Daily Devotional – 11/8/11 “What can I say?”

When I started to write the devotional for this morning, my mind went blank.  I did my normal routine of praying for God’s guidance on what he would have me to say but I just couldn’t think.  No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t pick a topic and go.  Folk were constantly interrupting me and I started to get irritated because the words just wouldn’t flow. I had so many things running through my head, I just couldn’t write them down. To try to lift somebody’s spirit, to give a smile instead of a frown.  I thought about the mother that has been missing for days, wondering where she could be and praying that no harm has come her way.  I thought about the stress children are facing at their young age, when they should be children and not adults walking across life’s stage.  I thought about the bullying that is driving more children to suicide and taking them away from God who promises to always be their guide.  I thought about the situations that folk are facing with sick parents and spouses, the health issues, the bills; not having money to buy food & gas and the stress that’s making them ill.  I thought of the folk that are missing their sleep; and for those that are constantly praying to God for their mind to keep. 

What could I say today that I haven’t said times before?  Don’t you already know that God is standing knocking at the door? I’m just a woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece and to some a friend. But what words could I say to keep your life from coming to an end?  Can I share with you God’s word that promises relief; will that keep you from taking pills and never waking from your sleep?  But then God said, “You are more than just a person, because I’ve chosen you, my child, for this very purpose.”  So, I closed my eyes and I prayed again and again.  “Lord, what will you have me to say today to help folk through their sin?” Then I heard, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28),” for each of you know, surely, this is only a test.  Yes, I know somebody is yawning who couldn’t sleep last night, because they were worried about trying to find a place of their own with no job, no car and no money and they had no more energy to fight.  Somebody paced the floor all night long because their love one is sick, but they are not ready to let go but to God’s word they stick.  Somebody is drinking tears for water and God’s direction they seek, but Isaiah 40:29 says “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”  See, God hears your pleas and he’ll come to see about you if you give it over to him.   Stop praying the same prayer over and over because he has heard all of them.  He hasn’t answered yet because he is waiting on you to let it go.  It’s almost like planting a seed and then watching it grow.  Just because you watch, it won’t make it grow fast, but worrying about a problem, you can’t fix, only makes it last.  It’s like releasing a balloon and waiting to see it fly, but you can’t see it yet because it hasn’t reached the sky.  That’s because you’ve let it go but the string is still tied to your wrist.  Cut the string and let it fly, release your problems from your fist. 

God knows you need a job, a car and some extra cash, but if you pray with faith, you don’t have to constantly ask.  See, asking in faith means you know it’ll come to pass, so you can go on about your day and start a new task.  Then you can focus on things that you can handle, battles you can win because with faith you have your answer and know it’ll be alright in the end. 

James 1:6-8 say “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  So why not ask in faith instead of shortening your days?  When you worry and stress it only causes you pain and strife, and then you’ll cause heart attacks and strokes that’ll quickly end your life.  Trust in God and believe in the word and the promises that he made.  Because the scriptures are written for your understanding if you keep your mind stayed.  I know that it’s easy for me to say when I’m not walking in your shoes, because I don’t what storms you’re fighting or what’s causing you the blues.  It’s true; I don’t know what you’re facing or what is causing you to fall.  But I do know a man who has promised to help see you through it all.  I don’t begin to tell you that I know what you’re facing, but I can tell you to put on your battle gear, those boots start lacing.  Because God has equipped you with what you need to fight and to win, he will even give you strength when the world is wearing you thin.  So don’t be quick to think that God is punishing you because he is there every step of the way no matter what you go through.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” So don’t cry the times when you fall because Proverbs 24:16 says a just man falls seven.  Just pick yourself up, knock the dust off your back and clean the blood from the cuts, because there will be many more times; the world knocks you in your gut.  Ephesians 6:14 says “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” so you’ll be ready when trouble comes to stare it in the face.  Ephesians 6:13 says “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Then you can fight the battle, win and do your victory dance!

So yes, times will be hard and storms will come, that’s a proven fact.  But stop being defeated every time, stand up and clean up your act.  Everybody has struggles so they can’t always offer help, you could see that if you weren’t gossiping every time you hit their steps.  People won’t be quick to join in on your pity party; they have their own problems to solve, but do as the bible says, turn them over and let God do his job.  When you do, you’ll find the peace you need, the sleep and that rest; if you hold on to God’s unchanging hand through this test.  It won’t always be dark on walk and your days filled with mourning, because Psalm 30:5 says “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”  So tie back your curtains, open up your blinds to let the sun shine through; believe in the power of God and his word because I’ve found them to be true.

Daily Devotional – 11/7/11 “I’ve been renewed!”

There was once this woman, this worldly woman, who lived her life as a prostitute and drug addict.  She had given birth to children but that didn’t make her a mother.  She had a mother and father who loved her and tried to do the very best for her, but it still didn’t make her a daughter.  She had siblings who loved her and would come to her rescue every time she called but that still didn’t make her a sister.  She had folk who prayed for her but it didn’t make her a Christian.  All she wanted was the streets and that’s all she had.  Whenever people saw her around town, they would gossip because they knew she was smart, well-educated and from a very strong family, so they couldn’t understand how she could do all these terrible things to her body and cause all of this hurt to her family.  They would pass her by, when she was begging on the streets because they wouldn’t dare help this sinner woman who had all the things she could ever want and then throw them away.  They thought that surely God had given up on her which is why she was on the streets.  They judged her life she was on display in a shelf.  They thought they had it all figured out. 

One day her old minister walked by her and she reached out her hand to him.  Because she was filthy and unchristian like, he jerked his hand back before she could touch it.  He hollered, “Don’t you dare touch me!” She said with tears streaming down her face, “Minister Jones, will you pray for me?”  He looked at her with a look of disgrace and said, “Child, we stopped praying for you a long time ago because surely God wouldn’t allow his child to be out in the world like you!”  He walked away with her pleas feeling the air, asking for his help and his prayers.  She couldn’t understand how a man of God could just walk away without a care for someone who had back slide into the world.  She didn’t think God was hearing her prayers so she didn’t pray for herself.  She could call her momma and daddy but she was so afraid to let them down once again.  So she sat in a dark alley and she cried herself to sleep.  While sleeping, she dreamed that she was standing face to face with Jesus.  Because she was dirty and hadn’t bathed in days, she tried to run from him because she didn’t want him to see her like that.  But he said “You are my sister so there is no need to hide.  My father in Heaven has sent me to you because he heard your cry.”  She replied “I can’t believe that God has heard my cry, for I am a sinner in the world and because my minister told me that he had given up on me.”  Jesus replied, “My father will never forsake his own.  In his word he says, it is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8). Do you believe?”  She said, “Yes, I believe.” Jesus replied “Then that is all you need.”

She jumped from her dream because she couldn’t believe it.  “God really does love me,” she said.  She sat alone in that alley for what seemed like days.  She knew that she needed to get herself together but she couldn’t go home just yet because her family wouldn’t believe her because she had broken their hearts so many times before.  She sat and she sat.  She finally gathered the courage to pray for herself.  She got on her knees and she locked her fingers before her face and she begin to pray, “Our father in Heaven thank you for loving me.  Thank you for keeping me even when I didn’t know who or where I was.  God, I thank you for keeping my mind even after all the drugs and alcohol.  God, I thank you for never taking your hands off of me when folk walked away.  God, I thank you for my family who loved me even when I couldn’t love them back.  God, I just need to thank you now.  I know that I have fallen so many times but yet you forgive me still.  God, I know that you love me and I am praying now for your forgiveness.  Please forgive me Father for all of my wrongdoings.  God, I don’t want the drugs and this worldly life anymore so I ask that you take the desire from my mouth.  God, I don’t know the plan you have for my life but I am ready for it if you would just give me one more chance.  I’m ready, now, to be a soldier for you.  Show me what you will have me to know.  Give me strength Father because I know that this road won’t be easy but I’m ready.”  She continued to stay on her knees even after there were no more words coming from her lips because she wanted God to know that she meant every word of her prayer.  She didn’t know where she would begin but she knew that this was a new beginning.  She eventually got up off her knees and she left that alley and never looked back.

See, I don’t have to tell you the end of the story because if you are a true Christian then you should already know.  Aren’t you glad that when God took you in, your past didn’t matter?  He doesn’t have to run background and credit checks to accept you into his company.  He doesn’t have to take a drug test to see if you’re clean before you start the job because it doesn’t matter.  Isaiah 43:18 says “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”  So, why are you holding on to past mistakes, bad choices, bad marriages/relationships, anger and hurt?  It’s like holding on to a rope that is being pulled.  If you don’t eventually let go of it, it might just burn the inside of your hands.  Well holding on to the past is the same way.  If you continue to let it consume you, it is burning you on the inside.  Don’t you know that when you stepped onto God’s side, all of that old stuff didn’t matter anymore? Don’t believe me, read 2nd Corinthians 5:17 which say “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 

God doesn’t work like man does.  You know how you argue with someone who always bring up stuff you did in the past or it seems like your past crimes are on your back for everyone to see.  Well honey, let it go.  Just because you were an alcoholic in the past, it doesn’t mean you got vodka in your cup because it could be just water.  Just because you use to have a drug habit in the past, it doesn’t mean you’re shooting up now when someone sees a syringe, you could be a diabetic.  Just because you use to be a prostitute in the past, it doesn’t mean you sleep with every man you talk too.  Stop allowing your past to dictate your future and stop trying to prove to folk that you’ve changed.  If they can’t go by your word then show them God’s that says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).”   

Yes, you use to be those things and yes, you use to do those things but you don’t anymore. Ephesians 4:22-24 says “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  God has given you your renewal notice.  Just like when you go to get your car tags renewed, they give you a sticker with the new year that is supposed to cover the old year.  When you place the new one over the old one, it is no longer seen.  God is the same way.  When he picks you up from that dirty, dusty grave that has been dug for you, he dusts you off and gives you a new mind and spirit.  The old one is covered up and no longer visible.  Just like the car tag sticker, the new one can’t be peeled off to see the old one because the old one is no longer needed.  So get up and stand tall! Display the new you, the one that is no longer covered in dirt and mud but the one that has been made new in God’s likeliness.  Leave all of that other stuff behind you and walk on.  There isn’t a need to look back because whatever is behind you were left for a reason.  Leave it there!  Romans 7:6 say “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”

Daily Devotional – 11/6/11 “Pastors are human too!”

On today I had the privilege of celebrating 21 years of service with my Pastor & First Lady at our church, Macedonia MB Church in Hollywood, MS.  My task was to give a tribute to him as family, being his niece.  When I joined his church three years ago, I had no idea what plan God had for my life, all I knew was that he said move and I obeyed.  Changing from the church I had grew up in all my life to this small church outside of Tunica, MS was the best decision I could have made for me and my family.  Being under my uncle’s leadership I have grown tremendously, spiritually.  God has been going a work on me and I love it!  This has also given me an inside look into the ups & downs of a Pastor’s life.  I joke all the time that I’ve become a Preacher’s kid since joining church and I now call my uncle Pastor Daddy! But I love it still!  He is a great daddy, uncle and Pastor and I wouldn’t change it.  I’ve decided to post the tribute below to let you guys know that Pastors are humans too.  I pray that you enjoy it! 

I stand before you this morning to pay tribute to our Pastor and First Lady.  As a niece, I’ve known my pastor, all of my life but as a sheep under his ministry, I’ve been grazing in his pasture for about 3 years.  During these years, I’ve gained a deeper respect for the job that he has.  I read Hebrews 13:17 which states “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  But then I think about folk and how they treat men of God, so it was placed on my heart to encourage you, as my pastor, on this morning.

See, when men or woman are called into ministering God’s word, we take that as if they no longer have human flesh.  We act like they don’t make mistakes in their everyday life and when they do, we are quick to pass judgment and write them off.  But ministers still put on pants the same as sinners do, they bleed red blood just like us, so don’t be surprised when something unchristian like pass through their mouth, as it sometimes do.  Stop holding them at a higher standard like they won’t sometimes fall or make a bad choice.  But pray for them instead of bringing them down, every time they hear your voice.  Don’t act like you don’t drink, when it’s not water in their cup.  But reach down to grab them when they fall, to pull them back up.  Yes, ministers sometimes need to be ministered too because you never know what they are going through.  They’ll be the names you call them and do the things you say they do, because as long as they got God on their side he will see them through. The bible states in 1st Chronicles 16:22 do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” So when they don’t stoop to your level, please don’t be alarmed. Now, don’t get me wrong they are still human so their feelings sometimes get hurt.  Especially when it’s so-called friends that’s dragging their name through the dirt. But, I assume, they shake it off and pray, because if they don’t they may just want to revert back to their old days.  You know when it wasn’t all gospel playing on the radio and a bible wasn’t in their hand, but when they would lay down the law no matter where they stand.  So don’t be quick to put your mouth on God’s chosen ones, because if God has to punish there’ll be no place to run. 

Now, this just isn’t for Pastor’s because their wives are also called, so don’t be quick to judge them when they happen to fall.  See if God already had a minister’s destiny chosen and plans for his life, don’t you think he made preparations when he was choosing his wife? She has to have tough skin to bear Christian folk because most of them don’t respect their role and they take it as a joke.  We always looking at their clothes, talking about their hair like her feelings don’t get hurt and Lord, we are quick to think negative when she misses church.  We act like her life isn’t anointed and appointed by God, like she has the answer to every question and all her problems are solved.  She has some good and bad days, sickness, struggles and strife but does that make her less than a minister’s wife?  She needs to be ministered to just like we do. 

So to you my first lady, my Pastor; hold your head up high because the Lord will fight your battles and he’ll keep getting you by.  He placed you in this place 21 years ago because he had a purpose in mind, and you will reap the benefits of your harvest in due time.  Even when it seems like your work is in vain and we church folk are a mess, just remember that it’s all in God’s plan and this is simply a test.  Even on the days when you’d rather walk away instead of fulfilling your calling, I’ll be there to lean on when you feel like falling.  I may not have all the answers but I have 2 ears to hear and when it feels like your leaning, I’ll be standing near.  I’ll offer my arms for a hug and a shoulder to help carry your weight because I was placed here for a purpose, it was God’s fate.  So, I’ll keep praying for you, for your strength to bear because we love you and need you here and we pray for many more years to share!

Daily Devotional – 11/5/11 “What’s blocking your path?”

It’s another one of God’s blessings to see this beautiful day. The sun is shining and there is not a cloud in sight. The streets are filled with folk busy about their day, barber & beauty shops filled with their normal crowds and restaurants are flowing with football fans. Most folk haven’t even stopped to tell God thank you for being on this side of the dirt. You do know it could have been the other way, right? Somebody woke up to find their spouse unresponsive this morning and wish they could have said more or just something different. Somebody said their final goodbyes on last night to loved ones they feel are gone too soon and even more are or preparing now to bury their loved one. If death hasn’t stopped by your house in a while, it will. No one is exempt from it because if you believe in God’s word then you know that you must die to live again.

Are you ready? Have you lived a life that’ll be pleasing in God’s eyes? Have you gotten your business straight and said all the things you need or want to say? Will your name be called when Jesus returns or are you just skating by? You know that you must forgive those who hate, use and abuse you? If you’re holding on to stuff because you’re too stubborn to forgive, it may just keep you from being able to live. Holding on to stress can cause heart attacks and strokes and then what will you do? It’s like being in a house of mirrors and every time you look around you’re seeing the same person. The only way to see something different is to either break the mirrors or leave the house. You do know that breaking a mirror won’t give you 7 years of bad luck the same way a black cat won’t cause you to die or have a wreck when they cross your path unless you swerve to miss him? This type of foolishness has been put into our thinking by man of the world and we are too busy to read for ourselves. If God made things here to cause us bad luck and death why would we need his word? Break the curse and move on. Momma and daddy had a grudge against the neighbors 20 years ago and now you continue it by hating their children. Baby, that’s crazy. Now you’re blocking your blessings and prayers from getting through and you probably can’t even remember how all the mess started in the first place!

If you’re already living in a hell, why would you want to die and then be destined to a eternal life in hell? Well, in a sense it’s what you’re choosing for your life when you allow folk and things to block your path to God. Imagine standing on a long road and at the end is the gate to enter into the presence of God. You’re walking but you keep running into stuff that’s knocking you off your path. Stuff like hate, malice, judging others, wishing bad on folk life, not forgiving and being envious of your brother. The good thing with God is when you get knocked off you don’t have to start all the way back over; you just get back on and start again. But if every time something happens in your life, you allow it to knock you off your feet, you’ll never make it to the gate or when you do it’ll be locked because it’s after hours. It’s like you forgetting the dress that you need for church at the cleaners and you rush to get there on Saturday but you’re too late and they are closed, now what will you do?

It’s the same way on this Christian journey. You’ve been hurt, yea I know, but it shouldn’t keep you from living. But every time you see that person your anger grows stronger and stronger, you’re getting knocked off your path. You’re jealous because you’re neighbor has a new car and you don’t so now you wish for it to be torn up or for a flat tire, you’re being knocked off you’re path. You’re upset because somebody else got the job you want and now you’re wishing for it to be the job from hell, you’re getting knocked off your path. You ought to be tired of getting kicked into the mud and having to keep a frown on your face. You should be out of breath from shouting instead of constantly running behind bushes and trees after throwing rocks. Your knees should be tired from praying and not from crawling to see into other folks yards. Your hands should be tired from helping folk instead of plunging knives into their backs. Your legs should be tired from working for the Lord instead of walking over people.

If you keep allowing yourself to be knocked off the path, you’ll never make it to your destination. At some point in your life you have to decide where you’ll spend eternity and you need to do it now. Just because you think you have time doesn’t mean you do. Ask the parents of a teenager who committed suicide after being teased, the son who thought he could make amends with momma until he got the call that she was gone or the sister who needed to say something to their brother who didn’t make it out of surgery. Time isn’t yours because you think it is. You need to remove all the obstacles that are blocking your path before your time is up because God doesn’t have time to hear excuses!

Daily Devotional – 11/4/11 “Is your light broken?”

Are you aware that in order for you to be blessed you have to also be a blessing? You asked God for a car and now you won’t even give a ride to those in need. You asked God for a job or an increase in your salary but you won’t even help somebody who asks you on the street. You ask God for a healing in your body and now you’re too scared to share your testimony. You’ve been blessed with extra food in the refrigerator but can’t even let your neighbor borrow a cup of sugar. Don’t you realize the only God some people see is in you? The bible states in Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” If every time I see you and your light is out there is a problem. It’s like coming to your home but every time your lights are off. Eventually, I will probably think that you haven’t paid your bill or you don’t want me to know you’re home. It’s the same way with letting your light for God shine. If every time I pass you and you are complaining, your light is off. If every time I ask you for something and you tell me no this is mine get your own, your light is off. If I call you for guidance and prayer and all you got to offer is gossip, your light is off. If every time there is work to be done at church and you’re a hindrance, your light is off. If you keep your light out at all times, God may pass you by like a trick or treater does a dark house on Halloween. I don’t know about you but I’m singing every day, “Lord whatever you’re doing in this season, don’t do it without me!”

God has given you an amazing gift but you have to use it. 2nd Timothy 1:6 says “You received a gift from God when I placed my hands on you [to ordain you]. Now I’m reminding you to fan that gift into flames.” Haven’t you heard the saying, use it or lose it? If you start a fire in the fireplace, the only way for it to keep burning is by adding wood because if you don’t then it will go out. It’s the same with God-given gifts. If you don’t use your legs for a long time when you try to stand they will give out on you. If you don’t use the gift of knowledge that you’ve been blessed with, you may just forget it. In order for you to continue to be blessed you have to show yourself worthy of what you already have. If you aren’t taking care of the house you got now, you won’t be blessed with another one. If you are constantly complaining about the job you have now, you won’t be blessed with another one. If you don’t find the time to increase the blessings you’ve already received God surely won’t send you another one. It’s like the story in the bible of the men God blessed with gifts. He gave one man five and he turned it into 10. He gave one man 2 and he turned it into 4. Because they chose to work with the gifts God gave them, he replied “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:21)”. But the man who received one gift buried it in the ground because he was afraid of the possibility of losing it but what use is it in the ground? The only thing that is supposed to be buried is dead stuff. Is your blessing dead? If God has blessed you with his light, why is it off? Why are you afraid to show that you have God deep on the inside?

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.” Isn’t that great news? If I use what I got, I get more. If I share what I got, I get more. If I give what I got, I get more. Take for an example, you have your last $3 in your pocket for lunch and on your way to work you see someone asking for change. You know that you only have these last few dollars but you gladly give it to him. You’re not worried because you remember God’s word that says I’ll be your provider and you go on to work. Then lunch times come and the company has decided to buy lunch for everybody, not only that, a coworker comes and hands you a card as a thank you for always helping her when she ask. As she walks away, you open it and $20 falls out. Won’t God show up just when you need him? All because you gave your all, he gave his.

If you allow your light to be off or dim, you’re the only person to blame. There is no reason for having a limited supply of light when God has promised you a constant supply if you believe and if you use it. Psalm 18:28 says “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” I may not let my light shine the right way every day, but I’m a work in progress so forgive me. I may not always come when you call but I’m a work in progress so love me. I may not always go where I should or do what I should do but I’m a work in progress so help me. I may sometimes fall and let you down but I’m a work in progress so help me. I may sometimes act unchristian like but I’m a work in progress so pray for me. Don’t act like you’re always so good, kind, trustworthy and caring because you have bad days too. Just because you got a little extra money this week, it doesn’t make you better than me so watch your attitude. I may just be your way to work next week. Just because your boyfriend is at the house this week doesn’t mean all the bad days are over, so watch your tone because I may be the shoulder you cry on next week. Just because your kids don’t act up and you got all the answers don’t mean I’m doing things wrong so watch what you say and who you say it too because I may just have to bail you out next week. Be careful of the backs you cross because that person may be the one to help carry you when you fall. Be careful of the shoulders to step on going up because they may be the one you lean on coming down. Be careful of the hands you bite because they may be the only ones to pull you up when you get knocked down. I am not perfect but I’m a believer so that makes me God’s child and that’s enough.