Daily Devotional – 1/16/17 “It’s time!”

Here it is, the third week of the New Year and you’ve been doing almost everything right. You’ve been to church all three Sundays, bible study once and you’ve even been faithful to the church’s fast. You thought about the gym but you aren’t there yet. But no matter what you do your life still feels like it’s in a downward spiral. You’re emotionally drained because it never seems like you’re doing enough. Bills still behind, children still acting crazy, spouse looking at you funny and the job; well that’s an entire different story. You’ve been praying, a lot, and nothing has manifested. You’ve been to the altar and still nothing. Turned over a new leaf in your life and still nothing. Well beloved, maybe it’s because you’ve yet to really let go and let God. Yea, you’ve said it but if you take a ‘for real’ good look you may just see you haven’t made a clean break like you say you have. Go on, check your phone. Do you still have the old text messages you occasionally go through? Do you still answer the inboxes? Are you still liking the Instagram pictures although you’re not friends on Facebook? Still checking to see who they’re dating this week? Body still tingling from the thoughts of him or her? Still dreaming about them? Do you still, sometime, look through the old pictures? Go on and look but this time look for real. Do you see it? Do you see the attachment you still have to your past? Do you see that you’re still holding on to the stuff you told God you were letting go of? See it? You don’t have to lie to me, I don’t have a man in this fight but when are you going to be honest with yourself?

let-go

You do know the heart never lies, right? You do know that staying connected to emotional stuff can drain you spiritually, right? Why do you think you can’t move on to any other relationship? Why do you think you’re suffering spiritually at the new church? You do understand that trying to build a new relationship when you still have access to the old is like a recovering alcoholic owning a bar; it won’t work. At some point and time you’ve got to surrender, for real. At some place in your life you’ve got to let go, for real. You’ve got to give up all rights and privileges to the past. You’ve got to sever the ties because if you don’t you’ll find yourself being pulled back into that direction. This is why one of the steps to overcoming an addiction is staying clear of your triggers. Throw out the old shirt that has their smell, erase the voicemail and texts, remove them from your social media accounts, stop showing up just to support and cut the ties that bind. Forgive them and move on. Or if need be, apologize but move on. And this time when you pray, pray humbly asking God to remove all your shortcomings and He will. It’s time to say a final goodbye, write the eulogy, have the funeral and perform the burial.

James 4:7-10 (The Message Bible) says, “So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.”

Daily Devotional – 1/13/17 “God chose you!”

“Hey, I got into some trouble and need you now. Hey, can you hook me up with a job, car or house? Hey, I don’t feel good and need you to come and see about me. Hey, I got into some financial help and I need to borrow some money. Or I promise if you do it this time, I won’t ask again.”

Does this sound familiar? Well, this is how we sound to God when we come before him begging and bargaining instead of beholding and believing. See, many times we selfishly reach for the blessing with no regard for the one doing the blessing. Our mouth gets so used to asking that it no longer likes the taste of thankfulness. We even have the audacity to want use of the sacrifice without acknowledging the suffering. We want the anointing but not the anguish. We want the purpose just not the pain. We want the elevation but not the enduring. We want the crown but don’t want to carry the cross. We want the remodeled look but not the pain of being cut on, spiritually. We want the victory but not the victimizing at the hands of our captives. We want the win but don’t want to fight the rounds to get it. We want the finish line just without running the race. We want the breakthrough just without the breaking. We want the testimony of restoration just not the test of being broken. We want the freedom but not at the cost of being bound and the healing but not the sickness.

chosen

Well beloved, we all have a part in carrying the cup of suffering. Will it sometimes get heavy? Yes. And it’ll come with days of wanting to give it back but God chose you. From amongst millions, He chose you. From the rocks He could make cry out, He chose you. From the past that could have shut your eyes and mouth, He chose you. From your bed of sin, He chose you. Out of all He could have used, He chose you! So at some point in your life, you have to tell the Lord, “Use me until you use me up!” Get to a place where you say like Jesus’ words of Matthew 26:42, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Daily Devotional – 1/12/17 “Thankful for my pain!”

thankful-for-the-painThere was a young man who dated this young lady. He loved her, opened his home to her and tried to give her the world. He thought they would be together, especially after the baby but she had other plans. She didn’t want to be a kept woman because she wanted to run the streets. She took his child and he had the hardest time seeing and even speaking to her. Then one day, she showed up on his doorstep with the baby and her bag. See, the guy she’d left him for opened the door to an addiction, he knew nothing about and it turned her out. And she looked bad, barely recognizable. When she tried to come in, he stopped her, taking his daughter from her arms and the bag. Yet before closing the door, he told her two things; I forgive you and thank you. She asked why he was thanking her and he said, “You leaving opened the door for me to see the wife who’d been waiting all this time.”

For whoever you are reading this, stop cursing all the pain, heartache, let downs, break ups and broken promises you’ve endured. Stop focusing on the ruined relationships, failed agreements and shattered trust. Instead, thank them. Yes ma’am, yes sir; thank everybody who has ever let you down. Tell the person who walked out on you how appreciative you are because now you see all the problems you would have inherited. Tell the job who laid you off just how thankful you are since it was because of them you started your own business. Tell that daddy who never kept a promise, you forgive them because his neglect taught you how to be a strong mother or father. Tell that momma who never had anything good to say, thank you because it pushed you to be greater than even you thought. Tell that congregation who didn’t see the value in your anointing, thanks because it shifted you to starting your own ministry and God has been blowing your mind! Tell the pain, thank you because it showed you how strong you are. Beloved when you can get to a point, in faith, where you can thank the past, it is then you’ll be ready to step into the fullness of your present. Then you can declare like David in Psalm 119:71, “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.”

Daily Devotional – 1/11/17 “Frustrated but not wavering!”

I’ve been back in school a year now, working on my Bachelors of Science in Bible. I struggled with going back to school because it takes time and a LOT of money. I prayed and asked God to lead me to the right school with the right people and He did. Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies (MCUTS). It meets my needs. Everything has been good. I spoke with our company’s tuition reimbursement department and my bible classes are covered. So I put in one request, no problem. Second request, ALL problems. See in the midst of me going to school our company merged and the new one doesn’t pay for bible classes. “They” said I can change my major but I don’t want a degree in Business, I desire one in Bible. Plus, I only have seven classes left. Ok God! Now, as I wait to get reimbursed from last semester, change after change. So, I go again to the dean of students (who has been great) saying, it’s going to be another 15 days, from the last time I told you 30 days ago, before I can close out my balance. On top of that, I now have to pay out-of-pocket. But you know what I told her this morning, I’m frustrated but not wavering.

frustrated-but-not-wavering

I am sharing this because I need you to understand that when YOU can’t understand it, it’s God working. I BELIEVE THAT! See, someone is facing even harder obstacles and it seems easier just to wave the white flag or throw in the towel. Someone is looking into the darkness and about to turn around. Somebody opened an email and it was another denial. Sorted the mail and the check still hasn’t shown up. Going back to the doctor with no good news. Depending on some folk and they let you down. Calling for help and it still hasn’t shown up. Well beloved, you may be frustrated but don’t lose your faith. You may be discouraged but don’t you dare die yet. You may get depressed but don’t discard your deliverance. For just like me, you’ve got to believe something greater is headed your way. Yes, I am believing that if the enemy is trying this hard, it’s only because God has already signed the order of protection over my life. So, although we’re frustrated, we’ve got to still fight. Frustrated but don’t you fall. Instead, we’ll be frustrated but still faithful, favored and fearless! Because we still believe in God of breakthroughs. Even in the midst of your frustration, God is still God and He never fails!

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” —2 Chronicles 15:7

Help send my niece to Italy…….

Order Here and place “For Michaiah Fields” in the notes

 img_20170109_070851My name is Michaiah Fields and in September 2017 I will be leaving Memphis, Tennessee to study abroad with AFS Intercultural Programs for one year in Italy. Studying abroad is a great way to show younger generations that there is more to the world than just where you are from. I hope my year in Italy inspires them to broaden their horizons and explore outside of their comfort zone. I believe I will gain a once in a lifetime experience by going to Italy. 

 

 The cost to spend a year in Italy is very expensive and I am working and coming up with different ideas to get the amount everyday. One of those options is Goodness Gracious Cookies (www.cookiesformissions.com)!  I have been given the opportunity to partner with them as a fundraiser. (The link to Michaiah’s profile on their website is in my bio). You can order online or from me personally.  

 

I have also joined the Sponsor an AFSer program. The Sponsor an AFSer is an online fundraising tool provided by AFS-USA to allow potential contributors rgrate easy, secure, and non tax-deductible contributions to my AFS program fee.  To sponsor my AFS program, visit my blog at michaiahs.blogspot.com and click the Donate Now button to make a non tax-deductible contribution directly to my AFS program account!  

 

Thank you for your prayers, support, orders and donations!

 

 Will you help myself and Goodness Gracious Cookies send this beauty to Italy to study!!  It’s reallllyyyyyy simple, all you have to do is order some cookies!  Not just any cookies but some that are soft, chewy, delicious and baked fresh daily. These cookies can be delivered (if you’re in the Memphis area) and/or shipped right to your door. And if you place the order in enough time, you may just get yours the same day! Just mention Michaiah Fields so she’ll get credit. If placing an order online is too much for you, no worries because we will come to you! We’ll setup at your event,  we’ll send you a sponsorship packet,  we’ll speak during church announcement period or whatever it takes to get your help and support!  The link to view her profile is below and if you would like to get orders from your church, family, friends or coworkers; the order form is attached. Send it, along with payment, to me and I’ll get your orders placed. Please call/text or email, if you need too! 

 

Click here to order::  Send Michaiah to Italy and place “For Michaiah Fields” in the notes