Daily Devotional – 9/19/13 “Unworthy yet willing!”

I am so glad God doesn’t treat us like the mess we sometimes are. I am so glad that in spite of our mistakes God continues to give us new mercies, fresh anointing, renews our gift, restores our hope and refills our joy. Yea, I am glad that even when we think we are not worthy He finds work for us to do. Yes God, I know I cannot repay you for all you’ve done, I cannot find ample words to thank you and I cannot praise you enough but I am willing to try. I know I can’t always help everybody but I am willing to try. I know I can’t encourage everybody but I am willing to try to encourage all I can. I know I don’t always have the answers but I am willing to find it. I know I may not have all the strength but I’m willing to pull my fallen brother or sister up. I know I can’t pray for everybody but I am willing to pray for those I can. Oh God, I know I may not act like I’m worthy of your blessings but I am willing to do better. I know I may sometimes go places I don’t belong and say or do some things I shouldn’t but I am willing to change. Yea, God; to folks I may look like I’m unworthy of your calling but I’m willing to walk for you. I know some say I am unworthy of your elevation but I am willing to work for you. Some may even say I am unworthy of your promises but I am willing to go if you send me. I may talk like I am unworthy but my heart is willing. I may act like I am unworthy but my mind is willing. Oh God, I may even look unworthy but my spirit is willing.

The bible says in 1st Corinthians 6:11, “Some of you were once like that (you know liars, back biters, adulterers, thieves, alcoholic, drug addicts, greedy, abusive, etc.,) But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Yea, some of us, well most of us still dabble in unclean things but if you’re willing to repent, willing to change, willing to do better and then actually do it; God makes you worthy of being called His child.

Daily Devotional – 9/18/13 “I’m not perfect but I’m faithful!”

As I was leaving work on yesterday, this thought was dropped into my spirit so of course I jotted it down for my devotional today and it fits perfectly. Why, well because I’m not perfect yet I am faithful. (Now, please note; when I say I, I am meaning me, you, us, them and we.) See, why I am not perfect in the way I talk, I am faithful in asking God to forgive me the times some unholy things come out of my mouth. I am not perfect on the road I sometimes travel but I am faithful in asking God to direct my path. I am not perfect because I worry a lot but I am faithful in asking God to keep my mind. I’m not perfect when I want to sometimes give up but I am faithful in asking God to give me strength. I’m not perfect when pain or sickness almost gets me down but I’m faithful in asking God for healing. I’m not perfect in my addictions but I am faithful in asking God to deliver me. I am not perfect in my everyday Christian life but I am faithful in asking God to continue to direct me. I am not perfect with using my gifts but I am faithful in thanking God for giving them to me. I am not perfect but I‘m willing! I’m willing to be changed, willing to be reshaped and molded and willing to learn. I am not perfect but I am able! I am able to ask for forgiveness, ask for another chance and even for new mercies. I’m not perfect but I am faithful! I am faithful in my prayers and faithful in my belief of Christ. I am, by far, not perfect but I am faithful. For the bible tells me in Luke 16:10, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” No one is perfect but be faithful in trying to do better. Will you always uphold all the commandments, no but be faithful in your repentance. Will you always say prayers or grace, no but be faithful in your thanksgiving. Will you always do what you know you could, say what you should or act right; no but be faithful in trying to be better. No, I am not perfect but I am faithful. You are not perfect but you can still be faithful as long as you choose the right thing to be faithful too.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23”

Daily Devotional – 9/17/13 “Dear Storm,”

If you’re reading this letter it’s because I’ve come to serve you notice. I’ve come to let you know that although you are raging, right now, I am not afraid. Yea, I hear the thunder and I see the lightning but I am not afraid so you go ahead. Yea, I know you thought I’d run and hide like the last time but not this time. You thought I’d give in and draw the shades to the windows but nope, not this time. You thought I’d curl up in a ball and wave my flag of defeat but not this time. You thought I’d shut everybody out and just give in but nope, not this time. See, I’ve come to realize that you won’t last long so I’ll stand and bear it until you’re done. No, you won’t always be looming over my head so I’ll enjoy the rain while it falls. See, I started buckling under the pressure you were placing on me instead of trusting in God, the one man who has promised me Joy if I trust him. He said He would be my umbrella when you show up in my life and He even said he would give me strength on the days you’re in my way. So, I can handle you storm!

Oh, you thought I couldn’t see His grace because you made my sky gray but you were wrong. You thought I wouldn’t find my joy because it was dark every time I peeked out but you’re wrong. You thought I would miss out on living because the rain was pouring but you were wrong again. However, I thank you. I thank you for the times you have showed up because it made me strong enough to handle you. I thank you for the downpour of hell because now you’ve made my eyesight better to see my way to Heaven. I thank you for the dark days because now I appreciate the Son when He shines. So, I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the time together but I appreciate what you’ve taken me through because I’m stronger now. I know now that I’m worthy of being blessed. I know now that trouble doesn’t last always. I know now that I can do all things through Christ because He strengthens me, not you. So, go ahead storm; I am not scared because this Man is everything I need to handle you. Go ahead storm, I’ll wait until you’re done and while I am waiting, I will praise Him. Go ahead storm because your time is almost up and when it is, praise I will continually speak. Go ahead storm because my God is ahead of you!


Signed yours truly,

God’s child!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6”

Daily Devotional – 9/16/13 “Be ready for your flight”

On Saturday, I had the chance to hear the new Pastor of our home church speak. Unfortunately, it was at the funeral of one of the members but he said something that stuck with me. His particular scripture came from 2 Timothy 4:6-8 which says, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” See, a eulogy isn’t about the person who has died but it is about those of us who are still alive because we all have to die in this life in order to live again. Oh but in order to get to the living again part, you have to be ready for your flight. Yea; you have to already have your ticket, your affairs in order and then you have to be on time to catch it. I know you’re wondering how you do this but let me tell you.

First, you have to confess your belief in God, believe with your heart that He is who He say He is, be baptized and then willingly work for Him (this is getting prepared to pick up your ticket). Then you have to live a life that’s pleasing to God by running your race yet never losing faith even when you can’t see the finish line (this is going to get your ticket). Then, as you run your race and you come upon the obstacles that slow you down, those pits that knock you down, enemies who are standing by wishing you’d fail, friends who hand you hateraide in a water cup and family that won’t show up because they are secretly jealous; yet you keep running (that’s making it to the ticket counter). Then when it feels like your legs can no longer carry you but you still run, your body is about to give out on you but you still hang in there, it feels like you have no more breath in your lungs but you continue to breath and you’re stumbling but not quitting (that’s paying for your ticket). And then when it’s all over with, when you’ve lived a life that gives the dash between your birth date and death date purpose and when you’ve done all that you know you can do; you finally get your ticket with your name spelled out and stamped across it “Paid in Full” and destination, “Home.” Oh, when you’ve asked for forgiveness for the sins you’ve committed and then stop committing those same sins; you’re preparing for your flight. When you praise God in the midst of your pain, sickness or disease, being talked about, smile when you’re being chastised for your beliefs, shout even when you’re being picked on because of your gifts and laughed at because of your anointing; you’re preparing for your flight. When you’ve forgiven and forgotten about the things that hurt you; you’re preparing for your flight. When you never lose faith, you’re preparing for your flight. When you can boldly say, talk about me as much as you please because the more you talk, the more I’ll bend my knees; you’re preparing for your flight. Don’t get caught up at security because you haven’t cleaned the mess out your pockets. Don’t get caught up at the ticket counter because your ticket can’t be found and don’t get left behind because you got too much weight on your shoulders to board the flight. Be ready for your flight when the time comes.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24”

Daily Devotional – 9/13/13 “Faith, blind faith!”

Have you ever tried walking with your eyes closed or ever imagined how your life would be if you could no longer see? I would think you’d probably bump into things, walk into doors or walls or cause all kinds of chaos until you got used to it, right? Well, being and living as a Christian is just like this. The only difference is, we walk around with our eyes open and yet we still bump into stuff like other folk’s folk, walk into sin like lying and stealing and break stuff like commandments. However, God has given us faith, this blind faith that carries us through all of it. It carries us through storms, tests, death, being lied and cheated on, being looked over and even sickness. This faith, this blind faith covers us no matter where we are and it guides us even when we don’t look where we are going because 2 Corinthians 5:7 states, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” See, on this journey we will encounter all kinds of obstacles while we walk. Some obstacles we will see and some we won’t; we will encounter all kinds of enemies, some we know and some we don’t but no matter what it is we have to walk as though whatever it is, God has already worked it out. Why? Well because He has. See, God tells us in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Yea, God already knows the paths that we’ll walk because He has ordained them and He knows what we can bear because he made us! This is why we have to walk like nothing can stop us. Oh, it’ll slow you down but it cannot stop you unless you allow it. You have to walk towards the promise that God has made like you see it printed in the sky and we have to walk like there are no bumps in the road, no curves to the street, no hill to climb and no darkness ahead because 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

When you work on your job, you work on the unseen promise of a check in 2 weeks because you have faith that’ll it be deposited at 12am. When you drive your car, you drive with the unseen hope that it will make it to your destination because you have faith in the money you’ve spent. When you get up in the morning, you stand without knowing if your legs will hold you up yet you do with faith that they will. When you sit down in a chair, you sit without knowing if it will stand but you have faith that it will. Isn’t this the same kind of faith you should have in God who has already promised you He’d be there? Don’t you walk through the house at night with the unseen faith you won’t stump your toe on the end of the couch or trip over something the kids have left lying out? Don’t you put your trust in that person you just met who is smiling in your face? Then why not trust the only Man that has never lied, broken a promise or ignored your call? Unlike man, God never fails yet you are quick to doubt Him. Faith is your belief that God exists. Faith is your belief that He’ll never fail. Faith is your belief that He’s always there because faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).”

“Mark 11:22-24, And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”