Celebrate in the Hallway Before the Door Opens!
If many of us reflect on 2024, it was a whopper of a year! Transitional periods are often a myriad of ebbs and flows. They test our ability to be able to reset and recalibrate. In the midst of a challenging year, what did we learn? What can never be taken from you? What are lessons that are helping to shape you for what is to come?
There are times that we want to get out of something so badly, that we do not focus on what it is building in us. Just as one embarking on a fitness journey. The pain and sacrifice in the beginning can blind us from focusing in on the progression. Transition can bring about a greater appreciation or deeper resentment for what is not accomplished.
This year was very sobering in so many ways. It was the realization of some of my new normals, from losing my grandmother; to pivots in my business; to dying more to self! I had very earnest moments of saying how I was choosing to come out of my challenges! I made a concerted effort to not allow life’s circumstances to force my hands down. There was a Vow I made to God and I intended to keep it! My hands would remain lifted! God never failed me, because there is no failure in Him. I vowed to give Him what is due to Him!
You see, God is not just good on the mountain, His goodness deeply expressed in our values! There are moments that He lovingly speaks to us through His Word. There are other times when His presence is so intense, that there are no words spoken, just His beauty and care on display.
Give yourself permission to not always have to get through the Open Door to Celebrate. The Hallway can be a great dress rehearsal! It is the place where we wait in anticipation. It is the location where the Love of God is embraced as you ponder on how faithful He remains.
He is not only through the Open Door. He promised to never leave us; nor forsake us. Therefore, as we wait in the Hallway of 2024 ready to go into the Door of 2025, pull out the Sparkling Cider & Party Favors!
2024 was certainly full of challenges:
Yes, you were broken in 2024!
Yes, tears flooded your pillowcase!
Yes, it was beyond what you could handle!
Yes, friendships ended!
Yes, the relationship did not withstand!
Oh, but what 2024 also did…
It strengthened your trust in God!
It caused you to put your whole weight on God and experience Him in a way that had never been imagined.
It left you with your hands raised in praise!
Transitions are one of the Most Maturing Agents and it will cause one to truly evaluate not only our decisions, but how we treat God in the midst. Every Hallway Occurrence also has Witnesses. No Hater Talk here.
There are people in that hallway with you that have seen your life up close and personal and the way that you have navigated and triumphed has not only encouraged them, but caused them to lean in all the more to God! This is a part of why the Hallway should also be a Praise Fest! There is nothing like being hit with trials and tribulations and your whole squad have their hands lifted in praise because at the end of the day- God has done it again!!! Kept you; Protected you; and Implanted His Love so deeply in you that it has changed your Spiritual DNA!
Divine Work & Pray:
Work:
Jot down in your journal what you are grateful your trials and tribulations produced in you in 2024 that you get the privilege to take into 2025!
Pray:
Oh God, how excellent is your Name in all the earth. When I think about how you have kept me and matured me, my heart cries out…gratefulness! Grateful for how you have allowed life to not triumph over me, but through you- produce a resiliency that brags on you. You have allowed me to come out better and not bitter. You have turned my mourning into dancing. You deserve the glory and honor. Life is worth living because of You. Thank you for the ability to praise you at all times! May 2025 find me crucifying my flesh more for the Hallway Witnesses to see You and glorify You! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️
What Do the “Missing You” Do for Christmas?
It is the time of season where there are an influx of feelings for many. Decorations and planning are in full force. Stores are packed with people looking for the perfect Christmas gifts, as well as fulfilling the long wish list from the little Gifts from God aka Our Children- the Little Withdrawal Makers. In all seriousness, a day that is supposed to acknowledge the birth of Jesus Christ can be met with heart-wrenching sorrow.
A time of togetherness can be eclipsed by loved ones no longer being present to share the laughs and family time. It seems like everything reminds you of them. Things that were a tradition quickly become a painful reminder of their absence.
It is interesting because one of the first celebrations for me after my grandmother transitioned was my birthday. Honestly, I did not know how the first “Without her” moment would be. I chose to get away and spent it in New York. A friend who lives there did an exceptional job in making sure I took the time to celebrate life!
That trip was such a great lesson for me. It drove away the guilt of smiling again; of being able to celebrate without her. My grandmother was such a vibrant Spirit. There are so many memories that I hold dear. Her life left me with far greater than her death took from me!
Friend, you can enjoy the holiday season, and honor your loved ones in how you navigate through life. Everyday is a precious gift from God. Take a moment (Activity Insert), inhale and then exhale. Those were literally two gifts from God. We should not have to have a ventilator experience to recognize all of our many blessings connected to just breathing.
Remember the “Why” for Christmas. Jesus is and should be the Reason for the Season. After all, His Name begins the holiday- CHRISTmas. There are so many Special Ways to incorporate past traditions and create new ones. Allow your memories of loved ones to bring smiles as you make a conscious effort in having their fingerprint throughout your festivities.
Here’s some ideas to have a Merry & Christ-centered holiday that will be enriching to family and friends:
🎁 Share the Story of Christ’s Birth
🎁 Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus
🎁 Adopt a Family and provide a meal
🎁 Adopt a Child and provide a gift
🎁 Visit a Senior Center or Nursing Home
🎁 Have everyone pitch in for the dinner planning
🎁 Mix it up, who says it has to be a dinner, and who says the menu has to be traditional?
🎁 Play Family Games
🎁 Create a Gathering Theme
🎁 Take lots of pictures and videos
❤️ Make sure the entire family eats together and create a Family Tradition that allows the Adults and Children to interact
Friend, you will always have moments of missing them, but it does not mean new moments cannot be created to honor them. We can actually choose to laugh, again as we reflect on them and what they would be doing &/or saying during this holiday season. Remember, Jesus Christ’s birthday should be a time of rejoicing. He is the Greatest Gift, and we have been given the Gift of Life!
What do the “Missing You” do for Christmas? They remember who deserves to be celebrated in all Seasons of their lives! They choose the Joy of the Lord over sorrow. They function from a grateful place and make the effort to move beyond their varying emotions. They realize how they honor their loved ones by living a life poured out and remaining thankful!
Divine Work & Pray:
Work:
Jot down in your journal what you are grateful for and include things taught to you by your loved ones who have transitioned.
Pray:
Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your Name in all the earth. You are worthy to be celebrated daily. During this Christmas season, help us to be mindful of our honor towards You. There will never be another gift greater than You. In a season, where the pain of loss grips some, use us as vessels to reach out and spread cheer. Thank you for being so present and continuing to show that we are never alone. Thank You for the time that you have given to us with our loved ones, may their lives be honored by how we live our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.
The Gift of God’s Healing Builds Us to Walk into Unimaginable Places!
Healing is not only an Act of Wholeness in God, it is also a gift that allows us to experience the dunamis power of the Father. It is a miracle bestowed upon us to keep the most powerful thing- the first thing. It will never share position with what hurt you; betrayed you; nor broke your Spirit! Too often, we think about the ability to do acts simply from our human being status. However, as Spirit beings, there are characteristics that align with who God is and what we are able to carry out through Him.
Let’s look more at the Gift of Healing that was given to us. Do we really delve into the thought of God giving you a Gift? Do we take the time to understand that there is No Lack in anything that God gives us. Take it off the shelf with anything else. There is no tragedy or injustice that trumps being able to experience complete healing!
The perspective that God gives us concerning healing goes beyond a fleshly understanding. Every time that we hold on to hurt, we allow ourselves to be re-injured. It is like voluntarily signing up to fight a heavy weight champion, with no protective measures. The Healing of God, it protects our heart. Not from a place of never being hurt again; rather it does not allow the offense or trial to take permanent residence in our hearts!
Saints, we continue to miss our shout! Matthew 15 speaks of a Canaanite woman who petitions Jesus to heal her daughter of her demons. Many will harp on the initial response of Jesus, but if we remain mindful of there being no unfairness or ill-will in Him, like the Canaanite woman did. We will be able to keep the first thing first- the healing of her daughter, not a possible offense. Going for broke in faith and how we approach God can truly cause Him to take notice. Her posture of humility as she knelt and her desperation as she asked in spite of…is really a great example on what we often forfeit by holding on to what attributed to our hearts being broken.
I would be remiss, if a light was not also shed on Healing from Loss. There are 5 Stages to the Grieving Process: Denial , Anger, Bargaining , Depression, and Acceptance. I share them not to expound on them, as much as they are written today to say that it does not end there. The Healing of God will help us to triumphantly get through each stage. We try to do so such in our own strength. When it is really the joy of the Lord that is our strength. If Grief is given an unending status, it robs God of the Glory and the potency that His Word has over our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” It then goes on to say in verse 4, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” God does not intend for us to stay in Seasons indefinitely. The Master orchestrates a plan for us to be able to move through the ebbs and flows of life with grace and obedience.
I bring this power of the pen moment to a close talking about pivots that Believers must be prepared to make through this Journey. David and Joab have a powerful exchange in 2 Samuel 19, after being told that David’s son, Absalom is no longer with them. David was reminded of his responsibility in the midst of mourning his son. The natural inclination is to think, that it would be insensitive of Joab to belt out such a statement, but spiritually, when souls continue to be on the line- God can and will require acts of us beyond our human ability. I propose to you the thought of God knowing just how encompassing His Healing is; our Sovereign God knows the Work of His Wholeness. From the View of God, nothing shall be impossible for us to carry out when it comes to His Will being manifested!
Divine Work & Pray:
Work:
Jot down in your journal some areas you feel like have not been healed, because you are still holding on to hurt & loss. Identify areas that God has healed you in and what the process took for you to get to that place in Him.
Pray:
Father God, to the One who is able to rescue; set free; and make me entirely over. Thank you for allowing healing to be my portion. It is a feast that continues to give substance and life. Your healing allows us to remain laser beam focused on what You are doing in the earth realm. Keep us mindful of the responsibility and accountability to have Your ear. I remain in awe of Your care, love, & provision. You have healed wounds that once bled out on others. Oh, but now…we get to share that there is a Balm in Gilead! In Your Matchless Name, I pray. Amen.
To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️
Girls Trip Gone Right- We are Stronger Together!
Recently, I was invited to join a dear Sister/Friend for her milestone birthday out of the country, with her friends. I do not typically take Girl Trips with people I do not know. However, a welcomed exception was made for this jewel of a woman! I do not remember ever inviting her to anything that she has not made arrangements to support.
Where did the original trepidation come from, you may ask? Well, if anyone has gone on a Girls Trip with people whom you know and it was met with challenges, envision being around people you have never met and wondering if your personalities would gel. It really got me to pondering on how much we could miss out on, because we have allowed a past experience to be cemented in our hearts in a permanent marker instead of written in pencil, so that it can be replaced by a better one.
The Honoree implemented some wonderful means for us to transition into a trip that will go down in the history books as, “A great time was had!”
Here are some Transitional Tools for a great Trip:
•Create a Group Thread
•Host a Virtual Meet up before the Trip
•Share Travel Arrangements for Travelers to arrive and depart together
•Increase the excitement by sharing an Itinerary
•Share Videos concerning the Travel Destination
•Create some Theme Days for Attire & Unity
The Honoree came out of her own comfort zone to pull off her Birthday Excursion. She had sister/friends in mind for who she would invite, but she did not know if their schedules would permit, or even if they would agree to go out of the country. There is something so beautiful about God placing things on your heart and through obedience, not only you, but the ones who participate get a chance to experience the wonderful and rich fruit of that decision!
Each day built up an exceptional encounter with eight women! The early morning risings to get dressed; the late night chats and laugh ‘til you cry moments; and even the first time activities that were planned to get us to authentically experience the island.
This Girls Trip dispelled and debunked the thoughts that many have about women getting together. Not one day of cattiness or offense. Each guest made a concerted effort to be mindful of the group dynamics and respecting each other. Our love for the Honoree took front and center.
I believe what was birthed out of that trip were hearts that were open to the possibilities outside of our comfort zones. I was compelled to write a blog on the experience, because often times, what makes the headlines are the Drama-filled, Housewives Reality television trips! Phenomenal Girls Trips should not only be shared, but also more actively planned and pursued!
Some of the phenomenal decisions made concerning the trip:
•Selecting an Air BNB option to have less restrictions concerning your stay
•Water Excursion w/ a Tour Guide
•Photoshoot at various landmarks
•Bonfire
•Restaurants on the Marina
•Experiencing the native food
Finally, to those who may still have some reservations, here are some tips specifically for you to have a most enjoyable time:
•Be open to change
•If you want to sit out for one of the outings, respectfully share and refrain from complaining about it being too much to do. *Remember, everyone is experiencing different things all in the same space
•Make an effort to socialize and get to know one another
•Be intentional about decreasing the stress level of the Guest of Honor
•Be respectful of the time share- from communal space to even conversations
I end this Blog, giving a Huge Bouquet of Thanks to the fabulous Guest of Honor, Reebs for pulling off a magnetic and exhilarating Girls Trip! You showed the beauty in women getting together and celebrating one another! Reebs, you did that!
Divine Work & Pray:
Work:
Jot down in your journal some challenges you have had with Girls Trips and how it has impacted your view on them. If you have never experienced one, are you inspired to do one? If so, jot down some names and get to dialing.
Pray:
Father God, there are so many things that we can learn about your growth process by availing ourselves. May past experiences not hinder us from the beauty of new ones. Your Word tells us to “fight to keep the unity of the brethren.” Your Living Word also tells us that, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” Thank you for the opportunity afforded to us to be our Sisters’ Keepers. We are stronger together. May connections that are rich in love, favor, wisdom, and understanding be our portion. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️
What’s in a Conviction?
Conviction is a gift! Hear me out- we will always divinely go places with the conversation. The Word of God says, “He chastens those whom He loves.” -Hebrews 12:6 It is the love of God to correct His Own. Conviction is a safety measure and Act of Love for the Believer back to the Father. He left us with the Holy Spirit to lead us in all Truth.
We do not fully consider how much of a blessing has been bestowed upon us. Fathom the thought of life before Christ. Not all of our actions were thought to be sinful or missing the mark.
At times, we felt our actions were justified. The blessing is in Him making us over and being able to walk in the awareness of what truly pleases God. Conviction may not feel good, but it is a barometer gauge to share when we veer from the narrow path.
Years ago, I remember being met with the term “narrow-minded” from a place of honor and not a term denoting a negative connotation. The Word of God speaks of us remaining on the narrow path, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” -Matthew7:13-14 It started me to thinking, there has to be a mindset to keep one on a narrow path. Thoughts and actions that speak to keeping one on a path that is less traveled. Narrow-minded thinking is aligning with the ways of God.
A Conviction should be met with great circumspection, instead of only seeing it punitively. The Word says, “He chastens those whom He loves.” As a Good Father, He allows us to experience His displeasure when we are one of His children. Before someone reaches a reprobate mind, they have received grave warnings to not only refrain from the act, but also turn to God. He has endowed us with a strength that allows a righteous life to be our portion.
What’s in a Conviction? A hope to do an about face to please the Father and remain on a narrow road that will lead to Him. Remember, ultimately Conviction is a Gift of Grace and Mercy!
Divine Work & Pray:
Work:
Jot down in your journal how you feel when convicted. Are you finding that your level of conviction is not as potent as it once was, in the past? How is your relationship with God impacted when you veer from the narrow path?
Pray:
Father God, your love for us goes beyond what we deserve. Thank you for chastening those whom you love. Our mission is not to continually break your heart. You have empowered us to please you. Our hope is found in you. You have entirely changed our appetite. May your righteousness engulf us and settle our Spirit to live a life that keeps us on the narrow path. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
When God Hides You in Plain Sight!
Attention, Attention…Calling all Single Saints to the floor! Have you ever considered why God would shut down access to you? Have you ever thought about the Greatest Matchmaker of all time hiding you in plain sight? Have you questioned the length of time since your last “get acquainted” season? These can be some of the most sobering and pondering moments.
God is strategic and timely. He can have the two of you live in different countries; know nothing about one another; one misses a flight and ends up having lunch in the same restaurant that you were awaiting your flight! He bumps into you by accident and the rest is his & her story.
It is more than a fairytale or cinematic encounter. Take the limits off of God for how that first meeting will unfold. There is a misnomer that often brings about an anxiousness with Believers, because people comment about them never being able to find anyone because they are always in church! That statement is waited with carnality and unbelief.
I believe a question should be introduced to this conversation of feeling the need to “put yourself out there.” Do you believe that God is involved with two meeting and eventually saying, “I Do” or is it left up entirely to the two individuals? Does His assignment for your life also factor in who you become One with?
The Bible has extraordinary examples of the triumphant and debasing connections between interested parties. Abigail had the wherewithal to run out to David to plead for the life of her husband Nabal, to spare his life. Joseph protected Mary from public shame concerning her being with child, prior to them being wedded. We also see the consequences of wrong connections! Samson’s eyes were captured by Delilah and the very same eyes were gouged out by him connected with whom God did not intend for him to be with!
One of my most treasured stories to continually glean from is the life of Esther! The story far exceeds her title as Queen! There are profound Truths in Esther that speaks to her making for the assignment. JJ Hairston has a song entitled, “Bigger.” The thought is often to believe that Bigger will involve material things, but I challenge you to expand your scope of what Bigger is in God!
Esther faced the loss of both parents, but God is Bigger! Esther is uprooted and placed in a new place to start over, but God is Bigger! Esther finds herself in a year long purification and beautification journey with many others before one would be chosen by King Xerxes, but God is Bigger! Mordecai has a talk with Esther that abruptly brings to the forefront her Assignment! An Assignment that had her by-pass what was customary and could have endangered her life, but God is Bigger!
One of the Hebrew meanings for “Esther” is to be hidden or concealed. Beloved, God hid you… for such a time as this! He hid you because He was purifying and preparing you. He placed you two in incognito-mode, as He refined you both for the Assignment. God’s Time is far beyond any calendar; far beyond any perceived time-sensitive expectation. What an amazing visual of seeing two become one and take on an Assignment from God that Saves a Nation! God’s Plan is so much Bigger than we can ever imagine! Just as Esther was hidden in plain sight, there is a day coming where you will no longer be hidden! God will say, “Look up, it is time!”
Divine Design Work & Pray:
Work:
If you know, Jot down in your journal the Assignment God has shown you concerning your life.
Pray:
Say a prayer concerning God’s Plan in relation to the Assignment. If God is showing you marriage, take the time to pray for him/her in advance. Pray beyond your desire to be One. Pray for their soul and their strength to accomplish what God has intended for them.
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 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.