Bruised

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When is the last time you had some real good homemade lemonade? I’m talking that lemonade was perfect. Little to No pulp in it. It was cold and not watered down. The perfect amount of sugar to still give you that sweet taste with a lemon taste. No ice needed type of lemonade. Yeah, it’s been a minute for me too. One thing that I think about is how it looks when I receive it. Served in a beautiful pitcher and a glass mason jar(I’m country for real). But what I don’t see is the bag of sugar or measuring cups or the mess from the lemons. I don’t even see the lemon peels.

HERE IT IS…

But when I think about what the lemons had to go through to give me this great refreshing drink. The cutting, the pressing, the mashing, the squeezing. Drowned in water and sugar. Then tossed away in the trash. But what came from those lemons and water and sugar was something that gave me a refreshing drink. However, if I want more I have to do it all over again. I thank God that it only took him one time to die for me to save my sin filled self. So that I can have a right to a perfect refreshing and peaceful life with him. He did it for you and for me.

Do Good

“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

I am not going to tell you no lie. Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing for or towards people who have wronged you. It is also hard to do the right thing when the cashier give you to much change back. It’s hard to do the right thing when you genuinely walked out the store and forgot to pay for something. It’s hard to be the stand up person and citizens when you know it’s people who are out here getting away with it. The only thing that saves me is that I understand that they are getting away with it now. But we all have to answer for our own sins.

HERE IT IS…

Keep doing the good things! I know it’s hard sometimes, but keep doing good! I know you want to tell them about themselves, but keep doing the good things. I know you tired of turning the other cheek, but keep doing the good things. God will reward you if you just keep doing good. Dont do it for man to congratulate you. But only for God to say well done. Keep doing the good things and watch how God rewards you on earth and in heaven.

Strength

”Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.“
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was watching this video of this man on the street who said that he would give anyone $100 dollars CASH, if they could pick up the chair the way he did. The way he picked up the chair looked so simple. He bent down grabbed one of the legs of the chair at the bottom of it (close to the ground) and picked it up and stood up straight. He sat it back down and so many people tried and some had gotten close but they couldn’t do it. They all struggled. Then a guy who looked like he lift heavy as a profession tried and he couldn’t do it.

HERE IT IS…

It wasn’t a trick to it. He was just stronger in an area they were weaker at. Even though the body builder looked strong he was weak in that area of his body. You may be trying to pick something up in your life that looks simple. Looks like you can get past it but can’t. So you have to wait on God to move it. What I like about God is that even in that area of weakness we get the victory and he gets the glory. The fact that you can’t do it doesn’t make you weak. The fact that you know who can do it makes you strong.

Pray alert and thankful

”Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.“
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I forgot how much you notice when you have a new born in the house. His cries and his movements. How he yawns and smiles in his sleep. How he kicks his legs and how much stronger he is. Now, I have to be careful with some of the things I do because he has found out how to roll over. He is still not fully aware how he is doing it but I am more alert because of what he has developed in such a short time. But I am thankful for the opportunity to see the little things.

HERE IT IS…

In the same way we should have an alert mind and thankful heart because of the things God has done. It says that we should devote ourselves to prayer with an alert mind. Pray but be quick to notice any unusual and or dangerous things happening around you. Also pray with a thankful heart. Know that when you pray things will start to change and people may be different. When you pray, again, pray a prayer of thanksgiving that God allowed you to see things before they got out of hand. Be alert because of the change.

No theatrics

”Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.“
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Back in my day I did a few stage plays and I must say I was pretty good at it. While in those plays I had the best experience with some really talented and great down to earth people. But I remember this one play I did about Langston Hughes and the director of that play use to really try to draw the characters out of us. He would tell us all the good stuff we are doing and then say something like, “Those things are all great but what I want to see is…” and he would start to list things that the character should be. Have you ever felt God was saying that to you? I see what you’re doing, but this is what I need to see.

HERE IT IS…

You ever think God wants to see more from you and less of the theatrics? You ever think that God is wanting you to come out of what you see as praise and worship and really get into his presence for praise and worship? You ever think God is holding on to bless to see if you can stop worrying about the people? Stop worrying about the past. Stop worrying about your problems? Let’s just be patient and be authentic with what we do today and reverence Gid for who he truly is to us.

Everything you need

”By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.“
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Growing up I looked at what a lot of other kids had. As a child I watched what others would have and the different things that they wore. It got worse as I got older. Middle school was where I started to notice things but reality hit different. I was looking at what others had but what they didn’t have. By the time I got to high school my outlook turned from what they had to what I’m glad I had compared to what they wish they had. It wasn’t spoken verbally but it was loud enough to be heard clearly.

HERE IT IS…

Growing up we didn’t have the finest things but we sure did kill a room when we walked in. We didn’t have the lastest and greatest new things like shoes or name brand things. But I will keep my childhood the way it was compared to being bought things and thinking it was love. I will keep the having all the things I needed and more rather than name brand. Because I learned a long time ago that there is one name that matters. He said that if I use his name when I pray he will do it. In Jesus name…. We will have everything we need.

Celebrate

”For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”“
‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Can I share something with you? I love to see my kids win. In whatever they do, I will be the biggest cheerleader for them EVER. I will gladly get kicked out of a graduation, certificate program, Easter speech to celebrate my kids. I know my previous statement was a little extreme, so of course I wouldn’t embarrass them like that to see me get removed from there program. However, everyone in there will know whose child this is by the celebration that they receive. What’s pretty funny is that people still come up to them and ask if I am their father.

HERE IT IS…

As a father it is my duty to make sure that my children know just how much I love them. They will know that their father loves and supports them. I pass it to them because of who my daddy is. I also give it to them because I have seen how my father in heaven rejoices over me. I learned from my daddy and my Heavenly Father that rejoicing over and with your children sets them apart. It not only lets others know that your celebrated. It lets them know that you have someone who is behind you.

Don’t lean

”Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.“
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Man times a different from when I was a child. I can remember being in the front middle seat of that brown 1984 Cadillac Sedan de’ville going on long road trips. When my dad got to an area where it was time to get on a different highway he would ask my mom which way to go and she would pull out this big road map. Find where we are and navigate him to the next exit he should take. It was when my dad came to a place he was not familiar with that he had to ask for more instructions and directions.

HERE IT IS…

There will come a time where God will lead you on a path and give you directions for that season. When it comes time for you to have to make a change or get on a different path we have to make sure that we turn to him and follow his plan instructions. Don’t get so prideful and think you know what to do. Lean on his words and directions. He will lead you down the right path to take and make sure you arrive at your destination safely.

Perfect peace

”Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.“
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peace, which in the Hebrew is Shalom. Also in the Greek, peace is translated to a similar meaning. This word Shalom means well being and is used as a salutation when coming or going. This word is also the antithesis of war. It can also be described as if it is coming with you. As in you are bringing peace. Have you experienced peace? Have you experienced shalom? Do you need peace? Do you need peace?

HERE IT IS…

To achieve this level of peace there are a few things you must do. The Bible says that you must first don’t worry about anything. Don’t stress about anything. Secondly, pray about EVERYTHING. Your peace comes from your communication with God. Lastly, be thankful because he didn’t have to do what he did. You want peace? Stop worrying. You want peace? Pray about everything. You want peace? Be thankful to God. Then you will experience Gods peace.

I bet you won’t

”“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”“
‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever wanted to let someone know exactly who they thought they was talking to? I mean it’s a person who try’s to make your talents and skills seem as if they are mediocre and basic. When in fact this is what you do and there is no one that can come close to what you do. You have studied and still a student to it but don’t get it wrong, you can do what you do and there isn’t anyone that will do it better than you. You now have to show them exactly who you are.

HERE IT IS…

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” I don’t know if you realize this but we say this to God sometimes. We may not say it out loud or in these exact words but we get into our feelings and think that we can bully God into doing something. Jesus said anything is possible if we have faith and believe. ”The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”“
‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬