The Daily Devotional Blog

It's ok to ask for it. Do you know there are people who don't ask for help? You won't hear them say, "please pray for me." Nope, they don't ask for prayer. Perhaps they're too proud? Been hurt before and don't want to put themselves out there again? Or have trust issues? I used to fit those categories. I had trust issues, because of past hurt and I didn't want to put myself at the expense of people's criticism and negative talk, so I didn't disclose personal information. I would seldom ask anyone to pray for me (pride) and I would suffer in silence rather than ask a prayer warrior to pray for me (pride) .  Now, forget that .  Now I do 2 things. I pray fervently for myself and when I need people to intercede (stand in the gap) for me, I will ask faster than a New York minute. That's right, I will ask the people within my circle to send one up for me and they do so willingly. It's a working partnership. That...

Great leaders explain and  welcome innovative thought. I've heard of great leaders who fell, because they worried too much about people "stealing" their position. Sad, but true. There are insecure people in positions they have no business in, because they stifle creativity in people. And they want to control them. They think independent people are a threat to what they know, so they try to keep them in their place. They hinder innovative thought, because they think they are the only ones who are the "great thinkers." As a result they lose great people, because people eventually go where they're appreciated and valued. It makes no difference how brilliant the leader thinks he is in his own mind, people will leave in a hot minute.  Great people will go where they're respected.  Money or title makes no difference, micromanaging, threatening, intimidation or manipulation don't work either. This has happened a few times in my life and I...

There is only one real Superman. 'Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet, who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who fights a never-ending battle for truth and for justice." If you're over 40 years old, chances are you remember a very similar introduction to a TV show called, Superman . I loved that show. It gave me faith, hope, and promise as I watched a man deliver and rescue hurting people in distress. What I liked most about the show was that it always had a happy ending. Always. I never remember not wanting to watch it. I liked that peace prevailed in the end. Superman to the rescue. Yet, that Superman was a fictional characte...

Visualization, perception, purpose. What God has for you, is for your exclusively. God wants us to see what He has for our lives.  Do you see it? If not, seek the Lord and ask Him what it is He has for your life. He will answer.  I spoke to a few young men yesterday. I told them what I saw in them. I told one I saw him as very intelligent and that he had to study more to have higher grades. I told him he would grow by leaps and bounds if he did those things and people would know he was intelligent before he even opened his mouth. I told another young man he could be a model in New York. He was slim, tall, with immaculate facial features and his complexion was beautiful. I asked another if he was an athlete and when he said yes I told him to study the mentality and physical workouts of super athletics then practice what they do. Then he would play like a beast and get noticed. I told them all they could do it and be it , because God had more for them. I saw a...

God will restore your position, but this time it will be better. Genesis . Chapter 50. Verse 20 . That powerful scripture is about redemption, restoration, payment, reclamation, atonement, restitution, retrieval. Yes, all of those words mean getting back what was taken, stolen, or deceived out of us. It's about payback. But not the revenge type of payback or at least not by us. God will determine the correct terminology and He can call it what He wants.  All I know is what Genesis 50:20 says and that is "you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." That is what Joseph said to his brothers when they thought Joseph was going to get revenge on them for selling him into slavery. Joseph knew better than that. He knew he would have messed himself up even worse than slavery if he had taken matters into his own hands. Joseph was talking about the evil in his brothers that made them do such a...

Don't you just love the people who are full of love? Stick with the loving people who bring you life. You can tell them a mile away. Some of them were just born that way and some gained a loving heart from life's experiences. Nevertheless, it's nice to be around people like that. They're consistent in their love, in that it doesn't matter what they're going through, they remain the same. When you want to talk, they're there to talk even though you may have gotten them at the wrong time. They make everyone feel special. To me, they are another gift from God with hearts of gold. They bring life to people. And even on their down days they're full of life. And full of love with a pure heart . I love them for that.  As of this writing I have several people in my mind and I just get the best feeling when I think about them. I may not talk to them too often, but each time I do, they make me feel like everything is going to be alright. If you h...

What else do you have besides that big ole hat? There is a saying, "big hat, no cattle." Its meaning, taken literally, means someone who has a nice big expensive hat trying to pass himself off as someone who has lots of cattle (money), but has nothing. Or it could simply indicate someone who passes themselves off as something they're not.  Why do you think we do that?  Why do we try to fit in? Why is it important to be like one of the guys or one of the girls? Why is being who we are not enough? Why aren't we good enough for ourselves? Why do we compare ourselves to others even though God created us in His own perfect image? Let me tell you, there's no need to try to measure up to anybody. It's more "cost effecrive" to love who you are, because there is someone who may look like they have everything, but could be the most miserable, unhappy, unfulfilled person. Looks are most definitely deceiving. Comparison is a dangerou...