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

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.

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!!

"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

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

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

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. I

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)

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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....

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.