Navigating the Storms of Life

In this life you will have trouble...

It appears as if God is really trying to get my attention lately. It's as if he's trying to get me to see the purpose behind everything that I've experienced over the last couple of months. And so as I sit in my hotel room tonight reading my word, beloved I am led to share the word that has been so clearly spoken to me with you. Hopefully this word will encourage you and give you the tools necessary to keep moving forward, to keep pressing on, even when it's the last thing you want to do. 

The first thing God wants us to know about our trial is that they are apart of the walk. They are apart of the walk because we currently reside in enemy territory. In short, we are behind enemy lines. Therefore, our very presence is an affront to him and warrants an attack. So what does this mean? It means you could be doing everything right and still be persecuted. Your persecution is not the result of the things you do, but because of who you are and who resides within you.

The truth is, we may never know why we go through what we go through. Maybe like Job, we were recommended or maybe like Peter, we were asked for (Luke 22:31-32); or maybe the trial is a direct and natural consequence of a decision we made in our past that was outside of God's will for our life (Numbers 13:1-24).  Whatever the case may be, He has already given us the victory; and if we faint not, great is our testimony.

The next thing God wants us to know is that our trials are progressive, each one building upon the next. Thereby making the old adage true, new level, new devil. Even so, it is important that we never forget to look for and see God's mercy in the midst of our struggle. Beloved, the mere fact that your trial has not cost you your life, is evidence that God's mercy is upon you and this is reason enough to praise Him (Hebrews 12:3-11). 

So when the trial comes and it truly will, here's what we are to do:

1. Don't despise it and don't make light of it either. We know that God uses all things for our good, but the good only is of benefit to us if we learn the lesson.

2. Don't give up and don't become overrun with worry. Our father in heaven is not dumb or slack concerning his promises toward you. He sees you, and he knows everything about what you're going through. You only need to trust Him. 

Trust Him despite your circumstances. 

Trust Him despite what others may say.

Trust Him despite how you feel. 

Trust Him, trust Him, trust Him. 

Until next time...

When Nothing Else Will Do

It's easy to trust God when things are going well, but what do you do when things aren't working out the way YOU planned or hoped they would? Will you still trust Him? Will you make a conscious choice to take captive every thought that speaks a word contrary to what He has already declared in His word concerning you? Will you continue to smile even though everything around you seems to be falling apart?

What will you do?

You will praise Him, that's what you will do! You will look your troubles square in the face and tell them about the awesome God you serve. You will tell every disappointment how nothing is wasted with God, and boldly proclaim how He will use your setbacks, your let downs and your failures for your good. You will confuse the enemy and startle the nations with your ability to walk on the very thing that was sent to trouble you. Yup, that's exactly what you will do!

Beloved you will do this because despite everything that is happening around you, to you and in you; God is still God and of His Kingdom there is no end (Isaiah 9:7)! You will remember and meditate on the promises He has declared to you, promises that speak of His plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11), promises to carry every weight that burdens you (1 Peter 5:7), promises to be ever mindful of you and to take time each day just to see about you (Psalm 8:4).

As you began to reflect on all that God has promised you, you will experience the release that only comes from being in His presence. A presence that not only promises to bring you joy, but also knowledge concerning the path of life He has for you. (Psalm 16:11) It is then and only then can you get to the place of praise. A place that is not controlled by the circumstances before you.

The truth is, this life will be filled with trouble (John 16:33). We know this because He said it would, but this does not mean that we have to be consumed or beat down by this trouble. In fact we are told, to fear not, for He has already overcome the world, which means we already have the victory.

Beloved, today you will decide like Job, to accept both the good and the bad that comes with this life. You will choose to look at every situation from God's perspective. You will make a conscious effort to seek the Lord and ask Him to reveal unto you the purpose behind every experience.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory. Selah Psalm 24:9-10

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Is there not breath in you? Then you know exactly what you should do.

Amen, until next time...

Just Another Day

In this life you will have trouble, but have no fear I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

I wish I could tell you that the words expressed above were easy to swallow, but they are not. And I believe the reason they aren't is because very few believers accept or embrace the fact that suffering is apart of our walk. Even though the bible is filled with men and women who suffered much in their efforts to share the Good News we so freely confess today, our capacity to handle the reality such words reveal is very limited.

We say we are willing to die for Him; we say we are willing to walk away from it all just to follow Him; and yet, we have never had to prove our faithfulness to these words.

Please don't misunderstand my thoughts and think that I am suggesting that you are not true believer if you haven't had to give your life for Christ. For that would be the furthest thing from the point I am trying to get across. However, what I am saying, as I reflect on my experiences over the past year is this, what I call suffering is nothing compared to what others around the world have had to suffer as they strive daily to live as believers in this fallen world.

So what I've had to spend the past two years working in a very hostile environment. So what my first tenure as principal has come to abrupt end. So what, so what, so what!

To get a better perspective on what I am trying to say, one would only have to think back to a little over a year ago, when 147 Somalian college students were killed for their belief in Christ. Believers who in the face of death, chose to hold fast to their confession and leave behind all they knew and loved. For these, our brothers and sisters, made the only decision possible, which required them to fear God and not man, who with all his resources, only had the ability to destroy the body.

I pray that my faith runs as deep as theirs and that I never come face to face with the choice they so bravely made. I pray that I will remember their example and in doing so, will derive the strength to endure the challenges I will surely face along The Way. I pray I never forget the message of John 16:33 and that I will always remember, it's simply apart of the journey. And beloved, it is my prayer that you never forget this truth as well. Amen

Until next time...

Loosing Lazarus!

“And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”” John 11:44 NKJV

People of God, this is a call to action! It's time to stop standing around watching your sister and brother struggle with the things that have them bound. When Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, He made sure to let us know how he came out: bound hand and foot! 

Because I don't believe God does anything haphazardly, I believe there is a message in this for us as well. You see although Lazarus death was a physical one, it stood for so much more than that. Lazarus represents all of us and his state after the awakening only serves to emphasize the struggle we are sure to face when we decide to accept the call to become a follower of the Lord. I say this because so many of us come out of the baptismal pool bound. Our struggles with the things of this world and the spirits we've allowed to have rule in our life continue long after the yes. 

And this is why I believe Jesus commands us to loose him and let him go! You see without the help of those around him, Lazarus, although alive, would have still been bound. 

Unfortunately, there are many Lazarus' in our midst today. People who need those of us whom God has made free, to use our freedom to set them free. I don't know how or when we started believing that the responsibility of loosing our brothers and sisters belonged to someone else, but this nonsense ends here. 

Hopefully by now it's all starting to make sense. You are starting see how important you are to the mission; and you are making a decision to do things differently. 

Jesus commanded those in Lazarus immediate vicinity to "Loose him and let him go," and this is the same command He has for us. You see the chains, you smell the stench and you recognize the need for spiritual food. Now it's time to do something about it. It's time to loose him and let him go!

Why We Must Die

In my very first blog, I testified of how grateful I was that a word spoken to me several years ago had finally come to past. That I was not only to operate in the teaching ministry God had purposed for me, but I was also to birth yet another ministry: a writing ministry. 

To say that I had solely embarked upon this journey to glorify God would not be the truth. Like so many others, who have used the gifts God has given them to profit them, I too dreamed of Social Network fame. I imagined the readers of my blog, the viewers of my Periscope broadcasts, and the likes on my Facebook and Twitter accounts expanding into the thousands in just a matter of months. Surely this is what the call of God would produce for the called, right? Wrong. 

Nothing God has given me, was given to elevate me or be used for my gain. My gifts have a Kingdom assignment and yours do too. When Jesus in Matthew 4, was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil, He revealed this truth to us: gifts are not for personal gain. 

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

Let me put it another way, Satan asked Him to do the very thing, I and so many others are guilty of. He asked Him to use the power (talents or gifts) that resided within Him to meet His own need. 

The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Matthew 4:3

But that would not be the case, Jesus would not allow His flesh, despite its cravings, to lead Him out of the will of the Father; and we must not either. The cost of giving in, of letting our flesh take the lead is too great. No matter how convincing the flesh maybe, we are to yield to the Word of God if we are to stay in His will. For it is only through our obedience that we are made effective. 

Beloved, it is my prayer today, that you too will see the light. That you will confess your sin and that you will begin the difficult process of killing your flesh daily. Today, I declare and decree that you will not use your gifts and talents for personal gain. That in times of testing you will, after much preparation, remind the enemy of Matthew 4:4. You will speak this Word with such conviction that it will cause the enemy to flee. That your life, both public and private, will glorify God and that the yoke to be known of men will be lifted off your life. 

Making the Most of Your Sunday Meal

The reality:

Every week Pastors across the world spend countless hours studying, fasting, praying and seeking God for their Sunday morning message, only to discover that the benediction is truly the end of the message. In other words, for many of us our presence at the table is only as long as our Sunday morning worship service. Hence the reason for this post! 

The charge:

Fourteen times the word meditate is used in the King James Bible. We are told that this is the habit of the blessed man in Psalm 1:2; the only option of the seeker in Genesis 24:63;  and the hope of the believer in the midnight hour in  Psalms 63:6. 

So why is this not true for the believer today?

The reason we don't:

There are many reasons given for why we don't continue to explore the word brought forth Sunday morning. And below are listed just a few of them:

1. I am not that deep. 

2. I got it the first time. 

3. I don't know where to begin.

4. It don't take all that.

5. I don't have time. 

The truth of the matter:

We can't expect to live the life God has called us to unless we spend time in His Word. And I don't mean just reading it, I mean studying it. Becoming so familiar with what God has to say about a situation that your decision to follow its lead and do what it says becomes automatic. So automatic is your response that you don't even have to think about it. 

The point of it all:

Whether you realize this or not, your Pastor, the Under Shepherd, has been given an awesome and weighty responsibility. He is responsible for equipping you for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12 

That means the messages he or she brings forth each and every Sunday morning is not to be taken lightly. It is a word in season just for you. Whether that season is now or at a later date, God is showing Himself faithful. The work YOU are called to do depends on you being fully and properly nourished. 

So now what:

If you are reading this post on the day of publication, then that means you are only two days past this week's meal and five days shy of the next one. Your meal is still fresh! You can still dive in and see what more the Lord wishes to share with you about the matter. 

Bon appétit!

The Blessings of Brokenness

Brokenness is something we do not wish to experience, because it hurts and it doesn't feel good. In the natural, brokenness is a very lonely place; and it is a lonely place because only you know the depth of your pain. And if you are like me, you have found that sharing it with others only relieves you for a moment. The true work of brokenness requires more than just a sharing out. You must change your way of thinking, your way of seeing, your way of doing and your way of existing. Beloved, these are not easy things to do, as you have been living under the rule of your thoughts and this world for a very long time; and as with any stronghold, they refuse to go down without a fight. Therefore, you must find yourself in His Word. You must begin to both speak and apply the Word to your every circumstance. His Word must be your weapon of choice and you must use it to slay every thought that tries to exalt itself against the knowledge of God. David said in Psalms 51:17, "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart- these, O God, you will not despise."

David could say this because he had experienced brokenness. He did many things that were displeasing to God and his actions had negatively effected those he loved most. But because of God's love for Him, He could not leave David in this state. He would use the brokenness in David's life to not only restore David, but more importantly, He would use it to glorify Himself. Many had counted David out (Psalm 3) and many say the same about you, your health, your finances, your marriage, your job, etc. but God has a Word for you and your naysayers. God wants you and the world to know that He is not through with you yet. And this, like David shall be a great testimony unto Him. He shall be glorified in your situation and you shall know that He is the One true living God.

The world would have you to believe that there is no blessing in brokenness. That your brokenness is evidence of you being outside of the will of the Lord. The truth is, you are exactly where He wants you. You are in the exact place, posture and position for a breakthrough, for a reconstruction, for an exaltation. Therefore, be thankful in the midst of brokenness. Be thankful for the fiery trial which has come upon you, to prove you and to glorify God. And never forget, there is a blessing in brokenness; for brokenness leads to humility, which leads to repentance, which leads to restoration! Amen

The true posture of brokenness.

A Peaceful End

Beloved a new season for your life is fast approaching. But in order to be ready for your next level you must be sensitive to my leading. That means you can't let what use to be trap you into staying. I have more that I require of you, more that I have purposed for you in this season. A more that can only be obtained by letting go of what was and what currently is. And so, I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is that good and perfect will of God. Amen (Romans 12:1-2)

A Lesson from Some Very Wise Men

I hear the Lord saying today, beloved, don't you dare let the circumstances of this temporary and extremely fragile life speak louder than the promises I have shared with you. Observe the example of the wise men in Matthew 2. They came from afar off to worship Me and to bring Me the best of their resources. They did all of this, despite what they had found upon their arrival. I was not in the palace and I was not being attended to by a great and mighty wait staff. Yet, when they found me, on the outskirts of town, in a small house, in the presence of the mother who gave birthed to Me; they worshipped Me. They did not let what it looked like, choke out or steal the word I had given to them, and I beseech you to do the same. It is written and it has been proclaimed: The King of the Jews is born, now go and worship Him. Amen

Before the Test!

Many people describe Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane as a time of great testing, and this is true. Many say He didn't want to go to the cross and that is why He asked that this bitter cup be taken away from Him, and this is true. While both are reasonable explanations for what we read about in the four gospels, I have to wonder if this is all there is to it. I say this because I believe that everything Jesus did was to be an example for us. And I believe with all my heart that this experience is no different. 

The Gethsemane experience shows us how we are to respond in times of great testing. In times when we feel like everyone we have  loved and held dear has forsaken us. Times when the enemy's advance is both direct and out in the open. 

And so I ask, what is the lesson for us in this experience? What are we to do in times like this? We are to pray, of course! We are to pray and ask God to remove that which has us low in spirit. But here's where it gets tricky. You see after we make our request, we are to respond as Jesus did. We are to end this same prayer with these words, "nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done." 

Seems easy enough right?Wrong! Especially when the prayer is a matter of life and death: death of the body or death of a relationship. I mean honestly, can you, like Christ say, though I've asked for my healing on this side, I will accept your will to do on the other side. 

I don't know if you are following me right now, but we like Job have to havemade up in our mind that we will accept both the good and bad God has for us. We have to have purposes this in our hearts before the test because sometimes God does not remove the bitter cup. Sometimes His answer to our prayers will be no and our response to that no will testify of our heart's condition. 

Will you respond as Jesus did? Will you go quietly to the place He has for you or will you go kicking and screaming. 

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

Isaiah 53:7 KJV

“The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:”

Acts 8:32 KJV

Beloved it is my prayer that you receive have a made up mind. That you have purposed in your heart to take the good, the bad and the ugliness of your path. That you will hold fast and stand on the testimony Paul in Romans 8:28. 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”