Be joyful

“Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A few weeks ago I was stopped by the police for a rolling stop. I was just leaving my neighborhood and as I pulled to the stop sign I saw the oncoming traffic was a good ways away. So in order to get in front of it I rolled in through. It wasn’t until I got to the light to make my turn that I realized there was a cop behind me. Once I made my turn his lights came on. After he looked at my record he came back to the car and let me go with a warning.

HERE IT IS…

We are not perfect. We will mess up sometimes. Sometimes we can roll right through life ignoring the things God has tried to stop us from. A lot of times God stops is and we get mad until we see what he kept us from. We have to learn to be joyful in to know when he says stop it’s for a reason. Continue to search for God reminding ourselves of his track record and how he has done this for us before. Be joyful and look forward to him.

Good and Perfect

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is a saying that I hear from time to time that refers to something being really good. I mean this saying is basically saying that it is perfect hands down. It says, “If God created anything better he kept it to himself.” I have heard this about a lot of different things. But when I read this scripture it tells me that not only did God give us good and perfect things but he shares it with us. We are talking about a God who not only shares them but will not change when he does it.

HERE IT IS…

First, He shares his good and perfect things with us because of what he has already made good and perfect. This is used by the example of the lights in the heavens. There are so many lights that we don’t know which one he is referring to. But they all are perfect. Next, when he gives you the good and perfect gift he doesn’t brag about it. He doesn’t remind you of what he did last week. He doesn’t talk about how we messed up what he did last time. He loves us just the same no matter what.

Don’t worry be happy

“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.””
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I tell you that this scripture in its fullness is mishandled, misguided, and used to justify “giving until it hurts.” Wait, before you think I am just erroneously speaking. Give to God your best. He knows. You know what it is you can give. However I go back to what I said before that it does not say to give only money. So your giving can start at volunteer work. It can start at using your gifts for the kingdom. It’s a lot of ways to give. The scripture says not to do it reluctantly or out of response or pressure.

HERE IT IS…

Do it cheerfully. Or in other words do it willingly and readily. Have some excitement when you do it. I believe that if we all reevaluate or levels and reasons why we give we will see that we have done it out of routine because it’s what we have seen and not what we have developed. It starts with your relationship and grows into something great. You may not like or even hate your job but you go because it pays the bills. Don’t treat God the same way.

Gifting

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One thing that I have done is tried to use my gifts and talents to help others out. I use to cut some boys hair in the neighborhood years ago. I have mowed neighbors lawns. I have fixed countless people’s cars including my own lol. I am not bragging or anything about myself or the things I have done. I have always been taught to use what I have for God. Using my gifts and talents to help someone else who is in need or just wants some help is enough for me.

HERE IT IS…

Imagine what would happen if just the body of Christ used their gifts that Gods has given them to help others! Imagine if we used all our gifts and not just the ones that are the strongest to help each other out. Imagine how we could change the dynamics of the world we live if we served each other for God and not for self. Imagine how many people would be helped and taken care of if we were able to work together and used our gifts to serve.

His will for you

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Three things to follow closely. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in ALL circumstances. That’s it and it’s not as complicated as it seems. Because honestly they all go together. Of course, we have to make things more difficult than they actually are. What about this? I don’t have that! When will it happen for me? Honest questions, Yes! However you have to remember who told you to do this.

HERE IT IS…

“This is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” That’s it! That’s the message. Always be joyful! Never stop praying! Be thankful in all circumstances! Why? This is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Stop overthinking stuff. Just be joyful for where you are. Stop complaining and keep praying. In EVERYTHING be thankful. Because this is what is his will for you.

It’s coming

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of the most popular and memorable pieces written in the Bible is psalms 23. With it being so much and so powerful and impactful Psalms 23 has the ability to speak to anyone at any time, anywhere. Six verses that will transform your faith in God. This last verse is the verse of celebration. This verse is the verse of exaltation. This verse assures you what’s to come. This version says that goodness and UNFAILING love will pursue me all the days of my life.

HERE IT IS…

God has the ability to do all that he said he would do. Go before you. Protect you. Hold you up. Sustain you. That’s in front of you. God also has the ability to make things come after you. I heard the saying “satans on my tracks.” Could it be that he is not necessarily after you but the stuff God has trailing you. Because if you obtain the things that he has for you through him, there is nothing he would be able to do about it. Keep chasing God and watch what he has chasing you.

Follow the spirit

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The way I learned to play basketball was by playing basketball against kids and adults older than me. I watched my dad. I watched my brother. I watched other people who were close to me and learned what to do and what not to do. My greatest highlight of my playground basketball career is going to the park with my brother and as my brother was playing and picking teams he chose me. I was shocked and terrified. I started off horrible. My brother came up to me and said “stop being scared and play like you do with me.”

HERE IT IS…

I followed my brothers game so close that I started to play like him on that day and people were surprised by my size and age that I played that way. Follow the spirit of God. Don’t be scared. Don’t sit back. Don’t worry about the size and age and degrees and resumes of others. Your Gods resume. Your Gods track record. Your Gods highlights are greater than anyone else’s. Follow the spirit and play like you seen God do things for you before. Follow the spirit and watch you win every time.

Stay connected

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.””
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t just stop here. Keep reading. We use this verse a lot to help people to understand that things will get better. There is some stuff on the way. He has a blessing with your name on it. But if you keep reading you will see and understand what this really says about it. When you read it you will see that this tells us no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared because if you are not of God how can you see what he is doing?

HERE IT IS…

“But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
That’s why you have to keep reading. You can’t see it because you are not connected to Him. You won’t hear it because you’re not connected. You can’t imagine it because you’re not connected to him. You have to be connected.

Peace

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is a new movie that is coming out soon about Napoleon. This movie is capturing some of the things that we all have heard about Napoleon. The most obvious, his height but also about his harsh countenance as a ruler. He was ruthless and didn’t care who got in his way. The things that conquered and destroyed was from the things he had been through. One thing is for sure about Napoleon is that he could get people to do what he wanted. How he wanted and when he wanted.

HERE IT IS…

Don’t allow what other people feel and have issue with become your reality. God has not given us the spirit of fear. Christ has given us peace. He has afforded us the ability that even when there is trouble all around we should not fear because He is with us. We are called by Jesus to live in peace and to be thankful. Don’t just be thankful for the blessings and good stuff. Be thankful for the things He brought you over, under, pass, through and around. Live in the peace Christ has given us.

Extremes

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love these two verses of the Psalms. I don’t know if you see it but let me see if I can help you. Do you know of a person that goes from one very strong extreme to the opposite but equally as strong extreme. They are miles apart. The possibility of either one of them happening is crazy by the numbers alone. I know a few myself. One of the things that I had to come to grips with is that they are not wrong. Those things could very well happen. We have seen it in wild cases in the news and other places.

HERE IT IS…

I serve a God that is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above, all I could ask or think! That means to me that my God can go from one extreme to the other. Matter of fact look at the verses. God will heal the brokenhearted and bandage their wounds, but he also counts the stars and names them. Simply put, God will take you from being brokenhearted, wounded, down and out, in pieces and in the same sentence talk about the stars he is naming. Truth of the matter God will take you from your extreme to his extreme. From broken to blessed. From hurt to healed. From wounded to worship. From pitiful to praise.