Daily Devotional – 10/16/13 “No pain, no gain?”

Why do we have to endure pain in order to gain something? Why do we have to be hurt before we finally realize something is wrong? Why does pain have to be so bad? Why does it have to hurt like it does? I mean, I sit and watch my sister in agonizing pain with a condition that is so uncommon in someone her age that even the doctors act like they are scared to treat it and I wonder what she is suffering for. Then I read in my bible Psalm 41:2-3 that says, “The LORD will protect him and keep him alive, and he shall be called blessed upon the earth; and do not give him over to the desire of his enemies. The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed; in his illness, you restore him to health;” and I realize that this pain is simply showing that no matter the situation, you’re strong because you have been slipped in saving solution that secured your soul for this shut down in order to start you back up with your spirit sprinkled with sanctification that significantly steadies you and stops you from stumbling but subscribes for you, support that sustains you even in the midst of this storm. See, I realize that most people would have accidentally overdosed by now with all the medicine she’s on, yet God is sustaining her because she is being called blessed! I realize that most folk have even committed suicide with this same disease yet God is sustaining her even on her sickbed because she is called blessed. I even realize that somebody reading this is in pain trying to figure out what their gain will be yet God is sustaining you too because just like her you are also called blessed. Yea, after this pain you’ll have a testimony that will make unbelievers believe, sinners repent, backsliders come home and workers more willing. Yea, after this pain comes gain!

So, when you ask if there is something to gain from your pain, let me tell you; YES for 1 Peter 4:13 says, “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” and 2 Corinthians 1:5 that says, “For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” See, in suffering you gain a Savior and in pain you gain your purpose. In suffering you gain spirituality and in pain you gain perseverance. In suffering you gain the Holy Spirit and in pain you gain peace. After the pain of losing a loved one, you gain comfort from knowing they’re at rest. After the pain of going through hell, you gain your train fare to Heaven. After the pain of sickness and disease, you gain healing. After the pain of losing a job, you gain a career. After the pain of being rejected, you gain the open doors that God has for you. So, you see there is something to gain from your pain, so hold on. Even I will have something to gain from this pain that my sister is dealing with and I shall wait patiently to see what it shall be. There is pain but afterwards you shall gain all that God has for you!

Daily Devotional – 10/15/13 “I wonder…”

I wonder how much better you’d be if you prayed for me as much as you talked about me? I wonder how many more blessings you’d receive if you would help me instead of always hurting me? I wonder how many more doors you’ll close because you’d rather tear me down instead of building me up. I wonder how many more times you’ll sacrifice your gift because you choose to talk about mine? I wonder how many more days you’ll hinder your life because you’re wishing bad over mine? I just wonder! I mean you always got your mouth on everybody else when you should be talking to God. Don’t you know that John 13:34 says “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Then why is this so hard? When you hear folk gossiping about me, pray for them! Yea, I said pray for them because I don’t mind them speaking my name. When you see folk struggling, be there for them instead of ignoring their call. When you see folk wandering lost and having a hard time finding their way, guide them instead of turning your head. When you see folk crying and hurting, love them instead of laughing. When you see folk hungry and cold, feed and clothe them instead of posting it on Facebook.

Baby, this walk is hard enough without having to fight off or with folks who are supposed to prop you up when you lean, wrap their arms around you when you need comforting and encourage you when all hope is slipping away. Oh, but you find happiness in other folk’s hurt, pleasure in their pain, delight in their dilemma and enjoyment in their enduring. Yea, you smile while they’re in their storm, laugh when they lose and rejoice when they run. However, remember this … Your time is coming! And I wonder how you will be when your storm begins. I wonder how you’ll be when your sick time shows up. I wonder how you’ll be when your journey becomes jacked up, your eyesight blurred with tears, your smile is no longer showing, your circumstance becomes common and your knock down becomes known. I just wonder how you’ll be.

Daily Devotional – 10/10/13 “It’s hard out here for a PIMP!”


Yea, it’s hard out here for a Person In My Position. See, you look at me and see my smile but you don’t see the tears I just dried. You look at me and see my blessing but you’d never guess about all the things that has me stressing. You look at me and see God’s glory yet you never even stop to ask my story! Oh, it’s hard out here for a person in my position.


In Romans 7:17-23, it says (me paraphrasing) every time I try to do good, bad appears. Every time I try to walk right, left appears looking better. Every time I say I’m going, something holds me back. Every time I try to walk through the door, it closes and then locks. I try but it’s hard. I believe but it’s harder. I even keep my faith but that makes this the hardest. Verse 24 (The Message Bible) says, “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?” Then Romans 7:25 says, “The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.” Oh, it’s hard out here for a person in my position but I’m in the best position to be in because I’m in God’s army. As the pastor said on last night, it may be hard out here for a person in my position but there’s a reason for it because with my position there’s purpose in my pain, passion in my prayers and power in my praise! Yes, it’s hard out here for a person in my position but with my position comes hope, joy, an abundance of love, forgiveness, repentance for my sins and best of all; God who is my shield and protection, my provider, my pain reliever, my mind regulator, my heart fixer, my sleep aid, my midnight rocker, my early morning prayer partner, my mid praise praise giver, my yes man, my burden easer and my load carrying partner. Yes, this position may come with a few trials, tribulations, storms, restless nights, more enemies than you care to have, some hurt to your heart, some knock down moments and tears but it’s all worth it when you’ve completed your task and your retirement comes with a payoff that no man can count and an eternal living that surpasses the hell you’ve been through here on earth. Yea, its hard out here for a person in my position but no one can fill it like me!

Conversation with Lisa Mondello

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I am currently the featured author on Lisa Mondello’s Blogspot. Lisa Mondello, a USA Today bestselling author and screenwriter is featuring me, ME; on her blogspot this morning. WOW!!

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I am still in awe of the shifting that God is allowing to take place in my life!