Daily Devotional – 2/21/12 “Is that you?”

Have you ever seen a person that you lost contact with over the years and when you see them they don’t look the same, so you say “Girl, is that you?” You run into a guy you went to school with years ago and you look at them and say, “Man, is that you?” Well, many times in our Christian walk, God is asking the same thing. Not because of a physical change but because you don’t act, talk, walk or look like the Christian you portray on Sunday mornings. You know how you are so nice to your church members but then curse your husband out on the way home because he wasn’t moving fast enough for you or how you’re so helpful to your choir members when they call but your sister can’t even get you to drop her off at work. God is asking, “Is that you?” I’m asking the same question because you know how folks act one way around certain folks and then another when those folks are gone, God isn’t pleased. How can you be the minister of music on Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon and choir practice on Thursday but yet still in the club on Saturday when they make the last call for alcohol. No, God is not pleased. You have to be the person that God destined you to be no matter where you are because if God has to ask, is that you, then your walk isn’t pleasing to him.

There was a story about this woman who was driving erratically, throwing finger signs, cursing at other cars when she drove by and having a full effect of road rage. Well when she passed this police officer he pulled her over and took her to jail. After a few hours, he came to release her and she asked him why was she arrested in the first place and he said, “Well I saw this car that had all kinds on Christian bumper stickers over the back of it with your bible in the back window and then I saw you acting all crazy and cursing, so I just assumed you had stolen it.” See, Christians should act like Christians every day, no matter where you are because you never know whose watching you. I’ve said this many times before but I’ll throw it in again, the closest most sinners get to God is through a Christian but how can you save somebody else when you pull your Christianity off like socks? You can’t be Holy on Sunday and Hellish on Monday because God doesn’t work that way. Either you’re a full time Christian or you’re not! Now, I’m not saying that you’ll be perfect all the time because you are entitled to make a mistake that’s why we have repentance but if you live in the world all week and then do the Christian bounce on Sunday; God is asking, “Is that you?”

You’re ashamed for your boys to know that you know the Lord so you act like a thug in the streets, on Saturdays, with your pants hanging low, smoking, drinking and cussing and then you stand up in church on Sunday morning leading the devotion but God says in Luke 9:26, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” See, you want to play hard Monday through Saturday and then play the Christian on Sunday but God is not pleased. You hang out with your girls when they are shoplifting in the mall and stealing from folks but you don’t open your mouth to tell them they are wrong and even if you never steal one shirt, you’re still guilty by association. You can’t dabble in the world and in the word and expect God to know who you are because when you have 2 things pulling you, one will eventually win. Why do you think God says you cannot serve me and man ( Matthew 6:24)? Why don’t you invite your boys to church in order for them to see the goodness God has instead of inviting them to hang out? Why don’t you pass around the bible instead of a blunt and offer them God’s way instead alcohol? Why don’t you tell your friends that you can’t hang out all day Saturday because you have church on Sunday instead of acting like you’re not a Christian? The bible says in Matthew 10:33, “But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” Don’t you know that it is up to Christians to save the sinners and not the Pastors of the church? I, as being a Christian, am responsible for bringing lost souls to Christ and it is the Pastor’s responsibility to try to keep them walking the right way by teaching them God’s word but I can’t do my job if I am not looking like the Christian I am supposed to be.

When you ride in your car with all that Hell in you, God is asking, “Is that you?” When you’re lying, backbiting and stabbing friends in the back, God is asking, “Is that you?” When you’re sleeping with other folks husbands or wives and you got your own at home, God is asking, “Is that you?” When you wear the skirts so short on Saturday that allows the world to see your insides when you bend over and then a skirt so long you keep tripping over it on Sunday, God is asking, “Is that you?” You do the worldly dance all night in the clubs and then come to worship service and shout all over the altar, God isn’t pleased. Why? Because you’re messy! God has given you the gift of life so you are supposed to live but live the Christian way. This is why you have to be the same when you’re in your blessing season and during your stormy season. God doesn’t need fake folks that are full of fluff but he needs real righteous respectable folks that are willing workers! See, Matthew 25:29 says “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” God gives you blessing and how you use those blessings determine if you should get more but if you take the blessings from the job that God has blessed you with for worldly mess, then why should God continue to give you an increase? You’re a Christian but you don’t believe in tithing. You’re a Christian but then you sit around in the barber and beauty shops spreading rumors/gossip about Pastor So & So. You’re a Christian only when it’s convenient to you.

God has himself to you which then gives you joy and having this joy gives you strength to do all and be all that you want to be, so why are you so mean? Now, I can understand having a stressful day and you not wanting to be bothered, but being mean from the time you wake up until the time you go back to sleep is not right. If you’ve accepted God into your life then you should have joy and with joy comes peace and with God’s peace it surpasses all of your understanding. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” You know how you get a call about a job that you haven’t even applied for and you’re trying to figure out how, it’s God’s peace that surpasses your understanding. You’re still trying to figure out how you got approved for the car you wanted when 3 other folks had turned you down, but that’s God’s peace that surpasses your understanding. You’re still worried about the cancer the doctor found in your breast only to go back to find out the tumor is gone, that’s God’s peace that surpasses your understanding. God will do his part but you have to do yours. Don’t make God ask, “Is that you?” Be the Christian man or woman God as made you. Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” He didn’t make you to be full of hell all your life but he made you to have joy in your heart, a smile on your face and love to share. Don’t make God question who you are based on your actions. Live a life that is pleasing to God so that he recognizes you every time he hears your voice.

Daily Devotional – 2/20/12 “Tell the truth and shame the devil!”

There was once this young man who had accepted God into his life. He went to bible study, Sunday school and worship service twice on Sunday. He helped out wherever he could and seemed to have everything all together. On a sunny, warm afternoon while driving home he was killed in an automobile accident and his soul was carried home to stand in front of God to be judged. He knew he had this covered because he was a Christian, you see. He reached the Heavenly gates and he was in awe of the beautiful sight that he was now seeing. He couldn’t believe that he was actually there and was about to see God because he had so much he wanted to thank him for. When it was finally his turn to take the stand in his defense, God asked him, “Young man, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth before your God?” The young man answered quickly, “Yes sir!” God then asked, “Do you think you deserve to walk through the gates of Heaven?” “Yes sir,” he exclaimed! “I’ve done what you asked me to do even though I wasn’t always perfect but I was a willing worker for you on Sundays and Wednesdays. I helped folk that needed it and I went when I didn’t feel like going, isn’t that what you asked?” God replied, “Yes, but did you read all of my commandments?” “Yea, I read them and I tried to keep them all but it was just so hard. I told a few lies here and there but they were small so I didn’t think they mattered much so I didn’t repent for them. See, I only told them to keep from hurting folks feelings like when my wife would ask how she looked in that dress or when my boss would ask if I mind staying late at work even though I had made plans. I told those lies to spare them, so I assumed you would let those pass.” God replied, “Didn’t you read in my word where is states , “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:9-10)? You know that I hate liars but you continued on anyway. If you were such a loving husband, you wouldn’t lie to your wife because you’d want her to look her best at all times, right?” “Yea, but …” he said. “There isn’t a but to add because you should have been honest and when you lied to your boss and stayed late even though you had plans, you became angry which leads to bitterness and bitterness leads to resentment; all because you lied. This could have all been avoided if you would have told the truth.” Now crying, the young man hangs in head because he didn’t realize the small lies could detour his walk through the gates. He never imagined a simple lie to spare someone’s feelings could hinder him.

Hmm, this is worth thinking about huh? What good does it do to tell a lie when the truth will do? Do you tell so many lies that folk now treat you like the boy who cried wolf? The bad part about it is Christians are the ones that can tell a lie quicker than you can blink. Simply sad, when the bible says in 1 Peter 3:10, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.” You know that your husband looks a mess in those pants that are too short but you lie and tell him he looks fine when he asked because you got an attitude. You tell your wife she looks great in that floral print dress when you know it should have been thrown away back in the 70’s, all because you don’t want her to get mad. You let your girlfriend go out to the club looking like a box of off brand crayons because you don’t want her acting crazy when you tell her she looks a hot mess. Child, you’re lying to them and yourself and if you think God is pleased you’re kidding yourself. A lie is a lie no matter how small. Who cares if folk get mad when you tell them the truth because if they are true friends and Christians then they will know that you love them and want to see the best for them in what you tell them. See, when you speak the truth you speak it from your heart. Ephesians 4:25 says, “So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.”

Don’t you know that when you lie you have to keep telling lies to cover the first one? It’s like a never-ending process when you should have told the truth to begin with. Now, I am not saying go back and tell the truth from things that happened in your past but repent for the old sins and vow to be truthful from now on. I know that it’s not always easy but it’s right and a lie is slippery so keep it tight. Haven’t you heard that your tongue has power? If you continue to lie, eventually you’ll start to believe it. If you think that stealing is the only way for you to survive, then it will be until you end up in jail for 15 years because as you continue your need increases because you get greedy (the never-ending process). Tell the truth and shame the devil. If you’re my friend and you see me making a mistake, tell me. I might now show you, then, that it matters but I’ll hear your voice in my head which just may make me change. If you’re my parent and you see me going down the wrong road, tell me. I may act like I don’t care but I do and I’ll eventually change. If you act like you don’t care then I begin to think you don’t, so I’ll continue to do what I want. James 5:20 says, “remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

Tell the truth and shame the devil! Tell the truth and remain on God’s level! My grandma says, “It’s the little lies that’ll send you to hell!” If you don’t believe me, keep telling them. Telling lies leads to more lies which pushes you further from God’s grasp and once you’ve out of his reach he can’t stop you from falling, he can’t pick you up once you have fallen and he can’t dust you off once you’re up. Oh, but telling the truth keeps you under the umbrella of God’s hands which keeps you dry even though you’re standing in the rain, it’ll keep you cool even though you’re standing in the sun, it’ll keep your clothes white even though folks are throwing dirt on you, it’ll keep your knees from getting scarred up when folks keep pushing you down, it’ll keep you from getting burned even though you’re standing in the fire and it’ll keep your clothes in tact even though folks keep pulling you in all directions. Telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth before your God keeps your blessings falling in your direction. Telling the truth keeps the Hell off your back while you’re trying to make it to Heaven. Telling the truth keeps folks from putting their mouth on you. Telling the truth shall make you free! Plus (and I’ll throw this in for free), telling the truth at all times keeps you from having to keep up the lies you tell sometimes.

Daily Devotional – 2/17/12 “What will your dash say?”

If you died today, will you leave a legacy behind worth following? Will you leave something that your family can be proud of? Would the dash that sits in between your date of birth and date of death speak on the valuable things and the gifts you’ve shared with others? Will the dash be justified in the story that it tells? See, I’ve lived long enough to know that it really doesn’t matter about the birth date or even about the death date because all most folks will remember and talk about is the things you did while you lived. Would you be willing to stand around and listen to what folks had to say about you because you know that even though you made some mistakes, in your life, you learned from them and became the person that God destined you to be? Or will you be too ashamed to hear people call you a liar, backstabber, gossiper, ditch digger and unfriendly? The bible tells us in Genesis 1:27, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” God didn’t create us to be anything other than a righteous person who strives to be like him. No, he didn’t say we wouldn’t make mistakes because he promised us trouble and with trouble come bad choices/mistakes, but he expects us to repent and learn from the mistakes we make so that we don’t make them again. Psalm 34:19 says, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” So, there is no excuse for not making your dash count. What will your dash say?

Somebody can say, “My dash will represent the new me because even though I used to be a drug addict, I committed myself back to God and he dipped my broken body in his blood and I came out clean and whole.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”) Someone can say, “My dash will represent the new me because even though I used to lie and steal, God came into my life when I invited him and now I lie with him during the good and the bad and I only steal away when I need to pray.” (Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”) Somebody can say, “My dash will show that even though I made mistakes, God forgave me for them over and over, if I asked. (1 John 1:9. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”) Someone can say, “I was once afraid to acknowledge God before folks that I knew but when I realized the power that he can place over my life, how he can bring me through storms, comfort me when friends are gone, heal me when sickness comes and send rest when I toss and turn, I proudly proclaim to be a child of the king! (Luke 12:8, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.)

Yea, some of our dashes will be longer than others, depending on the years that we are given by God, but it doesn’t mean we work any less. Even Jesus said in Mark 10:14 and Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” See, it doesn’t matter about age to God because it only matters if you let him in. Who am I to say a child has to be a certain age to truly understand the magnitude of God’s grace? There are children going through cancer at a young age and I know that God is the only thing giving them the strength to do it, so how can I say they don’t know him? There are young children homeless and struggling to survive on their own, but they do and it can only be through God’s guidance, so how can I honestly say they’ve never talked to him? During this time, in this life, when peer pressure and bullying is on the rise, our youth need to know about the goodness of God. With suicide rates increasing day after day, in our youth, they need to know that even though they are facing a hard time, it’ll get better if they hold on. With teen pregnancy, drug/alcohol abuse, sexual assaults, HIV and STDs on the rise, we need to tell our youth that God is a healer and a redeemer and that he forgives us of our sins. We are losing too many of our youth without their dashes having meaning. It’s time now for us to show them that their life has a meaning and no matter what age they are, they still have a date with death and because of this, they have to work every day to make sure they leave a dash worth speaking about.

I am not perfect but that means I am a work in progress, so I’ll make my dash count. When we mess up, it’s simply God, the potter, taking the clay off the wheel, reshaping it and placing it back on the wheel in order for us to be able to withstand the heat that will seal in our shine. God is giving us the opportunity to make our dash count. Every time he remolds us, when we ask for forgiveness, he is allowing us time to make our dash count. Every time we go in the fire and come out with burns, he is giving us the chance to make our dash count. Every time we fall and he allows us to get up, he is giving us a chance to make our dash count. Every time he heals our bodies, he is giving us a chance to make our dash count. Don’t allow your living to be in vain. Just because you made a mistake or committed a sin on yesterday, repent for it, be forgiven and learn from it. Just because you feel the best you have in years, doesn’t mean today won’t be your last day because even on your well days, you are sick enough to die. Don’t wait until tomorrow to talk to God, start today. Don’t wait until Monday to start cleaning your life up, start today. Don’t wait until Sunday to talk to God, start today. Don’t wait until you’re lying on your death bed to confess your wrongs, start today. Forgive those who have hurt you, forget those who have walked away and not looked back, love those that are in your life, help those who hands are out asking, pray for those who need it even if they never ask and tell all about the love of God. Your life has a meaning; the kind of meaning that it has, well that depends on you. Make it count! What will your dash say?

Daily Devotional – 2/16/12 “It’s just a season change!”

I know that today somebody might be feeling like God isn’t hearing their prayers, but I am here to tell you that he is. When it seems like one moment you’re walking on top of the world and the next the world is on top of you, it’s simply your season changing. Don’t believe me? Then you need to read Ecclesiastes 3:1 which says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” See, God works in seasons in our life, why do you think we have 4 seasons of weather? The same way we experience the season of winter, spring, summer and fall; we experience seasons in our Christian life. We experience winter when the storms that are raging in our lives cause ice to be on the ground which causes us to slip and fall back into worldly desires. The storm causes power outages, which is the light of God, from shining in our lives to keep us from doing right. The wind blows hard which causes us to turn back to some of the old things we use to do when we weren’t fit to live and too mean to die and the rain causes us to run and hide indoors instead of going to worship service and out into the world to tell folks about the goodness and the mercy of God. Yea, we experience a winter season, in our life, but it’s not meant to take us out it is simply preparing us for the next season, spring.

During the spring season, the storms are still there but they aren’t as bad as winter. Yea, you’ll experience a lot of rain but you’ve got used to it now, so you’re prepared with your rain boots and umbrella. Yea, you still have moments that cause you to hide inside when the thunder is so loud, it rattles the windows but you’re a little more capable of handling it, better than you were in the previous season. See, now when the rain falls in ways of more bills than money, a slight cold, a few gossiping friends and messy family members, you’re able to withstand because your light of God, is no longer out. It may not be shining as bright as it should but it’s still on and you even go to church a few Sunday’s during this season. You’ve started to pray a little now because you don’t feel like all hell is breaking loose in your world and you’ve started to see a little sun shining through the clouds because you read in the bible in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” You realize that even though the rain is falling, it’s still not meant to take you out, just making you a little stronger and preparing you for the next season, summer.

During the summer season, the storm clouds are few and far between and some days you wish for a few just so you can get a little shade from the sun that is shining constantly. You’re no longer hiding on the inside from the rain because you’re going to church more, bible study and Sunday school, you pray more for yourself and others and you even find yourself helping more. You realize that God wasn’t ignoring your requests; he was getting you ready to be able to handle the blessings that he was sending your way. During this season, your praise is more real than it has ever been, your marriage/relationship seems to be going good, the kids are acting right, you got a little money left after paying bills, you got the job you applied for (the one you wanted) and all seems to be well. You’ve had an occasional set-back but you realize that it’s just a set-up for what God has for you, so you don’t allow it to stop your praise. You are really enjoying this season in your life but soon, things start happening. The wind is picking up and it has blown the death angel into your home and he took momma with him. The leaves are falling outside and the tears are falling on the inside because the doctor says cancer. The weather is starting to get a little chilly and so is the relationship between you and your spouse because it seems like things were just going good, now you’re asking, “What’s happening?” The kids are acting up in school, job is stressful and the car keeps cutting off. This isn’t God taking his hands off of you; it’s simply you going into your fall season. See, during this season, the devil is trying to get you to fall so he’s keeping his hands on your back, pushing, but keep reading God’s word that says, “Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand (Psalm 37:24).” Then if you do happen to fall, read Psalm 20:8 that says, “They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.” God didn’t say you wouldn’t have moments of falling as long as you get back up. Don’t allow the fall season to take you out because it’s just getting you ready to go into your next season.

There isn’t a certain way our seasons appear and it really doesn’t matter how they come as long as you trust God through them. Don’t give up just because the weight on your shoulders seems to be getting heavier, hold on! Just because the sun isn’t shining all day like it was before, hold on! You weren’t meant to experience a summer of fun all of your life because how would you appreciate the sun without the rain? How would you appreciate not living paycheck to paycheck if you had all you needed all the time? How would you appreciate being well if you were never sick and how can you appreciate having when you’ve never been without? We all experience the different seasons of change but they are not meant to take us out, simply preparing us to face the next one. We don’t all experience them together like we do the seasons of weather but we still experience them. Just know, praise God in and out of your seasons because the SON can still shine when it’s raining! Haven’t you seen the rain falling and the sun shining at the same time, that’s God working. When the weather man says we will experience scattered showers, you can usually drive down the street and it’s raining, but if you keep driving through, the rain stops. Well, it’s the same way with God. If you keep driving through your storm, you’ll eventually drive out onto drive land and although you might not experience the sun because it’s still cloudy, you’re able to see better. Isn’t that good news? All you have to do to experience better visibility and sometimes even the sun, is to keep driving through your storm! God hasn’t given up on you when hard times come, it simply your season changing. Hold on!

Daily Devotional – 2/15/12 “A little stress is sometimes necessary!”

I know that this title sounds crazy but let me explain. If your life was always easy what would you work hard for? If you woke up without needing anything, would you try hard to get more? See, sometimes having a little stress gives you a lot of reasons to relax. Stress makes you better because it makes you stronger and in your strength you are more determined to do and be better at whatever you strive for. When you have stress, you’ll thank God for being able to make a meal out of the few things you have in the refrigerator because you don’t want your family hungry. When you have stress about making it home with no gas and no money, you’ll thank God for letting you make it because you get paid the next day. When you have stress over your car not starting or not having a way here and there, it’ll make you appreciate the car you eventually get. Sometimes a little stress comes at the right time to let you know that all you have can be gone if you don’t appreciate and work hard for it.

Is all stress good, no because a lot of stress can lead to depression and/or suicide but I didn’t say you need a lot, just a little every now and then. See, when you work hard for the things you got/get, it makes you appreciate them more. When you work hard for your marriage you appreciate your spouse more for the small things and not just the big ones. When you hard work to get and keep the house you got, then you appreciate it by decorating and keeping it looking good. When you work hard on staying healthy and keeping your temple (your body) clean, then you’ll appreciate when you don’t get sick. See, when you work hard for things you have, you have a better chance of keeping them because whose willing to lose something they’ve invested years in or gained with their sweat and tears?

Now, don’t get me wrong I am not wishing stress on anyone because Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” but what I am saying is sometimes a little stress doesn’t hurt. See, its those times that you’re stressed that makes you talk to God more. Its those times that you’re stressed that makes you pray more and its those times that you’re stressed that makes you praise more. Having a little stress even makes you study God’s word more, so yea, sometimes a little stress is needed. Stress comes when you’re tired because you have a lot of stuff running through your mind about things you’ve got to do tomorrow but the bible says in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” so make a list of things to do and go to bed. Stress comes at the moment you’re running late for an important meeting or doctors appointment, but it’ll teach you to get up a little earlier so you won’t have this problem again. Stress is present when you’re going through a sickness but it’ll make you appreciate your well days. Stress, also, shows up when you’re dealing with the death of a loved one but it’ll make you cherish the times and memories of them so much more.

A little stress makes you tough enough to endure the storms you’ll face in this life. With that little stress that you face you’re able to stand and look the devil and his followers in their face when they try to attack your life. Stress makes you strong and in your strength you gain salvation from the holy spirit who resides with you daily and in those moments when it seems like the stress is winning, the Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf. The bible says in Romans 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” So, see dealing with and handling the little bit of stress that comes your way makes you capable of then handling the blessings that God is about to send your way. Think of it like this, stress leads to blessings because if you stress a little, you work harder to not endure the same stress again which makes you appreciate the blessings that God has in store for you! When all else fails, stressed spelled backwards is desserts, so have a few and let it go! Put it in God’s hands and let him work it out. Everything that you have or that you’ll get won’t come easily but it makes keeping them that much better!