Seasons Change

Summer happens to be one of my favorite seasons. Aside from the smothering heat and mosquitoes, I enjoy the summertime. There are many reasons why I prefer summer over the other seasons and most of these reasons stem from childhood memories. As a child, I enjoyed playing outdoors with family and friends. I enjoyed being able to go for a walk and feeling the sun on my face. I enjoyed going to the beach and spending all my time building sandcastles with my friends. As simple as these reasons may seem, they bring me joy every time I reflect on those memories. Those simple memories have the ability to make me feel calm and help to put things in perspective. 

In the book Songs of Solomon, chapter 2, verses 11-12, these scripture references the seasons and the renewed awareness that they bring. The previous verse, v.10, begins with, " Rise up..." This was a call for action because, in order to fully appreciate what is going on around you, you have to rise up or wake up from your slumber. The next verses detail what to take note of. One of those things is, in v.12, "The rain is over and gone, the time for singing has come."

In our lives there are different seasons, there are times that bring sunshine, like summer, and then there are times that bring dark clouds, rain, and a depressed state. I encourage each one of you to know that, that season is not going to always be the state of your life. It is for only a time, it too shall pass because it is just a season.

When that season is over, acknowledge that it is over by rising up, taking note of what was and what is to come. I want to go a step further and encourage you to speak God's words of hope even in the midst of a bad season. Sometimes you have to go through it to get to the place God wants you to be.

"To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." - Ecc 3:1

God bless you!

Taste and see that the Lord is good... Psalms 34:8

     Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalms 34:18

       One of my favorite fruits to eat in the summer time is watermelon. I love the taste, the texture and how refreshing it is. I think it's the best fruit to eat on a hot summer day.
       Since I know the taste of watermelon, I've become knowledgeable about what it does to me and how it's good for me and how it make me feel. All this knowledge I've acquired not only through experience but through looking up the benefits of the fruit as well.
       Similarly, can we give the Lord God, our creator, the creator of heaven and earth, the same

Motivational Monday - Look... God

Happy New Year! New Years Resolution - Trust in God

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

    Happy New Year to each and everyone of you! I pray that this year brings positive changes, spiritual maturity and growth, knowledge and understanding in the things of the Lord, blessings beyond measure and so much more!

    Every year that approaches, you will find that this is the time people want to make drastic changes in their lives. They have a bunch of goals and dreams they want to accomplish each year. But how many of us follow through with our goals? How many of us actually are successful in accomplishing these goals? Statistics show that we rarely accomplish all of these goals however we accomplish a few or some of them.

    This new year, 2014, I urge you to make resolutions concerning your relationship with the Lord. I urge you to

Motivational Monday - Let the past go, look toward your future. Psalms 103:12

Motivational Monday 

        The past is the past, let's leave it there! As much as we would like to leave our past behind, the devil will always find a way to remind us of it. If it was up to him, we would be wallowing in our own self pity, depressed and hopeless. But God. God has redeemed us of our sins and has cleansed us of our sins and past mistakes once we accepted Him as our Lord. There is none of us who has not made mistakes in the past. Although some may be more detrimental than others, mistakes are still mistakes.
       God does not look on our sins and use them against us. Only the devil does. In Psalms 103:12, it states, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Can we fathom the distance from the east to the west? Or try to fathom the multitude of sin God has removed from us in order to make us brand new, cleanse us and to become the people He has called us to be?
       Let's walk into our destiny. Don't look behind, look forward because your future is more promising than what the Lord has in store for the devil. Be encouraged.

If this has motivated or inspired you, share this with a friend. God bless you!

Be strong and of good courage... Deuteronomy 31:16

Motivational Monday!

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

       The words of God will live forever and ever. What He said to His people then, He is saying to us now, if we would just follow Him.

      These words are repeated over and over when He was speaking to the Israelites because they needed encouragement, they needed to know that God was with them regardless of

And let us not grow weary while doing good...Galatians 6:9

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9

Good morning brothers in sisters in Christ! I just want to encourage you to continue to do well, continue to plant seeds of kindness in people's lives and to continue to do good. 

The scripture says to not get weary in well doing. God knows sometimes we will get tired and may not see the point in doing well that's why the scripture continues by saying that "for in due season we shall reap IF we do not lose heart." There is a condition under which we will reap our due rewards and that is if we do not lose heart. Therefore, we can not give up, get tired or feel

Progressing continuously in Christ

Happy new year everyone!

I know, I know, I'm quite late. I do apologize. I pray that in this year and the many more years that God blesses us with, that we will continue to grow in Him and be more Christ-like. I pray that all your dreams, hopes, desires come true this year and the years to come. Just put them before God and He will surely grant you the desires of your heart. Have faith in Him.

As a new year approaches, of course many of us will make resolutions. These resolutions are sometimes be based on things we may not have accomplished in previous years that we would like to accomplish this year. Or we may be inspired and have new goals and dreams. But imagine for a minute having

Forgive others so that God can forgive you. Mark 11:25

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

NIV: And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Jesus taught us to pray and many know the prayer by heart. This was a format of how we should pray to our Heavenly Father. A crucial part of our prayer should entail asking God for forgiveness. We may not take into account the sins we commit in a day, the little "white" lies we tell, the stoplights we run, or even the people we hurt with our harsh words. There are so many things we may do that we may not remember and it's only when we reflect on our day or on our sins that we may realize where we went wrong. However, we may do little things that are so much a part of us that we may see no wrong in what we do, but the Father in Heaven does, therefore, to cover us in a sense, we ask for Him to forgive us of our sins.

The part of the prayer Jesus taught us that speaks about forgiveness comes with a condition."And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..." This condition clearly states and we clearly state, if we pray this prayer, that we want God to forgive our sins, just as

Stop Procrastinating. Act! Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Proverbs 13:4

We all probably know someone who talks a good game but when it's time to walk the walk, you find out there's nothing to all the things they said. It could be that we too, want so many things and plan to have this and that but never act upon those things that we want.

What this verse says plainly is that the soul of a lazy person wants, but has nothing; but the soul of the hard working person shall be made fat. Therefore, don't just crave things, you have to work towards them. It's not enough just to want something because wanting alone leaves you with nothing. You have to work towards the things that you want in order to make them a reality or in order to get them. 

If you find that you are lazy,

Pressing towards the mark Phillippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 3:14

We all have goals that we try to achieve and there's no better time for new goals than the beginning of a new year. I usually have a long list of things I want to do like "read more books, eat right, exercise more etc. etc." At the end of the year, I like to look back and see what I was able to accomplish fully, in part or not at all. The ones that I didn't accomplish are usually added to the other years list or I just take it off.

What if there was a goal that had to roll over with every new year? A goal that you had to keep striving towards until achieving perfection? What if this very goal was perfection in itself? Do you think it would be attainable? Do you think you would be able to achieve it in a year's time or would it take you longer?

Jesus said we ought to strive for perfection so that

Give thanks to the Lord... Make known his deeds among the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16: 8

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16: 8

     Ever had someone's testimony change your life or just propelled your walk with Christ to the next level? Well, it has happened to me and that is why testimonies are so important. Some people feel more willing to share than others but when you can share in detail or not so much detail what God has done in your life, it helps others a lot! 

     We must give thanks and let other people know what our Lord is capable of and what He has done. Praise His name!

God bless you!

I will give thanks to You forever! Psalms 30:11-12

      

11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalms 30:11-12

      Have you ever been a place in your life where the circumstances you were going through were too much to bear, it seemed, but God was able to turn your sadness into joy and your heartache into happiness? Sometimes it's only when we look back from where God brought us that we are more thankful, therefore we cannot keep silent and MUST praise Him.

      I've often heard that persons who have a greater testimony often have a "crazier" praise. It reminds me of the woman with the alabaster box Luke 7:36-50. Jesus told Simon a story about 2 person who owed a moneylender, one owed a greater amount than the other.  Neither could pay him back so he told them to forget about it. Jesus then asked Simon, which one of them would love the moneylender more. Simon replied correctly by saying that the one that owed more. 

      When we've been through a lot in life like the woman with the alabaster box had been through, and our sins are forgiven, the love and gratitude that we have for the Lord is one that is sincere,  one that in overwhelming and brings us to tears whenever we think about it.

      Jesus said "Whoever has been forgiven little, loves little." So imagine if you have been forgiven a great number of things, your love should be great. 

      In this Psalms, David says that He will give thanks to the Lord forever! That should be our constant state of being, a state of gratitude. The mere fact that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners is enough to not be silent and give Him praises forever. 

An attitude of gratitude, this season and forever. 

Pray, be watchful and give thanks. Colossians 4:2

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

      This is some good advice to us as believers. We must continue to pray, being vigilant and thankful. Prayer connects us with our heavenly Father so that communion can take place. Let's be vigilant of the things around us, knowing that the time is near and waiting for Jesus' return. Let's be thankful in all things, in all circumstances as this humbles us and molds us to be more spiritually minded.

     We are reminded of this throughout scripture. Let us take heed and apply it to our lives. 

May God's blessings be upon your lives brothers and sisters in Christ.

In everything give thanks, for it is God's will 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

      No matter what you are going through, give thanks to God. There is always a ray of light or a glimmer of hope in any circumstance when we are believers of the Lord. That ray of light is God Himself, because He will deliver us, even if we have to suffer a little while. When I think about the persecution the early believers went through and the fate of some of the disciples, the things that I go through means nothing because there is no way my afflictions can compare to theirs. My heartaches can never compare to that of Jesus' when he had to be put to death in order to save our souls. 

     Paul tells us that giving thanks is the will of God in Jesus for us. God wants us to be thankful to Him. He wants us to remember Him when we are so consumed by our troubles. He wants us to keep our faith fixed on Him when everything you trust fails you. It is His will that we are thankful in Jesus. In Christ Jesus meaning those who know the teachings of Christ, those who live by the teachings of Christ, those who are in Christ, this is the Lord's will for you. 

     The Lord wants us to be grateful and thankful in whatever circumstance. He wants us to be happy. Let's remember His word, when we are confronted with trails and different afflictions. Let us give thanks through it all.

God bless you!

You are my God! Psalms 140:6

I said to the LORD: “You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. - Psalms 140:6

       Sometimes we have to declare to the Lord where we stand with Him truthfully. In this Psalm, the declaration of  "You are my God!" signifies that there is no other god I worship or I have faith in to answer my prayers than the Lord All Mighty! As believers, we know this to be the truth, we know this to be fact and when we walk with God, we in turn have to declare our faith in Him.

      Our Lord is the only one who can give ear to our supplications and answer our prayers.

Meditate on this scripture today and declare to the Lord that He is your God, the one who listens to you when no one else does and the one true God who is able to answer your prayers like no other god can.

Be blessed.

Be anxious for nothing Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Philippians 4:6

      I get anxious sometimes to the point where I get sick. It interferes with my sleep and it's sometimes the only thing on my mind. Has anyone ever felt that way or experienced anxious symptoms? Let me tell you, it is not a good feeling. I have to find ways to calm myself and one way is reading scriptures that remind me that nothing is worth being anxious about - nothing. But with everything, prayer, supplication and thanksgiving are the mediums by which we can let God know what we want and we have to trust and have faith that He will take care of it. 

     Throughout scripture God reminds us

Forgetting those things which are behind...Phillippians 3:13

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Phillippians 3:13

      Paul states that he does not count himself to have apprehended or grasp fully all the things that Christ asks of him.  However one thing that he knows for certain that he does is forget those things that are behind him and strive for those things that are ahead.

      It's hard to move forward if you are stuck in the past. It's hard to strive for perfection if you continue living in the past where you were not so perfect, which is the story of Paul and so many of us. Paul knew that in order to move forward to do those things that he set out to do after being convicted, he could not keep bringing up the past, he had to forget the past.

      Remembering the past ills, actions etc is not conducive to progress. Forgetting them and having your eyes on what is ahead and striving for those things is what is. 

    May God strengthen you on your journey to forgetting the past and reaching for those things that are ahead. God bless you. 

There is no want to those who fear Him Psalms 34:9

Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. Psalms 34:9

       Every so often, there's news about the world's economy and how we are in a recession. This news can be depressing for those who do not know the word of God. It is clearly stated here that although there is a recession, God's holy people, those that fear Him, are not in a recession. His holy people will have no lack of anything that they want. I like that this scripture did not say, "there is no need" but "there is no want for those that fear Him." Which means that God will not only provide what we need but also those things that we want! 

      This great news is directed at God's holy people, His saints, those that fear Him, those that obey His commandments. People that fall under that umbrella will hear the depressing news about a recession and rest assured that they have nothing to be worried about nor fear. Amen!

      Be strengthened in the knowledge that God will provide our every want and need. Bless the Lord! 

If this has been a blessing to you, share it with a friend or anyone. 

God will keep you in perfect peace...Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

      These were spoken in truth and faith that the Lord would do those things. These words were spoken from experience with this practice of keeping one's mind stayed on the Lord and trusting in the Lord. Have you ever experienced perfect peace? Have your mind been so focused on God that no matter what you have gone through or what were going through in your life, you still had peace? Well the people who Isaiah spoke of in this scripture were able to. They had peace, they relied on God and put their faith in Him because they knew that was the only way to be. 

     Whatever you are going through, there is perfect peace in the Lord when you keep your thoughts on Him and trust in Him.

      Let us meditate on this scripture and apply it to our lives. It truly will bring us peace in chaos, peace in grief, peace in heartache, peace in whatever situation you face. May the peace of the Lord be with you.

If this had been a blessing to you, share it with someone. God bless you!