In everything

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Galatians 5:25 NLT

Do you have a saying that you live by? A mantra that you repeat in your mind and out verbally when you need to, or have the chance? One that seems to fit in every situation for you and others. This is the saying that at your funeral everyone will walk around staring your mantra. Something so simple yet profound that it seems as if it doesn’t make sense? For some it’s part of a song, or a line from a movie. Some of us have been touched by a dating in a book, or even something daddy, or grandmama use to say? From a painting, a sign at work, or you thought of it yourself. We try to see the mantra in everything we do . We try to make it fit what it is we do.

HERE IT IS…

Why try and make something your life, or better yet. Why try to fit your life around a mantra when you can allow your life to be lead by God? The scripture says it like this, if your going to be in it, then make sure you do it all the way and let Gods spirit lead. We often times try to make our own way, or push our own life to where it we see it. How can you know where you going if you have never been there before? Since you say your going to live by the spirit, make sure you walk with the spirit, in EVERYTHING, EVERY PART, EVERY, ASPECT, EVERY PLACE, DAY, NIGHT, OUTFIT, SOCKS, HAIR STYLE. Follow the spirit…

Pray, praise, protection

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2 NLT

In the type of work that I am in I have to deal with alot. I have to deal with things that you wouldn’t want to see. Alot of the times these things are seasonal and dont affect you through out the year. This one particular thing is seasonal. This bird I have to deal with during this time is called a chimney swift. It’s a small bird that makes alot of noise and its home only inside of chimneys. It is the only animal that is able to fly in and out of a chimney. The reason why is because of its size, wings and legs. See, the swifts legs are so short and small that this bird does not and cannot stand straight up like normal birds. This birds legs are always in a bent position. This allows the bird to actually perch on things others can’t. It almost as if it’s in a position of submission or prayer.

HERE IT IS…

We all should be like this bird. We are able to do things that no one else can because of Christ. We should always be in a position of submission with our knees bent. Also, because this bird makes its home in a chimney, and is a noisy bird it causes people who has a chimneys to want to remove them. The problem for the people, and what I have to tell them is that, they are protected birds. Because they are protected they cannot be removed until they’re seasons over. I am here to tell you that, if you put yourself in the position of submission to christ and pray, you will see that people wont know how you get out of the things you do. If you become noisy in your praise like the birds God will always cover you, because you have been protected by the blood of Jesus and no one will be able to move you until your season comes. Keep praying, praising, and nothing will be able to move you because you are protected..

Change is good

What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.

Genesis 17:5 NLT

Remember who you use to be and the things you did? Remember how it was so easy for you to go off, and do other things before? Now, when situations arise you think twice about the effects, and affects of it. How now you are a different person. It didnt happen over night. It didnt just come to you all of a sudden. It took time for you to be able to get to where you are now. It’s not because that old person is gone, but you know how to control that other you from before. You know that you can cause and effect someone in a way that will affect them for a long time.

HERE IT IS….

It took God 24 years before he changed Abrams name to Abraham. It took God taking him out of his home land to get him to see what his purpose was. Ot took God talking to him, showing him, and grooming him to be who he called Abraham. The father of many nations is what God said he would be. However if he stayed the same person, if he kept his same attitude, if he kept lying, and stayed in the same place how would he affect and effect the nations born from him? Things will change, and some things have to change. The question I have for us would be. Who is changing you?

For God, not things

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. ”

Luke 6:38 NLT

I have often times felt that I was not given my just due about things. At times I have felt that I should have been shown more or even given more for the works that was produced. There is a song that I love to sing and had helped me in so many ways through this time which is, “let the works that I’ve done speak for me.”. This song has given me the ability to push on even when I felt unappreciated. Just as the scripture says in the later portion, “the amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

HERE IT IS…

What have you gave? What have you poured out? What have you sacrificed to receive what you think you deserve? Scripture also says this;
“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

Psalms 75:6‭-‬7 KJV

Stop worrying about doing things for accolades, and do them for God. We often times, (whether consciously unconsciously), think about the things we could receive for what we do instead of who its for. Just like I made a effort to make sure that I was doing things for the right reason, we all need to do the same. Just as it says, that when we do give it will be given en back to us, and the blessings that God will give back we wont have room to receive.

Go

Then the Lord commissioned Joshua son of Nun with these words: “Be strong and courageous, for you must bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to give them. I will be with you.”

Deuteronomy 31:23 NLT

Commission –
the act of committing or entrusting a person, group, etc., with supervisory power or authority.
an authoritative order, charge, or direction.

When I was promoted in a job I had to go through a series of events and interviews before a board and study material that was given to me to prove myself worthy of the position. There were different items I had to remember, and certain parts of the company history and the order of things. Once I was promoted I had to be charged with the authority and responsibility of the what I was put over. Meaning, that I was responsible for what happened with and about these things.

HERE IT IS…

We are all commissioned by God to do what we are called to do. Well, Rev. B what is that?

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18‭-‬20 NLT

So even in the old testament with Joshua, god was there and with him. So is he now with all of us.
#go

I give it up

Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”

Matthew 19:27 NLT

What have you given up? What have you sacraficed? Here is what the dictionary says;
: an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially : the killing of a victim on an altar
2: something offered in sacrifice
3a : destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else
b : something given up or lost the sacrifices made by parents

So what have you killed in your life to offer to God?

HERE IT IS…

Then Peter asked “… what will we get?”.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.

Matthew 19:29 NLT

I think a better question for Peter and for us would be, what am I giving up to receive what I have?

It’s not about you

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

Romans 5:7‭-‬9 NLT

In my church school class, I ask them often times, who would you give your life for? I ask who would be the people that you would want to live on in place for your life? I usually get the answer of a few people like; mom, dad, grandmother, etc. I will then give more suggestions to see how far it will go. I would usually get more no’s no matter what suggestion I give, or even a conditional yes, and sometimes a I dont know because of what they know about the person. The purpose of the question is to get them to see just how far the live of christ goes and how deep he loves us that even though we are conditional creatures, God is not a conditional God. God does not save us predicated on what we have done and who we are.

HERE IT IS…

I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Matthew 19:24 NLT

When Jesus died for you and you gave your life, to him was there a contract presented to you? Did Jesus make a deal with you saying that you have to stop certain things. Did he create a obligation list for to complete before he went to the cross? Gods love wasn’t on a condition basis that you complete anything before he sent his son to die for us. He sent his son so that he will get the glory and so that we would have a right to salvation and eternity. His love was so deep for us that he created a way for us to be with him no matter what happen. His love is everlasting, his love is ever growing, his love provides a way for us to be able to see him when we die. Stop thinking it’s based on your life.

Praise through it

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord ; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord ’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Psalms 34:1‭-‬3 NLT

What do you do when your going through a hard time? Going through a hard time doesn’t mean that your life is over, it means your being made to be stronger. Your life is preparing you for what’s to come. We often come across hard times and think that we are being punished, or that its our fault. Yes sometimes it is our fault but it’s another thing to know that even in our faults and weakness, that God is making us, molding us, and creating a place in your life to find your way back to the original place , in his presence.

HERE IT IS…

The song says; praise is what I do, when I want to be close to you, I lift my hands in praise.”. How great it is to know that just like David’s state here that, even though we are not all that God wants us to be, he still does not give us what we deserve. Just like David when trouble arises we should give God praise. When we are alone, praise. When we are feeling low, give god praise. When we dont know where to turn, give God praise. Because you were created to praise and worship God in ALL that we do. No matter the circumstances we ha e fo praise.

After this, David asked the Lord , “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?” “Yes,” the Lord replied. Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

2 Samuel 2:1 NLT

When you have to make a major decision who do you consult? We all have a group or few people or just 1 person we consult when it comes to making decisions about certain things. We ask the questions, “what should I do?”, or “what do you think?” And use our judgement from that. Our first chance to ask a person what we should do, we do it. How many times do we take out to ask God the simple questions and not the big questions? How many times have we asked God, “what should I wear?”. Bible says,

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”

James 1:5 NLT

HERE IT IS…

David who was dealing with a lot at this moment in his life. He buried his friend and his father. His family was divided, and war was all around him. It wasn’t the fact that he didnt know where to turn, it wasn’t that he was confused and turned to God because he was out of ideas. He sought the lord knowing that his help comes from him. He wanted to be obedient to his word and do what was asked of him. It is my prayer that we all seek God in ALL that we do. Knowing that God will not lead us astray nor will he send us to a place that would harm us.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:33 NLT

Different and the same

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

1 Corinthians 12:4‭-‬6 NLT

Let’s focus on the last verse, verse 6. I’m reminded of hearing the the preacher say when I was a kid that God works in mysterious ways. He is able to be in all places at one time. He is omnipresent, helping everyone and watching and guiding and directing all of us. God works in all those different ways and more all the time. He works in ways that we can’t imagine, and orchestrates our daily walk. Doing different things everyday and keeping us from hurt, harm and danger all the time. The same God who bnb is here in Va, is the same god watching over people in Australia. He is the same God, doing different things for everyone.

HERE IT IS…

I am also reminded of that same preacher also saying all the time, that he is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. Your blessing may not be my blessing. Your peace may not be the same peace. Your breakthrough may not be the same one I need. However, the great thing, the awesome thing, the amazing thing is that he knows just what I need and what you need and what others need. I am so happy that we dont serve a God that gives us blanket blessings, but knows every detail that we need. He is the same God doing different things for everyone at the same time. It may not look the same, but were blessed from the same place. Even if my blessing dont look like yours, my healing dont look like yours, my deliverance is not the same. I know that it’s for a reason.