Do you ever feel as though you’re running out of time? Like your clock is winding down?

Well you are, and it is.

What are you doing with your time?

Are you working hard to have the finer things in life with little time to enjoy them?

Are you missing your children’s childhood trying to get even more…of more than enough.

Are you just trying to survive?

Are you putting all of your energy, effort, gifts and talents into someone else’s vision?

Are you pursuing your own God-given purpose?

Don’t get your occupation confused with your purpose.

Carpenter was Jesus’ occupation, but that wasn’t His purpose. We didn’t get salvation because He was a carpenter.

We got salvation because He was sensitive to how much time He had to accomplish His purpose and relentlessly pursued. it…
Luke 9:51 (NKJV)
⁵¹ Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

It’s time for you to relentlessly pursue your purpose.

As long as you have breath in your body it’s not too late.

So, make the most of every moment…
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Because yes, we are running out of time.

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FINDING YOUR PURPOSE(S)…

OCCUPATION VS PURPOSE

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Have you ever heard someone ‘successful’ say, “You don’t know what I had to go through to get where I am”?

The struggles, the sacrifices, the costs…

Well, usually the person or people they are telling that to have gone through struggles, sacrifices and paid costs too.

The struggle is both real and mutual…shared by all who are pursuing their God-given purpose.

Be careful not to be unintentionally arrogant in your testimony.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When we feel our efforts are going unrewarded, we can get the point that we’re tired of trying.

Have you ever been there?

Are you there right now?

Does it seem that your best isn’t good enough? Ready to give up?

Think about this. Jesus never ‘tried’ to do anything. The apostles didn’t try to establish the early church.

Jesus just did it. He taught. He preached. He healed. He delivered. He just did it. He did not seek approval, and when He did get approval, He didn’t put too much faith in it…

John 2:23-24 (NKJV)

²³ Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,

Jesus and the apostles didn’t try, they ‘just did it’.

So, if you’re tired of trying, maybe that’s the problem.

Stop trying.

Stop crying.

Stop whining.

Stop trying to get the attention of who you think can help you…

And, focus on working your purpose.

Stop trying and ‘just do it’.

Remember, Jesus never told us to try. He told us to go.

Matthew 28:19-20  (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, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ^[b]Amen.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

So many times we are told what we should do, but not told how to do it. It’s easy to teach and preach what the bible says, but it doesn’t do much good if you don’t give people the tools to do it.

One great example is when we’re told to love our enemies. We all know and acknowledge what Jesus teaches us…

Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your [b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [c]tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

But, we all know that can be easier said than done. Especially what he, she or they wish for and work to your harm. It’s difficult when they try to influence other people against you. God never said it was easy, just possible.

God has really dealt with me concerning this. One of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

We also know what God teaches us through the apostle Paul…

Romans 12:14  (NKJV)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:17-21  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have^[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I see other people on the news who hate me because of my race, my faith, my beliefs, and these are people I’ve never met.

In fact, one of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

So, how do you pray for people who hate you? It’s much easier said than done, especially when someone wishes for and works towards your harm, tries to influence others to hate or hurt your, or when someone hurts someone very dear to you.

HERE ARE 7 SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES…

1. ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU IF & WHERE YOU’RE WRONG

Before you approach God about anyone you consider an enemy, make sure you first ask God to reveal to you if you are wrong in the issue, matter or paradigm. Even if you are 100 percent right, ask God to forgive you if you have allowed the enemy to harden your heart beyond God’s required love for your enemy. We must first consider ourselves before we begin to ‘judge’ anyone else…

Matthew 7:1-5  (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. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

2. PRAY FOR THEIR FAITH IN GOD TO BE ESTABLISHED & INCREASE

We must always remember that God doesn’t love our enemies any less than He loves us. They were created in His image too. God has called us all to be ministers of reconciliation. So, whether your enemy is an unbeliever or if they are a believer, if they are acting outside His will and character, it’s His desire that they be brought back into right relationship with Him. That’s where our prayers come in. God expects us to be ministers of reconciliation to Him…

2 Corinthians 5:17-20  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

3. PRAY FOR THEIR REPENTANCE

If we aren’t careful, someone can hurt us or someone we love to the point that we can find ourselves not wanting them to repent. That will take away our excuse to be angry at them. But, it’s Gods will that everyone repent and turn to Him…

2 Peter 3:9  (NKJV)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward ^[a]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

4. PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION

There are people that we can find so mean, evil and malicious that we don’t want them to be saved. Knowing that someone is in sin or evil is not judging them, but when we decide they are not worthy of salvation, that’s judgement and condemnation. What if God thought you not worthy of salvation when you were at your worst? And, as Matthew 7:1-2 reminds us, what ever judgement we are placing on someone else we are placing that same judgment on ourselves. Plus, if your enemy is a Christian and they are just in a hardhearted, backslidden, or weak moment, you may be placing condemnation on yourself as well…

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

So, always ask God to forgive you for any judgment or condemnation you have placed on someone.

5. PRAY THAT THEY PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT

It’s also God’s will that we all lead fruitful and productive lives…

John 15:8  (NKJV)

⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Once your enemy is sincerely leading a fruitful life, they can no longer truly be your enemy. You are then on the same team working for the same kingdom goals. Even if you aren’t necessarily friends, you will no longer be enemies.

6. PRAY SINCERELY, NOT TRYING TO MANIPULATE GOD TO GIVE YOU REVENGE

It’s a dangerous thing asking God to give someone what they deserve: SO YOU THINK THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED…REALLY??? Again, that’s judgment, especially when God hasn’t given any of us what we deserve. Too many times people take Romans 12:20 out of context. They merely want to pray for their enemy or even help them to ‘heap coals of fire on their head’. That is the wrong motivation. Sometimes people can even say, “I’m praying for you as an insult, rather than in sincerity: NEVER LET YOUR “GOD BLESS YOU” REALLY MEAN “F*** YOU”…

7. PRAY THAT GOD FORGIVES YOU FOR BEING SOMEONE’S ENEMY

We all have situations in our lives that we have been or are someone’s enemy. Not because they just don’t like us, but because we have done them wrong. We have worked against them. We have spoken evil against them. This could even be someone who we don’t know or doesn’t know us…It could be a public figure. Even though it’s wrong for them to do so, we have given some people good reason to hate us. Always ask God to forgive you for when you’re someone else’s enemy.

Romans 3:23  (NKJV)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Praying for our enemies in sincerity isn’t easy, but it is possible.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

No matter how confident we may seem to be, we all have days that we just don’t know what to do. We have those moments when we get away to ourselves just to fall apart for a few minutes. Sometimes, we don’t want anyone to see us. And, sometimes we do.

Sometimes we want someone to see our tears, put their hand on our shoulders and tell us, “It’s gonna be alright”. At that point we don’t even need a solution.

A well-timed, “It’s gonna to be alright” is all the encouragement it takes sometimes to give us strength we need until we get to our solution.

Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)

²⁵ Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But a good word makes it glad.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ Therefore ^[a]comfort each other and ^[b]edify one another, just as you also are doing.

You are more powerful than you may realize. Be sensitive to when God is specifically sending you to someone to encourage them.

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THIS IS FOR THE DAYS YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE BEING ENCOURAGED…

ENCOURAGE YOUR ENCOURAGER…TODAY!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I’ve written about this before, but I’m addressing it again because I’m concerned about our traditions that blatantly go against the bible, but we feel compelled to keep them going.

The constitution demands that the President of the United States be bound by oath or affirmation per Article II, Section One, Clause 8 (Wikipedia)…

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”^[

There is absolutely nothing wrong with ‘affirming’ that you will execute your duties, but swearing to do so is a sin…

Matthew 5:33-37 (NKJV)

³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to those of ^[a]old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let ^[b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Calling it an ‘oath of office’ and doing so on a bible that forbids it is downright foolish.

Can anyone give one, just one reason justifying this when the bible forbids it?

And this is what’s really absurd. When someone swears on a bible (such as in court) who has no regard for the word of God, what weight does that carry? If they don’t believe in God, they have no problem lying with their hand on that bible.

Quite frankly, some of our traditions need to die. Insisting that our elected officials or people testifying in court swear on a bible is sin.

Can you think of any other traditions that are in conflict with the word of God?

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BE BLESSTIFIED!

The battlefield or the football field. Which is an appropriate field of protest?

Again, here’s another spiritual post with political implications. There are many people so enraged by Nike’s decision to feature Colin Kaepernick as a part of the 30^th anniversary of their “Just Do It” campaign that they are burning their Nike gear and vowing to boycott the brand.

They are enraged at Colin’s, and other athletes’, peaceful kneeling during the national anthem protest of police brutality and racial injustice. They contend:

1. It’s disrespectful to the American flag and those servicemen, servicewomen and veterans both living and dead who have fought under that flag.
2. The football field is not the proper place to protest.
3. That Nike is seeking to profit from what they view as disrespect.

Many of these same people however are very passionate about their support of the Confederate flag and their support of its historical significance.

As much as I respect anyone’s right to feel the way they do, I have to ask, why aren’t the people who are boycotting Nike boycotting the Confederate flag too.

Here are 3 reasons why I feel this is an act of blatant hypocrisy:

1. During the Civil War, an unpeaceful protest, people who fought under the Confederate flag fought against and killed soldiers fighting under the American flag that they claim to hold so dear. That was another country and another government fighting against the United States and our flag. How much more can you disrespect American soldiers than honoring the symbol of the unpeaceful protest that fought against and killed them?
2. If the football field is an inappropriate place for a peaceful protest, then how were the battlefields of the Civil War an appropriate place for the unpeaceful protest of war?
3. Many companies today profit from the Confederate flag and paraphernalia that is viewed by many as disrespectful to many American citizens.

Jesus constantly confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders about their hyprocrisy…

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.

 Matthew 15:1-3 (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?

 Who has the right to determine which protests are acceptable and which are not? How arrogant is that?

It’s amazing how many people consider protesters as whiners until there’s an issue that is important to them.

The reasons behind the kneeling protest are no less important and no less honorable than those who chose to protest and fight against the American flag during the Civil War. To say anything otherwise is the height of arrogance, selfishness and hypocrisy.  When will we learn to disagree without insults?

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WHY I WILL NEVER HAVE AN US AGAINST THEM ATTITUDE… 

WHEN FOOTBALL BECOMES YOUR GOD (Self-Check)…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Isn’t it interesting that people who feel that ‘people are too easily offended these days’ are so easily offended by those they feel are so easily offended?

God still holds the person who offends accountable, not the person who is offended.

Luke 17:1 (NKJV)

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

Before you insensitively decide that people are too insensitive, remember our God is sensitive.

Exodus 34:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

BE BLESSTIFIED!

As a man of faith in God, I enjoy many of the benefits that have come through science. But, when it comes to the origin of the universe, how life began on earth and many other things, science and religion are at odds. In those instances, I like to define science as the attempt to give a physical explanation to the spiritual world.

Even though they are at odds, the Bible and science agree in at least 3 areas.

1. LIFE BEGAN IN AFRICA/MESOPOTAMIA

Science

Most archeologists call eastern Africa the cradle of humankind. ‘Pre-historic’ remains have also recently been found in Morocco, which is still Africa.

The Bible

Scripture also affirms that life began in Africa. Notice the location given for the Garden of Eden…

Genesis 2:10-14 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. ¹¹ The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. ¹² And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. ¹³ The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. ¹⁴ The name of the third river isHiddekel;^[a] it is the one which goes toward the east of ^[b]Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Wikipedia describes the location of these rivers…

Genesis 2:10–14 lists four rivers in association with the garden of Eden: Pishon, Gihon, Chidekel (the Tigris), and Phirat (the Euphrates). It also refers to the land of Cush—translated/interpreted as Ethiopia, but thought by some to equate to Cossaea, a Greek name for the land of the Kassites.^[22] These lands lie north of Elam, immediately to the east of ancient Babylon, which, unlike Ethiopia, does lie within the region being described.^[23] In Antiquities of the Jews, the first-century Jewish historian Josephus identifies the Pishon as what “the Greeks called Ganges” and the Geon (Gehon) as the Nile.^[24]

2. ENERGY CAN’T BE CREATED OR DESTROYED

Science

First of all in science, laws are absolute. They are non-negotiable. Even if we try to challenge or resist them with technology, the laws will always win. That being said, THE LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but only transferred from one form to another.

The Bible

God is absolute. He is non-negotiable. Even if we try to resist or challenge Him with our technology, God will always win. God is an all-powerful Spirit. He is eternal. He was not created and can’t be destroyed. And yes, He can be transferred from one form to another.

Isaiah 40:28 (NKJV)

²⁸ Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

Philippians 2:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it ^[a]robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but ^[b]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

To me, The Law of Conservation of Energy sounds like science’s attempt to define God.

3. LIFE SPREAD FROM WATER TO LAND

Science

Most of us remember from school that our science books taught that the earliest and smallest life on earth was first in the waters and then on land.

The Bible

Whether you believe Genesis is literal or symbolic, a literal week or thousands of years, all believers in God agree that He created the heavens and the earth in the exact order of Genesis. And in that order, God created the waters and the creatures in the waters first, just as science teaches…

Genesis 1:20-21 (NKJV)

²⁰ Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living ^[a]creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the ^[b]firmament of the heavens.” ²¹ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both the Bible and science agree in such foundational areas. Here’s the thing. God created those brilliant scientific minds that contend He is not real. And, who can really prove that the sun is 93,000,000 miles away, or that the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second. Who can travel that distance or speed to prove it? It takes faith in the formulas and scientists who ‘discovered’ these scientific ‘facts’.

I guess science and the Bible agree on faith too.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We all go through trials and storms in life, but there are some people who can really relate to what Job said…

Job 14:1 (NKJV)

14 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of ^[a]trouble.

While some people seem to have lives filled with ease and pleasure, there are others who feel that their lives have been one long constant storm. Yes, they have moments of joy and happiness, but that comes only through pushing through pain, struggle, frustration, resistance, difficulty and disappointments.

Some even question are they going through a perpetual curse. But long stormy seasons doesn’t always mean there’s a curse. Think about the man born blind in the book of John Chapter 9…

John 9:1-3 (NKJV)

9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

As you continue to read the account of what happened we find that Jesus healed this man by spitting on the ground and making clay of His holy saliva and anointing the blind man’s eyes.

This was an adult man, and his days and nights were just as long as ours. He had no idea that he would be healed that day. My point is this…

The man wasn’t blind because of anything his mother, father or he had done, but so God could get glory out of his life at the appointed time. He spent many years blind.

There are people who spent their entire lives as slaves and this went on for generations.

Think about the fact that when Israel was enslaved in Egypt for over 400 years the bible doesn’t say it was because they had fallen away. It simply says that a king came along that did not know Joseph and they felt threatened…
Exodus 1:7-11 (NKJV)
⁷ But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and ^[a]grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
⁸ Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ⁹ And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; ¹⁰ come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” ¹¹ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.

For generations people lived their entire lives in a ‘storm’.

There are many people today who are living their lives through constant challenges…

Through sicknesses…

Through oppression…

Through poverty…

Through abuse…

Through danger…

If you feel you’re life has been an ongoing storm, please remember that God loves you and He trusts some of us with higher levels of storms, trials and trouble to bring glory to His name.

No, it’s not fair, and I can’t promise you that it will soon come to an end.

Remember God heard the cries of His people in Egypt. He healed the blind man in John 9 after his long ‘stormy’ season of blindness.

What I can do is encourage you to be strong in the Lord and trust Him. Just as that man born blind, God is looking to get glory out of your life. As the days turn into weeks, the weeks into months and the months into years…be strong. Every man and woman of God who endured went through the same long days and long nights.

God has not forsaken you. He loves you. Just be ready for how God chooses to get glory out of your story.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We need to learn to replace the words ‘blame’ and ‘fault’ with ‘responsible’.

Blame and fault are negative; Responsibility is positive.

Blame shifts responsibility or refuses to accept it.

Fault encourages one to pass the buck to protect themselves.

Have you ever blamed someone else when you were responsible?

Telling someone ‘I blame you’  or ‘it’s your fault will likely make them defensive.

But, telling them ‘It’s your responsibility’ or ‘we all make mistakes’ is more will likely make them be accountable.

The enemy is always looking for opportunities to provoke us to sin so he can blame and accuse us.

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.

Romans 14:11-12  (NKJV)

¹¹ For it is written:

¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Galatians 6:5 (NKJV)

⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.

God expects us to hold one another responsible and accountable, sometimes with rebuke…

Proverbs 27:17  (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Let me first quickly say this. Warning people of consequences of sin is not judgement. That’s our responsibility. Judgment is deciding what’s in their heart and deciding in your heart that they aren’t worthy of God’s grace and mercy.

Telling someone “you can go to Hell for that” isn’t judgment. Telling someone “you will go to Hell for that” is judgment.

Judgement takes place in the heart, but is always ‘pronounced’, stated, verbalized.

How many times have on looked on in joy when something unfortunate happened to someone thinking, “That’s what you get”?

How many times has someone confronted you and you had to ‘eat your words’?

In the book of Isaiah God makes promise to those who love Him…

Isaiah 54:17  (NKJV)

¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.

Here’s the Amplified Version…

Isaiah 54:17 (AMP)

¹⁷ 
“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;
And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn.
This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.

God promises to give us vindication when people ‘put their mouths on us’ and say  that we are deserving of ‘judgement’, the wrath of God, getting what you deserve…for whatever reason. God also promises that WE will be the ones who condemn those who rise up and open their mouths in judgement against us, and that condemnation comes from Him. So…

Be careful when you say someone is getting what they deserve.

Be careful in when you say that someone is not worthy of forgiveness for what they have done.

Be careful when you say that someone doesn’t love God because of their particular weaknesses with which they may be struggling.

Be careful when someone asks for forgiveness, says they’re sorry, or even accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and you say, “They don’t really mean it”.

Be careful when you say what someone else has in their heart…

Especially when they too are a part of the Body of Christ.

We all HAVE sinned and WILL CONTINUE to short of the glory of God…

Romans 3:23  (NKJV)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Because just as much as God has promised to vindicate His children when people rise up in judgment against them, this promise also works among His children too. We must be very careful how we carelessly or with forethought open our mouths in judgement against one another within the Body of Christ.

We as Christians are going to have different political, social, economic and spiritual views. Those views can ignite passionate disagreements and feelings that lead to judgment of peoples’ faith and love for God.

Just as much as you may cling to this promise when someone has judged you, God will hold you accountable too when you judge someone else. God promises justice.

Be very careful how you talk about fellow believers, even when they are wrong because you are wrong sometimes too.

If this blessed you, you may also enjoy this post, SO YOU THINK THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED…REALLY???

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How many times have you heard someone say that actors, singers, athletes…those whose job is to entertain us should remain silent with it comes to American and world politics and social issues?

They say they are unfairly taking advantage of their platform and influence in matters that they do not know? They say they are using their notoriety to push their own personal agenda. Wow! How arrogant is that?

Doesn’t everyone use their notoriety, influence, platform, connections to push their own agenda?

Isn’t everyone in America supposed to have a voice no matter what their occupation?

I contend that any entertainer or actor who is a member of the Body of Christ has the responsibility to use their platform, influence and notoriety for the cause of Christ.

How better can you leverage your talent to entertain or athletic ability than to use your influence for any political or social cause that has godly implications?

Anyone who doesn’t use their God-given platform responsibly is wasting it.

God gave 12 unknown men notoriety and the platform to change the world and only one of them wasted it (Judas). Then comes Saul/Paul, who was well-known, a religious elite superstar in his fight against the church.

Philippians 3:4-5 (NKJV)

⁴ though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

Once converted by Jesus and appointed apostle to the Gentiles, he used his influence to build the kingdom of God instead of fight against it. Of course it got him in trouble with those in authority. He took his fight for the cause of Christ all the way to the political capital of the Roman empire by appealing to Caesar while on trial.

Acts 25:10-12  (NKJV)

¹⁰ So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. ¹¹ For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

I may not agree with every entertainment and athlete activist, but they would be wasting their fame if they didn’t use it for what they believe in…especially those who call themselves Christian.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It seems that social media has revealed how much some people didn’t pay attention when they were being taught grammar in school. It’s amazing how people sometimes type the way they talk. Plus, understanding grammar and sentence structure is key to getting good understanding of scripture.

Think about how much one comma totally changes the meaning of this sentence…

Luke 23:43  (NKJV)

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:43 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The first example is written in the NKJV. It implies that you will be in paradise today.

In the second example, I moved the comma. It implies that the statement is being said today, but not necessarily that you will be in paradise today.

Saying or writing ‘mines’, ‘these ones’, or I seen is never appropriate, but even at that, there are still at least 4 instances when bad grammar says it best…

1. QUOTING

When you quote someone, you can’t clean up the grammar to make it sound better. That’s not what they said. We must always work to quote people as accurately as possible.

2. CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE

In some conversations using incorrect grammar is simply more appropriate. It just doesn’t make sense to try to clean up cultural clichés, colloquialisms and idioms. Sometimes ‘y’all’, ‘you guys’, ‘up in here’, ‘alls I know is’,  etc. makes more sense. Can you think of others?

3. MORE IMPACTFUL

Sometimes it’s just more impactful to say “I ain’t gonna do it” rather than “I’m not going to do it”! Plus, it can help prevent one from using profanity and unclean language to be more impactful.

4. IN A SONG, POEM OR WRITING

Many of our favorite or classic songs, poems, and literature would be ruined by proper grammar. Think of how silly the old spiritual, “Down By The Riverside” would sound if it said, “I’m not going to study war any more”. That language gives us the history, time, culture and context of when that song was created. Can you think of a song, poem, book or work of art when good grammar would totally mess it up?

It’s good to sound smart, but let us never be too smart for our own good.

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All of us want to be appreciated and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem comes in when we allow not being appreciated to not only cause us disappointment and stress, but to allow us to stop doing what God expects us to do in regard to others and Him.

Learning to have joy, even when being unappreciated, is a part of being spiritually mature.

We are not going to be appreciated when we have selflessly given our best and sacrificed for others.

They won’t always get it…

They won’t always care…

They will sometimes even say, “I didn’t ask you to do it!”

We won’t always be appreciated or respected…

At home…

At work…

Even in your church.

You won’t always be appreciated not only by those who don’t know you, but also by those who are closest to you. WHY THE ONE’S YOU LOVE MOST SOMETIMES DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU…

The truth be told, when you’re honest with yourself, do you fully appreciate everyone that you should? Do you fully appreciate the sacrifice that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made for our sins?

You won’t ever experience the true peace and joy that God intends for our lives until you learn to have joy when being unappreciated. God still loves us and gives us His best even when we don’t appreciate Him. Oh, yes we say we do, but our actions sometimes say otherwise. Every time we complain, we ‘say’ we don’t appreciate God’s sovereignty over our lives…

Philippians 2:14 N (NKJV)

¹⁴ Do all things without ^[a]complaining and disputing,^[b]

 1 Corinthians 10:10  (NKJV)

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

7 REASONS GOD HATES COMPLAINING (BIBLE)…

I recommend, if you already don’t,  that you make asking God for help in learning to have joy even when unappreciated a part of your regular prayer life. Yes, it’s hard, but that’s one of the reasons He told us through the apostle Paul that we can do all things through Christ…

Philippians 4:13  (NKJV)

¹³ I can do all things through ^[a]Christ who strengthens me.

Learn to have joy and be satisfied in seeing the fruit of the good seeds you’ve planted even when those who benefit don’t appreciate you or acknowledge you. And realize that some never will. Just as some never will appreciate God.

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God’s wisdom in how He designed us both physically and spiritually is truly amazing.

PAIN, we all know, whether it be physical, psychological or emotional is an indicator that something is wrong. It’s an alert that we need to take action to protect ourselves, to preserve ourselves…to survive.

If your hand gets too close to fire, God has designed us with a physical warning to immediately move.

CONSCIENCE is a God given indicator to those who aren’t saved that something is wrong spiritually. It lets us know that our thinking, our behavior, our attitude, our character has stepped outside of what is acceptable to God.

Conscience is our internal meter of right and wrong designed to lead us to God…

Paul elaborately describes this in the Romans chapter 2…

Romans 2:14-15  (NKJV)

¹⁴ for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

 And, it leads to reaction much like some of those to whom Peter preached in Acts chapter 2…

Acts 2:37  (NKJV)

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

CONVICTION is when those who have accepted Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior and been filled with His Holy Spirit are convinced of their sin. There are times when we can become so hardened that our conscience doesn’t bother us, but when we have accepted God’s gift of salvation, it is impossible to be comfortable and content in sin without His Holy Spirit producing the spiritual guilt, godly sorrow and shame that leads to repentance and change.

Jesus told this to His disciples before He went to the cross, as recorded in John chapter 16…

John 16:7-8  (NKJV)

⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Conviction leads to reactions much like those in 2 Corinthians chapter 7, the response to His strict rebuke of the behavior of those who were in the Body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10  (NKJV)

⁹ Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Conscience and Conviction are both necessary spiritual pain. So, just like physical pain…

If your hand gets too close to hell fire, God has designed us spiritual warnings to immediately move.

Don’t ignore your pain!

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Have you ever had someone ask you for help or just want to talk at a time when you…

Were busy…

Were not interested…

Didn’t feel like talking…

For whatever reason felt that they didn’t deserve your time…

Or you were overwhelmed with your own issues, concerns or problems?

Remember this.

That ONE time someone calls you and you decline their call, may the ONE time that they needed you most.

That ONE time that someone needs you when the world seems heavy on your shoulders may be the one time you save their life.

God is building us up to be strong enough to still help someone else even when we are at our weakest point…and it’s not easy.

When Jesus told us that there’s no greater love than when we lay down our lives for our friends, He wasn’t necessarily talking about dying to do so. ( YOU DON’T HAVE DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE…)
John 15:13 (NKJV)
¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Time is something that you can’t get back. Every time you give up your time to help someone else is giving up little portions of your life…

So if someone says they need you, please think twice before you decide you don’t have time for them.

God answers some calls for help through you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Please don’t let this world and even many of those in the church’s perverted view of the word ‘blessed’. Here are quick reasons to stop right now to stop and tell God thank you…

CLEAN WATER

There are many people in the world who have to walk for miles for access to dirty water. But, most of the people reading this today not only have access to clean water, but they have it on demand in their homes through multiple faucets. How much money do you spend on bottled water? Think about it, while some people have to dig…and dig…and dig searching for wells or have to drink the same water as their livestock, most of us have water to wash our vehicles and water our lawns.

Stop right now and thank God for the blessing of clean water.

ENOUGH FOOD FOR TODAY

God told us in His word that we are not to worry about what we should eat or drink. Not only that He told us not to worry about what we are to eat and drink tomorrow. There are people not only in third world countries without plenty of food to eat, but also many in lands of abundance.

Look again at Matthew Chapter 6…

Matthew 6:25-34 N (NKJV)

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one ^[a]cubit to his ^[b]stature?

²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not ^[c]arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

If you went to bed last night with one slice of bed left or one can in your pantry, you went to bed with more than enough than yesterday…that’s overflow.

Stop right now and thank God for the blessing of enough food for today.

ABILITY TO BATHE YOURSELF

I think this is one of the most easy-to-overlook blessings. There are many people in the world who don’t have the full use of their body. Their minds are sharp, but their bodies, for whatever reason won’t do what their mind tells it to do. Having to depend on someone else to bathe your or clean you after you use the bathroom can be very humiliating. Many people have to deal with that daily.

Stop right now and thank God for the blessing of being able to bathe yourself.

Psalm 103:1-2 (NKJV)

 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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.

If this blessed you, please check out my post and video…WHY SOMEONE IS FANTASIZING ABOUT YOU…

WATCH ALDTRIC JOHNSON PREACH SIBLING RIVALRY: WHEN GOD’S CHILDREN THINK HE’S NOT BEING FAIR

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Jesus told His disciples that there will always be poor people…
Matthew 26:11 (NKJV)
¹¹ For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

How many times have you made eye contact with a poor person, a beggar, a homeless person, and you quickly looked away because you didn’t want to be bothered? You had enough money to help one of their immediate needs. Of course you couldn’t ‘save them’, but you could give them one meal…a pair of shoes…a room for one night.

Often we don’t help because we say they’re scam artists, or reason that they brought their situation on themselves and, yes we must use wisdom and discernment in how we give.

But, I do want to remind you though that God has given us the responsibility to showing kindness to those who are in need.

I even go as far to say that when someone in genuine need reaches out to you, that they are doing you a favor…they are giving you and opportunity.

Here are 7 reasons it’s really a blessing to have someone in need reach out to you…

THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OBEDIENT

In Old and New Testaments, God has given us the instruction to help those who are in need. And, we don’t even have to wait for them to ask us. We simply have to see them or notice them…
Deuteronomy 15:7 (NKJV)
⁷ “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the ^[a]gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
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.
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?
Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV)
²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with hishands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

When someone asks you for help, they are giving you an opportunity to be obedient to God.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE

Jesus expects us to love one another, just as He loves us. And, to demonstrate that love by sharing it… REAL LOVE ISN’T JUST STATED…IT’S DEMONSTRATED!

He then taught us that there’s no greater love than when we lay down our lives for others. Well, the fact is that YOU DON’T HAVE DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE…, When you sacrifice your time and money, you are giving up yourself. You can’t get time back, when you take the time to talk to someone, to pray with them and to help them you are giving back something you can’t get back. You are giving little moments of your life for others, just as Jesus has given His life for us.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THERE ARE STILL GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE ANSWER TO A PRAYER

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE BEHIND A GOOD TESTIMONY FOR ANYONE WHO WITNESSES

THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF

​Transparent Testimony:

A few years ago I was sent an invite to receive a monthy Christian newsletter from a group of ministers at a church I used to attend in Memphis.

I have to admit it hurt and offended me that I wasn’t asked to contribute, especially since I was writing professionally for a living. Hey, we all have human moments. Then I asked myself, if they asked me, would I be able to have good content once a month.

Fast forward to 2016 when God leads me to begin my website, BEBLESSTIFIED.COM. I made a commitment to make an original post every day. Since then God has given me inspiration every day. Some days, I can’t believe what God places inside me. I love blogging!

Oh yeah, being ignored at that church led me to the church that God meant for me to be. Had that previous Pastor not ignored me, I might still be ‘planted in the wrong field’.

I’m saying all this to say, that if God is allowing you to be excluded or ignored…maybe He is leading you down YOUR path, and not someone else’s.

Thanks for stopping by and…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You may also enjoy this…

THE BLESSING IN WHEN THEY IGNORE YOU…

How many times have you heard someone say, “You aren’t supposed to judge people”, or “only God can judge me” after being called out or warned of the consequences of a particualr sin? Calling out sin is not judgment or condemnation, it’s our responsibility as members of the Body of Christ. And, since we are all sinners saved by grace…

Sin will ALWAYS be called out by ANOTHER sinner saved by grace.

People love to say, “you can’t tell me anything because you sin too”. They will even call you a hypocrite.

Well, all lawyers break the law (they may speed). All doctors get sick sometimes ( they may even smoke, have a poor diet or never exercise), but that doesn’t diminish the professionalism of their advice.

How many people would ignore their doctor’s advice to eat healthier to save their lives just because the doctor was overweight?

God hates sin but loves the sinner.

He expects us to hold one another accountable and warn one another about the consequences of sin.

Romans 6:23  (NKJV)

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the ^[a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 6:1  (NKJV)

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Proverbs 11:30  (NKJV)

Has God anointed you? Are you amazed sometimes at what He does through you? Do you ever do anything, look back and say to yourself, “That was clearly not me, but God!”

You’ve been anointed, empowered and ‘gifted’ for His purpose. However, there are times that sincere people mishandle their anointing. So, allow me to give you some of the ‘fruit’ of my anointing, experience and mistakes I’ve made…

Here are 7 things to remember about managing your anointing.

1. YOUR ANOINTING WILL CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TO BE THREATENED BY YOU

Yes, of course we know that God’s presence in you will offend people who don’t believe as you do. Remember how restless unclean spirits sometimes became whenever Jesus came around…

Luke 9:41-42 (NKJV)

⁴¹ Then Jesus answered and said, “O ^[a]faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and ^[b]bear with you? Bring your son here.” ⁴² And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

And, remember how an unbelieving crowd reacted, even after seeing Jesus casting out demons. They wanted Him to leave.

Mark 5:14-17 (NKJV)

¹⁴ So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵ Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. ¹⁶ And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon possessed, and about the swine. ¹⁷ Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

But, unfortunately there are also those in the Kingdom of God who will feel threatened by what God has placed inside you. Some pastors, some ministers, some singers, some evangelists, some artists, some authors, some co-workers, some relatives, some writers…some bloggers. They can sometimes feel your abilities are a threat to them. Don’t let yourself be threatened by someone else’s gifts. We must always remember that this isn’t a competition…we’re all on the same team.

2. REGULARLY FEED AND NURTURE YOUR ANOINTING

No matter how naturally and easily things may seem to come to you, never get to the point that you think your anointing doesn’t need to be fed. Regularly spend quality time with God by getting away to yourself, to read and study His word, meditate on it, and allow God to minster to you. Make sure that everything that you do is backed up by and measured against the word of God. Prove every inspiration, every thought, everything that you feel God has placed inside you and measure it by the word of God in full context of the whole bible, not cherry picking scriptures to satisfy how you want to see it.

Remember what God told us through the Apostle Paul…

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

3. DON’T JUST USE YOUR ANOINTING FOR YOURSELF

God has anointed you to build the kingdom of God, but He also gave it to you to sustain your life…

1 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

1 Timothy 5:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.

Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

However, there are some gifted men and women of God who have gotten their priorities mixed up. They’ve been distracted, and caught up in using their anointing for themselves, and neglecting God’s kingdom. Remember why God has blessed you. And, also remember that you don’t have to prove to anyone else how anointed you are…that’s pride. It’s very easy to become intoxicated by the pats on the back, encouragement, praise and even financial blessing that can come from what God’s placed inside you, but never get to the point that you expect all those things or that you’re discouraged if you don’t receive them.

4. DON’T BECOME ARROGANT OR CONCEITED

My wife is a Gospel Jazz artist, and I can’t tell you how many events we have attended with other artists who were, ‘smelling themselves’. They were good, they had a ‘following’, and they acted as though they were above everyone else there. I’ve also run into pastors and preachers who behaved the same way. REALLY? So many men and women of God have the charisma that commands respect and adoration. It’s very easy to become arrogant or conceited if you aren’t careful. It’s a very subtle way the enemy can manipulate a sincere man or woman of God. Never let your gift allow pride to be your greatest weakness. Remember what Jesus told us…

Matthew 23:12 (NKJV)

¹² And whoever exalts himself will be ^[a]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be ^[b]exalted.

1 Peter 5:2-3 (NKJV)

² Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but ^[a]willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ³ nor as being ^[b]lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

5. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONDEMN OTHER MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD FOR THEIR WEAKNESSES

Before you condemn any man or woman of God for their weakness or in mishandling their anointing, remember this… even the most anointed men and women the bible had their own personal shortcomings and failures. No matter how anointed or prominent, no one has ever mastered everything they preach and teach. And, when you have an opportunity, reason with them in humility, bearing in mind that you too can be tempted.

Galatians 6:1 (NKJV)

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

6. NEVER CLAIM GOD’S GLORY FOR YOURSELF

No matter how much education, how powerful, how persuasive, how influential no matter how much ‘weight’ God what’s on your life, remember He’s the one this carrying you. Never forget the source of your abilities. Never claim God’s glory for yourself. If you ever find yourself saying, “I did…”, say instead, “I AM did…” We all know what God said…

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before ^[a]a fall.

7. YOUR ANOINTING DOESN’T DISQUALIFY YOU FROM HAVING FUN

You’re anointing does not require that you be serious all the time, or disqualify you from having fun godly fun in your life. It’s okay to laugh, to have a simple glass of wine, to enjoy your wife and family, to dance… Your anointing needs balance. It’s the gift of God to enjoy your life…

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)

²² A merry heart ^[a]does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Fulfilling your purpose and walking in your anointing can be DRAINING. It’s okay to laugh and love as long as you remain within God’s character and His will.

Manage your anointing wisely:-)

BE BLESSTIFIED!