4GIVEN

Irrevocably, I have been crucified and resurrected in Christ. Undoubtedly, I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The Message paraphrase of Galatians 2:20 is spot on and it reads, “What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.” Simply put, I can’t “out-do”what Christ did. Personally, I mess up (sin) everyday and thanks to the revelatory conviction of the Holy Spirit, I learned (“way back in the days of old”) that I could never stand before a Holy and Righteous God alone! Therefore, I surrendered my life to Christ and I have no plans of backpedaling on that decision!

#HeLivesInMe

#HeLivesInYou

God has dropped several DM’s, IM’s, emails, texts, and voice mails to get your attention but you often fail to acknowledge or respond until something in your life is turned upside down. Beloved, you can’t truly hear nor identify God’s voice if you don’t spend enough time getting to know God’s voice. God is not a shouter; He is a whisperer. When He commanded us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing ((communicate to Him regularly)), He is simply desiring to hear our ((voices)) so that we can distinctively and intrinsically learn His voice amongst the plethora of voices that stream in minds! So the next time you believe that God is ignoring you perhaps you need to check your SPAM and JUNK mail. “The LORD waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait [RESPONDS TO] for him to help them” (Isaiah 30:18).

If someone or something has broken your heart make note: the best Way to heal a broken heart is to give God all the pieces! I Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Charles Spurgeon reminded us that, “There are many sorts of broken hearts, and Christ is good at healing them all.” God is the only Physician who can fully heal a broken heart, and He has never failed in his ability to heal. QOTD: Have you ever experience worshipping God with a broken heart?? Well, if you haven’t you need to certainly try it because sex, drugs, nor alcohol can do what God is able to do in the crux of your pain. You see, worship places your pain in its rightful place — under the reign of an already victorious Father! So today, let your heartfelt praise and worship remind you of God’s great love and absolute sovereignty, and let these reminders bring healing to your broken heart. I have heard it said, “Worship is a balm for even the deepest of wounds!”

”Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” Hebrews 12:2 MSG

To all my peeps that like to hold grudges; take a look at The Message Bible’s paraphrase of Matthew 6:14 and Jesus said, “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” Charles Stanley said, “If there are those we have not forgiven when we ourselves pray for forgiveness, then practically speaking we are asking God not to restore a right relationship with us after we sin. To emphasize the importance of restoring broken relationships with our brothers and sisters, Jesus states that asking for God’s forgiveness for one’s own sins, all the while withholding forgiveness from someone else, is not only bizarre but hypocritical.” Point being, it’s impossible to walk with God in true fellowship if we can’t walk in true fellowship with others and not to mention it’s just irresponsible to experience God’s forgiveness for yourself and not extend that same forgiveness to someone else! BTW, being the best you consist of forgiving others for committing the same sin you do. Our relationships grow stronger when both are willing to understand that we are all imperfect people living imperfect lives and we are all beings perfected in Christ (Phil 1:6).

Are you living your #bestlife or your #blesslife? What’s the difference?” We often see people’s ‘best life’ displayed on social media (e.g. I can’t believe how beautiful Jamaica’s beach is! I just bought a brand new car! hashtag #livingmybestlife.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating a meaningful event. But what’s the real motive? Is it genuine, or is it a subtle way of showing off? A “humble brag?” I have yet to see a post on Social Media that says, I can’t pay my light bill! I can’t pay my mortgage!! I was diagnosed with a ________! Hashtag #livingmybestlife.

The difference between the two is trusting that regardless of how hard life gets, we are still blessed despite our trials, situation, and/or circumstance! Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

The “living your best life” philosophy is nothing more than the old “power of positive thinking” lie repackaged to scratch the itching ears of the current generation. If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior, our best lives await us in heaven where we will spend eternity in joy and bliss, enjoying a life which is far better than the “best” we could have now.

#BeBlessOnPurpose

God said I don’t want to be forgotten. I want to be remembered. It has always pleased the Lord for people to remember Him. Throughout the Bible God has reminded His people not to forget Him. In a hundred different ways the Bible says, “Don’t forget God” 1 example is written in Jeremiah 2:32. So today remember not to forget about God’s word, God’s worship, and God’s warnings! Trust me when I say that it’s never us waiting on God to respond—in most cases, it’s God waiting us to comply to His response!

#FACTS

Our lives may not be ‘perfect’ and we may not possess ‘all’ that we want but one thing is certain; God has promised to supply all our needs according to the glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Therefore, we share in Jesus’ suffering in order to share in His glory (Romans 8:17). Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow weary in doing the ‘right’ thing because at the ‘right’ time we will reap a harvest of blessings. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that propels us to praise God past our pain, heartache, fears, and disappointments! The prodigal son may have squandered his inheritance but we too often, squander our faith during life’s uncomfortable uncertainties and unexpected difficulties. However, if all you have is a mustard seed of faith—that’s all you need! So I encourage you to continue sowing because you will always reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow. Praise God because our latter will be greater for our good and God’s glory!!! Amen and amen!!

Who doesn’t love a great comeback story? Well, Tiger Woods lost his wife. He lost his reputation. Then he lost his game. It seemed like something was missing. The cool invincibility under pressure disappeared.

He was no longer winning major tournaments. Then he lost his health, going through multiple back surgeries. Few — and I mean very few — thought he would ever win a major tournament again but the Lord penned something different.

God’s upper story always manifests greatness and that’s why Easter is infinitely the greatest comeback story ever.

Jesus Christ came back from the dead when majority of the world back then doubted His return!

This Sunday, we will celebrate the fact that we have a risen Savior.

The resurrection of Jesus is not a fairy tale. It was not a vision or a myth. He didn’t just “rise in the hearts” of his followers. No, Jesus really rose from the dead, literally and physically! And, it doesn’t stop there—not only is He risen, He is also coming back!!

Therefore, if you don’t know much about Jesus Christ, start out by attending an Easter service this Sunday morning.

I’d like to personally invite and challenge you to go to any church that preaches the truth of God’s word. I promise you one thing, if you open your heart and give God an opportunity, your life will be forever changed!