Yearly Archive

Jeremiah 1: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”  8And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” 17 “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.18 For see, today I have made you strong… 19 They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

God has created each of us with a distinct purpose.  He knows us and still loves us and has set us apart to do His Will in the earth.  So, our role is to listen to Him.  We follow His prompting.  We fight with His Word and we obey what He says to us.  And, we win. Circumstances do not dictate the outcome.  Every time we are obedient to God’s direction, we are victorious!

Psalm 95:3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods

When waiting on the manifestation of our needs/desires, the devil will attempt to cloud our minds with a dissatisfaction of God’s timing and His handiwork. The devil will attempt to cover up or make us forget about all the wonderful things He’s done and magnify the things that hadn’t happened yet. While you’re waiting on the promises of God, praise God for all the wonderful things He’s done in your life. Praise God for the ways He’s made and the situations He’s helped you with.

Be Blessed!

Love like God. Learn about God. Live out loud for God.

Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Salvation is our first priority.  But, after salvation, we should build such a relationship with God that we fall in love with Him (because He first loved us, 1 John 4:19).

And because we are so in love, we sacrifice our fleshly desires (to live for us) to our spiritual desires (to live for Him).  So, let us commit to worship God with ourselves daily!!

A person is not saved because they go to church.

A person is not saved because they read their Bible.

A person is not saved because they speak in tongues.

A person is not saved because they pray all day.

A person is not saved because they give their tithes and offering in church.

A person is not saved because they don’t get intoxicated.

A person is not saved because they abstain from sexual immorality.

A person is only saved when they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. A person is saved if a person declares with their mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9). The things that were previously mentioned are simply what saved people do.

For example, a professional football player works out, eats right, studies film, and gets much needed rest. Just because an average person works out and eats right doesn’t make them a professional football player. Only a professional contract with a team makes them a professional football player.

As time goes on a saved person will learn to do the things saved people do but, it’s a day by day process.

So…

For those who are newly saved, don’t stress yourselves out trying to do everything on the list above in one week. Everyday make an effort to do God’s will: )

AND

For those who are already saved, don’t criticize/judge others who are not “acting like Christians” in your mind because we are all still a work in progress.

Be Blessed!

John 6: 26Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

Our daily purpose is to live for God.  When we obey God, he blesses us, just as a parent would spare no expense for the betterment of their children.  But, God’s role in our lives is not that of a genie.  We should not come to Him to see what He can do for us.  We come to Him seeking what He has for us to do, and as we honor Him, we’re blessed (Luke 11:28)!!

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].

Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”–and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Iniquity is that sin(s) that tempts us the more than others. Some of us are tempted towards fornication, drugs, or adultery more than others. We all have a tempting sin. Iniquity is a sin that usually comes down from previous generations.

For example, John’s father and grandfather were alcoholics. The next thing we know, John becomes an alcoholic. Some people call it a generational curse but, the Bible calls it iniquity.

To be delivered from iniquity we need to be washed by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin, iniquity, and unrighteousness. This doesn’t mean the desire to sin disappears but, through the blood of Jesus we now have a choice to give in to our iniquity or not. We forsake our iniquity by renewing our minds with the word of God. If our thoughts don’t line up with the word of God, we must remove those thoughts and replace those thoughts that line up with God’s word.

For those who are having challenges with sins ranging from lying to homosexuality you can be delivered by the blood of Jesus and the renewing of your mind.

Be Encouraged!

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].

Transgression is when we sin against another person.

For example we may lie to someone or we may deceive someone of what they truly deserve.

God wants, willing, and is waiting to forgive you of ALL your transgressions. Do it today.

Psalm 71: ¹⁴But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

No matter the circumstance, we hope and we praise.  We never give up because we know that we serve an awesome God and we have the victory regardless of what we see now (Deuteronomy 20:4).  Praise God!!

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].

Sin is when we deliberately go against the word of God to please our flesh.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  We not only have to confess our sins to God but, Proverbs 28:13 tells us to forsake our sin as well.

For example: If we got drunk. We must confess our sin of getting drunk and not do it again.

God wants, willing, and waiting to forgive you for ALL your sins. Do it today.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually,

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Psalms 46:10 God says, “Be still and know that I am God.

We begin with salvation, but we live by our greatest sources – our connection with God:

1. Prayer – This is how we communicate with God.  We acknowledge, thank, confess, and request during prayer. We are instructed to pray without ceasing, or ask God to consistently intervene’ (Fred Price, Jr.).
2. The Bible – When we speak with God, we can use His words to ‘remind’ Him of who He is or what He promised.  The word is God (John 1) and God cannot deny Himself (Numbers 23:19).  So, when we use God’s word when speaking to Him, He has to follow through (Numbers 14:17).
3. Quiet Time – God’s communication with us: Just as we listen to people during a conversation, the way we hear God is to take time to listen.  He gives us joy, peace, instruction, purpose and more when He speaks to us.

2 Timothy 1: ⁸ Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.

⁹ [For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

When God manifest something great in our lives we don’t have to hide it in shame. We should openly give thanks and praise to God for what He’s done. When God delivers us out of the mess we place ourselves in; be vocal and tell God THANK YOU.

Some of us seem to hide some of the things God has done for us. When we’re in public settings, we seem to hide our thanksgiving to God. Some of us seem to be ashamed to pray over our food in public. We have no reason to be ashamed. God has been too good to us for us to be ashamed. The very fact He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins should be a reason enough to say thank you. Don’t be ashamed, be vocal!

Be Blessed!

Luke 18:1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

Mark 14:1 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.”

Psalms 46:10 God says, “Be still and know that I am God.

Prayer breaks barriers and moves mountains.  We pray to thank God, cast our cares and concerns to God, and to intercede for others.  We worship Him in adoration and humility of such an awesome God’s love for us.

But, the other component that is often forgotten is listening.  Just as we listen to people during a conversation, the way we hear God is to take time to listen.  If you do not already, challenge yourself (even set a timer if needed) to spend some set amount of time daily doing nothing.  Do not dwell on the thoughts that will attempt to crowd out His voice; ignore the notifications on the phone – just be still and give God an opportunity to speak.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

The only fight believers have to fight is the fight of faith.

How do we fight the fight of faith?

We fight the fight of faith by holding on to our faith in any and every situation. The devil is constantly attempting to place situations in our lives to make us lose our faith. Our job is to hold on to our confession of faith. Our job is to continue to believe what God’s word says no matter what the situation looks like. Our job is to trust God to the very end.

Hold on to your faith and don’t let it go.

Be Blessed!

Matthew 10:  ³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

If someone asked you do you represent the Kingdom of God by believing Jesus is your Lord and Savior in a corporate/public (non-church related) setting?

What would you say?

Would you say…

1. None of your business.
2. I don’t discuss religion.
3. Maybe…why?
4. Boldly answer Yes I do.

If Jesus was standing in front of us when someone asked this question, most of us would choose answer “D.” However, since we can’t physically see Jesus standing there some of us may not automatically choose answer “D due to the environment.” Whether you believe it or not, Jesus is always there.

Never forget or be ashamed of Jesus, the One who did and is doing so much for you as you read this.

NIV Psalm 19:12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

We can sin in two ways:

(v. 12) Hidden Sins: we may sin without realizing it because we have not yet learned or been convicted of it (human err).

(v. 13) Blatant Sins: when we knowingly do what is wrong we are rebelling. Continually doing this separates us from God (although He is always there waiting for us to repent and commit ourselves to Him).

We open ourselves to God’s authority, ask forgiveness for those hidden sins, admit when we miss the mark for known sins, pray that God keeps us from these rebellious sins, and take action to not allow ourselves to fall into the same sins (Ephesians 4:22-24).  Praise God for the opportunity to get it right!!

Deuteronomy 8: ¹² Lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses and live in them,

¹³ And when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all you have is multiplied,

¹⁴ Then your [minds and] hearts be lifted up and you forget the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage,

We’re on our best behavior when we’re standing in faith or believing God for something we need or desire. We pray and read the Bible daily, we attend all the church functions, and we even watch church on TV. We do our best to impress God so that we can receive our blessing.

Once God blesses us, things start to change. Our church attendance drops, we replace our prayer time with pointless conversations on the phone, and church TV is replaced with reality TV. It’s kind of like we got what we want so we’re done sucking up to God.

We continue to live this way until another need or desire enters the picture.

God deserves better than that. When He blesses us with our needs and desires that should be even more reason to praise and worship God. That should be even more reason to do all the things He commands us to do.

I’m guilty of this one myself but, I had to change. Be a consistent Christian; by living your life always wanting to please God. The only change we should do is for the better.

Be Blessed!

2 Timothy 1: ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

As God’s people who have received His Spirit (John 14:16, 17), we are different now.

1. Because God’s Spirit does not make us fearful, we choose to cast our cares on the Lord and trust Him. (Psalm 55:22)

2. Because God’s Spirit gives us power, we recognize and declare that we can do all things though Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)

3. Because God’s Spirit gives us love, we choose to love to others even when they seem undeserving. (1 John 4:12)

4. Because God’s Spirit gives us self-discipline, we submit our mind, bodies, and souls under the authority of God. (James 4:7)

Praise God for the gift of His Spirit!!

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

When it comes to faith, there’s a difference between believing and trusting God’s word.

A person can believe all the miracles God performed in the Bible but, they may not trust it can happen to them. So they try to do it themselves instead of relying on God.

A person can believe and know God is capable of supplying their needs but, they may not trust His timing or method. So they go into debt by charging their needs on credit cards.

A person can believe God can heal them but, they may not trust God to make them whole. So they sulk and have a defeatist attitude regarding their current health condition.

Trust in God and don’t worry about anything else. He loves you and He will take care of you.

Be Blessed!

1 Thessalonians 5: ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Galatians 6: ⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

When that person cuts you off, curses you out, speaks negatively of you, breaks your heart, or does anything against you, pray positively for them.  Not a threat type of prayer, but a prayer for their salvation, revelation, and blessings.  For, we sow what we reap, and think of the abundance of blessings can we reap for ourselves by blessing those that persecute us.  So, before we rise to anger, instead we choose to pray and sow a positive seed for ourselves in the process of it.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

God uses the law of giving as a way to prevent selfishness. If we never gave (time, money, efforts) to anyone, we would be selfish and never show anyone the love of God. Our desire should be to grow in love and not in selfishness. If God could give His Son, how much more should we give ourselves for the Kingdom of God and the people of God?

Be A Blessing!

Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.

God already owns all the silver and the gold on the earth.

Q: So why would God demand us to give our tithes and offering (that He already owns) back to Him?

A: It’s for our benefit.

God uses our obedience through tithes and offering as another way to bless us. In Malachi 3:10-12 God gives multiple ways in how He will bless our lives because we give. God wants to see us blessed but, we must be obedient.

Be Blessed!

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Each new moment is an opportunity to start over.  God gives us an opportunity to repent, and start in a positive, new direction.  Praise God for another chance to get it completely right and live unwaveringly for Him!!

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Men- When we put God first in everything we do; He will direct us in finding a good wife. Not only will He direct us in finding a good wife but, a perfect wife for us according to James 1:17.

Women- If you are married have confidence in knowing you are a good and perfect thing. Don’t let your husband or the status of the marriage dictate how good you are.

*** The key to a happy marriage is submitting ourselves to God. When we submit ourselves to God it’s easier to submit to each other. I’m not saying it won’t take effort to manage a marriage however, if husbands and wives continue to put God first all marriages can be blessed.

Be Encouraged!

Psalm 55: ¹⁶ As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. ¹⁸ He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! Praise the LORD!

1 Thessalonians 5: Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

No matter the circumstance, right in the midst of pain, joy, loss, gain, throughout every life experience, praise God.  He is faithful.  He is awesome.  He is perfectly amazing and although He more than deserves our praise regardless, He rescues, saves, and claims us.  Praise God!!

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

Be Vessels

In order for God to do immeasurably more in our lives, it will have to be done by His power that works in us. This means we must be vessels for God’s power. Stop and ask yourself am I being a vessel for God?

Receive The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the source of the power that works in us (Acts 1:8). In order for God to do beyond great things in our lives, we must receive the Holy Spirit. We can be saved and considered Christians but, not receive the Holy Spirit (read Acts 19:2-4). Ask yourself have I received the Holy Spirit?

Check yourself because you don’t want anything to hold you back from God’s best.

Be Blessed!

Acts 17:²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

God is God alone.  He cannot be confined.  He needs nothing from us as He is the source of everything good.  But, just like any great parent, God wants us to love Him.  So, we give of ourselves (time, willpower) to God, and He is such an incredible source and God that He gives back to us.  So, whatever we need, we seek God knowing that He is the source.

^{Romans 13:8} Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

^{Luke 16:}11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?

It’s not God’s plan for His people to be in debit or struggling financially. God’s plan is that we are to be the lender and not the borrower. We are to be abundantly blessed in every area of our lives so that we can be a blessing to others.

We want the nice car, nice house, and nice clothes but, some of us won’t put in the work to have them debt free. We may buy a new phone or new clothes instead of paying the rent, electricity bill, or car note. We have to get our priorities straight.

For those who may be struggling financially and are in debt, seek Godly counsel in where your finances are concerned. Proverbs 1:5 says A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.

Let’s be the debt free people God has called us to be.

Be Blessed!

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service”

A living sacrifice is when we as people of God commit to doing things God’s way. A living sacrifice is when we say “NO” to the flesh. Daily we sacrifice to our flesh. We say “NO” to all the temptations the devil throws our way.

A living sacrifice unto God refuses drugs and alcohol on those Friday and Saturday nights when our friends are going to the club. A living sacrifice resists the temptation of premarital sex when our body desires it. A living sacrifice shows kindness, compassion, and love in the face of those who treat us unkindly.

When we sacrifice ourselves unto God others will be inspired to do the same.

Be the inspiration for others.

Acts 17: 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

God created us.  His purpose for us was that while living this earthly life, we would search for and find Him.  He’s right there waiting for our attention – not that He needs it – but He loves us so much that He wants it.  So, find life, meaning, and the best love ever in God.

Romans 3:22 says We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. That happens to all who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:30 Because of what God has done, you belong to Christ Jesus. He has become God’s wisdom for us. He makes us right with God. He makes us holy and sets us free.

We are only made righteous through the love of Jesus Christ. We can read the bible, pray, go to church; pay our tithes all the time but, that does not make us righteous. Doing all those things is what righteous people do.

A righteous person willingly pays their tithes. They willing pray and read the Bible. They do all the right things because it pleases God.

Praise God for Jesus who placed us in a right position to be righteous in the eyes of God.

Be Blessed!

We should speak to God throughout the day. But, when we sit down for our time of prayer, this method be a guide through what to say. This is not the only way to pray, but it helps when you’re not sure where to start.

ACTS
Adoration – acknowledge who He is (1 Chronicles 29: 10b “Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Confession – acknowledge who we are and obtain righteousness (1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.; James 5:16b The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Thanksgiving – Thank Him for everything good (James 1:17a Every good and perfect gift is from above)
Supplication – Making requests known to God (Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.)

^{Isaiah 3:10} Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

This is not the first time in history where the world is affected by the economy. In fact, the Bible documents famines in the land. We often here pastors and ministers say that there’s a recession in the world but, it won’t affect the Body of Christ. Isaiah 3:10 gives these pastors and ministers the confidence to make that bold statement to the congregation.

God decreed through the prophet Isaiah it will be well with the righteous. When God decrees something, we can be assured it will come to pass. Even if the situation doesn’t seem well, trust God to know that ALL IS WELL.

But…… you have to be righteous.

Be Encouraged!

Ecclesiastes 7:16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time? 18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

We should exercise submission to God with a balance of humility in our abilities and full confidence in His.  When we fear God, we operate with power and authority (Luke 10:19, Proverbs 18:21), but we balance that with love and grace (John 13:34).  Praise God that we fear Him!

Philippians 3:¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Many of us are living our life in the past and we’re not thinking about the future. We tend to focus on negative memories instead of positive dreams. We should spend more time concentrating on our God inspired dreams and less time on things that should have been. Get inspired by God’s word to obtain dreams, desires, and all the promises God has for us.

Be Blessed!

Hebrews 13:¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

God called us to love and be a blessing to others. In this verse God directly called us to help the orphans and widows of the world.

Everyone wants to wait until they become millionaires to help those in need. The truth is we can start right now. We can start by giving $1, $5, or $10 to organizations that assist and help those in need. For those who don’t have money to spare, we can give our time by volunteering for these organizations.

When we make things happen for others, God makes things happen for us (Ephesians 6:8).

Be a Blessing!

Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.

When we truly love someone, we do things that make them happy.  We unselfishly find ways to show our affections and appreciation for them.  When asked, “do you love God?”  It is automatic to respond, “yes.”

So, since we profess to love God, let’s find ways to unselfishly make Him happy.  Let’s fear Him; let’s evaluate our actions – what we say, where we go, what we dwell on – to live in a way that pleases Him.  So, let’s go beyond a holiday and live to love God!

^{Judges 16:26} Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.”

When Samson’s eyes were blinded by the Philistines, he had to blindly trust a boy to guide him in the right direction. Logically, a person would wonder how Samson trusted anyone at all considering all the punishment he went through. At the end of the day Samson trusted the boy to lead him

Just as Samson blindly trusted the boy to guide him in the right direction, we should blindly trust God to guide us in the right direction. We may not know when, where, or how’s He’s going manifest our blessing but, we trust God. It may seem like nothing is happening or changing in our life but, we trust God.

Don’t think about it, just trust Him.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Be Blessed!

Philippians 3: ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

We do not do things because ‘we feel like it’, or ‘it makes us happy’ or because ‘we want to’.  We do things to honor God.  When we honor God, we position ourselves to be blessed.  We go beyond the vanity of the flesh, and we operate in the more powerful, spiritual realm.  So, we choose to think about our actions and allow God to be the judge as opposed to allowing our flesh the authority meant only for God.

Genesis 3:17-19 – “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both THORNS and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground.”

Thousands of years after Adam sinned, Jesus Christ, the second Adam, was taken before the religious and political authorities to stand trial as a fraud and a heretic. On the way to Pilate, as they were mocking Jesus, “All hail, King of the Jews,” they saw a THORN bush –the symbol of the curse of poverty on the land. They took some of the THORN branches, wove them into a crown, and placed them on the brow of Jesus until the blood flowed from His head.
The symbol of poverty was placed on the brow of Jesus, the second Adam. When those THORNS pierced His brow, He shed His blood for our redemption from poverty.
We were cursed with poverty by the sweat of Adam’s brow, but we were redeemed from the curse of poverty by the blood on Jesus’ brow.

Now, by the power of the blood of Jesus, not only is the curse of poverty broken, but those who take the name of Jesus and claim His blood are anointed to prosper.

By Albert Finch

Be Blessed

Deuteronomy 10: 13 And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

Obeying God shows our love, respect, and priority for God. But God has given us certain commands because He knows what actions produce the best outcome. Just as you keep a child from burning their hand on the stove and instead redirect them to kinesthetic or learning toys, God calls us to obey to steer us away from sins that lead to destructive outcomes and to instead lead us to the prosperity that comes from obedience (Deuteronomy 28). Praise God for being such a great parent to us!