Daily Devotional – 8/18/15 “Be careful how you change!”

As I start, again, on this journey to be healthier; I can never see the change in my body when I begin to lose weight yet people can. Yea, I can notice the change in my clothes but when I look in the mirror, I still see me. And as I sat at my computer this morning contemplating what to blog about, it became apparent that sometimes when we make a change in our lives, we don’t necessarily see it right away … but people do. Now, please understand, this change can be good or bad; right or wrong. This change can also be one that we feel is right, at the time but it don’t necessarily mean that it is. Nevertheless, when a change is made, you don’t always see the change in you that others do. People say, you sure have changed and you’re thinking, no I haven’t. Or if the change was intentional, then you welcome the comment. However, what I need you to get out of this blog today is this – Be careful how you change because it reflects on the outside of you. Let me show you what I mean.

When you feel good on the inside, it reflects on the outside and you don’t even have to open your mouth. When you change your thought process from negative to positive, people notice and you won’t have to tell them a thing. When you go from being the class clown to now being about your business, people notice. You may not think there is a big change evident by the way you walk but there is. There’s even a glow about you because now your light is shining a little brighter. There’s even a quicker pep in your step because you heard your destiny calling and you’ve got to get to it. Oh but get this, when your attitude, on the inside is rude; it shows too. What? You didn’t think people could notice the fact your face is tore up because you didn’t sleep well last night? You don’t think we can see that you’re mad because your boo didn’t post you as his woman crush Wednesday or her man crush Monday? You don’t think people can notice your attitude when things don’t go your way or the fact that you think the world should revolve around you? Are you still wondering why people don’t want to hang out with you anymore? It may that attitude you rock. And please know this, not everybody who corrects you is your haters! They are simply trying to stop you from wrecking yourself before it’s too late. This is why you have to be careful how you change because it reflects on the outside of you. What’s on the inside shows on the outside.

Daily Devotional – 8/17/15 “We take for granted … “

I was talking to my mom and sister on yesterday and we were speaking on how blessed we’ve been. The death angel hasn’t been camped out at our houses, no major diseases, all of our children are still alive, all of my uncles and aunts are alive and well, I have all my cousins and my nieces and nephews, I still got grandma and even our spouses yet we take it all for granted; most times. Oh, I know we aren’t the only ones because as fleshly bodies, we sometimes take the passing minute for granted … until it’s too late. We don’t value life, we don’t appreciate time, we aren’t grateful for family and we sure don’t give God his due honor. What in the world is going on? We glorify reality television when the truth of the matter is, it isn’t reality. You have women that will spend more money to sew hair into their heads than to decently clothe their children. You have men who will spend all their time working in a warehouse just to go out to pay hundreds of dollars on a pair on tennis shoes instead of paying for a GED program or a college course in order to better themselves to be better men. What in the world is going on? Folk complain about tithing yet don’t complain about popping bottles. You want to blame the pastor for the church being in distress when it’s the sheep roaming in wrong pastures. It’s time we fix this thang!

Baby, you can’t keep expecting things to work out for you when you keep speaking evil on other folk lives. Keep your mouth off of folk. You do know that once you speak it, it’s said; right? There is no taking it back. That’s like trying to unscramble an egg or unbreak a plate – It can’t be done. Watch your mouth! You cannot continue to take life for granted and think you’ll have time to get it right. Time has no respect of person and it won’t wait on you just because you asked it too. As a people of God, it’s time to get right. Stop playing with God and stop playing with your life. I am not saying that it’ll be an overnight change because with any change, it’ll take time but if you are willing to make a change; it should be evident. If I say I am working out to lose weight, after a while a change should be seen. And if you are working on your spirituality, to be greater than you were, a change should be evident by your living. You have to make the choice and the changes necessary to be pleasing in God’s sight. Just don’t wait too long!

Daily Devotional – 8/14/15 “At the edge!”

This morning when I rolled over, I was almost at the edge of the bed. I was so glad I was just at the edge and that I didn’t go over. Being wrapped in my sheet was also a help because had I rolled a little farther I, most likely, would have found some danger. See, there’s a night stand on the side on the bed that could have caused some damage; had I fell. Then there’s the floor that could have also caused some issues not to mention a bruise to my ego, had I fallen yet I only made it to the edge. When I rolled back over, I laid there for a minute because then I begin thinking about all the times, as Saints of God, we’ve rolled to the edge but didn’t fall. Yea, things start going through my mind about all the times God has allowed us to roll to the edge yet He had us wrapped up and it prevented us from going over. Yea, I thought about the times we’ve been caught up in our mess and almost rolled to the edge of “jacked up again” yet God kept us! Oh, I even thought about the times we’ve been in our feelings and it caused us to roll to the edge of “I’ve messed up again,” yet I’ve been forgiven! For had you fallen, you’ve encountered some danger. Some of you probably had some potential one night stands standing next to you that could cause you danger, had you fallen (you’ll get that in a minute). Some of you could have been hurt by hitting the ground, had you fallen. Some of you could have been knocked out of God’s will, had you fallen.

Oh but aren’t you glad that the God we serve kept us at the edge? Yea, He allows us to go through some stuff but only edge type trouble. Yea, He allows us to get to the edge but He won’t allow us to go over it. Trouble, sickness, hurt, death, loss of jobs, financial trouble, car problems, family issues … edge type issues for the bible says in Deuteronomy 4:31, “For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” Baby, I understand you’re crying now but that means you’re at your edge but get this … you haven’t went over! Step back! For the bible says in Deuteronomy 31:8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” may be at your edge now but know this, the Lord is with you. How do I know? You’re still here to tell somebody! Stay at your edge for as long as you need to in order to understand that God is right there with you. Then step back with your faith reignited! It isn’t over yet! You’re just at the edge!

Daily Devotional – 8/12/15 “Stop trying to please folk!”

Being in fleshy bodies, we often seek the approval of others in our day-to-day lives. It happens so much now that it’s common and we sometimes do it without even thinking. We get dressed based on how we think folk will see us or what they will say. We post things to social media because we want the likes and comments. We say and do things to gauge a reaction. We go places, even when we’re uncomfortable, all to please somebody else. When will we stop seeking approval of folk? Haven’t you realized by now that the same person you’re trying to please may be the same one who is speaking for your demise? Please understand, this may not be in all occurrences but you won’t know this if you aren’t testing their spirit. Baby, not everybody dressed in their Sunday best is saved! How can you test the spirit of folk? It’s simple; you have to make sure your spirit is right. You can’t possibly think you can test the spirit of someone else and yours is out of whack, can you? That’s like trying to boost off a dead battery with another dead battery, it won’t work.

As Saints of God, we have to eventually get to a point in our lives where we say like Galatians 1:10, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” This is why the bible tells us in Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” As people of God, trying to please folk of the world will continually keep us out of God’s will for our life. It’s time now to let that go! There will always be folks who don’t like you and it has nothing to do with you but it’s because of the favor that has been placed over your life. There will always be somebody talking about you and it has nothing to do with your clothes but it’s because of the place God has put you in. Chile, folk will continue to stalk your life without you even knowing it, all because they can’t understand the anointing that is covering you! So you see, you don’t have to please folk; most of them claim to don’t like you anyway yet they show up wherever you are. Try pleasing God for it is written that the only time we should please folk is when we are spiritually saving them. Romans 15:2 say, “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up,” not for personal gain. When we stop trying to please folk it is then we will start appreciating our favor!

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!