It happens every New Year. Many preachers giving promises of peace and prosperity from the pulpit. First of all let me say that sometimes God does send prophetic proclamations of good news to His people, but not every year.

There are many preachers out there who make the same promise every year…

“This is your year!”

“This is your season!”

But, the prophets in the bible didn’t always deliver good news. In fact, many times they were tasked with warning the people of what was to come. God is loving enough to not let His people be caught off guard without warning.

But, beware of preachers who deliver only good news.

Promising prosperity and good news every year plays on the emotions and hopes of those who God has entrusted to watch over their souls.

Through this many preach through their flesh whether than God’s Spirit. Some to feed their egos. Some to keep members engaged. Some to manipulate money out of the people.

How is EVERY YEAR GOING TO BE YOUR SEASON?

Remember what God told Ezekiel…

Ezekiel 33:1-9  (NKJV)

Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, ³ when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴ then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. ⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will ^[a]save his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

⁷ “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹ Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have ^[b]delivered your soul.

I pray that God grants you a year of peace and prosperity…but I can’t promise it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

There are days and seasons when you feel that your whole world is falling apart, crumbling all around you.

Yes, you’re thankful but that’s why it’s so frustrating. Even though you know EVERYTHING that could possibly go wrong isn’t going wrong there are times when you feel you’re getting your ‘unfair’ share.

Your home…

Your relationships…

Your financing…

Your health…

Your job or career…

Your reputation…

Your life…

May all seem to just unravel at once and not long after you wake up with new hope for each new day… a new challenge slaps you right in the face as soon as you get off your knees from praying.

No one else understands. Everyone has more advice than encouragement.

Have you ever been there?

Are you there right now?

Let me give you one encouraging reminder…

When everything seems to be falling apart all around you, that means that you’re still standing!

When everything is falling apart around you…YOUR STILL STANDING.

Ephesians 6:13-18  (NKJV)

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Remember, that God never promised to be fair… https://beblesstified.com/2018/07/29/why-someone-is-fantasizing-about-you-2/

Keep standing my friend!

BE BLESSTIFED!

Whether it be a vision, a dream, your purpose, or a child, birthing something into this world is designed to come with great pain and some level of difficulty.

John 16:21  (NKJV)

²¹ A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

But, just as some children are unfortunately ‘stillborn’, so are many visions and dreams. Yes, many people go through the pain of birthing their purpose only to let it die. Either from the trauma of what they went through to ‘birth’ it or neglecting their responsibility once it’s ‘born’.

Even though we are born, until God breathes the breath of life into us, we do not yet have ‘life’.

So, if you have gone through the pain and effort to birth your vision, your dream…your purpose, birthing it is only the beginning.

After breathing the breath of life in a child, God has given the parent the responsibility to give that child life.

To feed it.

To nurture it.

To protect it.

And most of all to dedicate to the One who gave it to them…Him.

God gives us the responsibility to give our vision, dream and purpose life, after we have ‘birthed’ them.

To feed it.

To nurture it.

To protect it.

And most of all to dedicate to the One who gave it to us…Him.

Even Yeshua, Christ Jesus, Emmanuel (God with us) had to be protected and nurtured as a child by His ‘parents’…

Matthew 2:13 (NKJV)

¹³ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

Think about this. When a thought is shared whether it be written, typed, spoken, recited or sung…it’s born.

But, that thought does not have life until it’s accepted by others. Every time it’s shared it’s both exhaled and inhaled. That’s breathing. That’s life.

Many of you are either entering, in the midst of or coming out of a birthing season in your life. Remember this. Don’t get so excited over what you birthed that you neglect your responsibility to give it life…and dedicate it to God.

Don’t let what you’ve birthed die.

BE BLESSTIFIED.

Those who say a man isn’t supposed to cry must not know the shortest verse in the bible…

John 11:35 (NKJV)

³⁵ Jesus wept.

Even though He knew the miracle He was about to perform in bringing Lazarus from the grave, He still cried because of His love for that family.

I was facing uncertainty and circumstances that caused me great pain and anxiety. By no means not as severe, but it did remind me of Jesus the night before He faced the cross…

Matthew 26:38  (NKJV)

³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.

I recently reflected on the process of my thoughts one night when I recently cried. It was approximately 10 tears that fell and different reason for each tear.

TEAR DROP 1

Was for the pain and uncertainty in my life on that particular night.

TEAR DROP 2

Was because though I was hurting and concerned, I was battling with the internal conflict of being thankful to God while wanting things to change for the better.

TEAR DROP 3

Fell as I thanked God that things weren’t worse than they were.

TEAR DROP 4

Fell as I thought about the people who were ‘worse off than me’. Those who were praying through the fight of their live because of a terrible disease. Or, those who are being persecuted or placed themselves in harm’s way, discomfort, inconvenience and danger for the cause of Christ.

TEAR DROP 5

Ran down my face as I thought about the pain, embarrassment, and shame my Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus, endured not only to save me from the penalty of sin and death, but for the very tears I was crying at that moment.

TEAR DROPS 6 & 7

Were tears of thanksgiving as I thanked and praised God as I thanked God for His love for me and prayed for those whose pain is more severe than mine and were enduing greater hardship than me.

TEAR DROPS 8 & 9

Were tears of joy as I praised God and told Him that through my pain, I love Him and trust Him and proclaimed Psalm 118: 1…

Psalm 118:1  (NKJV)

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

TEAR DROP 10

As I was determined to face my uncertain situation with confidence in God.

Then I wiped my face and went back to sleep.

Here are a few of Psalms for the next time your tears wet your pillow…

Psalm 3:1-6 (NKJV)

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
² Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah

³ But You, O Lord, are ashield ^[a]for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
⁴ I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.

Psalm 4 (NKJV)

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
^[b]Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

² How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
³ But know that the Lord has ^[c]set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

⁴ Be^[d] angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.

⁶ There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
⁷ You haveput gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
⁸ I will bothlie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 13 (NKJV)

Trust in the Salvation of the Lord13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
² How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
⁴ Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

⁵ But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

As I ran an errand today, the person behind the counter was very rude to me. I tried to lighten the mood, but they weren’t having it. I told them I was just trying to make them smile, and they said, “I smile all the time!” ….Uhhhhh, but they weren’t smiling. I don’t know, maybe this person was going through something.

We all have those days…you know, days that we don’t even want to be bothered with encouraging words! Right?

Some days you don’t want to hear, “It’s going to get better!”

Some days you don’t want to hear, “It won’t always be like this!”

Some days you don’t want to hear, “This too will pass…”

Some days you don’t want to hear, “It’s gonna be alright!”

Some days, you just don’t want to hear it…even when you believe it…you just aren’t in the mood!

We all get frustrated and aggregated sometimes…

People will get on our nerves and try our patience…

People will be rude and disrespectful to us…

Sometimes we will have every right to be upset…

Our challenge as Christians is to respond in the SPIRIT OF LOVE. We can’t allow the worst in people, or situations to bring the worst out in us.

As Galatians 6:1 says we are to restore others in the spirit of meekness.

We are to be humble, long-suffering and patient. Yes, there will be times that we are to be assertive, but we are to remain in God’s character and love in that assertiveness.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says it best…

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs”.

Even if you don’t want to hear this today, put it in your pocket for later…

We must remember that even in our frustration, we always represent God, and it’s our responsibility to always operate in His love.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

We can “Photoshop” inches (or centimeters) off our stomach and years off of our faces. We can add muscles, facial hair and fine tune ourselves to look exactly the way we want others to see us. How many pictures do you take before you’re satisfied? How much editing do you do. No matter how many pics we take, or how many edits we do…each picture is still us.

We live in an age of selfies, live videos and profile pictures. Everyone wants to look their best. Even if people don’t alter their appearance through plastic surgery, they alter their photos with applications and software to digitally alter our images. Hence, comes the term “Photoshop”, that because the software is so well known, it has become the term used for altering ‘images’ much like ‘Google’, ‘Frisbee’, ‘Klennex’ and ‘Styrofoam have all becomeeponyms extending to other brands and uses.

But, those closest to us and God know how we really look.

The same holds true for our souls. People can be one person at home, another while at work and yet another at church, if they go.

No matter who we try to make people think we are, God knows who we really are…

1 Samuel 16:7  (NKJV)

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have ^[a]refused him. For^[b] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

If you ever catch yourself trying to give a false image of yourself, remember…

YOU CAN’T PHOTOSHOP YOUR SOUL

God always sees you as you are.

BE BLESSTIFED!

Have you ever caught yourself complaining about something that you asked God for? You hoped for it. You prayed for it. You thanked God for it when you got it, but now, for whatever reason…you’re complaining about it.

Your job.

Your spouse.

Your child.

Your car.

Your house.

Your __________. You fill in the blank.

It may well be a blessing from God that you didn’t ask for, but God gave it to you. One great example is peace. How many times has God-given you peace and you complained that you were bored?

As I already discussed in SEVEN (7) REASONS GOD HATES COMPLAINING…, complaining is the exact opposite of thanksgiving.

I want to also remind you how much God hates complaining.

1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Complaining usually has one or two of three results…

1. It irritates people because they don’t want to hear it.

2. The pity party creates sympathy from the those who hear.

3. It causes the person or people who hear, and may very well be content at the time, to complain too. I mean they’re good at the time, but then here comes somebody putting their mouth in someone else’s peace. This causes the complainer to be a stumbling block…

Matthew 18:7 (NKJV)

⁷ Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

Pray for God to help you guard your tongue. When you find your self with a complaining spirit, offer up thanksgiving to God instead for His goodness, His mercy, His grace, His abundant love, and His salvation.

This is always appropriate…

Psalm 118:1 (NKJV)

Even if you have a legitimate reason to be upset, be very careful how you respond. Even if you wonder why God is allowing whatever is going on in your life to happen, be very careful that you don’t complain.

You can even lament to God in humility, as in so many of the Psalms, (3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79 & 80 to name a few) however, there’s a difference in a humble lamentation and an arrogant complaint.

Praise God and thank Him when you want to complain.

Turn your pity party into a praise party.

https://www.facebook.com/aldtric.johnson?hc_ref=ARRLM9_gAub71rD8ZDGiE3IYbMFdFEhRyH7la2CKG9oaFKQbVridnZY57iG2e1ZmJMc

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Luke 16:19-21

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.

The beggar Lazarus – He probably got on people’s nerves just as beggars do today. People probably questioned how he lived and his choices. People probably wondered why his family didn’t help him.  They most likely made excuses and justified ignoring him when Jesus clearly said, Give to them who ask and don’t turn them away… 

Matthew 5:42 (NKJV)

42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Jesus also told us to give looking for nothing in return…

Luke 6:35New King James Version (NKJV)

35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

We all run into Lazarus today…at the gas station…on the street…asking you for spare change…the crumbs that fall from your table. What is your reaction? Do you react as the rich man did and turn them ALL away? 

Jesus knows there are scammers and liars. He knows there are those who will use what you give them on things they don’t need. He knows there are  those who will try to take advantage of your kindness. Many people refuse to give money to people who beg because they’re afraid they will use it on alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or will waste it on something wicked. I feel that’s one application of the scripture…”And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold”(Matthew 24:12), because so many people can’t be trusted, the love that many people would ordinarily show has grown cold and withheld. We must therefore not withhold God’s love, but share it with wisdom.

If someone who’s begging is lying, that’s between them and God. God expects us to be obedient, compassionate, wise and plant seeds of His love. Purchase a meal for them. Buy them medicine. Pay for them to have shelter for a night or two, while letting them know that you are sharing the love of God. All it takes is the ‘crumbs that fall from your table’. Sacrifice the cost of a lunch, coffee for a week, sodas…whatever it is that you don’t necessarily need to help someone who begs from you.  I guarantee you won’t give away enough to break your, but you can hold on to enough to do so. Some times God places these people in our paths for a reason…so they can have an encounter with Him through us. So you can ask them if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. So we can be the answer to their prayer to God for help. You can be someone’s confirmation that God hasn’t forgotten them. You could plant a seed in someone who witnesses your act of kindness….God always has a purpose for every encounter.

Remember that  God warned us about turning away those who ask of us….be careful when you do because many times, just as in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus…Christians and the church are the RICH MAN.

BE BLESSTIFIED 

Our society has it twisted today.

Many consider greatness and power to be how much you get, accumulate, collect and receive.

But, true greatness, power and influence can only proven through how much we give, release, disperse, and are willing to let go of.

People are impressed by:

Big bank accounts.

Big muscles.

And,

Big mouths.

As much as science tries to disprove faith, it’s amazing how much it harmonizes with faith.

Big bank accounts, big muscles and big mouths are just like potential and kinetic energy.

As you may remember from school…

Potential energy is energy that is possessed but not released. It’s power isn’t proven until its released.

Kinetic energy is energy in motion. It’s power that has been released. It’s power has been proven.

Big bank accounts mean nothing until the funds are released. God commands that we should always be willing to give. He’s not talking about just giving to get a blessing, but truly giving from our heart to be a blessing. Notice what Yeshua tells us in Luke…

Luke 6:35 (NKJV)

³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend, ^[a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

Our Lord and Savior commands we lend looking for nothing in return. That’s giving.

That’s giving not trying to manipulate blessing out of God for yourself, but actually being a blessing from God through your abundance or lack of abundance.

If you only have $100 to your name, and you give $10 worth of help to someone in need, you’re the most important, powerful and influential. Person in their world in that moment.

Big muscles have accumulated much strength. The appear to be powerful, but that strength isn’t proven until they have actually lifted something or done some work. Muscles are potential energy, but when they become active they are kinetic energy.

Love is faith’s muscle.

No matter how much you claim to love others, it’s only proven through action. Love is only proven through pain, difficult days and sacrifice. It’s easy to claim love when things are going well, but it’s only proven through being hurt, betrayed or through sacrifice…

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 3:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

REAL LOVE ISN’T JUST STATED…IT’S DEMONSTRATED!

Big mouths proclaim promises, claims and threats that sometimes can’t be backed up. Many people love to talk about what they can and will do, but until they back those claims and threats up they are merely potential energy.

When someone does what he or she says it becomes kinetic energy. It becomes power in motion.

1 John 3:17-18 (NKJV)

¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Remember, true power isn’t a closed fist but an open hand.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We all have ‘night seasons’ in our lives. Seasons of struggles, trials, storms and pain. These seasons can seem to go on forever.

As we pray for God to change things in our lives, and walk and work in faith, we can sometimes sense a transition. We can sense that God is gradually changing things.

I have a quick word of encouragement for you.

I want to remind you that no matter how subtle, gradual or slow the transition change may seem that change is always sudden.

Think about the longest, darkest, stormiest night you’ve endured. I’m not using a metaphor here, I’m talking about a literal, long, dark stormy night. No matter how long that night was, when the morning light broke through…it was sudden.

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.

Think about a gradual 180 degree turn. No matter how gradual the change, when you finally begin to go straight is always sudden.

In fact, the action of even gradually changing direction is still sudden. No matter how subtle the turn…you aren’t going straight any more.

I know we often hear the cliché, ‘a change is coming’. If you think about it, your change may not be coming, you may be in your season of change right now. And, though your transition may be slow the change is always sudden.

Please don’t give up in your season of turnaround. DON’T GIVE UP IN THE ‘TURN AROUND’!

Remember that everything that God predicted, declared or promised…no matter how long it took — always happened suddenly.

Isaiah 48:3 (NKJV)

³ “I have declared the former things from the beginning;
They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it.
Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How big is your vision?

God has given you vision and purpose, but He didn’t give it to you only for yourself. And, even though God gave it to you, you cannot carry it out alone.

Even Yeshua, Christ Jesus, had chosen men and women to help carry out His vision and purpose…

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go ^[a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 Luke 8:1-3  (NKJV)

8 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and ^[a]bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, ² and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and ^[b]infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for ^[c]Him from their ^[d]substance.

 Remember this…

Those people who God has placed in your life to help you carry out your vision…

Those people in the circle that God has built around you…

Each of them has a vision and purpose of their own.

As much as God has given you vision and purpose to sustain your life it’s always greater than yourself.

Your vision and purpose has to be great enough, powerful enough and most of all UNSELFISH enough to support the collective visions and purposes of everyone who’s connected to you.

It’s never just about you.

This may also bless you:

WHY YOU CAN’T LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR OWN VISION…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We have all done this. The one and only interaction that you had with someone was a bad one. You left a bad impression. Someone caught you on your worst behavior. Someone caught you on your worst day. Someone caught you in the heat of your anger and frustration. You were rude. You were mean. You were short. You were arrogant. You were proud. You were jealous. You were horny. You were apathetic. You were unholy. You were in your flesh.

It was the one and only time he, she or they interacted with you on a personal level, and you were at your worst behavior.

You were out of your character, but they didn’t know that. It was a lapse in your character, but they were left thinking…that’s just how you are.

Even though we are commanded to love one another, you gave them a good reason to not like you.

That person or those people were left thinking you weren’t a very good person.

Has this happened to you?

How can you fix it? What can you do?

Well who in the bible left a horrible first impression ? Let’s look at one well know example…the Apostle Paul.

We all know that Paul was passionate in his persecution of the church. His first impression was negative to countless Christians whom he persecuted, and his reputation preceded him.

Acts 8:3 (NKJV)

³ As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

 Galatians 1:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

But, once Paul was converted, he began to build a new reputation, which took time. He was even more passionate and more zealous for sharing the word of God than he was when he persecuted the church.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NKJV)

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Through his labor and his sincere effort to share God’s word and God’s love, Paul built a new reputation, and many of those who knew him to be a persecutor of the church recognized him as a devout preacher whom they didn’t fear, but respected.

 Galatians 1:23  (NKJV)

²³ But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

So, what can you do about the bad impressions that you have left behind? What can you do about the bad seeds that you have planted? It’s nothing deep, and really quite simple…

You may never get an opportunity to see those people again, but if you do, make sure they see the real you, no matter how they act.

You have to work hard just as Paul did to leave behind enough new good impressions to outweigh the bad. You have to continue to prove that those bad impressions were not your true character.

You have to establish your reputation so that if any of those people who you hurt, snapped at, provoked to sin, left a bad impression can’t help but think… “That wasn’t him or her”.

Of course, there will be some people who will always be convinced you are the bad person that you introduced to them, but overall, just like Paul, you will be known for who your are.

God has promised that your good character and integrity will protect and preserve you…

Psalm 25:21 (NKJV)

²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Our culture today is quick to place blame, accuse and find fault. Too many times people don’t want solutions, resolution or responsibility, they just want someone to blame.

But, be careful when you find yourself ready to blame someone or accuse someone.

We are made in the image of Yahweh, the LORD God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting. And we are constantly being conformed into the image of His Son, the Lamb of God, Yeshua, Christ Jesus.

That doesn’t mean that we literally ‘look like’ God, but it means we have his character and His attributes. But, look at what Christ told the religious leaders who constantly confronted and confused Him…

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.

Do you want God the Father telling you that your father is the devil?

When we are quick to accuse or place blame, we are not looking like God. We are looking like the enemy.

If you think about it, anytime the words blame or fault are used, responsibility would be much better.

Blame or fault is negative.

Responsibility is positive.

Blame provokes one to defend oneself.

Responsibility provokes one to examine oneself.

Blame causes the problem to persist.

Responsibility gets to resolution.

Blame and accusation is a form of judgement. You have already judged someone guilty of something, and sometimes they may truly be guilty, but if they’re not,  be careful…

Matthew 7:1-2  (NKJV)

7 “Judge^[a] not, that you be not judged. ² For with what ^[b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

So, be careful when you place blame, accuse or jump on the badwagon with someone who is doing so. Remember what Christ said…

Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)

³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

So, whose image are you representing today?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Early in His ministry, Jesus was confronted by the enemy as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11,  He was confronted/attacked while His FLESH was weakest. He had been fasting for 40 days. The enemy tried to catch Jesus in His flesh’s most vulnerable state. But, even though Jesus’ flesh was weak, His will was strong. Jesus knows us, and He knows our flesh gets weak too, that’s why He encourages us…

Matthew 26:41  (NKJV)

⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Even though Jesus’ flesh was weak, His Spirit and resolve was still willing and strong.

Why?

Because He fought off the enemy’s attack with the WORD OF GOD. The word of God is our most powerful weapon against the enemy.

As much as so many Americans are preoccupied with and put faith in their GUNS…our greatest attacks aren’t against the FLESH, but SPIRIT. Even those who attack you physically have succumbed to a spiritual attack that led them to result to violence…it started in the Spirit.

That’s why you can’t bring a gun to a sword fight!

Temptation is an attack of the enemy, and Jesus made the devil back down with the word of God in Matthew 4:1-11.

He was tempted with HUNGER (vs 3)…which many have used as an excuse for violence and theft. Jesus’ response…“IT IS WRITTEN, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. (vs 4)

He was tempted with PRIDE (vs 5,6)…which has led many to violence. Jesus’ response…“AGAIN IT IS WRITTEN, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test”. (vs 7)

He was tempted with POWER (vs 8,9)…which has led many to kill countless people. Jesus’ response…“Be gone Satan! FOR IT IS WRITTEN, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” (vs 10).

Verse 11 tells us that the devil fled…Jesus overcame the temptation/attack with the word of God.

Everything that leads man to violence and gun fire BEGINS with a temptation to the spirit, but Jesus taught us how to fight before the guns are drawn.

Read Matthew 4 :1-11 again for context. Read 2: Corinthians 10:1-6. Read James 4:7. And read Psalm 33:16 and remember….
YOU CAN’T BRING A GUN TO A SWORD FIGHT!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I may lose some readers and/or ‘followers’ for making this post, but it’s my prayer that God will gain some.

Okay, I know this is a morbid unpopular subject, and most people don’t like to talk about or preach about it any more, but as I read Matthew Chapter 7, I can’t read past verses 13 and 14 without drawing the conclusion…that most people will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).

Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because^[a] narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it.

The LORD says, “many go in by it” meaning the gate to destruction, and then He goes on to say, “ few are they who find it” in regard to those who find the way which leads to life. Jesus lets us know that the road that leads to life is difficult.

So, according to scripture, the truth is that MOST people will not enter into God’s Kingdom.

We all have loved ones who died without accepting the Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior. It’s a difficult thought to accept their eternal plight.

That’s why in Jesus’ parable of “The Rich Man and Lazarus”, the rich man who died asked for a message to be sent to his brothers so that they would not end up like Him.. Your loved ones who died outside of Christ would tell you the same thing if they could…

Luke 16:19-31  (NKJV)

¹⁹ “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. ²⁰ But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, ²¹ desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell^[a] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.²² So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ ²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

The awesome news is that if you’re able to read this post, God has given you grace and time to accept Yeshua, (Christ Jesus) as LORD and Savior of your life.

Romans 10:9  (NKJV)

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That’s how easy it is to avoid eternal separation from the presence of God. Now, I know there is much debate over whether it’s a literal Hell, Lake or Fire, whether you burn forever or are immediately consumed. I know there are those who say that the church ‘created’ Hell to control the masses, but all of that is another discussion….all I know is I don’t want to find out the hard way.

As much as I love to encourage you, I wouldn’t be responsible as a minister of God if I didn’t warn everyone of the ultimate consequences of sin…

So, even though it’s difficult, enter into and continue the narrow path. Even though most people ‘won’t make it in’, you can make sure that you do.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Even though I’ve never used them, I can truly understand sometimes why some people use drugs.

Some days responsibilities, burdens and uncertainties can stretch our faith to the limits. That’s what they are designed to do so our faith can grow.

Some nights anxieties won’t allow you to sleep or when you do sleep your mind doesn’t really rest.

We can go through entire seasons of our lives in a ‘fog’. Our days can be a blur and a shadow. As we live through the consequences of our sins, decisions and weaknesses sometimes all we can do is just sigh…

Psalm 90:9 (NKJV)

⁹ For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.

 We can become so lonely, either or with people all around us, to the point that we can feel no one cares about us.

Through both the blessing of so many options or the lack thereof can allow ourselves to grow bored.

These are some of the reasons that people do drugs.

Sometimes it’s not because they are in the depths of indecency but because they are in the depths of despair and depression.

Sometimes it’s not because they are looking for an escape from the world, but they are looking for an escape from pain…physical pain, emotional pain, psychological pain.

Sometimes it’s not because they don’t have a heart, but it’s because their heart has been broken.

Sometimes we can feel we have lost all joy and hope.

In essence, people use drugs to fill the void that God wants to occupy in our lives because He truly loves us and wants us to truly love Him. He wants a real relationship with us and not religion.

But the God of our salvation is ready to:

Strengthen your faith,

Relieve your anxieties,

Give your mind peace and rest,

Lift you from despair and depression,

Deliver from the consequences of your sins, bad decisions and weaknesses,

Heal or help you deal with your pain

He is ready to restore your joy and hope through our LORD and Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus.

God wants to be your drug.

GOD IS HOLY ANTIDEPRESSANT/STIMULANT:

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

 Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

³¹ But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

 Psalm 118:24  (NKJV)

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV)

God is our refuge and strength,
A^[a] very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the ^[b]midst of the sea;
³ Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

 Hebrews 12:12-15  (NKJV)

¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

 GOD IS A HOLY SEDATIVE:

Psalm 94:19  (NKJV)

¹⁹ In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

 John 14:27 (NKJV)

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 Philippians 4:6-7  (NKJV)

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 Numbers 6:24-26  (NKJV)

²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
²⁶ The Lord ^[a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’

 GOD IS A PAIN RELIEVER/HEALER:

Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as ^[a]have a contrite spirit.

 Isaiah 38:16-17 (NLT)

¹⁶ Lord, your discipline is good,
for it leads to life and health.
You restore my health
and allow me to live!
¹⁷ Yes, this anguish was good for me,
for you have rescued me from death
and forgiven all my sins.

 Jeremiah 17:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise.

 James 5:13-16  (NKJV)

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ^16 [a]Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, ^[b]fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

GOD WILL RESTORE YOUR HOPE:

Romans 15:13  (NKJV)

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:8-9  (NKJV)

⁸ whom having not ^[a]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

GOD HAS APPROVED YOUR CELEBRATION

Ecclesiastes 9:7 (NKJV)

⁷ Go, eat your bread with joy,
And drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has already accepted your works.

 Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

 Psalm 30 (NKJV)

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
² O Lord my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
³ O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, ^[a]that I should not go down to the pit.

⁴ Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of ^[b]His holy name.
⁵ For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But ^[c]joy comes in the morning.

⁶ Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be ^[d]moved.”
⁷ Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

⁸ I cried out to You, O Lord;
And to the Lord I made supplication:
⁹ “What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
¹⁰ Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
Lord, be my helper!”

¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off ^[e]my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
¹² To the end that my ^[f]glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

God is ready to fill any and every void in your life, if you allow Him…

Psalm 16 (NKJV)

This article may also blesstify you: BEFORE YOU JUDGE A DRUG ADDICT, READ THIS…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Sex. Faith. Fun. Infidelity. Forgiveness. These are all topics that determine the success or failure of a marriage.

Marriage that works is hard work.

My wife and I have been making our marriage work with the help of God. I’ve counseled and officiated more weddings than I can count in my 22 years as an ordained minister. My wife and I get great joy out of counseling the marriages at in which we belong.

Here are _____ of my BE BLESSTIFIED posts about marriage from various topics. If your marriage is doing well, being challenged or if you’re looking to get married, these topics should be a blessing to you…

IF THE ‘BIG O’ WAS TOO BIG (GOD’S WISDOM)…

WHY ‘LOVE ISN’T ALWAYS LOVE’…#GodlyMarriage

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THINGS YOU HATE ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE…

THE REAL, BOTTOM-LINE REASON MARRIAGES FAIL…

(1) ONE AMAZING, POWERFUL, SIMPLE TIP TO REJUVENATE YOUR MARRIAGE…#30yearsstrong

GODLY MARRIAGE: YOU CAN’T GET ROMANTIC WITH A HYMNAL…

PROOF THAT GOD DOESN’T FORBID ‘RACE MIXING’, BUT DOES FORBID FAITH MIXING…

GODLY MARRIAGE: HOW SEX IS SUBMISSION AND HONOR PERFECTED (Graphic but Holy)…

MARRIAGE ADVICE: IT’S YOUR DIFFERENCES THAT MAKE YOU A PERFECT FIT…

HAVE WE MADE OUR QUEENS…KING? #GODLYMARRIAGE

WHEN GOD CAUSES DIVISION IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP (Yep, I said God)…

WHEN GOD EXPECTS US TO FORGIVE ADULTERY (CHEATING ON GOD)…

ONLY ‘GODLY SEX’ IS GOOD SEX…

YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS ONLY AS STRONG AS WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO FORGIVE…

IS GOD IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU?