Encouraged by God's Word

Archive for March, 2009

Hello Family,

As I started writing these messages, I’ve gotten some wonderful responses. A lot of people have shared some things with me that let’s me know that they are being blessed.

Most of the comments I receive are just a word of thanks for what I have written. Some of the comments are ones where people say that they were just discussing that particular topic with someone recently. And then there is my favorite comment about how this message was “right on time.”

Although most of what I receive is uplifting or it confirms something that others are going through, there have been comments on how some people have had, or are having, struggles in different areas of their lives.

Once I read one of these comments, I respond if solicited and I ask God to lead me. But regardless of what happens after that, I always end up with a spirit of thanksgiving. I’m thankful because I’m reminded that there is always someone out there who is going through something worse than I am.

And despite what people look like on the outside, you never know what they are feeling unless you walk in their shoes.

Is everyday a day of Thanksgiving for you?

1Thessalonians 5:18 says In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

To be in God’s perfect will, we are to follow his commands and in His word it clearly states that in everything we should give thanks.

We should thank Him for our jobs because it provides income in a time when the economy is in the pits. We should thank Him for our children although they might be messing up in school because at least they’re in school and they haven’t dropped out. And we should thank Him for our family members who sometimes get on our nerves because there are some people who have lost loved ones never to see them again.

I think it’s hard for us to give thanks because we tend to dwell on the past and the bad things that have happened. When we dwell, we get stuck thinking about the bad as opposed to celebrating the good.

Are you dwelling in the past? If so, STOP right now. Don’t get caught up in everything that went wrong; thank God for everything that went right.

For the past 13 years, I’ve worked with youth and some of their fathers are dead, incarcerated, drug abusers or just out of the house. Some of them have mothers who are alcoholics, junkies, have abusive boyfriends in the house or living a life in the streets. Some kids have people who take advantage of them such as steal their money from their summer jobs to sexually abusing them.

I even had one young man tell me his friend was shot in the head while the boy was standing right next to him so when I hear these stories, all I can do is be grateful for what God has done for me. I CAN’T AND WON’T COMPLAIN because my childhood was perfect compared to what these young people go through.

So the next time you get a scratch on your $65,000 automobile, know that there is someone who’s roach infested, two bedroom apartment (their home) with 10 people living in it is nowhere near as nice as your car or SUV (your transportation).

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!

Hello Family,

Have ever been at home and a family member asks you to help them out with something and you immediately do it and forget about what you were originally working on?

Or what about at work and a manager or coworker asks you to do something and you jump right on it knowing that you were in the middle of something else?

For me, that is the norm. I easily get sidetracked and start on one thing when I haven’t finished the first task.

When you jump from task to task you spread yourself thin and you’re not as effective as you should be. It’s hard to be successful at something when you’re not focused on a task and you’re moving from one thing to another.

Acts 20:24 says However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. (NIV)

What task has the Lord given you that you haven’t completed? Has he commanded you to submit to Him? Has he told you to minister to others? Has he led you to lead others?

Your life is nothing without completing the task the Lord has given you. It’s your destiny, your calling, and if you are not living according to what God placed you on this earth to do, you’re wasting time. Time that could be used to minister to others.

We all have busy lives and in life there are many distractions but there is also a focus that we all should have in order to fulfill our destiny in Christ Jesus. That focus should be testifying about God’s grace. Yes, we should always let others know what God has done for us and how He has bestowed His grace upon us because in spite of your sins, God has been good to you.

You know how I know? Because you’re able to sit in front of a computer in the luxury of your home and read this, you have the resources and access to technology, you have your eye sight and you have the right mind to comprehend what I’m saying. Not everyone is as fortunate as you so yes, without a doubt, God has been graceful to you and allowed you these things.

So as you go about your day, and the rest of your life, become a taskmaster and be diligent in the task that the Lord has given you.

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!

Hello Family,

Don’t you just love being around those predictable people? Regardless of what you or anyone says; no matter what the outcome is going to be; no matter how bad it’s going to get; no matter how crazy it may sound; these folks are going to do what they do because they are predictable.

These are the people who we always have a problem with and complain about. They’ve had certain habits in the past and they have shown that they are not going to change anytime soon.

When they do what they always do, why do you get upset? Ever since you’ve known them, they’ve been that way. They are always late, they always let the deadline pass, they always say they’re going to do something and never do it or they always say they can handle it and in the end you have to fix it.

But what happens when they perform as usual and don’t come through? You get mad, upset, pissed off, ticked off, fired up, steamed, etc., etc., etc. You complain!

Are you a person who steps up and makes things happen or are you a complainer?

Philippians 2:14 says Do all things without complaining and disputing.

The word says we should do ALL things without complaining and disputing. Not some, not a few, not most of them, not a couple, but ALL things. Not just the good, but ALL things. Not just the things that make us happy, but ALL things.

You know how certain people are so why are you complaining and disputing? Why are you going through the grief and pain? Why are you engaging in argument after argument with an individual who is set in their ways?

You see, I think some of us love some form of misery in our own sick little way. Think about it, if you know that a certain person has these habits and they are just as predictable as the sun rising in the east and settling in the west, then why do you complain when they do what they do when they do it?

And don’t tell me you’re trying to work on them. They didn’t ask you to work on them so why do you believe that’s what they want? As far as they are concerned, everything is cool with them. You’re the one with the problem.

You can’t worry about them and you can’t control them. You have to do what you have to do and if that means making things happen on your own then do it.

Now I’m not saying to totally dismiss those around you who have these habits but here’s an example or what I’ m talking about.

If your homeboy is ALWAYS late when it’s time to go somewhere, drive separate cars and tell him you’ll meet him there. This way you can do your thing and he can do his thing and you’re not the one who is complaining and disputing because you have to wait on him.

So the next time you’re faced with a situation where you know what the other person is going to do, don’t complain and dispute about it. Just make things happen.

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!

Hello Friends,

No matter how “good” we are, we all have had our moments of weakness. There have been times when we try to do right and there is something that makes us stumble. We try to live holy and then we sin. Our vices are always somewhere hanging out in our neighborhood.

Because we are human and not perfect, we will always make mistakes. There was only one person who was perfect and that is who we strive to be like.

Now although we’re not perfect, we still have control over what we do and how we act. It’s very important to understand this because the wicked are always watching.

Yeah, as a righteous man or woman there are individuals who would love to see you mess up. They are watching to see how you act, talk and treat others. They want to know if you are different or just like they are.

The wicked feel as though you are not special and you are just like them although we know that’s not correct. We know that the righteous man does fall but he gets back up. He doesn’t stay in his state of sin.

Are you sitting in a state of sin in the presence of the wicked?

Proverbs 25:26 says A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

A righteous man is someone who is right with God; he is set apart from others. A righteous man has the ability to overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Water (the spring and well) represents life and when the wicked see a righteous man fall, they see his life as murky, dark, polluted and dirty. His life is not clean to them. His life appears to be the same as theirs.

Now I know that throughout your day you have to encounter some wicked people. It’s inevitable. But what is preventable is you voluntarily hanging out with the wicked and allowing yourself to be in a situation where you falter before them.

Now what are some of the things that make you falter?

Only you and God know and that’s why it’s critical that you don’t make provisions for sin. Don’t allow yourself to be put in a situation where you falter in the presence of the wicked.

Keep your head up, be strong and most importantly, rely on Jesus to bring you out.

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!

Hello Friends,

Have you ever been caught up in some madness that someone else instigated? Or what about being in a conflict with someone all because some fool decided to stir things up? That’s right, I called them a fool. That’s biblical!

I know I’ve had my share of dealing with foolish people. There are the fools who lie on you. There are the fools who try to disgrace you. And then there are the fools who try to turn you against other people.

I had a former coworker spread lies on me once. There was a community service project that he worked on that was a total failure and he went around telling other coworkers that I forced him to do it. The truth was I didn’t think it was a good idea and he said that it would be successful.

Although he tried to make me look bad, it backfired. The same people he went to tell those lies to knew what kind of person he was so his words feel on deaf ears.

How many fools have you dealt with lately? Do you encounter a lot of fools? If you haven’t dealt with any fools lately, maybe you’re the fool.

Proverbs 20:3 says It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel.

A fool is a person lacking in judgment or good sense. He’s simple, mischievous, and ill-behaved. He’s about causing evil.

It is so easy for a fool to start a quarrel. And we’re not talking about some clever, conniving gifted person; the word says any fool can do it. It doesn’t take any skill, intelligence, knowledge, or brain power. Any fool will do!

Most people don’t want to be known as a fool but their behavior says something else. They start the talks that get people fighting. They start the rumors that cause relationships to dissolve. They are the ones who keep all of the madness going on and on and on.

The question is “Are you a fool or an honorable man?“

To be honorable means to be consistent with an untarnished reputation.

To be praiseworthy. To be characterized by integrity. Does your name and honor go together? As a child of God it should.

In order to be an honorable person, you must first honor Jesus by accepting who He is and the sacrifice He has made for you, then you will have the power and authority to put away foolish behaviors.

Honor God in all that you do and you definitely won’t be mistaken for a fool.

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!