Sistas Saving Sistas
For Christ II
"Be Encouraged"
Teatime with Tabby - A Daily Brew of God's Purpose
Help Is On the Way!
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills [of Jerusalem]—From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber [briefly] nor sleep [soundly]. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do] From this time forth and forever." Psalm 121:1-8 Amplified Bible
Good Morning Brothas and Sistas,
If you were ever confused about where your help comes from I believe this scripture makes it so clear. "Our Help comes from the Lord; the One that made the heavens and the earth" My God!!!
Brothas and Sistas, why is it that we look everywhere else except to the very one that created us ? We look to Momma, Daddy, friends everyone instead of going to the throne of the Only One and True Living God; the one who is both the Giver and the Sustainer of life. Wait a minute let me break this down just a little bit.
Sustain: To support the weight of : prop also, to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)
God can support the weight of anything that you're carrying around in your life!!!! Help has already Arrived!! Help is not Coming, Help is Already Here!!
Listen, God is our Help. He is our Keeper! He won't ever go to sleep on the job. God will even keep us from going too far to the left. When things get hot God is our Shade. And when the Enemy comes for us God is our Protector....Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!!
Help Has Already Arrived!
Be Blessed,
Gina M
Prayer Time
Father God, we just take this opportunity to just Thank you. We don't want to ask for anything we just want to bless your Holy name and thank you for giving us everything that we need. You are truly our Present Help!!! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Something Is Waiting for You
Something Is Waiting for You
"And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:9-11
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
This weekend I was blessed to attend a Women's Conference from Thursday till Saturday. The theme was "Iron Sharpens Iron". I wasn't really sure what to expect but I was expecting God to show up as He usually does. I was seeking confirmation in reference to some things that God was telling me to do.
The first night of the conference was good but I still hadn't heard from God. The word that night was excellent but it wasn't the word for me. I really can't explain it. There is something about when you hear Gods voice for your specific need. I guess God was giving me a rest because it was the first night and I was tired but let me tell you on Friday afternoon God came through using one of the speakers and I just kept fighting tears that entire day.
The speaker was speaking about being Intentional about whatever you are called to do. She referenced the scripture where God told Moses that he has been hearing the cries of His people and that Moses needed to go to Pharaoh so the people could be delivered.
Brothas and Sistas, she said, "God hears the crying of His people and He has to waste time trying to convince Moses to Go." OMG! that really ripped through me. She said a lot of other things but that sat in my spirit all day. I immediately envisioned people crying and unable to get deliverance because God is still trying to convince me to do what He has equipped me to do. My God!!! The thought that someone is in limbo because I am struggling with fear, doubt etc., instead of just trusting God and preparing for the assignment.
God gives each of us a particular assignment and because we don't see ourselves as God sees us we try to avoid it as if God doesn't know what He is talking about. We act as if God is confused. Brothas and Sistas, if God called you for a particular purpose and He has called each of us for a specific purpose we need to trust Gods decision even if it appears way too big when we look with our physical eyes.
Our assignment is not for us but its for others. Our gifts are for the edification of the body. God made a deposit in us before the foundation of the world and that deposit (gifting) has a destiny attached to it. When we are disobedient it not only affects us but those that the assignment is attached took.
Brothers and Sistas, I plead with you that if you know what your assignment is with the guidance of the Holy Spirit operate in it even if it scares you because someone is waiting for you.
Be blessed,
Gina M
Prayer
Father, God
We ask for forgiveness for every time you have told us to move in a particular area and we've made excuses because of fear or doubt or just lack of trust. Father, cast down any obstacle that the enemy places in our path that keeps us from our purpose. We thank you that you would even use us as part of the plan. Father, prepare us for the people that you have assigned to us and show us how to prepare. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Am I Responding to My Marriage God's Way or My Way?
http://youtu.be/YOKq1VmEbtc Old Skool
“Marriage is a total commitment and a total sharing of the total person with another person until death.” ~ Wayne Mack
Malachi 2:14,15 "But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant."
Good morning to you both,
Brothas and Sistas, as we seek to understand the marital vows let's look at the vows concerning "for better or for worse". Brothas and Sistas, what does for better or for worse mean to you. “For better or for worse” is a commitment by the marriage partners to rise-up together against those things that would threaten the marriage covenant relationship such as attraction for/from someone of the opposite sex towards a marriage partner, dealing with rebellious children, blended family conflict, etc.,
Believe it or not, there are some things that we just need to have enough spiritual gumption or perseverance to work through. Brothas and Sistas, it is never an option to bail out at the first sign of trouble or conflict. The Christian life calls us to a life of perseverance and commitment. We must learn the importance of prayer and trusting God when it comes to conflict in our marriages.
The Bible presents marriage as a divine institution. If marriage were of human origin, then human beings would have a right to decide the kind of marital relationships to choose. Marriage, however, began with God. It was established by God at the beginning of human history when He "created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1). As the Creator of marriage, God has the right to tell us which principles should govern our marital relationships.
Commitment is a mindset, an attitude and a way of thinking that will enable you and your spouse to navigate through the still waters and the storms of a marriage relationship. Charles Swindoll (Strike the Original Match) compares working on marriage to remodeling a house:
It takes longer than you planned
It costs more than you figured
It is messier than you anticipated
It requires greater determination than you expected
Sometimes the only thing that keeps us going is hope!
Now Brothas and Sistas, there may be some of you asking the question: What if I am involved in an abusive marriage or a marriage where my spouse continues to commit adultery? Brothas and Sistas, let's make it clear it is never healthy to remain in a relationship with someone that is consistently abusive or commits adultery without genuine repentance. We are not giving you advice to divorce your spouse if this is occurring in your relationship because that is a decision that has to be Spirit led and it is your decision to make.
On the other hand, we have witnessed spouses being told that they are bound by their marital vows to stay in a marriage even when they have been victims of domestic violence and adultery. They have been made to feel guilty by being consistently reminded that they are called by God to forgive and love unconditionally regardless of how many times their spouse breaks the marital vows.
Brothas and Sistas, does “for better or for worse” mean that you are married for life — regardless of the violations committed against you in the marriage? The answer is No! Nor has it ever meant that. As we have said before, in counseling sessions some spouses have been told that they are called by God to maintain a relationship with someone even when he or she is repeatedly destructive toward them. We believe that in order for that spouse to maintain their physical and mental health they need to get to safety by removing themselves from an unhealthy relationship.
In order to have a healthy marriage their must be mutual respect for one another. We must seek God's direction for our marriages. That includes daily prayer with our spouses, a commitment to study the word of God together, and of course we must allow Jesus to be number one in our relationships.
In conclusion, when dealing with the marital vows, "For better or for worse" let's ask ourselves, "Am I responding to these vows God's way or my way?" Brothas, and Sistas, in order for us to have successful marriages we must respond to these vows in a godly way even when conflict arises. Until next time. Take care.
Minister Antonio and Sista Michelle Washington
Let's Pray
Dear Lord,
We praise your great name for the spouses that you have blessed us with. We realize that you have joined us together and for this we are so grateful. Please continue to bless our marriages. Help us to honor you by continuing to love the ones that we are with. May we always honor the marital vows that we made toward our spouses. We pray all these things in your praiseworthy name, Jesus. Amen.
Are You Building Up or Tearing Down Your Home?
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
I was working on a book recently and God asked me to use a lesson that He taught me years ago to illustrate the value of building a secure home. It was "The Lesson of the Birds Nest”. At first I thought, "How is that going to help the Brothas and Sistas with building a strong, holy family?" Then I remembered the lesson that I had learned from the birds nest.
During a rough time in my life, when everything was such a struggle such as family, friends, work, school, and my health, I learned about the wisdom of the birds nest. On my way to school one day, I was riding the bus which gave me the freedom to enjoy the scenery, when I noticed high atop a tree a birds nest.
I had traveled that way every day and never noticed the nest before. As the bus passed the trees, I kept my eyes focused on the tree-lines along the road and every couple of trees I would notice more birds’ nests. The fact that there were so many of them surprised me, but what really caught my attention was that they were so high up in the trees. Another day I got a special treat along that same stretch of road when I noticed an eagles nest, sitting high atop a utility pole. It was huge and I thought, “Wow!”
God whispered to me, “Have you ever noticed that the birds and eagles don’t build their nests low in the trees, they are always near the middle or near the top?”
Before He asked, I hadn’t noticed. But now it made me think, "Hmmm, I wonder why?" I rationalized that it would only make sense to build them low to the ground instead of way up in the top of the tree. Then God interjected and explained, “It would make sense to you as a human, but as a bird or an eagle it makes sense to build far away from other predators that could invade the nest. Building low to the ground would compromise the safety of the nest and the birds that dwell in them.”
I had never thought about it that way. But then I began to ask more questions about the nest and God revealed some wonderful answers. He taught me about building a safe nest (home) and that, by His wisdom, the birds have the ability to build the nest, and it’s innate within them. They don’t use hammers, nails or a blueprint, they simply follow the wisdom of God. And that’s exactly what we should do when building our families and homes.
I thought about the fact that the birds and eagles don’t have hammers and nails, all they have and all they need are their beaks, twigs, and God’s wisdom. With these resources they construct some of the most intricate structures in nature. It’s amazing when you think about it.
One day while I was riding I looked up as I do regularly now, to see a birds nest hanging from a tree. My first inclination was to become sad, but God showed me that even though the nest was hanging from the tree, it was still in the tree. Then He went on to teach me that, the birds nest is a secure structure when built on the specifications of God’s wisdom. The only thing that will demolish or interfere with that structure is a man made or natural disaster. It is structured to withstand high winds, torrential rain, and even snow.
From the lesson of the “birds nest” I’ve learned that without the proper guidance from God we will never have stable secure homes and families. It takes God’s wisdom to help us see that a home worth living in is a home not built with human hands. Its foundation must be set by the Word and wisdom of God. He has the blueprint to our lives and only He can instruct us in how to build (create) safe and secure families and homes.
Can you just imagine the kind of wisdom and the time it takes for a bird to build a birds nest? The gathering of the twigs and the intricate details that must go into laying each and every twig in exactly the right way to intertwine them for stability so that the nest won’t be blown away. Or they could just go and get a bunch of twigs and drop them wherever and think nothing else about it, until the storm comes and the winds blow. But at that point it will be too late and they won’t survive the storm.
I have found out that love (God) is in the details. God has made sure that those little birdies would have a safe place to live. He didn’t stop with them and He’s done the same for every creature in nature, especially the ones He dearly loves, us.
Because Love (God) is in the details we need to mind the details. Sometimes we create families and homes with all the wrong kinds of people for all the wrong kinds of motives. Then we find ourselves suffering in our own homes, when our homes should be our rest haven and a shelter from the storms.
Proverbs 4: 5-9 reads, “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.”
Proverbs 14:1 reads, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
Brothas and Sistas, we need to be sure that we are building our house, not destroying it. For my single Brothas and Sistas, this means, choosing a suitable mate. Give thought to the right kind of man God wants for you to create (build) a secure nest (future) with. For my married Brothas and Sistas, be sure to respect your husbands/wives and raise your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. This way you will strengthen your family and secure the nest (future). Just as God has given the birds a safe and enjoyable home, He wants us to have even more. Be mindful of how you’re building your nest (home).
Love,
Audrey
Focus
"Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step. and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right or left; leave evil in the dust." Proverbs 4: 23-27
"Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11
Good morning my tenacious focus filled Brothas and Sistas,
Focus is a word we so often hear when we are going for our yearly eye visit. Our friendly ophthalmologist wants to make sure that we get the correct prescription for our glasses or contacts so he takes us through the grueling process of taking many vision test. Sometimes when looking through the scope of the testing equipment provided our vision becomes blurred because we have yet to find that just right prescription which will allow us see properly.
Brothas and Sistas, there are times when some of us suffer from what is called astigmatism which usually occurs when the front surface of the eye, the cornea, has an irregular curvature. Astigmatism is known as a refractive error. Refractive errors cause a disturbance in the way that light rays are focused within the eye. In normal vision the cornea is smooth and equally curved in all directions and light entering the cornea is focused equally on all planes, or in all directions. In astigmatism, the front surface of the cornea is curved more in one direction than in the other. This abnormality may result in vision that is much like looking into a distorted, wavy mirror. The distortion results because of an inability of the eye to focus light rays to a point so that the image formed is always blurred.
Usually, astigmatism causes blurred vision at all distances. And this is how it can become for us in the Christian walk when our vision becomes blurred with the trials of life and we lose focus. We need to gain the right perspective because there is an irregular curvature in our spiritual vision and we no longer see things through the eyes of faith. Jesus, our chief ophthalmologist takes us through a series of grueling test to see whether or not we have provided ourselves with the correct prescription which is found in the word of God to help us regain proper focus. The bottom line is that we have developed a heart condition called astigmatism of the heart. The irregular curvature of our heart affects our spiritual vision and how we may not see things from the proper perspective of God's heart.
This is why is it so important for us to keep our hearts with all diligence. Scripture says, ""Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step. and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right or left; leave evil in the dust." (Proverbs 4: 23-27) Our life begins, is based on, or stems out of what is in our hearts. We cannot afford to allow evil to get into our hearts and minds. Brothas and Sistas we must maintain our spiritual focus.
Jesus the chief ophthalmologist commands us to FOCUS!!! He says maintain your focus by not getting caught up in Satan's distractions which so easily, SO EASILY BESETS US. We have got a race to run. (Hebrews 12:1) Paul says, look straight ahead to the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrew 12:2) Psalm 86:11 says, "Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." (Psalm 86:11)
This is why we need to ask God to look into the scope of our hearts to diagnose the condition of our hearts. The word of God says, "Search me O God and know my heart: try me, and know my thought: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23 Jeremiah says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Sometimes as a means to correct astigmatism a surgery may need to be performed called refractive surgery.
In order for us to truly know the heart, will, and mind of the Father so that we can remain focused we must allow Him to perform spiritual heart surgery. Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" We can only see things through the eyes of Jesus when our hearts are pure. Lord, help us to maintain proper focus by helping us to see things through the eyes of your Spirit. Brothas and Sistas, allow Him to diagnose your heart condition and perform the necessary surgery so that you may gain new focus.
Michelle
Well Watered
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17
Good morning to all of my wonderful Brothas and Sistas,
I was gazing across the room in deep thought about my family when my eyes were drawn to a potted plant in my living room. This wasn’t the first time that this plant caught my attention. Actually it was about the fourth time. The plant in-and-of-itself was just an ordinary house plant. The kind that grows long vines, that seem to take over the space.
This particular morning, I was going about my routine and part of the routine included watering the plant. I did and thought nothing else about it, until about an hour later, while in deep thought about my family I happened (I’m sure by divine intervention) to look over at that one and only living plant, to notice the water droplets hanging from the very tips of the leaves.
Brothas and Sistas, every time I see this it just fascinates me and immediately makes me stand in awe of God. It reminds me that, “He is the vine and we are the branches” (John 15:5, NIV). Before I repositioned the plant it was located on my coffee table, but it had grown so big, and so long that I had to move it to its own space. Before I moved it I would always notice that about an hour after I watered it there would be little, crystal clear, water droplets hanging from the tips of each leaf.
The first time I noticed it God spoke to me and said, “Take notice that it doesn’t matter how far the leaves extend away from the root; every leaf is well watered.”
The leaves closest to the root had droplets of water on the tips of the leaves and the parts of the plant that had extended six feet away from the root, still had droplets of water hanging from the tips of its leaves. As long as it was connected to the root; leaf distance from the root didn’t affect the roots ability to provide for the leaves. Every leaf was well watered.
Families are like this plant. There are many members (leaves), but one God (Root). And as long as we remain connected to the Root (God), we will remain connected as a family; regardless of how far apart we are. The families’ nourishment comes from its root system, and if that root system is rotten (unrighteous), then the leaves are void of nourishment, and they will wither and die.
Brothas and Sistas, let’s pray that our families will, “be rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17, NIV). Then we will be well watered, well nourished, and flourishing families in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Love ya,
Audrey
Dear Lord,
We thank you for a fresh new week with a fresh new start. Lord, we praise you that we can be rooted and established in love. We pray that our wonderful Brothas and Sistas and their families to stay connected to the root which is you, Lord. Allow them to cling to your word so that they may prosper in all things and more importantly, grow spiritually. We pray all these things in your most amazing name, Jesus. Amen.
What Stands Between You and The Abundant Life?
The Blessings of the Promised Land Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey. For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. And it shall come to pass, IF ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full." Duet. 11:8-15
Top of the morning to all of our Kingdom Brothas and Sistas,
I pray that you are doing wonderful this morning partaking in God' s liquid sunshine. There is nothing like Him sending a shower to refresh His sons and daughters. Yesterday I woke up this morning with the word IF on my mind. You know so many times we may focus on the blessings of the Lord without taking into account the fact that there is a prerequisite to obtaining those blessings that He so graciously wants to bestow upon us. And that is where that word IF comes in.
Yesterday before church the Lord led me to Deuteronomy 11. Okay Brothas Sistas, let's take some time to break this down. Let's atart with vs. 8. In this passage of scripture the Lords says, "IF thou wilt enter into life, IF thou will enter into Canaan (which is a type of life according to Matthew Henry's commentary) and find it a good land keep thy commandments which I command you this day" Notice that we are not being promised pie in the sky without first telling us how we are to obtain it. For example, most of us know by now that we cannot live any old kind of way and expect to receive all that He has for us. We must indeed do something on our part and that something involves us obeying our Heavenly Father.
The definition of the word IF is in the event that; allowing that; or on the assumption that. Just like in that day when our Heavenly Father promised the Israelites life and blessing when they CHOSE obedience over rebellion He does the same thing with us today. Brothas and Sistas, the prerequisite for going into the land of plenty, blessing, and prosperity is only in the event that we hearken unto His voice. It is solely based on and stands on the assumption that we will not harden our hearts. And it will primarily rests on our inherent ability to trust Him in all things to the point of submitting to His rule over our will which includes the decisions that we make.
The passage goes on to say in verses 13-15, "And it shall come to pass, IF ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full." Okay Brothas and Sistas, there goes that word IF again.
And look if we begin to look at the word rain, the first rain represented the former or after the harvest rain or autumn rain which in Arabic is pronounced malgosh. The latter rain represented the rain before harvest or spring rains which in Arabic is pronounced bresho or huetos. The word rain represents a blessing and abundance during the harvest. Abundant harvest requires both the first and the latter rain. Both types of rain ultimately represent an outpouring of the Lord's blessings upon us. IF there was a lack of rain in the proper time or due season it was the cause of complete failure of the harvest. Hence, the promise of prosperity is given in the assurance of the rain in due season. This abundant rain therefore represents "the abundant life".
As we saw earlier in our text the tsunami of blessings He has ordained for us will only overtake us IF we first strive to walk in obedience. Notice I did not say that we would walk in perfection because we are under grace not the law, but our desire should be to please Him. His desire is for us to live a prosperous life and walk in abundance. "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 1:2 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 "
"Brothas and Sistas, I don't mean to pry or to seem a tad bit too nosy but I have this burning question that I must ask you.......What stands Between You and "The Abundant Life?"
Prayer Time
Lord, you are so good and worthy to be praised. We can't imagine what our lives would be without you. Thank you, Lord for giving us the "Abundant Life". You desire that we walk in obedience so that we may obtain all that you have for us. Help us to desire what you desire for us more than anything. In Jesus name we pray.
He Has Great Plans In Mind For Us
"Many are the plans in a man's heart but the Lord's purposes prevail." Proverbs 19:21
“For each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our own destiny, according to God's will, to be what God wants us to be.” Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
So many times we have our own minds made up. We have our own plans, goals and ambitions but many times God will do a 360 on us from out of nowhere and our plans get dissed. Oh, if we could only surrender our lives completely over to Him by getting out of the way and simply allowing Him to be who He has already fashioned Himself to be, The Sovereign All Knowing God!
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you & not to harm you. Plans to give you hope & a future." God simply says that He has His best in mind for us. Whenever we don't follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit we not only shortchange ourselves but we shortchange others. Give Him the reins of your life today, after all He is God! Amen.
“In all His acts God orders all things, whether good or evil, for the good of those who know Him and seek Him and who strive to bring their own freedom under obedience to His divine purpose. All that is done by the will of God in secret is done for His glory and for the good of those whom He has chosen to share in His glory.” - Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island
Smooches,
Me
Our Daily Bread/Prayer Time
"Many are the plans in a man's heart but the Lord's purposes prevail." Proverbs 19:21
Dear Lord,
Thank you for ordering our steps daily. Please help us to completely rely on you so that we will have your best in life. You are such an amazing God and you have such great plans for us. Help us to follow your will instead of ours. We pray all these things in your wonderful name, Jesus. Amen
God's Ways Are Not Our Ways
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
The decisions we make in life become easier when our sole purpose is pleasing God; not the world, not even ourselves, but to please God! (See Romans 8:5-13; 12:1, 2; James 4:4; 1John 2:15-17) God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. As HIGH as the heavens are ABOVE the earth, so are His ways & thoughts above our thoughts and ways. For we focus on happiness, BUT God's focus is HOLINESS! (See Psalms 139:17, 18; Isaiah 55:8, 9; 1 Peter 1:13-19)
True Christian character is not in going to church; although we go because we're instructed not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some. (See Hebrews 10:23-25) It's not because we sing on a choir or dance in a ministry. Its not even because we quote Scriptures. But True Christian Character is revealed when we're NOT in church. It is in our speech; its how we walk day to day; the places we frequent and how we live our lives on a daily basis. But most of all, it is when we ARE NOT in church, when we think NO ONE is watching us. It is these times in life when True Christian Character is revealed. (See Galatians 5:16-26)
God always gives us the opportunity to humble ourselves, because He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we humble ourselves; God elevates us, but its not to inflate us. And when we don't humble ourselves, He will humble us, but its not to degrade us! (See James 4:5-8; 1 Peter 5:5-7 Brothas and Sistas, God knows what is best for us. God ways are not our ways, but His ways are so much better for us!
Love,
Claudia
Revelation Equals Transformation
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
"Many books can inform you but there is only one that can transform you." Unknown " Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
Brothas and Sistas, the truth of God's word is what changes us because the word is God (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1, 2) And He is truth. John 14:16 says "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 You see I have discovered that this one text is progressive. You see Jesus is the only way whereby we not only gain salvation but whereby we gain revelation of God's truth via the Holy Spirit which leads to not only eternal life but a prosperous spiritual, financial, physical and emotional life. "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but I have come so that you may have life and life more abundantly." John 10:10
Brothas and Sistas, whenever we begin to study the word of God with intent He brings about a new twist on an all too familiar scripture. Whenever God wants to speak a Rhema word to us it seems as though the words come alive and jump right off the page right into our spirits. That is His way of getting our attention so that He can guide us into His perfect will and plan for our lives. That's why John 16:13 says, "However when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak from Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come."
The biblical definition of truth is characterized by both qualitative and quantitative aspects. Truth is used to describe utterances from the Lord. The biblical definition of utterance is to declare. He ultimately declares His word, His truth via the Holy Spirit regardless of whom He used to write it. He is the Divine Author! It is God-breathed. This is why "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.." II Timothy 3:16 and "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." II Peter 1:21
"God is not some vague, impersonal power, nor a being without self-consciousness, but a personal Essence. He is absolute personality. This truth is implied in the very idea of revelation. For revelation means that God speaks concerning Himself to the creature; and this speech concerning Himself to us presupposes that He speaks eternally to Himself through His infinite Word." (Herman Hoeksema, Reformed Dogmatics).
The Hebrew word for truth is emeth which means firmness or faithfulness. When we take hold of His truth, it reveals one of His main attributes which is faithfulness. The truth of God's word shows forth His never ending faithfulness. Whenever we see Him show forth His attribute of faithfulness it causes us to seek Him (His word) all the more which brings about transformation. As I have said before Revelation (Seeing, Experiencing God in His fullness through His word) = Transformation. Amen.
"Revelation is, it is true, never the mere communication of knowledge, but it is a life-giving and a life-renewing communion By revelation is meant not primarily the imparting of information but rather the disclosure, appearance, self-giving, self-evidencing of God." (Thomas C. Oden,Systematic Theology).
Be blessed until next time.
Smooches,
Me
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your word which is God breathed and fills us with LIFE. Helps us to crave your word which is TRUTH daily so that our minds and our lives will be utterly transformed to the likeness of YOU and YOUR desires, plan and will for our lives. We love you so deeply and want what you want for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Who Are You Listening To?
`
"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:5
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
Let me use a simple scenario with you today. You are having a discussion concerning your marriage. On one hand in your discussion you don't want to say too much for fear of losing your spouse or you both are screaming at each other in reference to a possible infraction of your vows, maybe being neglected, lied to, etc. In the process you have gone to family and friends to discuss the matter, contemplating divorce or wanting to work on improving your marital relationship to see what would happen. Like most marital issues we have the tendency to talk and listen to others rather than God. You may be saying, "I have done that and it doesn't work."
One of the main problems with us is that we are listening to the wrong people. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't seek counsel. What I am saying is if the people you talk to speak negatively of your marriage or spouse and try to find something that is not true or try to coheres you into leaving your spouse or divorcing your spouse then you could be listening to the wrong people.
Listen not everyone wants to see your marriage be successful. We need to be careful about who we share our concerns about our marriages with especially our so called friends. Have you ever thought that they may want what you have and because their relationship isn't where it needs to be they become envious or covetous? Some people are miserable and want you to be where they are. Then there are some whether in the church , oh yeah the church, or at work where they admire you and want to get closer than close so they tend to have conversations with you whereas over a period of time they begin to talk about personal issues.....Do you see where I am going here?
Now I don't have time to go into a full detailed discussion but I just want to caution you about who you are listening to when it comes to your marriage. There are a few incidents that occurred in our marriage but I will share one in particular. Some time ago Shell, my wife, was working at an office in Maryland. She has a co-worker who worked in her building that I believed had interest in her eventhough he knew she was married. I am not sure how long this went on but he tried to tell her some things about me. He would start with, "I don't want to cause confusion but..... " He also texted her about something that the Lord, supposedly had shared with Him. He talked to her about the Lord often. Supposedly he was like some kind of a prophet or something. He also told her that he heard something about me. Now mind you I had never met the man. He told her that I had been seen with some other female. She knew where I was on every occasion so therefore she refuted the statements. My wife immediately cut him off. she showed me the text he sent her also. He tried to apologize later but she would not respond.
Now when Shell initially told me I have to admit that I wanted to Christianize the brotha, in the name of Jesus, of course.
My Brothas and Sistas, his job was to get Shell to listen to him and cause confusion in our marriage which would have been the open door he needed for her to share her personal problems with him so that he could have her. We have a strong relationship and open communication. We communicate with one another through out the day. Strong communication is the key to keeping a strong marriage being able to share concerns and talking to the Lord together in prayer. Brothas and Sistas, be careful who you listen to.
Minister Antonio Washington
Prayer Time
Dear Lord,
We praise your holy name for our marriages. Help us to walk in truth and give us discernment for those that are not for our marriages. Give us ears to listen to those that give good and wise counsel. Help us to respect one another. Give us strong communications skills in our marriages. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Teatime With Tabby "What will be Written on Your Tea Cup When Your Last Day is Upon the World"
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,
I pray that you each have awaken with the knowledge that today is a new day; a gift from above and one that is to be used to glorify the Lord, our God. I attended a "Last Lecture" last night at Loyola College as a friend from church was retiring after teaching there nearly forty years. He had three colleagues that were retiring or stepping down from administration and returning to the classroom. Each gave a fifteen minute last lecture to inspire staff and students for the future.
These lectures gave me thought about what if today was my last day, either eternally or at my job, or in some other role I play. I began to think " Did I make a difference, that Christ would have written on my Tea Cup?"
Now obviously this answer is going to be different for each of us, some of us may have only a few words on our Tea Cups; but they could be very powerful and life giving words. If you ever look at the prayers and even most of Jesus conversations, you see they were short but powerful.
For some of us our Tea Cups will be covered in words related to the works we have done in our feeble attempt to gain God's grace, love, and mercy by works, rather than by faith. Some of us may only have in those last breathes, "My life was given to Christ." Praise God for not only second chances but last minute chances. Many of us will have tea cups filled with words of affirmation; names like mom, daughter, sister, dad, son, brother or child of God. Good and faithful servant.
As I pondered this I wondered what my Tea Cup would say if today was the day I was to take my last breath or if today was the day that God moved me from one significant place in my life to another. What legacy do I want left on my Tea Cup?
It's my prayer that my Tea Cup shows the attributes of Christ and that it is written upon by Jesus Christ such words as a Daughter of King, a Child of God, Giver of the truth of the Lord, a Mom that loved her children, a Son of the Most High God, a Dad that nurtured or cared for his children and raised them to know the Father, a husband who provided for and protected his beloved wife, a wife one who trusted God fully with her marriage and reaped the harvest that came from putting all her faith in Christ. I pray that my Tea Cup says that she was a Sista to all who claim Christ as Lord and Savior.
So Brothers and Sisters, how do we go about ensuring that our Tea Cups are no longer blemished and that they reveal to the world that we are each Children of God and Daughters and Sons of a King? I believe it's easier to do than what we might first think. We have the handbook that tells us step by step how to not only have our Tea Cups repaired when they are chipped or shattered. Also within this same handbook it tells us how to ensure that we are always pouring Tea that will reveal our true identity in Christ. It tells us exactly how to ensure that Christ Himself is writing upon our Tea Cups words of affirmation; words of love, grace, forgiveness, and all that we need individually to be who God created us each to be. This handbook is called the bible.
Brothers and Sisters, I pray that you will each spend some time with our Heavenly Father this week and ask Him to reveal any blemish that He wants to wash away in love and peace. Also ask Him what words and titles has He already written upon your Tea Cup that can never be washed away. Then go deeper with Him and really step out in faith with Christ and see where He may be asking you to go or to do in order for Him to be revealed to a broken world; a world that so needs a Savior, yet still has blinders on and can't see His hand reaching out to each of them no matter how blemished their tea cup is and no matter how chipped and broken it may be. Maybe He is asking you to help someone remove the blinders and enter into the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of daughters and sons of the King of salvation.
I'm going to end today with a reminder of what Jesus told us is the most important commandment. I believe if we choose to make this our life's motto our Tea Cups will not only have incredible words of affirmation from those we encounter in life but it will also be written in the blood of Jesus Christ, Himself never to be washed away.
Mark 12:28-44 - The Greatest Commandment
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Brothers and Sisters, I believe if we put these two commandments to practice in our everyday lives in every situation we encounter we will have Tea Cups that Christ, Himself is revealed through and that will be a blessing to you and to everyone you encounter. You never know you may just be the person that helps someone realize that their tea cup is in need of repair and some Jesus tarnish remover.
I pray that we will each seek to live our lives and allow Jesus to continually fill our Tea Cups with more love and thanksgiving for Him and the sacrifices He made for each of us. I also pray that we will be having Tea Parties with our neighbors, family friends, and enemies so that Jesus has a chance to pour into their lives as well as ours.
Till next week, may God be pouring out of all His goodness and may you he pouring that same love, grace, hope and joy onto everyone you encounter. May your Tea Cups be tarnish free, thanks to our Savior, Jesus Christ. I also pray that Jesus Himself is writing upon our Tea Cups, "Good and faithful servant.".....and much more.
Till next week prayers for all, Much Love in Christ's Glorious Name,
Tabby
Reputation Made God's Style
"But made himself of no reputation & took upon him the form of a servant & was made in the likeness of men:..For it is God which worketh in you both to will & to do of his good pleasure." Ph. 2:7,13
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
In the Old Testament there are many scriptures that give reference to the importance of a persons reputation. Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches and favor is better than silver or gold." Reputation is defined as overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general; recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability.
A persons reputation can mean everything to them and in the mind of some greatness is measured by a man/woman's reputation only. On the other hand Christ measures greatness not by what others think of us or how they see us but by how much we are willing to serve without the necessity of making a name for ourselves.
The epidemic that we are are faced with in the church is that many of us want to be seen to gain status in the Kingdom but we are not willing to become subject to or humbly serve the King of Kings. In God's economy this mindset just does not compute. The MSG bible says it like this, "He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all." For you see in His kingdom one has to become low to be exalted and one has to serve to become great.
"We weaken the value of our gifts of service by adding to them love of praise of others, honor or material profit. Our goal is simply the love of God, without any other consideration whatsoever. Not only does this unseen service help the individual being served and especially the one serving but it also helps people who know nothing of them. Seeing this act of unselfish giving, they are encouraged to do little acts of kindness themselves. They sense that the real motive behind the service runs far deeper than the service act and are thus inspired in their own faith." C.M.M.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for setting such an awesome example of how we ought to serve here on earth. You made yourself of no reputation and we should do the same. May we serve you out of our love for you and not to make a reputation for ourselves. You are a great God and we adore you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
He Is The Source Of Our Existence
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing." John 15:5
Good morning Brothers and Sistas,
In all of our doing, accomplishments, and yes even in our most heart wrenching regrets, we have ultimately come to the most profound conclusion that we can't live, breath, walk or even exist without Him. I love this verse because it demonstrates how vital and vibrant our lives are when we remain connected to Jesus, The Vine. Once again Jesus is using one of His famous analogies to get our attention and to give us understanding of how it relates to our relationship with Christ. Let's look at His analogy between the tree (the vine) and it's branches.
Brothers and Sistas, a tree is a central beam with secondary lateral beams called branches and twigs. Apart from the vine, its life giving source, it breaks off and dies. {t becomes nothing more than just a stick. In other words, after it is separated from it's life giving source it has no true significance. Apart from the life giving source of Jesus Christ we are absolutely void of true existence and significance. He is the epitome of who we are and who we have yet to become. There is absolutely no me, you or us without Him. So tell me what can we do if He is not included in the mix?
Brothers and Sistas, as we make decisions let's not forget to make Him our first priority in all that we say and do. After all, He is the source of our existence. Amen.
Our Daily Bread/Prayer Time
Dear Lord,
Our hearts cry today and each and everyday is that we can't make it without you. We can walk, talk, or sing without you. We can't even live without you. We can't breathe or be without you. We are nothing without you. And because of that we have come to the awesome conclusion and made the ultimate declaration that You are the ultimate source of our existence. Help us Dear Lord, to make you our one and only priority daily. Help us to stay connected to you, The Vine so that we may share your life giving source with others. We pray all these things in your wonderful name, Jesus.
Greatness Is Among Us
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
Good Morning Brothas and Sistas,
What a comfort it is to know that “Greater is in us” than who is in the world. Many times as we encounter difficulties in our lives we seem to forget this scripture. Brothas and Sistas, we hold greatness and this greatness has nothing to do with us. It’s truly about the One and True living God who privileged us by residing in our temples.
Every time I think about how much God has shown His love for us it brings tears to my eyes. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten son and whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 talks about “Greatness,” On our best day we could never do anything that can top the love that God has extended to us.
Even though things may get difficult at times we must always remember that we are already covered from the inside to the outside. The enemy’s job is to lie to us about us and he is good at his job. So the next time a situation in your life tries to overtake you just repeat this scripture and repeat it until you believe it. After all, the Bible says, "Whatsoever a man thinketh in his heart so is he." Psalms 23:7
Brothas and Sistas, we have to move beyond just quoting scripture and begin to really meditate and apply it to our lives. Give God back His word and watch what happens. Remember Greatness is Among Us So We Are Already Victorious!
Love,
Gina M.
Prayer of Faith
God, we thank you and praise you for your greatness. We are so appreciative that you would place greatness in these temples. Father, please help us to understand who we are and how important we are to you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
The Honeymoon Is Over, What Now?
https://youtu.be/WtVzi7-WrUQ?list=PL5A074955308B2A23
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." I Peter 4:8
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
A lot of times once the honeymoon is over we think everything is going to be peaches and cream and the truth is, it's not. For the most part we should expect to have some ups and downs in our marriages because no two people are alike. There are going to be some disagreements and misunderstandings. There will be times when something is said or seen that will cause friction in our marriages.
For instance selfishness will appear in our marriages because we have been used to doing things independently and now we have to be dependent upon one another. We should be working together as a team but our pride gets in the way. We will also experience regrets. We may regret the things we say or do at times. We may even regret the things that our spouses say or do at one time or another.
We believe that differences among us as spouses allow us to grow closer not only to one another but to Christ. One of the biggest challenges in our marriages is learning to love one another in spite of our differences. Learning how to love one another takes time. It does not happen overnight. God's love will "cover a multitude of sins" which includes differences, mistakes, and shortcomings. (I Peter 4:8) When we are going through this process we have to learn to love beyond our differences, shortcomings, and mistakes. Our differences should lead us to extending grace to one another so that we may move forward together.
Brothas and Sistas, as we move beyond the wedding to the actual marriage we have to learn how to accept our spouses for who they are. After all, "The perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other." Anon
Take care until next time
Minister Antonio Washington and Sista Michelle Washington
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
Thank you for loving us in spite of our shortcomings, mistakes and indifference. May we follow your example and learn to love our spouses unconditionally. Help us to move beyond the honeymoon into the journey of marriage realizing that we will go through trials but you promised to see us through them. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
A Brew of Provision
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
Thanks for being so patient with us. Vistaprint was experiencing some issues with their digital marketing yesterday so we were unable to air Tabby yesterday, so here you go.
Nehemiah 13:31 (NIV) "I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the first fruits. Remember me with favor, my God."
Romans 5:17 (NIV) "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"
1 Kings 8:21 (NIV) "I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.” 1 Chronicles 29:16 (NIV) Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you."
Good Morning, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I pray that you awoke today understanding and cherishing the Provisions that are bestowed upon us every day. Let’s grab our Tea Cups and head over to the Grand Brew Masters Table and see what He has to pour into each of our Tea Cups today.
Brothers and Sisters, do you come to the table feel despaired, tired, anxious, empty…. Well, I must be honest I come this morning feeling, anxious, frustrated, tired and grateful. Now that may not make much sense to many people but if put on the right perspective we can find gratitude for our King and Savior in every circumstance. Now I don’t deny that finding that in many of the spoiled brews of life is more than challenging. Also, some of the sour and curdled brews we don’t find the gratitude in them till well after they are poured out. After the Lord has swept in and dumped out the sour and curdled brews in our Tea Cupboard. Yet I come to share to today the Brew of Provision.
Provision in the bible was often so amazing, God providing the Noah with the Ark, providing David the sling and a rock to take out a giant. There are so many more amazing examples of God’s provision throughout the bible. This week I would like to share with you how He took a rather Sour, Bitter, Curdled Brew that was poured into my life these past few weeks. How He has provided me with all the Provision I need, and the Shelter of His Loving truths.
The Lord provided me with my home, a condo about 10 yrs ago following a very painful season in my life where I had to become completely dependent upon Him, His provision and plan for my life. I simply had no other choice. Then a few years into this new season I met and married my now husband. He and his boys lived just about 45 minutes away and my condo wasn’t large enough for my new family. I decided to rent it out to a friend and I moved to my husband’s house. Well about 2 months into this I get a call from my tenant and he says the condo is flooding. Well a water main broke in the wall and there was a lot of damage to my home. Now here we are 7 yrs later, all the children have moved out and my husband and I are back living in my condo.
Things are going well. I love living back in my little condo. Then strange water was appearing in my kitchen for about 2 weeks or so. I kept thinking I was spilling water on the floor when cleaning up the kitchen, as my rug in front of my sink was soaking wet. No leaks that I can see so I concluded that I was messy. Then suddenly water started coming up through my floor and flooding my kitchen and dining room. So, now I am stressed. I am mad that it wasn’t fixed right the first time and now my home is unsafe. We were told that our home has severe mold damage and we must leave and they don’t know when we can return. Additionally, the entire front part of my condo had to be gutted. Do you feel my stress and anxiety and upset....? I had a beautiful kitchen just redone 2 years ago….
Oh, but this doesn’t end there. I was sitting on my couch moping and feeling sad and angry about all that mess when I felt a stirring in my spirit. At first I wasn’t listening. I was sitting and wallowing in my own selfish pity. I couldn’t figure out how I could pack up my home and where would we go... what about our pets and on and on. Till I finally listened. God reminded me of His Ppomise to always be with me never would He forsake me. Slowly I started to realize that there had to be something good that would come out of this mess… and that God is for me and He loves me fiercely.
As I began to rest in His truths and love, I found that I wasn’t alone in this and that if I stepped back took a breath that He would lead me to the Provisions that I needed. Here below is a list of the provisions He has provided me just in the past few days.
1. He provided a company to come and pack out my home anything I wanted packed they did, and they encouraged me to simply sit back and tell them what I needed done
2. He provided a pod for our belongings
3. He provided an amazing caring group of people at our Home Owners Insurance that orchestrated all this for us. They listen to all our questions and never make us feel like they are rushed.
4. He provided housing for us and our furry children.
5. He provided reimbursement for nearly all our food expenses through our insurance.
6. He provided all the repairs to our home and replacing things that were ruined in the flood through our insurance.
7. He is providing through our insurance a replacement kitchen and it will be just like it was before the flood.
8. He has provided me the opportunity to get to know my neighbor better and to minister to her and share my faith.
9. He provided the opportunity for me to invite her to church where she hasn’t been in many years since the loss of her mom and she wants to go back.
10. He provided me with a so many caring and loving friends who have offered to do anything we need.
As you can see He is providing for me in so many ways, I can’t begin to be thankful enough. He has taken my anger, frustration, anxiety, and wrapped them up in Him and there is great comfort in the provision of His love.
Lastly, we must not forget to be boldly reminded of the greatest provision God has ever provided to His people. Jesus Christ going to the cross for our sins and receiving our punishment. He did this so that we would never have to be separated from Him. This my brothers and sisters is the greatest Provision of all.
I pray that over the next week you take some time to consider the Provisions that God has put in your life and give Him some praise and thanksgiving. Remember its all about our perspective and even if we can’t see it. We must believe that its coming. As God never goes back on His word.
Till next week, may you find yourself basking in His provision for you and your life.
Covered by His Grace and Grateful for His Loving Provision,
Love,
Tabby
Let the Past Be the Past
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing indeed: Forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.…" Philippians 3:12-14
Good Morning Friends of God,
I just really want to continue to encourage you all. We all certainly need encouragement in these evil times we are living in. Friends, one of Satan's most personal attacks on us is involving our past. He wants to constantly remind us of past mistakes and failures and poor choices. He wants to keep us bombarded by shame and guilt hoping that we would feel incapable of our Christian walk with Jesus.
Satan will try to convince us that we had a chance and we've blown it. He wants us to believe that our God may be able to forgive some people for some things, but not you.... not for this. Satan's attacks are always awful and it's personal, a personal unwelcome, unwarranted attack! But thank God for Jesus ending the reign of guilt, shame and regret! "For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." ( John 3:17)
So you see Friends, "There's no condemnation to those of us who are in Christ Jesus, those of us who have been saved from our sin, through salvation." Our past is just that our past. Meaning it's behind us. Friends, don't allow the Enemy to bombard you with your past, fight him with everything the Holy Spirit has equipped you with, which is the word of God and prayer and you will win every time. "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." (Romans 8:2-3)
Remember Friends, Satan loves to live in the past, using our forgiven past to poke holes in our future. But prayer, fervent prayer can change things, even unchangeable things. There's nothing to hard for our God. Just as God has said to the ocean waves, "Thus far you shall come, but no farther." (Job 38:11) Friends, it's the word of God that has allowed us to rise above the sea level of Satan's attacks from our past.
The past is in the past. It doesn't have permission to touch us anymore. It's done! We are free because God doesn't live in the past. No, our God exist outside of time. Praise God, Friends!! God sees us only as we are and have been since that beautiful day we placed our faith in Him! He sees us as holy, righteous, and blameless, past, present and future! He's forgiven us, Friends. He has moved out shame, guilt and anything else that was there. He declares His work in us an established all time fact. Friends, prayer is always the key! Prayer does a complete end run around Satan's pitiful accusations ushering us into an eternal realm with God where the past doesn't even compute.
Furthermore, we live by grace anyway. So Friends, we don't have to be ashamed of those forgiven failings. There are no longer reasons for shame only monuments of the total amazing grace of God. "Then Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with All Saints what is the breadth, and length and depth, and height." (Ephesians 3:17-18)
So Friends, Satan can be the accuser of the brethren all he wants to be. So talk it up devil! "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Rev.12:10) Satan can NEVER change what the cross has done to throw all of his accusations out of court! Every last one of them is thrown out on an undeniably divine technicality. Yes, Friends God has transformed all that mess into a huge mountain of grace that only takes us higher and closer to Him. Amen! Praise God for His saving grace and what He did on the cross to move all endless shame, guilt, and regret! Friends, our lives are a free-flowing testimony of His endless love, grace and mercy!
Peace and blessings, Friends.
Much Love,
Renee
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
Thank you for releasing us from our past. Now help us to release ourselves. Help us to move forward and not allow Satan to use our past and our minds for his bidding. We want to walk in newness of life and fulfill our destiny. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Who Are You Fearing?
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 KJV
NO REASON TO FEAR JJ HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE By EydelyWorshipLivingGodChannel
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
Wow! I had to ask myself that question quite a bit over the past few months. With all the attacks of the devil going on in my family recently, I began to feel fear rearing its ugly head. It was only yesterday morning that I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “There are two versions of fear.”
What? I thought as I sat straight up! Please tell me more, I inquired of Him. Then He reminded me of the scriptures, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:7) And Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
It brought me back to reality and reminded me that in this world there are always two kingdoms at work, The Kingdom of Heaven (Light), and the kingdom of darkness. And too often we succumb to fear of the devil when we should be fearing God, only. Don’t get me wrong, I know for a certainty, that it’s not easy to do, but we must use all our faith to obey this truth.
A few months ago, I was sitting in my chair, when I felt two hits to my right shoulder. It felt like someone had thrown two darts full of fire at me. "What was that!" I screamed out.
The Holy Spirit replied, “Those were two fiery darts! Put your shield up!” Until He said that, I didn’t realize it was down and I wasn’t in faith. But when I thought about the fact that I was really worried about my children in that moment, I understood that I had stepped into the realm of fear—the devil’s territory.
Honestly, I thought those fiery darts were a figure of speech. Nope! I felt both of them, and that’s when I knew the devil wasn’t playin’ around. Those darts are definitely real!
From that day forward, I have made it my purpose to remember to stay in faith, and out of fear. And I keep my armor on and my shield of faith up! Just like Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds us, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Beware of the Enemy's Deception
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1
GM Friends of God,
Friends, we live in a culture that is so full of deception it's everywhere, all around us, illustrated by these kinds of outlandish advertising claims. Sometimes it's easy to see through the falsehood and sometimes it's not so easy, I believe you all know what I'm talking about. Just to name a few..."Melt 10 pounds in 10 minutes!... A workout so easy you do it in your pajamas!" LOL! How I wish that was true!!!
here's another one......"Look better and feel Younger in just minutes a Day.... The key to a healthier happier life." It's an Ad for an oxygen chamber and it's price tag is $3,999.95 . Here's one more.... "Become a world class violinist instantaneously." Really?
Deception in advertising appeals to our natural human longings. We want to believe sometimes that those unwanted pounds will mysteriously melt away in just 10 minutes-- no sweat, no discipline, no cost, no effort or no pain. That's why we buy the pills, diet drink powders, and buy exercise equipment sold on infomercials. "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:11).
A clever and cunning pitchman whose intention was to change Adam and Eve's thinking about God and His ways designed the first advertising campaign. Satan's objective is to drive a wedge between God and His creatures. Satan knows that he has to trick us into believing his lies by deceiving us the same way he did with Adam and Eve. Satan does this by planting seeds of doubt in our minds about what God has actually said to us in his word.
His next step will be to try to lead us to be careless with God's word, and suggests to us that God had said something that, in fact He had not said. The same way he had Eve misquoting what God has said. The truth is that God had said, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden except one." (Genesis 2:16-17). God was more than generous. Can you imagine how many trees there were in that Garden? But Eve allowed Satan to trick her up by distorting God's truth, and deceiving her. In this case Adam and Eve's sin separated them from God.
Deception is a terrible thing, God wanted Adam to obey but God gave him the freedom to choose. Friends we also have the freedom to choose right or wrong. Let's not allow the enemy, Satan to deceive us with his flattering tongue his lies and deception, to distort our view of what God's word is telling us.
Satan promises us peace but gives us pain. He promises Joy but gives us misery. He promises us love but gives us hate. He's a liar he and was a liar from the beginning the scripture says. He will always be a liar he's the father of lies. So friends when left with a choice, always choose to obey God and you can't go wrong.
Much love,
Renee
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
We praise you for giving us a spirit of discernment so that we can see the enemy's deception. May we walk in your truth daily so that we will not be swayed by the lies of the enemy. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Temptation
https://youtu.be/ieNWZBf2X18 Slow Jam
"Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:2
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were tempted to become intimate with someone other than your spouse? In our marriages temptation is always prevalent when we are at odds with one another. The enemy knows our weaknesses and he will place people in our path to come in between our marriages. Often we begin to share our marital problems or disagreements with the opposite sex and then over a period of time the opposite sex may say or do things that we would like to hear or see from our own spouses. When we share our problems with them our emotions give way to sexual attraction.
Brothas and Sistas, it is very important that we do not share personal marital problems with those of the opposite sex. The enemy has a way of allowing them to say just the right thing. I remember when my wife and I were separated I met someone that was a Christian at the time. She looked just like my wife and her son looked just like my oldest son. Initially she told me all the right things to do if my wife and I were to reconcile but in the end things changed. We both became attracted to one another. She was doing and saying all the things I wanted my wife to do and say.
When the time came for my wife and I to get back together she did not want to let go of the relationship. Eventually after I shared the very things with her that she shared with me in the beginning of our relationship she saw that it was the right thing for me to reconcile with my wife and then she let go of the relationship. Brothas and Sistas, we open the door to infidelity whenever we share with the opposite sex. Let's let our words be few when it comes to sharing our marital problems."Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:2 Amen.
“Many marriages would be better if the husband and the wife clearly understood that they are on the same side.” ~ Zig Ziglar
Minister Antonio Washington
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the sanctity of marriage. We love you and want to mirror your relationship with your bride, the church, (us) in our marriages. Help us to remain faithful. Help us to keep our marital relationship problems off limits with the opposite sex. Teach us to allow our words to be few. May we uplift our spouses in word and in deed. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
He Calls You By Name
"But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!" Isaiah 43:1
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
Many of you that have children can relate to calling your children more than once especially when there is a sense of urgency to draw their attention to what you desire for them to do. Whenever my children hear their names repeatedly they know that I am indeed their Mama, they belong to me and their attention to specific instructions is needed right away to complete the task at hand. In the same way our heavenly Father calls us by name. We belong to Him and He has a specific task that He has formed (uniquely designed) each one of us for.
The biblical definition of call is to invite or summon. I believe in each instance in the bible where God called someone by name He was inviting and ultimately summoning (commissioning) them to a life of ministering to and touching the masses for His glory.
When God called Saul he was on the road to Damascus doing what he was being ordered to do; persecute Christians, God began to speak His name. "Saul, Saul." (Acts 9) He called Him out of a life of treachery to a life of ministry. And when God called Simon Peter he singled him out of all the other disciples just to let him know that He would soon betray Him but after Peter repented He changed his name to Peter which means rock and Peter went on to become the first apostle and boldly preach the gospels to the masses who in turn converted to Christianity. (Luke 33:31-32)
When He called Samuel He not only called Him into an intimate relationship with Him so that he could eventually discern His voice but He called Him to be His voice to a nation. (I Samuel 3:1-10) One day He called me out of a bed of adultery and called me to preach the gospel and to be a mouthpiece for those who have been left feeling as though they no longer have a voice.
Brothas and Sistas, that's what our God does best. He calls us out to call us to. He calls us by name. So what about you? What has He called you out of to call you to? "When Gods calls, it's our job to answer." Sistas Saving Sistas for Christ
Lovingly submitted,
Sista Michelle
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
We are so grateful that you call us out of something to call us to something. May we learn to discern your voice in our lives. May we walk in our calling so that you maybe glorified today and everyday for the rest of our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
A Work In Progress
"This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Jeremiah, go down to the potter’s house. I will give you my message there.”
So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working with clay at the wheel. He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be." Jeremiah 18: 1-4
Good Morning Brothas and Sistas,
If you have ever watched a person work with the potters wheel you will notice that he or she never takes their eyes off of the clay nor do they ever remove their hands from it. If the clay starts taking a form or shape that's not pleasing to them they simply smash it and start again.
God is the Potter and we are the clay. God is always shaping and molding us and reconstructing us. We are so blessed that God is not like man. God takes the time to form and fashion us and He has been doing this even before we were born.
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb." Psalm 139:13"
Brothas and Sistas, there is such peace in knowing that God is not finished with us yet. No matter how bad things are or how messed up we may appear to be, God still has us on the wheel and He never leaves us unattended.
Thank you God,
Gina M
Dear Father,
I bless your holy name. Father, I thank you for being the Potter in our lives and watching over us so carefully. Thank you for never taking your hands off of us. Father, please help us to look at each other as you see us "a work in progress". In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Our Hope Is In Him
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."
1 Peter 1:13- 14
Good morning Friends,
Yes, Friends for this reason our minds should always be ready for doing the work of God. Being self-controlled; meaning by our own will. God should not have to force us as Christians to serve Him even when we are going through because our hope is in Him and His capacity to deliver us. Remembering that "we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us."
Romans 8:37
Daniel 2:20b - 22 says, "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him."
Friends, He knows all things. He gives us grace. Let's be obedient children, not conforming to the desires of the world in spite of what we are going through. Let's not allow our burdens to make us bitter and more apt to fall into depression and sin. The word says, "We once had in our ignorance, meaning we were without knowledge but now that we have heard God's word and seen with our own eyes." John 3:11 We have learned of Him. "Old things should have passed away and all things have become new." II Corinthians 5:17
Our God is Holy and He is calling us to live holy. Friends of God, all that we think, know and have comes from God. All our wisdom and knowledge that we have was given to us by Him. We can do nothing without Him. The changes and seasons (the trials) that come in our lives, He allows them.
Friends, nothing is hidden from God. He is the light. He sees through all darkness. This is why our hope must be in Him. Praise His Holy name. All power is in His hand. Amen.
Peace and Blessings,
Renee
Prayer Time
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the times and seasons in our lives. We realize we will go through trials. Trials make us stronger and give us your wisdom. Our character develops when we are going through. Help us to remain in your will and not to fall into sin because of depression or weariness. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Stop Complaining I am Bringing You Through the Storm
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I Thessalonians 5:18
Praise the Lord and Greetings to you, Brothas and Sistas,
This is the day the Lord has made we SHALL rejoice and be glad in it!
Just about two weeks ago I was driving from a training and was highly upset. You see I had planned to leave the training early because I had planned to attend bible study that night. Well, it just so happens we started late. I was livid. I asked the instructor if we would still be able to leave on time because I had planned on attending bible study and I had an hour drive to get to my destination. Well, he assured me that we would leave on time.
Five minutes. Ten minutes. Almost fifteen minutes after the time that the training was supposed to end I kindly reminded the instructor once again that I had to leave. A moment later I kindly got up and exited the training headed to my car fussing all the way there. Well, wouldn't you know it a bad thunderstorm started. "Oh, just make my day why don't you! Storm didn't you just hear me say I had some place to be! I am trying to get to church before worship service starts. Lord, please just let me make it there in time for worship."
The storm seemed as though it just would not let up. I started complaining more and fussing at the instructor even though he was no where to be found. After all it was his fault that I had to be late for worship service and I had to drive in that bad storm coupled with heavy rain and strong wind. What was his problem and why didn't he start on time anyway!
Brothas and Sistas, the storm slowed me down and I got to the church much later. Now normally around the time that I entered the service they would be well into the lesson. To my surprise, when I entered the building they were doing praise and worship! Praise the Lord!
Just then the minister came forth to present the word and she said," Praise the Lord for turning the power back on after a brief power outage." All I could say was, "Thank you Jesus!" He did that just for me!
A week later I experienced the same thing. I was driving to a conference and a very bad storm began but this time when I began to pray I was a bit calmer. Once again it was pouring down so hard I could hardly see the lines on the road and the wind was blowing. In the midst of the storm when I even thought of complaining I could hear the Lord say, "Don't you even dare do it. Stop complaining even if it's in your spirit. Don't you see I am bringing you through your storm."
Brothas and Sistas, once again the Lord was faithful. I got there just as they were ending testimony time and did not miss a word of the teaching that was going to be brought forth that night. You see our God is so faithful! In any storm that we go through He's got us. Even when we are tempted to complain or even if we succumb to throwing a pity party in the midst of it God controls the fierceness of the storm. As a matter of fact, He created the storm and is in the midst of it. Therefore, He will always, undeniably bring us through it without being overtaken by the rain and winds of life.
Whenever you are going through a storm always remember to stop complaining for He is bringing you through your storm so that you can receive all that He has for you on the other side of it.
"Dear God,
Change my heart so that in every storm I can say, "You are enough."
Amen.
Smooches,
Me
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
Praise your excellent name for each and every one of our storms. Thank you for speaking to us and growing us up in the storms of life. Help us to stop whining and complaining so that we can see, experience and embrace all the blessings you have for us on the other side of the storm. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
How Are You Leading Your Family Spiritually? Part II
"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Good morning my Brothas,
In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Moses gives us the commandments that come from God so that we may impress them on our children. Brothas and Sistas, the question we want to pose to you is "How much time are you spending teaching your children the word of God?" We are bombarded daily with schedules that Satan uses divisively to literally take us and our children from the teachings of the word of God. We are too busy to make time for daily devotions or even pray with our children.
The word of God in Deuteronomy makes it clear, we as parents are to instruct our children daily morning and night in the ways of Jehovah. We are not in any way supposed to depart from it. There is nothing like spending time around the word of God with our family(ies). Our children really enjoy being challenged by the word of God when we partake in devotions. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
Brothas and Sistas, another question we want to present is, "How much time are you spending with your children on a daily basis. Love is not defined by the amount of materialistic things you buy them or the amount of money you give them. The amount of money you make for or spend on them does not compare to you being there for them. "Are you present in their daily lives or are you too busy to show them some attention in regard to those things they are interested in?" There are times when our children are getting involved in things that are contrary to those things that we as Christians believe. It is our job to be present and teach them what's right and wrong so that they will not get off track.
My wife and I spend a lot of time taking note of the other children and activities our children are involved with/in. We stay in close communication with their teachers, schools, coaches, providers, therapist, physicians, Sunday school teachers, etc., We also pay attention to the conversations that our adolescent and teen children have on the phone with their friends and each other. And yes, we even check their phones from time to time to make sure their conversation and the people they hang out with are lining up with what we have been pouring into/teaching them. We do not do this to stalk them but to let them know that we are concerned with every detail in their lives. If something goes wrong we know about it ahead of time. After all we bought and are paying for the phone. We also realize that the enemy can use anyone to get our children out of their purpose/destiny. "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." I Corinthians 15:33
Thirdly, we need to ask you, "How much time are you spending in prayer with your children." My wife and I pray with our children daily. Our children need to know the importance that daily prayer has in their lives so they won't get the "big head" and feel as though they have accomplished anything on their own. "Pray without ceasing." I Thessalonians 5:17 "There is nothing that we can do apart from Him. "For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring." Acts 17:28 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
Fourthly, "How often do you as parents express thankfulness to God for the blessings that you receive daily right in front of your children. Our children need to know that it is not solely because of our education, street smarts, intelligence apart from God, degrees, luck, or the amount of money we make that we are where we are today and have what we have today but it is because of His great love for us and His grace and mercy that we walk in the blessings He has set aside for us daily. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I Thessalonians 5:18
Come on Brothas and Sistas, let's make it a point to pour into our children daily so that some day when they have children they will do the same as they were taught by us. Amen.
“The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.”~ Billy Graham
Minister Antonio and Sista Michelle Washington
Prayer Time
Dear Lord,
Please help us as parents to honor you and our children by spending time with them in the word of God, prayer, and getting involved in their interest. Help us to pour into them so that we may help them to be the godly men and women that you ordained them to be. Help us to show them how special they are to us and they are divinely loved by you. We pray all these things in your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Press On Because Giving Up Is Not An Option"
"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side......." Psalm 124:2 a
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
This week has been another demanding week, but God who is ABLE surely showed Himself faithful in my life. I have a full-time job and I’m taking two graduate classes, along with taking on the responsibility of department chairperson, preparing meaningful lesson plans, grading papers, updating Edline, working the school store, sponsoring school organizations, working on school committees, along with cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and all the other daily routines that go along with maintaining a home.
I had to write another paper and I seemed to have writer’s block. It was getting late but I was still determined to complete the assignment and then I started to break down. I began to cry and proceeded to pour out my heart to the Lord, because I wanted to give up. I just wanted to throw in the towel. After a good cry, the Holy Spirit began bringing back scripture to my remembrance. I began to praise God and He started to give me the thoughts and the paper started coming together. It all started to flow. By 1 a.m. I was finished and I went to sleep.
I got up the next morning ready to approach the day. After I got to work, I asked another person to proofread my work. She proofread my paper and I sent the assignment to my professor. Before the end of the day, my professor e-mailed me back, saying it was an excellent response to the questions I had to answer. I got 20 out of 20 points. Praise God for the great things He has done. Well you know that I started giving God the praise. I know it was the Lord who brought me through. The Word says, "If it had not been for the Lord on my side."
Today I met a lady from New Orleans who had relocated to Maryland. She had survived hurricane Katrina and a divorce. Now she is raising three boys as a single parent. With the help of the Lord, she is doing a tremendous job. She has changed careers and is now teaching 5th graders. She told me that the theme for her family is "GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION" She has this saying hanging up in her home.
I decided that I’m taking on her theme. I know that I will have to continue to reiterate this while I’m in graduate school, but because giving up was not an option for Jesus, it won’t be an option for me and neither is it one for you Brothas and Sistas. Hallelujah!!!!!
Love,
Wanda Lewis
Our Daily Bread/Prayer Time
"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side......." Psalm 124:2 a
We are so grateful for all that you do in our lives. We praise you for always being on our side and helping us to make it through those tough days filled with so many responsibilities. You consistently give us direction and wisdom so that we can manage those things that want to overwhelm us. Help us to continue to press on for we know that giving up is not an option. We pray all these things in your precious name, Jesus. Amen.
I Had A Dream
“…Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14 (NIV)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3FXgRHOXfE
I went to sleep about 11:00 p.m. on September 2, 2018. The night was like any other—I was trying to get my grand-daughter to settle down, so I could settle down. Eventually, we both fell off to sleep, and then I had a dream.
In the dream, I was registering for college. I was given a packet of forms, and financial aid awards and scholarships to assist me in my endeavor. I knew that I had received a blessing. That part of the dream didn’t really catch my attention, but the second part did. Shortly after I received my packet, I became extremely fatigued, so I laid down to take a nap. When I woke up, I realized that I had been sleeping in the middle of the campus, on the concrete walk-way, while students passed by me as they went about their day.
I jumped up suddenly, as I experienced an epiphany. I knew then that I needed to get up and be about my business. But as I got up, I noticed that my paperwork was wet from laying in a puddle on the ground. Immediately, I ran to my professor to get a replacement copy, but she only gave me the blues. Her attitude towards me was nasty, and she would not give me a replacement schedule.
Eventually, she left the room, which left me scrambling. As I looked around I saw a classroom full of kids. It hit me in my spirit that my major must be Early Childhood Education. None of this made any sense to me, and usually my dreams don’t, but I kept fighting for my replacement schedule.
Eventually, a classmate walked over to the professor’s desk and grabbed a random schedule and handed to me. When I looked down at it I saw someone else’s name on it. Dread came over me, because I knew I couldn’t keep the schedule that wasn’t mine, even though I needed it so badly. Then I woke up!
I was stunned and completely perplexed at what the dream might have meant. I knew God was speaking to me because, I actually remembered the dream, in detail. Again, I very seldom remember my dreams and most of them don’t make any sense. I seem to dream in abstract. I’m in one scene, then suddenly, I’m in another. By the time the dream ends, I am clueless to it’s meaning. It feels like a hodge-podge of ideas that I can’t comprehend.
However, this dream was different, and I went into prayer upon my awakening to seek God for it s meaning. I prayed at various time throughout the day and even told my daughter that I thought I had the interpretation. But I was wrong! After I hung up the phone with her, at about 8:38 p.m. on September 3, 2018, God spoke saying, “You have an opportunity in Christ to teach others, and you should not sleep on this opportunity, or it may pass you by and may not return to you again.”
His interpretation shook me to my core because I knew that I had not been as diligent about my ministry calling as I should have been in the past or even, recently. I let other needs and other problems side-track me. Although, I didn’t totally neglect my ministry—I did neglect to respect my ministry, and my responsibility to others concerning my ministry.
Then the revelation that I needed, settled in my heart. I don’t have anymore time to waste on fruitless deeds, when God has called me to a great work for His glory, and for His Kingdom. Ephesians 5:8-20 (NIV) came to mind,
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I knew I had to share this dream, because I believe that I’m not the only Saint that needs to “WAKE UP!”
If you have disobeyed God, because you were procrastinating, or were just plain ole afraid, please pray with me.
Father,
I apologize to you for my disobedience to your will. It's not that I mean to disobey you, I just don't always know what to do. And sometimes, I'm so afraid! Of what? I don't know! Why? I don't know! But I do know that, You, put a dream in my heart, and Your Spirit in me, so I know that I am qualified to fulfill Your purpose. I only ask that, You, grant me grace to continue the work that, You, began in me. I won't run anymore, and I won't complain. Just give me Your divine strength to remain, faithful!
In the name of Jesus, my Lord, Amen!
Position Yourself for Power
"But you will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you." Acts 1:8
"Many Christians estimate difficulty in the light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little and they always fail. All giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence to be with them." Hudson Taylor
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
There are many ways to receive power. Act 1:8 says, "But you will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you." Acts 1:8 You see we cannot properly witness for Christ or be the witness that He is calling us to be unless we have allowed the Holy Spirit to wrap Himself around us and cloak us with the fragrance of His might so that others will be drawn to Christ in all His fullness. It's funny how many of us can receive additional power and stamina when we go the gym to work out or when we gulp down a power drink but neither one of these ways for acquiring power compares to that of receiving power from on high. In other words, we must position ourselves for Holy Ghost power!
Let's look at some ways we obtain dunamis power (strength, power or ability) via the Holy Spirit.
Consistent Prayer Time
There is nothing like obtaining consistent prayer time in the presence of the Lord. One on one time with the Lord is a necessity. This is where we get to talk one on one with the Lover of our Souls and the God of the Universe who only has our best in mind. He loves us and enjoys one on one fellowship with us. As a matter of fact, He craves it.
"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Revelation 3:20
Bible Study
We must spend daily time in the word of God to obtain wisdom, instruction and encouragement. The bible is His love letter to us filled with inspiration so that we will be strong enough to ward off the invitations of Satan and become increasingly aware of the presence of sin in our lives and have the wherewithal to fight against it. When we spend time in the word of God daily we fortify ourselves to walk in victory on a daily basis.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3
Receiving and Applying the Word of God
When we see the importance of being under the taught and preached word of God we will see the importance of spiritual growth in our lives. We remain in a baby Christian or carnal state when we don't avail ourselves to not only listen to but apply the spoken word. God has placed men and women within the body of Christ that He gives a prophetic word to for us. We cannot know the will and plans of God for our lives when we are not present to receive (presented with, be given) from Him. And then once we have received the Word of God we must apply it.
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse. Psalm 2 1-12
"Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4, 5
Accountability
We walk in vitality, wisdom, strength and conviction for right living when we have the love of other Brothas and Sistas within in the body that genuinely care for us and will lovingly tell us about some things, warn us or tell us when we are wrong. There is no way we can make it in this world trying to do things on our own. We need the care and concern of those around us to keep us on the path to God's greatness and His best for us.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." Ephesians 6:1
Brothas and Sistas, position yourself for POWER! The power of the Holy Spirit can do what no other power can do!
"The Church is the Body of Christ, and the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. He fills the Body, directs its movements, controls its members, inspires its wisdom, supplies it's strength. He guides into truth, sanctifies its agents, and empowers for witnessing. The Spirit has never abdicated His authority nor relegated His power." Samuel Chadwick
Lovingly submitted,
Sista Michelle
Prayer of Faith
Father, we are so grateful for the power and presence of your Holy Spirit within our lives. We know that we are unable to do your perfect will without the Holy Spirit. Help us to daily position ourselves for power by living in consistent prayer, making ourselves available for bible study, receiving and applying the word of God and having others hold us accountable. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Someone Is Waiting for You
"And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:9-11
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
This weekend I was blessed to attend a Women's Conference from Thursday till Saturday. The theme was "Iron Sharpens Iron". I wasn't really sure what to expect but I was expecting God to show up as He usually does. I was seeking confirmation in reference to some things that God was telling me to do.
The first night of the conference was good but I still hadn't heard from God. The word that night was excellent but it wasn't the word for me. I really can't explain it. There is something about when you hear Gods voice for your specific need. I guess God was giving me a rest because it was the first night and I was tired but let me tell you on Friday afternoon God came through using one of the speakers and I just kept fighting tears that entire day.
The speaker was speaking about being Intentional about whatever you are called to do. She referenced the scripture where God told Moses that he has been hearing the cries of His people and that Moses needed to go to Pharaoh so the people could be delivered.
Brothas and Sistas, she said, "God hears the crying of His people and He has to waste time trying to convince Moses to Go." OMG! that really ripped through me. She said a lot of other things but that sat in my spirit all day. I immediately envisioned people crying and unable to get deliverance because God is still trying to convince me to do what He has equipped me to do. My God!!! The thought that someone is in limbo because I am struggling with fear, doubt etc., instead of just trusting God and preparing for the assignment.
God gives each of us a particular assignment and because we don't see ourselves as God sees us we try to avoid it as if God doesn't know what He is talking about. We act as if God is confused. Brothas and Sistas, if God called you for a particular purpose and He has called each of us for a specific purpose we need to trust Gods decision even if it appears way too big when we look with our physical eyes.
Our assignment is not for us but its for others. Our gifts are for the edification of the body. God made a deposit in us before the foundation of the world and that deposit (gifting) has a destiny attached to it. When we are disobedient it not only affects us but those that the assignment is attached took.
Brothers and Sistas, I plead with you that if you know what your assignment is with the guidance of the Holy Spirit operate in it even if it scares you because someone is waiting for you.
Be blessed,
Gina M
Prayer
Father, God
We ask for forgiveness for every time you have told us to move in a particular area and we've made excuses because of fear or doubt or just lack of trust. Father, cast down any obstacle that the enemy places in our path that keeps us from our purpose. We thank you that you would even use us as part of the plan. Father, prepare us for the people that you have assigned to us and show us how to prepare. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
How Are You Leading Your Family Spiritually? Part I
http://youtu.be/qRdUD-sGTBg?list=PLUSRfoOcUe4YD7G27T6R_tMFWJOqaOoy_
http://youtu.be/bLRBVE98Bv4 Slow Jam
"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." I Peter 3:7
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
As a husband learning how to lead your family can be a challenge at times but it's not impossible. Speaking for myself, I can truly say with the help and wisdom of God, He has shown me how to lead my family spiritually. Brothas and Sistas, I thank God for the men He has put in my life to show me and talk with about biblical fatherhood and what the role of a spiritual leader in the home looks like. These men encouraged me to be the best that I can be in both roles.
I have learned first and foremost how to pray for my wife. I have also learned how to share the word of God with my wife. Brothas and Sistas, when you have disagreements it is important to not be so quick to want a divorce but instead trust God and remember the commitment you made to one another. It is important to have a date night or schedule a weekend getaway every now and then to enhance the romance between each other.
When it comes to my children, I have a habit of sharing our past and present circumstances with them. I also talk to them about our past mistakes to teach them to use our mistakes as stepping stones so that they won't make the same mistakes. We take our sons out to dinner so that they can see how to treat a woman on a date. I date my daughters to show them how a man, a real man is supposed to treat them. I realize that all of these examples may be helpful to my children but more importantly than anything I have to make sure that I am continuously living the example before them.
Here are some scriptures that may be helpful.
"Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." Colossians 3:19
"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." Ephesians 5:22- 23
"Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." I Timothy 5:8
Prayer Time
Dear Lord,
We thank you for the godly leaders you have given us. Thank you for the fathers and husbands that love and teach their children. We also thank you for the godly husbands that honor and cherish their wives. Give them the wisdom they need to lead their households and be the priest and prophet that you have called them to be. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Have You Ever Considered Forgiving Yourself?
Our Latest Blog Entry
March 15, 2020
"Teatime With Tabby"
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
I pray as we meet together you give yourself permission to forgive yourselves today. We have focused on the importance of releasing others from debts that we assigned to them after injury or hurt, loss of trust, and on and on. We have recently talked in the recent past about how if we don't choose to forgive those who are unforgiveable in our eyes it leaves a hole in our Tea Cups that Christ can repair. We talked about drinking that Brew of Bitterness and how it only shapes our ideas of the Great Potter in ways that are not at all who He is. We have shared that this brew of bitter un-forgivingness takes us to dark places that Satan likes to keep us in. It's a place where we can't see the beauty in Christ's gift to us upon the cross.
This morning I would like to share a new Brew with you so let's grab our cups and look at the stage of forgiveness that leads to complete freedom. I think we shall call this brew "Freedom for Me Brew". Now many people may think this is a brew set in a worldly view point but I want you drink this brew in slowly and don't trust me but trust the Potter and Creator Christ.
I tell you this from personal experience, this is one of the most humbling brews I have ever drank from. Many are probably still thinking this brew can't produce humbleness but I assure you it does just that.
Now let's take our first sip of this "Freedom for Me Brew". It's hard to forgive others that have wronged us and have disappointed us or totally destroyed our tea cups. Yet Christ says we are turn the other cheek and we are to forgive 7 times 70 and I don't think He meant the math in a literal way but rather in a spiritual way.
Now for our next sip. Have you really considered what the cross and Jesus' dying upon it meant for you and I? Was it to just to atone for the sins of the world or was it meant as a very intimate brew for us each to consider and sip slowly in prayer and meditation with the Savior and Redeemer.
Take a moment to slowly sip these truths and think about how they fit into your Tea Cup and your mindset of the cross and what it means to you personally.
Now as we take our next sip, lets' look at baptism. Through baptism, regardless of what your belief system says as a young child or if you believe you must be old enough to make the choice, let's consider what occurs in baptism. We and our Tea Cups are filled with grace, hope, joy, and the belief of redemption. Yet most importantly God says that when we come out of the water we are a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST.
So let's ponder on that as we sip our tea of freedom. If God allows us to be baptized and when we take our first new breath we are a new creation in Christ doesn't that mean the old me is gone and here stands a new me with a perfect and lovely and chip free Tea Cup of Redemption?
So then Brothas and Sistas, do we not allow ourselves to forgive ourselves? If Christ has forgiven us all our transgressions from yesterday, today, tomorrow and beyond are we honoring Him by what He accomplished on the cross if we choose to not let the old self die and take with it all the unforgiveness that we may have rightfully earned? I believe much of this is just bitter tea leaves that Satan pollutes our tea cups with.
As I was processing through forgiveness in a discipleship counseling /mentoring I am taking, I came to place where I had worked out my forgiveness for those who had abandoned me, physically and emotionally hurt me, and so on and so on. It wasn't till recently that God had begun to have me recognize that there was a part of my heart and place where the great Potter couldn't get to do the last of the repairs on my tea cup for this season. It was in these prayers and conversations that He began to gently start moving closer and closer to this still very dark place in my heart. This place needed so much more work from the Potter than I could have ever know.
He began to question me and ask me if I believe and drink from Brew called redemption, salvation and forgiveness? Did I believe that what He had done on the cross was enough? I was so confused so I didn't understand. I felt as if He knew these answers. Yet He pressed on like you would a wine press to get all the good juices from the grape and leave behind on the thin skin that has no real purpose. I boldly asked out of desperation what was Yahweh asking me? He told me I was clinging to matters of the heart that displeased Him. He went on to say that these very things kept me from allowing Him to finish the current repairs to my Tea Cup.
I was now keenly aware that I was losing some of the sweetest brews as they dripped upon my lap whenever I was enjoying a magnificent brew from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet I had to really press in and ask Yahweh to please disclose to me this part of my heart that I didn't even realize I was keeping from Him. He so gently took my Tea Cup in His hand and showed me the broken place.
I asked Him, "Lord what is it that I stored up there that keeps you from making my Tea Cup whole." In His most gentle leading and demonstration He revealed to me all the places he had repaired and how lovely they were now. He reminded me of how dark, chipped, broken and cracked they once had been. Then he asked me," Do you really desire for my full Tea Cup to be as lovely as much of it is now by His grace and forgiveness." I said, "Yes." without a moment's hesitation and asked, "How?"
Our Amazing God, Savior and Redeemer whispered softly,"You are holding onto un-forgiveness for yourself, expectations you have created and losses that you choose to hold onto. You are playing the blame game and I was the only player at the party." Sistas, at times and during circumstances I had allowed my flesh to lead instead of my Tea Cup filled with godly wisdom and navigation by the Holy Spirit. In these moments He asked me if I was willing to humble myself enough to turn these things over to Him once and for all. He gently gave me a vision of two choices.
In the first, I was walking in a life of freedom, drinking from the many brews He provided for all the different seasons and circumstances in my life. There I sat a very humble and hungry with me eating and drinking of the Father's fruits of the Spirit and sipping on some magnificent Tea. He gently spoke to my heart and said, "This is where I desire you to be and to come and replenish yourself always."
He then said to me, "But right now, this is not where you sit." He then showed me where I sat with all the my own un-forgiveness for myself. This was not a nice or tasty brew at all. It was so bitter and dark. Yet what I could see was me standing over Christ at the cross re-nailing His hands and feet to the cross over and over again. I was so saddened by this picture so I asked, "Why and how?" And said, "Oh, Lord take me from there. I have no desire in my heart to harm You.
That's when He brewed me the Brew of Self Forgiveness and Freedom. What He needed me to see was that unless I humbled myself enough to forgive not only everyone else, yet especially myself, I was living proof of a believer that didn't trust God enough with her own faults and failures ;perceived or real. I therefore was nailing my Redeemer to the cross daily.
Brothas and Sistas, in that precious moment I confessed to the Lord, God that I had not chosen to be humble enough to trust Him with my own damnation. In those moments He took all that garbage and replaced it with a lovely Tea Cup that was no longer leaking.
I pray Brothas and Sistas, that you would search your own tea cup humbly and ask God to give you the power, will and strength to not only forgive those who have wronged you but also all the stuff that you hold tightly to, which is unforgiveness for yourself; the Brew is quite refreshing and a lighter load you shall carry. God will be able to entrust you with greater and better Brews of Life by making room in your Tea Cup for Him. Brothas and Sistas, pour in just the brew you need today, tomorrow, and beyond.
Scriptures to remind you of who you are in Christ this week:
1. Psalm 45:9 - "Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir."
2. 2 Corinthians 6:18 - "And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
3. Ephesians 5:29 - "After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church
Dear Brothas and Sistas, I pray that this week God will reveal to you the things that He desires for you to release to Him humbly and with forgiveness of yourself, others and Him. As the peace and freedom that comes from this special but most challenging request may open your eyes and hearts for things that God has been trying to b less your with or move you into. In all these things I claim my humble forgiveness and that we each have full access to sweet Brothas and Sistas in Christ, Jesus as we are sons and daughters of the King of Kings. In His love and mercy. We ask all these things in Jesus Christ.
Till next week,
Love,
Tabby
Forgiven, Free, and Redeemed
Beware of the Enemy's Deception
Our Second Blog Entry
October 20, 2021
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1
GM Friends of God,
Friends, we live in a culture that is so full of deception it's everywhere, all around us, illustrated by these kinds of outlandish advertising claims. Sometimes it's easy to see through the falsehood and sometimes it's not so easy, I believe you all know what I'm talking about. Just to name a few..."Melt 10 pounds in 10 minutes!... A workout so easy you do it in your pajamas!" LOL! How I wish that was true!!!
here's another one......"Look better and feel Younger in just minutes a Day.... The key to a healthier happier life." It's an Ad for an oxygen chamber and it's price tag is $3,999.95 . Here's one more.... "Become a world class violinist instantaneously." Really?
Deception in advertising appeals to our natural human longings. We want to believe sometimes that those unwanted pounds will mysteriously melt away in just 10 minutes-- no sweat, no discipline, no cost, no effort or no pain. That's why we buy the pills, diet drink powders, and buy exercise equipment sold on infomercials. "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:11).
A clever and cunning pitchman whose intention was to change Adam and Eve's thinking about God and His ways designed the first advertising campaign. Satan's objective is to drive a wedge between God and His creatures. Satan knows that he has to trick us into believing his lies by deceiving us the same way he did with Adam and Eve. Satan does this by planting seeds of doubt in our minds about what God has actually said to us in his word.
His next step will be to try to lead us to be careless with God's word, and suggests to us that God had said something that, in fact He had not said. The same way he had Eve misquoting what God has said. The truth is that God had said, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden except one." (Genesis 2:16-17). God was more than generous. Can you imagine how many trees there were in that Garden? But Eve allowed Satan to trick her up by distorting God's truth, and deceiving her. In this case Adam and Eve's sin separated them from God.
Deception is a terrible thing, God wanted Adam to obey but God gave him the freedom to choose. Friends we also have the freedom to choose right or wrong. Let's not allow the enemy, Satan to deceive us with his flattering tongue his lies and deception, to distort our view of what God's word is telling us.
Satan promises us peace but gives us pain. He promises Joy but gives us misery. He promises us love but gives us hate. He's a liar he and was a liar from the beginning the scripture says. He will always be a liar he's the father of lies. So friends when left with a choice, always choose to obey God and you can't go wrong.
Much love,
Renee
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
We praise you for giving us a spirit of discernment so that we can see the enemy's deception. May we walk in your truth daily so that we will not be swayed by the lies of the enemy. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Our First Blog Entry
October 19, 2021
Dream BIG!
https://youtu.be/NB3-8TUVoU0?list=PLbIwq6HuKrKw9-c63LJcynWeuJ6IjxOpx
"Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it. ...........Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Genesis 37:5-7, 9
Good morning Brothas and Sistas,
I happen to love it when people tell me their dreams and goals. It is something about a person that can literally visualize and seek God's guidance to put things in place for Him so that He will get the glory out of it and they will benefit from it immensely also. Joseph was one of those people. He was a dreamer. He not only had the ability to dream but He would dream BIG!
You see unlike Joseph his brothers did not have the ability to dream BIG! If they understood the magnitude and implications of his dreams and how they would benefit from them they would have encouraged him instead of becoming even more jealous of him. You see too many times we get jealous of those that take time to share their dreams with us. We think that because they dream BIG they think they are better than us.
Brothas and Sistas, I am convinced that envy is a by product of spiritual ignorance. For you see once we possess the knowledge that it takes to realize that if they are blessed then I am blessed because I reap the benefits of the blessing because I am a beneficiary of The Blesser. So you see if we truly recognize our birthright and walk therein there would be no need for jealousy within the body of Christ because we would already know our worth; who we are in Him automatically qualifies us for favor. Amen?...Amen.
Yes, Brothas and Sistas, dreams have the ability to allow us how to live out those things that God saw fit to make a reality when they were just a mere figment of our imagination. The definition of dream is a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep but I declare to you that God has the ability to speak to us and give us dreams/ visions while we are fully awake, "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3 You see God is not contained, restrained or constrained to whether or not we are sleep but He makes Himself known in the earth by any means necessary.
Brothas and Sistas, we should never stop dreaming. If God has given us a vision to do something we should put forth as much effort as possible to make it become a reality. Joseph dreamed so much to the point that his own Brothas called him "the dreamer". What about you? When people see you do they call you "The Dreamer"? Make it your passion to Dream BIG today!
Blessings
Sista Michelle
Prayer of Faith
Dear Lord,
We are so elated that you have indeed given us the ability to dream BIG! Father God, help us to walk in those things that you have shown us. Help us to support those around us that dream BIG and not to become envious of them. May we know our worth in you and walk in your favor today. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.