Rejoice

Today is a new day filled with opportunity and blessings. God's love is never changing and he is as strong and knowing as ever. What a wonderful father to have. In spite of your situations rejoice in these blessings today.

 

Challenge of the Week

There are times in life where we can focus on what is not right instead of what is going well for us. In fact, the truth of the matter is as human being we tend to seek after what has not been obtained and quickly forget the blessings we already have.  I challenge anyone reading this to list every day for 7 days one thing you are thankful for. After the week place your list somewhere you tend to spend a good amount of time (coffee table, work space etc.) Find inspiration in the truth that God has and will continue blessing your life. 

Mary Mary Thank You Lord

Give me that feat. Mali Music

Be a Blessing

Be a Blessing

There are so many selfish acts that we witness daily. People do harm to others over money or jealousy and it has become the norm to read or see on the news.  As Christians we are expected to be givers. We know that it is better to give than receive. If you want to feel good than do good. One of the best things you can do is give and assists someone in need.  I challenge you to be a blessing to someone today.   The bible says in Deuteronomy 16:17 every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you. Simply put if you can come to someone’s aid do so. Advice and encouragement is great but if you can be the direct blessing and solution then make the person in needs life easier. We as a people are too worried about ourselves and other people getting ahead. What is meant to be for you will be. The Lord already has your life set before you. You never know if the person you meet is an Angel or not. That person that is broke down along the road. Or maybe that person asking for changing really does need it. What about that person you know that needs a job but you do not want to get them on where you are for fear of their advancement? This is not how God wants us to be.  James 2: 15-16 says  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? As Christians it is good to know the word but it is GREAT to apply it.  Be someones blessing today and when you do so keep it between you that person and God. Some of us look for too much recognition. Humility comes before honor. A lot of people already are ashamed to ask for help the help that they really need for fear of being exposed or mocked. There is no place for self-glorification in Gods army. If he wants you to be raised and honored there isn’t a man on earth that can keep that from happening.  Matthew  6:3-4 says But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Be a blessing today and watch blessings over flow in your life.

Bishop TD Jakes on TBN w/ Steve Harvey

Powerful unexpected sermon while being interviewed by Steve Harvey on TBN.  Men of God need to hear this. (2011)

Jesus is...

2 Timothy 3 Godlessness Days

2 Timothy 3

New International Version (NIV)

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Reflection of 2 Timothy 3

The scripture says there would be lovers of themselves.  Learning to love yourself can be healthy but not in the sense that you become selfish and unwilling to sacrifice or help others. 

It also mentions during these days there would be those that were lovers of money. It is understood that everyone needs to make a living but that’s not what is being stated here.  To be a “Lover of Money” is one that has now placed it above God and is now motivated by currency. The bible says money is the root of all evil.  When you become a   “ Lover of Money” you glorify items and possessions. This in turn changes your decision making and actions.  You begin adapting sayings like “M.O.E” Money over everything.  Words hold power. You say something long enough you are going to believe it. It is self fulfilling. Money over everything becomes your lifestyle. When this happens you experience what is going on today that was warned about by Paul.  Parents spend so much time chasing money that they are hardly at home. Sure they can purchase a few more things but  there children do not know them.  Quality time is replaced by gifts and allowances to forget the missing relationship.  In turn children begin to value money by learning from there parents.  Since  there isn’t much parenting then disobedience and disrespect steps into the household.  Crime rates go up over the  love of money.  Objects that  are not worth your soul are now viewed as mandatory to have and people do whatever it takes to get them. 

Because of what we have or our careers  we have become Boastful and Proud.  God can not use someone that  knows everything. There must be some space left for God to add wisdom, understanding and anointing.  Saul thought he knew everything until God made him experience hardship. Through that struggle came humility. God can use a humble willing vessel.

We have become Lovers of pleasure.  We are unable to deny the flesh. Things that we know are against Gods word have been tweak or altered so that it conveniently matches your lifestyle. This can not be. Timothy states that any one that wants to live Godly will surely face persecution.  Christians are sufferers on Earth. And we reap our rewards in heaven. To be a Lover of Pleasure does not fit into Gods journey for us. Every day will not be rough but we are expected to endure more because our reward is greater.

The bible speaks on us being a ungrateful people during the Godlessness days.  It now requires more for us to be happy. The reason for this is we have a false expectation that we are owed some things. Reality is we are still in debt to Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice of sparing our souls. To wake up is a blessing and enough to praise him. To have a roof over  our heads, clothes on our backs and food on the table is works of an awesome God. These are trying times and there are plenty people who do not have any of these things.  If you thought  about what you do have as much as what  you do not  I bet it would change your perspective.  It changed the way I look at my life.

Paul also spoke on men preying on weak willed women. This is prevalent today. It is shown all through society and reality tv. Women crying because there man is not faithful or is abusive. Women who do not know there worth or are not rooted in Christ allow and tolerate too much. There are men out here who want a Godly woman and when God appoints the season will find you.  However you have to be a Godly woman to attract a Godly man. The bible says that these women fall victim to these men because they have evil desires.  Men can show you money and belongings that will excite those desires. Once again the bible says money is the root of all evil. So if the weak women were described to have evil desires. They desire worldly things and can be influenced by money. This is the main reason  why corrupt wealthy men in society and on reality tv deceive these women and then they feel victimized.  Find truth in Jesus and become the woman you were meant to be. Once the anointing is on you those tricks and moves of deceit will not fool  you any longer.

The Bible was referred to as God-breathed and can be used for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training righteousness.  In these Godlessness days it is important to have a relationship with our Father and his son Jesus Christ. Spend some time with him today for tomorrow is not promised.

 

1 Thessalonians 4 Living to Please God

Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
⁹ Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. ¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, ¹¹ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Revival defined

re·viv·al  

n.

1.

a. The act or an instance of reviving.

b. The condition of being revived.

2. A restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor after a period of obscurity or quiescence.

3. A new presentation of an old play, movie, opera, ballet, or similar vehicle.

4.

a. A time of reawakened interest in religion.

b. A meeting or series of meetings for the purpose of reawakening religious faith, often characterized by impassioned preaching and public testimony.

5. Law Renewal of validity or effect, as of a contract or judicial decision.

The Prayer of Faith James 5:13-20

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

The Art of Worship

Jeus Saves

Put away childish Things 1 Corinthians 13:11

^{Reflection of 1 Corinthians 13:11}

 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

 There is so much depth just to that one verse. When you age in the world that does not necessarily mean you have grown or matured. To grow in Christ and become a "man of God" is to have  complete lifestyle change. There is no way you can talk, act, speak or think the same way. Knowledge is power. 


Ex. A child places his hand on the stove not knowing its hot. He had not second thoughts or fear of doing it. He does not know that it can burn him.  However after learning that the stove is hot he now understands to stay away from it.  

 All I am saying is When you are a child there are many things that don't make sense because you lack the knowledge. Nor necessarily do you care to find out the truth. However, once you are an adult and have experienced some things than you know how to proceed and react responsibly. Now as a child of God knowing his commandments and teachings you have gained knowledge. That knowledge will be applied with daily use. No, You will not be perfect but at least you know now what is expected of you. A man of God is not going to react the same way as a man of the street when presented with things. He should not because he has the knowledge and the experience to guide him to make the best decision. Prayer and study will help you put the childish things behind you. I am not saying you can not have fun. As Christians we are sufferers but we also are not expected to be dull people. If we are dull than how can our light shine and interest those not of God to want to be a part of his flock.

 We know that our hard times are sometimes called "darkness or the wilderness" so...


Ex. You are in that darkness or wilderness that is often symbolic of a rough time or hardship. Lets look at it in the physical and how it relates to you spiritually.To walk through darkness in a wilderness is a lonely scary time. You are not quite sure of the best way out. You don't really want to move forward  because you do not know what trouble is ahead but you can not stay where you are either. You encounter in this dark wilderness 2 flying insects. A moth and firefly. The moth moves slowly and has no flare it is just there. You can barely see it in the dark however the firefly lights up the area and has given you a point of focus. The person walking decides to focus on the firefly. The firefly leads him out of the wilderness.

Simply put no matter how old you are in the faith never forget only half of being a christian is your walk. You also are expected to be a light unto others. You can never become the moth. You will always need your light to shine because every day will bring forth opportunities to lead someone to the right way. It could be a person in the wilderness. A person just getting out the wilderness. Someone who is just going in. Whatever the case. be ready and let your light shine!

In conclusion in your walk with God put childish things away that have no place in his  kingdom but don't lose your excitement, flare or your light to lead someone out of the darkness. Have fun and find joy in bringing someone to Christ!



 




 

Matthew 9 9-13

The Calling of Matthew

 ⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.  ¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
 ¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Reflection of Matthew 9:9-13

After reading this passage it really made me think. We are often told to stay clear of the "bad" crowd. Be around those that are positive and "going places". I do believe that to an extent that is true. However, I also believed an outsider who does not know will assume at many things. As long as you know your purpose and have Faith in God to not be strayed you can be in circles that really need deliverance and teach the word. Don't get me wrong there is power in speak with brothers and sisters of the faith but there is also work to do with the non-believers or those that have know knowledge of the scriptures. This is the part of the journey that will take you places that you didn't plan. Thank you Lord for the wisdom in your teachings.

No one can serve two masters

Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

The lamp of the body

<sup>Matthew 6: 22-23

22</sup> “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[c] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

He will Bring you through

Moving from Carnality

This is a great sermon. It reminded me that there will be problems that seem to overtake you, but Gods angels are always around you!