You will make it

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s just amazing how God does things. In reading this scripture for today it is a very wet day. It’s been raining for the past two days on and off. As it has been raining, we have not stop our day or our time. It’s inconvenient to us because we don’t like having to deal with all the stuff that comes with the rain. However, in the rain we forget what the rain does for us and for the things around us. The rain is uncomfortable. The deep waters are hard to navigate. The fire may be hot. But it’s needed.

HERE IT IS…

Floods can be devastating but it allows the overflow to be released. Rains can be inconvenient, but it’s necessary for the growth. The fire may be really hot, but it burns away impurities. We talk about how all the negative things come along with the rain and the floods and the fire. We talk about how it’s going to stop what we had planned. ALL things work together for good to them that love God. I just want somebody to know that those things that were stopped are being stopped now because you wouldn’t listen when he tried to warn us about it. So he had to put a stop to it and to you. You will not drown in the flood. Nor will you be burned. You will survive.

Growing in prayer

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love talking to baby’s. Yep you heard me right, talking to baby’s. I love it especially when they are small enough to talk back but the words are not forming they way ours are. It sounds all jumbled up and sounds like they are just making noise to us. Trying to do what we are doing but they haven’t got the words together yet. But, they will sit there and have a conversation with you. They are talking to you in the language that they have at the moment. As they grow they start to form the words like us even when they can’t pronounce them correctly. They still are forming their language and vocabulary.

HERE IT IS…

I learned the prayer “Now I lay me down to sleep…” and I said it as a kid sometimes. But now that I’m older that prayer has a different meaning and my language in it has changed. My prayers are still the same but the vocabulary is different. The intent of the prayer was just to say it as a kid. Now my intent of my prayers is to have God move in everything and everyone connected to me. Before I was praying because I was taught to do it. Now, I do it in everything I do. Thank you for waking me up. Thank for this roof over my head. Thank you for this hot water and electricity. I’m praying the same prayers but my language, vocabulary and my intent is different.

Truth is

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I’m going to speak my truth.” That’s the new phrase that has been going around for a few years. Knowing who you are and speaking your true feelings and doing it unapologetically. Truthfully, I am with it and no one can tell you how to say it or phrase it. If you just let it all spill out or you slowly let it out respectfully. Either way it’s YOUR truth. It’s how YOU feel. It’s YOUR reality. For some doing it can be hard because you have stifled and suppressed and worried about others your whole life that you really don’t know how to say it or get it started.

HERE IT IS…

“When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you in ALL truth.” That’s it that’s the message. You have to one allow the spirit to come. You have to be willing to be guided and led by it. That way the actual truth will be released. Now, that doesn’t mean that because the spirit comes to guide that the truth won’t be raw or that it will not hurt. However, the truth is not just about speaking it but also about receiving as well. Honestly, they may not even understand it or get it because of where they are spiritually, but that’s why you let the spirit guide so that even if they miss it now it will be with them and they will get it later. Speak your truth. But let the spirit guide you in it.

Chosen

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In high school I was pushed to audition for a role in a play called FAME by a good friend of mine. The role that I auditioned for was a Hispanic character and my friend who was Lebanese, auditioned for Tyrone a black character. The director immediately switched us and we both got the parts immediately. Once I got the role I had to start looking for costumes for the character so that I could give the audience the visual that we were back in the 80’s. I had to play the part that I was chosen for.

HERE IT IS…

I am so glad that I did not have to audition to be saved. Instead I was chosen by God before I was born. I am so glad I didn’t have to audition for the role as a child of the King. Because I know I would have been rejected. I am so glad I didn’t have to audition to be forgiven. Because I would have never been granted it. Instead, he looked at me and saw my end before my beginning. He knew what I would and wouldn’t do. He knew my ups and downs. AND HE STILL CHOSE ME. You have been chosen, not because of your talent or ability to play the part but because he loves you. Now, put on what what he has given you and walk in it.

Do it

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Where does it hurt” isn’t that what the doctors ask when you go in for pain. Where does it hurt and by this time you tired of saying it and showing it because you just had to say the same thing to 4-5 different nurses. When you say that he goes looking and poking and pushing and pulling and twisting all kind of stuff. When he ask where does it hurt he wants to try and centralize the issue to a certain place he wants to make sure it hasn’t spread or moving. Where does it hurt he ask when he is trying to diagnose you and think of a remedy for you to TRY.

HERE IT IS…

I know a doctor that I can go to him and he ask me where does it hurt and I can say EVERYWHERE and he is able to cure all my sin sick diseases. I know who I don’t have to wait on. A nurse. I can go straight in. He doesn’t have to think about what’s wrong because he already knows. Whatever is bothering you, hurting you, ailing you, take it to The Lord he can heal all things.

Sanctuary

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? (‭‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

In my devotion time I have been reading the story about how there was the transition of Solomon and David. How David was the one who started the temple of God, but Solomon is the one who finished the temple of God. Today I was at the part where they were listing all the materials and the amounts used for certain things I. The temple. All of these things were the best that there was. The highest quality. In one verse it even stated that Solomon used some bronze that was so good and so much it couldn’t be weighed. That is what they used to house the spirit of God.

HERE IT IS…

If Solomon used only the tiniest quality of materials to build the temple of and for God. Yet, we are made after Gods image. What are we doing to make sure we use the finest quality of materials for the spirit of God? What are we doing to make sure that we are getting what we need to have Gods spirit within us and he has what he needs to do what he wants in us. That’s why they call eating healthy and exercising a lifestyle change. Because it’s not something that can just be thrown together. Instead, it has to develop over time using the proper materials. When it is done it will be beautiful.

He is coming back

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (‭‭‭John‬ ‭14‬‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Growing up there were always time that my parents made for us. Waking up early in the morning on Saturdays. Getting the house clean while my mom and dad go out the door and tell us to have the house cleaned and be am dressed by the time they got back. We didn’t know where we were going. We didn’t know what we were going to do. But I knew that wherever we were going was going to be fun. We were going to eat out somewhere. More than likely we all would come back with something new.

HERE IT IS…

Jesus tells his disciples and us in this text. I am leaving but I’ll be back. I want you to make sure that you do what you’re supposed to do while I’m gone. Clean your house up. Live right as if I am here. Don’t let strangers in the house. Because when I get back I’m going to take you somewhere that you will not have to worry about anything. You will have more than enough room and when you get there everything will be new. Get right because he is coming to get us soon.

Power

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (‭‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

I am a Marvel Comics and movies fan. One of my favorite movies is Captain America: The First Avenger. I love it because it takes you back in time and shows you how he got started. A small nerdy kid with medical issues from Brooklyn wanted so bad to fight in WW1. But because of his issues and his age he couldn’t even get drafted. He tried under different names and tried to control his ailments. But never was taken. Until a doctor recognized him and made him a candidate to become a super soldier by injection with some serum to give him great powers.

HERE IT IS…

If we could go back into your life and find just a few things that represented you before your relationship with Christ took a turn? If we could go back and find a moment where the Holy Spirit gave you the power to do and survive the things you have been through. We will see that you are his Marvel. We will see that you are a miracle. We will see that before that you were a scrawny little person in your faith but now. You have the ability to with stand what would knock others down. Because of his POWER.

Ready for the answer?

5 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)

Can you question God? At work they tell everyone coming in to have a “questioning attitude”. They tell us that so that we don’t do something that is not safe and to make sure that we understand exactly what we are supposed to do. That doesn’t mean your questioning authority, in fact it means that you are actively listening to what is being said and/or done. Making sure that the information you’re receiving, seeing, experiencing, feeling is really what is to be done.

HERE IT IS…

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Make sure that if you ask the questions that you’re prepared for the answer.

““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Hide it

11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Have you ever just watched a squirrel in the spring? After all the leaves have fallen. The grass is starting to become green again. Buds on the plants. Just seems like things are coming back to life. New life starts with birds feeding their young. Here you have a squirrel running around, that to us looks like he is losing it. Up and down trees and in and out the street. Looking for food but also preparing for winter. Yes, I know, it’s just spring and they are already thinking about winter? Why? Because they start to prepare and are in search of food and places to store food.

HERE IT IS…

Squirrels start looking where to hide and store food for the things and weather to come. So what are you saying Rev? What I am saying is that you should start storing up his word in your heart so that when the weather and the seasons change and the time changes and it gets a little darker you will have something to pull from to help sustain you through that time. Hide his word in your heart so that when it is needed you will have it.