4GIVEN

In Genesis 2:1 we learned that God rested after His ‘FINISHED’ work. Now some may view the work of creation as to what was created in the prior six days however, I am of the spiritual discernment that God was also referring to the entire scope of His ‘FINISHED’ work including the redemptive work of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. When Jesus said, “tetelestai” or “it is FINISHED”, He was declaring victory. Like God, Jesus accomplished everything He was pre-purposed to complete in the beginning (Genesis 1:1)  Watch this, God had already fix the sin problem way before sin became a problem.  Jesus said, “I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17b-18) Look at it this way, what’s breaking news to us is always history to God. My point is, God’s plan to reconcile all of humanity was somehow omnisciently, omnipresently, and omnipotently embedded at the point of creation. 

For those of us that believe in the power of frugality shopping at Payless really meant you paid less! When other kids were rocking Jordans, Nike, Adidas, and Lotto sneakers, I was sporting Pro-Wings. Now, was I happy about that, heck no! But, I was blessed to have shoes. Let me get back on track….Payless switched up their tag line in the late 90’s, do you remember the jingle……”Doesn’t it feel good to PAYLESS?” I am here to tell you on this #GOODFRIDAY Morning that yes, it feels good to pay less but it feels even to be SINLESS IN CHRIST!! “How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on Him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” (2 Cor 5:21) 1 Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” Bottom line is what happened to Jesus should of happened to us. We sin daily but Christ paid the price for our sins. In Psalm 103 the bible says, “He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.” Now this doesn’t give us license to sin but rather this should convict us to sin less! So today because He lives, we live and YES, it feels good to be SINLESS IN CHRIST!

About 10 years ago I underwent LASIK surgery to correct my nearsightedness and astigmatism. After the surgery my eye tested 20/10. I was elated and well pleased with the results however, one of the side effects that really never diminished was the starburst. I recently visited the ophthalmologist because the starburst side effect got progressively worse. Turns out the LASIK surgery failed to correct 100% of my astigmatism. Today my vision is about 20/25 but I need corrective lens for night driving. What am I saying? It doesn’t matter if your vision is perfect in the natural because in the supernatural we all need prescriptive corrective lens. I don’t care who you are; everyone has at one time or another experienced the effect of spiritual astigmatism and spiritual nearsightedness. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that, “We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as He knows us!” So today don’t forget to wear your spiritual corrective lens in all situations and remember until that completeness is made known and all ambiguity is wiped away we have three things to to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, and  love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (V13) 

My God, enable our students to trust in the good outcome of the STAAR test. Help our students contribute in their own share of optimism, confidence and most of all FAITH. With Your grace, my God, we hope You will crown their efforts with success. Keep far from our students at this moment any presumption that it all depends exclusively on them. You are next to every student, my God! Your presence is necessary and welcomed in every moment of their lives. My God, be the source of their inspiration in their doubts and uncertainties, supporting each student with Your limitless blessings. In Jesus’ name, amen! 

#STAAR

The vertical love of the cross bequeathed to us the horizontal power to love others in the same capacity that Jesus loves us!!  

There is power in your testimony! When prompted by the Holy Spirit….share it!! You just might bless someone. Without the TEST you could never have a TESTimony!! 

It doesn’t matter how high you ascend in life, everyone sits on their bottoms. Humility comes from the Latin word humilis, which literally means low. In Mathew 23:11-12 (msg)  we are asked a question and then given an priceless answer; “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.” How many of us would like to be on plenty and not empty. God is saying to empty yourself of yourself so that He can fill you with true humility. C.S. Lewis put it this way, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” So today remember the ‘low’ road is generally the hardest road to take however, it is the most rewarding!! 

#humility

A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence! 

All it takes is your faith and one touch of God’s favor to turn any situation around! “Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe,for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” (Matthew 9:20-21) 12 years, that’s 144 months! ICYMI: You’ll find the number 12 used in 187 places in the Bible and there are some significances to this number. The number twelve seems to be very important to God and it represents, in most cases, the number of order, government, perfection, and authority.  The number 12 shows up in the Book of Revelation 22 times and are very important in that book and particularly in the New Jerusalem. Here are few a significances that are associated with the number 12 that you may already be aware of; there were 12 tribes in Israel and this symbolizes the completeness of the nation Israel.  Jacob had 12 sons which were the heads or fathers of each of the 12 tribes of Israel which are likened to 12 princes. What about the 12 disciples. There are many other significances tied to the number 12 that are too numerous to mention. However; you don’t have to wait 12 years, 12 months, 12 weeks, 12 days, nor 12 minutes to receive your blessings. God is able to bless you right now!! So today put your FAITH where your PROBLEM is and watch the hand of The Lord move in your favor!

#HEISABLE

God doesn’t just ‘love’……God is love!! Yes, God is fundamentally and essentially love! Having said that please don’t water down or minimize God’s very nature! Love is not one of His attribute…..it is who He is!!

I John 4:8