Daily Devotional – 10/21/11 “The devil paid for it!”

There was this old woman who lived next door to this atheist man (who didn’t believe in God).  Every morning this woman would shout praises to the Lord for blessing her and each day the neighbor would hear and curse.  One particular morning the woman prayed to God that she was just about out of food and no means to get any but was thankful anyway.  The man, upon hearing this, went down to the local grocery store and purchased 2 bags of food.  When he got home, he placed the bags on the lady’s front porch and rang the doorbell and hid in the bushes.  The woman opened the door and when she saw the bags she immediately went into a praise break.  She thanked God for blessing her one more time! The man jumped out the bushes and hollered, “you old fool your God didn’t buy them groceries I did.” The lady continued on with her praise on the front porch.  The man hollered again, you old fool didn’t I tell you that your God didn’t give you food, I did!” The women stopped and looked up towards the sky and said, “Lord, I thank you for showing up and blessing me one more time.  But what I like about your blessing this time is you made the devil pay for it!” 

Isn’t God good?  This is a story that my Uncle Larry likes to tell and today it fits so perfectly with what God would have me to share today.  See, so many times we go through things, bad things, which prepare us to handle the good things.  I take that as the devil taking us through hell to get us to Heaven. 

In Job 1:11-12 the devil asked God “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.” God replied, “We’ll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.” Then Satan left the presence of God.”

You work for a woman who is the devil in a blue dress.  Every time you do something right, she says something bad.  Every time you try to take 2 steps to get ahead, she pushes you 3 steps back.  Most of the ideas that she pass off as her own are yours but you never get the credit.  Then this position becomes open and from the job duties, it seems to be a hard job that no one can keep.  She asks you to apply for it, not because she thinks you’re capable of handling it but because she wants you to fail.  You pray and fast about the job, apply for it and get it.  You step into the position with your heels on, looking & smelling good, with the faith that God won’t let you fall.  You flourish in the job and everyone who is anyone is noticing.  Not only do you rise above the devilish woman but now you’re her boss.  Isn’t it good news how God has a way of making the devil pay for what’s yours?

You’re in a relationship with the devil in a blue suit that is dragging you to hell and back, when he feels like it.  For some it may be physical abuse and for others it can be mental.  When he is having a bad day, you’re having a bad day.  He feels like you need to be knocked around or that the walls in the house deserve a hole or two.  He cheats because he can and he knows you aren’t going anywhere because he’s told you that no one else wants you.  He says you aren’t this and won’t be that, all the while knocking your self-esteem lower.  He spends every dime you got in the bank, purse, wallet and pocket and then leaves only to come back when the money does.  But in the midst of it all, you’ve been praying, your faith never wavering and God has heard you!  You finally left and after some time you’re dating again.  You meet the man (that you’ve prayed for) and know that they are sent from God.  You don’t experience any of the things you use too and if you argue it doesn’t last because you both are praying soldiers in God’s army and doing this thing the right way this time.  Now you know what a real relationship is and you’re so thankful to God for sending you this man to share it with.  See, the devil paid for your happiness, this time!  He saw that he couldn’t break you with all the hell you’d been dealing with so what else could he do?  It’s like to story of Job.  After all he had been through he never gave up on God and when it was over with everything he lost was given back to him double.  Is that good news?

You deal with complaining folk all day long, those who don’t realize the depth of their blessing giver or the blessing.  Through it all you stay prayed up and you even pray for them.  You keep wondering why they complain so much and yet you’re the one with cancer.  You’ve come to realize that all of the strife you’re facing is just a test and if you hold on just a little while longer joy will come!  Then you get the call you’ve been waiting for, the cancer is gone and you’re in remission!  Then you say, “thank you God for blessing me with healing and for making the devil pay for it!” All of the chemotherapy treatments, surgery, radiation, sick days and losing your hair were preparing you for what you had already been ordained for. 

The devil places people around you to deter your faith.  You know that friend that never goes to church, never prays nor fast and don’t want to hear what you have to say about God but always seems to have everything they need.  She stay in a big house, drives fancy cars, got money in the bank, bills paid and never sick.  She tells you that she doesn’t pay any tithes and look what she has.  You do know the devil blesses too?  She wants you to know that you can have all these things too without praying but she never mentions the price she pays for them.  Yea, she has all of the materialistic things but she goes to hell and back to get them.  That car, after getting her head beat in by her boo.  Those clothes, from the money she gets from all the men she has to sleep with and the black eye well it came free.  She makes it all looks good when it’s covered up, but remove that makeup and the high dollar clothes and shoes to reveal the real girl and see if you still want it! 

Sometimes, God has to take stuff from to see how strong your faith is.  He allows the devil to attack you but never killing you to see if your faith moves like a windshield wiper, back & forth.  When you go through the fire with your belief in God, you never get burned just a little smoke in your clothes and in your hair.  It’s almost like a bet between God and Satan.  God says to Satan, if I remove all their blessings and they deny me, they are yours but if they don’t you have to pay for all of their things to be returned, twice what they lost. 

Just because you can see the greener grass through the hole in the fence, doesn’t mean it’s healthy because it could just be a green light shining on brown grass.  Yea, you may be facing something hard in your life at this very moment but hold on! You may be without a job and a place of your own, got paid today and checking account still in the negative, robbing Peter to pay Paul and you may be sick; but hold on! After the rain stops and you close your umbrella to enjoy the sun, you can look towards heaven and tell God, “thank you Lord for deliverance and for making the devil pay for it!”

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Daily Devotional – 10/20/11 “Just a thought”

I wonder how much better you’d be if you prayed for me as much as you talked about me?  I wonder how many more blessings you’d receive if you would help me instead of always hurting me?   I wonder how many more doors you’ll close because you’d rather tear me down instead of building me up.  You consistently talk about folk and wish bad on their life and then wonder why you can’t get a prayer through.  John 13:34 says “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  Why is that so hard? When you hear folk gossiping about me pray for me.  When you see me struggling, be there for me.  When you see me lost and having a hard time finding my way, guide me.  When you see me crying and hurting, love me.  When you see me hungry and cold, feed and clothe me.  Don’t give up on me, don’t walk away from me and please don’t talk about me.  Not all the days that I am given are good days so are you willing to be there for the bad?  Isn’t this what a Christian is supposed to do?  James 5:16 states “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

But we would sometimes, rather, put our trust in man and then get mad when it falls through.  But God says trust in me & I’ll never do you wrong (Proverbs 3:5). It’s like when you put your trust in a chair, not knowing if it will hold you up each time you sit in but you do anyway with the expectation that it will.  Trusting in God is the same way.  Every time we trust in God we do it not knowing what blessings will be sent our way but with the expectation that one will.  We believe in the reported news that we see on TV and what folk say only to learn that it may not be true, but God says I am the word and I never change (John 1:1).  It’s like when you read the newspaper each morning.  You may read a story of a coworker who has done something awful and without knowing for sure, you take that printed news as the truth and now you treat or think of that person differently.  But next week while reading, you see a small insert about the story and learn that the information that was printed, last week, wasn’t all true after you’ve judged this person so harshly.  But if you blow the dust off your bible and read it sometimes, you’ll see that its word never changes.  1 Corinthians 4:5 says “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”

Be careful who or what you commit too because not everybody or everything is sent from God.  You do now that the devil has folk working for him the same way God does?  See, the devil will send that fine young man or woman to you just when he has you low enough.  They’ll come in whispering all the things you need to hear and show you that being in the world is much better than being with God.  They place these blinders on your eyes that will have you looking one way, to that one patch of green grass on their side of the fence.  They’ll put their arms around your shoulders to keep you from looking around so that all you see looking forward is joy.  You happily go along because all you see is sunshine, no dark clouds and rain like you sometimes see on God’s side.  You go along because you’ve been promised a place like none other on their side.  But once the devil has you, he’ll remove the blinders and his arm from your shoulder so now you get the full picture.  You see that on his side the bad days greatly outweigh the good and now you’re begging God for mercy.  The great part about God is that he doesn’t hold grudges and he doesn’t count the number of times you’ve given up on him because to him it’s not about the starters but about the finishers.  God’s word says you may be, “persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed,” ( 2 Corinthians 4:9) and “They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.” (Psalm 37:24)

Every now and then you will fall, but that’s alright, as long as you get back up.  Sometimes hitting rock bottom is the best because you’re the lowest that you’ll ever get but during these low times, don’t count yourself out! Pray your way up, praise your way through and shout your way out!  Sometimes you have to get in a closet or an empty room and give God a crazy praise.  You don’t have to wait until Sunday morning because you can praise him now.  You don’t have to wait until altar call, pray now.  You don’t have to wait until the choir sings to lift up your voice to God and you surely don’t have to wait for the Pastor to pump and prime you; get your shout on now!  What if Sunday never comes, will you have wasted the time that you could have used to praise God? 

Stop wishing for the blessings I’ve received because you didn’t go through the same storm I did to get them.  You are wishing for my marriage but you didn’t see the heartache I had to endure to get my spouse.  You are wishing for my job but you didn’t see the doors being shut in my face before I got it.  You are wishing for my car but you didn’t see the numerous rejections I received before I received it.  You’re wishing for my smile but didn’t see the many nights I cried myself to sleep to get it.  Be careful what you ask for because your legs may not be as strong as mine to walk the path I did, your shoulders may not carry the weight mine did and your back probably won’t take as many knives as mine has!  God isn’t short on blessings, but you have to ask him for and be ready to work to get them. 

Daily Devotional – 10/19/11 “Time ain’t like it used to be!”

 I can remember the summers when all the children in the neighborhood were out flipping in the grass, playing kickball in the street, hide-go-seek and doing cartwheels.  Then kids didn’t worry about messing their hair up or getting their clothes dirty.  They didn’t have to worry about how the boy or girl up the street felt about them because everybody was out playing together. Now, kids are so busy texting, sexting, putting on makeup and too little clothes to even enjoy a summer day’s breeze.  They won’t even go out with “play clothes” on because they are too worried about what others think.  Time ain’t like it used to be!

I can remember Christmas at grandma’s when you use to wake up to the house smelling like turkey and dressing, Christmas tree was up, house filled with family and a shoebox that was filled with apple, oranges and candy that was made personally for each child.  I can remember going to early morning service at church that taught you the real meaning of Christmas and being grateful for whatever gift was under the tree because it didn’t matter about the size or the cost.  I can remember eating until you were so full all you could do was sleep and 2 folk fighting over the wishbone from the turkey to see who would get the piece to put over the door frame.  Now, momma/daddy has gotten too busy to put up a tree and they don’t cook anymore because it is easier to buy a meal already prepared.  Kids have forgotten the real meaning of what Christmas stands for because we no longer teach it.  They are more concerned with what gifts are under the tree and if you got them what they asked for.  You’ve spent every dime of your bill money to make sure they have the PS3, Xbox, Jordan’s, polo shirts and Chuck Taylor shoes and then you are hungry the following week or your lights are off.  We, as parents, have gotten so wrapped up in the materialistic things of this world that we’ve missed out on the word.  Mark 4:19 states “but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” We’ve become so earthly that we are no longer fit for Heaven.  Time ain’t what it used to be!

I can remember when adults in the neighborhood could punish us when they caught us doing wrong or being disrespectful.  The friends that I grew up with in grandma’s neighborhood still laugh about the whooping we use to get from my granddaddy when we got caught in the back of his truck or sneaking to the candy lady.  Once you got in trouble from the neighbors, you were sure to get in trouble again when you got home because they were going to call.  Teachers would call home for you acting out in class and it was never a question of who was right or wrong because an adult had spoken.  If momma had to come to the school, you already knew your butt was in trouble and if there was a problem with the teacher, it was never known to us.  See, parents then didn’t handle grown folk business in the presence of kids.  But oh now, as soon as somebody say something to your child you’re ready to give them a beat down.  You haven’t even taken the time to find out what the problem is because you’ve already jumped to enough conclusions.  The teacher calls and tells you that Pookie is cutting up in class, he comes home and say, she just don’t like me and there you go up to the school acting like you have no home training.  You talk so disrespectful to the teacher (in front of Pookie) and then wonder why he/she is like that.  You got the nerve to curse the one person out, who is only telling you what you already know, your child needs their butt whooped.  Time ain’t like it used to be.

You wonder why your princess is acting like a garden tool when she sees Momma acting the same way.  You got the audacity to have men coming & going from your house like it’s an hourly motel and then wonder why she can’t keep a boyfriend.  You’ve never talked to her about the dangers of having sex but you cry when she gets an STD or a baby.  Um… it’s too late then.  You talk to your boyfriends in front of her while your husband is at home but then wonder why she can’t be faithful.  You let Jerome knock you upside the head in front of her and then have the nerve to wonder why she won’t leave her abusive boyfriend.  The majority of most children grow up to accept what they’ve seen in the household.  You and your 14-year-old daughter dress the same way and you don’t see a problem.  Both of your shorts are the same size as panties and then you get mad when a guy calls you out your name.  You are in the club more than your 18-year-old and then get mad when she won’t take your advice.  Chile stop it!

When we were growing up, we stayed in a child’s place. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” (1 Corinthians 13:11) When adults talked we left the room.  When momma/daddy said to do something, you jumped before they could finish the sentence.  When you acted up in school, you got a whopping.  When you acted up in church, you got pinched.  There was no such thing as I don’t feel like going, sleeping or texting in church, acting up in the grocery store or begging from other folk.  We didn’t wear $100 tennis shoes and jeans, we didn’t go to the beauty shop every week or get our nails done but yet we still survived.  When we got home from school we did our homework and then chores before anything else.  We didn’t have to have notes left to tell us what we needed to do because it was already understood.  If we got out of line, momma/daddy had no problem hitting us in the mouth and yet we survived.  At 13, my sisters and I could cook full course meals, care for our younger brothers/sisters and clean a house better than Momma because she was working and yet we survived.  Children, now, wouldn’t survive if they had to cook for themselves because our world has become so fast that we don’t take the time to teach anymore.  We don’t raise our daughters to be worthy wives and our sons worthy husbands and yet we wonder why the divorce rates among young folk are so high.  Daddies are not talking to their daughters, telling them they are pretty or giving them the love they need so they go out and find it from the first boy who whispers in their ear.  Mothers are not telling their sons they are worthy of a good woman, handsome and able to be what they choose so they fall into the arms of the first woman who raises her skirt. 

We need to start being parents.  Get involved in their school, manage what they do online, go through the phones that you pay for and have a conversation with them.  Whoop some butts!  (Proverbs 13:24, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”)  Take away some of that high-priced stuff you’ve bought, take them to the library or make them go outside (without the cellphone).  Time isn’t like it used to be which is why we should have a better handle on what our children are doing.  They are growing up and dealing with grown up issues too fast.  This world is cold and mean and doesn’t care about the age of your son or daughter.  Start at home and prepare them for the bitterness of folk.  Not everyone is concerned about their wellbeing but they won’t know that unless you teach them. 

Time sure isn’t what it used to be! I thank God for grandma, granddad, momma and uncles because they instilled in me the values that have made me the woman I am.  I’m not a perfect parent because this is for me as well, but we’ve got to do better.  We are losing too many of our children to this world. 

Time ain’t what it used to be but that doesn’t stop us from being great parents.

Daily Devotional – 10/18/11 “You don’t know my story”

I met this young lady in class about 2 years ago and we seemed to really connect.  Each semester she would be in one of my classes and even though we didn’t hang out outside of school, there was still a friendship brewing.  When I looked at her I didn’t see that she had been dealing with dialysis and was in the need of a kidney transplant.  When I looked at her I didn’t see the struggles she faced trying to raise a family and attend school.  When I looked at her I didn’t know if she was in pain because it never showed.  All I knew was that God had placed us together for a specific reason and I am thankful that he did.  Why? Because it reminded me, that although you, see someone’s glory, you don’t know their story.  Although you see me smile on the outside, I am crying on the inside.  Although you see me living on the outside I am slowly dying on the inside. 

I got a call from my friend early this morning and she left a voicemail to let me know that she was having the kidney transplant today.  When I heard her say the words, tears welled up in my eyes because I know some of the struggles she has faced to get her.  From having dialysis 5 times per week and still maintaining or having a surgery scheduled only to get to the hospital to find out your insurance company cancelled you.  But that was God’s way of saving, it isn’t your time.  Yet, she held on.  I called her back and left her a message to let her know that God was working this thang out! I prayed for God to guide the hands of the doctors & nurses so that she can have a successful surgery.  I’m not worried because I know that God is in that operating room as we speak and to me that’s good news!

See, you may be facing some trials and tribulations in your life right now but your life isn’t over.  You can be going to work every day with a smile on your face all the while your checking account is in the negative and your rent is due.  You can be smiling at church on Sunday only to go home to an abusive spouse.  You can be the life of the party only to go home contemplating suicide.  You can help everybody that calls only to be one check away from eviction.  I may see your glory but I don’t know your story!   You can volunteer every time somebody calls but never get an answer when you call.  You feed folk that are hungry but don’t have an appetite!  You offer a place to sleep for anyone that ask, but can’t find rest for yourself.  I may not know your story but I know the author!

When the first chapter of your book started, it started off with a promise of storms.  For Job 5:7 says, “But a person is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly up [from a fire].”  But if you read on you’ll find comfort in knowing that even though the rain comes, you’ve been promised an umbrella to cover you while you go through.  2 Samuel 22:3, “my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.”  When it feels like you are drowning, God said he’ll be your rock!  When it feels like you can’t face the world, God said he’ll be your hiding place and a protector from trouble (Psalm 32:7).  When it feels like there is darkness everywhere, God said I’ll be your light in dark places (Psalm 27:1). When your body is weak, God said he would be your strength (Exodus 15:2).

So, you have to go through this life’s journey in order to fill the chapters in your book.  You have to face the enemies that have been placed in your path; sickness, death, being lied on, talked about, used, abused and scorned; in order to have testimonies.  There is no way you can have a testimony without a test.  The first 4 letters of testimony is TEST (Taking Every Storm Tastefully)!  Haven’t you realized the devil doesn’t bother you when you already down?  That’s because while you’re down he is counting you out,  [1, 2, 3 …….], because he has already claimed defeat over your life.  But oh, thank God that even though he may knock us down he doesn’t get the KO victory because God steps right in before the 10 count and picks us back up.  See, God doesn’t mind you crying while you’re down because I’ve found that tears are liquid prayers that get through when you can’t say a word and God doesn’t mind the silence while you’re down because then you can hear him more clearly, just as long as you get up victorious.

Get up with your arms high claiming the victory over your circumstance.  Say, I may be temporarily out of funds now but it won’t last.  Say, I may be without a car now but it won’t last.  Say, I may be without a job now but it won’t last.  Say, I may be arguing with my spouse now but it won’t last.  Say, I may be sick now but it won’t last.  Say, I may be grieving now but it won’t last.  2 Corinthians 4:17 states “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Isn’t that worth shouting about?  All the troubles that we face now are just preparing us for what God has already promised!

I may not know your story but I can guarantee that it will be a best seller!  So, go on through the pain and the hardships that life throws at you because you have a shield that’ll protect you each time.  You may come out with a few scars but take a picture of them and put them in your book because they’ll add meaning to your story!

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 “

Daily Devotional – 10/17/11 “Destination …. Heaven or Hell?”

Have you ever gotten in your car, on the bus, train or purchased a plane ticket with no destination in mind?  Are you even allowed to purchase such tickets?  Without a destination in mind it generally means you are going nowhere.  Now, I don’t mean the types of drives you take to clear your mind because those are sometimes needed.  I’m speaking of aimlessly walking around with no place to go.  It’s just like walking around in a circle, all you get is dizzy. 

Well living in this world without a definite destination is the exact same way.  You’ve heard the saying, “it makes no sense to live in Hell just to die and go to Hell.”  But if you haven’t accepted Christ in your life or if you haven’t repented of your sins and kept God’s commandments, then this is surely where you are headed.  Don’t get me wrong, you can also be a Christian and headed to Hell.  Don’t believe me?  Let me show you. 

  • Matthew 5:22 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (worthless), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
  • Matthew 18:9, “And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
  • Mark 9:43 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”
  • John 14:16 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No God, no glory!

So you see, just because you say you’re a Christian doesn’t automatically grant you a ticket to Heaven because your actions and your mouth can get CANCELLED stamped right across it. 

In John 10:9, Jesus says “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”  Going through Jesus is just like going through a metal detector at the airport.  When you get there you have to empty your pockets, put your bags on the scanner and sometimes take off your shoes.  If anything is found they feel is questionable or has been prohibited it keeps you from going through.  Getting through Jesus is the same way.  If, when you get to the gate, you’re still holding on to grudges you’ve had for the past 15 years against momma/daddy; you won’t get through (Ephesians 4:31-32).  If, when you get to the gate, your pockets are filled with money and valuables that you’re stolen, you won’t get through (Exodus 20:15).  If, when you get to the gates, you’re drunk (& I don’t mean with the Holy Ghost), you won’t get through (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). 

All these things (and more) keep you from passing through the gates to get to Heaven.  But they can all be rectified if you let go and let God.  Why are you holding grudges when they only hurt you?  Usually the person you’re mad at has forgotten about the issue and has moved on.  You’re still mad at the job that fired you 2 years ago instead of moving on to one that God has for you but your eyes can’t see it because all they see is red.  You’re still mad at your ex-boyfriend because he wouldn’t have a baby with you but got the next girl pregnant that you can’t see that he is a deadbeat dad.  You’re mad at the car dealership because they couldn’t get you approved that you can’t even see that all they sell is lemons.  Wake up and loose those strongholds that are keeping you from reaping the benefits of being a child of a King.  If your marriage isn’t working and you’re no good spouse continues to cheat, divorce them.  If your job is constantly showing you the signs that they may not be open much longer, find a new one!  If your friends are never there when you need them but quick to call you in a crisis, find some new ones!  If you know you can’t afford the house you’re staying in, move!  If the only pleasure your spouse gets is by knocking you upside the head, leave them!

You’re so boggled down with baggage that if you had to go to the airport you’d have $1500 in extra fees.  Child, let it go!  You can’t expect your new marriage to work if you keep comparing it to the old one.  You can’t expect to enjoy your new job if you keep complaining about the old one.  You won’t find joy at your new church if you came in messy from your old one.  Just because things have happened in your past it doesn’t determine your future.  Just because you use to be a drug addict doesn’t make you one now if it’s in the past.  Just because you use to be a whoremonger doesn’t make you one now, if it’s in the past.  Just because you use to be a thief doesn’t make you one now, if it’s in the past.  The past cannot be changed so leave it there.  Learn from your mistakes and move on! Repent for your sins and move on! Stop allowing the chains of yesterday to pull you from the peace of today.  Stop allowing the devil access to your house.  He doesn’t have legs so either you bring him or you let him in.  Either way if he is there, put him out.  You have to decide to accept the joy that God is handing out because he won’t beg you to take it. 

God has already made a destination for you, but it’s up to you to get there.  John 14:2-3 says “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” You, and only you, can decide what is stamped on your ticket.  It doesn’t matter if you go when folks call if you complain the entire time.  If doesn’t matter how much you give if your heart is not pure in your giving.  It doesn’t matter how many extra mouths you feed if you brag about it to everyone and it surely doesn’t matter how much money you put in church if you only do it to boast.  God doesn’t need you to keep count because his records are always up to date.  You need to make sure you’re headed in the right direction in order to get to the right destination because the GPS in the car won’t be of any use to you then.  A ticket from Delta won’t be any good on God’s Airline.