What Are You Wearing?

Posted on September 30, 2017 by #4GIVEN

Ephesians 4:24 says, “Clothe yourself with this new nature.” Ok, what is a ‘new nature’ and what store carries this clothing line?! Well, Paul isn’t referring to clothes you wear rather the contrast to the “old self,” and the result of being transformed by Christ, is to “put on the new self.” Billy Graham said, “In Texas they tell a story about a man who used to hitch his horse every morning in front of the saloon. One morning the saloonkeeper came out and found that the horse was hitched in front of the Methodist church. He saw the man walking down the street and called out, “Say, why is your horse hitched in front of the Methodist church this morning?” The man turned around and said, “Well, last night I was converted in the revival meeting, and I’ve changed hitching posts.” That’s what it means to be born again. That’s what it means to be converted. It means that you changed hitching posts.” May we live in such a way that all people will know that we are bound in the freedom of God’s love in Christ!

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It’s Your Call🗣

Posted on September 29, 2017 by #4GIVEN

There were three brickmasons working on a project. One day an Inspector (Jesus) inquired about what they were doing as he made his inspection. The first brickmason said, I am laying bricks, The second brickmason said he was building a house. The third brickmason said, I am building a magnificent cathedral for God. What’s the point? The first brickmason was focused on completing the job (got to get paid) and the second brickmason was focused on his career. But, the third brickmason was focused on his calling. God brings out our greatest when we greatly pursue our calling. Tony Evans said, “Your calling is the customized life purpose God has ordained and equipped you to accomplish in order to bring Him the greatest glory and achieve the maximum expansion of His kingdom. A divine calling is always intended to bring about God’s glory—to fulfill His kingdom agenda. Therefore, to follow your calling is to live in such a way that God’s kingdom is put on display for all to see (see Matt. 5:14-16).” In the parable mention above the third brickmason was not motivated by a paycheck nor was he only focused on becoming a foreman. He was painstakingly focused on fulfilling God’s kingdom agenda. As a member of God’s kingdom, we don’t have to settle for a mundane life. Rather, we have a divine calling from the Creator of the universe to glorify Him through our life and to advance His kingdom agenda.
#SoliDeoGloria

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Burned Out🤦🏾‍♂️?

Posted on September 28, 2017 by #4GIVEN

One reason we have a tendency to burn out is because we allow crap to pile up in our lives. We become emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted. Exhaustion can lead to depression and different kinds of spiritual warfare. Prophet Elijah experienced this type of burn out in I Kings 18-19. At the height of his ministry, confirmed by many miracles, he felt so hopeless that life no longer made sense to him. He told God he wanted to die and he laid down under a tree and went to sleep. However, as referenced in the scripture above, an angel woke him up and told him it was time to eat and get moving. Remember the lady with an issue of blood mentioned in Luke 8:43-48? Sometimes we have press to our breakthrough and other times when the burden is insurmountable God wants us to simple surrender it all to Him (I Peter 5:7). If you feel depressed and don’t have the will to go on, look up. Talk to your Creator, the God of the universe. Tell Him everything – all of your fears, your anger, and why you want to give up. Not only will He understand, He can restore you and over time give you a way to get through it. It begins with trusting Him day by day. Remember, He doesn’t give us strength for tomorrow, today. He gives us strength for tomorrow, tomorrow! Don’t quit! Take things one day at a time.

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WE NEED YOU LORD

Posted on September 27, 2017 by #4GIVEN

Lord, I humbly submit myself to you today with open arms and a heavy heart. Lord as you know the divide is on the rise in our nation. I asked that you would fill every heart, mind, and spirit with your divine love, peace, compassion, and strength. Lord, I can go on and on but I know that you’re not blind nor or you deaf. You know exactly what we need even before we ask! Therefore, we pray that our hearts would learn how to rightfully seek and fear you. We bow before you, acknowledging you as Lord and Savior of our lives, praising you for your might, your sovereignty, your power, your strength, your mercy, and your justice. We thank you for your unending love even when we are undeserving. We stand in awe of you. We surrender our hearts, lives, and affairs to you. We put you first, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

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PROMISE IN PERSECUTION 

Posted on September 27, 2017 by #4GIVEN

It’s important to remember that a servant is no greater than his Master. If they persecuted Jesus, the world will also persecute us (John 15:20). Jesus reminds us in John 16:33 despite worldly persecution to be courageous because He has already conquered the world! Look at this way, at some point in your life you will be persecuted and it doesn’t matter if you STAND or KNEEL. We are living in the last days and things are gonna get much worse before it gets better. This is not a ‘woe is me’ attitude, rather it’s a biblical attitude! Having said that, there is promise in persecution; a silver lining if you will! Jesus said in Matthew 5:10, “ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

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Step Up and Step Out!

Posted on September 26, 2017 by #4GIVEN

What is God calling you to do? Most people are reluctant to step out by faith because of their lack of faith in believing they can accomplish what God is asking them to do. Well, I got good news for all of us today. (Read 1 Corinthians 1:27-29) None of us are 100% qualified however, when God Calls, He also Equips. When God Calls, He Enables. When God Calls, He Provides. When God Calls you, He qualifies you. When God calls us, He equips, provides, qualifies & enables us. God will never call us and then abandon us to figure things out in our own strength. So if God is calling you to do something, step out by faith and do not second guess yourself- take the first step and do what God is calling you to do. God will always provide the skills, ability, direction, wisdom, strength, and resources you need to carry out His will, plan, and purpose! 

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Getting Back 2 The Basics

Posted on September 25, 2017 by #4GIVEN

At some point in life we all need to get back to the basics. Vince Lombardi and John Wooden, both legendary coaches would start each season with this principle in mind. Lombardi would say with slow clarity, “Gentlemen, this is a football” and Wooden would teach his players to how to correctly put on their socks and shoes. How basic can you get?! When we begin reading the Bible, we start with the bedrock; “In the beginning”! God the creator and man is the crown of His creation both figuratively and literally! It’s imperative to understand the rudimentary meaning of why we exist. We exist to know God and to make Him known. We are called to serve and to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ; our bedrock! Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
#GettingBack2TheBasics

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Our God is Unstoppable &Undefeatable!

Posted on September 24, 2017 by #4GIVEN

Who can STOP the Lord almighty?! No one! He has never and nor will He ever be defeated! Therefore, it doesn’t matter how bad something looks or how much pain you endure in this life; you will always come out blessed & victorious because our God is VICTORY! HE IS UNSTOPPABLE! AMEN, HALLELUJAH AND GLORY TO HIS NAME!! 
Have a bless #SONday everyone!

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He Is The Breath That We Breathe!

Posted on September 23, 2017 by #4GIVEN

Writers Jason Ingram, David Leonard, and Leslie Jordan was touched by God when they penned these words to the song entitled “Great Are You Lord”: ‘You give life, You are love, You bring light to the darkness. You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken. Great are You, Lord. It’s Your breath in our lungs. So we pour out our praise. We pour out our praise. It’s Your breath in our lungs. So we pour out our praise to You only.’ Amen and Hallelujah!!!

We should be thankful for every breath we take.  Each gulp of air is a gift from God and an extension of God.  Every breath is a reminder that God desires for us to ENJOY life and to PRAISE Him.  I cannot help but believe that this has been His intention from the beginning.  The wind we feel and the air we breathe are perpetual reminders of God’s goodness and love.  For these ongoing reminders let us all give THANKS!

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Jesus is Always There!

Posted on September 22, 2017 by #4GIVEN

No one has experienced greater difficulty than our precious Lord Jesus Christ. However, because He endure we too can endure also. Believe or not there is no difficulty in life that is stronger than Jesus. The fact is Jesus doesn’t always give us a perfect peace and calm at the very moment that we’re pouring out our heart to Him during difficult times; sometimes the peace and calm comes much later. But you must rest assure that, He will bring us His peace and resolution in His timing. You can face your hard times with courage because Jesus promises to be with you. He said in Matthew 28:20b, “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Whatever you might be faced with today remember this; there is no burden that He didn’t carry, no sorrow He didn’t bear, and whether the days be sunny or dreary Jesus will always be there.

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