Days of Purpose & Destiny

I hope everyone has had a chance to purchase my new book! If you haven't you can purchase the book HERE. Recently, I was interviewed on Big Gospel Express 1570, and I have uploaded some snippets for you to enjoy.

Have a wonderful day of destiny!

Motivation Monday: The Gift of Life

Today you have been blessed with the gift of life. God has you on this earth for a reason. You have a purpose.

God has placed you in this moment for you to make an impact for His Kingdom. There isn't a task too small or a move too insignificant if it is a part of God's plan for your life. All you need to do is step out and do what God has called you to do!

Too often we put off for tomorrow what needs to be addressed today.

We consistently allow fear to hold us hostage.

We trick ourselves into thinking that we don't have anything left to offer.

We look at others and reinforce the lie that we aren't as good as they are.

God's purpose for you is just that: for you. There is no one else on this planet who can achieve God's plan for your life other than you. If you don't fulfill what He has purposed for your life, that plan that He designed for you falls to the side. If you don't go after the destiny that the Lord created you to achieve, that you're purposed to accomplish, that you're assured to obtain.... why are you here?

Don't let today go by without going after what God has for you! Don't allow the hours to slip past without you embracing God's will for your life! Don't let frustration, complacency, or procrastination steal another minute of your destiny!

Today you have been blessed with the gift of life. What are you going to do with it?

Verse of the Day: You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11 (NLT)

Start Running!

How long have you been staring at that dream?

Seriously, how long have you been looking at it?

You've thought about it this way. Dreamed about it that way. Talked about it to her. Wrote about it to him.

But when are you going to stop holding onto your dream and get to living it? You can only stare at the finish line for so long. Unless you start running, you'll never really know what it's like to finish the race. Stop camping out at the starting line and get to running!

The Israelites had wandered for forty years trying to make it to their Promised Land. When they finally arrived at the river Jordan, they could see their promise. They witnessed it's riches, and they could see what blessings were waiting for them. They could have sat at that bank and dreamed about possessing that land all they wanted. But they would have never experienced it if they didn't step out in faith and go and possess their land.

They had to follow God's instructions. They had to remain diligent in what He told them. They had to unsheathe their swords and fight. They had to get out and do the work in order to posses their promises.

What work do you have to get out and do? What instructions do you need to start following? What steps do you need to make?

Go ahead and start running! Stop holding on to what could be, and start walking out what will be! Make your way toward the finish line. Get started, so you can finish strong.

Verse of the Day: Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. Deuteronomy 1:21

Live Your Calling

Jesus came to earth to drastically improve our lives. With Him, we are reconciled back to God and can live eternally with the Lord. That eternal life begins when we accept Jesus. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to experience our heavenly benefits.

In fact, Jesus showed us how to live when He was on the earth. Jesus walked in His calling and saw results. As He walked out His purpose, multitudes were drawn to hear His sermons. When Jesus stepped out in faith, miracles happened. His ministry caused people of all walks of life - shepherds, farmers, fishermen, carpenters, tax collectors, priests, and more - to experience the wealth of His wisdom.

I'm sure it wasn't easy. Jesus had to take time away to refresh Himself. At times He tried to escape the crowds only to have them follow Him to His hiding places. His own disciples at times did not understand His teaching. And then one of his closest disciples betrayed Him.

Yet, Jesus kept His eyes on the ultimate goal: salvation for all mankind. And because He persevered, He was able to reach His goal, and His one life became the saving grace for all of us.

Are you living out your best life? Are you walking in your call and enjoying the results? Are you seeing the fruit of following God's will? When troubles come, do you keep at it remembering the bigger picture?

It may be hard at times to live out our higher calling. Yet, because of Jesus, we have the added benefits of being God's children. Whatever we set out to do within God's plan will be successful. Sure, roadblocks will come. Yes, we will get tired. And there will certainly be people who let us down and even betray us.

Still, we can keep going knowing that our destination is sure... we can keep working knowing that we will reach our purpose in the Lord... we can endure the temporary pain seeing the great joy in our future.

Keep going. Don't give up. Remember Jesus' example. He's called you to follow in His footsteps. There's something great that you have to accomplish. There's a victory with your name on it. Go ahead and walk in your calling. Embrace your purpose and watch how your life will be blessed.

Verse of the Day: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10b

Wednesday's Word: Beautiful Beings

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Psalm 139:13-18

Have you ever sat and thought about how intricate you are as a created being? From the way your blood pumps through your body to the way you balance on two feet to the way your eyes take in the world... You are truly amazing!

God took time to create your being. He fashioned you with love and care. He didn't just give you a body, either. He gave you life! He plotted out a special purpose and destiny for you. He formulated a plan to allow you to be the best you that you could be.

Even as the Lord took care of you before you even made your appearance on this planet, He is always with you. He knows what you are facing, and He understands what you are going through. Today, take some time to give Him praise as the Creator of your fabulous self! Give Him honor for honoring you with His full attention. Send Him some love for how He has taken care of you.

Loving Me!

For the month of January I took a leave of absence from social media. No Twitter, no Facebook, no Instagram... I didn't even check up on my favorite blogs.

Those 31 days were awesome!

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy social media. I like staying in touch and seeing what's going on in the lives of my friends, associates, and the celebrities I follow. But, honestly, sometimes scrolling through news feeds can be... depressing.

God has blessed me to be in touch with some amazing people, and logging on every day and seeing the latest engagement status, news of the launch of someone's business, pictures of my people enjoying fabulous vacations, and reading about how certain folks I know are becoming the news can be a bit tiring... and intimidating... and daunting. Especially when I know I'm not where I want to be in my life quite yet.

So, taking a break from all of that allowed me to focus on me. I got to enjoy my own sphere free of influence from outside sources. Instead of thinking about how much so-and-so is doing, I was able to focus on what I'm supposed to be doing. Instead of wondering how this person was able to get so far ahead, I was able to plan out my next few steps.

I was able to narrow my focus. I was able to see the greatness inside of me and not allow myself to belittle it just because someone else I know is doing their thing with a different flair.

My sabbatical may be a bit longer as a result of this.

Today, praise God for the greatness that He's placed on the inside of YOU. Embrace your uniqueness. Savor the place you're in right now. Enjoy the gifts, attributes, qualities, quirks, and personality that the Lord has blessed you with.

What do you do to stay focused? How do you keep your destiny walk free from distractions?  

Verse of the Day: I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

Motivation Monday!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Today I want to motivate you to move into your purpose and destiny this week. Step out in faith and walk in the purpose God has called you to. In order to get something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done. This week, do something new so you can see new blessings around you!

In order for God to move David from the pastures to the palace, David had to do something he had never done. (1 Samuel 17) Sure, he had fought bears and lions that had gone after his sheep, but David had never seen battle. Yet, when Goliath mocked the Lord, David knew he had to act.

David used what he had been through in his past to step forward into the newness of his future. His time of worship and praise had confirmed in him the greatness of the Lord. His time defending his flock gave him the courage to step forward and defend his God.

Your past has prepared you for your purpose. Your future is staring you in the face. Move forward! God has already given you the victory! Remember what God has already done for you. Remember what He's already brought you through. You didn't go through those things just to have an experience. Those things weren't just to be landmarks on your path of life. They were put there to prepare you for your purpose in God!

So, don't be afraid to move in purpose today! Don't be afraid to go after your dreams this week. Step forward and get the victory that God has already given you! Trust in what God has instilled on the inside of you. Have faith that He has already taken you through what you needed to go through in order to take your next steps.

You CAN Do It!

Go 'head and slay that Goliath and get your promise from God!

Verse of the Day: Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Stay In Your Lane

I am blessed to know some pretty amazing people who are doing great things for the Lord and living in their destiny and purpose. Looking at them, I am grateful to see how God can take someone and elevate them as they walk out what He created them to do. It just motivates me to want to better in my own life as well.

Just last night I had to remind myself to "stay in my lane" and not get sidetracked because of what I saw someone else doing. I had to remind myself that just because I can do something, doesn't mean I should do it. God has a unique calling that is all mine. If I go stepping in someone else's lane, I'll only trip up myself.

It reminds me of David's desire to build the Lord a temple. He had the means to do it. He was the king of Israel, he definitely had the riches, and he loved God so much. The Lord deserved a dwelling place where He could dwell permanently, not some tent. David knew he had a vision to show honor to the Lord.

Yet God told David to stay in his lane. He had called David to the battlefield. It was David's purpose to destroy the Lord's enemies. God had purposed for another man to build his temple. So, David obeyed the Lord and did not build Him a temple. (2 Samuel 7)

A lot of times we can mean well in some of the projects we set out to do. Something just grabs our hearts, and we set off to get it accomplished. We can have all the plans and abilities to get it done. Yet, it never was a part of God's plan to have us take on those projects.

Make sure you are staying in your lane and doing what God wants you to do. Don't get distracted with what someone else is doing. Even if you have a great idea, run it by the Lord and make sure it's in His plans for you. As you stick to what God has for you, you'll see great success and your life will be blessed.

Verse of the Day: Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10

Who Are You Really?

When the angel of God visited Gideon, he hailed him as a mighty man of valor. At the time, Gideon was hiding out by a wine press trying to scrounge food for his family. He was youngest son of a poor family. Gideon in no ways felt he was a mighty man of valor. (Judges 6:12-15)

Yet, the angel of God called him so. The angel saw Gideon how God saw Gideon. Gideon hadn't even fought one battle. Yet God knew that inside of Gideon there was a mighty man of valor that needed to be pulled out at that moment.

Mary was told she was highly favored among women and was troubled at the thought. (Luke 1:28, 29) She was a young, virgin girl. No real credits to her name. She had done nothing significant or extraordinary, so why would she be favored?

Yet, Gabriel saw her as the Lord saw her. Mary was chosen to bear the Son of God. She alone was the one considered worthy enough to bring the Savior into the world. God knew that inside of her were all the attributes necessary to bring forth and raise the Lamb of God.

Do you know how God sees you? Have you considered what God has hidden on the inside of you that he wants to pull out for His glory?

Every person He has created has a special purpose. God doesn't just have you here as a "filler" for all the other special people He created. No, you are special to Him as well.

Today, take some time and ask the Lord to show you how He sees you. Ask Him to reveal to you more of His purpose for your life. Ask God to help you to embrace His view of you.

You're not just some ordinary person. You are God's special creation for this moment and time. Stop seeing with your own eyes, and begin to see yourself with the eyes of the Lord.

Verse of the Day: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began... 2 Timothy 1:9

Get Uncomfortable!

We live in a society that is programmed to make us comfortable. However we want to live our lives, we can do it to our personalized pleasure. The world is ready to bend at our command in order to make us comfortable. We can live, work, and play to our own specific pleasures.

Yet, it is life outside of our comfort zones that challenges us and causes us to grow. If we stay inside of our own little bubbles and never stretch beyond our own borders, we will never reach our full potential.

Often God asks us to do something beyond our comfort level. He comes to us asking us to stretch ourselves beyond what we know and love.

He asked Abraham to leave the comfort of his homeland. (Genesis 12:1) He told Moses - a self-proclaimed man of slow speech - to speak on behalf of a nation. (Exodus 4:10-12) The Lord called Isaiah - a foul mouthed man - to prophesy His holy word. (Isaiah 6:1-5) He called David - a shepherd of no reputation - to be the greatest king Israel had ever known. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)

Each time the Lord was ready to do a great work, He chose someone whom the world would never think of to fulfill the task.

What is God asking you to do? How is He asking you to stretch beyond yourself?

Sure, you may have excuse after excuse as to why you can't possibly do what God is asking. But, think about it - God is asking you to do it! He will never put more on you than you can handle, so... you can definitely do all that He is asking of you.

Don't allow yourself to remain comfortable. Step out of the bubble and stretch to your high calling in the Lord! Trust in the God who created you. He knows your true capabilities and gifts. He knows what you can do better than your own self. Allow Him to lead you to your great destiny in Him.

Step forward and watch what God does with you!

Verse of the Day: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:11, 12

Faith Decision Moments

In our walk with the Lord, we will encounters faith decision moments. In those moments, we will decide either to move forward in faith or shrink back in fear.

Moses had his moment right before he stepped in to see Pharaoh after his time in the wilderness.

David had his moment after he picked up those five stones for his slingshot before facing Goliath.

Esther's was right before she walked in to see the king unannounced.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had their decision moment when the furnace doors were flung open and they felt the heat on their faces.

Peter's was right before he stepped out to minister to the crowds after the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Right before these men and women of God faced their greatest time, they had one moment where they could have decided to turn back. They could have consciously decided to not believe God. They could have listened to the fear, doubt, and indecision that was probably present in their minds. They could have decided not to follow through.

But they chose to walk forward boldly in faith. And when they decided to move forward, God was able to do what man had never seen before.

Maybe right now you're facing you're faith decision moment. Maybe right now you're poised to move into something that no one's experienced before. Maybe the Lord has placed something on your heart that seems out of this world to you, and you are pausing wondering if you should really follow through with what He has spoken.

Don't be like Jonah and run from the call! At the least, be like Gideon and find some more courage before moving forward. But, most importantly, move! Do what God is calling you to do! Decide to move forward in faith and watch what the Lord does with your life.

On the other side of your fear is greatness. On the other side of the unknown is victory! Don't allow indecision to snatch away your dreams. Don't allow doubt to keep you from your destiny in God.

Choose to move forward.

Verse of the Day: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38

The Greatness Inside

So, the Olympics are over. I enjoyed watching people push themselves to their physical peaks and go after a goal with everything inside them. Some achieved golden glory, others were eliminated within the first few moments.

We saw these athletes in their glory, basking in the magnificent spotlight. What we missed were the years of hard work, the early mornings, the lonely training sessions, the tireless practices and workouts. We didn't see the events missed in order to train, the hours spent in the weight room, and the aching of tired muscles.

We all aren't Olympians. Yet, there is a greatness sitting inside of all of us. There is a greatness that we were created to achieve, a height that we were born to reach, a spotlight waiting for us to step into. All of us have something great that God wants us to experience not only to impact our own lives, but to impact the world.

It takes hard work and discipline to make it to the top. Not everyone utilizes what it takes to achieve great success. Some are too lazy, some give up at the first sign of failure, others don't believe in themselves and don't even attempt to try for greatness.

Are you working hard towards your goal? Are you striving to achieve the greatness God has planted deep within you?

Yes, the road may be lonely. Working hard is sometimes monotonous. Not everyone may understand our drive, and it can be discouraging when others don't identify with your dream. It can be difficult when roadblocks force you to change course. And using all your strength to keep moving forward can be tough.

Just know that God didn't plant the seed of greatness within you for it to go without sprouting into the great fruit of destiny. Remember that God created you to succeed. He's going to make sure that you make it to your purpose and destiny in Him.

Stay true to your call! Don't give up, and don't give in. You are a winner! You will reach the top, you will achieve your goal. As you continue to work in faith, God will help you achieve your destiny.

Verse of the Day: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Know Where You're Going?

In studying the life of Jesus, one thing I love was His focus. Jesus knew His mission, did what He had to do to prepare for His purpose, and when His time came to shine, He went full steam ahead.

Jesus knew from an early age that He was on Kingdom business. As a young child, He spent His time in the synagogues and temple talking with the priests and religious leaders of the day. Jesus was well versed in Scripture and even had His teachers in awe!

Jesus didn't rush into His calling either. He followed the timing of the Lord. Jesus didn't start His ministry until He was about 30 years old. That leaves a significant amount of time where Jesus was in the background, hidden, preparing for His destiny.

When the time came for Jesus to start His ministry, He made sure He followed the proper steps. He knew that He had to commit to fasting and prayer in order to prepare Himself. He also went through temptation from the enemy proving the strength of His convictions to fully follow God's plan. Jesus also was baptized by John the Baptist prior to going forth in ministry.

And once Jesus went into ministry, He was fully committed to fulfill everything that was being asked of Him. Jesus travelled from town to town preaching the gospel. He healed all that came to Him. He subjected Himself to the sneers and accusations of the haters. He mentored twelve men who would become His legacy after His death. Jesus stayed in constant prayer with the Father. And even though He did take time to rest, He was always ready with the Word of God for those who came to Him in need. Jesus walked out His purpose to the point of death knowing that He would be resurrected on the other side.

Jesus was a man who fully understood His call, purpose and destiny in God.

Studying Jesus' life inspires and challenges me in my purpose as well. Do I fully understand my purpose? Do I know my next steps? Am I able to withstand temptation when it comes? Can I remain faithful to the call in the midst of haters? Will I be able to stay true to the call even in times of pain and heartache?

Jesus is our pristine example of how to live a life walking with the Lord. He had such a relationship with God that He knew His exact steps and the exact timing of His life. Can you say the same? Do you know what season you're in? Are you walking in step with God's plan?

Don't just live your life without purpose. Don't allow time to pass you by without walking in your destiny. Whether you're planning, positioning, preparing, or walking it out, your purpose in God should be known to you. As you follow God's instructions for your life, you will make the impact He created you for in the earth.

Verse of the Day: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23

Believe in Yourself

I've said this earlier this year, but it bears repeating: God created you on purpose. He made you for a reason. He put you together as a part of His large divine plan. You're not here by accident. It's not a fluke that you're breathing.

So, why do so many of us suffer through doubt, indecision, and low self-esteem? Why do so many of us second guess ourselves? Why do we hesitate to act on the dreams and aspirations that are in our hearts and minds?

When God formed you, He put everything inside of you that you would need. He believed that His remarkable creation - you - would accomplish its purpose. He tucked those dreams inside your heart, He placed those visions deep in your mind. He put all that inside of you believing that you would be the perfect person to get the job done.

Don't let fear and unbelief stop you from reaching your purpose! Don't let your own self trick you out of accomplishing the very thing you were created to do! God put you together, gave you the breath of life, and allowed you to be born for this very moment in time.

He believes that you can do it. It's time for you to believe it for yourself.

Go ahead and reach for the stars. Step out of fear and into your destiny. Stop making up excuses and do what you feel in your heart. The Lord of All believed in you enough to place all of that inside of you, the least you can do is back Him up and get it done.

Verse of the Day: ...for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7b

Seeking the Spotlight

We live in a time where everyone wants their piece of fame. If they're not lining up by the millions to go on reality shows, they're posting videos on YouTube. If they aren't on YouTube, they're begging for followers on Twitter.  If not on Twitter, they're agonizing over how many "friends" they have on Facebook. Parents are pushing their children to be the next great star and thrusting them onto world stages.

This world is crying out for their fifteen minutes of fame whether we want to see them or not.

Jesus warned about seeking notoriety. In Luke 14:11 He said, For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. I believe this is why so many people in the spotlight fall away so often. They've blown themselves up, and, in the end, they don't pass under pressure and scrutiny.

Jesus says that those who are humble will be exalted. Those who do things in secret. Those who act out of the kindness of their heart, not looking for acknowledgement. Those who choose to give of themselves whether they are thanked or not. These are the types of people God looks for to exalt.

God has given us all dreams and visions for our lives. Those dreams may involve you "blowing up" or becoming really well-known. There is nothing bad in making a name for yourself. It's the spirit that you go into that realm that determines things. Are you going after your dream to get yourself fame and fortune? Or, are you working to help enrich the lives of others? Are you working on your craft because you're so big and bad? Or, are you giving the talent or gift God has given you out as an offering back to Him?

God doesn't care about your status, fame, or fortune. He could care less how many people know your name or what great things you've been able to accomplish... even if it's in His name. What He does care about is your heart. He's looking at your motivation. He's looking at the state of your spirit.

Are you humbly going after your dream giving credit where credit is due? Or, are you going forth in a spirit of pride and selfishness only looking for personal gain?

Be careful how you go forth in your purpose and destiny! You don't want your arrival at the top to be short lived.

Verse of the Day: Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had...he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names... Philippians 2:3-5a, 8, 9 (NLT)

Moving Forward

Right now, I am so excited with what God has given me to do! I've been taking some steps to move forward in the call that He has given to me, and I'm excited to see the results.

When Abraham was first called by God, the Lord told Him to get away from everything he knew and go to a place God would point out. God told Abraham that he would become a great person and be the father of a great nation.

At that time Abraham had nothing indicating that he would be the father of a great nation. He didn't have a son; He didn't even have a daughter. His wife was barren. Yet, Abraham chose to believe the word of the Lord. He chose to step out and follow God's instructions. And Abraham's obedience caused him to move into exactly what God had ordained for his life.

What has God asked you to do? Are you moving forward in the plans He's laid out for you?

It can be scary to initially move forward with God's plans. Often God asks us to do things that take a lot of courage and faith. But, it is when we pull up that courage and tap into our faith in God that He is able to move. God's not going to move until we do our part. He works with our faith. And faith without works is dead. (James 2:17) If you're not moving, you probably aren't in faith.

Move forward with God today! Be strong and very courageous! God won't ask you to do anything you're not capable of. God will never lead you into failure. His promises are "Yes" and "Amen". (2 Corinthians 1:20) You will not fail. As long as you keep moving forward with God, you will always succeed.

Verse of the Day: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him... Genesis 12:1-4a

God of Truth

God is the author of Truth. Every thing He does and every word He speaks reflects the Truth. There is no dishonest element in Him. God has used this Truth to help to free us from the bondage of sin, and has given us His Truth to live a life full of His blessings.

There are some things that God has spoken to you. He's shown you some things about yourself that are awesome, magnificent, and - maybe to you - unbelievable. Your purpose in Him is so great, your future so bright, that you may have a hard time reconciling that wondrous person with yourself.

I know God has imparted some things into my life that are at times hard to fathom. Don't get me wrong, I want to become this person that God has shown me I am. I want to do the awesome things that God has shown me in His plans. But, some of it is so great - I have a hard time wrapping my head around it all.

Yet, it's comforting to know that it is the Truth. God didn't just show me these things to tease me. God didn't give me a destiny for me to never reach it. It's not all just some magnificent dream or hope that I will never realize. It's real. As long as I stay in God's will and keep working His plan for my life, I will reach that place.

Those dreams, destinies, and purposes God has shown to you are the Truth too. He's not playing with your emotions or putting pipe dreams in you path. He has plans to get you there. He wants to get you into that magnificent place that's totally different from where you are right now.

Don't lose heart. Don't give in to unbelief. You can become all that God wants you to be. You can do all the things that He's shown to you. You can be that great person for Him. You can do great things for God's Kingdom.

Keep walking that path God has for you. You will reach your goals in Him. He wouldn't have shown it to you if it wasn't Truth.

Verse of the Day: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19

All For His Glory

Yesterday, I talked about how you are the key to your own success. I've been meditating on this for a minute, and it is so amazing how God has ordered our footsteps!

At Moses' birth, God already had him walking on purpose. It was no coincidence that his mother sent him off down the river to escape the Egyptians, that Moses was found by the princess, that he grew up in the palace. God even used Moses' sin - the murder of the Egyptian who was beating an Israelite - for Moses' gain. It was no coincidence that Moses had to get out from the place of comfort he had always known and strike out into the wilderness.

God used each and every instance to prepare Moses for his destiny of leading the Israelites.

The fury that Moses felt seeing his kinsman abused, showed him that he had a deep love for his people. Despite growing up in Egypt's palace and knowing the rich and easy life, Moses still had a connection to his kin that was deep and visceral. He would need to tap into that connection over and over again when the people of God tried Moses' very last nerves on their journey to the Promised Land.

When Moses returned to Egypt, he already knew how the palace protocol worked. He was able to get an audience before Pharaoh because of his previous connections. No other Israelite would have even been entertained.

Moses needed to go out into the wilderness in order to meet the Lord. It was in Moses' time of solitude that he was able to hear from God and discover his purpose. Even while he shepherded his father in-law's flocks, Moses was gaining some skills he would need in shepherding God's people.

Look back at your life. Everything that has happened, God has allowed to happen. From your greatest privileges to your darkest defeats, God has ordered your steps. They're all there for a reason. They're all there to push you to your destiny in God.

Even now you may be in a painful place, hard situation, or a spot that doesn't seem to make sense. Maybe you're trying to recover from some sinful behavior, and you're feeling the guilt of your ways pressing down. Perhaps you've gotten a huge victory, and now you're wondering what's next.

God has you in mind! He's working all things together for your good. Don't allow yourself to lose hope, to despair or to even give up! Don't get comfortable where you are, keep your eyes ahead to the place where God is taking you to. As long as you're still breathing, He has work for you to do.

God is orchestrating your life for His glory. Every item in your life He will use to bring you to your expected end. No matter how things may seem right now, you have a great future ahead of you. And if things seem pretty great - buckle your seat belt - God can do even better than that! (Ephesians 3:20)

Verse of the Day: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Your Success

This morning I was blessed to catch Pastor Mike Freeman's broadcast on television. He said something that caught my ears: "You are the main ingredient to your success."

He elaborated on how God has already stacked the deck for us. God has given us His Word, His Holy Spirit, His wisdom... He's given us the talents, gifts, and attributes we possess and has placed us in the right spot for us to take advantage and live a fully sustained life.

The only thing we have to do is grab onto what He has given us, and do the work. If we never move, we'll never see the greatness God has placed on the inside of us. This is powerful when you think about it.

What if Abraham had never left the comfort of his homeland and didn't move out like God told him?

What if Moses decided to stay in the comfort of the wilderness and live out his days as a shepherd instead of going back to Egypt to free the Israelites?

What if Joshua thought that the instructions that God had given him about marching around Jericho were just too ludicrous to work?

What if David had cowered at the sight of Goliath like all the other men of Israel who laid eyes on the giant?

What if Esther had come to the conclusion that it was too risky to go and see the king unsummoned?

All of these people stood on the brink of success and made the decision to go after what God had laid out in front of them. They chose to step out in faith and do the work that the Lord was calling them to. And their lives were never the same. Once they chose to move, God was able to steer them to their greatness.

Are you living a life of greatness? Are you experiencing the thrill of serving God in the exact capacity He created you for?

Or, are you still trying to decide whether or not you're going to follow after His word?

No matter how bizarre, uncomfortable, complicated, or unheard of... if God has shown you what you're here to do, your best bet is to put your hands to the plow and walk down the path. Your life's success hangs in the balance. Don't miss out on the greatness that could be yours.

Verse of the Day: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

About The Father's Business

I'm feeling a bit sluggish this morning, but I'm sipping on my tea so hopefully I'll wake up soon.

Jesus was always different from the rest. When his family went up to Jerusalem for the Passover, He - at twelve years old - chose to go to the Temple to discuss the Word with the doctors and scholars who were present. While the other kids were probably running around enjoying the festivities, Jesus was taking the time to sharpen His mind.

He was so serious, He wound up getting left behind by Mary and Joseph. When they returned for Him, Jesus told them that they should have known that He would "be about my Father's business." (Luke 2:49)

Life has a way of taking over. We sometimes can get caught up with the happenings of the days... beautiful weather, friends, events, tv shows, and other distractions have a way of entering in and getting us off focus at times. Not to say that we can't have a spontaneous moment and enjoy the world around us, but we also have to make sure we are taking care of our "Father's business."

Jesus knew a golden opportunity when He saw one. Leaders from all around the region had descended on Jerusalem for the Passover. Here was a time for Him to speak with men He might never again have the opportunity to chat with. He grabbed hold of His window and made the most of His time.

We too have to make the most of our time. No matter what is happening, we need to make sure that we are doing all we can to carry out the will of the Father. We can't idle away our days, or get lazy in our quest for destiny. We must always stay on track and stay focused in God.

Today, make sure you spend some time working on your purpose in God. Don't get distracted by the little things that seem to pop up and take over. Stay focused so you can accomplish God's will for your life.

Verse of the Day: And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke 2:46-49