God

God Has Planted Seeds In All Of Us

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which many ignore because the possibilities are far too scary.  But if you tap into God’s power, it will take you beyond your wildest dreams. You will have to look your deepest fears in the face and tell them that your God is bigger than them.

Many people will not do this. They do not have the faith to trust God to complete something through them.  But He gives us all the choice to try.

The past couple of weeks I had been praying over some projects.  He has given me some fun stuff to write, but I just didn’t have time.  All of the things I was doing were things He had instructed me to do, so I just prayed, “show me how.” I even prayed “is this what you want me to do? If not, what do you want me to do?” I don’t always assume that I have heard Him correctly, so I will go back and check.

I try not to become so fixated on anything so that I cannot do without it.  Whether I write, photograph or anything, I know that the ability could leave me at anytime (because the Lord gives and the Lord takes away). He might ask me to do something else.  I don’t want to love the creation more than the Creator.

This week He opened the door so that I could spend more time writing. Wow.  Pray and believe, you will receive. Trust Him, not your situation. Even though all hell is breaking lose on planet earth, the One who laid their foundations is still in charge.

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Here is some truth. We are all going on a journey in this life.  You can sit back and enjoy the road trip trusting the Driver. Or you can fret and worry, wondering where you are going , if you have enough gas to get there or if you will like it when you get there.

This journey isn’t going to last forever, but our relationship with the Driver will.

When You Pray Over Something

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You don’t get to decide how God answers. Today God sent me a message that He has my back. Many folks today like to paint a portrait of God as love, peace, kindness…you get me. They seldom like to think of the God who strikes terror in the hearts of those who wrong the ones He loves.

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I have learned to let Christ fight my battles.  I know He is just and will dish out what the other side rightly deserves. I don’t question Him. If you ever come against me, you don’t have to worry about me trying to get you back. You might want to read Psalm 18 and see who is coming for you though.

I love that the Lord has seen fit to destroy one of my enemies on the same day the Republican house voted to destroy healthcare for millions of Americans.  It was not a day of celebration, but one where we felt sorry for the person who had done so much wrong to others.  Some had forgotten all of the wrong done to them. Not me. God assures me He will deal with all of the wrongdoers according to the measure that they dish out.  Again, I pity them., but for the most part they earned it.

For the month of April, I camped out on Psalm 18.  I fell in love with the fact that “He” is the one who defends me.  The image is absolutely terrifying and I am glad I am on His side. And what keeps me there? Repentance. Regular and often.

When God places someone in a leadership role, responsibility comes with it.  He promises to show Himself shrewd to the crooked, those who take advantage of the ones they are supposed to lead.  He will take your job, home, all your assets and leave you flat on your back so that there is no place to look but up.

As I watch elected officials take advantage of Americans and make themselves rich, I pity what is coming for them.  As I have prayed over my circumstances, He has been faithful. He has shown me He won’t allow corruption to stand, not in our government and not in our church.

This past year God has revealed Christian leadership that does not know Jesus.  I am dumbfounded by some of the things folks claiming to be Christians have said and done. I am secure in saying there is no way any of these folks could stand before the Lord and say those same things or act the same way.  Only evil can do that.

I will continue to pray and lift up these situations, but God has assured me He is going to handle it.

The Smells of Heaven

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I am sure before Christ’s resurrection the aroma of the sacrifices for sin filled the space. The Bible tells us that the best cut of meat was sacrificed on the altar as an atonement for sin. I think the fragrance of the prayers of the saints overpowered it. I am sure it was amazing to breathe.

Today, I walked through an area where smokers hung out. Not only was the smell of tobacco in the air, but it was stale.  I tried to hold my breath until I got past it.

The smell I abhor is walking into a restroom and it smell like urine. As I was hurrying trying to get out of there I thought. “Lord, is this what it was like coming to earth? You left the amazing smells of Heaven for the filthiness of earth.”

I can’t think of anyone I like enough to stay in a situation that smells bad.  Yet, I can only imagine what Jesus gave up for His love of us.  He went to the depths of Hell for us.

Bulls and lambs are no longer sacrificed. Prayers are still the fragrance of the saints. Jesus offers eternal life to all those who believe.  Jesus has only one stipulation to those who want eternity with Him. John 3:16.

Chris Rock Started Singing Circus Afro

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in the middle of worship this morning and I couldn’t stop to answer the phone. Yes, Chris Rock is still my ringtone. It is normally my habit to turn the ringer off before I enter the church. I did the same thing today, but it came back on in the middle of church service, but fortunately I was up in the sound booth, and only the folks up there with me heard it.

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Another habit I have been practicing a little longer is sacrificing something for Lent. I am not Catholic or any type of Orthodox religion. I just appreciate the season. I was thoroughly amused when a friend asked me what I gave up for Lent.  I have been doing this long enough that folks who know me know.

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One of the things I chose was to praise God everyday in a very physical way. So on FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google +, Instagram and here I posted my praise in the form of His Word.  It was interesting to see which scriptures resonated with my friends.

I also believe that it is not a sacrifice unless it cost you something.  How can I offer to God something that is free to me? How can I offer something that means nothing to me?  So I sacrificed things that I valued.

As I approach this last week before Easter, this Holy Week,  I am reminded that He is a Holy Uncreated God. Everything I see is created, He is not created. Even though I cannot wrap my finite mind around this, it is true.

I am also reminded as I make my way to the cross this week with millions of other Christ followers, that the way to the cross is not paved in gold bricks and lavished meals.

It was on a dirt road, with a heavy cross and lots of onlookers who were not willing to help.  He endured the pain of the cross for me. Praise God.

Sometimes God Moves You Out the Way

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so He can get to people.  I mean you pray over people and when God starts acting in their lives you jump in and try to do it. You better recognize that God will get you so busy that you only have time to run your life.

God has me busy working in my life. I don’t have to worry about you, talk about, wonder what do. My prayer list is long and God keeps adding people. (And I keep trying to take people off)

I pray for my friends, my enemies, people I know and people I don’t know.  I have projects in the works and spend my time praying asking God if these things are really significant for His Kingdom.  Cause to tell you the truth, I am tired.

So when people come to me with petty shit, I look at them and wonder if this is really all they have going on in their lives.  I pray Lord, please handle this.

This week I got to have dinner with my home girls and it was such a blessing.  Even though I had an agenda full of things to accomplish this week, the Spirit led me to go fellowship with these ladies. It was such a blessing.

I learned alot.

One of the things I learned is that we put condemnation on ourselves because of what we think others represent.  I love Jesus with all my heart mind and soul. In Him there is no condemnation for sin.  If my love for Jesus makes you feel condemned because you are a sinner, then you need to take that up with Jesus. Because we all live in sin, none is greater than the other. I just don’t let my sin condemn me. He has promised there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.  I accept it and walk in it.

I repent of my sin and move on.  There is work to do.  The past couple of weeks I have met many people who are so caught up in the fact that they can’t stop sinning it paralyzes them.

The other thing I loved about our impromptu  meeting was we taught each other. We laughed. We learned we needed to listen to each other because we give sound advice.  It was a great moment.

God sends us a word through the people we encounter daily. Listen, you will find out He is near you. He is answering your call. It doesn’t look like you expected, but it is His plan. Stop getting in His way as He answers your prayers. Trust. He is light. In Him there is no darkness. 1 John 1:5

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God Knows Your Heart

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so it is no use trying to pretend. I was talking to a friend last night. She was struggling with praying for her enemies.

First of all, she was overwhelmed with guilt for having enemies. But when someone puts a target on your back, that gives them a special status. Jesus had enemies so as his disciples why would we not have them.  What I love about Jesus is He had no problem confronting their behavior. In Matthew 3:7 and 12:34 He called them vipers.

When people attack us, we need to be honest with ourselves and with God. We need to pray honest prayers over the situation.  I know some folks like to pray good things over their enemies, but baby, I bet they get upset when they see good things happening to them. I have learned to pray from exactly where my heart is. God knows where my heart is so there is no need for me to pretend and pray a bunch of stuff I don’t believe.  (just because you say it in a prayer doesn’t make it true)

I will lift up my enemies family situation, their work, finances, relationships, everything God brings to mind. Lord, get them so busy dealing with their stuff they don’t have time to deal with me.

What you do is give God permission to deal with your honest stuff. You have to recognize your stuff before God can change it.  Most recently some folks came after some friends and me hard. Sometimes I found the situations to be unreal because the prejudice was so over the top. But we prayed honest prayers and talked each other out of physical violence.

One day of the main oppressor went away.  It was awesome.  Then the Lord began to deal with the others. He took us from praying “Lord, get them!” to  praying “Lord, save them.”  We went from wanting to hit them in their throats to praying that God would deliver them from their struggles.

The Lord handled them and healed us. Most people miss the healing part, because they are too afraid to pray those first prayers.  They let bitterness take root, and never let God dig it out.  They stay in the pretend world of wanting good things to happen to everyone.

I want people who intentionally do evil to others to feel the wrath of God.  Many want to emphasize God’s  love, but down play His judgment.  Jesus has promised that God will protect His sheep, and I am going to hold Him to it.  When people come after me, I am going to let God handle it.

I pray over everyone who comes against me. Most situations the Lord has changed my heart on, while there are still a few I should not meet because I will hit them in their throat.  I have learned He deals with everything in its own time.  We are such a microwave generation that we want to feel better about something instantly, while God will take all the time He needs to work out His plan.

I keep praying until I see Him change a situation. He does. In the process I become a better me, not a bitter me.  How about you?

Be Encouraged

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BE ENCOURAGED: It is impossible to digest all of the things happening in our world today and not be scared, sad or angry. BUT if you remember who your God is, this is only something else for Him to handle.


In my book, When You Forget Your Phone, I use scripture to remind me of who God is and what He can do. Check it out on Amazon this weekend.

When Your World is in Chaos

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There is one who is always straight. I got to spend the morning exchanging opinions with friends about our current political turmoil. It was healthy. And we still live in a country where we can all disagree.

I have always championed the philosophy that as the Body of Christ we are different parts of the body. The hands relate to the eyes differently than the feet relate to the eyes. Socks are important on feet, not on hands or a nose. But I bet the feet with fight you over some socks if they are cold and wet.

Some of us see the threat to us, while others can dismiss it because it doesn’t really affect them. During the study of Revelation last year, we learned of all the things that would take place in the last days.  There would be wars and rumors of wars. Wars don’t get started in times of peace and tranquility.

Let me tell you something, God is teaching us even during these time. He is revealing Himself to us in a mighty and powerful way. Spend some time with Him and let Him calm your heart. You will be able to face whatever comes.

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For What You Have Sacrificed

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We thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You were not able to attend your kids soccer games or school programs. You were not able to see their wedding day or birth of their first children. You were not able to see the election of African American senators, congressmen and even the first African American President. But you marched on and we thank you.

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You showed us how to love when we were treated poorly. When they put the dogs on us, beat us brutally and even took us to jail. You taught us it was an opportunity to love.  Like the Apostle Paul, you even wrote us a letter from jail encouraging us during the fight.

You were not able to work for major corporations making high dollar salaries. You were not able to attend major universities seated next to children of senators and congressmen. You did not get to experience the wealth for which you fought. But you marched on and we thank you.

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You showed us that during times of adversity is when we need to take the high road. You taught us faith was depending on God and not on man. You taught us that we need to keep up the fight even though we might not see the results. You lived that example for us.

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You have left a powerful legacy. Thank you for the sacrifice. We don’t deserve it. Thank you for the example. We don’t deserve it. BUT we are going to do the same for the next generation and build on the example you have left. I pray that Lord will allow the stars in the heaven to shine brighter because of the work He has done through you.

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What’s Your End Game?

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I saw this tree all day, but it wasn’t until the end of the day that I actually looked at it. Then I saw the one leaf hanging on for dear life. It is funny how you can see something all day and not really see it. How you can work at a job for many years and wonder what the heck you are doing there? How many of you are hanging on to something that is not for you?  Like this leaf, you think you are going to make this work.

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Many of you are in places you were not supposed to be. Maybe God had you there for a little while and you got comfortable and stayed.  You figure the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. But it is slowly killing you, physically, mentally and spiritually.  You have lost hope because you have your hope in the wrong things, like a job, a child, a marriage, location, a president.

The Creator of the universe created you for something special. When He called you into being, He specially designed you with a purpose and a plan.  He knew He could bring something beautiful out of darkness.

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And like the sun that sets everyday, He has a purpose and plan for you. It is time for you to start operating in your purpose.  I remember seeing this sunset and thinking wow. I need a picture of it, but sun was setting faster than I could get my camera ready.  If you don’t start operating in the purpose He has for you, you are going to miss those amazing moments God has planned for your life.  It is possible to miss the blessing.

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But it is never to late to catch a glimpse of His glory as long as you are on this side (in the land of the living). It is not as spectacular as the original blessing, but still worth it.  In 2017, ask God what is your end game? What are you working towards? What were you created to do?