Prayer is a privilege of a real relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Prayer is a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare. But, unfortunately we can unintentionally or intentionally misuse prayer.

“I’m praying for you.” We need to very careful how, and why we say it. How many times have you said it without sincerity or out of malice as a retaliation in an argument? How many times have you heard it said out of arrogance rather than concern?

God lets us know through James that prayers is ineffective and unheard when we pray with the wrong motives in our hearts…

James 4:3  (NKJV)

³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Be careful when we pray for others, about others and with others that we are praying for God’s will to be accomplished in their lives and not our own.

Make sure we aren’t trying to get them to do what we think that should or want them to do. Think or act as we want them to but to submit to God’s will for their lives.

Be careful how you pray for your family members, coworkers, church members, rivals and enemies.

For example, it’s easy to be mistreated at work and pray to God out of your frustration or anger, rather than out of love. It’s easy for us to ask God to give people what we feel they deserve. SO YOU THINK THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED…REALLY???

It’s easy to pray for God to ‘change’ your spouse, child, friend, rival or whomever to suit how you would like for them to be. I’m not talking about when we want them to be saved or conform to God’s will, but when we selfishly want to control how they are, who they are, what they do, who they see, etc. through prayer.

In short…when we use prayer as a weapon of personal warfare rather than spiritual warfare.

Yes, we can misuse prayer if we aren’t careful. I have done it. Have you?

1 Peter 3:12 (NKJV)

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^[a]

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How much of your precious time have you lost to worrying? God has given us the cure in two simple verses. Nothing deep here, just God’s powerful word and our challenge and responsibility for us to put them into practice…

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.

 Philippians 3:13  (NKJV)

¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do ,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

And yes, I know that ‘forgetting the past’ can be easier said than done. Maybe this will help…FORGETTING THE PAST (HOW TO LOOK BACK)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How many times have you been frustrated or disappointed when God says “No” to you? When those doors that you desperately want to enter but He seems to refuse to open.

None of us like it when God uses the ‘N-Word, WHEN GOD USES THE ‘N-WORD’……but we have to accept it.

But, if we stop and think about it, while we’re so focused on what WE want to do, many times people are ‘bugging’ us to do things in which we have no interest. A project…a task…a favor…an opportunity that we didn’t ask for. Many times we say…

“I don’t have time for that!” or,

“I don’t know how to do that!” or,

How about This? “That’s not in my job description!”

Could God be sending those unwanted ‘opportunities’ to us to set us up for a greater purpose…His purpose?

Something greater than us or what we want? Why is God saying, “Yes” to something I don’t want?

Think for a moment that Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Joseph or any of the apostles asked or applied for their assignments. In fact both Moses (Exodus 4:7) and Paul (2  Corinthians 11:6) were NOT gifted speakers, but the core of what God said, “Yes” to in their lives involved speaking and writing.

Stop for a moment and think about what’s being requested of you right now. Is that God saying, “Yes”?

Don’t be so quick to say “No”, when you get unsolicited requests. Pray about it. Measure it against God’s word. Pray for discernment.

You may be saying, “No” to the next move in your purpose.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Does everyone ALWAYS practice what they preach? Do we always hold true to our standards, values, morals, disciplines…all the time? Do we all sometimes have lapses in our character?

Yes!

The apostle Peter was with Jesus from the beginning of His earthly ministry. He was there when Jesus performed miracles. He was an intimate part of Jesus’ inner circle. We all know that he betrayed the Lord, but Jesus warned him beforehand and restored him afterward.

Luke 22:31-34 (NKJV)

³¹ And the Lord said,^[a] “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” ³³ But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” ³⁴ Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

John 21:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,^[a] do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Peter went on to be used by God to help birth the church, spread the Gospel, perform miracles himself and co-author the New Testament. To say he was anointed and used by God would be an understatement, but he was also far from perfect…just like us.

In fact, Paul(as Saul), who didn’t walk with Jesus. Who wasn’t there for the miracles. Who may have even consented to His death at the cross was also eventually anointed and used mightily by God. Notice what happened when Peter would associate and eat with Gentile believers unless Jews were around…then he would separate himself from them fearing what they would say and how they would react.

Galatians 2:11-16 (NKJV)

¹¹ Now when Peter^[a] had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you^[b] compel Gentiles to live as Jews?^[c]

Peter was being a hypocrite. Paul withstood Peter to his face, called him out and corrected him…publicly.

I know you are saved and sanctified. I know that you love God. I know that you are devoted to God, but are you a hypocrite sometimes too?

When have you found yourself acting outside of your integrity?

Sometimes publicly.

Sometimes privately.

Sometimes no one knows about it but you and God…but you do know. Don’t you? You notice it. You think about it. You may even pray about it and ask forgiveness, or you may be comfortable as long as no one else knows.

I’m not going to go through a list of the possible areas in life that we are sometimes hypocrites, but it could be as simple as…you portray yourself or even brag about being a law abiding citizen, but you sometimes drive above the speed limit.

That’s why God’s grace and mercy should never be taken for granted, because it is impossible for us to totally avoid sin, and hypocrisy is a subtle manipulation from the enemy which we ALL fall for sometimes.

The truth is that even when someone you love or someone you know has a hypocritical moment, you still know their true character…

So, let’s make sure that any lapse in our character is just that…a lapse. Because enough lapses in your character becomes your character.

Let’s hold one another accountable in love.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Genesis 1:3

3 “Then God said…”

God doesn’t need a language to speak.

What is HIS language?

Who was there when God ‘SAID’ “Let there be…”? There was no audience. Moses wasn’t there…the revelation of creation was given to him much later.

The Hebrew word for “said”, AMAR, according to The NAS Old Hebrew Lexicon means, to say, to answer, to say in one’s heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend.

When God wills it…God says it.

God’s will is His words. He wills and it happens.

Jesus Christ, Yeshua, IS the living word. Jesus was there in the beginning as the Word and later became flesh. Just as your spirit, your essence of life, is invisible but your body is the image of your invisible spirit. God is a Spirit and Jesus Christ is not only the Word that was there in the beginning, He is the image of the invisible God.

Colossians 1:15 (NKJV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

John 1:1-3, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

But what is ‘word’? The Greek words RHEMA and LOGOS are used as equivalents for the Hebrew word DABAR, as the Word of God or Divine Word.

God’s will is His words. He wills and it happens.

God can place His will, thoughts and desires inside of us, it is us that must use language to communicate. Language is for us, not God.

Language is what we use to communicate our thoughts, our intents…what’s in our hearts. We use language to communicate…God doesn’t have to. God is not limited to English, Igbo, Spanish, French, Portuguese or any other language.

His ways our not our ways and thoughts our not our thoughts. God can communicate with us through a thought. God knows your thoughts…does God hear them in a language? Or, does He just KNOW what’s in your heart.

Yes, we confess with our mouth, for the benefit of others, but we aren’t saved until we believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. How does God know you believe? Does He need a language to do that?

Many times people are critical when someone says, “The Lord told me”… And rightly so, because people tend to say that very loosely…too loosely. People will critically and sarcastically say, “What did God SAY to you?” Did you HEAR His voice?”

Yes God has spoken audibly at times for our benefit…Moses, The Mount of Transfiguration…but God doesn’t have to SPEAK audibly to SPEAK…

Nehemiah 2:12 (NKJV)

12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.

Jeremiah 31:33 (NKJV)

33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Matthew 16:17 (NKJV)

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Hebrews 8:10 (NKJV)

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Revelation 17:17 (NKJV)

17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Remember. Those who rejected Jesus (Pharisees, Scribes etc.) heard Him with their ears… They heard Him speak in their language…but they didn’t hear Him in their heart.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

“There’s no such thing as a stupid question!”

People love saying this, but too many times they don’t mean it. In a recent meeting at my office, one of my co-workers shared an email from another co-worker in another department which had several questions. Other people in the meeting then began to laugh at, mock and make comment on how silly the questions were. Unfortunately, this went on for a while until I stated, “I thought there were no stupid questions”. After that was stated, comments transitioned to, “Maybe they’re new”, or “Maybe they just didn’t know”. Of course they didn’t know…that’s why they asked.

I’m pretty sure the person who sent that email would not have appreciated, or may have been hurt if he or she knew that their questions were being made fun of.

I can’t count the times that during a public Q & A session that I have waited to ask a question privately, and was sometimes even cautious about that.

It seems that belittling other people’s questions somehow makes others feel bigger.

It’s even more sad when people want to know more about God, His word, His will, or salvation and are afraid to ask because they think their question is stupid. Especially if the person is ‘older’ and thinks they should be expected to already know.

Let’s be very sensitive to how we respond to those who think enough of us to ask a question.

We can discourage someone who is serious and sincere about learning more about God by an inappropriate response to a question.

Remember what the word tells us…

Luke 6:31 (NKJV)

³¹ And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

BE BLESSTIFED!

Sometimes we may be…

Disappointed with God’s answer…

Hurt or confused by what He allows to happen…

Even, angry at His decision!

You might be upset that He did something for someone else that He didn’t do for you…

But,

We must ALWAYS still trust Him!

Job 13:15 (NKJV)

And,

We should NEVER blame Him or charge Him foolishly!

Job 1:22 (NKJV)

²² In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you’ve been a Christian or been in church any amount of time you’ve heard it or read it…

1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

But, many times when we’re honest with ourselves it’s not always that simple.

Some of our benefits of being in relationship with God can become churchy clichés and sometimes lose their power due to our OVERUSE and UNDER APPLICATION.

Why?

Because we don’t know how! How do you really “Give it to God”? How do you really “Let go and let God”? Have you ever tried to do that and it was still there? How do you do that? Have you ever asked yourself, “Is there something wrong with my faith?” “What am I doing wrong?”

After 48 years on this earth and 21 years as an ordained minister, I’m FINALLY learning how to ‘Cast my cares’, ‘Give it to God’, ‘Let Go and let God’! Hallelujah!

Now, you may have already figured this out, and if so, I’m glad for you, but for those who haven’t, I hope this helps you.

How do you cast your cares on Him?

Let me start by giving you two questions to ask yourself…

“How REALLY REAL is God to me?

“Do I really believe in my heart that He is in control?”

There’s nothing wrong with asking yourself these questions because they are the key to casting your cares on Him.

It’s easy to say you love God and trust Him because it’s the right thing to say, but we sometimes prove with our actions how much we really don’t.

So how to you prove this to yourself? (Because God already knows)

Too many times we as Christians will pray to God about something, but won’t feel a real since of comfort or confirmation until we’ve talked to someone else…’a real person’.

Has this ever happened to you? Something happens, and yes you pray at first then…you complain, you seek advice, you seek a shoulder to lean on, you want someone to listen, you Google for answers, you may even throw a tantrum seeking pity. All the while saying religiously, I prayed about it and left it with God.

HERE IS YOUR SPIRITUAL EXERCISE:

Find an issue in your life that you make a commitment to not say one word to anyone else about. Not your spouse. Not your best friend. Not your parents. Not even your Pastor. Make it a point that you are going to let God be REAL enough in your life to tell Him about it, trust Him with it, and leave it alone.

I promise you. Once you become content in knowing that God heard you, is concerned about you and is working it out for your good in the midst of everything going on around you, your faith will grow, and you will begin to feel better about it…that’s growing in trusting Him. Even if the situation seems to get worse, keeping that commitment to leave it between you and God can give you a peace and a level of intimacy that you have never experienced before.

God wants this level of intimacy with us…

James 4:8a (NKJV)

^“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”

Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

“O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water”

Doesn’t that sound just like a level of intimacy and longing between two who are in love and totally trust one another?

Think about this. Sometimes the reason you CAN’T find anyone to talk to, or God will allow NO ONE else to understand because He wants you to trust your situation with Him alone.

Tell it to God only.

Leave it with God only.

Trust God with it only.

And, watch your love, faith and trust grow.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It wasn’t fair! It wasn’t right, and they knew it. But, yet they still did it. They hurt you. They hurt someone you love…maliciously. They didn’t apologize. They are still glad they did it, and would do it again.

They were cruel. They made your life a living Hell. You didn’t want to get out of the bed, go to work, go to school…all because of them.

They have influenced others against you. They have taken from you that what you will never get back. They have gained at your expense.

They turned their back on you when you needed them most. They could have come to help you. They could have rescued you, but they thought about it and decided NOT to do so. You weren’t worth the trouble to them.

They hate you. They genuinely hate you. And, you’ve done nothing. Or, you have asked their forgiveness and they refuse to give it.

They put their hands on you. They murdered someone you love dearly. They wish you were dead.

They want to see you fail. They will enjoy it. They hate you. They genuinely hate you. And, you’ve done nothing. They don’t even know you but still have you.

You have asked their forgiveness and they refuse to give it.

It’s amazing the levels of hurt we can cause one another…

But, no matter what they have done, are doing or will do. No matter how they feel about you. God does not allow us to hate them.

I know it’s hard, but that’s how God loves us…and it’s how He expects us to love.

Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ 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,^[b] 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 brethren^[c] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors^[d] do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

It’s not easy, but love has the power to cover any hatred or wrong…to diffuse it…to forgive it…TO ENDURE IT.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)

…(Love)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, ENDURES all things.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s amazing to me the parallels that God has created into what we call ‘nature’ to help us understand Him and His essence. (Romans 1:20).

One great example is GRAVITY.

Everyone knows that gravity is a natural force that pulls objects towards the center of a celestial body, more specific to us, gravity causes objects to fall towards the earth. It is a natural occurring absolute that science defines as a Law.

There’s not much man can do to QUESTION the fact that gravity there, all we can do is strive to UNDERSTAND it.

WE CAN’T SEE GRAVITY, but there is undeniable evidence that:

1. Gravity is real

2. Gravity is powerful.

I think you can see where I’m going with this;-)… We can’t see our Heavenly Father, He’s invisible. We can however see He’s real through everything He created as stated in Romans 1:20, so that no person has an excuse for unbelief…

20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…”. God created gravity, it’s His. It’s interesting to me how atheists can believe in so many unseen things, but not in our God who created them. Gravity is undeniable. People have gained just enough understanding to temporarily DEFY GRAVITY. God has allowed us the ability to jump, birds can fly, aircraft and spacecraft can fly…BUT gravity always eventually wins.

Everything that goes up, must eventually come down. A landing plane is just a controlled fall. Objects on earth fall; objects in space drift away, forever lost.

As I said earlier…PARALLELS TO GOD.

Gravity is also defined as: serious or of extreme importance or consequence. The decision to defy God comes with great gravity. People have gained just enough knowledge to DEFY GOD, but just like GRAVITY, when one defies God, ONLY two things will eventually happen…he or she will either FALL, or DRIFT AWAY forever lost.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

God wants a REAL relationship with us. It’s almost become cliché to say that He wants relationship and not religion, but it’s very easy, if we aren’t careful to slip into…

Religion…

Ritual…

Even let our faith be reduced to Superstition…yes just like a rabbit’s foot… a good luck charm.

It’s easy just to go with the flow of what you’ve been taught growing up.

It’s easy to ‘come to God’ simply because you are looking for something (not necessarily someone) to make your life better, or to get it on track.

It’s easy to worship and go to church because you think it’s the right thing to do.

But, God wants to be just as real to us as the people in our lives, and to be treated as such.

You spend quality time with the people you love. You communicate with the people you love (communication is talking and listening). You sacrifice for the people you love. You give to the people you love without expecting nothing but love in return. You give your life for the people you love…You would die for the people you love!

So, family of God! Take a moment and look at your relationship with God to make sure that it’s just that…relationship. Here’s a quick relationship counseling session for your marriage with God.

Isaiah 54:5 (NKJV)

⁵ For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.

ALLOW YOUR FAITH TO BE PROVEN THROUGH BEING CHALLENGED

No relationship is proven until it’s challenged. No marriage. No friendship…None. When a real rival or threat challenges a relationship, love is proven. Sometimes that love may be denied or even betrayed, but if it survives the challenge, then it’s proven. So it goes with our faith. Our faith will be challenged. Sometimes you may doubt God’s Word. Sometimes you may wonder if He’s really there. Sometimes you may entertain other religions, but if your faith in God is strong enough, if you really believe His word is truth. If you really WANT to love Him, your faith will sustain and grow. Remember, when we present Christ to someone of another faith, we challenging their faith.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

MAKE SURE THAT READING GOD’S WORD ISN’T REDUCED TO A RITUALISTIC VERSE OF THE DAY

There’s nothing wrong with reading a verse of the day if you will truly meditate on it and incorporate it into your thinking…into your life. But, if you read a verse of the day simply because you think it impresses God, that you think it’s going to make your day magically go well, or you’re afraid something will go wrong if you don’t – it’s been reduced to ritual and superstition. Read a verse of the day, but never neglect not just reading, but studying God’s Word, so you can grow.

1 Peter 2:2 (NKJV)

² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,^[a]

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.

DON’T JUST GIVE SO YOU CAN BE BLESSED

Don’t allow the promise of giving to become a stumbling block to you…

Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

It’s easy to allow your giving to be driven by wanting a blessing to be poured out that you don’t have room to receive. But, the true purpose of giving is so that needs can be met, ministry can go forward, and prayers can be confirmed. We should give out of genuine love for God, His people, His Kingdom and people in general How many times have you heard this scripture preached or taught…

Luke 6:35 (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.

It’s easy to allow giving to be reduced to a good luck charm or no different from any of your other ‘bills’. People don’t pay their car payment or mortgage because they love the finance company or bank. People don’t pay their utility bill because they love the utility company. They do it because they want to keep their car, their house…to keep their lights on. Don’t just give because you don’t want God to ‘cut off’ your blessings. Examine your true motives and intentions as to why you give.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (NKJV)

⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”^[a]

¹⁰ Now may^[b] He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, ¹¹ while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹² For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³ while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, ¹⁴ and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

WITNESS TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A BELIEVER

Many of us witness and testify of God’s goodness to our friends, family, church family and other Christians…and that’s good. But, intentionally witnessing to someone who doesn’t believe is a good exercise in making sure your relationship with God is real. Witnessing to unbelievers makes us vulnerable. It puts us at risk of rejection, insults, ridicule and sometimes harm. But, you don’t make yourself vulnerable to that level for someone who isn’t real, someone you don’t love, or someone with whom your relationship isn’t important. Remember we are ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)

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.

ALLOW SOME THINGS TO BE BETWEEN JUST YOU AND GOD

Have you ever had an issue, problem or situation and just needed to talk to someone? It’s good to be able to talk to people, but sometimes we have to let some situations be between us and God. We sometimes say we ‘take our burdens to God and leave them there’, but may not feel real peace until we have talked to a ‘real person’. Make up in your mind that you will trust some situations ONLY to God. Pray about it, know He heard you and then feel confident that He is going to work it out to your good.

Let God be real to you! Make sure your relationship with Him is as real as any others in your life. Don’t let worshiping Him become ‘going through the motions’.

Don’t let God be your GOD luck charm.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Just because someone auditions you for their drama…it doesn’t mean you have to accept the role.

No drama today!

It’s okay to want things done the way you feel is right. It’s okay to be particular…to be a perfectionist…it’s okay to be detailed.

It’s okay to provide constructive criticism, but it’s not okay to be petty or hypocritical.

It’s not okay to hold people to a higher standard that you hold yourself.

It’s okay to try to maintain control in your life, but not everyone elses.

Remember how Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. Read the entire chapter for context, but check out this verse…

Matthew 23:4 (NKJV)

For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Jesus rebuked them for being ‘nitpicky’ and overly critical hypocrites. They were obsessive about criticizing others and expressing their expectations while not holding themselves to the same standard.

People are much more willing to hear what we have to say if we aren’t nitpicky over every little detail in regard to them. We can get to the point to where people won’t even listen to us when we are right.

People not only will avoid your good advice. They will avoid you.

People will view you as obnoxious, nasty, and overly opinionated…even those closest to you.

The term for this obsession, derived from Freudian psychoanalysis, is referred to as anal-retentiveness, or simply ‘anal’.

Don’t be so ‘anal’ that you become an a**

Remember what the Apostle Paul said…

Romans 12:18 (NKJV)

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

No matter how holy you strive to be, there’s nothing wrong with romance in your marriage. In fact…it’s necessary. I would even go as far to say that well-timed romance in marriage is holy.

After all, when God appealed to Israel concerning their unfaithfulness, He often used the metaphor that they have gone after other lovers, yet He still loved them…

Hosea 3:1 (NKJV)

3 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover^[a]and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”

And, doesn’t this sound like intimacy and anticipation comparable to two lovers who can’t stand being apart…

Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

63 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.

Intimacy is from God. It’s not His fault that we sometimes pervert it through our flesh and disobedience. But, within the bond of Godly marriage, romance is the unexpected, electrifying attention, attraction and reaction that makes moments beautiful memories’.

A little unexpected music. A little unanticipated wine. And a little unrequested attention is just enough to take make…

Abundance…even more abundant.

Struggle…less stressful.

Being broke…an adventure of ingenuity.

Raising children…exciting moments of spontaneity.

Life…an experience with jolts of adrenaline.

Romance is the spice sprinkled in life to make you want to take another bite.

Never forget the songs, the places, the phrases, the aromas, the inside jokes, that brought you together. And, never top creating new ones. Never stop creating moments that make your heart still beat faster when you’re together, and memories that make you smile when you’re apart

Romance is what brings you together when dating, and what helps keep you together when married.

And check this out… romance in marriage is holy because it’s been separated, reserved and sanctified for no one else but the two of you.

Never forget how to surprise, amaze, treasure, spoil and enjoy one another.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Isn’t it interesting how some of the most liberating things we can say are the most difficult. Just a few words, sometimes just one or two words can restore relationships. How many of your relationships are estranged or have you lost because you refused to say a few words. How much have lost because you were too proud to say…

“I’m wrong…”

“I’m sorry…”

“I don’t know…”

“I forgot…”

“I lied…

“I didn’t think of it…”

“I wasn’t thinking….”

“I lost it…”

“I was irresponsible…”

“I know I let you down…”

“You were right…”

“Forgive me…”

“I need you…”

“I love you…”

“I repent of my sins…”

Can you think of any others?

Living this one powerful verse in reference to husbands and wives can not only save and restore marriage, but all of our relationships.

Ephesians 5:21  (NKJV)

²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God.^[a]

And, even if the relationship isn’t saved or restored…a few words can immediately help you feel free.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Evening Epiphany

Remember this…

Not DISCOURAGING bad behavior is ENCOURAGING it.

James 4:17 (NKJV)
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

No matter how many problems you have. No matter how many issues you’re struggling with. No matter how little money, influence or resources you may have. God has still given you the solution to someone else’s problem.

Even if your meal is free, God has equipped you to bring something of value to the table.

It may not have a dollar $ign…

Encouragement…

Inspiration

Entertainment

Education

Strength

Support

A shoulder…

An ear…

A voice…

To the friendship…

To the marriage.

To the team.

To the organization.

To your church.

To a stranger.

Even if you’re broke, you can be the key to someone’s breakthrough.

Not only no matter your situation, but BECAUSE of your situation, God is strategically positioning you with the people and places where you can be a blessing.

Remember this…

James 2:5(NKJV)

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Now…Get out there and bless somebody today!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s amazing how people will ALLOW a coach to ‘cuss’ their children…how they expect a drill Sargeant to sternly say anything get the best out of a soldier…but get pissed off at the preacher for a raised, or using sharp words to reprove and rebuke…

2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)

 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine

To REPROVE is to disapprove, to chide to the face as worthy of blame, to expose, to convict.

To REBUKE is to reprimand, strongly warn, restrain.

EXHORTATION is encouragement..

Those who believe the word of God and accept the authority and hierarchy in the church understand what God expects of a Pastor.

Jesus, Yeshua, Himself spoke strong words to the religious leaders, those who were closest to Him, and those who rejected Him…

Hypocrites…( Matthew 15, Matthew 23)

Perverted…(Matthew 17)

Brood of vipers…(Matthew 12, Matthew 23)

Foolish…(Luke 24)

White-washed tombs…(Matthew 23)

And most offensive of all, He called them BASTARDS…

John 8:37-45 (NKJV)

 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with[l] your father.”

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 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.

 Read all of John 8 for context. They got so angry at Jesus that they took up stones to kill Him.

After calling the Pharisees hypocrites, the disciples told Jesus…

Matthew 15:12 (NKJV)

 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

 Remember, Jesus’ rebukes were not just for the hypocritical religious leaders, but also for those closest to Him as in Matthew 17:17.

We must be reminded that love isn’t always delicate, sugary sweet words, warm feelings and heavenly promises…sometimes it’s a reminder of Hell.

When a parent disciplines or gives a child strong correction, it doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t love them.

God will hold the preacher accountable when the people aren’t warned about sin, which sometimes applies to the preacher too.

Ezekial 33: 1-9 (NASB)

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

⁷ “Now as for you, son of man, I have ^[b]appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a ^[c]message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will 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 from your hand. ⁹ But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.

And, warning people about sin isn’t judging, warning isn’t condemnation, it’s helping the hearers avoid condemnation.

Let us all listen with spiritual ears, when we hear words of correction, and always measure it against the word of God and not our feelings.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You see the flyers, promotions and announcements all the time…Conferences, Conventions and Revivals.

Let me be clear that I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with them, but I have a question.

Have we had enough Revivals, Conferences and Conventions?

Are all of our evangelism efforts focused on preaching to people who are already saved?

When was the last time you witnessed to someone who was an unbeliver, or from another religion? Or, are we just encouraging one another?

If our CONFERENCES and CONVENTIONS aren’t leading to CONVERSIONS, are they just glorified parties or spiritual pep rallies?

Honestly, isn’t the word going forth with power every week be enough?

There’s not one Pastor that will tell you he is not being effective in His assignment.

If the word is going forth with power all year long…why do you need a revival?

If the word is going forth with power every week, aren’t we already, ‘equipped for the work of the ministry’?

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

There’s nothing wrong with Christians getting together for encouragement and even entertainment, but sometimes we must call it what it is.

The fact is that those of us who are diligent about attending church and studying our word…we are already equipped.

If you want to go to every spiritual PEP RALLY that’s fine…as long as you are actually GETTING IN THE GAME!

Come on Body of Christ…

It’s time to change the world!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We love to throw the word FREE around in Christianity. Salvation is free! Forgiveness is free! Our prosperous society can’t stop revolving almost every thought around money. We can’t stop equating a monetary value to EVERYTHING. No salvation doesn’t cost any money. No forgiveness doesn’t cost any money, but neither are FREE. Neither are without cost…

Salvation is a gift, but it’s definitely not free!

Think about it. Most likely every gift that you freely received from someone, was definitely first purchased by someone else. In case you didn’t know, redeemed means purchased. It means He paid the cost, which means salvation isn’t free…

Galatians 3:13-15 (NKJV)

¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”^[a]), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV)

²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Neither is forgiveness without cost. You have to give something to receive it.

You have to have Godly sorrow and repent of your sin…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

You have to GIVE forgiveness those who have sinned against you…

Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)

¹² And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.

Our salvation cost…

God His son…

John 3:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus His dignity…

Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)

³ He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

His career…

Mark 6:3 (NKJV)

³ Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

His self-respect…

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Think about what the Apostle Paul gave up for his calling…

Philippians 3:4-8 (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; ⁶ concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Think of everything that YOU’VE had to sacrifice, go through, endure to get to the place you are in your relationship with God. Think of the pride you’ve had to give up and surrender to maintain your relationships.

Even if it didn’t cost you a dime…would you call that FREE?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I’ve found the most intimate refreshing place to pray at my home. I love sitting in my chair on my front porch and enjoying quality time with God in prayer. When I’m out there, it’s like it’s just Him and me. Yes I pray everywhere. But, that place is special.

And yes, I said sitting.

You see, it’s good to get on your knees in submission to God, but contrary to what many may have been taught it’s not mandatory. That is not the exclusively acceptable prayer posture.

Your proper prayer posture isn’t the position of your body, but of your heart and spirit…

To a humble spirit… it’s about humility.

Psalm 51:17 (NKJV)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise

1- On Your Knees

Ephesians 3:14 (NKJV)

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^[a]

 2 – In Your Bed

Psalm 4:4 (NKJV)

Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

3 – Out Loud

Psalm 34:6 (NKJV)

This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.

4 – Silently

1 Samuel 1:13 (NKJV)

¹³ Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

5 – Hands Lifted

1 Timothy 2:8 (NKJV)

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

6 – Eyes Open

John 17:1 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

7 – Head Bowed

Genesis 24:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord.

8 – Prostrate

Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)

³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

9 – Standing

Mark 11:25 (NKJV)

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

God just wants you to be humble. Many have even misunderstood “come boldly” in the book of Hebrews…

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It’s not about ‘telling God what to do’, but direct access to Him. We don’t have to go through a priest, or a preacher to talk to Him…just submit to Him humbly in prayer through our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

So, bow your head, lie in your bed, fall on your knees, lift up your hands, as long as you’re sincere…God will hear.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Don’t judge people by what they drive, but judge them by who drives them.

Don’t judge people by what they live in, but judge them by who lives in them.

Don’t judge people by what they have, but judge them by what they’re willing to give.

Don’t judge people according to the world’s standards, judge them by God’s standards.

John 7:24  (NKJV)

²⁴ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

The other day as my wife and I were getting ready for work, she asked me to get her clothes out of the dryer for her. We were both getting ready, but I stopped what I was doing and did it. The simplest gestures can be  the most powerful, especially when both husband and wife are working.

Do something simple every day to make life easier for one another. Bring him a cool beverage. Watch something that she wants to watch…with her. Iron his clothes for him. Go shopping with her.

These four gestures can make your marriage better. Nothing deep or romantic here, but doing it will make romance come easier.

HELP EACH OTHER OFTEN…

DO WHAT COMES EASY…

HONESTLY WORK ON WHAT’S DIFFICULT FOR YOU…

BE PATIENT WITH WHAT’S DIFFICULT FOR ONE ANOTHER…

Following these simple tips will make each day better, and difficult days more bearable.

 1 Peter 3:1a (NKJV)

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands…”

 1 Peter 3:7

 “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife…”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Sometimes we can reduce God’s anointing to charisma and personality. But, His anointing is His power to touch lives while bringing honor and glory to our Heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, Christ Jesus.

There are also some subtle signs of the people God anointed to be in your lives..

Here are 3…

You feel more comfortable with them in CRISIS

You feel more confident with them in a STORM.

You feel more safe with them WITHOUT A WEAPON than you feel with yourself or someone else WITH A WEAPON.

Remember Paul on the ship in the storm before being shipwrecked..

 Acts 27:33-35 (NKJV)

³³ And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. ³⁴ Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” ³⁵ And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.

Take a moment to thank God and pray for the anointed people He has placed in your life.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

As I walked down the streets of downtown Memphis today, I saw an older man carrying a bible and sharing God’s word. He was obviously poor…possibly homeless…and also very dirty.

People weren’t paying very much attention to him., and they certainly weren’t taking him seriously.

First of all, let me say that this post isn’t advocating preachers being poor or condemning those being rich. We all know there are preachers who pervert the Gospel by teaching idolatry and greed through false ‘prosperity’ teaching. We also know there are preachers who think there is some glory in being a ‘poor preacher’ which also is not necessarily true. There are ministers who have done well beyond the pulpit, and are responsible with their wealth and I also see nothing wrong with that. I also know there are many people who expect preachers to be poor and don’t trust any who seem to show any signs of affluence.

What I want to address are those people who EXPECT ministers to be well-off, and feel that if they aren’t wealthy or well-to-do, if they don’t drive in a nice care and wear nice clothes that they aren’t representing the Gospel well. Many people don’t want to listen to a preacher who the feel is poor.

Just as there are many people who think that rich preachers aren’t credible. Our prosperous and blessed society has allowed some people to become so spiritually arrogant and proud that they don’t want to, and will not listen to a preacher that they perceive to be poor.

If you feel that a poor (broke) preacher can’t tell you anything – do you think you would have been one of those who rejected Jesus too?

Matthew 8:20  (NKJV)

²⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Notice that Jesus’ needs were met by the women who followed Him. We all know how well that would go over these days…

Luke 8:1-3  (NKJV)

8 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and 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 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 Him^[a] from their substance.

Also notice also that widow whom Elisha helped in 2 Kings was the wife a prophet who feared the LORD and did his job well, but still died and left his family in poverty, so much so, that his creditors threatened to come and take His sons. Of course God delivered them through the prophet Elisha, but my point is that this good prophet was poor.

Be careful that you don’t reject the word of God or ignore the messenger because you feel they appear to be poor or ‘broke’. Remember this…

James 2:5  (NKJV)

⁵ Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

God uses both rich and poor to declare His name…share His truth…share His love and carry the message of salvation.

As much as you may be critical of those who rejected Jesus in the bible, your attitude today is a strong indication of what your attitude would have been if you lived back then.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Abram (Abraham) was comfortable and doing well in a familiar land among his people (Genesis 12:1). 

Paul was a Pharisee and well respected among the Jews (Philippians 3:5). 

Peter, James and John were fishermen which was a very necessary profession (Luke 5:1-11).

Matthew was a tax collector, they were despised because that sometimes opened opportunities for dishonest gain.

The disciples had wives and families (Matthew 8:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5). When these men accepted their calling it affected their families, livelihoods professions and reputations. IT WASN’T A SMOOTH, EASY, OR CONVENIENT TRANSITION.

Yes, even though many ministers today encounter some opposition, most enjoy preaching to captive audiences that reward us with “amens”, but many times the disciples were blessed to get out of town alive. There are still many  today that endure persecution and hardship in some parts of the world, may God bless them. 

My point is that many of us want callings and ministries of convenience. We may know we have a calling on our lives but aren’t willing to make the sacrifices that go along with it.

Our transitions into our calling may not be smooth. We may have to give up a lucrative career. We may have to move on from a familiar comfortable place (go from the land of your fathers to a place I will show you (Genesis 12:1). 

People may murmur about you and say you are crazy, naive, foolish… 

Not just people who don’t matter, but people who do matter may not understand. But, sometimes that’s what it takes to pursue your purpose in God. 

An inconvenient transition requires more faith. The great men and women of God had to step out on faith…and so will we. Pray for wisdom, discernment and guidance because sometimes, not always, but sometimes, we have to step from COMFORT into our CALLING.

THE BLESSTIFIED!