Power

”He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.“
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Read the scripture again. He says that he gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Okay, maybe I’m the only one that’s confused. Why wouldn’t he say strength to the weak and power to the powerless? Doesn’t it seem odd that he would mix the two? How could the powerless get strength and the weak receive power. If I may suggest that a lot of times we look for God to do things in our order and forget that he is God and knows what we need?

HERE IT IS…

Power by definition means to have the ability to act a certain way. Weak by definition is the lack of power to perform physically. What he is saying is that he will give you the power to do things that you couldn’t do on your own. Strength is the state of being physically strong and powerless is without ability. What he is saying is you don’t have the physical strength to do it so he will put you in the state or capacity to do it. Your power isn’t enough and your strength isn’t enough but God will give you everything you need to do what he has called you to do.

All I have is this

”So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.“
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You ever get tired of helping somebody? It doesn’t have to be helping them all the time, but just repeating the same thing over and over again? Helping in our mind means to assist them in way to becoming better. Getting them to a place that is better than where they are. Helping them to be able to sustain or adhere to their own needs and goals. In our mind at some point the help should become less. At some point you shouldn’t have to help them as often. In your mind,”they should be good by now!”

HERE IT IS…

Don’t get weary in well doing. Well doing does not mean that you should be taken advantage of. If we can be real even God says no! The truth of the matter is that sometimes in your helping a no is necessary. Don’t stop helping but there are other ways help can come in. There are other ways for you to help someone. Do not let someone bully you into helping because then you have become a crutch. Be helpful in there season of need. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6

God is

”My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I watched body builders all the time when I was younger. The workouts of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman. These guys were the best to ever do it. What never occurred to me was that one day they would not be able to keep that physique forever. Arnold still works out but doesn’t look like he did. Ronnie Coleman I am praying for because of all the health issues that he is going through. The fact that I seen them in their prime compared to now shows me what can happen when you have health issues.

HERE IT IS…

As body builders you have to do a lot to keep that physique intact. But sometimes your body will start to reject it. I am so glad that even when my faith wavers. Even when my body is weak. Even when things around me get me down. I have someone that will hold me up. I have someone that will carry me. I have someone that will provide for me. Even in those times he still helps me and even heals me. He touches my heart and my mind. He touches me and is there forever. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of my God will stand forever.

Sign of the time

”All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).“
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was younger I was in multiple activities in school. From band to sports and even the chess club. One of my favorite activities was drama club. Being in the drama club was so much fun but you had to listen for your cue. Your cue was a word or phrase that told you were next to speak or come on stage. In order to know that you also had to know the other persons lines. This made sure that you knew when to say your lines or to come out on stage.

HERE IT IS…

One of the greatest signs that God has given us is the connection to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit goes before us and shows us the way. It’s our job to follow it. Isaiah gave us a sign that God was about to do something amazing to save us all. A Virgin named Mary would birth a son. He would be called Immanuel. This child will be with us in everything that you do. No matter what’s happening God is with you. No matter where you are God is with you. No matter what it is God has sent a sign to lead you in the right direction. Follow the signs.

SHOUT!

”Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was watching the temptation movie the other night and the famous scene came on. “They come to see the temptations. AINT NOBODY COME TO SEE YOU OTIS!” That is just one of the scenes I like. The other is at the Motown Christmas party and they were singing the song Shout! They did a mic toss and everything. But in that scene everyone was celebrating, shouting, moving and grooving. Following the song as they said shout.

HERE IT IS…

You know you make me want to shout is about a woman. But I wonder just how much more we could shout if we thought about God. The scripture verse says “shout with joy to the lord,” telling us that when we think about the goodness of Jesus and ALL he has done for us our soul should cry out. Don’t it make you want to shout? Lift your heels up and (shout-woo)
Throw your head back and (shout-woo)
Kick your heels up and (shout-woo)
Come on now (shout-woo)

Go tell it

”Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.“
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. This song is a song from my childhood. As a “Ranch hand” at my church back home we learned this song. As most things we learn as a child, I did not see the significance of this song until I was older. We should GO tell it on the mountain. Over the hills and everywhere.

HERE IT IS…

No matter where you are in your life, go tell it. If you are riding high on the mountain top. Go tell it. If you are in the hill portion of your life. Go tell it. If you are in the valley season of your life. Go tell it. No matter what place you are in. No matter what season you’re in. No matter what geographic location you are in go tell it. Because you need to tell everyone how good god has been to you. Go tell it to everyone and everywhere. That Jesus Christ is born.

Praise is what I do

”Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭47‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of my favorite movies has one of the greatest scenes when it comes to praise. When I tell you that Rev. Brown from Coming to America could get the people excited about God. He gave them reasons to think about his goodness. “Only God can give that woman that type of joy.” Is what he said when a woman jumped up. His expressions that he used were comedic and outlandish, yet exciting and kind of what we do today.

HERE IT IS…

What’s your reason? Does someone like Rev. Brown have to push you and prod you to give God praise? Do you need a song? Do you need a reason? Does he have to do something to get you to give him praise? Here are two reasons why you should praise Him without cause. He is awesome and He is the King of the earth. Okay I know that was very churchy. So let me get a closer to where you are.
He woke you up. Touched your mind. Kept you safe through the night. Gave you health and strength. Just praise him for what he has done already today.

Blessed

”The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭28‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You know that saying, “I woke up on the wrong side of the bed”? That saying has all the implications of a bad day. It shows that whatever happen the night before or what you were dreaming about got you upset and disturbed you. Which then affected the way you felt the rest of the day. Have you also noticed there is no saying for waking up filled with joy, or just having a great day. Even when the night before wasn’t good or the dream was a nightmare. You still have a great day?

HERE IT IS…

The next time you “wake up on the wrong side of the bed.” Instead of staying there, make the choice to think about the joy of the Lord. Because at least you woke up. When you woke up you was in a bed. When you woke up you were warm. When you woke up you had protection. When you woke up he gave you strength. Even though all hell is breaking loose around you and you’re made about circumstances. Praise God you woke up to something. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.

Whatever

”Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.“
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do your best! That is all anyone can ask of you. “You will play how you practice!” – Willie Berry
Whatever it is that you do, do it the best way you can. All statements and mantras that many people have adapted and used in multiple different arenas to address a specific point of giving your all. It is said to encourage and lift up the pressure that a person may feel when they may have gotten weary. Perhaps a person that has began to slow down on their production. To the person that feels that way…

HERE IT IS…

WHATEVER you do, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus. It’s not for anyone else. It’s not for the kids or the spouse. It’s not for the family or the friends. It’s not for IG or TikTok. This is for the Lord Jesus. Or think of it this way, God gave his best for you and me. Developed through 42 generations. Born without healthcare and caused an uproar in the community. He gave his best to be able to give us the opportunity to live and give our best. WHATEVER you do, do it for the Lord Jesus.

Follow

”Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”“
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was a kid eating cereal on Saturday mornings were the best. When eating cereal we would read the whole box. They would have toys in the bottom of the box. Sometimes on the cereal box there would be an encrypted message and the only way to see it was to use the “decoder” that was in the box. What you were supposed to do was continue eating the cereal until the toy showed up. Of course some of us poured the cereal into mommas big mixing bowl until it came out and put the cereal back in the bag.

HERE IT IS…

Some of us try to treat God like that. We try to act like we are reading his word. We try to act like we are into it. When in actuality we are just trying to get what we need to be blessed. We will position ourselves to think that we are doing something good. We are following what we know. When we should be following his commandments. That is because when we follow them that’s when he shows us more than we ever thought and are revealed true blessings and wonders. Don’t try and use God just to get the blessing inside when all you have to do is follow his commandments.