We are all familiar with the term two-faced. It is a person who pretends to be nice and friendly to you but at the same time saying unfriendly things about you to others behind your back. The dictionary describes a “two-faced” person as deceitful and dishonest. Back in the day the O’Jays had a hit song called “The Backstabbers”. The song said backstabbers smiled in your face while all the time they were trying to take your place. In other words two-faced people are hypocritical, deceitful, insincere, and dishonest. These people pretend to be for you but at the same time they are working against you. This sounds like the work of satan and his demonic spirits. We call them two-faced but the Bible calls them hypocrites!

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

“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)

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

Two-faced people may fool some people sometimes, but they can never fool God. Jesus knew what Judas was going to do before he did it. Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve Apostles. He is known for betraying Jesus. He claimed to love Jesus, but he turned around and betrayed Him with a kiss. Judas was a two-faced backstabber for certain!  

“Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Matthew 26:14-16)

The worst thing Believers can do is be hypocritical (two-faced) towards God. This type of behavior is not acceptable to God and it makes us terrible disciples for the Lord. One of the major complaints of non-believers is that the church is full of hypocrites. They are not talking about the church building, they are talking about God’s people. And unfortunately this is true, especially in these times. The Lord expects the ones He has redeemed by the blood of His Son to set the example for the rest of the world. If the church is not in pursuit of holiness, the world sees no need to change. So judgment begins in the household of God, with His own children, as He teaches us to live like Yeshua. We are supposed to bring people to Christ, not run them away because of hypocrisy. Of course all Believers should not be judged on the basis of those who claim to be Believers, those who practice the opposite of what Yeshua taught and how He lived. Yeshua had a lot to say about two-faced people 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, they conceal their true feelings or motives, and adopt certain religious rituals to impress the world. We are not here to be liked, we are here to be light in a dark world. If we profess belief and love for God but in our hearts and in our actions our agenda is still our own and not Gods will, scripture says we are hypocrites. God is never fooled because He sees right through to the two-faced heart!

“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

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)

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:1-3)

A hypocrite is not a person who commits sin occasionally, because we all have fallen short. However, hypocrites practice sin on a regular basis while pretending to be sinless and judging others at the same time. God does not get angry and turn His back on us when we fall short to sin as the enemy wants us to believe. God’s anger for our sins fell upon His son, Yeshua on the cross. He became the lamb of God, who died and rose for our sins. It is His gift to us, but we have to accept it, all of it! We don’t get to accept it and then hide it away in the closet while we accept and use the gifts of the world. That is hypocritical(two-faced)!

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10)

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

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

It is impossible to live for God and live for the world at the same time. Scripture tells us that 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.” As God’s people, we are called to think and live differently, shaped by His truth rather than by worldly culture. We are either one hundred percent for Him or we are against Him. Jesus stated: “He that is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30). We simply cannot walk with God and hold hands with the devil!  

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

“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)

“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)

We don’t want hypocrites (two-faced people) in our lives, and we definitely don’t want to be one ourselves! 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 that we don’t 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 Him, when we keep our focus on Him, the things of this world grow dimmer in the light of His glory and grace. We cannot face both ways! As for me and my house, we will face the Lord! Love and Blessings…

Relationships work when individuals come in with no delusions. Some people believe that the other person in their relationship must fulfill their every need and make them complete. When I say relationships, I am not speaking of just a man and a woman. This pertains to any relationship; parents and children, siblings, friends, co-workers or neighbors. The truth is we can search high and low on this earth and we will not find another human being to give us what we need to be complete. This is why we see divorce on the rise, we see families falling apart, we see disorder and confusion in the homes, in our communities, and yes even in the body of Christ, the church. Most people find it difficult to accept a person for who they really are and be willing to help them become the best version of themselves. That takes compassion, patience, selflessness, humility, and kindness. It takes loving someone unconditionally. This is not easy if we don’t know who we are and Whose we are. In order to be successful in any relationship, we must return to the One who loved us first, the One who can complete us, and the One who loves us unconditionally. 

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:19-20)

In my humble opinion we as humans use the word love too loosely when it comes to relationships. The word flows from our mouth but our actions do not follow. As a Believer and follower of Christ this should not be so. God created us to love, we are called to first love Him and then to love others as He loves us. This is not optional but a command that reflects our identity in Christ. Our ability to love others is a reflection of our relationship with God. If we truly know God, His love will naturally flow through us to others. It is a characteristic of those who sincerely follow Christ. 

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

“We love each other because he loved us first… If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar.” (1 John 4:19-20)

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

Jesus Christ displayed the highest, most purest form of love on the cross when He who was sinless took our place for our sins. He literally died for us so that we would no longer be separated from God and can continue living through physical death and have eternal life with God. Jesus died for us because he loves us. God reveals His own love for us by sacrificing His only Son while we were still sinners.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18)

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Can you imagine another human being loving you like this and you returning that same love? Don’t you agree that this world would be a better place? This kind of love does not come naturally to us because of our sinful fleshly being. However, it does come naturally to God and is an essential part of Him. By drawing closer to Him and experiencing His love, we can begin to understand what real love means. Only through Him can we show and experience true love. True love isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction but from a choice that we make. A choice that we make knowing that God is working in and through us to love like Him. It requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return. The absence of such love shows a lack of a genuine relationship with God because He is love. 

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)

The most important relationship we can have is with our Lord and Savior. He desires a relationship with us and He wants us to have healthy, loving relationships with others. He planted within each one of us the need to love and be loved. If we have a relationship with Him and we are spending quality time in His presence there is no way His love will not rub off on us toward others. When we surrender to Him, the Holy Spirit will teach  and guide us so that we can love like Him in spite of our flesh. Scripture defines what love is and how we should love; “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) This is how we are called to love. We can start by going back to our first love, the Lord God Almighty. Let us go back to His Word and apply it to our relationships. It will transform us and our relationships for the glory of God. Love and Blessings…

“Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”  (Philippians 2:1-2)

My brother transitioned this past week and although I am missing him, I am thankful that he is no longer in pain and is finally at peace. His love for the Word of God, prayer, and his faith kept him steadfast most of his life. His journey was not easy, especially the last four years as he battled cancer. We talked mostly every day and he would always say “It is already alright!” He knew the battle was not his but the Lords. He also knew death was not the end for those in Christ but the beginning of everlasting life. His faith was unshakable!  

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;” (2 Corinthians 4:8)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:20-2)1

The only way to remain unshakable is by building a strong foundation in Christ which leads to unwavering faith. As we live our life based on the Word of God, the teachings of Yeshua, our Jesus Christ and His love, our foundation becomes solid and our faith becomes unshakable. Faith is not about understanding it all or having all the answers. Faith is about believing in the One who does understand it all and Who does know all the answers. Our faith helps us persevere through struggles and remain hopeful in challenging situations. A strong foundation provides strength, stability, resilience, and a powerful faith against life’s challenges and trials.  

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” (Psalm 147:5)

Jesus Christ frequently illustrated His teachings with parables. Jesus described two men who each built a house (Matthew 7:24-27). Jesus said one man was wise and the other was foolish. The man who made the better decision about where to build was a wise builder because he chose the rock as his foundation. I’m sure it was a challenge to build on rocky ground. It probably took some time, patience, and hard work. But the wise man believed it would be worth the effort. On the other hand, the foolish builder didn’t consider the foundation to be important. He may have thought it would take too long and building on the sandy soil would be easier. When a storm came, the house built into the rock survived the downpour, but the house on the sand was destroyed. Jesus stated, “And great was its fall.” Jesus was telling us that the foundation matters and that we have a choice to live wisely or foolishly. The strength of our faith depends on where we lay our foundation. A strong foundation ensures faith can withstand the challenges of life while a weak one can lead to doubt and destruction!

“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6:47-49) NLT

How do we become unshakable in a world that’s shaking and getting darker by the day? How do we attain peace in the mist of our suffering? We make sure our foundation is strong. Jesus does not promise us no suffering in this life, but He promises that He is with us in the mist of our trials and the storms of life. Through Him, the Holy Spirit who lives within us we can attain peace through the storm and still stand firm in faith and hope. The world may be sinking, but we won’t sink with it when we are standing on the solid foundation that Jesus offers for our lives, our loved ones, and our future.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalm 18:2)

It is important to build our spiritual foundation by having a relationship with Jesus. Jesus said that if we obey His Word and follow Him, we will be like the wise builder. His teachings are sound principles about how to live fruitfully. Hear them, read them, live them! This is how we maintain a strong foundation. Then we can endure the storms and the darkness of this world, not worrying about what the future holds, because we know Who holds the future! My prayer for you as well as for myself is that like my brother, we remain unshakable in the storms of life.  

Love and Blessings…

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

In this season of my life writing important things down to help me remember is important, but long before it was a necessity I wrote things down. I would write what I wanted to happen, when I wanted it to happen, and how I wanted it to happen. Lol. I was a control freak. I never tried to control anyone else or their life, I just wanted to be in control of my own life. When I reflect back, I spent a lot of energy and time making sure I was on top of every and anything that might disrupt my plans for my life. That’s a hard job. No, that’s an impossible job! Once I surrendered my life to Christ and realized that it is He who is in control, my life became less stressful!

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)

Children do not have control over their lives, their parents are there to nurture and guide them. Every important decision is made by the parents while they are underage. Once children reach adulthood and sometimes puberty, they want to be in control of their own lives. We as children of God do the same thing. Parents cannot force adult children to do what they know is best for them, and God will not force us to do anything. But as a good Father He will be there for us. The entire time I thought I was controlling my life, God was with me, I know because my plans did not always come together as I thought they would. But God!  

“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Should we make plans and set goals in life? Absolutely! But our goals and aspirations should be in alignment with the plan and purpose that God has for our life. It is not about what we want to do with our life. It is about what God wants to do in and through our life. We were created for a reason, and God has a specific plan for each one of us. We must learn how to plan and set goals that please Him and line up with His Word.  

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” This verse speaks to God’s ability to work even difficult circumstances for a positive outcome. (Romans 8:28)

I know we want to think that we have control over our lives. But no matter how smart we are, how wealthy we are, or how powerful we are, God is still in control. Don’t get me wrong, we are not helpless, we do have power through our Lord Jesus and we do have choices. However, our plans must be in alignment with God’s will for them to work in our favor. He knew the plans He had for us before we were  born. I still plan but now I pray about it first. Trust me it is a lot less stressful when you know the One who is really in control has your back! Love and Blessings…

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”  (Proverbs 16:9)

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46:10)

Someone asked me “Why does it matter if I accept Jesus Christ and make Him my Lord and Savior if I’m still going to have the same problems? She said the devil doesn’t discriminate, in fact it seems he attacks those who try to do right even more.” Her statement was not a lie. Of course the devil attacks Believers more, why would he waste time on those already in his camp? His agenda is to claim and destroy as many of God’s children as he can. He knows he is running out of time so he is using whatever and whoever to carry out his plans. But God also has a plan. Jesus Christ was chosen to be our Savior. Just as Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations (Matthew 4:1-11) so can we. Jesus’s atonement made it possible for us to repent and be forgiven so we will not be separated from our Heavenly Father because of sin. Just as death could not hold Him, we do not have to fear physical death because not only did He save us from our sin, but because of His sacrifice we have eternal life!  

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

“In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son;  today I have become your Father.” (Hebrews 5:5)

“but God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (Acts 2:24)

Jesus did not say we wouldn’t have problems, in fact in John 16:33 He tells us in this world we would have trials and tribulations, but He also tells us that He has overcome the world. The Bible tells us that the cause of all misery, sickness, death, and every evil thing that happens is satan and sin. Because we live in a sinful world, we are not exempt from tragedy and pain. Satan is always looking to see who he can win over and destroy. However, Believers do not have to fall into his devious tricks. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus by faith, it is through Him that the Holy Spirit is given. The Holy Spirit then empowers us to resist the devil. The Holy Spirit gives is our power, purpose, and our hope. Jesus offers us peace and strength in times of trials. We can find hope in the midst of life’s challenges, knowing we are loved, protected, and cared for by God!

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,  to be with you forever, 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 14:16-17)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” ( John 14:27)

As Believers we walk by faith, not by sight. When we are going through if we react the same as unbelievers, what are we saying? Are we just speakers of God’s Word or do we live our life in such a way that it represents what we speak? I am reminded of Paul and Silas in the Book of Acts. While they were jailed and chained, they never stopped praying, singing, and praising God. This is what the Bible tells us in Acts, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted at him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sir, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” (Acts 16:25-32) God turned the situation into a blessing. Do you know that when we praise while going through, situations can change, and chains can be broken?  

“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” ( Psalm 150:6)

In this “it’s all about me” world, if you find someone you can depend on not just in the good times but the bad as well. Someone who will let you cry, vent, and not judge. Someone who will just sit with you even when you don’t feel like talking. Someone who will accept you just as you are but is willing to stick with you while you change for the better. Someone who will never leave or forsake you. Someone who loves you unconditionally, then you are blessed indeed. But there is no one on this earth who can do ALL of those things ALL of the time for ALL of us. Jesus is never too busy and is willing to be there at ALL times when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. We serve a God that has no limitations, nothing is too hard for Him, and all things are possible. The enemy will try to discourage our walk with God. But take heart and know that God is in control. The process may be challenging but it’s never a path of defeat when you have a relationship with Jesus, only victory. And this is why it matters. Love and Blessings…

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ( Romans 8:28)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible,” ( Matthew 19:26)

How do you define success? Everybody’s perception of success is not the same. Is it how big a person’s bank account is? Or how big their house may be? Would you say it’s the type of car they drive or how many degrees are behind their name? Even on social media, some may say you are successful if you go viral or have a lot of likes or followers. I could go on but I’m sure you get the point. Unfortunately, this is how the world we live in defines success. But God does not look at the quantity, He looks at the quality.

We are like trees, blowing in the wind. Everything we think we own can be blown away instantly like leaves in a strong storm. But like a tree with  strong roots, we can still stand if we have a good foundation. A Believers foundation is Jesus. We must always seek Him first! Jesus’s standard of success is not the quantity of leaves, but the quality of fruit we bear. We must be willing to let go of the world’s standard of success, because it can hinder the production of good fruit.

Sometimes God will intentionally prune away things and people from our lives, so that we can put Him first and no longer pursue material things or the acknowledgement of others. This does not mean that God wants us to live a life of lack, His wants us to live a life of abundance. His desire however is for us to seek first Him first. This is how we produce good fruit. He will give us our hearts desires as long as they are alien with the Word of God. In order to submit to God’s plan for our lives, we must first deny ourselves and the desires of our heart. We should ask ourselves does this please our Father in heaven? Does this fruit reflect the character and work of Christ. For this to happen, we must deny ourselves in the same way that Jesus denied Himself. Instead of pursuing earthly status and comfort, we seek first the Kingdom of God. To really be successful, we need to seek the fruits of the spirit. This is how the Father is glorified. We are incapable of producing spiritual fruit in and of ourselves. We must constantly abide in Christ and draw our strength from Him, and not only will we bear good fruit, we will be blessed!

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

“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)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, Which extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.” (Jeremiah 17: 7-8)

“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 15:5)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5: 22-23)

I’m not an outdoor person, not a fan of bugs or dirt. So, it is safe to say yardwork or gardening is not my forte. However, those of you who like yardwork or have gardens know that weeds will take over quickly when they are not controlled. Weeds will harm your grass and garden, robbing them of essential resources like nutrients, water, and sunlight, which will weaken and possibly kill them. Doesn’t that sound like sin? The enemy uses sin as a tool to kill, steal, and destroy. His plan is to separate us from God and lead us to a spiritual death. Just as weeds take over quickly when they are not controlled, so does sin. The smaller the weeds are when pulled, the less harm they will do. This is also true when it comes to sin. The minute we recognize any action, thought, or attitude that is contrary to the Word of God, Believers are called to strongly rid ourselves of them. God gives us the ability to do that through our Lord Jesus Christ who has already defeated the devil and given us victory over sin. We do not have to allow weeds to overtake our hearts, our minds, or our souls. We are equipped with the Holy Spirit who lives within us, repentance, prayer, scriptures, and our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us. We need all of these to stand against the enemy; we must put on the whole armor of God daily and keep it on. Weeds spread fast and so does sin!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15)

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness in this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

I remember my mother would say we must learn how to eat the meat and spit out the bones. She was not talking about food. She was referring to our thoughts and what we allowed to enter into our mind. If negative thoughts creep in and we allow them to grow, just like weeds, it doesn’t take long before they take over. Scripture tells us to hold our thoughts captive and guard our hearts and mind. Just as a gardener can’t expect good vegetables without getting rid of the weeds, we can’t sit back and let negative and evil thoughts grow and expect to produce good fruit. This world is dark and full of deception so it is important that we stay focused and not be distracted by the enemies tricks. He knows if he gets into our thoughts, our actions will follow. Our mind is where sin takes root, it is the battlefield where the enemy begins his plot to destroy. The good news is that we have the victory, but to achieve it we have to let go of what grieves the Holy Spirit. Get rid of the weeds. As my mother said spit them out! When the Holy Spirit convicts us, we must repent and ask for forgiveness, and by the grace of God, we will be forgiven. Sin no longer has a hold over us and the devil is defeated! In these deceitful and dark times, it is important for us to be alert and stay focused. Be careful what we speak, how we act, and what we think. Our victory over sin is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. Don’t let those weeds (sin) grow. Love and blessings…

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:23-27)

“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)

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10)

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

Someone asked me the other day how I was doing with everything that was going on. I answered that I was blessed and favored, and they looked at me as if I were crazy. I was not being sarcastic, I believe I am indeed blessed to be a chosen child of God. I have received the gift of grace which I did nothing to deserve and can never earn. He favors me, not because I’m all that but because He loves me. I have witnessed God’s favor many times in my life, to many to count. However His favor follows me so much more since I surrendered my life to Him and began to pursue Him more than I pursued the world. Favor is the result of seeking a closer relationship with Him. Those favored by God know that God is with them in spite of what’s going on. We also know that nothing can happen apart from His good purpose for our life. Some people may favor you for a reason or for a season, but God’s favor last a lifetime. Through Jesus this favor is given freely to all who will receive it. God’s favor can change difficult situations you may face in your family, relationships, health, or your finances. God’s favor often shines the brightest in dark days!

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

“For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” (Psalms 5:12)

“He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.“ (Proverbs 11:27)

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Throughout the scriptures God has called many people blessed and favored. They had the Lord’s favor but they still had challenges. I think about Nehemiah who was definitely favored by God. Although he was afraid, Nehemiah went to see the king to request permission to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. He prayed first and then spoke boldly to the king. The king not only sent him to Jerusalem but he granted Nehemiah all that he requested and more. That’s what I call favor! God not only grants us favor but He can also give us favor among men. (Nehemiah 2:4-8) And then there is Esther who lived in extremely dangerous times, but the Lord favored her and also gave her favor with man. The Bible says Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. The Lord gives us favor as He did Esther to make an impact on those around us. And she did! (Esther 2:15,17) When Daniel was taken captive by the Babylonians and removed from his homeland, the Lord did not abandon him, instead God caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel. (Daniel 1:8-21)) The same with Joseph, his brothers meant him harm and Joseph found himself in prison. But God was with Joseph and he found favor even in prison. (Gen. 39:21-23) No matter how difficult our situation may seem, just like with Joseph, when we are favored no weapon formed against us will prosper! The Bible tells us that God’s favor opens doors and makes possible that which seems impossible. Look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a virgin! The angel sent by God told her that she was highly favored. (Luke 1:26-28) Mary was “highly” favored because God chose her to give birth to our Lord Jesus. And speaking of Jesus, the Bible tells us that He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) We can thank Jesus that we now have the opportunity to grow in wisdom and obtain that same favor!

Today’s society ranks success on power and material things. Even some Believers interpret God’s favor in terms of money, status, houses, cars, etc. The blessings of God that matter most are not food, clothing, and money. Yes they are important but it is more important to remember the profound impact of spiritual blessings on our lives. Things such as peace, joy, hope, and confidence in a God who will never leave us or forsake us? When we experience these spiritual blessings we experience God’s favor that shines no matter what circumstances we may be facing. God’s desire is to shower us with His grace and favor. God’s favor comes with His divine blessings and protection. Favor is experiencing the fullness of His love and goodness in our lives. Doors will open that no man can shut. The impossible becomes possible and darkness is dominated by His light. When we dedicate our lives to God and His Kingdom, He who is our Source will provide all the resources we need. When the Lord is with you, you are a successful person.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

“If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light [will] become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” (Psalm 139:11)

“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)

Favor and blessings are attached to our identity as God’s children. Growing in favor with God means growing our relationship with Him. It means living a life of obedience and righteousness and being led by the Holy Spirit. It involves yielding to and aligning our thoughts, actions, and desires with God’s. This will always look like love, loving others as He loves us. As our relationship deepens with God, we will experience His favor, blessings, protection, and guidance. Favor follows surrender. Love and Blessings…

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we should give thanks in all circumstances. But do we? I mean who wants to give thanks when they are hurting or discouraged? Last week I learned that the Hebrew word for gratitude means ” to recognize the good” Paul was not telling us to “feel” thankful in all circumstances, he was telling us to be thankful and recognize the good in all circumstances. You may ask what is the good? The good is that God is there with us and nothing we go through is greater than He that is within us. 2 Kings, chapter 6, verses 17-23 tells us how the Syrian King sent his army to capture Elisha the prophet. That night the army surrounded the city where Elisha was. Elisha’s young servant woke up and saw the Syrian army. He was afraid and asked Elisha what they should do. Elisha told the young man to not be afraid. He said that the army fighting for them was much bigger than the army fighting against them. Elisha then asked the Lord to show the young man what He saw. The Lord showed him a heavenly army with horses and chariots of fire to protect them. The Syrian army was blinded by the power of God. The world would say it’s about how you look at the glass of water; is it half full or half empty? Spiritually it’s about how you look at the situation, through natural eyes or through spiritual eyes as Elisha. When the Word of the Lord is combined with our earthly experience, we see things in a new way.  

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

When we place our focus on God and begin to praise Him in difficult situations, even when we don’t feel like it, many times we will see glimpses of God’s glory in the situation. Of course we don’t see glory in the tragedy or pain, but we can still praise Him because we know He is there with us. Sometimes He calms the storm or sometimes He calms us in the storm,  either way we can trust Him to do what is best for us.  Gratitude and thanksgiving changes the lens through which we see a situation. It changes our perspective despite the circumstances.

“I will bless Yahweh at all times; his praise shall be in my mouth continually” (Psalm 34)  

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

When we praise God for who He is and thank Him for what He’s done, our perspective of Him grows larger and our problems grow smaller. As a result, we will experience a deeper sense of intimacy with God. And the emotional gap between what we know to be true becomes stronger than what we are feeling in the moment. On many occasions in the Psalms, David complained about his circumstances (Psalms 42; 57; 62), but in the same breath David would praise God for who He is and thanked Him for what He had done. Sometimes David shifted from depression to rejoicing. This is because he didn’t wait until God changed his situation, solved his problem, or made him feel better before he began thanking Him.
Our problems grow smaller as our perspective of God grows larger, and we begin to see clearly God’s glory shining through.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Psalms 28:7)

“open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from your law” (Psalm 119:18)

When we stop complaining and grumbling and begin speaking God’s Word and set our eyes on God instead of the situation, we will clearly see moments of His glory and evidence that He is there, that He has been there all along. And even though we may not understand what is going on, we see how the Lord is faithful and that we can trust in His goodness. God’s plans for us are greater than what we can ever ask or imagine. Love and Blessings…

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

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

Have you ever felt guilty about something that you said or did? Have your actions made you wish that you were a better person? Do you desire to be a more patient and compassionate person? The Bible tells us that in the beginning God created man in His own image. Do you have the desire to return to who you were originally created to be?

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:12-13)

Created in His image is not how we look physically, God is a spiritual being, and cannot be seen by our eyes. It is acts of love (which is what He is) that is the image in which we were created. The Bible teaches us that all people are born into sin because of Adam. When babies are born, they possess certain qualities associated with God, like innocence and purity, even if they are not yet aware of them. Depending on who you ask, some teach that babies are not “born as sinners,” but rather are born with what is often referred to as a “sinful nature.” We know babies are solely dependent on their adult caregivers, so in the beginning they don’t get to choose evil or good. However as they grow, they learn from the people around them and the society they live in. And because of Adam’s sin, , humans have the tendency to navigate toward evil and bad. Jesus said, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Although it may be debatable to some whether babies are “born sinners” or born with a “sinful nature”, the Good News is because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior we are freed from our sins by the blood of Christ!

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalms 51:5)

“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:15)“We are freed from our sins by the blood of Christ.” (Revelation 1:5)

The Bible tells us that we have “free will,” the choice to sin or not, just as we have the choice to accept or reject Christ. The enemy loves to mislead us so that we can make the wrong choices. He wants us to believe what the world has to offer is much better than what God has to offer.  

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Whenever you feel like you have fallen short and you feel condemned, trust that the God who created you can also restore you to who He created you to be. The moment we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. We begin to experience a process of transformation, growing more and more like Jesus in our character and actions, through our faith and our relationship with God. Believers are continually, day by day being renewed. The Holy Spirit teaches and trains us, guards and guides us, discipline us, and corrects us as we walk out our new life in Christ. It is the Lord who formed us and placed us in our mother’s womb and it is only He who can restore us. Salvation is not the end but the beginning of God finishing the work He started in us.

“and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:10)  

“God the Father, God the Son (Christ), and God the spirit (Holy Spirit) dwell in those who belong to God and are faithful. (John 17)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

“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 15:5)

“The Holy Spirit will teach believers all things and remind them of everything Jesus said.” (John 14:26)

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 1:6)  

Sometimes others will notice the transformation before we do, which is how it should be, not for us to shine the light on ourselves but for others to see the light radiating from us. The change is not because we become rich or famous, educated or more beautiful, it is much deeper than that. The change is within. Each day we should be growing spiritually. We do that by maintaining a relationship with our Creator.  

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We are not self-made, and we cannot transform ourselves. We can however experience spiritual rebirth, by being born again, which give us the nature of Christ. This new birth is brought about by the Holy Spirit working within us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And in this change we are set free from the bondage of sin. Love and blessings…

“I will heartily rejoice in the Lord, my soul will delight in my God; for he has wrapped me in garments of salvation; he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10)