Tag: lifestyle

The Wickedness of Man was Great

I was reflecting this morning and the thought that crossed my mind is how man, left to his own devices, can be a destructive force. But with Christ as our moral compass and guide, all things become new and all things are possible.

During creation, we see where God was pleased with man as the scripture states: “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.”

Genesis 1:31 AMPC

However, as time passed, God began to have regrets because man in his fallen state was in a place “that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually”.

As leaders, we may find ourselves in a situation where we are building for the future with high expectations; however, we see chaos, deception, confusion, and strife surrounding us.

Despite what is happening around us the Bible reminds us that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 AMPC ) and therefore we also live in a time where the thoughts of Man are evil continuously. Their minds, words and deeds are toward those things which are evil.

“But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord.”

And so can we by declaring Psalms 91 that God:

⁃ He is our Refuge and our Fortress, our God; on Him we lean and rely, and in Him We [confidently] trust!

⁃ He will deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

⁃ He will cover us with His pinions, and under His wings shall we trust and find refuge

⁃ His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

⁃ We shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

⁃ A thousand may fall at our side, and ten thousand at our right hand, but it shall not come near us.”

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually.

And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart.

So the Lord said, I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground–not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air–for it grieves Me and makes Me regretful that I have made them.

But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord.”

Genesis 6:5-8 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/gen.6.6-8.AMPC

Be Careful therefore How You Listen

I was reflecting on these passages and what really stuck with me is how we as leaders, must continue to prepare and nurture our soil if we want to continue to grow with God.

Nothing stands still and we must show continuous engagement with actions to continue to grow with Christ.

Since we desire the unlimited wisdom supply that comes from above, there is a demand of meaningful engagement and willful change – on our behalf.

As leaders, we desire an unlimited harvest but do we invest daily the time, energy and attention to study, ponder and meditate on the seeds of the Word while sowing them into our soil: our minds, wills, emotions and spirit?

Quality time invested in shaping our faith visions brings tangible clarity and is time well spent.

Our visions are becoming so real that we already see and possess them in our minds and hearts?

This relationship requires engagement, communication, patience, tenderness, listening, hearing, empathy, and connection to grow and thrive.

So true this is in the spiritual realm that “For to him who has [spiritual knowledge] will more be given; and from him who does not have [spiritual knowledge], even what he thinks and guesses and supposes that he has will be taken away.”

There is a risk of deterioration and loss of ground.

Not for us as I decree that the blood of Jesus covers us, our households and our visions. In Jesus Name Amen

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“For there is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open.

Be careful therefore how you listen. For to him who has [spiritual knowledge] will more be given; and from him who does not have [spiritual knowledge], even what he thinks and guesses and supposes that he has will be taken away.”

Luke 8:17-18 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.8.18.AMPC

His Faith is credited to him as Righteousness

I was reflecting on this scripture as my mind continued to return to the simplicity of the standard that Abram established when “he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord”. Gen 15:6 AMPC

The scripture says that “He [God] counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God)”

That is so amazing to comprehend and can serve as a life lesson for us as leader.

Sometimes life can feel complicated and overwhelming but the faith standard still remains simple and true: believe in, trust in, rely on, remain steadfast to God, period.

When we lose our way, we always can repent, reset our compasses and refocus our attention back on Christ.

We are reminded with the reality that salvation is not and cannot be earned by our works but it is a gift -“For if Abraham was justified (established as just by acquittal from guilt) by good works [that he did, then] he has grounds for boasting. But not before God!” Romans 4:2 AMPC

We just need to receive this gift, and trust (believe fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly.

In closing: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2 KJV

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“For if Abraham was justified (established as just by acquittal from guilt) by good works [that he did, then] he has grounds for boasting. But not before God!

For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God). [Gen. 15:6.]

Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him).

But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God).”

Romans 4:2-5 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/rom.4.2-5.AMPC

You will be a blessing

I was reflecting on this scripture as my thoughts kept coming back to the importance of having a “more than enough” vs. a “just enough” mindset.

As leaders, we must always look for opportunities to be “change agents” with adding value to others as the foundation premise for success.

Our impact flows when we focus on being a blessing to or the burden remover for someone else, each day.

Yes, we have our own issues and needs but, our solutions are our seeds of service.

Remember:

⁃ When we feel stuck, we should focus on serving.

⁃ When we are not sure what to do, we should serve (teach, pray, build, enhance, intercede, sow- give of ourself).

Scripture reminds us that: “The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered. [II Cor. 9:6-10.]” Proverbs 11:25 AMPC

Our blessings and rewards come as a result of how well we succeed in serving others. The truth is that “he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 AMPC

Lastly, “God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to us in abundance, so that we may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”

2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC

Trust the process and be intentional about sowing seeds of blessings into others.

Do not become weary as we proceed in faith knowing that what we do matters. “For the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song or instrument of praise.”

Isaiah 51:3 AMPC

My prayer is that we will be faithful in words and deeds for the glory of Gods Kingdom.

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]– To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).”

Ephesians 3:20-21 AMPC

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].”

Genesis 12:2 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/gen.12.2.AMPC

But Christ is Real!

I was just reading this morning and came across this scripture and I could not help but reflect on the sheer magnitude of this statement. OMG. My heart was just flooded with emotions of gratitude.

As leaders, there is one personal journey question that only you can answer: How real is Christ to you, today?

Wherever we are on the continuum, the meer fact that we are reading this question, it shows that we are still on this growth journey.

Sometimes we get tossed to and fro in our minds and with the many challenges of life. But, it is helpful to return to our home base of certainty and comfort – Christ.

Remembering the scriptures that say: “For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Today is a good day to just enter into his presence, just adore him, and to lay all of our cares/sins at the feet of Jesus at the cross. Christ is over every power and authority.

Hosanna in the highest!”

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him.

Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life.

Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.

Don’t let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings.

They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ.

God lives fully in Christ. And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority.

Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body.

And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death.

You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people.

But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.

God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces.

He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.

Don’t let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don’t let them say you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival.

These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real!”

Colossians 2:6-17 CEV

https://bible.com/bible/392/col.2.6-17.CEV

Be Merciful

I was reflecting this morning on these scriptures related to “mercy“ and assessing just how to further align our lives with the standard that God has extended unto us. Simply “how can we get better?”

Being merciful is a heart condition – a continuous heart preparation, evaluation and adjustment process as we walk with Christ.

The reality of our “growth progress”is revealed when we get “pinched” and our initial reaction or thought is not Godly and we ask “OMG, where did that come from?”

As leaders, yes we are busy, have great demands and pressures that we navigate daily; however, we must continuously examine our hearts, our thoughts and our behaviors to ensure we are growing in the Word, have not stagnated or worst – lost ground.

It does take daily work to overcome our old sinful nature by putting on the whole armory of god and renewing our minds.

We operate in a glass bowl where everyone is observing us and how we respond or react towards others. Our response reveals how we value others, their thoughts and their ideas!

When we miss the mark, we must recognize the offense and be sensitive enough to repair the hurt.

As leaders who truly care and desire to lead with love, we have the greatest power available to us and that is “being merciful”. Seeds of mercy can and will pay dividends

It is my prayer that we will sow these mercy seeds generously and bountifully for the glory of God.

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful. “

Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change].

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more].

For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.””

Luke 6:36-38 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/luk.6.38.AMP

Surely I will be with you

When I was reflecting on this passage my mind was just thinking about the continuous grace of God. Early in our growth journey, we may make decisions that we know or later learn are contrary to what is the truth. Ideally, we grow, mature and arrive at the place where more of our decisions are based on and in alignment with the Word as growth is a continuous process. But the reality is that decisions have consequences (mental, physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual).

As leaders, we may experience a season as a result of decisions where we have a sense of bewilderment, loss and are kindling an underlying desire for more of God like Gideon who summed it up well when he asked “where are all His wondrous works of which our fathers told us?”

I believe that at these moments, breakthrough, revelation and flow can occur because we desire to get to and remain at a place of hunger and thirst for the kingdom and its righteousness- despite how we are perceived, how we feel and ultimately the price we have to pay.

Arriving at that place where all we want is God’s presence and its manifestation in our lives and situation is vital as we press forward toward our assignment and associated battles. In our own strengths, we are not able to prevail in battle; however, with God’s promise that “Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite” the enemy- victory is assured.

In this season, it is my prayer that you will be encouraged, renewed and reenergized for Christ!

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of [fearless] courage.

And Gideon said to him, O sir, if the Lord is with us, why is all this befallen us? And where are all His wondrous works of which our fathers told us, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.

The Lord turned to him and said, Go in this your might, and you shall save Israel from the hand of Midian.

Have I not sent you?

Gideon said to Him, Oh Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my clan is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

The Lord said to him, Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man.”

Judges 6:12-16 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/jdg.6.12-16.AMPC

I Perceive that this is a Holy man of God

When I was reflecting on this passage I found myself asking many questions and also just sitting in amazement at how unspoken dreams and hopes that have been deferred can still be met.

Here is a women who was sucessful in many areas of her life: her finances as she was referred to as rich, prominent and influential; her community as she was asked what does she need and she stated that she had peace and security and needed no special favors; and her marriage as her husband listened to and respected her ideas and feelings as evidenced when they discussed setting up a room in their house to accommodate the prophet whenever the prophet came to town.

What also became clear was that she was a hospitable person who insisted that the prophet ate a meal at their home with an open invitation whenever the prophet came through.

Her hospitality, concern for and reverence of the man of God created this ripe environment for her unspoken desire/ need to be met. Selah

God was also dealing with Elisha’s spirit which could not rest until his role in this devine appointment was completed. Elijah’s heart was open and he desired to bless the woman with her true hearts desire – a son.

Each of us, as leaders, have true and unspoken desires and dreams that we may have given up on because they seem impossible.

Maybe, just maybe, our breakthrough will come as we continue living the Christ- like life in showing love, patience, hospitality, and servanthood.

These love seeds that we plant can and must manifest a harvest in its season.

Our honoring God and the things that concern him, being sensitive to and hearing from the Holy Spirit while acting on those unctions, pour foundations for the resurrection of these dreams and desires.

Be not wiery nor ashamed in doing good in this season as whatsoever we soweth, we shall also reap in the next season.

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a rich and influential woman lived, who insisted on his eating a meal.

Afterward, whenever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal.

And she said to her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by continually. Let us make a small chamber on the [housetop] and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then whenever he comes to us, he can go [up the outside stairs and rest] here.

One day he came and turned into the chamber and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to Gehazi,

Say now to her, You have been most painstakingly and reverently concerned for us; what is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king or to the commander of the army? She answered, I dwell among my own people [they are sufficient].

Later Elisha said, What then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, She has no child and her husband is old. He said, Call her. [Gehazi] called her, and she stood in the doorway.

Elisha said, At this season when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son. She said, No, my Lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.

But the woman conceived and bore a son at that season the following year, as Elisha had said to her.”

2 Kings 4:8-17 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/2ki.4.8-17.AMPC

Honor the Lord with your wealth

I was reflecting on the scripture and the concept of honoring God with my wealth just truly got a hold of me and it would not let me go.

I have heard and read about bringing the tithe into the storehouse which brings ridiculous blessings but for some reason, I never really saw this part about honoring the Lord with my wealth.

When, not if

The scripture really jumped out at me as I realized that there is a assumed outcome that we do and will have wealth to have the choice to honor him or not. OMG

In a world that dwells on scarcity and lack, we have a supposed and assumed outcome of being in a place of wealth and abundance to build and grow the Kingdom of God.

What is that abundance? One of the translations defines wealth as: your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors]. Righteous labors in the home, church, community, and marketplace from them we have all sufficiency in all things – wealth and capital.

As leaders, our righteous labor does make a difference wherever we are placed. As we focus on being a light in darkness and possessing the land, the glory of the Lord will shine on us that men should see our good works and the father will be glorified.

Lastly, we must pray and ask for wisdom and guidance as it relates to our capital (our time, talents and our treasures) and how we should invest them so that God is honored.

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Honor the Lord with your wealth And with the first fruits of all your crops (income); Then your barns will be abundantly filled And your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Proverbs 3:9-10 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/pro.3.9-10.AMP

“that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His Name (Presence).”

Deuteronomy 26:2 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/deu.26.2.AMP

““Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by failing to keep His commandments and His judgments (precepts) and His statutes which I am commanding you today; Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember [with profound respect] the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore (solemnly promised) to your fathers, as it is this day.”

Deuteronomy 8:11, 17-18 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/deu.8.11-18.AMP

I am not worthy

As I was reflecting on this passage, I had so many questions and thoughts as to why was this centurion sending so many people out to see Jesus even though he had a need.

He was a man of high regard in the community and clearly was a man of means in that he built the synagogue with his own resources.

He was a leader’s leader.

The only conclusion I could gather was that this man had an uncommon level of fear, adoration and respect for Jesus and the things of God.

These beliefs and values were principle drivers of his success as the scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

As leaders, we can use the centurion as a role model, a blue print of success.

We must also grow in the Lord and maintain the spirit of reverential fear, awe and adoration in our hearts.

Be Blessed!

Why? So that wisdom, understanding and blessings will be poured out on us that we will not have room enough to receive them. Amen

Be a Blessing!

“Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death.

And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and make his bond servant well.

And when they reached Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that You should do this for him, For he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].

And Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am not sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof; Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to You.

But [just] speak a word, and my servant boy will be healed.”

Luke 7:2-7 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.7.7.AMPC