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Proverbs 23:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Subject:  What about the Children

As I was laying in my bed one morning, about 6:30, the Lord started speaking to me about the children.  What about the Children?  I continue to lay there and the Lord started showing me different ones.  I felt the spirit of the Lord so mightily.  I usually get right up and start to writing but I continued to lie there.  Even after getting ready to leave for work and after arriving for work it was there in my spirit; I finally sat to begin typing this sermon at 11:59 am.  God is saying what about the children; in the scripture above we are told how we should train up our children.

The truth of the matter is that we owe these children to pray for them and to protect them.  As I laid there in my bed God begin to show me the different ones including my own children.  I remember how my children used to imitate people, and they still do sometimes, even Avery.  I remember one day when my oldest daughter was about 5 and I was just beginning to really get into a serious relationship with the Lord when God used her to encourage me.  She said Mommy God said the devil want your heart, but don’t worry about it God got you.  I remember how God placed on my heart to pray for one child even while she was yet in her mother’s womb.  So God says What about the Children?

I know you are probably saying why I am telling you all of this well I am glad you asked.  Look at the world today, look at our youth somewhere down the line we stopped being parents and started trying to be our children friends.  I understand that there is a lot going on, so many parents are on drugs or in jail for selling drugs.  However, when I was growing up the neighbors helped to look out for us.  Today the neighbors are not trying to assist you because they are scared of the children. It has gotten so bad that children are pulling people out of taxi cabs beating them to death.  It has gotten to where a person walking down the street is being attacked by our youth because of the color of their skins.  Yes some of these youth are beyond reigning in but what about the other ones, the ones that are now in daycare and preschool?  What about the pre-teens that we see are seeking guidance?  Are we taking the time with these children that we see who are reaching out for guidance?  The children we see that are at the beginning of going astray that we can possibly help them to make a change in the walk of life they are beginning. 

We need to stop throwing our children and other children by the wayside.  God has given each child as a precious gift.  God did not give us these children to be abused and to be ridiculed and to be beaten down every chance you get.  It is horrible how some adults speak to these children.  If we know a child is being abused called the authorities to assist that child getting to safety.  Also stop letting society raise your children and you go back to raising your own children in the right way.  Be a positive example to these children, stop letting your children wrong doing be acceptable.  When they get older they will break your heart if you do not take the time now to be the parent that God intended for us to be. 

If we train up a child in the way he should go that foundation will be there.  Yes sometimes they may stray but the foundation will be there.  I remember an old adage that says “A child is born with a Heart of Gold, but it’s the world that makes it cold”. This is serious stuff because you see a child trust you as the parents first and foremost.  You are the ones that a child believes will protect them and will nourish them and will provide all their needs.  Remember a Child’s praise is pure and it’s innocent.  A Child’s praise is one of Love and adoration.  A Child’s Praise is one that can be nurtured.

The sad thing is we are tainting these children by the treatment they receive.  We want to yell at them about their pants sagging and believe me I hate that look too, but when they are dressed nicely we don’t compliment.  God said it is time to get it right.

Martha Munizzi has a song out called It’s a New Season;

It’s a New Season

It’s a New Day

It’s a Season of Power and Prosperity

It’s A New Season and it’s coming to me…

Hebrews 11

   ¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

As I sit to write this, first article of 2012 I am listening to Martha Munizzi’s New Season.  This song coupled with the scripture above begs the question, “What are you looking for in the New Year?”  Are you ready to move forward or are you going to continue to be bound like in the past.  The Scripture tells us that Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  What are you hoping for?  Where does your hope lie? 

Is it a New Year with the promises of a New Season?  Are you going to trust God to do what you have been praying for him to do or are you going to continue to try and do it on your own and in your own strength.  The last couple of years have been very challenging for a lot of people and it continue to be challenging to the economy, but sometimes it is more challenging because we no longer have Faith.  We no longer have hope in not only a better tomorrow but in a better today.  Where are you heading in the year 2012?   Will it be a New Season or will it be the same ole thing? 

I do not know about you but I am looking forward to 2012, I am looking forward to God doing a new thing not only in the economy but in my life.  It is really funny that sometimes it takes years for us to see what God was showing us in the testimonies that he has given us but when we can look at a situation that we are currently in, and have Faith that God is going to see us through that is a wonderful revelation.   When we initiate our Faith and give wings to our Hope at the beginning of a situation, we save so much time not worrying but giving God the Glory and the Praise for what shall be.  No experience is ever a wasted experience, there is someone coming after you that your experience will be the measure of encouragement and hope that they are looking for. 

Remember “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”

Happy New Year and activate your Faith by giving wings to your HOPE.

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Wow it is hard to believe that this is already December 2011.  I remember when I sat to write the column last December and I had the same sentiments where did the time go.  The truth of the matter is that this has been a very busy year and while this has been a busy year we still must look at everything and see if we were really busy getting things done or were we just wasting time procrastinating.

It seems that everyone wants something but a lot do not want to do the work that needs to be done to get it.  So many times it is so easy to take the easy way out and let others do it for you then you just bask in the rays of Glory.  Is it really that important to get what no matter the cost?    Is it so important to get what you want even if it means that we walk over others to get it?  It is so important to get what we want even if it means we turn our backs on those that are there and need our help.

What does it profit us to gain everything “materialistically speaking” but we lose our souls.  I have found myself very disturbed with the things that have been going on this year.  Things such as the sexual abuse of others, the murders, the robberies, the disrespect that has become the norm for some youth to show elderly people really has caused me to shed tears really has cause me to shed tears.  Is it that important to get where you think you want to be that you would literally sell your soul to get it.  Now I know someone reading this is probably saying “wow you are being dramatic” but the truth of the matter is if you see a child being hurt, abused, and mistreated you speak up.  You try and help that child; you do not keep it to yourself and say “It’s not any of my business”. 

If you see an elderly person being abused and mistreated you don’t laugh as if it is something funny you try and help to stop it from happening.  If you know someone who cannot take care of themselves is being held against their will you call someone that can help.  I am so taken back by the level of greed and selfishness that is going on in the world.  Well we are in the last month of this year, December 2011, and once again people will be making the New Year Resolution, whether they have any intention on trying to reach their goal or not.

My Resolution is as it has been for many years now, and that is to try and be the person that God wants me to be.  My prayer is still Lord help me to remain Humble, whether others understand it or not.  Lord help me to be a better person than I have been.  Lord help me to help others that you put in my path.

THANKFUL

Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

November is the month when we are supposed to stop and give Thanks for everything.  Although we should be giving thanks everyday however, November marks the official month when we are supposed to stop to give Thanks.  But do we really take the time; it seems these days that Thanksgiving is the holiday that is the forgotten one.  People go all out for all other holidays, they get to Halloween and put up all kinds of pictures and articles of ghosts, goblins, witches and brew yet when it is over, Thanksgiving is not recognized.

While reading a Face book status of a dear friend of mine which said “What if you woke up this morning with only the things you Thanked God for Yesterday?”  The truth of the matter is that every morning we awake with new grace and mercies.  Every morning that the Lord allows our lives to roll on is a day that we should acknowledge Him and give Thanks to Him.  Everyday we should remember that we are the created and that we were created in a wonderful and marvelous way. 

Yet unfortunately we take advantage of the people that love us.  We take advantage of the people that try and help us.  We take advantage of the things that we have been blessed with.  The people who have jobs complain about having to go to work when there are a lot of people that would love to be in your shoes.  Most importantly we take advantage of God’s Grace and His Mercy.  So think about it are you really thankful?  Are you really appreciative of the things that you have been blessed with, and I am not just talking about material things.  I am also referring to having a sound mind, having the activity of your limbs, those who have ailments, being grateful that there is still hope that you can get better. 

I look at the deaf community and no matter where they are at; when they see each other or someone they know they are so happy to see them.  I think about the blind person that gets excited about hearing someone they love voice, or just to hear a stranger say good morning.  I think about the man or the woman that are in a wheel chair yet everyday they are at their jobs on time and ready to work.  I think about all the things that people, with the human eyes, look at and say these people are missing but they do not see the joy that is in their soul.  They do not see the peace of mind these people have, they do not see the love in the hearts.  Yet some who are healthy and have nothing (that the naked eye can see) wrong with them yet they are miserable and do everything in their power to make you miserable also.

So what is the problem?  Are you really thankful? 

Here is the link to Bryon Cage Song - Thankful

http://youtu.be/suN8syq8dyw

II Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Prayer and Healing is Needed

Last month all over the place there were gatherings in remembrance of the attacks 9/11 attacks in 2001.  Schools all over were participating in “no violence rallies” and there were articles on the survivors and the members of the families of those who lost their lives.  I was honored to celebrate with some great friends in a celebration of life.  You see a very good friend of mine was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on 9/11/2001.  While the world were looking at the televisions, listening to the news, running around trying to get our children out of school to hug and kiss them she was going through her own personal Hell.  The one common thread is that the majority of people were praying.

Why am I bringing this up and sharing this, well I am glad you asked.  You see I am not trying to take anything from the horrible acts of that day, but I am trying to say everyday people are going through something that is shattering to their lives and in some cases breathtaking.  There are so many people that are senselessly being murdered through violent acts everyday.  People that are leaving behind grandparents, parents, sisters, brothers, children, grandchildren, cousins, aunts and uncles not to mention friends.  The list goes on and on, yet so many of them are not even recognized as having ever been here.  We should not have to wait for something so horrible and on such a national level to happen for us to turn to God in Prayer.

 For the first time I experienced an earthquake, for the first time that I remembered we had Tornados and Hurricanes in Philadelphia.  How much more must go on before people will turn to God and turn from their evil ways and pray.  The scripture above tells us that when we do that then God will hear from heaven and will heal our land.  We saw the results of the earthquakes in Haiti and in Japan.  We read about the deaths in newspaper, hear about it on the news, yet we act as if they do not matter.  What more needs to happen before we realize that this is the beginning of the end of times.  Now is the time for us to PRAY and seriously SEEK THE LORD. 

Just think about it, we need to Seek the Lord while he can still be found.  For as it says in the Word of God “No man knows the day nor the hour when the Son of Man shall reappear.  Jesus is coming back and it leaves the question are you Ready?

SEPTEMBER

Lamentations 3:22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  23 They are new every morning:  great is thy faithfulness.  24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 

When is God’s Portion Enough for YOU?

I am currently reading a 21-Day devotional entitled Craving God by Lysa TerKeurst which is made to correspond with the book “Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst”.  Along with this book I am also reading a book entitled “Made to Crave God Every Day of the Year”.  I bring this up because as I was reading it one day the subject about God’s Portion was one of my daily readings.  Let me tell you this also, the 21-Day Devotional is based on her journey to healthy eating/living.  However, even though the Devotional is based on her journey to healthy living there are some very good points that she makes.  This brings me back to the topic at hand, “When is God’s Portion Enough for YOU”.  With the events of August, the Earthquake and Hurricane Irene; something that makes me stop and think about the blessings yet I still hear people complaining.  This is not enough, I expected more from an earthquake or they are taking things too far instead of being grateful for God’s Portion for those days. 

For example, if you came through your storm(s) of the day, then God’s Portion was sufficient enough to preserve you.  I am reminded of the people in the wilderness, you can read about it in Exodus chapter 16 but the just of the event is that the people were complaining to Moses about being hungry and Moses heard from the Lord and was told that the Lord was going to rain bread down from heaven.   This bread was called Manna, the instruction was that the people was to collect enough for their family for that day and anything extra that they collected in an attempt to horde it spoiled.  However, on the sixth day they were allowed to take a double portion so that they would have Manna for the Sabbath.

We are told that even after that they murmured and complained even after being given Quail to eat.  It seems as though the more we have the more we want.  When is God’s Portion Enough for YOU?  Are you ever satisfied or do you just complain and wander around lost because of greed.  We have so much to be grateful for, even the ones that were not affected this time by the storms that were prevalent, we still have had storms in our lives where God has shown his Portion to be sufficient.  Each morning we awake to New Mercies and a God that is forever faithful, yet instead of saying Thank You God for My Portion for the day for I know it will be sufficient we say what more can I get today?  How much more can I take and horde up for a rainy day?  I have my health, my life and my strength.  Yet we complain because someone didn’t speak to us that day, we complain because the football team lost, we complain about everything, sometimes never once stopping to say “Thank You God for Your Portion for me this day was enough.” 

John 8:1 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the Temple, and all the people came unto him; and sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery and when they had set her in the midst 4 they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, the very act.  5 Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  6 This they said tempting him, that they might have to accuse him but Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he had not heard them.  7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you let him cast a stone at her.  8 And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 And when they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Have you had your Jesus Moment?

In your free times please read and meditate on the whole chapter I am sure you will be blessed.  Now I know someone is thinking what does the adulterous woman have to do with me having a Jesus Moment?  Well I am glad you asked.  You see the adulterous woman is a woman who was caught up in her mess.  She was caught in the very act of adultery and taken by her enemies/accusers to Jesus with the hopes that Jesus would give them the permission to stone her.  They were also looking for something that they could hold over Jesus’ head so to speak.  You know how sometimes people do things to try and get you caught up in some more mess.

Any way instead of them getting what they were looking for they were actually doing was given her the gift of a lifetime they were giving her a Jesus moment.  I could just imagine the fear and the terror she was going through when being led to what she assumed would be her stoning moment, but instead she received her Jesus Moment.  Oprah always says she remembers her Ah Ha moments but this woman was given her Jesus moment and what she receive in her Jesus Moment was priceless.  She received love like she had never known before, she received forgiveness, and she received deliverance.  She had a Jesus moment where she was shown that she could be forgiven, Jesus said Go and sin no more.  You see the adulterous woman is a great person to look at because sometimes people feel like they are so caught up in their “addictions/habits” that there is no way out.

So this leaves me to you, have you had your Jesus moment?  If so what did you do with it?  You see instead of her accusers staying to get their Jesus moment, they left with their heads lowered and they did not wait around for a Jesus moment.  But like the woman you are being offered a Jesus Moment.  There is nothing so horrible that you have done that you cannot be forgiven for nor delivered from.  Jesus is right there saying come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). 

So I ask you today what are you burdened with today, Alcoholism, Drug Addition, Adultery, Prostitution, Pride, Maliciousness, Homosexuality what is it because if you sincerely want to be forgiven come to Jesus.  There is nothing to hard for God, Jesus is standing right there on God’s right hand side saying all you have to do is ask.  Do not let this day come up against you, where you are being offered a Jesus moment.  Are you going to accept the offer or are you going to be like the adulterous woman’s accusers, and leave with your heads hung in shame.  What excuse will you use, there is none remember he is Alpha and Omega; Beginning and the End; The author and finisher of your fate.  The decision is in your hand, you have been given a Jesus Moment.  Read Romans 9:9 For if thou shalt confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus died and he rose again thou shalt be saved.  10 For it is with the heart one believeth unto Salvation and with the mouth confession is made.

God Bless You all.

What is your limit?

First I would like to start by apologizing for the lateness of this month’s article but those who know me knows I take the Divine Pearls of Wisdom article very serious and I truly try and wait for directions from God. With that being said let’s get into this month’s article.

I was having a conversation with my youngest daughter and the conversation of “Beliefs” came into existence. I say it came into existence because this seems to be a topic that comes up quite often around my household. I was talking to her and she made the statement “I believe there is a higher power”, to which I responded what do you mean by “higher power?” You see the truth of the matter is that we do not always realize how we put things when speaking. I mean the enemy of our soul is a “higher power” meaning that he does exist and all though he needs people to carry out his desires he is still a force to be reckoned with. Let’s take a quick peek at where he started. It is said that Satan was once the most beautiful angel but it was his pride and his desire to be God that caused him to be cast out of Heaven.

Now with that being said the word says in Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

So with us being made a little lower than the angels, we see that Satan is truly a higher power by virtue of the fact that he was made an Angel. However, I am grateful to God that Satan is not the ultimate Power. I am grateful to God that it was God that created the Heavens and the Earth. I believe that we must come to the place where we know what we believe and the reasons behind why we believe that. So that leads us to the question “What is your limit?”. During the last month in the city of Philadelphia, there have been numerous murders. There have been senseless killings yet people still cannot tell you what they believe and where they believe they will spend eternity.

There comes a time in each of our lives that we must stop relying on what we’ve heard, what we’ve been taught and really seek the truth for ourselves. There are people that will say “I’m a Spiritual Person” well what does that mean exactly. There is the Holy Spirit but then there is also “Demonic Spirits”, what does that mean? We must come to the place where we can answer for ourselves why it is we believe what we believe. I believe what I believe because I sought the Lord for myself. I look around and I realize the blessings that I have received because of answered prayers. I look at the birds and I know there is a God. I look at the seasons and I know there is a God. I look at myself and I know where I’ve been and I know that only God could have brought me this far. So ask yourself what your limit is and how far are you really willing to go to find out the Truth.

Have a blessed month.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (let us bow our heads for a word of prayer)

Spiritual Gifts

Sticking to the scriptures given to me, I choose to open with a portion of Romans 12. I do encourage you to read the entire chapter of Romans 12 as well as I Corinthians 12: As I was preparing for this word, I sought the Lord and he started giving me portions of the word. I had never heard it quite this way, but how many of you know that God can do what He wants to do and I for one Love the way he does it. For a subject I simply want to use One Body Many Members.

There is only one head to a body; Spiritually Jesus is the Head, and physically the Pastors (who are sometimes called the Under Shepherd or Angel of the House). So I went to thinking well Lord what about when we see Co-Pastors, now don’t get mad at me but the Spirit revealed to me that sometimes that is man’s will. What do I mean by this, well sometimes it is God had called a Pastor and because their spouse was also in the ministry, were added as the Co-Pastor. Before going any further I said this is sometimes the case, take Memorial Tabernacle we have more than one Pastor in our church but only one PASTOR of the church (We have a Pastor of Evangelism, an Assistant Pastor and a Pastor in Training). Prophesy represents the eyes and the ears. The mouth is used by many different forms of the gifts, prophesy, preaching, exhortation, but its one part being used by the many members.

Some people will tell you that if you do not speak in tongues that you are not saved and not Holy Ghost filled, well to that I ask whom are you going to believe God or them. The word of God clearly says in 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Also 1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

The Heart is your center of control, Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. So if you are harboring Unforgiveness, Pride, Arrogance, Jealousy, etc. it affects the control system of the body. For it is our Hearts that God looks at and you may be able to fool the other members of the body but never will you be able to fool God. Your faith represents your blood, in that you need it to survive. Without blood, the body would not have physical life, without Faith, the body will not have spiritual life.

Our legs represent our ministries, for it is, as unto walking we must wait on it. What do I mean by this you ask? Well God gave me the example of a baby how we wait for the baby to grow and for their legs to grow strong enough for them to walk and we must stay in our word. We must trust the Under Shepherd with our ministries so that impartation can be made, then when our season comes, we can effectively work in our ministries.

With all of this we need Love one for another. We may think we are all that but without Love one for another we are nothing. If I can take a moment and bring your attention to 1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? So you see you must have Love one for another. We must be Obedient to God and to our Pastors with the instructions that are given. We must not Judge, for only God knows where each one of us are in Him and only He knows where we are going. We must have Unity we cannot dismiss any part of the body for we need every part to make the body complete. My portion of God needs to connect with your portion of God and so on and so on. Last but definitely not least, remember that God gives Spiritual Gifts and not men. Stop letting man minimize your gifts to a Happy Meal so they can super size their value meal. Remember to work the part of your ministry and let the other parts handle their parts. If you are the hand be the hand, if you are the foot be the foot, every part is important.

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Also found in Luke 4:8)

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Also found in Mark 8:33)

Take Your Hands off the Control; You are not the One to Save Us

In the scriptures above we see that Satan has no respect of person when it comes to trying to bring temptations, lies and false hope into the lives of those of us who serve God. We see where Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness after his baptism, to be tempted of the devil. While there we see that Satan tried to take control over Jesus in the wilderness by offering him things that he could not possibly give. We also see Satan trying to take control over Jesus by using Peter. The truth of the matter is that like Jesus, we must put Satan in his place. We must remind Satan to get thee behind us, and to take his hands off of the controls because he is not the One to Save Us.

Satan is busy and he is always on his job, through our friends and our family. On our jobs, in our church, on SEPTA, in the grocery store and even driving down the street. Satan is so busy that after he uses someone to rub us the wrong way he try and use us to respond in our old nature. He whispers go ahead, tell them, what you scare of? You don’t believe me; think to any incident that happened just today, if you had responded in the old you, what could have happen.

We must stand firm in our belief, stand strong in our convictions, know that as the Word of God says in the Word of God, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Just think what might have happened if Eve had said to Satan in the Garden “Take Your Hands off the Control; You are not the One to Save Us”. Or if Paul hadn’t requested to be judge by Caesar instead of accepting the death penalty from the so called leaders. By requesting to be Judged as a Roman Citizen Paul was really saying “Take Your Hands off the Control; You are not the One to Save Us”. So the next time you feel a tugging to do something that you know is against the Will of God, or the next time someone tries to take over; you stand firmly and say to Satan, “Take Your Hands off the Control; You are not the One to Save Us”.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.

Are You Really Listening?

During the last couple of months the Lord has been leading me in a different way in teaching the Women’s Sunday school class at my church about being of service to Him. Focusing on us using our senses in the role of being a Servant of God to not take things for what they seem to be. As I was sitting here thinking and pondering on what the subject for April would be the Lord dropped into my Spirit the topic of Are You Really Listening? He then took me back to the way he had been directing me in my recent teaching to the scripture listed above.

You see the truth of the matter is Christians always get excited when we read the part where it says “And God said, Let there be light”, while yes we should be excited about the fact that God spoke light into existence but shouldn’t we be just as excited realizing that it came to be because the earth responded to God’s spoken commandment.

Like the earth we are also God’s creation, yet we do not always listen to the Spoken Commandment of God to us. We pray and because we do not receive the answer that we think it should be we pass it off as not being an answer at all. Sometimes it is the people that we surround ourselves with that block our hearing. We know sometimes that we have heard from the Lord but then we share it with others who sometimes convince us otherwise. It is for this reason that we a lot of times miss out on the blessings that God has in store for us.

When we get to the point where we really listen to hear what it is that God is telling us, and where it is that God is leading us then we will see that things will get better because we will be better equipped to be obedient to His Word. We will be better equipped to use discernment instead of judgment. We will be better equipped to tell someone else about Him because after all we are listening to Him and being obedient to Him. April marks the month when we celebrate the Fact that Jesus rose again. It is the month when we should be giving God the Glory and the Praise for it is the month representing the day years ago when Jesus Hung on a Cross for our Sins, Died and Rose again.

It is the month where we learn about the 7 last words of Christ and we are reminded that Christ was strictly about his Father’s Business of going about to become the living Sacrifice for us and for our sins to reconcile us to our Heavenly Father. It is the time that we see Jesus interceding on our behalf even unto death.   So the next time you are not sure what it is you are supposed to be doing, take the time to Really Listen to what it is God is saying to you. God Bless You.

March

                    Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! 

                   Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Can God Use You but More Importantly Can God Trust You?

The scripture above really sums it up, O wretched man.  Now we are not just speaking about Man as the male but Man as the Human Race (Male and Female).  The book of Romans speaks to the character of Man in general.  During the month of February God challenged me to think about and even teach about Man’s ability to do better in our service to God.  He challenged me to teach about the way we use our gifts of seeing, hearing and even speaking, to use it for the betterment of life not only for us but for others.

For instance, too many times we judge people and situations by what we see physically and not by trying to understand exactly what it is God is trying to show us.  We judge people actions instead of trying to understand why it is they act the way they do.  Also sometimes we keep people around us that make us look better to other people.  For instance if you are the smartest person in your group you need to look for another group.  Why do I say this, well if you are the smartest is there really any room for growth.  Or if you are hanging out with a group of people that will make you look better physically in the eyes of others then your motive is wrong.  Oh Wretched Man that I am!  The first thing is to be HONEST WITH YOURSELF ABOUT YOURSELF in order to take the responsibility for your actions.  Also remember sometimes the people you are around block your ability to see clearly.

Hearing and Speaking sometimes goes together.  For this portion the Spirit of the Lord led me back to Genesis.  When we are reading Genesis about the creation of the earth we seems to get excited about the fact that God said “Let there be light” and there was light.  Now I am not saying not to get excited about that but the other aspect of that was, when God spoke it the earth “Heard” it and responded to the command from God.  The earth is God’s creation and it obeyed His command.  This is the point where we as Mankind need to get to.  The point where when we hear the Spirit of the Lord speaking to us we respond and carry out the command; unfortunately sometimes we are too busy listening to what our friends tell us instead of the instructions from God.  How many times have you prayed for something and it just seems like God is not answering your prayer.  Could it possibly be that God did answer your prayer; however you were too busy listening to others or looking at the situation through physical eyes.  The truth of the matter is that you must be positioned to hear from God and you must realize that just because the answer was not what you thought it should have been, doesn’t mean an answer was not given, just that you negated the answer.

In addition, we must learn to be mindful of the things we speak.  We must realize that just because it comes up in your mind does not always means it needs to be spoken.  You can tear a person down with the things you say or you can build them up.  Too many times we do not take the time to access the situation before speaking.  We are so determined to give someone a “piece of our minds” and too many times it is the wrong piece that we are so willingly giving.  There is a scripture found in Proverbs 18:21 Death and Life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it should eat the fruit thereof.  Also be mindful of those persons that only tell you what you want to hear Proverbs 20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards, his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 

So please make a conscious decision to be mindful of how you Look at people; what you hear seek to hear directions from God and what you speak.  Also remember to also teach our children these valuable lessons in life.

God Bless You

When Sincerely Seeking and Doing God’s Will Is Enough

Scriptures (King James Version)

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Sometimes we find ourselves lost and running around trying to find our place.  Seeking out where we want to be then complaining when things are not going right yet we say we are about Kingdom Building.

We find ourselves lost, on the job; lost in the company we keep; lost in our homes; even lost in our prayer lives.  Sometimes we are even lost in church.  What do I mean by this you may be asking yourself?  Well we press our way to get to church, saying I want or I need a word from GOD but we miss that word because we’re too busy trying to judge people.  Or we’re too busy complaining about who’s bringing the word.  Sometimes we miss the word because we are too busy wondering about what our friends are doing.  We are worrying about our bills, our spouses, and children.  All of this stuff causes our focus to be off.

Well the truth of the matter is we must get to the place where Sincerely Seeking GOD and Doing God’s Will Is Enough.

How do I get to that point you may be wondering.  Well first you must realize that the word of God is true and he cannot lie.  Romans 3:3-4 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? ⁴ By no means! Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written, "That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged."

We have to stop picking and choosing only scriptures that we feel justify the mess we are doing, for instance a lot of people are quick to yell Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… they very rarely finish the rest of the scriptures that goes with this first part which says …who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Please read the entire eighth chapter of Romans later.

We need to have Faith that God is going to do just what he said he would do if we are obedient.  Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For it is when we find ourselves living in disobedience that we sometimes find that we cannot locate our faith.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

A Choice Must Be Made

If you are reading this article it means that you are one of the ones that were blessed enough to live to see the year 2011.  It is the time of year when people tend to make New Year Resolutions that more than likely turn out to be broken promises.  Broken promises to yourself, your family, your friends, your co-workers and in some instances even your significant others.  New Year resolutions are made a lot of times out of habit or out of your thoughts of it being the thing to do.

 But there is a decision we must all make.  The decision of where we will spend eternity.  This decision is affected by how we live our lives daily.  My change began in December when I made a conscious decision that I was going to be a better daughter not only to my Heavenly Father but to my earthly parents as well.  While I have always tried to be a great daughter to my mother the effort to be the same great daughter to my father was never truly made.  After making that decision the Lord showed me that it was the same way I had decided to accept him as my Lord and Savior 14 years ago the relationship needs action to be taken on my part as well. 

This means that I must make the effort to be the best daughter to my parents that I can be.  It also means like the Scripture says above I must also present myself as a living sacrifice to my relationship with the Lord.  What does this means?  Well I was not setting a good example for my children of how to treat their father and myself.  I was expecting them to always be respectful to us their parents yet I was not making any real effort to have a relationship with my father.  It does not matter that the situation was different.  The same way I expect them to be towards their father is the way I need to try to be towards my father.  Being a child of God means that I must forgive him and I must honor the role he has of being my father.  This is done by the renewing of my mind on a daily basis, if I continue to think about what should have, could have or would have I would be stuck in the wrong frame of mind. But by praying daily and asking God to renew my mind I can begin to move forward in making the relationship with my parents, as a whole better than it has ever been.

Being a living Sacrifice unto the Lord means that I will follow His Word in all aspects not just the parts that I find fulfilling but in all parts, because it is what He requires.  I must give to Him my reasonable service which means I must do all that I can to live Holy because He is Holy.  It means that if I see my brother or my sister hurting that I am to try and help.  But how can I help and be there for them when I myself have not made the choice to be a better person without everyday living and striving to do better.  Life is too precious and in some cases too short not to make a true effort to get along with the people God has chosen to be your family.  Whether that family is by blood or by adoption, the fact is too many people came into 2011 carrying the guilt of not getting a relationship right with someone that did not make it to 2011.  True healing of the heart will only come when real effort is made for reconciliation. 

Tis the reason

For the Season

Is Jesus

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

We are at the time in the year when all havoc breaks loose, beginning with what is known as Black Friday until Christmas Eve (December 24) and in some cases even Christmas Day.  People are running around trying to find the best prices for the best gifts, while others are scouting the Parking Lots at the Mall seeing who has left those same gifts in the backseat of the car to take them.  There are also more people in the malls that are watching the ones going to the MAC machine and then lifting the hard earned money out of their purses/pockets.  But I wonder if they ever stop to think about the Real Reason for The Season.  It is supposed to be about celebrating all that Jesus gave up – his life – for us to be redeemed to the Lord.

So this month I am lead to share as a reminder of the real reason for Christmas.  We see in the scriptures above the birth announcement of Jesus our Lord and Savior as given to the Shepherds by the Angel of the Lord.  We see that right before being born there was no one willing to make room for Our Savior and today it seems to be the same situation therefore he was born in a barn (among the animals) and wrapped in swaddling clothes (rags) and laid in a manger (small box/trough).  Yet the heavenly hosts were praising God because they understood the gift that was just bestowed upon the inhabitants of the earth.  Which leads us to the question Do you have room in the Inn for the Savior or do you only have room for Material Things that will soon rust, fade, paint will chip or just get old. 

Better yet, do you realize, appreciate or even understand the gift of life that was given to you because of the life that Jesus so freely gave up? It seems that we forget about the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us because of our own Selfish desires, conquests and even lust.  I know how it is to shop, to see the smile on the faces of your loved ones as they open their gifts on Christmas Morning.  I understand the laughter that permeates the rooms as family gathers, Christmas Dinner is served and stories of Christmas past are told.  I too enjoy those moments but I must also say I realize the sacrifice that was made long ago on Calvary’s Hill.  I too enjoy the Christmas Music, my favorite Christmas Song is Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”.  Yet as I sit typing this column and listening to the song “When I Think About The Lord” by Christ For the Nations – I find myself agreeing with the words of the song.

♪When I think about the Lord♫

♪How He saved me♫

♪How He raised me♫

♪How He filled me with the Holy Ghost♫

♪How He healed me to the Uttermost♫

♪When I think about the Lord♫

♪How He picked me up♫

♪And turned me around♫

♪How He placed my feet♫

♪On Solid Ground♫

♪It makes me want to say shout♫

♪Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus, Lord You’re Worthy♫

Of all the Glory, and all the Honor, and all the Praise♫

I understand that some may say this sounds like a message of Thanks and perhaps should have been used Thanksgiving Day but the truth of the matter is that we should show our gratitude every day.  For every day that God allows us to walk among the living is another degree of the Grace and Mercy that is measured out to us daily.  It is another degree of Love that is poured out for us.  The truth of the matter is that it’s not gifts once a year that show our family we love them but it’s the actions we take daily. 

So remember “Tis the reason for the season Is Jesus”

God Bless you and may you have a Blessed, Safe and Wonderful Christmas from The Anderson Family to Your Family.

Declaring the Glory of God

November 2010

Imagine being out on a clear night and looking up towards heaven and seeing the beautiful stars and the moon.  Now imagine being out on a clear night, and looking towards the heavens but seeing nothing.  No stars, no moon, nothing yet it is still bright enough for you to know that it’s there.  This was an incident that happened to me approximately 12 years ago, and I remember my cousin and me turning around looking and commenting on how we take things for granted.  Things like the stars and moon being there on a clear night, because it’s the source of light for night as humans see it.

Little did I know at that time that God the creator of the Heavens and the Earth allowed me to experience that incident for such a time as this.  God in His Infinite Wisdom knew that the day would come when I would have to write this very paper.  The paper that would explain how the ‘HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD’ and why it is important that we know the answer.    First we must remember that before everything GOD WAS.  We must realize that God in His all knowing and all powerful wisdom, with Jesus by his side decided to create Heaven and Earth. 

So let’s take a short journey, through the process.  Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.   This is the beginning of creation and we read about how GOD created the heaven and the earth, yet man would prefer for us to believe that this beautiful creation just happened.  They would have us to believe, that there is no God.  God created the heaven and the earth, yet man want to take credit for it.  Man wants to take the beautiful creation of God and turn it into something to be used for profit.  God deserves better than that, don’t you know that the Heavens declares the Glory of God.  From Genesis to Revelation we have a blue print that shows who GOD IS.  We have the written word of God that declares in and of itself the Awesomeness of God.  I can only imagine the Glory that shone around God as he said  Genesis 1:6  And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

God created it and he declared it was good.  Then he hung the sun to be the light in the day and the moon for night.  So you can see how one would be shocked not to see the moon.  But it’s just one of the many mysteries of God and the fact that with God all things are possible.  Next let’s take a look at Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.   Now reading this scripture it leads one to ask the question; What is the Glory of God?  For the answer to this question I would like to take you to John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 The same was in the beginning with God. Let’s go a little further to John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  So this patch of scripture tells us that Jesus the Incarnate Word, the portion that GOD poured out of Himself, to come and reconcile us to Him; is the Glory of God.  Remember how Jesus answered Thomas in John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  

Could you imagine being one of the many angels that gathered around the edges of Heaven as they watch God perform the creation?  Can you not understand why Satan was upset when God said in Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Who wouldn’t want to be made in the Image of God?  Who wouldn’t want to be one of God’s Greatest Creation, and I say this because we are made in His image and after his likeness.  David said in Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.  3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

Yet once again Satan has put in the mind of men that this is all a lie.  He has used his trickery to try and make man believe there is no God.   Psalm 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.  6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.  

Yet the sun and the stars are a language all in themselves, who else but an Awesome God could have hung the sun in the sky.  Who else could have hung the moon or the stars in the sky, who else but an Awesome God could have allowed them to know the difference between shinning during the day or at night.  God has shown the very existence of Jesus all along, because before the Law was given Jesus existed.  2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  This scripture shows us that Satan is always trying to blind the minds of the unbelievers, but if we would do our part and like the Heavens DECLARE the Glory of God, oh what a wonderful place this would be. 

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
courage to change the things I can
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Patience is a Virtue but

True Wisdom is a Blessing

During the month of July I have been reading from the book of Proverbs which deals with wisdom.  This book of the bible deals with a wide range of the benefits of using Wisdom with your actions and the rewards as well as the disciplines of not using Wisdom.  I started this month’s column off with the Serenity Prayer because a lot of times our choices/reactions are because we cannot tell the difference between the things we can and cannot change.  However, I submit that if we start by looking at ourselves and asking God to give us the wisdom to change the things about ourselves we will be in a better position to look at things on the outside and use Wisdom.

In the book of I Kings we are told about Solomon one of the wisest and most blessed kings of the Old Testament.  Solomon was a wise king because of what he asked for when he prayed, he asked God for WISDOM to lead the people.  God granted Solomon so much more because of all the things Solomon could have prayed for he asked God for Wisdom.  Proverbs 1:5  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: Now later on down the line yes Solomon reign had a turn and that was when he did not seek God for Wisdom when he met and married this Pagan lady and after that idolatry was reintroduced to the area.

I will never forget an incident in my life.  I was upset with my boss and I went storming into her office to tell here exactly how I felt about the situation.  After leaving her office, I returned to my desk and I felt like I needed to read a scripture for support.  After taking out my bible I opened it up and guess what it was in the book of Proverbs, the scripture said Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.  I remember saying “Lord why didn’t you show this to me before I made a fool of myself?

The truth of the matter is that I should have taken a moment to have prayer  and to seek God for the direction and how I should have handled the situation.  But I didn’t and because of my actions I delayed some reconciliation that would have been necessary.  Be mindful of how you respond to people and what it is that you are saying or doing in their lives.  So the next time you are upset with someone, use wisdom and stop and seek God before moving forward.  Remember, Proverbs 1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  2.  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.  3.  The eyes of the Lord are in everyplace, beholding the evil and the good.

Do You Really Trust The Shepherd?

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.   2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The scripture above is one of the shortest chapters in the bible, yet it’s meaning goes much deeper than we realize.  I recently had the chance to hear a woman speak on this chapter and after hearing her I was thinking hmmmmmmmmm I’ve never really thought about it.  Then I heard the question in my spirit, Do You Really Trust The Shepherd?

In our Christian Walk we learn different bible verses and we even memorize a lot of them.  Like some of you, I learned the 23^rd Psalm when I was little, before I even accepted Jesus as my Savior.  Before I gave my hand to a Pastor and my heart to God I knew the 23^rd Psalm.  Unfortunately, I did not know the exact extent to what was promised to me in this chapter.  So lets take a look at it. 

Verse one The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  Look at our lives we are the sheep, that the LORD watches over.  Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:  it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Before we go any further, let’s look at the Godhead.  There Is God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the comforter.  Three parts that equals the one whole, that work together in Unity and does not cause conflict one against the other.  So now we know that we are the sheep and the Holy Spirit is the Shepherd, we know this because Jesus said John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.  We see in these scriptures that when Jesus left he promised us that we would receive a comforter that comforter is the Holy Spirit.  Once the Holy Spirit came the Holy Spirit became our ever present Shepherd.  So why did Jesus come some of you might be wondering, because it is only through shed blood that we could be redeemed to the Father and Jesus was the redemption plan of God’s to bring the sheep back in the fold.  After sin entered the world we were separated from our heavenly father. 

In the natural world we see shepherds that lead the sheep to green pastures.  When the grass begins to turn brown where they are located the shepherds lead them to greener pastures so that they may be fed.  This is exactly what reading the word of God does in our lives.  When we are walking down a bad path, the Holy Spirit that is inside us tug on us and we are turned from the path we are on to a better path.  When we are tired and feel like we can go no further, it’s through prayer and reading the Word of God that we are restored, not only restored as in getting a good night sleep, but restored to our soul.  You can also think of the Staff as a tool of the Holy Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit that reaches out and grabs a hold of us when we start to waiver in our walk.

This is why we should not fear, because once you accept Jesus as your Savior you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and it is with you always.  We are promised in God’s word in Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So even when things seem hard, even when things seem like they will never work out, know that this is your valley experience and that you are not alone.  When the enemy darts and arrows are heading your way fret not because you are not alone for God is with you.  Know that he will take care of your enemies for you Psalm 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.  7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices.  8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

He preparest a table before the presence of mine enemies, this is what happens when people try and bring about your demise, and they are wondering why you are still standing.  This is the Lord keeping you and sustaining you.  We see in the scriptures above that God will indeed cut down the evildoers all we must do is follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Thy anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.  It is called favor, and favor is unearned and unmerited grace we receive from the Lord.  When you have the favor of the Lord, what a mighty blessing that is.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.  The best way to explain this is with the following scriptures Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   So if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior you have received the gift of Eternal Life, and I’m sure it can’t get no better than that.

God Bless you all

NO CHARGE!  WHY?

BECAUSE JESUS PAID IT ALL

This is the month that we celebrate the Resurrection of the one and only True and Living God.  On March 28 we celebrated Psalm Sunday, which represents the Sunday of Jesus’ Triumph entry into Jerusalem.  This is one of the few times we see that Jesus rode anywhere, because He mostly walked.  Now someone maybe thinking why do we say His Triumph entry into Jerusalem, don’t you remember He was Crucified?  Well we say Triumph entry because He was God personified into man so that we may have a chance to receive the gift of Salvation.  April 2^nd is Good Friday, representative of the day Jesus was Crucified and April 4^th we will be celebrating Resurrection Day, the Day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.  Let’s take a look now at:

The Seven Last Utterances of the Lord

THE FIRST WORD:

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23, 33-34.

Even from the cross Jesus was asking for the Lord to forgive us, even before we were formed in our mother’s womb.  Jesus, while on the cross cried out for what he knew we would do in our lives.  He knew the decisions that we would make even before we made them.  He was innocent and His blood was shed for us and for our sins.

THE SECOND WORD

"Verily, I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with me in paradise."

"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we received the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shall thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23, 39-43.

This goes to show you that, while yet hanging on that cross, Jesus gave the gift of Salvation to the malefactor that asked for it.  Why because that is the kind of God we serve, a forgiving God, a loving God, a God full of Grace that he willingly give to us.  We see that the male on the other side, didn’t care that Jesus was innocent and even while hanging on that cross, challenged Jesus to prove that He was the Messiah. 

THE THIRD WORD

"Woman behold thy son . . . behold thy mother"

"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." John 19, 25-27.

Although Jesus was on the cross, in what I know had to be considerable pain, he took the time to ask someone to care for His earthly mother.  So many times people take their mothers for granted until the point where they no longer have their mother.  Yet Jesus on his day of crucifixion took the time to show kindness and an act of love to the woman that God use to give birth to Him.  Also it shows that he didn’t just pass her on to just anybody, we are told that the disciple that he loved, was who he gave the charge to. 

THE FOURTH WORD

"My God, my God, why has Thou forsaken me?"

"And when the sixth was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Mark I5, 33-34.

Did God forsake him, not at all.  You see Jesus is God wrapped up in flesh, and it was at this time that the human portion of Him was speaking to the Godly portion of Himself.  If you remember what was said by Jesus when he was praying - And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.  Mark 14:36.  But it was because God was determined not to forsake us, but to give us a plan of redemption that he bankrupted Heaven and sent his best. 

THE FIFTH WORD

"I Thirst"

"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth." John 19, 28-29.

In this utterance, Jesus was not speaking of a Physical Thirst, but he was speaking of a Spiritual Thirst.  He was so Thirsty for us to accept Him for who He was the Messiah.  He was saying I Thirst for you.  He was saying I left Paradise to come here to earth to die for you. 

THE SIXTH WORD

"It is finished"

''When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." John 19, 30.

After all of this could it be that you still do not understand.  I came, I taught, I opened my heart for you.  I lived, I suffered and now I give my life for you.  It is finished, my life here on earth however now I must go to prepare a place for you. Remember what Jesus said to Thomas - ¹Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.     ²In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.    ⁴And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.    ⁵Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?    ⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  John 14:1-6

THE SEVENTH WORD

"Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit."

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Luke 23, 46.

Father I’m coming back to my rightful place.  I have done what you have commanded me to do and they do not take my life for I freely give it.  This is what Jesus did on that Hill far away that we know as Calvary.  He didn’t do it for a price from you but to pay the Price for your sins. He didn’t do it because He wanted to know what He would get in return.  He didn’t hang on that cross, just for show, no it was LOVE that held Him up there.  Love for You and Me. 

 March

2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.   9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

ENOUGH

Wow this year God seems to be leading us to Reflect, Examine, Review and then Take Action.  January was to Reflect and Move Forward, last month was to examine ourselves and let the Real Us Stand Up and this month it is to look at all of the excuses we find ourselves using and to say enough. 

We look at Paul as being one of the greatest soul winners for Christ. We read about how he was one of the biggest persecutors of the people of God, in his early years.  Then we read about his conversion on the road to Damascus and we see how he went tirelessly after his conversion winning souls.  We never read about him saying he was too tired to win souls yet we see in the passage above that Paul did have to contend with things that were trying to stop him from winning souls.  I am so glad that they did not specifically say what the thorn was just that he had a thorn in the flesh.

So what is your thorn? 

We say things like; I wish I had more time to read my Bible, I wish I had more time to spend with my family, I wish I had more time to write my book, I wish I had more time to pursue my dream, I’m too tired today I will do it tomorrow etc.  The truth of the matter is we have enough time to do everything else we want to do.  We have enough time to sit around and chat.  We have enough time to go shopping.  We have enough time talk about others.  We have enough time to help other pursue their dreams.  So the question is when do you say enough already, with the excuses; enough with the squashing of other people dreams; enough with the pity parties and the woe it is me.  When do you say enough and step out on faith and start doing those things.  God is saying that a large majority of us just had all of that snow, where here in Philadelphia the City was shut down for two days.  I even had 8 days without my internet and God said to me “How did you use that time?” Was it used in a wise manner or was it just squandered.

See the thing about these inspirational articles is that it is not just for you, it is for me as well.  I too must look at everything without the Rose colored glasses.  I too must take responsibility for my actions.  I had all that time and there was so much more I could have gotten done during that time.  God is saying everyday we have 24 hours, stop putting off for tomorrow what can be done today.  We are not promised tomorrow, stop with the excuses and start today to make a change.  God’s Grace Is Sufficient, and when I am Weak God Is Strong.  When I am tired God has the extra boost I am in need of.  Remember the gifts that you were given were not just to be placed on a shelf and allowed to collect dust.  There are people waiting for you to make your move in society so they can make theirs.  Also remember when you make that change don’t forget to take time out with your family and friends and let them know you love them. 

God Bless You All

1. 1 Corinthians 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
   
2. 2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
   

Ungodly Gifts

There comes a time in each of our lives when we tend to use Ungodly Gifts without even realizing that we are doing that.  What do I mean by Ungodly Gifts, gifts that are from the enemy and not from God.  Let me take the time to explain what I mean by this. 

When was the last time you spoke about yourself and something that you do, and then justified by well that’s just me.  I know the other day I was speaking to some friends of mine and I said please pray for me because I have the gift of procrastination and I know I need to get this project done.  One friend said “excuse me but that is not a gift” to which I responded, “oh but it is a gift, just not one that I want to continue to partake in.”  Now she was looking at the Holy Gifts that come from God, the Fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Or Perhaps she was thinking about the Gifts of the Spirit which can be found in Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelist; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.  13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

Yes these are gifts that we should want to own and partake of, because they are Holy Gifts.  They come from God and we know when it comes to the gifts from God we can rest assure that they are Good, why because we are told in Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.  However, these are not the gifts I am speaking of right now.  Ungodly gifts are the gifts that the enemy sometimes serves to us on a Silver Platter.  For instance, you are given an opportunity to do something, that you know is wrong, but you start thinking, hmmmm well if I just do it this one time nobody will know.  Well you have just participated in the gift of compromising, you know you should not do it, that’s why there was a stop and thought pattern.  To say nobody will know, is another confirmation that perhaps what you are doing should not be done.  Or let’s look at doubt, another gift from the enemy.  You know that when you step out on faith, that God is right there with you.  I mean after all the word says all you need is faith the size of a grain of mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), but because the results are not always immediate you start to doubt your choices and you start to doubt God.  God says be still and know that I am GOD sometimes it is just a delay and not a denial, but the enemy starts to plant that doubt in your mind.  Then the next thing you know you are giving up and you are saying I know this will never work out.  Well remember death and life are in the power of your tongue (Proverbs 18:21) and if you would just speak life to that situation and trust God to complete it through you.

Another Ungodly gift is when we decide we will tell this little white lie, and then you must tell another one to cover up that one.  Then you forget how many you have told and the story that you used to cover the last lie and you are now in a quandary because nobody believes a word you say.  Another ungodly gift is Fear; this is one of the biggest gifts the enemy use and so many people find themselves becoming subject to Fear.  But in the Word of God we are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  You see anything that the enemy cast your way that will make you go against what you know is right, is an ungodly gift. 

So what are you supposed to do, because we know that there is a warring going on in our bodies (Romans 7 & 8).  A warring between the flesh and the spirit, a warring that sometimes leave us on the other side of the street.  However, we must remember that Greater is He (the portion of God) that is in YOU than he (the enemy) that is in the world.  The first thing you must do is learn to feed your spiritual body, the same way you feed your physical body the spiritual body needs to be fed.  How do you do this?  Well it’s by studying God’s Word, by meditating on it day and night, by hiding it in your heart.  Remember what David said in Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Does this mean that you will never sin again, absolutely not but what it does mean is that the Holy Spirit will come to attention when something is not right.  What it means is that you will not care who see you and who does not because you will be willing to walk according to the Word of God. 

Make a promise today to make a conscious decision not to partake in the Ungodly gifts but to Use your Godly Gifts to Glorify God, Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work.  Also remember what is said in Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.

God Bless You

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Dream Again

As children we’ve all dreamed of being something Doctor, Lawyer, Fireman, Police Officer etc.  Unfortunately these days and times it saddens me to think that the children of today sometimes boast about being drug dealers.  One of the reasons for this is because the children are watching the young adults, some of their parents are on drugs and they feel that is the only way they can survive.  They are not paying attention to the consequences of having this as a life style.  The jails are over crowded, parents are burying their children, and some are ending up in wheelchairs or in the hospitals on life support.  Another reason that they are dreaming like this, is because adults have forgotten how to dream and how to turn the dream over to God.  I once read a book called “The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson – which is a parable about a character named Ordinary, who dares to leave the Land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream”.

Why am I bringing up this book you may be wondering, well I’m going to tell you why.  This book talks about the different roads one must travel in order to reach the big dream.  Now the “Big Dream” is given to us by God and what we must understand is a Dream from God is much bigger than we can really imagine.  Therefore, we must return the dream to the Dream Giver and trust God to bring the people into our lives that will impart into us the necessary knowledge, wisdom and understanding that is needed.  Now don’t get me wrong it is going to take some time, to reach the big dream but you must endure.  Sometimes the big dreams even fall by the wayside because of decisions that we have made but do not be discouraged.

It is easy for us to say that all things happen for a reason, what was your reason?  See yes it’s true that God allows some things to happen but some of those things are because of decisions that we have made.    But what we must realize is that God never wastes an experience, God will use that experience and allow you to share it as part of your testimony.   If you read about Paul you will see all that Paul did before his conversion on the Road to Damascus before coming to the realization of what he wrote in  “Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  This also is very prevalent when we remember that before Paul’s conversion he was persecuting the church.  If God can turn Paul’s bad decisions around, God can turn your bad decisions into a positive tool for His Glory.  I mean after all God is God and He can do anything but Fail. 

For instance, one of my dreams is for my children to go to College.  While I must foster their dreams, we must allow our dreams for them to show through.  Therefore, not only do I express to them my desire for them to attend college, I have also returned to school to finish obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree.  I must complete what I started a few years ago so that they know that it’s important for them to complete what they started.  By me allowing so many years to lapse in between completing my College Education, they now see that I must stretch the time that I have after work to fit in enough time for studying.  Why because I also must be a positive role model to obtain the type of grades that I want them to obtain.  So now my children are seeing the importance of what marriage should be the importance of being a hard worker, and the importance of obtaining an education.  I can share with them the importance of finishing it while they are young as opposed to after they are married.

This also works towards my “Big Dream”, God had called me to the Office of the Evangelist, and however, my purpose is Communication.  Therefore, as I obtain the education that I need, despite the fact that it was delayed of my doing, then God will position everything into place to carry out the Dream he has assigned to my hand.  As I learn more and receive more insight from God I must trust Him with My Dream.  I placed it in His hands and as I travel and go through what I must complete to reach the dream I must understand that it’s only through my Faith in God that I am able to step out there.  Time is winding down, remember what God said in Joel 2:28  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Are you recognizing the Dreams that God has given to you?  Young men are you seeing the Visions?  What are you doing with them?  Now please remember you cannot share your dreams with everyone, you must pray and ask God to show you who to trust with your dream.  I dare you to not only allow yourself to dream again, but to turn that dream over to God and allow God to direct your path in bringing it to fruition.  Step out on Faith; be obedient to His Word and Trust God.

If you wish to send an email to the author please do so at DivinePearlsofWisdom@yahoo.com

Oh Wretched Man That I Am

Can God Use Me?

When you get a chance please read the entire book of Romans but for this month’s inspiration I would like to use the scriptures below.  This month I am using two different translations of the same verses because I understand that sometimes the King James Version is difficult to follow, so in addition to the King James Version I am also using the Amplified Version, for the initial verses.

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.   15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.   16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.   17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.   18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.   20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.   21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.   22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  (KJV version)

Romans 7:14 We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [<^b]">[b]which my moral instinct condemns]. 16 Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take sides with it.   17 However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me.  18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.] 19 For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [<^c]">[c]fixed and operating in my soul].  21 So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands.  22 For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature].<^D)">(D)  23 But I discern in my bodily members [<^d]">[d]in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [<^e]">[e]in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].   24 O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?  25 O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.  (Amplified Version)

One of the biggest enemies that we have is ourselves.  Why because we know ourselves better than anyone else walking this earth and for this we tend to judge ourselves harsher than others.  It is through that judging of ourselves that we tend to pass judgment on others.  Sometimes it’s because people have the idea that if they make others feel like the scum on the bottom of their feet it will make them feel better about themselves.  I always say never let someone minimize you so that they can “supersize” themselves.  The truth of the matter is that we have two natures, the Spiritual Side and the Carnal Side.  The scriptures above tell us that there is a constant warring in us, it helps us to better understand that sometimes the things we do are just our flesh taking over.  Just like you must feed your physical body you must also feed your spiritual body.   

In this patch of scripture we find Paul explaining why sometimes it seems that it’s hard to do the right thing..  I mean God has given us free will determinism, so we make the choices to do what we do.  So many times people want to blame it on the devil, but we sometimes give the devil too much praise and credit.  When we learn to be honest about the matter and say I did it because I wanted to satisfy my flesh.  We all sin, the bible tells us in Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; because none of us were born saved. So now understanding that we sometimes make the wrong decision we come to the place where we can ask ourselves the subject question “Oh Wretched Man That I Am – Can God Use Me.

 Well first we must make a conscious choice to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.   But this is only the beginning, you must then get into the bible classes being offered where you worship or at a bible teaching institute.  You must start feeding your spiritual man, the inner man, the part of you where the Holy Spirit resides.  Will you still mess up, yes but everyday should be better than the day before.  You see when you feed your spiritual man; you become more conscious of the choices you make.  You no longer just willfully sin because you know that you have made a Commitment to God to live according to His word.  We are told in Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  If you know that you are being held in bondage by the decisions you are making then stop making those same decisions.  Why continue to make the same decisions and look for something different, it doesn’t work that way.  When you want to see a change then you must first make a change.

So to make it plain, if Jesus who came to earth, died and was rose again and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God making intercession for you what is it that is so bad about you that you cannot be used of God.  Oh Wretched Man That I Am – Can God Used Me. I contend that the answer is yes.  Look at what we are told in Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  

Can I prove that God can use you, well Iet me start by giving some examples of some not so perfect people that God used. 

God used Abraham, even though he and Sarah thought they were too old to parent a child together.

God used Moses, even though Moses was a stutterer.

God used Jacob and Jacob was a trickster.

God use Noah who was a drinker.

God used David who was an adulterer.

God used Rahab who was a harlot.

God used Paul who was previously a murderer of the Christian People.

The point that I am trying to make, is this, we are all ex-something.  None of us are perfect but as we grow in our relationship with God and we are willing to be a Living Sacrifice to be used of God for God’s Glory then yes, Wretched Man God CAN use you. 

*Please note that Man is being used but it applies to both men and women… you can be used by God.*

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The Topic for this month is “Intimacy With God”

When we speak of Intimacy unfortunately the first thing that comes to mind is “Physical Pleasure” but there is more to intimacy than just the Physical Aspect. Don’t get me wrong that is an important aspect to married couples but before you even get there, you need to know that you can have an Intimate Relationship with God. Let’s review what I mean by this.

In any relationship "Trust" is a very important aspect, the same is true with our relationship with God. Another important aspect needed with our relationship with God is "intimacy" (one on one relationship). Now I know someone is saying "how can I have intimacy with God" well I'm glad you ask. In any relationship it needs at least two to make it a relationship. We walk around looking for Love in all the wrong places when the truth of the matter is we were created out of God's Love for us.

God loved us so much that he took the time to create us in His image and likeness as well as with a desire for Intimacy with us. The same way God walked with Adam he wants to walk with us. After the fall of Adam and Eve I’m sure it grieved God’s heart because the relationship with Adam was then changed. The intimate walks in the Garden were no more, because disobedience had come into play. Just like God walked with Adam he wants to walk in the Gardens of our lives with us, just as he called out to Adam daily, he is calling out to us. He is an all knowing God and He knew we would need a "Plan of Redemption" so he gave His only begotten Son "Jesus" so that we would have a chance at eternal life (John 3:16).

How can you get to this place in your life, well first you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. God’s word also tells us in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. Move a little further down to Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. But after you accept Jesus, you are not supposed to say I accepted Jesus and that's all I have to do. Not at all, you must work on your relationship and develop an "intimacy with God".

How do you accomplish this? Well you must feed your Spiritual Body with the Word of God and you must Pray. Prayer is the tool and Faith is the key to unlock the doors that will allow for Intimacy with God. What I am trying to tell you is that until you experience true love, the love that caused God to give his only begotten son Jesus for us. The kind of love that says I know you’ve messed up but I’ll forgive you, even when you have trouble forgiving yourself. The Kind of Love that will give you peace that surpasses all understanding. The kind of Love that says I know what man looks at you and say but I see your heart. The kind of Love, where no matter where you are, God’s Love will come to you.

I am talking about an Intimacy with God. I’m talking about an intimacy where God is the first one you greet in the morning and the last one you talk to at night. I’m talking about an intimacy where all you have to do is think it and he knows your thoughts. I’m talking about an intimacy where you can tell Him all about your day and know that he is embracing you. I’m talking about an intimacy where when you find your burdens are too heavy to continue to carry, and Jesus is standing there saying Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) I am talking about an intimacy like you’ve never experience before. An intimacy with the one who created you, the one that knows how many hairs are on your head, the one who knows your beginning and your end. I’m talking about true intimacy, where the Lord is the Desire of your Heart.

As a Christian I always hear people say, they didn’t have enough time to do this, or they didn’t have enough time to do that. I hear them say they wish they would have told someone who didn’t make it to see today they loved them, or about God and his Mercy. So it’s January 2, 2009, and the fact that you are here shows that God has once again showed you Favor by allowing your time to roll on just a little bit longer. So what are you going to do with this New Gift? Every year for New Year’s Day people make New Year Resolutions, but they only last about 3 months if that long. The question I pose to you is WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR NEW GIFTS? The gift of being allowed to see another year begin, the gift of having yet another day to say AMEN, the gift of additional Grace and Mercy, the gift of your Salvation, the list goes on and on.

The gift that no matter what you know it was given out of Love, because our very existence was created out of LOVE, can I prove it you say. Well let’s go to Genesis chapter 1, here we see the Love of God by reading the following verses 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Out of everything that God created, he took the time to create you and me in His Own Image and after His Likeness and gave us dominion of the earth. Now yes that was given away by Adam in the Garden, but then we read even after that God showed us love and made a way for us to be reconciled to him. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

So again I ask you what are you going to do with your gifts. Are you going to sit down on the gifts and now share them with anyone, and then find yourself next year in the same dilemma? Or are you going to say today I’m going to make a difference, I’m going to share the Gift of God with people I come in contact with. I’m going to live my life according to God’s word so that when people see me they know who my Father is.