Worthy

1/27/19

Diva, prima donna, arrogant, self-righteous, self-absorbed, self-centered, full of yourself and any number of words and phrases that focus on self and people thinking of themselves more highly than they ought to.  All of these words and phrases exemplify some of the people that are of the world. But these are all learned behaviors and choices that are made. No one was born arrogant or self-righteous. If you don’t believe me, think back at the last time you saw a newborn, do you remember seeing any of these worldly traits?  Of course not. 

Believers, on the other hand, know we’re not worthy.  Even as early as Genesis, godly men and women knew they weren’t worthy.  Jacob knew he wasn’t worthy.  Genesis 32:10 says “I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant.  I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.”  Jacob was richly blessed by GOD’s grace.  His recognition of what GOD had done for him made him more devoted to GOD and the things of GOD, as he humbled himself in thankful praise, “I am unworthy…”  There is certainly nothing self-serving about this.

Jacob after deceiving Esau out of his birthright fled for his life.  Greed set his life on a different path, yet throughout Jacob’s life GOD remained faithful, was with Jacob and kept Jacob wherever he went.  Was Jacob worthy or such devotion? such grace? No! And in GOD keeping HIS promise to Jacob blessing HIM in abundance, returning him back to his homeland, restoring his relationship with Esau, Jacob’s life had been forever changed from the inside out.  He was no longer a deceiver but was now at a point in his life that he knew without a shadow of a doubt that the he was never worthy of GOD’s grace.

We are not worthy of GOD’s grace, HIS love, blessings, promises or HIS sacrifice for us.  We must take time to reflect on where we’ve come from, where we are and where we’re going because this is very significant in our recognizing the grace that has been given to us along our journey. I can tell you for certain that grace can take you through the tests of time.  HIS love alone is priceless.

As believers we’re all the same.  The love of GOD, the grace of GOD and our unworthiness is what makes us family and binds us as a community of believers following CHRIST.  There’s no separation or difference when it comes to the fact that we’re all unworthy, we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD yet HE continues to extend HIS love and forgiveness.  HE looks beyond our faults, our sins, and our inconsistency in how we live and HE loves us anyway. 

Everything we have, everything we’ll ever get will be because of HIS grace.  It’s hard to fathom in our finite human understanding just how deep this is.  There is nothing about our mere existence that makes us worthy; only by HIS grace is this possible.

I saw this phrase just a few days ago and it stayed on my heart and prompted this subject matter and it read: “Even when I’m unworthy, GOD gave me worth.” Even when we’re unworthy of HIS love, HIS grace and HIS mercy, HE continues to give our lives value, merit, purpose, importance, position and worth simply because HE loves us.  Where would we be without HIS grace?  

GOD BLESS

                     

Technical difficulties prevented this from being posted on Thursday.  This is for last week.  There will be another on Thursday.

GOD HAS NOT FORGOT

June 19, 2015

For the past few weeks I have had a tugging on my heart to direct a blog specifically to my foreign brothers and sister in the faith who faithfully follow this blog in: Russia (50) France (33) Germany (21) Romania (21) Ukraine (19) Philippines (18) UK (15) India (15) Poland (9) Dominican Republic (5) Japan (5) China (5). WOW, look at GOD! Russia has the highest reader-ship behind the US (1569) who has read the blog at one time or another since it began in December, 2013.  Even with the 6 month hiatus they still read past posts and are still coming from all nations not for my glory but for GOD’s glory.

I don’t know what it’s like to live in a country where your rights and liberties are limited.  Where there is no democracy.  Where in some areas reading the Bible, praying or speaking the name of JESUS can lead to death but GOD does know.  And in my feeble attempt to minister to the masses in a manner that GOD has chosen, HE has been able to enter the hearts of those HIS children abroad through this blog.

So this is what GOD has given for all YOU all this week.

Isaiah 49:12-17 (NIV) ¹² See, they will come from afar some from the north, some from the west, come from the region of Aswan. ^[b]”¹³ Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.¹⁴ But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.¹⁵ “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!¹⁶ See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. ¹⁷ Your children hasten back, and those who laid you waste depart from you.

There are times when GOD is so close to us and our circumstance that we can almost feel HIS breath.  We can see HIM move and orchestrate HIS will in a situation and turn that storm into a calm sea.  HE reverses our destiny and puts us on track towards victory and freedom.  But then there are other times where we know HE’s there, yet we don’t see HIS hand in or on the situation and we feel that we’re alone.  And when this happens the enemy tries to get us to believe that GOD has forgotten us.  And in our weakness and desperation, sometimes even the strongest CHRISTIAN may entertain this thought. 

2 Corinthians 1:20 says: For no matter how many promises GOD has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of GOD.  There are many promises in the Bible some conditional and some unconditional, some are promises for the good of GOD’s children that we should want for any good thing and others are for the spiritual good that relate to GOD being GOD.  Nevertheless, HE is our GOD which includes HIS ever-lasting, non-failing love for us, HIS unseen presence and HIS protection.  In a nutshell, GOD is always there, HIS eyes fixed on us, and HE is just an ear shot away to our prayers and our cries of joy and sorrow.  

GOD HAS NOT FORGOT US NOR HIS PROMISES TO US OR HIS LOVE FOR US.  Nothing can separate us from the love of GOD.  Romans 8:38-39 says: “38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  If this doesn’t prove to us than GOD has not forgot then all we have to do is to take that next breath.  My brothers and sisters we are still here, we have life to be lived, love to be given, service to be performed and a voice to be heard for HIS glory.   

This is one of those guarantees you can count on.  Remember this if nothing else, the GOD of the universe, the GOD who is the great I AM, the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the GOD that never slumbers or sleeps, the GOD that can’t lie, the GOD that knows the number of hairs on our head, the only true and LIVING GOD has not forgotten YOU and HE has not forgotten me.  For our LORD is a GOD of compassion take comfort in it.  Live each day knowing that you are precious in HIS sight and that HE is with you.  HE HAS NOT FORGOT!

GOD BLESS!

And Then There Was One

June 4, 2015

There’s a story in the Bible in Luke 17:11-19 about JESUS healing the ten leapers.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^[a] met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

This story, as all of those in the Bible, is amazing to me.  Yet, it also saddens me.  For over two thousand years GOD has been blessing people here on earth healing us, sparing us from hurt, harm and disaster, restoring us with finances and/or with things that we’ve lost, or the promotion we longed for or a job that we weren’t qualified for but HE gave us favor anyway, yet how many of us have returned to give HIM praise? There’s nothing tricky about this question and it’s not a question that you have to be a rocket scientist to answer.

In our lifetime we have endured tests, trials, tribulations and have come through those tests but where is the testimony?  The test, the trial, the endurance, the pain and yes, the victory isn’t just for us.  Those experiences that we go through good or bad are never for us to keep it under wraps.  The test is for the testimony for the glory of GOD.  There were ten men healed and only one felt the desire to give GOD praise.   This story wasn’t hap hazardly put into the Bible just to add a few more pages. This story in particular, is to remind us of how important our testimony and praise is in glorifying GOD in the presence of those who don’t know HIM.  How often do we share what GOD has done in our lives?  How do we reach the lost, or those on the fence or those who have abandoned their faith if not through our testimonies? 

There are hurting people all around us and spiritual darkness and distress continues to get worse.  This is indeed the signs of the times but we still remain closed mouthed when it comes to sharing our faith and sharing our testimony that just may save a soul.

Christians have an obligation, an unwritten responsibility to testify.  There is value in our life’s stories from our defeats as well as our victories that can bring hope, encouragement and faith to someone who needs to know GOD is alive and well, still sits on HIS throne and is very much in control. 

When we tell someone of the goodness of GOD and what HE has done for us we plant a seed of hope and GOD waters that seed and begins to turn it into faith and faith turns into belief and belief turns into the desire to follow JESUS.  Those seeds (testimonies) draw others to CHRIST.   The tests we face is always for others because without a test, that thing we go through, the thing that we know we couldn’t have gotten through but for the grace of GOD is our testimony, it is our returning, like the one leaper, to praise and thank GOD through our testimony.

We've all had those BUT GOD experiences.  My mother, sister and 15 month old brother and I were in a gas mishap and my brother died when I was 6 they found me near his crib trying to get to him.  I lost my greatest supporter, my grandmother, when I was 12.  My grandfather hung himself a year later.  By the time I was 13 I had a father and 4 step fathers.  I ran away several times.  I had little self-esteem because there was no one to impart hope or encouragement to me.  I started drinking during my teen years. I was on my own by the time I was 16.  I was told I would never be anything, that I was stupid, that he didn’t like me or like being around me by a father that left my mother and I to starve when I was 2 years old and for most of my adult life told me how useless I was. I lost my 16 month old son and 3 other people that I loved in an auto accident when I was 26.  I suffered in my grief for 12 years straight becoming a functional alcoholic.  I have been physically and mentally abused by men that were to protect me.  I’ve been church hurt/work hurt (you know pain and misery you experience on a job that you’re giving 110% to or by your jealous co-workers).  I’ve had multiple health issues and a few life threatening health scares along with other life interruptions BUT GOD brought me out and through every painful incident. My life was anything but stable then JESUS stabilized me,calmed my spirit like HE did the seas, "peace be still."

I AM THAT ONE WHO CAME BACK TO GIVE PRAISE THIS IS MY TESTIMONY.  I went on to get my BS, MS and PhD (the person my father said that would not amount to anything.)  I put the pain of my marriages behind me.  I forgot about the young woman who had low self-esteem and watched GOD take me, mold me and shape me into a child of GOD who continually serves for HIS glory and I’ve made an impact in my community, my workplace, my home and the world because of what I’ve gone through, because of HIS grace.  I have two wonderful children, 5 grandchildren and 1 on the way.  I have a part-time consulting business and GOD has provided me with a house, car and my need.  I am someone that I love because I know GOD loves me and I am no longer bound by low self-esteem.  Prayer works.  There is something in my testimony through my transparency and in revealing my pain, suffering and restoration that is going to help someone in the US, in Poland, in India, in Russia and the other countries that receives this blog realize that there has been BUT GOD MOMENTS FOR THEM THAT NEED TO BE SHARED.  Why is it easier to publicize our weakness and sins while our testimony remains dormant?  SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY BECOME THAT ONE WHO CAME BACK TO GIVE GOD PRAISE and in doing this your life will have impact on the nine that didn’t return. Someone will benefit from your testimony and be encouraged to tell their own. 

GOD BLESS. 

I Am Blessed

5/17/15

GOD bless you.  You’re blessed and highly favored.  Have a blessed day.  We’ve all used one or all of these phrases at one time or another but I wonder if any of us really understand how profound the word BLESSED really is.  It’s not just another buzz word, or a word we toss around and wait to see where it lands or who it lands on.  It's a word from the word of GOD to be held in high regard.

We’re so busy imparting this word on others that we may not take the time to really examine the word or note the implication on our own lives.  Why do we go out of our way and expend energy to say it to someone else so freely, yet when it comes to ourselves how vocal are we? Could it be that we think someone else deserves to be blessed more that we do?  Or could it be that we don’t believe it ourselves?  When is the last time you said ‘’I AM BLESSED.”

GOD extends HIS blessings to all.  HIS blessing is offered to all regardless of age or race or ethnicity.  There are no boundaries.  When we really know we are blessed we won’t say it under our breath but we’ll begin to shout it from the roof tops, “I AM BLESSED.”

In the Bible the word blessed is mentioned 327 times.  The word bless is mentioned 127 times.  And the word blessing is mentioned 67 times.  The word blessed represents GOD’s relationship with HIS children/HIS people that spans from the beginning of time.  When GOD called Abram to go to the Promised Land (Genesis 12:1-3), He promised to bless him, make his name great, and through him he blessed millions. In Genesis 22:16-18, GOD again blesses Abram due to his obedience to GOD's commands.

GOD has given us a gift that no one else can give us.  To be blessed is our inheritance through the blessings that are eternal.  This is what a prominent female Bible teacher says I am blessed means:  I am Bountifully Loved Extravagantly Saved Supplied Empowered Delivered.  BLESSED!    

This is what I AM BLESSED has come to mean to me just in my writing this blog.  For those of you have been following my blog, I’ve said on more than one occasion, the message at times is for me first before I can even post it for you; this is one of those times.  Since writing this blog I have come to view these words in a different manner.  I AM BLESSED is more than 3 words that I say.  It’s a reality check for my spirit.  It’s the foundation that I can use to stand on and receive what GOD has for me.  It’s a testimony of fact, not fiction.  It’s a statement of faith that reminds me that GOD is with me.  It gives me strength when I’m weak.  It’s a proclamation of trust.  Every breath I take, every move I make, every opportunity to live and shine for HIM my blessing.  When I think about where I’ve been, what I’ve come through, how I was able to get through and who brought me through the health scares, financial issues, things and people that had me in bondage, losses and life's painful defeats I must declare, I’m blessed beyond measure.  I don’t make a six figure salary or live in a mansion or drive a big fancy car but I AM STILL BLESSED.  HE loves me, HE loves you and that in itself is the ultimate blessing and promise.

Every single day, there’s something to give thanks for.  Life is something that should remind each of us of how blessed we are regardless of where we are or what we're going through victory is just a prayer away. We are HIS people, we are HIS children, WE ARE BLESSED beloved.  Every day when we get up let’s begin our day by saying, “I AM (Bountifully Loved Extravagantly Saved Supplied Empowered Delivered)  BLESSED but this time, say it and believe it with all of our heart.  Begin saying it this week, everyday with boldness.  Just think how mad the enemy will be if we all start our day, go through our day and end our day saying “I AM BLESSED” living our lives like the blessed children of GOD that we are.  

The Bible says:   

James 1:25

Being A BlessingSanctification, Means And Results Scripture, Sufficiency Ofdiscipleship, benefits of

Hearing God's WordPerfection, DivineForgetting ThingsReward, Divine

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

John 10:10

Abundant LifeDestructionStealingPassover lambBattlesBlessedControlling Your ThoughtsThose Who DestroyemptinessFountains Of LifeLife In Christ

EnlargementAbundance, SpiritualPlenty Through ChristGospel, Promises OfFulnessBeing A BlessingMission, Of Jesus ChristAcknowledging GodSpiritual Progresseternal life, nature of

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Philippians 4:19

AffluenceBlessedBeautifulAcknowledging GodBecoming A ChristianSecurityDivine Suppliesequipping, spiritualProvisions

Plenty Through ChristGenerosity, God'sGod's ProvisionBack to schoolGod, The ProviderPromises To Stand onRiches, SpiritualRiches Of GraceBeing A Blessing

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 15:10

BlessedGrudgesMasters

Resentment, Against PeopleSaints, Care For The Poor

"You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

Philippians 4:13

AthletesAmazingBeing ConfidentCoolBeautifulBad HabitsBattlesAcknowledging GodBeing A Perfect ChristianBack to schoolBeing A SoldierAdversityBeing AfraidAbilityBecoming A ChristianBlessedAnxiety

Enabling GraceVictory, Over Spiritual ForcesAll Things Being PossibleConqueringStrength, God Is OurComfortingDeterminationFaultsAbility, Of The ChristianBecoming More Like ChristGod Giving StrengthResurrection, SpiritualBad InfluenceDivine Assistance, GivenPossibilities For PeopleSpiritual Warfare, As ConflictAggression

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Isaiah 41:10

AnxietyComfortingBeing AfraidAmazingAdversityBecoming A ChristianBattlesBeing ConfidentBeing A Perfect ChristianBeautifulBad LeadershipBecoming More Like ChristBad LanguagePessimismDoubt, Dealing WithAdultsGod Giving StrengthStrength, SpiritualHelpfulnessConquering

ProtectionSuffering, Encouragements InLonelinessSustaining ProvidenceReliabilityAssurance, nature ofStrength, God Is OurHand Of GodEncouragement In LifeRescueConfidence In God, Produces BoldnessProtection, From GodPeace, Divine In OtBeing BetrayedGod With YouRight Hand Of GodGod, Righteousness OfBeing A Know It AllAcknowledging GodComfort, When Lonely

'Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'

I AM BLESSED!

GOD BLESS 

FIRST A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR:  IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK DOING WHAT I'VE BEEN CALLED TO DO. I TOOK A LEAVE RIGHT AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SUCCESS OF THIS PUBLICATION, BUT WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF MY READERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE 11 COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN READING MY BLOG AND CONTINUED TO READ THE BLOG DURING MY ON-LINE ABSENCE.  I HUMBLY THANK THOSE READERS IN THE STATES AND ABROAD FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PROMISE THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS GOD GIVES ME THE WORDS TO DO SO.

Perfect

5/4/15

There is one word in the dictionary that I feel does not belong there and that word is perfect.  Regardless of the hype, there are only a few things in this world that are truly perfect.  A perfect golf game for instance, or a perfect bowling score or a perfect test score, these are a few of the exceptions to the rule.

But for any of us to presume that any person or circumstance is perfect is deceiving and we are deceiving ourselves.  We have been programmed to shun anything imperfect and to constantly seek perfection.  The constant relentless brainwashing in TV ads, magazine articles, radio announcements, movies, etc. leads us to believe that anything less than perfect or anyone that has flaws is unacceptable and not worthy.

But if we look at the one truth that is liberating, and allow it so set us free, we will soon understand that there are no perfect employers, companies, pastors, churches, wives, husbands, siblings, children and so on.  And for some people this is a hard pill to swallow.

We are constantly seeking to find the perfect house, car, mate, job, friend, etc. and if the dictionary's definition of perfect sets the standard for true happiness, then we have set ourselves up to fail based on our perception of what perfect is and we miss the blessings of what happiness is.

We are not a flawless society.  A person’s search for perfection in their marriage, in their relationships, in their peers, in their employers, in their employees, in their parents, in their children has many times put the relationship at risk because it is based on what our perception of perfect is based on unreal expectations.  Marriages have failed, relationships have become estranged because perfect was the standard for the relationship. 

How many people have taken their lives because they either could not live up to their perfect reputations, their parent’s wishes, the unreasonable expectations of their spouse or some other person's expectation?  How many people lost their jobs because an employer wanted everything done perfectly and anything less was not acceptable?  We took the word perfect and ran with it.  I even found myself, after being off work for a year, praying asking GOD for that perfect job which I have since come to realize does not exist but a purposeful job does. 

We should thank GOD for imperfections because it is when we are imperfect, or the situation or circumstance is imperfect that we realize how much we need GOD and how we must to look to HIM to be all we need and give us all that we need.

If we stop wasting our time looking for perfection in any man, woman or situation and begin to concentrate and focus on the perfect JESUS and cling to the perfect CREATOR, GOD HIMSELF, then and then only will we find that perfect peace that is promised throughout HIS perfect word . 

GOD BLESS YOU