Daily Devotional – 8/27/14 “From struggling to satisfied!”

I’ve started writing this devotional three times and I’ve started over each time. Just when I thought I had it together, it wouldn’t flow right. “Get it together girl!” I’m being transparent because I need each of you to see that I am human in this thang. This spiritual journey is hard and I am struggling. Will I give up? No but it doesn’t take away the fact that I am struggling. I’m not struggling with the calling of ministry that God has placed over my life but I am struggling with what I should be doing. And the enemy is trying his best to get in but he doesn’t stand a chance. Don’t get this thang twisted! I may be struggling but I am not stranded. I told you on yesterday that I am being remodeled and it’s going to take some time so again, you’re going to have to pardon the mess you may see. I’ve been so frustrated lately and I can’t seem to grasp why but then it dawned on me, just now, that this isn’t even about me. That’s why I’m struggling. God says I’m struggling because it’s not even mine to figure out. HA! Ok God. Didn’t God tell me on yesterday to trust Him through my remodeling process? How can I tell you to trust God when it seems like my trust is wavering?

So, let me start this over for all of us! We are still in our remodeling phase because it doesn’t happen overnight, so why are we rushing it? Who said it would be easy? Sickness isn’t cured overnight? Antibiotics are usually given for ten days and the doctor says, even if you feel better after a few days continue to take the medicine for the full ten days to make sure the sickness is completely gone; right? Then why am I rushing this phase of my life? Can’t you hear the work being done? Excuse the noise; you’ll appreciate the work afterwards. Pardon all the mess, there is some renovations being made on the inside of this old body of mine. I could be out of commission, down and out and not worth being remodeled yet God saw fit to pay the price so here I am! And if you happen to see a few tears stream down, that’s just water being used to flush out the waste that had been caught up in there. So, when I started writing I was struggling but now I am satisfied and I will wait until my remodeling process is complete to see what God has in store for me. What about you?

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Daily Devotional – 8/26/14 “I’m being remodeled!”

I’m feeling some type of way and I just cannot explain it. I’ve tried to put it into words and I can’t. I’ve tried to understand it spiritually and I can’t. I’ve even tried to understand it naturally and still I can’t. Yet, here am I; feeling all discombobulated, confused and in a fog. I feel like there is something I am missing, something I’m not doing, somewhere I’m not going. I ask; God, what is it? Then He answers, “It’s just me remodeling you.” I say, “But God, I thought I was ok.” He answers, “You were but I got a new position for you and the old you just wouldn’t do.” Then I say, “But God,” He says, “Child, don’t you trust me?” I answer, “Yes, Lord.” He says, “Then trust me.”

So, while I don’t understand the remodeling process I’m currently going through, I trust the one who is doing the remodeling. While I don’t know how long my remodeling process last, I trust the one who is doing the remodeling. See, I look at it like this … I could be broken down during my remodeling phase yet I’m still working (pardon my dust). I could be closed down for repairs during my remodeling process yet I’m still working (excuse the construction). I could be boarded up with an opening soon date yet here am I. Oh, I could be one of the many left unfinished because the contractor ran out of money before the remodel was actually done but baby, do you know who my foreman is? Do you have any idea who is financing my remodel? Do you know who is calling all the shots, making all the decisions? Well, I do and He is my Father and He said it was time for me to be upgraded, time for me to be remodeled because He has some things for me to do and some places for me to go and the old me wouldn’t cut it. Just when I thought I had done enough, He said I needed to be remodeled into something greater. God said, I am about to take you to some places your old self can’t go. Remodeling has to take place. He said, “Take your hand off child, I got this!” Just when I thought I had hell on my back, it wasn’t even the enemy; it was simply me being remodeled for better things! I’m being remodeled to do greater things. What about you?

Daily Devotional – 8/21/14 “If you don’t fit, stick out!”

I had this old cord and no matter how much I tried to make it, it just wouldn’t charge my phone. I mean; I turned it all kinds of ways, I tried it in different USB places on my computer and even thought if I plugged it in the wall that maybe it would work but nope, it just wouldn’t fit. Then, I stopped and thought about something. I thought, how does God feel when we constantly try to make worldly stuff fit into His biblical teaching. It’s like when we start bringing the world into the church, it doesn’t fit. Oh but the church fits perfectly into the world for the bible says in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” It’s like when you say you’ve been changed and baptized in God’s name yet you try to do the things you used to do knowing they no longer fit for the bible says in Ephesians 4:24, “Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy.” When you are righteous and holy, some of the things you used to do won’t fit anymore. When you are on the Lord’s side, some of the places you used to go, no longer fit on your calendar any longer. Please understand, there isn’t anything wrong with you going to a party as long as you come out the same way you went it. If you went in holy and sober, come out holy and sober. Folk get this thang twisted thinking that once you become a saint you can no longer have fun but the bible says in Ecclesiastes 8:15, “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.”

All I am saying is this, not everything fits in your life as being a Christian and it’s ok to say that. Don’t feel bad about turning down invitations to certain things because you no longer feel comfortable going there because they won’t be the ones telling the story at judgment. You have to be the one to give an account for your actions when it’s your time so be able to give an account for your actions now. Stop using the excuse; they made me do it, they pressured me into it, they wouldn’t take no for an answer and all that crap when you’re grown. If you no longer fit it, then stick out and be just fine being different. I’ve shared this scripture most of the week but it fits again, “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. Romans 12:2.” If you don’t fit, stick out!

Daily Devotional – 8/20/14 “God chooses you!”

My cup is still overflowing from bible study on last night and it’s evident because the Holy Spirit woke me up this morning. Yea, see; I was instructed to tell you that although you thought you were counted out because the world had put its foot on your neck and pushed you into the pit of feeling like nothingness; that ain’t nothing to even worry about. How do I know? Well because the Holy Spirit told me this morning that God has plucked you out of that pit (a few times, might I add) cleaned you up, made you brand new and then He told me to urge you, like Paul did, in Romans 12:1; to become a living sacrifice, presenting your body in such a way that is Holy and pleasing in God’s eyes. Oh but don’t stop there because you need to stop changing your ways to fit in to the world ways but change your mind because baby when you change, no, when you transform your mind OH MY GOD, the things that can happen in your life will blow you out the water! Yea, I know you thought you’d never amount to anything because your past consisted of getting folk high on drugs, but child, here I am begging you to offer your life to God as a living sacrifice, transforming your mind with a way of thinking that will have you getting folk high in a new way that won’t cost them a dime and won’t even cost you your life. Yea, you thought that that old way of living counted you out but that’s not the case because God doesn’t run background checks, so here am I offering you a chance to be a living sacrifice, to be holy and acceptable unto God. Yea, you thought that addiction or that jail time left a blemish on your record but none of that matter to God when you become a living sacrifice for Him. All you have to do is accept Him and do your part and He’ll do the rest. How do you accept, it’s not hard, answer these questions?

  • Do you understand that God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
  • Do you believe in God?
  • Do you understand that God gave His only Son so that we could live?
  • Do you admit that you’ve sinned and fallen short of God’s glory?
  • Do you accept God as your Lord and Savior?
  • Have you been baptized?

    • (If no, then you need to visit your nearest church on Sunday morning to speak to the pastor about being baptized.)

  • Do you believe that which you are confessing?
  • Will you commit to talk to God daily?
  • Will you study God’s word for yourself?
  • Will you invite the Holy Spirit in to commune with you?

Then you’ve already taken the steps to become the living sacrifice. I beg of you my brothers and my sisters in view of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice; holy and acceptable to God; simply because God doesn’t need you but He chooses you! God doesn’t have to choose you when He can make rocks cry out yet He gives you another chance. God doesn’t have to choose you when He has millions of other souls to choose from yet He gives you another chance. God doesn’t have to choose you yet you got another chance so, I’ll say again, God doesn’t need you but He chooses you!


“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2”

Daily Devotional – 8/19/14 “Turbulence means transition!”

Baby, why are you worried about that shaking you’re feeling in your midst? That’s just the turbulence during the transition of things happening. Yea, I know you felt that rocking and you thought all hell was breaking loose around you but hold tight, it’s just God getting ready to take you higher. What, you thought this journey would be easy? You thought there would be bridges over your troubles, a faucet to fill your valley with water to swim you out of your circumstances or a rope for you to climb out of your despair? If it was that easy, what would you work for? Yes, there will be turbulence during transition, if you’re moving. Yes, there will be some turbulence during YOUR transition, if you are moving. But baby, it ain’t even about the turbulence. It’s ain’t even about the transition. It’s about what comes afterwards. See, if you’re facing turbulence, that means you’re transitioning and if you’re transitioning that means you’re moving and if you’re moving that means your position is changing. Now, that alone ought to be enough to make you want to shout because turbulence usually happens when you are going up. (Still don’t get it?) If you are experiencing turbulence in your life right now, (a sudden change of conditions, an unexplained change in the way things are happening in your home, all hell breaking loose, children acting crazy, folk on the job talking foolish, spirit seems unsettled, etc.,) then you may be going through a transition period and the devil is trying to stop you from getting to your triumphant target but hold on; the turbulence won’t last … Praise your way through it.

If you are experiencing turbulence right at this moment, fight on, it’ll soon be over and you’ll realize that everything you’ve experienced during the ride; from the knock downs, the names you’ve been called, those wanting to give up moments, the heartaches, the closed doors, the sickness, the let downs, the addictions, the could haves, the should haves and even the woe is me moments made it all worthwhile once you hear the captain say you’ve reached your final destination at triumph! Don’t let the turbulence turn you away from the flight that just might change your life. This could be the answer you’ve been waiting for just not in the way you’ve been looking for it. Turbulence means transition which means you’re moving and if turbulence means I’m moving up, I’ll take it any day.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13”