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 one 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.

There’s a Thin Line between Love & Hate…Oh really?

There are so many statements that we have made in the world that have often made us the culprit of our own demise. Show & Tell Time coming right up. Think about the scenarios that surrounded the Thin Line license to do and say anything because of an action that proceeded the line cross. Granted, both Love & Hate are extreme in nature, but they are as close in lineage as the abyss.

There is a lofty cost that comes with Love. God’s Love is not quick to hate and despise,

God’s love is…

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Many times…THESE VERSES are recited at the pinnacle of the elation of two becoming one, without the testing of its absolute stellar record of possibility. THESE VERSES are welcomed with promise and glee without the microscopic glimpse of the trek that Love takes to get and stay there.

In Micah 7, he pens a powerful depiction of Love & Hate, as the misery and rise of Israel is mentioned. The Acts mentioned are so massively different. In misery, deplorable acts can sprout from the heart, but when God’s love germinates in our hearts, those weeds which were once very present when events appeared to go South, have been replaced by the freedom to show His Love.

This by no means is a slogan t-shirt to remain in a life-threatening situation all in the Name of Love. It is a billboard to highlight how much of a category Love is all to itself. Micah 7:19 spotlights a powerful statement of the vastness of Love, “You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” There is no way to see hate in the distance when God commits an Act that shows such Love that we cannot even reach where He places it!

The line between Love and Hate in the world will forever be colossal, because they come from two diametrically opposite pouring places! One produces life; the other death. May we make the invisible line of demarcation quite visible in our hearts when it comes to being able to see the deposit that God makes in us to migrate from hate to love. May we see that they are not interchangeable. If the line is paper thin, expect many paper cuts on the journey that may hinder your use of the Love that 1 Corinthians 13 speaks on so fruitful.

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journey your thoughts on the statement, “There’s a thin line between love and hate.” Has your view concerning the statement changed since maturity has come you way due to your Walk with the Lord? Have you ever really thought about the abilities that you have now have with the Holy Spirit indwelling you?

Pray: Most gracious Father, the One who loves and is love. The One who loves us in such a way, that our fear of being hurt fades. Lord, you are the Greatest Teacher to ever teach on love because you showed it in the most unfavorable conditions. Love didn’t just get on the cross! You were falsely accused; spat on; violently assaulted; made a spectacle; had to witness the anguish of your mother; all to Obey Love and Save an undeserving people to reach that cross! We can love without apprehension, because you displayed an abundant love before we loved you! Thank you for reminding us that Love & Hate are miles apart, as the east is from the west! In your mighty Name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer Changes Me Far More than it Changes Things!

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it says, “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” As we incessantly remain in the Attitude of Prayer, it will keep this fluid exchange with the Father. In the natural, we would have issue with someone who only comes to us in want and never in fellowship. Prayer is relationship with God and becoming familiar with what pleases Him when coming in His presence. Even Esther knew there was a countenance that she needed to have before the earthly king.

Prayer comes with a gamut of benefits that can be both sobering and rewarding. Sobering in that, we truly see ourselves, our propensities, and selfish tendencies. Prayer is Rewarding by the transformation and growth that can be birthed out of the ability to pray without ceasing.

Does our heart automatically go to “How is it possible for one to “pray without ceasing?” Yet, we do not question the automatic act of breathing. Prayer can become breath to us. It is not about kneeling 24/7, but having a posture of prayer. What is our first thought to do when Life hits or when Life thrives? Is it already in our hearts to take it to the Lord in prayer?

Moment of Transparency: I had a moment of going into prayer in an incorrect manner. I placed a time frame on something I felt I needed clarity on from God. When we intertwine good intentions of praying with practices that are manipulative in nature, they do not get answered because James 4 says we ask amiss, we are left with an impure posture of prayer. God is so holy and intentional in all that He does. It is not about getting God to say or do anything, it is truly about what He does in our hearts and what we then say after that encounter.

We most certainly serve a God whom we can share our desires with. We simply need to be mindful that our prayers must align with His Will. Can we end a prayer like Jesus; mean it; and accept it? “…nevertheless, not my Will but Your Will be done.” -Luke 22:42 Jesus gave us an epic example of Life hitting and at the end of the day saying a prayer that in the midst of angst; He was able to give God glory!

Get ready for the Change that leads to a transformation that no one can take from you! To go to God for one thing and come out with the miracle of accepting His Will ultimately with a grateful heart because of His Perfecting Power is truly Next Level!

Divine Work & Pray:

WORK: Jot down in your journal feelings that you have felt with unanswered prayers. Note the feelings that you have had when you felt prayers were answered. How do you think you can become steadfast in prayer all while being accepting of God’s Will?

PRAY: Most gracious Father, Thank You for your patience. Thank You for the care You provide, as I learn of You. Circumstances may become overwhelming, but you remain a constant Sustainer in my life. Help me to have a resolve to embrace Your Will more than my desires. Life is worth living because of You! Thank You for working on changing me before the changes that will happen in my life. In your Matchless Name, in Jesus Name. Amen.

Shift the Room: Does the Excitement of the Invitation Match or Override the Expectation?

Access Granted! It is usually synonymous with excitement and promotion. It is an emotional high attached to it that makes one feel…”I have arrived!” No Spoiler Alert here! Just a heavenly reminder of our vetting process of the invitation. Pondering on the entrance. Assessing the arrival to the agenda already in the room.

One can have their head down and busy preparing the empire, but Shifting a Room begins before one’s entrance. It is the intentionality of knowing who you represent and the mark He intends to leave. How much do we expect to be used by God when we show up? Is it just about the networking and hob-nobbing or do we see the greater need?

Can we be sent in an environment and have the least money in the room; yet say the wealthiest statement that represents God? Would that be an opportunity to be a witness, or would you be enamored by the earthly figures with several commas in the bank? Am I referencing one running up and grabbing the mic and doing an Altar Call? No, I am not. However, make no mistake about how God leaves His indelible presence in a room.

Any Believer who enters a room by default shifts the room. It is the Greatness of God that dwells within us. This is where the true shift comes from. God will make us sensitive about atmospheres we walk into so that His Glory may be seen.

Do we truly prepare our hearts to go in like we prepare our outfit, hair, and networking material? Shift the Room and override the excitement of the invite by what God intends to impact those whom you come into contact with. The person next to you could be dressed to the nines and battling with suicidal thoughts. Can we be sensitive in the Spirit to discern the atmosphere? Wants continue to take the front seat to Needs! That should most certainly not be the case. When they invite you to the front row…Take the expectation with you, “God, who do you want to bless today with the essence of who You are?” May they see You in me more than my pedigree, business acumen, or success!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal some of your trepidation of being used by God in a public setting. Have you ever found yourself restraining from having a conversation with a stranger when you get an unction from the Holy Spirit?

Pray: Father God, keep me sensitive of the assignment. Make my ear keen to your Voice. Allow me opportunities to impact here on earth as I await your return. May the expectation of you touching a life far excel being invited into the room. Bless You forever! Love You forever! In Jesus Name, Amen.

What is Your Price to Walk Away from God? Everyone has a Price…Until you don’t!

The Bible is often read in very interesting ways. There are times people read it like a Children’s Story, and other times in disbelief that the people behaved in the manner that they did with all the miraculous events that God performed. It goes without saying, that the Bible should be revered and believed. However, there are some great lessons for our growth by assessing not only the actions of others, but our potential price acceptance.

Let us have Lot’s Wife over for a moment with her feet up on our coffee table! The Word of God tells us to “Remember Lot’s wife.” There was a price that she paid on that day. She did not write a blank check. Prior to the mercy shown to them, in Genesis 19:17, “Escape for their lives; look not behind them…for they would be consumed.” Therefore, she was not oblivious to the price of looking back; yet she was willing to pay the most eternal price ever!

Do we truly assess the Price that we paid in the world? Are we honest about what it took to be snatched before destruction? Was our multiple near fatalities to sin not enough? When we continue to open our wallets for the Price to engage in this World System, we rob our Spiritual Trust Fund. As a Good Father, God has been preparing a wealth of stability, purity in mind, and the Blueprint for our actions to honor Him. but we somehow desire more, the wealth of the world!

Willing to pay whatever the Cost to make a name and get access, all while our name could be penned in the Book of Life. Somehow, a vapor of worldly success has eclipsed the everlasting stay in a place we did not have the revenue to reserve without Jesus Christ. To be rewarded Heaven when we were Spiritually-bankrupt is jaw-dropping alone!

There are a lot of statements that we may never say from our mouths, but our actions continue to do the talking for us. We really need to know what or who could persuade us to turn and pay the price? Before it/they come to sit in our living room, what measures have we put in place for them not even to gain access and pass the threshold? What have we decided not to open our wallets up to anymore? It may take longer to get to your desired goal in God, but anything that He blesses us with will always be worth the wait!

The latter part of the blog post is supposed to shock us back into the truth of the power of The Blood. “Everyone has a price…Until they don’t!” We might have started off in compromise, conflict, and irregular conviction, but we do not remain in that state. We can actually declare, “I will never be bound again, and mean that thing! Until our dash is completed here, the Enemy will always dangle a price tag before us to turn away from God. Nevertheless, the Price that Jesus paid stands as our reminder that we can no longer be bought by this World System!

It should and can get to a place where this world has nothing to offer for what you already have in Christ. Show some signs that Paid in Full covered that! No more looking back- we’re not going that way!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: I challenge you to jot down the desires of your heart, all of them. How would the Enemy come to present a tainted, perverted version of your desires?

Pray: Oh Lord, Our God, the Price that You paid through your Son has a worth that is immeasurable! The value attached to life in You has no comparison. My indebtedness to you is ever present. I pray to be vigilant concerning my Spiritual deposits. May there never be insufficient funds. Thank you for allowing me to see true riches in You. Thank you for taking me from paying whatever the world tagged happiness and success to now being able to store up wealth where it truly counts! In your Matchless & Mighty Name, Amen.

If it Cost You Everything, Would You Still Say Yes?

In 2007, Shekinah Glory Ministries gave us a song entitled, “Yes.” It was one of the most endearing words placed in melodic form because it asked an all or nothing question and caused the one declaring to answer from a heart place. “If it cost you everything, would your heart and soul still say yes?” This song always activated my tear ducts, in the past. However, I recently heard it and it got me on my feet, not swaying to the song; rather reporting for duty, for what is to come. There were no tears in that moment, it was the realization that everything that I thought was anything was no comparison to the One who captured my heart and I actually fell in love with!

Interesting story behind “falling in love.” In the natural, I would never actually say the words to anyone, “I fell in love with you.” Although, some of those relationships had become idols; there was something about saying “I fell” for you. It was like, I was only supposed to fall once. I was only supposed to experience a love that transcended my control and made me whole through One person alone. Jesus captured my heart in a way that changed everything! There was no way I could do earthly relationships the same! Not another relationship where lust led over Godly love.

Recently, I witnessed people all over the world gather at a place with strict rules to enter into, that was the home of a religion outside my own. I opted not to participate with the group. It was a decision met with some trepidation, because I did not know how it would be perceived by the group. Nevertheless, I remained on the bus with the tour guide and read a book honoring my God.

This blog is not designated to highlight what others did not do, it is to bring the attention to the Cost that is expected for everything outside of Christianity that is generally not questioned. There is an expectation to put your family aside to climb the corporate ladder; an expectation to leave your friends to engage in a relationship, in hopes of it materializing into marriage; an expectation to reduce your time with your circle to work on creating a family. That day at the Mosques in Abu Dhabi was met with an expectation, no matter if people agreed with the Cost or not- the rules had to be adhered to in order to have the experience.

Take a moment to assess, do we acquiesce to the rules and standards of Christianity without murmur or is there such a reverence for being in the number, that we count it an honor to get the opportunity to follow what pleases Him? That day may have brought up questions in the hearts of those I was with, but it didn’t bring up the question for me that I could not answer…”If it cost me everything, would my heart and soul still say yes?”

The delayed Shout is…the sober reality that I did not always choose to adhere to the rules of the Father. There were times I went with the crowd to avoid the heat or singling out. I did not want it to cost me everything. I still wanted to choose what would be returned and hold on to what still had my heart…UNTIL! Until the fall, until the void overflowed with His love. Until my heart and soul was met with the reality that it was a price that was not paid alone by me, but by Christ Jesus himself!

In closing, as CeCe Winans belted out…”You weren’t there, the night Jesus found me. You did not feel what I felt when He wrapped His loving arms around me. You don’t know the Cost of the Alabaster Box.” Friend, nobody knows the Cost, but you do!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down in your journal what you consider the cost to be. What do you find yourself struggling to give God?

Pray: Father God, to the One who created, defined, and manifested love! Where would I be without you? It is an answer that drives my allegiance to you. It propels my conditioning and allows me to count the cost. It is impossible for me to give you more than what you richly have bestowed. In my hard place, may I fall more in love with you because you have promised never to leave, nor forsake me. In my grateful place, may I be like Moses, “If your presence does not go, carry me not.” In your Matchless and Mighty Name! Amen.

“Thrivers Live Differently from Survivors!”

Ponder on this…”What bonds you with the people who are most important to you?” Is it trauma or triumph that makes your connection so strong? By default have you determined the depth of your relationship based off of the hardships and breaking?

Make no mistake about it, traumatic instances can be a human super glue, but does it also produce a thriving and highly functioning bond? Trauma can cause us to remain on repeat mode for what knitted us together; all while stripping us of the ability to elevate beyond our circumstances. It is like watching a movie endlessly, to the point you know the words before the Actor says it.

There are great lessons within what leads us to be in Survivor-mode, but there are even more in what transforms us into becoming Thrivers. Thriving gives us the permission to become Victors over Victims. It supports the thought that what is before me is far more substantial than whatever intended to break me!

Victimization is not just an external event. We can become our own detriment by not placing our whole weight on God. Whatever God uses to make us more into His image is about understanding that it is never intended to bring forth a Victim Mindset. God does His best work when our heart shifts from seeing all that people did to us to recognizing all He did and continues to do for us!

One of the most rewarding stories to read in the Bible is how Joseph treated his brothers after their diabolical plan. We can get to a place by the processing of God where we look more at the posterity of the people than we do the pain afflicted by the same people. Their natural minds could not comprehend that level of forgiveness. Thriving in God produces an ability that is beyond our natural capabilities or even desire, at times.

What makes a Thriver title over a Survivor one really live is removing the sting and power that the Perpetrator has built up in our hearts! Give yourself permission to experience the healing power of the Lord! We were not created to simply survive. Not when He has called us, “More than conquerors…” -Romans 8:37

The Life of a Thriver should show some signs. The Word of God tells us that offense will come, but we do not have to place ourselves on the Victim’s List indefinitely. God wants a maturity to be our response. Too often times, we have knee-jerk reactions to life without fully taking in that God has given us a Do Over to become more like Him. Thriving is our portion, not surviving. God wants the most devastating moments in our lives to lead us to the trek of triumphant. The Favor of God is Fair, because there is nothing unfair in Him. CHOOSE TO THRIVE.

DIVINE WORK & PRAY:

Work: Jot down your thoughts concerning what you think of when you hear Survivor. Now, create a column describing the actions of someone who has become a Thriver.

Pray: Write out a prayer concerning shifting from surviving to thriving…

Would We Live a More Divine Life with “Have to” or “Get to” Talk?

Have you ever pondered on how many tasks we put in the “Have to” Category? The thought of how many moves that we make which are actually fueled by compulsion and routine. A begrudging that eventually takes a toil on us.

It takes me back to hearing a speaker talk about our breathing patterns. When you look at infants, it is as if their chest is going to come out of their bodies. Their diaphragm chooses a means of being that God innately gave us, but as time goes on, we choose to see breathing differently. We go from deep breaths, inhaling through our noses and exhaling out our mouths to often times choppy breathing and not fully taking in oxygen as we should.

Good trainers will often comment about breathing habits and getting back to the basics. It is the foundational means that can have us maintain the right perspective . Just as the infant shows the hand of God in guiding their very breath; as Believers in Christ, our perspective on life occurrences should become innate and encompassing as God allows us to be a part of what He is doing! Can we breathe in life and breathe out an attitude of gratefulness for whatever God has signed us up to carry out?

What would our lives truly look like if we woke up tomorrow and said…

•I GET TO show God through my conduct at a job that has no sign of Him.

•I GET TO love this child who is challenging right now.

•I GET TO teach these children who struggle with wondering if someone really sees the hurt and pain that is eclipsed by the anger and shutdown.

• I GET TO love my spouse beyond disagreement and disappointment.

•I GET TO forgive because the very thing I extend- God has extended to me.

•I GET TO wait for my spouse because God is perfecting things in both of us for His Glory.

•I GET TO serve because it is an attribute of Christ.

I GET TO is this amazing Gift that God gives us to GROW through life. Imagine being a part of His Plan to carry out 100 Tasks and 100% of the time you are overwhelmed by all that you feel that you HAVE TO DO! Imagine having those same 100 Tasks and your language becomes… I GET TO DO! How would you carry out those tasks with the latter?

Can we fall in love with the process to the same degree in which we fell in love with the finish? God has masterfully placed in us through the renewing of minds, an ability to become grateful beyond the alignment of all of our desires. “Have to’s” can become Joy Robbers when it interferes with us becoming Cheerful Givers. How do we choose to give our service unto the One who did not “have to” give His only begotten Son, but took GET TO to an unimaginable level?

Divine Work & Pray:

Work: Jot down a number of tasks you currently are responsible for and be honest about which category you operate those tasks from- “Have to or Get to?”

Pray: Heavenly Father, you have been more than life to me! Breathe into me a more essential perspective concerning Your plan for my life. I desire to operate with a grateful heart and I understand that it is through You that all things are possible. For every life occurrence that You have placed before me, let my show up be just as glorious to You as the triumph. Give me a resolve that is unwavering and that keeps me in remembrance of just how much I owe You!

In your life-giving Name, in Jesus Name. Amen.