Original, daily devotionals, inspiration and more from a fresh, "Hey! I never thought about it like that before" perspective.
Author: Aldtric Johnson M.A.
May Yahuah baruk you! I'm a husband, father and educator. My main spiritual gift is Exhortation...I'm a natural encourager. I love the word of Yah and sharing it from a "Wow, I never thought of it like that before" perspective. There's so much fresh revelation in Yah's word that is just as relevant today as it was as it unfolded. I hope my daily devotionals enhance your walk with The Most High.
God is a forgiving God and He is willing to forgive us of
all our sins as long as we truly repent and have a forgiving heart towards
others.
But, sometimes we can wonder if we will ever recover from
the consequences of our bad decisions.
Let me give you a quick reminder that God loves us and He is
bigger than or bad decisions.
Any parent who has punished or disciplined their child will
look on them in pity and remove the punishment or give them relief from the
consequences if It’s in their power to do so.
God does the same thing…
Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But [a]joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 103:9-11 (NKJV)
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not
dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
So if you’re living out the consequences or results of a bad
decision and you have truly repented, pray that God deliver you from the
consequences.
Pray that God gives you relief and peace. But, make sure you
pray that He does so to his glory and for His names sake…
Psalm 25:10-11 (NKJV)
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Your
name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
Psalm 143:11 (NKJV)
11 Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Isaiah 48:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Surely you did not hear,
Surely you did not know;
Surely from long ago your ear was not opened.
For I knew that you would deal very treacherously,
And were called a transgressor from the womb.
9 “For My name’s sake I will [a]defer My anger,
And for My praise I will restrain it from you,
So that I do not cut you off. 10 Behold, I
have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Once I was driving at night and didn’t see a small ditch. I drove right into it! I had to drive IN the ditch for a while until I could find a place to drive OUY of it. Sometimes you have to remain in a ditch until you can find a place to be pulled out our pull yourself out.
Even though you may remain in a ‘ditch’ because of you’re a bad
decision, God can pull you out.
Have you noticed that people treat Christmas shopping like a duty, an obligation… almost like a job?
One person will ask…
“Have you finished your Christmas shopping?”
or
“Are you ready for Christmas?”
and another will answer…
“No, I HAVE , GOT to get it done!”
During this season, people spend enough money to make or break many retailers’ fiscal year…
During this time of year some people are prepared because they’ve saved for the holiday…
During this time of year some people spend money they can’t afford in order to buy presents…
During this time of year some people borrow money and end up paying for this Christmas into and beyond the next.
Are any of these people you?
Think about the fervor, the diligence, the stress….
Think of the hustle, the bustle, the FUSStle…
Consider this. What if people approached benevolence with the same attitude they approach the holiday?
Have you given to the poor? homeless? needy? orphaned?
Have you visited the sick? lonely? imprisoned?
No, but I HAVE GOT to get started!!!!
If we, in the Body of Christ, approached cheerful, unobligated giving all year as we do at Christmas…what kind of world would this be?
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Just think about it…
Matthew 25: 31-46
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy[c] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him,[d] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Think for a moment about the professions that are considered to be honorable.
Think for a moment the professions that earn the most money.
Now, think which professionals and workers you would miss the most if they went on strike.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many found themselves missing professional sports but…
Who do you think would be missed first a person’s favorite team collecting wins, or someone collecting their garbage?
Sanitation workers are the most essential of essential workers, but are often forgotten and not given the respect they deserve, and definitely not the pay they deserve.
The bible tells us to give honor to whom honor is due…
Romans 13:7 (NKJV)
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Those whose profession is the very fabric of maintaining civilization itself deserve honor. In fact, it was on behalf of sanitation professionals that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was visiting Memphis when he was taken away.
The next time you take out garbage and don’t have to think about it anymore, thank God for your sanitation workers.
And, the next time you see them doing their job, give them some love, honor and respect.
As the thought of watching thick, fluffy snowflakes fall creating a beautiful blanket on the ground makes the holiday seem more cozy to some…
It strikes the deepest dread, fear and anxiety into the hearts of the homeless.
As one parent asks, “What are we gonna eat tonight” wondering what snacks they’ll munch on while enjoying the snow with their children…
Another parent asks himself or herself, “What are we gonna eat tonight” because they’re wondering if they’ll have anything to feed their children.
As one child counts the money they have gotten for Christmas…
A homeless parent counts the dollars they were able to collect at an intersection, along with sneers, stares, insults and judgement as to how they got in that situation. They are trying to decide should we eat with this little money? Or try to get into the homeless shelter.
So, before you watch the weather forecast hoping for snow at your address…
Think about…
Pray for…
And if possible, do something to show love to someone who has no address.
Proverbs 21:13 (NASB)
13 One who shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor Will also call out himself, and not be answered.
Leaders are very highly scrutinized and often criticized if they ‘don’t have it all together’. We can find ourselves expecting them to be near perfect. But, when we read the bible, we find that many of God’s most anointed…those whom He gave great responsibility were lacking in many areas.
Moses and the Apostle Paul weren’t the greatest speakers.
Exodus 4:10 (NKJV)
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
2 Corinthians 11:6 (NKJV)
6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
Eli the anointed High Priest and Judge had corrupt, disobedient sons (1 Samuel 3).
1 Samuel 3:13 (NKJV)
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.
Peter was quick to speak before he thought, and was even rebuked by Paul for being a hypocrite to the point that it influenced other leaders.
Galatians 2:11-13(NKJV)
11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Just because one is anointed by God doesn’t mean that he or she doesn’t need any help. Every great leader needs a strong support system. They need to be surrounded by gifted, anointed people they can trust to delegate responsibility and help with their weaknesses. I think that’s God’s system of checks and balances.
We sometimes see charismatic, polished and sometimes affluent leaders and assume they have ‘it all together’ and that we could never qualify for leadership in God’s Kingdom because of our personal issues and weaknesses.
But, let me assure you that all leaders…
ARE NOT CHARISMATIC
It’s easy to confuse charisma for anointing or confidence. Many great leaders are soft-spoken and reserved. There are many of charismatic leaders who can motivate a crowd but have absolutely no vision. There are others who have the WRONG vision and can motivate millions to do the wrong thing. Never confuse charisma with anointing. Check out this post for more on that… 4 WAYS TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREACHING & A PERFORMANCE….
ARE NOT GOOD AT MANAGING MONEY
The ability to manage money can either be a gift or an acquired discipline. For those of whom that it doesn’t come so naturally, they can struggle with the discipline, detail and organization it takes to be a great money manager. Remember how one of the devoted prophets in the Old Testament died in poverty leaving his sons to be sold into slavery…
2 Kings 4:1 (NIV)
4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.
ARE NOT ORGANIZED
Here again some people are more naturally inclined to be organized. They pay great attention to detail. They are uneasy when things aren’t in place. They even organize things in their minds as they observe them, while others struggle to be organized. They make a sincere effort, but slowly find themselves slipping into their old habits. Notice how the rich nobleman in Luke 16:1-13 had a shrewd manager hired to manage his affairs.
DON’T HAVE THE BEST BEHAVED CHILDREN
Yes, I know what the bible says…
1 Timothy 3:4-5 (NKJV)
4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
…and this is not a contradiction. I had a friend tell me that his dad, a very sincere, devout man of God resigned as a deacon because his son, (my friends brother) was addicted to drugs and in and out of jail. Well, the devil found out how to move a great leader out of the way. We are all God’s children and we don’t always behave as He commands us, does that mean that He’s not a good Father? Does that mean that God is not a good leader? No! God set’s the standard of behavior and doesn’t waver. He tells us, “NO!” to certain things. It’s up to us to love and respect Him enough to obey. That’s what God expects us to do…set the rules and boundaries in the home. To say, “No!” and don’t waver. As mentioned earlier, Eli, a great man of God, didn’t restrain his sons in 1 Samuel Chapters 2 and 3. But, he was still highly respected and used by God.
DON’T HAVE THE PERFECT MARRIAGE
Any stromg leader will tell you that leadership itself is a challenge to marriage. Responsibilities sometimes force the leader to choose between his or her spouse and duties. Leadership cuts into quality time, occupies the leaders mind during personal time, and even sometimes affects the desire for intimacy. It was obvious that ministry took some apostles a way from their wives, which is sure to put a strain on marriage…
1 Corinthians 9:5 (NKJV)
5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
DON’T HAVE A GREAT CREDIT SCORE
Of course God expects leaders to honor their commitments and responsibilities…
Psalm 37:21 (NKJV)
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
But, when responsibilities aren’t met, it not always due to intentional carelessness. It’s not necessarily because of over extending, but sometimes life happens. Sometimes illness, job loss, an unwanted divorce and other things beyond the leaders control can happen damaging his or her credit.
ARE SOMETIMES TROUBLED BY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
Jesus Himself was troubled in the garden the night before He went to the cross.
John 12:27 (NKJV)
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
Sometimes we don’t expect our leaders to be visibly troubled by circumstances. But, that only shows their humanity. If Jesus Himself was troubled, the greatest leader of them all, then surely we will be too.
These are only a few of the reasons is why good leaders should be honest with themselves and aware of their natural weaknesses, so they can surround themselves with the right support to carry out their vision. They must also be confident enough in themselves to not be threatened by their support, but have the discernment to know who may actually be a threat to their leadership.
And, those whom they lead must be humble enough to follow in spite of their weaknesses, offering help towards the vision where possible. They must also realize that some weaknesses don’t disqualify the leader from leading. For example, the prophet Nathan didn’t tell David that he wasn’t qualified to be king after murder and adultery. (1 Samuel 12)
Leaders are only human, and they will all have lapses in character, but overall they must be…
Trustworthy.
Integrity…
Calm in Crisis…
One who unites rather than divides…
One who resolves conflict…
And, most of all led by God and a student of His word.
Remember, God uses imperfect people to carry out His perfect will. All good leaders need good help.
The fun and rush of the holiday season can be intoxicating. The trill of seeing someone open a gift that they really wanted can provide quite the emotional high. If this one done within our budget, then all is well but…THEN comes December 26th..
If we spent money we couldn’t afford…used money for our bills…borrowed money for gifts or simply over spent, we can come down hard off that high straight into anxiety, worry, buyers remorse, stress and even depression…You’ve got a HOLIDAY HANGOVER.
When the real world comes calling…we remember that bills, obligations and commitments didn’t stop for Christmas.
If you do have a holiday hangover, I offer the same remedy as for a hangover from alcohol…time.
And just as someone whose been drunk with liquor…next year remember how you feel right now when you’re tempted to drink from the same bottle of HOLIDAY SPIRITS next year.
Proverbs 23:29-35 (MSG)
Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity?
Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with— the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, Reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? “They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!”
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 8:31-32(NKJV)
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If youabide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.32 And you shall know thetruth, andthe truth shall make you free.”
Acts 11:26(NKJV)
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
It’s very easy to take our blessings for granted. Especially the blessings that some of us might call ‘the little things’…like water.
Plenty of water…
Clean water…
Available water…
Anytime you want it.
There are many people in this world who consider clean water to be a luxury.
There are many people in this world who bathe and drink from the same water that animals drink from.
They just want clean, easily accessible water to drink and bathe in.
But, so many of us don’t only have plenty of water to drink, we can sometimes catch ourselves saying “There’s nothing here to drink,” if there is no juice, soda, wine, beer, or Kool-Aid in the house because we don’t want water.
So many of us have enough water to water our lawns.
So many of us have enough water to wash our cars.
So, the next time you get ready to wash your car or drive through a car wash, stop and thank God for enough water for this task that could be considered by those who don’t have enough as vain.
Then say a prayer for those who can’t go to the faucet and turn on the fresh, clean water.
Exodus 17 (NKJV)
17 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”
So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?”
3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
4So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone[a] me!”
5And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with yousome of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 So he called the name of the place Massah[b] and [c]Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they [d]tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
There are many in the Body of Christ who love quoting John 10:10…
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
But, we must remember that this verse applies to those of us who are being led by the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-17). Those who are ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16-26). Those who not only believe, but are responding to being the ‘called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28). To those who are laboring for His Harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). And especially those who are connected to the vine and bearing good fruit (John 15:1-8).
It is God’s will that we add to His Kingdom…that we make disciples (Matthew 28:19), and that every interaction brings glory and honor to His name, that’s bearing good fruit.
So by default, if we aren’t bearing good fruit we are either bearing no fruit or bearing bad fruit. God’s word addresses how He feels about those of us who are being nurtured by His love, grace, mercy, provision and protection and bear no fruit (. Many of us only use the resources that God gives us, not just money, but our anointing, gifts and talents on ourselves. It’s like a fruit tree with all leaves but no fruit (Luke 13:6-9),(John 15:1-8), and dig this one…
Isaiah 5:1-7 (NKJV)
Now let me sing to my Well-beloved
A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard:
My Well-beloved has a vineyard
On a very fruitful hill. 2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones,
And planted it with the choicest vine.
He built a tower in its midst,
And also made a winepress in it;
So He expected it to bring forth good grapes,
But it brought forth wild grapes.
3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,
Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. 4 What more could have been done to My vineyard
That I have not done in it?
Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes,
Did it bring forth wild grapes? 5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard:
I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will lay it waste;
It shall not be pruned or dug,
But there shall come up briers and thorns.
I will also command the clouds
That they rain no rain on it.”
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,
And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant.
He looked for justice, but behold, oppression;
For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.
So, I think the word of God establishes it well that it is very possible to believe but to be of no use to Him in the Kingdom. Even to the point to tell us that if we have faith, but are always sitting on it, that our faith is dead (James 2:14-26).
By deductive reasoning, we can also conclude that if we are not benefiting God’s Kingdom that we are…
NO THREAT TO THE DEVIL
That being established, and so-called believer who is no threat to the devil IS a threat to the Kingdom. They justify being an inactive, apathetic believer.
There are those also who claim to believe but have allowed the devil to manipulate them into pursuing his agenda, for example the scribes and Pharisees claimed to be God’s representatives but were actually working for the enemy, they sought to kill Jesus unknowingly fulfilling scripture (Matthew 12:14, John 5:18, John 7:1, John 11:53, John 16:2).
The Ku Klux Klan claimed and claims to be a Christian organization, but they are actually pursued and are pursuing the enemy’s agenda.
SO IF YOU ARE OF NO USE TO GOD’S KINGDOM OR EVEN HELPING THE ENEMY WHY SHOULD HE TRY TO STEAL FROM YOU, KILL YOU OR DESTROY YOU? WHY SHOULD THE ENEMY TRY TO HARM YOU IF YOU ARE BENEFITING HIM?
Do you have a genuine concern for those who are lost? Are you acting on it? Are you letting your light shine? Can people really tell you’re a Christian by how you live daily?
Remember the words of the 12-year old Jesus, “…I must be about my Father’s business.”(Luke 2:49).
Are you about your Father’s business? If not why should the devil fight against you? In fact, if we aren’t about our Father’s business, then again by default who’s business are we about?
John 8:44-45 (NKJV)
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources,for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
If your life seems to be too easy…it may be for a reason.
People are constantly looking for answers to crime. I hear cries for police and politicians to find solutions. The truth is that police and politicians can’t stop crime.
Politicians and leaders can ONLY MAKE laws.
Police can ONLY ENFORCE the law.
But neither can make anyone obey the law. Neither can instill the character, integrity, self-control, discipline, respect for the lives, property and opinions of others necessary to reduce or cure crime. Even God Himself watched His people struggle with trying to live up to the standards of the Law, but the Law’s purpose is define right and wrong, to give us boundaries and God’s standards. God Himself gives us the responsibility and power to ‘do the right things’. God has a cure for crime, and it’s really simple…
1. Submit to His will
2. Let His love rule in your heart (let love be the filter for your decisions)
3. Walk in His Spirit
4. Learn to Control Our Emotions
(1) God’s will always puts what’s best for us first, so submitting to His compels us to always do what’s best for one another…
Philippians 2:3 tells us to…
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit and to esteem others better than himself. It’s God’s will that we put others first.
(2) When we allow love to be the filter through which every decision is made, we will not do anything to harm our neighbors…
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 eloquently describes the behavior and character of love…
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(3) When we walk in the Spirit, it makes it more difficult to follow through on the urges of our flesh that can lead to crime, as Galatians 5:16 makes very clear…
Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
(4) I feel that EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE is the most powerful tool God has given us to cure crime. Psychology Today defines Emotional Intelligence as the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. This is behavioral science that is in perfect harmony with scripture…
Colossians 3:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Therefore PUT TO DEATH your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.8 But now YOU YOURSELVES ARE TO PUT OFF all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth
1 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)
So PUT AWAY all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Ephesians 4:31 (NKJV)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander BE PUT AWAY from you, along with all malice.
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
God commands that WE OURSELVES lay aside, put away, put off, and put to death those things that cause us to stumble.
Most crime comes from a failure to control emotions…
Anger
Lust
Jealousy
Depression
Boredom
Greed
Even apathy leads to sins of omission. Stop and think of various crimes and how they can be linked back to an emotion. We must facilitate cultures of emotional control for crime to reduce. Police can’t do it, Politicians can’t do it, Marches can’t do it…only submitting to God will solve our crime problem. Laws makes our MINDS aware of ‘right and wrong’, but change comes from the HEART.
How many nights of you lay in your bed warm, cozy, safe bed worrying?
How many times have you made the statement, “What are we going to eat tonight?”
How many times have you prayed and asked God for more, while you already have more than enough?
Think about what Jesus told us in His Sermon on the Mount…
Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
God is telling us that when we have enough for today, we are blessed. However, when we have more than enough for today, we are abundantly blessed.
It’s easy to take things for granted in our abundant society.
The next time you find yourself worrying about or asking for something you don’t need, stop and thank God for what you already have. Because…
Someone wishes they had a bed in which to worry.
Someone is asking, “What are we going to eat tonight” not out of choice, but out of desperation.
While you are worrying about tomorrow, someone is praying for enough for today.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, [a]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
What offends you? Disrespect? Seeing others hurt? Injustice? Intolerance? Insults? Sometimes when led by God we’re offended by evil. And sometimes, when being influenced by the enemy we’re offended by good – all of us.
We all get offended. And, many times we have a right to be offended – even justified in being offended.
But, we must use Godly wisdom in how we respond to being offended. We just first be honest with ourselves as to whether we are being offended by good or evil. The Pharisees were constantly offended by Jesus. They were offended by good…
Matthew 15:1-13 (NKJV)
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; [a] and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’[b]5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’[c] Thus you have made the commandment[d] of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And[e] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”[f]
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
One of the most powerful things you can do is exercise the emotional control of not letting someone know how they have offended you.
If you really want to know what someone is really like. If you really want to know what’s inside someone’s heart…let them think that ‘nothing really offends you’. That’s when they will feel comfortable to share what’s really inside them. That’s when they will reveal to you who they really are. That’s when you can with wisdom ‘meet them where they are’. That’s when you will know how to manage your relationship with them…whether it be family, co-worker, friend, associate or even an enemy.
One of the powerful attributes of being emotionally intelligent is the fact than when you learn to control your emotions, you can actually control the emotions of those around you.
Controlling your emotions is a powerful way to control your world.
Emotional Intelligence is behavioral science that aligns perfectly with scripture.
Even the bible teaches us to…
Ephesians 4:31 (NKJV)
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
1 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)
2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
God teaches us to ‘put away’ our bitterness and anger. It teaches us to lay aside our malice. Remember this that…
Controlled anger shouldn’t turn into wrath, but into action.
When you don’t let some offend you, or when you control your emotions when offended you gain the upper hand. Many the offender is speaking or acting out of emotion, which if not controlled puts them at a disadvantage. At the very least they are more transparent of their true heart, intentions, motives and self.
You aren’t showing weakness by not letting someone know just how much they have offended you. You are showing your true strength. You’re showing the same strength that our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus displayed each and every time He controlled His anger. You are displaying the same strength that our God displays when He withholds His wrath.
So, don’t shut them up. Let them run their mouth and continue to let you know what’s inside them, and be led by who is inside you.
This is word of admonition to those who call themselves to be believers.
The image of modern-day Christianity has been perverted by people who where pride as a necklace and their arrogance masquerades itself as confidence. Many of these people mean well, but they have been seduced by their passion against some obvious sins (namely abortion and homosexuality)…
1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NLT)
24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.
…to excuse, justify and even indulge in the sins that aren’t as obvious or politicized such as pride, arrogance. They don’t share their faith in love. They are accused of hating those whose lifestyles they reject, while they themselves accuse others of hating the proud and arrogant personalities they support.
God used proud and arrogant nations ( namely Assyria and Babylon) to punish His people because of their idolatry, hypocrisy, assimilation, refusal of justice, violence and their arrogant leaders.
However, after using these clearly ungodly nations and ungodly rulers to punish His people, He later harshly punished Assyria and Babylon. Go back and read Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel through this context.
The problem with many people in America who call themselves Christians is that they never see America as Assyria or Babylon…only as either persecuted or victorious Israel.
God has made a promise to those who have succumbed to pride and arrogance…
Jeremiah 50:31-32 (NASB)
31 “Behold, I am against you, [a]arrogant one,” Declares the Lord [b]God of armies, “For your day has come, The time [c]when I will punish you. 32 The [d]arrogant one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will set fire to his cities, And it will devour all his surroundings.”
Jeremiah 50:31-32 (NKJV)
31 “Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!” says the Lord God of hosts; “For your day has come, [a]The time that I will punish you. 32 The most proud shall stumble and fall, And no one will raise him up; I will kindle a fire in his cities, And it will devour all around him.”
You can’t fight against one sin by accepting and engaging in another.
Remember, pride is the first mentioned among the seven deadly sins because it is the parent sin to countless offspring sins.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him: 17 A[b] proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before [a]a fall.
James 4:6 (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Many of those who call themselves evangelicals do not represent the true image of Christ any more than the Scribes and Pharisees them. The fact is that Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ warned to beware of their hypocrisy and teaching…
Luke 12:1 (NKJV)
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the [a]leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Remember that the LORD’S scathing rebukes WERE NOT FOR THE ‘SINNERS’ but those who called themselves to be religious leaders!
Think about Jesus’ response when the woman was caught in adultery. Think about how He dined with ‘sinners’. Then think about His responses to those who called themselves to be ‘religious’…
Matthew 23:13-36 (NKJV)
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [b]hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that [c]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [d]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who [e]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [f]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [g]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.33 Serpents, brood[h] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Don’t wait until December to study Yeshua’s birth.
John 4:24 (NKJV)
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The traditional ‘nativity scene’ depicting the night that Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) was born is a favorite Christmas decoration and reenactment.
Of course it features Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the Magi or ‘wise men’ from the East.
There’s only one problem…
The Magi or ‘wise men’ were not there that night…not yet.
When you read the account closely, the location that the wise men found Jesus was not a stable, and He was not in a manger. He was no longer an infant, and Joseph was not present when the wise men visited.
Matthew 2:11 (NKJV)
11 And when they had come into the HOUSE, they saw the YOUNG CHILD with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Luke 2:15-16 (NKJV)
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
It says very clearly that they arrived at a house, that Jesus was a young child, and His father wasn’t there at the time. At the scene of the birth Jesus is called a Babe, while at the scene with the wise men He is called a small child.
Notice also that the events recorded in Matthew 2:1-12 took place AFTER Yeshua was born. And, one must consider the took some time…
Matthew 2:1-12 (NKJV)
Now AFTER Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the [b]wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
After the LORD was born, the wise men traveled to Jerusalem after seeing the star and inquired of where they could find Jesus…that took some time.
After hearing of this, Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes and asked them where Christ was born…that took some time.
Herod then secretly requested that the wise men come to him. After determining when the star appeared, he asked the wise men to CAREFULLY (take you time) search for the “young child”… that took some time.
After finding the LORD, the wise men didn’t return to Herod, but went straight to their own country, further implying a longer journey…that took some time.
Consider this from my post, “Accepting That Something You’ve Sincerely Believed Is Wrong”…
According to verses 9-10, when they came to where the star stood over where the YOUNG CHILD was (not baby), they came into THE HOUSE (not stable) and found Jesus with His mother (Joseph wasn’t present at the time).
According to verse 12, after being warned in a dream, they departed into their own country…you can’t do all of that in one night’s time.
In verses 16 Herod ordered that all male children age 2 and under be killed…because that’s when the star first appeared.
After the wise men leave, that’s when Joseph’s name reappears as he takes his family into Egypt.
Some people are so accustomed to believing the wise men were there in the stable, that rather than accept that may not be true and they came later, we start trying to find a way to prove what wish to believe is true…rather than seek the real truth.
The fact is that the shepherds and wise men visited Jesus on two different occasions, possibly separated by about two years.
Many of those who have the traditional nativity scene ingrained in their minds may ask, “What does it matter?”
Again, because God said that anything done to worship Him MUST be done in spirit and not truth. Unfortunately, Christians are notorious for twisting and compromising to fit traditions and their will instead of God’s.
If you’re going to celebrate the Son of God’s birth, do it in SPIRIT AND TRUTH!
One morning when I arrived to work, I made a quick stop by the bathroom. As I opened the door, I quickly realized that someone had gotten there before me, and left behind a funky, powerful stench…as it flooded my nostrils, I could hardly breathe.
I reached for a can of aerosol air freshener. As I released it into the air, it filled the room and fought hard to remove the funk, but I could still smell both.
Abominations ‘stink in the nostrils’ of God…Sacrifices (praise) are a fragrant aroma.
Today our sacrifices are PRAISE rather than BLOOD thanks to the one-time sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah…
Hebrews 10:10 (ESV)
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, [a]giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Yes sin is sin, but abominations are sins that are much more disgusting to God… just as some sins are much more disgusting to us.
Abominations are spiritual funk that we release into the physical and spiritual world.
How do you feel when you smell something disgusting?
How do you feel when you smell a fragrant aroma?
Think about all of the abominations, blasphemies, insults, and idolatry that you notice being released into both the physical and spiritual world everyday, sometimes by people who call themselves Christian…
This is spiritual funk and stench that is released into the nostrils of God.
Now, think about the praise and blessings that you witness on a daily basis.
Praise fights to eliminate spiritual funk as it floods the nostrils of God.
Are you releasing more spiritual funk? Or, are you releasing more praise?
It may be because of the mistakes and bad decisions you’ve made…
It may be because your children aren’t living up to their potential…
It may be because you don’t have the relationship with your children that you wish or thought you would…
You may feel that you aren’t getting the level of respect that you deserve…
You may even be a teacher or professional and feel as though you do better with other children than your own…
You may feel guilty because of the number of hours you spend working…
Or feel guilty of the fact that you haven’t been able to work.
I know there may be some people out there who feel they were or are the ‘perfect’ parents, but this article is for those who on some days feel as though they have failed at parenting.
Remember this, none of the anointed men and women of God were perfect parents.
But, here is an even more powerful, and liberating thought.
None of us are a better parent than God our heavenly Father.
He has never made a mistake in ‘parenting’ us, yet…
Many of His children still don’t live up to their potential…
Many of His children still don’t give Him the relationship that He deserves…
Many of His children still don’t give Him the level of respect that He deserves…
Many of His children live in open rebellion to Him.
Many of those who God created in His image don’t even acknowledge Him as their father
Think about how many times you, yourself have disappointed God.
So, the next time you feel you’ve failed as a parent, ask yourself…
Has God failed?
1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of [a]God! Therefore the world does not know [b]us, because it did not know Him.
As I stepped onto my patio for an intimate moment of praise to God, with my hands lifted up I noticed the vapor from my breath as it lifted into the air like smoke from my mouth.
Wow!
What a beautiful illustration of how the animal sacrifices that are no longer required continue today through our sincere praise to God.
Praise is a sacrifice, especially if you continue to praise God through difficult times when your flesh doesn’t really ‘feel’ like doing it.
Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, [a]giving thanks to His name.
Psalm 20:1-3 (NKJV)
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob [a]defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion; 3 May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
Sex is a gift from God. Even though it’s the means He intended for us to be fruitful and multiply, it is also meant to be enjoyed within the bonds of holy matrimony between a man and a woman.
Our bodies with their various curves, shapes, textures, contrast of colors, smells etc., are meant to provoke sexual arousal. It’s up to us to control these urges so that they are only fulfilled within marriage.
One of those divine combinations of curves, shapes, textures, and contrast of colors is the female breast.
Yes, these were created for mothers to make sure their children are nourished, but that’s not all.
They were also created for the mutual pleasure of the husband and the wife. Breasts were created:
As a means of seducing her husband…
For her pleasure during times of intimacy…
To be aesthetically pleasing to entice her husband…
For his enjoyment during times of intimacy…
The fact is that even though God created female breasts to nurse their children, that boobs aren’t just for the babies. Check out these bible verses about female breasts and intimacy within marriage.
Proverbs 5:18-19 (NKJV)
18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be [a]enraptured with her love.
Song of Solomon 1:12-13 (NKJV)
12 While the king is at his table, My [a]spikenard sends forth its fragrance. 13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, That lies all night between my breasts.
Song of Solomon 4:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Your neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armory, On which hang a thousand [a]bucklers, All shields of mighty men. 5 Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies
Song of Solomon 7:2-3, 8(NKJV)
2 Your navel is a rounded goblet; It lacks no [a]blended beverage. Your waist is a heap of wheat Set about with lilies. 3 Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle.
Song of Solomon 7:8 (NKJV)
8 I said, “I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of its branches.” Let now your breasts be like clusters of the vine, The fragrance of your [a]breath like apples,
Song of Solomon 8:10 (NKJV)
10 I am a wall, And my breasts like towers; Then I became in his eyes As one who found peace.
Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NLT)
2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.
5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
So, couples enjoy one another, and may your marriages…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
You may also enjoy these BE BLESSTIFIED articles on Godly marriage…
I know I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with this. I’m sincerely grateful and thankful for the level of blessing and favor on my life. I’m not talking about riches. I’m talking about being thankful that I have food, clothes, shelter, good health and a sound mind…for what many people call ‘the little things’. I’m thankful that my family is doing well, thankful for freedom, peace, safety and yes, I’m thankful for salvation.
But, sometimes I want more.
I would love for God to bless me to be able to support my family well through my writing and leave behind a financial heritage for my children. Ohhhh…that would be so awesome! I would love to be able to do some of the things for my family that I know would make them happy. Who doesn’t want financial stability, good health and peace in their life.
I can’t count the times I’ve been praying to God asking Him to bless my life and stopped and just had to stop and say, “Thank you!”
Because you see, so many times when I’m asking for more, I think about so many who have less.
So many times when I lain in my bed worrying about something, I think about the fact that it’s a blessing to have a bed in which to worry. Someone, somewhere at that very moment is trying to sleep under a bridge
God tells us to be content, and I truly am…
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, [a]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But, still I want more. Don’t you? I mean God also told us He would give us more, if we have our priorities straight…
Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit[a] your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
Do you ever feel conflict over being thankful and wanting more?
How do we manage being content with our lives without being covetous?
If you have this conflict too, tell God thank you for the conflict. It’s a sign that you aren’t greedy or covetous.
Here’s a few simple tips on managing that conflict.
Please be careful when you…
Feel God owes you better.
Feel what you have isn’t good enough.
Ask God for more, more often than you thank Him for what you have.
Never pray for those who have less than you.
Lose that internal conflict between being thankful and asking God for more.
It’s unfortunate that too many times, Christians totally disregard what God said. Christians will claim to live by God’s word where it’s convenient for their own personal theology, but in places where it challenges their beliefs or behavior, many totally disregard what the word says explicitly.
“You’ve got common sense.”
“God didn’t mean that”
“Times are different now!”
“They don’t know who they’re messing with!”
“Don’t make me revert back to my old self!”
“I haven’t always been saved!”
These are just a few of the statements made when people want to exercise their own authority over God’s word.
One such statement and commandment that Yeshua (Jesus) made was when He clearly told us to TURN THE OTHER CHEEK…
Matthew 5:38-39 (NKJV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
There’s no IFs, ANDs or BUTs about what Jesus said. We are not to resist an evil person, but we are to do exactly what He did before He was crucified…
Luke 22:64 (NKJV)
64 [a]And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”
Many Christians are quick to teach their children that if someone hits you, that you are to hit them back. “Don’t let anyone think you’re afraid of them.”
Others will say that God allows you to defend yourself.
They are correct that God allows you to defend yourself WHEN YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. But, someone trying to humiliate or intimidate you by slapping you or striking you is totally different from someone tackling you or trying to overcome you physically. It’s totally different that when someone is really threatening your life.
HERE’S THE PROBLEM WITH IGNORING TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK…
Yes, God give us permission to defend our lives, but when our lives aren’t in danger, its not about self defense…IT’S ABOUT PRIDE!
Pride and the sins that come from pride (arrogance, jealousy, envy, wrath, revenge, etc.) are the reasons that disagreements escalate…
families are dysfunctional…
friendships end…
crime is prevalent in so many cities…
and wars strike up around the world.
Too many Christians are ‘ready for a fight’!
Too many Christians are fantasizing about a situation where they have to ‘stand their ground’!
Too many Christians don’t trust God to fight their battles! (Read 2 Chronicles Chapter 20).
Too many Christians are ready for a physical fight because they don’t trust God to fight their spiritual battles.
We can’t cherry-pick our way through the bible asserting our own authority over God’s. That’s idolatry, and He’s not having it.
Don’t worry, I’m not going rated ‘R’ on you but, I really think this is going to bless someone.
This is a much too common insult in our culture, and yes, the bad grammar is always intentional…
“You ain’t worth s**t! Of course, implying that someone doesn’t have the value of feces, crap, refuse, doo-doo, dung, ‘ish’.
It can be very hurtful if you allow it, especially if you are insecure or struggle with self-esteem. Or, if it’s told to a child by a parent, authority figure or peer. It’s damage can last well into adulthood.
So, let me give you a little ammunition with biblical support in case someone ever tells you, “You ain’t worth shiggity!”
God created everything with value. Everything! Even doo-doo! We all know that there’s an industry built around the use of animal dung to make mulch and fertilizer.
Why?
Because God put purpose and power, even in poop. Not only does it have value, but great value.
People pay good money for a sack of s**t at Home Depot and Lowe’s.
God, in His wisdom gave waste the power to make things grow…so even waste doesn’t have to be wasted.
But, let’s look at the bible. There, we find the ‘S’-word was used for two ‘F’-words…both FERTILIZER and FUEL. Not only did they use it to grow their food, but they used it as fuel/coal to heat their food too.
Luke 13:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
Ezekiel 4:15 (NKJV)
15 Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.”
So, don’t get it twisted. God has value for dung. He has a purpose for poo, and He has a purpose for you.
Feces is used to diagnoseillnesses, research for cures for disease, and do scientificresearch. There’s value in doo doo!
So, if anybody ever tells you that “You aren’t worth s**t,” tell them thank you! Tell them of it’s value. And then, remind them that if they ‘ain’t’ working God’s purpose for their life, tell them “S**t is worth more than you!”
As you grew older, what were the hopes, goals and expectations you had set for yourself by the time you reached…
20 Years Old…
30 Years Old…
40 Years Old…
50 Years Old…
60 Years Old?
How many days have you felt down because you haven’t met your own expectations? Especially on those ‘milestone birthdays.
Many of us may have those moments when we see others our age and compare our accomplishments to theirs.
This is what the word of God warns us about comparing ourselves to others…
Galatians 6:4 (NLT)
4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
So, remember this the next time that you’re feeling disappointed in what you haven’t accomplished for your age.
There’s someone who’s in a fight for their life.
They’re praying every day for healing…
They’re asking God for deliverance…
Their goal is good health…
Their hope is healing…
They just want to live!
There’ssomeone who just wants to live to be your age.
If you’re ever feeling down because of what you haven’t accomplished in life…thank God for life. Then stop and pray for someone who’s fighting for their life.
We live in a highly interactive world. Everyone has a platform, especially through social media, to express themselves. We interact with one another in our families. On your jobs. In our schools. As the bible says, “as we go out and as we come in”, we are almost always interacting with someone.
Whoever is reading this is interacting with me right now. What I’m writing right now may be foolishness to you. You may consider it stupid. You may consider it offensive. If so, after reading you have a choice. Do I respond? Or, do I just move on? And, thus to the crux of my short message here…
When you hear something. When you read something. When someone comes ‘head on’ to you with something that you consider FOOLISHNESS…what do you do?
SOME FOOLISHNESS DOES NOT DESERVE A RESPONSE, WHILE OTHER FOOLISHNESS DEMANDS ONE.
Some foolishness would die if we would just allow it. While other foolishness is like a spark ready to spread like wildfire.
How do you know?
Well, you have to pray for discernment. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom, and God will grant it in abundance if you ask Him.
James 1:5 (NKJV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Notice how sometimes Jesus responded to those who opposed Him, and sometimes He was rather assertive.
Matthew 15:1-12 (NKJV)
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; [a] and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’[b]5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’[c] Thus you have made the commandment[d] of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And[e] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”[f]
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
While other times, He didn’t say a word…
Matthew 27:12-14 (NKJV)
12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
But, when you DO respond, remember this…
Respond in wisdom.
Respond with reason.
And, please don’t respond in your raw emotions.
We must realize when we are planting a seed of righteousness, and a seed of foolishness.
Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)
11 A fool vents all his feelings,[a]
But a wise man holds them back.
For those of you who don’t know, not only do I blog, but I write songs for my wife who is Gospel/Jazz artist, Mechelle Johnson. She also sings classic R&B covers of many of the songs that make up the soundtrack of our 30-plus year marriage with her group, Natural Elegance. It’s part of our marriage ministry (Google SONday Blessing videos) that encourages strong, healthy, joyous Godly marriages between a man and woman. Our motto is…
You minister to the soul with a Gospel song, but you minister to a marriage with a love song!
We are based in a suburb of Memphis TN, and I must say that except for our very supportive church family at Oak Spring Church and a few others, we have gotten very little support from the ‘church community’. However, we have gotten MUCH SUPPORT from the local non-church community, and on radio in different cities throughout the country. I like to call it Matthew’s House ministry, reaching people beyond the ‘four walls’ of the physical church building…
Matthew 9:10-12 (NKJV)
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Soooo, I said all that to say this…
I see so many Gospel artists and ministers, both locally and nationally either whining and complaining on social media about not getting support or begging for people to vote for them to receive awards.
Let me say this very lovingly…
STOP WHINING AND WORK YOUR MINISTRY
If you are faithful with your message, God will promote you in His timing.
He will make sure that the people He wants to receive your message…get it.
The apostles never whined about their message not being received. They never whined about not getting supported, and they definitely never begged for awards. On the contrary, they were blessed to get out of town alive sometimes. They often did not have a ‘captive’ audience. They even celebrated when they were beaten for the Gospel…
Acts 5:41 (NKJV)
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His[a] name.
We must be honest with ourselves as artists, musicians, singers, preachers, teachers, ministers, writers, and yes bloggers…
Do we want influence for the sake of God’s kingdom or recognition and celebrity?
Do we want awards or do we want to inspire people and save souls?
Do we want to bring glory to our name or God’s name?
Of course, it’s natural to want recognition and to even be paid well for your efforts, but if it’s truly a ministry for you, then you can’t be disappointed and ready to quit if you don’t receive it.
And, you definitely don’t want to be caught whining and complaining. It weakens the cause of Christ.
Yes, I would love to sustain my family well and be recognized with my writing, our music and sharing what God has placed on my heart, and the bible supports that…
1 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV)
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
Galatians 6:6 (NKJV)
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Proverbs 18:16(NKJV)
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
But, if you don’t get the attention that you feel you deserve, God allows us to have our private human moments between ourselves and Him, just as the psalmists did in so many of the lamenting Psalms.
Please don’t publish your woes on social media and chastise the people who you feel are ignoring you.
Stop complaining and begging for support. When people value what God has placed inside you, you don’t have to beg them to listen to you, watch you, or read what you have to share.
I know it get’s frustrating sometimes. Of course, I’ve been guilty of whining and complaining sometimes myself.
Remember the sharp encouragement in Hebrews Chapter 12…
Hebrews 12:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
Have your private moment between you and God…
Thank God for trusting you with His word and your gift and…
Preach on!
Teach on!
Sing on!
Play on!
Write on!
Even if you think no one is listening.
If you bless just one person…that’s good fruit, and good seed in good soil.
STOP WHINING AND START WINNING SOULS!
Work your ministry.
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Leaders are very highly scrutinized and often criticized if they ‘don’t have it all together’. We can find ourselves expecting them to be near perfect. But, when we read the bible, we find that many of God’s most anointed…those whom He gave great responsibility were lacking in many areas.
Growing In Yahuah 