Daily Devotional – 8/11/15 “What can I say?”


I’ve been sitting here staring at the computer screen trying to figure out what to say to each of you today. What can I possibly say to encourage you to stay the course, today? What could I say that could, perhaps, give you a little bit more hope to keep pushing, today? What should I say that could, maybe, give you the strength you need to fight on another day? What could I say? You’ve heard it all, haven’t you? God will make a way when some days you don’t know if you’re coming or going. Knock and the door will be open when your knuckles are at the point of bleeding. Seek and you’ll find when you’ve looked high and low with no relief in sight. God is your provider and you know Him to be but right now you need Him to show up with an immediate thing! God is your strength yet your legs feel like they’ll give out at any moment. God won’t put more on you than you can bear and you feel like you’re bearing it all at this very moment.

Well baby, I don’t have anything else new to tell you because God is the same, old thing that still works. But I have a question for you. Do you believe in Him and the power He possess? Yea, I know you may be suffering right now and you need an instantaneous thing done in your life but what are you doing? Are you doing your part? Are you holding up your end of the bargain? I mean, you can’t expect God to keep showing up and you aren’t. Are you doing your part? Please understand this; whether you do your part or not, God will still show up when you call Him (He’s that type of Man) but you need to understand that in order for the shepherd to know the voice of His sheep, the sheep needs to make noise every now and then. Oh, I don’t mean you calling out for help all the time but praise Him just because; every once in a while. For Psalm 150:2 says, “Praise Him for his mighty acts: praise Him according to his excellent greatness,” not in return for what He does for you. Even if you’re in the midst of a storm, praise until it ends. Whatever it is you’re dealing with on today, don’t shortchange God. What you’re facing, won’t take you out; get this … if you face it! God will do what you need but you need to allow Him to do it, in His time!

Daily Devotional – 8/10/15 “I ponder …”

I sometimes sit and ponder about things. I ponder why women pat the crap out of their heads when it’s itching instead of scratching it. I ponder why people look over their glasses when reading instead of through them. I ponder why folk will call you on your home phone and then ask if you’re at home. I ponder why someone will interrupt you working and then ask if you’re busy. I sometimes ponder if God gets tired of all the mess His people get into on a daily basis. I ponder why some folk would wish bad things over other folk’s lives. I ponder if angry folk ever get any peace in their mind. I ponder if judgmental folk ever get rest from their thoughts. And I ponder if evil spirited folk ever get tired of being evil. Is there anyone else who ponders over things? I mean, there are some folk in this world (some closer than you think) that will wish badly over your life yet they’ll smile in your face. There is folk praying for your demise and you haven’t done a thing to them yet they haven’t succeeded, why should you? There are folks who are strategically placed in your ministry to make it a living hell for you, all because they can’t grasp the concept of why God called you. There are folks, in your family, who roll their eyes every time you stop by because they can’t stand to see you happy and it’s all because they aren’t.

I tell you what you do, continue to live! Continue to walk in your purpose! Continue to do what God has called you to do! Continually pray for them and let God handle them. You don’t have to shy away from your blessing because you are afraid of what “they” will say. You don’t have to be coy about the fact that God did it for you, again when He can do it for them too. Continue to stand on God’s word, continue to stay in God and you’ll realize that you don’t have to fight them for His word says in Proverbs 20:22, “Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.” You don’t have to do what they do, say what they say or respond when they post because the bible says in 1 Peter 3:9, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.” All you have to do is continue to be who God has deemed you worthy of being. Yes, you will always have enemies camped around you but that means you have something worth destroying; stay in your line and God will handle it for you! Don’t allow stuff or even folk to affect your purpose.

Daily Devotional – 8/7/15 “There’s a lesson in everything!”

I had the privilege of having to visit 201 Poplar (courthouse) this morning for a ticket. The ticket was only five miles over the speed limit and in order to keep it off of my record; I had to go to court. Now, I’ve never been there before so when I walked in and saw the lines and the crowd, I was blown away. I mean lines were wrapped for as long as you can see. It didn’t dawn on me until after I left that this was a teaching moment for me, I’ll tell you why. Firstly, I got in the wrong line when I got there and although, I was only in the wrong line for a few minutes (because I overheard someone say), it could have turned out terrible for me. Why? Well, I was in the line for Division 2, when I actually needed Division 1 and the difference in the two was about 60-70 people, literally. I was so grateful my ticket said Division 1 and that I was ear hustling at the right moment. See, this made me realize that sometimes we can get into the wrong line while we are on this journey yet all we have to do is listen to our Master who will steer us to where we need to be! Yea, we will make mistakes but God forgives us! Yea, we will get in the wrong line, maybe more than once yet God will move us along, if we would just listen. For Proverbs 2:1-5 says this, “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.”

Then I moved to where I needed to be and there were about 20 people in front of me, so I waited. This lady came out and gave me the piece of paper I would hand to the other lady in the courtroom and I waited some more. The line was moving and I finally moved into the courtroom and I still had to wait. – The lesson here, you have to wait your turn. Stop rushing! What is meant for you will happen, in God’s time; which is the appointed time! Stop rushing! Stay in your line and wait. Oh then I moved up to the lady, handed her the piece of paper and in 2.5 seconds she said, “It’s dismissed Mrs. Johnson, keep this for your records,” handed me the piece of paper back and I was on my way out. – The lesson here, it doesn’t matter what man say; God can dismiss the charges. Somebody might be saying, girl they do that for everybody with tickets like that. And I’ll reply, so does God! It doesn’t matter about your past, God can dismiss the charges. It doesn’t matter that the odds are stacked against you, God can dismiss the case! Stop worrying about the cost, He has already paid it. All you have to do is make sure you have the best lawyer that money cannot buy. God wants to be paid with your praise!

Daily Devotional – 8/6/15 “God’s Center of Rehabilitation!”

I shared some of this on last year and it just so happens that some of it fits, right here today. Yea, it’s Thursday and someone is terrified at the thought of their tribulations. Someone is already threatened by the trials of tomorrow which hasn’t even happened yet. You’re sitting there, at this very moment, tempting to cover the tears from the turmoil that’s twisting in your spirit and you don’t want to talk to anybody because you think they’ll hear the toil in your voice. And now, you’ve got the nerve to turn on God. Baby, He didn’t get you in the mess you’re in. He told you to go but don’t tarry there long (you stayed). He told you to go but not to mingle with the wicked (you strayed). Oh but the mess you find yourself in is thick and too tough to get out of, huh? It has you trapped, doesn’t it? Does it have you thinking crazy thoughts? Well, God told me to tell you; it’s time you got help. Yea, He says it’s time you check yourself into rehab. (Rehabilitation defined here as something that has been restored to good condition.)

Yea, it’s time for you to go. Rehab is waiting. Welcome to God’s Center of Rehabilitation. Here, He offers the following programs:

  • Detox program: 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – The time in this step depends on the person.
  • Individual therapy: Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – With this step, you are allowed to set your own pace. You’ll see why!
  • Group Therapy: Hebrews 10:25, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” – This step is a personal commitment. We can make you do group therapy but the benefits aren’t the same. You have to choose whether or not to attend.
  • Talking with the Counselor: Matthew 7:7, “”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – He has an open door policy. You don’t need an appointment. All you have to do is seek Him and He’ll be found.
  • Christian based treatment: 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Bible Study, Sunday School, Worship Service, Prayer Meeting – You’ll find that these will help you with your treatment.

You ready? No, there is no cost; God paid it all. Yes, this is an inpatient and outpatient rehab facility; inpatient because it happens on the inside of you and outpatient because it’ll be evident by the change in your outer appearance. Oh, there is one book that is required reading material. It’s called the bible. Get it and it’ll change your thought process. No, there’s no set time on your recovery, it’s at your pace. All you have to do is make the commitment to be recovered. Yes, you can start now! Make up your mind to do it and soon you’ll be able to say, (like me) I am a recovering addict of self-doubt, self-pity and no encouragement of self but I’ve been through God’s rehab and I am recovered!

Daily Devotional – 8/5/15 “Don’t you give up!”

Somebody woke up singing …

I don’t know why Lord, I have to cry sometimes.
I don’t know why Lord, I have to sigh sometimes,
but I know there will be a perfect day,
when trouble gets out of my way;
I don’t know why but I’ll find out by and by.

Yea, somebody woke up crying with the same worries they laid down with on last night. Someone woke up sighing with the same pain from yesterday. Somebody is worried because they can’t afford to get their kid’s any school uniforms or supplies. Somebody is concerned about their son or daughter who is seemingly headed down the wrong road. Somebody is struggling in their spirituality and don’t want to say anything out of fear of being laughed at. Somebody is struggling in their body with a silent disease and scared of getting help out of fear of being judged. There’s a young man who is on the verge of suicide because of his sexual orientation. There’s a young woman suffering right now at the hands of someone who is supposed to protect her. There is a mother sitting somewhere after putting in yet another application, waiting on a phone call. There is a father out there who is feeling ashamed because he can’t seem to take care of his family like he should. There is a pastor who is feeling overwhelmed at the way his ministry is going. There is a family, at this very moment, being rocked by death. There is somebody being laid off, somebody being given terrible news by the doctor, somebody going through chemo or dialysis, someone saying goodbye to a loved one for a final time and they haven’t spoken in months …

Oh but there’s going to be a perfect day when trouble will have to get out of your way but until that time; stay in God and don’t you give up! Instead get up! Yea, I get the fact that you may be tired of hearing all of the prepared words of encouragement so baby; I won’t even tell you any. Instead; cry if you must, scream if it helps, break a dish if it takes away some of your frustration but don’t give up. As long as you’re in the fight, you have a chance of winning; you lose when you stop fighting. You are defeated when you lie down and give up and you become a victim when you allow yourself to be labeled as one. Chile, can’t anything that you’re up against prosper unless God says so. For the bible says in Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Yes, things will happen (those are the weapons formed) yet they won’t prosper. All you have to do is get up and refill your cup with your dontgiveupaide! It’s good and it comes in whatever flavor you want. Try it!