Those of you who are going through a storm, I have good news. The. Storm. Cannot. Stop. You. I know it seems the wind is coming at you in every direction but what you can’t see is that the wind is blowing you into the direction of God’s plans for you. What may look like a mess right now , is a miracle about to happen! I know it seems the rain will never end but we know that after the rain, comes the rainbow. Hang in there! Rainbows often indicate that the rain has passed. A rainbow is a symbol of hope, inspiration, and promise. If you are in the middle of a storm, and you are waiting for the rainbow. Remember anything magnificent often requires a battle, struggle, and patience. I urge you not to give up because that is the only way the storm will win. Peter walked on water until he took his eyes off Jesus! We all have been through, are going through, or will go through our own personal storms in this life. And in these times of pandemic and uncertainty, the entire world is going through a storm. However, we must choose to trust God and focus on Him. So much is happening and sometimes we may lose focus, but as long as we are willing, Christ is waiting and ready to catch us. Remember Peter did not sink when he took his eyes off Jesus because immediately Jesus reached out to save him. He will do the same for us. Storms can sometimes feel so overwhelming, as if you are drowning and there is no way out. It can seem like one big hopeless mess. Don’t panic. I have learned from experience that all miracles look like a mess in the beginning. Keep holding on, keep praying, keep trusting, and keep your focus on God instead of the storm. The storm is a setup for your comeback!!! Believe it, claim it, prepare for it. I don’t know about you, but I am thanking God in advance! Love and Blessings…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“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.” (Jeremy 29:11)

” I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” ( Genesis 9: 15-16)

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”(A) he said, “why did you doubt?” ( Matthew 14: 28-31)

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

“But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” ( Isaiah 43:1-2)

“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)

Because we live in a world of modern technology, information is right at our fingertips. We also have the opportunity to learn from those among us who are wise and full of wisdom. However, just receiving information is not enough. Once we obtain information, it is our choice on weather we use it, how we use it, and when we use it. Some choose to do nothing. Others take it in and use it to make smart decisions, they have the ability to determine who is trustworthy, they seem to always have the perfect advice for a situation. The world calls them wise. If they are young, the world says they are wise beyond their years. They have wisdom. When this gift comes from God, it is called discernment, and it is a kind of wisdom that comes from insight as much as from learned experience and knowledge. In the Christian faith, it comes from the Holy Spirit, and is a way of having insight in determining the true nature of a situation, person, or thing.
People with the spiritual gift of discernment have it, though wisdom and discernment can be given to those who ask for it as well. Discernment is a tool God gives believers as they walk through life, though it must be understood and the believer must follow the Lord’s leading to be useful. Discernment is given by the Holy Spirit, it can allow someone to know whether a demonic of heavenly influence is over a person, place, or event. Discernment is a gift that can be requested, used, or ignored. A good example is the Holy Bible. It is our guide for daily living, it has all the information we need to live a Christian life. However it is no use if we ignore it or if we read it but do not apply it to our lives. In the New Testament, there are many verses about the difference between worldly wisdom and true discernment, warning Christians to lean on the Spirit for guidance rather than what the world says is right and wrong. In 1 Kings, 3:9, God offered King Solomon anything in the world and his answer was, "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil.” God granted him this wisdom. And because of his wisdom and his ability to discern, he became famous and a rich man.
Discernment starts with prayer. Just like Solomon requested wisdom, the believer should ask the Spirit for guidance and discernment. We should also be willing to learn from those who are older and wiser. Consulting God in prayer, asking wise believers for their input, and reading the Scripture helps cultivate a spirit of discernment. Applying this wisdom is where the life of a believer makes the difference. Think about it, Solomon with all his wisdom, did not apply this wisdom when it came to his wives, and we see how that turned out.Christians who use spiritual wisdom, and listens to the Holy Spirit will show the characteristics of someone wise and Christ-like. Jesus showed discernment. He also taught and emphasized not seeking the wisdom of the world, which clouds true discernment.Contrary to what some may think,you don't have to have a PHD to have discernment. The wise Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders of the time, were unable to identify Jesus Christ as the Messiah because they were too wrapped up in their own knowledge. As my mom used to say, "to smart for your own good." However those that the culture viewed as uneducated, simple, or foolish saw the truth. Jesus even said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25). The more wisdom and discernment a Christian exercises, the stronger his or her faith. When we obtain and use our gift of discernment, we are able to determine what is right, good, and God’s will. We manifest our love for God and others just like Jesus. Love and Blessings...

Proverbs 8:5 "O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense."

Job 12:20 - “He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.”

Philippians 1:9-10 - “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,  so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Hebrews 5:14 - “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

We all have had to deal with difficult people at some time, even within our families. Although no one enjoys dealing with difficult people, they do test our obedience to God and His Word. Difficult people can help us grow in the fruits of the spirit, build our patience, and our character. Joyce Myers calls difficult people “sandpaper” people. She says God uses them to smooth down the rough edges in our personality. I agree. We can either let them smooth our rough edges or snatch us out of character. We get to make the choice. The closer our relationship with God, the harder it is to be snatched out of character. I didn’t say it is impossible, but it is harder when we want to please God. We know God desires us to love the unlovable, be kind to the unkind, be patient in the face of ugly impatience and bless those who are cruel. His glory shines out of us into the darkness of people’s soul. Lord have mercy, it. is. not. easy to love some people. We cannot do it if we rely on our emotions. We can only do it when we rely on God and the Holy Spirit living within us. It is easy to love those who love us, help those who help us, and appreciate those who appreciate us. However that is not what scripture teaches us. According to scripture, we should love everyone, even our enemies. Trust me this does not mean we are to be foolish. Sometimes we have to love from a distance. Sometimes as hard as it may be, we have to love people enough to give them up. Not give up on them, but trust God enough to give them up to Him. We can continue to pray for them and at the same time guard our hearts. We cannot let anyone, or anything steal the peace we receive from our Lord Jesus. With that being said we must seek God to know when its time to trust Him enough to let them go. And we must continue to pray for them while we set boundaries. The one thing I know for sure is we need to show mercy and grace to all, even those who we think don’t deserve it. Why? Because Jesus does it for us every day even though we don’t deserve it. We may have been sandpaper people at some point in our lives (and some of us still are) but Christ loves us unconditional. We all need the grace of God in our lives. God wants us to love each other the same way that He loves us, unconditional. Love and Blessings…

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he love us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved). (Ephesians 2:4-5)

We are living in a time now where there is no tolerance for violating an individual’s constitutional rights. We are told that we live in a free society and certain boundaries have to be accepted. And to some that means any and everything goes. Here’s the thing though, scripture tells us although we live in the world, we are not of the world. (Romans 12:2). What that means for Christians is that we should live by Gods standards and not the worlds. However, living by Gods standards does not make us sinless. And it certainly does not give us the right to judge others. I have said and have heard others say we should not confront anyone about their sin, because we are not supposed to judge others. We love to quote Jesus and say let him who is without sin cast the first stone. So true. But do we say this to avoid a difficult, but loving, responsibility as a Christian? Where is the line between being biblically discerning versus being judgmental? If you see your child about to run in front of a speeding car, you will do everything in your power to warn him. If you see a brother in Christ about to ruin his life by sin or by believing false, damnable doctrine, love should motivate you to do everything possible to warn him, right? Many people cite Matthew 7:1 about not judging others, but they never bother to read down to verse 6, where Jesus says, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine”. He was talking about people who can be dogs and swine! To obey verse 6, you must make some judgmental decisions about the person’s character!  We judge someone wrongly when we criticize them out of jealousy, bitterness, selfish ambition, or some other sin, rather than seeking to build them in Christ. We judge someone wrongly when we set up human standards, rather than holding to God’s Word as the standard. Paul devotes two chapters to this problem. In Romans 14, vegetarian believers were judging those that ate meat. Others observed certain days as holy and judged those that did not. In 1 Corinthians 8, the problem was not eating meat but eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. But these are areas where the Bible does not give definitive commands. It is wrong to take our personal convictions in such areas and set them up as standards to judge those who do not share our convictions. We certainly do not want to be like the Pharisees who were focused on outward appearances, but their hearts were far from God. They judged others while they neglected God’s commandments and held instead to the traditions of men (Mark 7:6-9). We judge someone wrongly when out of a self-righteous spirit, we criticize. Perhaps you have insight on a matter that the other person lacks. Or, you have never struggled with a problem that the other person struggles with. We judge someone wrongly when we do not first judge our own sin before trying to help them with their sin.  That is Jesus’s point in Matthew 7:1-5. He does not say that it is wrong to help your brother get the speck out of his eye, but rather, before you try to do so, deal with the log in your own eye. One example I love is if you went to an eye doctor to remove a speck from your eye and he had a log protruding from his eye, you wouldn’t want him to touch your eye! If you haven’t removed the log from your own eye, you will come across as arrogant and lacking in compassion if you try to help a brother with his speck. Removing our own logs has a way of humbling us! I worked with a girl once who was always sending someone to hell based on what they did or said. We judge someone wrongly when we make a declaration about their eternal destiny. The Bible gives many tests that we can apply to ourselves to determine if our faith is genuine (1 John). We can also apply these tests to others. Jesus said, with regard to false teachers (Matt. 7:16), “You will know them by their fruits.” If a man’s conduct or teaching is not in conformity with Scripture, you may rightly conclude that at best, he is an immature believer. At worst, he may not be saved. But in the real, only God knows the heart.

Also, keep in mind that it is a sin to judge another person in your heart, even if you keep your thoughts to yourself. Judgmental words eventually will flow out of a judgmental heart, but the sin begins in the heart. There is a huge difference between being judgmental and making judgments, especially if you are trying to save a soul. I have found checking your motive and checking with God keeps the judgmental spirit away. Love and Blessings…

Romans 14

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. ² One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. ³ The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

⁵ One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. ⁶ Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷ For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ⁹ For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister^[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹ It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”^[b]

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ¹⁴ I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

¹⁹ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. ²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. ²¹ It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

²²So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. ²³ But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.^”

We know that relationships are important to God. So much so that He made sure Adam had a helpmate so he would not be alone. Our Father cares about how we operate in our relationships. It can be husband and wife, parents and children, siblings, friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors. Basically anyone that you interact with. He calls on us to love one another as brothers and sisters, honor one another beyond what we would give ourselves, share with others who are in need, and possibly the hardest part, not repay with evil when someone hurts us. How do you handle relationships on your end? Do you build people up with your words, or do you tear them down? Are you kinder to people who can do something for you in return, or do you treat everyone with honor and respect? We must choose how we love and live with the people around us. Do you have relationships in your life that are unhealthy? Think through the people in your life and how you interact with them. Decide what is healthy and what needs to change to ensure your relationships are honoring to God. Sometimes we have to love from a distance. And in case you do not know what love is, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 instructs us.

“Love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast, it is not proud. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on it is on way. 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 trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Sisters and brothers if we are not giving and receiving that kind of love in our relationships, then we are not doing what God has instructed us to do. Now that we know better, let us do better. Love and Blessings…

“⁹Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you live at peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:9-18

 

 

Sometimes I do not even recognize myself. I am changing. I know it is nothing I have done but all of what God is doing. It is a subtle change. I have this peaceful calmness even when the enemy tries to attack me. I am learning to not rely on what I feel or what this world believes to be true, but to believe God’s Word which is the only truth. My loyalty now belongs to God, not to man. I am learning to keep moving in spite of the devil’s lies and destruction. I am learning to claim my victory that our Lord God has given me. I am stronger than I have ever been. I know this new-found strength comes from God. I know the God I serve is alive and that the Blood of Jesus covers me. I know who I am because I know whose I am. I am a warrior for God.

We are not born warriors, we are made. We are not self-made, we are shaped and molded by the Master Himself. We become warriors through trial and error, pain, and suffering. Through tears and heartache. We are sometimes shattered into a thousand pieces. But God! We are bent but not broken. We become warriors when we still stand up after being knocked down again and again. We may not be rich, famous, or look like models, but we are so much more than that. We are warriors of God! We have substance. We are kings and Queens. We are survivors. Each day we grow spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. We are purpose driven.  God’s warriors possess a determined spirit, they have an I can do attitude, this attitude drives their actions towards their goals. When faced with limitations, disappointments or opposition, warriors are more determined to make what they envision happen. A warrior’s prayers can move mountains! Warriors know that when the force of their will is aligned with the will of God, they can say to the mountain, “move” and it will move! Warriors move forward with their head high and with a strength that only the Lord can provide. 

A warrior knows that their strength comes from God and the armor of God is their weapon. They are unstoppable, not because they do not have failures, fears, and doubts, but because they keep moving in spite of them. Warriors stand up for themselves and for others. They have a righteous anger when it comes to injustice. Warriors refuses to be disrespected, mistreated, or taken for granted. Warriors are bold in the authority God has given them. A warrior knows what they bring to the table, so they are not afraid to eat alone! (come correct or not at all). Although strong, a warrior feels deeply and loves fiercely. They cry as quickly as they laugh. Warriors forgive easily because they know God forgives just as easily. They are both soft and powerful, practical, and spiritual. Warriors know how to live in this world without conforming to the world.  They know they are winners  because God does not birth failures! Warriors are confident in their power because they are confident in God’s faithfulness. Warriors understand their purpose and what God has called them to do. Warriors are all these things because they listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. They are committed to God and to being obedient to His Word. I am a warrior! Are you a warrior? I believe there is a warrior inside the heart of every one of us.

Love and Blessings…

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10

 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. ² And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 28:1-2

 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46: 1-3

 “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.” Mark 11:23

 “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

  ^“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

 “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4

 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

 

Those of you who are going through a storm, I have good news. The. Storm. Cannot. Stop. You. I know it seems the wind is coming at you in every direction but what you can’t see is that the wind is blowing you into the direction of God’s plans for you. What may look like a mess right now , is a miracle about to happen! I know it seems the rain will never end but we know that after the rain, comes the rainbow. Hang in there! According to Scripture, the rainbow is the sign of God’s promise to mankind that He will never again flood the earth. Rainbows often indicate that the rain has passed. A rainbow is a symbol of hope, inspiration, and promise. If you are in the middle of a storm, and you are waiting for the rainbow. Remember anything magnificent often requires a battle, struggle, and patience. I urge you not to give up because that is the only way the storm will win. Peter walked on water until he took his eyes off Jesus! We all have been through, are going through, or will go through our own personal storms in this life. And in these times of pandemic and uncertainty, the entire world is going through a storm. However, we must choose to trust God and focus on Him. So much is happening and sometimes we may lose focus, but as long as we are willing, Christ is waiting and ready to catch us. Remember Peter did not sink when he took his eyes off Jesus because immediately Jesus reached out to save him. He will do the same for us. Storms can sometimes feel so overwhelming, as if you are drowning and there is no way out. It can seem like one big hopeless mess. Don’t panic. I have learned from experience that all miracles look like a mess in the beginning. Keep holding on, keep praying, keep trusting, and keep your focus on God instead of the storm. The storm is a setup for your comeback!!! Believe it, claim it, prepare for it. I don’t know about you, but I am thanking God in advance! Love and Blessings…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“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.” (Jeremy 29:11)

” I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” ( Genesis 9: 15-16)

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”(A) he said, “why did you doubt?” ( Matthew 14: 28-31)

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

“But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” ( Isaiah 43:1-2)

“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)

”