Daily Devotional – 12/5/11 “If just for one day!”

If you could give up all your troubles for one day, would you?  Then try it, yea, try it; if just for one day.  Wake up one morning without worrying about bills, about what folk are saying about you, how others treat you, your workload or not having a job, stress and all of that.  I know that it’s easier said than done, but give it a try.  Make an effort to be happy, if just for one day.  Let the stress of this world roll off your body, like the rain drops that are falling; if just for one day. 

See, we choose how our day goes, whether it’s happy or sad and we choose how we react to situations, whether good or bad.  We set the tone for our day.  If God has given us joy, why do we allow folk to take it so easily?  You wake up in a good mood but before you make it to work a mean driver has stolen the smile from your face.  You walk into the job humming and as soon as your coworker sees you, they come with some bad news and now your song is gone.  But, if just for one day, take back the joy that is so rightfully yours.  No matter how folk look at you, how they make you feel and even what they say; don’t let go of your joy.  Nehemiah 8:10 say “for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” If this joy gives you strength, when you allow folk to take it, it makes you weak.  Take for instance; you have 4 books propping up a table that you’re using.  If for 4 days you remove 1 book all that remains is a table with 3 legs; what good is it?  If you use a chair over and over again, eventually you will wear it out and the springs will push up through the fabric and that will make it impossible for you to sit in, what good is it?  It’s the same way with you.  If you continue to allow folks to take away the joy that’s propping you up, you will lean and if you continue to allow folk to sit all over you, you’ll soon wear out and then what good will you be?  What will you be able to do leaned over or worn out?  Once folk have used you up, they’ll put you on the side of the road just like they do old trash because you’d be no use for them any longer. 

Folk will do what you allow them too.  If just for one day, say no to some of the tasks that are placed on your plate that you really don’t have time for.  If just for one day, say no to the ones that are begging because you don’t have it to give anyway.  If just for one day, relax because you know that you can really use it anyway.  If for one day, call in or take a vacation day and do you!  If you continue to allow the world to rob you of the things that God has given, you’ll eventually dry out like a slice of bread left out on a table.  If you don’t believe me, try leaving a slice of bread out for a few days.  Well, on this Christian journey, you too, can become dried out, if you allow yourself to be left out to dry.  If you constantly go without taking a break, you’ll dry out.  If you constantly give without receiving, you’ll dry out.  If you constantly listen to folks problems without someone to listen to yours, you’ll dry out.  In order to be able to breathe after you’ve stopped, you have to be revived.  Once you’ve been revived, then you have to be rejuvenated.  You do know that when you’ve been rejuvenated, you are being restored to an original or new state, right?  2 Corinthians 5:17 say “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

If just for one day, take the time to be rejuvenated.  There is only one you and once you’re gone, you can’t be replaced. Spend some time alone, resting and meditating on God’s word.  When you are strong, you are capable of defending yourself against the devil’s attacks but when you’re weak, your guards are down.  When you are strong, you are able to help somebody up who may have fallen, but if you’re weak you’ll probably get pulled down reaching out to them.  When you’re strong, you can whether the storms that come into your life, but when you’re weak, you’ll run and hide as soon as the thunder starts.  When you are strong, you are able to handle the death of a loved one, but when you are weak, you’ll allow it to consume you.  You are strong because God has built you with unbelievable strength.  Don’t believe me, read Isaiah 40:29 which say “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”  Still don’t believe me, read Psalm 29:11 that say “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”

If just for one day let go and let God handle all the things that have you burdened down.  If just for one day, smile instead of crying.  If just for one day, love instead of hating.  If just for one day, pray for someone instead of gossiping.  If just for one day, help somebody instead of hurting.  If just for one day, live like there is no tomorrow.  If for just one day, stop worrying about the past because you can’t change it no way.  Matthew 6:27 say “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”  If for one day, stop worrying about the future because it isn’t promised.  Matthew 6:34 say “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  There isn’t much sense in worrying about things that you can’t change.  So if you would, if just for one day, let God handle your problems.  He is much more capable of getting them fixed faster than you or I can.  Just have a little faith and trust in him.  He’ll see you through every time.  Colossians 1:11 says “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” 

Daily Devotional – 12/4/11 “Sunday Prayer”

Our Father which art in Heaven; I come petitioning your throne of mercy today. Lord, I’ve got to first thank you because when I laid down on last night you protected me, my family and my home from the dangers lurking outside and even those that were possibly on the inside. Lord, even though I was too tired to kneel and say my prayers you gave me peaceful rest. When daylight broke you put breath back in my body, you gave my eyes sight, my arms and legs movement, my mind thoughts and strength to get up. When I heard my spouse get up, I was blessed. When I heard the kids moving about, I was blessed once again. When I flipped the switch I had lights, when I turned on the faucet I had warm water, I had food in the refrigerator; oh God, blessings too numerous to count and for that Lord, I just can’t thank you enough. You continue to bless me even when I’m not worthy. Even when I do wrong and sin, as I sometimes do, you still bless me. When I’m too mean to tell you thank you for keeping me, you keep me still. Oh Lord, I can’t make it without you and I’m so thankful that I never have too. When I forget about you in the midst of my busy day, you don’t forget me. When I forget to bow my head before eating, you still give me an appetite. When I forget to pray before bed, you still send rest. When I forget to thank you for my day, you still see me through. Oh Lord, I thank you.

Now Lord, I ask you to bless the person reading this today. I don’t know what they are going through or what they are praising you for, but I thank you for them. Lord, guide their hands to be the best at whatever they choose to do and make them the best person they can be. Lord, send them the answers to the prayers that they are waiting on. Heal their bodies from whatever ails them. Protect their home, job, children, spouse and family. Oh Lord, raise the head of the person who feels defeated today, wipe the tears of the person crying now, comfort the person that’s grieving now. I know that you’re able to do it Lord, because I trust in your word that say you’ll never leave nor forsake us. Lord, you are worthy of all the praise and I will lift my voice to praise you every day.

Thank you for entrusting me with the gifts you allow me to use daily. Lord, I’m praising you in advance for future blessings. I’m storing up my praise for things that are not even in my possession yet but you said if I ask, I’ll receive. I thank you for your word on today. I thank you for giving me what you will have me to say on today. Lord, if one person is touched, if one that use to doubt now believes and if one that sins now repents by your word through this devotional, your work through me is not in vain. Lord I thank you! Bless all on today with the blessings they stand in the need of. I don’t know their concerns, prayers or requests but I know that you’re able to hear them all and after hearing them you can do them! For that I’m grateful.

Thank you for being with me, God, even when I don’t deserve your mercy. Thank you for granting me grace even when I shouldn’t have it. Praise your holy name God! Oh Lord when you shall decide to kiss me to sleep on this side, I shall rest until you call my name to serve eternally with you in the place you’ve prepared for me. God I’ll go for you even if I have to go by myself. I bless your name father for your name is above all names!

This prayer I humbly submit to you on today. Amen

Daily Devotional – 12/3/11 “Hold on my sister!”

I woke up this morning with you on my mind.  I don’t know what you are going through but I know that you need to hear a word from the Lord.  Whatever your situation or your circumstance, know that when you’re down God will pick you up no matter how far down he has to reach.  When it feels like you’ve hit rock bottom, God will and can reach you.  Even when it feels like folks have knocked you down to your lowest point, God can still reach you.  When you’re at your lowest, you’re still high enough for God’s hands.  2 Corinthians 4:9 say “We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”  You know how you drop something and it rolls out of your reach; do you not reach down to get it?  Even if you can’t reach it, you find a way to get it, don’t you?  It’s the same way with God.  When you fall and roll back into your old habits, he reaches down to get you no matter how far he has to reach.  It doesn’t matter that you’ve fallen before because Proverbs 24:16 say “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.” God doesn’t count the number of times you fall because all that matters to him is that you get back up.  See, God knew you would stumble on this Christian journey because you are faced with temptation and attacks by the devil daily but Psalm 37:24 say “Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” God has promised that if you hold his hands through the good times, he’ll hold yours through the bad.  Yes, there will be bad days but don’t allow them to outweigh your good ones.

Jeremiah 31:25 says “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” God says when you lean; he’ll be your leaning post.  When your way is dark; he’ll be the light that lights your path.  When you can’t walk any longer, he says he’ll carry you.  When momma and daddy are gone, he’ll be a comfort for the nights when you’re drinking tears for water.  When the doctor tells you grim news, he’ll be the peace you need to understand.  When pain has you bowed down and you can’t seem to stand, God says he’ll be your healer.  When enemies come up against you in your own home, God says he’ll be your protector.  Psalm 54:4 say, “But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!”  You do know that you’re alive, right? Even though you walk around like the living dead, you are yet alive.  Yea, the kids are acting like you didn’t raise them, your spouse is acting like a stranger in your home, death has knocked at your door more times this year than ever before and it seems like you keep getting knocked 4 steps back each time you move but you’re yet alive.  Isaiah 40:29 says “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

When I look at my grandmother, I see a strong lady.  Even in her 81 years of living, she is still the strongest woman I know.  Because of her strength, she raised 10 children (all who are still living) including my mom, who I also consider strong.  My mom raised 7 children as a single parent.  She taught the girls (who are the oldest) how to cook, clean and provide for a home at a young age.  She was hard on us but it was because she was raising girls during a time when the world, she knew was changing.  She worked 2 jobs, so we had to be the women of the house.  She molded us into the mother and wives that we are today, because she had a woman who taught her the same things.  It is often said that women are like tea bags because you never know their strength until they are put into hot water.  See a woman sees $5 and no way to feed a family but a strong woman sees $5 and says it’s hamburgers for dinner.  A woman sees a flat tire and calls Triple A, but a strong woman pops the trunk to change it.  A woman sees the bills, no money and worries, but a strong woman says they’ll get it when they get it.  A woman faces a hardship and it consumes her life, but a strong woman sees a test that’ll soon be a testimony.  See Proverbs 14:1 says “A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.” 

Yea, your checking account may be negative but you don’t have to look like it.  Yea, your kids may be acting foolish, but you don’t have to look like it.  Yea, your husband may have left you, but you don’t have to look like it.  Just because you’ve been dragged through the mud, it doesn’t mean you have to walk around with mud on your clothes.  If you’re a fireman, do you have to walk around with fire equipment on your back all day?  No, when its time for them to go into a fire, they dress like it and they get their mind prepared to come out alive.  It’s the same way with dealing with a fire in your life.  Isaiah 43:2 says “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”  Isn’t that great news?  Just because you are going through hell, it doesn’t mean you give up!  You have to tighten the buckles on your shoes, tuck your shirt in and fasten the belt on your pants and hold on.  Just because you are going through the storm and the rain is pouring, it doesn’t mean you have to give up.  Put on your rain boots, tie a plastic bag around your head or open your umbrella and walk on.  When you go through the fire, it’s not meant to burn you but to seal in your shine.  But you have to get dressed in the right attire that will be able to withstand the heat and then prepare your mind to fight the fire so that you come out alive.

Please know, no matter what you go through, it’s not meant to destroy you.  Trouble comes because it has been promised but you’ve been equipped with all you need to handle it.  Deuteronomy 31:8 says “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  So whatever you’re going through, don’t allow it to take you out.  God is a man of his word and he will see you through.  Just hold on my sister!

Daily Devotional – 12/2/11 “Unpack your bags!”

Have you ever returned from vacation or a business trip with your luggage only to leave it sitting in the corner, to never unpack it? I would probably think not because most of the things you use every day are packed in those bags, right? So, why do you continue to leave bags packed from past trips? You know the trips I’m referring to like the past relationships, past jobs, past hurt and past anger. Because you still have those bags packed, you don’t have room to pack anything else. You can’t go on any new trips because your luggage is still packed with old outdated stuff. Chile, you’d better unpack those bags, burn what’s in them and move on!

You were in a relationship with this man who you thought would be your knight in shining armor. You thought that he was the one that God sent, you know, your soul mate. You put all your trust in him because he could do no wrong. He provided for you, made you feel good with his hands and with his words and you never wanted for anything. He promised that he’d never hurt you because he loved you with his heart and soul. But then one day he falls from the pedestal you’ve placed him on. You found out that your entire relationship has been a lie but know only was he a liar, he was also a cheater because he has been sleeping with your friend. That same friend that you confided in with your deepest, darkest secrets and the same one you told everything too. See, you didn’t notice that while you were talking, she was taking notes. She wanted what you had. Now, you are devastated and you’ve held on to this hurt for 4 years. Since that time he has moved on to another relationship and so has that so-called friend you had but the only one that is stalled in the past is you. You can’t keep a relationship because you still got the baggage from him. You are so busy treating every man like the hurt that is within you that you can’t even see that you’re blocking your blessing. Just because you’ve been hurt it won’t stop you from living unless you allow it too. Don’t you know that because you think that every man will hurt you, you open yourself up to be hurt? You need to let that go. Colossians 3:8 say “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Holding on to things that have hurt you in the past, hinders you. It doesn’t affect the person that hurt you because they have moved on. Stop dwelling in past hurt. The bible state in Luke 6:28 “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Don’t you know the more baggage you carry, the more weighted down you are? If you go into the airport these days, they charge you per each bag. If God charged some of with fees for the extra bags we carry daily, we would never be able to repay him. I’ve said this before in a previous devotional, but I must say it again – THE PAST IS THE PAST! Now, I didn’t say memories because those are the thoughts that make you smile when they think about them and those you keep. What I am talking about is the thoughts that make you angry just by bringing it up. Life is designed for us to encounter trouble and with trouble comes mistakes & bad choices. But your life doesn’t have to be consumed by the mistakes and troubles of your past. If you constantly look back, how can you see to move forward? If you constantly compare your new husband or wife to the old one, how can you see the good in him or her? You say but Jimmy use to treat me like this, Sara use to talk to me like that. But guess what, you aren’t married to Jimmy or Sara anymore! If you constantly compare your new job to the old one you use to have, how will you enjoy it? If you constantly talk about things that happened in your childhood, how can you expect to enjoy your adulthood? 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” How can you enjoy your new car if you’re still driving the old one? You’d better let it go now before it’s too late.

If, every morning, you have been given breath in your body to get up with new mercies, new blessings and a new start; why would you use that being bitter and mean? Lamentations 3:22-23 states, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” If God woke you up, you opened your eyes and could see, you opened your mouth and could speak, you moved your arms and legs and they worked, why would you still get out of bed with a hateful attitude? The saying, let go so you can grow, is true. If you are constantly holding on to rope that is tied to a tree, it will eventually stop you from moving. This is the same hold the past has on you because you choose to let it. You’re still mad at momma because of something she did when you were a teenager. Baby, momma is dead and gone yet you’re still holding on to it. It’s not hurting momma anymore, but it’s consuming you. Let it go! You’re still mad at your last boyfriend/girlfriend because he or she cheated on you and now every guy/girl you meet has to hear about or deal with your insecurities. But the ex-boyfriend/girlfriend has moved on, gotten married and is enjoying life. It’s consuming you, let it go! You’re bitter because the job promoted somebody to a position you thought was yours, now all you do is complain the entire time you there. But the person who got the job has moved on to 2 other positions since then and you still wondering why they keep overlooking you. Let it go! You’ve become so wrapped up in the past hurt that folk don’t even want to talk to you anymore because they are tired of hearing it. Every time you come to a family function, you bring up issues from your childhood that has no bearing on your present life. You think you got punished more than your sister, so you stay mad at daddy. Your brother got to use the car more, so you’re mad at momma. Chile, stop it! You are grown with your own family, stop dwelling on the past! Stop with the pity party because there is nobody willing to join you when they are facing present situations daily.

Sometimes you have to give up stuff in order to be happy. You have to give up that gossiping friend in order to get real friends because no one wants to sit and listen to all her problems after she has had too many drinks. You have to let go of the trifling boyfriend/girlfriend in order to get the husband/wife God has for you because folk is tired of hearing about him not coming home (when you don’t make an effort to fix the problem). You have to let go of that one child that keeps making the same mistakes (put him/her in God’s hands) in order to see the good in your other children. You have to let go of anything that is holding you down. You can’t float to the top if you got weight tied around your ankles. The same way you can’t stop yourself from drowning if you are sitting in a boat that is filling with water. The only way for you to get into a new boat, without a hole, you have to first let go of the one that’s sinking and get out! You have to decide to be happy. Stop wasting the time that you have on being bitter with the world, because the world doesn’t owe you a thing! If every time I see you, you are complaining, I’ll eventually stop running into you. If your invitations are being lost in the mail to family, church or friends functions, it’s not the post office fault but it’s yours! You are losing precious time and once it is gone, you can’t get back! Unpack those bags that are in the corner, in the spare bedroom, closet and attic and release all those things that hold you down. Luke 9:62, “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Daily Devotional – 12/1/11 “Eat the cake!”

I’ve never really understood the meaning of you can’t have your cake and eat it too until I recently looked it up, because I’m trying to figure out why can’t I have the cake and then eat it.  But the way this should read is “You can’t eat your cake and have it too!”  Still confusing, I know, but let me elaborate.

You go into a bakery for a piece of strawberry (or whatever flavor) cake and you buy the biggest piece they have.  When you get home you put the cake on the table and it sits there.  What’s the sense in buying the cake if you are not going to eat it?  BUT, if you eat it you will no longer have it.  So you have to choose. If you don’t eat it, it’ll dry out after a few days so it won’t be any good anyway and if you eat it, it’ll be gone but you can always buy another piece, right?

Well take for an example, you’ve been worrying God for a job in the field that you’ve graduated in.  You’ve been applying here and there waiting for the phone call that can possibly change your life.  You know that when you get this job, it’ll be your career with the right money and benefits, so you’re waiting.  Finally your dream job is calling!  You ace the interview and get most of the things you asked for (the cake) and you couldn’t be happier!  The one thing you didn’t realize is the odd hours you will have to work.  Now, you’re complaining because there will be some nights and weekends involved.  This isn’t what you had hoped for, but it’s the job you been waiting for, right?  Well you can’t eat the cake and have it too? Either you take the cake (the job) as is, eat it and move on or you place it on the table (on hold) and watch it dry up, but you can’t do both.  Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” But are you willing to work for that desire?  There’s a slim chance that you will always get exactly what you want every time.  If this is the dream job you’ve always wanted and God has blessed you with it, why are you second guessing it?  Yea, the hours may be horrible to start, but they might not last that way.  Don’t be too quick to give back your blessing because it might not be there the next time you ask.  

Not you?  Well maybe you’ve been praying for a house that you can call a home.  You tell your real estate agent all the things you want; 4 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, a bonus room, living room, dining room, a spacious kitchen with a separate laundry room.  She or he finds a home that offers all of these things on your list and you go to see it and you’ve claimed it as yours!  You and your husband sit down to discuss the logistics of the sale and you realize the cost of your dream house is over your budget, so you need to think on it.  It has all of the things you want, you love it but is it really worth the extra money? What do you do?  Do you take the cake and eat it (buy the house) or do you sit it on the table (on hold) and let it dry out?  You can’t have it both ways.  Do you sacrifice some things in order to get the blessing that is staring you in the face or do you walk away?  Matthew 7:8 says “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Didn’t you ask?  God gave it!  Didn’t you seek? God showed you?  Didn’t you knock?  God opened the door for you.  Don’t be too quick to leave your cake on the table because when you come back it just may be gone.  If you’ve done all that God has asked of you and he’ll do all that you ask of him.  God will maintain all that he ordains, but you first have to trust him.  

I understand that telling you to step out on faith is easier than doing it, but how will you know if you don’t try.  I never would have thought that I’d be writing a devotional blog every day for you to read but I am.  You know why? Because I trusted God and I stepped out on faith.  If I failed at it, then I just did.  I won’t cry if I spill the milk, I’ll just wipe it up and do something else.  God has blessed us all with gifts or talents.  Don’t believe me?  Read 1 Corinthians 7:7 which say “I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”  Or Romans 12:6 that say “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” If God has entrusted us with the gifts that we have, why not use them?  What’s the sense of sitting them on a table to dry out, or on a shelf to be covered in dust? In order to increase your gift you have to use it.  It’s like a balloon; in order for the balloon to expand you have to fill it with air.  If there is no air, then the balloon doesn’t serve its purpose.  It’s the same with your gift or talent.  If you have the gift of a beautiful voice, how will you ever increase your range or how can it be heard if you never use it?  If you have the gift of cooking, how can you increase your taste pallet without trying other things or how can you increase the dishes you cook if you never cook anything but the same things over and over?  1 Peter 4:10 say “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

In order for you to climb over the wall you’ve been holding on too, you’ve got to eat the cake.  You want to get a college degree, you’ve had the application in your hand for a while, fill it out (eat the cake)!  You want to change jobs and the promotion has been looking you in the face for a month now, apply for it (eat the cake)! You want to start your small business and the opportunities are there, step out and believe in yourself and do it (eat the cake)!  Get yourself focused, stop waiting on someone else to do something for you, make it happen for yourself because all you have to do is eat the cake.  I can guarantee that if you leave a slice of cake laying on a table in your house on in the break room on your job long enough, somebody will eventually eat it or it will dry out.  One thing about a dried out cake, you can’t add water to it to make it edible once it has.  So eat it now while it’s fresh and good.  Stop putting off for tomorrow the things you can do today.  You’ve been blessed with your talent or gift, use it!  Deuteronomy 31:8 say “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

 

 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-6