Daily Devotional – 12/24/12 “Pushing through your pain”

On this day many years ago, I would imagine Mary and Joseph making the long, tiring trip to Bethlehem in order to be counted in the census that was set to take place (Luke 2:1). While on their journey and 9 months pregnant, the pains begin to hit Mary, yet she pushed on because they had a destination in mind. As they got closer to Bethlehem, I can only imagine the amount of pain Mary was going through as Joseph searched for a place for them to lay; yet she pushed on. With all the inns being full, they ended up in an animal stable without so much as a place for the baby to lie but see that didn’t stop Mary so she pushed on because she knew what her purpose was. So, as she labored she couldn’t allow herself to give up because she knew that through her pain and through her pushing she would be bringing forth God’s only Son. A Son who was destined for greatness in spite of where He was born, His purpose had already been set. See, it doesn’t matter about the location of our birth or even the surroundings of our living that determines our gift because we, too, are destined for greatness. Yea, this is why Jeremiah 1:5 says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Yea, I know you thought your past arrest record would hinder you but it won’t. You thought your past addiction would stop you from prospering but it can’t. You thought that old disease was going to take you out and you even thought all of the hell you’ve been through would break you down but it shall not. No, because it doesn’t matter about your location, whether you’re up or down and it doesn’t really matter about your circumstances because God doesn’t call the qualified but he qualifies those he calls. Don’t you know by now that He can take you; a drug addict, alcoholic, whoremonger, adulterer, liar, backbiter and sinner; pick you up, put you through the fire to erase everything you’ve done in the past and bring you out shining like pure gold? Psalm 71:20 says, “You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.”

God isn’t worried about where you used to be as long as you push through your pain, now, to get to where you ought to be. God isn’t worried about who you used to trust as long as you trust him, now. God doesn’t worry about where you came from as long as you don’t go back there. Yea, this journey won’t be easy and sometimes giving up seems like the right thing to do but push through your pain. Your journey may have some bumps called haters to go over, some potholes called enemies to go around, some ice called lies to slide on and some dead-ends called mistakes that make you want to turn around but go on because it’s your journey! God is in the renewing business and once you’ve been renewed, you’ll be refreshed and with refreshing comes restoration and with restoring comes a new shine that’ll make you look brand new then all of the old things won’t matter because if you’re in Christ, you’re a new creature and all of the old things are passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). It doesn’t matter that you were abused, because God can heal you. It doesn’t matter if you use to steal because God will forgive you. It doesn’t matter if you were raised in the projects because God will take the little that you got and turned it into a lot. It doesn’t matter about what folks say because God already has you’re future planned and not even the devil can change that. See, God doesn’t count the starters because he is only concerned about the finishers and it doesn’t matter if you’re last because with God in control, the last shall be first! God is that type of God and I’m glad to be in his number so push on through your pain to get the blessing that will soon be born.

Daily Devotional – 12/20/12 “Get your stuff together!”

No man knows the day nor the hour when your eyes will close to see no more, the blood will no longer be running warm through your veins, your heart will stop beating, your organs will stop working and life will be over. This is why you need to get yourself and your stuff together. Don’t you know by now that death has no age or whether you are a woman or man? Don’t you know by now that you need to have life insurance no matter what age you are or that you need to have a plan in place for your children in case something happens to you? Please do not leave this world in debt only to leave your family in more debt trying to pay for your funeral cost. Don’t leave your children wondering where they will be or who will take care of them. Don’t leave this world with your work undone. It’s your responsibility, as an adult (young or old), to have your affairs in order. Believe me when I say, death is hard on the folks left behind and the last thing they need is trying to get money together to bury you or having family fighting over the few belongings you left behind. And please don’t think you are wishing death over your life just because you’re getting it done now. Put a will together, get life insurance, make preparations and be vocal about the things you want. If you know that you don’t want to be on a machine, tell your folks. If you want to be an organ donor, tell somebody. If you want to be buried in blue instead of black, make it known. Many times we leave this world heading to a place of rest only to leave chaos behind and that shouldn’t be the case. Get your stuff together. Matthew 24:44 says, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Prepare now because you won’t be able to do it if you don’t wake up tomorrow. Making plans don’t mean you’re ready to die but you should be expecting it to happen one day because we all will have too. Just like you make plans weeks in advance to hang out with your friends, make plans in advance for when the end comes. Don’t leave your family here in turmoil when it could have all been avoided if you’d taken the time to leave plans, your plans in place. Get yourself together and then get your stuff together because the next moment isn’t a guarantee of living!

“You do not need anyone to write to tell you when and at what kind of times these things will happen. You know for sure that the day the Lord comes back to earth will be as a robber coming in the night. When they say, “Everything is fine and safe,” then all at once they will be destroyed. It will be like pain that comes on a woman when a child is born. They will not be able to get away from it. But you are not in darkness, Christian brothers. That day will not surprise you as a robber would. For you are children of the light and of the day. We are not of darkness or of night. Keep awake! Do not sleep like others. Watch and keep your minds awake to what is happening. People sleep at night. Those who get drunk do it at night. Because we are men of the day, let us keep our minds awake. Let us cover our chests with faith and love. Let us cover our heads with the hope of being saved. God planned to save us from the punishment of sin through our Lord Jesus Christ. He did not plan for us to suffer from His anger. He died for us so that, dead or alive, we will be with Him. So comfort each other and make each other strong as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NLV)”

Daily Devotional -12/19/12 “I’m favored because … !”

I just had to continue this on from yesterday because somebody is still wavering in their favor. Yea, while you’re trying to figure out why you’re being blessed; look around because it might not be you but the company you’re keeping. While you’re trying to figure out how you’re surviving, it may not be you but grandma whose favor is strong. While you’re still asking why me, you need to look around because it just may be the favor of that coworker (you keep putting your mouth on) that’s saving your job. See, when Mary was chosen she had a husband already decided which means he was also favored. Sounds crazy but go with me. Don’t you think that if God knew who He was going to choose to be the mother of His only Son, He also knew who the father would be? He did because in those times the young women were promised to young men to be married before children were even conceived. So, it was all in God’s plan because Ephesians 1:11 says, “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” I know you’re asking why Joseph was favored, well because he was in Mary’s company. This means you need to surround yourself with favored folk so that their favor overflows onto you. Yea, God knows us because He made us and because He made us, He also chooses us and in His choosing He places favor around us. God put that person right there beside you that day because He knew she would make a difference in your life and now you’ve been friends for 15 years. God knew you needed a brother so He put him at the barber shop at the exact same time you were going to be there and now you’ve been best friends ever since. Baby, you need to know that it’s not your favor that keeps you going but it’s the favor of those around us so be mindful of your surroundings. You wondering why your house is favored when Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” You’re wondering if your righteous living is worth it, when Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” You’re wondering why you keep being saved from danger when Psalm 5:12 says, “For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” You need to surround yourself with favored folks who are willing to share their favor but in doing so make sure it’s the right favor because some could be filled with worldly favor and it won’t last. Yea, God has a purpose for you which is why He chose you so stop asking why me and start accepting God’s favor. Stop asking why me and start believing God’s favor. Stop asking why me and start sharing God’s favor.

Daily Devotional – 12/18/12 “Why me?”

When God chose Mary to birth His only Son, Jesus, she asked (me paraphrasing) “Why me?” and the Angel Gabriel simply replied, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God . See, Mary had no idea she had this type of favor but God did. He has also gives us this type of favor but we spend too much time questioning it. God gives us the Holy Spirit that impregnates us with great things yet we question Him on why this happens, why didn’t this happen, why do I have to go here, why didn’t you send me there, why did you give me this, why didn’t you give me that, why did you take this person, why haven’t you taken this person, why me or why not me? But baby, sit back and let God work! Why you’re constantly asking why me, you should be saying why not me? Don’t you know when you’re chosen, you’re chosen for a purpose? Yes, you are! God doesn’t call somebody who has already qualified themselves and thinks they are all that and a bag of chips with the dip on the side but He calls those who He knows are qualifiable (I made this word up and it means that you’re capable of being qualified). Yea, you missed it but let me break this thang down. Mary was minding her own business when Gabriel appeared to her to let her know she was chosen. This means, mind your own business sometimes and allow God to choose you. Mary didn’t think she was worthy to carry a King but God did and she was humble. This means, humble yourself and get your nose out the air so that you can deliver the next President, Vice President, CEO, business, great idea or book; etc. Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled .” This means, be ready at all times to do the work of the Lord because you never know when you will be called! Why you, why me, why him or why her? Because God chose us! Let me also drop this in your spirit … The same way it takes nine months to bring a new life in the world, it takes time to deliver whatever greatness God and the Holy Spirit has impregnated you with; so stop rushing it. Those obstacles that have been placed in your way, they’ll eventually crumble but it takes time; it took the folks walking around the walls of Jericho 7 times before it fell. That sickness or disease that you’ve been toiling with; it’ll end but it takes time; the woman with the issue of blood took 12 years and the blind man had been blind since birth so don’t give up.

All I’m saying is; stop rushing God, stop running from your calling, stop being scared to deliver the greatness that God has placed on the inside of you, stop being afraid to step out the boat, stop questioning if you’re worthy and stop asking why! God has chosen YOU so all your questions should be answered by now. Allow your gift to grow within you and then deliver it! (I’m speaking to myself but if it’s meant for you then I’m speaking to you too)Believe it!

Daily Devotional – 12/17/12 “If MY People … “

While you’re so busy worrying about the souls of those unsaved, you need to be trying to get yourself together! Yea, I said it. (I’m also speaking to myself). Now, how can we possibly help others when we haven’t even helped ourselves? See, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” God said, MY PEOPLE, which means those of us who claim to be saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. You know, us “blessed and highly favored” saints. His people, those of us who are supposed to pray for our brothers and sisters instead of preying on them; those of us who are supposed to be a help mate instead of a hell mate, those of us that are supposed to be a leaning post for those who fall instead of a ditch digger when their name is called; those of us who are supposed lift folk up instead of snatching them down and those of us who are supposed to spread God’s word instead of worldly gossip. Yea, you said you were doing the right thing by your friend when you went back to tell her what Betty said but you really just wanted to start some mess because messy is your middle name. But baby, if we holy folks don’t get ourselves together, we will be busting the seams out of Hell when the time comes! If, we saints would take more time reading and studying our word more instead of the world; we might just be better. Does this mean our problems would stop, no, because trouble is what we have to go through but our living would be better! How do I know? Because God says, “You say you’re a saint which means you are called by my name, well you need to humble yourself (He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way, Psalm 25:9.), pray (Never stop praying, 1 Thessalonians 5:17), seek MY face (I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me, Proverbs 8:17) and turn from your wicked ways (Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old, Isaiah 43:18)because it is then that I will hear from Heaven (The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry, Psalm 34:15), I will forgive your sins (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9) AND I will heal your land (And the LORD will protect you from all sickness. He will not let you suffer from the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all your enemies! Deuteronomy 7:15). If My people would act right. If My people would help more! If My people would treat folk right! If My people would go where I send them. If My people would trust me! If My people would believe in Me. If My people would pray more! If My people would worship more! If My people would _____________ (you fill in the blank) If my people… we are God’s people, aren’t we? Then we need to get our stuff together because you might not have tomorrow to do it.