Make Time!

Genesis 2

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Please take the time to go back and read Genesis 1 in its entirety.

It’s important that we take time to rest. Seeing that even our Father which art in Heaven rested from all His creation. We too should take time to simply rest?

We live in a day and time where everything is hustle and bustle. Every day is something that has to be done.  The enemy has a way of making us feel like the walls are closing in on us. Like we are always pressed for time. Or that we can’t take a break because bills still need to be paid. Families are torn apart because husbands don’t spend the necessary time with their wives and vice verse. As well as children feeling neglected (turning to outside sources) because parents are constantly working with the mindset of “I have to provide” but at what cost?

Matthew 6:31-34

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Grab and go: Husbands make time for your wives, and wives make time for your husbands. It might be a sacrifice to put off washing the car or taking care of the lawn or ladies given up your hair or nail apt.( whatever it is your accustom to doing). Don’t neglect the gift God has given you; spend time with your bride/groom. Parents likewise spend time with your children. Let them see your love for them through your sacrifice to spend time with them. Dads throw a baseball with your sons. Moms take your daughters to a movie. Something to show them you care. If you don’t have a spouse or children, then take time for yourself. Take a day and hit the spa, and relax. Take time to rest, its needed. Psalms 16:9

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Ministry donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

I cried out thrice !!

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

            What if you had your way all the time? What if you were never troubled by anything? Would you still seek after God so fervently? To be honest probably not. Funny how God is the first person we turn to when the chips are down but the last on our to-do list when the chips are up.

            For me I struggle with enjoying the blessings of God. I never want to overdue anything that could cause me to lose sight of Him. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to be in lack. But looking back I spent so much time on my face in prayer, so much time in total worship glorifying the King of kings and Lord of lords. That when I wasn't in lack I didn't do so much of. I’m just being honest.

            I can just appreciate Paul speaking of his thorn which obviously wasn't something that he wanted. But yet and still he glorified the Father and rejoiced in his setbacks because when he was weak, he was actually strong. God spoke to him and said,” My grace is sufficient for thee”.

Grab and go: I've made up my mind that whether I have or don’t I’m going to serve God with all my heart, mind and soul.  My prayer is that my family doesn't have to be in lack. Continue to pray for us family as we will for you.

Psalm 18:6

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Ministry Donation:  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

What reward have we?

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Continuing from yesterday’s post of examining the Word.

In verse 13 the Word states brethren, (which refers to the same household of faith, brothers and sisters of Christ), each of us have been called to have freedom (Freewill). But for us not to use our freedom or freewill as an excuse to do whatever it is that’s pleasing in our own minds or that our flesh desires to do.  Instead through Love we are to exercise that freewill by serving one another.

I guess the next question you ask would be how is it that we should serve one another? Simple by doing for your neighbor as you would yourself. We have opportunities all the time to demonstrate acts of love. But some of us only demonstrate that love when it's someone we already know. Therefore missing opportunities to serve or help one another.

 Matthew 5:46-48

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Grab and go: God’s Love extends outside of our homes, outside of our family and friends, outside of our comfort zone. I urge you today to extend the same love that was shared with you, with someone else that you either don’t know or wouldn't usually show that Love to. Otherwise what reward have we?

Ministry Donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

Examine the Word.

Galatians 5

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Let’s take a moment to examine the Word.

To stand fast, (to have a firm, fixed, or settled position) in the liberty which is the freedom (salvation) that we have from the enslavement of our former lives. And be not entangled again (involved in or entwined with) the yoke of bondage which is the very weight (sin)  that was at one time around our necks trapping and enslaving thus preventing us from moving freely .

Let’s say you were a gambler and you lost a bet and the amount that was owed you couldn't afford to pay. Then someone comes along, see’s your condition or situation and has compassion on you and pays the debt for you. Thus releasing you from any obligations to the debt. This essentially is what the Word is saying in Galatians 5:1 since the debt has been paid for you, you don’t owe anything else. Don’t be fooled to think that you do. You don’t owe your old life anything. So don’t walk around in guilt of what happen before hand, instead be reminded and have joy in the fact that someone cared enough (loves you enough) to save you and pay the cost so that you wouldn't have to. For the wages (price for) of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Grab and go:

I want to encourage everyone to spend time understanding God’s Word in its entirety.  You don’t have to read whole chapters at a time to gain something. If one scripture is all you can handle for the moment, take that, study it and meditate on His Word. Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Ministry Donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

A Psalms of Greg

God my heart yearns for you. I can’t go a day without being in your presences. Your love is like a hurricane and I’m like a tree bending beneath the wind of your grace and mercy.

I’m so in love with you that I can’t contain how I feel inside. I cry at just the thought of not being near you. I cry when I do feel your presences. I can’t keep it together.   I shout because I have no words left to describe how you make me feel. Just one day with you is like a thousand years and that’s not enough. I can’t wait to see you face to face. I anxiously wait like a bride on her wedding day. Entering through the doors to finally see her groom who awaits for her.

My heart is for you, and your love is jealous for me. Your words are continually on my lips not because I memorize what you would say. But because your all that I think about anyway. I can’t help what you do to me. I think about your sacrifice on cavalry and you have proven beyond all measure that no one can love me like you do. I like to take moments in the day just to call your name Jesus, not because I want something. But because I know I can call on you and you answer me. And because I know you like to hear from me. 

Lord whatever you do with me; whatever you allow to happen to me; please if nothing else, don’t take your Spirit from me. Amen

 Just a moment: I can’t speak for everyone but this morning I felt God coming on so strong. I was at Wawa’s just buying a cup a coffee and I felt his presences. I had to step back for a moment cause the tears just started to stream down my face and I couldn't stop them. I know people may have wondered what was wrong with me. But no one asked. If they had I would have surely told them that I was fine and that I’m just in love with a God that’s in love with me. I pray you have an intimate day with our Lord. Be blessed to day I love you all.

Ministry Donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

But God what about what I want?

We have a tendency to overlook our blessing because it doesn't meet the criteria or standard of what we feel it should be. Some of us have been praying for a husband or wife and God may have shown you him or her. But we don't consider the person because we feel they lack qualities that we feel they should have.

The same goes for a new car or home for that matter. God may have shown you the car that's for you but because such and such has a better one then maybe we should hold out and over extend ourselves so we can drive a newer model. God may have shown you the house that's for you as well. Don't look at your gift like, is this all. If God has presented you with a gift understand He has made all the necessary provision on your behalf. He has considered all things and what He has given you not even yourself could come up with something better.

Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Grab and go: I know we think we know what’s best for us. But who knows us better than we know ourselves, only God. If your still not convinced if this is true. God knows the very number of hairs on your head, do you? (Luke 12:7)

Ministry Donation:  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

Our feelings should be indicators not dictators.

Our feelings are indicators of where our heart is. Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

When someone is so quick to act on their emotions or feelings it’s usually an indication of what that person has been feeding into their spirit. Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: So reading this we see that it is understandable to get angry sometimes. But the Bible tells us to sin not. “To sin not” means to not allow our feelings to dictate and justify our actions.

We love to use the excuse that the devil made me do it. As in to say the reason why you’re angry is the other person’s fault and that you acted out as a result of that. So that somehow vindicates you of any wrong doing. But actually we are giving the devil way to much credit. Actually the person at fault is you. Just like what you feed your flesh could result in a tummy ache. So it is with your spirit, that result of feeding it something that doesn't agree with the Word of God will result in a contrary act on your part of God’s character.

Grab and go: Truth be told that some days I don’t feel like going to work. But I know that if I give into those feelings and call out. Then that would result in negative consequences. Not only would I suffer but my family. So again don’t let your feelings dictate your actions.

Ministry Donation:  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

Covenant Agreements

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Back in the day; a group call Jagged Edge had a song called “promise”. Now I ain’t gone lie. I use really like this song. The lyrics went like this:

Nothing is promised to me and you
So why will we let this thing go
Baby I promise that I'll stay true
Don't let nobody say it ain't so
And baby I promise
That I will never leave
That everything will be alright, I
I promise these things to you
Girl just believe
I promise 

The problem with this song is after examining the lyric content; I realized that the song is actually about an covenant agreement. Making purposed promises in order to fulfill desires can and will put you into binding contracts, physically as well as spiritually. Notice that when we are in relationships we enter into them with the understanding that there is an agreement. Let’s call them terms and conditions. As long as both parties abide by the conditions there are no misunderstandings. But with satan, there is always confusion and misunderstanding. satan likes to always add something in the small print. We being blind to the fact will ignore the obvious sign because it seems to be such a sweet deal.

We speak covenants all the time and wonder why it’s so hard to move on from, and get out of past relationships. “I promise to never leave you”, I’ll never love anyone like I love you”. Wonder why we can’t commit fully to God but when that special person calls we drop everything.

James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Grab and go. Let me attempt to simplify this. Look at it like a credit card with a 200 dollar credit limit and an extremely high interest rate. Let’s say roughly 30 to 40%. The offer that’s made is that they will ensure (promise) that the 200 dollars will be there for you if you were to agree to terms and conditions (the small print in the disclosure). But look at how much you actually have to pay back in interest and whatever other fees that gets tacked on in the end. You could essentially end up owing and paying 10x more back, than from the initial 200 dollar credit card. It doesn't seem to add up does it?

Ministry Donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

Fear; Good or Bad?

            Having a lack of confidence can deter you from being bold for Christ. The lack of confidence that plagues some of us is really just a manifestation of fear.

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

What satan use for our down fall God uses for our good.

Exodus 4 :17 I encourage everyone to take time to read this on there on.

Many of us have been called by God to speak (teach, preach, evangelize,) the Word of God. But like Moses there is a small bit of fear that holds us back from being bold for Him.

Like Moses we begin to point out things about ourselves that we feel are inadequate. I don’t talk well, or what if I say the wrong thing, the other person sounds better than me. What if they bring up something from my past? We use these things as tools that prevent us from walking in God fully. We can only imagine how this must anger God. Because what we are actually saying is “God I know you are perfect, and you made me in your image, oh and you said that I can do all things through you but maybe this one thing I just can’t do. Like God told Moses” 11 The Lord asked him, “Who gave humans their mouths? Who makes humans unable to talk or hear? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? It is I, the Lord! 12 Now go, and I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Grab and go: The way I see it, it is a good thing that we point out all the things we feel are inadequate, in fact write them down so you won’t forget. But keep a willing heart, then that way when God works through us, He gets all the glory. We can do nothing on our own. But through the power of Christ, He can use us like He did Moses to bring not only ourselves but others out of bondage.

Ministry Donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

Driving on a suspended

Has anyone ever had a suspended license? (And don’t act like I’m the only one) Well whatever the reason of the suspension, by law you cannot operate a motor vehicle. When my license was suspended I took that law as I shouldn't operate a motor vehicle, and so I did. Now while my license was valid I would drive pretty much with no concern with the way I drove because I knew I was good. But when they were suspended I drove like I was in driver’s ed all over again. I obeyed every traffic light. No speeding past the yellow. Completely stopped at every stop sign. And don’t let me see a police officer, I would sit up straight make sure my seat belt was on, I would even turn down the music didn't matter if it was loud or not. Doing everything in my power to make sure I didn't draw attention to myself to be pulled over because I knew my punishment would be more severe.

1 Samuel 15:22

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

True if you never drove a car after your license has been suspended, you wouldn't have to worry about being pulled over and facing a more severe punishment. But for those that sometimes need to touch the fire to see that it’s hot, God still shows mercy and grace and teaches us a lesson in that as well. Realizing that the provisions that you go through to not get caught while driving on a suspended license, if we were to have that mindset all the time (to do what we know is right) we probably wouldn't have a suspended license in the first place.

Grab and go: Sometimes we need to experience things for ourselves to see how it really is. But wouldn't it just be better if you took God’s word for it.

Ministry donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6GGJ472VPUMN

Perfect Love

The enemy has a way of making us feel distant from God. Like when Adam and Eve sinned, they fled and hid themselves from God. Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. We too do the same thing. When we do what is contrary to what the Word of God says, we find ourselves in a state of guilt. With that, if we don’t go to God asking for forgiveness which leads us to repentance, sin will take root. This will cause us to stay in a mindset that God is so displeased with us that He wouldn't want to hear from us. That’s a lie.

Adam and eve had that mindset. But because God loved them so, what He did was call out to them. Where art thou? Genesis 3:9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  

Don’t allow satan to make you feel like God doesn't love you anymore because you messed up. And don’t ignore God, when you know He is calling you. Don’t be afraid to answer. It’s your Father. Completely opposite of our enemy, God wants to Love you and correct you to prosper you. 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Grab and go: 1 John 4:18

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Best Friends Forever (BFF)

Many of us have best friends. We call them that because they have proven to be a better friend to us than other friends have. We enjoy being around them predominantly more so than we do being around others. They seem to understand us a little bit better than others do.

Some other qualifications of a best friend may include having your back no matter what. Even when you’re in the wrong not to promote your wrong doing, but to let you know that they are there for you, that there in your corner. With all the qualifications we feel fit the description of a best friend, to be in a friendship we must exhibit some of these same qualifications that we expect from our friend.  

Proverbs 18:24

 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

What we can take from this is that, Jesus fits the description and qualifications of being anyone’s and everyone’s best friend. No one knows you like He does; no one has always been in your corner like He has, and no one will ever love you as much as He does.

John 15:15

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Grab and go: Some of us, at one point and time, being in a relationship have heard someone say that if they had to they would die for us. That if it came down to it they would risk (sacrifice) there life for the sake of our own lives. The difference with Jesus is that, when that opportunity came He didn't just say, He did.