If you’re down, you can get back up! (By Ms Alicia Richardson)

The bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 3 For I passed on to you first of all what I also had received, that Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for our sins in accordance with [what] the Scriptures [foretold] 4 That He was buried, that He arose on the third day as the Scriptures foretold. Christ died for our sins and on the 3rd day he rose again. Christ rose up, so we can get back up!

The blood of Jesus have the power of life, peace and happiness. The things you are going through right now is God’s plan working out in your life...don’t try to fix it, explain it, hide it or justify it....just trust the power of the blood and allow God to carry out his plan for you.

The bible teaches us in the book of Jeremiah that God knew us before we were even in the womb, and how God have great plans for our future. The Lord wants to give us a good future, but God also wants the glory...so give thanks as you go through it, because your circumstance, right now, is just a stepping stone for a greater plan!

Your situation may have you feeling like you been depressed too long, you been addicted too long, you been holding on to the past for too long, you been dealing with low self-esteem for too long, or you been broke for too long.....but the bible tells us its all in the Lord’s plan. Jeremiah 29 10-11 10 For thus says the Lord, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place.11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

These rough times may feel like you been in captivity in babylon for decades, years, months, days or hours. But there is good news....Christ rose up, so we can get up! If you’re down, you don’t have to stay down. The blood of Jesus has restorative and resurrective powers.....trust the power!

God plan is not to harm you. The Lord said he will bring you out! So get up and thank God for his grace to take that burden off of you, thank God for your peace that’s coming to you, thank God for your deliverance, thank God for your miraculous outcome and thank God for his perfect plan! Thank him in advance for your future filled with hope, prosperity and favor, as it is already yours.

So run, that ye may obtain

Encouraging song of the day: Kelonate Gavin- Singing I won't Complain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD-m3i7RJRg

Romans 7:22-24

²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I don’t know about you, but as for me I LOVE God, and I desire to do His will. But my flesh, my flesh has other plans. My flesh has desires to please itself. So in this verse of the scripture I completely understand Paul as he describes the constant battle to crucify his flesh and submit to the will of God. He goes even so far to describe it as war; “warring against the law of my mind”. The fight is that intense.

As a man of God I understand the pressure to meet the needs of others. Which really the pressure only exists as a result of my passion to be pleasing to God and to do as my Father would do. satan will often(in a desperate attempt to counteract a believers passion and deter his purpose) will utilize the spirit of confusion and doubt to create pressure to oppress us to the point of discouragement and ultimately giving up. Thus creating a battle within the war we fight against spiritual wickedness, principalities and powers. So if I could encourage you even if only for the moment, don’t give up. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Manna for thought: We are not without help in this spiritual warfare. We have the armour of God that we may be able to stand. Ephesians 6:10-11 ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Love and obedience.

Encouraging song of the day: Smokie Norful | No Greater Love

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

Love and obedience.

Many of us serve God from the concept or from the principal of obedience. This usually happens from a new or young believer position but not limited to just them. Some have been saved a long time and still don't know what it means to Love God.  The reason being is because we have fashioned ourselves in the way of the world. We have come to learn the world’s perception of love but not the true Author of Love, God the Father. We have to really know a person before we can say we love them because logically we understand that love is the ultimate in a relationship verses like but we don't really understand the Love of God. So essentially we Love based on if we really like the person. If that be the case, how can we show love and compassion for our neighbor as we would for ourselves (as Mark 12:31) instructs us) if we 1^st have to like them? Somehow we have gotten this idea that there is the Love of Christ and then there is our love as though there can be two separate kinds. This is not so. There is only one kind of Love. The Love that was expressed and demonstrated on Calvary.

Manna for thought: I can’t tell you if your love for someone is adequate or not. Simply compare your love in contrast to God’s Love. See if it aligns and if it doesn’t then I guess you have your answer.

Don't hide (by Ms. Alicia Richardson)

Don't hide (by Ms. Alicia Richardson)

God knows the deepest issues of our hearts... And God has called favor on your life, in a specific capacity!!! Your gifts were provided at birth...in fact before birth...Amen!!!! The bibles says in Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

But, along the way we may experience bumps... But, I'm here to tell you, don't shy away from the plan GOD has ordered on your life! At times we might be in conflict with the spirit and flesh... Maybe sometimes we might operate out of flesh.....but in the midst, don't dim out the greater purpose, which, may very well be your calling! Call on God! Stay in the word and strengthen your spiritual man! Be diligent and disciplined!!!! Don't be dismayed by your flaws Isaiah 41:10: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

... But strengthen that area in which you lack! Don't know where to start??? Well... Be honest and stop hiding!!! Jeremiah 23: 24: Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.

Bring forth and confess your issues before the Lord and all else will follow! I am a true testament to this...

God have amazing things in store for you family! I must be honest... my biggest flaw was living in shame! But since I found God... I'm here to tell you....Shame the devil and confess your sins....Be renewed in his word! Ephesians 4:23: And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

I'm Praying for each person reading this... Please don't live in darkness, but in light! Take each day as a blessing, and a learning experience...an opportunity to receive a little more on what the Lord has for us... Amen!!!!

Manna for thought:

God has a transformation forming in you.. Stop hiding, release and receive!!!! Amen!!

Triumph by way of weakness (By Ms. Alicia Richardson)

Triumph by way of weakness (By Ms. Alicia Richardson)

I woke up this morning, opened the blinds and windows to allow for the breeze and the sunlight to come in the house. In doing so, I just stopped and closed my eyes... what a beautiful morning I thought. As I was embracing the moment, God said to me, let me speak! You have been doing too much talking and not enough listening. God then lead me to my bible... to Judges Chapter 6. Lead by the spirt I began to read and immediately identified with Gideon.

You see, God called Gideon to save a nation, however Gideon was doubtful. Gideon felt like he did not fit the description as an harden soldier. He was fearful by the current situation of the land and he was weak in faith, in such a way, he asked the Lord for three signs to ensure it was indeed, the Lord, speaking to him. He felt like he was the youngest of his family and his family was the weakest of the tribe. Gideon felt like he just wasn't the right guy for the job. The lord sent his angel to ensure him that the lord was with him. Judges 6:12. The Angel of the Lord address Gideon: “ The Lord is with you mighty warrior”. After the Lord confirmed three times, Gideon became obedient and lead a whole nation to triumph!

It was dropped in my spirt to encourage each of us that GOD can turn weakness into triumph! It’s often that GOD calls on ordinary people, people who is weak or timid to help carry out his will. We all get fearful that we aren’t worthy enough or strong enough to be called on by GOD. Sometimes our current situations around us may make us doubtful in hearing GOD and believing....But the lord see positive potential in everyone.

Manna for thought:

Stop and listen when the Lord is speaking, be obedient and receive your blessings and triumph that is in store for you! 

The impossible.

Encouraging song of the day: Tamela Mann - I Can Only Imagine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s8HMmvN-Jc

Even after Sarah conceived and bared a child it was still hard to believe that God had done the impossible.

Genesis 21 ^5-7 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born. Sarah said, God has blessed me with laughter and all who get the news will laugh with me!⁷ She also said, Whoever would have suggested to Abraham that Sarah would one day nurse a baby! Yet here I am! I’ve given the old man a son!

Let today be a day to reflect over what God has done for you. Add up your weekly income and tally up your bills. If your bills outweigh your income yet you still have food, shelter, clothing and on top of that your still here. I believe we should consider Sarah, sit back and just smile, and say I don’t know how you’re doing it, but I thank God, He is doing it.

Cruise control

Encouraging song of the day: Amber Bullock - Secret Place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYEa6lxPck

Cruise control is a great feature. It allows us to drive along at a consistent pace. Without worry of speeding or undergoing the posted speed limit. It also takes the pressure off constantly checking to see how fast you’re going to make sure that you’re not breaking the law.  When utilizing the cruise control feature you know that you’re not breaking any laws because your speed is set.

What cruise control doesn't do is allow us to have control over how fast we go.  Not having control is a huge obstacle for some of us. Truth be told, when we feel like we're in control God isn't. In order to live a fruit filled life and gain all Christ would have for us. We have to relinquish control and submit unto God and simply say not my will, but your will be done.

Allow God to set the parameters for you in your life which essentially takes off the limitations that we place on ourselves by trying to control our own destiny. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. This verse tells us that we can do, we can achieve, we can overcome, but only by CHRIST who enables us to do so.

Manna for thought: The speed limit rep the law, cruise control rep Jesus. Jesus doesn’t do away with what’s already been posted, the speed limit (the law, the Ten Commandments) but instead helps us to abide therein. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.