Daily Devotional – 1/30/12 “A Jubilated Praise”

As me and my sister talked on yesterday, she shared with me the message that was given to them, from their Pastor. She told me that his message was “From Jacked Up to Jubilation, Luke 17:14-19.” Of course this piqued my interest because I wanted to know how I can go from being jacked up to being jubilated. Now, the first thing I had to know was the real meaning of jubilation. It is defined as uninhibited rejoicing in the celebration of a victory or success. Humph, that definition alone gives me chills because when I think about all things that I could have been a victim of, I realize I’m victorious so I start rejoicing. When I think about all the things that tried to hinder my success, I realize I’m victorious so I start rejoicing. When I think about all the times folk said I wouldn’t amount to nothing and instead of falling, God gave me strength to walk, I realize I’m victorious so I start rejoicing and because I have the victory, I can offer God a jubilated praise! See, it’s these things that cause me to celebrate. I don’t have to wait until a birthday or holiday to throw a party because I can get my Praise on for Jesus all the time. I don’t have to wait until Sunday morning to show my appreciation when God shows up on a Friday night to give me rest. I don’t have to wait until Sunday morning to give God praise, when he shows up on Monday with a financial blessing that allows me to make it to payday. I don’t have to wait until Sunday morning to tell God thank-you when he shows up on Saturday with a calming peace that surpasses all my understanding. When I give God a jubilated praise, I’m giving him an uninhibited praise which means I am praising him without restraints. See when you are inhibited, you aren’t able to express yourself openly and that’s not the type of praise I want to offer God. It’s like not being able to mention God in schools because of the rules that have been put in place but if the rule makers knew God like I know God, they would allow you to give God an uninhibited praise in the cafeteria, in study hall, walking down the hall and even in the bathroom. If they knew the wonders that God gives us on a daily basis, they wouldn’t try to hinder the prayers of the righteous. If they knew the works of God on the folks the doctors counted out, they’ll join in your praise instead of trying to stop it.

Stop allowing the world and folks to hinder your praise when the bible says in Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” You’re scared to shout because you don’t want anybody to put it on Facebook or tell others but if parents would shout more, then maybe our children will stop going to church playing church. John 5:19 says “So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” We have no problem with them seeing us shake our butt to the music on the radio, but when it’s time to worship God, we get shy and lazy. Isn’t God worth a jubilated praise when he sends new mercies to you every day? If we don’t teach our children the real meaning of praise who will? If they see us texting and playing with our cellphones during worship service, won’t they do the same? Yea, I know, you’re bible is an app on your phone but the truth of the matter is you need to get a real bible, one that you can study at all times and not just when you have a signal. If we, as adults, would stop playing church, then maybe our children would. How can we expect them to get God on the inside of them when we act, 80% of the time, like he’s not on the inside of us. In Luke 17 starting at verse 11, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when he was approached by 10 (ten) men who were referred to as lepers or folks who were shunned or had leprosy. Now, all of the men begged Jesus to have mercy on them, so Jesus sent them to the priest but on their way, they’re bodies were cleansed. Now, out of the 10, only one who realized he was cleaned, turned and went back to Jesus and offered him a jubilated praise for his healing. The bible says in verse 16 this man came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God and he kneeled at Jesus’ feet, because he was so grateful but then Jesus asked in verse 17-18, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” God is asking the same thing of us. When he healed you from the cancer, do you offer God a jubilated praise every time you think about all the chemo and surgeries you had to overcome? When you get in your new car and think about all the times you had to walk or beg folks for rides here and there, do you offer God a jubilated praise? Each time you come home to a loving spouse and it makes you grateful because he/she doesn’t treat you like dirt like the last one did, do you offer God a jubilated praise? When you leave the house a little late and pass the car wreck that should have been you, do you offer God a jubilated praise? When your name wasn’t called to receive a pink slip when your other co-workers weren’t so lucky, do you offer God a jubilated praise? When you walk past the alleys and see the folks strung out on drugs, when you visit the hospital and it could have been you or your child or when you drive under an overpass and see the folks sleeping outside and you know that God is surely keeping you, do you offer him a jubilated praise? If not, you’d better start.

We have to give God more jubilated praises because we never know when we won’t have the chance too. You’d better store up your praises now so that you’ll be in God’s number on the day he returns instead of being sent to a never-ending Hell! John 4:23 says, “But the time is coming–indeed it’s here now–when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” God doesn’t need folk playing with him but he wants folks praying to him. He doesn’t need praise only when the sun is shining but he wants to see you dancing in the rain when the storm is raging. He doesn’t need you screaming his name when you’ve been pushed down in the pits and valleys but he wants to hear his name in rejoicing when you’ve made it to the top of the mountain. You don’t have to wait until the storm comes, when death sneaks into your home or sickness attacks your body to give God an uninhibited praise because you can do it now! While you are trying to see whose watching you, the devil is watching you so you need to show him that you’re worthy of all the blessings God sends whether they are big or small. I’d rather be dancing to the beat of rejoicing instead of jumping around the hot coals on the floor of hell!

Daily Devotional – 1/27/12 “Think about it!”

Have you ever sat down to think about this or that? Have you ever done something that makes you say, “What was I thinking,” afterwards? Have you ever thought about doing something wrong, dirty or illegal? I read in the bible, Proverbs 23:7 which says “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, said he to you; but his heart is not with you.” See, it really doesn’t matter what you say because it’s what is in your heart that count. The scripture above says it all. Take as an example, you come to my house and I’ve cooked dinner for my family and even though it’s just enough for us, I invite you to join us. Think about it! With my mouth I’m saying, come on and eat but with my heart I’m saying, I hope she says no because I don’t have enough. So, in actuality I really don’t mean the words that have left my lips and because of that I’ll be judged harshly by God. Why? Because, as a child of the King, I am supposed to love my neighbors and be the keeper of my brother and sister and I should also be ready to help no matter what the situation. Luke 6:45 says “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” When you think about doing something bad to me, it’s just as bad as you doing it. See, if you heart is clean then your lips speak clean words but when your heart is dirty all that you share is dirty. Yea, you may be able to hide it for a while but eventually it’ll come out because all it will take is for someone or something to trigger it. Think about it. After you eat greasy or spicy foods, you sometimes end up with heartburn and/or gas that will eventually have to come out, right? Well, if you keep eating hate for your brother, lies about your sister, gossip about your neighbors and malicious intent for your co-workers, eventually it’ll come out no matter how you try to cover it.

You’re still pissed off because your co-worker got the job you thought was yours and even though you’ve remained cordial with him/her, each time they come to your desk for help, your anger gets closer and closer to coming out until one day it will. But see, it doesn’t really matter if you ever say it or not because you’ve been thinking it all along and as the previous scripture states, as a man thinks so is he. So even though you act like you like him/her, you actually hate them and this is causing you to be punished by God. You’ve been mad at your ex-boyfriend for the way he treated you and even though you say you’ve moved past it, you haven’t and now you’re ruining a good man’s life because you’re holding him accountable for what your ex did. Think about it! Your last man cheated on you so now you’re so jealous you’re pushing the new one away with all your insecurities. You want to check his text messages, voice mails, emails and pockets when he comes home but he doesn’t treat you like that and he’s never given you a reason to not trust him but you do. Why, because you are thinking about all the malicious stuff that your ex did. But what you should have done is prayed to God saying, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10),” after the old relationship so that you don’t have to hide behind pleasant words because they will be true and coming from your heart. Proverbs 26:24 says “People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.” If you don’t mean what you say, then you are a deceiver, which means you are a liar, fraud, cheat and/or con artist. It’s like you praying for me and even though I hear the nice words that are coming from your mouth, they aren’t reaching God’s ears because your heart is dirty and what you really want to say is the opposite of what you’re actually speaking. Think about it! When you have all of this nasty mess in your heart, it’s blocking your blessings and not the blessing of the folks you hate on. Each time you think something bad about me, you’re blocking your blessing. Each time you think about doing something bad to somebody, you’re blocking your blessing. You choose to let God into your life which means you choose a new life, so why are you holding on to all of the old stuff? When you chose God, you chose a new beginning and just like he wiped your slate clean, you have to also wipe the slate clean of all the stuff you’ve been holding in your heart for folks that have done you wrong. You can’t change folks but you can surely change you.

Colossians 3:1-17 sums up everything that I’ve said above and I wanted to share it with you. Just as something for you to think about. Let go of all the hurt and anger that is in your heart for whatever or whoever because it’ll consume your life and I know that your life is much more than that and way more than the ugly person you’ve become. Step into the newness that God has given you and become a better you just for you.

“ 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Daily Devotional – 1/26/12 “Thirsty Thursday!”

In the bible, Matthew 5:6, it says “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Now, I’m sure, if you’ve been reading the devotionals, you know the meaning of righteousness but let me share it again just so you can get the full understanding of this scripture and devotional for today. Righteousness is defined as always behaving according to a religious or moral code. You know, obeying God’s commandments, following your mom or dad’s rules or doing what you know is right on your job; that’s being righteous and it’s not always biblical speaking because your parents instill morals in you too. If your parents have taught you how to be respectful to adults and you are, then you’re following a moral code and in following this code, you are thirsting for righteousness and in thirsting you are being blessed. Now being thirsty is having a desire to drink or a strong desire for something. If you thirst for God’s word, then you have a strong desire for it the same way you should desire to follow the moral code (commandments) that have been left for you. It’s almost like kids who are searching for the hidden Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. They have a strong desire to find them because some are filled with candy, some may have a special gift or some may just want the egg so they thirst for them. Well, if you are searching for God’s meaning for your life, then you should be thirsting after his word and his righteousness in order to see the reward you’ll reap once it’s been found. Proverbs 21:21 says “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”

See, when you thirst for righteousness and you pursue it, you’ll follow the word of God which leads you to living instead of dying, wealth instead of debt and honor instead of dishonor. When you seek to have righteousness in your life, you seek the blessings that God has waiting for you. When your body is hungry and thirsty, don’t you feed it or quench it with water or soda? Well, your soul has to also be fed when it’s hungry and thirsty but not with earthly things. You have to feed the soul with the living water, God’s word. John 6:27 says “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” No, this doesn’t mean that you stop working but it means don’t stress yourself out trying to work 16 hour days for things of this world that won’t last and those things that you can’t take with you when you die. Yea, I know you have to work on Sunday’s but try to make it to some worship service, even if it’s only for an hour. If you spend all your days working and none giving God the credit that he’s due, what will be your excuse on judgment day?

The bible says in John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” This scripture is not talking about earthly hunger or thirst but spiritual hunger/thirst. See, if you eat and drink God’s word, then you won’t thirst after earthly temptations. If you eat the word, Matthew 26:41 that says, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak,” you’ll be prepared to say no when you face that brother/sister in the blue suit that seems to know all that you need and go home to your spouse. If you eat the word, Psalm 120:2 that says “Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues,” then you’ll think before you start being dishonest with your brothers or sisters. If you eat the word, Ephesians 4:32 that says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you,” then you’ll won’t hold grudges when folk do you wrong. If you eat the word, James 1:19, that says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” then you won’t be quick to “go off” when someone says something you don’t like.

We, as Christians, have a duty to do right by God. We chose to let God into our lives, so why act like he’s not there just because you’re having a bad day? You get up with an attitude and now you got road rage so bad, that you really should go to jail before you hurt somebody. You get a little bit of money and now your ego is bigger than your house and you wonder why no one wants to be around you. You go to school and get a degree and now everybody that has an opinion is wrong about any subject that is bought up. Child, God isn’t pleased with your mess and you can’t put him on and take him off, like a coat, when you feel like. You’ve got to study God’s word for yourself in order to get a full understanding and know when your actions are wrong. Thirst after God’s word in order to get the plan that he has for your life and hunger for his word in order to fill your spirit with righteousness so that you can be blessed. John 6:47-51 says “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” Eat the word so that you may live, not here on Earth but in Heaven with God because in order to get to Heaven you have to be able to pass through the gates and how will you get through the gates without knowing Jesus and his Father? You can’t ride along with someone else because this is the only ticket you have to purchase for yourself. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” So, you have to know Jesus and in getting to know Jesus, you get to know his Father, God and with knowing God, doing his will and keeping his commandments, you get a stamp of approval on your ticket home, when it’s your time.

Daily Devotional – 1/25/12 “Stop being used!”

It’s simple, stop being used. You have a man at home who finds pleasure in using you as a punching bag and you allow it because he apologizes or buys you a gift. You have a girl at home who only enjoys your company when you’re spending money and not quality time. You have a job that finds pleasure in dumping all of the work on you while they enjoy their nights and weekends at home. You have friends who only come around when they need something from you or church members who call you only when they need you to do something. STOP BEING USED! Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Now, this doesn’t mean give until you’re in the poor house, but it says give so that the way you give it’ll be given back to you. But there is a difference in giving and being used. If you come to me and you need $20 for gas until your payday, that’s me being a blessing unto you and that blessing will be given back to me but if you come to me every Friday because you know it’s my payday with no intention of every paying it back because you don’t work, then you’re using me and at some point I’ve got to stop it or it’ll only continue. It’s just like a parent and their child, if you continue to baby a grown man he’ll never be a man because he always has his mother to fall back on and then you wonder why he or she keeps making mistakes but never learn from them. At some point, you’ve got to stop being used. If your son or daughter, husband or wife, sister or brother is a drug addict, will you buy them the drugs that are killing them? I would think no, but if you are being an enabler to them because you keep allowing them to use you for extra cash every week, then you are.

You have to make up in your mind that you will no longer be the doormat for folks to walk all over. You have a teenager in your home that makes more rules than you do and you’re paying the bills. I had a conversation with my niece on last night and she said to me that most days she wakes up with an attitude and I had to stop and ask her, what reason did she have to have an attitude when everything she has is not been bought by her. I told her when she starts paying bills, cooking dinner, sacrificing sleep for working and then dealing with co-workers, friends and family members all while trying to maintain a household, then she is entitled to an attitude but until then she can zip her lips. See, we’ve allowed children to parent us when we should be parenting them. We buy them all the expensive electronics, shoes, clothes and jewelry and then act shocked when they stand in our face talking smart. We’ve allowed them to exploit themselves all over Facebook and then wonder why no one will respect them or hire them for a job. We allow them to slam doors in our house when we say things they don’t like and even allow them to bring home bad grades when all they have to do is go to school. Baby, we’ve got to stop being used. Yea, you missed out on a lot during your childhood so you want to make sure they have everything. You and your spouse divorced so now the kids used that as an excuse to act a fool and you fall right into the trap. STOP IT! Stop apologizing because you have to work long hours. Stop feeling bad because you won’t allow them to spend the night over everybody’s house or run the streets like their friends do. Your only job is to love your children and you do that by taking care of them and providing the basic necessities of life. Now, don’t get me wrong there isn’t anything wrong with rewarding good behavior but why would you go out and buy your son a $60.00 Xbox game after they’ve put their teachers through hell the entire week in school? Stop being used!

The word says that people should treat you how they want to be treated. If you don’t believe me, read Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31 and James 2:8 because they all say “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” You are worthy of being more than a part time lover for someone you’ve given all your love too. You are worthy than being more than a motel room chick for someone who you pay hotel prices for. Stop settling for a few hours per week when you’re giving them full time attention. Stop settling for minimum wage when your resume shows your net worth to be 6 figures. The simplest way to tell someone’s true feelings, go through something. Get sick and see how many volunteer to take you to the doctor. Have a death in your family and see who’ll be there to comfort you when you’re looking for peace and understanding. Lose your job and see who’ll invite you out for dinner, on them. Need a shoulder to cry on and see who will offer theirs. Ask for a few bucks to hold you over and see who will be quick to give them to you. Tell somebody a secret and see if it gets out. Everyone that is in your life is not meant to be forever because most of them have their seasons, just like flowers that only bloom during a certain time of the year so stop trying to keep them around when their season is up. If they’ve left you, let them go. Don’t keep chasing them because if they wanted to be caught, they’ll stop running.

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I thank you today for all that you’ve done. I know that you have made me in your image, so I am asking you now to forgive me for not valuing my self-worth. God I know that you’ve equipped me with the things that I need to endure the hardships of this world and today I choose ME! God bless my home, keep my mind, & search my heart & if there is anything there that should not be please take it away. I am worthy God because you made me. I am worthy God because I am yours and today I make a vow to stop being used or a user if that’s what I am. I will put my trust in you. God, guide my footsteps so that I may walk in your way. Guide my tongue so that I may talk like you. Guide my heart so that I may love like you. Open my eyes so that I may see you in me. God continue to be my provider and continue to keep lighting my path. Don’t take your hand off of me even though I may stumble because I need you. I love you God and I humbly submit this prayer to you. Amen

Daily Devotional – 1/24/12 “His hands are bigger!”

During worship service on Sunday, Uncle Larry told this story. He said, 3 little boys had earned $.05 for chores and they all went running to the store to get jelly beans. The first boy went in, paid and stuck his hand in the jar and came out excited about the number of jellybeans he was able to hold in his hand. The second boy went in, paid and stuck his hand in the jar and came out excited about the number of jellybeans he was able to hold in his hand. Then the last boy went in and he paid his money but wouldn’t put his hand in the jar. The owner asked if anything was wrong and the boy said no but he asked the man if he could put his hand in the jar and get the jellybeans for him. The man did and handed the little boy his jellybeans. When he got outside, the other 2 boys wanted to know how he was able to have 2 handfuls of jellybeans, when their hands would only grab enough for one and he answered, the man got mine because his hands were bigger!

See, when you are going through things, in the world, you put your problems in the hands of folk who aren’t capable of holding them instead of putting them in God’s hands. You’re nervously waiting to hear back about a job, put it in God’s hands. You’re going to court and the decision is in the hands of the judge or the jury but put it in God’s hands. Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” You’re worried because you don’t have a job, but God said put it in my hands and let me handle it. You’re stressing because you’re working and it still seems like you don’t have enough money to provide but God is saying put it in my hands and let me fix it. You’re grieving over family members who have died, but God says hold my hand and I’ll give you comfort. Why are you crying when God’s hands can wipe your tears? Why are you worried because folks have pushed you down when God’s hands can reach way down and pick you up? Why are you pacing the floor stressing, when God’s hands can rock you to sleep? Why are you still trying to fix a problem that you seem to be making worse, put it in God’s hands. I know you’ve done some wrong, but God says put your troubles in my hands and I’ll cast them into the sea of forgetfulness and they will never be brought up again. Psalm 37:24 says “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

When you’re in the world, folks tend to hang your past of mistakes over your head but with God, the past doesn’t matter. When you open the door and accept God in, you’re covered by the hands of the almighty and he won’t let anything take you out. In the world you had to fight but with God his word says in Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.” In the world, folk made you angry enough to cry but with God all you have to do is remember that Psalm 30:5 says “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” In the world you wish for this and that but with God he says have faith because 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.” In the world you have to sometime stumble in the darkness, but with God you’ll say, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).” In the world you say I am blinded by the attacks of my enemies but with God, you’ll gladly proclaim, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see (John 9:25)!” In the world, your enemies dig pits to push you in but with God he says in Psalm 7:15 “He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made.” With God, his protection is everlasting and it’s all you need. God’s hands are bigger than mine so I’ll let him carry my burdens. God’s hands are bigger than mine so I’ll let him handle my enemies. God’s hands are bigger than mine so I’ll let him protect me during my storm. When all else fails, God never does! Trust in God’s hands because he’ll cover and protect you better than Allstate!

Psalm 91: 1-16 sums it all up for me!

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”