus who wailed for the girl though Jesus said twice that the young girl was healed? Stop wailing and walk in victory!
P.S. Please note that in Friday's personal testimony I meant to reference Isaiah 55:11. Reading for yourself will always help you. PLEASE NOTE: I will be at Books-A-Million in Columbia, MD on Saturday, July 28th from 3-5pm for a book signing so put it on your calendar! If you've bought your book but don't have it signed come out! If you haven't bought your book, come out! If you bought your book and have it signed but know someone else who would enjoy one, come out! I look forward to seeing ALL of you!
52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."
A woman who had fallen at Jesus' feet in desperation just wanted her daughter to be healed of her sickness. Before Jesus could reach the woman's daughter someone came to report the woman's daughter had died. But Jesus had already declared the little girl healed. Hmmm. Jesus said, "just believe and she will be healed." So no matter what it looked like, Jesus declared victory. Everyone at the house was wailing. But Jesus said to stop because the little girl was not dead just asleep. Like Lazarus, Jesus raised the young girl. It took a lot of faith to believe that someone who appeared defeated actually had victory. But healing comes in different ways. Jesus sometimes allows things to get to the point of no return and then He shows up. Why? Because He wants everyone to know that it is through His power that victory takes place. When Jesus works a miracle, no one else can dare get the glory. What does it mean to wail? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines wail as 1)weep, 2)making a sound as a mournful cry 3)complain. Everyone in the house thought hope was lost. They all wailed. Now in regards to the death of loved ones, this is normal. In regards to death of situations, this too is normal. But! Yes, there is a but. If Jesus has told you that you have victory over a sickness or situation, then no matter what it looks like, believe it and stop wailing or complaining. If Jesus said, something is yours, then it's only a matter of time before He manifests it. How strong is your faith? Is your faith strong enough for you to stop wailing? Will you be like everyone else in the house of Jairus who wailed for the girl though Jesus said twice that the young girl was healed? Stop wailing and walk in victory!
P.S. Please note that in Friday's personal testimony I meant to reference Isaiah 55:11. Reading for yourself will always help you. PLEASE NOTE: I will be at Books-A-Million in Columbia, MD on Saturday, July 28th from 3-5pm for a book signing so put it on your calendar! If you've bought your book but don't have it signed come out! If you haven't bought your book, come out! If you bought your book and have it signed but know someone else who would enjoy one, come out! I look forward to seeing ALL of you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)