Daily Devotional – 4/3/12 “Praise Now, it could be worse!”

After watching the celebration of gospel on Sunday night, I heard the song entitled “Praise Now it could be worse by James Fortune” and the lyrics alone is a devotional. See, when you think you’re at the back of the line, look back because someone is standing behind you. When you think that you’re at rock bottom, reach down because you’re lying on top of someone who has fallen further. Just when you think you are the only one broke, with no money or food; walk the streets and see the folks living under overpasses, digging in the garbage or begging at the red lights. Child, you’d better praise RIGHT now because your situation could be worse. While you are constantly complaining about your child that still lives at home with you who has his right mind and able to be half way decent, somebody’s child is lying in an alley after overdosing on cocaine, somebody’s daughter is walking down Third St about to sleep with a man who has AIDS and she doesn’t even know it and somebody’s son was just killed in a car accident because the other person decided to drive drunk. Yea, you’d better praise God right now for your life because it could be worse. While you are complaining about the job you have that pays you and gives you the benefit of going to a doctor; somebody is dying from cancer because they don’t have the funds to be seen for the chemo they need, somebody had to choose whether to eat on last night or get their blood pressure medicine and somebody drunk themselves to death trying to deal with the pain in their body that didn’t seem to go away. You’d better praise God right now for your life because it could be worse. Let me say it again, you’d better praise God right now for your life because it could be worse! Be thankful for what you have and stop wishing for what other folks got because although it may look good to you, not everything that glitters is gold. You woke up this morning with a fresh anointing from God, he put breath in your body, he allowed your eyes to open to know that you’re alive, he allowed your arms to throw the covers back, he allowed your legs to hang over the side of the bed and your arms to lift you up, he allowed your mind to be right in order for you to know where you were, he allowed you strength to get up and start your day and he allowed you to have things to do and the ability to do them, so you’d better praise now. Exodus 15:2 says, “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him–my father’s God, and I will exalt him!”

Yea, I know somebody might be mourning the loss of a loved one but you should be rejoicing because when you’re absent from this side all of your troubles are over. I know that you might be upset about losing your job but you should be rejoicing for the obstacle God just removed from your path in order for you to see the blessing that it had been blocking. I know you think that God is punishing you by putting sickness in your body but rejoice in the fact that God doesn’t punish you for your wrongdoing but he forgives and that the sickness may just be ridding your body of all the harmful things so that you can be made whole. Your situation could be worse. Your circumstances could be worse. Your living arrangement could be worse. Your children could be worse. Your job could be worse. Your car could be worse. Your family could be worse. So praise now! PRAISE RIGHT NOW! Praise God right now for the blessings that you have and even for those things that have been taken away because whatever you’re facing is not meant to take you out, so have faith! Yea, the window you’re looking out of is only showing dark clouds, thunder, lightning and rain but have you thought that maybe God is sending the rain in order to water the seeds you’ve sown? Leviticus 26:4 says, “Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” Yea, God knows you’ve been sowing into the spirits of others by always helping so he is sending the rain to water those seeds so that now you can reap from your harvest and be abundantly blessed. God knows that you’ve sown seeds of sleepless nights dealing with the effects of dialysis but he is sending the rain now to water those seeds so you can reap a fulfilling healthy life. Stop thinking that everything that happens to you is because you’ve not always been good because baby every Christian is one sin away from backsliding but that’s why God gave us a mouth and tongue to repent with. You’d better start praising now because it, your life, could be worse.

The lyrics of the song say:
You’ve been saying that you’re tired of going through
Seems like everyone else is blessed but you
Preacher telling you, your miracle is on the way
Paid your tithes, you’re confused cause your rent is late

So you may not have a mansion in a gated neighborhood
But at least you have a roof over your head
You say your body needs a healing, well the healer’s here today

Praise now, it could be worse, Praise now it could be worse

You complain about the job that you don’t like
Do your best, working hard they don’t treat your right
Boss is telling you, your raise is coming soon
With no notice, you’re laid off, what do you do

You’ve been waiting on your blessing
Don’t you know you’re already blessed
You should thank the Lord for what you already have
If it wasn’t for Jesus, tell me where would you be
Praise now it could be worse!

Daily Devotional – 4/2/12 “God’s hospital is open!”

That’s right, God has a hospital where there is healing for your sin sick soul. The question is why haven’t you allowed him too? You are constantly dibbling and dabbling in the world thinking that if you duck and hide God won’t see but baby, God is an everywhere God so he sees and hears all. Don’t think that because you’re in a dark park that God can’t see. Don’t think that because you’re whispering on the phone that God can’t hear and please don’t think just because you erase text messages, he don’t know what you’ve sent. God knows because he knows you and if you sin, you do it from your heart. That’s why your prayer should be every day, Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” See, God knew we would sin but that is why he left his word and he anointed common folk to be able to guide you back to the right path but you have to be willing to get the help, accept it and then use it. That’s where the church comes in. The church is God’s hospital for sin sick souls but you have to go and be seen and the great part about this hospital is you don’t even have to make an appointment to be seen because you’re healing starts when you walk through the door, there is no deductible to be met and you don’t have to sign in and wait for your name to be called. You have the ability to be healed and saved from your sins but you have to be willing to be changed and healed.

See, the church is a place of worship and if you come in knowing that you’re leaving and letting go of all the mess from the past week then you leave better than you came. However, if you come through the doors without an expectancy of God’s grace you’ll leave in the same way you came. Don’t you know that if you walk in with your head held high, a praise on your lips, a clean heart knowing without a shadow of a doubt that God will do what he says he’ll do all the stuff you’ve endured Monday thru Sunday morning won’t matter? If you come to God’s hospital ready to be healed, you’ll receive just that, then the crying you came in with will be gone, the hurt from folks won’t hurt so bad, your broken heart will be mended and the strength you lost from carrying the past weeks burdens will be renewed. If you come to God’s hospital ready for your healing! That’s why your lips should be saying every day, “O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! (Jeremiah 17:4)” How do you receive healing for your sin sick soul? I’ll tell you. First, trust God and stop worrying about Dr. Pastor because his job is to teach you God’s word, like writing a prescription, but salvation is your choice, just like filling the prescription and taking the medicine in order to be healed. Secondly, you have to actually go to church in order to get the healing you need just like you have to go to the doctor’s office. Thirdly, go in prepared to get your healing, that comes with studying God’s word on your own, just like you research when you’re self diagnosing yourself. Finally, receive your healing by speaking it over yourself with the power that it’s already done. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” The hospital for your sin sick soul is open but it won’t come to you the same way you have to open the door to allow God to come in. Try it for yourself and unlike the rising cost of medical bills, it’ll only cost you 10% (that’s tithing) which is much cheaper than visiting the ER. You will sin, but God forgives. You will have temptations but God can give you the strength to overcome them. You will have days of wanting to give up but God won’t allow you too. Visit God’s hospital for all you need. I can guarantee that no matter how bad you feel when you walk in, it can all be released with the power of God and the Holy Ghost. When you sick, shout yourself well. When you’re down, dance yourself happy and when you’re in pain, praise it away! You have the power and God has the prescription. Matthew 21:22 says, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Daily Devotional – 3/30/12 “If they are meant..”

God does have a plan and purpose for everything that he does, but you already know that right? Then why are you questioning him now? I know that he took momma and you weren’t ready but you do know that ready or not death will come? I know that you lost your job even though you never got a bad review, didn’t take a lot of sick days and was the most reliable but God did it so that you could start your career because that was just a job. I know that when it seems like you finally have things under control, 2 things go wrong but that’s just a test to see if your faith in God is still strong. When your husband walks out after 15 years together, that’s just a test to see if your trust in God is still working. When family hurts you and leaves you questioning their love for you, that’s just a test to see if your love for God is still present. When friends stab you in the front, back and side after all you’ve done for them, that’s simply God testing you to see how much you’ll do for him. Stop questioning and start rejoicing when folks leave because they are making room for the true folks God wants in your life so let them go and stop chasing them. Whatever is meant for you is for you and they will never leave especially when the times get hard or the fire gets too hot. See, a person who really cares for you will be there when all the crap has hit the fan, when the money runs out before all the bills are paid, when you lose all your hair from chemo, lose your breasts from cancer, when you have to spend more time taking care of your elderly parents than you do them, when you run out of gas, when the car stops, when stress has beaten you down, when the job is constantly taking instead of giving and when you no longer have a taste for lemonade even though the world keeps giving you lemons. Yea, if they are meant, they’ll be there after the dust settles.

See, a person who truly cares won’t run away when the tough gets going but they’ll run to you with their arms open, they’ll stand beside you to prop you up when you lean, they’ll reach down to grab you when you fall and they’ll stand in front of you offering their shirt for your tears. A person who honestly loves you will cry with you when the news from the doctor is grim. A person who genuinely means well for your life will be there holding your hand when your loved one is lowered into the ground. A person who is meant for you will know, by the sound of your voice, that things aren’t alright even though you’ve said 5 times they are. A person who loves you with their whole heart won’t scare you because 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” For the bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” It’s alright to go have a drink alone sometimes but having someone there with you to share an appetizer is always better and you don’t always have to face this mean world alone if you let people in. Not everyone that comes into your life will hurt you even when you’ve been hurt a million times before. Not everyone that shows up at your door will let you down although you’ve been knocked down more than you can count. I realize that your heart is cold towards men because your daddy left but baby your daddy is the one missing out on your life so stop punishing all men for his choice. You want every woman to cater to you like your momma does but honey your momma is your momma and your wife is your wife, there is no comparison so stop doing it. Just because your momma did everything for you while you were at home, you’re in a partnership now so start acting like it. I know you’ve been hurt but forgive those who hurt you and move on. I know you’ve been lied to but get over it because some folks would rather lie when the truth would surely do. I know folks don’t keep their promises to you but they are human and bound to make mistakes, forgive AND forget.

If folks are meant for you then they’ll be for you. Stop trying to make folk into something they are not. Just because you go to church every Sunday, don’t hold it against your spouse because if you live the right way then they’ll eventually want to see for themselves the God that you’re worshipping. Stop trying to turn your wife into a basketball fan or your husband into a fan of Glee. Allow the folks around you to be who they want to be just like you are being who you choose to be. Life has enough, promised, trouble without you adding to it. You’d better stop taking advantage of whom or what you have at home because after so long it/they may not be there when you open the garage one day. Love the one you’re with and stop chasing after someone that’s not yours. Trust the one you’re with now and stop holding them accountable for what someone in the past did. Believe in the one you’re with now and stop thinking they’ll break promises like others did. Cherish the ones you have in your life now because they won’t always be there. Quit chasing after what is not yours because if it’s meant for you they will not run. Love has feet that will walk to the end of the earth, arms that’ll wrap around you a thousand times over, shoulders that’ll withstand the weight of the world, knees that can stand the hours of pray needed to make it work, eyes that will cry with you, legs that can help carry your burdens and hands that can soothe every ache in your body. Love is given and love is received. Love is God and love is of God. If you have God then you are capable of loving. 1 Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” Love is meant for you, so receive it. If he/she is meant for you, they’ll show you in their actions because 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” If it meant for you then it shall be!

Daily Devotional – 3/29/12 “It’s all in who you know!”

I am usually not a person who watches the news but when I woke up this morning and set up in the bed, the news was on and the video was playing of the man who killed Trayvon Martin being brought into the police station and God dropped in my spirit, “All things work together for the good of them that love me!” In the wake of this tragedy, I had to stop by to let you know that no matter what you’ve done in your past and no matter what mistakes you made on yesterday, God is always in control. See, when they tried to lie on Travyon the first time, the cell phone records came out. Then when that didn’t work they start pulling his past into it and all the things that he had done, but again God said in Isaiah 43:18, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.” Then when that didn’t work, the police department released the initial report stating that Trayvon had beat this grown man almost to death so he had to defend himself but again, that didn’t work because the video is now out showing not one scratch on him. Don’t you know that when you’ve done all you can, God is saying it’s not your battle? Yea, see when all else fails God doesn’t. When man lets you down, God doesn’t and when folk try to scandalize your name, God is simply pushing you over to the side saying, “I got you!” Isn’t that something? I’ve never commented on this case, in this devotional, because I know that no matter who you are, if you do wrong then you will be punished and this doesn’t necessarily mean while walking on this side but you will because the bible says in Colossians 3:25, “But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.”

See, it’s all in who you know because Trayvon’s parents aren’t political figures, his sisters aren’t top notch attorneys, his brothers aren’t well known doctors, his grandparents aren’t members of Congress, his uncle isn’t the president and his aunt isn’t the First Lady but his Father is a King which means his death isn’t in vain. Yea, folks tried to cover up the truth but the bible says in John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Now, don’t think that this only applies to this case because it’s the same for you because it’s all in who you know. If you know God and if you’ve accepted God into your life, then you have the best doctor, the ultimate lawyer, the greatest listener, top notch security detail, number 1 rated insurance carrier and an undying provider! (Some things to shout about!) It doesn’t matter that you used to be a thief and now some folks always refer to you as that no matter how you’ve changed and as soon as something comes up missing, they quickly assume it’s because of you and they still judge but you have a lawyer on your side that has never lost a case and he says you don’t even have to take the stand in your defense because I will speak for you. It doesn’t matter that the doctor has given up on you because God says, I got you covered. It doesn’t matter that folks won’t listen to you because they don’t think you’ve changed because God is saying; keep talking because I’m listening. Bay-bee! Don’t you know that God will work thangs out in your favor when you trust him? Don’t you know that he’ll make your enemies your footstool if you believe he will? Don’t you know that he’ll remove the obstacles in your way if you ask him?

When it seems like you’re in the middle of an earthquake because all hell is breaking loose, that’s just God shaking your life to put the things that matter back into perspective. All of the stuff/people that were lost during the quake are things that you no longer need, now focus on the stuff/people that are left and live on. When it seems like that fire that spread quickly through your home has destroyed everything you had and even took a part of you, that’s simply God removing the old in order to restore it with all new stuff. See, in order to make room for your new blessings you have to remove the old stuff that’s in the way. If it was meant to take you out, then God wouldn’t have allowed you to go to work early instead of still being sleep in the room where the fire started. When it seems like the tornado of trials and tribulations blew through your life quickly and quietly and took all of your possessions and your strength, look back because your foundation is still there and as long as you have it you can always rebuild. When things are taken, they can be replaced. When folks leave, they didn’t belong to you any way. When folk talk about you, let them because talking doesn’t define your character. When folk keep pushing you down instead of helping you up, they’ll pay for it. When folk speak bad over your life, don’t pay them no mind because as surely as they sow they shall also reap. It’s all about who you know. Becky wasn’t the one that promoted you on the job because her name didn’t have any weight. John wasn’t the one that approved you for that car because his name has no merit. Sara wasn’t the one that cured you of cancer because she doesn’t have healing in the hem of her clothes. Tylenol PM wasn’t the thing that put you to sleep on last night because it has no power. That towel wasn’t the one that dried your tears yesterday because it couldn’t stop them from falling and my hands wasn’t the one that pulled you out of that ditch that you’ve been in because my hands can’t deliver. But it’s all in the power of who you really know. God has a plan and purpose for everything that he does. You’d better step back and watch him work!

Daily Devotional – 3/28/12 “Misery, is that you?”

Misery is defined as a serious lack of contentment or happiness or something that causes great unhappiness. If something or someone is causing you to be unhappy, YOU can change it. If you are grown, no one is responsible for the state of your life but you. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” See, even though your life may not be where you think it should be it isn’t over. Just because you don’t have the job you want, you have one. Just because your husband doesn’t have the means to take care of you like a basketball wife, he is still yours and he is there, so stop keeping company with misery and enjoy your life and if your life isn’t pleasing to you then change it. If you are depressed, get help but stop making the others around you depressed by always bringing the rain to the parade. Just because you didn’t get anything sent to the office on Valentine’s Day don’t go around bursting other folk’s balloons. Just because you don’t have a good relationship with your sister doesn’t mean you try to ruin the one your cousin has with hers by spreading lies. You might be all alone in your misery state but it doesn’t mean others want to join you. Yea, misery may love company but your company doesn’t love her. Stop gossiping when others are hurting because you think they are getting what they deserve, because what goes around surely comes back around. Stop bringing all of your issues to the party because you want others to be as miserable as you. If all you do is complain about this and that, stay home. If the only chance I get to hang out and let my hair down is at girls night out once per month, the last thing I want is for you, with your miserable behind, ruining it. I know that you lost your job but baby that’s been 6 months ago, get up and find you another one. I am not going to sit at my job on the phone with you going over the same thing every day so that I can lose my job too. I know that you may be miserable in your life today but why are you taking it out on me? I know that you may be upset about the state of your marriage but just because mine is going well you’d try to sabotage it just so we can be miserable together? You say you want the best for your friends yet you throw rocks and hide your hands. You listen to one friend vent about something another friend did and instead of you keeping the information to yourself, you quickly run and tell; misery is that you? You can’t be mad at the man you married because he is not holding up his part of the vows when you knew he was a cheater before you stood before God and the preacher to take his hand in marriage. You can’t be mad at the woman you had a baby with because you knew she wasn’t lifetime material when you laid down with her. Yea, see when you lay down with a person (man or woman) and you choose to have sex, you need to make sure they are worth spending a lifetime with because if you have a baby it’ll be a lifetime you’ll both share.

You used to date a guy who never treated you right because he always cheated and never kept his promises. You are thankful that the 2 of you never had any children together so you decide to go your separate ways. It’s been 5 years and you see him at the movies and he introduces you to his new wife. He tells you that he turned his life over to Christ 3 years ago and he is a changed man. After this chance meeting, you go home steaming mad. You look him up on Facebook and see the pictures of him and his new family and it just seems to add fuel to the fire that is already burning in your head, so you decide to friend his wife. Now, you’re sending her messages talking about all the times he cheated on you, how he gave you a STD while you all were dating and how he was never dependable and trustworthy. You tell her that you don’t know why she married him because he isn’t worth her time or trouble. His wife, the woman that he married and bore his children doesn’t have time for this mess nor your games and she lets you know it quickly and to the point by simply saying, “Sweetie, get over it because although misery loves company I’m not the company you want!” See, when he was with you he may have been all those things but now he is not. When he was with you he may have not been marriage material but maybe you weren’t his rib that God had taken. Get over it! If you took as much time getting yourself together as you do trying to ruin other folk lives, your living would be better. Stop acting crazy, deranged and erratic making folks ask, “Misery is that you?” Matthew 5:22 says, “But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

Stop wallowing in your misery pool of pity, however, if you choose too don’t think I’ll be quick to jump in. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll reach out my hand to pull you out but I won’t allow you to pull me in. Yea, I’ll listen to you when you call but I won’t spend all my free time tied up in it when I should be spending it with my family, that’s keeping misery company. Yea, I’ll go walking with you when you need to vent but not every day because that’s keeping misery company, I also have a life. I may even have a drink with you to listen to you complain about your man or woman problems, but not every night, that’s keeping misery company, because I’ll either become an alcoholic or lose the family I have at home. I know that it’s hard being alone but if you try to be less gloomy you may get company every now and then. If you tried being pleasant every once in a while you may get invited to dinner. If you stopped being sad all the time you may just realize that you have great friends to enjoy your life with. James 5:11 says, “We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.” God says although you are going through suffering now, it’s not meant to last because after your suffering comes God’s mercy and his mercy endures forever. Even during your depression, your trials, your tribulations, your test and your storms; hold on! Don’t try to make others feel like you do because it isn’t fair. Don’t think that God has left you during these hard times because he hasn’t. Your life will have bad days but don’t allow them to outweigh the good ones. James 1:12 says, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” After you’ve endured all the bad it makes you stronger and in your strength you gain patience and being patient allows you to present yourself as a living sacrifice to God which is pleasing in his sight. Romans 5:3-4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Misery is miserable and if you allow her in she’ll take over. You are entitled to a bad day just don’t allow it to turn into a week because weeks leads to months and months to years and years into a lifetime.