The third most cited or quoted Bible verse is found in Romans 8:28 and it says, “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

The good news is God works ALL things together for good—both His good and our good. As God is glorified, His people benefit. In other words, we serve the God of a ‘win-win’ and those who love God can absolutely trust His goodness, His power, and His will to work out ALL things for our good.

Here’s the deal, the promise that God works ALL things together for good does not mean that ALL things, taken by themselves, are good. We live in a fallen world and some things and events are decidedly bad. But God is able to work them together for good. He sees the big picture; He wrote the Master plan. Psalm 139:16 declares, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; ALL the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Paul’s life is a testament to how God works ALL things together for good. Paul suffered shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment, murder attempts, temporary blindness, and more—ALL within God’s plan to spread the gospel (see Acts 9:16 and 2 Corinthians 11:24–27). Through it all, God was steadfastly working to bring about good and glorious results.

If Paul’s transformation is not enough evidence that God causes ALL things to work for the good, let’s time hop back to the beginning of the book. All throughout his life, Joseph trusted God no matter his good or bad circumstances. Joseph experienced plenty of bad things: kidnapping, slavery, false accusations, wrongful imprisonment, rejection, and famine. But in the end God brought things to a wonderful, life-affirming conclusion. God blessed Joseph’s entire family through those painful circumstances and through Joseph’s faith. (You can read about Joseph’s life beginning in Genesis 37.)

My beloved brothers and sisters, God is impartial, non-prejudicial, and what He does for one, He will do for another. Romans 2:11 confirms, “For God does not show favoritism.” ALL we need to do is trust and possess the confidence that, no matter our circumstances, situations, or environments, God is active and will conclude ALL things according to His good and wise design. With this knowledge we can learn to be faithful, confident, and content in ALL circumstances (see Philippians 4:11).

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#NAP

#AllThingsWorkTogether

Let’s be honest, it’s even more difficult to stay positive in a world saturated with so much negativity. This world has become so increasingly unpredictable as of late, I find it necessary to remind myself that God is always up to something new. But when I take a look around, it sure doesn’t seem that way. Our nation seems more like a dysfunctional family with constant bickering and fighting.

I find it difficult to turn off all the news and tune in to what God is doing. It is so easy to get entrapped by the negative side of social media and cultural lies. Live in fear. Close down. Be anxious. Stay downtrodden. There’s nothing good in this world anymore. It’s really of no surprise that some of us are growing weary and are ready to throw in the towel. And if I am speaking to you please know you’re not alone. Additionally, some of us live afraid that our God is too small and this world is too far gone. For some reason, we think He has abandoned us, and we have to make it on our own. We live on the brink of exhaustion rather than trusting in God.

Unfortunately, in this world we have to endure many trials, disappointments, and sorrows, but we do not have to shut us down. In fact, God allows them to refine us and make us more like Him. It is the difficult circumstances that help transform us and lead us to be on our knees humbly. The hard things in life are part of the process. Did you know that God can use it for your good?

As I mentioned above, God is always up to something new. He is always at work, even when I️ cannot see or understand. There is purpose because there is a promise. “God is always working things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

If this message speaks to you and your situation, Isaiah 43:18-19 will give you the encouragement and confirmation you need to continue fighting the good fight of faith and the Lord says, “Forget the things that happened in the past. Do not keep on thinking about them. I am about to do something new. It is beginning to happen
even now. Don’t you see it coming? I am going to make a way for you to go through the desert.”

That being said my beloved brothers and sisters, take heart today. God is meticulously, intentionally, and strategically working in the midst of every small or large circumstance. He is effortlessly weaving all things together for your good. Pain is part of the refining process, and we all are a work-in-progress (Phil. 1:6). The good news is…God is doing a new thing and is not finished with you yet! God is always up to something mind-blowing, God will make a way, and we can trust Him that it will be for our good and for His glory!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#GodIsDoingSomethingNew

“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”……this passage just hit a little different.

When David penned these words in Psalm 61 he was journeying through one of the deepest and most painful valleys of his life. Although we do not know exactly when it was written most Bible scholars agree that it was written toward the end of his exile from Jerusalem when Absalom rebelled against him.

Let’s be honest, dysfunction is never really a good thing, especially within the family, and certainly David’s family was a dysfunctional family. Absalom had done his best to take his father’s throne and his father’s life. As a result of Absalom’s actions, David had been exiled from his home and his family (read 2 Samuel 15).

Absalom had done everything in his power to destroy his own father. The only reason David survived Absalom’s revolt was by the grace of God and most Bible scholars believe when this Psalm was written, the rebellion was over and Absalom was dead (read 2 Samuel 18).

Emotionally, David probably wanted to stay in that valley of despair, but he knew that he had to go home to help restore a nation torn apart by a brutal civil war and out of his sorrow-filled broken heart birthed this beautiful, Psalm. Out of that broken heart from that shattered father poured a song of undiluted thanksgiving, praise, and worship to God.

No cap, in David’s song we find help for our own hearts when we are called on to walk through the hard places of life.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I want us to fully recognize that while sorrows will be a part of life, a sweet song can come out of our pain to the glory of God.

#BeStrong

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#NAP

#TheRockThatsHigherThanMe

If you’ve lived long enough then you should know that trusting God’s timing requires a lot of patience, patience, and more patience.

However, knowing this biblical truth doesn’t stop nor impede us from desiring to have certain things we’re not quite ready to receive.

Undoubtedly, we think more about the benefits of what we may receive but we don’t think about what that certain thing will require from us.

I know in the very beginning of starting something new or wanting something new, we expect to see results immediately.

We start to rush the process and began to become frustrated with what we are doing simply because we are not getting the results we expected.

As I mentioned above, trusting the process takes times. God sometimes allow things to happen and/or not happen simply to build our faith in Him.

Real talk, as tempting as it may be, as believers we can’t rush the process of what God is doing in our lives because when we rush things up, we mess things up. When we rush to get to the future, we miss out on all of the great things that God is allowing to happen in our present.

Every single thing that happens in our lives, is according to God’s will for our lives and are all vital parts of the process. So, in order to get to it, we have to go through it! Hebrews 6:15 is a great scripture that tells us that after Abraham patiently endured, he obtained the promise. God will fulfill His promise to us and it behooves us not to rush what God has intricately and intentionally took time to prepare.

In closing my beloved brothers and sisters, don’t try to rush God’s plans for your life. Everything happens at the appointed time and whatever is meant to be in your life will be at its appointed time. Therefore, you must fervently endure prayfully, patiently, faithfully and commit to go through the process! God not only knows our destiny but He knows all of the details that will purposely direct us there. When the time is right, it’ll happen. It’s not a rush order but know that God’s will, plan, and purpose for your life will be fulfilled at the appointed time!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#GodKnowsWhatHeIsDoing

Somebody needs to hear these words of encouragement today:

✅Don’t give up, God is faithful!
✅God is going to restore you!
✅God will heal you!
✅God will make a way for you!

If that’s you, please make every effort never forget that God is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13), He is a restorer (Jeremiah 30:17), He is a healer (Malachi 4:2), and He is a way-maker (Isaiah 43:19).

I pray that that God redeems every second, minute, and hour of your waking day!

Have a blessed, victorious, and triumphant week in the Lord everyone!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#staythecourse

The word Church is a translation of biblical words found in both the OT and the NT: the Hebrew (OT) word ‘qahal’, and the Greek (NT) word ‘ekklesia’, both of which mean “gathering of people or community” for worship. It was first applied to the people of Israel whom God called into existence. The contemporary church is also called into existence by God (Acts 2).

The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22–23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) until Christ’s return.

Contrary to what some might believe, I seriously doubt that heaven will have special reserved denominational sections. We are all one church body and that’s applies to everyone, everywhere, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This verse says that anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ make up the church……without walls!

In short, the church is not a building or a denomination. According to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ—all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). That being said, we are not only called to gather in a building to learn, praise, pray, worship, and fellowship; we are equally called to be the hands and feet outside of the building where we gather. We are called to be the church in our homes, jobs, and communities. In 1 Timothy 5, Paul describes the church as people dedicated to doing whatever it takes to reach out and help others. We have a responsibility to serve and help others in need as the church. Caring for each other as well as those outside of the church is the quickest way to see Jesus change lives.

My brothers and sisters, I am in no way trying to step on anyone’s spiritual toes but I am hoping to call some of you into action. In Matthew 9:38-39 Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

At the end of the day, the church isn’t a building, it’s people. It’s made up of people that authentically love God and love others. It’s made up of people that openly pray, praise, worship, cry, and celebrate together. And most of all it’s made up of people that are wiling to be the hands (bless) and feet (serve) for God’s glory in Christ Jesus!

If you have been spectating in the church pews or online, this is your official call to get in the game! Somebody who is lost is waiting on you to shine your light in their dark world!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#PeopleAreTheChurch

Unfortunately, at some point in life we’ve all been touched, overwhelmed, and deeply changed by adversity. When I feel overwhelmed, challenged, and waist deep in a difficult season, I cling to the things I know to be true; God’s word!

One of my many ‘go-to’ passages of text comes out of Isaiah 40:29-31 and it reads, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Undoubtedly and sometimes reluctantly, during difficult seasons (aka life in general) I found this to be true; our hearts have been fashioned to face and fight even the hardest of situations or circumstances. I also found this to be equally true; we are never alone in the battle. We have an all powerful and loving God on our side, and our strength comes from knowing He is right there with us. Hence my case in point, you can’t break a person who gets their strength from God.

I love the Message paraphrase of Psalm 121:1-5, “No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you….”

My brothers and sisters, as we cleave and cling to these biblical truths, we must trust that God is calling us to walk more closely with Him, to trust Him more deeply, and to press into the future that He has set before us. Yes, we can face the adversity of today because we know that God has a future in mind for us, an abundant, glorious future.

At the end of th day, let us never forget that, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39). It’s only in and through God’s abiding love that we find our hope, strength, and future!

#BeStrong

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#NAP

#OurStrengthComesFromGod

God is so great that He holds the entire world, and everything therein, in His Holy Hands!

David reminded us in Psalm 24:1-2, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…..”

My brothers and sisters, we cannot put our problems in the hands of God if we don’t let go of them first. We must be strong and courageous in order to release fears, anxieties, and worries to the Lord. We must start every day letting go of everything that is weighing us down and let El Shaddai carry those burdens.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

When we lift our problems up to Him, we must also be willing to offer ourselves to Him. This includes everything that we are and everything that we have as well as all of our plans, hopes, and dreams.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Worry not about what tomorrow will bring….” There’s no use fretting about things that may or may not come. You don’t need that unnecessary stress. Instead, surrender your days to Him and let Him take charge of your tomorrow. Acknowledging that you are not in control of your destiny will help you accept His will more fully.

Last night, I went to bed with this heavy on my mind and I woke up with this on my heart and I pray this powerful reminder encourages someone today and if that’s you, I hope you find peace, strength, solace, and comfort knowing that you’re not alone and God is with you in your journey.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#InHisHands

God is not like humans who can be fickle, changeable, irresponsible, and unpredictable. There are no discrepancies or inconsistencies in God. His promises endure forever.

Hebrews 6:17-18 says, “In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope that is set before us.”

I don’t know about you, but it overjoys me to read the above passage of text because I am reminded that God’s nature is immutable. He embodies all truth and He cannot lie nor fail. For this reason, we can always be sure of His promises. He never waivers and He doesn’t change His mind. When we come to Him believing and asking He will do it! He promised He would reward the sincere and earnest seeker and He does.

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that, “..it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”

Fact is, although people may disappoint us—even people whom we love and admire—He will never fail us. Never! What He said He would do, He will do. In God there is no variation or shadow due to change. There are no discrepancies or inconsistencies in God.

My brothers and sisters, as I mentioned above humans can be fickle, changeable, irresponsible, and unpredictable, but God is exactly the opposite. He never changes or takes back His offer of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. God does not—cannot—renege on His promises. Our salvation does not depend on a fickle, changeable, irresponsible, and unpredictable God but one whose promises endure forever.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#WeCanCountOnGod

God is always up to something good and everything and everyone He created has a divine purpose in life. Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” This is key in understanding God’s purpose for our lives.

Undoubtedly, God has numbered our days and will fulfill every purpose He has for us. However, the enemy wants nothing more than to breakdown, minimize, and impede the purpose God is working to fulfill in our lives.

Fortunately, God is our Protector in times of trouble (Psalm 18:3), our Shield in times of danger (Proverbs 30:5) and our Fortress in times of attack (Psalm 91:1-2). Not only that, God promises to “command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).

Furthermore, God protects us not only in the physical realm that we can see, but also in the spiritual realm against forces we can’t see. The Bible says, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Unfortunately, a spiritual battle rages around our purpose as the devil attempts to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10) He would like nothing better than to destroy the good God is working to fulfill in our lives. The devil sets traps of danger and destruction in the path of God’s people in hopes of catching us unaware and ill-prepared. Be ready. Don’t let him win.

My brothers and sisters, only God can police, preserve, and protect our purpose in life. Therefore, God will never abandon the work of His hands. Psalm 138:8 confirms, ”The Lord will fulfill [His purpose] for me. Lord, Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands.”

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP