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Showing posts from February, 2018

Looking ahead

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. As long as we keep walking, we will get where God has for us to go, so keep walking. But ensure you walk forward, not backwards. What the Lord God has for you is in front of you. It's not behind you. We have to focus intently on what we are doing and the habits we are practicing, because they determine the things in life that make us successful. What we do also dictates who we interact with and who we don't.  "Hear, my son  [and daughter] , and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.  I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.  When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble" ( Proverbs 4 :10-12).  Keep going forward, now and forever. 

Better days to come

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. Do you ever feel like you've missed out on an opportunity that it bothers you to think about it, so you try not to? If so, me too, but there's great news for you -- for us. Because life happens to all of us; because sometimes we fall short and because sometimes we make mistakes, we can't let any of that bog us down. God is a many opportunity God and He will bring something better around. So, don't worry about yesterday. Focus on tomorrow. Better things are still in store for you. Don't get yourself down with living in regret and disappointment. Lift your head up, there's more for you. Refuse to reflect with regret and despair, but reflect with joy and gladness. Think of setbacks as times as learning milestones and as tests for testimonies. Choose to maintain positive thinking for positive growth. It's not too late for us to get things right and in order for progress and success. Better days a

Ephesians 6 is so encouraging-part 2

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. In Ephesians 6 , Paul got it right when he gave advice regarding our walk with the Lord.  I am going to breakdown each verse from 14-20, which says the following: 14  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,  with the breastplate of righteousness in place 15   and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  Once we are fully equipped, then carry on. We will have nothing to worry about. Just do our part and the Lord will continue to fight for us.  16  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,  with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Simply put, remain steadfast in our belief that God will do it. He will protect us against all the evil forces that may come our way. He will stop them in their tracks if they even get that far. 17  Take the helmet of salvation  and the sword of the Spirit,  which is t

Godly warriors

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. Do you know David was a mighty warrior and he had mighty warriors with him? Yes,  2 Samuel 23:8-39  confirms they had courage, power, strength, resilience, push through and most importantly, God. The warrior spirit is in the person who doesn't stop when the pressure comes. They don't give up or back down to a challenge. They fight until the war is over. They never throw in the towel. They may get scared, uncomfortable, and tired every now and then, but they keep fighting. That's what any great man or woman in battle does. He or she doesn’t depart from the post the Lord has them on, and  never aborts the mission. They stay until game over.   Be encouraged in that as you continue to war for the Lord and as you stand firm in Him.

Have peace

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. Psalm 29:11 says, "the Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." That means even in the midst of a storm, there is no need to panic, the Lord gives you peace. In the midst of drowning, there is no need to panic, the Lord gives you peace. And since the Lord is with you, you will operate from a calm position, in a cool fashion, within a collected manner. Then you will be able to function much better and have the victory. The Lord will see to that, so continue your way with the Lord and watch Him continue to direct your paths and make them straight. Have peace, it will take you far.

Ephesians 6 is so encouraging-part 1

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. I like what Paul wrote in  Ephesians 6 . He encouraged us to put on the armor (the shield, the protection, the defense) of God for us to be strong, mighty, and influential in the world, to make a difference. That is one of the main reasons we exist. I am going to break down a few lines of scripture that Paul talks about, because they are powerful words. The following is what Paul said: 10  Finally, be strong in the Lord  and in his mighty power.  The Lord will give us what we need (the strength, power and boldness) to move on with our goals. 11  Put on the full armor of God,  so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Trust in God and stay atuned to Him. That way we will be able to stand boldly against any plot against us. 12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,  but against the rulers, against the authorities,  against the powers  of this dark world and against the spiritual f

The blind will see

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. Do you know there are some people walking around blind? Although they can see with their natural eyes, that's about where it stops.  In the story with the blind man in  John 9 when Jesus healed him from his blindness, the story actually has a deeper meaning besides just being a story of a miracle. Yes, it's a fact that Jesus makes the impossible, possible in order to show people who He is. That was His main purpose for healing the blind man. Yet, some people didn't believe Jesus healed him. They still doubted and continued to operate in their disbelieve. They even sent for the blind man and questioned he and his parents, only to still continue in their ignorance of Jesus. They ended up throwing the blind man in the streets when he didn't let up in telling them it was really Jesus who had healed him. When Jesus heard they had thrown him out, Jesus asked him if he believed in Him and the blind man said h

Jesus makes the impossible, possible

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. Do you know that when we  trust God, He will make the impossible, possible? Remember the blind man in John 9 ,  who Jesus healed? The story was in the book of John 9 and verses 1-7 go like this:  "Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?” Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.” He said this and then spit in the dust, made a clay paste with the saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes, and said, “Go, wash at the Pool of Siloam.” The man went and washed—and saw .  Now,

Living out God's purpose

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. Do you know, your purpose and easy don't go together? They don't match. If we are going to go towards everything the Lord has for us there is no getting around doing the challenging and constantly going out our comfort zone. Purpose involves total trust in God. There's no half-stepping on that. It's total commitment and when we're in that zone, then God has something to work with. We can't sit around and complain that our life is ho-hum, because we're not busting any moves, then become all bummed out when God doesn't move on our behalf. Why should He when we don't really believe it? When we don't really believe Him? In other words, we can't say we're wholeheartedly dedicated when we won't take calculated risks and smart chances towards God's purpose for our lives. I know that more than anybody, because there was one time when I just sat around and did nothing. I j

Unqualified

  Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post. I am unqualified. Are you?   I am unqualified to do everything I'm doing for the Lord and I know it.  When I think about being unqualified and doing the will of the Lord, I'm reminded of the unqualified David, Moses, Rahab, The Samaritan Woman, Paul, Joseph, and many more people in the bible who made many mistakes and fell short, yet God still used them to do mighty things. If anyone was unqualified, it was surely them. We can all be heavy weights for God by being used the way He wants us to, in order to do His will. There is a place for you and I to do worthy things and we should embrace that, which brings me to 1 Corinthians 1 :27-29 that says,  "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might

Continuing to strive

This is Sha Sha, my avatar, so her face is based on my face. Hear what Sha Sha has to say about the strive.  and follow along with blog post below. No matter what, we must continue to strive for the great things God has for us. I know the grind gets discouraging sometimes, because we work so hard and it seems our time will never come, but it will. God will bless us with everything we want. God's everything is different from our everything and His everything is magnificent.  Galatians 6 :9 says, we must not get weary and tired of doing things to the best of our ability. When we work smart, more joy will come. It's a promise of God. We have to push through though, because it's coming. I will always believe that. I just know God has more for me, for you, for us. Even when I get impatient, my faith kicks in. Then I'm reminded of the favor, grace, and mercy of God. I'm reminded that He will do what He said He would. As Jeremiah 29 :11 says, for I know t

Unstoppable faith

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Today is a new day. No need to go another day or another year without speaking things as if they were, speaking the things you want into the atmosphere. It's time to start saying, it's my time, That's right, it's your time to step into the realm of everything. Yes, it's your time to reach new heights of all you've ever wanted. Setbacks? Keep going anyway. Many times those are the things that will give our testimonies more teeth, more power, more leverage. Let disappointments be fuel to enable you to accomplish those things you've dreamed about, to make you stronger. Otherwise you go through them for not. Plus, God will be there throughout the fire and it will not consume you. Isaiah  43:2b says, when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. In fact, just the opposite will happen: y ou will be empowered through the Lord, Jesus Christ to do w

The fire won't burn you

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. There were three men in the bible whose faith was tested and they ended up in the fire. Literally -- they were in the fire. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Three courageous leaders in the bible who didn't bow down to no man when it came to compromising who they were -- three men who stayed true to God. They put God first by standing firm in their faith in Him. In the book of  Daniel, Chapter 3 , during King  Nebuchadnezzar's reign, it was told to him that  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down and worship the king's god, so they were  put in a fiery furnace. Yet  instead of being consumed by the fire, God was with them.  Literally .  He was in the fire with them and not one of them was singed or burned by it. All three of the men walked out unharmed. It was like they were never even in the fire. That's what happens when we go through our struggles and when we're t

Keep your confidence

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. This is to encourage those of you who are confident in the awesome things the Lord is going to do in your life, to keep praying to maintain it. And for those who are trying to get your confidence up, to keep praying, it will come. We are all praying for something and if confidence is it for you, then confidence you shall get.  Hebrews 10 :35  says, "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." So you see, the Lord is thinking about you and He always knows what we need when we need it. I've come to encourage those who may need it, that God is aware of the great things you want to do in your life and He will ensure you get them done. 

The righteous road

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Which way are you walking? What are your eyes gazed on? As we know, Proverbs is the book of wisdom and chapter 4 talks about walking in the right direction when we keep our eyes focused on forward. Verses 10-13 say,  "Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life." So, I've come to encourage you, as well as, myself, that we have to keep walking forward by taking the righteous road -- the road of God. And when we do that, we will hear what He has to say over our lives. We will walk in His ways, what the Lord God has for us is in front of us, not behind, so keep walking on the road of righteousness, the right road. It will take you

Follow the light

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Don’t we know the people who are doing their best to live for God and the ones who aren't? In other words, the former is living for good and the latter isn't. You see, there is just one source of light. Let me explain. John 8 :12 says, "w hen Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” And 1   John 1 :4-9 says: "This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all

Your time will come

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Have you ever heard the scripture,  "So the last will be first, and the first will be last?" The story is in  Matthew 20:1-16  and stems from the parable of the workers in the vineyard. There was a manage who hired many workers. Some he hired first and some he hired much later. Yet when it was time for all of them to be paid, they were paid exactly the same even though the first hired had worked many more hours than the last hired. When the angry workers who were hired first, asked the manager why they were paid the same, the manager replied, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’ Consequently, the parable of the manager and the worker means God gives favor to whom He wants, whenever He wants. W

Jesus exudes love

This is Sha Sha, my avatar, so her face is based on my face. Hear what Sha Sha has to say about Jesus' love  and follow along with blog post below. Jesus is always consistent -- 100% of the time. I can’t say that about myself or any other human. That means He’s consistent in love.  1 John 4 :8 says God is love.   God exudes love. Everything about Him is good, loving, and gentle. God is not mean or dark. He is kind, He is the light, and His light is bright. That’s because, He is the light of the world. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ( John 8 :12). Who else can say that? Nobody. No thing. No place. So that means God can only love and He can only love you and I, because that’s who He is.   

Keep going

Keep going and going and going...  Translation: God has much for you, so continue to roll. Have a philosophy of work smart, work hard and guess what happens? God will open awesome doors and you will walk through them. So, keep going and know that what God has for you, is for you. Continue to go go go for what it is God has for you. His vision for your life is yes and amen. Matthew 6 :33  says to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all the things He has for you will be added to you. Nobody can block you. Keep going. God has many great plans for you. 

God's arms are wide open

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. If I told you there was a man who walked the earth, who loved and saved more people than anybody, would you believe it? If I told you there was a man who was crucified for you and I; buried; and after three days was raised from the grave; and who now lives eternally, would you believe it?  Today I have more of the Good News for you and it's about a man who did in fact walk the earth and go through the harshest pain imaginable, so you and I wouldn't have to. And I'm coming to tell you that His name is Jesus. The awesome and wonderful King of kings and Lord of lords. He died so we wouldn't have to. And as we continuously fall short, He gives us the grace to continue on. Isn't it great to have such a King and such a Lord we can lean on at any time in our lives? Matthew 6 :33 says, " to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all the things He has for you will be added to you.”

Put positive into the atmosphere

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Has anyone ever told you, your words have power? If not, I'm coming to tell you to start believing that they in fact do.  Proverbs 18 :21 says,  "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." So, I hope you are being careful about how you speak over your life and are careful of what you entertain regarding what others say to you. I take positive self-talk seriously especially at this point in my life. I've been through enough ups and downs, that I have made a conscious choice to trust what God has to say over my life more than what any man has to say. And I do, not under any circumstances, let nonsense in. How about you? Are you at that place in your life? If not, there is still hope. There is still hope for all of us to get what God has for us. Just remember, it starts with thinking positive, speaking positive, and acting positive. Accept nothing

The struggle is not yours

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Do you know, that if you're struggling in any area of your life, I've come to tell you that the battle is not yours, it's the Lord's. Oh yes, He will fight your battles for you. There are many examples in the bible when the Lord fought for His people and all they had to do was remain silent. That's another awesome thing about the Lord. He will tell us when we need to fight against the things coming against us and when He will take over. He did the latter in Exodus 14 when the Israelites were fleeing for their lives from the evil Pharaoh, who wanted to keep them enslaved. But the Lord said, not so. He sent Moses and Aaron into the king (Pharaoh) and told him he had to let God's people go. The king refused countless times and the Lord showed him who He was by sending 10 plagues of destruction against he and his kingdom. The king finally relented only to change his mind and chase the Iraelit

Your awesome testimony

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Do you know your testimony, your walk, your journey, and what you've gone through in your life, is important to people? Do you know you are special just because you weathered storms and you're still standing? Do you know that God wants to turn your tests into your testimony?  There was a woman in  John 4:39-42 .   She was the Samaritan woman who spoke to Jesus at the well. She had been through so many things in her life and was rejected by many in society for her mistakes and bad choices, but after her encounter with Jesus, her life changed. She wasn't the same person.  And when those who ostracized her and cast her aside, heard her testimony, t hey said, “we no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”  They thought, 'wow if she can change so can I.' Many people believed in Jesus because of one w

The voice of the Lord

Daily Devotional Podcast. Follow along with blog post below. Do you know there's power in the name of Jesus? And do you know you can tap into that power at anytime? It's about knowing the voice of the Lord. For, He speaks in so many ways.  To help illustrate the power of the voice of the Lord, I'm going to read the poetic  Psalm 29 :3-9, which says:  The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” No

Peace is power

This is Sha Sha, my avatar, so her face is based on my face. Hear what Sha Sha has to say about peace  and follow along with blog post below. Are you walking in the peace of the Most High? If not, God wants all of us to walk in peace.  Psalm 29 :11 says,  "the Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." That means that no matter what is going on around you, you can have peace.   In the midst of a storm, you can have peace. Deep in the valley, you can have peace. In the midst of drowning, you can have peace. Yes, God gives you that power. He gives you power over your circumstances, which means you control those circumstances with the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, which also means circumstances don't control you. God is with you. Continue to remain with Him and let Him continue to be ruler and guider over your life, who orders the footsteps of the righteous. Peace be to you.