Do you know how to worship? I don’t mean do you know how to kneel, sing two or three songs, give an offering, jot down a few sermon notes and shake hands at the door on the way out. I mean, do you really know how to worship the Living God? In Psalms 103, David calls himself to worship, and in so doing, he shows us how to worship God with all that we are. First, worship is personal. Although we may be in a crowd of other folks, God does not see us as one big mass of people, but as individuals. “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” David writes. We are to adore or “bless” God individually, so there is a private aspect to our public worship. Our “soul,” or the sum total of our entire personality, is to be involved. Also, we are to worship him internally, with all that is within us. That means my conscience, my will, my purpose, my emotions, my spirit, my energy – all that is within me is to worship God. My inward presence, not my outward posture, is the key. Finally, we are to worship God intelligently, remembering His benefits that is, all that He has done for us. True worship engages not just our emotions, but our mind. All of the strings of our lives are being tuned by God. He didn’t just tune us when we were born and let us go through life becoming more and more off-key. He continuously tunes the lives of His children, touching one string, then another, and bringing it back to perfect pitch. The last time you were sick, could God have been plucking a string to slow you down and re-focus your attention on Him? What about that promotion you received at work? Was God touching another string to see how you handle success? In all the in’s and out’s of life, God the Father is running His loving hands over the strings of your life and my life, getting us in tune with Him and worship is the tuning fork that establishes the pitch.

Brothers and Sisters this was my early morning devotion. I urge you to praise God when you are happy, praise Him when you are sad, and most definitely praise Him through your challenges. He is fine tuning us and He is worthy to be praised! Love and Blessings…

“Bless the LORD, o my soul: and all that is within”
(Psalm 103:1)

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. … Even in the darkest of times, we can praise God for his love, his sovereignty, and his promise to be near us when we call (Hebrews 13:15-16)

The dictionary meaning of “two-faced” is deceitful, hypocritical, untrustworthy, deceiving, dishonest, and backstabbing. I remember back in the day there was a song called backstabbers. The song said, “they smile in your face and all the time they wanna take your place”. Do you know anyone like that? In your life have you crossed paths with a two-faced, backstabber? They pretend to be for you but at the same time they are working against you. I think it’s safe to say nobody wants to deal with those type of people.  
We call them two-faced; the Bible calls them hypocrites. Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve Apostles. He is known for betraying Jesus. Judas was a back stabber if there was ever one. He claimed to love Jesus, but he turned around and betrayed Him. I call that two-faced. Two-faced people may fool us sometimes, but they can never fool God. Jesus knew what Judas was going to do before he did it.
What is worse than being a two-faced friend, is being hypocritical toward God. This type of behavior is not acceptable to God. He can see right through to our hearts. If we profess belief and love for God, but in our hearts and in our actions, our agenda is still our own, not Gods, the Bible says we are hypocrites. A hypocrite is not a person who commits some sins on occasion, because we all commit sin occasionally. Hypocrites practice sin on a routine basis while pretending to be sinless and judging others at the same time. Now I am not judging, but I am addressing this because one of the major complaints of non-believers against Christianity is that the churches are full of hypocrites. Unfortunately it is true. We are supposed to bring people to Christ, not run them away because of hypocrisy. Christianity should not be judged on the basis of those who claim to be believers, when, in reality, they practice the opposite of what it teaches. One should judge Christianity not on the basis of what the two-facers do, but on the basis of what Jesus taught and how He lived. Jesus had a lot to say about hypocrisy and hypocrites. The scribes and the Pharisees hated Him because he directly confronted the religious hypocrites of His day. Modern day hypocrites are no different, when we conceal our real feelings or motives, and adopt certain religious rituals to impress the world. All glory belongs to God. When it comes to our Lord and Savior, we can not afford to be two-faced. Trying to live for God and the world at the same time, the Bible says it cannot be done. But don’t take my word, look at God’s Word. James 4:4 says, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” You are either for Him one hundred percent or you are against Him. We cannot walk with God and hold hands with the devil! Jesus stated: “He that is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30).  
Believers, God does not get angry when we fall short to sin, all His anger for our sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. Jesus became the lamb of God who took away all our sins. It is a gift, but we have to accept it, all of it. We cannot choose to let Satan deceive us and rob us of the greatest blessing man has ever known; salvation from sin through Jesus Christ our Savior and redeemer.  
We don’t want two-faced people in our lives. We definitely don’t want to be one. We must ask God for discernment to see through hypocritical hearts and help us not be corrupted or tempted by satan to turn our face from God. We must pray to not fall into the trap of saying one thing but thinking another in our hearts. Brothers and sisters, if you are straddling the fence, being two-faced with God, choose now to turn your face toward Jesus, focus on Him and the things of this world will grow dim in the light of His glory and grace. You cannot face both ways! As for me and my house, we will face the Lord! Love and Blessings…

“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)

“So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:28)

And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.” (Mark 7:6)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,” (Isaiah 29:13)

“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us. But to Your name give glory. Because of Your mercy and because of Your truth.”
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27)  

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

“Do not take me away with the wicked, And with workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts.” (Psalm 28:3)

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

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How passionate are you about your life that you would value every second of it?
Every ounce of your breathe not to live in regret, because there’s no fear of death. Humble enough to admit your wrongs, secure enough when it gets rough to stand strong. In the midst of the storm you don’t ask why, you just know it won’t last long. Sometimes our lives are complicated when something or someone doesn’t belong, No matter how bad we want it, it was never meant for us all along. Cause in effect, if our life is truly precious, we won’t settle for less.
Making a comprise sometimes leaves you feeling empty inside. Swallowing your pride, you eventually have to come to spiritually realize; How does GOD see me through HIS eyes? Only HE could judge you perfectly according to all you do.
And no matter how hard you try to convince yourself; one thing remains true, that image in the mirror cannot be lied to, you realize the real you. And if reality is what you desire to live in, why do you allow fantasy’s to hurt you? Continuing to be stepped on, left behind, broken-hearted, disappointed, and lied to. GOD has designed so much more for you, so much so that HE sent HIS son to die for you
This is no religious propaganda; it is by all means the truth. For if we truly appreciated the significance of our life, we’d live it through and through
For every mistake there’s a way of escape, for every broken promise a better tomorrow
Each of life’s lessons we face and endure is like medicine to the soul. And our soul does not recover fully, until we let go, and give GOD all the control!

Brothers and Sisters, this beautiful writing by my son, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is a reminder of how precious the gift of life is, and how we must live it to it’s fullest. The scriptures below reminds us that if we give God complete control of the life He has given us, life can be amazing! Love and Blessings…

“In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:10)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 69:34)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

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Imagine this world as a clock, and people are in a race with time. Running and racing toward success. Everyone seems to be getting their hustle on. This generation calls it getting your grind on. We are all out here pushing and striving, just trying to succeed. Staying on our grind is how we make things happen. Wait! How. we. make. things. happen? There is definitely something wrong with that statement. We can make nothing happen without God! As human beings we are limited without His help. Unless you have super human strength, you will get burned out! We can grind all we want but if it’s not in His will, purpose or plan for our life, oh well. That is why we have to be coordinated with God’s will and grace. We must remember without Jesus we would have no life at all. Our next breath comes from Christ and is to go back to Christ. Grinding without His grace is useless. Without God and His grace we will never be content. The truth is there will never be enough in this world to satisfy our souls, only Jesus can do that. So what happens is the more we get, the more we want, never satisfied. Racing with time around this world’s clock, until time runs out.
Spiritually, grace is defined as “the free and unmerited favor of God.” Grace offers us the riches of God, at the expense of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. When we put God first and operate under His grace, things flow naturally. Miracles happen, money appears, sales increase, people show up, and opportunities that we don’t have the power to create ourselves miraculously appear. When we pursue our dreams and goals from a place of grace, we won’t have to strain or struggle to achieve them. Know that there is nothing wrong with working hard and making sacrifices to meet our goals. The Bible tells us if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The problem is when we sacrifice God, who is our helper, because we are too busy grinding. We can’t spend time with Jesus because we are too busy grinding. We can’t attend Bible study because we are too tired from grinding. You get my point. There is no condemnation of elegant living among God’s people. In fact, He wants us to live the good life and live it abundantly. But our priority should be seeking Him first. We have to be very careful not to work Jesus around our grinding instead of working our grinding around Jesus. Christians should strive to live a disciplined life, and be alert to spiritual realities. Faith, hope, and love are the basic essentials of a believers life. Our priority should be Jesus and to move in His will and under His grace. In contrast to the unbelievers of the world, with the love of self and material wealth as their main priority. As believers, we must work from a place of peace and confidence, not comparing ourselves to others or their timeline. If you are walking and working in God’s grace, He will lead you to your divine success, in your season and in His time. At the end of the day, all we need is Jesus and Jesus will supply all we need! Love and Blessings…

Grind is not having time for your spouse/family/closest friends.
Grace is receiving divine knowledge of what you should work on so you can let go of the rest.
Grind is copying, comparing, and chasing after every “tip, trick, and tactic” because you’re desperate to see success right now.
Grace is trusting in your own gifts and abilities because you know you are good enough to achieve the success you seek.
Grind is forgoing your spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness for the sake of “giving your all” to your dream.
Grace is prioritizing your self-care no matter what because you know it is NOT your purpose to “succeed” while leaving yourself in shambles.
Grind is believing you don’t have enough, so you have to get out there and “hustle.”Grace is recognizing what God has already given you and using that to make your dreams come true.
Grind says other people have all the answers.
Grace says the answers are inside of yourself.
Grind is doing it all.
Grace is doing only what you were meant to do.
Grind is about scarcity.
Grace is about abundance.
Grind is about force.
Grace is about flow.
Grind is about fear.
Grace is about faith.

(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)

“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.”(Haggai 1:6)

“Yes, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, and they [are] shepherds [that] cannot understand: they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter.” (Isaiah 56:11)

Matthew 4:4 “But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

“Those who make God their hope, shall flourish like a tree always green, whose leaf does not wither. They shall be fixed in peace and satisfaction of mind; they shall not be anxious in a year of drought….They shall not cease from yielding fruit in holiness and good works.”
Matthew Henry 

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To God be the glory that I am at a point in my life where I am experiencing this peace that is indescribable priceless! Did I win the lottery? No. Do I have perfect health? No. Does storms and trials still rise in my life. Yes. This peace I have is not from the world, but from God. No situation, circumstances, or person can take it away. Unless I let them and why would I do that? I am living my best life in spite of and so can you. My  desire is that everyone experience this peace which is beyond understanding. I would like to share with you some thoughts from a devotion I read called “FINDING PEACE” by Charles F. Stanley. One of the things he talks about is how do we lose our peace, this peace that Jesus left us with?

“There’s only one way to experience an abiding peace that transcends circumstances—by faith. Faith is the foundation for living in God’s peace—an active, confident trust in His presence and power to sustain and comfort you, no matter the circumstance you face. There are, however, certain issues that can undermine our faith and rob us of our peace. Let’s consider a few of them:

1. Sudden Fear—Some people are so accustomed to responding to every little dip and rise of life with fear and small doses of panic that they can’t even imagine there’s another way to respond. They’re so upset by change of all types that it never dawns on them they can live with greater emotional stability.

2. The Enemy—We can be attacked by our enemy, the devil, who may use various means to cause us to doubt and lose faith in our God. But we must stand up to him. Scripture urges us to resist the devil, and when we do, he will flee from us (James 4:7).

3. Sin—Peace and rebellion cannot co-exist. The only recourse is to confess sin to God, surrender to Him, and ask for His help in turning from and resisting all temptation. Then, God’s peace can then flow once again.

4. Giving Up Peace—In times of crisis, we sometimes lay down our peace willingly. We give it up. Concede it. Abandon it. Always remember that no one can take our peace from us; we have to surrender it. And as such, we’re the only ones who can take it back.

5. Losing Focus—We can allow the myriad of bad-news scenarios we hear and read about every day to cause us to lose our correct focus. Instead of having our minds set on God and trusting Him for His peace and presence, we allow our thoughts to get sidetracked and galvanized by the negative news and circumstances we see and hear.”

Because God is with us, we don’t have to give in to, sink beneath, or become defeated by our troubles. We can face, confront, challenge, deal, and in the end overcome them in the power of the cross. Jesus taught His followers that all troubles are passing in nature for a season … and a reason. Hold on to the peace that God gives, confident that He’s watching, directing, and caring for those who trust and believe in Him. Love and Blessings…

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John14:27

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Corinthians 4:17-18

“The Lord is Near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:40

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

How often has God blessed us with a second chance and we chose to return to the same situation or behavior? We all make mistakes, once, twice, and for some maybe three times. However, when we continue to do that same thing, it’s not a mistake, it’s not an accident, it’s a choice. God removes a toxic person from our life, we chose to let them back in. God shuts doors that are harming us, we choose to open them back up. God opens doors for us, we choose to let fear stop us from walking through. We pray for deliverance but then choose to return to the same thing we asked to be delivered from! I plead guilty. Don’t judge me. I know I am not the only one! God could control us like puppets, but from the beginning He has allowed us to make our own choices. We get to make our own choices, but we do not get to choose our consequences.

This morning as I was reading 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament, I begin to think about how similar we are to our ancestors. In the Old Testament judgement came against every nation, first in judgement to purify Israel, then in judgement to punish the pagan nations. But even then the Lord was merciful. He offered mercy through Jonah. Then again through Nahum who prophesied to Ninevah about a century after Jonah’s visit because the people had drifted back into their pre Jonah evil ways. (sound familiar). Ninevah had an opportunity to start over and to receive blessings from the Lord God, but instead they chose to return to their pagan and violent ways of the past. In those days, the leaders of the people were known as kings, today’s leaders have different titles. The Kings, like some leaders today, were not God honoring and did not do what was right according to the Lord. Although King David is one of the well-known Kings in the Bible, I personally love King Josiah the most. My grandson has the honor of being named after him. King Josiah did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps, when he could have chosen to follow in the rebellious leadership of his father, Amon. (2 Chronicles 33:23-25). He was not perfect, but the Bible says no king before or after repented before the Lord as he did, with his whole heart and soul. Josiah destroyed every evil thing that his father had built. He instructed that the temple be rebuilt. He located and destroyed that which even his grandfather had missed. He commanded the people to assemble and renew their vow of obedience before the Lord God. Still God knows the hearts of every person in this world, so even righteous Kings or leaders cannot redeem a people focused upon rebellion. So even though Josiah did what was right, the Lord God was angry with Israel and Judah for rebellion. The Bible says Josiah was devastated. He humbled himself before the Lord, tore his clothes and wept before God, so God allowed Josiah to die and be buried in peace. God did not allow him to witness all the disaster He would bring. There goes God again showing mercy. In fact, the entire time God caused prophesies of judgement, He also cause prophesies of hope.

Speaking of hope, let’s fast forward to the present day. The difference between now and the Old Testament is that we have the gift of salvation through Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives within us today. He is our advocate. He is our voice of conscious and He has set us free. Free to do what? Free to accept His gift, confess and repent, seek and receive the Lord God’s forgiveness, free to live a life of abundance that is pleasing to God. Most importantly, free from spiritual death to eternal life! If we look around us at the world we live in and everything that is happening, not only around us but within us, we should realize God is trying to tell us something. We should realize that the enemy is busier than ever because he knows that his time is running out. If you cannot see there is a spiritual battle going on as well as what you see happening physically, I suggest you ask God to open your spiritual eyes. Do not be distracted by the enemy! Spiritual warfare is real, and we need to be equipped to understand the attack and how to fight the battles. I also suggest you read the Books of Kings which describes the history of Israel’s Kings from the end of the rule of David until the time of the Babylonian exile. Why? Because just as we learn from our past today, we can learn from our history of yesterdays. It is relevant not only because the Old Testament teaches us what not to do, but because the theme of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself confirmed the fact that He is in the Old Testament. In John 5:46, Jesus explained to some religious leaders who had challenged Him that the Old Testament was talking about Him, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” The entire Bible is a light that points us to God’s offer of reconciliation, the hope of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus allows us the choose to repent and return to Him. We don’t have to worry about making the right choice, if we consult Him first. We should celebrate and give praise to the Holy Spirit. He is our hope! We should commit ourselves to a more intentional walk with Him. Do we choose to be like King Josiah and repent, or do we choose to be like the other Kings and choose poorly? The Lord only wanted Israel and Juda to choose Him. Jesus only wants us to choose Him! Why did the people of Judah copy Israel when they saw the horrible things that happened to Israel as a result of them choosing to do their will and not God’s will? Why do this world continue to choose evil over good, as if God is not calling us, when we see the horrific things that God is allowing to happen or doing Himself? I think about Jeremiah, the prophet. Jeremiah delivered the Lord God’s plea to Israel to repent of their sinful rebellion so that He might forgive, reconcile, and restore them, even reunite them with Judah. God challenged Jeremiah to seek out even one person of integrity in Jerusalem, which would have triggered His willingness to withhold destruction from Sodom and Gomorrah, but Jeremiah could not find one. Not one!? God is the same merciful God today, yesterday, and tomorrow. He sent His son Jesus to us, because He does not want to lose one soul! May we learn from the past and be careful to place nothing between us and God. May we constantly check our hearts, with the Holy Spirit so we won’t drift into a rebellious mindset. May we choose to be that one God is looking for. Do we follow Jesus, or do we follow the world? It is our choice, one choice leads to eternal life, and the other to destruction. I choose Jesus, who promises in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 that He will return to rule and reign forever. He is the King of Kings! Love and Blessings…

“But tell the people of Jerusalem that the Lord says, “I will give you a choice between two courses of action. One will result in life; the other will result in death. Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging it will live. They will escape with their lives. For I, the Lord, say that I am determined not to deliver this city but to bring disaster on it. It will be handed over to the King of Babylon and he will destroy it with fire.” (Jeremiah 21:8-10)

“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. Although they say, “As surely as the LORD lives,” still they are swearing falsely.” LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God. So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.” (Jeremiah 5:1-6)

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.” (2Chronicles 34:1-3)

“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses” (2 Kings 23:25)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”- the things God has prepared for those who love him, these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the LORD so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 2:9-16)

“For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Growing up, my parents expected us to behave sensibly and responsible. My mother was strict and did not have a problem using physical discipline (which now would be considered child abuse). My mother demanded obedience. I was raised to know the difference between right and wrong, and that there were consequence when you chose to do wrong. Our character is the sum of all the qualities that make us who we are; our values, our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Our character is much more than just our reputation. Our reputation is only what others see and think about us. Our character is who we really are, even when no one is watching.  

I believe God puts a moral knowledge within us. The Holy Spirit is our voice of conscience, the voice of reason, wisdom, good sense, and good judgment. When we make it a habit of listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit, it builds our character. When we go through storms, it builds our character. God cares more about our character than religious performances. As Christians, we should seek to do what is right and acceptable before God and our brothers and sisters. We have to decide whether we will lie or tell the truth, do the job right or fake it through, take the easy road or the right road, etc. Life is filled with temptations, obstacles, frustrations, inner struggles and dilemmas that we all have to cope with, things which will test our character.  

To be a witness for Christ, we have to walk a separate road than the popular road. The popular road belongs to the world. We can’t have both, God and the world. Our character is influenced and developed by our choices. Daniel “resolved not to defile himself” in Babylon (Daniel 1:8), and that godly choice was an important step in producing an unquestionable integrity in his life. Because Joseph was a man of integrity, he was falsely accused and thrown in jail. (Genesis 39:1-20). “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love: he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.” (Genesis 39:21). God stands by people of integrity like Joseph, and before long the prisoners are placed under his care and the Lord blesses his work and Joseph’s reputation is enhanced. “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” (Proverbs 11:3).

What characteristics should describe a true Christian? How is the true follower of Christ to live? We can find the answer to these questions in our instruction book on life, the Bible.  When we surrender our life to God, we gradually conform to what God has revealed to us about His nature and will. (1 John 1:4-7). We seek to live a life that is pleasing to God. To be a Christian means to follow Christ, to strive to be like Christ. We fall short most times, but we have the desire to know God’s will, strive to obey it, and we repent when we are disobedience. As Christians there should be a change that happens in our character. It is a process. It takes practice. It takes prayer. It takes connecting with the Holy Spirit living inside of us, and it takes knowledge and the study of God’s Word. As the saying goes practice makes perfect. We can develop our character by controlling our thoughts, practicing Christian virtues, guarding our hearts, and keeping good company. Christians should set a good example for others to follow, and their godly reputation should be evident to all. We can’t do it alone. We need the Holy Spirit and God’s grace. At the end of the day, our character should match our witness for Christ. Love and Blessings…

“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”
(2 Corinthians 8:21)

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9)

“And endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:4)

“Blessed  are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!” (Psalm 119:1)

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This past week was a great example of living in the moment. Spending time with my family was priceless! If we put away distractions long enough to enjoy what we are doing while we are doing it, life can be amazing. When we are blessed to see another day, and enjoy family, we should rejoice and enjoy every moment.  
The moments we spend with our Lord and Savior is even more priceless. Spending time with family and friends is great. But there is nothing greater than the moments we spend with Jesus. We can talk to Him every moment of everyday. God invites us to spend time with Him anytime and all the time. It does not matter how early or how late. He is available for a quick cry or for a lengthy conversation. If you feel the need to pray quickly and in a less than ideal situation, go right ahead. You do not need to be anywhere special for God to hear you. He will understand your distress and cares only that you love and need Him. He welcomes us into a relationship with Him, a constant and endless sharing of our joys, gratitude, needs, questions, and concerns. He is never too busy for us. I just love this truth because all we know in this life is busyness. Sometimes we miss the most precious moments because we are too busy or distracted. Even the most loving person we know can’t always be there for us. But God is always there for us. He is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), and everywhere (omnipresent). He is sovereign over all, and nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17). Access to God is always open, no restrictions. In the New Testament, Paul’s words advice each person who want to communicate with God to “pray continual” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is not just about asking God for something. We must also thank God for all of His blessings. Thank Him for the things that make us happy and make our life better. We must thank Him for every moment we have here on this earth. And we can show our gratefulness by living each moment to its fullness. Ask God to guide you on the path you are meant to follow. Ask Him to lead you and show you the right decisions and the ways to better yourself as a person, as well as the world and people around you. Pray for those who you feel need prayer. Pray for your family, your friends, and even your enemies. Ask God to show them His love and to also help them find their way when they are lost. You do not have to use big words or long repetitive prayers to talk with God. Talk to Him as if he is your best friend, because He is. And don’t just talk, listen as God speaks to you. Spending time with Jesus without distractions gives us moments of peace and joy and a lifetime of priceless moments!  
Love and Blessings…

“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  
(Psalm 118:24)

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)  

“but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” (Psalm1:2)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 24: 16-17)

 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

I was in my thirties when I got my first bike. I taught myself how to ride. I did not have a bike growing up, but I remember watching other kids riding their bike. They would take their hands off the handlebars and scream, “look no hands!” I thought they were crazy. The first time I saw my son do that I was terrified. Actually the first time he rode without training wheels I was scared for him. I haven’t ridden a bike in a long time, but I probably would still hold on to the handlebars like they were stuck to my hands, as I do the steering wheel when driving. And the thought of no hands, I don’t think so! Don’t judge me; I’m a scary cat when it comes to any wheels! However, when it comes to our God, I am learning to have the fearless faith of a child. Because I know God got me! I can let go and say, look God know hands!  I know if I let the bike handlebars go, in my frightened state I would definitely fall. But even if I am afraid or unsure of a situation or circumstances, I can let go and let God knowing that God got me. I’m sure you’ve heard it before. Let Go, Let God. It’s not just a cliché. I know this for a fact because I am a living witness. He has caught me over and over again when I let go. We are human and we are going to struggle with being afraid. God knew that we would be people who struggle with fear.  He knew that in this world darkened by sin, there would be many things to be afraid of. God encourages us to fear not 326 times in the Bible. Over and over again, God says, “Do not be afraid.” God is with us no matter what fearful times we go through. Gods got us! We can’t do anything on our own. But there is nothing we can’t do when God has us. However, it is up to us to take our hands off and let go. Even though I’m scared, even though I have no idea where I’m going, even though I’ve been hurt and abused, even though I’ve been diagnosed, even though I feel terrible, even though I lost a loved one, even though I lost my job, even though I can’t pay my bills, even though…..through it all, God got us. God did not give us the spirit of fear. We have to trust God and let go. If we don’t let go, fears tend to grow, sometimes out of control. The more afraid we are, the less we live the life that God has for us. Being afraid is like being in a prison. The good news is Jesus set us free! As His children, we can trust Him because that is what a  good Father does. When those training wheels were taken off my son’s bike,he trusted the person behind him to hold him up. And when the person let go, he kept going. That’s how our Father God works. When we let go, God holds us up. We still keep going; stopping is not an option when we know God has our back. Father God loves us, Jesus died for us, He will not let us fall! We just have to trust God more than we fear that thing. I would like to ride a bike again; they say you never forget how to, but I don’t know if I will take my hands off the handlebars. Oh but I am so thankful that I have learned to take my hands off when it comes to God. If we are afraid, He will encourage us. If we are weak, He strengthens us. If we are sad, joy comes in the morning. And if we are falling, He  catches us. Do not live-in fear, God got us! Love and Blessings…

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

“I can do all things (A)through [a]Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Who do you look up to? Do you just admire them or do you put them up on a pedestal? Putting someone up on a pedestal and admiring them are two different things. To admire someone means you respect them. You respect their abilities, qualities, or achievements. When we put people on a pedestal, we think of them as perfect with no faults. We look up to them. We expect the impossible from them, we expect them to be more than human. Sooner or later they let us down, they show their human weakness and flaws, then we tend to blame them for letting us down. We only have ourselves to blame! Think of it like this, when you put them up on that pedestal, they have no choice but to look down on you. The Bible says God sits high and looks low. As humans we are all equal, no matter the status, fame or fortune. We all are sinners saved by grace. The only reason anyone is ever superior to you is if you believe they are. Don’t fall into that, “they can do this better, or they look better than I do” trap. There are things you will be better at than others, and there are things other people will be better at than you. It does not matter how smart a doctor, lawyer, or a professor is, when they have trouble with their plumbing, they have to call a plumber! God gave each of us gifts and talents. My mama always told me, no one is better than you and you are no better than anyone else. I live by that. Sometimes people put themselves up on a pedestal, looking down at and being critical of others. It makes them feel superior. How sad is that? I believe that pedestals are lonely places that separate us rather than connect us. God intended for us to love one another and connect to others, not stand out and away from them. God’s desire is for us to love people as they are, flaws and all. That is what Jesus does. I’m thinking it’s a lot of pressure up there on that pedestal. What if I make a mistake? What if my looks fade? What if I’m no longer famous or rich? I would not want to live like that, too stressful. Oh, and beware of the pastoral pedestal. We’ve seen the headlines, high-profile pastors falling off the pedestal he has been put on. Think of the fallout and consequences under those circumstances. He and his family are hurting, and the church now left wondering what happened. Was his doctrine sound that he preached from the pulpit? Was he being a hypocrite, preaching one thing and living another? How does that reflect on the church? On our faith? On God? Mature believers realize that just because a leader sinned, doesn’t necessarily mean his doctrine or preaching wasn’t sound, especially if they know the Word for themselves. Our culture puts leaders on pedestals they can’t sustain. We expect our spiritual leaders to be perfect. The Bible does lay out expectations for church leaders, but it also reveals the struggles early church leaders faced. In 1 Timothy 3:1 the scripture says, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” And the next twelve verses list the qualifications required for someone who desires that position of leadership in the church. Yes, as our leaders, they should set an example. But they too are human so I’m sure the struggle is real. When they sin, they need to repent just like we would in that situation. And, just as we would want, they need our prayers, compassion and forgiveness. That doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. God will hold us accountable for our actions. We should not be worshiping the messenger. We should worship the One who sends the message. The Sender is perfect, the deliver is human. We look up to God and put our faith in Him, not man. We should respect our leaders and pray for those God puts in our life. Let’s not put them or ourselves on a pedestal. We must look up to the one who deserves it, our Lord and Savior. Love and Blessings…

Sometimes people put themselves up on a pedestal, looking down at and being critical of others. It makes them feel superior. How sad is that? I believe that pedestals are lonely places that separate us rather than connect us. God intended for us to love one another and connect to others, not stand out and away from them. God’s desire is for us to love people as they are, flaws and all. That is what Jesus does. I’m thinking it’s a lot of pressure up there on that pedestal. What if I make a mistake? What if my looks fade? What if I’m no longer famous or rich? I would not want to live like that, too stressful. Oh, and beware of the pastoral pedestal. We’ve seen the headlines, high-profile pastors falling off the pedestal he has been put on. Think of the fallout and consequences under those circumstances. He and his family are hurting, and the church now left wondering what happened. Was his doctrine sound that he preached from the pulpit? Was he being a hypocrite, preaching one thing and living another? How does that reflect on the church? On our faith? On God? Mature believers realize that just because a leader sinned, doesn’t necessarily mean his doctrine or preaching wasn’t sound, especially if they know the Word for themselves. Our culture puts leaders on pedestals they can’t sustain. We expect our spiritual leaders to be perfect. The Bible does lay out expectations for church leaders, but it also reveals the struggles early church leaders faced. In 1 Timothy 3:1 the scripture says, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” And the next twelve verses list the qualifications required for someone who desires that position of leadership in the church. Yes, as our leaders, they should set an example. But they too are human so I’m sure the struggle is real. When they sin, they need to repent just like we would in that situation. And, just as we would want, they need our prayers, compassion and forgiveness. That doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. God will hold us accountable for our actions. We should not be worshiping the messenger. We should worship the One who sends the message. The Sender is perfect, the deliver is human. We look up to God and put our faith in Him, not man. We should respect our leaders and pray for those God puts in our life. Let’s not put them or ourselves on a pedestal. We must look up to the one who deserves it, our Lord and Savior. Love and Blessings…

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galitians 1:10)

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.” (1Chronicles 16:11)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Matthew 22:37)

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts:4:12)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)