Daily Devotional – 5/15/17 “Church folk or Christian?”

Just because a person is in church, it does not mean the church is in them. Far too many times people say, “Church folk are the worst,” when the fact of the matter is, church folk are just doing what they are supposed to do.
Why? Well, because there is a difference between church folk and Christians. Why again? Well because dressing up and going to church does not make me a Christian no more than standing in a kitchen makes me a cook or sitting behind the wheel makes you a driver. Being these things are indicative of your actions because people have gotten good at pretending. This is why the bible says you have to test the spirit by the spirit. Knowing this, I wonder how you managed to miss that someone was just a ‘church folk’ and not a Christian unless your spirit isn’t as great as you portray. Maybe it’s because you were looking through eyes of the flesh instead of the spirit or maybe it is because you never tested or looked at all and simply assumed. Either way, it will be alright but do better next time. Oh, and when someone shows you who they truly are, believe them. That way when they show back up saying they’ve changed, you will be ready to test them this time and not just be bamboozled like before.

See, church folk are those who will stand at the altar whispering prayers in your ear but secretly praying for your demise but a Christian is the one who don’t mind warring for your spirit even if it means they’ll be attacked too. Church folk are the ones who can preach you under a pew and keep their mouth on you, all within the same day but a Christian is the one who will preach until you fall out and then preach until you get up. Church folk are those who will smile in your face and sleep with your husband/wife when they know you’re having problems but a Christian will seek to help restore what is broken. Church folk are those who can’t wait to pray with you after they’ve preyed over you all night but a Christian will answer early in the morning to pray before your surgery. Church folk are those who will celebrate you while waiting to stab a knife in your back but a Christian will be the one genuinely happy for your elevation. This is why you have to know the difference. Chile, you would be surprised at the number of times your name comes up in a conversation with SOME church folk, how many times church folk will roll their eyes when they see you coming or even how many of your statuses have been screen shot and shared in group messages by church folk. Beloved, know the difference in order to be effective in dealing with church folk versus a Christian.


“So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.” 1 John 2:24

Daily Devotional – 5/11/17 “Asking for a friend!”

There is so much suicide, division, divorce, severed relationships, hurt and pain. There are strongholds gripping families like never before. Demonic spirits that are smothering the sanctity of worship places. Mental illness that is on the rise and it is taking over generations. And for the sake of “keeping quiet,” we are losing. There are ministry leaders on the verge of suicide, wives at their breaking point, husbands who feel as if they are drowning, daughters who are using sex and sons who use drugs and guns as an escape. There are people in pain and we can no longer sugar coat the situation. It is time we move away from the patty cake preaching and offer the meat of God’s word. Too many Christians are dying due to being malnourished because the church is still feeding milk when their body needs meat. Even a baby gets solid food at six months yet here we are, at age 50 and barely functioning. Yes, milk is good but the protein from meat is important for building bones and muscles, repairing tissues and strengthening the blood. This is why the bible says in Hebrews 5:13-14, “For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”

Please understand, we have a responsibility to seek God, study and learn for ourselves but what happens when I need to be around some folk who are going through what I am or when I need to be in the midst of folk who have been in my shoes? Where can I go and get help instead of being hated on because my dress looks better than hers? Where can he go and get delivered instead of being talked about because he looks feminine? Where can families go and worship without folk prying into their business? Where can she go and get help instead of being labeled a church hopper? Beloved, I don’t know about you but I am sick of going to into a place of worship to be healed yet all I hear is “will a man rob God?” I am tired of seeing posts after posts about another person killing themselves because everybody posted “Praying for you,” but nobody actually did. I am tired of hearing the typical scriptures with a different title but same inadequate message. When will we reach that young person whose whole life is social media by way of social media? When will we get out of traditions and into scriptures? When will we stop catering to the hearts and start consecrating the spirit? I’m asking for a friend!

Daily Devotional – 5/10/17 “Go through your storm!”

One day, I was driving home and it was raining heavily, almost to the point of me pulling over but I didn’t. I drove about fifteen minutes only to see, I had driven through the storm. Looking out the rearview mirror, the rain was still coming down behind me but in front of me there was clear skies. I thought about this because what if I would have pulled over? I would have wasted time because all I had to do was keep driving. I just assumed it was raining everywhere but what I hadn’t counted in was the fact the forecast only called for scattered showers. All I saw was the rain produced by storm and I allowed it to rattle me. It didn’t matter that I was in a car, covered from getting wet, I was still worried about the storm. It didn’t matter that I was, for the most part, safe because the storm still scared me. However, had I listened to the forecaster, I would have known better but I thought I could handle it on my own. He said scattered showers, he said the storm wouldn’t be bad, he said you’ll be alright if you focus and keep driving but the fear of the storm had me second guessing my decision.

How many times have we allowed the storms of situations, the rain showers of regrets, the thunder of terror, the lightning of lies or the darkness of depression to keep us from moving? How many times have we pulled over in the midst of a spiritual storm and wasted time when dry land is right on the other side? How much time have we missed because the storm looked like it was bad? How many of you have canceled plans because it looked bad outside, only for the sky to clear? How many of you have gone to sleep because of the threat of bad weather, only to get up the next morning and see that it passed you by? Am I the only one or is there someone else out there just as guilty? Guilty of allowing the storm to snatch your sanity, guilty of letting the rain ruin what you should be reaping, guilty of letting darkness delay your deliverance or guilty of allowing the forecast to forfeit your favor. How many times have we discounted the forecaster (God) when we know His power? For the bible says in Psalm 107:29, “He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.” I don’t know who this is for but the storm you are in will end but until it does, you cannot stop. When Paul and his men were in the midst of the storm, he trusted God’s report by way of the angel and I’ll tell you like Paul said in Acts 27:25, “So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.”

Daily Devotional – 5/9/17 “Does your faith match the favor?”

There used to be a time my faith didn’t match my favor. I would hear God say He’ll provide (favor) but I’ll look at my empty checking account and handle things my way (check advances, not faith). God never allowed us to go to bed hungry (favor) but I’ll look at the empty refrigerator and do things my way (writing a bad check, not faith). God would say, put in the application (favor) and I’ll look at my resume and refuse. This was because my faith was never in line with the favor over my life. Yeah, I knew God had a purpose for me but the pain of poverty wouldn’t let my faith kick in. I knew I was in a place God didn’t sanctify but the sweat of suffering would not let me go. My faith did not match my favor. Then one day, God told me to move. I mean literally move (I’ve shared this before) and we did. In two days our apartment was packed up even though we didn’t have a place to stay. God said trust Him and for the first time, in a long time, I did. I couldn’t see a way but my faith kicked in. I didn’t understand but faith was driving. It did not make sense but faith was the GPS.

I am sharing this again because somebody needs to know this, needs to read this, needs to digest this and needs to trust again. Yes, I know you jumped last time and ended up hurt but this time jump by faith. Yes, I know you applied and was denied but this time apply with faith. Yes, your marriage is not working but this time consult faith. Doctors said one thing but this time try faith. Ma’am, I do not know your situation but how is your faith? Sir, I don’t know your circumstance but how is your faith? Does it match the favor? When God can allow you to make it home safely even though your alcohol level was three times the legal limit, does your faith match the favor? When you still had $3 left until the next payday and you didn’t have to borrow, does your faith match the favor? When your child escaped twenty years in prison, does your faith match the favor? When the job laid you off only to walk through a door of your own business, does your faith match the favor? When your church is still surviving with the 10 faithful members, does your faith match the favor? When you celebrated five years on a job without a high school diploma, does your faith match the favor? Sometimes, beloved, you have to faith it until it comes.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

Daily Devotional – 5/8/17 “Are your branches bare?”

Where is your fruit? Fruit as in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Are you producing these things or is your branch bare? I’m only asking because as I was reading yesterday, a passage stood out to me. A parable Jesus told in Luke 13: 6-9 that says, “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” This passage made me think of how God must feel every time He looks at us and we aren’t producing anything worthy of Him, who we’ve been planted in. Yet He says, I’ll give her more time, I’ll give him special attention and fertilize their roots again. I’ll make sure they are in the right place to get a little more SON, I’ll ensure they aren’t crowded with other non-growing branches, I’ll prune away the dead stuff and I’ll give them what they need. Year after year, He should cut us off but instead He says, I’ll give them another year. Day after day, He sees our bare branches and He still says, I’ll give them another day.

Even when we bear fruit and it’s rotten, He says, I’ll give him more time. Why? Because Jesus says in John 15:1, “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.” When our fruit stinks, God says, I’ll give her a special treatment.” Why? Because Jesus says in John 15:3, “You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.” Even when our branches need to be pruned, God says, “I’ll nurse it back to health.” Why? Because Jesus says in John 15:4, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” Even when we deserved to be cut off, God keeps us because Jesus tells us in John 15:5, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” So I ask you today, what fruit are you bearing, where are you bearing it and is it worthy of being picked?



Dear God,
Thank you for not cutting us off. Thank you for keeping us even when the fruit we bear isn’t worthy of being attached to you. Today, God, I will strive to be a better fruit bearer.
Amen.