.....trusting God is not like playing checkers

When I was a child I loved to play checkers. My most fierce competition was my brother Andrew. Those Saturday mornings were serious...best 2 out of 3...no, no best 3 out of 4! The competition was intense! I use to love to make the  first move...still don't know why I felt like that gave me the advantage...but nevertheless I had to...so its game time and we stare at the board often times staying in that decisive mode for 5 to 10 minutes! Playing checkers was all about me...oh and you better not try to voice your opinion or thoughts on what my next move should be..."I got this" is what I would proclaim to you. Checker players need their space and need to think independently in order to become successful. Outside influences, while in the game, are not helpful nor is it recommended if you want to be better, bigger and boisterous! So how do I tie God into all of this and how is hearing him and listening to him compare to a simple checker game? Well unlike checkers...pursuing God seeking His wisdom is not a one sided affair...His word says, "If any man lacks wisdom let him ask God who gives to men generously without finding fault and it will be given to you" (James 1:5). When walking with God we see as well that the way up is down and what I mean by that is, "Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you" ( James 4:10). Checkers requires only you: your intellect, your wisdom, your insight so to speak...when you interpret that you get: I, I, I, Me, Me, Me....which equates to a prideful outlook on things.  We know clearly that, "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). One thing that I noticed about checkers (and I hope you have too) is the fact that they do not speak neither do they have the capability to speak. While walking with God you soon discover that He speaks. Not only does He speak He will direct your path, when you trust in Him with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5). Over time I have learned how to hear Him when He speaks and follow His lead. I must admit that I struggled to understand how to follow His lead. After learning how to hear His voice, I would take it and run with it without actually praying  before I attempted to describe what I believed He meant when He spoke. It's not that its difficult its a matter of breaking away from being in control or better yet doing it my way. When I played checkers against my brother Andrew I didn't seek God's council (didn't need to) I made my own decisions and my own moves. Often times in life we pray earnestly and are certain we feel that God is leading us in a certain direction. In spite of the clarity we receive in the spirit, we move contrary to what was revealed. God may be leading you to leave your city or a particular job, etc. Without seeking Him more one may assume that "I have to leave tomorrow" when that may not be the case. Seek God when you hear Him, when you desire to know more. God is a speaking God and where He leads He guides and where He guides He provides. When God spoke to Abraham, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). Abraham was "looking for a city whose builder and maker was God" (Hebrews 11:10). Trusting God is not like playing  checkers....but I encourage you to trust Him when you can't trace Him...know that your life is in His hands. Let Him take the wheel, it's a lot easier riding in the backseat.

Faith...Like a Mustard Seed

We all know that a lot is better than a little bit...but what about when it comes to our faith? Now it is important for us to increase our faith and that does happen as we continue to grow in grace and in our relationship with Christ Jesus. So what is faith? Webster and Dictionary.com has their meaning but I would rather refer to scripture or God's word. According to scripture "faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). I can remember when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I struggled with believing  things without seeing them first. I guess you can say I was sort of like Thomas. Who was Thomas you ask? Well he was one of the disciples that was not present when Jesus manifested himself to the other 10 disciples after His resurrection (Judas had hug himself after betraying Jesus). The other 10 told Thomas that they had seen the Lord...Thomas' response? "Unless I see Him...unless I see the nail prints and put my finger in them, unless I see his side where they pierced Him and put my hand there, I will not believe." What was Jesus' response? A week later the disciples were in the house and this time Thomas was with them and Jesus manifested again. Jesus told him to place his finger in the nail prints and told him to stretch out his hand and touch where they pierced him in His side. Thomas' response? "My Lord and My God." Jesus then said, "Thomas because you have seen me you believe, but blessed are those that believe and have not yet seen." Before faith settles there is doubt and speculation. Even if we are heralds' of  faith, there will be those that won't believe. One of the most amazing things I have ever heard about or read is what a father told Jesus after bringing his son to Him. The man desired for his son to be healed. Jesus asked if he believed, the man answered, "Lord I believe, but help my unbelief." (Mark 9:23-25). That was a profound statement. Nevertheless, I always wondered, what if I struggle with believing?

What if our faith is not great like those that actually saw Jesus or like those that may have had
 some amazing experience during our day and age? Well I found comfort in "faith like a mustard seed." Jesus put it like this, "He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you (Luke 17:6). Jesus also said, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them (Mark 11:23). The key is not having doubt. It's not easy at first, but as we grow in grace and in our relationship with Jesus it becomes apart of us....Lastly, I have a question for you...have you ever seen a mustard seed? It can fit in the center of your hand...it's very small. It doesn't take a lot but it does require for us  to eradicate doubt; for first we must believe that God exists and that He is a rewarded of those that diligently seek Him.

A.G. Wells

Side Effects: Hurting People, Hurt People at Georgia Regents University!

Side Effects: Hurting People, Hurt People at Georgia Regents University!

What if God Were in a Bottle?

What if God were in a bottle - and you could purchase Him for $1....inserting four quarters in a machine, take a sip and wipe your lip...would you want to finish it? Just place it in the fridge and call it a day...there is really nothing else to say ~ What if Jesus were in a bottle...would you seek him out? Would you partake of the beverage or just pour it out? What if the Holy Spirit was chilled and strategically placed next to the Budweiser? Would you choose the Spirit of Christ or the latter? I said that to say this...and no this is not something you add to your playlist...nowadays the things we choose often come with a price tag...good marketing and advertising is what makes us glad....and pushes us to make a decision quick and fast....without second guessing our decision even if it was bad....but there is a decision that you and I have to make that doesn't cost a thing...this one comes with no attachments or strings...our decision is sort of like a noun which touches on three things: *person, place and things* The person is "You" the place,  Heaven or Hell" and the thing is "Eternity"  - There is a message in the bottle and it reads: *Break the bottle and let God out...don't compartmentalize Him...receive His love, accept His only begotten Son, Jesus as your Lord & Savior.

#chooseChrist4yourLife

Two-Faced

Here you come again with those smiles which are only pretend. 
Your hand shake is also fake, this nonsense I can no longer take. 
You talk about me when I'm not around.... 
I heard about it while I was downtown. 
I see you coming down the street.... 
I wonder today which face I will meet. 
Today it's the face that smiles... 
While inside of you the other face howls
Like a wolf on the top of a hill, while on the outside you appear to be still
For you I pray and hope the love of God reigns all day
Because only God can make your two-faces one
And in the process you can get to know His Son. 

A spirtual make over is what you need
Spiritual surgery is the key...
But as along as you keep your two-faces....
What I am saying to you will only be an oasis.

Questions

Have you ever received forgiveness from up above?
 Have you ever experienced true love?
Does your relationship fit perfectly like a hand and glove? 
Have you ever betrayed the one you love?
Has your lover ever put you on hold?  
When your lover placed you on hold, did it grieve your soul?
Can you trust yourself? 
 Have you ever considered seeking professional help?
Can you count your friends on one hand? 
If you got sick, would they come by your bed and stand?
Are you madly in love with our mate? 
 Before you made the commitment to marry did you date?
Can you remember them all with whom you had sex?  
Were you left with any self respect?
Have you experienced the word reject? 
 In your life, have you done it all?
Have you ever experienced a fall?  
 When you die, where do you want to go?
Heaven or Hell?

Have you made your choice?
Would you like to walk through heavens pearly gates?
Have you ever received the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart by faith?

Inside Job

When was the last time you visited the dentist? Really.....3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years?  Uh Oh.......

Really, it should be a place that we all become familiar with - if not we run the risk of developing undetected issues within our mouths that could potentially cause serious damage...even death

Cleaning - a cleaing is easy right? I... guess it depends on the severity of one's teeth - you see if we practice "cleaning at home" the cleaning in the dentists office is not all that bad. If we don't practice cleaning at home then we are shameful when the "dentist appears" why? Because it is our individual responsibility to take the time out and make sure that we are cleaning, however, shame is made manifest to those that fail to take the initiative and do the cleaning themselves.

Filling - filling is necessary but not everyone needs it, or do they - they only person or persons that readily receive the notion of being "filled" or having their teeth filled are those that recognize the need or the deficiency; the person that has less need of "filling" look to themselves and how "well kept, well groomed of a job "they did on their teeth" that may be true but the individual still needs to submit to the procedure or the in depth examination - Examination is a revelation of the situation that has occurred on a day to day, week to week, month to month basis in a persons life

Root Canal - the most painful type of interaction in a dentists office - a root canal is a serious problem that if it is ignored, infection can develop - the infection can get in the blood stream, travel to the heart and cause cardiac arrest.

What in the world am I talking about?

From a spiritual standpoint we need to stay clean, how does one become clean - through the washing of the WORD (God's Word) - The individual needs to call on the name of Lord and they will be saved - confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead - Have you made your choice?

Filling -  we need to be filled - not our teeth but we - individually need to be filled with the Holy Spirit - because the Holy Spirit is the "Dunamis" Dynamite....we need to be filled to function in that which God has called us to effectively and to live right - holy and acceptable unto God

We always have to be willing to get to the root of the matter - because hurting people, hurt people, if we refuse to deal with our inner most feelings, hang-ups, hurts, short comings - we will be unable to progress towards our destiny.

#Inside Job