#Transformation

Posted on September 7, 2018 by #4GIVEN

Fueled by rage, hatred, anger, resentment, self righteousness, and pride Saul began his road trip to Damascus (Acts 9) with chains, handcuffs, and punishment in his hands! Now, the distance from Jerusalem to Damascus is approx 150 miles. So, traveling by foot, the trip would have taken Saul about two weeks (give or take a few days). Bear in mind, that’s 4 weeks (1 month) round trip to persecute Christ followers. Saul thought just as Jesus taught his disciples that he was offering a service to God (John 16:2b). This is America……So many people are protesting, fighting, hating, and going out of their way to preserve their hidden agendas and to protect their false realities. However, there will come a time of celestial clarity and we will all see much more clearly! Similarly, our plans like Saul’s plans of persecution will be interrupted by God’s divine plans of transformation. Saul’s conversion teaches us that God is able to completely transform a person’s life when they truly believe in Jesus and not in false ideologies, misguided perceptions, and misdirected agendas.

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Get Ready…..God is Doing A New Thing!!

Posted on September 6, 2018 by #4GIVEN

Heads up!

God is doing a new thing in your life so prepare and brace yourself for your blessing and/or breakthrough. Isaiah is 43:19 says, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” I get it….whenever God begins to do a new thing in our lives, it can sometimes feel unsettling and uncertain. We have a tendency to start believing the lies of the world, people, Satan, and our own flesh. At times it may even look like things are falling apart or even like you are being led into a desert place or in the wilderness. Yet, if you trust God and are diligent to listen to His leading and direction, you will find that God is getting ready to do something miraculous in your life and do exceedingly abundantly above what you can ask or think. What seemingly appears to be disorganization will turn to re-organization as God makes preparation for the new thing that He’s getting ready to do in your life! So continue to trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In everything you do acknowledged him, and he will direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-6)!!

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Chill Out aka Relax!!

Posted on August 30, 2018 by #4GIVEN

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” God is in no shape, form, or fashion suggesting that we become stiff, inactive, and shaddup! He is however reminding us that in every circumstance that He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), omnipotent (all-powerful), holy, sovereign, faithful, infinite, and good. Having said that, being ‘still’ simply means to ‘relax and let go’! When we relax (be still not quiet) and surrender (let go) to God, we find peace even when the earth gives way, the mountains fall (verse 46:2), or the nations go into an uproar and kingdoms fall (verse 46:6). When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, remember Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Cease and desist and run to Him, lay down your weapons and fall into His arms. Acknowledge that He is God and that He is exalted in all of the earth. So today, chill out and don’t forget the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had your back way before you drank similac!

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The Distinction….

Posted on August 27, 2018 by #4GIVEN

Many people fail to make a definitive distinction between repentance and forgiveness. The parable of the “prodigal son” (Luke 15:11-24) illustrates the process and meaning of “repentance” and “forgiveness”. Y’all know the story. The estranged son made his decision to turn away from his wrong-doing and to confess his sin with an attitude of contrition to his father. In verses 18-19, the son said to himself, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Then came the son’s actual change in direction (repentance) in his life and his confession (forgiveness) of his wrong-doing; in v20 “And he arose and came to his father….and the son said to him, ‘I have sinned….’” The son’s confession of sin was made to his father who had been hurt by his son’s bad behavior. Beloved of God, REPENTANCE is when the sinner admits what they are doing, with the intention of turning from what they did. When the sinner is truly repentant, they’ll admit what they did, acknowledge it was wrong, validate how it impacted you, and then ask for FORGIVENESS along with taking steps to correct the damage they contributed and on top of that, they do it in the spirit of humility!

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Do You Have Breath??

Posted on August 24, 2018 by #4GIVEN

The number one occupation in Heaven is praising God. John said in Revelation 5:1, “Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.” Webster defines the word praise as to say good things about and it is synonymous to words such as admire, commend, extol, honor, and worship. A definition of Christian praise is the joyful thanking and adoring of God, the celebration of His goodness, grace, and mercy! God is entitled to our praises because He is worthy, He is great, He is faithful, He paid our sin debt in full, He is our joy, He is our hope, He is our strength, He is our provider, He is a way maker, He is our healer, He is our peace, He is our bridge over troubled waters, and most of He is our Father! God is an all-perfect, self-sufficient being who does not need anything from us to be complete, but to praise him is the only appropriate response to his greatness.

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You Are No Mistake….

Posted on August 21, 2018 by #4GIVEN

You are not a mistake! Jesus didn’t bleed out and die for a mistake! You see, long before you we were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God. It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor coincidence that you are breathing at this very moment. You are alive because God wanted to create you! The Bible says, The LORD will fulfill his purpose for you (Psalm 138:8a NIV). God never does anything accidentally, and he never makes mistakes. He has a reason for everything he creates. Every plant and every animal was planned by God, and every person was designed with a purpose in mind. God’s motive for creating you was his love. The Bible says, Long before he laid down earth’s foundations he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…in love (Ephesians 1:4). In Psalms 139:15-16, David declares that God’s eyes were fixed on us not only when we were in the earliest stages of being formed in our mother’s womb, but even before we were conceived. The enemy, people, and this world may try to tell you something different. However, nothing in your life is arbitrary. It’s all for a purpose……you were born with purpose! So today remember that God never does anything accidentally, and he never makes mistakes. Be proud of who you are and more importantly whose you are!

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Words Matter!!

Posted on August 16, 2018 by #4GIVEN

There is no other way to slice it, ‘words’ hurt and although they may not break bones they do have the capacity to break hearts, provoke riots, and create division. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that WORDS MATTER in fact Solomon said, “Words can give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you chose.” Still on the fence about the power contained in a word? Well, Jesus put his power through words on display when he raised his friend, Lazarus, to life. At the time, Lazarus had been dead for four days. He had already started to stink, and all Jesus said to raise him to life was: “Lazarus, come out!” Three simple words led to a body being filled with life. Two, if you don’t count Lazarus’ name. In the moment where you’re aching and don’t want to be, a well-timed word has the power to set you or your offender free……it’s your choice so choose Godly!!

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Letting Go To Move Forward!

Posted on August 15, 2018 by #4GIVEN

Are you feeling stuck in life? Many people do. Sometimes we get so stressed out that it feels as if we simply cannot move on with our life. Feeling stuck in life can seem as if you’re not moving forward, even when you move. Life happens and the fact of life at some point we will all experience some kind of heart ache and/or pain. Yes, it hurts but the hurt only hurts to remind us that we are human. The second sentence is Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.” E.M. Forester said, “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” I get it, letting go is hard but Paul reminded us in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “That our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles!” At the end of the day you must realize, the only one that is holding you back is yourself. Do not fall prey to the mistake of focusing all your attention on people, problems, and pain. Instead focus and direct your energy on God’s provisions, promises, and power! The chains that binds you to the past are broken once you can look past the stress, pain, and regret!

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Salvation is intended for Everyone!

Posted on August 14, 2018 by #4GIVEN

Romans 10:12 confirms, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him…” In other words, we serve an impartial God. Therefore, Jesus’ message of grace, hope, and salvation is for everyone; His promises are for everyone; His kingdom is for everyone who believes. Titus 2:11 reminds us, “The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.” God doesn’t play favorites; it doesn’t matter your ethnicity nor background (Acts 10:34) God loves you, Jesus wants to save you, and the Holy Spirit wants to work in and through you!

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Let God Lead!

Posted on August 11, 2018 by #4GIVEN

Sometimes when we experience difficulties in life all we want to do is ‘fix it’ or ‘get through it’ as quickly as possible. In these moments, I am reminded of a chorus in a hymn written by Larnelle Harris, “It’s not in trying but in trusting. It’s not in running but in resting. It’s not in wondering but in praying that we find the strength of the Lord.” Trusting, resting, and praying are the pillars that will sustain us through the various storms and trials that we often endure! I have learn, the futility of striving so often leaves me frustrated, exhausted, and hopeless but thank God, His Holy Spirit steps into my situation(s) only to console, encourage, and assure me that I can and will find strength in the Lord when I let Him lead! The strength we need for daily living is only found in the Lord; not in no one or nothing else! Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and the last time I checked never means never!

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