The Barometer for Preparation

Before you go searching for love, make sure that you are well prepared to take on the responsibility of someone’s heart. I say that because God expects Christian men and women to represent true examples of healthy, whole, and committed relationships. All of us know this, but knowing it doesn't hold a relationship together. Even those with the best intentions have ended up with relationships that have fallen apart. One of the major reasons why is because at least one of the persons involved feels they are not getting the love they deserve. If you are in this situation, particularly if you're a Christian, you must be honest and humble enough to get very real and ask yourself - Are you the problem?

It may be hard for you to believe, but most often it’s not about who you’re with, but the steps you’ve taken to ensure a successful relationship. One of the first steps in securing a healthy relationship is to know what the Word tells us. God instructs singles in 2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Wooo wee, that gets your goat doesn't it! That's a blockbuster straight from the kingdom and it's a warning most of us ignore. This verse in 2 Corinthians warns us to be careful about joining ourselves with unbelievers. God warns us because He knows the struggles that saved people will have if they marry folks who do not believe in Jesus Christ. Perhaps it isn't impossible to have a successful marriage with an unbeliever, but for the Christian it will not be an easy one.

If you decide to get into a relationship with an unbeliever, it is your responsibility to be an extraordinary example of Christ, because through you, that person can become born-again. But the most practical and loving thing you can do for yourself and for the other person, is to wait until the Father gives you an absolute green light to get involved. And for goodness sakes abstain from any intimacy. Do not cause them to sin and be worse off by being involved with you. Just think of the statement that makes. Here you are a Christian, and you are causing someone who doesn't know Christ to fall, all because of your selfish needs. No, No, No, this can never be.

You must remember that the Love of God should be the governing factor in all relationships. Many Christians make the mistake of being a little bit too desperate or hasty for love and ignore the advice God gave us in His Word. Then, often times when things go awry, we are quick to point the finger at the other person and shift the responsibility off of ourselves. Let's face it, it’s always less painful if we blame our own inadequacies and shortcomings on someone else, but this is a dangerous course of action. It is dangerous because it keeps us from growing into the person God wants us to be.

Whenever things do not go well in our relationships, chances are that it’s time to do an internal check on you! Whatever, whoever, and wherever we are at this very moment in time is contingent upon the kind of love we have cultivated within. God is at work on the inside of you, but you need to make sure He has plenty to work with.

And, in case you’re not sure how Christians should behave; 1Peter 3:4 NIV, says, "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." Fortunately, for single people, we still have time to nurture that inner beauty and perfect our relationship with God in order to attract loving partners like magnets.

God instructs us on how to live fulfilling lives and sustain healthy relationships; it starts with obedience to His Word. Everything comes back to how you will serve the Body of Christ. It cycles back to how you will treat one of God’s children when your relationship hits a bump in the road - do you become frustrated and agitated - can God trust you with his most precious gifts? This is a barometer for preparation – you have to see your potential partner the way God views them. You must possess the strength to hold it all together, not tossed around like a leaf in the wind. Aim to be unmovable and stable, not for selfish reasons but because you understand it’s not about you, but it’s always about the faith in Jesus Christ which makes it all possible.

Don’t Let Fear Take Advantage

There is one thing that will surely defeat the believer and rob you of ever receiving anything from God and that is fear—it is the sand in the machinery of life. What do I mean by that? It gets in the way of the natural flow and direction that God purposed for your life. It is the believer’s greatest enemy. Fear is negative believing and it keeps your life going in reverse instead of moving forward. Your life is designed to flow effortlessly, but once you allow fear and negative believing to be the dominate factor, you are making a statement to heaven above and hell below that you do not trust God and have not taken Him at his word.

Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV) says "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the LORD means safety."

We see very clearly from this verse that fear places people in bondage, Proverbs 29:25 calls it a "dangerous trap." This is what fear does, it traps. It is to the devil what love is to God. Love produces results that will build us up, fear produces results that will tear us down.

All addictions, phobias, and negative feelings have their root in fear. We know that these can be difficult things to deal with, and we have to be patient with ourselves as we learn to get over them, but get over them we must. We have to begin the work of dealing with our fear because it occupies space in our souls that should be reserved for God's love.

How does fear enter into our lives? We let it in by wrong believing. The scriptures tell us that God defined one of his servants, Job, as the finest man in all the earth. Job was married with ten children. He was one of the richest men in the bible. He had amassed great wealth and the Word bears evidence that he reverenced his relationship with God very highly, but there was also something very troubling going on with Job. He had fear. Not just a run of the mill scary thought, but the kind of fear that allows the enemy to take advantage. It was the kind of fear that so gripped his soul that he was constantly worried that something would happen. Look at Job 3:25 (NKJV)

Job 3:25 (NKJV)
25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

The earth is proving ground for the children of God. It is our platform to constantly affirm who we are. God already knows who we are. He knows us through and through, but WE have to know ourselves and the only way we can do that is to know our purpose. We have to understand that we were created to walk in God's love, and if we are to walk in it...we have to know what it is...we have to comprehend the depths of His love for us.

Job had based his relationship with God on what God could do for him personally. It was tied to the fact that the Father lavished blessings upon him. Job wanted something and bammm!...there it was (well, maybe not that fast, but you get the picture). His soul was tied to what he wanted from God, not to who he could be through God. For his soul's sake, this dynamic had to be switched around. Job's relationship with the Father could not be based on fear, it had to be based on love in its truest sense.

Job's fear was so etched in his heart that he would make sacrifices every week. He made those sacrifices so that God wouldn't allow anything to happen to the life of which Job had grown accustomed. Job believed his children sinned on a regular basis and to cover them, he would offer sacrifices to God so that they would be protected from anything bad. The adversary knew this and because of Job's fear, the devil had legal ground to break into his life and tear it apart.

In Job 3:25, Job said the thing I feared the most has happened. This is the way fear operates. It will take the set of circumstances that we don't want and produce them. You see, anytime we allow fear into our lives, in essence it means that we doubt God’s Word. And this allows the enemy to come in and wreak havoc in our lives. The devil patrols the earth all day every day just looking and waiting for the opportunity for God’s most precious ones to slip and give him a way in. So many of us are like Job, in the sense that we endeavor to cross all our “T’s” and dot all our “I’s”, but we forget to give all our cares over to God. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:28 KJV that if we trust in God, all things will work together for good.

2 Timothy 1:7, KJV
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Fear is a spirit, and spirits can live in you just like sickness and disease. God gave us a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. So if He didn’t give us the spirit of fear, who do you think did? The spirit of fear comes from the enemy, and we need to make sure he gets it back. Just like it said in Job, the adversary patrols the earth to see what is going on. He knows if he can get us not to trust in the power of God’s love, then he can get us to fear.

Go back to Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV), it says "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the LORD means safety." To trust in the Lord means safety! We have the advantage here. We don’t have to offer sacrifices to God to cover our sins like Job did for his children. The Word says we can do 3 things that will allow us to have complete victory over the opponent: #1)We should recognize that Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice for us, #2) live in such a way that we honor his sacrifice, and #3) allow God to teach us how to surrender those fears to His perfect love.

You and I have the potential through Jesus Christ to walk fearless in love. Through Him we are more than conquerors in every situation. We have the victory! This is the ultimate advantage.

Defining You!

1Corinthians 3:16, 17 (The Message)

^16-17You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple.

If someone told you that your body holds the most precious thing in all the world, how well would you take care of it? Would you keep it clean and in order? Would you nurture it with the nourishment it needs? Would you keep it fine tuned so that when you reveal it to the world it's in flawless shape? Being a Christian means that we will do all of those things, but not so much in the physical; tiptop spiritual shape is our focus here. We have within us the most spectacular gift that has ever been given. It is the spirit of God, and because the indwelling spirit of God is so incredibly special and unique, we were designed to be a uniquely, special spiritual people.

This isn't a teaching about how to keep the body in shape, although that is very important. This is about remembering that no matter what you think you are, God defines you. He gave us a gift that is very active on the inside of us, and if we allow it the room to be at work, it will define everything that we do. You won’t have to walk around professing that you are a born again Christian everywhere you go. You won't have to hold a bible in your hand all the time. People will automatically sense that there is something special about you based on how you present yourself. Nothing speaks louder in all the world than the love of God. And it speaks the loudest when a person has chosen to let the indwelling Holy Spirit be the governing factor in his or her life.

To allow the spirit to govern our actions is a goal that we should focus on more than any other. 1 Corinthians 3:16,17 says "Don't you realize that you are the temple of God..." That is such a powerful question that most don't really understand how to answer it. They might say "Yes, I realize that God lives within me through His spirit." Some may even boast about it, but when you take a good long look at how they actually live—when you look at how they conduct themselves, you might think that they don't have a clue about what's on the inside of them. That's why it isn't enough to answer the question with words. We have to do more than just say we honor the gift...much more. We have to live it! We have to live as though we are carrying around the most precious cargo in all the world...because we are!

This is a vital thing in our walk in Christ, that we constantly remind ourselves of what is abiding within. And not only that, but that we behave in such a way as to honor the tremendous gift we've been given. Every unique ounce of your being was created to serve God and His people. All of your talents, abilities, shortcomings and weaknesses make up who and what you are. Even on those days when you look at yourself in the mirror and don't like what you see; God is right there with you. He's there on your best days, your worst days, and those in between. He could have had His spirit hovering over our heads, but that was not His intent. He purposed to place His spirit on the inside of us so that He could help us to become better than we ever thought we could be. He is operating on the inside of us so that we can have an internal guide; one that will help us become a true reflection of Christ. With the passing of every second, the gift is helping you to become the person God wants you to be.

It is God's plan that defines us, not our own. It is His love that molds us and turns our mistakes into triumphs. 1Corinthians 3:16, 17 says that "No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple," This is why we can never give up or give in, because nothing in the universe has more power than God. He is on the inside of us, causing us to win, even when we don't feel as though we are. We simply have to trust Him.

You can't do anything to define your existence more than what God has done IN you. Through Christ, you are an heir to all of His glory, His goodness and love. It is His goodness that allows you to show off who you are. Through Christ you can raise your head up high and walk with the presence of the power that has been bestowed upon you. God created you with a purpose; He created you specifically, at the perfect time and place. You are not a mistake, nor were you an accident. You are the temple of God!

Building a Strong Foundation

Jesus Christ came to make an abundant live available; therefore every person on earth is entitled to live the most life that they possibly can. Some of us will live to create incredible amounts of wealth and some of us will live rather modestly. Some of us will create large families, and some of us may have small ones. Whatever it is that we choose for ourselves, whether it's the most lavish lifestyle or the most mundane, in order for us to stay anchored in peace and happiness we must build upon the foundation that God provided through Jesus Christ.

A foundation is defined as the basis on which a thing stands, is founded, or is supported. If you'll take a good look around, you will see that many folks are busy building on shaky foundations. They spend the bulk of their time building walls around bad relationships, addictions, and lies, only for those walls to come tumbling down. Then they begin the process of rebuilding again, without taking the time to learn how to build something that will stand the test of time.

It is wasteful to keep going around in circles, making the same mistakes all the time. Too often we blame God for our troubles when it is we who refuse to learn the lessons that all spiritual people must learn. As Christians we must learn to use the tools that Christ has provided to construct our own piece of wonderful. Those tools are love, faith, hope, patience, kindness, humility, generosity, and self control.

1 Corinthians 3:10 (NIV)
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it.

We do not have a choice in the matter. We were put here on this earth to build. Just like the Apostle Paul, you and I are master or expert builders. He understood that human beings create by nature. We build things because that is what we were designed to do. We think of things in our minds and then we set out to produce the thing we thought about. No matter your profession or lifestyle, you were the one who made the choice to go after what you wanted. You took the initiative because you viewed yourself as someone who possesses the ability to build a life.

This word "master" implies a high level of skill. Now, all of us don't go about constructing our lives in a masterful way, but all of us certainly have the potential to live masterfully. That is what the Apostle Paul is conveying in 1 Corinthians 3:10. He tells us that we are capable of building something so strong and sturdy that not only will it provide comfort and care for us, but for others after us as well.

Isaiah 33:6 (NLT) says,”In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure”. Anytime you want to build something solid you need to have a strong foundation to build upon. God's Word is that strong foundation and you have to honor His Word to the point that you are standing firm upon it. Some of us fear that we lack the faith to believe in His healing, so we give up on getting well. Some of us become too impatient to wait on our future husbands, so we settle for fooling around with toads. Some become too depressed and bewildered about their broken marriages, and they refuse to learn how to restore them through Christ. We do not have to give-up and give-in this way. If you truly believe that God is who He says He is, then you will begin to trust that His foundation will not let you down.

Honoring God is the key to having something that is immovable. When you construct on His promises, you don't have to be afraid that strong winds will tear your house down. You don't have to fear disappointment when you uphold His Word because His Word will never fail. With God there is strength everlasting, and nothing will stand without His strong foundation.

It is up to each of us to think the highest thoughts for ourselves that we can, and then give them over to God. When we do this, we can't think for one moment that our labor is over. No! He will then help us to become skillful. He will help us to become wise master builders, so that we stop vacillating by trying to build a little bit on His foundation, and then running back and forth to build on the world's. He will help us to see that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, laid the proper foundation for us to follow. He's our example, the chief cornerstone for building a Godly life.

I have a friend who is in the process of building a vacation home in the Caribbean. He's passionate about this home and has taken every measure to ensure that all the details come together in the best way possible. This is his dream home for sure, so he plans to build upon a hilltop so that the house can withstand any damage during hurricane season. He is taking precautions to insure that his vacation home will be steady and strong, that it will not collapse under pressure. This is the attitude we must take regarding our own lives. We are God's valued treasures, capable of building upon what He has provided to carve out a wonderful existence. Don't waste this opportunity. Open your eyes to what He is showing you. Get busy building upon what He has provided, and know that as you do, you will not be destroyed; you will not crumble or collapse. Through the love of Christ, you will stand stronger than ever.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Choose Carefully!

Making a life-altering decision can be a daunting task, because where we are today is a direct result of the choices and decisions we’ve made in the past—good or bad. Where we will be in the future is directly related to the choices and decisions we make today. Realizing this significant truth can make anyone a little nervous about their decision-making ability. And it's not so much the actual task of choosing that’s so difficult, but the fear of whether or not we will make the right choice; often that is the thing that presents the challenge.

What do I mean by that? Well, the task of making a choice is actually a good one to have. Who doesn't want the option of choosing one thing over another. But if you are perplexed about something and can’t seem to make up your mind, there's no two ways about it, you need to get some good sound advice from the Word of God.

The scriptures gives the right instruction for any and every thing in life you could ever face. Everything that pertains to life and Godliness is in the Word. But will you listen and take heed or will you have a hard head and turn away from sound advice?

Proverbs 21:5 says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” I just love this verse because it emphatically affirms that if you want to prosper in life it requires good planning. There isn’t anyone I know who wouldn’t want to live well. We all want to drive a nice car, live in a beautiful home, and have plenty of money in the bank. People who have attained those things have planned for them, and they did so by acquiring as much knowledge about what they wanted as possible. Knowledge is power; once you know better you do better. And the right knowledge can only come from seeking God first.

If you don’t have what you want, or you’re not where you would like to be in life, you have to do an internal inspection and ask yourself why. Was it because you didn’t have the necessary tools to carve out a better existence for yourself? Well, some people would say "yes" to that, but the scriptures tell us that God has given us everything we need through Jesus Christ, therefore we can lay claim to and live an abundant life. Did you procrastinate and put off what you could have done today for the next day? This is usually what happens to folks who fear making decisions. They are afraid to make the right choice, so they put themselves in a position where they don't have to choose at all. Don't get caught up this way. Learn to lean on God....learn to expect and seek His help when you are faced with tough decisions.

I was watching an home show episode that showcased a woman who had relocated to another city. The young lady wanted to find a condo in her new location that would resemble the one she left behind; she loved it just that much. She hired a realtor and to her satisfaction was able to find the perfect place at the right price. All it took was one look. When she walked in she just loved it. The location was perfect, and it was exactly what she was looking for, but for some reason, she decided to take another look at a few more condos in the area. They were newer, and she wanted to be sure that she was making the right decision.

After viewing some of the newer condo’s, she realized that they didn’t compare to the condo she loved; however, when she went back to make an offer on the condo of her choice, it was no longer available. It was too late! She missed the opportunity to buy what she wanted. Now we know that this happens all the time to folks, but it doesn't have to happen to you. If you seek Him, God will not only help you to make a wise choice, but you can also have confidence that when something doesn't work out, it wasn't meant for you anyway. When you trust Him, you don't have to spend time regretting what you didn't get, because you know He has a better treasure tailor made to fit you.

James 1:5-6; NLT
If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. 6; But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Every once in a while we are forced to make choices that can alter our lives in many ways. If we’re smart about it, we’ll do what the above scripture tells us and that’s to ask God what we should do. That's really the only way to make a careful choice. God will always answer if we will incline our ears to hear. You have to take a brief moment and assess where you've come from, where you are, and where you'd like to go. And remember life is designed to flow effortlessly through God's love; He set it up that way. He wants to see you blessed in all areas of your life. Just as you would glance at yourself in the mirror and walk away, you don’t instantly forget what you look like. Well in the same way, remember God’s promises to you. He loves you and wants you to come to Him with all the cares of this world. If you do, the path you choose will be made clear and right.

The Thief--Don’t Let Him Catch You Sleeping

John 10:10; NLT
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

There's not a more deceptive act than to have something stolen from you, and of course the whole point is to take it from you when you least expect to lose it. Theft normally takes place at night when you’re sleeping, when you’re away from home, or when you’re distracted. We all know that thieves are among us and we want to be protected from the unexpected. So people subscribe to all types of security systems and gadgets because they want to keep themselves safe and they want to protect their belongings. Well, security alarms is one way to protect, but spiritual alertness is a great way as well.

John 10:10 NLT tells us the thief's purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. There's no guesswork involved. The thief is the devil and he's the Christian's greatest adversary. He watches our every move to see when he can catch us off guard. He is a spiritual enemy and we have to have spiritual weapons to deal with him.

We have to be prepared. Jesus Christ said in John 10:10 that his purpose is to give life so that we can live it to its fullest expression. Part of being able to live life so bountifully is to stay alert and lively. It is to be prepared for the harshness of life, like spiritual enemies who try to harm you when you least expect it.

1 Peter 5:8 says "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour." God warns us to wake up and be watchful. We can't afford for the devil to catch us sleeping on the job. That’s just the opportunity he is looking for—to pounce on you like a roaring lion and tear your life and stability to pieces.

The state of “Being asleep” in the context of spiritual alertness, isn't so literal as putting on your jammies and going to bed. It's being so slack in your mind and heart that you forget whose you are and who you are through Jesus Christ. Sin can be a very subtle thing. Sometimes it's a gray area where we think we know what's right, but doing what's right doesn't seem to present as much fun and happiness as doing what MIGHT be wrong does. These are the times when we are inclined to be swayed to forget for a moment the consequences of wrong actions. And not only that, we might also forget the great truth that doing the right thing and pleasing God will always, always pay off in a positive way.

Don’t allow the enemy to keep poking and preying on you to the point where you let your guard down. Ephesians 6 tells us that God has given us enough armor through Christ to be fully protected. We can be alert, awake, and on the spiritual job 24/7 if we take care to put on His armor. We also need to take the time to think carefully about the decisions we make and to be sure that we are hearing God clearly. Sometimes people honestly believe that they have their eyes and ears open wide, but in fact they are looking for an excuse to do what they want to do, regardless of what God says. This is a sure way to leave the door open for the thief to come into their lives and wreak havoc.

I don’t ever want to be ungrateful for God's protection and covering, so before I start my day, I thank Him for guarding me against the thief and protecting me from any hurt, harm, or danger. Prayer and protection are two things none of us can afford to ignore.

In Ephesians 6:18, we are instructed to stay alert and be persistent in prayer not just for ourselves, but for other Christians everywhere. Make it a habit to pray for others who are not as confident in their faith to trust God for their protection as you are. The thief is very real and very cunning, and he’s on a mission to take down as many of God’s children as he can. He knows that if he can get you to doubt God, fear will creep in, and that's a perfect formula for destruction. Pray and pray a lot! God needs us to be strong, fearless, and most assuredly…alive and trusting Him!

From This Day Forward—Get it Right!

Hebrews 5:12-14, NLT

You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. [fn] You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. 13: And a person who is living on milk isn't very far along in the Christian life and doesn't know much about doing what is right. 14: Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right.

Wouldn’t you agree that if you want to live the right kind of life, you have to do the right things to make it happen? Mature Christians shouldn’t require Christianity Basics 101, not if they’ve been on this Christian journey a while. There are certain fundamental truths we should already know, such as how to repent of our sins, and understanding the principles of reaping, sowing, and harvest time.

If you're still at the place where you need to hear the fundamentals over and over again, then it's time for you to take a little mental inventory. Nothing keeps you in neutral, living a lackluster existence, more than the refusal to grow and know more than what you already know.

We have to be willing to discover and listen to new and exciting revelations from the Word of God. Being enlightened to the truth of His Word gives us spiritual intelligence, the kind that will keep us on the right track, but you have to be willing to do what is required, WHEN it is required of you. And understand that once you decide that you no longer want to live on babies’ food—once you make the decision that you are ready to live the life of a mature Christian, circumstances will change.

God knows when we are refusing to grow. It is evident in our everyday actions. If you don't pick up your bible to study during the week, if you don't have an active prayer life, if you are not witnessing the gospel and blessing the body of Christ, then your non-action is a sure indication that you are too comfortable; you are refusing to move forward. Our Heavenly Father knows our propensity to stay in neutral, and if we have a heart to please Him, He will help us change gears; sometimes in the most unorthodox way. Let me illustrate:

Recently, a Christian brother I know experienced a troubling situation. He was walking in the park when a homeless man who reeked of alcohol approached him and shouted expletives at him for no apparent reason. Before he knew it he found himself regretfully shouting back in anger. The Christian man knew better, but he was so caught off guard that he allowed himself to react in a negative way.

The more the Christian man thought about the situation, the more he realized that he had regressed to a behavior and attitude that represented the person he use to be before he found the Lord. He began to feel ashamed and embarrassed because he knew that he didn’t handle the situation in a way that exemplified the nature of a mature believer.

The next day, the Christian made up in his mind that he would no longer be inactive. He took authority! So much so, the following morning he got up, prayed, and prepared some food to take to the homeless man. He didn't know whether the man would be there, but you see...intention is a powerful thing. When you have an intention to do the right thing, when your mind and heart is on track to please God, everything will line up as it should. The Christian drove to the park and found this same homeless man. He apologized for his behavior and offered the food he brought. To his surprise the homeless man was sober and apologized for his ranting as well.

Proverbs 16:7, NLT
When the ways of people please the LORD, he makes even their enemies live at peace with them.

Now some would argue that the Christian man was justified in his behavior, but if you’re going to tap into the resources for a more abundant life, you must put forth the right action because without it, you’d just be spinning your wheels in the wrong direction. Action and movement in the right direction is what changes everything. It's a mistake to feel sorry for yourself, because condemnation will only slow you down. It doesn’t do you any good and neither does playing the blame game.

If we want deliverance, if we want to see our lives take on a new direction, then it’s time to do things differently so that we can see different and better outcomes. God’s Word demands that we not be lazy, idle, or insensible, but that we put on the mind of Christ. So get busy studying, living, and acting on the promises in the Word of God!

It’s never too late to get your life in order. Time doesn't stand still, but it does afford us the opportunity to reflect, analyze, and reprioritize so that we get ourselves back on track. We only have one time around, one life to live and get it right here on earth. Whatever is necessary, get your spiritual growth in gear; you owe it to yourself and to God.

He'll help you. He will never turn His back on you. He’s given us the greatest instruction on how to live and what to do if we find ourselves at a standstill. Do a self check and keep your heart and mind in sync with His order. There isn't anything that we have done that He can't undo, so take authority and make up in your mind that from this day forward, you'll get it right.

Don’t Become Too Comfortable Where You Are!

Proverbs 19:3, NLT
People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.
Proverbs 19:24, NLT
Some people are so lazy that they won't even lift a finger to feed themselves.

Proverbs 19:3 and 24 are examples of people that none of us should want to become, but a life stuck in neutral can certainly make us appear to be like the folks depicted in these verses. Maybe you are getting tired of being stagnant in your life year after year. If so, you can make the necessary changes to advance your entire existence to a new and exciting level. You may not believe that, but through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it’s absolutely possible. You awaken each day with the notion that you can get to work on time, finish your day, and make it back home safely. Most of us have some expectation that we can go on this way, and that at the end of a week or so, everything will work out and we'll get a paycheck for our efforts. If you can believe your way to this end, why not take it up a notch?

It’s very easy to stay comfortable right where you are, and never see one iota of movement, but with the Lord's help, you can purpose in your mind to make a change in the right direction. Just as you plan to go to work every day and achieve the expected results, you can develop a similar plan to get all the other things you want out of life as well. Once you set the wheels in motion with a plan of action, decide what needs to change, and have the confidence to do what is necessary to make it happen, you'll make mediocrity a thing of the past.

We have to have a plan of action. We can't sit back and expect things to happen for us without our decisive input, but that is exactly what many of us think. We think that faith is as simple as speaking something forth, but it requires more than that. Faith requires that we put a few things in motion. Without doing this you'll lack the vision to see your plan through to its end. Without faith and action working together, you won’t get very far.

I wrote earlier that you need to "decide what needs to change". This is key, because as you know, you can't keep doing the same things and expect different results. If you want something different to occur in your life, you must DO something different. Ask the Lord to help you pinpoint what you need to tweak in order for you to move forward. If you'll ask Him, He will definitely answer.

Redundancy can become the norm, and your sense of direction and purpose can become stale. The fear of change can easily set in because you’re too comfortable with things being as they have always been. This isn't what God had in mind for us. Matthew 5:13 says that we are the salt of the earth. We are supposed to bring flavor to all those who know and love us. So we can't afford to lose sight of what masterful living is all about.

Life for us ought to be a continuous escalation of promotions and spiritual elevations, and if it's not, then it's time to embrace this notion called "change". We have to embrace it because "change" is the only way for us to stop, take a look at what we're doing, and see how we can let Christ have greater room in our lives to move. Think about it, you've probably been at your current level for quite some time now. You've probably zapped it for all it's worth. You know all the ins and outs and there's no guesswork involved. Now it's time for you to move up to a new level, one where you can really see how far your faith in the Lord can take you.

God’s way of doing things always wins, and if you have faith and trust that, you will find yourself saying "yes" more than "no", and you'll begin to creatively think of ways to show forth the love of Christ. Understand that your confidence to act upon your faith is the thing that will give you a new verve in your life. There’s very little that is remarkable about a person who wants to make a difference in the world. What’s remarkable is a person who wants to make a difference and does it! These are the folks who back their faith with action; they make it happen.

We need to get excited about what we can accomplish when we are fully persuaded in God’s desire to partner with us. He wants us to make our lives a thing of beauty. So if you're too comfortable or dissatisfied with your life as it is, don't allow these feelings of stagnation to weigh you down, allow them to propel you forward and make 2010 your year of action and results.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Pray for What You Want

Mark 11:23,24 NLT
23: I assure you that you can say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart.

24: Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.

It’s truly just that simple you know! If the Word of God says it, then it must be true. Pray for what you want, leave it in God’s hands, and be patient as it comes to pass. This is the perfect formula to see your prayers answered, but what happens if lots of time goes by and you haven’t received what you prayed for? Do you shrink in your heart and mind, continuing to pray the same prayer over and over again or do you trust that God heard you the first time?

There will be days when doubt creeps in, however, you must stand firm on what you know is yours. Don’t think for one minute you are not deserving; God put desires on the inside of us to motivate and inspire our faith in Him. After all, you must activate faith in order to receive anything from God. You may say, "I don’t know how to pray and believe for what is mine.” You’re not alone. I think I can help a little in this area. Let’s first start with the simple question…what is Faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of what is not seen.

Hebrews 11:6, NLT
6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 says that we can't please God without having faith. So we can see here that faith is essential to having a good relationship with God. He delights in the fact that we depend on Him, and He wants us to always know that it is impossible for Him to fail. The first thing we ought to do is to pray about our lack or need. Then we must have faith. What kind of faith? The faith of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ knew that God was backing him as he went about doing good. He was so dynamic and powerful that folks just wanted to be around him all the time. They knew that wherever Jesus was—that's where the action was. His faith wasn't stagnant or boring. It was lively and shaking things up a bit. This is the way our faith should be. When we activate it by moving out in action, we'll witness the same extraordinary results that Jesus did.

"How do I know I’m activating faith?” you may ask. Faith is doing your part and trusting God to handle the rest. You don't pray and then spend all your time worrying and wondering about when it's going to come to pass; you won't get anything done that way. It's just like baking biscuits. You put the right ingredients in the dough, and you just know that when you turn up the heat the dough will be activated and the biscuits will rise to perfection.

You and I have to put in the right ingredients of prayer, leave it in the oven, and then turn up the heat by living a life of love the same way that Christ did. Then, when conditions and circumstances are just right, our blessing will come through perfectly. This isn't guesswork. When you believe rightly, you'll receive the same way.

2 Corinthians 5:7, NLT
7 That is why we live by believing and not by seeing.

The world’s standard is—if you can’t touch it, feel it, see it, or hear it, then it’s not so. But you see we don’t live by what the world tells us, because God has told us otherwise. Jesus Christ said all we need is the faith of a mustard seed, and if he said it, then it must be so. That’s all the faith we need in order to see our desires come into fruition.

1 John 5:14-15, NLT
14 And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.
15 And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

God's will is that we are abundantly blessed. We can ask anything in line with His will, and we can have every confidence that He hears us. We don’t ever have to worry that He is unwilling to bless us; He is dependable, trustworthy, and always willing to help us be victorious in life. So stop worrying or groaning about what you don’t have…yet! The answer to your prayers is unveiled in your believing that what God said He would do, He definitely will do. Speak life into what you want. Confess that you already know it is yours, and then thank Him daily for it. He will deliver...He always does.

Please pray this prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessing you have given me. Whenever I begin to doubt in my heart, I’m reminded of the wonderful promises You have made in Your Word. Thank You for forgiving me when I am weak in my mind, for I know if I only trust in You, things will always work out. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

The Pathway to Marital Bliss

1 Corinthians 7:32–34 NLT

32 In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and thinking how to please him.

33 But a married man can't do that so well. He has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be more devoted to the Lord in body and in spirit, while the married woman must be concerned about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.

What is the real purpose of marriage? Marriage is a commitment between two people and a binding covenant with God. When you get married, you are making the conscious choice to take on someone’s heart. Everything that defines your spouse, their strengths and weaknesses, and especially their shortcomings, you will marry. If you decide that you are ready to get married, make that choice out of the willingness and the ability to add something to someone’s life, not out of desperation. Often times, people go into relationships with the expectation of being rescued or because of loneliness; this could only lead you into an unfulfilled marriage.

Understand this, marriage is about giving and sacrificing, sometimes when you don’t feel like it. God has provided you with the love and patience to sew seeds of love and compassion into your mate. This has to be more than your desire, you must see it as your commitment to honor God THROUGH your spouse.

I had a conversation with an old friend not long ago, who was soon to celebrate his 67^th wedding anniversary. I had to ask the obvious question: “How in the world did you and your wife do it? What is the key to a successful marriage?” He gave me a perfect, yet simple, vision of how self-sacrifice looks. He told me that every day he takes his wife out for ice cream, not because he likes it, as a matter of fact he said it irritates his throat. "I do it because I know she loves it.” Therein lies true sacrifice and commitment; love is as love does. You put the right ingredients into your marriage, you get the right results out. Few believe that, but it's God's immutable law of Giving equals Receiving. It works with a mathematical precision every single time. There is never an occurrence where we make a loving and meaningful investment into the lives of our spouses without receiving it back in manifold portion.

There will be many times in your marriage when you will have to put the needs of your spouse before your own. Keep your eyes open to the fact that this is a blessing that God has given you. I guarantee that you will have an experience in your future where you will see that God was setting you up to reap a wonderful blessing. This blessing will come from your spouse when you need it the most. Spend your time concentrating more on learning to recognize opportunities like this and less time on whatever shortcomings your mate may have.

In order to build a strong foundation for any relationship, you must be willing to see yourself as the conduit by which God can demonstrate His love to your mate. Marriage and your relationship with God is sometimes a delicate dance. As a single person, your focus was on building a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, you must reprioritize your time with your partner. Remember, your spouse is not meant to be your everything; only God deserves and expects that place in your heart and mind. Your spouse is your mate, companion, help, lover, and friend. Once it was just you and God. He lavished all that love and caring upon you through His son, Jesus Christ. Now it's time for you to lavish it on your spouse, and to give it out as unconditionally as it was given to you. Build the marital relationship together on the solid ground of Christ. Be committed to reflect the example of Christ in your marriage. This is a sure way to the pathway to marital bliss.

Please pray this prayer:

Heavenly Father, I seek your forgiveness for not holding up my end of the bargain in my marriage. It's a true gift. I realize that, and I thank you for it. I also thank you for the awesome privilege to minister in love and in truth to my spouse. I pray that my mate will see You bigger because of the love of Jesus Christ at work within me. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Many Blessings,
Kim

Anyone with Ears to Hear…
Should Listen and Understand!

Matthew 13: 24-30 NLT
24 Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.
25 But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat.
26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
27 The farmer's servants came and told him, `Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!'
28 " `An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed. " `Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked.
29 "He replied, `No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.' "

If you have outwardly confessed your sins and believed within your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then you are the good seed (a born-again believer) he is talking about in Matthew 13:24-30. You have an inheritance that no one can ever take from you. Right now you have everything on the inside of you that you will ever need to stand strong in this tumultuous world we live in. However, we need to know that everything will not be a bowl of cherries. We have enemies that live amongst us day in and day out; demonic forces that work through people. Their job is to do everything to undermine our walk as Christians.

What is the job of the enemy? It’s to kill, steal and destroy the lights of this world (John 10:10 KJV) Who are the lights? We are, the believers, the followers of Christ.

It is an honor to be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. It's an awestruck privilege to realize that we have been predestined, even before the foundation of the world, to be God’s sons and daughters. Our Heavenly Father chose only a selected few to be His good seeds, to carry out His plan and spread His love throughout the earth. He chose us because He knew He could count on us to get the job done. When you think about it, it’s a pretty awesome journey we’re on.

How many people do you know that haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior? How many haven't made HIM the head of their lives? Well, if they haven’t, then they’re living in total darkness and are considered the weeds of the earth according to Christ in Matthew 13:37-39 NLT.

37 "All right," he said. "I, the Son of Man, am the farmer who plants the good seed.
38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.
39The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

Just as God chose us to be his children, the devil has children too! Make no mistake about it, we all have a choice to make. We choose which side we will be on. Those who refuse to make the right choice will not live an eternity basking in the peace and care of our Father's love. Ultimately, that’s what it all boils down to…for God I live or…for the devil I will die in darkness!

It’s time out for living with a blind fold over your eyes; life is not that forgiving. You have to live in truth and live with your eyes wide open. You have to recognize that this world will eat you up and spit you out if you don't recognize who God is and what He desires in and for you.

Matthew 13: 40-43 NLT
40 "Just as the weeds are separated out and burned, so it will be at the end of the world.
41 I, the Son of Man, will send my angels, and they will remove from my Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil,
42 and they will throw them into the furnace and burn them. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then the godly will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!

To LISTEN and UNDERSTAND is a must! God is not playing around. He’s made it very clear that if you are not living through His Son, then you will not see His Kingdom. This is not to scare anyone; it’s to let people see the truth that accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and living by his love is the only choice if you want eternal life. Other than that, your option is death and destruction. It’s as clear as night and day.

So open your ears wide…hear with clarity the truth…listen with intent on knowing whose you are… understand and thank God that you are the good seed—hallelujah—and not the weed!

Please pray this prayer:
Thank you oh gracious Father for saving me and forgiving me for my sins, in the wonderful name of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Thank you for writing my name in the book of life even before the foundation of this world. Because our Lord and Savior laid down his life for us, we are saved. I accept him as the Head of My life, and I thank you so very, very much for the gift of eternal life. Amen.

Many Blessings,
Kim

Recognize the help!

Philippians 4:6 NLT
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

7: Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever had a front row seat to watching someone’s life spiral out of control? It’s a slow-motion process that often cripples that person's circumstances. You think to yourself, "if only they knew Jesus Christ like I know him...if only they knew the delivering power of God's Word!" You want to pour every ounce of love and encouragement into their lives just so they can realize who they could be in Christ. You want them to know his sacrifice, that His love is everlasting and is a release from all despair.

It’s never easy to see someone go through a very turbulent time in their life, but sometimes the pain they are suffering is a very needed reminder that they have lost all sense of balance and direction.

What do you do when everything inside of you is screaming for help? Well one of the first things you do is to acknowledge that you don’t have all the answers. You might think this is a very logical thing to do, but most of us don't do it. Even those of us who have been on this Christian journey a while have developed a sense of arrogance about what we think we know. We limit God by trying to dictate to Him how and when He should help us. Instead of doing that, we should really try and recognize the help that He has already provided.

For instance, I once knew a woman who went through a very tumultuous time in her life, probably the most difficult she’d ever experienced. Her husband abandoned her and their family and left them in dire straits financially and emotionally. Her despair and lack of faith crippled her foundation to the core, so much so that she became a very negative and spiteful person. After that, everything she touched or tried to accomplish crumbled before her, leaving her with more feelings of hopelessness and doubt.

Where did God fit into this scenario? Imagine Him sitting next to her, whether she was at home, in her car, or at work. Picture our Father lamenting “So, why do you feel this way? Why wouldn’t you let Me in your world? Why wouldn’t you allow Me to provide for you and be your sufficiency? I promised that I would--if you had only given My love a try. If you had trusted in My love--you would have been so much better off. You should have put more of My love in your heart; that same love would have carried you through. You wouldn't feel so alone and hopeless. My love is everlasting. It builds you up...not tear you down. Begin to trust in me!"

There are examples of correction all around us to get our lives back on track, but sometimes we ignore them and begin to spiral more and more out of control. We have to understand that God has given us the power to shape and mold our reality through His love in the right now. Even if you do nothing but think on His love, you are ahead of the game.

It is our free will choice to let His Word shine through by governing our actions accordingly. You can't spew venom from your lips, behave vengefully, and allow resentment and anger to fester in your heart. We must put God's love in our minds, but that's just the beginning. We must make the conscious and sometimes difficult choice to live it, act on it, and speak it. We have to be willing and ready to make the necessary changes in our lives to see results, knowing that ultimately it's our choice what type of life we will live, as well as how we will live it.

Please pray this prayer:
Father in Heaven, I need your help, I can’t do this alone. Father I ask that you forgive me for my sins. Wherever I am weak, help me to be strong. Help me to have a greater understanding of your peace and love so that I can overcome my obstacles. I thank you for the strength and courage to get through the storms of my life. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Resist the Temptation!

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

What is temptation? Anything that will entice us to think, say, act or behave in a manner that is contrary to God's Word is considered a temptation. It can potentially persuade us to do something that isn't in our best interest It could be something as simple as a decadent piece of rich chocolate cake or it could be a person that we find appealing or irresistible. No matter who or what it is, temptation is all around us. This is why it’s vital to always keep your eyes open and your guard up because you never know when you’ll be staring it right in the face.

Every day we make choices. Whether or not we make the right ones is always the kicker. Trust me, the adversary---the roaring lion that he is, will do anything to lure you. He’s very subtle with his tactics. He won’t tempt you with strawberry ice cream when he knows you love chocolate…oh no! He’s kept a catalog of what makes you weak, doubtful, and fearful. He knows that keeping you bound by insecurities insures that you will remain weak and vulnerable.

God, on the other hand, helps you to resist temptation. He does that by first helping you to recognize it – isn’t He an awesome Father! God has equipped us with the supernatural ability of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is Christ in you. When we pray to God and stay alert to His directives, we can recognize the warnings of the Holy Spirit. When danger is approaching, this magnificent gift will sound an alarm internally to let us know.

By design, Christians have certain entitlements that set us apart from others. Living a victorious life is exactly what we have been intended to do as children of God, but as 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, when it comes to temptation we are no different from anyone else. As long as we live we will encounter circumstances that can cause us to abandon what we know is right. Don't give in to those temptations. Resist them! Understand the connection between your choices and the results or consequences that follow them. Wake up and recognize when the devil is setting you up for failure.

Absolutely nothing is hidden from God. Our Father is a forgiving Dad who knows us inside and out; we are completely exposed before him. He understands we will make mistakes because He knows our every weakness, but as born-again believers we don't have to make them over and over again. We can demonstrate the same strength that Jesus Christ has. Our Lord and Savior understands our temptations and weaknesses because he faced all of the same things we do, however, He didn’t sin. He resisted, and because of him so can we.

James 1:14-15 (NLT)
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15: These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

We have to come to our senses and realize that the end result of a mistake should be to not make it again. Our mistakes ought to teach us how to resist temptations. Don't allow temptation to grow into something that leads to destruction. Learn to trust the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of you, trust your keen insight to do the right thing. Know that God will show you a way out, but its up to you to recognize it when He does.

Please pray this prayer:
Heavenly Father, in the precious and powerful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I come before you asking for strength to be strong and courageous in every situation. Thank you for forgiving me for my sins. I know the adversary comes to steal and destroy what you have so graciously blessed, but I also know that the victory is mine if I stand strong and trust You. Help me to do that. Amen!

"Resist the Temptation" written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Times-Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2009. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Sundie Morning Sistas is dedicated to spiritual inspiration and encouragement through the Word of God.

Get Ready to Inhale Matrimony and Exhale Singleness!

1 Corinthians 7:7 (NLT)
7But I wish everyone was single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others the gift of singleness.

Being single doesn’t mean you’re alone and unhappy, it simply means that you are in a better position to focus on the Kingdom of God. When you’re single, most of the time you only have to think about You! You have complete autonomy over your life, and if you have chosen to continue that lifestyle...that’s ok too. As a matter of fact, the Apostle Paul said he wish everyone were single, just as he was. He felt that way because it’s the perfect time to worship and spend time building an even stronger relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The Apostle Paul dedicated his life to the Ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he was indeed single. Our purpose as single people is one of preparation to live, breathe, and walk the Word. God knew that if we play our cards right, as single Christian folk we will have the least amount of distractions. We can glean an even sharper vision of how we fit into His plan.

Developing and prioritizing your time with God will inevitably prepare you for marriage, because you should have already taken the necessary steps to build a solid foundation for what true commitment is. Think of it this way, if you haven’t cultivated the necessary skills to make time for God, then more than likely your devotion to your partner will take a back seat as well.

God knows when you are ready to inhale matrimony and exhale singleness, so embrace this time, because as a married person a great deal of energy and focus will be on your mate.

Let’s face it, marriage…its no joke, but if your union is blessed by God - it can be a bed of roses---it just takes work. We have to ask ourselves some hard questions sometimes and the answers may not necessarily be what we like. Questions like, what steps have I taken to prepare for a successful marriage? What are some of the habit patterns that I've developed to foster spiritual growth?

Spiritual growth is necessary in order to allow the Love of God in any committed relationship. Walking down the aisle is an easy thing to do but staying in a committed, loving marriage is where the works comes in.

Commitment takes courage and a great deal of patience. Patience to love your partner through the pain, endurance to stick it out when times get tough, and most importantly, how to love each other through the storms of life. Togetherness requires letting go of what you think love and marriage is and embrace the truth of who you can be ‘together’.

Whatever and whoever you were before you got married will sometimes remain the same. What will change will be your capacity to love bigger and greater through the obstacles and triumphs you face as a couple. The union you share with each other will be a ministry on its own.

Please pray this prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for preparing me while I’m single to be everything I should be in You. So that when you bless me with a mate I will be well prepared in every area of my life.

"Get Ready to Inhale Matrimony and Exhale Singleness!" written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Times-Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2009. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Sundie Morning Sistas is dedicated to spiritual inspiration and encouragement through the Word of God.

Are You Moving In the Right Direction?

Proverbs 3: 5-6, NLT
5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6: Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Making the right choice for your life can be a frightening thing, especially if you’re not sure what direction to take. When we are bombarded with so many choices, and none of them stick out as being the right one, it can feel as though our faith is failing us. Any type of emotional trauma such as the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship or even the loss of a job can cause this type of fear, the kind that makes us doubt God. We may not doubt His power, but we doubt His timing or His willingness to bless us.

Whenever we find ourselves faced with circumstances that trigger ambivalence in our faith, an absolute and complete surrender to God is required. You may be thinking, "Well if I doubt Him, how can I surrender?" This is why crossroads and challenges are so pivotal to our spiritual growth, because they press us to have faith when we don't think we can.

God understands how difficult it is for us to move in the direction of a more intimate relationship with Him when things are shaky. He knows that there will be times when trusting Him is a little scary. The thing is not to let the fear cause you to abandon your faith altogether.

We need to come clean and be honest with God. He knows all our secrets anyway. What's important is that we acknowledge that we need His help. A move in the right direction is as simple as saying "Father, I need some help down here!" God wants you to learn to completely trust Him in spite of your ambivalence and fears. This earth experience will be full of unexpected curve balls, some that completely knock you off your feet. There may be times when you don’t even know where you can go or who you can lean on for refuge. Understand this, and know it beyond any uncertainty, the Love of God is your refuge. Jesus Christ is the only remedy for the emotional and mental pressure that plagues our minds.

Don't allow your mind to go on auto-drive with the cares of this world. Make a move in the right direction by putting Jesus Christ in the driver's seat. You may not know the right choices to make. You may not know where God is taking you, but you CAN know that God holds the key. He's the glue that gels every detail of our lives together, and if you'll trust Him, He will make sure that you are always where you need to be.

I have gone through some pretty turbulent times...times when I began to doubt the strength of my faith in God. I was often angry and despondent, and felt my tribulations were too insurmountable. Answers to prayers seemed few and far between, and for a while I believed I was alone on this journey, that God had forsaken me. Oh how wrong I was. It was in the trials of my life that I found my greatest strength through Him. There was no other way to grow stronger than to stand on the edge and witness that He would not allow me to fall. There was no greater way to build those strong spiritual muscles of faith than to go through the fire and be rescued by His extraordinary love. In those dark moments I came to understand that Jesus Christ had already paid the price for my pain. He took on my burden when he laid his life on the cross. So no matter how bad it got, no matter how far I ventured off the map, the love of God was and is my compass.

We’re so used to solving problems on our own, but thank goodness we have a Heavenly Father that instructs us to completely lean on him. The truth is...life is often challenging. You will go through some pretty tough times, and you may not think your life is headed in a direction you like, but if you will trust in our loving Heavenly Father, He will make sure that you end up in the right place--that's for sure.

Pray this Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the strength and courage to be victorious in every area of my life. I thank you for not allowing my feet to fall when I am weak. I know that if I lean and trust in You, You will never fail me nor forsake me. No matter what struggles in life I face I know that I am not alone because my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is always with me. Amen.

"Are You Moving In the Right Direction?" written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Times-Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2009. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Sundie Morning Sistas is dedicated to spiritual inspiration and encouragement through the Word of God.

Your Prize Awaits You!

2 Timothy 4: 8 NLT

And now the prize awaits me-the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Have you ever been so anxious for something that you almost lose your breath at the thought of it? You can’t eat or sleep. You get butterflies in your stomach from just thinking about it. Well I imagine this is how the Apostle Paul must’ve felt in this particular scripture. His excitement, anticipation and enthusiasm had everything to do with the coming of our Lord and Savior. Paul illustrates the struggles of his life and how he’d fought the good fight, how through all of his persecutions, he remained faithful and now he anxiously awaits the return of his Savior Jesus Christ. Paul labored in righteousness, and because of it he could look forward to the return of Christ. Paul makes it very clear that not only can he eagerly look forward to his appearing, but so can all of us.

Sometimes we have a different point of view about what a prize is. It may be to capture the interest of someone special, or to finally go out on that special date you’ve been praying for. Whatever it is you so desire, there is nothing on this earth that can get in the way of what is for you.

I often think about what God must be thinking in Heaven while we’re scurrying about down here on earth, trying to figure things out. I imagine Him saying "Why won’t you get it together and open your eyes to what I’ve already done for you?” "What has He done for us?" you might ask. Well that's just it. He's already given us the greatest gift that can be given. God gave us the perfect Gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Paul had achieved a great deal in life. He said in Philippians 3:4-6, if anyone has impressive credentials, it's me. (The Message)"You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God's law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God's law Book." Yet he was not looking to float through life on the strength of his heritage or accomplishments. He was in love with the spiritual delights that Christ made available. He was impressed with life in the spirit, and he eagerly awaited the crown of righteousness that the Lord would put upon him.

If our Heavenly Father would give us the perfect gift of His son, He will certainly allow our paths to cross with a special someone with whom we can minister and share life. But ministering and sharing must be our focus, just as it was Paul's.

Christ in us the hope of glory is truly the real prize. He came that we might have abundance. Because of him we can look forward to receiving every other good thing.

Trust and never doubt that what God has promised, he is sure to deliver. Your prize awaits you…but until his return, expect that you'll have someone wonderful who will wait with you.

Pray this Prayer:

Father in Heaven, thank you for my strength and courage to embrace what is before me. Prepare me oh Gracious Father for what is to come. Allow me to see what I need to see, hear what I need to hear and let go of what I need to let go of. You have already given me all that I need to be victorious in this life, and as I step out in faith, I know that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is forever with me. He is my strength when I am weak, and through him I am made whole. In the powerful name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I thank You, Amen.

"Your Prize Awaits You" written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Times-Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2009. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Sundie Morning Sistas is dedicated to spiritual inspiration and encouragement through the Word of God.

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

There Is No Greater Love

John 15:16-17 NLT

16 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.

17: This is my command: Love each other.

There is no greater joy or love than to have someone choose to love you. The feeling can be intoxicating, mesmerizing, and overwhelming all at the same time. Even the romantic love between a man and a woman can be a knockout punch, but I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the extraordinary reality of falling in love with Jesus Christ. He loved us first, and you have to ask yourself "What is it about me that is so special that He would choose ME!" Because you see, He didn't choose you to do any ol' ordinary thing, but to produce lasting fruit so that whatever you desire, you can have it...by living and giving in his wonderful name. How awesome is that! I don’t know about you, but it makes me feel pretty spectacular to think that I was appointed by someone as magnificent as Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you’ve never given it much thought, now is the time.

Imagine if a world renowned public official or popular celebrity called you up one day and asked you to do something that no one but you could do. Now, this person could’ve chosen anyone in the entire world, but you were the only one that could get the job done; wouldn’t you feel pretty special? Well, our Lord and Savior is hands down the most influential and charismatic phenomenon ever to walk the face of this earth. After all, he healed the sick, raised the dead, and died for our sins. All he asks is that we spread the word to those who don’t know it. He wants us to tell others about his love, to be his example, and to help save souls that are lost.

Jesus Christ did the ultimate when it comes to love, because he gave his life for us. John 15:13 (KJV) says "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." There is no greater love than that. Those who don't know him intimately might ask, "how can you fall in love with someone you’ve never even seen, touched, or heard before?" They might find it hard to believe, but the great truth is that once you let his love come into your heart, you want others to experience it. His love is contagious that way. It's so much easier to love someone once you have confidence that the Lord loves you.

The beautiful truth is that the love of Jesus Christ is ours to embrace. He wants to love us every second, minute, and hour of the day. He knows that only his Love can rescue us. There are lots of songs and tons of self-help books on the shelves that claim to teach you how to love yourself. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a little self help wherever you can get it or hear it, but understand this, if you can't love the one who saved you, then you probably will not love yourself all that great either.

Those of us who are single sometimes have the toughest time opening ourselves up to the possibility of love, because there’s a part of you that knows that "vulnerability" is a layer you must unveil in order to let love in. Sometimes it’s a risk you might have to take a few times before you get it right, but it’s a risk worth taking. You know why? The Paragon of Love will be on the inside of you, that’s why. Trusting in his love is like walking up to the starting line of a race, once you’ve entered there’s no turning back. You run through valleys, high peeked mountain tops and the lowest trenches you could ever imagine just to trust that Jesus Christ won’t fail you. Honestly, there’s no greater accomplishment than to have faith in something and realize through it all, having the greatest love of all always wins!

Pray this prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the greatest gift of Your Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If it wasn’t for His choice to give His life for us, I would never know how to love. Oh Gracious Father, show me how to be more unselfish, forgiving, and thoughtful in my everyday life. Allow the Holy Spirit to move on the inside of me whenever I am not being who you have called me to be. Again, I thank you for loving me so much, and for saving me through your only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Teach me how to be a worthy example of what love is, so that others who don’t know him will see him through me. In the powerful name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Peace and Blessings,
Kim

"There Is No Greater Love" written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Times-Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2009. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Sundie Morning Sistas is dedicated to spiritual inspiration and encouragement through the Word of God.

The Choice is Yours

I Corinthians 7:32-33 (NLT)

32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him.

33: But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

When it comes to being single, it’s very true that there are less restrictions than there are for married folks. You can come and go as you please without considering whether or not a spouse is pleased. You don't have to deal with the hassle of someone thinking that they can tell you what you can or can't do. You don't have to be concerned about things like making sure the other person will have a good meal for dinner or helping to make sure the home you share is cozy and tidy. You can have a bowl of cereal for dinner, leave your clothes right where you take them off, and come home at whatever hour you please.

All of the things mentioned above and much, much more have to be taken into careful consideration before you decide whether or not married life is for you. If you have already thought about things like these and decided to wait a while before tying the knot...that’s ok. It’s your choice. Being single doesn’t necessarily mean you are alone; it simply means you are without a partner. But whether you are married or unmarried, don't waste the choice that God has given you. You have the opportunity to explore your freedom to live, love and express what He has placed before you.

What are some of the things He has placed before you? Well one of the most valuable gems is the precious opportunity to enjoy your consecrated time in the Lord. Don't forget to meditate in Him. Always take the time out of your day to spend quiet time with God. If you don't make time for our Heavenly Father each day, odds are that you won't make time for another person either.

There will come a day when your time is no longer your own. Marriage requires commitment and devotion. It will no longer be about you. You'll be responsible for another person’s heart. Yes, the choice to remain single right now may be yours, but make sure you enjoy your time alone by getting to know yourself and the Lord. Make the commitment everyday to put your relationship with Him as priority #1. He's always willing, ready, and waiting to talk with you.

Pray this prayer: Lord I come before You with a humble heart, realizing that although I’m single, I’m not alone. Your love comforts my heart and mind and in this very moment You know my every need, even before I do. Thank You for the strength and courage to be patient while I condition myself to receive the gift of another person as my spouse. I thank You that all my needs are taken care of in the powerful name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!

July 2009 Week #3
Make Room for Love

When I was younger, I often imagined what my life would be like if I had everything I truly desired; a nice home, a luxury car, plenty of money in the bank, and an attractive spouse who would love me real good. All of this was my fantasy; one I truly believed could be mine if I worked hard enough to achieve it. But I soon realized that the hard work I had in mind was nothing like the effort it requires to see your dreams come true.

Oh, I truly felt I had it all figured out, but what I didn't factor in was that place within me that was insidiously driving many of my actions. It was FEAR!!! Fear that I couldn't measure up to what it took to achieve the nice home, or the fancy car. I feared that I wasn't smart or attractive enough to attract the man I had envisioned to be my husband.

I had to ask myself, where does this fear within come from? Did it come from being afraid as a child? Was I born with this debilitating emotion, or did I cultivate it over time? What I came to realize is that it doesn't matter so much where it came from as much as it matters that we recognize it and call it what it is. A spade is a spade, and anything that keeps us from being our best for God...anything that keeps us from using our talents, gifts, and abilities for His kingdom...anything that separates us from what we want most....is fear.

My fear just seemed to pop up out of nowhere, often at the most inconvenient times. As soon as I would get close to realizing my dreams or would meet someone nice, this uncomfortable feeling would encapsulate me. It was like I'd just shut down inside. From the outside, I appeared to be just dandy. And to be perfectly honest, I felt pretty good too, but I knew that I felt fine because I had escaped confronting my fear yet again. I excused everything away, and rationalized my escape from discomfort as another triumph for me. I thought I had avoided failure, but I wasn't avoiding failure. I had avoided facing the fear.

Even as a mature Christian I allowed this feeling to overwhelm me at times. And as I begin to recognize it within myself, I could recognize it in other people too. I noticed it more and more in others and I thought that perhaps it was a gift of some kind. What was really going on is that I was attracting people who made it comfortable for me to continue hiding out in the fear.

This had to change. Something had to take place within me to get rid of this ugly emotion and I needed to begin attracting folks who would help me to come clean about what had held me back for so long. So I prayed to God and ask Him to help me triumph over my emotions, to allow me the strength to tackle anything and everything that didn't bring me closer to the example of his son, Jesus Christ. And He did. He did it by opening my eyes to the truth of what I was doing.

It wasn't as though I didn't believe in the sustainability of God's love. I just didn't believe the extent to which it could be at work within me. I didn't believe that I could walk, live, and abide in God's love and that doing so would bring me victory no matter the circumstance. And since I didn't believe that, it was hard for me to believe in the positive motives of others as well. I chose to see the negative because it was easier...safer.

You can't partner with this stuff in your heart. You have to get to a place where the well of good stuff within is overflowing and spilling into your every move; where the love of God just beams from your face. Some of us would swear that we're already at this place, and I thought I was there too, but fear masquerades masterfully.

The insecurities of not attaining what you want most can obscure your view of the truth. It's a lie that we live, because we constantly look to God and say "Father, why don't I have the love of my life?" without owning up to the fact that we haven't made room in our hearts to adequately give the kind of love that we want to receive. Without getting rid of the fear, we lack capacity...and lack is not what you want people responding to. Remember love is the truth and that's what you want folks to respond to. You want to do the work of your spiritual self, and that will always require that you let go of the fear.

I once heard an orator and civil rights activist say "Fear and God do not occupy the same space". I was instantly blown away by this statement. You see truth will do that for you, it will unveil a new dimension. I liken it to a popular movie where you could choose to take a blue pill and continue to live encapsulated by a lie, or you could take a red pill and a whole new world would be unveiled for you. Well life doesn't offer a pill that does this, but it offers something infinitely better. It offers us a more glorious wonderment of accepting our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Talk about a new reality! God's love, which is activated by the things we do through Christ, cancels out those negative things within that keep us attracting what we don't want, and keeps what we do want at bay. Yes, God's love has to be active in us. It has to be demonstrated...that's what cancels out the fear.

You see, fear takes up a huge amount of space in our consciousness. The biggest reason why letting go and surrendering it is so scary is because we don't think about how we'll replace what we've lost. 1 John 4:18 (The Message)says "17-18God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love."

This scripture tells us that "There is no room in love for fear." You don't get much plainer than that. A fearful life is one that isn't yet fully formed in love. It's a life that doesn't honor the gifts of God by being active in His love. It's a life undone...a life that isn't complete. We know that this kind of life runs counter to what God has envisioned for us, because Colossians 2:10 tells us that Jesus Christ has made us complete. Now our job is to identify and pull off the stuff that keeps us stuck, and then put on the stuff that sets us free!

The indwelling Holy Spirit will guide you to face your fears, recognize that. Don't run from it or instantly dismiss it. Think about what you are doing and how you are living in a very honest way. Let go of what keeps you tied to negativity and begin to crave more of God through Christ. Get to the place where you do everything with the intent and purpose to make more room for His love.

"Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."

"Make Room for Love" written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Times-Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2009. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Sundie Morning Sistas is dedicated to spiritual inspiration and encouragement through the Word of God.

June 2009 Week #2
Getting to the Core of You

Did you know that every person yearns to be who they truly are deep down within? This yearning is one of those things we are born with; the Heavenly Father made us that way. Some of us feel it, but we don’t know what it is or what to do with it; we don't know how to go about tapping into our core being. It can really drive you crazy, because nothing in life seems to fulfill you, and everything you touch reminds you that something within just isn’t quite right.

Your core being is said to be the real you, the person that really wants to express itself, but feels neglected, overlooked, and pushed further down. The odd thing about it is that we are the main ones to do this to ourselves. We deny who we are because we are hesitant to accept the reality that we are a part of something much greater. In order to discover the jewel at the core of our beings and make this earth experience truly meaningful, we’ve got to dig a little deeper and do a little cleaning up.

I once told a girlfriend of mine this and she said to me, “Girl, I’ve been through just about everything a person can go through…and I’m still here. How much more deeper do I need to get?” I said to her “I feel ya’, but until you get to the place where you understand that it isn’t about what you’ve been through but why you’ve been through it, then you’ve still got a ways to go.”

Sometimes, we go through things because we are more interested in what we can acquire than what we can give. We don't have all the things society says we should have in order to be successful. So we look at our lives and feel down in the dumps, because we are not measuring up to someone else's standard. Trying to do that always ends in misery; we see that time and time again.

God wants us to always do a check up from the neck up. He wants us to self-examine, but you can't use the world's tools to do it; use His. Through Christ, God gently and lovingly guides us into self reflection. He'll send a special person our way who isn't afraid to speak the truth to our faces, or He'll allow a situation to capture our attention so that we listen more deeply within.

Colossians 3:1-2 (The Message) says, "^1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective."

This verse is crazy, ridiculously good isn't it? The action is wherever Christ is! We have to see everything from his perspective, that includes the way we see ourselves. Through Him life can be amazing, because every day presents an opportunity to discover something new about our strength, power, and potential. Those are the treasures that rests at the core of our being. Those are the things that God is excited for us to find, but unless you do some digging, they'll go undiscovered.

Ask yourself some critical questions, and pick up on the cues and clues that God has planted all around you. You may think these few steps are not important, but you would be astonished to find out the millions of things that have gone wrong in your life simply because you refused or didn't have the guts to ask yourself the right questions. When you ask questions that reflect your readiness to hear the truth, your indwelling Holy Spirit will help you to discover what you may not have noticed or easily overlooked before.

It is very understandable to be uncomfortable with the idea of uncovering layers of the unknown. Many of us walk around day in and day out not knowing who we are, but we don't have to do this. Colossians 3:12 (The Message) says "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." What is it that you're looking for? How do you know you've tapped into something unique and different about who you are? The answer begins with understanding that you were handcrafted by the Master. You are chosen! Self discovery should be a spiritual journey that leads to compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Whatever or whoever we consider ourselves to be, these are the only things that will help us get to the core of who we were designed to be. They will strengthen us and allow us to continue growing in Christ.

The transformation into a new you has already begun, now comes the most challenging aspect that should be your life's work, which is to live from the inside out. Jesus Christ has given us an incredible advantage, because of his love, life, death, and resurrection, we have perfection on the inside of us. But you won't recognize just how beautiful and capable you truly are unless you know what's at the core of your existence. You've got to take an inventory and clean out all the old stuff. Do the digging and don't be afraid to go there, because of Christ, you'll love what you find.

"Getting to the Core of You" written by Kim Times, edited by Rev. Fran Times-Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2009. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Sundie Morning Sistas is dedicated to spiritual inspiration and encouragement through the Word of God.

February 2009 Week #3
What Will You Do with the Time You've Been Given?

We are so blessed to have seen another year come and go. As perilous as the times appear, we are extraordinarily privileged to be living in this space in history, where we have seen some of the most dynamic moves of God. He continues to oversee his children in a mighty way.

It's very common around the beginning of the year for people to say "this time I'm going to get it right. I'm determined to stick to my New Year's resolution." They feel thankful to have made it through yet another year, but there's also the feeling of disappointment that they perhaps didn't accomplish something they wanted to. Another year presents an opportunity to get it right. It brings an urge for a new sense of direction, a new purpose, and a fresh start to try and make it to the finish line. You may decide to pick up that book to read that you've put off for so long, or join the gym around the corner. Maybe you'll decide to finally go back to school and work on that degree. All of these things are wonderful ways to jumpstart the new year or to reprioritize your life in a direction that feels right to you.

One of the things that we seldom factor in as we take on new goals is the time we actually have to devote to them. We have 24 hours each day, and for most of us the days seem to begin and end in the same way. At least 8-10 hours of it are spent working. Another 6-8 hours are spent sleeping, and the rest is getting to and from work, taking care of ourselves and addressing the needs of our families. Before you have a chance to catch your breath the day is almost over.

You'll hear people say things like "where did the day go". It's true, the week can zip by like nothing. Another day, then another week, and before you know it the month has gone by without you taking notice of what went on in your life. Where did you spend all that time?

2Timothy 1:9 NLT
It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began--to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus.

I think the best way to approach any new goal is to first ask yourself "What am I doing with the time I've been GIVEN?" This question will put things in perspective because it causes us to see time as a gift from God, rather than an entitlement. He chose us to live a life that is holy, not because we deserved it, but because He purposed us to get some things done on this earth; we are an integral component to His plan. That is what makes this gift of time so important. And like all gifts from God, time must be used wisely.

God has given us an example to follow through the life of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. It is one that He hopes all humans will follow. By following the example of Christ, we have the ability to leave a footprint of love everywhere we go. Love is power, and walking it's path is what maximizes our resources of time and energy.

Each breath we take ought to be filled with purpose. Look at what it says in Psalm 37:6 and Proverbs 3:6

Psalm 37:5 NLT
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

If ever you need a blueprint for how to jumpstart your life or how to prioritize it, God's Word is it. As you look at your schedule and think about it honestly, you may not find the time to read the book you've been meaning to read, or to go back to school for that degree you think you need to move to the next level. But God has a purpose and a plan for your life. He knows where you need to be and when you need to be there. He has given you the example of Jesus Christ to ensure that you are always right on schedule. So before you unwrap God's gift of time, look at the instructions that He has given for its use. Take a look at 1Peter 4:

1 Peter 4:1-3 NKJV
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

Today is the start of a new day; it holds endless possibilities. God has given us a new beginning to get it right as soon as we wake up in the morning. What do you do with the time you've been given today? Do you repeat past mistakes? Do you wake up with a new song in your heart, or are you anxious about what the day holds? Are you thinking about the next big idea or the dream that's been tugging at your every waking moment? Whatever it is that you want to do, know that God has made a way for you to get it done, but remember that like Christ, we can no longer live the rest of our time on this earth chiefly concerned with its rewards. 1 Peter 4:3 hit it right on the money when it says that we've spent enough of our time doing that. It goes on to tell us to have an earnest and disciplined prayer life, and to continue to show a deep love for others. It then reminds us that God has given us gifts to serve and help others, and we ought to " Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ." (1Peter 4:11 NLT)

We have to constantly shift our thinking and the intents of our hearts and minds to God's agenda. Our desires can change sometimes from day to day or moment to moment, but God's Plan and Will never changes. It is about love, and love never fails. (1Corinthians 13:8) Every day we are given the opportunity to share in the legacy of Christ Jesus. Plant seeds of love and light in all you do and in so doing you will be astonished at how much you get done, and how much more time you'll have to pursue anything you wish.

Many Blessings,
Kim

February 2009 Week #1
Change is up to Us

Whoever would've thought it, that America would see its first African-American President in our day and time? Many of us have wondered if it was possible, but we don't have to wonder anymore; President Obama has made his appearance. The media says that the world has a love affair with our new President, and why not. Newness is in the air. It's a new era and a new place in time that we thought we would never see. I'm so awesomely thankful to be alive, and well, to see it for myself.

The Inauguration was such a time of elation and excitement. Words cannot express the level of joy so many Americans felt on that cold January 20th. For one day, over 2 million Americans came together with change in their hearts and minds. Happiness gleamed from the face of nearly everyone, as Black, White, Hispanic, Asian... all races of people converged on the capitol city and braved the sub-freezing temperatures just to see one man to see history in the making. I don't think I can recall ever witnessing such a combustion of affection and unity amongst a group so large, and it was all at the helm of one man; a man that carries the weight of the world on his shoulders for the sake of this country. But I couldn't help but wonder also....would these same people meet, two million strong, with such adoration and passion for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

If 2 million people came together for one day to praise the Lord, imagine how our world would change, even for that moment. Why... we would probably witness a miracle the likes of which we've never seen.

The platform of "change" works. We know that because Jesus Christ came up with it. He has been promising change for over two thousand years and delivered on that promise 100% of the time. And none of us have ever seen or touched him. People need to feel connected to someone they CAN see, touch, and hear, I get that. They want instant gratification, but our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has given us something far greater.

He said in John 10:10 (NKJV), "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Jesus Christ made it available for us to have a more than abundant life. He made it possible for us to experience the kind of joy that we felt on Inauguration Day, and we must never forget that.

His miracles and wonders are too numerous to count, feeding of five thousand with 5 loaves of bread and two fish; healing of the blind, the deaf, and the demon possessed; his amazing resurrection. It seems almost insulting to mention these few things because his catalog of good works is so extensive and awesome, that mere words would not do them justice. He did these things because he was willing and able, and because he loved us. It is that love that should burn in our hearts all the time, and it should inspire us to embrace more change with the same sense of faith that we have recently demonstrated.

Our President's intellect and sense of fairness should be admired. He captured our hearts and elicited our faith in him. That faith was backed by our choice to move ourselves off our couches, out of the comfort of our homes, and down to the poles to vote. We applied faith, backed it with action, and then trusted and believed. Imagine what else is possible.

Remember, Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. She was only 13 years of age when she literally took God at His word. When she was approached by the angel, Gabriel, the Word tells us that she was confused and disturbed. She couldn't imagine being pregnant, knowing that she was a virgin. But sure enough, she finally trusted and believed. No one could do this for her. Mary had to believe for herself that she would give birth to the Son of the Most High. She had to trust that she was blessed and highly favored. It was her faith in the Word of God that made the promise of our Heavenly Father a reality.

Faith is an amazing thing, and we needn't think that our job is over simply because the election is. It is just the beginning, and it will take more than 2 million people to get it done. God is calling upon all of us who know what faith is all about, who know what it is to pray and have patience, to continue what many will abandon in the days ahead. Those who favor instant gratification sour quickly, and it will be left to those of us who love the Lord to remind folks that joy is an enduring reality. And we can accomplish many more wonderful things if we pray together and have faith in the fact that the choice to make change happen has always been up to us.

John 6:51(NLT)
I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live."

America has made history in electing our first African American president. Some will undoubtedly see him as a savior, expecting him to make right was has been wrong for so long in our country. But Jesus Christ came to save the world. He gave his life so that we could live, because he knew God's plan for humankind and purposed to do his part to fulfill it. Let us do our part too. Let us pray for our president and his family, for our country, and for the world. Let us not forget the joy of seeing him being sworn in, but remember that it is just a precursor of what's to come. And in all things, in spite of troubling economic times, in spite of wars, remember to look to Jesus, "the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

Many Blessings,
Kim

January 2009 Week #3
Single Sistas, Don’t Miss Your Blessing

Let’s face it; there are millions of women out there searching for Mr. Right. And it’s not only single Christian women who are looking to marry, but its women of every religion, race, and background who are looking to snag a good man of ANY religion, race, and background. They are willing to go the distance and use any means necessary to secure a warm body.

Mainstream media is dominated with reality dating TV shows, internet dating, speed-dating…you name it. With the plethora of opportunities for partnering up, one might think that there’s no reason why any woman should be single who didn’t want to be. But if you're reading this, you are no ordinary woman; neither would you be searching for an ordinary man. You want the absolute best that God has for you, and I can't blame you. After all, we’re God's ambassadors, divinely created in His own image. We were carved from His hands and we are His masterpieces.

Now I don't profess to be an expert on the subject of being single, nor do I have all the answers for single women on how to believe God for a mate. What I do know is what works when you have prioritized your relationship with God and are diligently seeking Him in everything.

In Genesis, God created Eve to be a help-mate for Adam. They both complimented each other, as God intended that they should. Genesis 2:22 says “And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” God lovingly presented Eve to Adam, and they became one. He made sure that neither one of them were alone. Now just imagine how God sees us, His daughters. He loves us just as much as He loved Adam and Eve. He will make certain that we aren't left out of the loop of blessings either, especially when it comes to marrying a Godly spouse.

God desires to see us married, because He designed the institution of marriage to demonstrate the relationship between Christ and the body, which is the church. The church is often called “The Bride of Christ” because of the unity that should exist between us and him. We can learn so much about the love of God through our spouses, just as He planned.

Is finding a mate going to be easy? No, it’s not. You have to be very careful about who you share your time with. It is so important to partner with a man who honors your walk with God; therefore you can't play Russian roulette with your life. It’s going to take faith and patience in Gods ability to carry out what He has promised.

Mark 11:23-24 KJV
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].

Jesus Christ told us that if we say to this mountain, "be lifted up and thrown into the sea", that it will happen. But here’s the thing, you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.

Having doubt in our hearts is where many of us fall off the wagon. None of us will own up to it. We think we’re believing and trusting God just fine. Well, I know of a few sistafriends who have made “doubting” a habit pattern, and they don’t even realize it. Let me explain:

Gail was out of the dating scene since her divorce six years ago. One of her greatest desires has been to partner with a Godly man, and in doing so she has made a pretty extensive prayer list on what she requires in her mate. He must be a Christian, educated, tall, attractive, and financially stable to name a few. Recently she was introduced to a man who, from another single woman's vantage point, seemed to be pretty close to everything she had on her list…except for one thing, He was short.

You probably heard a million stories like this; he’s too short, too tall, too skinny, too fat, too broke, and doesn’t have anything significant to bring to the table. One would argue that sistas have a right to choose not to settle for anything less than what they want. But listen, none of us are perfect. As women, we come to the table with just as much brokenness and baggage as any man. When it comes to God’s will and divine agenda for our lives, we really do have to humble ourselves and allow Him to make the presentation.

An older sista in the Lord once told me “like who like you!” I got such a kick out of that. It’s a very simplistic approach to dating, isn’t it? But things are just not that simple. God created this thing within us called “attraction”. We have preferences, and it is ok to stick by them, but this is the area where doubt creeps in the picture.

You see, odds are that you will meet someone who may be just shy of what you desire, and the attraction isn’t there. So instead of communicating with this “would be” beau, perhaps you kick him to the curb with a quickness. You shun his advances, don’t answer his calls, and avoid seeing him all together. Sistas, sometimes doing this can hinder your efforts to partner, and set you back tremendously. Why? Because it reeks of doubt, that is why.

Suppose a man lets you know that he likes you in a romantic way, and you do not feel the same. You owe it to God and to your faith to think about the possibility that you might be the only beckon of light this man may ever see? You have a responsibility to exemplify the example of Jesus Christ, to be compassionate, kind, and honest. If you immediately dismiss him, it means that you doubt the love of God in your heart; you doubt the power of God’s love to minister through you in a way that may bring him to salvation. If he rejects your witness...so be it, but you should be sure to let your light shine.

John 12:32 KJV
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.

You and I do not do the drawing. The love of Christ does the drawing. Our charge is to lift him up by witnessing the good news of his life, death, and resurrection. You should expect that people will come to you for seemingly all kinds of reasons, but never be fooled. It is the love of God in Christ that does the drawing. People cannot help but be attracted to it. So give them what they want; feed them the Word by your example of Christ.

We must always remember that God gives us opportunities to position ourselves to be blessed. Even if the man takes a liking to you and you are in no way attracted to him, he may be your opportunity to position yourself closer to the blessing of your future husband. You are obligated to tell him about your faith, and to decline his advances in a way that displays the love of God in your heart.

Not only is God looking at how you handle these kinds of situations, but the devil is looking too. If you fail to demonstrate the love of God, then you fail to demonstrate your readiness to partner. The devil loves this, because he can continue to keep your blessing at bay.

So be careful that you don’t miss your blessing just because the one who likes you isn’t the one you like, so to speak. We must always remember to allow our Heavenly Father the room to move in any given situation. Putting limitations on how God will bless you with a mate can be a red flag that you aren’t ready for one.

Trust and never doubt in Gods ability to take care of presenting you with the man that will love you and treat you like the queen you deserve to be. Whatever your prerequisites for marriage, whether it’s the man's height, weight, educational background or even racial ethnicity, allow God the room to move in your situation, and never miss an opportunity to get blessed by being a blessing. Remember, in the words of Reverend Fran, "If you limit what God will do for you, you limit what God can do in you".

Much Love,
Sista Kim

December 2008 Week #1
The Spotlight Is On You

You may not realize this, but because you profess to be a Christian, the spotlight is on you more often than you think. No matter what circumstances arise, we have an obligation to respond with the love of Christ. Although each of us may go about this a little differently, there are some very telling signs that let others know whether we have truly put on the love of Christ in our hearts. What do you do when no one is looking? When an opportunity to do a good deed is presented to you, how do you respond? The answers to these questions should always be in the forefront of every believers mind.

All of us should want to prove to God and others who we are, and how far we’ve come from who we use to be. And make no mistake about it, life insures that we are constantly confronted with situations that will bear that out. We endure and overcome challenges that will speak loudly about what we stand for as children of the Most High God. We are representatives for Him and ambassadors for Christ. The job requires that we are attentive to the task, because others are watching to see how God works through us. For instance, I know of a Christian woman who is much admired in her workplace for her faith. She has even been known on occasion to witness to co-workers, and she minces no words about what she believes when asked. Her colleagues are very respectful. They understand that she cannot participate in office activities that might go against her faith, but imagine their surprise when one day she refused to make a monetary contribution to assist a co-worker who was a friend in need.

When she was asked to contribute, she shook her head in a very disapproving way and indicated that she wanted no part in what her officemates had chosen to do. There is no doubt that she had her reasons, but she also had an obligation to handle this in a way that conveyed her love of Christ, particularly when she had always so passionately professed it. Now, we all have a right to our own opinions and the right to decide how we spend our money, but we have to be careful that we don’t overlook an opportunity to do good.

What is the Christian thing to do? That question must always be on our minds. Matthew 5:16 (KJV) says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” As the Body of Christ, we are to be his examples. We should uphold the standard he set. That standard is a witness to unbelievers on how to live and how to show love to others. Our love for him is the brightest light in the universe. We are to let it shine so that others can see it and give God the glory. If we are well intentioned and have a heart to please Him, any opportunity to do a good deed is a chance to show forth God’s love in the earth.

There are more people who have chosen to ignore God’s way than those who have chosen to follow it. Unfortunately, there are even swarms of Christians who have not been taught how to practice and show love. Many of us continue to follow after the ways of the world! We rejoice in the Lord on Sunday, but do very little after that to prove His love. Don’t let this be said of you.

If you are one of God's disciples, others will look at your life with scrutiny. Don’t think for one moment that you don’t have what it takes to meet their expectations. You do! They are not looking for you to be perfect; they are looking for Christ. It isn’t about you, but the Christ that you allow to shine forth. We have the ability to affect change for God's Kingdom. Everyday there are people with whom we come in contact that will only see the love of God through us. We are the closest thing to heaven they will ever see on this earth. So, from the moment you rise each morning, take heart to be your best for God, and remember….the spotlight may be on you.

Peace and Blessings,
Kim

November 2008 Week #3
Is Sin Getting In Your Way?

The book of Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden. Eve was subtly seduced by the adversary into eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of life. God had specifically told Adam in Genesis 2:17, "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Not only would Adam and Eve die physically, but their disobedience would cause them to die a spiritual death as well.

With the addition of just one word, the adversary managed to convince Eve to accept his word over the instruction she and Adam had received from God. They had been given the definitive word on the subject of the tree of knowledge, but they chose to discount it. When we're not self-motivated to be on point with God’s plan for our lives, it doesn't take much to get us to slip up and fall off the track. We need to understand that the adversary roams the earth looking for an opportunity to do just that--to push us off the path to purpose so that we forget who we are in Christ. He wants to convince you that God’s Word isn’t true, but we cannot allow that to happen.

There is a wonderful gospel song that tells us that this world isn’t our home…we are just passing through. It is easy to forget that sometimes. We become so consumed with what is happening in the world that we begin to believe that society or Hollywood sets the standard by which we ought to live and succeed. This belief will leave us overwhelmingly unfulfilled and spiritually bankrupt; it leads to destruction. God has not changed, neither does He change. His Word must be the standard by which we live and have our being.

Colossians 2:20 says that “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world.” God has set us free from the world’s entanglements and addictions, yet we continue to tie ourselves to them. This is living in sin, and it is so destructive for Christians because it makes it impossible to maintain a healthy spiritual connection to our Heavenly Father.

God gave the children of Israel a very powerful and straightforward message in Deuteronomy 8:11-20 NIV:

11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.

God is telling us to stand guard against arrogance and pride so that we do not forget from whence cometh our help. We can do nothing of our own strength. Our strength comes from Him. Our worlds begin to crumble the moment we forget that.

You may think to yourself, “…but I never forget what God has done for me. I know He is the source of my strength.” Well the proof is in the pudding. The only way that any of us can truthfully say that we never forget the goodness of God is by living in such a way that we don’t slip up and follow the track that Adam and Eve did. They had a very intimate relationship with God…walked and talked with Him everyday, yet when they were told something different by the devil they took his word over God’s Word.

Colossians 2:9 NLT
Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world,* and not from Christ.

Those who are of the devil are trying very hard to convince us that what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right. Don’t buy into it. Sin is sin, and sin is wrong. It goes against the very nature of God. It represents the exact opposite of what He wants for us. Choosing to indulge it, live in it, and stay in it represents a distrust of God’s Word.

In Deuteronomy 8:16 (NIV) it says that God gave the Israelites manna from heaven while they were in the wilderness. He did it to humble them and to test them so that “in the end it might go well with you.” Now God knew who would stand and who wouldn’t. He knows everything there is to know about all of us, but it is so awesomely important that we know what we are made of. We have to know what it is to walk out there to the edge of the cliff and learn through faith and confidence that God will keep our feet from falling. We have to understand firsthand that when the chips are down, our walk with God through Christ does not have to go down with them.

Sin is not usually wrapped in an ugly package. It has all the bells and whistles of grandeur and luxury. The presentation can be very enticing, but once opened the contents have "Warning, Dangerous, and Hazardous to Your Health" written all over them. Don't be fooled. A designer wrapped package of sin is the best that the devil has to offer, but ohhh… it isn't a gift. There is a definite price to pay for it.

Moses understood the ramifications of making the wrong choices and the blessings of making the right ones. Look at what it says about him in Hebrew 11:25: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” He wasn't interested in the temporary "feel good" of sin. He knew that the promises of God hinge on love, light, peace, liberty, truth, and faith. I prefer God’s way any day, and if you’ll stay anchored in Christ and be patient and prayerful, you’ll see that His way always works out to our supreme benefit.

Don’t allow sin to get in the way of your relationship with God and block what He has for you. Understand that God requires a commitment from you that is at the highest level of what you can give. Only He knows the full extent of what that level is, but you can rest assure that before you leave this earth you will have some idea about it yourself.

Peace and Blessings,
Kim

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

November 2008 Week #2
This is Your Moment-Make that last Push

If we’ve learned nothing else from this past election, we have certainly been given an up-close and personal view of what it is to persevere and reap the rewards of doing so. Anything worth having in life is worth fighting for, especially when you're expecting blessings of monumental proportions. If you are a seasoned or shall I say “veteran” Christian, you know exactly what the fight feels like and looks like. You know that you’ve got to bring your “A” game everyday to win the race. Why is that do you wonder? Why is it that born again Christians have to fight so hard and seemingly so long for what they desire?

I believe it has everything to do with what God expects from us. He has given us the precious gift of his Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He paid the price for it all, so the fight is over, but there’s another battle waging in our minds. That battle really starts to rumble when the fight spills over into our hearts. Victory is eminent for those who love the Lord, but not only is it achieved when we step into that place of God’s overflow, but when we stand more strongly anchored in the spirit as well.

Have you ever been in a marathon or a relay race? If you have you understand that you must prepare yourself mentally as well as physically to be in shape to compete. It takes weeks, sometimes months to condition the body for such a task. Conditioning is the key! Life beckons us to constantly reprioritize and refocus, so that we keep our eyes on the mark. That mark is always two-fold. One aspect of it is spiritual growth, and the other is the blessings we so earnestly desire.

Galatians 6:9 says “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” We have to cut out the shenanigans and realize what it takes to be triumphant. This verse tells us not to be weary in doing good things. Let’s break that down a bit, shall we. Now some folks will fix their minds to think that God expects them to be constantly energized and to never get tired. That isn’t exactly realistic.

Exodus 31:17 KJV

16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant.17 It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

God commanded the Israelites to remember the Sabbath and observe to keep it as a day of rest. Doing so would be a lasting sign of the covenant He had with them, for He made heaven and earth in six days, and then rested on the seventh day and was refreshed. How about that! God says that He was “refreshed”. He gave His absolute all for us throughout the six days, but on that seventh day He took a chill pill to recalibrate. Of course God doesn’t need any recouping time, but He was showing us the principle and pattern that He Himself established. It is to rest so that we can be refreshed.

You see God knows that we will get tired, but He also expects that we will be strategic about how we rest so that we don’t get down-trodden and weary to the point of giving up or giving in. In order for you and me to be conditioned for victory we have to know that the race can potentially exhaust us if we are not careful. It can get us to the point where we don’t even think that what we were fighting for is worth it any more. That is one of the enemy’s biggest tricks. You are worth every good thing that you can possibly imagine, so never stop fighting to achieve it. We have to keep running and pushing ourselves to get to the finish line; not while we are gasping for air and about to tip over, but with confidence that we have an infinite source of strength through God.

Again, the victory is ours through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and we are well conditioned to run the race. Our spirit knows this, but sometimes our minds and hearts get the information a little late. Here, we can see the real benefit of rest. It is to take the time to pray, meditate, and clear our minds and hearts of all the turmoil and baggage, so that we can be refreshed by the Holy Spirit. Rest allows you to think and clean out the clutter to hear God’s directives and receive some well deserved spiritual nourishment.

This is your moment!!! There is no doubt about it. Your season is here and your harvest is ready to be reaped. It isn’t God’s will that you get to the finish line and collapse. You are to get there and have plenty of energy to leap for joy! Use your time wisely, rest, pray often, and stay conditioned. If you’ll do this—when the time comes you won’t be weary, but refreshed and more than able to seize your moment and make that last push over the finish line to victory.

Peace and Blessings,
Kim

November 2008 Week #1

“Be patient ...God heard you the first time!!!”

“Be patient ...God heard you the first time!!!” I know you may have heard this from someone in your life regarding an unanswered prayer or a blessing. You constantly go before God with questions asking "Where are you, do you hear me"? You think maybe you didn't pray right the first time or maybe you weren't clear enough, so you go to the Lord again. This time with a little bit more sweat and tears….a little more heart than before in hopes that this last prayer will get through. Well, in case you're still waiting....Be patient, God heard you the first time. It’s your faith that needs a little bit of tweaking. You need to water that seed of faith and allow it to grow deep enough to take root in your heart. You must trust in what God promised in His Word to do IN you and FOR your life. Be patient...he heard you the first time!!!

I recently had a conversation with a single Christian brotha. He spoke very candidly about the struggles he was having. His financial woes, a failing relationship, along with a dead-end job were all taking a toll. His dreams and aspirations seem to fade with each passing day. He questioned his Christianity and his ability to choose the right path for his life. He felt that his prayers for a breakthrough were not going to be answered. “The choice to be a Christian-is it worth it? What’s the gain? Does God really answer prayer, Kim? Should I continue to surrender all when it seems as though there's nothing left to let go of.” He asked.

I truly understood his frustration, life causes us to face gut-wrenching circumstances and sometimes life altering moments where you need to see God make an indisputable appearance. Oh He most definitely shows up. God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We are His children and He will never leave us nor forsake us in any situation; on this we can rest assure. But here’s the thing, the requests we make with our mouths are not necessarily the ones we make with our hearts.

Hebrews 4:2 (KJV)

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].

Our desire to be blessed must be matched by our faith. Faith is the outward manifestation of what we believe inwardly—in the deepest part of our hearts. 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us that the eyes of the Lord roam the earth looking for an opportunity to show His strength towards those whose hearts are loyal towards Him. God searches our hearts, not to put us down or make us feel unworthy, but to show us how to be the best we can be.

God moves by the power of His love. It is this power that causes things to change and flow in a positive direction. He speaks love and He gave us the Holy Spirit so that we could speak it too. We always have His full attention, but we must know that we have to speak His language, and when He listens to our hearts that is exactly what He expects to hear.

John 16:23-24 says whatever you ask the Father in the name of Jesus Christ He will give it to you. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full! Jesus Christ said we have the right to ask anything of our Heavenly Father, but our faith must be the faith of Jesus Christ; a faith that seeks to please God first and demonstrate His brand of love in the earth. God will most assuredly give us the desires of our hearts, that’s why it is so awesomely important that we examine what’s in them before, during, and after we approach the throne.

Perhaps we haven’t been faithful to tithe. Maybe we are holding on to past hurts, or past grudges. It could be that we haven’t been as kind as we should have been, or we continue to indulge in sexual sin. Whatever it is that is holding us back, we need to seek forgiveness, repent, and reprioritize our relationship with God. Not doing so causes us to double talk; to say one thing and mean another.

Don’t worry! When God comes through for you it is going to be everything you thought it could be and more, for Ephesians 3:20 says He will do exceeding abundantly above what we ask or think. If the message of our mouths isn’t the message of our hearts, God will know it, and He will help us get in harmony so that our mouths and hearts speak the same thing. He will do this because He doesn’t want anything to get in the way of our blessing. So if you feel God isn’t listening, He is. Even though you may not feel it, He is at work within your soul. Begin to pray to understand what He is doing and be patient...God heard you the first time!!!

Peace and Blessings,
Kim

Sistas,

I read an article the other day by a seemingly intelligent, sophisticated black man. In his article, he questioned why black women found it so easy to have sex with men before getting to know them. He illustrated his experiences as examples of how black women didn't take the time to love themselves. They were more interested in the kind of car he drove and his occupation than becoming familiar with his character and his soul. Once the women felt or heard what they wanted to hear, falling into bed was relatively easy. Many questions about the single black woman plagued this gentleman, and as I continued to read the article, I couldn't help but agree with many of his points.

Often we think that promiscuous sex will help to take the sting of loneliness away, but in essence, it only prolongs the loneliness even more. It buys us a little more time to escape the emotional pain of dealing with our fears and insecurities. The road to finding the truth of who we are is one less traveled. It is often a long and sometimes agonizing journey, but travel it we must, because the alternative is an existence void of truth, purpose, and love.

The goal for most of us is universal. It is to summon a healthy and deep reservoir of unconditional love for our creator, ourselves, and others. We will never see ourselves as precious pearls worth waiting for, if we are not willing to extend that same patience to the work of our own souls.

When I was growing up, there was love from strong women of God all around me, women who taught me how to be a survivor. I was taught to be independent, and never to depend solely on one person for anything. My real-life guardian angels were preparing me to be self-sufficient in the wait. They wanted me to know how to take care of my household, so that I would not do what they shunned the most, “shacking up”.

Although a few aspects of my “self-sufficency” lessons were flawed, I am so incredibly grateful that most of them were built on a solid foundation of faith and belief in the Word of God. I made mistakes along the way, but I’m thankful that I had enough sense to see the errors of my ways and make some changes. Today, I’m single, saved, and secure. It isn’t my intention to wait year after year for Mr. Right, but to continue to condition my mind, heart, and soul so that very soon, I will begin a new chapter of my life as a devoted and Godly wife.

With every breath, I am attracting someone who equals my capacity to love. How do I know that? Because I honor my relationship with God, and I know He is faithful to reward that commitment. Celibacy is a state of mind, a state of being, a decision made to honor oneself and one’s relationship with God. It is a vow that I have made, and one that I hope all single Christians will make. Sometimes I hear the question, "Girl how in the world do you do it". Of course, there are days when I ask myself, "Lord how much longer do I have to wait", but the answer is never far from me. I would rather wait a lifetime than cast my pearls to someone undeserving.

Sex with any man other than your husband is one of the greatest tricks from hell. The act alone sets you back in ways you can't even imagine. You probably won’t realize the impact of it until you witness blessings begin to pass you by.

Even if we didn't have anyone to personally teach us how to treat ourselves, we can always learn from the experiences of others. I look forward to getting married again, sharing my life with a man who understands my worth, and I hope you do as well. I encourage you to take the time to get to know yourself and to love the person staring back at you in the mirror. Don't be another notch on someone’s belt. Before you even consider a relationship, be sure that you are well acquainted with your inner treasure. How we treat our bodies reflects the deep beliefs of how we truly view ourselves. Your body is a gift from God, a treasure, a beautiful vessel that is well worth the wait, no matter the cost.

Blessings,
KIM

Defining You!

Building a Strong Foundation

Choose Carefully!

The Thief--Don’t Let Him Catch You Sleeping

Resist the Temptation!

Get Ready to Inhale Matrimony and Exhale Singleness!

Are You Moving In the Right Direction?

February 2009 Week #1 Change is up to Us

January 2009 Week #3 Single Sistas, Don’t Miss Your Blessing

February 2009 Week #1
Change is up to Us

January 2009 Week #3
Single Sistas, Don’t Miss Your Blessing