By His Stripes We are Healed

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So!

2009-03-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Often times, when we think of being delivered or needing to be delivered we think sin such as smoking, drinking, fornicating, and other sins physically commit. But I will have you to know that the sins we commit in our hearts and minds are just as bad if not worse. Of course I realize that there is no degree of sin but while reading The Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Myers I am coming to understand that the thoughts that take place in our minds eventually effect our behavior. So in essence, if we were to transform our minds and align our thoughts with the Word of God then we will already be in the will of God (Romans 12:2).

The first part of this process is to stop thinking like the world thinks. The bible tells us that we are a peculiar people, a chosen generation- set apart. That means that while the rest of the nation is worried about the economic crisis, we are to remember that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. We are joint heirs with Christ. The wealth of the world is laid up for the just - that's us. God has already promised to provide all of our needs according to His riches and glory...yet I'll be the first to admit that every now and again that I'll listen to CNN a little too long start to look at economic projections instead of toward the One Who holds tomorrow in His hands.

Lately, God has been challenging me to continue to walk with Him even when I can't see Him and feel Him as vividly as in the past. God has been challenging me to simply trust that if I trust Him that everything will be alright. Why wouldn't it be? He is the same God that delivered me from so many times before. Yes, God has done marvelous things that are recorded in bible but every now and again we need to have a flash back and recall what the Lord has done for us: where He has brought us from and what He has delivered us from. God has not changed. So why should I feel discouraged? He has a proven track record in each of our lives.

Not too long ago, I had a problem with worrying. I believed in God and knew that God would supply all of my needs and would be there with me until the ends of the earth. I was fine when I could see or feel God moving but during the times when I felt that God was silent - I began to worry. I began to wonder if I was somehow out of the will of God or if I misinterpreted what God has spoken to me. There was even a period in my walk with the Lord where I believed that my salvation was dependant upon my actions (Thank God for deliverance!) . Every once and again I have to rebuke myself for allowing doubt to creep into my mind. Why? Because God has already delivered me from doubt and set me free from fear.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)

You see, the enemy is cunning and crafty. If he knows that Jesus has delivered you from worry, doubt and fear he will subtly try to implant those thoughts into your mind. He will slowly try to cause you to look at your problems instead of Jesus, the Problem Solver. The enemy doesn't even want you to realize that it is a sin to worry. In stead, he will have you to believe that you are only thinking logically. The problem with that God wants us to trust him blindly. He wants us to believe Him for who He is and what He says. The mysteries of God are great. As finite beings, we are not able to understand the infinite wisdom of God

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

As humans, it is often hard to understand the unexplainable and fully grasp the intangible. That's why we need God. He came to do those things that are impossible by man. We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. So if the Lord has delivered you - you are free! If the Lord has healed you - you are whole. If God God be for you - who can be against you.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; (Psalm 107:2)

Let us pray:

Dear Lord we come to you humbly confessing that we can do nothing without You. We repent of our doubt, and fear and leave it at the foot of the cross right now in the name of Jesus. Lord we thank You for for life, for your Living Word and all that You have done. We thank You for never leaving us and being right beside us in the midst of it all. Your Word says that if we lack faith we are to ask more of You as you are waiting to give it to us freely. I ask that you bless every person that visits this page and every page they visit and those that visit their pages. Touch our hearts and our minds. Create within us a clean heart and renew within us a right sprit. I ask that you endow us all with an added measure of faith. I ask that you give us boldness to proclaim your Word. Give us boldness to walk by faith and not by site. Make us like trees planted by the rivers of water unmovable, unshakeable, steadfast in your Word. Help us to continue to lift You up so that we can continue to draw men to you. Lord when you do this as always we will be ever so careful to give you all of the glory, honor, thanks and praise in Jesus name. Amen.

He Cares...

2009-02-25T06:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a situation that you saw to be so big and so impossible that you thought there was no hope? Have you ever had something weigh so heavily on your mind that you couldn’t think about anything but your issue? Have you ever been weary, troubled and you go to church and there the preacher is preaching about a similar situation or you turn on the television, answer the phone, or look out the window and there someone is going through the same exact thing you are going through? Let me take it a step further, have you ever prayed for guidance and just opened the bible to any page and landed upon a scripture that applied to your situation? I have.

Before I received Jesus as my personal savior, I thought these things to just be coincidence. I understood that God hears all and sees all but I didn’t think that He was concerned about me. I knew that God was all powerful and that there was nothing too hard for Him but I thought that God had more important things to be concerned with beside me and my little problems. I realized that it wasn’t until circumstances proved I needed God that I called upon Him. And even then my pride wouldn’t allow me to call on Him when I needed Him the most. I feared that He wouldn’t want to hear what I had to say considering I hadn’t bothered to talk to Him until I needed something. But on the contrary, God was right there with open arms waiting for me the whole time. God was right there watching me search high and low for answers and He never imposed Himself on me. Yet, I’m sure it saddened His heart to watch me turn every which way but to Him. I thank God that He is not like man and wasn’t vengeful. He waited for me as long as it took and then accepted me just as I was. (Imagine if we had the same patience with others.) Jesus wants us to understand that there is no one else who can make everything alright. I realized that it was the will of God for me to try doing things “my way” so that I could understand that He is The Way.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV)

I am coming to understand that God not only wants me to trust Him with the “big” situations in life but the smaller things too. There is nothing “too small” for God. We often limit the power and purpose of God by delegating to God what we need Him to do (the big things) and electing to handle the lesser things ourselves. We have to learn to seek God in everything no matter how small it may seem.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

Many times I find myself trying to figure out which way to go, what to do or what to say but I’m learning more and more everyday that that’s not my job. My job is to trust Him blindly. My job is not to make sense of the situation but to give up all of my own rationale and understanding because faith doesn’t always make sense. I can beg and plead to God, throw temper tantrums, give Him back every scripture in the bible, and pray to the top of my lungs but none of that moves God. Faith moves God. That’s why the Word tells us to walk by faith and not by sight. When we pray, Jesus told us to ask and BELIEVE. If we could see what God was doing and know the outcome we wouldn’t have to trust Him. The scripture says that God will make our paths straight. That means that as long as we seek him, and trust Him we can’t go wrong. Isn’t that good news?

I never conceived in my mind that God would pursue me. I used to think of God as some Great Superior Being that was so far away and preoccupied. But all thanks be to God that I now know God has not forgotten me. He is concerned about me. Not only is God concerned about me but He knows all about me and my problems and they matter to Him.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

He is concerned about all of us. With God, there is no such thing as coincidence or happenstance. Those signs that I thought were coincidences were actually confirmations and convictions. God used certain series of events to get my attention so that He could save, heal, deliver and set me free. God allowed me to go through certain things so that my life could be a testimony to others to make me an effective wittness.

Dear Lord,
I thank you for your love, your grace, your mercy and kindness. I thank you for waiting for us . I thank you for all those you sent to wittness to us and all the things you used to get our attention. We repent for anything we said, done, thought or felt that was displeasing to you and ask us to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Secondly, we repent for being so preoccupied with the cares of this world and limiting your power in our lives. We acknowledge you as Lord of Lords and King of Kings and simply come to thank you for all that you are, all that your're doing and all that you're going to do in Jesus' name. Amen

I'm Back....

2009-01-27T06:11:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone!

I missed you all very much while I was away. I received all of your warm wishes and prayers. All is well with me. I had some computer issues, my cell phone (which I sometimes use to go online) died and then I went back to school to finish my degree in Business. I have 1 more semester to go after this one. Please, keep me in prayer! I am now a full-time mother, wife, employee and student. How do I do it you ask? By the Grace of God, that's how. I will try to post 2-3 times a week because no matter how busy I get with life, God is still good and I still need to testify to His goodness, grace and mercy. If you don't hear from me as often as you are used to know that I am still praying for you.

May God continue to bless you richly!
Shanita

If No One Sees Me, Am I Still Wrong?

2009-01-14T17:20:00.001-08:00

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: " 'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.' " Aaron remained silent. (Leviticus 10:1-3 NIV)

Why Oh Why do we insist on learning things the hard way? How many times does God have to tell us not to touch something for us to learn not to touch it? Do we need to get burned? How many times will we test the grace of God before He allows us to suffer the consequences of our own disobedience?

Why are we not always as careful as we should be with the anointing that God has endowed us with? Why do we think we can step in and out of the assignments God has for our lives and complete them in our own way in our own time? Furthermore, when God begins to correct our disobedience why do we question our punishment? Why do we tend to blame every unpleasant thing that happens to us on the enemy and often neglect to consider some hardships to be discipline that the Lord promised to those He considers as His children? Selah.

In the previous chapter (Leviticus 9) the priests had just been annointed for office and begun their work in the Lord's ministry, yet here we see in Leviticus 10 that one fatal mistake caused them to be consumed by the anger of the Lord. Both their lives and ministry were over in an instant. Why? They were appointed by God to the Levitical Priesthood, why would they die for performing the duties of the priesthood? It wasn't "what" they were doing but it was "how" they were doing it. God is a God of order. The proper procedure was for the priests to use the fire from the altar. Also, the ceremony was to be performed by one priest at a time. Nadab and Abihu waited until the rest of the congregation were in worship to perform their unauthorized ceremony. God sees all and He knows all. Our prayer partners and fellow labourers in the Lord may not know when we are out of the will of God operating as if "everything is everything" but God knows. I wonder if the brothers purposely waited until Moses, Aaron and the rest of the congregation weren't around to break the rules. I wonder they didn't think it counted if they weren't walking worthy of their priestly calling if there wasn't anyone around to witness the offence.

The bible tells us that a novice or an inexperienced person shouldn't be placed in office lest they fall into temptation and condemnation (1 Timothy 3:6) Pride is a "dangerous sin". All sins are dangerous but pride is one of those sins that can be hidden and masked for quite some time before it is evident to others. However, we know that pride comes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Pride has a way of contaminating your mind to lead you to beleive that you are greater than you are. The flesh begins to increase as the Spirit of God decreases because the Spirit of God cannot dwell in an unclean temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). This is contrary to what has to happen so that God can be glorified in our ministry (see John 3:30). Nadab and Abihu would have been the 3rd and 4Th in line with Moses and Aaron being the most influential men amongst the congregation. Perhaps they allowed their new found title/position/assignment/auxiliary go to their heads. Perhaps they forgot that it is God that appointed them to their office to serve him. We must be ever so careful not to allow our success and accolades of men to drive our ministry but rather (as Jesus said) our meat should be to do the will of He that sent us.

After Moses explained to Aaron that his sons were already forewarned of the consequences of mishandling their anointing, he remained silent. Many times we see our loved ones suffering because of choices they intentionally made to go against the will of God. As humans, we are proned to error. Sometimes we err on the side of being angry at the system/mates/circumstances/ourselves and even God for allowing our loved ones (and even ourselves) to suffer. We can't always understand how a loving, long-suffering, compassionate forgiving good God would allow bad things to happen to what we consider to be "good people" but He does. Some trials are only to make us stronger but there are others that are a direct result of us disobeying God.

Therefore, let us pray:

Dear Lord in the name of Jesus, We come to you in a repentant spirit. We ask that you forgive us for all the sins we committed both by commission and omission. We thank you for your grace and your mercy. We realize that we too deserve the same fate that the sons of Aaron received every time we take for granted the assignments you have given us. I pray that we will all examine ourselves, our actions and our motives more carefully. Let us do all that we do in word and in deed to your glory. We want to be vessels ready to be used by you. Purify us, sanctify us wholly to be used by you . We thank you for choosing us. We thank you for allowing us to be part of your Royal Priesthood and most of all for coming down to earth as the perfect High Priest and sacrificing yourself for us.

We thank you for your word and how applicable it still is today even though you wrote it so long ago. Now I ask that you bless every person that visits this blog, those that visit their blogs and those that visit their blogs. Fill them with your spirit, Lord. Comfort the wounded, heal the sick, deliver the bound and most of all Lord - save the unsaved. I pray this pray with the expectation that you are able to perform above and beyond all I asked if it be your will with much thanksgiving in Jesus' name. Amen.

I WILL NOT Fear

2009-01-10T14:42:00.001-08:00

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:3-4)

Have you ever heard that old expression: "Give them an inch and they'll take a mile"? Today, I gave the enemy an inch and if it were not for the Grace of God, he would have taken a mile and my joy right along with it. I received some disturbing news about a situation that was out of my control. I had already prayed and felt confident that God would move on my behalf but I allowed the messenger's voice to ring so loudly through my mind that I could only faintly hear the voice of the Lord. The messenger said that things were bad and only going to get worse but God told me to fear not neither be dismayed because it is He that goes before me and will not fail me (Deuteronomy 31:8). Once I realized that I was beginning to fear, instantly the enemy was right there waiting to kick me while I was down. You see the enemy's sole purpose to to steal, kill and destroy. It is not uncommon for him to pretend to be your friend, trustworthy and have your best interest at heart and then turn on you in the blink of an eye.

Aren't you the one that's always preaching about the spirit of power, love and a sound mind that God gave you? Right now, all I hear is fear. Where's your faith?

The taunting and teasing echoed in my mind. Here I am, the one that's always praying, ministering and witnessing telling every one else that fear is the opposite of faith and there I was beginning to worry about tomorrow. But why? Jesus told me not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). I politely ended the conversation and resolved within myself that I wasn't going to listen to the naysayers and doubters because I believe what Jesus said. I also believe that doubtful, negative spirits can be contagious. If you sit in the presence of negativity long enough - sooner or later you will become negative. If you spend more time listening to doom and gloom than you the promises of God - sooner or later you will loose your hope. More importantly if you allow fear to replace your faith, you will have no joy, no strength and no power. Ask me how I know.

I had to get away from everyone else and into the presence of the Lord. I repented for my disbelief and sought encouragement in His word. My first stop was Psalm 27. There is something about the first two verses of this psalm that always fills me with peace and tranquility when the storms around me are raging. There is the blessed assurance in this verse that no matter what the report is there is nothing to fear. It doesn't matter what the doctor says, the judge says, the employer says or the stock market says. I'm not going to fear anything of those thing. In fact, I'm going to pray that God will have mercy on those that come against me. The Word says that they'll stumble and fall. I pray that the Lord will left them up and save them. Therefore I WILL NOT FEAR. My mind is made up.

Let us pray:
Dear Lord, we come to you in the name of Jesus to say thank you. Thank you for your protection, your provisions, your promises and your power. Help us to keep our minds and hearts focused on you as the storms of life rage all around us. Help us not to be moved by what we see or feel. Don't allow us to sink in fear, doubt and disparity. Help us to acknowledge you and trust in you in all of our ways for you promised to direct our paths. Lastly Lord, we pray for those that curse and come against your servants and the will you have for our lives. We ask that you would bless them, save them and deliver them. We give you glory, honor, thanks and praise in Jesus' name. Amen.

Shhh! Don't Tell Nobody!

2009-01-07T06:17:00.000-08:00

40A man with leprosy[f] came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. (Luke 1:40-45 NIV)

I had to read this passage of text a few times before I could understand #1 why the leprous man blatantly disobeyed the Lord who had just healed him, #2 why Jesus told him to make no mention of the fact that it was He who healed the man and #3 why Jesus was unable to enter the town openly because of the miracle He had performed. Why wouldn’t Jesus want our Father in Heaven to be glorified in His good deeds? I thought to myself that if the townspeople knew that this man whom had been a leper all his life met Jesus one day and became whole that others would surely chose believe on Him too. Doesn’t that sound like the making of an awesome testimony? How many others would have flocked to the Lord seeking Him to perform miracles and meet their needs?

The leprous man went out and spoke openly about that which Jesus told Him to keep in secret no sooner than he was healed. If you’ll notice, Jesus told the man to go to the priest and offer sacrifices that were commanded for his cleansing as a testimony to them. Jesus clearly stated that He did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). I believe that Jesus wanted the man to follow the same protocol that would have always been in order had he been healed of his disease by God and not Jesus (God in the flesh). Jesus did not want the people to think that He was a fad or deviating from what the Lord had already commanded through the prophet, Moses. Thus, the man should have gone to the priest, made the proper sacrifice then this would have been more of a testimony to the people than his running through the streets speaking openly when he was commanded not to tell anyone. The man was out of order. Jesus wouldn’t want anyone bragging about how blessed they were for being out of order. The man should have gone to the priest and made the sacrifice that was required for his healing but he was bragging about how God had blessed Him. It makes me wonder about Christians bragging about financial blessings when they don’t pay tithes. (Ouch!) I have to assume that the leprous man didn’t want God the blesser but rather the blessings that flowed from Him. So he had no regard for the Lord’s word. He had already been healed so He forgot about their quiet time together. This reminds me of the times that I prayed earnestly for God to move and spent less than half the time thanking Him as I did petitioning Him.

Before Jesus came across the leprous man, He had prayed and sought the Father for instruction (verses 35-38) as He always did before He made a move in ministry. Jesus was on His way to preach in the nearby villages. I believe that Jesus wanted the people to hear the Word and believe. I believe that Jesus wanted the people to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Jesus knew that He would not always physically be there with them so He wanted them to learn to trust Him and to believe that He would always be there for them.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Once Jesus healed the man, He was no longer viewed as a preacher or God in the flesh but a healer. Jesus described himself as meek and lowly at heart (Matthew 11:29). Based on what Jesus tells us about his character, I don’t believe that Jesus would have wanted to enter the town as a celebrity. I don’t believe that Jesus would have wanted people to believe in Him for the miracles he could perform but rather for who He was, Who He represented and the salvation He offered. There were others that performed magic and practiced primitive medicine in those days. If the people were to believe in Jesus only because they saw signs and wonders it is possible they would believe in everyone that performed signs and wonders. Jesus came not to draw attention to himself but rather to the Father. Jesus told the disciples that they would do even greater works in His name than He did. I believe that Jesus wanted the people to understand that the results were simply a manifestation of the power that all would have who believed in Him.

**My dear sister and fellow blogger, Spring brought this particular story to my attention and asked me why I thought Jesus commanded the man not to tell anyone that He healed him and asked me to blog about this. I would like to say that I am a huge fan of Spring’s Love Letters To The King and am honored that she wanted to know what I thought the answer to her question was. I am also flattered that she requested that I blog about something. I meditated on this scripture all throughout the day and have shared with all of you what the Lord revealed to me through this passage of text. I would also like to hear why you guys think Jesus told him not to tell anyone. There are no wrong or right answers. For the word of God says let God be true and every man a liar.**

New Year - New Thought Patterns

2009-01-05T09:00:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year's Everyone! I am so excited about 2009 and all that God will do this year. I don't really believe in resolutions because I have never kept them. That's the thing, I can't keep them - not alone anyway. I need the power of God to help me. I can't do anything in my own strength.

As 2008 closed, my husband and I decided that we would join a new church by the start of the new year. We had been visiting a few churches and they were really great but we wanted to be sure that we were where God wanted us to be. Our old church was nearly 20 miles from home. The distance and time was really beginning to be overwhelming so we obeyed the voice of the Lord and moved on to our next assignment. It wasn't easy because we had grown to love the members and the ministry over the years we spent there.

Throughout the process of looking for a new church, I went through many highs and lows. Either it was too far, too traditional, my husband liked the place and I didn't or vice versa. There was always something. There were several times I found myself feeling discouraged and ready to give up. I reasoned that I could just continue to visit churches forever and it wouldn't matter as long as I went. What did I need to be a member of a church for as long as I was a member of the Body of Christ? As long as I tithed, it didn't matter if it was going to the same congregation as long as it was going to the Kingdom of God, right? I didn't really feel that way. I needed to make excuses to make myself feel better.

You see, I understood that it was time for me to leave my old church. There were parts of me that couldn't wait to leave but then there were other parts of me that wanted to stay because I was comfortable. I knew what to expect. I didn't have to meet new people and learn new ways of doing things. Things were the way they were and there was nothing I could do about it.

Then on the other hand I felt out of place, out of touch, out of fellowship even though I was in somebodies church every Sunday. I began to feel like we would never find "the right place". Well, this Sunday when the church we had been visiting for a few months opened the doors of the church, my husband led the way up to the alter. We decided to unite with International City Community Church. I am sure that this will be a new and exciting experience for us both.

I decided to share my testimony about finally finding a new church because there are a lot of us that are trying to decide which move to make, which way to go and want to start the new year off in the direction we hope to be headed in for the rest of the year. Sometimes we feel like God has promised us that there is more out there for us and that it's time to make a change but WE decide to stay where we are out of complacency and fear. My prayer is that we will all seek the face of the Lord for direction and allow Him to lead us by His Spirit.

We spent months searching for a new church home and then ended up going to the first church that we ever visited together which is less than 10 minutes from home. I couldn't help but feel a little like the Children of Israel. How could a trip that should have talked us 10 minutes take us 10 months? That's something for me to pray about.

How did you end up at your church? How did you know that was "the place"?

The Lord Has Need Of You...

2009-01-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." 4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5"Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "[a] 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.(Matthew 21:1-3 NIV)

Before I begin to share with you why I chose to write about this particular passage of scripture today, I would like to share with you a little bit of background information about me and what’s been going on in my life lately. (I hope you all don't mind). The past few days, I've been spending a lot of time talking to the Lord about my goals and dreams. I reflected on 2008 and what a grand year it was. I thought of all the things I set out to do that year and all of the things I completed. I also took some time to reflect on things I should have and could have done but I didn’t.

It is my hearts desire to live a life pleasing to the Lord and to complete the assignments that He has given me. I don’t want to "miss the mark". I’m running trying to make 100 because 99 just won’t do. I began to think back on what I thought God wanted me to. I saw the vision that He had given me clearly but I couldn’t see how those things which He showed me would come to pass. I began to wonder if I was just dreaming or if God has changed His plans for me. I began to wonder if I had done (or not done) something that caused me to miss my God given destiny.

As I stared at my own reflection in the mirror talking to Jesus with tear stained eyes, I heard Him say “The Lord has need of you”. I didn’t understand exactly what He needed me to do. God made the heavens and earth. What could He possibly need with me? I’m not perfect. In fact, I'm far from it. I don’t always do what I should do and sometimes I do things I shouldn’t. Why would He need me? Then the Lord had me to recall this story of Jesus needing a donkey. God showed me that if Jesus could use a donkey, one of the lowliest animals –He could use me as well. If a donkey had an assignment from God, surely I did too. You have an assignment as well.

My revelation didn’t stop there. This morning, a good friend e-mailed me to wish me a happy new year and she told me “God has need of you. You can’t sit”. My friend is always an encourager but today she was also a confirmer. I believe that God allowed her to catch a glimpse of the vision He had given to me to be sure that I understood clearly what He was trying to communicate with me. I hadn't shared my thoughts and the matters I had before the Lord with anyone. So I knew, this came straight from the Lord.

When Jesus sent the disciples to fetch the donkey, He already knew that people would question them and their motives with the donkey. He knew that there would be choices – the big donkey or the small donkey. So He made it plain. Jesus told the disciples (in so many words) to stay focused, take the adult donkey and don’t let anyone stop you because I need this donkey so that some things could be fulfilled. We have to learn to put on the same mindset that Jesus gave the earlier disciples. We know exactly what it is that we must do. We must follow the instruction of the Lord. What is the instruction? Be ye Holy for I am holy. Where are the instructions? Written in His Word - the Bible. Why? Because there are some things that the Lord has to fulfill.

He needs you. He needs me. No matter how big or small our jobs are – we have work to do. Sometimes God will lay something on our hearts and minds to do where we see no way of doing what we have been assigned to do. But it isn’t our jobs to try to figure it out. In fact, while we’re trying to figure it out Jesus has already worked it out. When God used the prophet to prophesy about the King riding in on a donkey, He didn’t know where the donkey would come from or how events would line up so that Jesus could be in the right place at the right time but it all worked out. We don’t know how we will end up in the right place at the right time but as long as we trust in the Lord and don’t lean to our own understanding He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6) and we will end up in the right place at the right time. Destiny will be fulfilled.

Lord, you are a great God. Help us to see the greatness you have placed within us. Help us not to look to the left or to the right but to look up toward the hills from whence comes our help. Help us to trust in you blindly walking by faith and not by sight. We thank you for your word becuase it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We thank you for direction and protection as we walk out this assingment you have given us. In all that we do in word and in deed, let bring glory to you. We thank you and praise you in Jesus' name. Amen.

That Time Of The Year

2008-12-29T17:16:00.001-08:00

Praise the Lord! I missed all of you out in "Blog Land". I took a few days off to enjoy my mini-vacation and family. I hope that you enjoyed your holiday, spent some QT with your loved ones and got at least a little bit of rest and relaxation in all of the festivities. I don't know about you all but I need a vacation to recuperate from the vacation.

For many of us, the holiday season is a time to enjoy family and friends. For some of us, the only time of the year that we are able to see some of our loved ones is during the holiday season. But what happens when your holiday and family time doesn't go as smoothly as planned? What happens when you come to the realization that you don't have the "ideal" family? How do you keep "the peace" and your peace of mind if everyone doesn't get along as well as they should? What if you find yourself left holding the bag trying to be the peacemaker? Here's one more question for you: how do you handle such scenarios with the smile that everyone expects you to have?

Unfortunately, it is during the holiday season that we hear more stories about people falling into depressions, abusing substances, over eating and feeling an over all sense of emptiness. People experience these same problems all throughout the year but they seem to be magnified during the time of year when families are supposed to come together. It is during these times of the year that the lonely tend to feel lonelier. This saddens me because I can recall a time when the holiday season spelled out DRAMA for me. All thanks and praise be to God that I had peace this holiday season but my heart cannot help but to go out to so many others that experienced losses, sadness, and loneliness during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. So today, I've decided to dedicate this post to anyone that had a tough time this holiday season whether it be financially, spiritually or emotionally. Know that I am praying for. I love you and Jesus loves you more.

Some wise person once said that we don't get to choose our families. This is true. We don't get to chose who we are genetically related to but we do get to chose who we are spiritually connected with. You see, if you are missing your relatives, don't have many relatives or maybe not getting along so well with your relatives, remember that you are not alone. You have another family - a new family. Once you say yes to Jesus, you become the son or daughter of God. The bible says that we are grafted into the family of God. So regardless of what our DNA says - God says that you are His child. You future is not predicated by your past. If a man, woman, boy or girl be in Christ he or she is a NEW creature and ALL old things are passed away. You can change if you want. You can break the cycle. We do not have to accept generational curses. The buck stops here in Jesus' name!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(Ephesians 1:3-6)

Lord, I thank and praise you for the many ways you have made for us. I thank you for getting us through yet another holiday season. Right now I ask that you touch the lonely, wounded, broken hearted and heavy laden. Comfort them in the name of Jesus. You called all the heavy laden and burdened to come to You because you promised that you would give them rest. I ask that you help us to all rest in you. We thank you for this new family you have provided for us. You said that when our father and mother forsake us that YOU would take us up. I ask that you mend every broken heart right now in the name of Jesus. Lord I ask that you have your way in our families and our lives. Send your peace to the north, south, east and west. I thank you in advance for healing, peace and prosperity in the name of Jesus. Give the weeping strength right now to hold out just a little while longer because you promised that Joy is coming in the morning. I bless you, thank you and praise You for I know that you are able to do above and beyond all I can ask for or think of.

Where Do I Go From Here?

2008-12-22T16:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried to make your way to church but just didn't feel like it or began to pray but just couldn't find the right words to say? Maybe you've been in a position where you felt as though you were at a "spiritual stand still". You know, the point where you don't see yourself growing and you don't see yourself backsliding but you're just...there? We've all been there before at that "spiritual fork in the road" where we don't know if we should go left or right and we're just standing there waiting for a sign from God.

What do you do when you feel this way? Do you alienate yourself and pretend like everything is everything? Do you call your prayer partner or church family for prayer or encouragement? Do you read your bible, pray, and wait patiently for God to speak to you?

These are all questions that I've asked myself at one point or another. I have found myself feeling spiritually stagnant a time or two. It was during these times that I learned to do three things: pray, praise and pay attention. Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way (and am still learning at times) that when things are "quiet" that I need to pray just as often and intensely as I do when things are going haywire. That way, if and when the storm does rise, I've already gotten enough vested so if I can't say anything other than "Jesus" I'm alright. I've learned to praise because the word of God tells us that God inhabits (or lives in) the praises of His people. When I find myself in a jam or immobile, I need some Holy Ghost fire to get me started again. And lastly, I've learned to pay attention because I know when I'm down to nothing that's when God is up to something. He loves to do the impossible.

Lately, I've been feeling a little "sluggish" in areas that I used to be excited about. I've been asking God if I'm somehow **missing** what He's been trying to show me. Of course God doesn't always answer when and as clearly as we would like Him to but I believe I got my answer while I was looking through my old notebook of devotions. There was a lame man in Acts 3 who was "stuck" as well. This man was physically cripple.

One day, while on their way to the temple at the hour of prayer, Peter and John saw a lame man begging outside of the entrance of the temple. Peter told the man that he didn't have any silver or gold but he gave him all that he had. All that he had was Jesus which is more than enough. God used Peter to give the man the ability to walk in the name of Jesus (Acts 3:1-6). The man rose with their assistance. Imagine how much progress others could make if we would learn to help them to stand on their own two feet. His feet and ankles were strengthened and the man leaped up and praised his way into the temple.(Acts 3:7-8)

The people saw him praising God. We must give honor where honor is due to the most high God - our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. God gives us strength daily. He gives us strength to rise, strength to resist temptation, strength to live right, strength to love our enemies, etc. He also gives us strength to strengthen others in His name as Peter did. We must never think that we have it all together and forget about that person that is at a stand still like the lame man. They may be able to walk physically but they could be spiritually lame.

Once the man was strengthened, he leaped and praised God. Nobody forced him to. No one had to ask him to shout 'Hallelujah'. The people saw him praising God. People are always watching. When we're blessed (and we always are), we must be ever so careful to bless the Lord not just when things are good but at all times. We have to bless Him when we can see our way and even more when we can't see our way because we know that just as He made a way for us in the past, He will make a way for us again.

The people saw the once lame man praising God. More importantly God saw him praising God. We are receiving strength right now through His word. We should all follow Christ as the lame man did - into the presence of the Lord praising all the way.

Please Don't Cut Me Off

2008-12-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

I love the Word of God. It comes alive every time I read it. I can honestly say that the bible is the BESTEST (yes, that's a word here) book I have ever read. I can read the same stories over and over again and get a different revelation every time. This evening, I found an old scrap book of my devotions that I began writing when I first got "really" saved. This particular devotion dealt with idolatry and how innocently it can begin. As I read my own words, they struck a nerve and conviction began to set in so I decided to share this message with you all. Tonight's devotion will come from 2 Kings 17

I've been visiting a lot of blogs and reading about how many of you have become very busy with holidays, your families, jobs and blogs. You are not alone. I've been finding myself extremely busy lately yet I feel like I'm not accomplishing much. When I recap my day before I go to bed (I try to do this every night), I realize that I haven't accomplished half of what I purposed in my heart to do the night before. This discovery caused me to sit and think about my priorities . For the most part, everything listed on my "to do list" NEEDS to be done but at what expense? Could it be possible that I am so busy with life that I am forgetting to live? Can it be that I am too blessed to be stressed so now I don't pray as much as I should? As I read my devotion from the early days I once again began to see myself and how my behavior resembled the actions of the infamous Children of Israel. (They are one of my favorite subjects.).

The Children of Israel were blessed. God delivered them out of bondage from the hands of Pharaoh. He led them through the wilderness and met all of their needs. He fought their battles for them and defeated defeated their enemies. However the Children of Israel continued in their sin and constantly tried to commit secret sins against the Lord.

There is no place we can go that the Lord cannot see us or no thought that we can think that the Lord can not hear.

The Children of Israel had a tendency for worshipping other gods. No matter how much God blessed them, saved them or delivered them - they still wanderd. Now we know better than to bow down before a statue in worship but worship simple means to love unquestioningly, uncritically or in excess.

Hmmm... That's something to think about.

They built idols and offered sacrifices and burnt offerings. They even sacrificed their own children to their gods. They disregarded the fact that God told them that they were His chosen people, a nation of priests and set apart. They often imitated what everyone else was doing. I guess it was always a struggle of the flesh to be in the world and not of the world.

The Lord removed Israel from His presence (Verses 18-20). The Lord rejected all of the people of Israel. He afflicted them and gave them over into the hands of plunder until He finally thrust them from His presence. As Believers we do not and should not want to push God's hand to the point where He removes us from His presence. As I sit and think about all of the things I've been placing such high value on lately, I can't help but to repent as I think about the time I've been trading for God's presence. The Children of Israel had chances. God clearly told them what He required of them. However, they chose to do as they pleased. They did not put other gods and their evil wicked behavior away. They thought their idolatry was hidden from God.

We have to be ever so careful that we do not allow our mates, friends, habits or personal needs become our idols. We must put God first worshipping Him and only Him. God doesn't just cast us out for our first, second, or third offences. Only God knows when His mercy will turn to wrath. I don't want to find out how many chances I have. I want to work while it is still day because when night comes, no man will be able to work. I want to seek the Lord while it is early while He may yet be found.

The bible says that they Children of Israel were affliced and given to the hands of plunder until finally God thrust them from His presence. I don't need to be removed from God to understand that He is a jealous God.

So, Lord, I repent. I want to walk worthy of the vocation to which you have called me. I know that a life without you is nothing at all. Help me to better manage my time. Time belongs to you. My life belongs to you. My soul belongs to you. My praise belongs to you. My worship belongs to you. Lead me, guide me. Help me to be who you want me to be, where you want me to be for as long as you want me to be. Here I am Lord send me. I love you, thank you and praise you. Lord, whatever you do, PLEASE don't cut me off.

Haters Hate - Christians Love

2008-12-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." (Matthew 1:1-4, 7-8)

I am SO glad today that I have a place of refuge I can go to when the storms of life rage. I’m happy to know that the Lord has plans for me that are good and not of evil. Sometimes as I’m going through all that I go through I can’t help but to thank God for being omniscient. There are some enemies and traps that lie ahead of me that I’m unaware of but He knows all about them. I am faced with grins everyday that appear to be smiles but in all actuality are wicked snares laughing at me and not with me. I thank God that I don’t have to worry about who’s for me and who’s against me because if God be for me, He’s greater than the world against me. I don’t know when the enemy is going to learn that no weapon formed against the people of God will ever prosper. Now, God didn’t say that the weapons wouldn’t form or even that they wouldn’t be launched but He did promise that they wouldn’t prosper and I thank God for that today.

As we approach this time of year, many people that normally wouldn’t think twice about the Lord are decking trees, buying gifts and singing Christmas carols and talking about the "true meaning of Christmas", the enemy is growing angrier and angrier by the day. There is just too much attention on Jesus for him. This is nothing new. The enemy has been mad for a very long time at the thought of Jesus. He knows at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. King Herod couldn’t accept that. So what did he do? He pretended to want to know where The Christ was. He pretended that he wanted to go worship Jesus but he really wanted to have him killed.

The enemy is always trying to invade our camp. He loves to set up shop in our congregations, on our jobs and in our homes. The enemy and his agents want to hang out where Christians are so that if we aren’t studied up, prayed up and fasted up he can use us against one another. As we strive to build the Kingdom of God, the enemy works just as hard (and in some cases harder) to do the opposite.

The enemy is subtle. He won’t out right tell you that he only wants to kill, steal and destroy your life. No, that’s too easy. Instead, he’ll use cunning and crafty ways. He or she (because he can take the form of a woman) will flatter you with words and pretend like they love the Lord just like you do so that after you let your guard down and take your attention off of Jesus he can go in for the kill. I pray that God will open our eyes so that we may see the traps the enemy has set for us. I pray that we, the Body of Christ will stay focused on Jesus in this season and every season thereafter so that we may not be caught up in the temporary joys and pleasures of the world but that we may set our affections on the eternal things of God.

As Matthew’s account of the Magi’s visit continues, God warned the Magi not to return to Herod. Herod had a plan but God’s was greater. So if you find yourself behind enemy lines and up against all odds know that God’s got your back. No weapon formed against you shall ever proper and every tongue that rises up against you in judgment- you shall condemn. This is our heritage as servants of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)

Are they “hating” on you? Do you have a "Herod" in your life that talks like he means you will but he really wants to take your life? If so, let “them” hate. Remember they hated Jesus first and as servants we are no greater than the master. For His sake we face death every day. We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. The Word tells us so. Let’s not trade evil for evil and hate for hate but let’s bless those that curse us. That’s where the blessing is!

Speak Up Or Shut Up

2008-12-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.[b] 16Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."19The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."2Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John." 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. (Luke 1:18-19, 62-64 NIV)

Zechariah was a holy man. He was a priest of the Lord. He studied the scriptures. He knew of all the marvelous works God had performed in the past yet he had difficulty believing that the same God that gave his father Abraham a child in his old age could do the same for Him. Does this sound familiar? God sent word to Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth would bare a child but because Zachariah couldn’t conceive in His mind how God could perform what Gabriel spoke of, he questioned the ways of God. Now, God has already told us that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Great are the mysteries of God. If we knew everything, we would have no need for God. Only God is all knowing. Zachariah didn’t say “God can’t do that” but he asked how he could be sure that what the angel spoke of would come to be. Zachariah took it a step further and began to reason with the angel, explaining that both he and his wife were old. We can’t make sense of everything God reveals to us immediately but rather it has to unfold before our eyes. As a result of Zachariah’s disbelief, God shut Zachariah’s mouth until the things that were spoken to him came to be. Elizabeth conceive that evening and John the Baptist was born to bare witness to the soon and coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

I’ve read the story of the birth of Christ countless times. I’ve read it so many times that I often fail to pause and meditate on the “small details” as deeply as I should. (Lord, forgive me.) Each time I read the story, I get a fresh revelation. This time the Lord showed me how important it is to learn when to be silent. We can’t share everything with everyone – especially when we are battling doubt over things God has personally spoken to us. We have to go through the TEST before we can give the TESTimony. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t thank God in advance but I am saying that God isn’t the only one that hears what we say. Perhaps God silenced Zachariah because He couldn’t have the man of God walking around believing God to perform miracles in everyone else’s lives except for His own. If we, the Children of God are the first to offer encouragement to everyone else when all odds appear to be against them and then begin to doubt God when we need Him to do the impossible on our behalf, what kind of message does this send ? We have to practice ALL that we preach including faith.

The first words to leave Zachariah’s mouth were praises to God. We must be certain that once God does bring us out, bless us, deliver us and save us that we give Him all of the glory, honor and praise. Yes, there are people that God sends to help us long the way and in some cases prophesy to us but they can do nothing without the Spirit of the Lord leading to do so. Zachariah could have exclaimed “Wow… This happened just like Gabriel told me it would” but he didn’t. He understood Gabriel was a messenger and not the Author. Zachariah understood that God shut his mouth because words are powerful. God didn’t need anyone speaking and spreading doubt throughout the land.

So the next time God gives us a message to carry for Him or allows us to see a glimpse of our future, remember that we have a choice. We can believe what God said, “Speak Up” to Him in thanksgiving and praise or we can choose to doubt and “Shut up” our blessing. It’s our choice: Speak Up or Shut Up.

What If It Were You?

2008-12-10T15:10:00.001-08:00

Today is December 10th. May people both Christians and non are preparing to celebrate Christmas. While I don't celebrate the "Christmas holiday" like many other Christians do with trees, decorations and gifts, I do acknowledge, accept and appreciate the birth of Christ. Had He not been born He couldn't have dwelt among us giving us an example of how we ought to live and more importantly He couldn't have died on Calvary's cross for the remission of our sins and rose again on the 3rd day with ALL power. I do believe every word in the bible to be true including the story of the birth of Christ. Having said this, I decided to revisit the story of the birth of Christ and take a closer look at it and all of the many lessons that can be learned from it.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:26-34)

First of all, let me begin by saying "Thank God for Mary". Had an angel came to me while I was yet still a virgin and told me I was going to give birth, I probably would have asked him if he had the right Mary. Has God every told you anything or called you to do a work that you couldn't envision yourself doing? Imagine how Mary must have felt. Many people mistakenly attribute undue credit and praise to Mary. They pray to her and worship her when in all actuality Mary was nothing more than a vessel. Had Mary not carried Jesus, God would have found someone else to do the job. This post is by no mean written to praise Mary. Mary heard the voice of the Lord and obeyed as we all should.

Brothers, if you were engaged to marry a woman and you knew that you hadn't slept with her, do you think you would be able to go through with your wedding plans if you learned that she was pregnant? Let's take it a step further and consider what you would think if she told you she immaculately conceived the Son of God. If you are anything like me you probably would have called the wedding off being certain that she was unfaithful.

Both Joesph and Mary faced extremely difficult tasks. Mary conceived a child during a time where people were stoned for committing sexual transgressions. Everyone knew that she wasn't married yet she was pregnant. I imagine that Mary got dirty looks and heard whispers as she walked through the town. I could also imagine Joesph's friends and other townspeople telling him not to marry Mary and that she was "defiled". But the two of them carried on with their assignments anyway. Do you think you would be able to continue with what God gave you to do if everyone around you were whispering in doubt that what you were doing was really of God?

As I think about Joesph - the step-father of Jesus, I imagine that it was very difficult for him. He knew that God was the father of Christ and that he was just filling in. Do you think that maybe just maybe Joesph doubted his ability or worried that he wouldn't measure up. It would only be human for Joesph to think that way.

Mary and Joesph had their hands full. To be frank, I don't think that I could have done as well in either of their positions. I thank God that He has called us all to a distinct and different purpose. Sure, there may be many ministers but not all serve the same purpose for the Kingdom of God. There are deliverance ministries, outreach ministries, substance abuse ministries, etc. Mary and Joesph were created for the ministry of raising Jesus.

Mary asked Gabriel "How can this be". Has God ever showed you a glimpse of your future or used someone to speak a prophetic word into your life and all you could manage to ask was "how can this be"? I've been there before. But it's not up to us to ask or know how everything can be. It is up to us to obey the voice of the Lord and follow His Spirit.

So as I close, I ask you to examine yourself and ask yourself "What if it were you". Do you think you would have been able to live up to the assignment? Are you able to stand alone on the Word of God no matter what the situation looks like, regardless of what all sense and reason tells you? If so, God bless you. Please pray for me and the rest of us that cannot confess to always being this steadfast. If you (like myself) are not always able to walk blindly or if you do not think that you would have done as well as Mary and Joesph did in their assignments, join me in prayer that we may all be who called called us to be and that we are able to trust Him with all of our hearts, minds and souls because one day it will be us called upon to do that which appears to be "undoable". Remember, that which is impossible with man is possible with God and we can do ALL things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.

Blessings!

I'm A Church Burglar!

2008-12-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! Mondays usually get off to a pretty slow start for most people that work Monday through Friday but not for me. First of all, I’m happy to have a job to go back to after the weekend. Secondly, my favorite show, Prison Break comes on tonight and last but far from least I attended a church service at International City Community Church in Philadelphia, PA that gave me a “charge” to start my week off right. Pastor Gary O. Grier, Sr. is an awesome preacher and teacher. I enjoyed yesterday’s message so much that I’ve decided to share what I took away from it. The title was “Church Burglars”.

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Luke 2:1-5)

Jesus had returned to Capernaum. Whenever He was in the area it was impossible to keep the people away. People knew that whatever their problem was that all they had to do was get close enough to Jesus and they would be alright. Do we realize that instead of seeking our help and/or advice from everyone else that all we need to do is go to Jesus? The assembled themselves and stood all day and all night in the crowds just to get close to Him. We should be likeminded. We should make it our business to do whatever we need to do to get into the presence of the Lord. It’s important that we attend the House of the Lord but it’s even more important that enter into His presence. Do we let not finding the right outfit, a little rain, or a busy schedule or some other minuscule excuse keep us from getting into the presence of the Lord?
The next thing Pastor Grier pointed out was that there were five men willing to risk punishment for breaking and entering just to get close to God? How much are we willing to go through to be close to the Lord? What kind of radical risks are we willing to take to be in a position where we can hear Him clearly? According to the Law, the penalty for breaking, entering, stealing and damaging another person’s house or its contents was that they would have to repay double what they took or damaged. But none of this mattered to them. They knew that the risk they took to get close to Jesus was worth it. They were willing to risk having to replace the roof and anything else they damaged while they broke into the house to be close to God. How many of us today would be willing to do this?

The paraplegic man had his four friends tear the roof off of someone else’s house so that he could be lowered into the building. This man knew that the doctors didn’t have the answers. He knew that his condition was beyond man’s capabilities but just an opportunity for Jesus to heal him. If only we would learn to stop allowing things to keep us from obeying the Spirit of the Lord, reading our Word, praying or going to church we too could get what we need from the Lord. Perhaps we should follow the example of this man and become “Church Burglars”.

I've Got The Power!

2008-12-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:19-21)
I got the power! Do you guys remember that old song from the 90's? It was a really fast-paced dance tune. I don't remember the lyrics but I do remember the title of the song, "I've Got The Power". It's repeated constantly throughout the song. I was reminded of that song today as I continued my study of Luke chapter 10. After Jesus sent out the seventy two to spread the gospel, He gave them a Word of wisdom which was not to rejoice in their gifts but rather in the fact that they belonged to the Giver of the gifts and we know that all good and perfect gifts come from above.

I don't know about you all but it breaks my heart to watch someone misuse their power or position in the name of the Lord. It's one thing to have an authoritative position and execute your authority when necessary and it's another thing to "call shots" just because you can. It's another thing all together to see our sisters and brothers flaunt their spiritual gifts and abilities. In Luke chapter, Jesus explained to the disciples that He had given them all power and invincibility from the attacks of the enemy. Notice that just as Jesus told them how powerful they were, He cautioned them that the power they now had was not as important as the fact was that they would someday reside in Heaven. You see, the Lord knew that there would be people that would be distracted by the manifestation of the blessings and forget that they gained their positions as a result of their being blessed and not the other way around.

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:11-12)

Many times we get caught up with the temporal blessings and get stuck in the here and now. Although we should be grateful and appreciate all that God has given us and is allowing us to do, we must never forget that this is not the end. There is so much more for us ahead. Perhaps you posses the ability to lead, teach, preach, prophesy, sing, discern spirits, speak in tongues, write or exhort. If we must boast, let us boast in the Lord.

How Blessed Are You Really?

2008-12-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

Oh! How my soul loves Jesus! I remember hearing that old hymn and others like it when I was a little girl. I didn't really understand what they meant but I "felt" the Spirit of God as the tunes were sang. I woke up this morning singing "My Soul Loves Jesus". I don't know all of the words to the song and frankly I don't want to. Sometimes, I like to just sing out to the Lord in songs of praise and worship for who He is to me and all that He has done and is doing for me. I'll add my own little spin on the tune and then jump back in where the chours goes keeping in with the melody. Most of you that will grace my blog with your presence have never heard my singing. you guys are so blessed. (**Smiles**) I can recall several congregations laying hands on me and praying that God would anoint my voice or endow me with the gift of singing. It hasn't come to pass yet but I KNOW that it sounds good to my Lord and that's all that matters to me.

I felt good when I woke up this morning. This morning when I rose I didn't have any doubt that God was with me. I began to count my blessings one by one. I was well in the teens by the way I made it to my bathroom. I'm not even talking about the "big" blessings but it was the little things that we so often take for granted that I began to focus on. My husband was already off to work. I wasn't able to get him on the phone but I realized it was because God wanted to show me just how blessed I really am. That's three blessings right there. I woke up. I have a husband and he has a job. The fact that God blocked my plans just to have me focus on Him was just icing on the cake. There are many days that I wake up complaining because I have to go to work but there are many people loosing their jobs left and right. My family is fortunate enough to not only have an income but to have a two income household. Hey, there's a fourth blessing right there.

As I tiptoed past the children's bedrooms, I could hear them snoring. Hey, that's blessings five, six, and seven. I have children, they're safe and they're healthy. I felt a chill as I approached the bathroom so I decided to raise heat before getting ready for work. Without thinking, I headed straight for the thermostat. That's blessings eight, nine and ten already. We have a home. Many people are being forced out of their houses. I have heat and I am able to raise the temperature during a time when economists are urging that we should cut back. I don't have to worry about tomorrow because I know that God's got it. He promised to supply ALL of my needs according to His riches in glory. Before I headed back upstairs to get ready I decided to make a hot cup of coca and read my WORD to continue what had already began to be a blessed day. That's eleven, twelve and thirteen. I know that the Lord is my Shepard and I shall not want. I have time to sit back and relax before beginning my day and most of all I have His WORD. His Word is enough to be thankful for alone.

What are you thankful for? I challenge you to count your blessings and name them one by one (literally) throughout the course of your day. The enemy is quick to highlight what we don't have, should have and sometimes what we used to have. But God told us to give thanks in ALL things. The Apostle Paul encouraged us to be content in WHATSOEVER state we find ourselves in. As we are blessed, let's also remember to bless others. It's a blessing to be a blessing.

Shake It Off!

2008-12-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (Luke 10:10-12)

Shake it off! There was a popular secular song entitled “Shake It Off” recorded by Mirarah Carey a few years back. The song was basically about a relationship that went wrong and the singer was trying to “shake off” the effects and memories of the relationship. As I continued my study of Luke 10 today, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself visualizing the early disciples shaking of dust as they left the towns of people that refused to receive them and the Savior who sent them. If you weren’t a believer and saw the Men of God behaving like this, I suppose you would find it comical and maybe even question their sanity. Let’s use our spiritual imagination and visualize watching one shake and wipe dust from their feet. Many times we cannot see dust unless we are close up on it. So as an onlooker watching, you would most likely see men wiping their shoes or sandals in attempts to remove invisible mites that attached itself to them. The disciples were commissioned to spread the gospel. They couldn’t afford to contract negativity, disbelief and wicked spirits.

Now let’s think about this a little more critically. Have you ever been in the presence of someone that is in a really bad mood or someone that is really down and sulking in a personal pity party? Many times, when you leave the individual you find yourself feeling drained, down or distracted. Now, not only are you dealing with the individual’s baggage but now you have to get your mind right so that you can carry out the rest of your day. If you aren’t able to get back into the right spirit, you will walk into your next assignment or meeting place carrying the same contaminate and the cycle will continue. This is what Jesus was trying to keep from happening to his disciples. Jesus wanted them to physically shake the dust from their feet as an illustration to us that we must not allow the negativity or disbelief of others to cling to us. The enemy is a great deceiver. If we allow him to, he will use our emotions against. We can’t afford to carry around extra baggage. We have to cast all of our cares at the Lord’s feet and “shake it off”.

Notice that Jesus did not tell them to “set the people straight” or attempt to help them “see the light”. Instead, he told them to rid themselves of anything connecting them to the nonbelievers and keep it moving. Too often we spend time trying to save the World. Everyone is not going to receive us or He who sent us. That does not mean that we should stop witnessing or praying for the unsaved but it does mean that we should continue to proceed with the assignment that the Lord has placed on our lives and stop allowing the enemy and his negativity to travel with us from place to place.

Can I Get Some Help?

2008-12-01T07:56:00.000-08:00

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:2)

Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed like there’s just so much to do in so little time and more importantly – so little help? I know I feel this way myself from time to time. Isn’t it irritating when you look around and coworkers appear to be relaxing while you are struggling to do your best, meet deadlines and no one even offers to give you a hand? It’s even more likely that you may find yourself feeling this way during the holiday season with shorter weeks and the same amount of work to be done. Whether you are a ministry leader, CEO, or a homemaker there will come times when you feel like you are the only one working. I can recall there being plenty of times that I worked hard silently until I couldn’t take it any more and finally blurted out “Can I get Some Help”.

In fact, I found myself feeling a little over worked and under appreciated last week and the Lord led me to the 10th chapter of the book of Luke. I was originally thinking about Martha as she busied herself around the house while Mary sat at the Lord’s feet. Martha finally got upset and nearly demanded that Jesus make Martha help her. Jesus told Martha (in so many words) to mind her own business because Mary was doing what she was supposed to be doing (story). I was convicted as I looked at my coworkers. I realized that I was behaving like Martha. I wanted them to work a little harder because I was at my wits end. Instead of asking them for help or praying that God would send me help. I caught an attitude. Yes, I did.

Just because we aren’t always able to monitor the progress of others doesn’t mean that they aren’t being productive. Just because we don’t feel rewarded or appreciated by others doesn’t mean that we should stop doing what we know needs to be done. As long as we do what we are supposed to do it will pay off in the long run.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)

I realized that Martha was actually doing good deeds but her attitude and the spirit in which she was working made her efforts worthless. In her attempts to lift herself up, Martha put Mary down. Martha was discontent because Mary wasn’t working as hard as she was. Martha wanted Jesus to see how hard she was working. She wanted Mary to realize that she was working (physically) harder than she was in hopes that she would join her. I don’t think that Martha wanted to take Mary away from the Savior. I think she wanted her to give her a hand so that she too could rest in His presence.

Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

I had to remind myself that I’m living this life so that I can live again. If I please the people: praise the Lord. If not, praise the Lord anyhow. All that matters is that Jesus is pleased. I came to the conclusion that I’d far rather my reward in heaven than here on earth by the compliments, accolades and even appreciation of people.

After I settled down and went back to read the rest of Luke 10, I realized that that I had no help because I didn’t ask God for help. Jesus said that if we ask the Father for anything in His name that it would be given to us. Why did I think it was any different with help? It’s amazing how we can go to God with some things and dismiss other things as things that we can handle.

It’s not just “help” that I needed but I needed the right kind of help and the right people to help me. Had just anyone helped me and we weren’t on the same page, their help could have actually been counter productive. I bless God for His word and showing me more and more about me in it everyday.

What do you do when you find yourself over worked and under appreciated?

F.O.C.U.S. (S)

2008-11-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

Forget your past (Romans 8:1)

Operate in the Spirit (Romans 8:2,5)

Concentrate on the things of God (Colossians 1-3)

Understand the Sovereignty of God (Romans 9:18)

Stand in position (Romans 8:17)

Truly the Lord has been better than good! He has given me and you alike much to think about through His message "F.O.C.U.S.". Initially, it was a bit challenging to write a 5 day series but I realize through this process that it was supposed to be challenging. God is not going to have us minister about something that we have never lived. I believe that He wanted me to literally focus on focusing. I thank and praise God that He gave me the steadfastness to do it. I could have never completed this assignment without Him.

Stand in Position is the last instruction in this assignment. We were called to a vocation not a vacation. Meaning that God has work for us to do. Somewhere along the line we've taken it upon ourselves to slack up. Some of us have not been running this race with as much diligence as we began it with. We aren't praying like we used to pray, fasting like we used to fast and even witnessing like we used to. There are some people that are even trying to run from their assignments and ignore their calling. However, all hope is not lost. There is still time to get back in position.

In the military, when one is absent without leave it is referred to as AWOL. When one goes AWOL, the military will send agents out to get you and bring you back to headquarters for punishment. Once you agree to serve in the army - you are in for the duration. Some of our brothers and sisters have gone AWOL and ran off the battlefield and from the army of the Lord. We need to call them up, visit them, let them know that someone cares and that they need to get back to work. We need to bring them back to "Headquarters" which is lifted up in prayer in the presence of God. It is very easy to get distracted with everything going on in the world today. Sometimes the fight of faith seems unbearable in which case a vacation is not the answer but rather to get more faith. How do we get more faith?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

If we lack faith, we need to hear more of the Word of God. We can not simply give up on the things that God has promised us because we don't see them coming to pass as we thought we would. Once we get back in tune to what the Spirit of God has to say we must stay there in that fame of mind.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

A lot of us get this scripture misconstrued. We often misquote and misunderstand it. The bible does not say "after we've done all we can do - stand" the bible says simply to STAND. This battle is not ours. There is no need for us to fight or try to "make it happen". Vengeance belongs to the Lord. He shall repay. Not us.

We have to stand in position so that we can be blessed. What is our position?

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

The earth and everything on it belongs to the Lord. What can a man exchange for his soul? Nothing. There is nothing in this life that is worth sacrificing your rightful standing with God to obtain. Everything that we could ever need and want is already ours. So all we have to do is STAND. Don't give out, give up or give in but stand.

We may have pain in our bodies now but God has prepared another body for us. We may live in the ghetto now but Jesus went away to prepare many mansions for us. We may have to suffer a little now but we have to keep the faith and hold on because soon we will reign with him.

Can you recall a time in your Christan walk where it was hard to stand not moving to the left or the right but hold onto the promises of God? Do you remember how He brought you through? Just as He has in the past He can do it again. We serve a God with proven track record. When the going gets tough and the tough gets going, continue to stand.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)

F.O.C.U.S. (U)

2008-11-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

Forget your past (Romans 8:1)

Operate in the Spirit (Romans 8:2,5)

Concentrate on the things of God (Colossians 1-3)

Understand the Sovereignty of God (Romans 9:18)

Stand in position (Romans 8:17)

Anyone who has ever decided to follow Jesus can probably agree with me when I say that the second they made up their mind to take up their cross and follow Christ that the enemy suddenly took a keen interest in their life. While I was in the world living in a backslidden state, I would see the saints of God on their way to church carrying their bibles and braving some of the coldest winter days but they still seemed to have this warmness on the inside that seemed to seep onto the outside. They seemed as if they weren't going to let anything stand between them and getting to their church houses to hear the Word of God -not even cold temperatures or slow public transportation. I couldn't understand it at that time but I wanted that peace.

I somehow believed that once I decided to walk with God that it would be smooth sailing. In fact, part of the reason I decided to truly get saved was because I realized that the world could offer me nothing more than darkness, death and destruction. In the beginning, my life was a breeze. God's presence was always so easy to see and feel. He was performing miracles and making ways out of no way. Both the saved and the unsaved could see that I had favor with God and man. Soon, the visible blessings were fewer and further in between. Things weren't always going my way and there were times that I felt like God was no longer with me.

One incident in particular that troubled me was when God allowed my grandmother to die. I prayed and prayed that He would heal her. I knew the scriptures. If I asked in Jesus name and believed, I was supposed to get what I prayed for. Right? I couldn't fathom the possibility that God and I may not have the same idea of healing in mind. I never doubted for one moment that God could heal her. I never doubted that God was real and that He heard my prayers. What I began to doubt was if God was still “on my side”. I became a sort of a spoiled brat. I thought that Daddy should give me whatever I wanted just because I wanted it. I was upset because it was not His will to heal her like I wanted Him to. God chose to heal her - just not here on earth. To make a long story short, I didn't speak to God for years. (Yes. Years!!! Thank God for His grace.) It was through this experience that my I learned what exactly it meant when I heard people tell me that God is sovereign.

You see, God can do whatever it pleases Him to do however He chooses to do it. God has called us all to a work to do for Him and His kingdom. Along the way there will be times that things aren't going to go the way that we would like for them to go but we must understand that no matter how things go that as long as we love God, it's all working together for our good.

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. (Romans 8:28)

When my grandmother died, my aunts felt that they had lost the most important person in their life. They decided to take all the hurt and pain they felt from loosing my grandmother to Jesus. They knew that this sort of hurt was not a hurt that they could heal themselves from. They were already saved and "in the church" but they sought refuge from the pain in the Lord.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

My aunts prayed for me and told me how much God loved me and wanted to hear from me every chance they got. I didn't decide to forsake my worldly ways based on their testimony alone but they planted a seed in my spirit. Others came along and told me about the love of God. They in turn watered the seed. And God gave the increase when He drew me back to Himself.

I don't know why God chose to take my grandmother when He did. But I do know by her passing, my aunts drew closer to God and led me to Him as well. That which the enemy would have liked to use to permanently separate me from the love of God turned out to be one of the greatest lessons that God has ever taught me. Even though things may not go the way we planned them to in life, love and ministry – we must still continue to do that which we were called to do. We must still love the Lord with all of our heart, mind and soul.

Sometimes it seems as if we the people of God have more turmoil and drama going on with us than those in the world does amongst them. I have often found myself asking God “Why?” I’ve kept His commandments, continued to praise Him in spite of the situation yet I still go through. Why? Why is it that they that are evil prosper and we that are faithful suffer? You know what the Lord told me?

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.(Romans 9:18)

God can show mercy on whomever He chooses to have mercy on. He's God! I had to learn that it's not up to me to decide who gets blessed, who gets to be healed here on earth but it's up to God. He's sovereign.

I spent many nights wrestling within myself trying to understand "why me". Why did I have to suffer? Why was my blessing being delayed? Why was the enemy seeming to prosper in their way. I was wasting time.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 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. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:1-5)

I was worrying about things that didn't concern me. The only thing I needed to do was keep my mind on Jesus. All I had to do was wait on Him and trust Him and I would have the desires of my heart. All the time I was trying to "figure it out" He already worked it out.

I believe that God wants us to F.O.C.U.S. on that which He has called us to do. He wants us to Forget about the past. Anything that is not on our way is in our way. He wants us to Operate in the Spirit of God. We can't do anything in our own strength. We have to Concentrate on the Word of God and bask in His presence. In doing all of this, we cannot become discouraged when times get tough or things don't go our way. We must Understand that God is sovereign and He knows what's best.

Maybe there are some situations in your life right now that you are trying to figure out. Perhaps it's finances or relationship issues that you just don't understand why they are going the way that they are going. You've done the best you could do and your best just wasn't good enough. You gave all you had and failed while others put forth little or no effort and succeeded. Confess that you can't fix "it". Only He can. Understand that God is sovereign.

F.O.C.U.S. (C)

2008-11-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)

Concentrate. The third letter of the F.O.C.U.S. acronym is "C" which represents the word "Concentrate". In this Christian walk, we need to learn how to put the blinders on to everything that is contrary to the vision that God has given us for our lives. It is the enemy's job to throw distractions and road blocks up along the way. He wants us to loose sight of the things that matter the most and be concerned with the cares of this world. If we leave it up to him, he would have us to believe that we are "missing out" on life and enjoyment by living holy before God but the devil is a liar and the truth is not in him.

Every since the beginning of time, he has tried to cause the people of God to believe that God's way is not the best way. He hasn't gotten any new tricks. He's still doing using the same old tricks he used back in the Garden of Eden. He deceived Eve into believing that she was missing something by not eating the forbidden fruit. God had supplied more than she or Adam could ever eat. She didn't need to eat the forbidden fruit. Had Eve thought to concentrate on what God had told her and blocked everything else out, she wouldn't have been susceptible to falling into the snares the enemy had planned for her.

Unfortunately, we still fall for the same tricks today if we aren't careful. The enemy knows that we won't fall for the "big" deceptions so he throws "lesser evils" our way. He tries to have us tell little white lies when we know that God told us not to bear false witness or he makes it seem as if it's okay to do something as simple as leaving work a little early if no one sees us even though God said "Thou shalt not steal". If we truly meditate on the law of the Lord day and night, we would be more conscious of our actions and less apt to fall for these deceptions.We have to learn to concentrate on the things of God.

This world, heaven and earth are going to pass away. We cannot build our treasures on this earth where thieves can steal our goods and moths can corrupt them. We have to keep in mind that we are to live this life so that we can live again. I'm not saying that we have to be eating, sleeping, breathing and thinking scripture to the point where we move from the spiritual realm to the religious realm. God forbid! What I am saying is that we must recognize that the enemy desires to sift us as wheat. He desires to have our thoughts preoccupied with everything but what God said. He wants to destroy our marriages, kill our dreams, attack our bodies and trouble our finances all so that we can focus on the problems and not the Ultimate Problem Solver.

My prayer for you today is that you walk worthy in the vocation to which you have been called. I pray that you will set your affections on eternal heavenly things and not be moved by the cares of this world. I pray that you will be like a tree planted of the rivers of water that you shall not be moved. That you shall serve and trust the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul in Jesus' name.

Now as you leave this blog, I pray that you will honestly examine yourself in the presence of the Lord. What are you concentrating on today? Remember, this battle is not yours. It belongs to the Lord. Jesus said to cast your cares on Him for He cares for you. There is nothing too hard for Him. There is no pain that He cannot feel. Won't you trust Him today with every area of your life? He already knows all about it. He's just waiting for you to invite Him in. Concentrate on Him.

F.O.C.U.S.

2008-11-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

Forget your past (Romans 8:1)

Operate in the Spirit (Romans 8:2,5)

Concentrate on the things of God (Colossians 1-3)

Understand the Sovereignty of God (Romans 9:18)

Stand in position (Romans 8:17)

Yesterday, we discussed the "F" in the F.O.C.U.S. acronym which represented the need for us to forget our past in order to stay on track in this vocation we have been called to. Today we will explore the letter "O" and it's representation of the word "Operate".

We need to Operate in the spirit of Christ. We can not do anything in our own strength. The bible tells us that we don't even know how to pray as we should so we even need the Spirit of God to pray for us. We need the Spirit of God active in every area of our lives. No matter how minute the detail may seem to us - we need Him.

If we proceed without the power of God backing us, we are sure to fail. The first biblical example to come to mind is the story of the Seven Sons of Sceva. They saw the Apostle Paul laying hands on folk and casting devils out in the name of Jesus. They thought that they could do it too. The problem was, they didn't have the Spirit of God. They were operating in their own strength. As a result of them operating in their own limited strength, the demons sent them away crying and wounded. (Story)

Some folks may believe they are "getting away" with operating in their own strength perpetrating as if it were the Spirit of God but sooner or later, God will expose you just like He did the Seven Sons of Sceva. Just because their father was a Jewish Priest did not make them priests. We cannot get the Spirit of God simply by association.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:2-5)

In this life, our flesh is our biggest enemy. It isn't the devil. The devil has no power over us only that which we give him when we chose to yield to our flesh. Jesus has bore the curse on our behalf and made us free from the law of sin and death. There is no need for us to operate in the flesh or in our own power. We don't have to anymore. We now have access to supernatural Holy Ghost Power.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
(Luke 10:19)

The power of God is much stronger than any of our own goals and ambitions. If you are weak, He can make you strong.His strength is perfected in our weaknesses anyhow. If you are strong, He can make you stronger. As you go about the course of the rest of your day, I challenge you to operate in the Spirit of God and see how much better things go for you. As you are walking out this vocation God has called you to be sure that the power you are operating in is of the Lord. Our strength and wisdom is nothing compared to the Lord's.

Have you ever moved before God told you to move? How much trouble did it cause you?

F.O.C.U.S.

2008-11-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

Forget your past (Romans 8:1)

Operate in the Spirit (Romans 8:2,5)

Concentrate on the things of God (Colossians 1-3)

Understand the Sovereignty of God (Romans 9:18)

Stand in position (Romans 8:17)

Last week the Lord gave me a powerful exhortation to "get back to work" through the message, God Called Us To A Vocation - Not A Vacation Part I, II, and III. Today, I believe the Spirit of the Lord wants us to F.O.C.U.S on the task at hand.

With so much going on in the world around us, it's very easy to loose sight of the things that matters the most. We have the stock market being bailed out, the automobile companies needing to be bailed out and people loosing their homes left and right. These are very serious matters. However, they are matters to pray about and not to become engrossed in. We have to stay focused on the task at hand. Even if we loose sight for only a minute, the effects can be detrimental to both our spiritual and our natural lives. We have to Forget everything that's going on around us and remember what this assignment called life is all about. We are living this life so that we may live again. The "F" in F.O.C.U.S. represents the need to forget some things in order to move on.

In addition to forgetting the things around us, there comes a time when we have to Forget our pasts. The enemy would love to have us be slaves to shame, sin and our past lives. Whenever the enemy uses people to bring to your remembrance what you used to be or how you used to live - you have to replay the Word of God in your mind which tells us that there is NO condemnation to those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Once we repent, God forgives us and casts our sins into the sea of forgetfulness. If God who died for our sins can forgive us, who are we to hold a grudge against ourselves?

If the enemy isn't trying to haunt us with our pasts, he will try to make us feel unworthy or question our calling. When God chose David to be the King of Israel, he was but a young, scrawny shepard. His father didn't even consider the possibility that David might be anointed king so he didn't even have him in the line up (story). But what man sees as an inadequacy, God sees as an opportunity. Had David looked to be a capable man or had he had experience in leadership, people may have given David the glory for his kingship as opposed to God. God saw David as an opportunity to get the glory out of Israel. The hand of the Lord was with David as he was a man after God's own heart. So we have to forget about what makes sense to us. God's reasoning and rationale is so much greater than ours. David's father couldn't understand why David would be king. But it was God's will and it was so. If God brings us to "it", there's work for us to do there. We can't be concerned with our past or whether or not we are fit for the challenge. God does not make mistakes.

Lastly, I want to say that we need to forget our flesh. Our ungodly behaviors, thoughts, dispositions all need to be crucified daily so that we are vessels able to be used by God. In this vocation that we have been called to, there is no room for the flesh. It will only weigh us down and prevent us from doing that which we have been called to do.

Can you recall a time when your holding on to the past has prevented you from doing what God called you to do as a child of God? Can you recall a time when you allowed your circumstances to distract you? How did God get the glory out of the situation?

Free At Last!!

2008-11-14T05:35:00.001-08:00

"Free at Last. Free at Last. Thank God Almighty, I'm free At Last."

What do you think of when you hear or read that quote? Do you think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who made this quote famous? Do you think of freedom from this life? Do you think of freedom from incarceration, bondage or oppression?

When I hear this quote, I think of the freedom I found in Jesus Christ. I'll be the first to admit that I've spend a great deal of my life thinking that I was free but in all actuality I was a slave. I believed I was free to come and go as I pleased, sleep around as I pleased, talk as I pleased and even be addicted to various substances and gambling as I pleased. But at the end of the day you know what I found out? I was still a slave. I was a slave to my own fleshy desires.

One day during worship service I felt "out of place" when the worship leader instructed the congregation to lift up "holy hands" to God. I didn't think I was worthy to lift up my hands to the Lord because in my mind they were far from holy. I realized that I truly wasn't free. By the time I came to this realization it was already too late because I had now been bound by something else - something even stronger than my past sins. I was bound by a defeated, shameful spirit. I was bound by condemnation. It wasn't the condemnation of my peers, relatives, or even church members. I was bound by the worse form of condemnation: self-condemnation. The enemy whispered some lies in my ear and I believed them. He told me once a ______ always a _____ you fill in the blank how it pertains to your life.

I believed that I had gone too far, crossed the line and was outright unforgivable. I began to hold my head down in shame and think there was no use in praying because I couldn't understand what God would want to hear from a sinner like me. My mind couldn't even conceive the notion that my thoughts were so far from the truth.

But then I read Romans 8:1-4 and I came to learn that I couldn't be good because "I" couldn't be good - not without the help of the Holy Spirit, that is.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.And so he condemned sin in sinful man,in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

Why was I walking around with my head hung low when the Word of God clearly told me that there was NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus? I was in Christ Jesus yet I was still feeling condemned. The holy men of times of old couldn't live holy (without the Spirit of the Lord). Why did I think I was any different. Whenever preachers declared that I needed the anointing because it was the "anointing" that destroys the yokes of bondage, I thought they wanted me to jump around or speak in some strange tongue. I mastered going for sprints around the church and falling out but I didn't understand that the anointing was the power of God working in me and through me.

At this point in my life I thought that I no longer had to follow every letter of the bible to a "T" (we do) but I also thought that I had to "act" like I had the anointing instead of allowing God to deliver me and endow me with His Spirit. I was a slave to self-condemnation and a slave to the Law. But the apostle Paul explains to us that God's law was powerless because of the flesh - the very demon that I was battling. So God in His infinite wisdom, had to come down to earth Himself in the flesh (Jesus) to live holy and become the perfect sacrifice so that I could be reconciled back to Him.

I don't know about you, but to me that sounds like a whole lot of trouble to go through for someone that doesn't even appreciate the sacrifice. God sacrificed Himself for me. I confessed with my mouth and believed in my heart that Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh, died on the cross, rose the third day and now sits at the right hand of God. I could handle that He was conceived immaculately and born of a virgin. I believed that He healed the sick, raised the dead, and turned water into wine but I struggled with the fact that He could forgive me. I struggled with the fact that I was worthy enough to lift up "holy hands" and worship a holy God being so void of holiness myself.

Thanks be to God that since then I have come to understand the significance of what Jesus did for ME on Calvary. He set me free. I can lift up Holy hands at my desk, in the car, in my house and in the sanctuary and not feel guilty. Now I feel guilty when I don't worship Him. No one has to prompt me to worship Him and no one can tell me that I am unworthy to worship Him - not even myself.

Free At Last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty, I'm free at Last.

God Called us to vOcation not vAcation- Pt. III

2008-11-13T05:47:00.001-08:00

Now once we understand that we are called to a vocation and not a vacation we must be ever so careful to walk worthy. Jesus did not hang up on Calvary’s cross so that we could continue to be slaves to Sin. He did not die so that we could continue to be bound by the enemy but that we could have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

And as we work at our vocation there will be times when we get discouraged, feel unappreciated and even be sabotaged but we aren’t doing this for man, accolades of man or even for ourselves. We have to do everything we do as to as unto the Lord because only what we do for Christ will last. Man will celebrate us and be in our "amen" corner today and then turn around tomorrow call us everything but a child of God. If we are doing ministry to please man, we will be defeated when we are no longer popular and receiving attention. And if we are being persecuted now as we walk worthy of our vocation, we must continue to do good because our time is coming when we shall reap our reward for holding on and remaining steadfast (Galatians 6:9).

We have to keep in mind that we are in this race for the long haul. We have to preach this here gospel both when the people want to hear and when they don't want to hear it (2 Timothy 4:2). This goes for the people with the offices and titles but also for all of us. We all have a duty to spread the gospel. We can't change our message because we know we're going to step on a few toes. The Word of God is supposed to cut us when we need to be cut (Hebrews 4:12). Every message can't be about prosperity and new mates. As good as all that may sound, we still need to be corrected when we are out of order so that when HE comes back for us we are ready. God called us to a vocation - not a vacation.

We don’t have time to regress or throw in the towel and when we see one another appearing to be having a difficult time we have to lift one another up in prayer even more and offer one another support and encouragement. That’s part of the vocation as well. We are many members but one body all fitly joined together. There are no “small jobs” only small minded people when they begin to lift themselves up and become high minded. So as I close, I remind you that quitting is not an option. Playtime is over.
God called us to a vocation – not a vacation.

God bless you! I pray that God give you strength for this vocation that you may continue to stand. I pray that He will give you grace that you are able to stand the test of time and most of all I pray that He grants you patience so when you begin to grow tired, you will be able to hang on just a little while longer. Don't faint - pray.

God Called us to a vocation - not a vacation.

God Called us to vOcation not vAcation- Pt. II

2008-11-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

A vocation is a particular job for which one is trained. We are all trained to do something or another. Number one, as part of the "Royal Priesthood it is our primary responsibility to pray. we can't just stop praying for the nation because our candidate won (or in some cases, lost). We have to pray for his protection and direction. We can't stop praying for our marriages because there is peace. If we aren't prAying for our marriages the enemy will be prEying on them. We can't stop praying for our children because they are behaving for the moment. We need to be praying setting the example and training them as as they should go. He called us to a vocation - not a vacation.

A vacation is leisure time from work dedicated to rest or pleasure. In John 9:4 we are told to work while it is day because night comes when no man will be able to work. God wants us to use wisdom and not over exert our bodies but He also wants us to work while there is still time for work to be done.

Prophetically speaking, the year 2008 was designated as the year of new beginnings. What did we begin this year that we didn't finish? What did God make a way for us to begin and complete but we took it upon ourselves to take a vacation from doing?

Many of us began this year (and every other year) with goals and dreams. I can recall speaking to some peole that wanted to read the bible cover to cover in a year, some wanted to volunteer or wittness more, others wanted to loose weight, find a church home or make it to church more. With 49 days left int he year, how much have we actually gotten done? What have we purposed in our hearts, minds and spirits to do for the Kingdom of God, our families and ourselves that we have not done? God called us to a vocation not a vacation.

Is God keeping you up at night or waking up up early in the morning? Is He constantly having a certain individual or group of individuals to cross your path and you never speak of His goodness to them? Is He causing people to cross your mind at the most odd times? There are people dying everyday that don't know the saving power of Jesus Christ. There are people that are bound, wounded, broken and lost. They need to now that somebody loves them unconditionally. They need to hear what God has done for you and how He has brought you through. The Word says that we are overcommers by not only the blood of the Lamb but also by the Words of our testimony. Who are we to contain what He's done for us and keep it to ourselves? We were brought with a price. We no longer belong to ourselves so don't worry about people knowing your business - we don't have any business. It's God's business now for His glory. There are people that have heard all of their lives that the wages of sin is death but don't understand that the gift of God is eternal life. They need to hear this. God called us to a vocation not a vacation.

It is very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life with family, work, and everything else that is going on. It's not always easy to balance home life and ministry. There just doesn't seem like there are enough hours in a day but the good news is that time belongs to God. We can seek Him and ask Him to help us schedule our lives around Him and His will for our lives. Just because we may not have as much time as we would like to for Kingdom Building does not exempt us. He called us to Vocation and not Vacation.

Please come back tomorrow for the third and final part of this message. I pray that something you read here will take residence in your spirit and bless you tremendously in Jesus' name.

God Called us to vOcation not vAcation- Pt. II

2008-11-12T06:30:00.001-08:00

God Called us to vOcation not vAcation- Pt. I

2008-11-10T16:53:00.000-08:00

One week ago today we saw history being made. The United States of America elected its first black president. Barack Hussein Obama will be the nation's 44Th president. I never in a million years thought that I would be able or even witness such a historic event in my lifetime. But I am so blessed that I did.

Many men and women fought for civil rights and equal treatment for all people. Some of them were fortunate enough to see the fruits of their labor. Some of the civil rights activists were blessed and lived to their"change" actually come in the government. Many more didn't. We as a people began a work. And although we have gained monumental ground, there is still yet More work to be done, which brings me to the title of the message that the Lord has given me for this day: God called us to a vocation not - not a vacation.

Ephesians 4: 1-6
1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;One Lord, one faith, one baptism,One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

We cannot just stop reaching for more and walking out the assignments that God has given us just because we've made some progress or things are okay for the moment.

Suppose Moses stopped midway in his journey because he and the Children of Israel were out of Egypt and they saw Pharaoh's army drown in the Red Sea: The Children of Israel would have never made it to The Promised Land. Or suppose Moses decided to abandon his position in leadership because he was tired of listening to the people grumble and complain? What if JESUS would have decided not to go to the cross because the people didn't receive Him or believe that He was who He said He was? Where would we be then?

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthian 2:9)

So we do have hope. We must not be discouraged when the task that lies ahead looks more challenging than we think we are able to handle or even during those times when we have no vision at all and are waiting for God to reveal to us what lies ahead. Instead, we can take comfort in the fact that God knows what lies ahead and that He holds our hands. Whatever we have to go through in this assignment, He is going to be right there with us.

Mr. Obama told us in his first press conference as the president-elect that he could not guarantee us that he would be able to fix the country's economic crisis in one year or possible even one term but he did guarantee us that he would continue to work his best in this new vocation to which he has been called. We didn't elect Obama. God appointed Him just as he did our present president. All authority comes from God (Romans 13:1).

Like Obama, we must maintain the "Yes We Can" attitude in our spiritual lives as well as in our natural lives. When the task looks daunting and the situation looks bleak, we must remember that "yes we can" do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. We too must remember that some things just take time to accomplish. Delay does not mean denial. Hope that is seen is not hope at all. We have to have faith that God will do what He said He will do. What is faith?

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Why do we need faith when we can see our own way? Sometimes we not only have to wait for God to perform in us what He said that He would but also for instruction on what it is that He wants us to do to activate our faith so that we will be in position to receive the blessing. Faith without works is dead. We have work to do.
We have to wit for instruction. Instruction doesn't always come in a flash or over night. There is no mystery as to where we should look for instruction.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

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

Jesus Himself said it best when He told us that some things come by fasting and praying. We must remember that the race is not given to the strong or the swift but to he that endures to the end. That's exactly what we must do: We must endure - not take a break. God called us to a vOcation not a vAcation.

I encourage you to reflect on your life and the areas you may have been slacking in. What is it that's holding you back from completing your assignment or reaching your goals? Maybe you aren't slacking in any particular area but you know that you have the potential to do greater works and come up to another level. What's holding you back? This is not a time to become stagnant or complacent.

God called us to a vocation - not a vacation.

You'll Never Be Good Enough....

2008-11-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

Today is another day I've never seen before. I have my health, strength and right frame of mind. I have everything I need and most of the things I want. I'm saved, on my way to heaven and living a victorious life. But Why? It's not because I've always obeyed the Lord or have been the perfect Christian. In fact, if my salvation and being blessed were based on "me" and my behavior alone, I'd be cursed. Thank God He doesn't see me as myself but through the blood of Jesus!

It was just a few years ago that I believed that listening to R&B or wearing pants and make-up could jeopardize my relationship with the Lord. It was just a few years ago that I believed that if I slipped up and said a bad word or thought an unpleasant thought about someone even if for only a moment that I was risking my salvation. Although this behavior displeases God, my way of thinking was wrong and so far from the truth.

You see, I was bound by a "religious spirit". I was caught up on traditions, religion and most of all self-righteousness. Of Course I knew that I wasn't perfect but I subconsciously believed that I was saved by my good works. I was in church every time the doors were open and watched any and every preacher that graced the TBN network. I tithed, gave offerings, fed the hungry, clothed the naked and gave to the poor but none of that made me good enough to enter into the kingdom of God.

It wasn't until I began to see just how perfect God is that I could see how imperfect I actually am no matter how much I believe I am on my "P's
s and Q's". But you know what? It's okay. God knew in His infinite wisdom that man would fall (See Genesis 3) and in turn be separated from Him and no longer able to physically stand in His presence. So He came up with a plan to reconcile man back to Himself. He loves us so much that He offered up Himself as the perfect sacrifice so that we could once again be righteous and able to commune with God (See Romans 8:1-4).

I meet people all the time that tell me they would go to church if they were "right" or that they would get saved if they didn't have to give up so much. I've even met people that refused to pray with me because the enemy had them to believe that God doesn't want to hear from people "like them". Will you ever be "good enough" to go to God? No. Neither will I - not in my own strength anyway. But we can go to God through Jesus who now sits and the right hand of God continuously praying for us on our behalf. When we pray in faith and ask for forgiveness in Jesus' name and repent, He no longer sees how inadequate we are.

I say all that to encourage you today to "try God". Test Him and see that He's real. Maybe you've done somethings that you know displeased him and you feel as if you've lost your connection. Maybe you've never had a personal relationship with Him. Don't worry about being good enough. He only requires that we are real enough to realize that we'll never be good enough. But that's just that kind of God we serve. He looks beyond our faults and meets our needs. Who wouldn't want to serve a God like that?

Blessings!
Shanita

Get Your Own Word!

2008-11-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. (Matthew 13:3-4)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ( John 10:10)

The enemy is the devil. He doesn't want me to say this but it's not the person that cut us off, betrayed us or otherwise done us wrong. It's the devil. Many times our co-workers, neighbors, relatives and just people in general do things that are obviously "enemy energized" but we have to remember to hate the sin and not the sinner. We have to remember that the devil does not want us to be blessed. Of course he is going to send all of his imps to try to hit us with all they've got because he knows his time is running short and he's already lost. Misery loves company and he wants to have us angry with leads to bitterness and ultimately wrath. He wants us to hold grudges, hide iniquity in our hearts and sin because sin separates us from God. We have to truly understand that devil wants us to step out of our covering and good standing with God so that we are susceptible to the snares he has waiting for us.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ( 1 Peter 5:8)

The enemy would like us to be caught up focusing on the cares of this world: what we don't have, what we need and who's upset us and anything else that would cause us to take our minds off of what God can do. He wants us to be angry so that we loose our temper and are no longer alert. Why? Because the moment we focus on the cares of the world instead of casting our cares on Jesus he is able to devour us. But it doesn't stop there. He wants to kill us and destroy us as well.

So we must take a stand not to look at what the situation looks like but towards the hills. Our help comes from the Lord. We have to look to Jesus, the only wise God that is able to keep us from falling. The bank account, the spouse, the job, the friendships can be perfect today and gone tomorrow. Happiness is temporal but joy is eternal. Only God can provide the kind of joy that can say "hallelujah anyhow" when your life goes array. Even if everything all around us is crumbling, we can find peace in knowing that we stand on the foundation of Christ the Solid Rock.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 NIV)

I've come to notice that as soon as I receive a Word from the Lord or God begins to open His Word up to me that someone will come along and do or say something to try to knock me off of my square. I can get blessed with all sorts of material/natural things and there usually isn't a problem but when God begins to bless me spiritually the enemy is very upset. He ultimately tries to cause friction in my life to try to seal the word away from me.

But he can't have my Word. It's my Word. And I'm willing fight (the good fight of faith that is) to keep it. The enemy doesn't want to see us happy. He wants to rob us of our joy, steal our peace, cause us to fear and most of all cause us to doubt God. That's why we have to take the Word of God and hide it in our hearts because there are times when we aren't always able to see God working with our natural eyes. It is during these times that we have to walk by faith and not by sight.

So they next time you leave service and get a dirty look before you walk out the door or get cut of trying to get out of the parking lot, remember that it's only the enemy trying to steal your Word and tell him to get his own Word and keep it moving.
Have you ever seen the devil try to set you up to miss out on your blessing? What happened?

Proud American?

2008-11-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

I could hardly sleep last night. I tossed and turned and checked the clock every every hour or so. I was anxious to get to the polls. I didn't care how long the lines were or how long I had to wait. I had a made up mind that I was going to cast my vote and nothing could stand in my way. Not lack of sleep, long lines or the negativity that some have been spreading in their attempts to suppress the vote. I was voting and that was it! (Imagine how much better of we could be if we took that same initiative and applied it to other decisions we need to make in life.)

As I stood in line and looked around, I couldn't help but to Thank God. America has it's issues but I still believe we live in the best country in the world! Millions of people risk their lives every year illegally crossing our boarders and many more spend every dime they have just to get here. Many of these people come from countries where they aren't able to post their political thoughts and views publicly like we do here or they are intimidated by armed soldiers while heading to the polls. But we don't have to worry about that. (So maybe we need to spend less time complaining about Bush and thank God that we aren't living under a dictatorship.)

An overwhelming feeling of gratefulness overtook my body and yes, I nearly cried. I thought back to the first time I heard the "I Have a Dream Speech" and the first time I heard our eloquent Democratic Nominee speak and I imagined that if Dr. King were here today that he sure would be proud. I thought about racial inequality and how many feel that the minorities are still unfairly treated and discriminated against. For this one brief moment in time, I didn't care about any of that. I was proud of Barack Obama but more importantly I was proud of America. I never thought I would live to see the day where a black man was seriously considered for the office of Commander and Chief of the United States of America. It was beautiful.I thought about the long, dark difficult road that many civil rights activists (famous and non)traveled so that we as a nation could be where we are today and suddenly, the line didn't seem so long anymore.

Now I am not naive enough to believe that racism has ended and everything is honkey dorey but I do see that things are no where near as bad as they used to be. I thank God for all that He has done. If you'll take a moment and think back to the state our nation was in 40 years ago and look at it today it's hard to believe that we are talking about the same country. (Imagine what a little prayer and perseverance could do in our individual lives.)

I've decided to dedicate today's blog to Americans. Are you proud to Be an American? Why or why not?

You're A Back-Slider ....AND?

2008-11-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried to witness to someone and tell them about how good God is? Have you ever tried to explain to someone that no matter what they’ve done or how far they’ve gone that they can still make their way back to God? Whether you are a new convert or a seasoned saint, chances are you have. You can’t help but to speak of the goodness of God. Once God has blessed you, it is only a natural reaction that you want to share the good news with others.

I jump at the opportunity to proclaim the goodness of God. After all, the Word tells us that we are to go out in to the hedges and highways and compel others to come in so that they might to saved (Luke 14:23). In my quest to share the goodness of God with as many souls as I can, I’ve come to notice that it’s a little more difficult to witness to those that had an experience with the Lord and have fallen away than it is to lead people to Christ that have never met Him before. Why is this so?

I know at this point you are probably marveled at that statement and may even disagree with me. But if you are willing to give me a minute I’ll explain why I made the statement. Some time ago I was in a conversation with an old friend that we’ll call “Mary”. Mary used to be very spiritual and active in her church but due to some circumstances she has fallen out of fellowship with the Body of Christ and even more sadly out of communion with God. The topic of religion almost always comes up whenever we are together because she and I used to be prayer partners and attend the same church. Mary is very adamant about her preference to not to discuss religion but if you talk to her long enough she’ll quote scripture or praise God without even realizing she’s done it. After while, I decided it was time for me to stop being a so timid and invite her to come back to the Lord. I’ve been praying for her for some time now and believe that God hears my prayers so I decided to add a little “works” to my faith as alone faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Mary became super defensive and assured me that her salvation was in tact even though she doesn’t pray, go to church or keep God’s commands. (That’s another post for another day.) I never once told her that she wasn’t saved. I have no authority to make such a statement to anyone. Mary further explained that she didn’t want to go back to the church she was raised in because the members all knew about some of the “activities” she engaged in while she was away. I told her that I understood and offered to pray with her and reminded her that God’s love is unconditional. While man may judge the outer appearance, God judges the heart. If God could forgive everyone else – He could surely forgive her as well. God is no respecter of persons.

After Mary and I went our separate ways, I still felt a little uneasy. Mary was convinced that because she started drinking, smoking, fornicating and stopped praying, fasting and attending church that she couldn’t even go to church and talk to the “church folk” let alone God. She was afraid that she was not good enough. With her mouth, she said that she thought she was in perfect standing with God but in her heart she felt unworthy. I know how she felt because I was Mary.

The Word tells us in 2 Peter 2:21 that it is better to have never known the right way than to know the right way and to depart from it. So I felt that until I straightened my act out that there was no hope for me. I knew that the wages of sin was death and that at any moment while I was living in sin that had I died hell would have been my eternal residence. So I didn’t want to hear anything anyone had to say about God.

As a result, God used a whole lot of bad situations to wake me up and get my attention. One day I heard him clearly tell me that I was to walk worthy of the vocation to which I was called. He said that he called me to a vOcation and not a vAcation. I say all this to remind you that when you are witnessing -particularly to those that know the Word of God and understand the repercussions for their actions, to be a little more persistent with them. You would think that by them knowing more and having had a personal relationship with the Lord that they would be eager to get back in right standing with God but once the enemy begins to work on the mind, the first thing he does is distort the truth because he is a liar and the truth isn’t in Him.

While I was “away” I recall telling people that “I don’t want to hear that ‘God stuff”” or even pray but in all actuality. I didn’t just want to hear it – I needed to hear it. If you offer Jesus to someone and they tell you that they are a backslider, remind them that God is married to the black slider. I’m happy to say that I’m the prodigal daughter that has “came to herself” all because I heard a preacher say “You’re a backs slider….AND”? In other words, I wasn’t right with God and was never going to get right with Him by hiding from Him.

If you’ve ever slid back to your old ways after you were saved, how did God get your attention and cause you to come back to yourself? How do you encourage others to go back to Him?

All Things Work Together

2008-11-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

Anyone who really knows me knows two things about me. The first is that I LOVE to sing. I may not sing very well but I love to sing. The second is that Romans 8:28 is my favorite scripture of all time!!

While I was looking through some of my old files, I stumbled across a song I made up (years ago!) based on my favorite scripture and I thought I'd share it with you.

But before I post the lyrics, I want to ask you: what is your favorite scripture and WHY?

Below, I've pasted the song that I came up with one day while going for a walk a few years ago and every now and again I still catch myself humming it.

All things work together for my good.
All things work together for my good.
I may not understand but it’s all in his plan.
All things work together for my good.

The enemy’s fiery darts teach me to pray and not loose heart.
Though I may be in the valley I know the Lord is always by me.
Test and trials make me strong. Joy is coming I won’t weep long.
‘cause I know all things work together for my good.

All things work together for my good.
All things work together for my good.
I may not understand but it’s all in his plan.
All things work together for my good.

Lied on, talked about; mistreated I went without. Not a dime, not a friend but the Lord came through in the end.
I said I been…. Lied on, talked about; mistreated I went without. Not a dime, not a friend but the Lord came through in the end.
I said I been…. Lied on, talked about; mistreated I went without. Not a dime, not a friend but the Lord came through in the end.
‘cause all things…

All things work together for my good.
All things work together for my good.
I may not understand but it’s all in his plan.
All things work together for my good.

Can We Eat Our Own Words?

2008-10-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21 NIV)

Proverbs 18:21 is one of my favorite scriptures. I’ve most often heard this scripture quoted by those who attempt to correct the negative, harmful things that we say out of our mouths. This scripture is also commonly used to caution us to be careful what we allow to come out of our mouths because our words possess power. The power of life and death does lie within our tongues. However, instead of focusing on the verbal assassinations some chose to commit with their mouths, I’d rather focus on the power of life that lies within our tongues.

But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:8 NIV)

It is true that no man can tame his tongue however, that which is impossible by man is possible with God (Matthew 19:26). God came to do the impossible. Alone we are unable to tame our tongues but with Jesus Christ we can do anything (Philippians 4:13)including tame our tongues. Therefore, if we truly want to speak words that are pleasing to the Lord and ask God to help us we absolutely can control what we say.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.”

I don’t know who came up with that old cliché but it is so far from the truth. Words can hurt. They can tear down and destroy. But just as they can tear down and destroy, they can also edify and create. After all, the world and all of creation was formed by words. God highly values His word.

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11NIV)

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19 NIV)

God will do what He said He will do. He is looking for us to place the same value on our word. God will receive anything we promise to Him one way or another (Deuteronomy 23:21 NIV). Why? Because God has already illustrated through His own actions how powerful the tongue is and wants us to regard our words as highly as He does His.

The earth was empty and dark. God said let there be light and there was light (Genesis 1:3). Lazarus was dead for three days. Jesus didn’t perform CPR or use any other physical means to resuscitate him He spoke to Lazarus and Lazarus arose(John 11). Remember when Jesus was on the cross and it was time for Him to give up the Ghost? He verbally commended His spirit into the hands of the Father(Luke 23:46).

According to the Word of God as written in Proverbs 18:21, we will eat the fruit of our tongues. Let’s use our words to build up instead of tearing down. We can rejoice in the promises of Proverbs 18:21 and at the prospect of eating the fruit of our words. Let us speak to one another in love, peace, joy, and patience so that we may eat and bear the Fruit of the Spirit.

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

He Called You So Answer

2008-10-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

(Today’s post was inspired by Jonah Chapter 1)

How many times have you looked at the task at hand and looked at yourself, looked at yourself and the task at hand and reasoned that it was easier to allow the task to go undone than to try and not succeed? How many times have you been given an assignment that you felt unqualified to complete? Just as we work for employers in the natural that hand us assignments to complete, we more importantly work for a Heavenly Master that has certain tasks for us to complete. If we decide that we just don’t feel up to the challenge in our natural jobs we have to face the consequences. There are also repercussions for our refusal to complete assigned Heavenly duties.

Perhaps one of the most famous examples of someone that attempted to abort their assignment from the Lord was Jonah. It wasn’t that Jonah was incompetent or confused that prevented him from going to Nineveh when God told him to. It was the fact that Jonah felt his energies and time could much better be spent elsewhere. Therefore, Jonah went off to Tarnish instead. Even though Jonah may have meant well and had great plans to do great things in Tarnish –– that’s not where God told him to go so God would not allow him smooth sailing.

I can personally recall leaving relationships, congregations, assignments, ministries, etc. all because I felt that I wasn’t making any progress or because things were not progressing the way I thought they should be. As a result, I didn’t have peace. The storms of life were raging and I felt heavy at heart. I knew that the problem was. I wasn’t “where” I was supposed to be. I was miserable until I was able to move beyond my pride and my self-will and surrender to the will of the Almighty.

God caused a great wind and a mighty tempest in the sea which caused Jonah’s ship to be tossed in such a manner. It felt like it was going to break. In other words, God twist-turned Jonah’s life upside down all because Jonah heard the voice of the Lord and did not hearken to His call. Jonah’s shipmates were afraid. They knew that their vessel was carrying too much weight. They tried tossing unnecessary objects off the ship in their attempts to lighten their load but unbeknownst to them, it was Jonah’s disobedience that really weighed them down.

The assignment that God had for Jonah was too great from him to be hiding out on a ship. He was called to go cry out against the city of Nineveh. I’ve come to learn that some of the most difficult things to do for God are the most important things we’ll do for God. God wants us to come to a place where we trust Him enough to say what not many people want hear (truth), live (holy) how many aren’t willing to live and most of all to be willing to sacrifice (obedience) everything to follow Him.

All the mariners knew was that their ship was sinking. But Jonah knew exactly what the problem was because he was at the root of it. Isn’t it amazing how connected we really are to one another? Isn’t it amazing how our disobedience and refusal to do the will of the Father not only affects us but those around us?

Every time I read this story, I can’t help but to critically analyze everything that takes place. I came to the conclusion that it is a lot easier for us to do what God tells us to do the first time willingly than it is for us to run from God because there is no where we can go that He can not see us. God’s will will be done whether we comply or not. God will get the glory.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19-20)

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

"...And I Thought You Were A Christian."

2008-10-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hate is a strong word that I try not to use. But if I was to use the word, I would say that I HATE it when I hear people (especially Christians) tell someone that they thought someone else was a Christian when they see them behaving in a manner that is unbecoming of a Christian. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we should pray for our sisters and brothers if we see them headed the wrong way and not cast judgment. If after praying for the individual, we feel led to speak on the matter we should do so with love and kindness. After all, there was a time at which all of us were on the wrong path so we should learn to treat others as we would like to be treated. Had it not been for Jesus showing us love and kindness, where would we be? After all, we were commanded by Jesus Himself to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34).

It is true that to be a Christian means that we are striving to be like Christ. In our striving to be more and more like Jesus, there are some behaviors that we should no longer exhibit (2 Corinthians 5:17). However we must remember that no one is perfect and as long as we are in this flesh we are going to have our trials and tribulations. The Word tells us that the sprit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). This is why we must pray so that we don’t enter into temptation. We must learn to walk in the spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. There are some of us still struggling with the “walking” part so those of us who are a little stronger must remember to bear the infirmities of the weak. We must always be ever mindful of where God has brought us from. Just because God delivered you and me from certain bondages does not mean that the next individual has overcome those areas in their life. Besides, none of us have arrived yet (Philippians 3:14). So instead of judging others, we should show them mercy if we expect to receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). I’m not saying that we should excuse their behavior because they are going through a tough time but we should never question whether or not someone is truly a follower of Christ just because they may have stumbled, slipped or even fallen. Words do hurt. We can literally kill ministries and individual spirits by acting like “church folk” instead of Christians.

Many times we see people headed the wrong way, drifting out of fellowship with the Body of Christ and with God and we say nothing. We figure that it’s none of our business. We tell ourselves that they know the truth and whenever they are ready to come to senses and back to the Lord that they know what to do. But, we are living in a time where people are checking out of here left and right. Sadly enough, many of them are not saved or not in right standing with the Lord. So my sisters and brothers, I ask you to pray one for another, pray for me and reach out to those that are not behaving in a godly manner all the more. We need to all come together and put aside divisions, strife, denominations, and most of all judgment.

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

Just me and Him

2008-10-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, it has been nearly a month since I last blogged. There has just been so much going on lately. My baby sister got married, I've been on vacation and I've gotten a promotion since we've last talked. As busy and exciting as my life has been lately, none of the reasons I have listed are the the real reason why I haven't been blogging.

You see there comes a time when you are constantly hearing your own voice or reading your own writing that you need to just sit back and listen and hear what the Spirit has to say. I've come to learn that everything that God tells us is not for us to share with everyone. Some things that He tells us are for our ears only. God has been good to me. He has blessed me beyond all I can imagine. So I decided to take some time off of my blogging just to hear what He had to say to me.

Generally, I share most of my daily devotions with the world and at times God has allowed me to do this to help encourage others but I opened my eyes and found myself in a place one day where I was the one that needed the encouragement. It was during this time that I had to listen and learn as I tried to understand what it was that I was to do next. I haven't forgotten about all of my "online community" but I had to take a little break. I'm sure you understand. I want to say "thank you" to those of you that e-mailed and checked on me to see why I've been so quiet lately. I appreciate your concerns and your prayers. I promise to post again soon and until we speak again, please pray for me as I continue to pray for you.

Be blessed as you always are.

Why Ask Why

2008-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Why can’t I have peace? Why can’t I rest?
I pray and I tithe, when will I be blessed?
Why do I have to fight, why am I always at war?
Why is it that when I am right, I am persecuted all the more?
Why isn’t this easy? Why is this life so tough?
Why does no one believe me? Why do I want to give up?
Why can’t I quit, why do I strive?
When the world is against me, how do I survive?

It’s not because I’m good. It’s because of His mercy.
How he shields me from everything that tries to hurt me.
It’s not because I am powerful. It’s not because I have might.
It’s because I let go and let God – It’s not my fight.
It’s not because I’m sinless or because I do no wrong.
It’s because He that is in me is mighty, powerful and strong.

If Jesus is my portion, how can I be distressed when I can go to a place in the Lord and find rest?
If I have all the answers why am I clueless? If I know the right path, why must I go through this?
Why is the flesh so weak, why does it war against spirit?
Why is the truth so easy to speak and so hard to hear it?

Why? Why? Why? I’ll understand by and by.
Well when will that be? Meanwhile I’m battling hate, jealousy and envy?
When? When? When?
When my enemies are all around me and I’m left without a friend?

I know that I am not alone because He is always by my side.
He is my love, my ears and my guide.
He is the source of my strength joy hope and love. When I look for my help I set my eyes above.

Help me to be patient as I am waiting.
Help me to be quiet in the midst of the riot.
Help me to call you and only you. Help me to trust me to get me through.
I know you hear me because you said you would never leave me or forsake me and you are sending all these trials to build me not to brake me.

So I say thank you. Thank you for the sun, thank you for the rain. Thank you for my health, thank you for my pain. Thank you for my change and you being the same.
Why ask why and why complain?

Lift It Out

2008-09-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

“Lift it Out”
(2 Kings 6 1-7)

Elisha and the prophets were on their way to Jordan because their meeting place was too small. Along the way, they began to cut down trees. One of their axe heads fell into the water. Now remember back then, axe heads were usually tied onto wooden sticks with strings.

The man cried out “Oh. My Lord” and explained that the axe was borrowed. Elisha stuck out his stick into the water and it began to float. The man called on the Lord because the axe that he was using didn’t belong to him. It was loaned to him and he was expected to return it.

Right now, a lot of us are “on our way to Jordan”. We decided that we were not comfortable we were so we decided to move. We decided that we wanted to expand our territory. It may be spiritual, financial, economical or whatever the case may be but we decided that our “space was too small”.

I just want you to know that along the way you will experience adversities. You may even begin to sink but do as the man in the illustration did and cry out “Oh My Lord” and you too will begin to float. Who ever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In this story an iron fixture began to float. Iron doesn’t float. It just doesn’t happen. Its chemical makeup will not allow it to. But God came to do the impossible. Regardless of the statistics or the odds against you – God is able to save your sinking situation. All you have to do is invite him in.

There is no situation that can weigh you down so far that He can not lift you up out of it.!

Once the axe head began to float, Elisha told the man to “Lift it Out”.

That’s what we must do. We must move when it’s time for us to elevate. During our move and facing adversities, we must call on our present help in time of trouble to rescue us. Once He sticks His power into the situation we must be prepared to see the way He is making for us.

Finally, once we have His direction, we should lift ourselves “out” of the situation. Remove yourself out of the stress, the depression, the debt, the abusive relationship, etc.. The man didn’t get into the water to retrieve his axe head. He removed his axe head from the water.

This short story is symbolic. Sometimes, we think that in order to straighten out a situation we need to “get to the bottom of the situation”. No we do not! It is not our job to immerse ourselves in the cares of the world. Just call him and “Lift it out”.

Have You Ever Missed God?

2008-09-24T06:58:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you what happened to me today... For a few weeks now (actually longer than that) I have been asking God questions - mainly the same one over and over again and waiting for Him to answer. During my waiting period, I discussed the matter with others whenever the opportunity presented itself. I didn't go around asking people how they thought they would handle the situation but whenever they mentioned it - I talked, talked, talked and then talked some more about it. It got to the point where I didn't have a problem but the problem had me. I know I should have just left the matter between me and God but I didn't.

Anyway, today I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired and said to God that I needed to Hear Him clearly and if I didn't hear from Him I had no clue what I would do. I started not to go to service like I do every Tuesday afternoon just because I had so much on my mind and knew today was the 2nd of 3 weeks of prayer. I didn't want to be called on to pray like I always am (I know that's not right...). I just wanted to hear a word from the Lord. Anyway, I reasoned that if the minister asked if anyone wanted special prayer that I would get some. Afterall, I felt myself beginning to grow week.

They hardly ever call for special prayerduring this particular service although there is always someone there to pray for you before and after service if you need it.. But thank God the offer was extended today. I got into the prayer line reasoning within myself that I wouldn't be specific about my request. When my turn approached in the line the minister stopped, anointed my head with oil, stared at me and said that she heard the voice of God told her to tell me to obey Him and not man. She said that God told her to tell me to listen to Him and His voice.

I just laughed to myself because I have been asking Him all week to let me hear "His undeniable voice". I expected God to speak to me on my terms. I wanted Him to litterally blot it out and make it crystal clear to me what His will was concerning the matter. Not only did I want Him to do this but I also wanted Him to do it exactly as He always had. Thank God it's not about my will but His will. He knows what's best.

When God had to show me once again that He is not Burger King and I can't always have it my way right away, I became disappoined and felt that God was stringing me alone holding the answers and making me wait. Then once again, He checked me. He had me to recall the the bible story in 1 Kings 19:11-13 where Elijah was on the run going through a tough time and waiting to hear from God. He was looking for God in earthquakes, mountains and winds but when God finally did come it was in a still, small voice. I too thought that because my problem seemed so big that I needed God to do something big but the smallest Word from the Lord is bigger than any problem.

The preacher's statement caused me to sit back, think how many times has God clearly spoken to me and I missed it because I was looking for thunder and lighting.... deep isn't it?

Have you ever missed God because He didn't come like you expected Him to come or missed His answer because it wasn't the answer you were looking for?

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com
Now providing typing services

First Lady In Last Place Chapter One

2008-09-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I decided to start a blog dedicated to "writing the enemy's wrongs". In this blog, I promised to share with you the ups and downs on my journey to spead the gospel through my writing. I've actually begun working on my sophmore novel, which is tentively entitled First Lady In Last Place. I'd like to share the first chapter with you. Please keep in mind that this is a rough draft of the first version and I am posting it for feedback only.

Let me know what you think

Chapter One

Contentment In The Valley

2008-09-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philipians 4:10-13 NIV)

In this life, there will be times when we find ourselves in situations and circumstances that we wish we didn't have to endure. The comfort in the matter is that as Born Again, Blood Washed Believers - We don't have to go through them alone. Being saved does not shield us from trouble. But having Christ on our side assures us that whatever life throws our way that we can overcome because He said that we are more than conquerors.

Just this week I was faced with an incredibly difficult decision. The decision I had to make would not just affect me but my family, friends and those closely connected to me. I know my family and friends love me and want the best for me but there are some decisions that we have to make for ourselves. Our loved ones want the best for us and they love us but Jesus loves us more. That's why we are to acknowledge God in all of our ways so that He can direct our paths. As wise and knowledgeable as people may be, they don't know what every part of the puzzle looks like - only God knows.

I've come to the conclusion that there are some things that we are just going to have to go through. When we enlisted in this Christian army, we knew that we were going to have to take some hits. We knew that the enemy wasn't fighting a fair fight but waging a guerrilla warfare. Yet, once immersed in battle we often find ourselves ready to retreat. There is no turning back. There is no time to give way to the enemy. If we give him an inch we'll take a mile. So we have to steadfast firm in what we believe.

Because I know that I can make it with Jesus, those valleys aren't so low anymore. Jesus lifts me up. I may not have everything I want the way I want it but He supplies all of my needs. I stand complete in Him. I may even still physically be in the same place with the same dilemma I was in when I started but spiritually and supernaturally - I'm elevated above it all.

When we find ourselves beginning to grow discouraged and tired in well doing we must remember that the Word of God tells us that we will reap if we faint not. That means that we have to continue to press even when we don't feel like pressing or see an end in sight. That means that we have to learn to be content when everything around us is beginning to look bleak. Only Jesus can give us that contentment in the valley.

I Feel So Much Better Now

2008-08-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

I just love it when I attend a service and leave all stirred up meditating and reflecting on the message that was preached. Today's message preached by Dr. Mary Chapman, the director of EPPOM Ministries was entitled "Get Rid Of The Weight". When she announced the title of the sermon I knew that it was a custom made message from the Lord just for me. Today's post is inspired by the Lord leading me to share my personal reflections on the message preached today.

God has a way of getting our attention and confirming what He has already told us. My prayer this morning was "Lord, help me to truly give it all to you and leave it there." Then, the message at the service today was "Get Rid Of The Weight". This was no coincidence. You see, for a while I had been holding onto some unnecessary weights. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I felt so drained and was having such a hard time making my way to the next level but it became clear to me this afternoon that I was having such a difficult time moving forward because I had so many things weighing me down and slowing down my progress. The devil IS a liar. I will go forth in Jesus' name!

It's really easy for us to tell other people to "let go and let God" or to "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" but sometimes we get so caught up in everything going on around us and trying to remedy every problem that we forget to take heed to our own advice. I wasn't able to hear the entire message but I believe the Lord blessed me to hear just enough to cause me to examine myself and make some necessary changes. The Word of God should take residence in our spirits and cause us to want to make some changes.

We cannot effectively lift one another up in prayer or in any other capacity if we ourselves are heavy ladened and burdened but thanks be to God that Jesus came to give us rest Matthew 11:28.

As I listened to the message I thought about all the many new directions I had been being pulled in. I have my family concerns, ministry concerns and business to handle with the books I have been writing. I had friends with problems, relatives with problems and siblings that insist on having destination weddings every few months. In all of this, I began to spend an excessive amount of time trying to figure out how I was going to be everywhere and everything for everyone that I forgot that all I needed to do was to focus on my primary role as a Child Of God and allow God to take care of the rest. I was so engulfed with trying to get things done that I forgot to simply surrender and say "Thy will be done".

I had so many places to be at one time and so many responsibilities to take care of that I felt there just weren't enough hours in a day. Imagine that: me thinking that God had not created enough hours in a day when He told us that He would supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory - "all" means that He has even given me ample time to take care of everything that I needed to take care of. Perhaps I should have changed my prayer long ago from asking God to give me more time or more resources to teach me to be a better steward over that which He has already given me. God is not going to add increase when we aren't properly managing what He has already given us (See Matthew 25:21).

(Some of us are quick to quote that scripture when we are thinking of material or monetary needs but what about time and patience? "All" means everything.)

The whole point was that some of the things that "I needed" to take care of were not really things that I "needed" to take care of. We have responsibilities here on earth but we also have a responsibility to heed the advice we are given in the 12Th chapter of the book of Hebrews which reads: "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," (see Hebrews 12:1-2).

It is a sin to worry. When we worry, we are in essence lacking the faith that God is who He said that He is. God is The Great "I AM". The bible tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). So not only was I weighed down with all the many cares of the world but I was also sinning by worrying because God doesn't want me to worry but to believe and seek Him in everything as He is a rewarder to those the diligently seek after Him.

The preacher was definitely hitting close to home as she ministered. And you know what? It is well with my soul. I thank God that she was obedient to the voice of the Lord and preached Get Rid Of The Weight from Hebrews 12:1-2 because I was liberated by the message. I already knew that God had the situation under control but me being the oldest child and a mother, I tend to try to "make things" happen and I can't always do that. I came to the realization that I could not continue to profess with my mouth that it was all in God's hands and in my mind still try to makes plans and preparations. After all works without faith is dead.

So whatever you may be going through emotionally, financially or mentally that seems like it's too much to bear - let it go. I have and it sure feels good. Maybe you've tried to let it go but you just can't seem to truly hand it all over to the Lord, I'll agree with you in prayer right now that the un-forgiveness, stress, worry, doubt, fear, etc. are all gone in Jesus' name. If you don't feel comfortable with a public post, you can also e-mail me at shanitawaters@waterplantgrowth.com.

If this post had an audio clip, I would probably be singing the old hymn " I feel better so much much better as I lay my burdens down..."

So as I close this post but never my prayers for you remember that it is not the will of the father for us to have overwhelming and stressful lives but that we may have life and have it more abundantly.

Blessings!

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com
Now offering Manuscript Typing Services

"Tell Me Your Business So I Can Pray For You"

2008-08-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

“I need to get up in your business so that I will know what to pray about”. This was one of the most disturbing statements I’ve ever heard a minister of the gospel stand up and make before a congregation (and I’ve heard my share of disturbing comments in church). Needless to say, I didn’t share my prayer requests with him but instead I began to pray for him and those that believed what he said to be true. During the following service, this minister preached about some of the things he learned when the members shared their prayer requests. Through this and experiences like it, I’ve come to learn the hard way that you can’t share everything with every body – not even your minister. There are some things that we have to go to God directly about for ourselves.

As Christians we are able enter into the presence of God and commune with Him on our own behalf (Hebrews 10:19-22) . Although it is a blessing to have other Christians willing to pray for us and with us, we must remember to pray for ourselves. In the Old Testament, we needed someone to offer sacrifices go to God on our behalf but now we have free access to boldly approach God because we are cleansed through the blood Jesus shed for us. Not only are we able to go to God whenever and wherever we want to, but the Holy Spirit is constantly praying on our behalf for all of our needs - even those that we don’t even realize that we have (Romans 8:26). Unfortunately, many Christians forget this when a problem arises. At times of weakness they turn to man instead of God for direction. God does not want us to rely on our own reasoning or the reasoning of others. He wants us to seek Him first in everything and He will give us instruction (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Perhaps the problem is that we don’t want to wait for instruction. We live in an era where everything is instant. We have computers everywhere and I believe that we sometimes forget that God is not a computer. We think we can input the problem and within seconds, He will output the solution. Sometimes God will answer us immediately. Other times God wants us to be still and know that He is God. Sometimes God wants us to go through some tests so that He can bring us out with a testimony that he may be glorified. When we don’t get instant answers, some of us have a tendency of thinking that maybe someone else can pray a prayer or get their prayer through more quickly so we end up petitioning everyone else to petition God on our behalf when all we needed to do was ask in faith and wait on God in the first place. Then after we share everything with everyone, we’re hurt when people mask their nosiness as concern and delve into our personal lives. That’s what happened in the congregation after the minister told the people that he needed to get in their business so that he would know what to pray about instead of praying that God’s will would be done or praying as he was led by the Spirit of God.

Some people believe that because a man or woman of God may have a title or stand in a certain office in the church that God will answer their prayers more quickly than their own. In turn, they end up feeding people (like the minister I mentioned earlier) some of their inner-most problems and concerns. Some Christians cannot resist the temptation to share information that you may consider to be sacred. God is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t matter if you are a bishop or a lay member – you can go to God for yourself.

Now, I’m not saying that there is something wrong with having prayer partners or prayer groups. Nor do I believe that all ministers are like the minister that obviously just wanted to know what was going on so that he would have a timely sermon topic. But beware, watch as well as pray because there are people like this out there. Jesus said that we are to pray one for another. He also said that when two or three gathers in His name that He is in the midst (Matthew 18:20). However, if upon evaluation of the time you spend in prayer you realize that the majority the time you spend praying is with a prayer partner or in corporate prayer, please consider spending some one on one time with the Lord where you are unrestricted and can freely talk to Him. Remember prayer is two-way communication with God. He will listen to you but He wants to speak to you as well.

How do you feel about publicly stating your prayer concerns publically? Do you “tell all” or are you like me and keep it real simple with statements like “pray my strength in the Lord” to avoid disclosing personal information? Have you ever had you prayer concern spread throughout your fellowship? Let me know. I’d like to hear from you.

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
Now offering Book Tying Services
www.waterplantgrowth.com

Get Out Of The Way And Follow The Way

2008-08-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

Gospel recording artist, Yolanda Adams makes some of the most meaningful, beautiful, popular Contemporary Christian music around today. My personal favorite is the song entitled Step Aside. The whole idea of the song is that God has everything under control and instead of us interfering; we should simply "step aside" and allow God to work everything out in His time in His way.

It’s really easy for me to listen to the lyrics as they minister to my sprit. I even enjoy singing along. However, when it’s time to apply the lyrics and principles Ms. Adams sings about it’s not always so simple and enjoyable anymore. If you are anything like me, you like to plan ahead. You pray and hope for the best but there’s that small part inside of you that wants to prepare for the worst. You know what God said and what He is able to do but at times you find yourself drafting up a contingency plan just in case God does not answer your prayer as you see fit. This is not the will of the Father. God wants us to fully rely on Him and trust that He knows what’s best for us. His plans for us are good and not of evil.

As I read and meditated on Psalm 46, the very first verse spoke to my spirit. It reads: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (NIV). What does this mean? He is our refuge; our safe place. We can hide ourselves in Him and no one or nothing can touch us. No words can harm us. No ill thoughts can concern us - not even those of our own. Every lie and every scheme that the enemy has concocted will never prosper because God protects us. He is our refuge.

He is our strength. Everything that we are not mentally, physically, emotionally or even financially able to handle – He will handle it for us. All we have to do is step aside and be shielded and protected. This fight is not our fight. We don’t know the enemy’s next move but God does. God is omniscient; He sees all and knows all. Why would we go into a battle blindly that was won over 2000 years ago when we are already victorious in Christ Jesus?

He is an ever-present help in trouble. Because He is an ever-present help that means that there is no reason to worry about how we are going to handle this situation or that situation because we are not it alone. God is with us. And if God is for us, who could be against us? Not only is He with us but He is an “ever-present” help. That means that He won’t run out when the going gets tough. He won’t be there one minute and gone the next. He is in it for the long haul. Whether we want His help or not- He is there.

But why wouldn’t we want His help? That’s easy; we as people like to take matters into our own hands. When we don’t acknowledge God first and wait for His instruction, we end up getting in the way instead of following The Way and interfering with God’s way. Then it takes longer for our change to come because God has to fix the mess we created before He is able to fix the original problem.

As the songwriter says, "while we’re sitting there trying to figure it out Jesus has already worked it out". Jesus is the way the truth and the life. So we need to get out of the way, step aside and follow The Way.

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
visit my site www.waterplantgrowth.com
Now offering typist/transcription services

Lord, Don't Let Me Go!

2008-08-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:"I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:1-3,8)

Can you imagine working on your job for 40 years and suddenly one day being let go for something you done wrong years ago? Can you imagine working hard, serving and sacrificing your self for others only to learn that while everyone else is moving on to the next level that you will not be able to go and partake in the joy with them? How would you feel if after starting a great work or ministry for the Kingdom of God you weren't able to reap the blessings of all of the hard worked you sowed?

Well, this is what happened to Moses. God used Moses to speak to Pharaoh and instruct him to let His people go. He used Moses as the messenger, a judge and a prophet. Moses was also used to deliver the 10 commandments to the Children of Israel and was even appointed to be the leader through the wilderness for 40 years. However because of Moses' disobedience, he was not allowed to cross over into the Land of Canaan. Moses had to pass the torch on to Joshua to carry out the assignment that was originally his and help prepare Joshua for his new assignment. Moses had to do all of this knowing that it was soon time for him to die. Not only did Moses prepare Joshua to posses the Land as the Lord instructed him to, he also encouraged Him in the Lord.

For a lot of us, that would be a difficult task to accept. Some of us may have questioned God, told Him that it wasn't fair and maybe not even wanted to help Joshua feeling that it was our "rightful position" to be the first one into the Promised Land after all the serving we did. But not Moses. Moses understood that although God forgave him, there were still lasting consequences to his actions. (See Numbers Chapter 20)

As believers we must learn to follow the Word of God to the "T", He has given us clear instructions in the 66 books of the bible and through His Holy Spirit which lives in us. When we disobey God, we are in essence telling Him that our way is better. We must move how God tells us to move and when God says to move. Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

So as we seek the Lord and meditate on His Word, let's examine ourselves. We want to be in position and on task. We do not want to labor for the Lord only to find out that we are doing the right thing but the wrong way or in the wrong place.

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
visit my site www.waterplantgrowth.com
Now offering typist/transcription services

I'm Forgiven, Does That Mean I'm Exempt?

2008-08-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

A lot of people seem to think that once we've dedicated our lives to the Lord and started to follow Christ that all is forgiven and the past is magically erased and we are excused from everything we did in our past lives and it's repercussions. It's true that God forgives us and casts our sins into the sea never to bring them up again. However, we still must face the consequences for our actions.

Yesterday my husband and I were sitting in the living room watching TV. We were babysitting for a close friend of ours . Our friend is a Christian and attends church on the regular basis. She brings her son with her during the weekday services as well. Anyway, out of nowhere the child knelt down and began to imitate Muslim prayer. Immediately, we stopped him and told him not to do that knowing that his mother was raising him as a Christian. I thought about it later and questioned whether or not we were out of place for stopping the boy (age 5) from praying but that's another post for another time.

I called his mother and told her what happened and how we responded. She thanked us for stopping him and told us that her ex husband is a Muslim. Since the divorce they had been both trying to teach their son to worship God. The only problem was that our friend serves Jesus Christ, the true and living God. Her ex husband is not a believer.

Later on that evening when our friend came to pick her son up, she explained that she had always been a Christian and was warned many times that she shouldn't marry a man of a different faith because it would cause problems down the line when trying to raise their children. She decided to marry the man regardless of what the bible said, God said, her pastor said and everyone else that cared for her said. Now she has to fight daily to teach her son the truth when he is constantly subjected to Muslim worship when he goes to visit his father on the weekend. Our friend is no longer married to her husband and is forgiven by the Lord for making this ungodly decision and union but she still has to carry this cross of fighting for her son's soul salvation. Not to mention the father has weekend visitation so the boy isn't able to go to Sunday service.

Our friend has remarried since her divorce and had two other children who are being raised in the admiration of the Lord. Her new husband is afraid that her son will be a negative influence on the other children and is very adamant about his wife telling her ex husband to stop teaching the boy his religious beliefs. (This is another post for another time) But the mother really cannot expect to infringe upon someone else's religious beliefs and rights with their child.

This story is just one illustration of how our forgiveness doesn't equal exemption. Are you (or anyone you know) still paying for some sin you've committed from your past that seems to be a huge thorn in your flesh that won't go away? If so, how are you handling it and what advice would you offer others with the same battle?

(By the way, my friend has given me permission to post this story.)

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
visit my site www.waterplantgrowth.com Now offering typist/transcription services

A Good Leader Knows When To Follow

2008-07-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws." Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good.You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. (Exodus 18:14-24 NIV)

I realize that today's scripture selection is a bit lengthy but if you are willing to relax and bear with me for a few minutes, you'll understand why I chose so much text today. Moses was one of the greatest leaders of all times. Yet here, we find that he has a dilemma. It's isn't as easy for him to lead as you or I may have thought it would be even though we know that the Lord was with Him. Often times we make the mistake of believing that our leaders lead us effortlessly and that it has no effect on their personal life or morale. We don't always get to see what goes on behind the scenes. But here God offers us a glimpse of what true leadership is all about.

Jethro, Moses' father in-law enters the scene and immediately he is able to identify the problem. You see, sometimes we can't see the problem because we are so immersed in it. But God will send someone else alone to bring it to our attention. Moses is overwhelmed. At this point in time Moses had not yet learned to delegate responsibilities. As a result, he is spreading himself too thin and is miserable.

Can you recall times in your life when you failed to delegate and suffered as a result of it? Did you or do you feel like you need to handle everything or it won't be right? It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just a reminder to us that we have only gone as far as we have trained our successor to go. We will not be here forever. We don't want what God gave us to die when we die. So we have to raise up others and not be intimidated by new talent. Leaders should want our sucessors to be better than we were.

Moses didn't get offended when his father in law brought his problem to his attention. Also notice that Jethro didn't come to him in a subordinate manner either. He didn't question the leader God placed over him or exalt himself just because he was able to see something that Moses wasn't able to see. Instead he spoke his piece and then told Moses "God be with you". Ultimately, Jethro knew that God's will would be done and didn't want his advice to overshadow God's will.

Moses didn't respond arrogantly. He could have said "Do you know who I am? I am the chosen one". Instead he listened. A good leader has the qualities of God and is quick to listen and slow to speak.This does not mean that he had to accept everything and anything that anyone said to him but he took the time to analyze what was said. Obviously what Jethro said lined up to the vision that God had already given him. People will come to us and offer us all sorts of advice but if what they say or suggest is not on the way to where God is taking you it is just in the way and a distraction.

Jethro told Moses to gather the elders and let them judge over the small matters and bring the bigger ones to him to decide. We can't sweat the small stuff. Nor can we micromanage. An effective leader leads other leaders and knows when to be led. Jethro explained to Moses that once he learned to delegate down that he would have more time to hear from God and deal with some other areas of his life. Moses was a married man with children too. God would not have us to abandon or neglect our natural families.

As I said earlier, I know I can be hard on the leaders at times but it's only because they are leaders for a reason. God does not allow anything to happen just to happen. If you are a leader it is because God allowed it to be so. I believe that we are to all walk worthy of the vocation to which we were called. We are all leaders in one way or another in our lives. Whether you are the devotion leader, a parent, the oldest sibling, a minister or a supervisor we all have people looking up to us just waiting to follow our lead. Let us not become so high minded that we can't listen to anyone. What would have happened had Moses continued on the route he was going, not listened to his father in-law and burned himself out? How much good would he had been to the Children of Israel or his own family? So let's learn from Moses' example and know when to follow as a leader. And by all means, we should ultimately be led by God. We are to follow our leaders as they follow Christ.

Shanita Waters, CEO
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
visit my site www.waterplantgrowth.com
Now offering typist/transcription services

Worship God - Not the Man of God

2008-07-18T09:35:00.001-07:00

I met Mary a while back. (Names have been changed to protect the innocent) We grew to be really good friends. I met her at a point in time in my life where I was lonely and in desperate need of companionship. I knew the Lord and had a personal relationship with Him but I still wanted a tangible friend down here. You all understand that, right? Anyway, Mary offered me a lot of encouragement and was always ready and willing to pray for me anytime night or day.

Somewhere along our relationship, I began to notice that she placed her pastor on a pedestal. At first, I just thought that she highly regarded and respected the man of God, as we all should. But the more she spoke, the more I visited the church and the closer we got - I realized that her admiration was bordering idolization. Mary is a sweet person and I would never want to do or say anything to hurt her but I don't know how much of her glorifying the man of God I can take.

I would like to say that I have met the man and he in no way condones this sort of behavior. What do I do? Do I tell her the truth and risk loosing her friendship or do I continue to avoid her so that I don't have to bite my tongue until it bleeds as she attributes all her blessings in life to being connected to this man?

Have you ever been in a situation like this? What did you do?

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

The Devil Made Me Do It - Or Did He?

2008-07-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:12-15)

How many times have you done or said something that you knew was not becomming of a child of God and afterward jokingly replied that the devil made you do it? How many times have you given into temptation and then blamed everyone around you but yourself? I know I'm guilty of both offenses on countless occassions. However after I stumbled across this scripture I know one thing is for certain, I will not give the enemy any unjust credit anymore. You see, the devil can not make us do anything just as God will not. By us saying that the devil made us do one thing or another, we are calling ourselves the devil because we have free will and are controlled by no one but ourselves.

We are going to be tried. Jesus was tried and tempted but He didn't give in (See Matthew 4).Instead, He fought the enemy with the Word of God. It is druing these time when we feel at our weakest that we are to stand on the Word of God. It is our sword to fight off the enemy. If the enemy can whisper lies to us, why can't we proclaim the Word of God right back to him?

How many times have you blamed God for your shortcommings or reasoned within yourself that if God didn't want it to be so that He wouldn't have allowed it? God can not and will not tempt us with evil. When we do wrong, it's because deep down insde we want to do wrong. The minute the thought runs through our brains and we do not rebuke and dismiss it, we allow that "thing" to grow within us until the point it becomes a desire. Once we desire to do wrong this is sin and ultimately sin seperates us from God and leads to death.

However, we have a choice. When we are tempted we can chose to be blessed or we can chose to give into the lusts of the flesh. We can walk in the Spirit so that we do not fufil the lusts of the flesh and perserver through the temptation or we can surrender to sin.

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

In The Eye Of The Storm

2008-07-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

I took the picture to the right of this post from my seat aboard my very first flight. I flew clear across the country from Pennsylvania to Nebraska. I was very excited about my first flight and attending my brother in-law's wedding. (I love weddings)Everyone I came in contact with during the days before the flight asked me if I was afraid. I wasn't. I replied that God has the whole word in His hand. I reasoned that if He can hold the sun and moon in the sky, surely He could safely carry my plane to and from Las Vegas.

All was well. We boarded the plane and I had an opportunity to sit in the cockpit before the flight and even took pictures with the pilot and co-pilot. It was smooth sailing. The ride there was fine. There was no turbulence, no storms and we even arrived a few minutes ahead of schedule.

The ride home was a different story. The plane had mechanical problems before we took off so our flight was delayed. We flew out in the evening so it grew dark as we flew. Early on in the flight, I knew that things weren't going to be as smooth during this trip as it was on my way out. Before I knew it, it began to storm. the plane rocked from side to side. There was lightening flashing and the plane shook from side to side.

There were times I feared that the plane would go down. Out of no where the pilot would maneuver the vessel on it's right side and then quickly back to the left. We picked up speed, ascended into the air and then abruptly dropped. I began to fear for the worst.

As I began to grow afraid, I did all that I felt I could do at that point in time - I prayed. As I prayed, a scripture came to mind.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

I knew that my fear did not come from God. The enemy wanted me to loose faith that God was in control. the enemy wanted me to fear that the storm would overcome me. It didn't take long before God allowed me to see that although this was my first flight, it wasn't the first time I allowed False Evidence to Appear Real.

When things are going smoothly, we are fine. There is no doubt in our minds that God has everything under control. But when the clouds hang low and the winds and waters rage do we still have the same confidence we had when we started out or do we begin to doubt that God will do what He said He would do?

I sat there on that plane in the middle of the turbulence and realized that if I was ever going to go to a new level in the Lord that I had to fully trust Him - not just when things looked good but unconditionally. I repented for my disbelief and thought back to old Peter walking on the water. I thought back on all the many times I had heard the story taught and taught on the story myself and one common theme for the story was that the minute Peter began took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at what was going on around him - he bagan to sink.

I too began to sink on that plane. When I became consumed with how the pilot was controlling the aircraft. I began to sink in fear forgetting that the Ultimate Pilot was still in control. The bible tells us that we are to talk by faith and not by sight (Romans 1:17. What is faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). For a while, I began to come down on myself pretty hard. I felt shallow, vain and faithless. But I thank God for His word and it being hidden in my heart. I was able to think back on those scriptures and all that God said He is and that He would do. I picked myself up and began to encourage myself in the Lord.

I was able to remember that God created the heavens and the earth. Just as I believed that God had everything under control when it appeared to be under control, I was reassured that was still true.

Have you ever caught yourself loosing heart in the middle of a storm? If so, what and how long did it take you to bounce back?

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

I haven't Arrived Yet But I'm On My Way

2008-07-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 1I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)

Have you ever tried telling your family or friends that now that you are saved there are some things you just don't do anymore? Has anyone ever tried to bring your past up and remind you of what you used to do and wonder why you are so "above" some of the things you used to do?

If so, how did this make you feel? If you are anything like me, it would have made you feel as if they thought that you saw yourself as better than them. We as Christians know that we are better than no one and that we have not yet arrived. Nevertheless, we cannot revert back to our old ways just because our loved ones can't understand that we are seeking to reach higher heights in the Lord.

It's somewhat of a difficult position to find yourself in. On the one hand you want them to understand that you are still "down to earth". But on the other hand you want them to understand that you stand for Jesus so you won't fall for the same old tricks that the enemy used to trip you up with. So what do you do?

I'll tell you want you do, continue to press for the Mark Of The Prize which is Christ Jesus. This means that as the scripture says you have to "put those former things behind you". Former things can be people, places and things that hinder your progress.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).

Remember that these people are not intentionally trying to become a stumbling block to you (for the most part). They are human and humans are used what I like to call "the constants" in life. If you were constantly drinking, smoking, and sinning with them - they will expect you to always be their partner in crime but once you decide to take a Stand for Christ, you have to do just that - STAND.

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:3-5)

To some people you may be the only Jesus they know or see. We are ambassadors for Christ. Now as we are the Light of the World we have to be careful to both let our lights shine and remain humble. We can not forget where we came from. Never become so holy that you are of no earthly good. To do so would be to miss your mark. We are to go out into the hedges and highways and compell men and women to come in. You attract more flys with honey. Jesus said that it is with love and kindness that He drew us. We must afford others the same Fruits of the Spirit.

The Apostle Paul in this text says ( inlay terms): I don't know everything but I do know one thing and that is that i have to let some stuff go. Some behaviors just cannot coexist with my walk with the Lord so I have to move on and put them behind me. I can't just stop there in putting them behing me but I have to do something as well. I have to press. That means never give out, never give in and most of all - and never give up!

If along they way you should feel that your journey is complete remember: it isn't over until you hear Him say "Wll done they good and faithful servant....enter into my joy"

Have you ever felt like those around you just didn't understand your convictions? Have you ever felt like you (or someone you know) crossed the line between spiritual and religious? If so, let me know. I'd like to hear from you.

Blessings,
Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

Fatality of Familiarity

2008-07-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

This post was actually inspired by a post I read by pickwick12 entitled Spiritual Amnesia. As I read the awesome post and comments, I too began to realize how much I can be like the Children of Israel and how easy it is for me to read about them and see all of their faults not even realizing that we are all a lot like them today. We may not erect Gods in the form of golden calves but we do allow a lot of things to come before God. Therefore, we idolize these things. Idolatry is idolatry whether or not it is intentional. Anything or anyone we allow to come between or before our relationship with God is our idol and with this, God is not pleased. He is a jealous God and will have no one or no thing before Him.

I thought about idolatry for a while. Then I began to think about life as a mother, wife, employee, author, etc. and all the many hats I wear and how little time I have left for me. I thought about how little time I actually have to sit back and reflect on all that God has done and is doing for me. I thought about how life was before I had so many responsibilities when I was at home all day. I thought about how life was before I got so involved with the church and had more time for my family and myself. Then I began to remember a statement my pastor used to say: "only what you do for Christ will last". I quickly came to my senses and began to thank God for making me ruler over more than I had before and for trusting me with His work. (Being a mother a mother and wife is a ministry in itself but that's another topic for another day).

What I want to talk to you (briefly) about is how fatal familiarity can be. This Christian walk can get lonely at times. We know that Jesus said that He would be with us until the ends of the earth and that He will never leave us or forsake us but there are times when we don't see God moving or we don't understand why He is moving the way that He is. It is during these times when we as humans feel the need to go back to what we know. Even though our former lives were a shipwreck without Christ, we knew what to expect. And sometimes, even if just for a moment we miss that. I believe that this familiarity is what caused the Children of Israel to prefer to be slaves to Pharaoh then to allow God to lead them into the Promised Land. What are we allowing to hold up our blessings? What's keeping us from going to the next level in God?

If we were asked if we would prefer to be slaves or follow Jesus I'm sure that we would all chose the latter but would we really? When we chose to sin or to go back to what felt good, sounded good, and was "familiar" it can be fatal to our relationship with God. When we chose to go back, we chose to go back to being slaves to sin. The bible tells us in Galations 5:1 that we are to "standfast" in the liberty in which Christ has made us free and not to be entangled again with the yokes of bondage. Sin is bondage. Our lives before Christ was slavery. Satan himself was the Pharaoh.

So now, as I examine myself I invite you all to do the same. Who or what are you allowing to delay your destiny? what is the one thing about your pre-saved life that calls you back (answer this one internally)? Do you agree that there is fatality in familiarity? I want to hear from you...

Salvation - Can it Be Lost?

2008-07-02T07:06:00.001-07:00

I am blessed to be friends with many men and women of God scattered across the broad spectrum of denominations (and nondenominational) within Christianity. I enjoy talking with them and discussing the scriptures and how they apply to daily life. I do not debate the Word of God. For the most part, we always agree. However there are some topics where we don't exactly see eye to eye. One of those topics is whether or not one can loose their salvation.

We were having a hypothetical discussion about whether or not an individual was in danger of loosing their salvation and perishing. Here's the scenario. (Please note that we were not judging this hypothetical individual but simply discussing how the Word of God applies to daily Christian living)

Johnny accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 12. He was baptized and grew up in the church. As he got older, he decided he no longer wanted to attend church regularly. He left the church in his early 20's. He began to drink, do drugs, steal and kill. He never repented or ceased his behavior. Then one day Johnny tries to rob the wrong liquor store and is shot to death in the process.

The question is: Is Johnny's salvation secured because he accepted the Lord as a child or did he "loose his salvation" somewhere along the way? We were literally divided on this topic. For one, as people we have no heaven or hell to place anyone in and we often feel uncomfortable when asked these sorts of questions knowing all that God has done for us, we don't want to appear judgemental because we don't want to be judged.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1)

Many misinterpret this scripture to mean that you can't judge but you can. Note, the scripture immediately following says:

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Matthew 7:2)

We are supposed to use the Word of God to judge every aspect of our lives and to correct that which shouldn't be. The measure that we use should be the Word of God.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

Back to our discussion about Johnny. Many Christians believe that because Johnny accepted the Lord that he is once saved - always saved. They believe that according to John 3:16 he shall not perish.

Then there are those that believe that we are called to be holy because God is holy. They believe that once we are saved, God will not allow us to continue to sin and still be secure in our salvation. In other words, they believe that our grace will run out. These Christians believe that if you are truly saved that you are new and will walk in the newness of life.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4)

I do not believe that one can "loose their salvation". I believe that you are either saved or you aren't. Salvation that is lost was not salvation in the first place. I believe that when God says whosoever believes shall not perish but have everlasting life in John 3:16 that He meant it. Therefore, if you believe that Jesus died for your sins so that you could live forever you will walk in the newness of life.

Now none of us are perfect. Romans 3:23 tells us that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I'm not saying that you will be perfect. What I am saying is that you will strive to please God. When we fall short, we will repent, get up and start all over again. We are not perfect because we are saved. If we could be perfect on our own, Jesus would never have had to go to the cross. On the same note, because Jesus went to the cross and rose on the 3rd day ee now have access to the same power which raised Him from the dead. We have access to His Holy Spirit.

I believe that it is impossible to stay saved without the Holy Spirit abiding in us. When I say Holy Spirit I don't mean the outward appearance that many demonstrate with the dancing and speaking in other tongues. Anyone can behave this way even without truly having the Spirit of God. I mean God dwelling in us leading us and guiding us to all truth and righteousness.

Now back to Johnny. I believe that Johnny was never saved in the first place. It is not impossible to go to church week in and week out (in some cases for years) and not be saved. Salvation is a spiritual thing. It's an eternal thing. So is damnation. If you are not secure in your salvation you have time today to get it right with God. He loves us and wants us to be secure in our eternal future. Let's not be unsure. Let's not let Him return and find us with our works undone. We don't want to be like Johnny and die in a state where we are out of fellowship with God or living a sinful life that is displeasing to Him.

Now, here's the interesting part. What are your views? Do you think that salvation can be lost? Where do you think (according to the Word of God) is Johnny's eternal destination? I want to hear from you.

Blessings,
Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

2 Chronicles 7:14 Humble to Heal

2008-06-27T06:01:00.001-07:00

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.
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

For the past few days the Lord has consistently been speaking to me through this one scripture in particular. I began to ask the Lord, "Lord what is it that you are trying to tell me through this scripture?" I understood (or so I thought I did) what it meant in essence or theologically speaking but as we know, this Christian Walk is a personal walk so I began to ask God what it is that he wanted me to take away from this scripture. I wasn't seeking the Lord for a post or a sermon but for some words to impact my own life. He told me to slow down, relax, clear my mind and meditate on it for a while and in His time He would make it known unto me.

You see, when I ask God for clarity or direction I don't always get an instant answer. God wants us to meditate on His word. When we aren't meditating as much as He wants us to, He has a way of getting our attention and causing us to seek Him as we should. Sometimes God will answer me right then and there on the spot, other times I believe He is testing me to see how badly I really want to hear what the Spirit has to say and how humbly I will submit myself to His will once I am still and quiet long enough to hear it.

I realized that I had allowed the cares of the world and everyday life to cut into my private devotional time. I repented, pulled out my spiritual silverware and began to feast on this here Word of God. God began to speak and I began to listen. As I did I broke the scripture down line by line. This is what He is show ing me:

"If My people, which are called by my name"

Okay. The first thing I had to do was define His people that were called by His name. Who are His people? We all may say or think that we are "His people" but are we really?

2 Corinthians 2:16 reads

what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Here God was showing me that in order to be called His people we have to be in agreement with the ways and statues of the Lord. We must be filled with His Spirit, the The Holy Spirit. Once we believe, receive and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost, then God will live in us as His people. If we do not have the Spirit of God we are none of his (Romans 8:9).

God promised to hear, heal and forgive HIS people. I don't want to get ahead of myself but in order for us to receive his healing, we must truly be His people. Not only must we be His people but we must be His humble people. Which brings me to the next part of the scripture.

strong>"..shall humble themselves.."

Why must we be humble? Well, for one. Jesus said that if we humble ourselves He will exalt us in due season. Also, we risk facing destruction by being proud or high minded.

This is what Proverbs 16:18-19 has to say about pride and humility:

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

As I meditate on God and all that He tells us that He is in Exodus 20:5, I would think that God as the creator of all things who has already told us that He is a jealous God, does not approve in us operating in our own power or our own strength. When we do such, we are in essence saying that we don't need Him. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are instructed to lean not to our own understanding but to acknowledge Him in all of our ways. When we are proud, we tend acknowledge and accredit ourselves. We are not omniscient like God is. We can't see the unseen. Therefore, only being able to see what God allows us to see we don't have enough information to operate in our own strength like God does. Inevitably, we will interfere with God's plan and delay our own progress if we act on impulse and not the leading of the Holy Ghost.

How do we allow the Holy Ghost to lead us? We ask him. Which brings us to the next directive in the scripture:

"and pray," Why must we pray? Because we need to hear from God. Prayer is communication with God. It is not one sided. As you petition God, you must also allow Him the time and space to speak back to you. Jesus told us to pray. He said that men ought to always pray and not to faint. If we don't pray, we will faint or loose heart. We will not be able to stand if we do not pray. God doesn't just want us to pray but He also said

"and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways"

As you see, we can not continue in our wicked ways and seek the face of the Lord at the same time. Either we are for Him or against Him. There is no in between gray area. There is no purgatory. Heaven or Hell.

There has to be a change. Once we truly come to know the Lord and experience His power for ourselves. We can't continue to live in sin. He won't allow us to. We have free will but conviction will not allow us to knowing the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. (Romans 6:1-2)

Realize that God wants to heal us but before the healing begins, He wants us to do some things first. The latter part of the scripture is dependant upon the former.

"then will I hear from heaven,"
Until we humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, God will not even listen to what we have to say. In fact God can not even hear our prayer if we hide iniquity in our hearts. (Psalm 66:18)

and will forgive their sin,

Notice here that that God said He will forgive their (our) sins. He didn't say some sins or list any exceptions. But He said that then He will forgive "sin". There is no sin that we can commit that He can not forgive us for. Why? Because we are His people which are called by His name. He is just and able to forgive us of all of our sins. He sent His son here to die for us just so that we could be reconciled back to us. It is not the will of the Father that we perish but that we have life everlasting (John 3:16)

and will heal their land

"Heal the land". What does this mean? Is it a physical thing, an emotional thing, spiritual thing or perhaps a natural thing? What did God mean when He said that He would heal the land? We know that people of that time were dependant upon the natural land; their crops and their livestock. Therefore, if they did not take care of their land, they would risk starving or not having the means to survive comfortably.

I believe that the word "land" here represents our natural location, state of mind, spiritual state and even our physical state. God wants to heal the whole person. Man is made up of mind, body and spirit. If our minds and thinking are distorted so will our speech be. If we are suffering from emotional scars and wounds, it is very likely that we will in turn hurt others. If we are struggling to let go of the past and don't learn from it, we are doomed to repeat it. Therefore, we need God to heal "the land". We need Him to go to the root of the matter and heal from the inside out.

Once we humble ourselves, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, God is then able to hear us, forgive us and heal us in every area of our life. Remember, healing is not just an emotional or physical thing. There is healing available to the whole man (or woman).

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

What if we were flipped inside out?

2008-06-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. (Matthew 23:25-26)

We live in a culture today where image is everything. What if your image isn’t popular? What if your personality or practices are not in line with what you preach? Then what? Do you seek more of God’s anointing so that your behavior exemplifies what you teach or do you simply mask your faults and shortcomings? The Pharisees chose the latter. They thought it would be easier to clean the outside up and “talk the talk” and men wouldn’t realize that they were spiritually dead on the inside. Their followers didn’t realize but one day, Jesus himself approached them and called them on it. Just as they had to give account for their hypocritical double standards - WE too will one day have to give account for everything we do and say. Jesus is always watching even when no one else is looking.

What they failed to realize is that if you begin the purging and cleansing process on the inside - then it is bound to work its way through to the outside. I imagine that they never thought that everything that they did in the dark would come into the light. They wore their priestly garments, taught and prayed in the synagogue. But what kind of thoughts did they think? What did they hide in their hearts? They looked good on the outside. They talked the right talk but God judges the heart. Man judges the outer appearance. They couldn’t fool God.

We can quote all the scripture we like, memorize all the bible verses and give the biggest offerings in the congregation but if your heart isn’t right - you are only pleasing man and your ego. God is not impressed with your good works and holy talk if your heart isn’t right. It doesn’t matter if your skirt is dragging the ground and your bible is marked up the most if you aren’t “walking it out” and applying it in your daily life. Otherwise, you are merely tripping over your skirt with a well-colored book.

If we were to be flipped inside out, would God be pleased at what he saw? Would we still be so saved and sanctified?

So now we must all examine ourselves and pose this serious question: Am I being cleansed from the inside out or am I merely scratching and polishing the surface so that it looks good?

I have to give it how I get it. Stay encouraged.

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

TESTimony

2008-06-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. (John 9:1-3 NIV)

Do you have setbacks and inadequacies? Are you a little different than the rest? Do you often wonder why must you go through so many trials and tribulations? Do you feel like you are the only one going through? Do you ever find yourself wondering what you did wrong or find yourself simply crying out “why me"?

Well, I am here to tell you that you are going through so that you can get through and your Father in heaven can be glorified. The word tells us that we are overcomers, more than conquerors and great because He that it in us is great. But if you had no obstacle and no battles what would you overcome? What would you conqueror?

The blind man in the text was born without sight. The people reasoned that it was a curse of the Lord that deemed him as such. However, we know that he was made blind so that Jesus could restore his sight. You are poor so that he can make you rich, alone so that He can comfort you, sick so that he can heal you and suffering so that He can allow you to reign with him. This is only a test that you are going through so that you can come out with the TESTtimony and God can be glorified.

Jesus said if He be lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him. So as you go through know that all things work together for the good of those that love God. This is all for your good and more importantly for His glory.

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

WAIT - DON'T HATE!

2008-06-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land (Psalms 37:7-9 NIV)

Is it just me or does it seem like cheaters are always winning? Does it appear to you that when there is much work to be done that you are often left alone holding the bag? Does it seem that you are always facing opposition from those that should be working together with you? Continue to do good as God promised that you will inherit the Earth and everything in it. All that the wicked is storing up for themselves will ultimately be yours anyway. That means regardless of who is for you or against you – God is on your side and you are therefore never alone. Wait patiently for God. Do not be afraid because the day of the wicked is coming. They may succeed in their way but as long as you are walking after the ways of the Lord – you will be victorious and prosperous because we serve a victorious, glorious and rich God.

There is no need to be angry or to retaliate because vengeance belongs to the Lord. You can’t handle the situation like God can. We don’t have the wisdom that He has so we have to let go and let God work it out for our good but to His glory. When you begin to feel that the wicked are doing better than you are in the natural – think about the spiritual and the long term. They may be flourishing in the here and now. However this is just temporal and we must always be conscious of and pressing toward the eternal hope that we have in Jesus. Don’t be weary in well doing for you will reap in due season just as long as you do not faint. Don’t be like them wait – don’t hate.

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed Peek Inside
www.waterplantgrowth.com

Depise Not Small Beginnings

2008-06-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

Don't worry. I won't make this post nearly as long as some of the others. It actually too me two days to write one of them. Of course, I didn't sit there for two days straight typing but with all the hustle and bustle and book promotion, I kept getting interrupted. Thank God this program auto saves your work for you. I can't imagine having to start all over again every time I was pulled away from my computer. If any new bloggers out there in "Blogger World" are reading this, here's a useful tip for you: If you know you are too busy to sit and jot down all of your thoughts in one sitting but you still want to blog, you can always begin and come back as often as you need to until you are able to finish.

In my time of being disrupted, I was able to meditate on the Word God had given me just a little bit longer. So I thank Him for the distractions, after all - "all things work together to the good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28) .

Anyway, I want to talk a little bit about "small beginnings" today. As people - more specifically American people, we like numbers. Whenever we want to evaluate our progress or our regressions, we often like to find a numeral value to rate our achievements. I too, found myself trying to find a numerical value on the success on how well I was walking in the direction that the Lord has been pulling me in. As most of you know, I recently published my debut novel, By His Stripes We Are Healed and sales haven't been going as well as I had planned. You see, I thought all there was to being an author was simply writing a good book and waiting for people to knock my door down to buy it. Well I have to tell you he truth, it doesn't work that way all the time.

Let me back up a minute and tell you that I didn't just up and write a book one day because I wanted to. I was commissioned to write this book. God would not let me have peace about it until I shared the message that He had given me. Anyway, I published the book and sales were really slow at first. I didn't even think I would recoup the money I spent on editing, marketing and publishing. Then all of a sudden, a few ladies that loved to read and loved to talk even more read my book and my phone was ringing off the hook. I wasn't complaining. I was packing up books, delivering books, dropping them off - whatever it took. But after a couple hundred copies, I felt everyone I knew and everyone they knew had already read my book. Then I began to persue book signings.

My first book signing was at a conference. there may have been 100 people at this particular conference. I only sold 3 books. I was devastated. I felt defeated and ultimately I felt like because I sold so few books that I was now stagnant and no longer making and progress. I thought of quiting and just writing blogs to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The next day as I was on my way home, I heared the Lord tell me "Despise not small beginnings". Hearing that quickened my spirit and gave me the determination to continue to do that which He called me to do. I am sharing this with you to tell you that no matter how bleak the situation may look or how much you may feel like you are not progressing as long as you are doing that which God has called you to do - you cannotfail.

Someone, somewhere is beginning to grow tired and feeling like it is all in vain but it isn't. The relatives that we have been praying for will be saved. Our finances are increasing and all that we prayed for and asked for (that's in the will of God) will come to pass. Are you feeling discouraged in some area of your life? Are you beginning to wonder if it is all worth it. If so, I encourage you to look to the hills from which your help comes. If not, I encourage you to stay encouraged.

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, author www.waterplantgrowth.com

Am I Able to Give?

2008-06-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you; leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
(Matthew 5:23-24)

You can’t give God anything if you harbor bitterness, envy, and ill-will in your heart. You cannot offer any service to the Lord, if you are holding onto a grudge. This does not mean that God cannot ever use you. He has given us the opportunity to go back and make amends with that person that wronged us or used us and then we are able to bless God. God doesn’t bless mess and he cannot be blessed by mess. As children of God, we naturally want to please our father. Although, it pleases the Lord for us to be of service to him and those that he has placed over us, he is more concerned with our inner-self. God is more concerned with our hearts than He is with how we may look to others or how happy our gifts make others feel. We must always give with a clear conscience.

What does this mean to us? That means that if we really want to bless God and be of service to the body of Christ, we need to make peace with our sisters and brothers. How can we love God whom we have never seen yet walk past our brother and sister everyday whom we do see and never speak to them? Does that make sense? No, it doesn’t. What does make sense is that the alter is a place of sacrifice. We are instructed to leave our gift in front of the alter because we need to sacrifice our will and our attitudes and forgive those who we have issues with so that we are able to go back and get our gift and give it to God. So before we offer up any gift to God, we must ask ourselves. Am I truly able to give?

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

See it to Believe it...

2008-06-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.6 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. (1 Kings 10:6-9 NIV)

When you live for God and are led by him people will know. You don't have to walk around with a sign to let people know you are saved, sanctified, and Holy Ghost filled because as believers we are the light in a world filled with darkness. So when they look at us they should see the light in us and more importantly - the Jesus on the inside working on the outside. We are the only Jesus that some people see. So as ambassadors for Christ, it is not only our privilege but our responsibility to represent Him well. In the text above, notice Solomon did not tell the queen that he was a man of God. Word traveled. The queen came to see him because she wanted to see if all that she heard was true. Because of your relationship with God, your integrity, character and faith will be tested.

Your testimony is simply not enough. Actions speak louder than words. People look to see if you are walking what you are talking. Some may try to trip you up with questions, some will wait to see what you are doing when you think that no one is watching. But we know that Someone is always watching. God is omniscient; He sees all and knows all. This is why it's important that we are always behaving as if God is sitting right there because He is. Because the queen went on a journey to see the God in Solomon, that leads us to believe that she did not know the Lord for herself. She did not belive that God could do all that she heard that He did. She had not yet experienced the Power of God moving in her own life but because of the wisdom and many blessings that God bestowed upon Solomon she belived what she saw. If we walk what we talk all the time like we are supposed to by doing so we are lifting Jesus up. He said that if we lift Him up, He would draw all men (and women) to Him. It drew the queen, didn't it?

So, my brothers and sisters the best advice I can leave you with is: if you want to win souls for the Lord and you want to declare His glory walk what you talk. Some people have not yet attained the measure of faith where they can walk by faith and not by sight. They need a sign. We are that sign; a chosen generation, a peculiar people, the salt of the earth - make them thirst for Jesus when they see you. Some need to see it to believe it.

SW
www.waterplantgrowth.com

How Bad you you want to see Him?

2008-06-09T07:18:00.001-07:00

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2 NIV)

While talking with a friend of mine, she shared with me that her 5 year old daughter cried in the back seat of her car because she wanted to know why she couldn't’t see God. As she told the story, my heart was filled with joy. I was happy because this child earnestly, eagerly sought to see the face of God. She was sad at the thought of searching for him and not finding him. I thought of all the years I spent running from him knowing he was there all the time.

As adults, we too should desire to see the face the face of God just as my friend’s daughter sought him in the car that day. What is the difference between this 5 year old and most adults? She humbly, wholeheartedly sought God for who He is and not what He can do. She did not doubt His existence or power because she couldn't’t see Him – she simply wanted to see him as He is.

The bible tells us that we are all God’s children and we too shall one day see Him as He is. However, we cannot see Him if we do not look for Him and whoever looks for Him is sure to find him. Maybe today you need more faith, finances, or freedom. Maybe you simply want to see God as He is. God promised to reward us if we diligently seek after Him. Are you, like my friend’s daughter and want to see the face of God? Spend some time with him talking to Him and listening to Him. Look for Him to see Him as He is and not for what He can do because we know that he can do anything. Live for Him and you will see him as He is one day. How badly do you really want to see Him?

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

His Thoughts are Not my Thoughts

2008-06-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)

Have you ever experienced an obstacle in your life that you just couldn't figure out for the life of you why God would place it in front of you? Have you ever had to deal with someone so unreasonable that you felt like you were at your wits end trying keep your composure whenever you were in their presence? Have you ever lost someone or something so precious to you that you found yourself angy at God for taking that person or possession away from you?

I'm sure you have. We all have at one point in time or another. It doesn't matter what your social class, financial class, race, or denomination is. There will be times when we become frustrated in trying to figure out why God places certain things, people and circumstances in our lives. But guess what, as long as you love the Lord it's working together for your good and mine (See Romans 8:28)

How can loosing my job, wrecking my car, finding out my mate has been cheating on me or that my best friend isn't my friend after all benefit me? Because it is then that we realize that when we are down to nothing we are able to see that God is up to something... One you've accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you became an official child of God. And God our Father wants us to cast all of our cares on Him and solely rely on Him. Sometimes God has to impose certain discomforts on us so that we can seek him wholly, and solely.

There are other times when He places us in impossible situations that would appear hopeless to a faithless person just because He knows that we will endure and fight the good fight of faith so that others can be encouraged by our testimonies. On occasion God wants to press things out of us that are displeasing to Him or in some way keeping us from going to the next level in Him.

Why are the things that are troubling you troubling you? Why do you feel like your constantly going through and can't get help from anywhere? I don't know. What I do know is that God has already predestined you for greatness. To everything there is a purpose. You are not going through alone and most of all, be encouraged knowing that you are not going through in vain. When you look things over and still don't see the point, remember that all things were made by God and without Him nothing was made and His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. If you think things are hard for you to cope with with God in control, just think about how bad they would be if you and I were in control. So instead of trying to figure it out, let's just thank and Praise God for working it out.

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

HE Will Make You Great

2008-06-04T05:50:00.000-07:00

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.” I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:1-2)

If nothing changes, nothing changes. God wants to do a new thing in us. He wants to take us to another level; higher heights and deeper depths. He can not do this if we want to remain stuck in our old ways and our stubbornness. You are where your mind is. You are confined to the boundaries that you set within your mind. God told Abram not only to leave his country but his people in order for God to make him great and to make his name a blessing. There are some places and people that can not and will not co-exist with the position that God wants to place you in naturally, financially, spiritually, or mentally.

God had to remove him from all familiarity so that he would depend on God and not his instincts or what worked the last time. God wanted to be his “go to person”. Within our circles and social groups we have people that we go to for this situation or that situation but God wants us to solely rely and depend on Him. He is our comforter. He is our counselor. He wants us to separate ourselves from anything that contends with him for His position as #1 in our lives. Whether He needs you to change your location or your outlook, you can not stay where you are and go to the next level.

When we do as our Heavenly Father instructs us, then he is free to bless us because we are no longer trying to bless ourselves. We have surrendered our will to the Almighty and now he is free to bless us beyond our beliefs. Not only will he bless us but he will use us to bless others. Our name will be great because our God is great. We recognize the voice of the Lord when He speaks and then follow the instruction he gives us so that our name can be great.

-SW

Which Kind of Bag Are You Carrying?

2008-05-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

On the way home yesterday, I had a revelation about bags. I have seen several preachers take bags and pull out various things ( bottles, cigarette packs, beers, condoms, etc.) and say this is the stuff that people are hiding but the revelation was that everyone has baggage. They differently and we carry them differently nevertheless – it is there. I said “Wow! God, I don’t have to speak anywhere. Why are you breaking all this down like that?" I believe that he wanted me to know this, write it down and ultimately run and tell someone.

Anyway, some have designer bags, expensive bags – they try to make it look good but it is what it is: Baggage.

Some try to camouflage it and wear flamboyant, unique bags and make it look like they have it that way because it is part of their persona or their outfit but in all actuality – they would much rather do with out it.

Then we have those that carry huge bags with a lot of junk in them. Those of “us” that do that know that we don’t need everything but we hold onto everything just in case. We are afraid to let go. We take the same stuff everywhere we go and wonder why we are so weighed down.

Then there are those that carry the tiny bag knowing they don’t have enough room. This is the person that knows that they have things that they know they are not ready to let go but they prematurely toss contents in attempts to make their bag lighter. When they need to reflect on that past emotion or that past experience they can’t because they never went through what they needed to go through. They bailed out too early.

Then there is the individual that carries the big empty bag. They know that there’s nothing in there but everyone else has a bag so they need one too. This person conforms to the world around them instead of being transformed by the renewing of their mind. This individual is free but remains bound by being used to being bound so feel that they must always be bound. Thus, they carry a bag that they do not need.

Most bags are carried on or the majority of the weight is supported by the back. Why? Because it is out of sight. We don’t want the world to see how heavy the load actually is that we have to bear so we dress it up, make it fancy and carry it how society and church tells us that we should carry it. The bag isn’t important – what’s important is what’s in it. We all have bags. Which kind of bag are you carrying?

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We are Healed, author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

Who's praise are you picking on?

2008-05-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. (Matthew 26:6-11)

Why is it that people that are doing nothing for the Lord have so much to say about the way others live for Him, worship Him and praise Him? How much could the disciples have been doing for the Lord that they had time to “pick on Mary’s praise”? You never know what the person praising has been through or what God has revealed to them. This is why we must all have our own personal relationship with the Lord so that we can recognize and obey the sound of His voice no matter how it may look in the natural.

In ancient days, it was a practice to anoint the body in preparation for the burial with perfume. Unbeknownst to the disciples, Mary was preparing the body of Jesus for his burial. Mary’s mind was set on things eternal and the disciples were concerned with the temporal. When God places something in our hearts to do for Him – we need to do what he tells us to do regardless of what others may say, think or feel. Only what you do for Christ will last.

When we see others focused on their work for the Kingdom, we must learn to be encouraging not discouraging. Mary Magdalene was on assignment for the Lord. The disciples attempted to stop her progress. Mary continued anyhow. The disciples didn’t know why Mary was using the perfume on the Lord so in their eyes it was a waste. But it’s not our job to question the necessity of one’s efforts. Our thoughts and ways are not like God’s. We don’t always understand why He uses the methods or people that He does but it is His will and it will be done anyhow. Are you “picking on anyone’s praise”?

Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com

Am I standing or fighting?

2008-05-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.

Have you ever felt like you were unjustly being attacked? Do you know what it is like to feel those that should be for you are suddenly against you? I’m here to tell you that it is not them. They are simply being used. We are not battling people. Therefore we cannot resort to carnal weapons. They just won’t do. The enemy seeks to destroy those he can. He will use whomever and whatever he can to get to you. The good news is that you have everything in Jesus that you need to fight him off. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and left us the tools and the power to continue that work that he started.

We must be strong in the Lord and not our own strength. Remember, this battle is not ours. It belongs to the Lord. Paul told us to put on the whole amour of God because he will protect us. No where does it tell us in the scripture to fight or go to war but to STAND. We are told to be strong, gear up and stand. If you stand for Jesus you won’t fall under the hand of the rulers of darkness. This is a spiritual war. The enemy seeks to see you sink. So before you reach for your weapons – remember who the enemy is. The enemy is not that relative, that co-worker, neighbor or friend. The enemy is Satan himself. So be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the full armour and stand. Hold your peace and allow God to fight your battles.

As you realize that you are under attack before you react - ask yourself am I standing or am I fighting?

-SW

Do I need to show you my scars?

2008-05-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:24-27)

When Jesus was resurrected and given a new body, he kept the same hands that were pierced by the nails that were used to crucify Him. Have you ever wondered why Jesus held onto the scars? Have you ever wondered why after all that he went through He would want to walk around with that reminder? Have you ever wondered how He could bear to look at the physical evidence of all of the suffering he endured? Thomas didn’t believe that the other disciples had seen Jesus. Thomas didn’t believe that Jesus was resurrected. He needed tangible evidence. In the story, Thomas was able to physically put his fingers through the holes in Jesus’ hands and stick his finger into His side. Because Thomas saw that Jesus was resurrected as He told them that he would be, Thomas was able to believe. Some people don’t believe that they can heal from the wounds that life inflicted on them until they see someone else’s scars and how they were healed through the blood of Jesus.

We, like Jesus are resurrected (by baptism) and we too have scars from our former lives in our unsaved state. Those past heartbreaks and heartaches are our scars. Some of us have some incision marks from operations that science said we wouldn’t survive, scars from past physical injuries or children from failed relationships. Nevertheless, we have these scars to give hope to a dying world that just as we were once hurt, injured, bound or deserted and we recovered that they can too. We are to rejoice in the fact that Jesus healed those wounds, made us whole and gave us a testimony to encourage someone else. The bible teaches us that we overcome not only by the blood of the lamb but also by the words of our testimony.

So the next time you see someone facing a similar hurdle that God brought you over ask them: Do I need to show you my scars?

-SW

A Dream Come True

2008-05-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

I've always had what many people consider to be a "creative mind". I can remember as far back as Elementary School when I would write stories and poems that prompted my teachers to want to learn more about my home life. I would write about what I saw that I liked and what I saw that I thought should be different. I mixed a little of the truth and a lot of my imagination. The pictures I drew and stories I told were wise far beyond my years. Needless to say, this caused great concern.

As an adult, I still have a lot of creativity pent up inside of me waiting to be released. I still look at the world around me and desire to make a positive impact. I used to get excited and talk as long as I had someone to listen. Now I write. By His Stripes We are Healed, my first novel is a result of this pent up creativity and my outlook on life.

I've always dreamed of being a published author and now that dream has come to pass. I thank God for it. It's truly a dream come true.
Labels: dream, first blog, novel, published author draft

What Will You Place in the Tomb?

2008-05-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:57-60 NIV)

Joseph did not bury Jesus in his tomb because there was a lack of rocks in the region or because he didn’t feel like cutting out another tomb. Joseph buried Jesus in the tomb that belonged to him because he knew that it was only temporary. Joseph was a disciple of Jesus and therefore knew that Jesus was the truth and everything that he said would come to pass. Faith led Joseph to loan Jesus his tomb. How many people do you know get buried in loaner graves?

To many others at the time, the body of our Lord was just a lifeless corpse. They had no need for it and didn’t care who took it or what they did with it. They were casting lots for his garments. But those that knew the truth knew that Jesus wouldn’t stay dead and that the grave couldn’t hold him down. We all have some situations that seem to be dead in our lives. Maybe it’s a dream that isn’t coming to pass the way that we imagined, a loved ones failing health, issues in our relationships, hindrances in our spiritual walk or a grudge that you may be holding onto. Whatever the situation is we must learn to put that in tomb with the same measure of faith that Joseph laid the body of Jesus in the tomb so that Jesus can bring “that thing” back to life.

Notice that when Joseph laid the body in the tomb, he sealed it up and went away. He didn’t try to rush or move the hand of God. He knew what God promised him so he left the body in the tomb and allowed God arise. God does not need our help or us to remind him of what he said he is going to do. We have to fully let go and let God so that he can speak life into that dead situation. So, what do you need to place in the tomb?

-SW

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Seek the Lord While He May Be Found

2008-05-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am not a morning person. I don't like Mondays and I stongly dislike ( I try not to use the word "hate") getting out of bed in the morning no matter how much sleep I get. However, this morning when I woke up, I felt an unspeakable need to get up out of bed and start my day. I wasn't thinking about the tasks that were awaiting me at the office or the chores that I needed to do around the house. The only thing I was able to focus on was my need to get up and thank God.

You may be thinking "why does she need to get up early and thank Him? Why not thank Him when you get up?". I'll tell you why: because I don't know how much time I have. I had to get up and talk with Him because in Proverbs 3:5-6 God promised me that if I acknowledge Him in ALL of my ways that He would direct my path. I don't know about you all but I have some situations in my life that I need God's direction in. Rather than take matters into my own hands and make a mess of things, I had rather go to God in the first place.

I was not able to lie in bed and get that last little bit of sleep because God quickend my spirit. He wanted me to speak to Him but more importantly He wanted to speak to Me. What did He tell me? He told me that He loves me, He will never leave me and He will be with me even until the ends of the earth.

When I got to work, I thought even deeper about my need to speak with the Lord. I asked Him to bring to my rememberance some scriptures that would support the urgency I felt to speak with Him. He gave me two:

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:(Isaiah 55:6) and
They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD;
but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. (Hosea5:6)

After I thought and meditated on these scriptures deeper, I appreciated my early meeting with the Lord even more. I don't want to go to seek the Lord and not be able to find Him. I don't want Him to withdraw Himself and His spirit from me. So despite how much I don't like getting up in the morning or how many other things I need to do to prepare for my day, I will first acknowledge He that gives me life to see yet another day.

I pray that as you read this blog and even as some of you may have been able to relate to my initial procrastination that you will mediate on Isaiah 55:6 and Hosea 5:6 as well. We have to work while it is still day because when night falls, no man (or woman) will be able to work.

Are You Prepared?

2008-05-18T05:30:00.001-07:00

Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (Exodus 4:10-12)
How many times have we aborted our assignments because we feel that we are not good enough or that there is someone better equipped? How many times have we disobeyed God in fear of what others may think, feel or say about us? How many times have we forgotten that it is God who appoints us and man’s inability to accept these appointments that become disappointments? If God placed a specific task in your hands for you to do – He will see you through. Not only will God see you through but he will give you the means and the instruction to do it.
As Moses led God’s chosen children through the dessert, they had no change of clothes – yet there were never naked. There were no flowing rivers – yet they were not dehydrated. There were no crops - yet God sent them manna from Heaven. They had no flashlights to see by night but He gave them a pillar of fire to see by night. There was no compass to make their way during the day but He gave them a pillar of could to lead them during the day.
Suppose Moses had not beckoned to God’s call. Imagine how he would have felt watching someone else lead the children to land of Canaan. Do you think he could bear it? No. Well, I ask you are you prepared to watch someone else finish the job He started in you? What will you say then left with your works undone?
We know all this and most of us are familiar with the text – yet we still doubt God and His ability to use us. God brought you to “it” to bring you through “it” so that He may get the glory.

SW