P. U. S. H.!

Christians love to use the acronym PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens. Today I’d like to redefine it: Pray, Prepare, and Perform Until Something Happens.

Too often, I feel, saints put all of the responsibility on God to make their visions, aspirations, and dreams come to pass. We pray and look to the skies for our blessings to fall in our lap without any hard work on our part. Yes, God is our Ultimate Help, and His whole mission for having us here is to fulfill His purpose for us. However, God wants us to be an active part of the process in realizing our dreams.

We cannot really appreciate obtaining God’s promises for us if we haven’t put any sweat into the process. If everything just appeared out of the sky, we would take our answered prayers for granted. There is growth in stepping out in faith trusting that God will fulfill His Word. Character is honed and defined when we take initiative and work the process to pave the way for the promise to develop.

How can God send your new job when you haven’t sent out your resume? What financial increase can you obtain if you’re always spending all of your extra money? How do you expect for your husband to find you when you’re running up behind every potential man you see without a wedding ring?

Okay, okay. I’ll leave you alone.

What I’m trying to say is we all have a part to play in causing some prayers to be answered. We have to actively position ourselves to receive the answer. Even if all we can do is speak the Word over our situation, then we must speak the Word! Faith without works is dead, so let’s revive our faith by putting our actions behind our prayers.

Verse of the Day: …I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:18b

Remember the Word

This weekend I house sat for my sister while she was out of town. I was amused and then intrigued by notes my sister had left to herself around her apartment. She had handwritten notes at her front and back door, on her fridge, and in her bathroom. The notes were confessions of faith and scriptures to encourage herself in the Lord.

After thinking about it, I will probably be putting up some of my own words of faith in my room and at my desk. Having a word of God around at those times when I’m busily going through the day will help me to pause and reflect about the real reason that I’m here on this earth. They can also help keep my attitude in check when I become frustrated when things don’t go according to plan. (I’m working on that vice. It will not prevail!)

It reminds me of the instructions God gave to the children of Israel. He commanded them to keep His words before them. They had to engrave his words into their door posts, and even bind them on their foreheads and hands! (Deuteronomy 11:18-20) God was showing them how important it was to keep His words on their mind and hearts.

We too should make an effort to keep God’s words ever before us. The Bible says that Jesus came to give us an abundant life. (John 10:10) So, if we plan on obtaining that overflow, we need to be putting an abundance of His Word on the inside of us. His Words bring deliverance, healing, peace, joy, and revelation. Why not leave some of that around to stumble upon?

Verse of the Day: …the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

Thanksgiving Friday

Isn’t amazing how the weeks are flying by? It’s already another Thanksgiving Friday! Saints, we’ve made it through again. Praise God for another week of life and bliss!

I am thankful for so much this week. God has put a song in my heart and joy in my spirit despite some of the negative things still trying to take over. I have been smiling and laughing all week, and I know that the joy of the Lord is truly being my strength because there’s no other way I could do it!

I have also been blessed to walk in my creative gifts on this week. Working with the vision that God has revealed to me, I have been busily working to put things in place and bring Him glory! I’m so excited to see what the manifestation will establish.

Finally, I’m thankful for my family today. They are an amazing group of warriors. My parents – despite the physical difficulties they are fighting in my father’s body – are still standing strong pastoring a vibrant church. My sister is on her way to getting her graduate degree in December, and is currently spreading the love of Jesus in Ghana on a missions trip. I couldn’t ask for a better group of individuals to be connected to.

So, what are you thankful for this week? What great things has God done for you? I know I’m not the only one giving him praise! Feel free to leave your thankful comments below.

Have a great weekend!

Verse of the Day: …the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

A New Outlook

Recently I began planning the 2011 itinerary and focus for my church’s youth ministry where I serve as the leader. In my times of prayer and meditation, God has been showing me new and innovative ideas to continue reaching out to and involving our teens. I am getting excited that I get to implement such creative initiatives, and I know that my teens will enjoy them.

Sometimes we can get into a bit of a routine in our service to the Lord. Our participation becomes like a habit and we perform our responsibilities like a machine. We can even let the fire that God lit in us die down to glowing embers, and we lose the zeal we originally had.

However, all of that complacency changes when we get before God and allow Him to show us His vision and plans for every area of our lives. God has a way of making everything fresh, and His ultimate creative process can invigorate any situation.

I love how God can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary! Nothing is routine when God is involved. He always brings forth a new way that always delivers sound results. It’s just our responsibility to move with God in the change, so that our lives can continue to thrive with vitality. Variety is the spice of life as they say.

Take some time today to allow God to breathe new life into you where your service to Him is concerned. Allow Him to remind you of the call that you have, and open yourself to hearing His fresh take on your position. Let God quicken your spirit anew with His inspiration.

Verse of the Day: Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? Isaiah 43:19a

Winds of Change

It’s starting to get chilly here in Chicago again. I must admit, I love the fall. I love the changing of the leaves and the feeling of being bundled in a coat. It’s not super hot and it’s not super cold. The crisp air is so pleasant, and I feel that fall is the perfect season.

I’m amazed every year though by the people who just can’t let go of summer. Despite the plunging temperature, men refuse to don jackets and women still parade in open toed shoes. They dress oblivious to the cold and as a result, many of those same people wake up with colds and the flu later on in the season.

Often in life we too can be stubborn to change with the seasons. God may be trying to bring us into a new place, a higher level, or have us face down a new challenge. Yet we are still content with where we currently are, and fight to stay in our comfort zone. As a result, we can send ourselves down roads of unnecessary detours and trials we could have avoided if we would have just gone with the changes God ordered.

God ordained seasons so that the earth could be replenished and refreshed. Too much of any one climate can cause stagnation and decline. Even the desert gets rain and has cool temperatures at times. So, don’t try to fight against God when you feel the winds of change blowing. Get excited and keep moving! Know that whatever season you’re walking into, God is still bringing you to your expected end.

Verse of the Day: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Official's Official

I am a certified political junkie. It started when I lived in DC during the race of Mayor Fenty. It’s only blossomed and flourished with the election of Obama, and now all of the political unrest has me glued to the blogs, NPR and the news channels. I get a kick out of hearing the politicos strategize, theorize, and legitimize only to come back later and retrace their steps. Plus, I believe it is important to keep track of the pulse of those who are controlling our nation.

Today is Election Day for the US, and it stands to be one of the more important elections held in recent memory. America is stumbling, our residents are angry and bewildered, and we are all looking to our elected officials to navigate us through this mess we’ve made.

I have my own personal convictions about who and what party can help remedy the situation. As a believer, however, I know the ultimate decision lies in God’s hands. No matter which party is control, or who takes the reigns as the leader of a state, God allows each and every person to take office as He sees fit.

So, today as I monitor the polls, I’ll be in constant prayer that God will guide the fingers and pens of the voting public to ensure that the right people for each job is selected. No man can save, only God. As long as we continue to keep God as the center of our Union, we cannot go wrong.

Verse of the Day: The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs 21:1

What's My Motivation?

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending two services that celebrated the lives of two saints. One was a service where a minister preached his last sermon as a pastor, retiring after 45 years of service. The other was a homegoing celebration for a woman who passed away after a battle with cancer.

Although the meetings were held for two drastically different reasons, both of them highlighted a similar theme. Everyone who spoke about the honorees talked about the persons’ ability to serve with love in spite of the situations. They spoke on the person’s leadership through service, and how that service led others to the Lord.

This got me thinking about my own life’s service and what someone might say looking back over the legacy I have left in my wake. I know that I am not one who shies away from work or fulfilling an assignment. But I know that I often serve out of duty or necessity rather than out of a heartfelt love.

This realization led me to say a prayer asking God to help me to always serve with a spirit of love. I have to remember that everything I do is to be out of the love I have for Christ, and no matter what the situation, He is the one I am aiming to please. I can mask my irritations, frustrations, and bad attitude from people, but God always sees my heart. (I Samuel 16:7) If I serve to please the Lord with a heart of love, it will flow out into my actions and cause others to see Jesus all the more clearly.

Verse of the Day: …whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31