I am going to keep this real simple today. If you arevharboring resentment, bitterness, and anger towards anyone and I do me anyone, it’s time to let it go, exonerate or pardoned that person(s). In my sprirtual opinion, unforgiveness is one of those below the radar sins that go undetected for many years. Jesus was clear as crystal with His command in Matthew 6:14; “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.”

God’s recipe for forgiveness also includes you forgiving others and let me add that you must not forget to forgive yourself! I love what former atheist C.S. Lewis said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

You might be thinking that you can’t excuse the offense, infraction, or indiscretion and this is your reason why you refuse to forgive. Well let’s be clear, a.) forgiving others is a black and white command and b.) forgiveness does mean that you excuse the pain. However, C.S. Lewis offers an additional thought for you to consider or deliberate; “Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing. It does mean that you must make every effort to kill every taste of resentment [anger and bitterness] in your own heart.”

You never know, God might just be waiting on you to release someone’s debt before He releases a blessing you have been praying for Him to grant.

If any of this message applies to you and your situation I invite you to call, text, inbox, or meet that person that you have incarcerated and let that person(s) know that you forgive them no matter the size of the offense. If you can’t or you don’t feel comfortable reaching out then simple forgive them in your heart and in lift up that situation in prayer and guarantee you that God will always honor a contrite spirit!

“Harboring unforgiveness [resentment, bitterness or anger] is a heart condition that only true forgiveness can heal!!” Lowell Pinnock

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#4Given

Let’s be honest, it’s both tempting and attractively alluring to get sucked into getting all the ‘good [temporal] things’ this world has to offer. Who doesn’t want to live their best life? Romans 12:2 of the NLT rightly divides the word of truth. Paul said, “Don’t copy the behavior [conform] and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

The word “conform” comes from the Greek suschématizó, which means to fashion, pattern, or style after. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “to be similar or identical, to be in agreement or harmony with,” and to “act in accordance with.”

Most of us recognize the world is temporal, and those who chase after its finite pleasures and treasures can easily fall prey to its illusion and turn from what really matters: God and His holy kingdom.

In part two of this passage of text Paul said, “let God transform you into a new person.” The word transformed comes from the Greek metamorphóō, from the root words meta and morpho. Just like the scientific process of metamorphosis, metamorphóō means to change form, to become something new. Thankfully, our transformation isn’t dependent on science, rather it’s dependent on our choice to daily pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

Paul confirms this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17, ““Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Beloved of God, don’t get sucked in by the temporal bling this perishing world offers. The world desire for us to play the game of life, where we accumulate as many riches as we can and enjoy as many pleasures of the body and mind as we can. However, God’s Kingdom is calling us to put God first, to put others before ourselves, and to walk in honor, respect, and obedience to Him and His ways.

Do not conform; let God transform you!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#BeTransformed

Isaiah 43:19 says, “The Lord will make a way where there seems to be no way” and Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

When you combine these two power scriptures together you’ll find, the same God that made a way last time will make a way this time. God knows that our seasons of difficulties are not forever. With that said, there is no need to tread water in the middle of the waters thinking that it is your lot in life for all time. Do you remember Israel’s water obstacle in Exodus14:13-14, 21-22? Israel reached what appeared like a dead end and to add insult to injury, their enemy was pursuing them and closing in at the rear. But God made a way! They literally walked through the waters on dry land and continue progressing forward and let’s just say their enemies should have taken swim lessons….

Beloved of God, whenever you reach a dead end in life always remember that you too will get through because God is the One who gets you through and when you get through you will be changed for the better having gone through it! Charles Spurgeon put it this way, “The Lord will make a way for you where no foot has gone before. That which, like a sea, threatens to drown you will be a highway for your escape.”

If you made it this far in reading this devotional message, I invite you to read Isaiah 43:19 and Hebrews 13:8 again. It’s critically important for you to remember and abide in these two biblical truths everyday! God is not in the failing business! Everything He does is done for His glory and our good!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#NeverForget

I had someone recently ask me in response to one of my Be Strong FB campaigns, “What can an invisible and imaginary god do?? If god could help us we surely would not be controlled, divided and deluded… wake up and face reality.”

My non-apologetic response to this individual was that my reality is my God and my God is my reality. Furthermore, the goal of a Christian isn’t to strive for a trouble-free existence, but to better handle the ongoing nature of unexpected trials and unwanted circumstances. The basing of our goal on the solutions to our problems keeps us continually tied to their outcome. Christ came to teach us that our solution rest only to our salvation in Him. (Read I Peter 4:12-19)

Brothers and sisters, too often we go to God in efforts for Him to fix our problem(s) when all He wants to do is fix us first! When we learn from Him how to have peace regardless of our circumstances, then we can break free from our sufferings in spite of what is going on around us! Our relief and/or victory is not contingent on resolutions or rescues but on Christ alone!

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, He’s being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

When we experience sufferings James reminds us to count it all joy (James 1:2-4) Paul reminds us that Christ’s power rest on us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and Peter reminds us the Spirit of God rests on us during trials (I Peter 4:14).

At the end of the day, we all want peace and tranquillity, but while evil is still prevalent in our world we will have to take heart (courage) and continue to be strong (Joshua 1:9)! Which is why God inspired me to create the BE STRONG yard sign. GOD unequivocally knows that with Him on our side and as long as we stay connected to each other we will get through this TOGETHER.

The late and beloved Apologist R.C. Sproul said, “Jesus suffered for us. Yet we are called to participate in His suffering. Though He was uniquely the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, there is still an application of this vocation for us. We are given both the duty and the privilege to participate in the suffering of Christ.”

If you are broken, hurt, and need healing; whether it be physical, spiritual, mental, financial, or emotional, I want to encourage you to re-read Ephesians 3:20-21.

After Paul explained the mystery of the Gospel to this gentile congregation, he closed in prayer with these powerful reaffirming words; “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Boom 💥 look at our God!!! Who can do more than Him?!

Your assignment is to take every square inch of your brokenness, hurt, and healing needs to Jesus and when your done laying them at the alter of our all powerful-never failing God close your prayer with the same benediction and then place your trust in the only One that is able to do what you can’t do and not only that, He is also able to do more than you could ever possibly think!

I hope you are encouraged today and that God fills every empty void through the exceeding abundance of His amazing grace in your life!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#ExceedinglyAbundantly

Here are a few quotes I hope inspire you to create a new spiritual rhythm in your prayer life.

“Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God.”

“Prayer is asking God to align you with His will rather than asking Him to be aligned with yours.”

The value of persistent prayer is not that He will hear us but that we will finally hear Him. — William McGill.

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” Oswald Chambers

“Pray hardest when it’s hardest to pray.”

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.”

“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado

“The greatest battles are won when you pray.”

“God speaks to those who take time to listen, and He listens to those who take time to pray.”

“God hears our silent prayers.”

“When prayer becomes your habit, miracles become your lifestyle. Never give up on prayer no matter what comes your way.”

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Martin Luther

I don’t know which quote hit you the most, but I am here to testify that I am a product of prayer and I am convinced that prayer is a game changer. Prayer changes everything! F.B. Meyer once said, “The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.”

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#GodListens

I know that many of you reading this devotional will agree that as we journey through life, it seems like doors open for us that shouldn’t have and some close that we wish would have stayed open. However, it’s comforting to know, when God opens a door, no one can close it. In fact, no one opens or closes doors outside the will of God!

With that said, today I am reflecting on the door that God has opened. I feel in my spirit that someone needs to hear that God has opened ‘that’ door (you know the one you prayed for). Revelation 3:8 confirms, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”

You might ask yourself, “How do I know for sure if that is ‘the’ door that God opened?” Well, the door that God opens will never contradict His word (Isaiah 55:11) and it will always be accompanied by confirmation (Matt 18:15-16). I invite you to take your open door to God and ask for His confirmation – through His word and godly counsel from others – and His peace in the decision, and you’ll find the reassurance that you aren’t just walking through a door at random.

I can humbly submit to you that I don’t know what’s on the other side of that opened door, but one thing I do know is that God’s timing is perfect and when He opens a door, He’ll always provide a path to accomplish His purpose in your life.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#OpenDoors

It’s time for every Christian to start using their spiritual gifts and it doesn’t matter how big or small your gift is— every gift is needed to propel the weight of the gospel.

God has given us spiritual gifts for many purposes. Ultimately, all of these gifts have been provided to equip us to glorify God. The gifts of the Spirit were given “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect [complete, mature] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . speaking the truth in love, [that we] may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:12–13, 15).

Jesus is our perfect example; He exemplified all the spiritual gifts through the words He spoke and the actions He carried out. Since Jesus is now at the right hand of God the Father, the Holy Spirit is the primary manifestation of the presence of God on the earth. Thus our heavenly Father distributes the gifts of the Spirit among the members of His Body, so believers now glorify God through those gifts.

So what’s all the fuss and why do Many Christians not pursue or hoard their spiritual gifts? Topically speaking, perhaps many Christians don’t know what a spiritual gift is, they don’t know what a spiritual gift is not, or they don’t know what their spiritual gift is. If one of these reasons is true to you, I invite you to pray about it and trust me, God will reveal it you. Here’s on small hint in discovering your gift; your misery is your ministry.

As mentioned, it’s the Holy Spirit’s jobs to distribute the gifts and it’s out responsibility to pursue using those gifts. Jesus unapologetically admonished all of us to produce fruit. He said in John 15:2, “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”

Think about, how strong does your muscles become if you never exercise them. Beloved, I beg you not to allow fear and stature grapple your gifts. You don’t have to be a Pastor, deacon, or lead worship. No matter the size of Messure of influence, your gift is just as important!!

Think about it; if you’re not pursuing spiritual gifts, you’re handicapping yourself and the Body of Christ. I challenge you to figure out what’s holding you back so you can begin moving forward and don’t let the devil, fear, or people stop you! The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few (Matt 9:37)!! The body of Christ needs you!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#YouHaveAGiftToPursue

Charles Spurgeon said, “True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that — it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth”

Do I really need to remind you about the power of prayer? In Matthew 18:18-20, Jesus tells us about the power of prayer when he said, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Beloved of God, the power of prayer isn’t in the words you utter. It’s not about what you pray or even how you pray. Prayer can be defined as talking to God, but it is much more than that. Prayer is an act of worship that glorifies God and reinforces our need for Him. Through living a life of prayer, we communicate with the very source of and purpose for our existence.

I heard it said, “You better pray like you’re the third donkey trying board Noah’s Ark.” Ok, all jokes aside, God authentically invites, encourages, and desires for all of us to talk to him. We are invited to come to Him by faith, (James 1:5), with persistence (Luke 18:1), with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6), within His will (Matthew 6:10), and from a heart that is right with God (James 5:16).

My prayer for anyone who reads this message today is that with an open and humble heart communicate to God; tell Him everything and let Him in on what He already knows. 1 John 5:14-15 inspires and encourages us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him” (according to His will).

Jesus is at the prayer register; are you ready to tender your request(s)?

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

There is no need to debate; arrogance is in direct opposition to godliness because it exalts self above all, and especially, above God.

The story of King Nebuchadnezzar is one example of pride bringing a person low. When Nebuchadnezzar took credit for building his kingdom on his own, he was banished to the wilderness by God, living like an animal, and it wasn’t until he gave God the credit due Him that he was restored to his kingdom, saying: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37; Daniel 4:28-37).

Love is the opposite of arrogance because it exalts others above self. The life of Jesus exemplifies this. He came to serve and to give His life for others. Jesus told His disciples, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42–45).

Unquestionably, arrogance is clearly a sin, however I pray that we all remember that we can be strong, kind, bold, humble and proud without being arrogant or prideful (Prov 16:18). Our confidence comes from God, which means we cannot exalt ourselves above Him, as He is the source of all things good in our lives. “‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:17–18).

C.S. Lewis wrote, “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.”

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire