But God...

Sorry for the late post today, folks! It’s been a crazy week and a pretty crazy day but God. Wow! My mind just stopped right there and wouldn’t let me go further. Have you ever had a “But God” moment? Have you ever thought about where you would be if it had not been for the Lord? Sounds like the beginning of a churchy moment but it is really just fact. So many times life and circumstance takes your focus and puts it squarely on them. You look at how hard your day was. How hard it was to make your rent or survive the diagnosis. How crazy people are on your job or how wild your family is. But if you really just stop and think…BUT GOD. Why? Because you’re still here! Why? Because you have a testimony to share! Why? Because you didn’t die in it! God was faithful to you even in the midst of all that life and circumstance tried to do.

You can actually find several scriptures in the Bible that include “but God” and they all tell the story about God showing up and working for the good of His child. I want to just leave you with 3 and hope that you can find yourself somewhere in them.

Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. (NLT) Joseph was talking to his brothers about how God worked on his behalf despite their intentions. Has God covered you and trusted you with a struggle so that someone else could be free?

1 Kings 5:4 - But now the Lord my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well. (NLT) Solomon had just become king and he was acknowledging that what his father hadn’t accomplished, he was able to. Has God ever taken you farther than anyone in your family has gone and delivered you from generational strongholds?

Psalm 73:26 - My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (NLT) This is from a Psalm of Asaph, which means one who gathers together. He was a leader of David’s choir. However, the key here is that he reminds us that no matter what happens to our natural or even spiritual self, God is stronger. He is a present God and one that loves like no other.  Has God ever shown Himself strong in your life and reminded you that in your weakness, He is strong?

Listen, saints! Take a “But God” moment! Remind yourself that things in your life could have easily gone another way but God was right there fighting for you, loving you, protecting you, and showing up on your behalf. If you feel tired, weak or frustrated, remember that there is always a “but God” response coming.  Go in peace!

Amen

Know your place!

This weekend I will be elevated in ministry. It is a move that did not come without a lot of prayer, questions, sacrifice and attack. But this week as I have been preparing, The Lord told me that my only responsibility in this, other than obedience, was to know my place. I sat on that for a while. Know my place? What does that even mean?! The Lord’s response is what I want to share with you today.

The definition of to know is to be aware of through observation, inquiry or information.The definition of place is a particular position or point in space, a portion of space available to or designated for or being used by someone. So if you put it together, it is a call to be aware of the position that has been designated for you based on information that you have received. Hmmmmm…Then the Lord showed me a scenario.

Imagine you are asked to give remarks at a big gala. You received an invitation and were told that you had a reserved seat with your name on it. You are dressed for the occasion, have your notes prepared, and are ready to go. However, when you arrive, you see some people that you know and they convince you to sit with them instead of going to your reserved seat. The event is moving along and you step out to use the restroom. While you are out, they call for you to give your remarks. They shine the spotlight on your reserved seat but it's empty so they assume you are not there and move on with the program. You come back inside only to realize that because you didn't take your reserved seat, you missed your opportunity to do what you had been invited there to do. You knew where your seat was but you did not take it.

“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.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NLT) ‬‬God called Jeremiah and He has called you for a purpose with some very specific assignments and callings that were planned before you were born. It's time to know what God has called you to and get to it. In this season of your life, you cannot afford to be distracted by people, circumstances, fear, or attention. You cannot continue to ignore, avoid or deny a position that has been designated for you. You must take the place that has been set aside for you so that you can carry out what has been assigned to you. There is purpose in that place and you do not want to miss the benefits or the souls that are associated with it. Come on! God doesn't do things for kicks and giggles! If He has said it, He is going to do it and use it for His glory. Are you ready to take your place?‬‬

Rise up! I knew you before you were in your mother’s womb. Come forth! The earth is waiting for what I put in you. Stand up! Your voice is needed in the Kingdom. Answer! Your name has been called. Don’t you dare miss your assignment because you are scared. Don’t you dare leave your place unclaimed because someone is uncomfortable with it. And PLEASE, don’t you dare downplay or doubt what the Lord has said about you. It’s time. Know your place!

Amen

Time to stand!

It’s January and a lot of us are in a place of expectancy. Your faith is strong and you are saying all the right things. You believe God for the impossible and it feels like you are right at the edge of your breakthrough. Even though your circumstances may be telling you something completely different, your faith is surging.  Then…silence! Situations seem to get worse and the way gets a little darker, the answers you have been waiting for don’t come. You know that God is still there but you don’t hear Him. You know that He has promised you great things but they seem to be taking a long time. What do you do? How do you stand without giving in to the enemy and his plan to get you to give up and turn back? 

The Lord sent me directly to Genesis 28:15-22.

I’ll stay with you, I’ll protect you wherever you go, and I’ll bring you back to this very ground. I’ll stick with you until I’ve done everything I promised you.”⁷ Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, “God is in this place—truly. And I didn’t even know it!” He was terrified. He whispered in awe, “Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God’s House. This is the Gate of Heaven.”  Jacob was up first thing in the morning. He took the stone he had used for his pillow and stood it up as a memorial pillar and poured oil over it. He christened the place Bethel (God’s House). The name of the town had been Luz until then.  Jacob vowed a vow: “If God stands by me and protects me on this journey on which I’m setting out, keeps me in food and clothing, and brings me back in one piece to my father’s house, this God will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a memorial pillar will mark this as a place where God lives. And everything you give me, I’ll return a tenth to you.” (MSG)

Jacob had just finished deceiving his father and taking his brother Esau’s blessing in the previous chapter. When he received this word from the Lord in a dream, he was running away from Esau’s anger and death threat. However, notice that God did not bring up His past. He did not remind him of how shady He was. In fact, He did the opposite…He blessed Jacob right where he was.  If you are waiting on God to move in your life, don’t dwell on what you used to do or who you used to be, think about what you will do and stand on the Word. Jacob made a vow with God! It took 20 years for Jacob to return to his father’s house but he stood on the Word and did what he promised with his tenth and God blessed him repeatedly because of their covenant.

When it gets quiet, stand on the Word! Saints, God sees and knows everything that you are going through. He is an ever present help in the time of trouble. Believe what He says and stand on it! Continue to praise, continue to give, and continue to serve. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Gal. 6:9, NLT) If God has promised you something, believe Him and confess it every day until it comes to pass! If it seems that God is silent, just know that He is working things out for your good! Keep standing, God is in control!

Amen!

Exactly what you need!

I don’t have anything to say! It’s an odd place for me but a real one. I just don’t! Well, the Lord responded to my statement with “Good!” To which I replied, “Not helpful, Lord.” However, He began to minister to me and I pray that it helps you today.

The Lord simply reminded me of a verse that I know well – 2 Corinthians 12:9. I will share it with you in the Passion Translation today. “But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.”

This struck me because I didn’t recognize that my search for words was a weakness. But, in actuality, it was. Why? Because it was something that was making me struggle and holding up my progress. My weakness changes every day. One day it might be raising my children, one day it might be being a good wife, one day it might be being a good leader. However, in all of those situations, God’s grace and power is exactly what I need. He comes with his “A” game every single time because His power kicks up a notch in my weakness.

I don’t know what you have had a hard time with this week or this month or even for the last several years. Your weaknesses may be different from mine. However, what I know for sure is that The Lord is working at full capacity on your behalf. He is prepared and willing to meet your weakness with His strength and grace. Today, I just want to remind you that you don’t have to stand on your own. You don’t have to figure out your next step or your business or your family or even your health on your own. You have an Abba Father, who is keenly aware of your struggles and challenges and is waiting to show Himself strong on your behalf. 

Be encouraged, saints! It’s handled.

Amen

Who’s with me?!

Well! Happy New Year, friends! You made it to 2019 and what a blessing that is. So many did not cross into this year, young and old, but you are still here. Isn’t that enough to give God glory?! It is for me! You see, I decided that this would be the year of God for me. That is not to say that I have not focused on Him in previous years but this year, I need Him to be so much and I need Him in His rightful place.

You see, it’s so easy to get caught up in what you need from people – their encouragement, their strength, their friendship and forget that it is all secondary to what God provides. He is the ultimate comforter, confidant and friend. He is the protection from the cold treatment of the world and the shield that keeps the enemy’s arrows away. He is quite simply…everything.

The Lord spoke Romans 8:31 in the New King James Version to me this morning as a reminder of who He is. (I think He uses that translation when He wants me to know that He is serious.)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”(Romans‬ ‭8:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

And there it is…the conclusion of the matter! You see, this verse follows 3 or 4 verses about calling and God’s purpose. It reminded me that what He is doing, He is doing well and with intention. He has me covered and the same goes for you. There is nothing and no one that can overcome you if He is on your side. So can I just encourage you to take 2019 by storm? Don’t let anything or anyone stop you from doing that thing or things that He has put on the inside of you to do. He is fighting for you and He has never lost a battle!

Come forth, evangelist! There are souls waiting on you and fear won’t hold you back. Come forth, missionary! There are countries in need of Christ and resources won’t limit your reach. Come forth, writer! There are readers searching for your words and the opinions of people won’t stop you! Come forth, apostle! There are new territories to be tackled and small-town thinking won’t make you question your strategy. This is the year that you let God be everything in your life. I promise that He is the best teammate and He is for you!

Amen