Hello, New Beginning!

My oldest daughter started Kindergarten this week. She has been excited about the new beginning but for me it has been a bit of a challenge. I have had to adjust to a new schedule and the idea of her stepping out into this world as a big girl. It’s a transition that I thought I was ready for but still struggled with. As a matter of fact this whole year has been one of change and transition. In the midst of God calling me higher, He has challenged me to do new things that I didn’t want to or even think I could do. Every time, He has proven to me that I was wrong to doubt. He has shown me that I just had to trust Him at His word. Some of you may recognize where I am. It may be that you are being called to something outside of your box. It may be that God is calling forth a new beginning in your life. Whatever it is, today, God told me to tell you to fear not because what He is bringing you to was destined for your life from the beginning. It’s your time so trust Him and go forth!

I’m always afraid when God says stuff like destined and go forth into your purpose. I think it’s because I have to reconcile the fact that God already sees my end. He already knows the plan and I am just responsible for being obedient and trusting Him. I mean, I know all that. You do too, right? But when it comes down to it, it’s still scary. It’s scary to say yes. It’s scary to step out into the unknown. It’s scary to trust a plan that you can’t see and check off. Come on, I know there are some of you out there that love to check off a list. You have always had a plan for your life and when things get off track, you are completely thrown off. Well, guess what? Here you are! You are now being called upon to do what the Lord says on His timing and I know you are a bit freaked out. Don’t worry, I feel you!

I’m reminded of when Jesus was on the boat with Peter and the disciples. They had just seen Him do the miracle of feeding the 5000 so their faith should have been strong. But when He left them to pray and they were traveling back to the other side of the lake alone, they ran up on a storm. They were in trouble and Jesus shows up walking on the water. Their first thought is that He is a ghost. Our good friend, Peter wants some confirmation. He wants to KNOW that Jesus has shown up for them. “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” (Matt. 14: 28, NLT) I should stop right here and say that if God is stretching you and calling you to a new place, you are Peter on the boat. Perhaps you feel like He has launched you out on your own and this new challenge is way too big for you and you just need to KNOW that He is going to be with you. Well…He is! Jesus answers Peter. “Yes, come,” So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”  When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. (Matt. 14:29 – 32, NLT) Peter got out of the boat. Awesome! He even walked for a bit until he realized how big the storm was. Good effort! Jesus stepped right in and saved Peter before he sunk but I want you to notice one thing that I think many gloss over. When they got back on the boat, the wind stopped. THE WIND STOPPED. The storm was the test. When Jesus had shown Himself strong and faithful the storm ceased. Stop elevating the storm. Stop enlarging the challenge. When Jesus is on the journey with you, the storm can’t last. If He is bringing you to something that He already planned out for you, you don’t have to be afraid that you won’t reach the other side.

I often talk about the plan that God has for your life. One of my favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” If Jesus was already walking on the water towards the disciples, don’t you think He knew the storm was coming? His plan was not for the disciples to die or be hurt but for them to see that He would show up. Even when your faith is low and the struggle is real, He is right there waiting for you to get out of the boat. Waiting for you to step out on faith into the purpose that He has set before you. Waiting to see if you will trust Him enough to grab hold of your destiny and your new beginning. Do not be afraid of the next step, even if it is an uncomfortable one. The Lord is saying “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” (Is. 43:19 MSG)

Saint, things are changing in your life and what you are used to is not what you are seeing or experiencing. You can no longer be afraid to leave some things and people behind, if it means being obedient to God. Don’t be afraid of the next level. The Lord will always show up and help you on your journey to the other side! Hello, new beginning! Hello, new assignment! Hello, fresh anointing! You are ready for whatever is coming. AMEN…

SHUT UP, doubt!

Calling all doubters! Are there any doubters in the house? Anyone? Hello? Anyone? Christians have a hard time using the word doubt in relation to God. You will be hard pressed to get anyone, especially inside the church building to admit that they have doubted God. It very well might be true but it’s hard to say it. Well, let’s walk in truth today! Some of you are doubters, probably more like A LOT of you are doubters but I don’t want to scare you. You may be asking why I would say such a thing! Not you! But this morning God gave me a twist on this doubt thing that caused me to sit up in my seat. He said, ‘if you don’t believe you can do what I’ve told you to do then you doubt Me.’ Wait! Ummmmm…God? Isn’t that a little harsh? I mean, just because I don’t see how little me could accomplish that pretty BIG thing you are asking me to doesn’t mean I doubt you. Does it? Wait…really…does it? I realized in that moment that God simply wants you to realize that everything you need is in Him. You are not being asked to go farther in ministry because He wants you to suffer. Nope, He wants you to grow! You are not being asked to repair that relationship because He wants you to go backwards. Nope, He wants you to lead! You are not being asked to intercede because He wants you to be lonely. Nope He wants you to build! You see before you can truly move into what God is calling you to, you have to trust the God in you. You have to know that what He has brought you to, He has equipped you for. So…the word for today is Shut up, doubt!

COMMERCIAL BREAK: Before I go any further, I have to say one thing. As God has been talking to me about stretching and doing what He says, He has been showing me that some have thought to themselves that this doesn't apply to them. Have you had that thought? Perhaps you are thinking that He isn't calling you to preach or open a business so this is a little too deep. But if He has told you to pray more, this is for you! If He has told you witness to your cousin, this is for you! If He has told you to step out of your religious box, this is for you! God is preparing all of His people for the work of His Kingdom and your particular gift or assignment is needed right now! Ok...back to your regularly scheduled program!

 As I was preparing this morning, The Lord highlighted 2 Corinthians 9 for me. In this chapter, Paul is talking to the Church at Corinth about giving to the believers in Jerusalem. It gives some clear instruction and advice about giving financially but God highlighted one verse for me in relation to moving from doubting to doing in your life. Paul says in verse 8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Sounds to me that God is able to provide for whatever you need with His grace and not just barely but with an abundance. I like the way the Message puts it. “God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.” See? He will also make sure you are ready! Read the verses prior to this one and you will find that Paul talks about giving cheerfully. So it seems to me that the goal is to accept what God is leading you to with a cheerful heart and spirit and He will take care of the rest because ultimately you are sharing the gifts that God has given to you! Don’t let doubt take your cheer in doing the work of the Lord. Shut up, doubt!

The other thing God reminded me of today was to be aware of the voices that you hear. You cannot allow a doubt in your abilities to morph into fear. You see the enemy would love you to abort your assignment. He would be delighted to see you take him at his word and stay in the same place out of fear. I believe at the heart of doubt is just an unbelief that God could use you in the way He is telling you. Do you remember that Moses was a murderer that didn’t speak well? His first words when God told him that he would lead the people out of Egypt were NOT ME! Is that you? It was definitely me. When I FINALLY accepted the call to ministry, it was after fighting the enemy’s constant reminders of who I had been, who I still was, and what I couldn’t or had never done. After listening to all of that, I was literally scared out of my mind to go forward. But I had to keep combatting Satan with “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” (2Tim. 1:7 NKJV) So if that’s true, I am strong enough to go forward in whatever God has called me to. If I really believe that verse then the power that God has put inside of me outweighs any messages from the enemy. It also means that God has given me so much love and the wisdom to accomplish what He has set before me. That means “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV) So…SHUT UP, DOUBT!

This is your season to walk into that new business, that new ministry, that book. You can no longer afford to allow yourself to miss out on your breakthrough because you are afraid of the assignment. God believes in you, otherwise He wouldn’t have told you to do it. You have to remember that where you see you and your limitations, God sees the finished product. He sees the full vision and it is beautiful! So rise up, author! Rise up, preacher! Rise up, entrepreneur! Rise up, leader! It’s your time so scream out loud…SHUT UP, doubt!

Just Do It...

I don’t usually do series with Rhema. Generally, the Lord gives me something for each week, but every now and then, He will keep me in a certain area. Last week, there was quite a reaction to the word about stretching. It led me to believe that there are a bunch of folks that are being stretched or called upon to start walking in some things that God has told them to do. So this morning as I was walking, I told God that I really needed a word for me. I was irritated, tired, and a bit frustrated with everything. I would like to share what came out of the exchange that the Lord and I had this morning.

So I don’t know about you but as God is taking me through this stretching process the main thing I feel is uncomfortable. It’s almost like waking up in a different world. I’m being asked to do different things, there are different people around me and everything is unfamiliar. All of the things I used to do aren’t working the same way and yet God is still expecting me to do more. So the question becomes how do you deal with the discomfort? As I am talking to God about this and really struggling with my attitude, He says to me ‘just do it’. What?! God, this is my life not a Nike commercial! What am I supposed to do with that? He said stop trying to figure everything out, all the whys and hows and just do what I said. If I brought you to it, I have equipped you for it.’ So, some of you might think I’m crazy but this is how it played out.

If you read last week’s entry, you will remember that God told Jeremiah that He had called him as a prophet to the nations before he was in his mother’s womb. Jeremiah wasn’t exactly feeling it but he went with it. God wants you to understand that what He is calling you to has been ordained from the beginning. Even though you feel out of place and out of sorts, it is all part of the process. Let’s look at another one of God’s mighty men, Moses. When Moses was born, there was a decree to kill every newborn Hebrew boy. The bible says in Exodus 1 that when Moses’s mother gave birth to him, she saw that he was beautiful and decided that she couldn’t kill him and hid him until she couldn’t anymore and put him the river. He was rescued by Pharoah’s daughter and raised as her own. He lived a great life until he kills an Egyptian and is forced to flee. There is a lot to that story in itself but it first shows that God has His hand in everything from the beginning. Even the hardest things you experience and the bad decisions that you make have a place in your story. Just do it…

Fast forward to Exodus 4, Moses is having a conversation with the Lord and he is not comfortable with where it is going. God has spoken through the burning bush, He has turned the staff into a snake, He has given Moses a skin disease on his hand and then healed it but Moses is still not signing up for the stretching. Sound like anyone you know? How many signs has God given you to move, to shift, to step out and you are still looking at Him in disbelief? But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”(Ex. 4: 10, NLT)  Moses is like you and me. He has come up with every excuse and every reason as to why he is not usable. But God’s answer to Moses is exactly what He said to me this morning. “Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”(Ex. 4: 11, NLT) You see? Just do it!

Now you might think that Moses went on and did what God said but nope. Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” God gets angry with Moses but gives him what he needs. “Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you.  Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do.  Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say.  And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.” (Ex. 4: 14-17 NLT) I found this so interesting because if you know Moses story, you know that Aaron does stick with him and helps him throughout his life but Moses is the one to lead the people. God gave him what and who he needed but the work that was designed and purposed for Moses was carried out by Moses.

I know how it feels to be uncomfortable in the process. I know what it’s like to be given an instruction and doubt your ability to handle it. I cried out to God today because I know He wants me to do some things and frankly, I just don’t want to. But God has purposed me to carry out something that only I can do just as He has laid out some instructions for you. Sometimes it’s easier to rationalize and dissect the instruction until you think you feel better when instead you’re just delaying the process. Just do what He said. He will not leave you out there on your own. He will send you an Aaron, a Joshua, a Peter, a John. He will take care of you. Remember what Jesus said to the disciples that wanted to do other things before obeying His instruction.  He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9: 59 – 60, NLT) You’ve been called to duty. Are you ready to answer now? Just do it!

AMEN.

STRETCH!!

Yesterday, the Lord said something to me that I didn’t particularly want to hear. I was in the midst of asking/whining about why I had to teach bible study at my church and I felt fully justified. I mean, I haven’t been licensed that long and I teach teenagers not adults. It’s my comfort zone and I feel confident when I am helping them learn something new. I mean, do I look like a teacher? Why do You keep making me do these things…preach, teach? I was perfectly content behind my computer screen doing Rhema…no pressure and no audience. Why me? Why now? And y’all, God let me get all that out and then He said…wait for it…’I’m stretching you.’ Sigh…that’s one of those things you hear pastors and church folks say but you kind of ignore it. But this time it hit home. Stretching me…hmmmmmm…and then He said ‘and it’s not just you’. It made me feel better to not be on this road alone but here’s the question. Are you open to the stretching?

I looked up stretching and let me tell you, I wanted to run and not in praise. I mean run AWAY! One of the definitions was for something soft to be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking; to draw out or extend to the full length or extent. Folks, you were not meant to stay in your comfort zone. When God said in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”, He didn’t follow it up with ‘plans for you to stay where you feel comfortable’. As a matter of fact, let’s look at Jeremiah’s call. God said to him “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1: 5 NLT) And what was Jeremiah’s response? “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” (Jer. 1:6b) And the Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say what I tell you.” (Jer. 1:7) STRETCHING! Jeremiah had no plans to go out and be a prophet, but God had a plan for him before birth. He wouldn’t allow Jeremiah to just stay where he was because He had a work for him to do. What has God been telling you to do that you are too afraid or uncomfortable to act on?

Think about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Did she plan to be an unwed mother of God’s child? She had plans to be a wife to Joseph and do whatever women did in that time. But God saw more in her and literally stretched her capacity. He took someone that would be unknown and made her the mother of our Savior. This was not easy nor was it comfortable. She had to tell her fiancé that she was pregnant by God. Come on now! “Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.” (Matt. 1:19 NLT) This is pretty much what you would expect to happen, right? But the Lord sent an angel to explain everything to him and he did as God commanded. I dare say there is a whole lot of stretching in the story of this couple alone. God required them to do some things that were outside of what they knew to be possible. Joseph had a work to do. God had a plan for him and he had to step outside of what he knew. He had to put aside pride and have a whole lot of trust and faith. He was stretched.

You have a work to do too. You have a purpose and a plan for your life that God is calling you to. He can see the business when all you see is your credit score. He can see the sermon when all you hear is your stutter. He can see the book when all you see is your past English grades. God is requiring you to step beyond the boundaries that you have placed around your life, your goals, and your ministry. How do you know someone is not waiting on the message that you have, the product you have invented or the restaurant that you have envisioned? Don’t be afraid of the stretching. Instead, know that whatever God has for you to do, He has already prepared you for it. In all of these examples, God was right there with an answer to every concern. As I close, let's think back to the definition of stretching. It is taking something soft and making it capable of more without breaking it. You may be uncomfortable right now but you will not break. Nope! You will be more than you ever imagined! God bless…AMEN