If You have Found Yourself Far from God…Remember, He is Not the One who Moved!

Self Assessment is a Gift that is given to soberly place our lives under a microscope. It allows us to truly identify structural layers, when done right. It aides in placing an emphasis on our accessibility to hear the instructions of God. Does our location coincide with the coordinates of our last encounter with the Father or have we moved into a rural area that has made it difficult to hear Him?

Let’s go back to that place that represented you experiencing your 1st Love. When you first gave your life to Christ, it was this, “I cannot not wait to be with Him!”It got even better when He said in Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Check out how the Amplified penned it, “Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you[nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

The greatest promise we will ever get is from Our 1st Love, it is wrapped in love and sealed with an unfailing ability to carry out what He said! You see Beloved, God is where we left Him. He cannot follow us to places that do not represent Him. It is impossible to pursue God with your whole heart and get tired of the relationship! It should solidify something in our hearts to know that He will never get tired of us wanting to be in His Presence and wanting more of Him!

If you are in a space where He appears distant and not in reach, do an about face. Repent and take your trek back to the One who has not left you. One of the most underrated occurrences is the fact that Billions can worship Him at the same time and not one will feel neglected or short changed! God’s love goes beyond our wildest dreams, and it reaches places that no one could touch, even in their greatest attempt to love you!

With everything in you, build on your relationship with God. Do the maintenance and put in the work. Just as a husband and wife would make sure that quality time is spent; it is also paramount in our relationship with God! This week, take the time to make the deposits in your relationship with your 1st Love, as He reminds you of that beautiful reminder of never leaving or forsaking you!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal what the experience was like when you first said Yes to the Lord and the impact it had on you getting to know the One you surrendered your life to.

Prayer: To the Lover of our Soul. The One who is bountiful in love, goodness, grace, and mercy. Thank you for loving me so much, that it moved me to no longer wanting to break your heart in my actions. You sent your Son while I was yet a Sinner, and through His Life, redemption came to mine. Thank you for your promises and your ability to never fail. May you get glory out of my life. May our locations forever be synced! In Jesus Name, Amen.

No Longer Wanderers… When the Lap is Over!

This, Our 40th Divine Design Blog is God-inspired and Sister-shared with Corinna Clark, as He placed the topic, “No Longer Wanderers” on her heart! The great significance of the number 40 is woven throughout scripture. It can range from Jesus’ trials being in the desert to the 40 days after His Resurrection, it can also encompass New Beginnings to the Completion of God’s Purpose.

Imagine an 11 day trip becoming 14,610 days due to unbelief and disobedience! A trek from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea was less than two weeks, but because the response of the Children of Israel to the God who delivered, provided, and protected them was riddled with murmuring and complaining and full out rebellion- actually became 40 years in the wilderness!

Oh, but what glorious acts come out of obedience and aligning our speech with Heaven! Terms like “filled with the Spirit of wisdom” and “different Spirit” followed Joshua and Caleb. They were the only two from their generation who actually entered the Promise Land. Roughly a million plus people perished in the wilderness! When we truly think about the access obedience affords us!

Joshua 5:9 reads, “And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.” It was The Children of the Children of Israel who were the ones that laid their eyes on The Promise! A reproach laid up for their parents was removed from them, out of their Act of obedience, just as the cut of the circumcision showed their covenant with God!

I keep going back to the shouts that we miss! Our father’s sin does not have to be our own. Lessons can be learned from those whom we know experienced God, but at some point took His Grace for granted. Romans 6:1-2 AMP says, “What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] [a]grace may increase and overflow? 2 Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer? Through Christ Jesus, we have been empowered to do life differently. We have been equipped with the Fruit of the Spirit, the essence of who God is!

Beloved Reader, we do not have to wander. We no longer have to take multiple laps! Notice the end of a track meet, the race does not end in the curve; rather it finishes in the straight away. Choose the straight path. Stay the course and watch God prepare a Promise that far exceeds your thoughts and desires! The Win in God starts and ends in our ability to get out the block and cross over the line with obedience as our adrenaline, our purpose, and our response to the One who brought us out of Egypt [ The World ] into His Promise Land!

DIVINE WORK & PRAY:

WORK:

Jot down in your journal what areas that you feel you are repeating and taking multiple laps due to not being obedient. Write out passages of scripture concerning men and women who obeyed God and what was accomplished.

PRAY:

On the Show

“It is Well”…When It becomes More Than a Song!

An excerpt from the lyrics of “It is Well”,

“When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul…”

Horatio Spafford penned this song after losing four of his daughters to a tragic incident of their ship capsizing! His wife survived and was able to share the horrific event! It is said that after crossing the same waters that his daughters transitioned in, shortly after the words were birthed for this song, in the heart of Mr. Spafford.

“It is Well” is not a place of fake it until you make it, it is a very sober and concerted effort to maintain the resolve that whatever God allows to be our lot, we can get to the place of seeing that our soul will be able to also pen that It is well! Too often we read the stories of others and are in amazement of what they have gone through! God has a lot for us all! The Lot can be the catalyst to our surrender or the solidification of our desire to follow Him no matter what!

Years ago, I remember hearing a woman share about her ex-husband maliciously choosing to take the lives of all of their children and himself in the home she shared with her offspring, while she was at work! She said that she chose to remain in the home because despite what he took, he would not take the memories that she made in that home with her children! She made it very clear that her relationship with God was stronger than ever, because He was literally the reason why she has been able to get up daily! She spoke of the years that God gave her with her children, and that they ultimately belonged to Him!

Life can take our breath away, but the Giver of Life, El Ruah, who breathes life into us, can cause us to inhale again! God’s ability to restore us far exceeds any event that breaks us! For the Believer, it is like learning a Heavenly Language when Life is Lifin’…

•Lost a job…It is well

•Lost the Contract Bid…It is well

•Lost a loved one…It is well

•Lost a treasured friendship…It is well

•Lost a Marriage…It is well

•Lost your way and on the way to finding your footing in God…It is well

It is Well is one of the most powerful declarations that a Believer can make, outside of Salvation! It is a statement that speaks to believing in the Power of God for [it] to work for our good! The Trek to Triumph has already happened in Heaven; it just had not reached the Earth Realm when we are met with tribulations! Remember to maintain the hope of Glory; which is Christ’ presence in us!

I want to close with another important area concerning It is well. Life can be Lifin’ in the other direction. Every door can open for you, and it is like the Heavens have open over you! Make sure that it remains Well in My Soul by remembering to give God praise! We want to make certain that entitlement does not settle in our hearts! He owes us nothing and we owe Him everything! The Lord has empowered us to sing this song with a conviction that brings glory to Him!

DIVINE WORK & PRAY:

WORK:

Jot down in your journal your thoughts concerning being able to say and mean “It is well” when faced with trials and tribulations.

PRAY:

*For this Blog, say a prayer concerning where you are in your faith and where you want God to empower you concerning stilling your heart and being able to glorify His Name in anything that you are presented an opportunity to grow through.

“Politically Powered to be Politically Correct… But Does that Apply to the Believer?”

Politics has some of the most interesting parameters that set the atmosphere, with an emphasis on not offending. From Places of Employment to Social Gatherings, we have been conditioned not to talk about Religion, Money, or Politics. How strategic is it for us to have an issue with doing either of the three? It goes without saying, people should be able to express their thoughts without immediate cancellation.

However, it is concerning for how much of a divide there is concerning churches, when it comes to Politics. There is such a diverse thought, even in churches when it comes to discussing Religion, Money, & Politics! Should that even be the case? Brace yourself for this next statement! I think what is the greatest fallacy for Politics in America is to think that either party is designated to align us with the Plan of Heaven. Both sides can be hugely culpable of a host of red flags and measures that are antithetical to the Word of God!

This is not a blog to sway your vote or influence you not to vote. It is a blog to cause you to think about how much we have been groomed to be quiet, all in the name of being Politically Correct. What appears to be Correct today is not going against the status quo or speaking up against a majority rule Voice.

The very life of the Believer will have you overstep the Politically Correct line so many times, that it will keep you on the Most Wanted List! It is not that you are waking up looking for trouble. It is the by-product of a heart and mind that has been transformed. The desire to please God more than being accepted by the World. After all, how will we be witnesses if we continue to shy away from opening our mouths?

November 2024 is upon us as a President will be elected. Your vote can be connected to someone’s Salvation! Do not allow an aisle divide to hinder you from keeping first things first! The only One who can Save us already did what only He could do! Challenges will continue to arise here on earth, but it will never impede the ability of God to keep us like He did the Hebrew Boys, even in captivity!

May our Stand overwhelmingly eclipse our bow! The more that we seek God; the more He will equip us to be an effective people in a time where the underline message is to silence us when our thoughts do not align with the World! To God, your commitment to stand for righteousness and holiness will always matter! Remember, the crowd is often not the picture, the remnant is knitted throughout scripture to keep us mindful!

The Most Powerful thing is for God to correctly use us to talk about any topic that can give listeners an understanding for who He is and what pleases Him!

DIVINE WORK & PRAY:

WORK:

Jot down in your journal topics that you have been apprehensive to bring up and why? Has God ever used you to dialogue with someone and it brought about questions concerning their Walk with God?

PRAY:

Father God, there is a freeness in you to cover topics that allow people to be set free! Your liberty is on display even in some of the most challenging times! You have equipped us to stand in this hour! Thank you for empowering us to love You and Your Word more than we fear backlash and persecution! Keep us sensitive to what you are doing in this hour! As we are on the cusp of an elected President, I pray that the church be a lighthouse and not an absent, uninhabited edifice! Oh God, keep us mindful of the great need for You!

“The Cost of a Godly Connect”

There is something so beautiful about two Seekers of God connecting. The conversation is filled with fruitful dialogue and edification. It is a safe place that allows for vulnerability and transparency. A cultivated friendship; not a rushed or forced occurrence. It is a true realization of, “How can two walk together unless they agree?” It is an impossible act to walk alongside one another going eastbound and then one of you makes an about face and walks westbound. There is no way to continue to walk together, no matter how much you love them!

A huge misnomer has swept the Body of Christ in connecting Love to Acceptance for path decisions of our Connects, who are outside the Will of God. It goes without saying, it is not easy to walk away, but the more that we line our desires up with wanting to please the Father, the more we will wear this world as a loose garment.

It is a scheme devised by the Enemy for us to either engage in envelope pushing or envelope pushing acceptance. Both are equally troubling! No Law Enforcement Officer is going to take the time to wonder who is still on the Lord’s side when the two who walk together car is stopped and a kilo of cocaine is found in the trunk! Everyone in that car, who walked together will be going to jail together! If that occurrence is understood in the natural, why do we grapple with it in the Spirit?

The circumspective walk of a Believer is the most challenging event when we fear fruit inspection. The examination that we do in the grocery store is the pre-cursor for how it looks in the Spirit. If we turn a blind eye or do not fully take the time to learn how to inspect the fruit, we will find ourselves bringing something rotten in our home; which can affect the other fruit [our other Connects]. How many have you connected who are now on a different path together- no longer walking on the narrow gate?

Love never fails, even when it has to walk away. True Love has the ability to tell the Truth, even when we do not like it or want to hear it. After all, someone who has proven their love for you should be able to be honest with you. Love from above has boundaries and sounds an alarm through the Spirit when approaching those boundaries. How many times have you been among your Connects and saw them go west, when you knew the time and energy you two spent on how you both would remain eastbound? We are living in a moment in time where the fence is packed when the Word of God tells us to be hot or cold- “hot" represented the therapeutic hot water of Hierapolis, while "cold" represented the refreshing cold water of Colossae. We must make a decision to follow Jesus and His Ways at all Cost! Who we lock arms with will always matter! A silent stance is still a stance when it comes to walking in agreement.

DIVINE WORK & PLAY

WORK: Journal an assessment of your Connects and what you have and have not supported. Have you ever found yourself supporting something and conviction set in? Have you ever told a Connect in Love that something did not align with the Word of God? Have you ever had to walk away from a Connect, who chose to go another direction? Take the Club Scene out of your head! People can go to church every Sunday or attach Jesus’ Name to what they do and still not walk together with Him!

PRAY: Father God, when I think of how much I owe you and how you pursued me, my soul cries out to do your Will. To see the world through your eyes. To choose Truth over Tolerance! To maintain a posture of humility; yet vigilant when it comes to identifying the hazards of compromise. Help me to be a Fruit Inspector, beginning with my fruit and those I connect myself to. There is too much work to be done for me not to be battle-ready. Friendly Fire is still a hit, and when it is all said and done- a soldier from our very own team is down! Help me to remember the Cost to Walk Together! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Send Me, I’ll Go…If it Lines Up with My Plan!”

How often do you hear people connect God to their Purpose and not the other way around? Today, it is posh to make Plans for Success and then stamp God’s Name on the back page of the plan. Connecting our purpose to God is voluntarily choosing a pencil over a pen, because you realize that at any given moment- God’s Plan may make revisions for what you envisioned!

Purpose is loaded today! Many churches are moving to make their conferences more temporal-minded than eternal-centered. The panelists are lauded as experts in gaining wealth on earth. Their mic drops are based on the knowledge they give you for financial abundance here. Allow me to pause to address the thought to discredit and turn a deaf ear because of where we are going. It goes without much argument that God does not oppose us having temporal belongings, it is the hazard connected to them having us!

God will “give you the desires of your heart.” Do we ever really dissect Psalm 37:4 from the understanding of the word “delight?” Let’s bring the pencil back. Delight in Hebrew is the word, “Anag.” It is to live or spend in enjoyment. As we live in the enjoyment of a Sovereign God having plans for us, we begin to embrace His Plan for our lives! It is the erasure that speaks to us delighting in leaving not just room for God to add, but for Him to totally rewrite. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the LORD’S purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).” -Amplified

Remember, the Lord stands over His Word to perform it. We have to understand the Times that we are in. There may be many churches with stain-glassed windows that have stain-filled Messages aligning with the World, but make no mistake about it- He is coming back for a church “without spot or wrinkle!” -Ephesians 5:27 Not only are we to be mindful as a Church Body, but also a Body of Believers for presenting the Surrendered Life.

Our Love will be more and more on trial, because when we host our church events, community events, and parties, will the Attendees get the Essentials? Will they be put into remembrance of our Soul Winning more than they are in us being an expert in Purpose Pushing?

“Send me, I’ll go” has to be deeply rooted in a “Yes Lord!” A response that goes beyond knowing the Cost; one that longs more for what God desires than our very own written Plan of Success!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your journal your ambitions and what you are doing or have done to see them come to pass. Now, assess whether you wrote those plans with a pencil or a pen. Have you yielded your plans to delighting in what God desires for you.

Pray:

Father, as we find ourselves in between what the world defines as successful and what You attribute to our account because we have chosen Your way- there is no comparison. Keep us in delight of You. May we have an undivided allegiance to You. Our plans are void of true significance without You. Keep us mindful of the essentials. Eternity awaits us. Help us to stay firmly mindful of what You desire of us while we are here on earth. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Have We Made “Perfect in God” a Battery…Both Positive & Negative?

Let’s talk about how we truly see being perfected in God. We applaud Athletes for excelling; we celebrate Business Owners for meeting their goals; yet when it comes to God making someone’s life over and them walking circumspectly, it is not always met with the same excitement. What is perfection in God? Let’s feast on His Word. Hebrews 13:20-21 (Amplified) “Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant, equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Saints, we keep missing our SHOUT! The One who cannot fail! The One who has never lost a Battle! The One who is able to keep us from falling- will “make you complete and perfect as you ought to be!” Perfection in God is a maturity that is actually His Gift to those whom surrender. It is the ability to operate beyond our capabilities to “be nice and do nice things.” It is a heart transformation that heavily implants pure motives and intentions. It is the ability not to hurt because you have been hurt. We saw it in Joseph’s life when his brothers came to him, in their time of need. Joseph had become so perfected in God, that it didn’t even awaken the thought of being left for dead; rather, it allowed Joseph to go down memory lane for what God did in his heart! Go ahead and get your praise on…I’ll wait!

Another passage of scripture caught my attention, James 1:2-4 (Amplified), “Consider it nothing but joy, my [a]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.” We do not typically want to throw a party for trials in the natural, but in the Spiritual when you see all the weapons that have been formed, and through being perfected in God, how many did not prosper, it gives us a new perspective! God’s perfecting comes with an immeasurable positive ending that only He can give us, even in pain, betrayal, and pruning.

It is paramount that we never connect being perfected as something negative. You see someone going hard in the paint, instead of looking to find fault in them…Encourage them! Sit with them and find out what God has done in their hearts for them to operate in such maturity. You see, we do not have to wait for the Super Bowl or NBA Finals, things that happen one time a year to have the Celebration of all Celebrations! Everyday, Believers in Christ are suiting up in the whole Armor of God and dying to their flesh, so that He may live within.

Perfection in God will keep us on the narrow road and en route to see Him face to face! There’s absolutely nothing negative about that! Refrain from shrinking in testifying on what God has delivered you from and how He is perfecting your life! Insert your final shout as we celebrate the eternal positive of a surrendered and perfected life!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal your thoughts when you first hear one being perfected in Christ. Have you ever had issues with someone being able to walk in freedom for an area that had you bound? If so, how did you reconcile those thoughts?

Pray: Father God, May You continue to show your handiwork in my life. May You get Glory to such a degree that what was used to derail me will be the stepping stones that perfects me in You. There is no failure in You. Stand over your Word concerning my life that others will see that you are able to Save, Set Free, and Deliver. May I forever see the surrendered life of my brothers and sisters as an amazing positive, and may I be strengthened by their Yes to You and Transformation! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

He is Due a Tehillah Praise in the Midst of a Delay or Denial! -Praise is What I Do!

Tehillah= a spontaneous praise of worship

We live in a time of an overwhelming cause and effect belief system! Our greatest shout to God has become when the Promise has been fulfilled and the Prayer has been answered. Everyone knows what is on the horizon by how exuberant our praise has become after the perceived blessing has been manifested. Exhibit 1: When someone shares with the Congregation that they have been given a car or landed their dream job- the elation is thunderous! Three people walk down the aisle to surrender to Christ, does the applause surpass the aforementioned?

Do our souls rejoice at the fact of another soul being snatched from the grips of the Enemy and their address being positioned to be eternally changed from Hell to Heaven? When was the last time we broke out in spontaneous praise simply because of who God is? Not because of what He did or promised, but because He’s Wonderful, Majestic, Awesome, Holy, and Glorious!

Many have become enamored with Manifestation Prayers and Commanding the Spirit to move, but what if He does not? Hebrews 11:13 so beautifully reminds us…”All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” -Amplified

Are we a people who predicates our level of praise to God based on what He does? That is the character of the world. You are no more celebrated than your last accomplishment. The inference is not about giving praise like they do handing out Participation Awards. God has been and will always be worthy of Tehillah!

Exhibit 2: being brought into evidence…When was the last time you sat and pondered about the Miracle of Salvation and the Gift that Repentance brings to an undeserved people? The idea of the Lord taking a heart full of evil and carnality and transforming it into one that longs to worship and please Him. The Sanctification Process alone should garner Spontaneous Praise. The exchange of what we gave Him in return for what He has given us is a Wonderment!

During a time where He already said would be worst than Noah & Lot, we cannot afford to miss our Shouting Moments! As the song was penned to remind us, “Praise is what I do, even when I’m going through, I vowed to worship You!” Let’s give Him what is do. The biggest flex for a Believer is for us to remain in a posture that does not become partial to Promises and selective in our memory of how deserving God is for praise to continue to be in our mouths.

Earth is simply a dress rehearsal for the curtain to open to the opportunity of an Eternal Tehillah to El Emunah…THE FAITHFUL GOD!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal the Fruit of the Spirit and God’s expectations for us to manifest His Image in our lives. Do a study on the Word Tehillah; found the majority of times in the Book of Psalm.

Pray: Oh God, to the One who is the Lifter of my head. The One who is worthy of the praise. The One who captured a heart that now pants for you like the deer pants for the water. You mature our love and understanding for You. May our Spontaneous Praise be more about who You are than what you do for us. Develop us in our worship and keep us mindful that Praise is What we do in the abound and abased place. You deserve a continual worship. May we adorn you in what is due unto You! In Your Magnificent Name, Amen.

“Sister Keeper: No, She is Not too Heavy…Signed up for the Mountains & Valleys!”

Friendships are often pursued, but not often evaluated for what they will truly cost you. The Word says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” -Proverbs 18:24 Oh, what a Friend we have in Jesus! Do our friendship practices line up with the type of Friend He has been to us- A Confidante, Secret Keeper, and Truth Teller?

Let’s take it up a notch. What are your expectations concerning Sisterhood? Is uniqueness celebrated or abhorred? Does your Sister have room to grow, fall, and rise again? Does she have your support in the infancy stage of her endeavors like she does when her name is in lights?

Sisterhood is most certainly not for the one who is not willing to put in the time. Sisterhood requires watering and great care to blossom. The soil is fruitful way before a bloom is erupted. The seed planted dies for life to come forth. Can we die to our selfishness and need for our own way for the betterment of the Sisterhood?

In the Best of Relationships, there will be great sacrifice. You will not always agree on everything; however what should remain the same is our respect and understanding for the another. Sisterhood does not have to experience betrayal to be weighty. It can take the greatest hits- from death of family members to life failures to cement its bond.

Valley Moments are just as vital in defining a Sisterhood as the Mountain Top! Crowds gather during times of triumph and become scarce in times of calamity. What if we emphatically not only state, but show that our Sister is not too heavy?

Sister, I am here to cry with you when your heart is broken! The hurt you are experiencing will be as potent to me because our hearts have been syncopated.

Sister, I am here when what was right goes left, because when it is all said and done, it is my duty to help you get back to what is right.

Sister, I am here to be the loudest in celebrating you when Success Overwhelms you. I will not be the one silently wishing it was me.

Sister, I am here to nourish your Walk with God! I will not be like Martha in questioning your decision to sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary, on the contrary…If you have to cancel our plans to take that position, there will be no questions asked.

Sister, I will forever encourage you to pursue God with everything that you have and will continue to pray that He shines ever so brightly in and through you!

DIVINE WORK & PRAY:

WORK: Jot down in your journal what your thoughts are concerning the strength of a Sisterhood. Assess your Sisterhood Connects and the fruit that they have produced in your life.

PRAY: Father God, Thank You for so lovingly and efficiently showing the beauty in relationships and the work that they take for you to be glorified. You continue to perfect the things in us to strengthen The Body. Thank You for Your Standard and expectation for how we care for one another. Thank You for sticking closer than a brother. You found us in the valley and You nourished our souls- may we never forget that. May we help others to grow and illuminate Your goodness! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In the Relay of Life…How Well Do You Anchor?

Relationships are strengthened and destroyed by the same word, but different spectrums. Commitment is a phenomenon that can be in abundance or scarcity. The Anchor Leg of a race is usually the fastest and most experienced. Let’s park on the latter. Four individuals from different walks of life come together with a unified Will to not only Show Up, but Win!

It is an interesting phenomenon to see how much greatness is appreciated and admired in sports! The dedication is greatly respected and even studied. The grueling hours and sacrifice is seen as an understood catalyst to one’s Success. The thought of Going for Gold makes people more understanding of missed invitations and No Shows. The pursuit comes with an uncanny grace.

Attach your seatbelt, you know where we are going as the conversation of a Believer’s Pursuit comes to the Starting Blocks. When first giving our lives to Christ, there is the overwhelming gratefulness that comes into play knowing your life has been Saved. That euphoric feeling can also be met with some guilt and reservation about how The Crew will now see you as your pursuit changes. You have always been known as someone who goes hard, but now your Gold Pursuit is engraved with Eternity in mind.

Often times, the three whom suited up with you in the beginning will not be the same individuals who run the Relay of Life with you and cross the finish. Do we truly reconcile the reality of what the Fab Four will look like after you tell God, “Yes?” As sobering as that is, “You are Worth the Pursuit, Lord” has to be engraved in our hearts.

I head back to the Dream Team to talk about the Anchor Leg. Expecting that person to be fast is a given, but the level of experience for that moment is what is quite chilling. They are competing with the best of the best, but their minds still have to have an appreciation for the basics mechanics of the race. They hold the position to get the baton across the finish; whether the three before them did well or not.

As Believers, how well do we run as an anchor? How determined are we to finish strong, even if our team started off weak? Discernment is this beautiful tool that God gives us to strategize and Win the Relays of Life. So many are in the stands waiting for you to assume the position and run the race that God had set before you.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prizes

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal the preparation that you feel you have done to run the Anchor Leg in your Crew. Truly assess your impact on the team.

Pray: Father God, you’ve changed how we pursue even our preparation for winning. It is not about bragging rights of ourselves, but the wondrous works You have done in our lives to get to the finish! An Anchor Leg comes with great responsibility. May we not be ones who subject our bodies more physically to obey than spiritually. Our Great Finish is because of your finish, Lord. May we do in remembrance what will qualify us to one day be crowned. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Is our Spiritual Walk Olympic Worthy?

This week, I find myself like millions, glued to the footage of the 2024 Olympics. Seeing the best in the world dig deep! Watching individual and team athletes show their work. Expecting a score for the discipline and sacrifice that they have made for the last four years! They are not shying away from showing their work or being graded on it.

The Olympics is one of the most powerful visuals outside of the Believer’s Journey that helps to paint the picture. There is a determined Will that is put on display that has an expectation even far greater than one’s physical ability. The Olympics brings out a view that corresponds with the thought that if one works diligently and maintains a devotion to their craft that is uninterrupted or derailed- they have an opportunity to stand on the podium and not only represent themselves, but their country!

It truly had me to think about the Olympics from Heaven’s View. How committed are we to the legwork of being a Witness for Christ? How much have we practiced defending the Truth of the Gospel? Does it keep us up at night? Are we using the Word to heal our wounds? Have we aligned with a team of people who keep us accountable to our goal?

It is a mind-blowing visual to see how far the body will go to align with one’s resolve. How much more is the sight to behold of excelling in our spiritual walk to the point where we are awarded with a Crown of Life? The thought of standing before God and hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” The exhilaration of a Celebration of one remaining faithful to a goal that has eternity stamped on it!

The Ultimate Gold is attainable! The Ultimate Reward is found in Christ! The Ultimate Prize is Him! The Ultimate Record is found unbeaten, when we surrender! Operating in His Ways and doing it with a grateful heart will have the world see what Olympian status looks like in the life of the Believer!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal some of the Spiritual areas you are doing work in and assess if you have Gold placing. What are some of the practices needed to be on the podium to celebrate?

Pray: Father God, thank you for creating in me a desire to be disciplined in your ways. Thank you for placing in my heart the ability to accept what you are doing to strengthen my Spiritual muscles. May the consistency of obeying you be evident when trials come. Salvation is my greatest prize and spending eternity with you is beyond the Ultimate Reward! Thank you for your faithfulness. In Jesus Name, Amen.

It’s Open Door Season!

Those four words typically bring about an expectation of excitement! They are the four words that often make us feel that better is about to take place because the door is now open. They are the four words that bring about this instant relief that our “No Season” has come to an end and that the “New Season” is now on the horizon. Those four words can carry a new beat in our hearts and jolt us into activating a new resolve and zeal for life that can have us blindly go in before truly assessing the Open Door.

“Open Door Season” is an interesting phenomenon in the life of the Believer. Maturing in God has brought about a discerning factor that provides a safety measure before impact; like the seatbelt so efficiently does for us. Open Doors do not automatically mean that we should enter in. They are not always the answered prayer. Sometimes, they are the test before the real blessing. Think about examination in the Spirit, before God’s Promise. There were things revealed to you, at the appointed time. They aligned with His Will and did not make you feel like you were ignorant of having the knowledge about what would be seen behind that Open Door.

This week, as I prepared for something, I was reminded how much a Good Father desires to give His children good things. He wants to bless us more than we want the blessing, but He does not move in haste. There is no fear in God to cause Him to ever feel pressured to give His children what they are not spiritually prepared for. God will seal a door for years without any trepidation of what our response will be, and rightfully so. After all, upright living will allow us to see Open Doors, but not assume that everyone has the address of Heaven stamped on it.

We often look at the Level of “No’s” connected with the Christian Walk, but how often do we Thank God that the “No” prevented us from making a decision that would have separated us from Him. The “No” caused us to understand what it means to follow Him with our whole heart. The “No” led us to remembering that He will always have our best interest at heart.

Do we really trust God and His Timing enough to put an Assessment Test on the Open Door or would we be blinded by selfish ambition? Keep in mind, He will withhold no good thing from those whom walk upright, but it still demands that we be trusted even with the access of an Open Door.

We are in a sensitive time and it warrants that we walk circumspectly. Discernment is truly a Gift from God and it allows us to avoid so many pitfalls that haste and moving before time creates. Beloved, it may be “Open Door Season”, but the only door that we should run to without any hesitation is to occupy the place where He dwells!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down what you feel God would want you to assess before going through an Open Door. In the past, have you automatically assumed that an Open Door was from God?

Pray: Father God, an Open Door from You will bring me closer to You! It will mature and strengthen me. It will both humble and level me to a place of gratefulness. An Open Door from you may even come with growing pains and stretch marks, but the aftermath would have birthed the essence of You in me. God, I desire an excitement concerning an Open Door that you have predestined for me. Great tables may be set behind those doors, but if you are not there, just as Moses, I do not desire to go! The greatest access granted begins and end with You, Lord. In Your Name, Amen.

Truth in Black: Our lives is not the Movie!

Recently watched a trending movie and I could not help but think what Truth does to stay in the Black. The Actor made mention that she did not want to end up in the red, so she was willing to walk away. It highlighted a number of decisions that are rationalized when one is hurt. Compromise becomes an aphrodisiac when Truth is not actively pursued to remain in the Black! Decisions we said that we would either never make or consider become very attractive.

Movies have an uncanny way of exposing the Story Teller’s heart without them ever opening their mouth to corroborate their heart thoughts. In this movie, with the “church family” background, we have the cussing Pastor; cussing Pastor’s wife, if you got her timing wrong; the Pastor’s daughter who suggests fornicating on a pick up truck with the guy who likes her from childhood! The same Pastor’s daughter who allows him to perform fellatio on her the day of her divorce!

There is an attack on the Church that is not going anywhere! However, we must be able to stand and show the Truth in Black! God does not Save us from the world to have us resemble the world in hard times! Let’s examine what Truth in Black looks like…

Truth in Black has a different response!

Truth in Black heals before going into another relationship, because the self-assessment is paramount to the outcome of forthcoming relationships.

Truth in Black does not have the type of Religion one can lay down when life throws its toughest blows.

Truth in Black does not come for anyone to meet a void that compromises their relationship with God.

Truth in Black will connect you with partners who will love you to your protecting of your soul! One of the most interesting statements by the male Actor, and lust interest of the Lead when she invited him to stay with her was, “It was by God’s strength last time, this time that won’t work!” Some may find it admiral of his admission, but it is actually an indictment! When has God’s Grace, the empowerment of who He is not been enough for us to resist the Devil and watch him flee?

We must be extremely discerning in not romanticizing Sin. Movie after movie, this Story Teller’s definition of redemption does not coincide with scripture. It is a Redemption that is reactive and accusatory. If I can go over the cliff every time I am mistreated, betrayed, attacked, and humiliated, how will people ever be able to witness the Fruit of the Spirit planted in my life?

Redemption is not about wearing a banner of victimization and causal actions. Redemption is a Gift from God to get pass the desire to even have “A Get Back” in us! Ask Brother Joseph when his brothers, who left him for dead; yet in their time of need, he was in a position through God to be a Life Giver and not a Life Destroyer because his Redemption was not tainted!

Let’s remember to live Truth in the Black and we will never ever have to worry about being in the red‼️

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal the measures you are taking to Walk out Truth in the Black. What areas do you see compromise? Do you have a Circle that also pursues Truth in Black, or do they remain in the red?

Pray: Precious God and Father, you’ve continued to show your great care concerning me. What should have destroyed me was a stepping stone to seeing You! You are faithful and true! Your goodness pursued me and placed a different Spirit within me! Your Redemption has not only freed me, but has allowed me to extend what was not always extended to me. For that, I tell you, Thank you! Your love far surpasses human comprehension and there will never be anyone to compare to you! You alone are EVERYTHING! In Jesus Name. Amen.

What Excites your Heart More…Remnant or Mega Numbers?

We measure Success by numbers. We gauge the effectiveness of most things by the tangible outcomes. Did the masses show up? Will it be all the rave on the following day? Has it met my expected end? Success Goals, in and of itself is not the Achilles heel. It is the expectations that do not always leave room to get a “Well Done” from God. You are pressed because you expected more, but was more imparted in the hearts of the Attendees because they were in the room? Are they closer to God because they came?

The Bible speaks of 12 Men turning the world upside down! Imagine those men forfeiting the Plan of God because more did not show up. Often times, we find qualities in the remnant that are actually quite admirable and underrated. There is a consistency and commitment that reverberates through the fabric of the remnant.

They show up in the rain, snow, sleet, and hail. They go just as hard for 10 in the room as they would go for 100. They do not cheat God in their devotion and servitude because of the bareness of the room, because they ultimately understand the fullness of His Presence is there!

Mega Numbers require a level of maintenance that is not often talked about! What level of discipleship and stillness is required to service an audience of 500? How much accountability is required to bring wolves and charlatans before 1,000 followers, who are entering with a plethora of issues and at vast levels in their Spiritual Walk? The inner workings of Success call for us to be more discerning. It has to become more about the souls of the ones who purchase seats and attend our events.

We often talk about Last Days and comment on the outlandish events that are happening globally; yet we tend to un-haste ourselves when it comes to preparation. If you invited 50 and 2 show up, what will your disposition and presentation be to the 2 in the room? The life of the Hebrew boys and the stance that they took in a foreign land is an amazing testament to what can be accomplished through a remnant, when we remember who sent us!

Beloved, examine the gift behind the remnant again. Can God send you to pour into a group that may not initially grow in leaps and bounds? If you were given an assignment like Jeremiah,
“Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you” would you consider the outcome of being absent of mega numbers failure or would you see it as a Great Reward to follow and obey God beyond the empirical data?

The Greatest Mega Numbers that are not to be compared- lies in the Salvation of the Lost! May our hearts be more committed in seeing droves of people come into the knowledge of who Christ is! May our bragging rights have Christ at the Center and Souls at the heart of the matter.

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal your thoughts concerning Success. How important are numbers to you when it comes to impact? Are you driven by your expectations or have you given God room to interrupt your plans?

Pray: Most gracious God. The wonderment of your continued faithfulness to an undeserving people, at times, is heart gripping. As transformation unfolds in you, so does my heart yearn to know and apply your ways. “For your ways are not our ways; neither your thoughts our thoughts.” Thank you for revealing the essential things in life. For giving us a pursuit that is not plagued by an outward appearance Success, but an intrinsic heart change that propels us to have more Heavenly Thoughts concerning what is most important! You can use me for the one, just like the act of the shepherd who went back for the one! In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

HAS GOD EVER SHOWN YOU PERFECT AND YOU TURN THE PAGE ANYWAY TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE PERFECT?

Let’s come out the Sober Truth Gate like a bull for a moment! Have you ever seen the most beautiful picture in a magazine and before you could truly appreciate what you have just experienced, you were rushing to see what was on the next page? There is a term that has taken on a life of its own, FOMO- Fear of missing out. Oh but wait, there is a close cousin that has most certainly shown up for the party! The Term is, FOMOM- Fear of Missing Out More! It is this self-inflicted wound of never truly being satisfied with what is before you.

It is like ordering your favorite dish from your favorite restaurant, sitting at your favorite table; being serviced by your favorite maître d'; and all of a sudden- a new dish is featured; in the new section of the restaurant; with the new maître d' coming through with what you do not have! What you once bragged on to others becomes less appealing. What you thought the restaurant could not do any better in a dish is now eclipsed, not by what you have actually tasted; rather it is by what you are seeing. It caused your gaze to leave what was before you to look at what was to the left of you.

Let’s ascend with the conversation of not truly embracing contentment. Hebrews 13:5 gives us instructions, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” As Believers, we have been afforded a gift to not always have to turn the page for me. God has placed so much of His perfection on the Season of the Page that we find ourselves. I beseech you, do not shy away from the word “perfection” in God. God has endowed us with the ability to go from infancy to maturity. The once longing for everything you did not have to a gratitude for what God has chosen for us to have.

Of recent, I have really been on gratitude! It has been that favorite record in my head that you have played so much that it has started skipping! What exactly do we think that God owes us, when we never paid off the debt that once being an enemy to Him ran up an endless tab⁉️ As Psalm 84:10 so potently states, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Contentment will have us grateful to be in the number. No need for the quick flip to the next page- set your gaze again on what God has perfected concerning you.

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your journal your thoughts concerning “contentment.” What emotions surface when you hear the word? Do you deem it as an empowering word or restrictive one? Answer the title for yourself: “Has God shown you perfect and you turned the page anyway to see if there was something more perfect?”

Pray:

Father God, contentment is found in you. Not from a place of being forced to conjure up feelings of acceptance, but from a place of gratefulness. You are a God who gets personal and intimate. You have plans for us here and beyond. You grace us with an opportunity to glorify you in the abound and abased place. Thank you, Lord for perfecting a maturity in your children that allows us to capture the beauty of your handiwork.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“The Cost of Liberty”

Today is June 19, 2024. It was observed as a Federal Holiday in 2021. It is the day that a Union General read orders in Galveston, Texas stating all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law. (sourcemn.com) As daunting as history can sometimes be, Believers in Christ know that we must have Stones of Remembrance to keep us ever so mindful of the grace and mercy of God.

Before giving our lives to Christ, we were in bondage to Sin. It was a Taskmaster that had us doing unconscionable acts! I bring up the Taskmaster not to rehash; rather to speak on the Power of the Blood! What we thought we may never be able to escape, Jesus’ sacrifice gave us the Will to live a free life in God!

Let’s talk about the Cost of the Liberty. Jesus came into a world of Sin; but did not become Sin. Jesus, Our Savior subjected Himself to acts that were reserved for criminals; yet He did not discriminate for who He would give His life for. Take that in for a moment. He did not just shed blood for those who cried Hosanna. He also went to that cross for those who assaulted Him; spat on Him, and attempted to assassinate His character!

The Cost of Liberty is a price without a price tag. What price can be put on Jesus Christ’ blood being able to make the world free, for those who believe? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

The ownership of the Believer should not be compared to the tragic events of slavery that happened in the U.S. God is a good, good Father, who cares for His Children in a manner that transforms us from the inside out to actually look like Him. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” -2 Corinthians 3:18

The Cost of Liberty may be priceless, but it still warrants us showing up daily to make the attempt in paying for it! May an appreciation swell up in our hearts in an immeasurable way! May God find us in faith when He returns for the Gift of Liberty He has bestowed upon us! There was an old song that said, “I will never be bound again, I got my liberty and I’m finally free…I will never be bound (to sin) again!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal a love letter to Jesus for the act that He unselfishly did to give you liberty.

Pray: Father, your establishing who I am to be has allowed me to see and embrace my purpose. An image of Your Son should be my reflection. The embodiment of who Christ is and the life He lived on earth. You gave us your Word to guide our path. May I not abuse your liberty, but remain grateful for what we were not entitled to. With a grateful heart, I do love and appreciate You! In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Does the Life of a Surrendered Person Impress You?

Impress- to feel admiration or respect, to leave an impression or mark -(Oxford Languages)

This probing question, is layered in great intentionality of examining the word “impress” and it will be used to build the discussion. In the natural, there are people who immediately come to mind when you are pursuing a career goal or an athletic achievement pursuit. We are often enamored with individuals who excel in business &/or sports. As I follow the NBA and now the WNBA, I see how quickly we form imaginary alliances with people whom we have never met. We are intrigued by their sacrifice to earthly greatness.

There is this affinity to that which resembles what we either desire or admire. The mark that these individuals make on the heart of the one who is impressed often inspires the on-looker to do what it takes to follow suit. The on-looker will put in the hours that the mark maker has suggested; make the sacrifices that they are told are required; and welcome the mantra, “Whatever it takes!”

If you have been with us on this journey of appreciating the Divine Design of the Creator, you know the conversation is going into elevation mode. The question asked was, “Does the Life of a Surrendered Person impress you?” Does it leave an impressionable mark of pursuit when you think about what a Surrendered Life looks like in God?

Many confuse surrender with just loss, but one who goes through a Surrendered Life begins to embrace the loss because it has brought about the greatest gain. John 15:2 says, "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit". What lies within Surrender is exponential growth.

Let’s look at the pruning before the growth. Ladies, you will be able to relate to this example. Going to the Hair Stylist was always an influx emotions, especially when it was time to get that hair trim. We were so excited with our hair growing and here they come saying they have to cut our split ends. Those ends represent what is dead and what could hinder the growth of our remaining hair. You see, the pruning process is necessary because it rids us of things that adversely affect our growth.

A Surrendered Life…

•Walks away from relationships that continue to feed the flesh to Walk into a life that honors God through righteous courtship

•Walks away from a life of Idolatry to Walk into a life of Lordship

•Walks away from only seeing their own desires, and Walks into a life with a strong desire to see the Will of God performed

What would this world look like if every Surrendered Life transferred “Whatever it Takes” to “impress” God?

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal what the Surrendered Life has been like for you. If you do not feel like this journey has taken place, jot down what you feel the process would be for you.

Pray: Father God, your loving kindness is more than life to me. Thank you for transforming my heart to not be enamored with the life of those in the world. I am now impressed by those who take being obedient to you as their greatest pursuit. May you continue to prune me; that much fruit will come forth that undeniably points to you. Father God, continue to bless and keep those who surrender their lives to you. In your Matchless Name, I pray. Amen.

We will Fight to Live, but will We Fight to Crucify Our Flesh?

We are wired to tell people to fight when their bodies are being attacked. I remember having a 30 Day straight Prayer Call when my 29 year old, Sister-in-Law was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and was at Stage 4, shortly after my niece was born. I was so militant in my approach. I placed scriptures all over her room; removed books that people brought that were not edifying; and even at one point commented not to enter her room if you did not have faith.

Honestly, I wish I had done a better job in crucifying my flesh. I could not imagine a 29 year old leaving a husband, 5 year old son, and 5 month old daughter! I never really took the time to ultimately pray the Will of the Father. My flesh shut off any possibility outside of the miracle of her being healed on this side.

After all, this was a young lady who served two terms in the Air Force, protecting our country. She became a Military Sergeant all while starting a family with my brother, her high school sweetheart.

My refusal to crucify my flesh had me to miss out on crucial conversations and video footage that I could have made for my niece and nephew. That moment could have been spent having her share how she wanted her fingerprint of love woven through their lives, but my unwillingness to believe that God would not heal her on this side, prevented the needed preparation to take place.

The greatest fight that we will step in the ring of life is against ourselves. Our Will can be like a Heavyweight Fighter, and our acceptance of the Will of God, if not careful, can be what’s called in the Boxing World, “A Minimumweight” even less than a Light Flyweight! Just barely making it in!

We cannot leave room for a margin. For the crucifying of our flesh to be decided by a decision. We need to be fully persuaded on being built solid in God to die to ourselves and our own selfish ambitions that do not factor in God’s Plan. As those Spiritual Muscles are developing, there will be a great tearing away!

John 12:24-26 says,

New King James Version

24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Our death process will never be a solo venture. It has lives in mind that we will never see! Envision the amount of fruit that an apple tree produces. According to planyourpatch.com, a mature standard apple tree will yield 500 lbs of apples. Our getting the dying process correct yields much fruit!

Imagine being on both sides of Christ on a cross and choosing life over death; which brings about eternal life. Now, imagine having not only this account, but several stories that should help us choose the latter! The Love, Grace, and Empowerment in the Bible is truly beyond what we deserve! Choose this day…

By all means, Live a fulfilling Life, but more importantly, may we Crucify our Flesh daily that we may truly live again and give Him Glory! The Living is in the Dying! A great place to insert the song verse: “For your glory, I’ll do anything!”

DIVINE WORK & PRAY:

WORK: Jot down in your journal the areas that you struggle to crucify and why. What does dying to your flesh look like in each area that you have mentioned?

PRAY: Father God, when I look over my life, I see the detriment of removing myself off of the cross. I see what my strong will prevented in my development. It prevented me from seeing a new facet of who You are in Your sustaining and keeping power! You are all wise and all knowing. Forgive my finite actions towards an infinite God. Thank you for the do overs that have led to a posture to remain on the cross through the most challenging and perfecting moments in my life! There shall be glory after this! In your Matchless Name, in Jesus Christ, I pray this prayer. Amen.

I love you enough Lord to Work for you! In this Season, I love you enough not to let you!

What would it be like for God to tell you, “No” as it relates to your service? Some could not fathom being told to sit down. Many have experienced churches asking while the ink is still wet on the Membership Roster, “Where would you like to serve in the ministry?” Can you imagine asking a newborn baby to get behind the wheel of a chartered bus carrying 50 people? Yes, servitude and language is already in the baby, but they must be cultivated and instructed for that specific duty to come forth.

An infant would not know the language or instructions to properly lead and transport the 50 people! How much more should new converts in Christ be discipled?

Disciple- – properly, a learner; a disciple, a follower of Christ who learns the doctrines of Scripture and the lifestyle required; someone catechized with proper instruction from the Bible with its necessary follow-through life-applications. -Strong’s Concordance

Pause for the Cause: As a Lover of Words, “catechized” got my attention!

Catechize- instruct (someone) in the principles of Christian religion by means of question and answer

Esther went through a year long purification process before meeting with the king. God’s love towards us is shown in Him not being anxious to put us to work before the revelation of who we submit our life to is realized.

In the natural, my profession is in Sales, and I perform my duties at a higher efficiency by knowing the Company and product. Again, how much more is required to exercise good works for the Sovereign God? Imagine carrying out tasks for God with the World’s Manual and not the Bible. We would function from an ill-informed and lower nature manner.

Imagine how we would greet a non-cooperative guest at the door; imagine how we would treat our pew neighbor with a busy body child; imagine how we would treat a Sister who appears to have a unsightly disposition, but is really struggling with insecurity and hurt from a previous church- if we did not take the time to sit and learn of Him! Discipleship will never be a 4 week course; it is this cumulative experience that continues to be added on to, as we mature in Christ.

Ponder this, have you ever told or considered telling your Pastor that you need to sit for a moment to assess and do some necessary heart maintenance? Would it even cross your mind to stop serving? Getting things right with God is never deemed as wasted time. Yes, He is the Redeemer and Restorer of Time. However, our focus truly has to get to the place…”Lord, if it cost me 10 years to be perfected in [this] it is worth it because I never want to work on your behalf and not represent you with “clean hands and a pure heart.”

The Elephant in the Room when it comes to “working for the Lord” is when our hearts have not been regenerated- it will cause us to busy ourselves with works and turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit’s attempt to “lead us into all truth.” It is a Move of the Enemy to get us caught up in altruistic acts, that are absent of the anointing!

Sober Truth: There are times where a choice is made to focus more on service, so we are not painstakingly truthful with where we are and where we really should be. Remember, God is not in need of us. On the contrary, we are greatly in need of Him. Acts 6:3 says, “Therefore brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. Check out those credentials to pass out food! No work as a representative of Christ is insignificant or absent of the Holy Spirit! From the Parking Attendant to the Childcare Provider to the Usher to the Pastor- they all require His approval because if not, we’ll operate from the World’s Manual and not the Creators!

Divine Design Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal, the thoughts you had about this blog title and content. Were you reared to work first and then learn of Him? Do you feel pressure to work in the church more than your desire to be approved by God to work on His behalf?

Pray: Great Jehovah, it is a joy to do anything for you because of what you have done for me, but let not my works be greater than my surrendered life and Yes to Your Will and Way! To say that I owe you everything is an understatement. To move in obedience and holiness is my statement back to you! Great is your faithfulness towards me. May the honor of sitting like Mary make me know how to respond in situations that are presented with the frustration of Martha. Keep my heart forever slanted towards the needful thing. As I work for You; may I always have an answer for the hope that is within me. In the Name that is above every other Name, in Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.

“A Heart of Worship Beats an Eternal Song.”

Worship= ascribing adornment and praise;

a reverence and homage surrendered to God; involves doing so in Spirit & Truth (John 4:24)

We say that we want a Heart of Worship, but do we comprehend the fine print? It is not the same practices of the World for why they place information in a script; requiring a magnifying glass. Heaven’s fine print is about slowing down to focus on what we are saying, “Yes” to. It is about being clear on the benefits and expectations when subscribing.

Worship is often associated with music, but it is so much more encompassing. However, let’s two step to Worship being a partner with song. Songs of Worship are in a category all to themselves, but as time has progressed, we see lyrics moving from an eternal perspective to an egocentric view. Some Praise & Worship songs speak more to our ability than God’s. We must understand, it is in us to worship, our responsibility is to make sure, no one or nothing shares the positioning only designated for God.

There are some amazing benefits to Worship through music. As a harpist, David was able to play with a heavenly sound that would give Saul undeserved relief from the evil Spirits that plagued him. Even in judgment, Saul received grace from God! Have you ever come into the church so heavy with life and uncertainty and through Worship felt the world lift from your shoulders? It is such an amazing gift to be able to worship God in the beauty of holiness and have Him dispense an unlimited amount of Joy & Peace! The Act of Worship through Song is always to be about shifting from us to our Divine Being and Savior.

Let us converse on Worship from a Spirit & Truth place. The first time I ever saw Worship shared to express a definition that had nothing to do with music; rather obedience and sacrifice was in Genesis 22. Abraham took Isaac up to Mount Moriah that they may worship the Lord. True Worship should be akin to obedience and sacrifice. Going into His presence and having relationship with God should produce a heart of worship that keeps us on repeat-mode for what is to come. Spending eternity with the One who continues to meet us in Worship!

Spirit & Truth, the necessary combination for access to be able to worship our sovereign God. It will never be an either or, it will always be the cumulative experience of both. The Spirit allows access to a Holy God and Truth reminds us of who we are encountering and how we must operate in the newness of living a surrendered life.

When we ascribe what is only meant for You to someone or something else, there will never be fulfillment. We can spend countless hours perfecting something and never amass true sustainability. This is why we must be clear on the fine print of Worship. In this world, we may actually get our heart’s desire, but when the Heavenly EKG is done, our heartbeat will remain irregular because it does not move from a Heartbeat of Worship.

A Heart of Worship will beat an Eternal Song because the weight of trials and tribulations are no real opponent to eternity. A Heart of Worship can literally change atmospheres. A Heart of Worship matures us in Waiting Seasons, disappointment, and graduation. A Heart of Worship does not just leave us at an emotional place, but a tried and true tested one.

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal what has hindered your Worship. Place actual biblical steps in enhancing your worship experience with God. Remember, Worship is not just about music- embrace the full gamut of this Gift from God.

Pray: Father God, your goodness goes beyond what my mouth can utter and my tears can convey. As you enlarge our capacity for you, may we remain mindful that we have your Spirit in dwelling us and being led to all Truth. The absolute-ness in You allows us to triumph in and through all circumstances. Our Worship is not because You did it alone, but because You were worthy of Worship even before we asked. You are our constant and You deserve constant Praise & Worship, with our lives poured out as an offering! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.