Daily Devotional – 7/2/12 “You can’t miss what you can’t measure!”

Grandma said this to some of my nieces on Sunday afternoon and I instantly grabbed my phone to make a note of it because I knew it was a perfect devotional topic. She told them this after listening to a conversation they were having about a boy because she wanted them to know that who or what is meant for them will definitely be. See, we spend so much time getting caught up in mess that we miss out on the opportunities of making memories or we lie so much that we don’t have time to leave a legacy but if you can’t measure who or what’s in front of you then you shouldn’t be allowing them or it to consume your world. I know it’s easier said than done but as I stood by my granddaddy’s bedside most of last night, I was sad at the frail body that now lies there, yet my spirit is rejoicing for all the good and bad times I’ve shared with him. Yes, even the bad because I wouldn’t take a dollar for the journey we’ve shared because it was ours to take and our memories and mistakes to make. Oh, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give to get my granddaddy off his bed of affliction but it’s out of my hands. I’m so use to the strong black man that was the head of his household, who helped raise his 10 children, then his grandchildren and even some great grandchildren. A man who was known at our high school because he was a willing worker, no matter when or what they called him for. A man who didn’t mind giving out whoopings when you got out of line (ask any of those who grew up on Clovia Lane/Cloverdale) and a man who never sidestepped the truth, who always told you like it was regardless if it hurt your feelings and one who had your best interest at heart even though at the time it didn’t seem like it! I cherish the memories that I have with me simply because I can miss because I can measure.

We’ve got to stop worrying over mess and messy people, hurting each other, damming, condemning and fighting each other because time is winding down to get it right. More young folks are dying with old folk’s diseases, more women are being killed at the hands of those who are supposed to love them; men are killing each other over jealousy or because they’d rather rob than work and babies are dying because we are too selfish to take care of them like the bible says we should! Stop living like you’re better than me because we are all just saved sinners who still sin! Stop waiting for folks to encourage you to do well, do it for yourself! Stop living like you got all the time in the world to correct what you’ve done wrong, do it now because the next hour isn’t promised! Cherish the life you have now and stop wanting for things that aren’t yours. If folks have left, let them go; they weren’t yours to begin with. If the job let you go, press on; it wasn’t yours to begin with. If the doctors have given up, push on; it wasn’t your battle to fight anyway. You can’t miss what you can’t measure so get off your pity box and pray because God said He’ll handle your problems if you’d just give them to him! If they can’t measure up, then you shouldn’t be measuring them. You are worthy because you are God’s. You are gifted because you are God’s and if you don’t value yourself then you can’t expect anyone else too. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people–none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. 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.” You aren’t perfect which means you will make mistakes but learn from them. You don’t have to chase a blessing because what’s yours is yours. Stop accepting everything and simply falling for anything. Just because you have children that doesn’t mean you have to buy what dude is selling when he smiles in your face, be patient God has your blessing coming so don’t block your view with mess. Just because your credit isn’t A1 it doesn’t mean you have to take the first offer the dealership or mortgage company gives you, be still and allow God to negotiate on your behalf. And just because you’ve had sickness for most of your life, don’t allow the doctors to treat you with half of what they should be because you’re still living which means God isn’t ready for you. Don’t give up on yourself because folks have given up on you, it was simply their mistake on missing a gem!

So stop focusing so much time on storing up junk in this world that you can’t take with you but store up treasures for your Heavenly home. Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” See, when you tarry over material things then you’re material minded which takes your eyes off your purpose but when you store up Heavenly things, your mind is steadfast on reaching Heaven. Now, when I say treasures I mean things like praying, praising, helping others, loving and giving because these things are like the materials you need to build your home here but you’re simply building your mansion there. When you use God’s measuring cup He’s making sure misery don’t outweigh the miracles he has for you through his message because in His message He’s ministering to your mind which allows you to be mindful of miserable, mischievous mockers who block your ministry by meddling when you’re meditating or being malicious when they should be merry so if they don’t measure up to your magnificence then don’t measure down to their mess!

Daily Devotional – 6/28/12 “Baby, let me tell you!”

If you’ve ever doubted that faith you have, let me tell you what a little will do for you. When my grandma came home from the hospital on yesterday, she was still in a lot of pain from the arthritis in her right shoulder and arm. The pain was almost unbearable but because of the infection she has in the finger that she burned, (long story – I’ll tell you later), the doctors can’t really treat the shoulder. Anyway, on last night after 2 pain pills with no relief, she told me she wanted me to rub her down with some oil that her nieces had left her when they came to visit. So, I picked up this small bottle that said “anointed oil” and I began to rub it into her arm from her shoulder down to the swollen tips of her fingers and as I rubbed I prayed. I prayed with faith, that’s acting like what I am about to ask God for is already done, and I asked God to restore her whole arm back like it was. See, I didn’t need to ask him to make it like new because I just needed him to restore it back to like it was. So, I rubbed and I prayed and when I was done, I put her to bed because Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Baybee … When I got up at 7AM this morning, I went into grandma’s room … (Look at God working this thang out) she was up putting on a new gown after she had already combed her hair and freshened up. I asked how her arm was feeling and she said, “Oh, it feels a lot better than it did yesterday.” Now, let me break it down for you so that you can feel what I feel. On yesterday, grandma asked for a walker to help her get to the bathroom, this morning she didn’t need it. On yesterday, grandma couldn’t lift her arm to touch her face and today she could put a gown over her head. On yesterday, she could barely move for the pain and on today she was up all by herself. On yesterday, man said you’re defeated but today God said, it ain’t over yet! Oh, when the bible says you only need faith the size of a mustard see, I’m a living witness. When God said, ask and it shall be given; I’m a living witness. When God said, I will never leave you nor forsake you; I’m a living witness. There isn’t anybody that can tell you how good God is for you until you try him for yourself. You don’t have to go by what I say, try him for yourself.

God will do just what he says he will, if we ask with faith. I don’t have to tell you with pages of information or a multitude of scriptures because I’ve told you before that “faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see, (Hebrews 11:1).” See, with faith there’s no failure because God has filled us with his favor to face the fire without touching the flames and once we come out we’ll be renewed and through His renewal comes restoration and with restoration He is restoring us back to a previous state or an even better one that allows us to continue to work of the Kingdom until the time comes to reap Heaven’s reward!

Daily Devotional – 6/26/12 “You’re just a saved sinner!”

So stop acting like your salvation is greater or better than mine because Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” I know, I know; you’ve been saved since you sat on the mourners’ bench at revival when you were 12, you always got your bible in the car or you can recite some scriptures but that doesn’t make you a better Christian than the next person, it means that you’re just a saved sinner! Yea, I called you a saved sinner instead of a Christian because everybody sins and if you say you don’t you’re lying. See, the only difference between you and the sinner in the world is that you repent, sometimes. God isn’t concerned so much with the date you allowed him to come in but he’ll ask how many others you brought to Him afterwards. He won’t be concerned with that dusty bible you got in the back window of your car but he’ll ask how many times you opened it for those who were lost. And God won’t ask you to recite a scripture when you’re standing before him at judgment but he’ll want to know how many you shared with the non-believers. As Christians, we get so caught up in trying to outdo the next person with the biggest hat, the loudest amen or the longest shout that we forget about the real reason for our praise. Baby, God isn’t concerned with all the material mess you’ve stored up here because He looks at your heart, soul and the work that you’ve done to get to Heaven. I told you on yesterday that you need to read the agreement you agreed to when you became saved because most of us aren’t doing hardly any of the things we should be. Don’t get me wrong, I am just as guilty, which is why I can testify on it. Do I always say the right thing, do the right thing, go to the right places and act like a Christian 100% of the time, no! However, I work daily to change that. Does God want us to be perfect? Yes, because the bible says in Matthew 5:48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” but this doesn’t mean we are punished when we make mistakes. Don’t you think God knew we would make some mistakes? Of course He did, this is why he sent his only Son to Earth in a fleshly body for John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Now, you may want to read that again because it says, for God so loved the world. See, God’s purpose for sending Jesus was to save us for in John 6:38, Jesus says, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” If God wouldn’t have sent Him, most of us wouldn’t be here now because we’d be too comfortable in our sin instead of fearing God. We’d be ok with cheating, stealing, killing, backbiting, lying and gossiping instead of keeping his commandments and we’d be fine with being drunks, drug abusers and whoremongers instead of abiding by what we agree to when we accept God. I shared this yesterday but it fits here because the covenant says in the 3rd paragraph, “We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use on intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.”

Which simply means, “We also promise to worship as a family as well as in secret prayer in order to educate our children on doing the work of our Father; to seek the salvation of those who are like me, on this Christian journey so that I maybe watchful of things happening in the world; to be fair in the things I do; keep the promises I make and be a role model by carrying myself right; to avoid gossiping, backbiting and being angry all the time; to refrain from being a drunk so that I am passionate in my work to advance my Father’s Kingdom.”

Yes, God knows your heart which may just be a bad thing especially if you are always angry or bitter over mess. Stop treating folks like your path to Heaven is easy because we are all striving to get there with Hell on our backs. Stop trying to push me out the way so that you can get ahead because you might just run into the storm that was meant for me and you can’t handle what I can. Stop wishing for the blessings that you see me with because although you see the glory, you surely don’t know the story of how I got them. We are all saved sinners trying to be better Christians, so don’t think you are paying more than I am. We must abide by God’s word to love one another, to pray for one another even in our sickness, to lift one another up when we fall and to be a guide to those who are lost. We should all practice what is said in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” It is our responsibility to help one another through the sharing and teaching of God’s word instead of trying to beat the hell out of one another with harsh criticism and hate. We are all sinners, well this is what the bible says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Oh, BUT (don’t you love but) Romans 3:24 says, “Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” So, please know, I am no better than you and you are no better than me. Yea, you may be in your blessing season now but don’t count me out because I’m in my stormy season, yours will be around soon!

Daily Devotional – 6/25/12 “Did you read it before you agreed to it?”

Are you aware that there is an agreement that we agree to when we become Christians? Well, if you attend or have ever attended a Baptist church, you’ve probably seen the Church Covenant on the Wall, right? Have you ever taken the time to read it? A covenant is defined as a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties and it is commonly found in religious contexts, where it refers to sacred agreements between God and human beings. Yea, the one that is hung in the church was man made but it was established from the covenant that God left for in Genesis 9:9, God said to Noah; “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you.” And this mean us and I don’t know who all reading this is “Baptist” Christians but if you’ve accepted Christ into your life and become a member of any church then you’ve agreed to the covenant that God left for us. Yea, we are all guilty of sometimes signing things without reading and I will be the first to admit that I’d never taken the time to read the covenant that I agreed to so many years ago but now is a very good time to start. I won’t elaborate on every part of it because it is self-explanatory but I felt the need to share it with you on today because the church, in this day and time, is going to hell faster than any sinner in the world and the only way to stop this downward spiral is to start back at the beginning. See, we’ve grown accustomed to going to church out of habit instead of making a habit out of going to church (you’ll get that later). We’ve got to get back to doing God’s will but we can’t do this without knowing what we’ve actually agreed to do. The first step is having a belief in God, confessing that we believe, being baptized and then doing our Christian duties. Oh, but we think once we get baptized in the water one Sunday we’ve done all we need to do. Baby, that water you’ve been dipped in has nothing to do with you receiving Salvation because if you don’t know what being baptized means, then you’re still lost. Yea, the preacher can lower you in that water 5 times but the bible says in Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” See, once you’ve been baptized, God will allow the Holy Spirit to abide in you and having the Holy Spirit allows Him to intervene for you in those moments you need God but you’re not sure how to call him. Don’t believe me? Read Romans 8:26-27 which says “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” So take a moment and read the church covenant below and my prayer is that you’ll be just as enlighten as I’ve been.

Church Covenant
Having been led as we believe, by the spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage therefore by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality: to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use on intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

And now unto Him, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, be power and glory forever. Amen.

To sum it up, when we become a Christian we become one body which means that no one in the church is higher or lower than the next person and it also means that no one should fall without having someone there to help them back up. See, when we agree to this covenant, we agree to love one another, participate in the up building of the church by studying God’s word, paying your tithes and by spreading the word to those outside of the church. We also agree to teach our children God’s word, devote prayer time to your family, fellowship with other believers, to be faithful in what we agree to do, be passionate about Godly business and become our brother/sister’s keeper. It is our responsibility to be an encouragement for one another without judgment and harsh criticism. We, as Christians, have to carry ourselves as such in order to save those that maybe lost and wandering without direction but we can’t do that if we can’t get along with those who are supposed to be already saved. Learn how to admit when you’ve made a mistake and apologize. Don’t hold grudges and stop running from the church every time someone makes you mad. Running only makes you tired and soon you’ll turn away from God when all you should have done was talk to the one who made you feel like running. I am not saying you should stay anywhere if it doesn’t feel right but if you decide to leave a church, you’re supposed to unite with another one as soon as possible. Allow God to move you from one church to another and not man because man will move you away from God’s path and if you’re not focused on the right thing, it may be too late when you notice. Study God’s word for yourself because you are the only one responsible for your ticket to Heaven.

Daily Devotional – 6/22/12 “Death isn’t punishment!”

On yesterday, a young man we grew up with passed away, then my Grams and one of my uncles got sick and they both had to be taken to the hospital and usually the first thing people say is, the devil is busy. Baby, the devil isnt busy just because sickness and death is roaming the streets, this is God working because death is a way we all have to go. I know it’s hard to understand why more folks are leaving and even many are young but it’s all in God’s doing. Yes, we all have to face death and even though we don’t know when it’s coming, it will sooner or later. However, there is a good side to dying because death takes away all the pain the world gave, it gives the kind of rest you couldn’t get on this side, it gives you a new body that hasn’t been scarred with surgeries, dialysis, chemo & radiation and it gets you in the priority line to meet God when he comes. Yea, stepping out the body on this side gives you back the smile you once had, removes the wrinkles from your skin, the scars from being stepped on and pushed down and gives you back the joy that you lost. Oh, stepping out the body on this side gives you peace that you’ve never felt before! See, when the soul leaves the body on this side, they wouldn’t come back here even if they had a choice.

Death isn’t a punishment for you but it’s a reward for those who have died. Jesus says in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.” So when death comes, God doesn’t want you to feel like you have no hope because he is your hope and he doesn’t want you to feel like you’re all alone because he’s always near. This is why he left his word for us to read and study for times such as these. This is why 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 says,
“And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.”

Death is something we all have to face so don’t give up. I’m praying for you my brother/sister who have grieved or is grieving now and I’m asking that God gives you the strength to carry on. Please know that God will never put too much pressure on you that he hasn’t made your shoulders and legs strong enough to handle. Let God in and he’ll hold you on the nights that crying won’t end and when your heart feels like its going to break. Let him do it for you! I’m trusting God to do whatever his will is in my family. My granddad has been laid on his sick bed for 3 years now and my grams is still trying to be strong and take care of everybody else. Now that she is on her sick bed I won’t be selfish to keep asking God to keep them here but I’m stepping aside to allow him to work. I’m asking for him to make it plain in my eyesight and to make me stronger in the process. Whatever it is, it is his will and his will shall be done. Let’s continue to pray for one another because we never know what each other is facing. You don’t have to call my name to pray for me because if your heart is right, the Holy Spirit will intercede; that means He will speak for you!