Daily Devotional – 2/10/14 “For whatever you sow …”

Aren’t you glad God doesn’t pay us back in the same way we pay him? No, I’m not talking about tithes and offerings but I’m speaking on teaching, helping, loving, giving, studying, going, doing and being. See, God gives us another opportunity to thank Him yet we don’t take it. He gives us another day to live a life that is pleasing yet we let the sun go down yet again without living it. He gives us another moment to make things right but we’d rather allow the time to slip right on by. He gives us a fresh anointing today yet we’d rather still borrow from yesterdays. He erases all of our past mistakes yet we’re still searching back there to find them. He allowed the door to close because it wasn’t right for you yet you’d rather sneak through the window to get in. He even placed a closed sign on the road you were heading down yet you drove right on past it. Yep, you were warned but you’ve ignored all the signs. Oh, but let me tell you that the bible says in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Yea, you’re wondering why you’re going through hell but isn’t that all you’ve sown? You keep wondering why you haven’t gotten your spouse yet when you keep digging in somebody else’s relationship. You’re trying to understand why no one will call you a friend but you have to first show yourself as friendly. You’re trying to figure out why no one will have your back yet you’re the one who likes to throw rocks and hide your hand. Yea, I know you’ve heard that karma is something that exist but God doesn’t work in karma because, again, you only get back what you sow for Hosea 10:12 says, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” But hold up because Job 4:8 says, “those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” It’s all about what you sow.

See, you’ve got to stop with all this back and forth stuff. You have to stop being a convenient Christian when God is a constant companion. Stop being a rocky type Christian. You know the one the bible describes in Luke 8:13, “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away,” when God is the only rock you need. All I’m saying is be very careful what you plant and where you plant it because although it may take a while, you’ll still reap it. Yes, God promises us trouble but this is the trouble that He prepares us for. All that other stuff, that’s on you!

Daily Devotional – 2/7/14 “When will you trust God?”

You’re struggling in your marriage because the person you’re telling your business to is the one keeping up the mess when you should keep your business at home! You’re struggling on your job because your mouth keeps putting you in a place you can’t get yourself out off when you should learn to keep it shut, sometime! You say you’re worried about bills yet you’re still shopping. You claim you have problems yet you won’t turn them over to the problem solver. You got sickness and pain in your body yet you won’t turn to the healer! And yet here you are still trying to figure out what the issue is? I mean, you walk around trying to make folk think everything is great but then you’re at home drinking tears for water. You’re so busy trying to conform to this crazy world that you’re breaking the commitments you’ve made. You know the ones that say love thy neighbor, don’t kill, steal or covet thy neighbor’s spouse; etc. You’re so caught up in trying to be them that you’ve forgotten how to be you. What sense is it to have food and no appetite to eat, a bed yet you can’t sleep, a closet full of clothes with no desire to wear them and friends but you’re not friendly! When will you get yourself together? How can you be everything for everybody else and nothing to yourself?

You keep falling because your faith is failing. You’re leaning because you aren’t learning the lesson. You’re stumbling because your sight is seeking the shady stuff. You’re missing the mark because you’re magnifying minor mess. And your talent is tainted because you’re tarrying in trouble when God is asking, “Oh ye of little faith why do you doubt? When doors are shut in your face haven’t I made it for your good? When folk talk about you and your enemies come against you, haven’t I made them your footstool? When you mess you, haven’t I forgiven you over and over again? When folk are speaking death over your life, haven’t I given you a tongue that can speak life? When you can’t see your way, haven’t I been your light? When you can’t see how to make ends meet, haven’t I been your provider? When times get hard, haven’t I carried you? When folk leave, haven’t I been there? When sickness shows up, haven’t I healed you? When you’re broken, haven’t I strengthened you? Then when will you trust me?” When will you trust God like you do that chair you sit in without a second thought? When will trust God like you do people you’ve just met? Hasn’t He proven himself worthy by now?

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you, Psalm 9:10”

Daily Devotional – 2/5/14 “But, I’m a Christian!”

We often say to God: I am a Christian, can’t you see? I go to church on Sunday even though I get there late, sometimes hung-over with a headache but at least I’m there for your sake or that’s what I say! I know I may not wave my hands or give you praise like I could but doesn’t it count I’m there giving you all that I think I should. I know I gossip and talk about folk which isn’t pleasing in your sight but you said you’d forgive me, isn’t that right? I sometimes hate on people’s blessing and speak bad over their life; I may even lust after her husband or his wife. It’s wrong but I’ll have time to ask for forgiveness because I’m young and in pretty good shape, so right now I’ll just continue on and change before it gets too late. I sometime take my blessings for granted and disrespect my mother. I even misuse people like; my friends, family, sisters and my brothers. I know that I’m supposed to be my brother’s keeper to be there when they need me and do some good deeds, but I’ll spread their business faster than a gardener planting seeds. I know I’m supposed to pick up those that fall, pray for those that are lost; but usually I’m only on “Christian duty” when it is convenient for me or when I’m the boss. Doesn’t that still make me a Christian, isn’t that ok? You will forgive me right, isn’t that what the good book say? I know I’m supposed to pay tithes from the job that you’ve blessed me with, but I saw this pair of shoes that I just had to have and I had to get them quick. (I’ll pay you later, k? God you know my heart!) I saw this man begging and even though I had the extra money, I decided not to give because he should get a job too, doesn’t he know I have a life to live? Humph, you didn’t say be a fool! But I am a Christian, can’t you see that, I got time to get myself right. So just wait God, give me a little more time to work on my Christian light.

God answered: Aren’t I the one who protected you when you should have been killed then who are you to choose when it’s ok to do my will? Aren’t I the one who took you back when you chose the world in which to graze then who are you to choose what Sunday to give me praise? Haven’t I been where I said and who I said I’d be then who are you to be a “fair weather” Christian, a some timer for me? Yea, I’ll forgive you when you ask and believe it in your heart but don’t you think today might be a good time to start? Yea, you may be in pretty good health now but you still can’t predict the end, you might not get the chance to say I love you to your family or apologize to your friends. Yea, you’d better start today to be the Christian I’ve ordained because to be with me and my Son, your wings you have to gain. So, may I suggest you open that bible and do the things I’ve told before your eyes are closed and the blood in your veins get cold! No, my child, I’m not trying to scare you, I’m just telling you like it is because you can’t pay the cost at the gate by shedding a few tears. When it’s judgment day, you won’t have a chance to press a button to rewind because no matter how long you’ve lived, you’ve had ample time. You have a chance to get yourself together and to do my will but you take life as a joke and choose all the cheap thrills. Please don’t get me wrong because Christians can have fun too, just don’t turn up too high because you may not get the chance to repent before you die. If you studied my word more, you’d know these types of things but it looks like you’ve got it all figured out, from what I’ve seen. But you may want to take a step back to get your life in order before the time gets too late because death will surely come even though you don’t know the date. Stop trying to hide and stop trying to cover up your sins. Repent and be forgiven; all you have to do is open the door and invite me in.

Daily Devotional – 2/4/14 “Another chance!”

Did you know that chance means an opportunity or a set of circumstances that makes it possible for something to happen or doing something despite being uncertain of the outcome? Don’t you know that when God woke you up this morning, He gave you another chance to trust Him in spite of whatever you’re facing? Yea, God has given you another chance and all He’s asking is for you to have enough faith in Him to see you through. God is saying take a chance and step out on faith regardless of what you may think will happen. God is saying take a chance and let go of the rope even though you aren’t sure of where you’ll land. God is saying take a chance and apply for that job although man said you’re not qualified. God is saying take a chance and try that new medication or do the surgery even if it didn’t work last time. God is saying take a chance and walk away from that abusive relationship even though you don’t see how you can make it. God is saying take a chance and accept the calling I’ve placed on your life even if it means changing some things. God is simply saying, take a chance and trust Me! Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” Take a chance even if you fall, at least you found out that it’s possible. Take a chance because it may just be the chance you’ve been waiting for.

Daily Devotional – 2/3/14 “It’s time!”

We’re at the 3rd day of the 2nd month of this New Year; now what? You’ve been given another opportunity to do what you’re supposed to be doing, are you? You’ve been granted another day to get it right, will you? There’s really no sense in me telling you, again, what the bible says because you’ve heard it all before so what will you do with it? I mean, folk are so quick to judge a pastor for the mistakes they make when the flock is much, much worse. When will we get ourselves together? I mean, if the flock would do their part, the pastor wouldn’t have so much stress on him or her. Oh but you spend so much of your time watching to see if the pastor might stumble that you don’t even realize the wall you’re about to run into and then the pastor is so caught up in trying not to stumble out of fear of you seeing that they are stressed to the max. If you’re able to “turn up” and you’re a Christian, why can’t the Pastor live? Am I saying that it’s right for a pastor to do what he or she shouldn’t be doing; no, but neither is it right for you. However, aren’t they entitled to a beer or glass or wine, if they want? Are they entitled to listen to worldly music and dance, if they want? Aren’t they entitled to see an R rated movie, if they want? Aren’t they entitled to go out to a bar & grill and chill, if they choose?

I don’t know why this is in my spirit this morning but someone needs to know that it’s time to get right. You’re leaving the church in worse shape than you came when that shouldn’t be the case. However, it isn’t the pastor or members job to fix you because you can’t expect deliverance when God can’t even get to your heart to make the first attempt. It isn’t the church that’s dead but it’s the members who make up the congregation. It isn’t God who has left us but it’s us who have left Him. It isn’t the songs that are being sung or the prayers being said but it’s the spirit of the person who’s receiving it. It’s time! It’s time now! It’s time now to get right! You don’t have to stop living because you’re doing what you know you should be doing, you just live better.