Daily Devotional – 1/9/13 “What the hell is going on?”

Yea, I know this is a devotional but with the way folks are behaving now days, it ain’t nothing heavenly about it. You can’t even turn on the TV without seeing so-called “Christian” folks acting foolish. Yea, people have been degrading themselves for a long time but now we have The Sisterhood to degrade us even lower! Yes, I understand that ministers and their wives are human first but whatever happens behind your closed doors should remain there! No one needs to know about your sexual relationship or even how you act when you are not sitting on the front row of the church; that’s why it’s called your personal life. I can just imagine an unsaved person watching; they are probably thinking there is no reason to get saved because the saved are acting worse! Didn’t these pastors and wives read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 which says, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” Now, when this was written, it referred to men because women weren’t allowed as heads of anything but since the roles are different now, the scripture has to be taken differently because how can a minister’s spouse (the minister can be a man or a woman) be ratchet when he or she should be reaching those unsaved, messy when they should be delivering God’s message or be anything other than what they’ve chosen when they accepted their calling? (Yea, being the spouse of a pastor is a calling too.) I don’t get it! How can the church get back to reaching and teaching if we’ve lost the value of the teaching we received? It isn’t about the size of the sanctuary, the amount of money in the checking account or even the number of members on your roster that God is concerned about because if you’ve lost one that you didn’t try to save, you missed your reason for being called. Matthew 18:11 says, “For the Son of Man has come to save the lost.” See, once you’re saved; you are always saved. Will you backslide and sometimes fall, yes but being saved gives you the power of repentance that erases your sin. However, when you are unsaved; you have yet to gain this power. This is why it is up to us; the saved, sanctified saints, to go out and save those who have not yet come seeking God’s protection. It’s just saddens me that we, God’s people, have allowed money to degrade us. Why can’t there be a reality show about the good things that Christians are doing? Why does it always have to be trashy to get high ratings? Why can it show them feeding the needy instead of fighting amongst themselves, show them mentoring the youth and ministering the word instead of meddling in other folks business or show them serving instead of shopping, encouraging instead of eating, fellowshipping instead of finger pointing and laboring instead of lying? Is this all we’ve become? We’ve got to get this Christian thing right before it’s too late. I’m also talking to myself because I, now, have a responsibility of reaching those who are lost as it became greater when I accepted this gift, this calling. No, I am neither a minister nor a minister’s wife but I’ve accepted my calling to reach you through sharing God’s word, which means it, is my responsibility. Am I perfect, no but I am not where or who I used to be so I’m growing. All I’m saying is, God isn’t pleased.

God appeared to Soloman and said in 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 (The Message Bible), “If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.” Should we have to come to that when all we need to do, right now is, humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways? Which is why, again, I’m asking what the hell is going on?

Daily Devotional -1/8/13 “We’ve been renewed!”

There was once this worldly woman, who lived her life as a prostitute and drug addict. She had given birth to children but that didn’t make her a mother. She had a mother and father who loved her but it still didn’t make her a daughter. She had siblings who would come to her rescue every time but that still didn’t make her a sister. She had folk who prayed for her but it didn’t make her a Christian because all she wanted was the streets and that’s all she had. Whenever people saw her around town, they would gossip because they knew she was smart, well-educated and from a very strong family, so they couldn’t understand how she could do all these terrible things to her body. They would pass her by, when she was begging on the streets because they wouldn’t dare help this sinner woman! They thought that surely God had given up on her which is why she was on the streets. Oh, and they judged her life like they had it all figured out even though the word, they should have been studying, told them in Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” One day her old minister walked by her and she reached out her hand to him but because she was filthy and unchristian like, he jerked his hand back and hollered, “Don’t you dare touch me!” She said with tears streaming down her face, “Minister Jones, will you pray for me?” He looked at her with a look of disgrace and said, “Child, we stopped praying for you a long time ago because surely God wouldn’t allow his child to be out in the world like you!” He walked away with her pleas feeling the air, asking for his help and his prayers. She couldn’t understand how a man of God could just walk away without a care for someone who had back slide into the world. She didn’t think God was hearing her prayers so she didn’t pray for herself. She could call her momma and daddy but she was so afraid to let them down once again. So she sat in a dark alley and she cried herself to sleep. While sleeping, she dreamed that she was standing face to face with Jesus but she was dirty and hadn’t bathed in days, she tried to run from him; she didn’t want him to see her like that. But He said “You are my sister so there is no need to hide. My father in Heaven has sent me to you because He heard your cry.” She replied “I can’t believe that God has heard my cry, for I am a sinner in the world.” Jesus replied, “My father will never forsake his own. In his word He says, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8). Do you believe?” She said, “Yes, I believe.” Jesus replied “Then that is all you need.”

See, I don’t have to tell you how the story ends because if you’re a true saint then you should already know. Aren’t you glad that when God took you in, your past didn’t matter? He doesn’t have to run background and credit checks to accept you into his company. He doesn’t have to take a drug test to see if you’re clean before you start the job because it doesn’t matter. So, why are you holding on to past mistakes, bad choices, bad marriages/relationships, anger and hurt? Don’t you know that when you stepped onto God’s side, all of that old stuff didn’t matter anymore? Don’t believe me, read 2nd Corinthians 5:17 which say “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Just because you were an alcoholic in the past, it doesn’t mean you got vodka in your cup because it could be just water. Just because you use to have a drug habit in the past, it doesn’t mean you’re shooting up now when someone sees a syringe, you could be a diabetic. Just because you use to be a prostitute in the past, it doesn’t mean you sleep with every man you talk too. Stop allowing your past to dictate your future and stop trying to prove to folk that you’ve changed. If they can’t go by your word then they shouldn’t be in your world. God has given you your renewal notice and it’s just like when you go to get your car tags renewed. hey give you a sticker with the New Year that is supposed to cover the old year and when you place the new one over the old one, it is no longer seen. God is the same way. When he picks you up from that dirty, dusty grave that has been dug for you, he dusts you off and gives you a new mind and spirit and the old one is covered up and no longer visible. Just like the car tag sticker, the new one can’t be peeled off to see the old one because the old one is no longer needed. So get up and stand tall! Display the new you, the one that is no longer covered in dirt and mud but the one that has been made new in God’s likeliness. Leave all of that other stuff behind you and walk on. There isn’t a need to look back because whatever is behind you was left for a reason. Leave it there! Ephesians 4:22-24 says “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Daily Devotional – 1/7/13 “Jesus, I need you to spit on me”

When I begin writing devotionals I had no idea how magnificent of a gift that God has placed within me. Many times, I begin to peck on this keyboard without a thought in mind but then the Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf and the words start flowing. I can be riding in the car, sitting in church or the hair salon and a topic will come to mind and I quickly grab my phone or a pen to write it down. And on yesterday, while in church, I thought about how powerful Jesus was simply with his touch, his tongue, his gift and even his spit. Yes, His spit. Sounds crazy but go with me. See, I know that in this day in time when a person spits on you it is the ultimate disrespect but when I read my word on some of the things that Jesus was able to do with His spit, I cry out; “Jesus, I need you to spit on me!” Yea, see; when the man who was deaf and could barely speak was brought before Jesus, the bible says in Mark 7:33-35, “Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!” When the blind man was bought before Jesus in Bethsaida, Mark 8:23-25 says, “He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” Are you with me yet? When Jesus used His spit, healing occurred. When Jesus used His spit, lives were changed. When Jesus used His spit, miracles happened. When Jesus used His spit, breakthroughs took place. Oh, when Jesus used His spit some thangs happened! This is why I say, I need Jesus to spit on me. I need some mountains to be moved, some obstacles to made low enough to climb over, some valleys filled with water so I can swim across them, some graves that have been dug for me to be filled so I can walk over them, some enemies to be made my footstool so I can rise above them, I need some lending to be done because I’m tired of borrowing, I need some healing to be done because I’m tired of sickness, I need some joy down here because I’m tired of sorrow, I need some testimonies because the tests are getting too hard and I need some sunlight because the clouds from my storm are too dark. Oh, if I could just get a little bit of Jesus’ spit to open up my eyes to see the trueness of folk and to open up my hears so that I can hear the real talk; I can push on a little while longer! Jesus, if you would … please sir, spit on me!

Daily Devotional – 1/4/13 “So, you got religion?”

When I thought about the topic on this morning, the only thing that popped into my head was a part of a song that says, “I know I got religion.” So, I said asked God where is this going? Then I went back to the devotional that I wrote, this time last year and it clicked because it was entitled “A change might do you good.” So I said, alright God, I’m with you now! See, some of us say we got religion but what’s good about having religion if no one else can see it? Don’t you know by now that in order to save the unsaved, WE, as part of the saved ones have to do it? Now, let me explain something to you … You can’t speak life over folk when your mouth is filled with mess (gossip, backbiting, hating, etc.), you can’t help up those who have fallen if your hands are filled with sinful stuff (other folk’s spouses, stolen items, a knife to stab somebody in the back, etc.) and you can’t go where God wants to send you if your feet are planted in the wrong place (motels, coveting your neighbor’s house, etc.) I mean, you get my point right? And before you get your face all twisted and your panties in a wad, I didn’t say you couldn’t enjoy life but none of the things I mentioned above can be done in a Godly way, so check yourself! You, as a saint (that a sinner who has been saved) can still have fun but don’t hide your religion doing it. You can have fun at a party with your girls or boys on Saturday but then invite them to worship with you on Sunday. Humph, if you are good enough to party with you should be good enough to worship with. You don’t, no you shouldn’t have to hide your religion from anybody because the bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

This is why sometimes you have to change your location because the place you’re in, now, could be the reason you haven’t been elevated. Why, because you’ve become comfortable in your surroundings. I remember living in the projects but it didn’t define me because even though it was our home, it was temporary because momma wanted better, so she changed our environment and even though she taught us about God and how we should act as young ladies, staying in that environment would have eventually rubbed off. Yea, I know it’s not all about where you stay that makes you but if you stay in the rain too long, you’ll get wet even when you wear a raincoat. Now, please don’t get me wrong because I enjoyed the time we spent in each place we’ve lived, including the projects, but no matter who you are, if you are in any place long enough some of the things around you rubs off on you. You may not be a drug addict like some folks you grew up with but that doesn’t mean you didn’t try it and if the truth be told, the only reason why you’re not is because momma/daddy changed your location with God, prayer, hard work and perseverance. So don’t hide your religion because of what you think folk will say or how they’ll treat you because if God, hid His blessings every time we made a mistake, some of us would be raggedy nothings, tore up from the floor up sinners without a pot to … You get my drift! If you have to change who you are or hide the religion that has been placed on the inside of you, then you are trying to fit into a spot that won’t fit you anyway! Baby, I don’t know about you but I am not ashamed of the Holy Spirit that abides with me daily and I will share it no matter where I am because I just might be the blessing a person needs to stop the tears that were getting ready to fall.

Daily Devotional – 1/3/13 “My Year in Review”


I am not making resolutions because there is no need. If the truth shall be told, most of the folks who make resolutions are already lying so why bother? I mean, you know you’re not going to give up smoking because you got a cigarette in your hand now. You know that you’re not going to stop drinking because for some, you brought in the New Year with a drink in your hand and probably can’t even remember much that happened afterwars. You’re not going to change your eating habits and even if you sign up for a gym membership, it’ll be over by this time next month. So, stop lying to yourself. Don’t you know that resolution means a firm decision to do something or the process of resolving something? Well the bible also has a definition for resolution and it is 2 Timothy 2:15 which says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” So, resolve to be better and then do better and change will follow.


So, back to my year in review… Here is what I’ve learned:

January – Folks attitude change because it’s tax time.

February – You learn your position in your relationship around the 14th of this month. Either you’re the main girl or the jump off.

March – Folks attitudes are back to the rude normal because the tax money has run out and so has their boothang.

April – Folks go into debt dressing up for Easter Sunday and take for granted that Jesus rose on a Sunday morning so that we could be forgiven of our sins no matter how many times we ask. We tend to think that Resurrection Sunday is all about the clothes, shoes and hair bows when it’s really about the death, burial and resurrection of the Man who rose with all power in His hands to heal a sin sick world like the one we’re living in.

May – We don’t cherish our mothers like we should. And that God still has work for me to do because He blessed me with another year of life and marriage

June – We don’t cherish our fathers like we should. We take so much for granted until there are no more grants to give.

July – That death can snatch the breath from your lungs, make your heart skip a beat and tears fall (RIP Granddaddy 7/3/12).

August – That God has blessed me with a strong mother who carries on no matter what circumstance she is faced with.

September – That my gift will make room for me because God allowed me to self-publish my first book. “Doses of Devotion”

October – That even though we sometimes FALL back into our old routines, God never stops reaching down to pick us up.

November – That we should be thankful EVERYDAY of the year and not just thanksgiving

December That Christmas isn’t about me, the gifts I give or even those I receive because if it hadn’t been for God sending His only Son to Earth, we wouldn’t be worth the rags we wear every day that we call clothes because our sins would have had us bound to hell a long time ago!

You don’t have to make a resolution in order to make a change when all you have to do is be yourself but in being yourself, be the best you that you can be! Don’t lie to yourself and please don’t lie to others because we didn’t ask you in the first place to volunteer that lie. If there are things you need to change, do it but do it for you and not because the year’s date changed from 2 to 3 because next year it’ll change again.