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.”

Daily Devotional – 5/18/12 “And you’re judging because …”

Let me guess, please just one guess! You’re perfect! Is that it? Well, that’s the only reason why I can see you judging others. Oh, that’s right – no one is perfect but God, his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, so unless you’ve taken up one of these positions, get your mouth off of folks. You can’t honestly judge me because I made a mistake when you make them too. How can you possibly say what someone else is doing is right or wrong, when it doesn’t even affect you? You have no control over your co-worker’s choice in men, so stop criticizing her. You can’t stop your son from the choice he makes in women, so stop with all the negative comments. Don’t you know when you judge folk, God judges you? Yea, but the good thing about it is, you’re judged the same way you dish it out. Well, that’s what the bible says in Matthew 7:2, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” I know you can say what you want with the freedom of speech but the bible says in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” See, when you judge folk you are, in a sense, placing stumbling blocks in their way and when you do this you bring condemnation upon yourself because you’re the reason your brother fell which is why 1 Corinthians 8:12 says, “But when you sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not perfect by any stretch of anyone’s imagination because I’m human. If you cut me, I bleed red blood, if I hit my toe, I might just cuss, if I get hurt, I have feelings and if something happens, I might cry. Just because God has bestowed in me a gift of delivering his word in an unconventional way, it doesn’t mean I have the right to judge you. See, although I am not a preacher standing in a pulpit on Sunday, I still accepted this calling on my life to be a teacher of God’s word and when I did I accepted the fact that I would be judged more harshly than someone who doesn’t. James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Don’t get me wrong, I still have my moments but that’s because I am a work in progress. Change isn’t an instantaneous thing, it takes time and work and through this change I’ve learned to get my mouth off of other folk’s lives. I don’t normally do the gossip thing because anyone who knows me knows that’s not me. If you call me for advice, I tell you the truth and not what you want to hear because Proverbs 12:17 tells me that “Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.” Stop telling folk they look good when you know they don’t. Don’t tell your best friend you’re happy for her when on the inside it’s far from the truth. Don’t go along with what the group is doing when you know it’s not the right thing because when 1 gets caught, you all get the same charge. If you are a friend or family member, you have the right to tell folks the truth and if they accept it with their mind and heart open, they’ll understand.

Plus, you can’t judge folk by what you see or their choices because you don’t know their reasons. This is why John 7:24 says, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” See, just because you look at a situation through your eyes doesn’t make it worthy of your judging especially when you aren’t living right. Yea, you are looking through your eyes but when you look through the world’s perception, nothing is what it seems. You look at a woman who wears long skirts all the time and judge her but she’s covering scars from the many surgeries she’s had. You judge a woman for staying in a marriage with a man who used to cheat but what you don’t see is, this was the same man who held her during the night when she was crying from the side effects of chemo, who went to all her doctor’s appointments, cleaned up when she couldn’t keep food down and carried her when she couldn’t walk. You judge a man for accepting a woman back who walked out on him but did you know she was the only one to have his back when he lost his job and fell on hard times? You say, you don’t know how folks stay married for 50+ years but you didn’t see the hell they had to go through to hold on to the promise they made when they took their vows. Yea, you may see the choice but you don’t know the reason, so stop judging. You judge a woman for the tattoo across her chest but she got it to cover the scar from open heart surgery. You judge the young man standing on the corner because he should be in school but he graduated early so that he could work and help his mom who had her legs amputated from diabetes. You judge the young lady because she sometime comes to church in dirty clothes but she is doing the best she can, living with an alcoholic dad. You judge the lady at church who is always shouting when she was in a wheelchair for 6 months last year after a bad car accident but her legs work now and she has a reason to dance. If you took less time to judge and more time with joy, your praise would be different.

Stop judging folk! Stop putting your mouth on people’s lives because you don’t know what they have to live with. God has a purpose for you so don’t spend your time judging, gossiping, hurting others by your words and criticizing all the time. No one is promised the next minute, so enjoy the one you currently have. If you don’t think you have a reason to be thankful, stop and think about all the things you didn’t thank God for yesterday and if you still have those things today; you got something to be thankful for. If you don’t think that God loves you and you complain because he hasn’t answered your prayers yet, think about the families whose child’s body is riddled with cancer! If you can’t find a reason to praise God today, raise your hand to your mouth and blow and if you have breath, you’re living and that’s enough. Just because you’re not living how you think you should be doesn’t make you any less alive because someone is wishing for the blessing you’re taking for granted. You could be sleeping under an overpass or begging for money on the street but you’re not because you’re reading this. You have a reason for still being here, so find it and stop with all the foolishness that’s taking over your life. If you’re grown, your vocabulary should contain more than curse words and slang. If you respect yourself, your Facebook page should contain more than booty shots of you. If you’re grown with kids, you should be a role model for them and stop playing a role. If someone has hurt you or done you wrong, let God handle it because you’re fighting a battle you can’t win. Choose to be happy because it’s a mindset. Choose to smile because it doesn’t cost a thing. Chose to be you and not who folks want you to be because that’s all that matters! Judging others should only take place in a contest and not in everyday life! Judging comes from jealousy which jeopardizes the job that Jesus left for you to do and when this happens, your journey to joy is made rough and your living unjustified!

Daily Devotional – 5/17/12 “You may be down for a reason!”

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe God has you down for a reason? Just because you’re going through a storm it doesn’t mean that you’ve been a bad person or made more mistakes than others, it just means it’s your time to go through. God sometimes has to put us down to either jolt us back into reality or to protect us and I know you’re asking, “How can getting knocked down be for my protection? But go with, if you will. When a tornado comes, it does so with winds that can move buildings, topple trees, uproot houses from their foundations, relocate a person miles from where they used to be and kill folk in a matter of seconds, right? Well, what are you told to do when you’re in a tornado? Usually it’s to get to the bottom floor of whatever building you’re in, the lowest level of your house, or if you’re driving into a ditch or something similar, right? You’re told this in order to protect you from the stuff that is flying overhead, to keep objects from landing on top of you and to keep you out of harm’s way. Well, this is the same way when God is working. Do you question the weather man when he tells you to go, then why are you questioning God? I know you think you’ve been down too long but let God work. Yea, he saw when your so-called best friend pushed you into that ditch when she slept with your husband and you keep praying to get out of it but he hasn’t moved you yet because he knew that you’d be hurt by the stuff flying overhead, so he’s keeping you there until you’re stronger. See, if he raised you up the moment you fell, you wouldn’t heal right because you’d be too consumed with anger to ever love again so he had to leave you down there long enough for the open wounds to heal. Now, when you’re ready he’ll bring you out and it won’t matter what they did to you because what God did matters the most! When you see them out together, it won’t affect you like it would have months ago because God allowed your heart to heal, in his time.

See, sometimes we need to stop rushing through the storm and realize what God is trying to do. I know you’ve been praying for a financial breakthrough because it seems like you can never get your head above water but have you stopped to think that you’re not ready for an increase in your funds? It’s not because you’re not worthy of it but because you need to learn to manage what you already have. God knows if he sends you enough money to get you out of debt and back to solid ground, getting out of debt will be the last thing you do. You know how it is when you expect a large amount of money; you sit around making plans to pay all your bills off, get the car fixed and repair the things you’ve been putting off around the house but as soon as it comes you pay just enough to catch up, the major things forgotten and the rest is spent on ridiculous stuff you don’t need. You go out and buy $100 shirts, $90 jeans, $50 shoes, $70 makeup and God only knows the amount on food and for what? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with splurging on yourself every once in a while but handle your business first. If you didn’t have a problem with Wal-Mart and Target before, you shouldn’t now because as soon as the money is gone, you’re back in debt, when you should have paid the bills off to get ahead but instead you paid just what you had past due which means when the new month comes, you’re past due again. God hasn’t removed the clouds from over you yet because you’re not ready.

I know, I know; you think you’re ready to be elevated and you just can’t understand why you can’t get none of the jobs you’ve applied for because you’ve done all the things you think you need to. God is simply saying, not yet. He isn’t saying this to punish you for the sins of your past because he doesn’t work like that, he is simply telling you to keep preparing for when your time comes. See, although I think I may be ready for a new job, God knows I’m not, well not really, because I’ve got accustomed to the laid back atmosphere where I am and really not ready to start over again but when it’s time for me to move, he’ll show me. This doesn’t mean that I should stop applying because how will I know when it’s my time if I never put in the effort. Another reason God hasn’t elevated some of us is because of the fear that we have when God ask in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” However, with the economy being the way it is and companies closing, a lot of folks are concerned about getting a new job which might not last and then you’re left with no job and no income. So, it’s easy to say don’t be fearful but not being fearful is a lot harder than it looks. That’s why we have to have faith laid out in front of us like a bridge to walk on because 2 Corinthians 5:7 say, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” See, if we have unwavering faith to believe that God won’t leave us, he won’t and if we believe that with God and faith, nothing is impossible, it won’t be but we have to have this faith first and then walk. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” With faith, your path is lighted although through man’s eyes it looks dark. With faith, your hurdle is low enough to jump over but through man’s eyes it looks taller than a mountain. With faith, the ground is paved with no bumps or holes but through man’s eyes it’s filled with pot holes, bends and crooks. With faith, nothing is impossible but through man’s eyes, nothing is possible.

We have to have faith because faith gives us a solid foundation that allows us to stand without sinking and with this foundation we are able to be fruitful and being fruitful means we’re fertile and being fertile allows us to increase our favor having favor means everything we touch is filled with God’s fire and with this fire there is no fault because the Father has a fresh anointing flowing within us that prepares us to fight when the world is against us, stand when our legs want to give out, hold on when our rope is breaking, shout when we ought to be sick, dance when we ought to be dead, praise when we have pain, win when we should be weary, provide when we should be poor, love when we should be lost, help when we should be helpless, have courage when we should be crying, have hope when we should feel hopeless and live when we should be left! God is not forsaking you because you’ve been in your storm for a while; he just had a lot more dirt to clean off of you when folks meant bad for your life. God hasn’t given up on you because you’ve been down a long time, there’s just a lot of stuff still flying when all the crap hit the fan. God won’t let you be buried alive when folks have dug a dusty grave for you or sickness is ravaging your body, he’s just allowing you to rest there until your body is healed enough to handle the blessings he has waiting for you. Don’t give up just because it seems like the world is turning against you, that’s just God weeding out your enemies who are blocking the view of your blessings. Yea, you may be down and you may even feel like it’s been a while since you’ve seen the sun but just ride out the storm because when it’s all over and done with, God will allow you to walk out on dry land and everything you had before will be bigger, better and new! Don’t count yourself out, just yet because you’ve down because being down doesn’t mean you’re out; you’ve just tagged God into the ring to finish the last few rounds.

Daily Devotional – 5/16/12 “That mistake you made, well ….”

Get over it! Child, mistakes are made by folk every day! You weren’t the first to make one and you surely won’t be the last. Learn from the mistake or mistakes, let it go and move on. Stop beating yourself over the head and stop wallowing in it because the bible says in Psalm 37:24, “though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” Yea, you will make a mistake, which means you stumble, but you can get over it! Don’t allow the mistake to keep you stuck in the same position for too long because the mistake has no power and the mistake doesn’t define your character, you do. So what if you used to be an alcoholic, so was Noah but look at how God used him after the mistake. So what if you used to be a prostitute, so was Rahab but God put her in Jesus’ path to be used in his work. So what you used to lie and steal, Matthew was a dishonest tax collector but God chose him as one of disciples. See, it doesn’t matter about the mistakes you made because if you trust God to do just what he said he’d do, he’ll wipe the slate clean every time. That’s why the bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Yea, God can take the mess you used to be and turn it into a masterpiece. He can take the drug addicted woman and turn her into a walking testimony. He can take the woman who used to prostitute herself and sleep with folk’s husbands and turn her into a Proverbs 31 woman. He can take a man who used to sell drugs, hurt folk for the fun of it and misuse folk because he could and turn him into a preacher of his word. God can take those who have been cast aside and make them rulers among men. God can take the person who others said would be nobody and make them a President over countries. God can take somebody like me, who was raised in the ghetto by a single mom who did what she had to for her children, who went to schools on the North side of town, who folks counted out because of the color of my skin, the texture of my hair and the shape of my body, ME, a simple nobody by the world’s standards; God cleaned me up, he forgive me of my sins, he takes those same sins and cast them into the sea of forgetfulness, he anoints my head, arms, hands, legs and feet daily and he makes me the person I am today; a vessel for his kingdom’s business. Yes, God can used folks who make mistakes because those mistakes make you stronger, they make you wiser, they make you better and they make you, YOU!

Don’t let folks label you with who you used to be because if you’re no longer making or living that mistake, it’s not you. You may have been a cheater, liar, alcoholic, drug addict, prescription pill user or even a backstabber but you’re not anymore so don’t allow yourself to be that any longer. You don’t have to wear a badge of your past mistakes because your past mistakes don’t matter to God because Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Folks can call you whoever they choose too because all that matters is what you answer too. Besides, sometimes making a mistake can lead you to something good. Sounds crazy but it’s true. You knew that relationship you were in was a mistake from the beginning but you got a beautiful daughter or a handsome son from it, so you got something good. Yea, you realized too late that buying that car was a mistake because you now you have an extra bill but you got reliable transportation to get back and forth to work or even a part time job, so something good came from it. Ok, so you made a mistake on a report that was sent to management, correct it and now you know what not to do, so you learned something from it. Don’t dwell on the mistakes you’ve made, learn from them, let it go and move on. Will you make another mistake, probably, but that’s because it’s life and stuff happens but 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Will you always commit a sin or make a mistake, probably not but no one is perfect so there’s a chance that you will but when you pray, daily, ask God to “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin (Psalm 51:2).” Baby, the mistakes you made are meaningless if you don’t make them anymore and if someone says they’ve forgiven you for them, don’t allow them to keep holding it over you. When you have been forgiven they must also forget because you can’t have forgiveness without forgetfulness. I know that folks say I can forgive but not forget but you can’t have one without the other because if you keep thinking about the mistake that hurt you in the past, you bring back that same hurt and anger which allows the devil an opening into your life. If you don’t believe me, read Ephesians 4:27 which say, “For anger gives a foothold to the devil.” I don’t make this stuff up, although I may reword it, it’s still true. In order to forgive, you and others have to forget.

That mistake you made, well it’s made now! Ask for forgiveness from God and anybody you’ve hurt, learn from it, let it go and move on. Stop allowing it to define who you are. If you used to steal, use those same skills and steal away to converse with God and study his word. If you used to lie down with anybody, use those skills and lie in God’s bed of righteousness with your mind stayed on him. If you used to be an alcoholic, replace the liquor with the blood of Jesus and drink it daily. If you used to be a drug addict, replace the addiction with love for thy brothers/sisters and pass it around. Don’t be bound by the mistakes of your past because God can clean you up and work everything out in your favor. Just because somebody thinks you shouldn’t have what you have because of how you used to look, look at God! Somebody said you should’ve been dead with all the crack cocaine you shot through your veins, but look at God working this. Somebody is questioning how you found such a loving husband after all the years of cheating you used to do, but look at God working this thang! Somebody is even trying to see how God could have picked somebody like you, who use to dance in night clubs, disrespect your mother, hurt your sisters, steal from your brothers, and lie when the truth would do; cleaned you up, gave you a new walk, a new talk, a new look and a new attitude and now you’re the minister of music, youth director, deacon, usher or trustee at the church but LOOK AT GOD WORKING THIS THANG OUT! See, not everyone that is close to you are close to you so even though they say they are proud of you, they don’t mean it but let God work that out. While they are busy counting your blessings, God is deducting from theirs and adding to yours. While they are counting you out and digging a dusty grave for you, God is simply adding pegs to your footstool and lifting you higher! So go on and let them talk about you, lie on you, scandalize your name, try to ruin your relationship, and keep on digging that ditch for you because when it’s all over with God has you covered so all is well! Just because I no longer look at what I used to be or how I use to look it doesn’t make me better, I simply see now how I am meant to be so I’ll be who God has made me and I will pray every day for God to “Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word,” Psalm 119:37.