Give

And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed. 

Hebrews 7:7 NLT

It is truly better to give than to receive.  As we have all just past through Christmas we all remember when we were kids and the joy of waking up to wrapped gifts, the tree being bright, rushing to knock on the door to wake everyone up. Those were the days. As I got older I wanted to see the joy on others faces rather than my own. I wanted to see how others reacted and how others felt when the unwrapped they’re gifts. It became without question joyous to me to give to others than for me to receive from others. Then as I grew up spiritually it became to transform and to develop into a spiritual gift being cultivated into seeing others find the joy in Christ than in a material gift.

HERE IT IS…

As the year comes to a close and we reflect on the things we have endured. The things that we have seen. The people we have lost, and the ones we have gained. What have we given? We have received alot, we have been given alot, we have been chosen to do alot. What have you given to others that made a difference? What have you given to help someone else? What have you done to help improve the life of someone? Give to someone that needs it. Give to someone that needs a helping hand. Show someone that God is real and invite them to live in what God has blessed you with. Show them the love of Christ. 

Greetings

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 1:29 NLT

Greetings, salutations, hello, hi, what’s up. All ways and things we say when we see someone we know or don’t know. For me growing up it was also a sign of respect to speak before saying or asking anything else. Even in text messages I try to remember those same principles that were instilled in me. If we are keeping it 💯our greetings are not always the most cordial or respectful. It can be written all over our faves how we really feel toward someone. Truth be told our greeting when we see someone coming our way or facial expression, or even our ability to look over people can cause someone to be turned off.

HERE IT IS…

What would you say if you saw Jesus coming your way? What would your facial expression be? John prepared the atmosphere as he was coming his way. “Look the lamb of God.”, He said. Introducing his presence as the one and only. What would you say? Better yet what would he say as he sees you coming to him? What would his facial expression be? What would and how would Jesus greet you as you came to him?I’m so glad that Jesus is not a man that he should lie, nor treat us as our sins deserve. So why should we treat others that way? 

I will trust in the Lord

But I am trusting you, O Lord , saying, “You are my God!” 

Psalms 31:14 NLT

One of my favorite hymns is the song, “I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord till I die…”. That song brings up alot of great memories of my old church back in Illinois. It also reminds me of my mother on Sunday mornings, cooking breakfast and setting the atmosphere for us. A life lesson that I have learned from this song is just what the lyrics say. To trust in the Lord. To not only ask Him for things and pray our troubles away, but to trust in the plan he has for you. How do you trust in a plan that you can’t see, hear, touch, visually be able to have the plans in your hand?

HERE IT IS…

Praise the Lord , for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack. In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord !” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help. Love the Lord , all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord !
Psalms 31:21‭-‬24 NLT

Has he kept you thus far?
Has he been making a way for you?
Providing
Protecting
Proclaiming
Well if HE be for you, then who can be against you?
Nobody greater 

Changes

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

Romans 12:2 NLT

I was having a conversation with myself as I was on the way to work this morning. I said to myself as I got into the car and the kids and my wife was sleeping, “back to normal.”. What I was saying is that even though there was a change to my schedule where I had the holiday off, I now had to go back to my normal routine. As I drove further I asked myself why does it have to be? Why do I have to go back to doing the same thing? Why do I have to go back to doing the same thing? I thought afterwards that since the new year holiday is upon us and we start to make resolutions on what we want to be different. Why wait? Why start when the world tells us? Why wait to make changes on that day, when we should strive everyday to be more like Christ?

HERE IT IS…

Do something different today. It doesn’t have to start off with a big change, or starting some new diet plan with a lofty goal by a short term date. Do something different now. Wake up different. Say something different. Take a different route today. Changes don’t have to be that of a huge magnitude, but it’s the changing the way that you think that makes things change. Your mind has to be introduces to something different in order to change the normal mindset. Instead of trying to use the saying “out, of sight out of mind”. Use this instead, “change my mind, change my sight.”. Because once you change your mind, your minds sight will change too. 

Merry Christmas

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14 KJV

How wonderful it is that we have the opportunity to celebrate such an wonderful and beautiful occasion. To be able and to receive the best gift that we could have ever asked for. Before he was given in spirit to be born physically to walk in our world and then die so that we can live today. A gift that he has given us directly by loving us so much. Unto us a child is born, a savior to live only to die.

HERE IT IS…

What are you living for in this season? What are you focused on this season?
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believes in him shall not parish bit have everlasting life. John 3:16.
What is it that you are going to do to make your life everlasting? Jesus showed us the way before he was even born. Before he was even sent into the world he was saving us. The scripture says;
1. The Lord himself will give you a sign
2. A birth will happen from something you would have never thought.
3.  God will be with you all the way.
He came so that we could have life, so that we could tell the work through the signs he has given us and will protect and be with us.
He lived for us, what will you do?

It’s coming

But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about. 

Luke 18:34 NLT

In this portion of the text Jesus was predicting his death and resurrection to the disciples. He was telling them what was about to happen and what will happen on the third day. At this time Jesus was explaining as best as he could in short what they would see and why he would disappear. In this verse it says that they didn’t understand, they couldn’t comprehend, they could not get what he was saying. Perhaps because of what they saw? Maybe because of the miracles he has performed? Could it be the teachings that he was giving them? Jesus wanted to let them know how this was going to happen.

HERE IT IS…

I believe that it wasn’t until chapter 22 that the things that Jesus was telling them made since to them. I suggest that chapter 22 would be when they understood. It took a while but it happen. It may not have been fully understood when he said it, but it happened. When he told you that you would be ok you couldn’t see how, but it happened. You didn’t see how you would get put when you prayed, bit2 you are. You may have thought that it wouldn’t work put for your good when you asked, but it happened. He may not reveal it all to you right now, and may give you small fragments at a time, but just know it’s going to happen. 

Welcome back

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 

Luke 15:20 NLT

Being originally from Illinois it’s hard to get back home. It’s hard to travel all that way and see everyone. Going back home is always fun and nice to see everyone. The reception I receive from everyone when I go back is always so welcoming. Even though I left and made somewhere else my home, I still have a place to go back to that will receive me and my family back in with warm well wishes.

HERE IT IS…

Just because you left, does not mean you can’t come back. No matter what you did, how long you were gone, He will always receive you back home. No matter the stuff you have been through, he is always waiting for you to come home. Bit Rev., you don’t know what I have done, where I’ve been, how long I was gone. If he was so worried about thoulse details you think of, we all would have been gone along time ago. It’s God’s will that you come back and receive what he has for you. Welcome home….

Come back

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 

Luke 15:20 NLT

I will be the first to say that I am not perfect. I am no where near having it all together. There has been bumps and bruises along the way. I have fallen, I have tripped, I have slipped, I have messed up real bad. The great thing is that God still loves me. I have run away from God. I have pushed his word aside just to fulfill my own selfish ways. I have hurt people in the process. Great thing is God still loves me. Even though I know that o don’t have it all together, I haven’t done it all right, I haven’t done it right all the time. Yet God still has loved me.

HERE IT IS…

You may feel that your still got a long way to go. You may feel that your life is a long way from right. You may say I still have a lot of work to do. The good thing is that no matter how far away you are, God still loves you and will receive you. The man in this parable saw his son from far away, he saw his son coming back, he saw his son making the choice to come where he is suppose to be. Instead of standing there and waiting for him. He went to him so that he wouldn’t have to go the rest of the way alone. That’s just like God. When you make that choice to come back, he won’t allow you to go the reat of the way alone. Instead he will come to you in all your mess, your dirtiness, your issues your pain, your hurt. Making sure that when you come back you have all you need and set you back in your rightful place, and rejoice over you. 

I’m not lost

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 

Luke 15:4‭-‬5 NLT

I believe that we have all lost something and tried to find it. I mean stopping everything and looking for that one thing. Doesn’t matter of it was keys, hat, scarf, purse, coat. It’s been something’s lost. We often realize what we have lost but what have we found in the process of looking for that thing we have lost. I will be the first to say that in the process of looking for something I’ve lost, I’ve found something’s that I would have never found out about until that happen. We have all found some money, some articles of clothing, some shoes, and we all say I have been looking for that.

HERE IT IS…

Whole Jesus is giving this parable I come to realize that in the losing of something’s we also find out some stuff about us that we didn’t know, or we forgot we had. We may have lost some friends, but we found out that Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. We have lost our way, but found out Jesus is a way out of no way. We have lost some direction, but found out he is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We have almost lost our mind, but we found out that Jesus is a mind regulator.  What are you saying Rev.? What I’m saying is that even in our losing, we still win. Even when we feel lost, Jesus knows right where we are. He will come for you.

Pray

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 

Luke 11:9 NLT

Be careful what you ask for! A statement made by many and followed by few. We ask for what we want and what we think is good for us, and are persistent at it. The things we need and should be persistent about we give up on. Everybody does it and regrets something they asked for and when received wanted to give it back. Where is the balance? Where is the line that comes into play to know what should be asked for and not? The word of God tells us what to ask and how. It tells us to keep asking and we will get it. Be careful what you ask for.

HERE IT IS…

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.  Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Matthew 6:7‭-‬8 NLT

When you pray, pray with the right heart and mind. Pray for what is good and what is right. Be persistent in your prayers. Know that our God has the power to do what is impossible to our human minds. Pray with the faith that God will do it. Pray with the knowing that your God will lead you there. Pray consistently asking for the things to please god and not man. Pray wholeheartedly and watch God do a miraculous work.