4GIVEN

Oftentimes, people will forget what you say, they will forget what you do, but they will never forget how you made them feel! It’s imperative that we all treasure each of our earthly relationships because time is forever fleeting and we don’t know the day nor the hour of our last breath. So please don’t take life nor people for granted! We have but one life to live and love those around us!!

#BeBlessOnPurpose

Father God, not my will but Your will be done!! In Jesus’ name, amen!

God SAVED you because He loves YOU and there is nothing you could ever do to make Him love you any more or any less! His love for His children is deeper than any ocean and higher than the skies above (Ephesians 3:18-19). Therefore, above all else know that God’s love is the greatest; it’s amazing, it’s abundant, it’s all powerful, it’ comforting, it’s compassionate, it’s constant, it’s all consuming, it’s endless, it’s eternal, it’s extravagant, it’s forgiving, it’s sacrificing, it’s faithful, it’s gracious, it’s merciful, it’s peculiar, it’s healing, it’s holy, it’s immeasurable, it’s infinite, it’s indescribable, it’s incomprehensible, it’s kind, it’s gentle, it’s jealous, it’s limitless, it’s meteoric, it’s new every morning, it’s all encompassing, it’s priceless, it’s patient, it’s relentless, it’s reassuring, it’s reliable, it’s selfless, it’s steadfast, it’s unending, unchanging, unfailing, unconditional, and unstoppable!

We’ve heard it said, “Trials, storms, and test don’t come to stay; they come to pass!” Now this sounds good but when you’re going through one of those ‘valleys’ it’s not very pleasant. Who truly enjoys going to the dentist (no pun intended)? No one is thrilled to go to the dentist especially if they’re going in for an aching tooth, a root canal, or gum disease issues. (Ouch, I can hear the drilling as I write this devotional message.) Pain is a place we visit but we must remember it’s not our forever destination. We may never completely understand why God allows what He allows and that’s ok! Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” It is our sovereign God that is all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful not us!! And if we truly love God then we should always trust His goodness, His power, and His will to work out all things for our good in spite of the various trials, storms, and test we encounter throughout our lives. Just so you know, the fact that God works all things together for our good simply means God’s plan will not be thwarted; in the end God wins!! Remember Joseph in Genesis 37? He experienced plenty of trials, storms, and test: kidnapping, slavery, false accusations, wrongful imprisonment, rejection, and famine. But in the end God took what the devil meant for evil and brought things back to a wonderful, life-affirming conclusion. Undoubtedly, Joseph’s faith saw the light of God moving in his circumstances even though the only thing his eyes could see was darkness and

God blessed him and his entire family through those painful trials, storms and test! So today, remember faith isn’t a feeling rather it’s a choice to trust God even when you can’t see the remedy!

Let the CHURCH say AMEN!!

We each possess specific spiritual gifts, according to the grace given to each of us and God is calling all of us to use those gifts in accordance with our faith (Romans 12:6). Therefore, it’s incumbent for us to remember that God anoints and appoints certain people to accomplish certain tasks in building His kingdom here on this planet! Some of us are anointed with gifts that stand out while others receive gifts that are more private (like intercessory prayer). But the Spirit distributes different gifts for different callings to all types of people. For a variety of reasons, we become critical and jealous, leading to an attitude of arrogance and rebellion. Those bad seeds sow destructive fruits. People who eat that rotten fruit get sick and spread those destructive germs to many others. So let’s not covet our neighbor’s gift(s) and start exercising our own gifts. It doesn’t if you are holding a mic preaching in an auditorium filled with a thousand people or cleaning a stall in the church’s restroom; the glory God’s receives from your obedience is received all the same. Walter E. Disney said, “Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.”

I DECLARE it ain’t too late to accomplish everything God has purposed in your heart. The enemy is a liar, you have not missed the window of opportunity. God has moments of favor in your future. He is preparing you right now because He is about to release His special grace to help you accomplished that dream/vision. Don’t give up or give into doubt, frustration, nor aggravation. Remember God is faithful in keeping His promises. So today DECLARE His Word over every situation in your life and holdfast to your confession of FAITH. Be confident that God can make a way when there seems to be no way. Even when your mind begins to waver, don’t allow your CONFESSion of FAITH to waver. DECLARE that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf and for your benefit. You are the BENEFICIARY of every BLESSING He has prepared even before you were a substance in creation! DECLARE that He Who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it, DECLARE that your MIRACLES will GLORIFY CHRIST, and DECLARE GOD’S PROMISES over your LIFE TODAY!

“You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “ GOD, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because GOD ’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.” (Psalm 91:1 MSG)

”Not that I was ever in need, for I have LEARNed how TO BE CONTENT with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:11-12)

God has something great prepared for all of us! I Corinthians 2:9 reminds us, “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” God is “moving the pieces” of our lives with insight, forethought, and brilliance all for your good and His glory! Therefore, remember as followers of Christ our goal is not to come up with good ideas or plans, but to seek out God ideas and plans, and to walk in-line and in-sync with them!

Pray with me:

Father God, help me, Lord, to walk in the good works you have prepared for me. Help me to be open to all that You would have me do. Teach me to see my whole life as You see it. By your Spirit, may I come to see every open heaven moment of every day as an occasion to do good works—including good work—for you. In Jesus’ name Amen.