Daily Devotional – 12/16/15 “Dear Jane (Part 2),”

Dear Jane (Junk, Afflictions, Neglect, Emptiness)

I saw you standing outside my job but it won’t work, we have nothing to talk about. Yea, I saw you outside my house last night but I won’t break; not this time. Your smooth charm won’t get me like it used too. You’ve had me fooled for so long but it stops, now! I don’t need your junk, it’s weighing me down. I no longer accept your afflictions; they’re making me look bad. Your neglect, keep it; it didn’t do me any good anyway. Oh, the emptiness I took from you, it’s being filled now, so leave! The closest you’ll ever be able to get to me, from now on, is this closed door.

Stop blowing up my phone with the ‘I miss you’ texts because I definitely don’t miss you. Dear Jane2No, we can’t hang and talk; I’m talked out. No, I won’t meet you to eat, I can feed myself. You’ve had me hostage for way too long and today, I’m taking back my freedom. Yes, you were the one hurting me but the saddest part of it all, I allowed it. Yes, you were the one who made me think I couldn’t be anything but I’ve realized now, I can’t be anything with you. You even had me thinking that God no longer wanted me, but I found out that was a lie too. So, you see; you are no longer welcomed in my heart, my house, my car or my life. Not anymore! And stop visiting my family, I’ve told them all about you and you’re not welcomed there either.

I allowed you to control me, I allowed you to belittle me, I even gave you the joy I did have but you know what; I’m taking back everything you took and I’m getting everything I’m due, just not from you. I’m sorry, no I’m not; you deserve everything that happens to you and I know just the man who will do it. It’s my new roommate, God, and He’s handling my affairs from now on. Oh, and just so you know; I’m telling everybody about you.

Signed,
Finally Free!

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”” Romans 8:15

Daily Devotional – 12/15/15 “Dear JANE, “

Dear Jane, (Jealousy, Anger, Naysayers, Enemies)

If you’re reading this, it means things have changed. Actually, it means I’ve changed. I can no longer do this with you and it’s time you moved on. Yes, we’ve had some moments but as I think back on them they haven’t been great. I’ve come to realize that you’re consuming my life, you’re an abuser and I

Dear Janedeserve better. I’m tired of the bruises from falling, I’m sick of the anger and the hurt; it’s messing with my sleep. As for the naysayers, I’ll use them as my motivators. But I won’t continue to allow you to keep me hostage any longer. Today is my release day, I’m finally free!

I know you’re thinking it’s because I’ve met a new roommate and it is. I met this man and He comes with great references. He isn’t messy, He doesn’t bring up mistakes of my past because He says they hinder me and He doesn’t get jealous when I’m around other people; He actually encourages me to love everybody. He said He’ll even feed me. Oh, how I wish I’d accepted Him instead of you, all those years ago. The many times He showed up, I wouldn’t let Him in because of you. But that’s over now!

Thank you for splitting the bills with me but He is going to cover them all. Thank you for keeping me company on those nights I was lonely, He says He’ll do that too. He made me realize that it was actually you who were lonely and needy yet you made me feel like it was me. It’s cool though, we used each other I guess.

Well, I’ve got to go; I hear the moving truck outside. Oh, your things; the bitterness, anger, jealousy, negativity and back biting; they’re in the box by the curb. You have no reason to come into my house anymore. And your keys no longer work, the locks have been changed. As far as where you can go now, well you don’t have a home here so get the hell on! If you happen to stop by and see the house rocking, it’s a praise party in honor of you leaving and you’re not invited. I would say until we meet again but I’d be lying.

Signed yours truly,
God’s child!

Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Daily Devotional – 12/14/15 “What are you doing with the crumbs?”

In Luke 16, Jesus is talking in parables again about the wealth of people. In Luke 16:19; Jesus tells the story of a rich man and a beggar by the name of Lazarus. The rich man had all he could ever need, for he stored up his riches on earth. As for Lazarus, he laid by the rich’s man gate day in and day out, not begging for much; he simply asked will you give me the scraps or crumbs. Yet the rich man refused. Then one day they both died. In Lazarus’ dying, he was carried to be by Abraham’s side and in the rich man’s dying, his soul went to hell. The rich man looks up and sees Lazarus, the beggar, standing beside Abraham and he calls out saying, “Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames, (Luke 16:24); now he found himself in need of the beggar. Oh but Abraham responds saying, in Luke 16:25, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”

See, the rich man didn’t think about anything other than his living on earth while missing out on his blessing of helping those in need. He didn’t take into consideration that he wouldn’t miss the crumbs, had he gave them to Lazarus, but it was the fact of him not helping regardless of who it was. The bible says in Luke 16:9 “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Baby, your address down here won’t mean nothing in Heaven. Your bank account balance, down here, won’t mean a thing when you give an account at judgment. Your fancy wardrobe and shoe collection doesn’t amount to anything, if you’ve never helped anyone. Listen, there’s nothing wrong with building up, down here, the problem comes when you become selfish. What would it have hurt the rich man to feed Lazarus? Even more, why couldn’t he get him up from the gate and give him a job so that he could continually feed himself? All I’m saying is, while you are so busy eating at the table of riches; what are you doing with the crumbs? Are you helping anybody? Are you bringing others up now that you’ve come up? Are you reaching back? What are you doing with the crumbs from your table? For Jesus says in Luke 16:10, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

Daily Devotional – 12/12/15 “Saturday prayer”

I don’t normally write a devotional on Saturday but as my husband said to me this morning, it’s needed. So, as I sit here at work (out of my norm), I just thought I’d stop through to encourage someone on today. You! Encourage you through whatever it is you’re facing, TODAY! I don’t know what you dealt with on last night and I surely can’t see what you’re face tomorrow but for right now, let me encourage you. No, I’m not going to say, it’ll be alright because it might and then it might not. I’m not about to tell you, God got you, because you know that. So, what I am going to do is pray.

Father,
As I petition your throne on this morning; let me first thank you. Thank you for the person reading this. Thank you God because they took the time for me to encourage them when I’m just somebody who was chosen by you for a time such as this. Now, God; I don’t know what each of them stand in need of; I’m simply going to ask you to do it for them. Somebody is headed to lay a loved one to rest. Somebody is up trying to figure out how to feed their family, with no money. Somebody is searching for a missing child. Someone is standing near the bedside of family or friend and the doctor is shaking his head. A pastor is knee bent trying to figure out how to serve in his or her assignment when saved folk is making it hard. A deacon is contemplating suicide. An usher is snorting her next vial of cocaine. A church member just woke up from a night of drinking. Somebody on the praise team is in the process of losing her house and her mind. Someone in the choir is being physically and mentally abused, right now. Somebody who is being looked up too is on the verge of losing his business. And someone in the world is fighting demons constantly. Oh God! Step in and deliver. Destroy chains of wickedness. Break strongholds and yokes of evil. Set free, dry tears, calm confusion, open shackles and restore! Do it God for your people. I stand in the gap, today calling on your name. I can’t call every name and every desire but you already know them. Do it for them, at this very moment. Do it for even me! We surrender God!

This prayer I submit, in faith that it will be done.

Amen”

Daily Devotional – 12/11/15 “It ends today!”

When I let go and I let God, let God have His way … Things started happening so I’m about to do it again. I’m letting go of wayward thinking children, I’m letting go of fear, I’m letting go of what I think, I’m letting go of ‘this may not be my time’ and I’m letting God. I’m letting God have His way. See, I found out that when I try to do it, I mess stuff up. When I try to figure things out, on my own; I end up adding in my carnal thoughts. When I try to take myself places, the doors won’t open. When I try to rise without God, there’s no fire in my hot air balloon. When I try to do it, it never works. So you know what, I surrender God!

Cut off notice

And somebody on today is going through the same thing. You’re fighting in your sleep because the enemy is determined to not let you succeed. You’re fighting when you’re awake because so-called Saints are more conniving than the unsaved. You’re fighting on the job and then you got to fight at home too. You’re fighting with your finances trying to make them stretch. You’re fighting with the car, begging it to hold on. You’re fighting with sickness because it’s trying to win. And you’re asking, when will it end? Well, beloved … it ends today. Whatever you’re fighting with, the hell with it! “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. – Psalm 55:22” Baby, build you a spiritual fire and throw everything that you can’t fix in it and allow the aroma to make it to God’s nose and then let Him handle it. Don’t go another day in that depression of trying to figure it out by yourself. Don’t move another step without the guidance of the Lord. Don’t make another decision without God’s approval. Today is the last day you will be depressed, broken or suicidal. Today is the last day you shall be without. Today is the last day for you to fight alone. “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. – Psalm 37:5” You can do it! YES YOU CAN! You can become it! YES YOU CAN! You can overcome it! YES YOU CAN! The negative thoughts, the tears, the fears, the addictions, the strongholds, the generational curses, the mistakes of your past, the ‘I can’t do it’ talk; it all ends today.

Say, “God, I surrender ALL” and mean it! Let go and let God and mean it!