Daily Devotional – 10/4/12 “God removes simply to improve!”


#Dose4u – God has to remove in order to improve. God isn’t punishing you just because you’ve lost some things or people, so stop wallowing in your self made pity pit!

Yea, I know that you may be upset because of how things have happened to you or over some things or folks who you’ve lost but baby, God isn’t punishing you. He is simply removing some things in order to be able to improve some things.

  • That no good man/woman walked off and now you’re depressed when you should be rejoicing because they were blocking your spouse that God is trying to send your way. 1 Corinthians 7:15 says, “But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.” See, when you allow God to send the person that is for you, they won’t walk away when the going gets tough, they won’t throw in the towel when the money is getting low and bills are still due and they won’t give up on you when you’re sick or when you’re down and out because they’ve been made to stand right by your side. Just wait for them!

  • You got the nerve to be mad because your house was foreclosed on and now you’re renting an apartment when you should be realizing the God in it. Your rent is probably cheaper, your light bill is lower, you don’t have to be responsible for repairs when stuff break and someone else is cutting your grass and you don’t even have to pay them. These reasons alone are worth shouting over. Be glad for the change because now you’ll better appreciate the next home you’ll be blessed with when you know better you do better. Proverbs 24:3 says, “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.”

  • Ok, the job laid you off… SO! Get up and get a new one or better yet go get some of those food stamps and unemployment benefits you’ve been paying for anyway while God sends you your career. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

  • Your car was repossessed or stopped working, ok, now what? Crying over it won’t bring it back. Call the finance company and work out a payment plan, catch the bus, call some of those friends you always help or save until you can pay cash for one. God knew you were spending most of your paycheck trying to pay the monthly note yet you wouldn’t pay your tithes. You washed and wiped on that car more than you did they clothes you were and you didn’t even realize how much it was consuming your life, so God had to make some changes. Now, all you have to do is trust in God to replace it with what He knows you need because Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

  • Oh, you got cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, arthritis, migraines, sinus pressure, tooth ache, headache, leg ache, foot ache, hand ache, shoulder ache… just all over ache but don’t you know that you’re still able to feel which means you’re alive? No, please don’t think I am downplaying any of the conditions above because I don’t personally know how dialysis, chemo, daily medication and all the time pain actually feels but what I’m saying is… If you’re still able to live through all of these things, then live and don’t allow it to consume the person you used to be. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” You are better than your burdens, stronger than your sickness, wiser than your wounds and your problem is nothing compared to your purpose. Cry out to the Lord, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise (Jeremiah 17:14) and watch Him work.

  • Don’t self-destruct over the death of a loved one because they aren’t here to suffer anymore yet rejoice over their living and then you live because Romans 14:8 says, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Death of loved ones aren’t because of things we do but death is the way we all have to go in order to live again. This is why Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

God isn’t making you suffer yet He is simply making you tougher. Psalm 71:20 says, “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.” Yea, God has to remove things in order to improve them. If you lose a stone from your ring, don’t you have to remove it from your hand in order for it to be fixed better than what it was? God is the same way. The only way to restore things is for the old things to be moved. You can’t sweep the trash from under a rug if you don’t first move it. So allow God to move the things that He needs to because when God removes, He improves the things He gives back, better and greater than they were before! So trust Him to do what He promises He’ll do and stop doubting. Hosea 6:1 says, “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.” No matter what you have to go through, if you trust and believe in the power that God has, He will do exactly what He says He will. Yes, God has to remove things but it’s simply to make them better than they were before He gives them back. Material things you’ll get back on this side but the folk you’ve lost; you’ll get them back on the other side. Will you make it there? Make you better, every day, in order to reap Heaven’s reward.

Daily Devotional – 10/3/12 “Whose filling your tank?”

Somebody is worried this morning, not about their own issues but about the issues of those they’ve been helping. You’re up early praying for them but have you prayed for yourself? You’re tossing and turning over their worries but what about you? Baby, you’d better stop burning yourself out trying to be a helper to everybody who’s in need. Didn’t you read Matthew 5:16 that say, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven?” You did, yet you haven’t stopped to realize that if you’re constantly running around filling people’s tank with oil that keeps their light shining, who’s filling yours?

Yea, it’s alright for you to take a momentary time out to regroup without being selfish, so stop thinking you’re doing something wrong. You do know that you need to pray for yourself sometime in order to be able to pray for others, right? If you continue to give and no one is giving to you, then what are you left with? Yea, I know that God gives us back all that we give out but at some point we’ve got to stop, even if it’s only for a moment just to recharge. See, if you continue running to be there for everybody, without taking some regrouping time; you’ll eventually run out because your tank is empty. Then when you’re broke down, tired, sick and in need of help, who will you have? Yea, you’ll have a few friends that will be there but what about all the rest of the folks who you’ve bailed out, prayed for, stayed on the phone talking to when you should of been having dinner with your husband, went to pick up when you should of been helping the kids with homework, stepped in to help them finish something they’ve started when you should of been at work or those you fed when they were hungry when you were down to your last few dollars; where are they? Now, you’re frustrated and mad with God when He wasn’t the one that told you to keep going like the energizer bunny. God said to be a helpmate but don’t help yourself until you’re too stressed to be any more good. When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, the bible says in Luke 10:39, Mary sat at His feet and listened while He spoke while Martha worked to prepare the food and things. Well, when Martha realized that Mary wasn’t helping, she cried to God in Luke 10:41, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” But God replied in Luke 10:41-42, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

See, Mary had taken a break but not just any break but she took a moment to listen to the message that Jesus was spreading because while she listened she gained knowledge, which allowed her tank to be filled with something that can’t be taken away from her. She chose, for a moment, to listen to the gospel that was being given out in order for her to be refreshed. This is what you have to do every now and then, refresh yourself and refill your tank. You can’t constantly keep driving your car without putting gas in it and you can’t keep running without putting some gas in your tank. Fill your own tank every once in a while, that way you’ll have the light to be able to help others because if you don’t you’ll be walking in the dark. I don’t know about you but unless you’re in a familiar place, walking in the dark is no fun. It’s like walking through your child’s room at night and stepping on something that’ll make you say some unchristian like words. This was because you were not familiar with where you were walking and your light was out which means you couldn’t see. Take some time for you to recharge, to refill and to regroup. You’re entitled to it because after all, who’s filling your tank if you aren’t? I know that God will refill it but you have to take the time to ask Him.

Daily Devotional – 10/2/12 “When your witnessing is whack!”

You didn’t think this was possible? Oh, well let me check you boo. Every time you’re boasting about your sinful living, your witnessing is whack! Every time you brag about whose spouse you slept with, your witnessing is whack! Every time you find joy in other folks pain, your witnessing is whack! And when you find it cool to be rude, your witnessing is whack! Yea, everybody sins, at some point in time but you don’t have to tell it like you’re spreading the evening news. The bible says in 1 Peter 3:15, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” Yet, how can you tell someone how good God is if your mouth is always filled with gossip? How can you honestly show folks the God in you if all they see if your butt from the too little skirt/shorts you have on? How can folks honestly take your witnessing serious if you never do? I mean, really? See, Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Now, I don’t mean your faith at this moment but I am talking about the faith of someone who is unsure about their walk with God. Let me explain. If there is a person whose faith is wavering right next to you and they over hear you talking, boasting, bragging about your sins why would they need to come to God if they think you’re still being blessed while still doing what the world is doing? They don’t understand that the blessings you’re receiving aren’t coming from God because they haven’t realized the devil can bless too. All they see is you and you seem to be just fine walking on God’s side while living in the world, so they automatically assume that this is the way to be. They don’t over hear you talking about Sunday’s message only Saturday’s mess. They don’t hear you discussing Monday night’s Bible Study Notes because all they hear about is the high notes you hit while you were with Jimmy or Sue. Don’t you see the problem here?

Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” It is our responsibility, as Christians, to be witnesses to others who’ve never accepted Christ, who may have had a set back and slipped back into the world or one whose in church and wrestling with the devil because our witness may be their deciding factor. Yet, you don’t even notice that your mouth is running like an old refrigerator and scaring off that shaky sinner. You’re like the seed that is discussed in Mark 4:18-19 which says, “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” You’re this type of seed because you allow worldly mess and sinful stuff to choke the word that’s in you which then keeps you from sharing it with others. Baby, no one will ever believe your witness if all you’ve ever showed them is your waywardness. Do you actually think you’re a worthy witness just because you sit at your desk humming a gospel song 10 minutes after you told me about the lunch date you had with your boyfriend and you’re both married? Oh, you’re a worthy witness because you were the one to shout at church on Sunday after you bragged about how drunk you were on Saturday night to your choir members. Oh, I got it; you’re a worthy witness because you can recite a few scriptures by memory and can easily find the books of the bible but weren’t you the same one boasting about the time you spent with Rev. No Good from Headed Straight to Hell Baptist Church? Child, stop it because you know as well as I do that your witnessing is whack!

2 Timothy 2:15 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.” But you can’t do this when you’re doing, going and talking wrong most of the time. Again, I am not perfect but I am striving to be better than I was on yesterday. Do I always say the right thing, all the time, NO, but I’m pushing myself to be better, every day. I have faults and in order to change them, I have to first admit them. I cannot honestly witness to you if every other word out of my mouth is a curse word. No, I’m not saying that I curse like a sailor but it’s still something I have to work on because, again, I’m not perfect for Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All I am saying is govern your tongue because you never know whose listening and if you carry yourself in a Godly way then your mouth, as well as your heart, has to match. You don’t have to do as the world does because you can be different. You don’t have to follow in the footsteps of those before you because you can break the generational curse. And you don’t have to change your testimony simple because the devil has you on the stand and he seems to be winning because James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Love God so that you can love yourself at which point you can be a worthy witness who’s witnessing won’t be whack!

Daily Devotional – 9/28/12 “My testimony!”

It’s another day’s journey and I’m glad (sing with me now).. I’m glad about it! Oh, I’m glad … I’m glad about it!

Yes sah! See, I could have been found with my eyes closed and the blood in my veins cold by my husband this morning, but I’m alive. I could have opened my eyes without being able to see the sun, but they work just as they did on yesterday. I could have gotten out of bed to find that my legs wouldn’t let me stand or my hands wouldn’t let me grab a hold of things but that didn’t happen either because they still worked. I found that my brain was working and my heart was still beating; my muscles, veins and all my organs were doing their job so I had no reason to complain. My air still worked, water was still hot, food was in the refrigerator and my car was still parked outside. My husband is doing well, kids still being kids, grams still rocking and rolling, momma still doing her thang in spite of sickness trying to take over her body, all my sisters and brothers are alive and blessed; and there isn’t another link missing from our family chain. Oh, when I tell you that God is beyond amazing, it’s because I know Him to be and not because someone told me. When I think back over my life and where I could have been, I rejoice. When I think about the many times folk counted me out, I rejoice. When I think about the times I wanted to give up or give in and yet God wouldn’t allow me too, I rejoice. When I think that I’m not good enough for God’s blessings, He drops more in my lap and simply says to me, “You’re mine and you’re worthy,” I rejoice! When I think about the fact that I should have been, by folk’s standards and judgment; a drug abuser, alcoholic, a whoremonger walking the streets or simply a “ghetto chick” because I was raised in the ghetto yet God has chosen me to do His will, I still rejoice! Because He didn’t have to give me a mind to want more, a mind to do more, a mind to be more; He didn’t have to surround me with a strong mother, strong grandparents and strong role models in teachers and administrators; but He did and because He did, I rejoice today! Yea, this is my testimony because even though I still have days where I don’t feel worthy, God makes me worthy. Even when I feel like I don’t deserve God’s favor, He keeps adding favor to my living. When I feel like He has done enough, He continues to drop blessings in my bucket. When I feel like my storm is getting the best of me, God allows the SON to shine through the clouds. Oh, I feel like rejoicing this morning because God is simply that good!

And just when I think God has outdone Himself, he turns right around to bless me, ME; someone who isn’t perfect, who still makes mistakes, who still knows how to curse, who will bless you real good when you get out of line and who doesn’t mind standing up for the things she believes in especially family. Yes God has surely been good to me because when His word says that your gift will make room for you, He kept his promise. And because He has kept His promise, I will keep mine and that is by sharing God’s word with you. Now, you can order a personal copy of my book, Doses of Devotion by visiting the following website, https://www.createspace.com/3993736. Yes, my book is now done! (YAY!!) If you would like to order more than one book, then inbox me for a special code that will give you 15% off your online order. If you are not able to order online and you would like for me to order you a copy, let me know. The price is only $10. Thanks to each of you for also supporting me! Oh, it is still available on Amazon in a digital copy for $4.99, if you have an IPhone, IPad, Android, Kindle or Blackberry (just download the kindle app). And it should be available on Amazon in paperback, as well, in the next few days! Thanks again for supporting me!

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Daily Devotional – 9/26/12 “Honey, you’ll be alright!”

Yea, you will; so stop thinking that just because you ate before saying your grace or fell asleep without saying your prayers, that God will punish you because He doesn’t work like that. Are we supposed to pray every day, yes but we are also not supposed to lie, cheat, steal, lust after folk, judge folk and gossip but we do that every day don’t we? So stop beating yourself up. Yes, there will be times you don’t always act “Christianlike” but don’t make those times a habit. You are entitled to a bad moment every now and then. When someone dies, you are entitled to cry and that doesn’t make you weak. If you are tired of struggling, getting frustrated sometimes happens, but that makes you human. I know I should quote a bible scripture here to let you know that God is your provider in the time of need but you know that already, so now is the time for me to tell you that it’s alright to have a momentary temper tantrum but then get yourself together. Chile, who isn’t tired of struggling to make the ends meet, tired of working all day and then your check is so small it almost like you are paying them to work, tired of being without, tired of doing without, tired of eating chicken when you want beef, tired of scrapping together a meal when you want to go out to eat, tired of patching up your jeans when you know you need a new pair, tired of getting taps put on your shoes because you can’t get another one; just plain ole tired of being tired? I know I am and I am not ashamed to let you know it.

See, I can put on a front like I got all my stuff together but then I’d be lying to you. Do I still have struggles, yes! Do I still have strains, yes! Do I still sometime live pay check to pay check, yes (more times that I would like) but I know that there is a blessing in my stressing so I’m staying and praying instead of crying and lying. Yea, I have my moments but I don’t, no I won’t allow them to last because I am determined to get to the top so I am allowing my gift to make room for me. I am trying to get myself together and I am doing that little by little each day until I am better than I was the day before. Will I ever be perfect, no because I’d be lying if I said I was because there are no perfect folk walking on top of this ground? Do I always have something holy coming out of my mouth, no, because the same way you slip up and say something when you hit your finger or toe, is the same way I do. I am no different from you just because God has placed this type of ministry over my life because I am still the same and I will be judged on judgment day, only mine will be harsher simply because I am a “teacher” of God’s word. Yes, this scares the crap out of me, but I’m ready. This is why I have to be better than my old self and this is also why I can tell you, today, that it will be alright!

So, stop being ashamed because you can’t pay your tithes like you should, if you’re trying too. Now, if you still have that mentality that the tithes are going to pay for Pastor’s Bentley, then I am not talking to you. Because if you want to know the truth, the tithes aren’t paying for the pastor’s lavish lifestyle, the church members are. See, the tithes are for the up building of the place of worship but all those other offerings, special offerings, love offerings and such; those are the things that keep your Passa rolling. So, again, if you are really trying to pay your tithes and you’re still getting the hang of it, then God knows. Add a little bit more to your tithe offering every chance you get until you get to a point where your tithes are automatic and you don’t even miss the money anymore. You are entitled to learn the right way to tithe especially if you’ve never been taught. Another thing, you are not going to hell if you miss one Sunday from church, so stop letting Sis. Loose Lips get to you when she says, “I shoal missed you last Sunday.” Baby, she is just being nosey. Church is on the inside of you so no matter where you are on Sunday, if you are living like you should, then you don’t have to be on the inside of a building to give God his due praise because praise can be done anywhere.

To sum this up, you will be alright so stop thinking that just because you miss bible study, Sunday school, mid-week prayer service, choir rehearsal, church fellowship on 3rd Saturday or church on Sunday, you will be punished because God doesn’t work that way. Live right everyday so that God doesn’t have to wait for Sunday morning to see the show you’re getting ready to put on. Walk right everyday so that your praise will be acceptable in God’s sight. Will you have moments of the flesh taking over, yes, but then is the time to pray and ask for repentance and don’t make it a habit. You will be alright if you have a drink every now and then. You will be alright if you get mad once in a while. You will be alright if you go dancing on Friday night. You will be alright! Just as long as you don’t conform to the world around you, you don’t get settled in your sin, comfortable in your mess and distant from God. You will be alright if you have a little fun (not commandment breaking fun) but fun, just don’t allow it to hinder your walk and work for God. Yes, honey, you will be alright!