Tag Archives: FAITH

Something Higher Than I

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Photo by Adam Kontor on Pexels.com

Romans 8:28

“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.”

As a result of COVID-19 we are now working from home, and as the Adminstrative Assistant, I am on call for our Human Resources Department for the City of Asheville. I am having to triage calls that come in from all over the City, as well as other local governments from other City’s who are calling for advice or to see what we are doing in this situation. Though some of these calls had nothing to do with local government I tried to give as much assistance as I could and directing people to the correct place.

Currently our phones had been rolled to my phone because we weren’t able to get my City phone up and working in time. We were finally able to get it up today, so that means that I will have to go back into work to roll the phones over to my City phone.

For work we have been doing virtual stand up meetings. Some how trying to keep things as normal as possible in light of what is going on. Yesterday was a bit overwhelming to say the least, but it pushed me out of the house to take a much needed walk. I walked for an 1 hour and 45 minutes. Some much needed time to just be and be able to breathe some fresh air.

A couple of days ago I had a Pastors wife calling to see what was the status for churches. I could hear it in her voice, her over all concern and worry. Though we don’t have all the answers, I gave her the information that was known at this time and then I tried to offer some other options for her church. More than anything to give her hope.

This morning we were in the middle of a virtual stand up meeting and my work phone started ringing, and I felt the need to answer it. I turned away from the virtual call and answered. It was the Pastors wife calling back from the other day. By that time we were ending our stand up meeting, so I disconnected from it. She said do you remember me and smiling I said yes ma’am. She said, I was praying that you would answer again. She was wanting an update and then God showed up. In most cases I wouldn’t, but I was led to give her my number, so if she needed any further assistance and to stay connected. I really felt like it was a God connection. She was very grateful and before getting off the phone she expressed her hoping to meet me someday.

This is uncharted territory for us all and we are all trying to navigate our way through this. Even as ministers of the gospel and people of faith, we are human first. Yet, we still have to be the source of light and encouragement that is needed for such a time as this. Sometimes that means lifting each other, even at the moment you might need some encouragement too.

This is an opportunity for the body of Christ to rise up. Don’t get it twisted God is still working.

I see now more than ever the scripture from Mark 16:15 which says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”. It is being manifested through this COVID-19.

People don’t need more fear, but hope in someone greater than themselves. Offer them Jesus!

Song List

Shana Wilson “Give Me You” https://youtu.be/uC0UHJagWNE

Necessary

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“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statues”
Psalm 119:71

Already at the beginning of this a New Year most of us if not all of us have already experienced some type of loss, hurt, pain, betrayal, and disappointment. With extreme anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and fear.

By the end of January people were ready to give up and throw in the towel. I had seen post that said, “Thank you January for a good year.” Because of the magnitude of their afflictions, they have already counted out the rest of the year.

Today’s Word

af-flic-tion
suffering, distress, pain, trouble, misery, hardship, misfortune, adversity, sorrow, torment, anguish, grief

“We are troubled on every side, yet not destressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body”

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

In life we will experience things coming from all different directions and sometimes several things all at once, yet God will give us peace even during our storm. Life happens to us all and there are somethings that will throw us for a loop, have us scratching our head, baffled, puzzled, and confused. But because our hope and our faith lie in Jesus Christ, we don’t become desperate, thirsty and hungry after the wrong things.

Have you ever been talked about, lie on, cheated, used, and abused, but when you look around God was still there? He promised that he would never leave us nor forsake us, and He is always true to his word. Even in times when things are not going well in your life know that God has not forgotten about you. Though we are tossed to and fro, thrown away, disregarded, and rejected, I find the strength to push through because I know though the weapons may form, they want to prosper.

As Jesus hung on the cross, he had a moment where He questioned God, but he said not my will, but thine will be done. He said, “IT IS FINISHED”, hung his head and gave up the Ghost. Now as a believer we have to walk out the finish work on the Cross. So, in the end we still win. God will complete the work that he has started in us, but we must participate in the plan that he has for our lives.

NECESSARY…

Despite our afflictions when we trust in Jesus Christ, we are able to overcome and conquer the very things that should have taken us out. Through these scriptures I found encouragement and strength of some of the things that I will experience even while going through, if I faint not.

Psalms 34:19 Deliverance
2 Corinthians 12:9 Grace
1 Corinthians 10:13 Way of escape
Romans 8:18 His Glory revealed
Roman’s 5:3-4 Patience, Experience & Hope
Philipians 4:13 I can
James 5:11 Mercy
Psalms 22:24 Continual Praise
John 16:33 Peace

So why in the world would a God want us to go through affliction?

NECESSARY…

When David the Psalmist talked about “it was good for me that I have been afflicted” he was referencing to the fact of the change that it was rearing within him. No, it did not feel good, no he didn’t like it, nor appreciated it initially, but yet it allowed him to know God in a different way.

There were 3 continual prayers throughout David’s journey which were:

1. Psalms 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in my mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”
In order for God’s word to be hidden in his heart, meant he had to learn it, study it, meditate, contemplate, ponder, consider, reflect, digest on it day and night. Because of his love for God, his desire more than anything in the world was to know him and to please him by keeping his commandments.

2. Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”
Through God’s word it will give us clarity, direction, a guide and a light even when the path seems dark. In Psalm 23 it talks about the Lord being a shepherd, so even if you were to get off the path his word will be like a GPS system and put us back on track. We must be willing to follow his direction and his plan for our life even when we don’t understand, or the way seems is unsure.

3. Psalms 119:133 “Order my steps in Your Word: And let not any iniquity have dominion over me”
He wanted God’s word to guide him, to align him and to not allow anyone’s wicked, sinful, evil, scandalist, unjust, and unfair actions of man to overtake him.

NECESSARY…

It is through the pressing together that the oil in your life is manifested. So, when you feel the pressure or the fire might intensify, it is because God is pruning and refining you into something greater. Do not be overcome but overcome through Christ Jesus.

Song List

I am who I am today
Because God used my mistakes
He worked it for my good
Like no one else ever could
God told me to tell
It was NECESSARY

Necessary by Fantasia & Dennis Reed

It’s Your Season To Live

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READ

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT

At the age of 17, I stood in my parent’s bedroom with a gun to my head, contemplating whether to live or to die. It was then I heard God’s still small voice say, “I have better for you.” I debated with God, and of course, I did not win because I am still here. It was at that moment I decided to trust Him and to choose life.

There is nothing in this world that you could ever do that would stop God from loving you or remove the purpose He’s placed on your life. He died on the cross just to prove how much He loves you and wants to be in a relationship with you. The enemy will try to rob you of your future by reminding you of your past, but God wants to use you in spite of it. Jesus Christ died and rose so you can now live, so let’s choose life.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for being such a merciful God, that in spite me You still love me. I pray that as I grow more in You, I will show the same love and mercy to others. In Jesus Christ Name, I pray. Amen

REFLECT

When you think about the decisions you are making are you choosing life by believing God’s truth and walking in His ways?

Song List

“Live” by Marvin Sapp

Unlocking Your Potential

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“Jesus said unto him, If you can believe; all things are possible to him who believes”

Mark 9:23

Lack of Power Mark 9:14-29

Pos-si-bil-i-ty

  • The fact or state of being possible
  • Something that is possible
  • One that is capable or of being made real
  • Potentially for favorable or interesting results

The other day I was watching the Iron Man, which I have seen multiple times, but this time God showed me something that I had never  noticed before. This was the beginning of Iron Man and how he became who he was created to be.

He inherited a multi-million dollar company that was passed on to him after the death of his father. He was then expected to live out the legacy of his father, but not what was on the inside of him. His fathers best friend who was helping with the company had corrupted the company and even set out to kill him so that he wouldn’t find out and then inheriate the company for himself. He didn’t know until he almost lost his life.

The very thing that tried to kill you, can also be the very thing that saves your life

It was through this life experience that he was changed and he realized who he was created to be.  Against all odds and against what others wanted him to do or be, when he tapped into his potential he didn’t allow anything to hold him back to where they left him.

People will expect you to be where they dropped you, but they don’t realize that by the time they try to come through looking for you again (the old you), you will no longer be in that place where they left you. And they have the nerve to even get mad. lol

Potential known, but never realized is like a dream that never comes true

He knew that he had potential, but never realized his true potential until this life experience altered his perspective and the way he thought about things.

There were three things that I noticed that he had to do in order to accomplish his goal.

  1. hide “He that dwelleth in the secret place” Pslams 91:1  He got out of the eye of the public and went down into his secret room where he works. Sometimes we have to let go of some people and things so God can do the work within us.
  2. focused “Seek ye first the Kingdom” Matthew 6:33 He didn’t let others, but those he trusted know what he was working on. Even in the ones he told, he told them very little.  He wouldn’t stop until it was just right.  And when it didn’t work he went back to the drawing board.  It is hard to focus and complete anyone thing if our hand is in too many pots.
  3. finish it “Being confident in this one thing” Philippians 1:6  He didn’t let anyone persuade and deter him from what he knew he needed to do. He was confident, he didn’t give up when it seemed hard, her perservered and he didn’t stop until it was complete. Even upon completetion he still continued to build upon it and improve himself.

Everyone has potential, but most of the time the potential is never brought to fruition because we are looking to the wrong source or in the wrong things. Until you let go the of the expectations of other people, you will never be able to live out what God has called and created you to be.

When you can tap into what God’s plan is for your life, there is nothing that can hinder nor stop you unless you allow it to.

God will always finish what he has started, but we have participate in the process and do the work.  Somethings are never completed or have not yet come to past, not always due to the things that have happened in our life, but because we want to do our part.

“Faith without works is dead” James 2:26

Live out your full potential in God. GO AFTER IT!!!!! 

Song List

Fighters by Cheryl Fortune

I’m here to

Speak hope to you

If I made it

You can make it too

You may feel like, life is over

I won’t let you go

Together we’ll make it through

We fighters

Never gonna give up, never gonna give up

I’ll take your hands and you’ll take mine

We’ll through this like life

We’re fighters

 

Gear Up

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You can’t expect to win a fight if you refuse to get in the ring.

I do believe as the scripture says in Exodus 14:14  that the Lord will fight for us and we will hold our peace. This still requires our participation in order for those battles to be won. Moses still had to listen and to follow the instructions of God in order to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.

The things in which we come up against are operated by a spirit using other people or things as the vehicle in order for it to be manifested.  And in order to win those battles we have to know how to fight. You can only fight a spirit, by the spirit of God.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but agaisnt principalities, against powers, against the trulers of the darkness of this world, against spritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12


1 Samuel 17 David and Goliath

A lot of times we loose the battle or the fight and are unable to move forward or follow through on a task  because we have lack of confidience in who we are through Christ Jesus.

Today’s Word

con·fi·dent Scriptures

adjective

  • feeling or showing certainty about something
  • feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured

David had confidience in who he was and whose he was. He also realized the thing in which he possessed in Christ Jesus.  He believed that the same God that did it before, could do it again.

IDENTITY


1. Knowing  who I Am  “Who I Am In Christ”

2. Knowing who I belong to   “I AM”

Most of my life my identity was wrapped up in other people that only led me astray. I was easily manipulated and controlled into doing certain things, all in search for what I thought was love, a need to feel wanted and needing someone to tell me who I was. Instead it left me with pain.

It wasn’t until I found out who I  was in Christ Jesus that I became confidient in who I am and knew that no matter my circumstances or my situations, through Him I could conquer anything.

Philippians 4:13

” I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”

What are you fighting with?

Ephesians 6:10-18 The Armor of God

“Our greatest defeat in any battle is not the obstacle that we see before us, but not knowing  who we are and what we possess”

The size of the gaint never fazed David, because he knew just how big his God was. He wasn’t intimdiated, he wasn’t moved by it. He stood flat foot and he told that 6 foot Philistine Gaint just what God was going to do and through his faith and trust in God he took down the gaint with a sling shot and a rock.

There isn’t anything that we can’t over come with Jesus Christ, but we have to take our eyes off of the thing in which we see.

Don’t tell God how big your problem is, tell your problem how big your God is.

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others”
Marianne Williamson
Author, Lecturer

Song List

“Work It Out” By Tye Tribbett

 

 

It happened, NOW WHAT?

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A lot of times we become stuck at the experience, unable to move forward because we can’t see past what has happened.
We continue to play and rehearse the scenes over and over again in our head. With the same questions: why did this happen, why did this happen to me, etc. Unable to heal because we continue to open up the wounds.

ACKNOWLEGEMENT

  1. It happened
  2. It was painful, it hurt
  3. It was life changing
  4. It wasn’t fair
  5. I didn’t deserve it

At some point we have to pull the needle off of the broken record. We have to stop playing the movie of our favorite scene or maybe the worse scene in our life. At some point we have to pull our own selves out of the tar.

It has happened, NOW WHAT?

I realized there was a decision I had to make. And that was to either to LIVE or DIE. I wasn’t physically dieing, but slowly of a spiritual death. Walking, but dead on the inside. No hope or desire to go on. Breathing, but not functiong. I was a dead man walking.

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he

What kind of vision do I have for myself?

TRUTH is I had to come to terms with it.

  1. I had to look at the man in the mirror
  2. Examine myself
  3. Where did I go wrong
  4. OWN IT

Don’t get me wrong, I know that there are somethings that have happened to us that stole our innocence as a child. There were somethings that happened to us that was beyond our control.  But at what point do we stop allowing it to have control over our life.

You will never be able heal from the things you refuse to confront

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It wasn’t until I could look beyond what I could see in the natural, that I was able to move forward.

DISCOVERY 

  1. Finding out who I am through Christ Jesus
  2. Believing in who He has created me to be
  3. Learning to Love me
  4. Putting me first

Through everything I have experienced there was something that I had to learn and I take them with me through life’s journey.

So, NOW WHAT?

  1. Allow yourself time to heal
  2. Take it step by step
  3. Trust God’s leading
  4. Keep Moving Forward

It isn’t what happens to us that keeps us from moving forward, but how we respond to the things that have happened.

Take your negative situations and turn them around for your good.

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Give Thanks

https://youtu.be/zE-4DsUf_Uo

Lyrics


Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son


And now let the weak say, “I am strong”

Let the poor say, “I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Give thanks 




Small Beginnings 

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The other day me and my girls had gone to visit my sister and her family. As we were looking at the gifts my nephews had received for Christmas my sister was holding one in her hand that she was getting ready to put away. She said that her mother had gotten them for the boys, but when she looked at all it entailed she said there was no way she was going to even attempt with putting it together. I looked at the box and then took out the contents and said, “Let me try it.” They thought that I was crazy, but I didn’t have any doubt I couldn’t do it. It was a very long an strenuous process. It was a roller coaster that had a million tiny pieces. And looking at the picture there was a big hill and at least four loops with curves. You had to follow directions which caused you to be able to pay attention to details. Now that is one of my strong points. As I would progress they stood in amazement and were surprised that I hadn’t given up yet. My sister told my I had the patience of Job. She said, “You have been steady, diligent and focused.” I was almost finished with it, but there was a part at the bottom that wasn’t working properly which was causing me to get frustrated. It had already been at least three hours that I had been working on it and I was a little tired. I couldn’t understand what was going on because I had followed the directions. I had  to improvise in order for it to work. When I looked at the back of the instruction manual I realized it operated on batteries. You have got to be kidding me, right. I had not noticed it said anything about batteries until I looked at the front of the manual and there it was. I’m not sure how I missed that. Either way I was able to get it operating, but the cart wasn’t gaining enough speed to make all the transitions. I couldn’t figure it out to save my life. Frustrated, I decided to pull myself away from it. Deep breath. In the back of my mind I was still trying to figure it out because I wasn’t willing to give up on it. I had come to far and had put too  much work into it to just let it go. Something said, “Start the cart from the bottom of the hill and reverse the direction  it was pulling up the hill.”  With excitement I screamed, “I did it, it works” Everyone came in to see it. There were two areas within the loops that it wouldn’t complete the flip, but with a little push it completed the loops and started over. We were all happy with that. My nephew was ready  to try it for himself. 

Zechariah 4:10 ” Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand”

Sometimes we can become discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed and want to give up because we think what we are doing isn’t working. But the same process it takes for a seed to become a plant, a flower or even a tree or a caterpillar to become a butterfly, is the same process it will take for our visions, hopes and our dreams to come into fruition. We have to keeping working at it and watering it. Before we know it the very thing that started off small has turned into something much bigger than we had even expected.  What was once a dream has become a reality. My encouragement to you is, “Don’t give up on it just yet.”

Truth Is…

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Integrity is having the courage in spite of how comfortable it might feel to do what is right over what we think might seem to be fun, fast or even easy. Making the choice to practice our values and not just what we say out of our mouths . Practice what you preach.
As I was going through divorce I submitted myself back to God  and asked him to keep me until he decides to bless me with a husband. I have been celibate for 6 1/2 yrs.  Yes, we still exist. I told someone that awhile back and they were floored. Their response was, “It is 2016”. I believe it scared the mess out of them. I haven’t really talked to them since. I guess it not as common or the “norm”, when in fact it should be. There is more of us than you think. I even know someone who is still a virgin.

You might say how in the world do you manage to do that. Truth is: there are times I become weak, times I become vulnerable. There are even times when I want to obey the thirst and the desires of this Olde flesh of mine. There are days when I want to do wrong vs. wanting to do what’s right. Just like you, there is this constant tuggawar going on between my spirit man and my flesh. But yet and still there is this constant reminder when I look at my girls knowing the example I want to set for them or when Iook back at how far I have come. Now that I know who I am and have found my purpose. I know own my worth and I refuse to settle for anything less than that. I now have a vision for my life and can see where I am trying to go that causes somethings not to be worth loosing all that I have at stake. 

For someone who had been sexually active since the age of 13 and then was married for 9 1/2 years you might ask the question, “Why now.” Well I am so glad you asked.  Throughout my life I have experienced a whole lot and I guess you can say that I have finally grown up. The things that use to be as important then just aren’t as important to me now. Don’t get me wrong that doesn’t  mean  I don’t have desires, needs or wants, trust me I DO.  But when I told the Lord yes, I turned over my will and submitted to His. So everyday I have to crucify this flesh. Holiness is still right.

The thing that has helped me most next to my faith is that I stay away from those places that will cause me to fall. They say if you play with fire your liable to get burnt. Well some fires just ain’t worth getting burnt. I have the scars to prove it.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL out here in these streets, but I’m gonna keep pressing forward. It’s not by my own might, nor by any powers that I possess, but by his spirit.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

The Value of Life

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They always say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. What one person see’s value in another person may not see the same; therefore, is easily disregarded.  When I look at the things that are going on in this world it can be a little disharding and painful as there is little regard for God let alone someone’s else life.  Mark 12:31  “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” It is hard to love your neighbor when you don’t love yourself. They say love will make you do some crazy things, but what kinda of love is it that makes you come out of character and loose yourself enough to bring harm to others.  Is it really love?  Love should not make you hurt someone else let alone kill them.  Killing isn’t always physical. God knows we do enough damage with our tongue. If you have no love for others then you don’t love yourself. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”  I believe that we are in the end times and the saying “it may get worse before it gets better” is going to hold true, yet I still believe. You may ask how can I believe with what I see? Faith allows me to look with another set of eyes that looks past the things I can see in the natural and that gives me hope. There are so many levels and reasons why people do what they do, but it is very clear that it’s root is the value of one’s life. When you don’t love and value who you are then neither will you love and value the life of someone else. You spend you’re life trying to find it through other people who’s concept of love is already distorted. That in itself is enough to make you crazy. How can one love and value who they are if they don’t even know? The good news is your worth isn’t wrapped up in other people. Through the word of God you can find out exactly who and whose you are and the true meaning of love. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” When we mirror ourselves after the image of God then and only then will we truly know who we are. You only decrease in value when you don’t know your worth. Knowing who you are is EVERYTHING!

Pressing My Way Wednesday

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Philippians 3:13-14
” Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”

The woman with the issue of blood had been dealing with her issue for 12 years. As a woman it’s hard to deal with a week let alone 12 YEARS. In that day and time when a woman was bleeding it was as if she had a plague because no one would associate with her, touch her nor come in contact with anything that she had touched. She had spent the last of what she had and no one else would help her. She was abandoned, pushed to the side, talked about and isolated. ONE DAY she heard about a man named Jesus and became in the press. She didn’t care about the crowd and who was standing in her way. Through her struggles she found strength and through her determination it led her to being healed. It wasn’t the fact that she touched Jesus that she became made whole, but because of her faith to believe that he could that she was made well. Imagine if she never became in the press that day. You may not have an issue of blood, but what is the issue(s) that you have been carrying around with you for “WAY TOO LONG”. Today could be the day if you would just believe that you too can be free and be made whole. It’s never too late for you to press your way through the crowd, the noise, the disappointments, the betrayl, the hurt, the pain and be made whole. No matter your issue you can be set free, but you have to go to the right physician. Our bondage sometimes isn’t in the issues that we have, but who it is that we seek to made whole. The two options that you have is to stay bond to your issue(s) or press your way to Jesus and be made whole. The ball is in your court “Wilt thou be made whole”