Giving: A Helping Hand

How many times have you been told, “man, I got you,” or “girl you know how we do, I’m here whenever you need me,” only later to find out when you’re really in need, they were no where to be found?”

17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth, I John 3:17-18.

In Christian maturity, this is a place where actions speak louder than words. This is also a place where the love of God is not merely spoken of, but manifested. Our text encourages us to not just say we’re going to help, but to follow through with what we say; and help.

This exchange of selfless consideration may not be an easy thing to do for some of us. Many of us have had very little and it hasn’t been in us to give of the little we have. For others it’s a struggle because we may not believe the one in need deserves it. When we consider the ultimate price God paid in allowing His only begotten Son to die for our sins and to show us exactly what unconditional love is, how can we not show love one to another, especially one in need?

If you want to reap a harvest that does not compare to what you’ve sown, I dare you to give (in love and not begrudgingly) of yourself and your resources, and watch God shower you with blessings you won’t have room to receive. You see God gives to the giver. Are you a giver?

It’s time we GIVE, a helping hand, leg, foot, our all!

Your thoughts?

In The Now

There are times in our lives where desperate times call for desperate measures. Times when your back may be up against a wall and it appears there is no way out or no relief in sight. It may even seem as though things are getting worse before they get better; and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.

The thing about tunnels, you don’t know you’re at the end until you actually see the light! Please take a moment and allow that to marinate. Now faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1. Our Scripture reference gives us the assurance that even if we’re in a tunnel situation, and we’re in Christ Jesus, we can know the REALITY of the matter is we have exactly what God says we have. If it’s peace or piece of mind; if it’s deliverance or healing; if it’s a new job or more pay; or problems with an estranged relationship, we have it no matter what it looks like. As we mature in the things of God, we have to begin living in the “now!”

What is faith? Now faith is.

Just in case you missed it; faith is now. Any questions?

Good. It’s not when it manifests, it’s when you speak it or when God speaks it!  

Let’s practice walking, talking and living in the now!

Your thoughts?

Face Time

There comes a time when we as believers must take our walk with God to another dimension in Him. There are countless facets to His personality, so much so, we could never exhaust them all. But we are to make a conscious effort to seek Him with our WHOLE heart on a regular basis.

When thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, they face, Lord will I seek, Psalm 27:8. I like to call my time with the Lord, face time. This is not a time of throwing up repetitious prayer, but a time of heartfelt sincerity in spending quality time with the Father. It’s a time of adoring Him, extolling Him and reminding Him of His wonder and greatness. It is also a time when I sit quietly, just as a child who has positioned themselves on an edge of a chair, hanging on to her Father’s every word. And I know that with every word He speaks, it is creating newness in my life and giving me even more hope to go on and stand a little longer for His name sake.

Please don’t neglect having face time with our heavenly Father. Our lives cannot be changed from glory to glory without doing so. Have you had your face time today? I did!!!

Your thoughts?

Shhh…did you hear that?

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do  your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing, Thessalonians 3:11-12.

With so much going on around us it’s a wonder we can become more sensitive to God’s spirit. After reading today’s text, I see we have to study in order to have an ear to hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying to us. I don’t know about you, but I have times of draught when I’m not hearing; know that it’s no fault of God but rather all my fault.

Sometimes we need a detox, a time when we say no to other people’s business and get in a quiet place to do what God has called us to do personally. I’m in no way saying neglect others, but I am saying we must get in God’s face in order to know what to take on and what not to take on. When we’re obedient over the things He has instructed us to do, we will suffer NO LACK! This is no easy fete, but it is indeed a necessary one.

Let’s purpose to study how to be quiet so we can hear God’s voice.

Did you hear that? God is always speaking!

Your thoughts?

Where Lies Your Confidence?

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Job 1-6-8

In today’s text we see that God has great confidence in Job, so much so that He asked Satan if he tried (tested) Job. I am certain that as children of God, we are experiencing storms in our lives that are tempting us to waver in our faith. But I say to us ALL, don’t be moved by what you may be experiencing, but rather stand strong, knowing that God has allowed this to come our way, because He has confidence in US!

The question today is do we have that same confidence in our God? If you know this to be true then our response to what is going on in our lives should most assuredly represent that. I know that some of the trials we are facing now are much harder than those we’ve previously experienced, but know that there’s nothing too hard for our God.

Do you know where your confidence lies today? Is it in a God who cannot fail or is it in mere man?

Your thoughts?

This Will Hurt Me More Than It Hurts You

Have you ever heard the saying, “this is gonna hurt me more than it will hurt you?” It more than likely would have been said shortly before your parent was about to administer a spanking or in my day, a whooping.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby, Hebrews 12:11. As our Scripture states, few of us enjoy the act or process of getting whooped either physically or spiritually. But what I have learned is if we’re not corrected, we will continue to do wrong.

God, in His infamous wisdom, when He chastens us, He does it in a way that is both beneficial as well as loving. When He corrects us we profit unto holiness and I’m sure we all can use more holiness in our lives. Let’s change our perspective on how we perceive the correction of God to one that is receiving because we know it will yield peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Your thoughts?