Because you are, I can be...

Encouraging song of the Day : Because of Who you Are-Vicki Yohe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6WexG9uAJI

If you worked for a very large company, it’s possible that you could feel insignificant and uncertain of your value within the company. But if someone were to explain to you the intricate detail and the purpose of your job, thus why it was that they hired you. You would feel more motivated to complete your task. As well as find a sense of purpose and value to whom you are.

          It’s imperative for us to understand who we are in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:23  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. We belong to and are created of the Most High God. We are here to serve God with our whole lives, not through inconsistent words and deeds but in spirit and in truth. In other words in everything. In every aspect of our lives are we to glorify the One who created us.

Manna for thought: Ancestry.com enables you to search through periods of time in your family history to discover more about yourself. The Bible does the same except for there isn't a limit to how far it goes. The Word covers from the beginning to the end. 

Make ready yourself!!

Encouraging Song of the day: William McDowell - I Give Myself Away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ofQmeao9I

John 14: 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

          What if you had a good friend or relative that wanted to visit and told you what day they would arrive but not the time? Wouldn’t you make ready your home by cleaning and straighten up in preparation of their arrival? Jesus is doing the same thing. Before our arrival into Heaven He is making ready a place for us there. We are to do the same while we are here on earth. We are to make ready ourselves, the church (the body of Christ) for Jesus arrival. That when He returns, we may be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27). In other Words when Jesus comes back He is looking to see who has put on the whole Armour, who has repented of evil, who is covered in the blood.

          Manna for thought: The price of sin has already been paid for, on your behalf. Therefore let us not take for granted the gift that was so freely given to us, (salvation). But let us now be in preparation by the renewing of our minds to be transformed. That He may find us ready when He returns.1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

We’ll be back.

Encouraging song of the day: Fred Hammond - You're Gonna Make It

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fQILkzLE8

Genesis 22:5 (KJV)

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Such faith was not established through deed but through belief. God said He would make Abram a father of many nations. This was said before God told Abraham to sacrifice his son to Him. Therefore Abraham not knowing that God would tell him to spare his son believed that even if he did sacrifice his son, God was able to raise him from the dead.

Romans 4:20-22

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Manna for thought: God will not go back on His Word. Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 

Is being overly prepared a lack of faith?

The Holy Spirit is compelling me to share this with the young lady whose faith is being tested right now. God sees you.

PLEASE LISTEN: JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA "I TRUST YOU"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0F7g4T4Lao

Is being overly prepared a lack of faith? Trusting God sometimes proves to be more complicated than not. But truth be told, it’s only more complicated because we make it that way.

When David killed goliath, he did so with only one stone. Yet he had gathered five stones. It wasn't a lack of faith on David’s part to gather five stones when he only used one but his faith in the Almighty God that no matter what he used he would overcome. 1 Samuel 17:45

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied

Manna for thought: The key to trusting that God will deliver you from the hands of your enemy, (regardless of that enemy) is to simply do it (trust). We, like David has seen God work in our lives before by delivering us from seemingly smaller giants than what we are faced with at the moment. But the funny thing is when we were dealing with those smaller giants they didn't seem so small at the time, yet God enabled us to overcome. This time should be no different. 1 Samuel 17:37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

Whats missing ?

What does the prodigal son, Esau, and Judas have in common?  All three neglected to consider what they already had. The prodigal son being impatient, wanted what was going to be inherited unto him right then. Like many of us we want our blessing right away, right now. But if we were to only wait then we could receive all of what God has for us and not portions.

Like Esau many of us feel like we don’t have to do much because we somehow are entitled to an inheritance. Although we have been bought and paid for with a price. That doesn’t mean that we can live however and still receive that inheritance. Don’t let your flesh blind you to think that you should take care of your selfish needs first. Going after that American dream vs going after what God wants for you. God’s Word tells us to seek ye first the Kingdom. In doing so all things will be added. If Esau would have considered the importance of his inheritance, he would have never jeopardized it for anyone let alone a pot of stew.

Many of us don’t sympathize with Judas because we often say “how could he walk with Jesus our Lord and betray Him for 30 pieces of silver”. But I say we all betray our Lord anytime we take for granted salvation. Salvation is freely given to all that would receive. But how many times instead of going to church, bible study or fellowship etc… have you put off going, to do what it was that you wanted to do? I’m sure we all have been there. But the sad thing was after Judas realized his error; he became bogged down with guilt and grief and never recovered. Don’t let this be you. Don’t wait until it’s too late to realize Salvation was right in front of you and you put it off.

Manna for thought: I pray God opens your eyes to see the truth for what it really is. Jesus, that’s what it’s all about. Jesus is the great secret to life that many of us are looking for. It is He that this life we live is all about. Jesus, it is He that we should center our lives around. Don’t continue to live your life missing the big picture, missing what’s so plainly in front of you. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life and God made salvation available to all that will receive His Truth. Jesus is the answer, the secret and the only key to life period

Encouraging song of the day: Isaac Carree – Paradise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od780KPcju4

The Love of Money

^{Matthew 27: 3-5}

³ Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

⁴ Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

⁵ And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

          Sometimes the thing which we think we want isn't what we really want at all. Many of us have coveted after possessions, people essentially after that false sense of happiness. Only to find that once we possess that thing, they or it isn't all of what we thought it would be. Or for those that haven’t obtained that which they desire. They find that it’s just simply not worth it.

Manna for thought: There is so much we could gain from the life of Judas but I think here we simply see being blinded by what the bible tells us is the root of all evil, “the love of money”.

1 Timothy 6:10

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Encouraging song of the day: The Good Fight: Bizzle - Against You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydcoi_m-5kE

You can be your biggest obstacle

^{Genesis 25: 31-34}

³¹ And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

³² And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

³³ And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright

You can be your biggest obstacle. This is why the Word tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Because it’s not the enemy afar off that does the most damage but the one closest. It’s our own flesh that causes us to stumble.  For this reason “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4. It’s not always easy to turn away from the thing that your flesh so strongly desire for (LUST for). But we know that “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. Romans 8:6

Manna for thought: John 4:13-14

¹³ Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:¹⁴ But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Encouraging song of the day: Draw nigh Fred Hammond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbtRnmhBunM

Love not the world

Luke 15:12-14

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

Experience is not the best teacher. Yet there are times where we overlook what we know to be true. That this world has nothing to offer us. After we have wasted our time and squandered our resources, then we see what was right in front of us.

Manna for thought:  ¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Encouraging song of the day: Prodigal Son - Fred Hammond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3wwUdanYY4

Honest Conversation

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

      For those that may speak ill of you for no apparent reason. Continue to pray for them and bless them. For in due time by your obedience and faithfulness.  They will behold God’s glory and favour in your life. Which by His grace may win a soul to the kingdom.

Manna for thought:  Let us always be mindful of the words we speak. For by our words are we justified and by our words are we also condemned. Matthew 12:37

James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Encouraging song of the day: Look Up - Tye Tribbett & GA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CupchdODA6s

Love your enemies

1 Peter 3:15-16

 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Some people we choose or would rather avoid because of their negative speaking. But sometimes their negative speaking is a cry for help. That they are lost and negativity is the only way they know to cry out. Through their encounter with you (the believer) the Love of God can and will flow over into their lives. Even if you don’t see it, have faith that it is.

Manna for thought: Don’t be so quick to write someone off. It’s possible that you are the only light that they have in their lives. Love those that hate you.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you ;

Encouraging song of the day: Patrick Dopson: GOD IS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nEeLkFaZ7o

Have your Heart

1 Peter 3: 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

It’s not the outward man that the world see’s that makes us approved in the eyes of our Lord but the inner man which no man can see. Only the Lord who knows the intimacy’s of our heart. Therefore it is the transformation of one’s self to be set apart from the world rather than to be conformed to what it deems acceptable. Romans 12:2

Manna for thought: God is not attracted to your deeds but your heart. If your heart is for Him your deeds would be a reflection.

Encouraging song of the day.

Uncle Reece - Have your Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhgSBTvSHZY

Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

It is good that we don’t curse or drink etc… But we shouldn’t look for a pat on the back. The Word teaches us that those things are to be expected. That’s like me saying look daddy I’m black, and him saying “I’m glad you realize and acknowledge that. But you’re supposed to be black because I’m black. I would expect nothing less”. For that cause, I wouldn’t go around promoting that I’m black. It would be obvious.  So also let your Holiness be seen and your conversation coupled with fear.

Manna for thought: You don’t have to expressly promote that you’re a Christian. Although it’s good that you’re bold about it. You don’t have to convince anyone.  It should been seen by the fruit you bear.

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.