4GIVEN

When we look at life in terms of years we lessen the significance of our days. David said in Psalms 39:4, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.” I am 41 years old that means, I have lived 14,965 days. The question is how many days do I have left??? C.S.Lewis wrote, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour whatever he does, whatever he is.” So today remember tomorrow ain’t promised; make the most of today….today! Don’t wait till something happens or a celebratory event take place to live, laugh, forgive, and love! Don’t leave any unfinished business on the table! Deferred obedience can be very costly! 
#TIMEISTICKING

Indian author Ritu Ghatourey once said, “In happy moments, praise God. In difficult moments, seek God. In quiet moments, worship God. In painful moments, trust God. In every moment, thank God.” Look at this way, there’s always a reason to praise God. So today, remember when you are submerged in horizontal problems, lift your voice to shuttle up vertical praise and watch our God allow you to re-surface better, stronger, and wiser!! 
#GIVEHIMPRAISE

Generally, the people who live a more fulfilling life rejoice about the things they already have and they typically don’t complain nor worry about what they don’t have. 
Hebrews 13:5 says, “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”  
THANK YOU JESUS FOR THIS WORD RIGHT HERE!!
#amen

In Phil 4:12 Paul declared that he “learned” the secret (power) of contentment. The fact this was a “learned” discovery tells me that he struggled with NOT being content (envy, jealously, self-pity etc.) Denis Waitley once said, “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street I met a man who had no feet.” The secret (power) Paul cited he learned in v12 is found in v13; “I can do all things through Christ that gives me strength (power).” So today remember the power that dispenses contentment (patience and humility) derives from Christ alone. There areNO substitutes! 

MAKE A DIFFERENCE:An average 40 hour work week (x) 4.33 weeks (Average weeks in a month over a 12 month period.) =173.20 hours worked per month.

24 hours per day (x) by 7 days (x) 4.33 weeks=727.44 hours per month. 

An average of 7 hours sleeping (x) 7 days (x) 4.33 weeks=212.17 hours per month.

DO THE MATH: (approx) 173+212=385/727=53%
That means on average we are only spending 53%of our waking hours with our families.
#makethemostofeveryhour

#HMD2015

C.S. Lewis said, “I cannot learn to love my neighbor as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him” Let’s be honest; how can we really learn to love our neighbors when we don’t even know our neighbors. I am the world’s worst bc I like my cubicle. God created us in commUNITY with the TRINITY so that we can live life in commUNITY with our brothers and sisters in CHRIST. Unity is achieved when we circumvent prejudices, demographics, social classes, ethnicity, and plain ole stupidity. We can’t allow these vices to stand in the way of what God commanded us to do. So today get our of your cubicle and open the lines of communication with one or more of your neighbors; God just might use you to be a blessing to them and/or vice versa! When you search the HEART of OBEDIENCE, you will always find LOVE! 

  
Samuel Ulman said, “Years wrinkles the skin, but a lack of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” What a powerful quote! How many Christians out there are beaten, weighed down, and burdened with life trials, headaches, and disappointments? Too many! I have seen 20 year old Christians that look twice their age and not just because they sport a beard. The problem is a lack of enthusiasm, empowerment, and encouragement. Jeremiah 29:11 is prolly the most memorized but least lived out verse in the bible. Here’s the deal, if God promised it, He will do it! His word (promises) will never return insufficient, void, or undeliverable! His Email, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook inboxes never goes unchecked nor unanswered. So today don’t loose that loving feeling, God got ya back and He loves you. He has already demonstrated that He does because despite our sin condition and our sinful nature….Jesus died/rose for us! (Romans 5:8) 

Reggae artist Admiral Tibet is most noted for his hit smash entitled ‘Serious Time’. He penned in his opening hook, “Time is so serious, cantankerous and dangerous. Is only in the Father, you know I put my trust.” Time is the world’s greatest wasted commodity. Oxymoronic, right! Jesus spent the first 10,950 days of his life in carpentry and He was left w/approximately 1,095 days to complete God’s will, plan, and purpose for the redemption of all humanity. I have set through a barrage of training in regards to maximizing time. However, Jesus is our greatest example of ‘how-to’ really taking care of business. The Creator of time knew the importance of time. Therefore, He didn’t waste time doing what He knew needed to be done. So today follow Jesus’ lead by investing your time in things that really matter. Paul in Ephesians 5:-5-17 put it this way, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  

When money is wired, transferred, and/or direct deposited there is always a waiting or processing period. In other words, the money is yours but you gotta wait until the transaction has been verified in order to access it! Hypothetically, we can look at forgiveness in light of this same process. There are too many Christian that seek God’s forgiveness but refuse to forgive others. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (MATT 6:14-15) Now then, replace ‘money wire’ with forgiveness. When the request is made it too goes through a processing or waiting period whereby God determines your eligibility to access your forgiveness. Yes, all of our sins are already forgiven however, in order to access it you must also forgive others. So today, let it go! Hating them is killing you! The bible is clear; in order to be forgiven, you gotta be a forgiver! 

ICYMI: The ‘pity party’ is officially over. We all experience bad days, sleepless nights, stressful weeks, and seasons of inclement disappointments. However, if you are reading this message that means you are a survivor. There’s no power in sulking in past pains! The power derives in praising God through the pain and then rejoicing after the pain because it was His strength that helped you overcome the pain. When Elisha’s servant woke up the next morning and saw the # of horses and chariots the pain of fear engulfed them but Elisha prayed for them saying, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.” (2Kings 6:17) I don’t know what pain you are dealing with but I do know the Reliever of pain and He is able to remove the pain or help you to endure and overcome the pain! So put your FAITH where ur PAIN is and remember you’re survivor and not a victim!