Tag Archives: FEAR

In the Midst of Tragedy

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Photo by Isabella Mariana on Pexels.com

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

1 Corinthians 1:27

I did a follow up call with someone that I was talking with earlier today. She was concerned about whether she was going to get paid or not due to school closings. I found out the information that was needed and as a courtesy, I wanted to follow up with the call. In doing so it opened up a door for conversation. I didn’t know her and she didn’t know me, but we talked as if we had known each other forever and we talked on the phone for at least 15 minutes.


Do you sometimes wonder why does it always take a tragedy for us being a little more kinder, to show more love and support, going the extra mile, for us to be doing more of what we should have been doing already?

It would probably be safe to say that sometimes we forget, we lose sight, we lose touch or allow the cares of this life to cause us to be disconnected.

Though things are so uncertain at the moment and they have changed so many times in the course of a day. As people are hurting and in turmoil they grow weary causing them to be unsure of what to do next. It is in these moments in the midst of tragedy everywhere, that I still feel that there is hope for humanity. 

God knew us before we were even formed in our mothers womb and knows actually what it takes to get us back on the path that he has called for us to be. Just like the ingredients it takes to bake your favorite cake or meal, it is those ingredients of life that God uses to create us into who he has called us to be. Unfortunately, he uses a little of bit of tragedy, sorrow, along with joy, happiness, peace and discomfort, etc. and he mixes them all together to mold us an make us.

” Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am they God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will up hold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”

Isaiah 41:10

Sometimes things have to die, so that other things can live.  Dying to old habits, old mindsets, our selfish ways, so that we can birth to new habits, new ideas, create a better path that others may follow. It’s up to each one of us to be willing to make the necessary changes so that we will become better as a result of it. There is still life even in the midst of tragedy.

In this time of quarantine we should all be willing to do a self examination of the things we need to change within ourselves. What are the areas where we need to heal?  Is there someone we need to forgive? As much as we want things to go back to the way they used to be, things will never be the same again. 

Yet I still have this hope that we will all be better after this, as it is causing us to change and have a different aspect on life.  Only those that remain the same are the ones that refuse to change.

Here I am Lord, let the work begin in me!

“Create in my a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit with me”

Psalm 51:10-19

Song List

Holy Spirit by Kim Burrell https://youtu.be/hpOjwb9w1cU

Holy Ghost, fall down on me
Let Your spirit fall down on me
Holy Ghost, fall down on me
Let Your spirit fall down on me

Create in me a new heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from thy presence, oh God
Take not thy Holy Spirit from me

Holy Ghost, fall down on me
Let Your spirit fall down on me
Holy Ghost, fall down on me
Let Your spirit fall down on me

Holy Spirit help me to walk right
Talk right, live right, help me to be right
I’ll never do anything without
Your leading spirit, Holy Spirit

Cast me not from thy presence, oh Lord
Take not Your spirit
Take not Your spirit from me
Take not Your spirit from me
Take not Your spirit from me

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

Taking The First Step

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“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he deligheth in his way”

Psalm 37:23

Have you ever had something that you knew you should be doing, but you were so afraid to do it?  Maybe an idea, a dream or a vision and sat on it,  only years later to regret the fact that you didn’t go for it.

Sometimes making the first step is one of the hardest things to do, but is it worth the life time of regret because you never did

Today’s word:

step  

noun

  • an act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running

  • a measure or action, especially one of a series taken in order to deal with or achieve a particular thing

Just like a toddler when they start to take their first steps in learning how to walk, they fall several times, but yet they countinue to get back up.  Sometimes you will see them holding on to something until they find the courage and strength to be able to stand on their own. They practice maintaining their balance before they take another step. The excitement after they have made a couple of steps, they kept their balance and they didn’t fall. Before you know it they are now running.  Depending on the person it may take sometime and then there are some that take off running after the 1st step. The thing is they never stopped trying until they got it right.

Failure is sometimes the motivation to keep trying, while never starting creates a habit to never finish.

What are some fears?

Failure– what if it doesn’t work “My strength is made perfect in your weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Doubt – can I really do this “For God has not given us the Spirit of fear” 2 Timothy 1:7

Opinion of others – will they support me “If God be for us” Romans 8:31

Many people have died with their dreams because they listened to the opinion of other people. They lacked self confidience and determination. There is strength in knowning who you are. It is the pulse that causes the soul to soar.

Our Identity In Christ

You can never finish what you never start.

Life indeed happens to us all.  It can sometimes throw us some unexpected curve balls that we never saw coming at all.  It can sometimes put a pause on somethings, but it should never stop you to the point where you stop living.

Whatever you put on hold or never started; whether it was that book, ministry, recording an album, your business, etc take the 1st step and go for it.

Don’t die with your dreams.  Live the life that God has created you to live. #LIVEOUTLOUD and #ONPURPOSE

SONG LIST

Every step of a righteous man
Is ordered by God
Ordered
Though you may not know his mind
He will reveal it all in time
Just know till then
Your steps are ordered by God

“Ordered” Fred Hammond

There Is A Way Out

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I remember when my daughter was in the 1st grade and I went with her  on their field trip to a pumpkin patch farm. They had all kind of activities for them to participate in  as well as being able to pick out their own pumpkins.  One of the things we decided to do, was go inside the maze. The object of the maze was being able to find your way out. The maze wasn’t very big, but I immediately started feeling clostiphobic. I don’t deal with small tight places that I can’t see my way out of. Because I was with my daughter I couldn’t show any signs of fear, as she was already nervous about going in. We dared to go inside the maze and as we were walking we would see different objects along the way. We didn’t pay attention until we came around to them again. That was an indication that we were going in circles and needed to make a turn. As we went around again we paid closer attention to the landmarks and before we knew it we were out of the maze. Life has a way of setting up detours, road blocks, obstacles, etc. To be quiet honest we make a lot of those things happen ourselves by the decisions and choices that we make. Sometimes we become stagnated because we see the same old scenory and allow ourselves to become discouraged in thinking there is no way out,  even to the point that we stop trying. We accept that as our life. I have good news for you, “There Is A Way Out”  1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” If you find yourself going down the same path or your going in circles trapped inside your own maze, maybe it’s because your not paying attention to how to get out. Lessons experienced over and over again are because we don’t learn from going through them the first time. You have the power to stop the cycle from repeating itself. God never intended for us to stay where we are, but it’s up to us whether we want to get out. WAKE UP and PAY ATTENTION!

Facing Your Gaints

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I was starting the 9th grade, a Freshman in High School which was scary enough. It was the rule that the upper class would give the freshman a hard time as if to pass some kind of  initiation, while I was yet dealing with a bully at the same time. She didn’t know me and I didn’t know her, but for some reason she picked me out of the crowd and made me the target. She was very big in stature and the mere words that came out of her mouth made it worst.  I had never been afraid of anyone, but this girl who was like a giant caused me to walk around in fear.  I would wonder how could someone be so cruel, to spread lies  and ruin others reputation as if to seem like some kind of hero.  I never told my parents, but my friends that knew would encourage me to just ignore her and to keep moving.   I knew that one day I was no longer going to be able to hide or run, but I would have to face her. I was very athletic in my day.  I played basketball, softball, tackle football with the neighborhood kids. They were holding try outs for the Powder Puff which was a girls football team at school, so I decided to try out. I made the team and of course the bully was on the opposite team.  I ended up facing her one on one.   They say that big things come  in small packages and what was about to happen next was unexpected.   They said hut and I found myself pressing into her until I moved her out of my way and I went down the field to receive the pass and made the touch down.  That was one of the best days of my life because I faced and defeated what I had considered my giant. From that day forward she never bothered me again and I was highly respected not only among my piers, but those older than I. It doesn’t have to be big in stature to be considered a giant.  A giant can be anything that is a hindrance from you moving forward.  Fear, intimidation, insecurities, faults, failures, past mistakes, etc. It takes a lot of courage not only to face your giants, but to defeat them. It is necessary in order for us to move forward.   2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love power and of a sound mind”  The great thing in facing our giants is that we don’t have to fight them alone. No matter how big the things may appear to be in your life it is not bigger than the power of God.  If we trust God he will show us just how to defeat and conquer the giants that we face in our life.

Something In Me Refused To Die

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I Shall Live by Jason Nelson

I had finished cleaning up the apartment for the most part, my car was getting detailed and everyone else was gone. So as I was sitting there waiting I realized I had awhile yet before my car was going to be ready and I no longer wanted to sit here. I had emotionally and mentally dealt with everything so being in the apartment no longer held the same substance. What once was a place full of life was now empty. So I went to see if my neighbor would take me up the street so that I could get something to eat. She gave me the keys to her car and said I could use it as long as I needed to. Reluctantly I said ok, inside I was scared to get in it. She was a sweet older lady that would do anything for anybody if she could and it was nice of her to offer me her car, but I thought about how small her car was compared to mine. I already started feeling smothered and I hadn’t even got in the car yet. I have very long legs, inside her car looked cluttered and the thought of having to drive something other than mine. I got in the car and tried to adjust myself, but no matter how much I adjusted myself the more uncomfortable I felt. It is just like us how we continue to live in situations and circumstances that we know we have out grown to the point that we have become uncomfortable. God gives us the necessary  tools to get out, to overcome, but yet we stay in bondage, in a tight place, a ucomfortable place when God has called us out. It’s just like the elephant who was chained with a ball at his leg and even when he was set free he still would only go as far as the chain would allow him to go. Though physically he had been set free mentally he was still bound to the chains. There had to be a renewing of the mind. When I was going through what I called my wilderness experience I had a choice which was to LIVE or DIE. When I made the choice to LIVE and not just exist that meant I had to change and it all began with the way I was thinking.  “And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2 When my way of thinking changed, it changed my thought process,  which then changed my whole life.#CLEANTHISHOUSE