Why Do I Do What I Do?

My heart is aching as I look out to the sea...I want to do right but evil constantly pursues me...oh poor wretched man that I am...all I am is just a man...with many sins and faults hanging over me...from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet....but God saw fit to rescue me by giving me a life preserver so to speak...Jesus came and healed my heartache....my sins and faults He did erase...He took my faults to the east and my sins to the west...thank God in heaven I'm no longer depressed ~ so why do I do what I do?....perish the thought! #freedom

Pamphlet, Chapter or Book?

A pamphlet is a short tract of general information. A chapter on the other hand is a specific portion that highlights a division of a bigger story. While a book is a divison of a literary work that encompasses the whole story. I thought on these things as I pondered over purpose, destiny and our pilgrimage here on earth. There are times in which we feel overwhelmed or unsure of our next step in lifes journey.  Some of the struggle we encounter is due to our inabilty to discern what phase we are in.  Pamphlet Phase is when we are connected or sent for a short period time. Pamphlets are very descriptive,  however to the point and brief. If we are in this "phase" to long we become burnt out and begin to feel irrelevant simply because we never discover that we were only sent for a season.  Chapter Phase is a bit more specific and detailed. We arrive here only to add to the bigger picture. It is not where we build a tent, but rather teach others how to and move on. Should we remain here to long others will begin to question our commitment...not becsuse of our inability to be effective , but rather the evidence of lethargy that sets in by way of stagnation. The Book Phase on the other hand is long term and we remain for the long haul. Here we keep growing, mentoring and building leaders for the next generation.

A.G.Wells

  

2016... are you ready?

Just two more day and we will be on the brinks of a new year....many resolutions will be made: commitments to lose weight, get rid of the person you're in a relationship with, and last but not least,  promises to attend church more often. I'm  reminded of the other day when I was attempting to take out my daughters tooth....clearly the old loose tooth was ready to come out, however because of my daughters inabilty to see the long term benefit of having her tooth removed a struggle ensued. My daughter's unwillingness to part ways with the old tooth would impact her ability to eat and cause her to refrain from smiling.  Interestingly, we as adults react this way when it comes time to part ways with persons, places or things that are actually hindering us from great success. We get comfortable with "status quo" and ignore the warning signs. Entering into a new year and positioning ourselves for God's best is more than making resolutions....it's about being sick and tired of being sick and tired. Make the decision today to remove the old so that the new will come unhindered and untainted.

Day #5 #ReDiscover U

"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" There's nothing worse than being in a dark place, a lowly place, an empty place with no hope...even though you are alive it feels like death is eminent ...when you're in a valley it feels like everything is crumbling all around you....I say that because I remember when I was laid off from my job and shortly thereafter my family and I lost our home.....It was a low place...it was a valley...its during these times that I needed more than an encouraging phone call, text or voice mail....I needed God to intervene.......that's when I realized that God is all around us...David asked, "Whither can I go from your presence? If I made my bed in hell, you are there" ....so because God is omnipresent and I am where He is...I then realized when I'm in the valley, He's there with me....."I shall fear no evil for you are with me" Knowing that God is with you and for you causes a shift to happen in the atmosphere....all of a sudden I'm reminded that "God did not give us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind" It wasn't easy at first...but the more I prayed the more I trusted....the more I read His word the more I trusted...oftentimes dark valleys or dark places is where God does amazing work....remember in Genesis? "Darkness was on the face of the deep and God said, let there be light and there was light." Do you remember Paul and Salis? They were in a valley...locked in prision..."but at midnight Paul and Sialis  prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them and....suddenly there was an earthquake...there bonds broke" You may be reading this and you feel like you're in a dark place, a dismal place, a dry place....but I decree to you that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world....what the devil meant for evil God blocked it....its all working together for your good.

Day #4 #ReDiscover U

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" Over 18 years ago I recall my struggle to be "churchy" That's right I said "churchy" and that just about summed up my understanding of Jesus and Christianity. My fear of believing in Jesus Christ was rooted in my frequent wondering into a wilderness of sin,  then feeling guilty and unworthy after the escapade.  What was I to do? All I use to hear was how bad and inconsistent I was and how religous other people were. I actually use to think that I was the only one in the world that struggled with sin. It actually left me in a fogged state and as a result of that, being a Christian seemed hard.  It wasn't until I began reading God's word for myself. I read: "Come unto me all those that are burden and heavy laden and I will give you rest" also "He became sin who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" also, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" and lastly,  "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved." This revolutionized my mind. I then felt the gentle hand of God "Leading me to the path of righteousness" It's not my goodness, its not my ability, its not my gifts....it's because of Jesus, Jehovah Tsidkenu -  The Lord our Righteousness. "For His name sake" Seeing he has taken upon him the name of a "Good Shepherd", He will keep His word , in spite of us. You and I being bad sheep will not make him stop being a "Good Shepherd", but he will be "good", and maintain the credit of "His name" in spite of all of our badness....God is good all the time.... and it's all good, because it's all God....and He will get the glory  "His name" shall  be magnified and exalted.
 

Day #3 #ReDiscover U

"He restores my soul" Have you ever felt depleted? Like you were close to throwing in the towel...I have and I must say it has happened more than once. The closest thing that  I can compare it to would be the day I tried running multiple errands with very little gas in the car. I had money to put gas in the car, but I told myself, "I can make it....I've done it before." Passing several gas station in route (which I would later regret) my mind became occupied with other things...totally forgetting about the fact that I needed gas. That's when it happened...this vehicle that I trusted to get me where I needed to go abruptly came to a hault. Why? Because I failed to get the vehicle where it needed to be in order for it to be supplied  with what it needed. Without supplying the vehicle with what it needed, it could no longer function in it's purpose or what it was created to do.  It doesn't matter how "good" a car looks or how "nice" the wheels and rims are...if there's no gas in it, it can't serve anyones need. Like a car, at times we are running close to empty, sadly many people do not have anything within telling them that their about to come to an abrupt stop. Often times depression and frustration sets in and we feel like we are failures. It's not that we are failures or our life has no meaning....we just need to get to the place or environment that has the capacity to give us what we need and fill us up. Obviously, we are not cars...so that place is not a gas station but rather in God's presence. David said, "He restores my soul" The Lord, the Good Shepherd, can restore you. Not only can He restore you, He is also a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.  We are very good at rekindling old flames once the fire has gone out....but I challenge you to commit your way to the Lord and He will direct your path. Before you plan your vacation for the holidays or mark your 2018 calendar ...take a day off from work or just set some time aside for God....talk to Him, read his word...meditate on Him..let the Good Shepherd restore your soul "They that keep their minds stayed on Him, shall be kept in perfect peace"

Antonio G. Wells 

Day #2 #ReDiscoverU

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters"
....so what are these green pastures? I see those pastures as His holy word -- always fresh, always rich, and never dead pastures, but living.   The Lord's word is sweet ....fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutrients for sheep. By faith we are able to find rest in the promises, we are like the sheep that lie down in the midst of green pasture...it's at this time that we discover provision and peace, rest and refreshment, safety and satisfaction. "He makes me lie down" It is the Lord who graciously enables us to perceive His truth and to feed upon it....how grateful we should be for the power to appropriate His promises!

We are not just lying down in green pastures , we are journeying  towards our destiny...we also read, "He leads me beside the still waters" ....so what are these "still waters" ....I believe them to be His precious Spirit...."still waters", for the Holy Spirit  loves peace, and sounds no alarm in is operation. He may flow into your soul, but not into your co-workers, and therefore your co-worker may not perceive the  presence of the Spirit of God....its amazing how the Holy Spirit may be pouring his floods into your heart, yet the person that sits next to you may know nothing about it.
....my grandmother use to say, "still waters run deep"....silence is golden ...the Lord leads us beside these "still waters" we couldn't do it by ourselves, we need His guidance, and grace... that's why His word says "He leadeth me" He does not drive us... Moses drove the Israelites, but Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads us by his example, and by His amazing love.