Stand Strong

So, Judges 3:1-6 just blew me away.

These are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites 

who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. 

He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites 

who had no experience in battle. 

Judges 3:1, 2

God purposefully left enemy nations around Israel to teach them warfare. That right there made me pause and think for a moment.

Could it be that that person, that situation, that circumstance that just won't move is actually there on purpose to teach me how to battle? Could the Lord be training me for something I have no experience in?

See, at this point in Judges, the Israelites were experiencing a time of peace. Joshua and his generation had fought the good fight to obtain God's promises, and now their children were reaping the benefits. This generation didn't know anything about fighting. They didn't know anything about war.

So God strategically kept some enemies around to keep His people strong and to make sure that they would stay true to His will.

These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the LORD had given to their ancestors through Moses. 

So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and they intermarried with them. 

Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods.

Judges 3:4-6

The Israelites were tested both physically and spiritually. And they failed both tests.

Instead of pushing out those who directly opposed their God, they married them. Instead of clinging to the one true God who had brought them into their current prosperity, they betrayed Him and began worshipping idols.

Your momma's faith, your daddy's faith, and grandma's faith may have gotten you to your place of peace and prosperity. But God still wants to make sure that you are a strong and faithful warrior for His Kingdom.

Has God left any 'Canaanites' in your territory? Is God trying to train you for battle? Are you being challenged in your beliefs? Have you been tested in your faith?

Don't be like the Israelites and fail the test! As a result of their disobedience, they went from being rulers to servants again. (Judges 3:8)

Hold on to your faith. Stand strong in the face of adversity. Pull out your spiritual weapons and fight the good fight of faith. Don't allow all that you've gained to be lost. Become the strong warrior that God is setting you up to be.

Wednesday's Word: Send Out Some Prayers

The LORD is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

 

God is faithful.

 

Despite all that has happened... In the face of all that is brewing on the horizon... God is faithful.

 

He has never left us or forsaken us. Ever.

 

As we are remembering the events of 9/11 today, please pray for all those affected by the tragedy. Yet, praise God for how he has guided us. He kept us through war, He stabilized us through choppy political waters, and He is yet keeping America strong.

 

Pray for our leaders. Pray for our President. Pray for Congress. Pray for all those who work behind the scenes.

 

Pray over your state, your city, and your community. Cover your place of residence in prayer.

 

Our Heavenly Shepherd has been faithful. In spite of it all our cup is yet overflowing with blessings. Praise the Lord for His guidance and love.

Stay Faithful!

This past week, my church has been reading the book of Nehemiah. This man of God was a bold, determined, prayerful man of God. I encourage you to read his story. It has definitely helped push me back into what I know God has placed in my hands.

When Nehemiah heard about the state of the wall of Jerusalem, he was so moved that he gave up his distinguished position in the king's palace and travelled back to Jerusalem to make things right. He gathered together the people of Israel and inspired them to work as a team to rebuild the walls.

There were people who ridiculed Nehemiah's mission. There were naysayers who dissed the quality of his work. Enemies sent up threats to attack his efforts.

At every turn, Nehemiah consulted the Lord in prayer. His resolve to stay prayerful kept him from making mistakes. His connection to God maintained his strength and resolve to finish what had been placed on his heart.

Nehemiah's faith led him to do what would have seemed impossible. With his leadership, the group was able to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem in fifty-two days.

What did God lay on your heart? What moved your spirit so much that you knew God was calling you to action? What 'wall' is waiting on your rebuilding touch?

Don't allow the haters, the detractors, or your enemies to keep you from completing what God has placed in your hands. Stay faithful to what you have been called to complete. You are in the midst of walking out a miracle. You can't give up!

Today, purpose in your heart to keep going. Stay prayed up, so you can finish the work. God gave you the project. Don't let it fall to the wayside.

Verse of the Day: So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4:6

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

Afternoon Ti: Do More Than Just Enough

The fields are ripe with harvest!
Let's get to work!

It's graduation season here at my school. And today I was running around getting things together to ensure that our Seniors have a happy matriculation with everything they need taken care of.

Walking through the school, you can tell that some of the students have already checked out. They're already acting as if they've gotten their diploma. They don't see the need to keep pushing or to try hard to finish strong. They're just coasting to the finish line. They're doing just enough to get by.

There are a few, however, who are still hard at work. These are the ones who've built a foundation of excellence and don't want to see their record smudged one iota. They don't care that they have accomplished enough, they want to exeed enough. These are the ones who I'm running around finding awards and other accolades to hand to them at the end of their journey.

We are on our own Christian journey in this life. Some of us are just coasting to get by. We see no point in striving to do more. We've accepted Jesus as our personal Savior. We know that we're getting into heaven. That's enough for us.

Then there are those of us who have chosen to do the work of the ministry as well. We are striving to do more for the Kingdom. We are building a foundation of excellence. We have sought out God's will for our lives, and we are doing all we can to live it. We've taken up Jesus' Great Commission and witness the gospel to those who need to hear it. We make sure to live our lives according to the principles and tenets set forth in God's Word.

As a result, we're seeing God's blessings flow in our lives. We're experiencing God's great love on a daily basis. We lack no good thing, and God's peace reigns in our hearts.

For those hard workers, can you imagine what God's got waiting for you in heaven? Can you even think of what God's waiting to award you with once you come before His eternal throne?

For those who are just coasting in your Christian life, why are you sitting on the sidelines? Are you serving justice to the great gift of salvation that you received? What do you think your Heavenly Father will say once you come before His eternal throne?

Let's all make sure that our work for the Kingdom is making our Father proud!

Verse of the Day: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:14-17

Solid Rock

Today... is a day.

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord... (Psalm 121:1, 2) And I need that help today!

I pray all of you are having excellent days so far. Pray my strength...

God is good. Even in the midst of all of the busyness and things that have to be taken care of, God is still good.

It's nice to just take a minute and pause and think about the greatness of God! He is our rock in the midst of stormy seas. When everything around us is chaotic and troubled, we can cling to His steadfast love. It is so reassuring to have Him ever-present. It's heartening to know that no matter what or who starts acting up in our lives, our Father will remain steady, constant, and faithful.

When the disciples were on a boat that was being walloped by a severe storm, they feared that they were going to die. They were amazed that Jesus was resting peacefully on the boat. After they woke Him up, Jesus questioned their faith. And then He commanded the storm to cease. (Mark 4:36-41)

Don't forget Who's riding with you on your ship! The second you see God freak out - then you can freak out. As long as He is at peace, you can be at peace. And you already know God will never freak out. He will never be flustered, disoriented, or apprehensive. He knows it all, and He knows our glorious everlasting future.

Take heart. You are on solid ground. Things may be shaking, but you will not be destroyed.

Have a great day! (I know I feel better!)

Verse of the Day: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

Keep It Up!

This year we opened up talking about purpose and achieving progress in the destinies that God has given us. How have you been doing this past month? Are you still making progress? Are you still working towards your goal?

It can be easy to slip back into complacency. Working a vision is hard work. Remember, however, the great benefit! You are working toward your glorious purpose in God. You can't afford to stay where you are. Where you're going is much higher than your current place. Don't you want to go up?

King Solomon took seven years to build the temple. (1 Kings 6:38) Esther was in preparation an entire year before she ever laid eyes on the king. (Esther 2:12) Paul spent around three years after his conversion to learn from the Holy Spirit before he stepped into ministry. (Galatians 1:15-18)

Don't get discouraged in your time of preparation! Don't let the solitude, menial tasks, and foundation building keep you from completing your goal.

This time of blood, sweat and tears will be repaid with times of laughter, satisfaction, and joy! Keep pressing, keep working, and keep following the voice of the Lord. Don't get weary; your harvest is great!

Verse of the Day: He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Proverbs 10:4

Afternoon Ti...

This is why I don't ask you to do anything!

Just a note to apologize for the omitted post today. Truly my error. I'm so sorry.

I guess I'll use my own mistake as the topic of the post today. Don't you hate it when you're depending on someone for something, and they don't come through for you?

Far too many times I have been let down. Which is probably why I choose to do things on my own a lot. I'd rather be swamped and rushing around than to have to hope that someone does their portion.

Yet, there is some One in our life who we can depend on always. He's always there and never shirks on His responsibility. God is an ever present help for us.

Still, how many times do you find yourself turning to the Lord after you've exhausted every other option you have? How often do you find yourself praying in desperation for direction after every plan you've enacted has failed?

It's a great thing that God's mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22, 23) And it also helps that He loves us so much. Only a merciful, loving God could deal with our behavior.

When issues arise and you need direction, assurance, or even just a listening ear... don't neglect to speak with your Heavenly Father. He loves you more than anyone else, and He has the power, knowledge, and ability to help you more than anyone else as well. He is definitely worthy to be the first in line, so why not let Him enjoy that privilege?

Verse of the Day: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

God's Faithful Love

We're back at it again, Saints! How was your weekend? Mine was AWESOME! God came and visited me and my family. I am so blessed to have heard from heaven and am so encouraged in my walk with Him. All it takes is one word from God to turn any situation around.

I'm so grateful for God's love. Today I am meditating on the faithfulness of God's love. It is the one thing that never fails! No matter what we do, where we go, what's going on, or how we feel.... God's love is still right there.

We may have times were we don't feel His love or think that He has abandoned us. Yet, it's only a smokescreen. God never fails! He's always there to encourage, uplift, and embrace us.

When we stumble and fall, His hand is always outstretched for us to grab onto. Even when we turn our backs on Him, He still stands ready and waiting for us to come back to Him. And when we do, He receives us back into His love with no condemnation. His mercy flows out to us anew.

Isn't God so good?!

Make sure you give God some praise today for His faithful love. Thank Him for remaining faithful to you even when you wavered in your walk with Him. Spend some time giving Him some love back today. He deserves our affections and gratitude.

Verse of the Day: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

Stick With It!

The Lord sees all that we do. He sees our faithful work, dedication, and drive. He hears our cries for help and is moved by our struggles. He sees it all, and He's working it all together for our good.

We can become discouraged at times from the day-to-day monotony of working our purpose in God. At times it can seem like what we're doing isn't worth it, that we're not appreciated, or that someone else is doing a much better job than we're trying to do.

As we continue to remain faithful, however, God has a way of causing every little thing to fit together in a beautiful story of fulfillment. We will reach a place where we can look back and see how God sustained us, elevated us, and caused us to do what we never would have dared to dream.

Don't get weary in well doing! Don't allow the cares of this world to keep you from finishing your work in God! Continue to persevere and stay with the call of God on your life!

Even Jesus had moments where He grew frustrated while ministering to people who weren't fully grasping what He was teaching. (Matthew 17:17) But He stuck with them, and those very men turned the world upside down after Jesus went back to glory.

Stay with the vision! Don't give up! If it's from God, your work is not in vain. God will reward your work in due season.  Keep on pressing... God's sending the blessing.

Verse of the Day: Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD... Jeremiah 31:16a

Don't Block Your Own Blessing!

A lot of us have big dreams. We have our plans written up, our proposals ready to present, and our end stories gloriously spelled out in the imaginations of our minds.

As we journey toward those expected ends, we while our time away in our current situations seeing them as mere stepping stones to the greatness ahead. However, while we are stepping toward our success, we need to be mindful of what kind of trail we leave in our wake. These times at the bottom of the mountain have more of an effect on our mountain peak experience than we might recognize.

Say you're looking to own your own company one day. What kind of employee are you being now for someone else? Are you providing excellent work or only mediocre effort? Can your boss depend on you to showcase respect and diligence, or are you the one leading the gossip circle?

Whether you realize it or not, your current behavior is sowing seeds that you will reap later. Your present interactions are dictating your future joys and pain.

Are you sowing seeds that you'll happily reap from? Or, will you be crying tears of disappointment and heartache?

Jesus said in a parable that those who are faithful over the little things will then become the rulers over much. (Matthew 25:21) Don't let reactions to the 'little' things you're presently facing keep you from the greatness you see for your future!

Verse of the Day: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Psalm 31:23

God's Peace

As the year is drawing to a close, many of us are reflecting on the time that has gone by and are looking forward with anticipation to the year that’s on its way.

With all that’s gone on in my life in 2010, I am truly grateful for God’s peace. Yes, I have struggled, cried, pushed, and fought to get through some challenges. Yet, in every situation, I have had the benefit of God’s unwavering peace in my spirit.

Since I have matured in the things of God and developed a closer relationship with Him, I have seen my outlook change. What would have brought me worry, fear, and anxiousness, no longer causes me to panic.

Don’t get me wrong. I still have parts of my pessimistic and sarcastic nature. And I have to battle doubt from time to time. There is still plenty of room for improvement!

However, I can now face circumstances with the quiet reassurance that the God of the Universe is with me and is helping me defeat every roadblock. That Truth has given me a peace that passes all understanding. It has allowed me to sleep more soundly at night, go about my days without needless distraction, and has bolstered my spirit where I otherwise would have gone nuts.

God is faithful and a keeper of His word. Everything He has promised, He will do. We just have to trust our Lord enough to allow Him to do it… on His terms and in His timing. Once I surrendered to this fact, God blessed me with peace beyond measure.

You also have the same God of the Universe in your corner. Let go of fear and grab hold to the Father’s hand. Allow His peace to envelop your soul as well.

Verse of the Day: The LORD will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

Keep it Up!

As this year is coming to close, I have been in a mood of reflection and assessment. I give God praise for the writing gift He has given me, and I am happy that I started blogging this year.


I did have my period of silence towards the middle, but I was able to get back on it! I am grateful that I have stayed consistent and kept up with posting these past couple of months.

Consistency is a trait that in the past I have struggled to maintain. (Did you catch those words of faith?) I came up with such great ideas, started out with vigor, and only wound up dropping my plans after a period of time. I was aware of my fickle behavior, and I would sometimes avoid starting projects out of fear that I would never finish them.

Not any more! I have officially taken on the Faithful Spirit!

When I restarted blogging, I went to the Lord and prayed for His help. I let my friends and family know what I was working on to hold myself accountable. I pushed past laziness and adapted to change in order to stay faithful to the cause. And, look, here I am still blogging today! (If you all really knew, you’d be shouting right now with me.)

I am now going to take this approach with all of the plans I feel the Lord is calling me to take on. No more half-done dreams!

We all have areas where God is calling us to be faithful. Whether it’s on the job, in ministry, at home, or just in our relationship to our Father, we each have individual areas where we must keep up consistency.

Faithfulness is a trait that requires constant care and upkeep. It’s easy to throw in the towel and give up when things grow difficult or inconvenient. Yet it’s when we choose to press through and do the hard thing that we reap the better reward.

Think about it. Some of our greatest joys came from places where we dug in our heels and remained faithful and consistent to the goal. So, keep it up! Hang in there! Remain faithful in the face of adversity (or your own frustration). You’ll feel so much better if you finish strong.

Verse of the Day: A faithful man shall abound with blessings… Proverbs 28:20a