Daily Devotional – 5/24/12 “Where is you flame resistant barrier?”

When the enemy comes, and he will come, he brings with him a fire that can singe the hairs on the back of your neck. This fire is hot enough to turn your cheeks red just by looking at it and the closer he gets to us, the hotter the fire gets. See, this fire is temptation and the enemy surrounds us with it daily to throw us off the path that God has placed us on but 1 Peter 4:12 says, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” I know you’re asking why shouldn’t I be surprised but it is because you should already know the devil and the schemes he uses to tempt us away from God’s side and into his. You know how you leave the house after having an argument with your spouse and as soon as you get to work, here comes your coworker in that nice suit or short skirt, smelling all good saying I just stopped by to speak. Or when you’re not getting satisfied, sexually, at home the right way (we are all grown, right?) and just when you’re at your breaking point, you get an email from someone you knew a long time ago. Yea, I know; you’re looking but not touching but if you move close enough to the fire without the right flame resistant barrier, you will get burned. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” Now, please know that although God provides the way out from the fire (temptation), you have to be looking to see it and if you’re smiling in the face of the temptation, then you will miss the open door God placed as your way out.

Yea, you make think that you’ll never do this or do that but the bible says in Mark 14:38, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” It may only be texting now but eventually you’ll give in to the pressures of the temptation and the only way to be sure you won’t is to take the way out that God is giving. Just because your friend has always been your friend, it doesn’t mean he or she hasn’t thought about what it would be like to get with you, so instead of calling them when you have an argument with your significant other, stay home and work it out. When folks are angry or upset, they tend to do things they wouldn’t normally do or say things they wouldn’t normally say; which is why if you argue, take a time out and regroup and then talk it out. When you leave a situation in a fit of rage, you may do something you can’t take back. You know how you get in the car, mad and the first thing that pops in your head is the voice of that “friend” that says; call me if you ever need to talk. Now, you’re headed to their place to talk and before you know it, they are saying all the things you want to hear and now you’ve slipped on top of each other. Yea, right! You put yourself in that position. Don’t be acting like God is testing you, like he did Job because the bible says in James 1:13, “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.” Why, because temptations are evil and from evil and they don’t become a reality until we allow them too. James 1:14-16 says, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.” Yea, he said call him but you didn’t have too. She sent you that picture but she couldn’t have if she didn’t have your number. You made a mistake and slept with him/her because you were drinking but had you not been in a position, alone with them, you wouldn’t have gotten drunk and; well you know! Simply put, don’t allow yourself to get close enough to the fire to get burned.

Will you be tempted by things that can cause you to sin, yes, because that’s the way the devil works. Haven’t you realized that when you start your diet, all the cravings for the things you no longer want are stronger or when you’re trying to quit or overcome an addiction, you want it more than ever before? This is temptation. The day you decide to quick smoking, every commercial on TV is about cigarettes. The day you decide you no longer want to commit adultery is the day they call 50 times, when you hadn’t heard from them in weeks. Turn off the TV, change your phone number, block their email address and put on your flame resistant barrier. See, if the devil can tempt you and you fall for it, he places a checkmark in his win column for the day. This is why you have to have your flame resistant barrier that keeps you from getting too close to the fire. Yea, this flame resistant barrier will allow you to see the fire, but it won’t burn you. This flame resistant barrier keeps your clothes and hair from smelling like smoke, it keeps your feet from getting from getting burned from standing on hot coals and it keeps your lungs and eyes working even when the room is filling with smoke. This is why Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” You will face temptations because the devil does all he can to get those that are on God’s side but you can overcome them. If you’ve made a mistake in the past, leave it there and don’t go back to get it. If there is a number in your phone that may cause you to slip, delete it. If there is a friend on Facebook that keeps giving you hints, block them. You can help yourself from getting burned by the fire if you stop wearing gasoline pants into the fire. Stop allowing yourself to be in a position to make a temptation a reality. If someone gives you their number and you know they have a hidden agenda, trash it. If someone invites you somewhere and you know they have their own reasons why, don’t go. Temptations are of the devil but he is only filling the secret desires we have. If your home is in disarray, fix it or at least try too before giving up. If your coworker is over stepping their boundaries, draw the lines with darker ink and make it plain. God gives us what we need to endure and resist temptations but you won’t see it if you aren’t looking. Don’t allow Thursday’s Temptation to send you into Friday’s Fire but seek God and then put on your flame resistant barrier and walk on!

Daily Devotional – 5/23/12 “Why settle when you haven’t negotiated?”

Most times when you settle something you usually negotiate the terms of the settlement before you accept it, right? Then why are you settling for just anything in your Christian life? You settle for the first man/woman who comes along when they could be standing in front of the blessing God sent. You settle for the first loan the car salesman brings when you should be negotiating the terms for the price and payment you want. You settle for the first job that calls because the benefits sound good when your career was calling on the other line. You settle for the second dress that’s in the store when you should have told them to order the one you really want. Stop settling for a Big Mac when you got a taste for Quarter Pounder, make them cook it while you wait. Why are you settling for less when God has given you the means to have so much more? God blessed you with a gift for writing so do not settle for a math degree. God blessed you with the ability to be a great husband/wife, so don’t settle for being someone’s mister or mistress. God gave you the ability to speak life into your dead places so don’t accept when folks say you can’t make it. God has given you favor so don’t accept failure. God has given you love so don’t accept lust. God has given you salvation so don’t accept suicide as a way out. God has given you praise so don’t accept pain. God has given you a life to live so don’t let it pass you by because you choose to settle. You are worthy of so much more. If the person you’re with can’t appreciate what you offer (if you’re offering your absolute best) then you don’t need to spend another day being unappreciated. If the job you currently have can’t appreciate the talent you bring, find one that does. If the kids can appreciate the sacrifices you make to give them all they need and want, then stop giving. You don’t have to settle before you negotiate the terms.

Women, don’t you know that you are worth more than the cubic zirconia type love/support that you’re receiving? Proverbs 31:10 says, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” A ruby is considered a precious stone and its worth is determined by the brightness of its color which can range from $100 to $15000 per carat. Now, my question to you is, “Is your light worth more than what you’re getting?” Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” See, your light shines when you have God on the inside and when it’s bright, men of God will see it and will be attracted to it and those who are of the world will stay away. When your light is bright is blinds those who are not used to looking into and it keeps away worldly mess. Haven’t you heard the saying, “Place your heart into God so that a man would have to go through God to get it?” Well, why are you settling for just anybody? You think just because he was the star of the football team in high school and played during college, that he would make a great husband who could provide but does he know God, does he fear God, does he know how to provide for his family, will he hold on through the storm, take care of you when you’re sick, pick you up when you’re down, pull you back from falling off the ledge, pray with you through the good and the bad, admit when he’s wrong, apologize when it’s needed and treat you like his wife and not his child? If the answer is no, then why are you settling? You don’t have to settle for a man who finds joy in your pain and laughter in the tears you cry. You don’t have to settle for being second best when you should be the starter but you have to want more for yourself. Negotiate the terms of your settlement before you sign on the dotted line because breaking a contract is a lot harder than it looks.

Men, don’t you know that God wants the best for you? Why, because you are the head of your household who represents God before anyone else. Ephesians 5:23 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” See, God put you in front so that you’re the first one the world sees and if you’re an outstanding example of what a Godly man is then your family will be too. So, why would you settle for the first girl who batted her fake lashes at you? You do know that if she can’t be real around her husband then she isn’t who she says she is, right? A wife should be your helpmate, somebody who lifts you up and not bring you down, she should have your back when everyone else is against you, she should encourage you when you can’t encourage yourself, pull you up when the world has knocked you down, be there to help you when you’re sick, able to step in if you’re unable to provide, pray with you, ride out the wave when the water gets a little hard to bare, eat noodles when the budget calls for it, not complain when there’s no extra money left for shopping and allow you to cry in front of her without being less than a man. You shouldn’t have to settle for someone whose only concern is the amount of money in your bank account, the type of car you drive, if you wear brand name clothes/shoes and how good you are in bed. You are worthy of being the head because, Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Yea, God made you in His image which means you are worthy of being the head and not the tail. Stop settling for being a doormat for a woman who is not worthy of the rib that God removed from man to make her. Reach around the mess and get the blessing that God has for you. You, also, have to negotiate the terms of your settlement before you sign on the dotted line because getting out of a contract is a lot harder than it looks.

Being men and women who accept anything and settle for everything causes children to be raised not knowing they are worthy of so much more. Teach young women that they are better than having sex just to hold on to a boy whose not worthy of her heart. Teach young men that they are worthy of more than a girl who only calls when he gets paid from his part time job. Teach young men and women how to carry themselves in a way that is pleasing to God so that he can be pleasing to them. Teach the children how to value their self-worth before accepting the blue book value. We, as adults, have to set a better example for the younger generations who are watching us. We can’t just settle for anything because it looks good at the moment when something much more valuable is within reach. When we settle for anything we sacrifice the salvation that God sends because we lower the standards of who we should be. Oh, but when we negotiate the terms of our settlement we satisfy the Savior by shining our light bright enough to secure somebody who is spiritual enough to meet the standards of God’s plan by standing steadfast during storms and situations, who keeps their mind stayed on God in order to strengthen themselves to succeed during times of suffering and who is sufficient enough to sustain when settling just won’t do. No, we don’t have to settle because settling leads to suffering and why suffer with the wrong one when the right one is a negotiation, (that’s a blessing), away?

Daily Devotional – 5/22/12 “Focus!”

Don’t you know that if you spent more time focused on yourself, you wouldn’t have time to dabble into other folk’s business? You wondering why you can’t move 2 spaces ahead when you keep turning around looking at what others are doing and you’re missing your turn. It’s like being in traffic and you not paying attention of when the traffic moves, now the car in the other lane has jumped in front of you. Now, had this been a line of blessings, that person would have received what was meant for you. So, focus on what you’re doing and stop dipping in everybody else’s Kool-Aid. I know their flavor maybe the flavor you like but you got what you’re supposed to have, so dip in your own. Yea, had you not been looking out the window trying to see what the neighbor is doing, you wouldn’t have burnt dinner but you just had to be nosey because you’re the neighborhood gossip. Child, you need to focus on what’s going on in your own yard because you can’t fix what’s happening in theirs but you can do something about your own. If you took more time to focus on your own child instead of trying to tell your sister/brother how to raise theirs, you’d be able to see the change that is happening in them. You are so busy calling your friend to tell her what her daughter posted on Facebook; you don’t realize that your daughter has you blocked. Yea, your focus is on the wrong thing. While you are constantly focusing on getting your friend through her break-up, you don’t realize that your own spouse is feeling left out. Now, don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything wrong with helping a friend in need but you can’t keep running to them every time they cry because they hear a song that reminds them of the person that left. Girl, you’d better sit your tail down and focus on your own relationship.

I know that sometimes looking back feels like the right thing to do but if it’s behind you, then that means you left it in the past and past things are unreachable but present things are within your reach. The bible says in Proverbs 4:25, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” Yea, looking at things ahead can sometimes look blurry but if you look at it long enough, your eyes will soon focus and you’ll begin to see things clearer. Haven’t you been to the eye doctor and they ask you to read from the chart that seems like it is 200 feet away? Well, if you keep looking at it, the letters will soon begin to become clear enough to read because your focus didn’t change. Sometimes, you have to stare at a situation or circumstance just to see it clearly before you make a decision you might regret. You’re looking at a text message from someone and when you read it the first time, you get mad and before reading it again you send a response back that blows the entire situation into something that was not meant. Then when you get a response saying I didn’t mean it that way, you read it again but this time, you’re focusing on just that text message and not everything else that is going on around you and you see it totally different. Isn’t it amazing how we can make things difficult for ourselves simply because we didn’t focus? I would imagine that a tight rope walker would fall if they didn’t have their mind focused on the task at hand. Take for an example an email you’ve probably received asking you to look at the page of dots to see the picture behind it. If you focused on just that picture, your eyes would soon focus enough to make it out but if you keep allowing your focus to be off, you will never see it. This is the same way with God’s plan for your life. He keeps trying to get you to focus on starting the business you’ve been praying to him for but you keep allowing your focus to be disturbed by folks who need you every minute of the day. If you keep letting things and people interrupt your focus, you’ll never see the plan clearly and the first thing you’ll cry is God isn’t answering my prayer. No baby, it isn’t God but it’s your ability to focus.

When Jesus called Peter out of the boat to walk to him, he obeyed and was able to walk on top of the water but as soon as his focus was not on Jesus, he began to sink. It wasn’t because Jesus moved or he couldn’t do what he said he would but the bible says in Matthew 14:30, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” See, when you aren’t focused on the right thing or right somebody, you make bad choices. We are so focused on the mess that your friend called you with that you miss the opportunity of inviting them to church for the message. We are so focused on making folks laugh by forwarding a chain text of Talking Tom that we don’t realize a scripture might be all a co-worker needs to know that things won’t always be so hard. If you would have focused more on the tone of your friend’s voice rather than the movie on TV, you would have heard her cry for help before she attempted suicide. Focusing is a mindset and something that we have to choose to want to do. You know you should have been focused on school instead of socializing and now you’re failing or you should have been focusing on your marriage but now you’re in divorce court or you should have been focusing on what the car salesman said instead of being focused on the car, now you’ve signed the papers and paying 2 times more than what the car is worth. The ability to focus isn’t hard we just have to make it up in our mind to do it. If you focus on a problem that seems to hard, you’ll soon realize the mistake you’ve been making in order to get the right answer. Focusing allows you to face problems without failing because when you’re focused and faithful to God, he favors you and with his favor you won’t follow behind foolish things but you’ll find a firm foundation that allows you to forgive when it hurts, be first when you thought you’d be last, find what you thought you’d lost, fill what should be empty and fearless when you should be scared. Focus on what matters and let everything else go because if it was meant to be for you, it’ll be in your line of sight.

Daily Devotional – 5/21/12 “Church folk aren’t always Christian!”

On yesterday one of our Associate Ministers preached on the difference between church folk and Christians. Of course this was an interesting topic for me, you know with the devotional and all but the more I thought about it, it was true. There is a difference in church folk and Christian folk. Yea, I know that we have this thought that if you go to church you have to be a Christian but even the devil attends worship every once in a while. Many times folks allow themselves to be used by the devil/enemy and the best place for him to cause chaos is in the church because if he causes chaos there, then the word of God is not being heard which makes it easier for him to recruit more willing workers. See, church folk are those who come simply to start mess when Christians come for the message. Church folk are those who come out of habit when Christians have a habit of going because it’s what they chose when they accepted Christ. Church folk find happiness in other folk problems but Christians give happiness when others are having problems. Church folk find joy in other folk tears but Christians cry tears of joy from the goodness God gives them daily. Church folk don’t mind arguing and hurt folk’s feelings but Christians finds no right in belittling others for worldly gain. See, church folk have to be known in the church for always bringing trouble but Christian folks are glad to be in the background sweeping up the mess to throw it out. So, you see there is a huge difference in being a Christian and simply church folk.

Sister DoRight Sometimes is the perfect example of church folk because she only comes to start some mess. She is the biggest gossip who is always prying into somebody else’s business. She should be known as Sis. Spectate because she’s always watching folks to speculate on what’s happening in their house. She goes around telling folk the Deacon and his wife are separated when she doesn’t come to church for 2 Sundays instead of listening to the announcements that said she had some speaking engagements. She is quick to argue with the Usher who chastised her son when she should have been beating his butt for being disrespectful to an adult. She is always bringing up old issues in church meetings that cause conflict because she finds joy in seeing folks argue. She doesn’t pay tithes because she says it’s only going to the Pastor anyway, so she’ll keep her money. She is the type of seed that is spoken about in Mark 4:7 that say, “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.” See, she is the thorn that chokes the life out of Christians, if they allow her too. She attaches herself to new folk in the church or those who she can see their faith wavering because she doesn’t want to see the church prosper. Yea, she takes her time to show up for every service on Sunday, bible study Monday, Prayer Service Wednesday, recite just about every scripture and always willing to help on a program but this is because she can’t miss a day spreading mess. This is why Matthew 7:15 says, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.” Just because folks appear to be something, it doesn’t mean they are. This is why you have to stay prayed up in order for your eyes to be able to see through these types of people. 1 John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Stay away from folk like this because they’ll become a weight on your shoulders that will eventually wear you down, if you keep allowing them to hold on to you. Keep your eyes open and keep praying for God to direct your path and to remove your enemies and he will do just that, even removing church folk.

It’s kind of funny because I told my uncle just the other day something similar to this. I had to let him know that he can’t be concerned about folks leaving the church because it was just God weeding out those church folk who didn’t have Him and His work as their top priority. See, our church is on the move and in order for God’s vision to go forth; Christians, not church folk, have to band together to make it happen. This is why we have to know the difference between the 2. Christians are the type of seeds that are mention in Mark 4:8 that say, “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” See, Christians are rooted in God’s soil which means they are producing a return on what they sow. They don’t mind paying their tithes because they know God won’t allow them to be without. They attend worship service on Sunday, some bible study/prayer meetings, they are willing to step in when needed and back off when they aren’t. They won’t entertain mess that keeps them from hearing the message. They won’t repeat gossip for the sake of being heard because they know that most times it isn’t true anyway. They don’t mind helping others even though they aren’t the Chairperson of the program, being available to step in to teach Sunday school when the teacher is sick or picking up someone who is having car trouble. Christians won’t mind the Usher getting their child back in line because they know it’s takes a village to raise children. Christians won’t stand in God’s house and argue over anything because they honor the word in Ephesians 4:32 that says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Don’t get me wrong, Christians have some issues too just like church folk; this is because we are all human. However, Christians are quicker to apologize for their mistake rather than acting like it happened, now get over it like some church folk do. Am I saying all church folk are working for the devil, no because some are still in the cleaning up phase of their life and haven’t completely left the world but they are still straddling the fence, which allows the devil easier access when he chooses to come in. Are all Christians free of sin, no because that would make them perfect but they know what the bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Church folk aren’t always Christian which is why Christians have a harder job to do because it is up to each other to help one another. Romans 14:1 says, “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” Church folk may be the way they are because they simply don’t know any other way to be but as Christians, we can’t judge them but we have to teach them that their actions are wrong. How can we expect folks to come to church if we don’t invite them and then how can we expect them to stay if we don’t teach them? It is up to us to learn from one another because I might understand something you don’t which means I can teach you and vice versa. If I know you have a bad attitude and it’s hard for others to talk to you, then my prayer should be for God to give you a listening ear while giving me the right words to say. I shouldn’t cast you out because you are pushing folks away because then I would have judged you and judging isn’t a characteristic that God likes. It is our Christian duty to help those whose flesh may be weak or whose faith is wavering. It is our Christian duty to rid the church of evil people, who have no desire to do better especially if they aren’t willing to accept Christian help because 1 Corinthians 5:13 says, “God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” We have to learn the difference between church folk and Christian folk because you need to know who to listen too, who you should be asking to pray for you and even those who you need to ask for help from. Just because they wear the biggest hats, the longest skirt or the finest suits; it doesn’t mean their prayers are getting through because they could be more evil than the person you suspect. Not everyone that shows up on Sunday is getting a prayer through just like not everyone in Bible study is actually studying the word. Be mindful of those you share the pew with on Sunday because they might not be who they appear to be because not all church folk are Christians.

Daily Devotional – 5/19/12 “Keep striving, God will keep providing!”

I usually don’t post a devotional on Saturday morning but somebody needed to know that you have to keep striving because then God will keep providing. (Yes he will!) See, when the enemy knocks on our doors, he expects us to be caught off guard so that he’ll slip in and knock us off our stride but we have to stay ready and that means being prayed up. The bible says in Psalm 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” If you’re always ready, then you wont just open the door when he knocks and walk away (you know how you do when a friend comes over) but you’ll allow God to answer it for you. Yea, when you’re prepared for battle you’ll be able to know the enemy’s knock before he even makes it to the door. When you’ve stored up prayers, God will already have you covered the day of battle and the good thing about God, he doesn’t need an hour or even a 30 minute prayer to come and fight your battle. All you have to do is simply whisper a prayer when you’re standing on the battlefield and he’ll come and see about you. That’s why the bible says in Isaiah 41:10, “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 think you have to be in a certain place or in a certain position but you don’t. You don’t have to be standing in church, on your knees or in a prayer closet for God to hear you because Ephesians 6:18 says, “You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians.” Praying at all times means when you’re standing at the edge of the cliff and it seems like you’re about to jump, say “Lord, have mercy!” When you’re down and folks are counting you out, say “Lord, I need you!” When you’ve fallen and can’t seem to get back up say, “Lord, I need your help!” When you’ve cried and paced all night long say, “Lord, I need rest!” When it seems like the mess is too wide to climb over say, “Lord, I need your hand!” And when it seems like you’re walking in circles and your legs are too tired to go on say, “Lord, carry me in your arms!”

God doesn’t need you to pray a book to know what you need because he already knows but He simply needs to hear you request his presence. Don’t be too proud to ask for help because being proud will leave you without praise and being too proud leaves you in pain. Don’t give up because that’s the easy way out. I know it seems easy for me to tell you to hold on when I don’t even know your situation but I’m just foolish enough to believe that God will do just what he said he would. I don’t have to go on someone else’s testimony to know that God is good because I have my own. I don’t need to read about God helping somebody else because he’s helped me so I know that he’ll come and see about you. I also don’t believe he’ll give me these words to share with you if he wouldn’t come when you call. Just hold on, pray on, walk on and then pray some more, just a little while longer! Psalm 138:3, “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.” You might not be able to see the sun now, it’s coming. You may not be able to see clearly through your tears but they’ll soon stop. You may not even be able to see the light at the end yet but keep walking, you will. Your situation is just temporary! Keep striving and God will keep providing.

Matthew 6:9-13 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”