Love of God

"Love of God overflow…permeate all my soul." I heard that lyric repeating over and over in my head this morning. At first, I just kind of sang along but didn’t think much of it but then it caught hold in my spirit. I realized that I needed that to happen. I needed God’s love to overtake me to the point that nothing else was important. You see, this morning, I was in one of those places where my focus was on everything else but that. I was rushing and annoyed and the cares of the world were pressing in on me. I looked around and nothing looked right to me. I just wanted to get in my bed and go back to sleep. I wasn’t listening to Christmas carols or planning my holiday trip. Nope, I was focused on my feelings and other people’s issues. But as I heard that line, "love of God overflow…permeate all my soul," I started to yearn for that takeover. God then told me to let His love replace the other things I was holding on to because His fix is better than my feelings or plans. Some of you have had some rough days leading up to Christmas. You may have lost a family member recently and you can’t get in the holiday spirit or your finances are in such a mess that you don’t know how you will get gifts for people. You’re singing Bah Humbug instead of Jingle Bells. But today, God wanted me to encourage you to let His love overtake you.

1 John 4: 9 -12 gives us a clear picture of God’s love and it’s one that we need to grab hold to. “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us.” (NLT) You see, God’s love is perfect and it covers a multitude of sins. It requires us to love others because He loved us. The NIV says it is made complete in us. And this is at the center of what God wants you to know today. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You don’t have to understand why people do what they do. You don’t even have to know what’s coming next in your life. All you really need to know is that He loves you with a perfect love. He loved you enough to send Jesus, the real reason for this Christmas season. And Romans 8 reminds us that NOTHING can separate us from that love.

As we go through these last few days of 2014, let’s decide to love. Let’s agree to both give it and receive it. Understand doing that may require you to do some things that make you uncomfortable such as forgive, move forward, hug someone you don’t like, let go. God reminded me that He loved me when I was not worthy of it, so I have to do the same to others. But He went on to say that His love is enough to help me do the hard things. He didn’t tell me not to be wise or walk in truth, but He did say that if I will let Him, His love can heal, restore and renew. So this morning I choose to respond to him and say “God, you’re all I have so let your love overflow in me and permeate my entire soul. “ I invite you to join me and release whatever has held you captive to God’s love and let it cover those things.  You will find yourself free in Him and less concerned with what came before. “God is love, and all who live in love, live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4: 15 NLT)

AMEN.

JESUS

This morning I asked God for a right now, relevant word for you. He answered with one word and trust me, it doesn’t get any more relevant. What was the word? JESUS. That was it. That’s what He said…JESUS! Okay…what about Jesus? What do you want me to say about Jesus? And He said it again…JESUS! Right then I realized that Jesus was enough. Think about it. What more do you need other than Jesus? Today, God wants you to remember why you have the opportunity for healing and redemption. He wants you to remember why every knee must bow and tongue confess. He wants you to remember why you have life and grace when you so easily could have had death and condemnation. It’s all because of Jesus. As the Christmas holidays quickly approach, God doesn’t want the gift giving to supersede the praise offering. He doesn’t want the family time to overwhelm the worship time. And He most certainly doesn’t want the story of Santa Claus to overshadow the story of Christ’s birth. Will you make the effort today and every day to proclaim the name of Jesus?

I asked God to help me find in His word a scripture passage to reinforce what He was saying today. He reminded me that He sent Jesus because He loved His people so much. He loved YOU so much that He wanted you to live an abundant life. So He sent me to the 4^th chapter of 1^st John. As I was trying to pull out the verse that He wanted me to use, I felt led to give you a quite a few.

⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. (vs. 9-19 NIV)

Jesus is the reason for EVERY season. He is the one that will keep, advocate for, and protect you in every situation. If you will keep your eyes on Him, He will keep you in perfect peace and He will guide you to that next step, that answer, and that purpose that you are seeking. He is all that you need! Will you make the effort today and every day to proclaim the name of Jesus?

Sing along with me! “God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.”

AMEN

A Day to be Glad!

“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!”  How many times have you heard that scripture quoted at the beginning of a service? Thousands, right? But how many times have you lived it? Are you living it right now? Did you get up with the purpose to rejoice that God had given you another day and just be glad? I will admit that when my alarm went off at 4:45, there was no joyful singing! It was more like a grunt and a whine. But as I went through my morning and waited for God to give me a word, I had to start repeating that verse to get going. The world, the news, your job, your situation, your family, can put you in a place where joy is the last emotion that you feel. But today, God wanted me to remind you that He is Lord, He has given you this new day, and it’s time to be glad about it. Today, He told me to just share Psalm 118 with you and let Him minister to you directly. It has become far too easy to look for encouragement in people instead of in the Lord. I don’t care what you’re going through, how tired you are, what mountains you are facing, His Word can get you through any situation.  So I encourage you to read this word and be reminded of just who God is to you.

 1-4 Thank God because he’s good,
    because his love never quits.
Tell the world, Israel,
    “His love never quits.”
And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
    “His love never quits.”
And you who fear God, join in,
    “His love never quits.”

5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God;
    from the wide open spaces, he answered.
God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid;
    who would dare lay a hand on me?
God’s my strong champion;
    I flick off my enemies like flies.
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in people;
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in celebrities.
Hemmed in by barbarians,
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Hemmed in and with no way out,
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
    when God grabbed and held me.
God’s my strength, he’s also my song,
    and now he’s my salvation.
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
    in the camp of the saved?
        “The hand of God has turned the tide!
        The hand of God is raised in victory!
        The hand of God has turned the tide!”

17-20 I didn’t die. I lived!
    And now I’m telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
    but he didn’t hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
    I’ll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
    so the victors can enter and praise.

21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
    you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
    is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
    We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
    let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
    Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
    from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
    he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
    hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
    O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.” (Psalm 118 MSG)

Is that not good?! Did it remind you of what He has done in your life? Did it cause you to reflect on how many times God has met you right where you are? He’s so good and His love never quits. So make a decision today to rejoice and be glad in it!

Amen…

 

That good thing

This morning I sat in my closet waiting for God to give me a word about Thanksgiving. I looked forward to encouraging you to give thanks for where you are and what He has brought you through. But God had other plans! I kept seeing visions of people preparing for their Thanksgiving dinner.  He told me to take note of what the people were doing. And it was serious, y'all! I could see the focus, the planning, the preparation, and the execution. It was all there. Then God said, "If they can do that today, why can't they do it with Me every day?" I knew it was a rhetorical question but before I could answer, I heard...distractions. I meditated on that for a minute and then He took me to a familiar scripture.

"As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 NLT)

Have you been missing it because of distractions? Has God been sending you messages but fear, frustration, busy work has gotten in the way? Have you wondered why you haven't gotten the answer that you were waiting for? Well, today, God simply wanted me to remind you that He is always there if you will simply stop and hear Him. Martha was working and serving but by the time she took time to seek Jesus out, she had already missed the message. God is constantly speaking to you but so many other things get in your way. 

Distractions have a way of disguising themselves and taking over. Sometimes it's family, sometimes work, and sometimes even church. You run around doing this and that, and all the while you are getting farther away from the Lord as your first priority. Notice, that's when the devil can throw all of these attacks and issues in your way. God wants all of you. Sound difficult? It's really not because when you give Him your all, He will make everything else work. The same way that you got your plans together for Thanksgiving, put that same effort into getting to Christ. I promise that the result will be a fulfillment that lasts much longer than that turkey! 

May your day be filled with love and family and the sweet reminder that Christ is that one thing worth being concerned about and He won't be taken away from you! 

Amen...

Ready to Listen?

Being a writer, I often find myself sitting at the computer trying to make something God is telling me make sense like a sentence. I want it to have a structure that I can understand with a subject, a verb, and properly placed prepositions. It can sometimes take me forever to write Rhema because I am trying to say what God is saying in a way that will encourage you or make you feel better. There are some days that just doesn’t work. Today is one of those days though I tried hard to make it work. God said to me, ‘just tell the story.’ Sounded so easy but it wasn’t! I just didn’t know what to do with what He was saying. I woke up with one line echoing in my head, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” I knew exactly where to find it in the Bible because I have read this passage many times before and actually pray it every week when preparing to write Rhema. Today, I heard it differently and I just wasn’t quite sure what was supposed to come next. I didn’t hear anything else. So I went to the story and read it again.

The line comes from 1 Samuel 3, where God first speaks to Samuel. It reads like this in the New Living Translation.   “One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.  Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.  Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.  And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”  Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.  I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end.  I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.” (1 Sam. 3: 2 – 14 NLT)

I meditated on this and waited for God to give me something. And what He said was pretty simple yet deep at the same time. This is what He said. “Are you listening out for Me to call your name? Are you expecting Me to speak and give you instruction or are you sleeping through it and letting My voice continue to go unrecognized? The solution to your issue cannot be found with man but instead, it can only be found in Me.”  Well, okay then, God! It was a strong word but it made me sit up and pay attention to the fact that God wants to be heard. He isn’t speaking for no reason. If you are one that has never heard from God or recognized His voice in the word, in your spirit, or even audibly, this does not give you an out. The text was very specific in noting that Samuel had never heard from the Lord before but once he knew, he acted and God took him to the next level. He trusted Samuel with a hard assignment and though afraid, Samuel followed through with it and God rewarded him with His presence. “As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.  And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.  The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.” (1 Sam 3: 19 -21 NLT)

God is speaking but He wants to know that you are listening. The Message translates the line as, “Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.” Are you ready to listen? It’s no longer acceptable to use tradition as an excuse. That’s not what they do at my church. My family will think I’m crazy if I say God told me. I’m too young, old, etc. This is important for your spiritual walk and your relationship. The trust factor that God has been highlighting for the last several weeks comes down to this. How can you trust a voice that you refuse to acknowledge? How can you go forward with an instruction that you can’t hear? God called out to Samuel three times before Eli explained to him that it was God. How many messages have you missed? Aren’t you tired of missing Him because you’ve been distracted by people, confusion, and things. So, I both challenge and encourage you to get in your secret place TODAY and meet with God.

You see what God is telling you might save someone’s life. It might change the direction that someone is walking in. What God told Samuel was difficult. He had to tell Eli that his family was going to be punished for all they had done and it couldn’t be stopped with a sacrifice or an offering. That’s hard! Eli was Samuel’s mentor and he loved him. But God had an assignment for Samuel that He wanted to make sure was heard. Eli accepted what Samuel shared and God ensured that people knew that Samuel was truly hearing from Him. You see, when God is speaking to you, you don’t have to be afraid to obey. He is going to cover and keep you.  When He tells you to speak, speak! When He tells you to be quiet, shut it!  If this is hard to read, trust me, I’m right there with you. I asked Him to speak and that I would listen so I also had to obey. This was my daily lesson in obedience. Saints, God is speaking to you and now He wants to know your response. I have a suggestion… “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”

Amen.

Little by Little

Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand that I could wave and certain issues would just disappear! You know the ones I mean? Those nagging problems that you have been praying about and waiting for God to just do away with. Or even those complicated situations that have so many levels and layers to them that it seems like God is doing a bunch of little surgeries instead of one big amputation. I posed this question to God recently and He sent me a word through bible study that has been blessing me ever since. Are you ready? Here goes..."I'm doing it little by little." Ummmmm...what? That doesn't fit the microwave society model that you and I operate in! Think about it...don't you want things done right away? And often you want it regardless of the cost or the consequence whether you want to admit or not. But God showed me in the Word that His way is intentional and beneficial. So here's the question, are you willing to wait on your victory even if God does it little by little?

God kept me in Exodus 23 for days. This chapter talks about the civil laws, ceremonial/Sabbath laws, and promises that God made to the Israelites after the covenant laws were handed down. One particular section stood out to me and is the basis for this whole chapter.  “I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land." (Ex.23:27-30 NIV) Okay, read that again, if you have to! God was promising the Israelites that He would take care of every enemy they had but it would be done little by little so that they would be prepared to take possession of the Promised Land. I started thinking about those pesky issues of mine again and I heard God speaking. He will take care of every issue, every situation, every enemy but He is timing it so that you won't be caught unaware. Could it be that God hasn't removed that situation because it would leave you exposed to another issue? He is preparing you for the next level but He knows not to rush you through the process.

I love that last line, don't you?! "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land." Not only is God strategically working on your issues, He is waiting for you to be increased enough to handle the breakthrough. Woooo! God gave me a great example. Think about the stages of grief. There are so many layers that you have to go through to get to complete healing. First there is shock/denial, then pain/guilt, followed by anger/bargaining, depression/loneliness, reconstruction, and finally acceptance. God could come in and immediately take it all away but when you are allowed the space and the time to get fully healed, you can recognize the victory. God wants to increase you while He is working. He doesn't want halfway healed people or people that are faking their way through. No! He wants to get you to wholeness and sometimes the only way to get you to breakthrough is to take you little by little.

Don't be distressed if your process is taking longer than you imagined it would take. There is victory in going through the process and even more so if you allow God to do it in His timing. God is the master strategist and nothing you are experiencing is outside of His realm of expertise. He is moving those enemies out the way in such a way that nothing overtakes you, all while increasing your power, your anointing and your ability to possess the land! Little by little...

Amen

Trust Me...

Has anyone ever seen something in you that you couldn’t see? Perhaps someone has told you that you were anointed or gifted or that something you said or did blessed them and you wanted to laugh or maybe just run the other direction. What do you do with that? How do you react? Because I will tell you that your response makes a difference. This morning the Lord said to me, Trust the gift. Then He boiled it down even further and said, “Trust Me.” Sigh…does the Lord keep saying the same thing to you? Think back over the situations that you have been in and the circumstances you have faced in recent months. Do you think it’s possible that God’s ultimate goal was to get you to rely on Him and Him alone? So when God says to trust the gift, I hear Him saying, trust that what He has given you, led you to, carried you through, allowed you to endure was meant to bring you to a place of pure trust in Him.

God is talking to you this morning. He is tired of seeing you go around the same mountain over and over again. He wants you to walk in wholeness. He wants you live your best life. He wants you to be free of bondage. But let me tell you something, it all comes down to trust. I am the queen of not wanting to acknowledge some of the gifts that God has given me but I am always forced to confront them in some form or another. It’s time to look at your life in a different way. It’s time to stop making excuses for why things keep happening over and over again and hear what God is saying. TODAY. I’m always uncomfortable when God gives me this kind of word because I much prefer to just be encouraging but He is speaking so clearly to His people. He is speaking clearly to me. He is speaking clearly to YOU. It’s time to trust what He is doing in you and act.

Let me pose a question. Do you believe God? Simple question, right? You immediately answered YES with confidence, right? Okay…well do what He says. He has equipped you to do it. And don’t make this complicated. People will often trust Him much easier when He says move to California but when He says go pray for your brother, it’s a struggle. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) So the same way He asked Peter to trust Him on the water, He is asking you to do the same. Your friends don’t have to understand. Your family might not agree but this is not about anyone else. You have to be in God’s will, not mine or your mama’s.  He will not lead you wrong; as a matter of fact, not only that but He will lead you to where you need to be.

So here you are. Looking around at a reality that often throws you for a loop and wondering how to trust that what God is saying to you is the right thing. Let me help you out. He will never go against His word; so He won’t tell you to do anything that will not ultimately bring Him glory. You may not understand the process or the reasons but why should you? It’s not your plan. It’s time to trust the Master planner. It’s time to stop getting in your own way. It’s time to stop letting other people dictate your path, your decisions, and your life. Trusting the God in you sometimes means that you have to step out on your own. Sometimes it means that you have to believe beyond what you see. Sometimes it even means you have to quiet some voices that have speaking louder than God in your ears. TRUST GOD! Trust the gifts that He has given you and the fact that the journey to get where you are going might not be easy, but the victory will be sweeter for just trusting Him while walking it out. “Open up before God, keep nothing back; He’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” (Psalm 37:5 MSG)

God bless…AMEN

Shift Up!

There's something about looking out of the window of an airplane. Things that are so grand and  daunting from the ground appear small and manageable from above the clouds. Everything looks mapped out and in its proper place. I can see where the roads begin and end and even the mountains look small. Just as I was about to close my eyes for a nap, I heard the Lord say, "That's what the view is like from up here." It took my breath away. I immediately got it and I hope it hit you similarly but if not, let me share what I got. God sees the entire picture and it's laid out perfectly. You know those mountains in your life that look impossibly wide and overwhelming? They are nothing for Him to handle. Those roads that seem so long and winding to you? He sees exactly where they started and where they end. From His vantage point, your life is perfectly manageable. Here's the thing though, you have to be able to trust what God is doing. He reminded me of the classic verses in Isaiah 55. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (vs 8-9 NKJV). You have to be willing to shift up to get through.

So many times you want the victory without the battle. You want the road to be smooth and the answers to fall from the sky like rain.  It's human nature! But I think what God wants you to know today is that the victory has already been assured. He already has it planned out. Can you see it? Can you shift your thinking to God level? You know the drought you have been experiencing in your job search? Are you looking through to the end of it and taking advantage of the time you have to hear from Him? Or maybe it's the struggle that your marriage has been for the last few years? Are you taking every lesson and cataloging it for the others you will be able to help when they come to you for advice and prayer for their marriage? What about the terrible state of your finances? Are you still living your life and giving when instructed and led in preparation for the breakthrough? God is not looking at the map of your life like you are. He is way above and beyond and you have to seek out His viewpoint instead of your own so that you can shift to that next level. You have to be willing to shift up to get through.

In my own life, I often ask God why I have to keep going through some of these difficult things when I am just trying to do what He has asked me to do. Today, He highlighted something for me in the introduction to the book of Hosea in my bible. I just happened to open my bible to this page and these two sentences jumped out at me and all of a sudden...the answer. This is what it said. "The problem was how to get this message of God's love to a people not inclined to listen, and not likely to understand if they did listen. God's solution was to let the prophet be his own sermon." Do you see that? That's the kind of thinking God does. He sees your purpose and He knows that you can handle the assignment, the weight, the ministry so that others can get to Him. So He uses you and your life to break others through. If you are struggling today with a decision or a situation that feels impossible, understand that God already has what you need laid out in the plan. You just need to change your thought process. There is a lesson, a reason, and a deliverance in where you are. Someone is watching how you respond so they can trust God's plan for their own life. Come on, saint! Shift up!

Amen

Chosen for a Purpose

Whenever I write Rhema, I start by asking God for a relevant, right now word for me and you. Sometimes it comes immediately, other times it's a struggle but every time, it meets a need for someone out there. Isn't that how life is? You go through various things and sometimes those situations leave you at a complete loss as to what you are supposed to do next. Sometimes the answer comes immediately and sometimes it's a struggle. But generally if you look back, there was a lesson that you had to learn. Today, God sent a word of reassurance with a little challenge mixed in. Don't you need that every now and then? To hear God tell you that you are in the right place or headed in the right direction? I know I do. Well...here goes!

"You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name." (‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ NLT)

That's it! Straight from the mouth of Jesus! If you have been struggling with your purpose or your call or even  with just who you are in general, this verse is for you. You were important enough to Jesus that He picked you to do a mighty work for Him. He has appointed you to produce fruit for the Kingdom. Jesus was speaking to His disciples in this verse and preparing them for the life they would experience after His death, resurrection and ascension. The disciples were just like you and me. They were normal people chosen by God to share His message. They were called from their jobs, their families, and their personal plans to "go and bear fruit, and that the fruit should remain" (NKJV). You might be saying to yourself, "ummmm, I am not a minister or a preacher!" Trust me, I know that conversation. But YOU have a purpose on this earth. Maybe it's to give the best hugs to those that look or feel unloved. Perhaps it's to be a great listener or friend. But maybe it is to be a pastor or prophet or evangelist. Whatever your purpose is, Jesus picked YOU to live it out. 

Don't get stuck in the whys and why nots of this life! You have something powerful to offer and it's worth the road and the process that you may have to travel to get there. So, here you are on this Thursday morning, trying to figure out why your husband is acting crazy or why your bank account is in the negative again and you don't have an answer. Well, here it is! How you react to these challenges are preparing you for your next level. They are giving you a testimony to share and a strength to stand on. And as you stand and share, the fruit comes...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23 NLT) These Holy Spirit given fruits will remain! But not only that, having them give you all that you need to go forward in your purpose. 

Finally, I have to close by reminding you of something else in that verse. Jesus said that in bearing this lasting fruit, "God will give you whatever you ask for in My name." That's powerful and reassuring. This is not a lottery verse, folks, but rather an assurance of relationship and response. Jesus is letting you know that in choosing you, He also equipped you and connected you to a Father that will give you what you need. So, go forth knowing that you have been chosen and covered by the best!

Trust the plan!

Have you ever woken up and wondered how you got where you are? Sometimes it's a positive question and you happily meditate on the goodness of God and how everything is lining up in your favor. Sometimes it's a more reflective time when you think back over your journey and how God has brought you through. But there are also those times when you just don't quite know how you ended up in a certain situation or set of circumstances or mindset. You look around and you just cannot believe that your marriage is a hot mess, your finances are completely out of whack, your dream business is not making any money. Or sometimes it's even harder when God is shifting you but tradition says stay, your ministry is waiting but you're scared, or God's plan is in direct conflict with what you imagined for yourself. What do you do then? My flesh, aka Molly, would like to tell you to run! Don't hang around for all of the stress and the struggle that comes from being in a "what's next" moment! But then I hear the Lord say, "Trust Me..." Man! Don't you hate that? Be honest! Don't you sometimes want to hear 'go ahead, you can quit' or 'you don't have to'? I know I do but usually that isn't the case because God always has a plan for where you are.

Think about Elijah. Can't you imagine right after he got Jezebel's message, justifiably having a "how did I get here" moment? I get it! He had been doing what God said and now he was the enemy and the target. "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." (1 Kings 19:3,4 NIV) The Lord sent an angel to feed him twice for strength. Then Elijah went to that cave to hide and essentially wait on death to find him. Do you think that was a part of God's plan for him? Think carefully because it may affect how you think about your own journey and why you have gone through certain things in your life. Do you think it's possible that God led him to that cave so he could learn a lesson that he wouldn't have learned had he followed his own plan? Think about this, Elijah didn't sign up to to die, he signed up to serve. What about you? What did you sign up to do?

Back to Elijah in the cave, trying to understand how, after doing all the Lord had directed him to do, he was at this point in his life. "The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." (1 Kings 19:11,12 NIV) You didn't hear the answer when the infidelity happened, you didn't hear the answer when the famous preacher spoke into your life. No, the answer comes when you can trust that God has you right where you are supposed to be and when you are quiet enough to hear His still small voice. God then asked Elijah the question that you often ask yourself. "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answers with a list of all that has gone wrong in his life and God responds with the plan. “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!” (1Kings 19:15-18 NLT)

God has reserved just what you need and it or they will show up right when it is time. Your only responsibility is to trust the plan that God has set forth for your life. How did you get here? God has a plan and a purpose for you and it is for such a time as this. Don't get caught up in the cave, instead move out on the mountain and wait for God to pass by and speak. Trust the plan, it's been written by the Master!

Amen

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Don't Give In!

I asked the Lord this morning to give me a word to encourage His people. I asked Him to give me a word to encourage me. I asked Him to give a rescuing, relevant word that would help you to go one more step in spite of what your today looks like. I asked Him to be just who you AND I need Him to be. Do you know what He told me? Don’t give in! I had to pause because initially I thought I heard ‘don’t give up’ but no…He was very specific. DON’T GIVE IN! Wait…is there a difference? Yes! To give up means to surrender, to quit, to abandon, to die. I know what you’re thinking and you’re right! We don’t need to do that either but to give in means to cease opposition, to yield. Giving in tends to happen after a long effort or insistence.  I think that’s why the difference is so important today. You see, some of you have been waiting on change, on manifestation, on breakthrough for a long time. You’ve been fasting, praying, interceding but the results have been slow to come. Today, I want you to get this in your spirit. You are more than a conqueror through Christ. You are an overcomer and a survivor. No matter what the enemy has told you about your situation, your burdens, and your future, the Lord is saying don’t stop fighting. You will not yield to Satan’s plan because what the Lord has planned is so much better. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 NKJV) Don’t give in!

The enemy would like nothing better than to divert you from your purpose. He would love for you to allow people to cause you to turn from your calling and give in to frustration, hurt and flesh. He would love if you let a mistake or a weakness color your entire future. You see, Satan’s whole existence is based on lies. His primary goal is "to kill, steal and destroy". (John 10:10a) That’s why when your marriage is in trouble, your blood pressure goes up. That’s why when your kids have gone astray or acting up, your stomach turns and ulcers form. That’s why when you are stressed at work, the migraines come. He wants to use whatever means he has to take you out. But God knew from the beginning what tricks he would try. He knew that you would get weak at times and fall prey to the attack and so He sent Jesus. Jesus who came that you "may have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b) How much do you want that abundant life? Do you want it enough to keep fighting for it? Don’t give in!

The old saints used to sing a hymn that said “Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; Each vict’ry will help you some other to win; Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue; look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through. Ask the Savior to help you, comfort, strengthen, and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.” You can’t give in! You have too much to gain and too much to do. I’m tired of seeing the enemy win because it seems easier to stop opposing what he’s put out there. It’s time to start fighting for the right! It’s time to start standing in your rightful place as a chosen, anointed, powerful child of God! Do you think Satan would be fighting you so hard if you didn’t have anything to offer? Let me help you with that. No, he wouldn’t! You have a word to share that will bring encouragement. You have a testimony that will bring someone to Christ. You have a prayer that will bring someone back to life. If you give in, who will do your assignment? Don’t give in, saints! There is work to do! Amen.

I AM

If you’ve read Rhema for any length of time, you know that God ministers to me through song a lot. This morning as I was walking and praying, one line just kept playing over and over in my head. It’s from Jason Nelson’s song “I Am” and it truly spoke loud and clear this morning. “Just let Me fix it! That’s Who I am. Just let Me be who I am for you.” I almost laid out on the track, y’all! I mean really! This is where a lot of you are. You have tried so hard to fix situations that you just cannot fix in your own power. You have tried to resurrect a marriage that only God can restore. You have tried to dig your way out of a financial mess that only God can turnaround. You have tried to overcome an addiction or a grief that only God can heal. But today…TODAY…God is sending a clear message to you. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8) Do you understand what that means? He can do it! Whatever your “it” is, He can fix it. But here’s the kicker. He may not do it the way you want it to be done. It may not be like the fairy tale that you have concocted in your mind. But I can promise you this. It will be a complete work.

Sometimes it is rough when the Lord tells me certain things. I struggle because I am waiting on the same word that you are. I need Him to remind me of some things just like you do. But this morning, He left me almost gasping for breath just by re-introducing Himself to me. Do you remember what He said to Moses in Exodus? He said “I am That I am”. (Ex. 3:14 KJV) So when He says, “Just let Me be who I am” that means He will be whatever you or I need Him to be.  I really want you to catch hold of this. If you are sick in your body, He is saying “I am the Lord who heals you.” (Ex. 15:26) If you are searching desperately for Him to show up, God says, “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Ps. 46:10) If you are struggling in your faith, He says, “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God and there is none like Me.” (Is. 46: 9 NLT) If you feel alone, He says, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime- until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” (Is. 46: 4 NLT) That’s who God is. He is whatever you need Him to be because He is God. “He is the God who made the world and everything in it.” (Acts 17:24a NLT)

I have watched some folks that KNOW God struggle to find peace in their day to day lives. I have watched people that are young in their faith struggle to keep going on this journey. Many days, I have wanted to throw in the towel myself. But for every struggle, there is an answer and it is the Lord. Just let Him be who He is for you. Let Him be your healer. Let Him be your counselor. Let Him be your parent. Let Him meet every need, whether it be physical, spiritual, or financial. Let Him be Him! Stop trying to do His job! What He did for Elijah in the cave, He can do for you. What He did for Hannah in her turmoil, He can do for you. What He did for the woman with the issue of blood, He can do for you. There is nothing impossible for Him. Just let Him be who He is for you! I will close with this word from the Lord. I encourage you to take it in to your situation and heed His words to you. “But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going. I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don’t fall into the ditch. These are the things I’ll be doing for them – sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.” (Is. 42:16 MSG) He’s right there, folks…let Him be who He is for you!

Amen

Don't Panic!

This morning was a bit of a mess in the Bryant household! We all woke up late, my oldest missed the bus and when I went to start my car to take her, it wouldn't start. My immediate thought was WHY? This is not a good time for all of this to be happening...I have way too much to do today and in general to have to deal with car issues. So, I focused on what I could do and that was walk my child to school. As I walked back home, I began to pray. Well, I take that back. I began to tell The Lord all the reasons that this was not a good time for this. It was a flesh moment, y'all! When I got home, I literally got on my knees and asked The Lord to speak. I didn't have anything for myself and especially not for you. But then I heard a quiet but firm voice say "Don't panic..." I heard it multiple times and I started to receive it. My flesh wanted to say "Okay, God...but..." However, my spirit man was reassured.

Then the Lord led me straight to the Word, "Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ MSG) Don't you love that kind of moment? You know, when you feel it in your soul that God is speaking and He is right there offering you peace? This was my moment and I had to embrace it. But you know what? It's for you too!

I don't know what you are facing today, this week, this month, this year. But what I do know is that God is in control of your right now. He is with you and He will not leave. Sometimes, you are seeking an immediate conclusion to a problem or situation that requires a process and when it begins to take a long time, you panic. A marriage that took 5 years to get off track may not be restored in 2 weeks. A child that has been lost in the world for 2 years may need longer than a weekend church service to be delivered. God is definitely capable of doing things suddenly and immediately. However, do not panic when it takes longer. Because you know what? He promised that it would get done. Philippians 1:6 says "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (‭NKJV) That, folks, is reassurance!

So, here I sit, waiting in peace for a solution to my current situation. You see, nothing will be accomplished by worrying. It took me a long time to learn that. If this was 2 years ago, I would be in the corner bawling my eyes out and screaming why me! But if God told me not to panic, that means He has a plan and it will work way better than anything I can come up with. How about you? Are you willing to let God do the work while you wait? Remember that "ALL things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28 NKJV)

May the God of peace rest with you today and remind you to not let panic overtake the plan...Amen

Shut up and LISTEN!

Have you ever tried to talk to a child and tell them to do something but they keep talking? Perhaps you were disciplining them or just trying to give them instruction. My youngest child is terrible with that! She always feels like she needs to get one last word in and I will have to say something to her along the lines of “Shut it! If I’m talking all you need to be doing is listening.” At that point, once I know she is listening, I can either tell her the lesson that she needs to understand or I can tell her what I need her to do. She then does it because she was able to hear what I was saying. This morning as I was in prayer, the Lord gave me that example and said "Sound familiar" Huh? Nope! Then I heard, ‘how can YOU hear what I’m saying if YOU won’t shut up?” (The Lord has talk to me in Ebony terms!) Ummmmmm…Lord? Isn’t that a little harsh? But He went on to clarify and it was pretty simple. ‘You aren’t in charge so be quiet and just listen to what I’m saying.’ Well…alrighty then! Some of you have gotten off track simply because when God has told you to do something, you kept right on giving your opinion or explaining or interrupting when He was trying to finish. For some of you, shutting up means to stop meddling. Stop doing your own thing when God has told you to do something else. Saints, it’s pretty raw but… shut up and listen!

Okay, so clearly I was a bit taken aback by this word! I like it much better when I can be comforting and encouraging but sometimes God gives me a cautionary word. I say this often but it bears repeating today. God wants you to be whole. He isn’t giving you instruction to hurt or hinder you.  He wants you to be moving steadily towards your purpose. But too often, folks get sidetracked simply by not listening to what He is saying. It’s part of the reason why you may be retaking the same tests over and over again. Sometimes, the instruction seems too hard. Sometimes, it sounds too crazy or too big for you. But I can witness and assure you that it is always better to just listen and obey…the FIRST time!

Let’s look at the parables in Mark 4.This was an odd place to go, in my opinion but here we go! (See? Listening ears!)  Jesus uses these stories to teach Kingdom principles in a way that everyone can understand. The parables in this chapter are building blocks starting with the parable of the sower and the importance of hearing and accepting God’s word. Then the next one is the parable of the lamp which God highlighted for me today.  “Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.  For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.  Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Mk. 4: 21 – 23 NLT) Ok…so I didn’t really get how the first section applied but then I sat for a minute and was a bit stunned by what popped in my mind. Could Jesus possibly be talking about purpose? Could He be saying that what you have, your God given purpose is meant to be shared? Could He be saying that everything that has been hidden in you will come forth if you have the ears to hear and understand what He is saying? Could it really all be coming down to paying attention and letting Him reveal all you need to know? I had never thought about that as even a possibility. Then I went on to the second part of the parable.

“Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.  To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mk. 4: 24-25 NLT) Hmmmmmm…pretty clear there! The more you listen, the more you will understand. When you don’t listen, understanding gets taken away. How many times have you not listened to God and found yourself confused about the whys and whats of your situation? How many times have you questioned what He said and decided to choose your own answer and found yourself in a mess?  It’s time to just shut up and listen, folks! God is speaking to you and what He is saying is filled with clarity, wisdom and honesty for your situation. Stop messing yourself with your explanations, analysis and opinions. It is literally a waste of your time and energy. You cannot get to the obedience stage until you have listened long enough to know what He is saying and THEN obey.

Folks, God wants the very best for you! He wants you to be whole and to prosper in every area of your life. You know what else? He wants to tell you how to get there and live your best life. The question is are you listening? Are you AVAILABLE to listen? It has to be a part of your every day. You can’t allow yourself to get distracted by the voices of man or the enemy. Your job is to listen out for God’s voice and pay attention. “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.  Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.  Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” (Prov. 2: 1-5 NLT)

AMEN…

Growth in the Struggle

What a faithful and loving God we serve! Sometimes, it’s easy to forget the loving and faithful part when you are in the midst of struggle or hardship, especially when it’s lasted for a long time. But yesterday, God reminded me about the growth that almost always comes with struggle. How can you recognize how good God truly is if you have never been through anything? Today, He just wanted me to remind you just how much He loves you and that even in the midst of difficulties and challenges, He is molding and shaping you for His purpose and His glory. He sent me to a great passage in Romans 5 that I think will encourage you without me saying much more. I’m using the New Living Translation because it just spoke to me this morning.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Rom. 5: 3-8)

Folks, I don’t know where you are in your journey today but I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that God knows. The whole key is in trusting Him through the struggle. Man will disappoint you and even fail you but God sent His Son to die for you when you had nothing to offer Him. Doesn’t that make you think that you can make it through this valley, this storm, this rough patch? Doesn’t that make you realize how valuable you are to God?

 I want you think about this. When you look at yourself through all of the marital issues, the financial problems, the pregnancy challenges, church folk, sickness, whatever it was; what do you see? Do you see a mess? Do you see bitterness, anger, regret? Now look again, and take stock of where you are versus where you started. Do you see any differences? I would be willing to bet that you will find that your prayer life is stronger, your faith has grown and your endurance has developed. That’s called growth in the struggle! And the fact that God sees all that you ought to be and all that you will be! And that’s what makes this journey worth travelling. Even when you want to give up, that still small voice will say keep going, keep pushing, keep pressing. You have purpose to get to! You have ministry to bring forth! You have life to live! So don’t continue to look at the struggles and challenges that you face as things that are out to kill you, instead look at them as stepping stones and growth towards your best you in God!

I love you but God loves you best even at your worst! AMEN…

What are you expecting?

One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 18:21. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it will eat the fruit thereof.” Yep, King James Version! I have to use this verse whenever I find myself speaking negatively about my situation or circumstances. It calls me back to order. But this morning, the Lord used it to speak to me about expectancy. The meaning of the verse is pretty simple. I think the Message translates it in a way that everyone can understand. “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” So as I was sitting outside this morning, the Lord encouraged me to look at it again. He asked a simple question – What are you expecting? I started to answer quickly and then I paused. Oh. You see, I’ll just be honest with you. Recently I’ve been asking the Lord about a lot of situations and circumstances in my life. Asking Him why they are lasting so long and when they will be over. I have had moments of disappointment, frustration, and even a little anger. But when He asked that question and reminded me of that scripture, I realized that I needed to get my expectancy back. You see that scripture is all about expectation being fulfilled. If I speak death, I can expect the fruit to be death. If I speak life, I can expect the fruit to be life. I need to expect God to move. I need to expect Him to answer. I need to expect Him to do what He promised. Are you still expecting?

God still amazes me in how He works. This morning, I couldn’t hear a thing but He led me outside and instructed me to just sit and wait. Did you get that? Not just wait but wait with the expectation that He was going to give me a word. So I did and as I was sitting there, He gave me Romans 8:18 – 25 and Paul took me right on in!  “That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.  All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.” (MSG) Does it get any better than that? We are not diminished in the waiting! Wooooo… What you are going through right now is not your end because there is greater coming. There is a future day that you are being prepared for but you must wait with the expectation that the better is coming.

 So let me say this. If you are stuck in depression and discomfort because your situation seems impossible or your life has not turned out the way you wanted it to, ask yourself what you are expecting. Have you allowed your circumstances to rob you of your expectancy in a God that does what He promises? Have you allowed your anger to steal your hope that change is coming? Because that’s what expectation is…HOPE! Psalm 62: 5 -8 says it this way. “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” (NLT) It’s time to remember where your hope lies. It’s time to turn your attention away from what people have said or done to you and put it back where it belongs…on your Rock and Refuge. You see, the enemy wins when you have no hope or expectation in God. Because when you are in that place you aren’t anchored to anything. You are just existing and not living. But when you are expecting, you are holding on to the promise. You are hooked up to God, waiting on Him to move.

So there it is, what are you expecting God to do? What are you waiting quietly for Him to do in you, for you, with you? Be honest with yourself and God because He already knows. If you are struggling with an answer to those questions, I encourage you to set aside some quiet time to get in God’s presence and ask Him to renew, restore and revive your connection and your spirit. He will do it, you just have to be open to receive it! Here’s to the revival of your expectation!  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom 15:13 ESV) AMEN

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!