Original, daily devotionals, inspiration and more from a fresh, "Hey! I never thought about it like that before" perspective.
Sometimes you have forgive people over and over again NOT because they keep hurting you…
But, because they haven’t hurt you again…
They are truly sorry…
But you can’t get past it.
Sometimes 7 times 70 isn’t because of them, but because of you.
Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Can you tell the difference between a REASON and an EXCUSE?
I was recently in a situation where I was at fault. I was angry, and said something hurtful that I shouldn’t have…
When asked, “How could you say that?” “Why did you say that?” I responded…
I was also in a situation in my office where I overlooked something very important, and was asked by my Director at the time, “Why did this happen?” I responded…
The above situations involved two different people, but I got the same response both times, a response that I have made myself. The response was…
Again, my response was the same both times…
God invites us in His word to come and reason with Him…
Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
If God is willing to reason with us, we should be willing to reason with one another, but that involves good communication and a willingness to accept what the other person has to say.
One tool in reasoning together is learning the difference between a REASON and an EXCUSE. It’s inevitable that we will hurt one another from time to time…especially those we love. But, one way to diffuse the disagreement is learning to EXPRESS and ACCEPT the REASONS we do or say things rather than EXCUSES.
My answers above were REASONS…
I was angry…
I was defensive…
I was careless…
I was foolish…
I was inconsiderate…
I felt rushed…
I was unprepared…
I was embarrassed…
I was immature…
I didn’t care enough…
These are all examples of REASONS we might make mistakes or hurt one another.
Here are some examples of EXCUSES…
I’m only human…
Everyone else did it…
I’m just a man (or woman)…
I couldn’t help myself…
You get the picture?
Sometimes people take our REASONS for EXCUSES. Sometimes we try to pass off EXCUSES as REASONS.
We’ll find ourselves on both sides of this discussion so…
Learning the difference between both can help diffuse our arguments, differences, disagreements and help us move on to resolution.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Life can take us down some different and difficult roads. Some roads we choose, and some we don’t. Sometimes CRAZY things is our lives, especially our relationships. We sometimes selfishly, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally do things that hurt others who are in relationship with us…sometimes it’s something we feel we ‘can’t come from’ or ‘can’t get past’.
If this is you, I have good news today. God has given you the power to GET PAST ANYTHING. God has given you the power, that despite what happened, life can be EVEN BETTER. Now, I don’t want to be insensitive to what you have gone through, I’m just sharing God’s truth. The key is really simple…it’s true forgiveness. The key to forgiveness is the day we make up our mind, “I don’t WANT that to bother me anymore.”
We sometimes hold on to our pain, resentment, rage, grudge because it can make us feel stronger in regard to a situation that made us feel vulnerable and weak.
Some people don’t forgive because it takes away their excuse to be angry.
This may sound oversimplified, but the key is forgiving someone else is telling yourself, I’m tired of surrendering my peace to this, and I DON’T WANT TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THIS ANYMORE.
The power is changing how you think of the situation, renewing your mind as in Romans 12:2…
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
When this happens, something miraculous happens in your spirit…suddenly thinking of it doesn’t make you feel the same.
Ephesians 4:31.32 let’s us know it’s our responsibility to ” Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. He also told us to be willing to continue to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).
Matthew 18:21-22
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.
God expects us to forgive as He forgives us (Ephesians 4:32)…
Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
That’s the awesome power of true forgiveness! Once you truly forgive, you have tapped into God’s power to free yourself from the pain of the situation. God is very clear here and throughout scripture that it’s our responsibility. If it’s our responsibility, then He has given us the power to do it.
I love 2 Peter 1:3 which proclaims…
2 Peter 1:3
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.
God has given us everything we need to accomplish what He requires of us. So, no matter what happens in your relationships, if you choose to continue those relationships (as God chooses to do when He forgives us), yes things may not ever be he same. Your relationship may not be innocent anymore (as yours with God isn’t), someone may have betrayed you in a way that some say is unforgivable (as we all done with God), someone may have put you to open shame (as we do God) and yes things won’t be THE SAME but when you make up your mind to forgive, and focus on the joy of the relationship and build new memories to replace the old ones, even though THINGS WON’T EVER BE THE SAME, THEY CAN STILL BE BETTER.
BE BLESSTIFIED!!!
It’s been said that we only use a small fraction of the human brain’s capacity. I believe that’s true – thus, we limit our abilities. If we were able to utilize our entire brain, we could possibly achieve what is believed to be superhuman.
In much the same way, I believe that many of us only know a fraction of who God is because we have limited ourselves through the lens of the perspective of the church culture in which we were ‘introduced’ to God.
It may be the church culture in which we were raised…
It may be the church culture we chose as an adult…
If you are a member of the Body of Christ, take a moment and think about your church culture.
Think about how you approach worship.
Think about how you approach ministry outside of the church.
Think about the music ministry.
Think about the prayers… what topics are addressed during the public prayers.
Think about the sermons… What topics are addressed? Through which perspective are they addressed? What topics are avoided?
Our worship can sometimes be influenced by our past…our socio-economic status…how we experience family…how we experience America, or what ever country in which you live.
Many times our prayers and expectations can be centered around…
Our health…
Our economic status…
Our social views…
Our political views…
Sometimes we can reduce God to a genie in a bottle.
Sometimes we can expect God to worship our hopes, dreams, desires, expectations, pains, worries, our viewpoints when our worship is centered around these things.
Get the picuture?
Some people equate worship music to exuberant shouting, while others equate it being reserved and quiet…why can’t it be both sometimes?
The bulk of some church culture’s worship is centered around crying, lamenting and asking God for help, while others mainly consists of thanking God and acknowledging the beauty of His creation.
Historical example…
Christians during the Civil Rights Movement were introduced to God through how their ancestors experienced America…this varied based on race, geography, etc.
This directly affected how they worshipped, prayed.
It affected what songs they chose for worship.
It affected how they approached social issues.
It affected how they approached politics.
And, this is how they introduced and introduce God to the present generation.
How will this generation introduce God to future generations?
God is a healer.
God is a deliverer.
God is a keeper.
God is a God of love and kindness.
God is a God of anger and wrath.
God IS!
Psalm 71:18 (NKJV)
18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come.
Have you ‘experienced’ God from the perspective and context of…
Oppression?
Abuse?
Success?
Addiction?
Struggle?
How you perceive freedom?
This is why we have ‘images’ of Yeshua as White, Black, Mediterranean, Asian etc.
Don’t limit your relationship to God and definitely don’t limit Him when you share your faith.
CLIQUE-‘ISH’ IN THE CHURCH (YEP, ‘ISH’ IS A EUPHEMISM)…
WHEN WE MAKE CHURCH ABOUT US INSTEAD OF GOD…
WHEN WE GO TO CHURCH EXPECTING GOD TO WORSHIP US…
CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE SHOULD BE ‘A’ PRIORITY BUT NOT ‘THE’ PRIORITY OF THE CHURCH…
QUICK FYI: 4 REASONS NEW MEMBERS QUIT COMING TO CHURCH…
7 ‘CHURCHY’ CLICHES THAT WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF HOW WE SAY…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Having you ever noticed a child throwing a temper tantrum when he or she doesn’t get something that they want? This is a natural reaction that must be overcome as the child matures. The reaction is natural…innate…the child was born with it.
As you know, the debate continues as to whether people are born gay, or is it a choice. The purpose of this article isn’t to debate that question, but to address this fact…
Many Christians reason to excuse some behaviors by saying, “I or they was or were born this way”.
This doesn’t mean that God made a mistake because the scripture clearly reminds us that we were all born in sin…
Psalm 51:5 (NKJV)
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Fornication…
Adultery…
Homosexuality…
Gluttony…
Greed…
Jealousy…
Envy…
Wrath …
…ALL come from natural desires and they are ALL EQUALLY wrong.
Even David, a man after God’s own heart was born with an insatiable desire for women…but that did not make it right or acceptable to God. Those who read the bible know what that led to.
Some people are naturally more greedy, more lustful, more promiscuous, more selfish, more aggressive, more violent that others…does that make it okay? For those who wish to argue these are learned behaviors, some people have these behaviors modeled and ‘learn’ them, while others witnessed these behaviors and didn’t succumb to them.
Pedophiles don’t feel they ‘choose’ to be attracted to children…does that make it okay? No!
The desires of our flesh war against our spirit…and these vary from person to person.
Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
It is only by walking in the Fruit of the Spirit can we overcome our fleshly desires that displease God.
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:22,23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
That’s why fasting is so powerful. It is a tool we can use to bring our flesh into subjection, overcome our weaknesses and prove to ourselves that our desires won’t rule us. It’s our tool to move those mountains in our lives.
Matthew 17: 20-21
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting
Use this as post ammunition when someone presents to you the argument, “I was born this way, so it can’t be wrong”.
Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s okay.
BE BLESSTIFIED.
A few years ago I regularly volunteered at a rescue mission. While there, I worked closely with the Pastor who over saw the location. As I watched him, there were some occasions I thought his temper was too short and he was too harsh. Of course there were many people there who needed help, but he would daily encounter people who were trying to take advantage of the system, harm other residents, or didn’t appreciate the help they were getting. I didn’t know the Pastor when he first started his job…how hopeful he was to make a difference…how passionate he was for those who were in need, but it was clear that dealing with negative, evil people had since hardened his heart.
There have been times that I willingly bought food for people in need on the street, but other days, because of people who were clearly trying to take advantage of my kindness, tried to ignore those who are in need.
Jesus made a powerful prophecy for the last days. He prophesied that BECAUSE of evil, the sincere love of many will grow cold.
Matthew 24:12 (NKJV)
12 And because lawlessness (sin) will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Has negativity, dysfunction, racism, violence…evil ever made you angry?
Do you have a family member or friend who has given so many chances to change that you don’t feel sorry for them any more?
Has being mistreated made you feel justified in disliking, or even hating someone?
When people seem to confirm negative stereotypes, does it push you towards racism?
Have those who abuse systems designed to help cause you to lose compassion for those who are truly in need?
Have you found yourself to love less? Be careful, because it can lead to being loveless.
The devil wants to use the evil in the world to harden your heart. He wants to find the right button(s) to press to make you the mirror image of that you see as evil.
Please don’t let allow the bad in the world to harden your heart.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Everyone wants to look good. Men want to be handsome. Women want to be beautiful. Do you know anyone who doesn’t?
Many people work towards looking good and being healthy – and yes there is a difference. That’s why when you see or hear advertisements for gyms and diet plans, very rarely is it that they promote good health. Think about it. Most of the time it’s about…
Being sexy…
Being attractive…
Getting into shape…
Buns and abs…
Right?
We groom. We work out. We watch our diets. We purchase clothes. We do what it takes to look and feel our best. We do what it takes to maintain our health and a good quality of life.
1 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV)
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
The bible isn’t saying it’s a sin to ‘get your hair done’, wear jewelry or wear nice clothes. It’s saying that you shouldn’t rely on that to make your beautiful. It’s saying that your true beauty should come from the godliness that’s inside your heart. He wants you more concerned with your inner beauty than outer beauty.
Even those who don’t have the so-called characteristics that society deems ‘beautiful’ in the context of each individual’s culture, can be viewed as beautiful and attractive when you can see the light of God on the inside – their loving, vibrant, lively, humble spirit shines through!
Have you become obsessed with your appearance? Are you feeding your flesh more than your faith? How many times a day do you check yourself in the mirror?
Here is a great test to give yourself…
Are you spending more time with your face in a mirror than your bible?
Do you use the camera on your phone to view yourself more than you use your bible app?
Do you know anyone obsessed with their appearance? Is it you?
There’s a thin line between good health, looking your best and worshiping oneself.
Please don’t let your mirror become your place of worship.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”
BULL!!!
We all know words hurt. Verbal insults can inflict wounds that leave behind scars that last a lifetime.
As disciples of Christ we should develop a ‘tough skin’ to minimize the pain of when people insult us, however there’s one thing we should all remember about insults.
They hurt even more when they are injected with some painful truth about us…
“I can’t stand your selfish _______!”
“You wouldn’t be so broke if you weren’t so lazy!”
“People don’t like being around you because you’re so mean!”
“You know you’re much too heavy to wear that!”
It really doesn’t matter if the insult is said to hurt you, sometimes God will use an insult to help us examine ourselves so we can change. Especially if we have people around us who always say what we want to hear.
The disciples knew that the Pharisees and religious leaders were insulted at the rebukes of Yeshua, but they were filled with truth…
Matthew 15:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
When someone is accused of libel or slander, if what they said is true, then they are considered to be innocent.
Yes, insults are painful, but most of the time it’s the truth in some insults that make them more painful. Being honest with ourselves, even though it hurts, can help us make the necessary adjustments to achieve personal and spiritual growth.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
I can’t count the times my wife or family has challenged me to be accountable, and I immediately became defensive.
I knew they were right…
I knew they meant me no harm…
But, my first visceral response was to defend myself rather than acknowledge what they said.
In family?
Professionally?
Spiritually?
As a friend?
As a leader?
One of the greatest signs of an Emotional Intelligent, spiritually mature leader is the ability to take both…
The fact is that sometimes criticism, insults and feedback ARE being used to attack…
BUT, THAT DOESN’T DIMINISH THE TRUTH IN WHAT’S SAID…
and the opportunity for growth.
Remember what God told us through Solomon in Proverbs…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Parenting level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest…
What level parent do you think you are?
By what, and whose objective and/or subjective standards should be used to determine this?
As a parent, what if the decision as to whether or not you can keep your children was based on a standardized test that your children took? What if that test was based on how you managed your children at home and how they performed outside of the home?
As a parent, are you able to control how well your child or children master what you teach them? Are you able to control what they watch and listen to all of the time? Are you able to control their behavior? Do your children always comply and submit with humility, or do they sometimes give you attitude? Does your child or children ever rebel against your rules? Do they ever sneak and do things they aren’t supposed to do?
The truth is that every adult still struggles from some behavioral, social, intellectual and emotional issues inherited from their home no matter what the race, culture religion or socio-economic status may be.
Why do we have this unrealistic, unfair and highly-subjective metric placed on our educational professionals?
Yes, test children to get a snapshot and benchmark of what they’ve learned. But, don’t base the EFFECTIVENESS of someone who has to share the dedication they have for their own children with two to eight dozen other children who aren’t their own.
For those of you who consider yourselves to be Christians, there’s no better parent than God our Father right?
James 1:17 (NKJV)
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning
Please share this with someone who you think…will read it and think.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
The reason many people can’t swim is because they were taught fear of water rather than respect for water.
I remember as a child when at the lake as I went near the water being told, “Get away from there!”
The disciples became afraid for their lives as the storm raged while Jesus slept in the lower parts of the boat. When Jesus woke up, before He rebuked the winds and the waves, He rebuked their fear and lack of faith…
Matthew 8:23-27 (NKJV)
23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, [a]“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
I’m sure there were many people in those days afraid of boats, just as many people today are afraid of planes.
How did you learn to be afraid of that? It’s one thing to have a healthy respect for the power of something and another to be afraid of it…even your enemies.
Too many times it’s our fears that come between us and our purpose, our vision, our calling, our destiny, our potential…being everything God called us to be.
Remember what God told us through the Apostle Paul…
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Too many times, “Fear is how the enemy convinces you to customize an attack against your own future.”
BE BLESSTIFIED!
As you know banners, in the Bible standards or flags were set up to distinguish tribes. There is no record of ‘pledges’, but they were used during battle to give troops encouragement and a focal point.
Numbers 1:52 (NKJV)
52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies;
When God is our victory banner (Yehovah Nissi) He is our encouragement and focal point from one victory to another.
Psalm 20:5 (NKJV)
5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Thus, our allegiance isn’t to a piece of cloth (which can become an idol), but to our God, our Elohim, the Father of our Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
After God gave Moses victory over the Amelakites he built an alter and called it , Yehovah Nissi (The Lord is my Banner).
Exodus 17:15 (NJKV)
And Moses built an altar and called its name, [a]The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;
Whenever you need encouragement, or to rally people together for a Godly cause, call on the symbolic name of God that specifically refers to that aspect of His character…and always let your first allegiance be to Him.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
God is…
All-powerful!
All-knowing!
And, everywhere at the same time.
There is nothing impossible to Him, but there’s still a few things He can’t do…
He can’t die.
He can’t lie.
He can’t fail…
Yes, I know we say He’s a father to the fatherless and a mother to the motherless…and He can fill those voids in our lives, but…
Notice what Psalm 68:5 says…
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
It says that our loving heavenly FATHER is to the fatherless, but not a mother to the motherless.
He’s our FATHER, but,
God gave a special role to women. He gave them honor of being the first connection to every life on this earth. To nurture every life…to introduce every person to the world, and with that role comes a special bond. There’s nothing like a mother’s love.
Even when it comes to our salvation, in the fullness of time, God still didn’t step outside of the authority He gave to women by still using a woman to bring His Son into the world.
Yes, He could have made another man of ‘dust’ if He wanted, but He chose Mary to be a Mother to our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:4 (NKJV)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law,
There’s nothing like a mother’s love!
That’s why it’s possible for some women who didn’t even physically birth a child into the world to still have the anointing to fulfill a mother’s role and love…it is a gift of God to the child and mother.
In those unfortunate circumstances when a mother does not live up to her role, even though a father can step it up or step in…nothing can ‘replace it’. Sometimes there is just a void, unless another ‘woman’ steps in (grandmother, aunt, sister, adopted mother).
So thank God for all mothers, even if yours didn’t live up to her responsibility, because that’s who God chose to bring you into the world.
Praise God for the blessing of mothers!
BE BLESSTIFIED!
One of my greatest disappointments in ‘growing up’ was realizing how much we really don’t. You can look at some adults and sometimes easily tell who was the cry baby, the know it all, the spoiled child…the one who took their toys and went home when they didn’t get their way.
You can work in an office, school, store, restaurant, or even a church and you’ll find the same thing…proof that some of us never really grow up. Many work places aren’t much different from high school…
You have the so-called…
Popular/Cool kids
Nerds
Jocks
Preps
Bullies
Loners
You have those with aggravatingly high levels of ‘school spirit’ and those who ‘smoke in the bathroom’ and could care less…those who are ‘company people’ and those who spend most of their day in the designated smoking area.
You have those who ‘remind the teacher (boss) we have a test’…those who can’t wait to remind the boss of that meeting that no one wanted to have.
You have those who are always late for class and never have their assignments…those always late for work and hold up the process, the line…progress because they haven’t done their part.
You have the teacher’s pet…those who love ‘kissing the bosses behind’ trying to get noticed or get ahead, and you see it sometimes backfire on them at work just as it did in school.
You have those who keep their ‘desk’ in perfect condition…those whose desk is an organized mess…and those whose desk is a disaster area.
School should be a place where all children can go to learn in peace and safety…be challenged and enjoy rewarding friendships.
Our workplaces should be places where we can earn a living for ourselves or our families and be respected as adults.
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Both school and workplaces are ruined by the same things…
Selfishness
Immaturity
Over Ambition
Arrogance
Untrustworthy
Cliques
God’s word tells us that we should always be mindful to treat others not only as we want to be treated…
Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
But, also better than ourselves…
Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
God also expects us to do whatever it takes within us to get along with others…
Romans 12:18 (NKJV)
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
The bible teaches us that God expects us to be ‘perfect’. But, perfect in the bible does not mean without fault. It means ‘mature’ (according to Strong’s Concordance Greek teleios means mature or consummated).
Matthew 5:48 (NKJV)
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect
Philippians 3:15 (NKJV)
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
When you’re in fourth grade, you should be at that proper level of development…intellectually, emotionally, behaviorally and socially. You aren’t expected to be in the fourth grade on an eight grade level…or vice versa. If you are on your appropriate level of development, according to the bible you are ‘perfect’ or mature.
The problem is that in our workplaces…too many people remained at the ‘forth grade’ level even though they have moved to ‘high school’. God expects us to grow up.
If we take God’s work serious enough in our homes to instill it within our children, we will find our schools much better places to learn, which will create adults who make our workplaces better places to work.
God’s word will make us grow up.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
When you love someone, you want to learn what pleases them…and what displeases them.
The same is true for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…Yeshua the Messiah.
Many of you already know that the Hebrew name for Jesus is Yehoshua, or Yeshua in its shortened form.
Many of you also know that Jesus is a transliteration of Yeshua in Hebrew to Iesous in Greek and later Jesus after the letter ‘J’ was added to the English language in the 1500’s.
We also know the importance God places on names in both Old and New Testaments.
So here’s my question for serious contemplation and conversation…
If companies will sue over misuse of their name…is it possible that Yeshua wants to be called Yeshua. God introduced Himself to the world through the Hebrew people… not a race, but a faith He created as His own people.
Is it our place to tell our Savior what He wants to be called? When we refer to foreign leaders, do we translate or transliterate their name, or do we refer to them in their particular language?
How do people abroad refer to Barak Obama, Donald Trump, or Joe Biden? What is the city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) called in other countries?
If we REALLY love God through His Son as we claim, shouldn’t we at least consider it.?
The truth is that it’s possible for millions of sincere people to believe the WRONG thing.
I’m not asking this question with my mind made up that using the name Jesus is wrong. I just feel if we really want to ‘get to know Him and please Him that we should continually refine our faith and relationships.
In how many different ways will He feel we haven’t tried to get to know Him…
It’s the same as wondering how does He feel about people using the symbol of His execution to represent Him. Original translations never said CROSS…they say EXECUTION STAKE, but that’s another discussion.
And think about the implications on this scripture…
11 “This Yeshua is the stone rejected by you builders which has become the cornerstone.[a]12 There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!” Acts 4:11-13 (CJB)
Think about it. Talk about it.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
There may be some reason that you aren’t looking forward to or may even be dreading tomorrow…. next week… or next month. It could be because of challenges in your relationship(s), on your job, your health.
It could be that your paycheck will not be enough to take care of your obligations.
It may be a promise you made that you already know you can’t fulfill.
You may have robbed Peter and still don’t have enough to pay Paul. You may be separated from loved ones and support.
I’m not here to promise a miracle if you share this post.
I’m not even promising tomorrow will be better or even arrive.
God hasn’t promised us tomorrow…but He has given us today.
That’s why He said…
Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
If you have the strength or means to read this post or have it read to you, then God has abundantly blessed you.
In fact, no matter how much or how little money, food, clothing, strength or hope you have, He’s given you more than enough for today.
Those days in your past that you have dreaded, even if they were as ‘bad’ as you expected…you’re still here.
He loves us, and no matter how bad it may seem, He’s working all things together for our good…
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
If you’re worried about tomorrow… next week… or even next year…
SNAP OUT OF IT! And, make a conscious effort to do everything you can to enjoy every minute… every second… every hour of today.
Reach down inside and praise God and tell Him you love Him and trust Him with today.
If you don’t know what to say, I suggest…
Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
All it takes is looking at the news or social media.
I’m gonna let the scripture speak for itself…
Galatians 5:15-16 NKJV
But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
We sometimes makes things too easy for the devil by how we treat each other.
Sometimes, it takes so little to bring out the worst in us, but so much to bring out the best.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
When Jesus was in the home of Mary and Martha, He reminded Martha that she had become distracted by what was ‘going on in the house’ rather than focusing on ‘who’ was in the house…
Luke 10:41-42 (NASB)
41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Think about those who call themselves Christians.
Think about those who claim they make their decisions based on the bible.
Think about those who claim that they speak for God.
Has the enemy distracted believers from the core mission and message that Yeshua the Messiah gave us…
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
Is making disciples a priority?
Is sharing God’s love a priority?
Is ‘being the peace’ in chaos a priority?
Is sharing God’s forgiveness a priority?
Is sharing God’s gift of salvation a priority?
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Have we forgotten that we are all sinners saved by grace?
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Or, have we become distracted, just like Martha?
What do you think?
BE BLESSTIFIED!
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know thetruth, and the truth shall make you free.”
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
When God delivered Lot from Sodom, Lot really didn’t want to go. God had to literally snatch him out, and gave them a stern warning that they DO NOT LOOK BACK!
Genesis 19:15-17 (NKJV)
15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that [a]he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be [b]destroyed.”
Looking back implies that you don’t want to go...
Looking back implies that you regret leaving…
Looking back implies that your heart is still there...
We all know what happened to Lot’s wife when she looked back. She turned into a pillar of salt as an extreme example for us of the dangers in LOOKING BACK…
Genesis 19:26 (NKJV)
26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Remember what God taught us through the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10…
1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)
11 Now [a]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [b]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
God doesn’t change. God gets just as angry when we look back as He got when Lot’s wife did. He get’s just as frustrated when want to hang on to what we should let go of.
So, let me warn us of some situations when we should never look back.
Unmanaged anger leads to rage and rage leads to hatred and wrath. Wrath is the result of uncontrolled anger. Why continue to look back on things that can lead to greater sin? Why look back on things that can prevent you from forgiving?
We all know that lust leads to a variety of sins, but lust must be fed. It is fed through our senses. What we see…What we hear…What we smell…What we touch…What we taste… So, some pictures or videos you don’t need to see or watch ever again. Some colognes or perfumes you may never need to use again if it reminds you of a relationship that you should not have been in. Some text messages and phone calls you do not need to return..
Don’t look back!
Depression is real, but just like lust it can be fed with the thought on which we choose to linger. So, don’t look back on those triggers that make you feel bad. It could be as simple as you may be depressed that you can’t afford a vacation. Well, then you don’t need to spend time on social media scrolling through people’s vacation pictures and videos if you know it will depress you…Don’t look back!
Remember God had to snatch Lot from Sodom, but He would have much rather that Lot left on his own. The same goes for us. If you are trying to stop a behavior, habit or relationship that you know is displeasing to God, then stop putting yourself in the position to continue. There are some routes home that you may never need to take anymore. If you are trying to stop getting drunk, then stop walking down the aisle in the store with alcoholic beverages, until you’re strong enough. Again, don’t answer that phone call or respond to that text message if you know it’s someone that you need to leave alone. AS A MATTER OF FACT DELETE THEIR NUMBERS AND EMAIL. SINFUL RELATIONSHIPS DON’T NEED CLOSURE. THE NEED FOR CLOSURE IS LOOKING BACK. JUST STOP 🛑…Don’t look back!
We live in a society where covetousness can sneak up on the best of us. There is nothing wrong with wanting more, but an excessive desire for wealth, possessions or something that someone else has leads to what you desire becoming your god…
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.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but I think you get the idea. You know you better than anyone. What are some things that can come between you and God that you know you shouldn’t look back at? Looking back can make your weaknesses stronger than your strengths.
DON’T LET YOUR WEAKNESSES OVERPOWER YOUR STRENGTHS…
HOW GOD HELPS US MANAGE OUR WEAKNESSES, LUSTS & VICES…
GOD IS GREATER THAN THE WEAKNESSES THAT HE GAVE YOU…
HOW GOD’S DELIVERANCE HAS BEEN TAUGHT WRONG…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
The purpose of this article is not to defend nudity, but to remind us as to how it’s been presented, even academically, has continued a narrative that encourages racism.
Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s I will always remember the excitement of seeing a teacher roll an ‘old school’, reel-to-reel film projector into the room. It was a welcome diversion from normal classroom activities. However, I recall my spirit dropping and a feeling of dread when I saw that the ‘educational film’ was set in Africa, or the America’s where the nudity was described as ‘indigenous’, ‘native’ or tribal.
I would look around the room at some of my Black female classmates, and they would look embarrassed…I was. I could hear some of my classmates who were not Black laughing and giggling, but not the same way if they would giggle if the pictures were in an ‘adult’ magazine or movie. This nudity ‘indigenous’ was not presented as sensual, sexy, or erotic, but it equated to watching animals at the zoo who didn’t wear clothes. The males and females in these films were portrayed as uncivilized, unappealing and helped continue the narrative that people who lived in or originated in these countries were….less and inferior.
Respected publications such as National Geographic would be accessible to everyone on the shelf, while magazines with topless women would be hidden. They both contained nudity.
All of this helped established a paradigm that ‘indigenous’, ‘native’ or ‘tribal’ nudity was not equal to the European or American nudity that is accepted as art. While colonizers were savagely conquering ‘indigenous’ people around the globe, they portrayed these people as ‘savage’ and inferior.
Why are some articles of clothing that are close to the color of ‘lighter skinned’ races considered ‘nude’ or ‘flesh’ color?
As the discussion about ‘cancel culture’ continues, quite frankly, some things should be canceled. Bringing an end to spiritually and culturally destructive traditions is one of the reasons the Pharisees and leaders sought to kill Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ…
Mark 7:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—[a]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
9 He said to them, “All too well you [b]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
Even if we didn’t participate in establishing the cultures that cause division today, when we don’t work to change them, we are still guilty of participating by allowing them to continue.
Jesus eluded to this as well…
Matthew 23:29-32 (NKJV)
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [a]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Here’s a couple of yes or no questions to ask yourself.
Are you satisfied with the level of respect that you give to God?
Do you think that God is satisfied with the level of love and respect that you give to Him?
Husbands want their wives to respect them…
Wives want their husbands to respect them…
Parents want their children to respect them…
Children want their parents to respect them…
Employers want their employees to respect them…
Employees want their employers to respect them…
Leaders want their constituents to respect them…
Constituents want their leaders to respect them…
We want people to respect our race…
We want people to respect our heritage…
We want people to respect our rights.
But, how often do we stop and ask ourselves how much respect do we give to the God of our salvation?
You know what I believe? I honestly believe He sometimes allows…
Husbands to disrespect wives…
Wives to disrespect husbands…
Parents to disrespect children…
Employers to disrespect employees…
Employees to disrespect employers…
Leaders to disrespect their constituents…
Constituents to disrespect leaders…
He allows us to disrespect one another so we can see how HE feels when we…
Disrespect…
Disobey…
Dishonor…
Betray…
Ignore…
Him…
Or when we put Him to open shame.
Remember, if we aren’t careful we can be guilty of unintentionally trying to convince God to worship us and our will rather than us worshipping His will.
If we aren’t careful we can be guilty of the idolatry of worshipping ourselves. And, you know who got kicked out of Heaven for that…
Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV)
12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O [a]Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
WHEN YOUR MIRROR BECOMES YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Listening to the news I was again amazed at a gentleman who says he’s a Christian who was proclaiming how passionate he is about keeping his OATH to defend the constitution.
I have absolutely no problem with defending the constitution…it’s our duty.
I do however have a problem with TAKING AN OATH rather than ‘affirming’ to do so.
Why?
Because Yeshua, The Messiah, (Jesus Christ) implicitly, unmistakably and irrevocably FORBADE it…
Matthew 5:33-37 (NKJV)
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of [a]old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let [b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
James 5:12 (NKJV)
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into [a]judgment.
It doesn’t get more plain that those two verses.
It’s amazing how some sins such as homosexuality and abortion are politicized, while swearing and taking oaths are not only ignored, but done blatantly in the face of God demanding that He accept it.
Article 2, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution prescribes the oath of office.
From Senate.gov website:(https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Oath_Office.htm)…”The Constitution contains an oath of office only for the president. For other officials, including members of Congress, that document specifies only that they “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this constitution.” In 1789, the First Congress reworked this requirement into a simple fourteen-word oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.””
Many people’s minds immediately go to looking for excuses and reasons to justify a tradition that clearly goes directly against what Jesus commanded, just like the Pharisees…
Mark 7:7-13 (NKJV)
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—[a]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
9 He said to them, “All too well you [b]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Is homosexuality a sin?
Yes.
Is abortion a sin?
Yes.
Is adultery a sin?
Yes.
Is idolatry a sin?
Yes.
Is taking an oath of office, or in court, or into public service as in?
Yes, just as much as those mentioned above.
Before you blame the the wrong in America on the two or three big sins you hate…God could be pissed off at the sins you accept, such as oaths and pride.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
John Chapter 17 records the real ‘Lord’s Prayer’, as Matthew 6 gives us the model prayer. In John, He prays for Himself, His disciples and finally those who believe in Him through the disciples words…us.
It’s interesting of all things He could pray about, in verses 20 through 24 He prayed for…
Why?
Because three of the most powerful forces on this earth are…
LOVE…
HATE…
and…
It would be impossible for the Gospel to spread, the church to grow and families to survive without unity.
Notice what the bible says about agreement…
Genesis 11:6 (NKJV)
6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people ARE ONE and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.
Amos 3:3 (NKJV)
3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [a]speak the same thing, and that there be no [b]divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
It was through ‘agreement’ and ‘unity’ that the devil was able to provoke rebellion in heaven leading to him and those who united with him being kicked out…
Revelation 12:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
However, the ultimate agreement is in heaven…
1 John 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For there are three that bear witness [a]in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
So, if our Savior was intentional enough to pray for agreement, I encourage you to be intentional to specifically pray for agreement EVER DAY in…
Your marriage…
Your family…
In your local church…
In the Body of Christ…
In your government…
On your job.
And especially pray for unity with God… That you are ONE with Him and He is ONE with you, just as He is ONE with our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. Pray for this every day, and if possible every time you pray.
Notice how many times the Lord says or infers ONE in His prayer for us…
John 17:20-26 (NKJV)
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [a]will 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.24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Remember, this isn’t just a prayer, it’s the Lord’s passion. And, it should be ours too.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
One of the keys to having inner PEACE is understanding and accepting the fact that God never promised that life on this earth would be fair. The fact that God told us that we shouldn’t fret because evildoers will prosper let’s us know that life isn’t fair ( Psalm 37:1).
The fact that God told us that it has been given to us to not only believe, but to suffer for the sake of Christ ( Philippians 1:29) implies that life isn’t fair.
It’s not fair that some are born rich and others in deep poverty.
It’s not fair that children get sick, suffer and die.
It’s not fair that some horrible parents have several children while some potential great parents are unable to have any.
It’s not fair that some people were born into generations of slavery while others squander their freedom.
Let’s take for example sick children. Notice in the bible how David’s first child by Bathsheeba died because of his sin in 2 Samuel 12.
Notice in Mark 9 and Matthew 17 how a man’s son was possessed by a demon since he was a child.
Notice in John Chapter 9 how a man was born blind and spent most of his life blind until healed by Jesus. Notice in Matthew 9 Jairus’ daughter died, but was resurrected by Jesus.
Now those that Jesus healed had been sick, possessed or died for the sole purpose that God could be glorified through their healing, deliverance and resurrection.
The truth is I CAN’T EXPLAIN why David’s son died. There is much about why God does what He does that we can’t explain.
In fact, who are we to ask for an explanation?
When they continually asked Jesus for a sign, He said none would be given but the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 16:4). The fact is, Jesus showed them numerous miracles and signs which they ignored, but they wanted a sign that would satisfy them. Jesus Himself pointed out in…
Luke 4:25-27
But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
God tells us in Romans 9:21 that the clay doesn’t question the potter.
Most of all it wasn’t fair that God had to send His only Son to suffer and die a shameful death for our sins. The truth is that life isn’t fair, there is much we won’t understand, and much we can’t understand with our limited human intelligence, as God told in…
Isaiah 55:8-9…8
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
No one has all of the answers as to why God does what He does and allows what He allows, and don’t trust any ‘superspiritual’ person who claims to have all the answers.
The fact is, that after all things are considered, we must TRUST GOD.
He promised in…
Romans 8:28
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
We must understand and accept that even though God may not be FAIR by our standards that He is JUST by His.
BE BLESSTIFIED!!!
Have you ever noticed in Matthew Chapter 23 that the religious leaders told Yeshua, Jesus, that if they had lived in the past they would not have mistreated and killed the prophets as their ancestors did?
Many people do the same thing today. They point a self-righteous finger at the Scribes, Pharisees, Chief Priests, those who shouted CRUCIFY HIM, those who worshipped the golden calf, those who bowed to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol God, and so on. People prove on which side of history they would have stood in the past by their attitudes, actions, and behavior today.
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, sharply rebuked the religious leaders (the system) because they claimed if they had lived in the past, they would not have participated in killing the prophets as their ancestors did. He told them that they SHARED IN THE GUILT OF THEIR ANCESTORS because of their attitudes and actions TODAY…
Matthew 23:29-32 (NKJV)
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and[a]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.
Matthew 23:29-32 (NIV)
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
People today claim they would have gone into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew slave boys, or lions’ den with Daniel, but prove they wouldn’t because they won’t take a stand for God at work, or conform to a sinful culture because they don’t want to lose their job.
People today claim they would have fled Sodom and Gomorrah with Lot, but prove they wouldn’t have because they support gay marriage and the gay lifestyle, when Yeshua clearly affirms that marriage is between a man and woman in Matthew Chapter 19 verses 3-9.
People today claim they wouldn’t have participated in worshipping a graven image or calling out the name of an idol, but they prove they would have by blasphemously calling a day to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior by the name of a pagan goddess (Easter, Eostre, Ishtar, Ashtoreth).
Exodus 23:13 (NKJV)
13 “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.
People today prove where they would have stood during the American Civil Rights Movement…
People today prove if they would have considered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be a great man or a trouble maker…
People today prove if they would consider the peaceful protests to be a means to change or a nuisance…
People today prove whether they would have supported a system of slavery or against it by how they hold on to the symbols and paradigms of a sinful heritage of oppression, rape and separation of families because they feel it honors their ancestors.
People today prove whether they would have placed ‘traditions of man’ over the word of God (flags, statues, monunents, hazing, etc…
Matthew 15:1-8 (NKJV)
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying,‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother,“Whatever profit you might have received from me isa gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the[b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
How you respond to the teachings of Yeshua the Messiah today proves how you would have stood back then…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Yahuah (God) makes it clear in His word what He loves and what He hates. We have a tendency to ‘cherry-pick’ what sins we want to say are more critical (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, gambling) even to the point of politicizing them. Yahuah however, when He gives us a list of seven sins that He considers to be abominations (even though all sin displeases Him, abominations displease Him to a repugnant level), it’s obvious which one tops the list.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)
16 These six things the Lord (Yahuah) hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him:
17 A PROUD LOOK,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren
If you notice verse 17, pride is just as much an abomination as abortion (one way innocent blood is shed)
1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the PRIDE OF LIFE—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Here are 5 reasons that pride may be the deadliest of all sins:
It was pride that caused the enemy to be rejected by our Elohim because he desired to exalt himself above El Elyon the Most High.
Isaiah 14:12-13 (NKJV)
12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O [a]Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God(El Elyon);
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
We must be very careful of when we are guilty of this type of pride today. When we impose and prioritize our will above Yahuah’s will.. When we decide for God which sins are BIG sins and which sins are small sins… When we prioritize our traditions, laws and ordinances above God’s.
Pride is like a spiritual cancer, that spreads to other spiritual illnesses.The problem is the PARENT sin that so many other sins. Many other sins are BIRTHED from our pride, think about it…
Look at the ‘works of the flesh’…
Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [d]adultery, [e]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [f]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of Yahuah.
Notice this list of sins that God considers equal to homosexuality…
Romans 1:26-32 (NKJV)
26 For this reason Yahuah gave them up to vile passions. For even their [i]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the [j]men, leaving the natural use of the [k]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain Yahuah in their knowledge, Yahuah gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, [l]sexual immorality, wickedness, [m]covetousness, [n]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of Yahuah, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 [o]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, [p]unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of Yahuah, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Many of these sins are a result of pride in our hearts…envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil minds, covetousness, maliciousness, sexual immorality, gossip, boasting, unforgiving, etc.
Many times we can’t see when we are filled with pride. Even if someone tries to tell us we won’t accept it. This is deadly! It’s no different than ignoring a deadly diagnosis. Refusing to accept our pride leads to complacency with not only pride but other sins.
We live in a society that considers pride to be an attribute and even a virtue. How many times have you heard people say, “I’VE GOT MY PRIDE”?
Society has accepts and excuses…
National pride…
Racial pride…
Pride in traditions…
Pride in our children…
Pride in our accomplishments…
El Rlyon has not given us permission to be PROUD of any of these things. Thankful? Yes! Proud? No!
Pride is actually worshipping ourselves, accomplishments, traditions and our flesh.As mentioned in number 3 above, we create idols of what we are proud of. We honor it. We fight for it. We condemn others when they don’t give the level of respect that we feel they should. Look at how Yeshua rebuked the ‘system’ for prioritizing their traditions over the word of Yahuah…
Matthew 15: 6b
6 then he need not honor his father [a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the [b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Notice how this gentleman blatantly imposes his will over Yahuah’s will when confronted with the fact that the word ‘swear’ should be removed from the constitution…
So here’s the conversation:
Matthew 5:34-37 (NKJV)Jesus Forbids Oaths34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let [b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.https://beblesstified.com/2020/06/25/why-the-word-swear-needs-to-be-removed-from-the-constitution-asap/
“The only reason God forbids you from swearing to an oath is that he wants us to realize that when you swear to something, he is going to hold you to it. I swore to this oath and with God’s help I will hold to it and I stand by it. If he didn’t want us to swear to something then why did he swear in Isaiah that ever knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
As far as taking swear out of the constitution only weakens the meaning of it and would make it null and void and that is what the powers that be want.“
He was referring to Isaiah,,,
Isaiah 45:23 (NKJV)
23 I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,
And shall not return,
That to Me every knee shall bow,
Every tongue shall take an oath.
(This is God swearing by Himself. We are not God)
“Yeshua forbade us from swearing because He wants the truth in our words to stand on its on, like His. That’s why He said ‘Let your yes be yes, and your no be know’. You are trying to justify doing something that God clearly said DO NOT DO.Taking the word swear out does not weaken anything if God said don’t do it. As far as Isaiah, That was God swearing by Himself…we are not God. You already know that oaths were permitted in the Old Testament, just like ‘an eye for an eye’. James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, (A)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into [a]judgment. God bless you my brother”
“I still stand by my word and I’m sure all others will as well.”
That’s fine and quite frankly that’s the problem. This is the type arrogance and pride that is bringing this country down. (pride comes before a fall). You are standing on YOUR word. I am standing on GOD’S word. I gave you scriptures from Matthew and James and explained the context of Isaiah. What you are doing is expecting God’s word to submit to YOUR will instead of submitting to HIS. Do you realize how dangerous that is? Do you realize that’s exactly what the Pharisees, Chief Priests, and Scribes did? I have done my duty in planting a seed of truth. God bless you. https://beblesstified.com/2020/07/05/worried-about-losing-your-freedom-look-at-your-own-pride-first/
James 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Pride causes Yahuah to actually resist us. It causes God to ‘turn His face from us’ until we repent. However, humility is what causes Him to release His underserved favor upon us.
Pride makes us refuse to listen to Godly reason and gain Godly wisdom. It causes us to reject the word of our Elohim. It makes us reject instruction that can help us grow closer to Yahuah and mature spiritually. Pride makes us refuse to grow, and allows us to protect our own ignorance.
Proverbs 15:25-33 (NKJV)
25 Yahuah will destroy the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Yahuah.
But the words of the pure are pleasant.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
29 Yahuah is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones [a]healthy.
31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 The fear of the Yahuah is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.
Proverbs 16:18-20 (NKJV)
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before [a]a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the [b]spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
Remember to always replace the word PROUD with the word THANKFUL!
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)
11 For the grace(A) of God has appeared(B) that offers salvation to all people.(C) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(D)and to live self-controlled,(E) upright and godly lives(F) in this present age,
“I’m only human!”
“I’m just a man!”
“I have needs!”
“God made me this way!”
These are some phrases we can find ourselves using to comfort ourselves or to explain to someone else when we have given in to sins of the flesh…especially sexual sin…
Fornication…
Adultery…
Homosexuality…
Pornography…
The bible reminds us that the ‘flesh’ wars against the ‘spirit’ and ‘spirit against the ‘flesh’. It’s a battle, therefore God knows that it’s not easy…
Galatians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
God designed our bodies (flesh) to have sexual desire to be enjoyed within the boundaries of Godly marriage between a man and woman.
These desires are produced and regulated by our glands and our brain.
Testicles…
Ovaries…
“I just can’t help myself!”
“I just can’t say no!”
“I just can’t stay away!”
There are some people who spend most of their time and energy thinking about sex. Even within a marriage, being obsessed with sex can be unhealthy and destructive.
The fact is that much of our society is obsessed with sex. It’s in television, social media, movies, music, art, literature…SEX SALES!
So, whether married or unmarried, we must control our sexual desires and not let them rule us. Because when something rules you, it becomes a priority, and it’s easy for what we prioritize to become our idols….our gods.
That’s why the apostle Paul asserts that he brought his flesh under subjection…
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, lack of discipline over his flesh is what allowed Esau to give up his birthright and blessing. He surrendered it to his brother for a single meal (Genesis 25:29-34).
That’s why the exercise of fasting is so important. It’s bringing our bodies under subjection so that what our bodies ‘want’ and our cravings won’t rule us…we rule them.
Sometimes telling God YES is telling our bodies NO!
When it comes to the battle of HOLY vs. HORNY, the struggle is real.
Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)
Don’t let your glands become your God!
Titus 3:3-8 (MSG)
3-8 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
While many Christians are conscious of ‘politicized’ sins and feeding conspiracy theories, there’s 3 sins and conspiracies that have slipped through their radar and been accepted.
Yes, abortion is sin. Yes, homosexuality is sin. Many people who identify as Christians are passionate about rebuking and rejecting these sins, as they should be. However, these aren’t the only abominations in the bible. The fact is that many evangelicals reject some sins while excusing those that either don’t bother them, or that they want to continue committing.
So, if you want liberals to accept that abortion and homosexuality are sins, are you willing to accept…
God became very angry at Israel for adopting the customs of the heathen and sacrificing their children to Molech and allowing them to ‘pass through the fire’. Halloween’s roots are undeniably pagan. Either a Google search or scholarly research can easily prove that. The devil knows he can’t get Christians today to ‘sacrifice’ their children literally, so he does it symbolically to spite God. The easiest way for the enemy to allow sin to continue through generations is to make people feel as though their children are missing out on something, and that’s what he does. God made it clear that we are not to ‘learn the way of the heathen’…
Jeremiah 10:2-5 (KJV)
2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them?
If you want liberals to accept that abortion is wrong, are you willing to accept that Halloween is a pagan practice that should immediately be removed as a National holiday (holy day)?
It’s undeniable that the name EASTER has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ, (Yeshua the Messiah). It is derived from the name of a pagan goddess named Eostre, who is the same goddess as Ishtar, and Ashtoreth who God continually rebuked and punished Israel for worshipping. The devil has allowed this worship to continue by defiling the celebration of Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection. Notice what God told His people before they entered the promised land…
Joshua 23:6-7 (New King James Version)
6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 and lest you go[a] among these nations, these who remain among you. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE MENTION OF THE NAME of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
God is very clear here. DO NOT MAKE MENTION. But, the devil has convinced Christians to do exactly that EVERY TIME they refer to a day set aside to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection. Putting any name where God’s name belongs is BLASPHEMY. Look at how angry God was at His people acknowledging idol Gods when they were rebuked for worshipping Tammuz who is directly associated with Ishtar…
Ezekiel 8:14-18 (NKJV)
14 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for [a]Tammuz.
15 Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.” 16 So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.
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? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”
These are the abominations that got His people exiled into Assyria and Babylon. It’s amazing how Americans who are so concerned with losing their freedom ignore the sins that actually made Israel lose their freedom — the Spiritual adultery, not the actual heathens in the land themselves.
If you want ‘sinners’ to accept that abortion and homosexuality is sin, are you willing to accept that calling our Savior’s resurrection celebration ‘Easter’ and continuing the customs of hunting eggs, especially in church is blasphemy and an abomination?
NAMES MATTER: WHY WE SHOULD CELEBRATE JESUS’ RESURRECTION WITHOUT CALLING IT ‘EASTER’…
It is also clear that the origin of Christmas trees is pagan as well. I myself had vacillated about this for years. But, notice what Encyclopedia Britannica says concerning Christmas trees…
“according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, “The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmas time.”
It is clear what God told His people in Jeremiah when referencing how they harvested trees to carve idols…
Jeremiah 10:2-5 (NKJV)
2 Thus says the Lord:
“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are [a]futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple.
5 They are upright, like a palm tree,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For they cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.”
Too many Christians are perfectly comfortable telling their children that Santa Claus is watching them all year. They are comfortable letting their children think that Santa Clause “knows when they are sleeping, and knows when they are awake…knows if they’ve been bad or good.” Only God can do these things! This again is blasphemy. The devil has convinced Christians that it’s harmless, but notice that God states in Ezekiel 8:17 that God doesn’t see anything as trivial…”Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here?” Again, one of the enemy’s strategies to allow sins to go on for thousands of years is to convince people that their children are missing out on something.
The fact is that if God forbade all of the three practices above, they are symbolically very much like the ‘accursed things’ that Achan coveted from the heathen people of Ai. He took it and hid it bringing the wrath of God on himself and his family. Please go back and read Joshua Chapter 7.
If you find yourself searching for excuses to prove the above statements wrong, if you’re ‘pushing back’, then you’re no different than the ‘sinner’ who supports abortion or homosexuality — they are all equal abominations to God.
Too many people, as the Apostle Paul said, have a zeal or passion for God, but not according to knowledge. And, just like the people of that day, we have gone about to ESTABLISH OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Romans 10:2-4 (NKJV)
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Too many people politicize the sins that bother them, while excusing those that don’t. They excuse the sins they wish to continue. Many of these sins are the very sins that provoked God to enough anger to send them into exile.
I have heard so many people give the reason for their political choices based on ‘sins’ as ‘the lesser of two evils’. In God’s eyes sin is sin, so there is no lesser of two evils.
WORRIED ABOUT LOSING YOUR FREEDOM? LOOK AT YOUR OWN PRIDE FIRST…
HOW PRIDE HAS BECOME THE ACCEPTED ABOMINATION… 7 REASONS THAT PRIDE MAY BE THE DEADLIEST SIN…
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Are your children ever disobedient or disrespectful? Come on, now even ‘good’ kids have their moments.
Are your adult children ever unappreciative, disconnected or disrespectful?
Mark 7:8-13 (NKJV)
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men[a] —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’;[b]and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’[c] 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Most if not all Christian parents love to remind their children of what the bible says about being obedient to parents…
Ephesians 6:1 (NKJV)
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Colossians 3:20 (NKJV)
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
And, most parents get frustrated and angry when their children…
Disobey them…
Disrespect them…
Deny them…
Embarrass them…
Don’t appreciate them…
Don’t ask for their advice…
Don’t take their advice…
Don’t talk to them…
Respect others more than them…
Or, even rebel against them.
Have you ever had, or are you going through any of these situations as a parent? Did you put your parents through any of these situations?
All parents want their children to listen to them…to honor and respect them. And, they don’t want it to be a ‘burden’ to do so. They want them to do it freely out of love for them.
So, parents, the next time you are frustrated because your children aren’t listening, or aren’t giving you the respect you deserve, remember this verse…
1 John 5:3 (NKJV)
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Disobey Him…
Disrespect Him…
Deny Him…
Embarrass Him…
Don’t appreciate Him…
Don’t ask for His advice…
Don’t take His advice…
Don’t talk to Him…
Respect others more than Him…
Rebel against Him…
Don’t listen to Him?
Why should we expect any more out of our children than we give to God?
BE BLESSTIFIED!
