Daily Devotional – 9/5/14 “Called not cursed!”

I’ve been called not cursed! That’s what the Holy Spirit dropped in my spirit this morning. I know it was meant for me but maybe just maybe it was meant for someone else who is also new on this journey of ministering in whatever field of ministry you’ve been called in. You’ve been called not cursed. See, this being called thing isn’t an easy charge to take hold of and if anybody tells you differently, they’d be lying. No, being called doesn’t automatically mean you’ve been called to preach and that’s where people get ministry twisted because everyone is not capable of preaching for Ephesians 4:11 clearly states, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.” These are all the true callings of God and there is a difference in each of them; learn your bible.

I don’t know who this is for but I am being obedient in my sharing. God has plans for all of us and although we don’t know how His plan is going to end, let Him finish it. Yes, I know you want things to happen now, you want things to go this way, you want stuff to happen like this or like that but “they” don’t but that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel. Chile, take that same towel, wipe the sweat from your brow and keep pushing. What are you giving up for? Who gives a crap about the folk standing around cheering you on to give up? The bible says in Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Now, this said that God is preparing a table for you but not just any table but a feast for you in the presence of your enemies. So, turn around and smile at your haters and let them know they are your motivators. Baby, use them to inspire you. Every time they say you can’t, use that as gas for your CAN automobile. Every time somebody says you won’t be nothing, use that as windshield wiper fluid to clean the glass to see where you’re going on your journey. Every time somebody says you’ll be another statistic, prove them right by being the first at accomplishing something they said you never would. Yea, I started this off telling somebody that you are called and not cursed but this doesn’t necessarily limit it to ministry because God has a way of calling us to other things too but you have to be willing to listen and just because God calls you it doesn’t mean He has cursed you. Being called doesn’t mean you stop being who you are; it simply means you are blessed at what you’re doing.

Daily Devotional – 9/4/14 “Serve Him!”

My husband asked me this question this morning, “What are you toiling with in regards to God’s calling to you? Why don’t you just do what He is telling you?” Then I open up to write my devotional and the very first one I see is one that I wrote from 12/3/12 titled, “You want God’s service yet you won’t serve!” Wow!! Doesn’t God have a way of chastising you? Yes, I serve God but I have a duty to save. Yes, I write but am I willing? Yes, I’ve been taught but now I should be teaching. As Christians are we really doing our parts? Are we doing what we should be doing? Are we serving like we should? I’ve told you before and I surely don’t mind saying it again; sometimes the closest the unsaved gets to God is through a saved person. Don’t you know the words that come out of your saved mouth can be the determination on whether an unsaved person chooses your God? No, I am not saying that you have to be so Holy that you are no Earthly good but God should noticeable on you somewhere. I mean, if every time I see you and all I hear is cursing, all I see is a beer bottle, or you’re high; you might want to check what vine you’re doing it for.

I said all of that to say this to you … Don’t accept God’s service on Sunday because it’s out of habit only to sit Him down on Monday for your hobby. Don’t accept God’s service on Monday because your boo is gone and you’re blue and then sit Him down on Tuesday because two for one is calling your name. Don’t accept God’s service on Tuesday because you’re in your test and you need Him and then sit Him down when Wine down Wednesday rolls around. Don’t accept God’s service on Wednesday when you’re weeping and then sit Him down on Karaoke Thursday. Don’t accept God’s service on Choir Rehearsal Thursday and then sit him down on Live Band Friday. And I won’t even use Friday and Saturday because well we all know that ain’t nobody thinking about accepting God’s service on Friday and surely not on Saturday. What? I’m just keeping it real! Chile look here, once you accept God you don’t stop living; you just stop living in certain places (you’ll get that later). God didn’t say you had to stop dancing, stop drinking and stop having fun; God said to do things decently and in order. Serve God with the right heart and you’ll get God’s service. Don’t choose the days to serve, serve Him at all times and God will return the favor. I am a living witness that God will be faithful to you when you are faithful to Him. Serve Him!

1 Samuel 12:24, “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.”

Daily Devotional – 9/3/14 “Get out of your flesh!”

Now, this may just be for me but I’ll share because when I say the Holy Spirit woke me out of my sleep with this thang this morning! Chile! See, many times we act, react, speak, post, text, feel, treat and think about folk based on your flesh but what about your spiritual self? When does that come into play? I mean, when do you take into account your spirituality? You are so quick to get your feelings hurt, well that’s because you are standing in a war in your flesh. When we become Christians, didn’t we agree to put off our old self? Yet here we are still living in our old fleshly ways. Yes, honey; we all know you are quick to cuss folk out when they get wrong and quick to pop off when things don’t go your way and the first thing you say is … say it with me “God knows my heart.” Baby please! If the words that come out your mouth aren’t right, neither is your heart. Yes, I know folk tell you what they said but have you prayed about it before you react? Yes, she posted that but log off and calm down because you might just find that it isn’t even worth replying too when you log back on.

This is my point… When you have on your spiritual being, you don’t have to fight (as hard). Baby, with your spiritual eyes, you’ll be able to see some stuff a mile away before it even has a chance to make it in your vicinity and you are prepared and will defeat it. With you spiritual feet, you won’t even be able to walk into dangerous places and if you go in, you’ll be able to come out victorious. With your spiritual body, knives won’t even pierce your skin anymore from the back, front or side. With your spiritual body, the hurtful words that once penetrated your skin don’t even soak in anymore. With your spiritual body…Oh my God! GET OUT YOUR FLESH!!

And if I may, just for a minute; step up on my soap box. First ladies of the church, stop listening to other women tell you about the other woman in the church who wants your husband. Girl, don’t you know that when you allow your spiritual eyes to search your surroundings, it’ll peep out all the wolves in sheep’s clothing? Then why are you doing the fighting? Your spiritual discernment won’t allow mess around you. You don’t need anybody speaking for you when you’re spiritual, speak yourself. You don’t need anyone fighting your battles, when you’re spiritual, you can fight your own plus and he’s coming home. (Ok, I’m getting down). Get out of your flesh when your spiritual self works so much better!

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation–but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:12-14”

Daily Devotional – 9/2/14 “So be it!”

If I told you about the weekend my husband and I have had, you probably wouldn’t believe me anyway because if we wouldn’t have experienced it, we wouldn’t either. However, let me say this … when God does things, I simply say amen. Why? Well because amen means so be it or that I am in agreement because when God moves that settles it. Baby, God has made some moves in our lives this weekend that no man could dare make. God has shaken up some things in our lives this weekend that no man could have possibly done so I had no choice but to say amen; I am in agreement with you God.

Yes, I know things aren’t looking right in your life right now and you want to question God but stand in agreement with Him because if you trust Him like you say you do then you should know He won’t steer you wrong. I know momma may be sick but say amen. Your body is aching with pain but say amen. Your bills are behind and the landlord is knocking again but say amen. Your electric bill is due to be cutoff and they are parked outside but I know a man who will make them drive away by the power of your amen. The death angel is walking around your home but say amen for the strength that is coming your way. You’re still waiting on the phone to ring for a job but say amen for what God has already done. Storm clouds still hanging low but say amen that you still have your mind. Arthritis is in your body but say amen that you’re still living. You may not be making the money that you think you should but say amen that you still have a job. Car and house may not be the one you want but say amen that it’s the one you got. Baby, you could be homeless, suicidal, depressed, in ICU, in a nursing home, in a domestic violence center, on a missing poster, HIV positive, on death row, strung out on drugs, prostituting your body, waiting on a major organ donation or on life support; yet here you are and you got the nerve! Excuse me while I make this thang personal … I could be homeless, suicidal, depressed, in ICU, in a nursing home, in a domestic violence center, on a missing poster, HIV positive, on death row, strung out on drugs, prostituting my body, waiting on a major organ donation or on life support; yet here I am! I don’t know what God has planned for me (I’ve been telling you this for the last week) but so be it for I shall stand in agreement yelling, proudly proclaiming amen! I don’t know what God has for you but stand in agreement that whatever it is, it’s for you and that you’ll proudly say’ so be it! AMEN! Let the church say amen.

Daily Devotional – 8/29/14 “Raise your expectancy level!”

If you have to wonder why you’ve yet to reach the next phase of your life, it’s probably because you’ve yet your raise your expectancy level. Baby, at this point in your life you should be looking pass hoping and looking forward to expecting. When you fill out a job application, you hope for a call back but then when you get the interview your mind should then go from hoping for the job to now expecting it. When you pray and get up, you should do so with expectancy that what you’ve asked for will happen. Now, I’m speaking in terms of blessings. Aren’t you tired of being tangled up in that mess you’re in? Aren’t you sick of being sick and burn out of being broke? Then when will you expect things to change? When will you expect things to be different?

Please don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with hoping because Romans 5:5 says, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us,” but don’t just hope alone. When you pray, you hope God hears you, right? Then what? Then, if you are like me, you expect Him to come and see about you which simply mean you cannot have hope without expectancy. All I am trying to get you to understand is this … stop quitting at hope when there is expectancy there too. Expect some things to happen and they will. If you are hoping for a check to come, it will but when? Expect it. If a pregnant woman had to go on hope to deliver her baby, imagine how that would turn out; that’s why the doctors give a due date of when she can expect to deliver. At some point you’ve got to start expecting some things. You’ve got to start expecting your breakthrough even before it comes. Expect your spouse before he or she shows up. Expect your financial deliverance before it happens. Expect your healing before surgery. Expect your promotion even before the interview. Expect the car before the loan is approved. Expect the house before the closing. Expect the blessing before the shout. Baby, you can even expect your deliverance before your storm is over! All you have to do is raise your expectancy level. Psalm 62:5 says, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” God is your expectation. Expect and then get! Don’t stop hoping but with hoping expect. Hope for your miracle, hope for your blessings, hope for your deliverance and then expect to receive it! You are worthy of all the things that God has promised but you have to expect to get them! What are you hoping for and when will you raise your level of hope to expectancy to get them?