You'll Never Be Good Enough....

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!

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?

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?

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

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?

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

(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