Daily Devotional – 9/8/11 “The Potter”

When a potter is making pottery, he or she uses clay on a wheel that is shaped into all different types of designs, shapes and sizes.  Most times, not even a skilled potter can get it right the first time, so when they make a mistake they take the SAME clay, start over and reshape.  After, sometimes, numerous tries the final peace of pottery is then created.  It is then placed into a high-temperature, heating source that seals the clay into its shape & gives it it’s strength, thus creating the masterpiece that has been created by the Potter’s hand.

Isn’t God that way?  He is the potter isn’t he?  He has sculpted you into the masterpiece that you are.  Sometimes, it takes numerous tries to get you right but he said, that’s ok for even the righteous man fall 7 times and be raised (Proverbs 24:16).  He even puts you in high temperature situations (storms, trials, tribulations, and heartache, and grief, struggles) in order to seal you and make you strong enough to endure.  He has made your skin tough enough to handle being lied on, talked about, name being drug through the mud, folk wishing bad on your life & even speaking death in certain situations.  He made you with tough skin so when folk try to walk all over you; you’d be able to take it without wavering.  He made you tough so that your skin could handle the tears that will be shed and the scars that you’ll get from being stabbed in the back.  He made your shoulders strong in order to carry the weight of the world on them without falling over.  He made your legs and arms strong in order to carry those that may need your help.  He made your feet strong to stand in the face of adversity & still march on.  He even made your knees strong enough to endure a satisfying prayer life,  for the times you’ll need them.

So why are you trying to conform to the world that is against you? For the bible states in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Think for yourself! Be yourself! For God, the potter, has made YOU in HIS image (Genesis 1:27). 

POTTER – Pressing Out Things That Evil Reared! Let go of those things holding you back.  Let go & let God!

Daily Devotional – 9/7/11 “You asked, didn’t you?”

You ask God to bind your enemies and then you get mad when so-called friends aren’t around anymore.  You ask God for an increase in money & then complain when overtime is offered.  You ask for a car because you’re tired of asking for a ride and/or walking & then complain about the gas prices.   You asked for a mate & then complain because they call too much.  You ask God for healing and then complain about the medicine you got to take.  You ask God for guidance and then second guess the path that he sets before you.  You ask God for a sign and then ignore it.   You ask God to open doors for you and then you’re too scared to walk through them.  You ask God to move your mountain/obstacle that’s in your way and you’re still turning back to it.  You ask God for help and then you still worry!

Baby, make up your mind, even God is confused!  Either let God do it or stop worrying him.  There is no need for the both of you to work on it.  I know the saying is 2 heads are better than one, but not in this case! God doesn’t need your help, just your praise & thanks! 

He got his part covered, work on yours!!

Daily Devotional – 9/6/11 “Gee-sus!”

Jesus is the name you call when your life is going good.  When all your bills are paid you say Thank you Jesus! When your family & friends are acting right, you say Jesus I love you.  When you got money in the bank, gas in the car, kids getting good grades, husband/wife is loving – you say Jesus I thank you.  When there is no ache in your body, you stand in church whispering Jesus. 

But oh, when all hell breaks loose in your house & God has to bring you back down a notch; you fall on your face screaming Gee-sus, Lord I need you! When there is no food, no gas money, no friends around to call; you stand at the altar on Sunday hollering Gee-sus, Lord have mercy!  When you’ve drank too much and don’t know how you made it home, you cry Gee-sus if you just let me make it through I’ll never drink like that again!  When sickness comes, it’s Gee-sus!  When death hits your family, it’s Gee-sus!  When husband stops coming home; wife won’t act right; it’s Gee-sus!  When job is gone and trouble seems never ending, it’s Gee-sus!  When you’ve tried it all on your own & it’s no longer working, it’s Gee-sus!  When your umbrella can no longer hold off the rain of your storm, it’s Gee-sus!  When you’re drinking tears for water, it’s Gee-sus!  When you pace the floor at night, it’s Gee-sus!

Chile, Jesus isn’t concerned about how you call as long as you do! But you’ve got to call him in the good that way he’ll know your voice when you are calling him in the bad!  Gee-sus or Jesus! Just call him & he’ll show up & show out every time!

Daily Devotional – 9/5/11 “Hold on!”

You study your bible but it seems like you can’t hear God’s voice. You go to church every Sunday but it seems like the more right you do the more wrong shows up. You go to bible study & prayer meeting, but it seems like your prayers are not being heard. You’re doing the best you can but at every turn your crying is outweighing your laughing, heartache is overshadowing your happiness, pity is replacing your praising & strife is taking over where shouting once reigned.

You’re trying to reach for Heaven but Hell is on your back! So what do you? Do you leave God’s word because the world seems better? Do you back slide because the temptations you’re facing are too hard to ignore?

I’m here to tell you to hold on! Even though your rope may be breaking, find strength to reach beyond that break! Put your feet on the side of the cliff that you’re hanging over and push yourself up. Even though you maybe tired and sweat is dripping from your brow, hold on! But, If you’re at a point where you can’t hold on, let go with the faith that you’ll land safely where God has prepared for you. If your job is stressing you out, move! If your bills outweigh your money, downsize! If your kids aren’t acting right, parent them! If folk are talking about you, so what! They talked about Jesus but he still endured & died in order for us to be free. If there’s anything that holds you down, release it! If you’re in an abusive relationship, get out!

Don’t think that God will maintain the mess you’re in. It’s time now for you to get YOU right. Can’t nobody do you like Jesus but can’t nobody answer to Jesus for you but you. God does hear & answer prayers but he has to also know your voice. Talk to him consistently! Believe in what you’re asking for and know that it’s already done.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people who are called by MY name should humble themselves, pray & seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sins and heal their lands.

Daily Devotional – 9/4/11 “Am I a Christian?”

I am a Christian, can’t you see that? I go to church on Sunday even though I get there late, sometimes hung-over.  I may not wave my hands or give God praise like he is due, but at least I’m there.  Isn’t that good enough? I might gossip and talk about folk I say are my friends, but that’s alright, God said he’d forgive me.  I hate on people’s blessing because I feel like I should be getting blessed too, but that’s alright too, because God said he’d forgive me.  Doesn’t that still make me a Christian?

I sometime take my blessings for granted, I even misuse people; my friends, family, sisters and my brothers. I’m supposed to be my brother’s keeper, to be there when they need me but I’ll spread their business faster than a gardener planting seeds. I’m supposed to pick up those that fall, pray for those that are lost; but usually I’m only on “Christian duty” when it is convenient for me.  Isn’t that ok? Won’t God forgive me for it? I am supposed to pay tithes from the job that I am blessed with, but I saw this pair of shoes that I just had to have so I’ll pay God later.  Chile, God knows my heart!  I saw this man begging and even though I had the extra money, I decided not to give because he should get a job too. Humph, God didn’t say be a fool! But I am a Christian, can’t you see?

Who am I to choose when it’s ok to do God’s will? When he’ll see me through any situation, if I would just keep still. Who am I to choose what Sunday I go to give God praise; when God was the one that lifted me, my bowed down head he raised. Who am I to be a “fair weather” Christian, a some-timer for God; when he is the one that has kept me, all my problems he solved.

Will it be too late for me to change, will I have enough time? Or will it be too late for me to let my light of God shine? Will I get the opportunity a change before my time on this earth ends, will I be able to apologize to my family, say I love you to my friends? Will God give me the chance to show him that I am walking his path?  I guess I’d better start today, this moment to be the Christian that God has ordained me to be.  I am a Christian, you will see!