Daily Devotional – 10/31/12 “Just a thought!”

Yea, I know that today is set aside to celebrate Halloween but while you’re dressing up and getting the kids prepared to trick or treat, you really should stop to Hallow Him. You know the Him I am referring too, right? Well, hallow is defined as to make somebody or something holy or to have great respect or reverence for somebody or something. See, while you are carving your pumpkins, why don’t you reshape your attitude? While you are setting out the bowl of candy, why don’t you set a better example for the folks who look up to you by studying God’s word? While you gathering all the kid’s candy to pick out your favorites, why don’t you gather them together for prayer every now and then? No, I don’t have a problem with Halloween or any other Holiday because they aren’t the issue but the issue really is the amount of time you devote to getting prepared and the amount of money you spend on candy and costumes and then on Sunday, you won’t even get out bed to go and worship with anybody. All I am saying is, while you’re enjoying this Halloween, Hallow God sometimes. (I’m just saying!)

I just thought I’d share that with you this morning. But any who! …

There is a prayer line called, “Prayer with the Girls”, that is held EVERY morning at 6:30AM and when I tell you it has been a blessing to my life; that would be an understatement. See, sometimes even I have a bad day, a moment of weakness to kick in, a time when my storm is raging like a hurricane, when the enemy tries to flood my mind with worry and even times when family don’t act right but who encourages the encourager? How can I look discouraged when you are coming to me for encouragement? How can I look raggedy and tore up when you’re coming to me for hope in your dying situation? How can I tell you to keep going if I keep stopping? How can I lift you up if I’m farther down than you? Well, baby I just stopped by to tell you that I SHALL NOT be defeated in this battle because it’s not mine to fight. Yea, God has given me a gift that has manifested itself into a ministry (a devotional, encouraging, teaching, sharing, believing and receiving ministry) and I will not be defeated simply because the enemy is trying to get me to quit. No ma’am! No sir. This is what I accepted when I accepted the gift that God blessed me with. When He told me to tell you to hold on, I accepted it. When He told me to tell you that your trouble won’t last, I accepted it. When He told me to pray for you, I accepted it. When He tells me to keep going even though I don’t know where I am going, I accept it. When He tells me to reach out and get it even though I don’t see anything, I accept it. Yes, I accept this calling that God has placed over my life; the calling to be your encourager, your walking diary when you need to talk, your friend when you don’t want to be alone, your shoulder when your tears won’t stop, your mattress when you need to use my lap to lay across, your leaning post when the world is trying to beat you down and your midnight prayer partner when I am whispering your name to God without you even asking. So, I won’t grow weary in my doing. I won’t give up or give in. I won’t waver when the enemy punches seem to knock the wind out of me but I shall continue on. I have some strong encouraging folk in my corner, so I will be just fine!

Morning Prayer with the Girls, Conference Call – 312.340.6650 Access Code #2492681
Every Morning at 6:30 sharp! You will be blessed…

Daily Devotional – 10/30/12 “While you’re sneaking …”

Something just might sneak up on you! Are you ready for it? I mean, while you think you are sneaking from God’s sight; He sees it all. While you are shouting on Sunday and then sneaking and creeping on Monday, God sees. While you’re at Bible Study on Monday and then sneaking and stealing on Tuesday, God knows. While you’re at Prayer Meeting on Wednesday praying over folks lives and then sneaking behind folks back with a knife in your hand, God is aware. While you’re the loudest one singing at choir rehearsal on Thursday and then sneaking off with your best friend’s husband on Friday, God is well aware. Don’t keep thinking you’re getting away with it because the bible says in Titus 1:16, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” Yea, see while you’re sneaking around behind your spouse’s back don’t be surprised when you find out they’ve been sneaking, too. While you’re sneaking and hiding and stealing clothes from the store, the enemy is stealing your son or daughter away. While you’re sneaking and gossiping about your friend, she’s being abundantly blessed. While you are sneaking and throwing salt on your sister’s blessings, she’s getting yours. This is why 1 Peter 5:8 say, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” See, if you’re too busy looking over your shoulder to make sure no one is seeing you creeping, you’re missing the signs that the enemy is close by. While you’re so busy creeping, you’re missing the signs that your child is failing school. While you’re so busy sneaking and snitching on your coworkers, you’re missing the warning that your job is the one in jeopardy. While you are so busy speaking hell over folk’s life with your mouth, you don’t even see the hell that is brewing in your own life. But had you been alert then you would have been able to do what 1 Peter 5:9 says, “Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

See, you creep with the mister because you think that God is punishing you when you’re temporarily out of funds but God, doesn’t work like that and you’d know this if you stop sneaking and start stealing away to read God’s word for yourself. Don’t you realize that when you’re going through that God is simply seeing how strong your faith is? This is why you get the call from your “friend” you haven’t talked to in a while as soon as you need a few extra dollars. As soon as the wife starts nagging at home, your coworkers skirt gets a little shorter. As soon as your body gets sick, you get meaner than a rattle snake to all those around you but this isn’t you being punished for 1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” Am I saying that you won’t have moments of your flesh talking and even temptations that will make you want to give in? No! But the bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Isn’t this great news? God didn’t say the temptations wouldn’t come but He says He’ll give you a way out from it. However, you must be, you have to be alert enough to see it. It’s like you’re driving and you’re trying to find the street you need to turn on in order to get to your destination but instead of you being watchful and alert of the street signs, you have your head down reading a text; now you’ve passed the street and driven 30 minutes out of your way simply because you weren’t paying attention. And if you didn’t know, it’s easy to get off track when your mind and eyes are on something else! All I’m saying is, while you’re sneaking, something just might sneak up on you! You’d better stop sneaking and start seeking God.

Daily Devotional – 10/29/12 “It’s just the storm passing over!”

Why don’t you stop being mad at Monday because you’ll feel the same way about Tuesday in just a few short hours. You ought to be thankful to be alive! You got eyesight because you’re reading this. Your mind was regulated which means you were aware of your surroundings because you were in control. You had the activity of your limbs because you logged into Facebook. You ought to be happy and yes I know that times may be hard, you may be temporarily out of funds, you may be hungry with no food and you may even be sick with no healing in sight but shouldn’t you still be happy? I mean, why does God have to drop something good in your lap in order for you to show Him the praise He is due? Why can’t you praise Him before your blessing, before your breakthrough, before your healing, before your break out, before your chain releasing party, before your burdens are lifted or before your change comes? Why can’t you praise Him right now in the midst of having an overdrawn bank account, cutoff notice for your lights, past due notice on your rent/mortgage or car insurance, more check advances than checks or more title loans than titles? Why can’t you praise God, right now? I know you’re worried about this, concerned about that, thinking about him and trying to forget her but where is God while you’re thinking, while you’re pacing, while you’re drinking your salty tears and trying to calm your nauseous stomach? He’s right there with you. Will I tell you to stop worrying? Yea, I probably should but it doesn’t mean you will but I will tell you to trust God. I know it’s hard to do on some days but don’t you trust Him when you the going is good then trust Him in the bad. God won’t leave you nor will he forsake you but that doesn’t mean you won’t face a storm or 2 in your life. You will have to deal with death, bills, disrespectful adults and even rude kids but keep living because it’s just your storm passing over. When folks walk out on you, it’s just your storm passing over. When the darkness covers your light, it’s just your storm passing over. When the job downsizes, it’s just your storm passing over. When your spouse acts like a stranger in your home, it’s just your storm passing over. When everything seems to be going wrong, it’s just your storm passing over. When it seems like you’re getting knocked down every time you get up, it’s just your storm passing over. Trust God through your storm because nothing that He does is to take you out and no storm last forever.

So, please stop thinking that you have a dark cloud of thunder and rain following you around when bad luck comes. It’s just your time to go through your storm but know that just like the storm started, it’ll end. Just hold on through the bad luck, the no luck, the storm and through the rain. You’ll soon see the sun but you’ll always have God on your side pulling you through. 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 won’t be afraid to walk through the rain because when the SON shines, I’ll be renewed and through my renewal comes restoration and restoration is restoring me to my full potential so now I shine like pure gold!

Daily Devotional – 10/26/12 “Trouble don’t last always!”

I know you’re probably trying to figure out why you have to endure such heartache, financial hardships, trials and tribulations, storms, peer pressure, bullying, sickness, being lied on, talked about, abused by folks who are supposed to love you, walked on by folks you thought cared and even pushed down by those you thought would be happy for your elevation; but baby, I stopped by today to let you know that what you’re going through is simply preparing you. Preparing you for what, you’re asking? It’s preparing you for your next move, which just may be your great move. See, we sometimes take stuff for granted and in order for God to know if you’re be able to handle what He has for you, He has to test you. So He sends the rain to see if you’ll appreciate it as much as you appreciate the sun. He sends the repo man to see if you appreciate the legs He’s given you. He sends sickness to see if you actually appreciate the body you have. He sends backstabbing enemies to see if you appreciate the real friends you have. He sends the no good boy/girl; wife/husband to see if you’ll appreciate the person that He has for you. He sends pacing to see if you’ll appreciate the hours of sleep you take for granted. He sends miserable folk into your presence to see if you’ll finally appreciate all the times He has tried to talk to you. He sends hand wringing on some days to see if you’ll use your hands for good sometime. He sends pain to see if you’ll give Him some praise some days. He sends you to hell and back to see if you will appreciate the peace He gives you so freely. Yea, I know you’re tired and worn out but hold on because Psalm 34:19 says, “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.” I know you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired but don’t give up just yet because Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I know you are tired of suffering but Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” So go on through your hard time(s) because when it’s all over and done, you’ll have a reward that no man can take away, joy you wouldn’t give away, love you couldn’t do without and caring others talk about. It’s alright to cry but after you’ve cried your tears of suffering and pain, stand up and cry tears of joy because it’ll be then you’ll know that trouble don’t last always!

Daily Devotional – 10/25/12 “Turn Thursday around .. “

I know that today may be a terrible Thursday for some filled with trouble, temptations and tribulations but why don’t you turn it into a triumphant, testifying Thursday filled with thanksgiving? I mean you woke up, you’re walking instead of wandering lost, you got warm blood flowing through your body when it could have been withdrawn by the funeral home one last time, you’re well enough to read this when you could be weary and weak and God still deemed you worthy even though you barely worship Him. Isn’t that enough for you to stop with the “woe is me” attitude? Baby, let me tell you; you aren’t the only one going through right now, all you have to do is look around. While you’re complaining about the $20 you have, someone doesn’t even have enough change for a bag of chips because they had to give it to the kids for lunch. While you’re complaining about the car you’re driving, somebody lost their job yesterday because they didn’t have anybody they could depend on to take them to work even with them giving gas money. While you’re complaining about your spouse, somebody is sitting in the doctor’s office with theirs while the doctor is breaking the news that there is nothing more they can do. Yea, I know it is Thursday and even though tomorrow maybe payday, you’re still trying to figure out how to rob Peter and Paul just to pay Saul enough to keep the lights on but I’m here to let you know that trouble doesn’t last always. You’re probably saying, it’s easy for me to say when I look like I have it all together but honey, just because I don’t look like my problem it doesn’t mean I don’t have one; I’ve learned how to praise through my storm. See, I’ve realized that it does me no good to hold on to my circumstances because worrying won’t solve them so I read and obeyed 1 Peter 5:7 that says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” For Psalm 70:5 says, “Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.” Then Psalm 71:1-8 picks up and says, “O LORD, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.”

See, God hasn’t left you just because you’re going through but He is simply allowing you to go through in order to make you stronger. So appreciate the struggles, the sacrifices, the sickness and the sorrow so that your shout is real, your soul rejoices, your strength renewed and your serving redeemed. And on today, I am asking God to renew your mind, revive your hope and refresh your spirit my brother; my sister. For you whose hope is slipping away, who joy is fading and who heart is hurting; I am pleading to God on your behalf today and it will be done. Open yourself to God and allow Him to do it for you now. Revive your faith right now and don’t go back to your old way of thinking because God hasn’t left you and you are not alone! Yea, you are drinking tears for water but they won’t last. You heart is filled with so much pain that you can barely sleep but it won’t last. Your pacing has replaced your rest and worry has taken over your thoughts but it won’t last. Your trouble won’t last but you’ve got to believe it! Turn this Thursday around and make it better than your yesterday because you have that power!