Daily Devotional – 9/30/11 “It’s Friday!”

 

There was a woman who would visit this pet store 2-3 times per week.  Each time she visited and got ready to leave, a parrot at the front of the store would always say, “Hey Lady!”  She would say, “Yes?” He’d reply, “You shoal is ugly” and then laugh.  After numerous times of this happening, she had finally had enough.  She went to the owner and said, “You know I visit your store a lot and I am one of your best customers.  But every time I come in that bird offends me.  Either you do something or I won’t be back!”  The owner went to this parrot and said, “She is one of my best customers and I cannot lose her business, from now on stop calling her ugly.”  The parrot nodded in agreement.  The next day the lady walks in the store, she goes to get the things she needs, pays for them and was just about to leave when the parrot said, “Hey Lady!”  The lady rolled her eyes and replied with an attitude, “What do you want now?” He said, “You know!”  

You do know that laughter is good for the soul and it is Friday!  You’ve been wound up all week long and just because its 9:30 in the morning doesn’t mean you can’t laugh.  Just because you’re a Christian, you are not sinning if you have a little fun.  Sometimes, when you’re going through a lot you have to just let go! Even for one hour or an entire weekend.   Ecclesiastes 9:7 states, “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.”   Now this doesn’t mean run out and get so drunk that you forget where you are because Ephesians 5:18 states, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”

See, God made this life for you.  He didn’t say it would always be good but he did say to enjoy it while you have time.  If you don’t believe me, study the word for yourself.  Ecclesiastes 11:8, states, “However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.”  So, on your good days enjoy life and even on the bad days, enjoy life.  You only have one to live.  Don’t live it with regrets because the next minute is not promised.  If there is something you want to do, do it! If there is a restaurant you want to try, try it! If there is a dress/suit you want, buy it! I know that you got paid today and you’re still in the hole but I can guarantee you the bills you have now, will still be there when you leave here. 

Stop letting life pass you by.  Stop allowing that job to kill you.  Use some of that vacation time you got saved because you’re be replaced at the job before the dust settles on your grave.  Enjoy the life that you’ve been blessed with, the day you’ve been blessed to see and the family & friends that are blessed to have you!  Your life has meaning and is worth living!

Daily Devotional – 9/29/11 “If my people..”

2 Chronicles 7:14 states, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

In 2 Chronicles 7, this chapter talks about the dedication of the temple that had been built as a place of worship.  As Soloman prayed, God heard and appeared to him to let him know that he had chosen this place as a temple of sacrifices and because of that he would hear and see to every prayer that was offered there.  As I thought about this, I began to wonder why some churches are having it so hard.  Is it because we have forgotten about the real reason we gather there on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Monday night and Wednesday night?  Have we forgotten that in Matthew 18:20 where it states, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Have we forgotten the real reason for our praise?

Let’s break this thang down..

God says, if my people who are called by my name – This isn’t just talking about preachers, pastors, evangelists and missionaries, for God calls all those who are willing to work for him.  (1 Corinthians 7:17, “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches”) so this means he has called you. 

God says,  will humble themselves – Romans 12:3, states “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” You are no better than me, so humble yourself! You put your pants on one leg at a time, just like I do, so humble yourself! If you hit your toe on the end of the table, a not so Christian like word slips out too, so humble yourself! Stop thinking that you’re higher than everybody else because you might just raise yourself too high where even God can’t reach. 

God says, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways – Pray, by definition means to make a request in a humble manner or to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving.  When the world is against you, pray! When folk talk about you, pray! When all you see is clouds, pray! When kids aren’t acting right, pray! When momma & daddy is gone, pray! When so-called friends won’t answer when you need them, pray! But in the midst of your prayer and seeking God’s face, you have to turn from YOUR wicked ways.  This didn’t say help somebody to turn from theirs.  You know the ways you have, when you see somebody coming and you don’t want to be bothered so you go another way, your sister is calling & you think it’s to beg so you don’t answer, when you see somebody on the street you roll your window up so they won’t ask you for nothing, when somebody ask for a ride but you’re too busy (& going the same way), when you’re standing at the altar and your mind is thinking about the dress that Sis. So & so is wearing instead of praying, or when you gossip about church business to folk who aren’t even members.  In order for you to be right you have to first get right. Stop allowing yourself to be dragged into other folk’s ways.  You hear somebody gossiping about your coworker and instead of you walking on by, you join in.  Humph, just because you’re a Christian it doesn’t mean that God will bless your mess any more than a person in the world.

God says, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land – When you’ve done all I’ve asked you to do, when you go where I tell you to go, when you’ve helped with the last amount of change in your pocket, gone when you didn’t have gas, fed folk when you didn’t have enough food, clothed folk with the shirt off your back, prayed on the phone when you could barely stay woke, visited the sick when you’ve worked 14 hours, offered a hug when someone needed one, offered words of comfort to a grieving friend, offered your hand for someone who has fallen or just been there to listen when someone called – God says I’ll be there! God says when you do right I’ll heal that cancer in your body, approve that car loan you put in, and give you that job you wanted and you didn’t even apply for it.  God says I’ll be there to give you joy the world can’t give or take away, wipe your tears when they flow from your eyes, give you peace that will make you sleep like a baby, put a fire in your spirit that makes you want to run when nothing is chasing you and a praise on your lips when everything is going good. God says I’m here!

If my people would pray more instead of having pity! If my people would fast more instead of fighting! If my people would help more instead of hindering! If my people would use their hands to uplift instead of bringing down, use their feet to walk right instead of over people, eyes to see the good in folk instead of judging, ears to hear the sorrow in someone’s voice instead of the words they say, arms to hold up those that are leaning instead of closing the door in their face and mouth to speak life for their brother/sister instead of speaking death then will I hear from heaven and will forgive your sin and will heal your land.  Thank you God for your word!

 

 

Daily Devotional – 9/28/11 “What is your worth?”

When you walk into a store for a pair of jeans, shoes, a shirt, dress, suit or wig there is usually a price tag on it or listed somewhere close showing you the worth for that item.  Because someone has looked at that particular item and deemed it’s worth.  When you look in the mirror don’t you see your worth?  When you endure the storms of this life and come out stronger, don’t you see your worth?  When God died for your sins after being beaten all night long, don’t you know your worth?

Then why do you settle for the price of what folk of this world place on you?  Why do you allow yourself to be placed on the clearance rack when you should be shining in the window?  Why settle for half or no value at all?  You allow a man to walk all over you, come in and out of your house when he feels like it, left to sleep in your bed when you have to get up for work or even drops you off in your car for him to ride around all day.  You allow your women to treat you like dirt in front of her friends & family, you try to give her the world but it’s still not enough, she has never had to pump gas in her car and then she complains when you forget one time or she hasn’t ever changed a tire and then complains when you won’t run to her friend’s aid who has a man at home.  Why would you continue to degrade yourself?

Women walk around in clothes that are 2 sizes smaller and their butts hanging out and then get mad when a man calls you a gardening tool.  Men walk around with their pants sagging or hands on their private part and then wonder why they can’t find a decent woman.  You attract to you what you act like.  If you dress like a whore (sorry for my bluntness), you attract a pimp.  If you look like a slob, you attract filthy women.  Granddaddy always says, you lay down with dirty dogs you are bound to get up with fleas.  Don’t complain about being dirty if you’re lying in filth.  Don’t complain about your house smelling bad when it’s full of trash.  It just may be time to do some soul cleaning.

Women, value your worth! Men, value your worth! If you don’t appreciate the body that you have, who else will? If you don’t appreciate the prettiness of your face, who else will?  God has made you in his likeness and in his image. Stop trying to conform to this world because the world won’t conform for you.  Love yourself first and then someone else will be able too.

Daily Devotional – 9/27/11 “Complaining gets you nothing!”

 Have you ever wondered what has happened to a person that makes them so miserable?  They have a complaining spirit that makes you turn in the opposite direction when you see them coming. They are always talking about someone or something that for the most part, has nothing to do with them.  You wonder if they realize the blessings they have in the steps they take, the air they breathe, the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the car the drive, their family & friends and their jobs.  It makes you wonder if they truly value the life they have. 

Take for example, a person whose body God has healed of cancer and yet they seem to be the meanest person in the world.  Or God has blessed you with the job YOU applied & asked for and yet you complain about it every day.  God has allowed you to keep your mind and yet you grumble when someone ask you a question or for help.  God has blessed you with a home and car but you’re always saying no when someone ask for a ride or to spend the night.  If you think you’re having it bad, visit the homeless shelter to see someone who is worse.  If you think your job is bad, visit the unemployment office and see those who are begging for a job.  If you complain because your stomach hurt, visit the hospital to see those suffering through dialysis, chemo or radiation.  When you feel like your situation is at its worst, there is someone having it even harder.

I know you’re probably saying, “But what about me?” There are days that you are tired and need help yourself; those are not the days I’m speaking of because everybody is entitled to take time for them.  But if every time someone needs you and the answer is no, there is a problem.  If you are capable of helping the person that has asked, you should do it. Luke 6:38  states, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” So, stop complaining when folk ask you for help.  If you have it, help them but don’t boast about it to others.  If you don’t have it, tell them that because it doesn’t make you less than a person.  If God has blessed you with a gift or talent and you don’t use it, he will take it away.  1 Peter 4:10 states, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

Complaining doesn’t get you anywhere it just makes people tired of hearing your voice.  Choose how your life will be lived because it doesn’t have to always be a gloomy day.

Daily Devotional – 9/26/11 “Honor thy Mother & Father”

Ephesians 6:1 – 2 states, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)”  Deuteronomy 5:16 states, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

If God has commanded you to honor your father and mother, what makes you think you shouldn’t have to obey? Regardless of the type of parent they were or are, the commandment is still there.  You stand before your parents being disrespectful and then you have to wonder why your children don’t respect you.  You don’t honor what your parents say and then you have the nerve to go down on bended knee crying that God has forsaken you.  John 14:15 states, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Now, don’t get me wrong.  We all, sometimes, fall short of God’s word because we all sin.  (Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”) But if you continually disobey God’s commandments, doesn’t he have the right to punish you? Don’t you punish your children when they do wrong?  I’d rather have momma’s punishment than to feel the wrath of God on any day.  But you curse momma out because you’re having a bad day and wonder why blessings are not coming your way.  You stand before daddy talking to him like he is lower than the mud under your shoe and then you wonder why you can’t find a job.  Chile, God won’t condone you in your wrong! Keep your mouth and you’ll keep your blessings.

You might say that your dad is a deadbeat or your momma is never there, but that is what God has to take care of.  You can’t continue to hold resentment because daddy walked off.  He is living another life and you are hindering yours because of the malice in your heart.  You can’t continue to be mad at momma because she was strict on you growing up.  Didn’t it turn you into a responsible adult? Aren’t you more capable of handling your household because of the values and morals that momma’s strictness instilled?  You’re mad because momma and daddy won’t consign for your new car but you’re an adult with your own family and job.  Why should they be responsible for your debt? Then you run off saying, “They ain’t never done nothing for me!”  Didn’t they raise you, clothe & feed you, take care of you on your sick days, be at your school functions when they really couldn’t afford to miss work, or simply listen to your problems when you needed them?  Then you have to wonder why your application won’t be approved.

You’d better honor the mom and dad that you have because one day you will be standing over their casket and all the things that you wanted to say will be null & void.  Honor your mom and dad NOW while you have a chance because crying over their lifeless body won’t mean a thing to anybody.  Honor the mom and dad that God has entrusted you too.  Even in their bad days, they are blessings!  Somebody in foster care is longing for the love of a mother and father.  Somebody, whose parents died before they had a chance to know them, is dreaming of their mother’s touch.  Somebody is wishing they had momma to call on their bad days or daddy when their car won’t start.  Be thankful for the blessing of having momma and/or daddy because someone is praying for what you have.  Tomorrow may be too late! Cherish them today.