Day 5 #2017

..."And they shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Very powerful verse in the bible that means just what it says. I had the opportunity to spend some alone time in the presence of God. My wife went to work and our daughters were off to school. So there I was in the house all alone...I must admit my thoughts were not on the things of God. I paused and just began to call on the name of the Lord. It was right then I could feel the presence of God engulf me! I began to worship and I just went to another place. Now I must say that I did not have an experience like this for several months; it is so easy to get out of order so to speak when it comes to spiritual things. Nevertheless, while in the presence of God, He speaks...he reveals to us things that are necessary for us to know while on this journey. While mediating in God's presence this was impressed in my spirit: "don't convolute truth." If I can be honest, I didn't know what "convolute" meant. I mean I heard the word before, but I didn't know its meaning. Let me digress for a moment: One thing I love about God is the fact that when he speaks or reveals something to us its often quite simple, but yet life changing. One word from God can revolutionize an individual, a city or nation. Well back to my investigation of this word. After looking up the word convolute I discovered that it means: "make (an argument, story, etc.) complex and difficult to follow." After my discovery, my conscious was enlighten. I began to ask, "What then is truth?" Not according to human logic, but rather according to God's word. According to God's word truth is explained this way: "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak In the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world  pray not that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth."(John 17:12-17). I was able to see that truth is God's word. I then asked myself, "What is God's word?" I discovered this: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1 &14). Jesus Christ is  the Word of God. So wait a minute - what was revealed to me was: "don't convolute truth." Truth is God's word and God's word became flesh and dwelt among us...now I get it!

So let me say it the way I now understand it: Don't twist truth or better yet,  Don't make following Christ complex. After getting it I began to examine myself to see if there was any way that I have made it difficult for others to follow Christ. I realized that our life is a way in which we minister. Our spouse looks to us, our children look to us, our family and our co-workers look to us. What we say and what we do can cause those that know that we are followers of Christ to second guest our relationship with Jesus and/or being His disciple. As believers, we have to "Let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven."  Furthermore, we have to make sure that we are not watering down truth to make it fit into this world system. What I mean by that is compromising truth in order for those that are not aligned with truth to feel comfortable in the way he or she lives. We have to stand with truth and tell the truth when it comes to individuals that come into our sphere of influence. We should never tell a lie to someone that confides in us about their eternal destiny. We have to let them know that the "Wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." There are consequences to living a life not pleasing to Almighty God. True, God does love everybody, but we have to live right. First we have to check the person in the mirror; because if I am not living in truth in my private life I will not proclaim the truth effectively to others publicly.  #TelltheTruth #Shamethedevil

Day 4 #2018

There is an unlimited resource that lies within you that desires to be released. The release of this resource is predicated on your desire to discover your purpose or why you  are here on the earth. It requires digging, probing and insight. Your digging, probing and insight will spark a discovery that propels you to an unimaginable place. We all are uniquely gifted and our gift is a blessing that will bring smiles to many faces and ultimately bring glory to God. I like to compare it to oil - as I am sure you already know, oil is beneath the earth and its value is unbelievable! Oil is so valuable around the world because oil heats our houses, fuels our cars, heats our stove and so many other things. Without oil, it would be hard to survive because Americans can't do anything without electricity. Getting to the oil takes insight, probing and digging. "Black  Gold" or "Texas Tea" as it is often called, is a blessing to all those that come in contact with it. You too dear reader have that same potential inside of you. Like oil your gift needs to be released so that it can be a blessing to all that come in contact with it. I can't speak for anyone else, but I can for myself. I was at a point in my life about 20 years ago when I began asking why am I on the earth and what is my purpose? I went to college, had a great family, but it was more to life than this. It wasn't until I began to pray that I discovered something. Now it wasn't at a conference, in a  prayer group or empowerment meeting (not knocking that). It was in my bedroom where I feel to my knees and said, "God if you tell me why I'm here I will do just that. Please Lord reveal it to me." It was that simple. I didn't see angels or taken to heaven. I just knew that God, in whom I believe, would tell me. So I headed out for a jog and walk in my neighborhood. It began to rain so I slowed down and couldn't help but notice this tattered and torn piece of paper that was barely hanging on to this light pole. I approached the pole and saw on the tattered and torn piece of paper these words: "YOU ARE A WRITER." I felt strongly in my heart that this was the answer to my prayer. I returned home, fell to my knees and said, "God if this is what I was born to do, tell me where do I begin." Shortly thereafter my thoughts became flooded with poetry, ideas for books, theatrical productions and movies all for the glory of God. My life has never been the same! Now your gift may not be to write, but I assure you there is something in you that needs to get out. Pray my brother, pray my sister - cry out to God, trust Him for He is a speaking God! He will reveal your purpose. Ask, seek, knock and watch God move! #purpose #destiny

Day 3 #2018

...Right when it appears that you have things aligned correctly...right when you feel that you're in sink at the midway point of  the New Year...it happens. Someone says something or does something that causes you to question the commitment you made just a few days a go. Where does it come from and why now? I just said "New Year, New Me....I just locked into the resolution I made privately. Why do people get out of character right when I get focused, right when I make that conscious decision to turn over that new leaf? Can I tell you why? First the adversary of our soul does not take vacations or breaks. God's word declares that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." So in laymen's terms, the battle is spiritual not physical. Our adversary stays on his job 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I am not saying it out of fear but rather making you aware that we have to be dressed appropriately to combat the opposition when he does arise. God's word also declares that we are to "put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the wiles of the devil." Attacks come from our future and because of our future. I'll get to that shortly; but for now take a walk with me and lets see how Jesus faced scenarios like this. "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word  that proceeds from the mouth of God. The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here; for it is written: "He will give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. they will lift you in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Jesus answered, "It is written: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test. When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."(Luke 4:1-13).


I said that to say this - you have to stay focused - you have to stay the course! You know that God has great plans for you! You know that better days are ahead, but the adversary of our soul, the devil, desires to keep it hidden from us. Our adversary doesn't know all things but he knows somethings; and it is because of your future he and his imps fight vehemently to stop us from pressing on. How does he do that? He does it through other people. I'm not saying everything is the devil, but what I am saying that when you discover your purpose, when you begin to understand why you are here, he does everything in his might to keep you off course. Earlier I mentioned that we have to be dressed appropriately what I mean by that is: The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13-17).  It's early in the new year, don't let things from the past nor current opposition cause you to lose focus ~ and whatever you do, don't violate the dress code!

Day 2 #2019

Picture this: you're at the Pebble Beach Resort in California. Not only is your room immaculate, the view from your patio is breath taking. Now let me ask you a question - Can you see it? I mean can you see what I am saying? I don't know about you but not only can I see myself  there, but  I can also see myself in my pajamas and robe, kicked back on that very same patio with a book and my pumpkin spice coffee and not a care in the world. Now obviously I am not there, but the image that I just painted in your mind and mine took me to a place of ease. Didn't cost me one dollar, I didn't even ask you for  your credit card - and I won't! But my point is, our thought life is so critical to us having a level of peace which will ultimately transition from the invisible to the visible; from mere vision to that which is tangible.

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). Its not false reality, but rather your new vantage point. What is that you ask...a place or position affording a good view of something. You have to see yourself out before you get out. You have to make the adjustment or align yourself with truth so that you can flow in purpose and walk into your destiny. Alignment is important. I'm not an auto mechanic but check this out: You may own a car or eventually one day you will. One thing that is important is that we get our tires aligned. Not just once but multiple times while owning the vehicle. What are wheel alignments? Is it really a necessary service? The term defines the service: It makes sure the wheels and tires are in a straight line, or “aligned” with each other. When all four wheels are properly aligned, the tires work together more effectively. This results in better handling, better steering wheel return, better fuel economy (because the tires are not being dragged sideways as they are when misaligned), and, most importantly--what we all love to see—the tires will wear more evenly and last longer. Make sense? Having vision in 2019 is critical to your growth and development. God has great plans for you life: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).   His grace and favor is something that we all have the opportunity to obtain, we just need to get ourselves aligned with His dear son Jesus. His word declares: "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Day 1 #2019

"New Year, New Me" very popular saying, and oh don't worry that's not what this blog is about!

I'm entering 2019 with greater expectations. Quite different than previous years. I have decided to focus more on Jesus. What I mean by that is when looking at things in retrospect, I am reminded of the way I viewed my relationship with Jesus. If I could be quite honest with you , I must say that I took my relationship with Jesus or my walk with Christ for granted. Publically it did not appear that way but privately my commitment to prayer and fasting declined significantly. Towards the end of 2018, I began to ask myself, "what happen and how did I get to this point?" After doing an extensive self examination, I realized that I became comfortable in my relationship;  I was born again, forgiven and I'm going to heaven. Unknowing to me at that time, I became very lukewarm and insensitive to the Spirit of God. I also began to look at the worldview differently - not embracing sin - but rather allowing the worldview, or the media agenda to override that of God's holy word. This began to spill over into reading and studying God's word. Eventually, I laid down my arsenal (God's word, prayer and fasting) which gave the enemy of our soul ( the devil and his imps) free reign. I loss my fight or should I say my "swag" My desire to pray even dwindled. Praise be to God for the light of my concscious  being awaken. What caused the light to come on? I would say two scriptures; the first scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17 which states, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things are past away, behold all things have become new" and also, "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God" (1 John 3:9). What caused the light to be made manifest? What caused it was the fact that I'm a new creation. Knowing that and understanding Christ power causes one to look within and come into alignment with God's word, "If any man" that's me, you and the man sitting next to the man. Have you ever felt out of place while in a place you did not belong? That's sort of what it feels like when you are a child of God and you are out of fellowship with Him. Not out of fellowship because God neglects us, but rather by our own conscious decision to put Christ second instead of first. Its hard to admit when we get to this place; but its quite evident when we begin to compromise or attempt to fit into this worlds system. When we find ourselves going back to things that God has delivered us from is in and of itself a sign that we need to conduct a self examination. What "Day 1" revealed to me is to "stay hot" or to keep Christ first in all areas of my life because as soon as we lay down our arsenal (studying God's word, prayer and fasting) we take two steps back which ultimately results in us becoming stagnant, unproductive and lukewarm. We have to remember the Lord's word - "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new." He makes all things new. Stay hot!

Go forth and do more!