Until It's Time to Say Goodbye

Good Morning Everyone,

Today's message is not  your typical message. Today is a day for me to share my heart with you. Tomorrow it will be eight years since my loving stepdad went home to be with Jesus. My friends knew him as a very mild-mannered guy who smiled and loved to cook and was as supportive to me as the children who came from his loins. Neighbors knew him as a man who would smile and say hello. And if you asked him for help, he would give it without so much as a thought. There was a surprise. He had worked for a well known company in our area for nearly 30years. He had been in multiple divisions throughout his career so he met many people. We didn't know how much he was respected there til it was time to say goodbye. Many of his fellow co-workers, supervisors, etc came to pay their respects. It was then that I realized he made an impact to more than just his family. He made an impact for being a nice guy who liked to laugh and smile but wasn't afraid to say what he needed to when he needed to. He was a man who showed the love of Jesus by how he treated others. It was on the job that he collapsed and lay in a coma for a week. I had a moment this week which is normal. Because as I was getting on the train line that he used to drive, I remember how I couldn't ride that line for the first six months after he passed without shedding tears.  If he saw me on the platform he would call my name. There were times when I rode one of the trains he operated and would hear his voice on the intercom. So I was grateful for taking a job in another city so I didn't have to be reminded. But it also occurred to me that he was once a business owner. He knew the value of not only working for someone else but for working for himself. He had done so much in his life. But making a positive impact on myself and others through love was one of the greatest gifts he gave and the best memory I will ever have of him. I'm still learning from him even after his passing.

I miss him very much. And as I write this with tears, I will say that losing a parent, the pain never goes away, it just gets a little easier with time. I am so grateful that God allowed me to see the impact he made on others. Sometimes you just don't know until it's time to say goodbye.

Seeking God for the Task

2Chronicles 34:3

3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.

King Josiah was only eight years old when he became king. Can you imagine being eight years old and ruling a kingdom? Most eight year old children are still learning to manage themselves. The word says he reigned for 31 years. So he reigned until he was 39 years old. His immediate predecessor, his father Amon, only ruled for 2 years. Josiah was not like his immediate father but in his bloodline was the great King David. So early in his life, like David, he sought God. The word says he did not turn aside to the right or the left meaning he continued on the path that God directed him. By seeking God, Josiah cleaned up the kingdom from the not so wise ruling of some of his predecessors. What is so amazing about King Josiah? He knew that what was before was too great of a task to do all his own and sought the one who could guide him like his forefather David. It was God that led Josiah to greatness and a long reign.

What has God entrusted to you? No matter what your age, where has He given you dominion? Are you like Josiah and seeking God for your great task? What will be said about your reign? Will it be that you stayed on the path? Will you help God put things back in order according to His plan?

Sifted

Matthew 4:25

25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Jesus had just started His public ministry in Galilee where He also picked the first disciples. As Jesus began healing the sick many followed Him. But as the NIV Study Bible states, not all following Him were true disciples. It says some were just curious and as events occurred, this was revealed. This is still true. Everyone who says they are followers of Christ may be revealed as curious onlookers when a situation takes places that requires them to put their faith where their mouth is. The word faith is over used just like many other words in the English language. But to really believe and follow Jesus may mean having a difficult trial or facing an unpleasant experience just so He can bring you out and show that He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. Will you be angry with Jesus then? Will you still follow Him then or will you be sifted?

And what about those who follow you? Do you know that some may be curious onlookers? God will reveal those who may claim to be true by using certain events. Pray for them as Jesus did and keep moving. Whatever God has assigned you to must be completed as not everyone has the same assignment. You do not have time to be distracted by curious onlookers, they will be sifted out in due time. Jesus didn't worry about them. He didn't even worry about the ones who tried countless times to harm Him.


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

Watch Your Crops

Proverbs 12:14

14From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

The wise King Solomon notes that our words carry a lot of weight. Our words carry as much weight as do what we put our hands to. And why not? Did not God speak a word and the world was created? And you and I are made in the image of God. Therefore, He has given us power in our words. And that is why you cannot accept everything spoken over you and about you unless it is of God. What you speak is in your heart, including what you speak about you. So if you speak good things about yourself and where you are going, as the NIV Bible states, it's just like the farmer who plants and then reaps the harvest. So if you speak from your heart the plans of faith, positivity, so you will reap them. If you speak nothing but faithless words and negativity, so you will reap them as well. When you speak words of faith and positivity over yourself, you can essentially turn those words into action and God will reward you for it. If your heart has planned nothing but destruction and you speak it, essentially you will turn that into action and so God will allow you to reap the consequences of that as well. So indeed you have a choice. Be filled with good things, speak good things and put your hands to good things and watch God grow your crops. Or you can be filled with negative things, speak negative things and put your hands to them and watch your crops die. The choice is yours.


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!

In His Own Time

Psalm 75:2-3

2You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly. 3When the earth and the people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm."

God is one who does everything in His own time. A thousand years to us is like a day to Him. As the NIV Study Bible states, "God does not fail to call the arrogant to account." It may "appear" that evil doing is advancing and it may "appear" that injustice has prevailed. Oh but God! God always brings things back around for His glory to be shown. The quake in this Psalm was about the crumbling that often takes place when evil doers advance but God is the one who still holds things together. Things fall apart just enough for the wrong doing to be exposed and disposed of. When? When God sees fit. When the arrogant believe they are "home free" God shows up. He gives time to repent and make a mends because He is slow to anger. It is not for you and I to pursue the justice, God will do it all on His own and in His own time. 

P.S. Remember to checkout 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!

Put in the Work

Proverbs 22:13

13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!" or, "I will be murdered in the streets!"

King Solomon coined the excuses of the sluggard or those who do not wish to put in the work. The excuses or distractions are often because the sluggard does not wish to rise to the occasion. Yet, they desire to have it all. You can not have the blessings at the table if you are unwilling to walk to the table. Put in the work. Yes, there are legitimate reasons when there really is a problem. But if one is creating a problem to keep from putting in the work then there is another situation. The sluggard wants to be spoon fed like a baby. But God is not interested in us staying babies forever. He desires soldiers and workmen and women to go forth in the earth and be His hands and feet. You can not be hands and feet if you are not willing to move them. But what if you don't want to be His hands and feet you say? That is your choice. But the greatest reward is when one has purpose. Not being His hands and feet will not lead you to your purpose and fulfillment. Put in the work. Putting in the work also means you can reap the harvest at God's appointed time. No matter what the work is, God will honor it as you honor where He has placed you and what He has given charge for you to do. Put in the work.

One Week

Luke 21:37

37Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,

It was the last week of Jesus' earthly ministry. He did not spend it living it up nor did He spend it in complete solitude. In His last week of life, Jesus was still teaching at the temple. He was still giving of himself though He knew He was about to suffer a horrible death. If you knew you had one week left, what would you be doing? Would it be the selfless type of acts that Jesus displayed? Or would it be "all about you?" At night Jesus spent His time on the hill that looked over the city taking in the earthly view in His current state. Jesus accomplished a great deal within that one week. He came in on the donkey which was His triumphant ride that was also prophesied. He taught in the temple, had the last supper or passover meal with the disciples to prepare them for His departure and then that Friday was crucified for the remission of our sins. All week long  in His last week of earthly life, Jesus displayed love and concern for others. Never doubt the amount of love Jesus has for you. He spent His entire earthly life preparing for that one week.


P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on 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!