I don’t know what the next hour holds so I will rejoice now. I don’t know what tomorrow holds so I will rejoice now. I don’t even know what my future holds yet I will rejoice now. See, rejoice is defined as to feel or show great joy or delight and that’s just what I’ll do. Why? Well because God has been just that good. {Yes He has!} I know you’ve heard that if God never does anything else for me, He’s already done enough and He has but I need Him to continue. So, in order to ensure that I continually receive God’s blessing, I’ll rejoice now because the last thing I want to show is that I am ungrateful. For the bible tells me in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Even when it’s dark and I can’t see the light I’ll rejoice because I’ll know that eventually the darkness has to end. Even when I’m temporarily out of funds and my credit won’t get it; I’ll rejoice knowing that my situation is temporary. Even when I’m sick and it seems like I can’t get well, I’ll rejoicing knowing that my healing is on the way. Even when my day is bad, I’ll rejoicing in knowing that when I sit down and count; my good days outweigh the bad. So, I’m rejoicing now. I won’t wait until Sunday because I may not see it. I won’t wait until my change come because I may not receive it. I won’t wait until my prayer is answered because I’m alive right now! So, I’ll rejoice now! “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5).” So, in the midst of everything, I’m rejoicing now!
Daily Devotional – 12/12/13 “It’s part of God’s plan!”
God is asking why you are stressing when I continue blessing. Why won’t you sleep when my word and promises I always keep? Why won’t you go when I say so? Why do you fear when I am always near? Why doubt when I have clout? When you’re on your knees, don’t I answer your prayers when you tell them to me? Don’t I come when you call every time you fall? Don’t I protect you when you get in trouble and place folk around you to catch you when you stumble? Don’t I lighten your darken path, ease your mind and aren’t I the one whose here every time? Then why are you stressing when I continue blessing? Yea, I know you think I’m picking on you when trouble shows up at your door but this is why I made you strong; this is what I built you for. Yea, I know your body maybe tired and you’re sick of being in pain but hold on my child because your agony is not in vain. Yea, I know you think giving up is the right thing to do but just hold on a little while because I going to pull you through. Yea, I shut that door and you thought it was what you needed but it would have taken you from me and made you mean and greedy. Yea, I know you wanted that car, the one you applied for but I’m trying to show you that it would have caused you more headaches had you simply opened the door. Then why are you stressing when I continue blessing? Don’t get mad at me when I don’t give you those things in which you seek because I am the one that created you so I know what you need. Stop being angry at me because I took your mom or dad away; they were tired and weren’t meant to stay. Stop getting mad at me because you can’t fill underneath the tree with gifts when this isn’t the real meaning of Christmas, baby your mind needs to sift. Stop worrying about tomorrow when you haven’t finished today and stop worrying about yesterday when it’s already gone away. All I’m trying to get you to understand, whatever happens is part of my plan!
P.S. I must thank one of God’s angels (Kelly) living here on this earth that so generously donated to my sister. Not because she knows us personally but simply because she has God on the inside. See, I am often reminded that God has His people surrounded by His people and even if we are states away we can still be a blessing for others. During this holiday season, pray for someone else. And please continue to pray for my sister who will have surgery in Nashville, TN on 12/17/13.
Daily Devotional – 12/11/13 “Keep going!”
In the game of Monopoly, you start at GO and in order to get back to GO you have to go the full circle of the board. Now, in the midst of going the circle you may land on a property that you can purchase, community chest, chance or maybe even jail but then you reach GO again and this time when you pass, you are rewarded with a $200 bonus. Now, in someone’s eyes this may just make that circle you have to go around worth it; you know to be rewarded in the end. Well, in my every day studying of God’s word, I’ve found this Christian journey to be almost the same. Yea, go with me for a moment. See, walking this path we have to endure and go through stuff just like the things on the monopoly board in order to insure that we reach GO again. We’ll pass over railroad tracks called haters which may end up costing us, we may land on other folk’s properties (by being in other folk’s business) and end up paying a price, we may land on chance or community chest and pull a card that might end in our favor or maybe not, we might end up in jail or sometimes our feet will land in a place where we’ll be able to buy our own land and reap the benefits, if we use our money wisely. Oh but then we land on GO again and God rewards us for our faithfulness because we endured through it all to make the full circle and now we stand with our head held up ready to go again. Yea, we stand at GO ready to reap our reward because although we’ve been hated on we weren’t hindered; had to pay a fine but we kept the faith, made some mistakes but we repented and maintained and every time we pass GO we receive an extra blessing in your bucket. Isn’t that good news?
Yes, I know the journey may get a little hard, giving up may look easier, sickness maybe getting you down, you’re sick of short paying the electric bill to pay rent, tired of wearing the same pair of jeans, tired of being broke on pay day, tired of hearing it’ll get better, tired of death coming into your family, tired of watching the news that’s only bad news, tired of folk posting all of their business on Facebook and just plain ole tired of being tired and sick of being sick but keep going. Yea, keep pushing, walking, rolling and grinding because it’ll pay off! For Colossians 3:23-24 says “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Daily Devotional – 12/10/13 “Try God!”
When I started to write the devotional for today, I didn’t have a specific topic in mind. If I must be honest with you, I really didn’t feel like writing one because my sinuses got me feeling some type of way but it’s not about me. Yea, I know that I could have skipped today but what if God skipped a day of sending me His fresh anointing? It’s not about me. So, I just stopped long enough to tell you that no matter what you’re facing, going through, just came out of, got away from, need to get away from, running from or whatever have you bound; God is able to fix it for you. Yea, I know that you’ve called on Him and it seems like He isn’t hearing your pleas, but He is. It seems like every time you get your head above water, something comes along to pull you back down but just hold on. It seems like every time you reach for a glass for water, your tears are filling it but just don’t give up. Yea, your parents may be gone; sister is doing you wrong because of jealousy; brother is hindering you instead of helping; church folks pushing you instead of praying for you; folks on the job is throwing rocks and hiding their hands but God hasn’t changed. So just wait, don’t give up or give in! I know that Christmas is coming and you can’t see a way to get the kids what they won’t but it isn’t the end. Do what you can and allow God to do the rest. Yea, just maybe if you made God your habit like you do those cigarettes or that coke, you’d see a change. If you keep God with you like you do your badge for work, car keys or lighter; you may just get what you need. Stop treating God like He’s only in for a season because you might just need Him in the off season. All I am saying is keep God with you because He’s better than bread, He won’t mold; He’s better than milk, He won’t spoil; He’s better than insurance, He won’t drop your coverage or lapse: He’s better than the sun, He never goes down, He’s better than the moon because He doesn’t have to wait until nightfall to show Himself and He’s much better than so called friends because he won’t stab you in the back. Child, get some God in your life and you’ll be glad you did! I decree on today that nothing, absolutely nothing is bigger than your destiny and your purpose and I declare victory over the battles that you have to fight! Try God because He never loses! Try God because He never leaves. Try God because He’s just that good.
Daily Devotional – 12/9/13 “Your gift is bigger than you!”
On last night I was reminded, by Bishop Brandon Porter, that our gifts are bigger than we are. See, when God gives us gifts or talents, it is done so that it is used for the building up of His people. Yea, I know you thought the gift you have was given to you because of you but baby it’s not about you at all. Nawl, see; God gave you the gift of cooking so that you could feed somebody who can’t afford to feed themselves for Isaiah 58:10 says, “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” God gave you the gift of fashion and clothes so that you could clothe those who are in need for Hebrews 13:16 say, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” He gave you the gift of singing so that you can minister through music for Psalm 105:2 say, “Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!” He gave you the gift of teaching so that you can reach those who want to learn for 1st Timothy 4:13 says, “Until I come, be diligent in reading, in prayer and in teaching.” He gave you the gift of listening so that you may be a leaning post for those who need to talk for James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” He gave you the gift of ministry so that you can minister His word through His word for 2nd Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
Yea, I know its gets hard sometimes because you feel like you’re used out but keep going. I know it sometimes gets tedious and your hands get tired but keep sowing. I know your feet get tired from going here and there but keeping walking. You may get tired because it seems like no one is listening but keep talking. Why? Well that’s because your gift isn’t about you but it’s about the one that gave it to you. Your gift is bigger than you and when you realize this, you’ll use it better. Stop allowing your gift to become familiar but find something new to do with it so that you may reach those you need to reach. Know this; God only gives us things that will benefit Him. Yea, you may get benefits from it but that’s simply a bonus.
Lakisha, the Author 