Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5 - 6

I woke up this morning feeling blessed and the word “strength” popped in my head. I immediately thought about looking to the scripture so that I could find some encouraging words about strength because we all need them. I found this verse which discusses how we must trust in the Lord. I knew immediately that this trust in the Lord and his abilities is how we find strength. The strength to do what we have to do in order to do what we want do. All of this can be found by surrendering our issues and trusting that no matter what the circumstance the Lord will pull us through.

As I sit and write this message I am interrupted by bad news but I find strength in the bad news. My mother always says that when you are about to be blessed the devil will find ways to attack you. He sees your strength, he understands the glory that the Lord wants to provide for you and he is dedicated to making sure that you don’t succeed. So if you are down and you feel like the kitchen sink is being thrown at you, it is only because you are strong. It is only because you are blessed and you are destined to do great things. So we must trust in the Lord, we CAN NOT let the devil succeed in his manipulative ways to bring us down. STILL WE RISE, STILL WE RISE! Peace and Grace be unto you.

There’s plenty of ways to die but you have to figure out a way to live; now that’s hard but you can do it!

WHY boastest thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good’ and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. Psalm 52: 1-4

This scripture reminds me of being a little boy and my mother popping me in my mouth for saying something smart; I think I sat on her clothes for work and when she complained I said “I didn’t tell you to put them there”. Such a dumb kid to utter those words out of my mouth, but I am reminded of that story as I read today’s scripture. The first line blatantly mocks the man who boasts and considers himself mighty, or one who feels that they are great beyond measure. The line following pays more attention to the fact that it is God who endures, it is God who is ever present and affords us the happiness in our lives. We should never walk with our heads down, we should be proud without being boastful, confident yet humble. Humility is an attractive characteristic because while we know we are blessed with talent, and an abundance of love, the way we wear it speaks volumes to others who look on and how we exemplify the God within.

But back to a man or a woman’s words, how mere words can cut so deep baffles me. But the scripture tells us that words cut deep; the deceitful tongue causes problems and all type of drama in our lives. So how do we escape it; for starters, watch your own mouth, watch what you say, because you may bring trouble into your own house because of the negative things that you say. Furthermore, when you are confronted by people who use their mouths against you for disdain you must remember what these people are doing. Hating, simply put, a hating tongue is a deceitful tongue. We are too good of a people to be bothered by such nonsense, I fall victim to it, and i tell myself ” I don’t care what anyone says about me”. But when people spread falsehoods that attack your character it can be hard to turn the other cheek. I think today’s word makes it easier to turn the other cheek, to turn your whole body away because its not worth your time. The bible clearly ostracizes these people and their hating ways, so you are in the right and have to act accordingly. Focus on yourself and pushing your goals forward and please do not be concerned with the negativity, because when you entertain the negativity you give it life. Remember that goodness of God is everlasting, so you have some pretty good back up and some great company that you can easily turn the cheek and allow others to wallow in their deceitful pity while you Shine in God’s glory. Peace and grace be unto you!

Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.

March 3, 2008

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our lORD jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5: 1-2

Good morning, I’m not sure what the weather looks like where you live but the sun is shining bright here in the middle of nowhere, America. Today’s word has me feeling rejuvenated, like the sun is shining on us for a reason. Simply put its because we believe in a higher power, we believe that the creator has something great in store for us. Our faith that the Lord exists and our belief in Jesus has granted us peace with God. Peace, meaning there is no conflict that stands in our way, there are no reasons that we can not call out for the Lord and depend on him to help guide us to our happiness. We have gained access into his grace, to me its like we have favor in the Lord, like he rocks with me. He is on our side and will look out for us. And we can rejoice; rejoice, be happy, get excited and feel good because we know through God all things are possible. So what are we excited for, man I’m excited because I know that I believe, because i BELIEVE I am in the good graces of God. And because I am in his good grace, I don’t have to worry about the drama, as long as I do my part to reach my dreams and goals he will be right there providing me with his good works to get me there. Smile today because we are blessed, Peace and Grace be unto you!

Remember the two benefits of failure. First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn’t work, and second, the failure gives you the opportunity for a new approach

February 28, 2008

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40: 28-31

Everything is subject to its own interpretation! I read the first line this morning in the new international version, and then I grabbed my bible which is the King James version and the difference in word usage gave me a different perspective. Neither is right or wrong but I found it interesting how the Word is so often subject to the interpretation of the interpreter. So from today’s word I felt like the page was talking to me, like someone was hipping me to some new information. Hast thou not known — Have we not heard that our God and creator is amazing, that he doesn’t dwell in worldly problems for he fainteth not. He created this world, I felt like it was someone whispering in my ear and enlightening me to the best kept secret. Then it spoke directly to me and how i feel when I’m DOWN AND OUT. He gives us power, the strength to battle whatever obstacles present themselves. Even when we are at our weakest point, it is then that we are truly being strong. Think about a weight set, you see how strong you are when you pile more weight on. When we pile more stress on, it is then when we push ourselves to the max to achieve, that strength that we let out, that power, it is innate within us because at those moments we are channeling the God within us.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary! That is us, that is the young generation. The young shall utterly fall, is that not what is going on in our communities right now? People have fallen, we are filled with despair because we give to much power to objects and things that cause unhappiness rather than the Lord and finding peace and happiness within ourselves. But those who wait upon the Lord, those who channel the God within, he will renew our strength and we will be as fly as fly can be. No pun intended, but we shall mount up with wings as eagles and soar, be at peace, be plentiful because we walk with the Lord. All this walking with the Lord talk, what does it mean. I don’t know, I am not the Judge, thats your mission, thats our mission. My mother always says there is more than one way to the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Maybe some of the routes we are thinking are correct are in fact not, that’s why its important that we go now and try to build this relationship with the Lord and move forward and prosper. I hope I am articulating my thoughts because I am not speaking of conventional ways, the Lord has blessed in us creativity and innovativeness. If he has given us such talents and gifts, why not use those same talents to understand him and the relationship that we can have with him. Peace and Grace be unto you!

Anticipate the good so that you may enjoy it!

February 27, 2008

Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — He is the king of glory! Psalm 24:10

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Psalm 25 1:3

My thoughts are in a flurry this morning so please bear with me. I read the first verse and at first it honestly didn’t say that much to me. So I read deeper, looked for context clues, I mean the verse was so obvious, I thought there has to be more. Then I read the second verse and it clicked for me but it clicked for different reasons. So who is he, like who really is thins King of Glory? This statement is two-fold for me, at a first glance i think of it in an adversarial way as if someone is challenging my belief, challenging my faith. And to that the second part is so correct, the almighty Lord of course for he is the King of Glory. But then re read it from a  different perspective. Who is this King of Glory, God, do you know him, are yall close? Because if you know him, would you do the things you do, would you say the things you say. Well how well do you know him, do you go the extra mile to build a relationship with him or are we just praying because tradition tells us so. Like who is he, what does he mean to you, and how can he benefit from your relationship with him. These are just my thoughts but to me the verse spoke volumes. is God just this mythical figure who I believe in because my beautiful Grandmother God rest her soul said so. She knew him, she knew him well, so well that when she was sick she wasn’t concerned about doctors. SHE PUT HER FAITH IN THE LORD. Today marks 14 years since my grandmother passed away and I remember when she died I immediately had all these questions. A lot of them biblical, because I knew that she would know, because she believed! Not in a mythical figure, no, she believed in the Lord Almighty, the King of Glory and in her  belief she made sure that she got to know him so that she could answer, WHO IS HE?

I am confused by all of this, so then I read on. Once again I think of someone challenging me when I read the second verse. The word says let me not be ashamed. Why is it that nowadays to be of God is frowned upon. Have we evolved as man that much that we have now become better than the Creator. Is it because of all the scandal within churches that people have lost their faith, did they ever really have faith, did they ever really know who he is? Daily we are tested and challenged as Christians about our faith, spirituality is mocked within the media and the commercialization of Christ has become a detriment. When I speak of commercialization I am speaking of capitalism, I am speaking of the currency some business people are earning in the Lord. Not based on the word but based in finding a quick buck, and while doing so polluting the masses with false representations of what it is to be spiritual. These are the things that are turning people off and making them question our faith. But so what! The word says do not be ashamed, lift your soul up to God and do not let the ways of your enemies triumph over you. Those who believe in God who want to get to know God, we should never be ashamed. Boastful neither, let us be humble knowing that we are the epitome of imperfection striving for direction in the way of the Creator. Peace and Grace be unto you!

February 25, 2008

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. II Corinthians 4:17

Good morning, just the words that I needed to start off my day. Light and momentary, telling us that these dilemmas that we face are not that serious. We actually give power to our troubles, more than they were ever meant to have. The word the other day spoke about the unseen, because what we may see now can be hard to bear. But today the word tells us that those troubles are momentary, that they are temporary in nature no matter how big or small and how much they are consuming our lives right now. The sooner we stop stressing and just allow the trouble to manifest itself out of our lives, it will. Stop spending precious time and energy giving something power over you, when all you need is the power to get by. Interestingly enough this verse also speaks to me about the strength that we muster up while in the valley. When times are hard, when we face struggle, God is preparing us, making us stronger. Training us to deal with the complex problems of today, of the world we live in, and preparing us to combat the battles that we may face.

Opposition is needed, it makes us push harder, it strengthens our drive to achieve. Let Go and Let God as the song says and I am sure we will all be the dream that we wish to achieve!

And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gallatians 6:9

This verse was on my mind all last week and it continued into this weekend. The passage preceding it speaks about how we reap what we sow. If we are in the right we shall reap good things, if we are in the habit of doing bad things then that too we shall reap. But what about those of us who try to do the right thing and we keep getting “the jack”. Pardon my terms, but we keep feeling left out no matter how much right we do. And then we start to look at all of those who do bad and get good. We become envious of those who are living the wrong way because it seems that they know something we don’t because they are “achieving”. Well the verse says not to be weary, don’t get down on yourself because what you’re doing is right. And in due season, meaning soon you will reap the benefit of your good deeds, if you faint not. If you faint not, what that means to me is we will get our blessings if we keep doing what is right, if we don’t give up, if we stand as a testament to our faith rather than fleeing from it. If we fall off track and start following in the ways of those who aren’t walking along the right path then we wont receive what’s rightfully ours, the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us. I don’t know about the next person but I WANT you to get all of yours because I want all of mine! Peace and Grace be unto you!