Author: Aldtric Johnson M.A.

May Yahuah baruk you! I'm a husband, father and educator. My main spiritual gift is Exhortation...I'm a natural encourager. I love the word of Yah and sharing it from a "Wow, I never thought of it like that before" perspective. There's so much fresh revelation in Yah's word that is just as relevant today as it was as it unfolded. I hope my daily devotionals enhance your walk with The Most High.

GOD’S NICE WAYS OF SAYING, “GET OVER IT!” #Forgive

Ephesians 4:31-31 (NKJV)
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 18:21 (NKJV)

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Matthew 6:12-15 (NKJV)

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[c] 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV)

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Forgive…

Forgive often…

Forgive everything…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

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Any one who has been married for a while can admit to the fact that overall, even though you love each other… some days can be very challenging.

Things can seem…monotonous…uninteresting…hum drum…routine…

And, I’m not necessarily talking about intimacy.

Going day in and day out, just living can make life seem predictable and boring. And, it can make the unexpected challenges that much more challenging. You know, when you already know how he or she is going respond…sometimes the exact opposite of how you respond.

How can you make life fun again? How can you break the monotony? How can you make intimacy more intimate again?

Counseling?

Time apart?

Think for a moment to what made life so exciting when you FIRST met…When you went on your FIRST date…When you rented or bought your FIRST house…When you had your FIRST child…When you, well you know…when you were intimate with one another the FIRST time.

The mystery…anticipation…the excitement…the discovery of doing things the FIRST time TOGETHER.

Notice I kept saying…FIRST.

Even if you’ve been married 30 years (as I have) you can rejuvenate your marriage and relationship with one simple tip…

EXPERIENCE SOMETHING NEW TOGETHER!

It’s a simple but powerful way to breathe much-needed life into your relationship.

Sit down together and regularly schedule something NEW…even if it’s just once a month.

It doesn’t even have to be expensive, but it can be…it’s up to you (yep, something else to agree on).

Go to a park that you’ve never visited before…TOGETHER.

Go to a restaurant that you’ve never been to before…TOGETHER

Visit another city that neither of you have been to before…TOGETHER.

Try some new cuisine, even if you cook it at home, that you’ve never considered trying before…TOGETHER.

Do something that neither of you like, for example, if you hate opera or ballet…go, and have fun laughing and making fun of all the things you don’t like about it…TOGETHER.

Experiencing something fresh and NEW is a great way to create great NEW memories.

Aquila and Priscilla were two of the Apostle Paul’s partners in ministry and evangelism. They were a husband and wife ministry team, that not only did ministry TOGETHER, but they also worked TOGETHER as tent makers..

Acts 18:1-2 (NKJV)

After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 

It’s no doubt that they had some challenging issues being TOGETHER all the time, but I’m quite certain that the challenges of doing ministry TOGETHER gave them innumerable exciting, NEW experiences.

This year marks my 30th anniversary. We married very young and were determined to make it our first and only marriage. By the grace of God, we’ve had, and still have many ups and downs…but one of the most powerful tools to keep our love not only STRONG, but NEW is experiencing NEW things TOGETHER. My wife LOOOOVES experiencing things that are NEW…TOGETHER!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN APOLOGY ( 8 TIPS)…

It happens to all of us. A situation arises where we feel we deserve an apology…but don’t get it.

Think for a moment about Jesus on the cross. As He was being brutalized and mocked, He still had enough love to say, forgive them…
 Luke 23:34 (NKJV)

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”[a]

And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Think about the fact that Jesus offered this forgiveness and love, without an apology. It’s one thing that the Romans crucified Him, but His own people…those closest to Him consented to and called for His death.

One of the most difficult things to do is move forward with people that we feel owe us an apology…especially if they’re someone close to us.

Yes we still have to work with and relate to people who aren’t close to you, but how do you avoid the lack of apology turning into resentment and becoming a wall in your close relationships.

You may find yourself thinking…

“How can they be so content acting like nothing happened…acting as if they didn’t hurt me?

You may have said to yourself…

“If they loved me, they would apologize.”

Yes, it’s not easy, but here are 9 tips to help you move forward in your relationships without an apology…

  1. BE READY TO FORGIVE IF AND WHEN THEY APOLOGIZE. Sometimes if we’re honest with ourselves, we don’t want an apology…because it takes away our excuse to be angry. If they apologize and you don’t accept it, the burden has shifted from God to you.
  2. DON’T JUDGE THEIR APOLOGY IF AND WHEN THEY GIVE IT. When they come to you and apologize, don’t judge their apology by saying that they didn’t mean it or it wasn’t sincere. Especially if you didn’t like the tone. Don’t find yourself saying their apology wasn’t good enough. Even if they weren’t sincere…many times when we do what God has told us to do, we ‘don’t feel like it’, but God still honors our faith, effort and obedience. Sometimes when we apologize, we don’t feel like it, but in our heart we want to do what’s right.
  3. DON’T LET THE ENEMY ‘FLIP-THE-SCRIPT’. Realize that when you remain upset because you haven’t gotten an apology, the enemy has tricked you into not forgiving  them for not apologizing to you.
  4. REALIZE THAT THEY MAY NOT BE AS SPIRITUALLY MATURE AS YOU. Apologizing isn’t easy. It takes spiritual maturity to do so. If you feel they ought to be strong enough to apologize, realize that they might not be as spiritually as you. In fact, the bible tells us the strong must bear the failings of the weak (Romans 15:1 NIV).
  5. REALIZE WHEN YOU ‘VE GOTTEN SOMETHING BETTER THAN AN APOLOGY. Even if they haven’t apologized, if they have stopped the behavior that hurt you…if they aren’t doing the same thing anymore…if they have clearly moved on as if nothing happened…if they’ve completely turned around, but not apologized, you’ve gotten something better than an apology – you’ve gotten REPENTANCE. Think of all the people who actually apologize to God, but don’t really change.
  6. FIND A ‘REPLACEMENT THOUGHT’ WHEN YOU THINK OF HOW THEY HURT YOU. Of course you’re going to think of what they did sometimes, which can make you angry all over again, So, when you think of what they did…When they don’t seem to appreciate your kindness…find a replacement thought. Think of the good times…the best times… Think of the sacrifices they’ve made for you…Think of kindness they’ve shown you in the past…Think of the times they made you smile…or, Think of how you’ve hurt someone and regret it. 
  7. REALIZE THAT YOU HAVEN’T APOLOGIZED FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU’VE DONE TO HURT OTHERS. Have you apologized for everything that you’ve done to hurt others? No! Because there are some people you offended and didn’t know you offended them. You can’t apologize for what you don’t know. Sometimes our words hurt, and we didn’t even know it…Sometimes our tone was not taken as we intended…Sometimes we did something hurtful and we didn’t even realize it. Those people are going on without an apology from you.
  8. PRAY ABOUT IT! Ask the Lord to give you the desire and strength to ‘love through’ the lack of an apology. Ask God to give you a heart that doesn’t NEED an apology to move on. This is another situation where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Moving on without an apology isn’t easy, but it is possible. This is another situation where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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GOD’S GUARANTEED CURE FOR BOREDOM…

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How many times have you said it? How many times have you heard your children say it…

I’m bored!

There’s nothing to do!

We live in a world full of options and opportunities competing for our time and attention, but still we will find moments to whine… “I’m bored!”

Well, I’ve got good news for the next time you feel bored!

God has a GUARANTEED cure for boredom…it’s called SERVING OTHERS!

For those of us who believe in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there is no excuse to ever say we are bored.

God has a world full of opportunities, and He has commanded that we find ourselves serving others and doing good.

Matthew 23:11 (NKJV)

 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

 Mark 10:45 (NKJV)

 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 Galatians 6:10 (NKJV)

 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 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?

 Matthew 25:31-40 (NKJV)

 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy[c] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

 Jesus said very clearly, that when we share His love by serving others, that we are actually not just doing it FOR Him but we are doing it To Him – When we serve others…we’re serving Him.

So, no matter what your personality…

No matter what you like to do…

God has opportunities that will cure your boredom.

Like to travel? Like adventure? Like danger? Are you are trill seeker?

Go on a mission trip.

Like attention? Want to be appreciated?

Visit hospitals, Children’s hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, orphanages…

Want to be someone’s hero?

Feed and clothes the homeless. Help someone in need. By them a lunch, mentor an orphaned child…

Love technology?

Churches are begging for volunteers every day….

Like to make people laugh?

Share your gift with a testimony of your faith in God…

Like to write or create?

Start a blog and share what God places inside you:-)

Serving others is

Exciting

Enlightening

Inspiring

Dangerous

Rewarding…both here and in the world to come.

But, it’s never boring.

The next time your children are bored, find an opportunity to serve that aligns with their interests. Begin instilling within them the value and importance of serving others.

You could even take them to play games with a sick child in a children’s hospital…at a children’s home.

We teach them the value in education,  a good work ethic, being a good citizen…why not teach them the often overlooked requirement that God has for all of us…

Serving others.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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4 WAYS TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREACHING & A PERFORMANCE…

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NEVER CONFUSE CHARISMA WITH ANOINTING

Ephesians Chapter 5 is one of the most powerful scriptures that gives the true meaning for good preaching beyond salvation…

Ephesians 4:11-16 (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, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

In short, good preaching not only saves the soul, but equips God’s people to be mature, productive, in agreement and not easily swayed.

The scriptures above the definition of ‘good preaching’, but unfortunately the opinion of ‘good preaching’ depends on the church culture. And, unfortunately, good preaching to many isn’t defined by the content, but by the delivery.

Yes, a good preacher has to be able to engage the audience and keep their attention, but there is a thin line sometimes between PREACHING and PERFORMANCE.

I’m also a firm believer that charisma helps a preacher be effective in delivery…

BUT,

We must not confuse charisma with anointing. Some people can get up and recite “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with such passion and exuberance that they can have a room full of people shouting…at nothing.

Here are 4 quick ways to tell PREACHING from a PERFORMANCE

SCRIPTURE

Have you ever heard a sermon that didn’t have a scriptural foundation? A text? What was that? It was nothing more than a motivational speech or a pep talk.

Beware of sermons that either have…

No scripture…

Not enough scripture…

Or, twisted scripture…

Remember, a sermon without a strong scriptural foundation is nothing more than a motivational speech or a pep talk…which have their place. But real preaching…

Saves us…

Challenges us…

Corrects us…

Convicts us…

Sometimes upsets us…

Encourages us…

Inspires us…

Teaches us…

It doesn’t JUST make us feel good and entertain us…ALL the time.

CLICHES & CONJECTURE

As I said in a previous post, that a well-placed cliché can enhance a sermon and really help engage the listeners. However, be very careful when you’re listening to a sermon that is…

FULL of clichés…

Full of the popular religious catch phrases of the time…

Full of language that is only intended for emotionalism and not edification.

You have to read the bible for yourself so you can know what’s scripture and what’s a cliché. I once heard someone say, “Like the bible says, give them their flowers while they live”…uhhh, that’s NOT in the bible.

You have to study the word for yourself so you can watch out for putting too much of personal opinion into how the scriptures are interpreted.  To make sure the sermon is not full of conjecture and conclusions based on the preachers opinion rather than inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

DID IT APPEAL TO YOUR FLESH OR YOUR SPIRIT?

 Yes, God wants us to have a good life on this earth. Yes, God wants us to enjoy ourselves according to His will.

But, be careful about sermons that ONLY appeal to ‘the good life here’. Be careful of sermons that only appeal to please your flesh and not strengthen your spirit. Many prosperity preachers have congregations full of weak and ineffective believers because they never hear…

The consequences of sin…

The consequences of bad decisions…

The necessity of self-denial and denial of flesh…

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross…

LEAVE OUT/ OR MISREPRESENT JESUS

Have you ever sat through an entire message only to not hear the mention of Jesus Christ once? That’s not preaching. In fact, the Apostle Paul warned the Galatians of those who come preaching “another gospel”…

Galatians 1:8-9  (NKJV)

 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

 Again, as sermon that leaves out Jesus Christ is nothing more than a motivational or inspirational speech…not preaching. Sometimes this is meant to entertain, or convey what the preacher wanted to say…rather than what God wanted the people to hear.

Listen carefully at how Jesus is presented. Jesus is the Living Word, the Son of the Living God…He and the Father are One.

Be very careful about those who present Him as a ‘genie in a bottle’ who is on standby waiting to do what you want. Again, those messages are meant to appeal to your flesh.

I AM NOT CONDEMNING CHARISMATIC PREACHERS…

There is nothing wrong with a preacher who can with great energy and charisma deliver a message in a matter that the congregation is entertained as well as edified is fine…but real preaching has substance.

Never confuse charisma with anointing.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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NEVER FORGET WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH…

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The enemy doesn’t always come through an enemy.

One day years ago I was listening to a man tell me the most interesting story of something that happened to him.

I was responding…

“Really?”

“Are you serious?”

“That’s so cool?”

“Unbelievable!!!”

Then I remembered…

Wait minute! I forgot who I’m talking to!

This is __________________.

Everyone who knows him knows that he loves to tell wild stories and lies, and he knows they know it.

The point? Never forget who you’re dealing with.

The bible tells us the devil is a liar, and the father of lies.

John 8:44 (NKJV)

 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.

The bible tells us that we aren’t ignorant of the devil’s schemes.

2 Corinthians 2:11  (NKJV)

 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Don’t listen to the lies the devil tries to tell you about yourself.

Don’t listen to the lies the devil tries to tell you about others.

Don’t listen to the lies the devil tries to tell you about God!

When the devil tries to lie to you, tell him what God told you!

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

Read God’s word EVERY DAY so you can recognize the devil for who he is and how he operates.

Don’t be surprised when chaos jumps off in your life, even when you haven’t necessarily done anything wrong.

And, when you know your mind and heart are being manipulated either through your own thinking, or through someone else around you – never forget who you’re dealing with!

Remember Satan doesn’t alway come through and enemy, but can come through a trusted friend.

Luke 22:3-23 (NKJV)

Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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IS IT GRACE OR LUCK?

I often hear some Christians say, “I don’t believe in luck because I have grace”. Well that’s partially true. Yes, those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior enjoy the benefits of God’s grace, which as you know is God’s unmerited, undeserved favor reserved for His people. Grace can’t be earned. As stated in Ephesians 2:8-9 and Ephesians 4:7, grace comes only through our faith in God through Christ, and it’s a free gift for each of us. 

Grace is God’s favor that all things will work for our good no matter what the circumstances, so what the world calls COINCIDENCES, Christians call CONFIRMATIONS. Since God is working on our behalf in all things Christians aren’t lucky. 

So if grace is God’s favor reserved for His people, then what is it when those who aren’t in the Body of Christ have unexpected, serendipitous, good things happen? They don’t have grace…right? Everyone receives God’s mercy. God is withholding His judgement from everyone until the appointed time…that’s mercy. God hasn’t dealt with anyone as they deserve Psalm 103:10 says, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities”…that’s mercy. As stated in Matthew 5:45, God allows His sun to rise on both the evil and the good, and His rain to fall on both the just and unjust….everyone receives God’s mercy. 

BUT, those who don’t acknowledge Christ as Lord and  don’t have grace. In their lives, whatever happens just happens. God isn’t working things out for their good. They don’t have His favor, but good things still happen to them if they work hard. They do sometimes have unexpected good fortune…but it’s not grace. For them, it’s luck it’s all chance. Calling it luck doesn’t minimize God’s power in the lives of believers or reduce the fact that He has power over their lives…they are just going about life on their own. 

Praise God today for giving us His GRACE and MERCY, and for the fact that we don’t have to hope for a lucky day!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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THE WALKING DEAD (FEEDING ON FLESH)…

SONday night reblog…

Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarGrowing In Yahuah

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AMC’s The Walking Dead has been one of television’s most successful shows consistently for years. For those who don’t know…it’s centered around a man, his son and a close, but ever changing, group of survivors in a world where a virus turns all humans into flesh-eating zombies when they die.

The zombies are a terrifying, dangerous threat…however the greatest and most dangerous threat on the show isn’t the dead…but the living.

On The Walking Dead, those who are left are normal people who do unmentionable acts of violence, treachery, even torture to one another to remain alive. What’s worse, many get to the point where they don’t just do it to survive…but they enjoy it.

Yes, that’s television, but if we stop and think about it, the world we live in is not that much different.

Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to bring the worse out of any of us.

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AGAINST…

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Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)

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

This powerful warning from our Lord isn’t just about those so-called BIG sins on which we sometimes place our focus…

But on the main sin that plagued Israel, and Judah in the Old Testament.

The turning of the heart AGAINST…

Think about this, the most wise man to ever live, King Solomon, had allowed himself to be influenced to turn his heart from the Lord…

1 Kings 11:9 (NKJV)

9 So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,

AGAINST God…

AGAINST those you love…

AGAINST God’s church…

AGAINST the Word of God…

AGAINST your purpose…

AGAINST your calling…

AGAINST integrity…

AGAINST honor…

AGAINST your character…

AGAINST what is good…

AGAINST what is decent…

AGAINST what is right according to God’s word…

AGAINST the will of God for your life.

Look at the verbs in that warning…

WATCH…

Watch very closely the events, circumstances and situations of each day…very carefully.

Be mindful and cognizant of how the enemy is trying to manipulate situations to turn your heart…AGAINST.

PRAY…

Pray that God bless you to maintain His integrity…His character…and your heart.

As you go through this day.

When the…

Unexpected…

Uncomfortable…

Unreasonable…

Unfortunate…

Uncontrollable…

And what the enemy wants to be the Unforgiveable…

Don’t let him turn your heart…

AGAINST.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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CAN WE BE TOO RIGHTEOUS?

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Most cake recipes call for a little salt. Many of us like to satisfy our sweet tooth with a good slice of cake. In fact, when it’s really good, one bite just makes you want another. The right amount of salt makes cakes taste just right…making you want more with each bite. However, too much salt will make us quickly spit it out of our mouth.

Colossians 4:6 tells us to let our speech be full of grace and seasoned with salt. Ecclesiastes 7:16 says, “Do not be overly righteous,” Nor be overly wise:..”

It’s good to have passion for the Kingdom of God, but when we are over-zealous, arrogant, mean-spirited  self-righteous, we can turn people away rather than attract them to Christ. All things in moderation. If we are trying to talk about the Lord in EVERY conversation, claim we never do anything wrong, or down people who are unbelievers, we can make people avoid us, dread seeing us coming and destroy any influence we may have. But, if we cleverly chose the right moments to ‘sprinkle the salt of the word’ when it’s applicable, people are more likely to listen, receive it, and even soften hardened hearts.

We need to ‘love out loud’ and ‘live out loud’ to let people see God in our character rather than beating them with the bible, making every conversation about God, or punctuating every sentence with a spiritual cliché. Wisely ‘sprinkling the salt’ of God’s word in conversations can make people hungry for more, and establish you as the go-to person on your job, your team, your school, your family when people want to know more about God. Being over zealous makes us seem crazy, and people can conclude, “I don’t want what they have.” God expects us to use wisdom and do everyone His Spirit of excellence. Notice how Paul reasoned with the Epicureans, Stoics, and people of Athens with respect and wisdom in Acts 17. He didn’t ‘beat them over the head’ or talk down to them. He wetted their appetite so that some wanted to hear more.

Psalm 19:10 proclaims God’s word is sweeter than honey in the comb. Yes it is! I love it. But if we don’t handle it wisely, people will spit it out, and we can do more harm than good.

 

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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BOOMER-ANGER…

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You’ve seen it happen before. Anger always comes back…usually harder.

Words and actions released in anger always come back, but rarely return in peace. Only love can cool anger’s searing heat.

Put your anger in check before it turns into wrath, because even though love conquers wrath, sometimes the damage remains.

Wrath kills…both figuratively and literally.

Anger is a seed, if it is used wisely, it can ignite passion that allows love to diffuse the anger and plant seeds that lead to good fruit…

Such as being angry enough at wrong to do something about it…

Such as not returning an insult, can end an argument and lead to a lifelong friendship.

If anger is NOT put in check, it ignites emotions that allow wrath to plant weeds instead of good seeds…

Such as returning an insult can lead to a fight, and animosity that lasts for years and spreads to others…anger is a seed.

The next time you’re angry, stop, think…let your anger cease before you speak or act, if you don’t, not only will come back, but it can come back harder…JUST LIKE A BOOMERANG.

Psalms 37:8

“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;

Do not fret—it only causes harm.”

Proverbs 15:1

“A soft answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

1 Peter 4:8.”

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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HERE’S HOW TO LOVE SOMEONE YOU DON’T LIKE (OR WHO DOESN’T LIKE YOU)…

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We all have them in our lives…people that we just don’t like, or who don’t like us.

They’re in our families…on our jobs…in our churches…we see them on television…sometimes we’re even married to them.

We may or may not know them, and they may or may not know us.

It could be that you used to be very close, but something happened.

You changed.

They changed.

Life happened and you reacted to it differently.

It could be that you have opposing views on a cause that is near and dear to your heart.

Sometimes you don’t even know why. It could be something very subtle.

Have you ever found yourself saying this?

“I don’t know why, but I just don’t like ___________.”

Or,

There’s something about ____________ that I just don’t like.

We may not like the way they look…the way they behave…the way they treat others…they may have even mistreated us or someone we love.

Stop right now and take a moment to think about the people who you don’t like. 

Be careful, because… DON’T LIKE can lead to HATE.

Or, sometimes, DON’T LIKE is actually HATE in denial.

We all know that God commands that we love everyone, just as He loves everyone. In fact, He goes so far as to tell us to love our neighbor as ourselves…and defines a neighbor in the Parable of the Good Samaritan…

Luke 10:25-37 (NKJV)

 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[h] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[i] 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?” 30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him,and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[j] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “GO AND DO LIKEWISE.”

Jesus chose this example because, as most of you know, the Jews and Samaritans DID NOT like each other. Some say that they hated one another, and through that context He gives us His expectation for us.

God already knew when He commanded that we love one another that we would…

Have opposing views…

Hurt one another…

Betray one another…

Abuse one another…

Sometimes be innocent victims…

But, still He said love EVERYONE!

How do we do that?

Here are a few suggestions to help you love someone you don’t like…

REMEMBER THEY’RE GOD’S CHILD TOO

We were all created in the image of Almighty God. Jesus died for all of our sins, in fact the bible says…

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

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

Notice what King David said after he had Uriah killed so that he could have his wife…

Psalm 51:4 (NKJV)

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak,[a]
And blameless when You judge.

When someone hurts you…they are transgressing God’s commandment to love everyone, so they are hurting God 1st.

Always remember that GOD DOESN’T LOVE YOUR ENEMY ANY LESS THAN HE LOVES YOU! Just because we don’t like someone, doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love them.

Even though they won’t, He wants everyone to accept Him and be saved. As they brutally crucified Jesus, He lovingly said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)

DO SOMETHING KIND FOR THEM

One of the most powerful things you can do for someone who you don’t like, or for someone who doesn’t like you is to make a conscious effort to be KIND to them.

Kindness is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). Being KIND and NICE are two different things… Click here to find out more about Kind vs Nice)

You can be NICE to someone who you hate. You can be NICE to someone while positioning yourself to stab them in the back.

Being kind to someone is LOVE IN ACTION. It’s doing what’s best for them in spite of how you feel about them, or how they feel about you. It’s doing what’s best for them even if it’s unpleasant or uncomfortable for you are them.

Just as in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, being kind to someone you don’t like forces you into showing them love. It plants a seed of God’s love into them and anyone else who may witness the kindness.

Kindness is exercising your love muscle. It allows you the opportunity to not only see them as God sees them, but to act towards them as God does towards us when we hurt Him.

 YOU CAN LOVE THE PERSON AND HATE THE BEHAVIOR

Do you think that God loves all of our behavior? Of course not. He hates sin…and we all sin.

God hates sin, but loves the sinner…and that’s what He expects us to do. When we accept Jesus and repent of our sins, He…

Propitiates our sins…covers or atones for them. (1 John 2:2)

And,

Justifies us…or counts us as being righteous. (Romans 5:1)

And, even those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior are recipients of His mercy He loves enough to withhold His wrath even though He doesn’t LIKE their behavior. (Luke 6:36)

God expects us to look past the sin and love the person that He made in His image. Is it easy? No! But, that’s where Philippians 4:13 is most powerful…

Philippians 4:13(NKJV)

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

 Just as God does, we can learn to love the person and hate the behavior.

We can love them, and dislike how the are.

FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH THEM

Another way that you can find it within yourself to love someone who you don’t like is to find something that you have in common with them.

The key to conflict resolution is finding common ground. We all have and will sin. We all have to die one day. We all want to be happy. We all want to be valued.

Look at what the apostle Paul did to reach others for Christ…

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NKJV)

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law,[a] that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,[b] but under law toward Christ[c]), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as[d] weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

We all have more in common than we may think. Sometimes when we don’t like someone, we don’t want to see what we have in common with them.

Finding something in common with them is a way to see yourself in them…hence, “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

 REMEMBER THAT SOMETIMES, YOU’RE THE PERSON SOMEONE DOESN’T LIKE

When we’re honest with ourselves…sometimes we are that person that someone doesn’t like. Not only that, sometimes we have given them a GOOD reason to ‘not like us’.

Lastly, remember this…When we judge that someone deserves to ‘not be liked’, we are placing that same judgment on ourselves…

Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV)

Do Not Judge

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

Notice that I didn’t try to convince you to like anyone. Just learn to love them through what you dislike about them.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

6

CREATED FOR PURPOSE…NOT PAIN! #stopbullying

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In the early to mid 1990’s a little girl bounced, pigtails swinging, into her first day of kindergarten. She insisted on going in alone. As her young parents watched her disappear in the door, both their eyes welled up with tears. This bittersweet day that they, both looked forward to and dreaded had finally come – and it was more bitter than sweet.

You see, this little girl had courageously overcome at least one surgery every year to correct birth defects. The doctors said she would be both blind and brain-damaged to her devastated, but faithful parents at birth. Each year, she would desperately reach back for her parents as staff took her from ‘The Bunny Room’ (where children could choose a toy before surgery) off to the operating room. God honored their faith and through the expert staff at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis TN., she was neither blind nor brain damaged – God worked a miracle in her life.

Her mind was sharp, and God blessed her with sight in one eye and a prosthesis that fit perfectly over the other eye that both looked and moved perfectly.

However, as beautiful as she was, there were still some minor, subtle features that made her feel uncomfortable…and we all know how cruel children can be in school.

This little girl walked in with the excitement and hope of all children to have the friends and normal school experience that all children deserve…and yes she did make good friends. But, there are always those children and some adults who love to amuse themselves and affirm themselves at the expense of others.

This sweet little girl was BULLIED.

This sweet little girl would have her expectations of a happy school year ripped from under her EACH year by a few other children who felt she didn’t deserve to be happy at school.

They weren’t there at the ‘Bunny Room’…

They weren’t there for the pain as the scars healed…

They weren’t there as she looked in the mirror desperately wanting to just feel normal…

They weren’t there when she begged morning after morning to stay home from school…

They weren’t there when she looked her parents though tears asking “why don’t they like me?”

This constant emotional, physical and psychological abuse slowly chipped away at her self-esteem as her parents did everything they could to help their sweet child. There are few things worse than sending your child to a hostile environment…with little to no power to change it.

Sometimes as she put her head in her hands to escape to herself for a few moments, children would still poke her in the back of the head. WHAT IF, in a temporary moment of rage she raised her head and blindly lashed out with a pencil striking one of the bullies in the temple with a pencil…who would be made to look the villain in this situation.

She wasn’t the villain, and didn’t ask to be the victim.

As much as violence has no place in our schools, we must ask ourselves WHY when some students lash out.

When I watch some tragic news stories, I sometimes wonder what led to that point. It isn’t always violent video games and music that lead to such behavior…they sometimes provide the fuel for emotions that have been created through bullying.

Yes, some people come out on top after years of bullying, but everyone isn’t blessed with the same coping mechanisms…some just can’t handle it.

This young lady made it through school allowing herself to continue being hurt, without hurting someone else…but if she had, the last thing she deserved was to be portrayed as a villain and possibly imprisoned because she couldn’t take it any more.

I am in no way defending those children who violently attack their fellow students and teachers, but we must be honest enough with ourselves to realize that SOMETIMES…there is more to the story.

Unfortunately, bullying doesn’t stop in school. Adults do the same thing once they begin working. There are bullies in our offices, stores, factories…anywhere people can work. One of my greatest disappointments in ‘growing up’ in realizing how many of us don’t.

When someone is born with challenges that most of us don’t have to endure, let us not allow bullies to ruin their lives. Too many time our culture not only allows, but sometimes supports this behavior. Let us be sensitive to them, Let us embrace them, nurture them…they deserve to enjoy life as everyone else.

This young lady turned out to be a beautiful person both inside and out – to God be the Glory!

Just as the man born blind in John Chapter 9, many times God has special purpose to get glory out of their lives. Their lives are meant for PURPOSE and not PAIN.

John 9:1-3 (NKJV)

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.

BE BLESSTIFIED

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LEMONADE WITHOUT SUGAR…

wp-1472302013866.jpgPeople love clichés.

A well-placed cliché makes conversations, speeches and even sermons more interesting. One very popular cliché used when people have misfortune is or difficulty is, “When life gives you lemons make lemonade”.

BUT WHAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY SUGAR?

What if you have a health condition that doesn’t allow you to have sugar?

Sometimes in life we have to faith our way through some difficult days…

Sometimes we have to take some medicine that just doesn’t taste good…

Sometimes you have to swallow a really big pill that’s hard to get down…

Some people can’t have sugar in their diet…

Sometimes your healing comes from something bitter.

AREN’T YOU GLAD THAT JESUS DIDN’T MAKE LEMONADE ON THE CROSS?

2 Timothy 2:3 tells us to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:2 teaches us to look to Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him.

People love quoting Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” when they are trying to make their dreams come true, but this verse is most powerful when we are enduring life’s most difficult situations.

God wants us to always be able to make something good out of difficult situations, and to always see His will in them. As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, sometimes there’s nothing to make some situations feel ‘or taste’ better.

We just have to faith our way through and learn to sometimes drink lemonade without sugar.

 Psalm 3:19 (ESV)

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
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BE BLESSTIFIED!

2

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T FALL APART WHEN THEY REFUSE TO INCLUDE YOU…

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You wanted to be A PART, and they wanted you APART

Most of us have had those hurtful, disappointing, eye-opening moments….You know, that moment that you realize that ‘they’ don’t want to include you!

You ever thought…Hey! Wait a minute! What’s going on here???

They may have excluded you…shunned you…

Given you the cold shoulder…

Ingored, snubbed and left you out….wouldn’t let you ‘play in the reindeer games’.

You wanted to be A PART of them, and it’s clear they wanted you to be APART from them.

You know who ‘THEY’ are…

That group…

That team…

That job…

That family…

That industry…

That organization…

That ministry…

That church…

That fraternity…

That sorority…

Those friends…

That clique…

That relationship…

They don’t acknowledge you. They don’t acknowledge your accomplishments. They don’t acknowledge your value…

But, that doesn’t mean they don’t SEE your value.

That’s may be why won’t let you in. NOT, because you aren’t good enough, but because they KNOW you ARE good enough.

They see your potential and your anointing…and SOMETIMES they view it as a THREAT to them.

Be very careful that you don’t push too hard trying to open doors that God may not want you to enter.

Please click here to read my post, “Doors”, from 9/3/16

In fact, thank God for blocking you from getting in. Thank Him for allowing them to…

Ignore you…

Reject you…

Push you away…

Sometimes God allows ‘them’ to do that to prevent us becoming settled in a place that we aren’t meant to be.

Be sensitive to the Spirit of God and as to where He is guiding you.

Remember the good intentions of Paul and his companions as the set their mind to go preach the word in Asia…

Acts 16:6-10 (NKJV)

 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

As David sought to be a devoted servant to Saul, look at how God allowed Saul to continually try to take David’s life (1 Samuel 18:30, 19:24)…God had something greater for David.

Sometimes God is trying to protect you…to guide you…to point you in the right direction through…

REJECTION!

They’re rejection of you doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not a good place…

It just means that it’s not the place that God has for you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

1

WHAT THE DEVIL WANTS YOU TO FORGET…

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THE DEVIL WANTS YOU TO FORGET…

That he is a liar (John 8:44)…

That God loves you (John 3:16)…

He can only do what God allows (Job 1:12)

God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)…

How much you love your spouse (Song of Solomon 1:2)…
How much you appreciate your family (1 Timothy 5:8)…

What God has already brought you through ( Judges 10:11-12)…

How happy you were the day you got your job ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18)…

That you promised God you wouldn’t do it again ( Psalm 38:18)…

That you asked God for the person you’re now tired of ( Malachi 2:16)…

That God is willing to forgive you no matter what you’ve done ( Matthew 12:31)….

That God promised that He would never leave you nor forsake you ( Hebrews 13:5)…

The enemy wants you to forget he disguises himself as an angel of light ( 2 Corinthians 11:14)…

He wants you to forget that he doesn’t have the keys nor control of Hell (Revelations 20:10)…

That you have power over him through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (James 4:7)…

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV)

11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

1

THE REAL, BOTTOM-LINE REASON MARRIAGES FAIL…

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Marriage is a gift of God. It provides life-long companionship and support when we go about it as God has instructed us…but unfortunately too many marriages, Christian marriages, end in divorce.

Why?

Of course, there are various things that lead to failed marriages, but when you think about it there’s ONE common factor…

It’s not the struggle…

It’s not the challenge…

It’s not the trial…

It’s not the situation…

It’s not even the money…

And, it’s not that DEEP…

MARRIAGES FAIL BECAUSE COUPLES FORGET TO HAVE JOY IN ONE ANOTHER!

Joy is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)…even marriages of unbelievers and other faiths who have joy in one another stay together.

Marriages fail because couples forget how to simply have joy in one another…through it all.

The enemy manipulates struggles; situations; the trials to provoke…

Division…

Resentment…

Blame…

Cheating…

Giving up on God…

Giving up on each other, rather than growing closer.

Look at Job’s wife during his struggle…

Job 2:9 (NIV)

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Struggles in your marriage are a guarantee…

You will always have disagreements.

When you can’t have what you want…

When things don’t work out the way you want…

YOU STILL HAVE EACH OTHER!

Don’t let the enemy manipulate you into forgetting to have joy in one another.

As long as you remember to have joy in just being together….

When God’s love is the bond that holds you together…

Theirs nothing can come between you!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

4

THE LIES WE DON’T INTEND TO TELL (MOST OF THE TIME)…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarGrowing In Yahuah

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SOME OF THE BIGGEST LIES WE TELL ARE…

Not intentionally (most of the time)…have any of these come from your mouth????

I love you…

I’ll pray for you…

I’ll call you back…

That’s okay…

I’m okay…

What’s wrong? “Nothing!”…

That’s hilarious…(and you don’t laugh)

Oh yeah, I remember that…

I don’t remember…

I don’t have it on me…(when asked for money)

That tastes great…

You look great…

I like that…

I’ve got your back…

I love everybody…

I don’t see color…

I’m doing this for you…

That didn’t bother me…

I don’t even care…

I’m over it…

It doesn’t matter…

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 12…

 Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)

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

Take a moment and thank God for His grace and mercy for the lies…

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

It’s one of the most common catch phrases these days…”Love is love.”

Those who believe that marriage goes beyond a man and woman, as defined in the bible…(Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Ephesians 5:31) say as long as two people love each other, then that’s ALL that matters.

But, that’s not the only situation when love isn’t ALL that matters.

Is it okay to be in love with someone else’s spouse?

Is it okay for an adult to be in love with a minor?

Is it okay to be in love with your relative?

Is it okay to be in love with you best friend’s parent?

Some love is forbidden.

Some love is inappropriate.

Why?

For those who believe in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it’s because the bible says so.

Godly love has order and distinct behavior as defined in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.

God’s love is defined and demonstrated all throughout the Old and New Testaments…and it’s not always smiles and good feelings.

Sometimes it’s challenges…

Sometimes it’s discipline…

Sometimes it’s wrath…

Sometimes it’s sacrifice…

Sometimes it’s reconciliation.

Now, if you don’t believe in the bible, there’s not much that can be said to convince you…

But, I’m talking to those who believe the bible is the inspired word of God.

But, more and more Christians are accepting, “Love is love…”

More and more Christians are accepting the thinking that when the bible addresses homosexuality that…”that’s not what it really means”.

But the bible is clear on the topic.

Just because a desire is natural doesn’t make it okay.

We are all created in sin, and our flesh is imperfect.

Psalm 51:5 (NKJV)

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

 

We are all born with different desires that we didn’t ask for…

Some are more naturally inclined towards violence…

Some are more naturally inclined towards being mean…

Some are more naturally inclined towards being selfish…

Some naturally have an unquenchable appetite for multiple sexual partners (just like King David in the bible)

And, some have a natural desire for people of their own sex.

Natural desires lead to multiple sins…

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV)

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Our natural desires don’t make it right, and doesn’t mean that God made a mistake.

God is love, and His love doesn’t permit us to hate anyone.

Love has order…

Love has particular behavior…

Love has boundaries.

And we all have to resist those desires with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Our desires aren’t what dictate what love is…in fact, sometimes they deceive us.

We don’t define what love is…God does.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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SEDUCED BY SHAPES…

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As I was driving this morning, I passed a REALLY NICE CAR. It’s a car that’s liked and desired by many people…some call it an aspirational vehicle. I thought about how nice it would be to have a car like that one, but then I also thought…

What makes that car look so good to people. What makes it look ‘cool’ rather than boring? It’s not the color because some cars that people call boring are the same color. It’s not only about the speed because an old jalopy can be very fast, but that doesn’t make people want it.

What is it?

It’s the shape!

Think about it. We were both driving. We were both getting where we wanted to go. But, his vehicle was more desirable to many because of the shape.

People have been ‘seduced’ into going deep into debt, sometimes debt they can’t afford because they were seduced by shapes.

We’re seduced by shapes…

Some people even call some cars SEXY.

How can a car be sexy?

The shape!

Think about the shapes that seduce us as humans…

Curves…

Contours…

Exaggerated features…

Hips…

Thighs…

Muscles…

Shoulders…

Breasts…

And yes, what God gave us to sit on…

Have you ever allowed being seduced by shapes to get you in trouble?

God gave us our senses, including sight, for a reason. He wants us to enjoy the pleasures in life, but not let them rule us or control us. That’s why fasting is so important, as spiritual exercise to bring our flesh into subjection so that we aren’t controlled by our desires.

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

 Remember what Jesus said…

Matthew 18:9 (NKJV)

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

 Of course this isn’t literal, Jesus just wanted to let us know the severity of being seduced by what we see…unless of course you’re that weak, then it would be better to pluck it out if you just can’t help yourself.

Think again of the shapes that seduce you…and make sure that more than anything your seduced by the shape of…

THE CROSS of Calvary!

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BE BLESSTIFIED!

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SOME OLD SCHOOL GOSPEL SONG LYRICS THAT SOUND GOOD BUT AREN’T BIBLICALLY SOUND…

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Sing praises with understanding. (Psalm 47:7)

I struggled about publishing this post because I know how much we love our old school Gospel songs. And, yes they ARE GOOD SONGS, but some contain some lyrics that aren’t completely aligned with scripture. Okay, I already know this may upset some people, but God wants us to speak the truth.

There are some old school Gospel songs that we love…that encourage us…that we sing in worship, but they contain some lyrics that aren’t biblically sound.

These particular songs are more common in some church cultures than others, but I persuaded to believe that all church cultures have them.

We’ve heard our parents and grandparents sing them…

Yes, they make us feel good…

Yes, they we enjoy them…

Yes, those who wrote them were anointed…

This isn’t to diminish the anointing of the song writer(s), but to remind us that when we are using songs to worship God, we must remember what our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ said…

John 4:24 (NKJV)

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God demands that we worship Him not only in spirit…BUT IN TRUTH.

See if any of these lyrics sound familiar…

“If these wings should fail me, I want you to meet me with another pair” #TwoWings

When we are resurrected from the dead, we will all receive brand new SPIRITUAL BODIES. Our natural bodies will be a thing of the past. We will be made perfect. Once resurrected, our new bodies WILL NOT be able to fail. This sounds good, but it’s not biblically sound.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NKJV)

 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

Also, this implies that we will become Seraphim, such as those that flew around the throne of God in Isaiah 6:1-8. This is a special order of angel with a special purpose. The bible does not say we will become Seraphim, or even angels for that matter. Angels are ministering spirits appointed to us (Hebrews 1:14). If we all become angels, who will we minister to?

How about these lyrics?

“If you find anything that shouldn’t be, take it out and strengthen me.” #SearchMeLord

This implies that God removes sin from our lives. Jesus died on the cross to give us power over sin and death, but He gave us the power and responsibility to remove from our lives ourselves…

Colossians 3:5  (NKJV)

5 Therefore PUT TO DEATH your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:8 (NKJV)

8 But now YOU YOURSELVES ARE TO PUT OFF ALL OF THESE: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

 Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV)

 25 Therefore, PUTTING AWAY lying,

Ephesians 4:31(KKJV)

 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, with all malice.

 2 Corinthians 7:1(NKJV)

 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

No where in scripture to we find God TAKING SIN OUT of anyone…He told us to do it. Those lyrics sound good, but aren’t biblically sound.

I’m sure you’re familiar with these lyrics…

“I don’t feel no ways tired” #IDontFeelNoWaysTired

I have witnessed people actually sing this in church, then talk about how tired they are afterward.

I’m sure if Jesus Himself got tired while walking in flesh, that we will too…

 John 4:6 (NKJV)

6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, BEING WEARIED FROM His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Yes, it’s necessary to resolve to keep on going in the Lord, but when we sing these lyrics, we better make sure we aren’t actually lying when we say them.

Okay, I’m sure someone will get upset with me about this one…

“Stepped in the furnace, a long time ago…Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.” #TroubleInMyWay

What’s wrong with that? Well, those were Babylonian names given to Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael by Nebuchadnezzar. Those names honored Babylonians gods (for example, Abednego means servant of Nego, a pagan god) and we’ve thrown them right in the middle of a Gospel song.

They didn’t accept those names. We don’t refer to Daniel as Belteshazzar, so we should immediately stop calling them those blasphemous names…especially in a Gospel song.

Okay, I’m going to stop right there, but we need to be careful about trying to justify what we want to do once God has made it clear in His word that something is wrong.

Some may even say it doesn’t matter, or that it’s a small thing, remember two things…

When God was rebuking Judah for committing sins in the house of God, He asked them, Is it a trivial (or small) thing…

Ezekiel 8:17 (NKJV)

17 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here?

And, God commands the we sing His praises with understanding…

Psalm 47:7 (NKJV)

7 For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises WITH UNDERSTANDING.

Let’s worship Him in spirit and truth.

If this blessed you, please follow my blog…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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IT’S NOT WHAT YOU TELL THAT MAKES IT GOSSIP, BUT WHY YOU TELL IT…

wp-1490191575689.jpg“Hey! You aren’t going to believe this!”

“Have you heard the latest?”

“Guess what _______did!”

“Don’t repeat this…”

“I hate to talk about people but…”

Many times these are some of the phrases that are followed by gossip, spreading rumors and telling other peoples’ business.

Gossip can be destructive to people, families, communities, organizations and even churches.

Some popular television shows are successful primarily for the love of gossip.

The bible is clear that God forbids His people from gossiping…

Psalms 101:5

“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence…”

Proverbs 16:28 (NIV)

“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”

 Proverbs 11:13 (NIV)

“A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”

 Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

 James 4:11 (NIV)

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another….”

 Yes, it’s wrong to gossip…but what makes sharing certain information gossip?

It’s the intent of the heart. It’s not WHAT you’re telling, but WHY your telling it.

Some people gossip to stir strife…

Some do it to help their personal agenda…

Some people just enjoy the thrill of being the first to share certain news…

But, sharing information is not always gossip.

Notice the verses…

1 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)

 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.

 Colossians 1 (NIV)

 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 

 In the two verses above, someone shared information with the Apostle Paul,  how else would he have heard about the dysfunction in the Corinthian church or the faith in the Colossian church?

In the two verses above, we both good and bad information being shared, but neither were gossip because of the REASON the information was shared.

It wasn’t shared to shame…

It wasn’t shared to spite…

It wasn’t shared to slander…

It wasn’t shared to glorify…

It was shared to build up others…to strengthen the church…it was shared to help.

Be very careful about the information that you share and that you receive.

Remember that sometimes it’s beneficial to give the 411 on a situation, but always be honest with yourself as to YOUR personal reason for telling it.

And, if someone comes to you with something and you feel it’s just needless gossip. Once you tell them that you don’t want to hear it…they won’t come to you again.

The responsibility falls on both the person who tells and the person who hears.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:26 (NIV)

 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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WHY REAL, TOTAL UNITY ISN’T REALISTIC…

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IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT UNITING PEOPLE, BUT UNITING THE RIGHT PEOPLE

I often hear people proclaim, “We just all need to come together”.  Or some groups say, “We aren’t together like other groups are”.

The truth is that even though some cultures are inherently more cooperative, that there is no group, family, race, culture, nationality or cause that is truly totally united…at least for a prolonged amount of time.

Think about all of the great social movements, there have always been different approaches and ideas as to how to approach them.

As much as Dr. Martin Luther King is revered now, many of his contemporaries did not agree at his non-violent approach.

Without calling out any particular group, race, nationality, culture or cause… If you look closely into the other groups, races, nationalities, causes or cultures that are so called, UNITED, you will find great fragmentation and variance in all of them.

Progress is made and accomplishments are achieved not by uniting EVERYONE, but UNITING the RIGHT GROUP of people.

It is totally unrealistic to think that we can achieve total unity in any large-scale group in this imperfect world.

Jesus Christ, Yeshua, Himself did not ( and still does not) have total unity in His group, even though that is one of the main things He prayed for before He went to the cross.

John 17:20-23 (NKJV)

 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word; 21 that they ALL MAY BE ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE IN US, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that THEY MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE ONE: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made PERFECT IN ONE, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Jesus prayed for it because He wants us to work for unity. The more we work for unity, the more likely the RIGHT people will come together for the right things.

Yes, it does seem that some groups are more divided than others…but no group is totally united.

Jesus launched the church and changed the world forever…literally forever, with twelve men. He assembled the right group of people is the midst of great division. Those twelve men did the same, they assembled the right groups together to get the job done…and so on, and so on.

Now the and so on falls on US. Don’t worry about who won’t come together…focus on who will.

Because even though total unity is unrealistic, God still expects us to try.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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YOU DON’T HAVE DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarGrowing In Yahuah

WHEN YOU SACRIFICE YOUR TIME FOR SOMEONE, YOU’RE GIVING THEM PART OF YOUR LIFE.

How much of yourself…your time do you give to others?
Here on earth, time is life. You can get back lost money, but you can never get back time.

When you sacrifice your time for someone, you’re giving away part of your life.

Jesus said….

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DIE TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR SOMEONE.

Many have given up their dreams so that someone else can pursue theirs.

There are those who spend and have spent years taking care of others…serving others. Serving others is giving up your time for someone else.

Who in your life is giving up their time for you?

Who are your sacrificing your time for?

One of the greatest…

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DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF WHEN YOU’RE DISCOURAGED…

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Sometimes, we can feel bad about ourselves when we have human moments…

When our hearts are troubled…

When we feel that God isn’t listening…

Sometimes, when we in moments of being discouraged, we can feel that we have let God down and that our faith is weak.

God knew we would be discouraged sometimes. He knew that life would be heavy. He knew that we would have both highs and lows.

That’s why one of the spiritual gifts that He gives in the ENCOURAGEMENT

 Romans 12:6-8a

 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a]faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to ENCOURAGE, then give ENCOURAGEMENT;

 Remember even Elijah asked to die…

1 Kings 19:4 (NIV)

 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Jeremiah cursed the day he was born…

Jeremiah 20:14-18 (NIV)

 Cursed be the day I was born!
May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!

 Even Jesus asked why had the Father forsaken Him…

Matthew 27:46  (NIV)

46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[a] lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]

It’s human to be discouraged and troubled sometimes. Don’t beat yourself up too much over that.

Just also remember that Elijah, Jeremiah or Jesus remained discouraged. They had their human moments, but they overcame them.

Praise God in your broken moments. Don’t let them be an opportunity for the devil to influence.

Always stop in the midst of your discouragement and GIVE GOD PRAISE….even if you don’t feel like it…ESPECIALLY if you don’t feel like it.  Your broken spirit is perfect for getting yourself closer to God. He promises to come close to us in our broken moments…

Psalm 51:17 (NIV)

17 My sacrifice, O God, is[a] a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

If you’re discouraged today, remember your human, but you aren’t ONLY human.

1 John 4:4 (NIV)

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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WHEN WE TRY TO ‘MANIPULATE’ GOD INTO BLESSING US…

​It’s interesting how we sometimes try to manipulate blessings out of God.

Sometimes intentionally.

Sometimes intentionally.

Think about it. When we…

Make promises in our prayers…
Fast, but with our own selfish, personal agenda…

Isaiah 58:3 (NKJV) 

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?

Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’

“In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure…”

Give only so we can be blessed…

Go to church as if God owes us something for going…

Serve to be seen or only to be rewarded for our service.

Even when we do all of the ‘spiritual’ things God told us to do.

God knows our hearts…

He knows the true motivation of why we do what we do…

James 4:3 (NKJV)

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

This may not be you, and if not…great.

But, if it is remember that we can’t trick or manipulate God into blessing us.

And, the beautiful thing is that we don’t have to.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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when you take your eyes off of YOUrself…

On your darkest day…you can be someone else’s light.

In your biggest mistake…you can help someone else see what’s right.

In the middle of your greatest mess…

You can someone else see how much they’re blessed.

No matter what you’re going through…

God’s given you enough strength for yourself…

And someone else too.

It’s amazing what you can do…

When you take your eyes off of YOUrself.

Romans 15:2 (NKJV)

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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IT’S NOT SELFISH TO LOVE YOURSELF…

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We hurt each other. Sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally.

Sometimes we hurt the ones we love the most.

Why?

God tells us that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Maybe that’s the problem sometimes. Do we know how to love ourselves?

Do we love ourselves as we should?

Think of all of the things you have done…

All of the places you have gone…

All of the things you have said that weren’t good for you.

Think of all the things that people eat, drink, consume that aren’t good for them.

Think of all the situations people subject themselves to, fully knowing it’s not good for them.

We put ourselves in unhealthy relationships.

We hurt ourselves for instant gratification.

We subject ourselves to harm physically, emotionally and spiritually…no one else has to do it, we do it to ourselves.

Maybe that’s the problem. We hurt each other and don’t know how to love each other because WE DON’T FULLY KNOW HOW TO LOVE OURSELVES.

We can sometimes replace a healthy love of self with a form of idolatry, where we are arrogant, filled with pride, conceited and narcissistic.

That’s why we have to read God’s word and ask God to teach us to love ourselves the right way.

When you pray, how often do you ask God to teach you to love yourself?

How often do you ask God to help YOU LOVE YOU?

That’s not a selfish prayer because yes, we must LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL, but we can’t LOVE ONE ANOTHER properly, until we learn to LOVE OURSELVES first.

Today, let’s ask God to help us love Him, and OURSELVES as we should.

Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV)

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[d] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

 

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WHAT’S YOUR PLACE IN YOUR CIRCLE?

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Have you taken a close look at your circles?

You know…

The people who are closest to you. The people who you enjoy being around most, and who most enjoy being around you.

Our circles really say quite a bit about who we are.

It’s interesting to see YOUR place in YOUR circles. All circles have those who have the greatest influence…they are the leaders. And, some have those who are either followers, or just glad to be in a group of people like them.

I think that people can be defined by three types of circles. Circles with people who are:

Surviving…

Thriving…

And,

Nosediving…

SURVIVING

These people have one basic thing in common. They are all making it. They are all getting by, but they are all JUST getting by. They are doing what it takes to survive, and there’s not much more time or money to do anything else. Some are content with this and some aren’t, but they are all just surviving. Within, the group of ‘survivors’ there are still some who are ‘surviving’ better than the others in the group. If this is you, where do you fall in place with your group of survivors?

THRIVING

This group also one thing in common…they are all doing extraordinarily well. They are living in ‘overflow’ of everything they need and the freedom, ability and access to what they want. But, much like the NBA team with players who are superstars, while others are multi-million dollar superstars…they are all in the same prosperous circle, but some are prospering much better than others. If this is you, where do you fall in your thriving circle?

NOSEDIVING

This circle’s common denominator is struggle. Not only is surviving a struggle for those in this circle, but it seems that everyone seems to be losing ground. They aren’t necessarily lazy, but some may be. They may work hard. They may even be wise, but have unfortunate circumstances. Even in this group, some are losing ground faster than others. And, within this circle are leaders and those who have greater influence. It this is you, where are you in your circle?

What ever your circle may be, you can still be a light for God…you can still be a positive influence. Because the truth is that these circles will always exist…

And, God needs to be found in all of them.

Remember this…

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

So, no matter what your circle, make sure that you aren’t just the GOOD influence, make sure you’re the GOD influence.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME…

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I was listening to a lady trying to explain the spiritual benefits of fasting recently on a popular national radio show recently.

This lady was speaking of a 40-day fast. She did a very good job of explaining the physical, but most of all spiritual benefits of fasting.

The show has multiple hosts, and everyone couldn’t grasp what she was saying. One of the show hosts comically ridiculed…”What I wanna do that for…go without eating?!”

There are some spiritual concepts that those who are not in relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or who aren’t spiritually mature just WILL NOT understand.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Even Jesus told us we must use discernment in where we plant our good seed…

 Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)

6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

 It’s always good to plant a seed of faith…in fact it’s our responsibility, but sometimes trying to EXPLAIN and CONVINCE some people can be a waste of time.

We must always use wisdom and discernment of when, how and even why we share our faith.

When pressed, even Jesus Himself said many times, “My time has not yet come”.

Everyone doesn’t have a mind or heart to receive what you may be anxious to share.

Always be ready to share your faith, but use wisdom in how, when and where you do it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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