Daily Devotional – 6/25/14 “Church Covenant”

Have you ever noticed the covenant that hangs in most churches? Have you taken the time to read it? Did you know that when you become a member of a church you are now agreeing to said covenant yet you’ve never read it? How can you hold up your part if you don’t know what it is? My own personal belief is, if more churches would get back to teaching the covenant, preaching God’s word instead of playing in the flesh, anointing folk with oil to get rid of these evil spirits, praying for one another and building each other up; our worship services will be better. If the pastor would get back to doing what he/she was called to do, people were to get back to respecting the pastor as the head of the church, members were to learn their role and stay in their lane and the church as a whole would get back to reaching and teaching folk; just imagine how much better our worship experience would be. But it all goes back to the covenant because when you understand the agreement, you might just do better. So take a moment and read the church covenant below and my prayer is that we will all do better.


“Having been led as we believe, by the spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage therefore by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality: to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use on intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

And now unto Him, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, be power and glory forever. Amen.”

To sum it up, when we become a Christian we become one body in Christ and no one should fall without having someone there to help them back up. We agree to love one another and participate in the up building of the church (studying God’s word, paying tithes & spreading the word to those outside of the church). We agree to teach our children God’s word, devote prayer time to our family, fellowship with other believers, be faithful in all we do, be passionate about Godly business and become our brother/sister’s keeper. It is our responsibility to be an encouragement for one another without judgment and harsh criticism. We agree to carry ourselves in a way that those who maybe wandering without direction can be saved through us but we can’t do that if we aren’t getting along with other church folk. Admit when you’re wrong and apologize, don’t hold grudges and stop running from the church every time you get mad. Baby, running makes you tired and soon you’ll turn away from God when all you should have done was talk to the one who hurt you. I didn’t say stay where you aren’t being spiritually fed but I said stop church hopping. Find a church home so that you can hold up your end of the agreement and when you get there; hold up your end of the agreement!

Daily Devotional – 6/24/14 “Deny some folk!”

If you have to worry about the folks you’ve surrounded yourself with, they aren’t worth being around. If you have to worry about your business getting back to the beauty/barber shop on Saturday, you may need to change your atmosphere. Yea, if you have to be someone other than yourself, you may need to change the place you’re in. And if you’re wondering why God won’t use you then you need to read Luke 14:26 that says “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple.” In order to work for God, you’ve got to first let go of self and then let go of man. Why? Well, I’m glad you asked. When you hold on to self, you’ll start second guessing what God said. When you hold on to man, they’ll have you changing the place God said go to. When you hold on to self, you’ll start pulling away from God. When you hold on to man they’ll make the world look better than worship. When you hold on to self, you’ll make yourself think that sin ain’t all that bad and when you hold on to man they’ll even make you feel good while you’re in that same sin. All I’m saying, you need to let go of self and some folk. Why? Well, thanks for asking. See, you keep allowing “them” to cause you to stumble on your journey but they won’t be the one to blame when the judgment comes, you will. Just because “they” smoke or drink, it doesn’t mean you have too. They sleep in on Sunday and miss worship, manage mess on Monday and miss Bible Study, wild out on Wednesday and miss prayer meeting, drink on two for one Thursday and skip choir rehearsal and now they’ve dragged you right along with them because you’ve yet to let them go. You don’t want to hurt folk feelings but you’ve yet to consider God’s. You don’t want to tell folk no but you are quick to tell it to God. You don’t hesitate to go when they come calling yet you question why when God does. Baby, when will you let go and let God? When will you lead and stop following? When will you stop conforming to their standards?

Don’t you know that you have to be willing to let go of yourself to get that which you’ve been yearning for, deny some folk to declare deliverance, block some things and folk to get your breakthrough, reject some requests in order to receive your restoration, throw away some things to realize your talents, release those that are ruining your righteousness and toss those things that are hindering you from transforming your tribulation into a testimony? Yea, you may want to look at denying some calls, deleting some text messages and discarding some phone numbers in order to get the blessing you’ve been waiting on. Yea, you may want to look at denying some friend requests, deleting some pictures and discarding some old memories in order to get the discipleship God has waiting for you. For Luke 14:33 says, “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.”

Daily Devotional – 6/23/14 “We are losing them!”

We are losing our children and it has got to stop! There is a commercial on the radio that says, the biggest influence our children have is us (parents) yet most times we don’t stop to realize that. No, I am not saying that we are responsible for all of the bad stuff they get into but I am saying that we are an influence. We are losing our children y’all! We are burying them and the sad part about it is; most of them don’t have a church home because most of the parents don’t. And even if the parent(s) are involved in church, you get up and leave the children at home on Sunday because you’ve given them a choice on when to serve God. These young boys and girls are trying to handle relationships when a relationship, some time, is even too hard for an adult to handle. Then you add on peer pressure, drugs, gangs, money and violence! Why has it become an epidemic of parents burying children or visiting them in jail? Why has it become common for young men to pose with guns, money and drugs or for young girls with their skirts up to their butts, tongue hanging out or doing stuff they shouldn’t be doing? Why is it cool for teenagers to become parents? Why are we losing our children? They are dropping out of school, drinking, throwing gang signs, sagging their pants, wearing their dresses shorter and being disrespectful and we, as parents, aren’t saying a thing about because we don’t want to hurt their feelings. You’d rather pay someone to cut your grass when you have teenagers in the house or buy something to eat rather than teach your daughter. When I was growing up, in the summer time we got up when my granddaddy’s feet hit the floor because he had things for us to do and once they were done we could play. We didn’t sit in the house all day because grandma would put you out. Oh, but now it’s too hot for the children to play outside. Chile please! Vacation bible school is empty yet the clubs are overcrowded with kids! They play on their phone all during worship service because we, parents, are too busy playing on ours to say something. We don’t take them to bible study anymore because we aren’t going. We definitely don’t read the bible at home because it’s staying in the car (if we even have one). Lord, help us because we are losing our children! We’ve got to take our children back!

“Father, I come petitioning your throne this morning on behalf of our children. God, right now I am praying that you guide their minds because we are losing them at a rapid rate. God, I ask you to destroy the chains of suicidal thoughts, gangs, drugs, violence, unprotected sex, STDs, rape, molestations, bullying and peer pressure and cast them back into the pits of hell. Bind the attacks satan has sent out to destroy our children. God, I need you to protect their feeble minds and surround them with a hedge of your protection. Cast out any demonic, evil spirit who has attached themselves to our children and remove the enemies who have surrounded them looking like friends and destroy the choke hold that social media has placed around their necks. Oh God I need you to heal those children who are fighting sickness and diseases. God I need you to replace depression with your deliverance, gangs with your grace, violence with your voice, hurt with your Holy Spirit, suicidal thoughts with your sanctification and anger with your anointing. For the child fighting with their sexuality or being abused and hurt by someone who is supposed to love them, I ask that you send help and protection to them now. Then God, I need you to strengthen the mothers and the fathers because even when we think we are winning this battle of raising children we are still losing. For the parent who has buried their child or those making funeral arrangements; comfort them. For the parent who is sitting next to the bed of their child and the doctor says there is no hope and for the parent who has to visit their child in jail; strengthen them. And for the parent who doesn’t know where their child is, for those who child is on drugs, in a gang or even fighting an addiction; I ask God that you send them the hope they need to see them through. Lord, as I stand in the gap today, I ask that you cover our children and parents so that we lose no more! I need you to do these things as I humbly submit this pray in your name. Amen”

Daily Devotional – 6/20/14 “Don’t you get it?”

Why do we only praise God when things are going good? Isn’t God worthy of our praise no matter what season we’re in? So many times we take time for granted until we realize there is no more time to grant. We stay shut up in past hurt that we allow time to slip away before we take advantage of it. We stay so bound in our mess that we don’t even see how quickly time is passing right before our eyes. But don’t you know that God still covers you even when you’re covered in filth? Don’t you understand, yet, that God still loves us in spite of us? Don’t you get it! God isn’t concerned about those scars of your past abuse because He says if you give them to Him, He’ll heal them. God isn’t worried about the tear stains on your face because He says if you point that same face towards Heaven, He’ll wipe it clean. God isn’t bothered by the many times your heart has been broken because He says He’ll replace it with a new one if you give Him the old one. God isn’t concerned with the names folk call you because when He calls you everything that was attached to that old name is cast into the sea of forgetfulness. Don’t you get it? God is worthy of our praise and thanks and we shouldn’t wait on Sunday morning to put on a fake show to Him because it’s time now to take off the mask, release whatever demonic spirit that is attached to you and praise God. Don’t you know that you can praise those chains of abuse, that bondage of past mistakes, shackles of angriness and yokes of depression free? Yea, instead of burying all the mess that you’ve held for show long, shout it out so that you can break free from it. Instead of pushing your past into the closet to hide it, tell somebody I was once that yet God has now made me this.

Even in my momentary moments of thinking I’m not good enough, my gift isn’t being used enough or could I be doing more; God calms my spirit and says, girl I got this. When I was a mess, God favored me; when I thought I was nothing, God made me into somebody; when I was in the midst of my sins, God saved me; when I thought I couldn’t go on; God pushed me harder; when I thought my storm would claim my life, God covered me; when I thought I’d drown in my sorrows, God pulled me out and cleaned me up; when I thought my grief would consume me; God comforted me and when I thought my nights of pacing would tear me down; God stepped in and gave me rest. Yea, I may have looked broken to man but to God I looked blessed! (Insert a shout here) Don’t you get it? If God can take me; a tore up from the floor up, raggedy, not fitting to live yet not ready to die sinner, snatch me from the pits of hell, clean me up, give me a new heart and spirit, make my hands and feet look new, a new set of eyes and ears, a new mouth, a brand new body that doesn’t show the scars on my legs from being dragged to hell and back, scars on my back from being used by folks who said they would love me, stepped on by folks who said they’d help me and abused by folk who said they had my best interest at heart; surely He has something greater for me. After all, He did choose me for a purpose! Now, if this isn’t for you, then move out my way while I thank Him now for the next promotion I’ve yet to even apply for, the healing that’s on the way, the deliverance that’s right around the corner, the light at the end of my tunnel, the silver lining in my dark clouds, the debt free status I’ll soon claim, for making my enemies my foot stool, for my books to be in bookstores and churches across many states (I’m claiming this thang!), for the increasing of my gifts that will enlarge my territory, for the healing of my family and friends, for the doors that He is about to open in their lives and for the things I’ve yet to even think of! Yea, I’m even thanking God in advance for the things He has yet to do for you. For the healing of your sickness or disease, your new career, your new home, your new car, your spouse, your deliverance, your debt free status, your new heart, your joy that’s on the way back, for your hope bucket that’s about to be filled, for your tears that’s about to stop, for your spirit that’s about to be renewed, for your regulated mind and for your peace. (And this is for somebody – that new kidney you’re waiting on) I’m thanking him for making your business successful, for enlarging your territory, for increasing your gift and for the anointing He is about to place over your life! (And this is for somebody else – for that ministry you’re being praying for) Oh, I’d better leave this thang alone! Yet, I thank you God right now! I praise you God right now because you are worthy! Don’t you get it? Your praise to God can make all your problems seem petty!

Daily Devotional – 6/19/14 “Dipped but not delivered!”

My sister and I were joking around on last night at church and I told her that she had been dipped but not delivered and of course, if you know me by now, you know I jotted this down in my phone. See, while we were playing around this is actually true because a lot of us Christians have been dipped in the baptism water but we’ve yet to be delivered from those things that keep us out of the will of God. And if you’re wondering what those things are, it’s those things you repeatedly ask God’s forgiveness for. Yea, I know that God knows your heart and you ought to be grateful for that because it’s the main reason He has kept you. While your heart is yearning to find love, your eyes keep going after that lust in the short dress or nice suit. While your heart is saying forgiveness your mouth keeps saying but they hurt me. While your heart is saying Lord I trust you, your actions are saying you are undecided in your decision. While your heart is saying you have faith, your legs and feet are running in the opposite direction. Yes, I know you’ve been dipped but you’re still not delivered because your praise doesn’t show it. Yea, you’ve been dipped yet not delivered because your worship doesn’t even show it. (Please don’t get this twisted, this is for me too.)

Nonetheless, let me point this out … The bible says in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.” Simply saying, when we go down in that baptism water, our old lives die and when we come up we should now walk in the new life that God has now granted us. Will it be easy? No because if the truth shall be told, it gets harder because the enemy has to work harder now to keep you off the path God has set before you. Will you get everything you ask for? No because God only gives you what you need. Yet, it’s worth it. And you chose to be baptized and although some of us get baptized at an earlier age, there is no time like the present to be delivered from the mess that is keeping you from the message God has for you. No, I don’t mean the sermon on Sunday but I’m talking about the message God is waiting to drop in your spirit. You’ve been baptized now be delivered. All you have to do is give whatever has you bound over to God, He’ll handle the rest! Declare your deliverance on today! You don’t have to wait until it shows up to dance, dance until your deliverance comes!