Stay Connected!

Colossians 4:2 "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" 

Last month we were afforded the opportunity to participate in the Use Your Words 30 Day Speak Life challenge. This challenge was instrumental in revealing how impactful the words we speak can be for ourselves and for those surrounding us. Moreover, we were able to see how God uses His Word to guide us, direct us, comfort us, redeem us, and so forth. I'm led to share with you all that every word you speak has the potential to be cultivated as it flows from your mouth into the realm of your life. Remember the parable of the sower? When you read, re-read, or re-call the parable think of the words you speak as seeds. There's no better way to end one season (Winter) than planting seeds in preparation of the season to come (Spring).

Springtime is so refreshing in that our days become sunny and bright with comfortable weather that's not too hot and not too cold. It's a complete change from the snow-filled, rainy, dark, and groggy days of the Winter season. During this time it's easy to find ourselves in a rut as we're mostly confined to indoor activities, layered in heavy clothing, and bedridden with illness. Spring is a season of growth, look around at all the beautiful flowers that are in bloom. Now YOU get ready to bloom. Let's spring into the month of April with the expectation of growth; the growth of the seeds planted during the speak life challenge last month.

As we bask in all the beauty of Spring let's not forget to stay connected to the source of our growth and our ability to bloom in this season. We must be Fearlessly FOCUSED on prayer, worship, and praise. Our main line of communication with God is prayer. That connection becomes more intimate when coupled with praise and worship. Effective prayer consists of praise, thanksgiving, repentance, specific requests, and commitment. It is imperative that you be diligent and committed to staying connected to God during your season of bloom. Your growth is inhibited once you allow the source of that growth to be diminished. Don't allow the change of scenery weaken your connection.

#StayConnected #SeasonOfBloom  

Where Is Your Faith?

Hello people! March is winding down and April is around the corner. Today, we are going to touch on a subject we love to talk about, but rarely exercise, FAITH. The very element that is vital to our spiritual relationship with God. I mean how is it possible to be saved BY faith and fail to operate that SAME faith in our lives? Good question, right? The same question an unbeliever would ask out of confusion. How is it that a go tell it on the mountain, singing, dancing, teaching, blogging, and preaching Christian is ready to give up so easily? Where is your faith? Do we know how incredible Jesus' death was for us? Can you understand how ridiculous it sounds to believe in Someone you have never met that happens to control everything and also made everything? In addition, we have the nerve to believe God is real, willingly died for us, was resurrected AND will save us from hell? That is a tremendous amount of trust. So, why are the day to day challenges so difficult? Think about it. Have you really pondered your salvation and the depths of what you are telling people you believe? Are we as daring in our actions as we are with our declarations?  No, because we fail to trust Him for trivial matters that are a given on this journey WE accepted to venture on while accepting Jesus in our hearts. Talk about disrespect. Can you imagine how God feels watching us talk to Him like a (excuse my real)  nigga on the street? Like He does not have ALL Power? Like He is unable to keep HIS Promises?! Yeah God I believe you, but not really. However, can you bless me anyway? We aren't even convinced in our hearts, yet still expect God to do His Thing without holding up our end of the bargain-FAITH.

Oh sure, I trust God to deliver me from hell and have this awesome paradise set up for me where I will have no worries at all, but I do not trust Him to pay my bills, to marry the right person, to heal me, to mend broken relationships, and to break curses? Looking back at Jesus' life, healing people was child's play in comparison to saving our wretched souls from hell. So, I ask again where is your faith? Are we able to realistically believe in Him to deliver us from hell and not deliver us from day to day problems that we encounter?  I ask because our faith as the church, as His bridegroom, is at an all time low in my opinion. We do not believe in healing or that God will provide. We will rather say a weak prayer with doubt because cancer is such a horrific disease Jesus could not possibly heal that person. Jesus can't pay my bills, I just have to work three jobs. Is this the more abundant life He promised us? I am not saying every disease will be healed. I am saying we need to stop acting as though God can't do it by living this mundane Christian lifestyle with stale belief that is only shown via mouth and not lived with the Power Of God moving in us. No one likes anything stale because it has no taste, it is useless, and unwanted. So is faith without works! Remember "Oh taste and see?" We can't advertise to the world stale bread and have the nerve to wonder why they aren't converted. Jesus isn't stale bread. He was manna in the flesh! I have seen God heal, perform miracles, and breakthroughs for myself recently, not talking in "yester-years."

Where is your faith? Is your light shining consistently? By light I mean is your trust in God so deep that it lights your path so that others are drawn to The Light, meaning Jesus? Does God even believe you have faith in Him? That may be a good reason as to why your "prayers" are not being heard. Where is your faith? Is it in your heart? Is it disposable? Is it convenient? Is it unmovable? Is it tied to this worldly magical emotion that soon fades once trouble approaches? Do we tell our situation to God in confidence or in doubt? Where is it? Is it visible? Is it helping anyone?
                                                        WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

He Still Resurrects!

It is Resurrection Sunday people! God has blessed us to celebrate one more time together in gratitude of what His Son, Jesus did for us thousands of years ago. His innocent Blood was shed for you, just for you. His Love was stretched from left to right, up and down on The Cross. His patience was between the two thieves that represented us. That's another story because those two thieves represents the two kinds of people in this world. However, Jesus faithfulness to us kept Him there. Jesus was exalted in the midst of His enemies. In the midst of His ridicule, shame, and agony he was high and lifted up! Just as with us and our turmoil of life God will lift us up. He said He has already prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies. For all of those going through remember The Cross and remember that He did not stay there. Jesus got up! God raised Him from the dead just as He will raise us from our seemingly dead places in life. Jesus went to hell and preached. Are we still preaching in our hellish lives? Are we still proclaiming the soul saving power of Jesus when we are going through trials in life? Jesus showed God's Power never left. God's Power never leaves us. We may leave Him, but He is always there! Even when we feel like we are unable to feel Him, all we have to do is ask. Ignite God's Power over every situation in your life.


 Now, every day is a declaration of what Jesus did for mankind. I know we have our days when we feel like giving up. Jesus shared those same moments with us, but nevertheless He said not my will, BUT let YOUR Will be done! So speak The Word when you are having those same struggles. God has purposed you and your living is not in vain, just hold on. Your Resurrection from your dead places is coming! God is STILL resurrecting! 

Eliminating Waste

Isaiah 52:2 "Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion, now a captive" 

Let us continue marching on through 2016 growing and staying focused on the goals we've set for ourselves. I'm excited to see what God has in store for us as we switch our focus to redemption, forgiveness, and grace this month.

As I sat struggling to stay awake in an evening work meeting yesterday God saw fit to use that "boring" moment to reveal a message to me. My exhaustion during that meeting stemmed from being emotionally, mentally, and physically drained as we all have our days. God encouraged me to "stay awake". The objective in the meeting was to assess a process within the department in order to improve it following an integration. My role in this is to serve as a facilitator ensuring that the team stays on task; however, there are moments (such as yesterday) when my presence is not much needed. After about an hour of laying out the current process the head facilitator moved to the next task on the agenda which was to identify any waste in the process. Oh, now you've gotten my attention.

One could regard their life as a process in the sense that there are certain types of ways we tend to operate. Your process could be working, but there also could be room for improvement. When assessing a process it is important to identify wastes. What is waste? Waste is anything that consumes resources without adding value. One type of waste is "moving" waste whereas we actively go back and forth physically, mentally, or emotionally unnecessarily which slows down the process. Another type of waste is "stopping" waste in which you are completely stuck waiting on something or someone which hinders your process. The last waster I'd like to mention is "searching" waste whereas we spend an excessive amount of time searching for things in all of the wrong places.

We should operate in such a way that promotes growth and in order to do so we must "Stay Awake". Waste has the ability to accumulate in and around you forming a hinderance, don't allow it. If something doesn't add value to your life it is considered a waste; of space and of time. If you find yourself going back and forth with something or someone it is considered a waste; of energy. Just as the above scripture says, shake off your dust and free yourself from the chains that are holding you back. Redemption has been given to you (vs.3) and it is only through God's grace.

Eliminate that Waste!!!

#FearlessFAITH #EliminateWaste #March2016

Love From Above

Hello people! January has passed and we are now entering a new month. We are going to discuss EL OH VEE EEE this month. I know many do not like discussing it around February because of Valentines Day and they may not have a Valentine. I mean what is a person to do without flowers getting sent to them or enjoying an incredible evening with their sweetheart, right? Wrong! Love is deeper than buying a stuffed animal and fine dining. What about when the honeymoon is over? Tell me what happens when V Day passes or before it even comes. Love goes as deep as loving our enemies. It penetrates the soul and captures the heart. Loving someone requires forgiveness. Being selfless is a known characteristic. Genuinely loving is not about being right, but making sure we are representing God correctly. Actually, it is deeper than what we may feel or think.

So this month, I challenge us all to love like from above! That love never gets old or runs empty. It is tough, but it is necessary. Did you know our very lives depend on it? Naturally and spiritually we will not be able to survive without it. When was the last time we prayed for our enemies? Do we really treat everyone the same with the love of God? Are we easily fueled with anger? Take today to evaluate your love life, the REAL one. Our love life is the only TRUE indication we are saved. No one cares how much we give or how eloquent we pray when the Love of God is absent. Let's explore this life changing Love from Above and allow His Light to shine within us!

                                                            #LoveFromAbove

Conviction and Judgement

Genesis 3:8 "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden"

And then there was conviction! This is a continuation of the "Ignorance of Bliss" post so, if you haven't read it take a moment to check it out. Once Adam and Eve realized they had wronged God they were overcome by the spirit of conviction. That is a feeling that I know all too well. As children of God we cannot do wrong and not feel convicted by our actions. Just as Adam and Eve did we tend to run even further from God which plays even further into the plan of the devil. We stop praying, praising, and worshiping because we feel as though we are unworthy of the Kingdom, which is ultimately true.

This situation with Adam and Eve was the first implication of God's grace and mercy towards us. Although they deserved to die for being disobedient to God (after all He had done for them) He spared their lives and forgave them. BUT, His forgiveness did not come without consequence. Just as many of us can be found guilty of doing, Adam and Eve tried to justify their actions. Adam even had the audacity to try to blame God in Genesis 3:12 saying "The woman whom YOU gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate". Have you ever blamed everybody else for your actions except for yourself? My pastor says "The most painful diagnosis is self-diagnosis". We have the most difficult time seeing our faults and holding ourselves accountable for our actions.

We are sinful beings by nature which means we all know or will know the feeling of conviction. It is in these moments that we are able to gain knowledge and grow mentally and spiritually. Don't ignore it!

#FearlessFAITH 

Ignorance is Bliss

Genesis 2:25 " And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed"  

As a part of my goals for 2016 I've made a commitment to start and complete the "Bible in a Year". (And now that you all know you all can hold me accountable) As I was reading Genesis 3 the quote "Ignorance is Bliss" came to mind. Now, this quote is often misunderstood and misused so I thought we should delve into it today. Ignorance is simply defined as the lack of knowledge or education. Having defined that term I think we can admit to possessing ignorance in some areas. Now, moving on to the word bliss, which is simply defined as a state of extreme happiness. Incorporating the two definitions gives us a better understanding of the quote thus defining the quote in its entirety as being happy because you simply have no knowledge of anything that will inhibit said happiness.

So why did this come to mind while reading Genesis 3? Well, life in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8-25) seemed to be well. God had provided all Adam's needs. He had given him food, shelter, work, and a help-meet. Both, Adam and Eve, were given the knowledge they needed for the task that had been assigned to them. They were happy, blissful if you will, because they had no reason not to be. Then in comes the serpent with his tactics of temptation convincing Eve to go against the instructions of God and just like many of us she fell into the trap. Although the Bible doesn't specially make mention of it I'm sure Eve thought she was happier in her ignorance than she was with the knowledge she had gained in knowing good and evil. Ignorance truly was Bliss for them.

As for us today, we must understand that there are some things that God intended for us not to know or experience. Not because He strives to deprive us, but because He has promised to protect us. Eve may have been the first to fall victim to the deceiving behavior of the devil, but she surely wasn't the last. We've all had our eyes on a forbidden "tree" perhaps many forbidden trees and most of us have probably fell victim just as Eve did. Yes, satan is still successfully using the same tactics today as he did in the beginning of time. He tries to interfere with the communication between you and God (Genesis 3:1 "Has God indeed said, 'You Shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?") when you know God told you otherwise (Genesis 2:16-17). He tries to convince you that God is a "softy" and will not punish you as He said He would (Genesis 3:4-5). In all of this the very thing that God has told you that you should not desire satan then makes you desire it (Genesis 3:6) and after you have acquired it you realize it wasn't all that the devil hyped it up to be.

#FearlessFAITH #IgnoranceIsBliss