I'm Growing!

I had a moment this past holiday weekend. I allowed myself to get caught up in some drama that was swirling around me, and, for a moment, I was carried away by it all. I took on a negative attitude, said some negative things, and acted in a negative manner towards some folks.

Didn't I just write a post about how people are watching the saints?! Tsk tsk.

Somewhere in the midst of it all, I came to myself and realized that I was letting myself descend to a level I am not supposed to be on as a child of God. I stopped myself, took a deep breath, said a prayer, and changed up my behavior that second.

I was so disappointed in myself, though. I knew that God was not pleased with how I had handled things initially. Thank God for His mercy and forgiveness!

I'm also thankful for maturity as well. There was a time where I would have been caught up in that negative cloud for days. A time where I would never have thought to say a prayer asking God to help me. A time where I wouldn't have had the courage to apologize and switch up my behavior in the midst of the drama - even if I knew I was wrong!

So, I'm grateful for the evidence that I am growing in the grace and knowledge of God's word. As you continue to meditate on the Word of God and spend time in His presence, you can't help but be changed! You can't help but to be more aware of what doesn't please God, and you will only want to make Him smile.

Spending more time talking to God and hearing from Him, only makes you all the more aware that He is with you everywhere, seeing all that you do and say. That realization will push you to live in a manner that acknowledges His place in your life.

So keep spending time with your Heavenly Father and take note of the positive changes you see. Rejoice when you see yourself grow as you let go of sinful behavior. Continue to pray over and work on the things that are harder to overcome. As we spend more time with God, He will help fashion us more and more into His image.

Verse of the Day: But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day, Everyone!

In the midst of your barbecues, sleeping in, and running around, be sure to remember those who have sacrificed their lives so that we can live in freedom. Also, say a prayer for those who are currently serving in the armed forces right now.

God bless America!

Have a great day!

Verse of the Day: For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

Thanksgiving Friday!

It's Friday, it's payday, and it's the start of a three day weekend for me! Today is a good day.

Last night our Apostle preached a powerful message on the power of God's Word. God's Word formed this earth and was manifested in His son Jesus. The more we get into God's Word, the more we meditate on it and allow it to change our behavior, the more we will see the power of God working in our lives! It's as basic as that. There's so much more I can say, but it was our Apostle's message to preach not mine.

I am so grateful for God's greatness and majesty! Isn't it amazing that you can spend years in the faith and still learn new things about our God? That's how great He is! We'll never be able to tap into the fullness of His glory, but He continues to pour out new revelations as long as we are positioned to receive.

I'm thankful for God's love. I'm amazed by His grace. I'm humbled by His interest in my personal life. This great God wants little-old me to succeed and has taken a vested interest in making sure that happens. Thank You, Lord!

You know He feels the same way about you too! Take some time to give Him some praise today. Spend some time feasting on His Word. Let Him come in and reveal some of His secrets to you. He's more than willing to share.

Verse of the Day: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Psalm 48:1

Invisible Gratitude

Last night I attended an orientation for a mentorship program that I joined. It was heartwarming to see about a hundred adults in attendance who were ready and willing to mentor teenage youth in the city of Chicago.

As a part of the orientation, a common refrain was echoed by past mentors and the program staff: You may not think you're making a difference, but the students' responses reflect otherwise! They were basically reassuring us that often our efforts may seem unnecessary or even un-impactful, but the students' consistently raved about their mentors and the help that they gave.

This sentiment can be applied to a lot of areas in our lives. You may feel unappreciated by our family, overlooked at your job, or taken for granted by those who you assist. Yet, more often than not, your acts of kindness, diligence, and displays of love are appreciated and even cherished. Think of the stories some  mothers tell of how their difficult teenagers grew up to sing their praises and give them thanks for the way they were raised.

People may not show their gratitude in the way that we would like, or they even may not show it at all. But our Heavenly Father sees and knows all that we do, and you better believe that He is showing and will show you proper appreciation for all that you do.

So, don't give up on your acts of love! Don't get tired of being diligent with your responsibilities! You make a difference to someone, and someone feels love because you are in their life. You may not feel the love, but know that it is there.

Verse of the Day: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9, 10

Be the Blessing!

I love it when I can make someone's day. I enjoy those times when I can participate in surprising someone or contributing a special gift to someone. I just love seeing someone's face light up with joy and knowing that I had something to do with it. They don't even have to know I was involved.

When you give, you are imitating your Heavenly Father. God has always been a generous giver. From blessings in many forms to the Ultimate Gift of sending His dear Son as a sacrifice for our salvation, God is always seeking out the best ways to give to His beloved children.

In the same way, we should constantly be searching for opportunities to give and be a blessing. We should see giving as a joy and not a burden or inconvenience. We should recognize it as another facet of displaying our faith.

Think about those times when someone went out of their way to bless you. Remember how special you felt when someone surprised you out of the blue. That feeling is too good to horde all to yourself! Take some time to spread the love around!

As you give unto others, God sees what you are doing and will make sure that you are blessed in return. As you give unselfishly, God will take care of your needs and desires. Like the saying says: A closed hand cannot receive. When you open your hand to give to someone else, you give yourself the opportunity to be blessed as well.

Let's be a blessing to someone today!

Word of the Day: ...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35b

All Eyes On Me! (They're Watching You Too)

This morning my heart is a bit grieved. I did my daily round of blog hopping to catch up on the latest news for the day. Folks, there's a lot of negativity going on in the Christian camp. From pastors getting DUIs to gospel singers wearing lingerie in their music videos to young women deciding that they can participate in pre-marital sex without guilt because God's love is not based on their performance. I won't even get into the pastors coming out as homosexuals and sanctioning it as okay or others stating that the Bible is merely a metaphor and not entirely true. I am appalled and concerned.

There is an entire world out there that is already skeptical of religion and faith in the unseen. Our only witness to the greatness of God's love is how we act within this world. We claim we are different, set apart, destined for heaven's gates. Yet when they look at our lives, can they truly see what makes us any different from them? What really would compel them to be like us?

Even more troubling is the thought of Christians embracing sinful behavior while continuing to confess Christ. How can good and bad fruit come from the same tree?

Our witness is on display every day. People watch what we say, how we act, and where we go. Their eyes and ears are alert to the promises we make, attitudes we catch, selfishness we exhibit, and thoughtlessness we show. They hear us praise God in the morning and curse out our neighbor in the afternoon. They see us trek to the club on Friday night and then sing in the choir stand on Sunday. What are we doing?!

This world is crying out for deliverance, but they will turn a deaf ear to Christ if we continue to blend in, compromise, and blatantly participate in sin. We have to do better saints. The world is watching.

Verse of the Day: Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Matthew 12:33

God, You Said It!

Last night I took a moment to write to God. I've found that putting down my thoughts in a kind of letter to Him helps me sort out my feelings and find some clarity. And I always take a moment to listen for His response to what I've written down.

Yesterday, before I was even done with my portion, God pointed out that I already knew the answer to my own question. It was right there: "God, You said..." I was using that phrase almost as a complaint. God, You said this was going to happen, but I don't see it! Lord, You told me that this was what I could expect, but it's not here!

I had taken my eyes off God and was looking around me for the results. If I had stayed focused on Him, I wouldn't be concerned about how long things were taking or what hadn't shown up yet. It wouldn't matter because my eyesight would be filled with the majesty of God's power and greatness.

Abraham made the same mistake when he listened to his wife Sarah who was singing the same tune I was. He took his eyes off God and looked around and saw that his blessing had not come. So he tried to make it happen. As a result, he brought a whole bunch of mess into his home.

Simple trust in God is what our Heavenly Father wants from us. He wants us to rest assured that whatever He has spoken, He will do it. When we can fully rely on God, He is free to do things His way and in His timing bringing about the best possible results for our lives.

So, if God has said anything to you and you're still waiting on results, don't take your eyes off of Him! Keep your trust in His word. He is not a man that He should lie, He will never leave the righteous forsaken, and He is a God that never fails.

Believe on His Word. Rest in His love. His word will definitely come to pass.

Verse of the Day: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11