Bitter or Better?

8/28/14

I have been off the grid for a while but I’m very grateful to be back.  I had a health scare earlier this month but that’s not the full reason for my absence.  I wrote this blog several weeks ago, but because I was feeling a little defeated I let it just sit in my documents section.

I have been in this health care battle for a year but wasn’t quite ready to raise the white flag in full defeat all I knew was something had to change.  Prayers upon, prayers upon prayers went up by me and by intercessors and in the midst of the battle I felt like I was JOB sitting in the ashes, waiting for an answer from GOD with my faith intact, but there was no answer to be found.  I was perplexed but not in despair.  2 Corinthians 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.

Everyone has a favorite Bible story and if I took a poll I’d get many different answers on what your favorite story is.  Is it the story of Esther? David & Goliath? Abraham & Sarah? Noah? or any of the numerous others we’ve read about?  But at the end of the poll count, I can say for sure without a doubt, the book of Job wouldn’t be one of the top ten.  The book of Job is like the relative that no one talks about or like the elephant in the room. The book possesses a delicate subject that no one wants to talk or think about-SUFFERING. 

On the surface, Job looks like a story of doom and groom. There is nothing heroic in his suffering, yet GOD chose to add this book to HIS word for many lessons to be learned.  Many scholars think that Job is the oldest book in the Bible. 

In our humanness we don’t want to think about sadness or suffering, loss or devastation, or illness or death.  We don’t like thinking about these things because we’d have to think about the possibility that these things could happen to us.  How many times have we turned on the news and saw something horrible that has happened and we heard someone say, “I just didn’t think this could happen to me.”

If you’d asked me 2 1/2 years ago if I thought that I’d go through my Job experience, I’d tell say you were wrong.  But it happened.  In the past 2 1/2 years my body has gone through attacks, affliction and trauma like no other time in my life.  5 hospitalizations, 2 surgeries within 4 months of each other, pain, multiple medications, multiple tests, and more medications, more pain, multiple diagnosis identified and other issues yet to be determined.   There was a time during this past year that the pain was so bad that I woke up in pain and went to bed in pain.  I couldn’t remember what it felt like not to be in pain.  All of this along with extreme fatigue and poor endurance took its toll, some of which I continue to go through.

And there’s more.  I became unemployed, all of my savings/retirement fund and my smaller rainy day fund has been exhausted, disability payments ending and then more traumas to my body, disabled for a time (year as of 9/6/14) and now still unemployed.  When Job was going through all that he went through, his friends were wondering what he’d done and was condemning him for sins they thought he’d committed.  I’m not sure what my friends are thinking or saying but I have remained faithful in my service, my tithes, my praise and worship and love for my brother.  Yet I remain in this Job experience.

I’ve cried out to GOD and have talked to HIM and like Job I am wondering, when will this end?  How long with this last?  When will I be delivered?  No answer has come yet.  I’m reminded in the midst of all of this that the Bible acknowledges that good people will suffer as the evildoers do.  We don’t get a free pass.

Why am I in this Job experience?  No one knows but GOD.  Unfortunately, suffering in all forms, is a part of life and it’s the hardest thing to understand.  The one thing I do understand is that the enemy plays a heavy role in bringing forth suffering in the lives of believers.    

When we read the story of Job we have to read it like we read the book of Revelation.  We know the end of the story there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and there’s a silver lining.  In the case of Job GOD restored to him what he’d lost.  Job at one point was angry, frustrated and was feeling down but he never cursed GOD.  He endured.  The story of Job is one that most people think of as a story of learning to become patient.  “The patience of Job” is a well-known quote but there’s an even greater lesson to be learned we have to have faith and trust GOD in the face of our trials.  Job set this example and what an example he was.    

ln being in the midst of this Job experience I’ve also chosen to continue to believe GOD.  Job was restored when he began to pray for his friends.  Job 42:10: After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.  I too have continued to pray for my friends and those in need of intercessory prayer.  There’s something about putting your circumstances on the back burner and bring to the forefront the needs of others that makes your issues insignificant. 

Job emerged victorious; he came through the darkness into the light.  There is always a key to our learning process in any spiritual trial.  Each trial gives us an opportunity to get up close and personal with GOD and to really get to know HIM, and not just get to know more about HIM.  When we go through things it’s easy to become angry and bitter, but it’s GOD’s will for us to become better.  If you’re in your Job experience or going through a trial at this time then you have a choice to make will you become bitter or better?

Oh by the way, GOD is faithful (as always), as of Tuesday, August 26^th, I am no longer unemployed.  I start work next Tuesday, 3 days a week (my choice and MD orders) using wisdom not to overtax my body.  I will be doing something I’m good at but also I will be doing something new and exciting.  I can’t wait.  I have no doubt that in GOD’s timing everything I lost will be restored including my health and I’ll be back to 5 days a week or who knows, maybe this is the time to build the dreams and visions that GOD gave me with in my Patient Advocacy division which was put on hold during this Job experience.  All I know is restoration has already begun.  Hallelujah!  Restoration can also begin for you.  KEEP THE FAITH! GREATER IS COMING.  LISTEN TO THIS.   (hold control and click with left mouse)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOfbomJQZQw

GOD BLESS.

Breaking News: “Proverbs 31 Woman Missing”

7/28/14

If we woke up in the morning to a breaking news story saying, “Michele Obama is missing”, the world would be in shock and unbelief wondering how could this happen?  Many people would be in prayer for her safe return and those with little or no faith would begin to talk about the type of woman she was, her character, her work with child obesity and the things she did behind the scenes.  And it’s also safe to say that every news channel and every available form of media would run the story day in and day out until she was safely returned. 

I recently was prompted by an article that I was reading to revisit Proverbs 31:10-31.  As I began to read it I realized this woman was like the superwoman of Biblical times and the poster child for present day Biblical truths.  These verses speak of how a woman of GOD is to be in her marriage, as a mother, in her home, in the marketplace and her place in the community.

As I continued reading these verses, I wondered how can a woman, any woman, do all of these things and do them in excellence?   Do them for a lifetime and a lifestyle?  And do them willingly without complaint? There was a consistent lifestyle, pattern and daily walk that this woman was to faithfully live according to the word of GOD. 

I was born in 1950; my grandmother had a principal role in raising me for the first 12 years of my life.  My grandmother was a Proverbs 31 woman.  She lived those verses in excellence without complaint and I always saw her respect, honor and encourage my grandfather, her husband of 35 years (by 1962) prior to her death in 1963.  There’s not one action in those verses that I didn’t see in my grandmother.  She was the spiritual matriarch of the family.

If we reflect back to the 50’s we’ll see most women of that era portrayed in TV shows like Ozzie & Harriett, Father Knows Best, The Donna Reed Show, Leave It To Beaver, etc. had women that could be perceived as close as you could get to a virtuous women.   As I am writing this it came to mind that there were lessons to be learned through these TV series.  But even as early as the 60’s the tide began to change and society began to see these women as being too submissive, too domestic, too quiet, too accepting, etc.  And then came Norma Rae in 1979, Working 9-5 in 1980, Baby Boomer in 1987, Working Girl in 1988 and First Wives Club in 1996 and we saw a whole new breed of women who were strong, independent and not the traditional matriarchs.  Many of these new breed of women felt they didn’t need a man and could gain success on their own.  These women made the women, mothers and wives of the early 50’s TV series look like domesticated, submissive, stepford wives and we soon saw the picture of the virtuous woman slowly disappear.

My grandmother was an inspiration to me, she is the one who planted the seed and introduced me to JESUS at the early age of 2 through Sunday school and her home teaching of CHRIST.  Because of my grandmother I learned as a woman how to dress, how to look, present myself as a child of GOD.

These corny TV shows were a vehicle used to show us women of honor, women of virtue and what a virtuous woman could look like.  Throughout my life there has been certain aspect of my life that has mirrored my grandmother’s teachings and character.  Things that I have kept close to my heart all these years especially when it comes how I look and dress as a child of GOD.  I’ve continued to realize how the relationship my grandmother has molded me into the best of who I am.  I always thought the memories that I took away from our relationship were the memories of us cooking and baking together, canning and making preserves, gardening, watching her sew, knit and crochet.  Listening to her singing hymns as she cooked or cleaned.  Our watching Kathryn Koolman, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Loretta Young and Bishop Fulton Sheen.  The best times of my life were the years I spent with my grandmother just being in her presence and I’ve thought fondly of each memory and have even tried to share similar experiences with my own grandaughters.  But I now realize the treasure that I should have clung to were the memories of the Proverbs 31 woman that I saw throughout her life. She was always consistent, never compromising and always a disciplined follower of CHRIST. 

The world has kidnapped and hasn’t returned the Proverbs 31 woman.  She has been removed through social interaction, dysfunctional family issues, divorce, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, abandonment issues, social media, television, movies, music and any other way that you can diminish a person’s character.  She has been missing for years and we’ve made little or no effort to get her back because we’ve conformed to the type of woman that the world dictates.  But NO MORE.  Those of us who are children of GOD have the responsibility of being a part of the search and rescue team that brings her back into our lives as well as the lives of other women.  How do we do this?  As single or married women we must continue to develop characteristics that mold us into the Proverbs 31 woman.  Our pursuit of excellence, service to GOD and our vow to become self-sufficient, obedient care-takers of our homes and GOD fearing women has to be renewed. 

We are capable of being all that GOD has intended us to be.  By faith we are strengthened to steward and maintain our households as GOD desires and care for our family and community.  The fear of GOD is where the search ends and the Proverbs 31 woman can be found. 

We all should read Proverbs 31 and be in search of the Proverbs 31 woman in us and then work towards the goal of full manifestation even if it takes one virtue at a time to attain it.  The breaking news story in our homes, marketplaces, churches, neighborhoods should soon read “ Proverbs 31 Woman Found Alive and Well.”  It all starts with you.  GOD BLESS

To Be or Not To Be That Is The Question.

7/14/14

There are many things that we do that are easy in life.  Going to church may be one of the easiest things we can do.  We wake up, get ready, drive to the church, enter the doors, we are greeted and we greet others, we participate in praise and worship, sing, and in some cases dance, contribute through our tithes and offerings, hear the message, pray, fellowship after church and go home.  How easy is that?

Now, let’s flip the coin.  How easy is it to be the church?  Yes, I will ask it again.  How easy is it to be the church?  NOT SO EASY because of our mindset.  If you ask anyone what is the church?  This is the response you may get: a place or location where you worship.  And then there’s the ultimate questions we ask one another “Where do you attend church?” or “Where do you go to church?” or “What church do you belong to?” or “Where is your church?”  We’ve all been asked one or more of these questions and have also asked them.  How did we get so far off track?

The CHRISTIAN faith from the very beginning was never about a building.  It was and is always about the love that we have in our hearts and that CHRISTLIKE spirit that is needed to keep that light shining and that salt in the earth.  Personally I think at times we give too much emphasis on the building and less emphasis on our discipleship and our role.  The church has never been the building but for some reason we can’t seem to get it.  Maybe this will help clear the air.  In the Bible the word church is a Greek word ekklesia, translated means "a calling out." There’s nothing that refers to a building, structure or a place to meet in the Bible, but the Bible always refers to the people as the people "called out" of the world by our God who is constantly calling HIS people into service. The church that the Bible speaks of isn’t a building with a foundation, walls and a roof.  The church of the Bible isn’t a cold building made of brick and mortar or stone or any other man made material.  The church in the Bible is about compassionate people, loving people who are chosen by GOD to show GOD’s love and spread the good news.

The church that JESUS envisioned is a church of people and for the people regardless where they meet.  For example, the apostle Paul greeted the church—the congregation of people—that met in the house of Priscilla and Aquila in Rome (Romans: 16:3-5 Greet Priscilla^[a] and Aquila, my co-workers in CHRIST JESUS ⁴ They risked their lives for me.  Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. ⁵ Greet also the church that meets at their house.  JESUS HIMSELF confirms the church is the people.  When Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter,^[a and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it.”  JESUS was clear; the church was the people, HIS chosen people, and the CHRISTIAN movement would never die and over 2,000 years later the church lives.  For centuries doctrines and man-made practices have confused people.  So how did we get here?  And how do we get back to what the church was meant to be?

JESUS said HIS church would not die.  Matthew 16:18 (see the verse above).  GOD has been calling HIS people out of the world, into HIS church to do a work.  To really be the church all we have to do is be the salt of the earth.  Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”  As the salt of the earth we are to be a preservative and preserve the world from evil.  And to be the church we have to be the light of the world.  Matthew 5:4¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” We continuously shine for everyone to see and are the light in a dark world we are showing others how we live as CHRIST lived and unconditionally love as CHRIST loved.  

The world is literally dying a spiritual death right before our eyes.  We’re in a world of the walking dead.  Broken, hurting people in need of hope.  When was the last time we’ve encouraged a total stranger?  Opened our arms to comfort someone?  Sacrificed our nail appointment to provide a meal, or clothes or shoes to someone in need? When was the last time we smiled at the least of these and looked past their visual appearance and looked at the story behind the face?  We all have a story and we all have a testimony but we chose not to share either our story or testimony with those who are desperate to know that they are not the only one who is in their situation.   

What is it going to take for us to follow JESUS in the 21^st century like the disciples followed HIM over 2,000 years ago?  There are still miracles to be done, dreams to be had, visions to be seen and prayers to be answered.  Let’s turn our hearts and our focus off the things and the cares of this world, focus on the great commission and be the church.  It’s hard to be the church because it takes discipline, commitment, steadfastness, giving of ourselves, keeping an open mind and heart, maybe forsaking family or friends, giving up our lives as we know it and dying to ourselves so we can show someone how to live for CHRIST.  The stakes are high.  We can’t let going to church and being on this committee and that ministry be our legacy, otherwise we can add those things to the list of meaningless things spoken of in Ecclesiastes 1-5.  But if we become the church, begin to touch lives so JESUS can change lives, show someone the real image of GOD and the love of CHRIST then and only then will what we do become meaningful and become the most important role we’ll ever have this side of heaven. 

LET’S BE THE CHURCH-we have no time to tarry.  Darkness is everywhere while light is barely present.  It’s time to turn on our lights on everywhere we go.  Matthew 5:16 (NIV)  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

 GOD BLESS!

GOD’S HOLDING PATTERN

6/9/14

Most of us have been on a plane at one time or another during our lifetime.  The thought of travel is always exciting to get away from home, experience a new adventure, visit family and friends or just to relax.

There is one thing I think we can all agree on is the fact that the air traffic control is the most critical parts of the equation in air travel.  The air traffic controllers are responsible for coordinating the takeoff, in-flight progress of the plane and the landing.

Although we may love to fly there’s always a chance that we’ll be on a plane that will have a hold. Holding is when a plane has a holding fix and waits for clearance to land.  A holding pattern is a predetermined maneuver designed solely to keep the plane within a specified airspace. It is a state of being inactive or no change. 

Presently there are many of GOD’s children who are in a holding pattern, including myself, waiting for clearance to land.  We were on course, some of us doing well and others doing not so well and now we find ourselves in a holding pattern waiting for our air traffic controller (GOD) to clear us for landing.

I’ve been in a holding pattern for the past 3 years in different areas of my life and I will be the first to admit that being in a holding pattern isn’t the easiest place to be.  There are too many variables and questions and let’s not mention the requirement of patience and longsuffering.  

Holding patterns are not timed events.  We don’t know when we’re going to enter into a holding pattern or when we’ll come out of it.  There’s no warning, we’re going along with our lives minding our own business, following our dream or our blueprint of what we want our life to be, we set goals and timelines and then out of the blue we’re forced into a holding pattern where it feels like a lifetime of waiting to be cleared to land, cleared to continue on our journey, and to get on with our lives.

Since a holding pattern is a predetermined maneuver (by GOD) then anyone who is in a holding pattern has to realize that we have no control over the maneuver.   GOD’s got this.

So while we’re waiting for our clearance to land GOD is saying: "MY child you’re at a different altitude but it’s your attitude and your pride that has to be broken and adjusted." " MY child I’VE been chasing you for years calling you to service, yet the more I chase you the faster you run." " MY child, your heart for the things of GOD needs to be changed; you lack compassion and love for others and you refuse to serve." " MY child your love for the things of this world and status exceed your love for ME." "MY child I’VE been trying to have a conversation with you for some time but you’re always too busy to listen."  "MY child the choices that you’re making aren’t in line with MY will and purpose for your life." "MY child, I’m working things out in heaven to soon be manifest on earth for your promotion to a new level in ME, be patient it is on its way."  "Until you are transformed in these areas I can’t permit you to land."  There are some people who keep circling and circling and circling while in their holding pattern and never are permitted to land.  Because they just won't surrender.

Some of our holding patterns are caused by our own disobedience, resistance to change, hardened hearts or unteachable spirits.  Others are caused by other people in our lives who are purposely holding us back.  And some are caused by reasons and circumstances we have no control over.  But the best holding pattern to be in is the one where GOD is preparing us for the next season and the next level in HIM. 

In all these areas as well as others not mentioned here, GOD allows us to hover and wait in a holding pattern for a season of spiritual growth or adjustment.  The one thing about whatever holding pattern we’re in, this maneuver by GOD that put us in a holding pattern has definitely gotten our attention.  And when it gets to this point there’s nothing for us to do but believe HE knows what’s best and remain obedient in our faith and praise HIM anyhow.  In our praising HIM remember this:  The holding pattern we’re in has a purpose.  The holding pattern we’re in has a plan.  And last but not least, the holding pattern has a process. 

Deuteronomy 32:11-12 ESV: 11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, 12  the LORD alone guided him, no foreign god was with him

These verses tell us that GOD is a disturber, a developer and a deliverer.  HE will disturb our lives and put us in a holding pattern in order for us to become developed in areas that HE requires for service and spiritual growth and then HE finally delivers us by giving us what we’ve been longing to hear “YOU’RE CLEAR TO LAND” but only in HIS timing.  Prior to our landing there may be a few bumps in the road or difficulties.  HE may close some doors to open others; GOD has plans for us that most often don’t align with ours. We either obey or defy and either fly like an eagle or die a spiritual death.

Our spiritual growth as children of GOD is always dependent on GOD disturbing us, developing us and delivering us.  We’re wired to fly by HIS strength beneath our wings as HE swoops beneath us and catches us on HIS pinions.  HE is perfecting us to be the person we are meant to be in CHRIST.   Get ready to hear “YOU’RE cleared for landing." When we finally embrace this truth then we will see HIS glory on earth in ways we couldn’t ever imagine.  We shouldn’t be too eager to come out of the holding pattern and land too soon or we may crash and burn. 

GOD BLESS!

NO For the Greater YES

5/27/14

A few weeks ago I was watching a trailer of a movie, like I often do to find and acquire movies for my Christian movie ministry.  I was writing a blog draft as I watched and listened to the trailer.  As I was writing I heard a series words that caused me to stop what I was doing and pay attention to what was being said.  Why?  Because these words gave me a revelation that was well overdue.  It felt as though my heart stopped beating and quickly restarted once the words were heard.

The focus of the movie (true story) is about a young terminally ill woman.  The young woman, her family, and the whole town were praying for her healing.  For a time things looked like their prayers had been answered, she was in remission, doing well and serving GOD to the highest degree in missions work but then there was a sudden change and it became obvious to her and somewhat a denial for others that she was indeed going to die.  Her faith kept her hopeful but as time passed she began to surrender to what she knew was the inevitable.

This synopsis of the movie isn’t what shook me, but when the young lady said these words, “When GOD says NO it’s because there’s a greater YES in the future”  an ah ha moment took over and I began to see things differently.  After hearing these words, I had no choice but to do a life review and I began to replay in my mind the times when GOD said NO and the significance and impact of HIS decision on my life.

Some of the most heartbreaking NO’s in my life were the most damaging to my spirit.  One of the most significant times in my life when GOD said NO was during a time when my whole world began to crumble beneath me due to a great personal loss.  My best friend, her unborn child, one of her other daughters and my 15 month old son were in an auto accident in 1976.  I drove upon my friend’s car on my way home from work and knowing she had my son with her I was frantic.  My son’s heart stopped several times. As I looked around me it was like a scene from a movie their bodies had been thrown from the car and now were bruised and broken and being transported to the closest medical facility.  I was in shock.  This couldn’t be happening.  This had to be a dream or a hellish nightmare but unfortunately it was real.  I found myself in an emergency room in such emotional pain and agony that I felt I wouldn’t survive.  My son’s condition was grave, his tiny skull had been crushed and if he lived he’d be a vegetable.  Surgery was immediately scheduled to release the pressure on his brain.  I began crying out to GOD, begging, pleading with GOD and it was during my last resort, as I was in the process of bargaining with GOD, that my NO came.  My son died within four and a half hours of his arrival to the hospital never regaining consciousness or having the surgery.

This happened a week before Christmas, I was angry at GOD and even went so far to say I hated GOD because HE said NO.  My best friend, her unborn child, one of her daughters and my son were taken from me forever.

During my life review the greater YES was exposed and I found myself seeing the validity of those words which are also true of GOD’s character.  If you think about the characters in the Bible those with the greatest impact for the kingdom were people to whom GOD said NO. 

When we’re going through our life’s journey and GOD says NO, whether it is to the degree of my NO or a lesser degree, we must remember that there is a greater YES in the future for HIS glory.  We can’t see the plans and purposes of GOD, there’s no snapshot for us to see of the greater YES so this too is one of those mysteries about GOD that we aren’t privileged to.  Therefore, by faith we must trust it to be true.  If HE says NO there is a reason unknown to us but known to GOD.

My greater YES came much later as I was silently drafted into a life of marketplace ministry in the workplace.  I was placed on the front lines of the onset of the AIDS outbreak in 1981 and for many years that followed in order for me to show GOD’s love and compassion to those affected.  I started a women's ministry out of my home and that blessed the community in many ways.  I later was called and instructed to host prayer breakfasts bringing competitors in the health care industry together to fellowship and support one another.  In my most recent years I've had the privilege to minister through the prayer and altar ministry at my church and in February, 2014 my territory continued to expand through the starting of my Christian movie outreach ministry.  This blog site is one of the greatest in the YES category because GOD has continuously touched lives, week after week, in 9 countries and the USA since the first post on December 6, 2013.  These YES moments have set me on a path to walk boldly in my destiny, one that I couldn’t ever imagine. 

GOD has used me in so many ways and venues to touch lives on HIS behalf that although my loss and my NO was devastating, over time the results have proven the YES in my past, and the YES in my present have been indeed for the greater YES and the greater good.   The comfort in all of this is knowing that one day, when my work is done, I will see my son and my GOD face to face.

Be encouraged, when GOD says NO lift up your eyes towards GOD and look forward to the greater YES in your future for HIS glory, honor and praise.  There is where you will find the help you need until your YES arrives. 

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

GOD bless.

Transfer of Ownership

5/21/14

The last post I shared with you was on the difference between stewardship and ownership and the weight that we carry when we choose ownership as it is defined in the world over steward-ship as it is defined in GOD’s word.

The one thing that is crystal clear throughout the Bible is that GOD owns it all.  The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalm 24:1 (NIV)  We can either be owners in our own right or stewards in the eyes of GOD and not just stewards, but good stewards.  To be a good steward we must transfer everything we own to GOD.  Our family, finances, time, possessions, gifts, education and anything else we call ours to GOD.  There is evidence that GOD wants us to be stewards which is found in: Luke 16:10-12 (NIV):

¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹² And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

There’s no gray area here, there’s only two choices; we’re either an owner or a steward.  There is nothing in between.  But for the sake of this blog we’re focusing for a few minutes on stewardship and the transfer of ownership of all we have to GOD. 

So how do we transfer ownership and become stewards?  It’s really simple, we must give up ownership rights and all that it entails.  That means giving up our possessions, anything that we think we own, anything that we call ours or mine, anything that we’ve place that ownership label on and now call it GOD’s.  That means the tangible and intangible possessions including our money, time, skills, talents, gifts, education and anything that we could be blessed with in the future.

GOD’s will is for us to become faithful stewards, take personal responsibility for caring for the things of GOD and the things that GOD has entrusted to and use what has been given faithfully.

As GOD blesses us and we allow HIM to work on our thoughts about stewardship it will become easier to make that transfer of ownership to the creator of all things.  As with everything in life GOD allows us the freedom of choice.  But surrendering it all is the only rational choice.  Let’s choose to handle what HE’s given to us faithfully.  There is nothing more endearing than that of  servants returning our possessions to GOD.  This type of thinking changes our attitudes and as a result of the change in our attitude GOD can begin to release the blessings that HE has saved for us.

If you’re ready to make that transfer write this down :  (don’t limit the possessions to finances alone, there are many other possessions we claim as our own like our time, skills, gifts, education, business, etc.) 

Ownership Transfer

From:_________________

To:  GOD

I hereby transfer to GOD the ownership of all things on this list of possessions: 

(List all your possessions that you’re willing to transfer here)

Signed:___________________________________   Date:__________

Put your signed copy somewhere that you can be reminded of your transfer.

If we allow GOD to take ownership and we allow HIM to guide us in all that we do we will see the power of GOD’s transforming power across all areas of our lives as we never have before.  Don’t take my word for it, take HIS word for it.  You can take HIS word to the bank: Deuteronomy 5:32-33 (NIV) 32 So be careful to do what the LORD your GOD has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.  33 Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your GOD has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. 

GOD BLESS YOU!

Stewardship vs Ownership

5/5/14

My house, my kids, my money, my job, my car: Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. 

As children there is a specific stage of development. At twelve months, a child: Babbles, but with inflection, which sounds like talking and says their first word. At eighteen months, a child: Says 8-10 words others can understand, has a vocabulary of about 5 to 40 words, uses mostly nouns, repeats words heard in conversation and uses “hi,” “bye,” and “please” when reminded. At two years, a child: has a vocabulary of 150 to 300 words, uses 2-3 word sentences, usually in noun-verb combinations, such as "Dog bark," but also using inflection with combinations like "More cookie?" and refers to self by name and uses “me” and “mine” and we carry this mine/ownership mentality throughout our lives.

Everything we see we want.  All the media advertisements are geared to activate our emotions and plant a seed of the desire to own that thing whether it is large or small.  Cars. houses, jewelry, clothes, food, etc.   

The need to own is like an epidemic, renting something or leasing something is no longer enough, we have to have it, make it ours even if it means swindling someone out of it, lying to get it, taking it from someone else to make it ours and some have gone so far as to kill for that it.  The need for ownership rights becomes the drug of choice and a monkey on our back that we can’t easily get rid of.  The world has impressed in our minds that there is power and status in ownership.  We take pride when we tell someone about the house we just bought or the car we are buying. No one ever brags about renting anything because renting doesn’t carry any significant status symbol.  The name of the game of life in this world is keeping up with the Jones’, the Smiths’ and even the Kardashians. (lol)  This is what compels us to want more and, get more regardless of the consequences.  

Possession (ownership) is about owning something, calling it ours and the drive to make it ours sets us on a path of destruction, stewardship is the safest way and the only way to peace of mind.  Rent to own, lease to own, lease with option to buy are all phrases we’re familiar with and these options lead right back to that path of destruction IF THE PERSON IS OWNING IN TERMS OF THE WORLD’S DEFINITION.  

The best car, house, clothes, jewelry, gourmet foods, lavish living, and exotic travel breeds ownership rights and this ownership comes with a high price when stewardship isn’t the focus of what we are given and are blessed with.  Those fancy cars, houses, jewelry and money may be in our possession but in essence GOD owns it all.  1 Chronicles 29: 11 says “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is YOURS."  Not some things are GOD’s but it says EVERYTHING IS HIS. We never really own anything here on earth in this life no matter how we get it or how long we have it and the main proof of evidence is that we can’t take it with us.

There is nothing wrong with owning things when we look at it with spiritual insight.   GOD entrusts us with HIS things, HIS children that we so proudly call our sons and daughters, our spouse and our possessions, all on loan and entrusted to us by GOD.  We can possess things and still not own them.  All we have in our possession is what GOD has freely given to us, our time, our talents, our gifts, and our financial resources, etc. and is not ours to take ownership over.  Psalms 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;”

When we truly recognize our stewardship rights in lieu of ownership rights and acknowledge that GOD owns everything and that every good thing and every blessing comes from HIM alone it becomes easier to accept the stewardship role.

Stewardship links us to GOD; it is a partnership with GOD. I Corinthians 3:9 says:  ^"For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."   Our relationship with GOD as our FATHER establishes our role as GOD’s co-workers, GOD’s field, and GOD’S BUILDING. As stewards we are to be concerned about managing the people and things that HE has entrusted to us.  Everything we have has been obtained through the skills, gifts, wisdom, talents and dreams and visions that GOD has given us.  Regardless of the popular belief that successful, well off or well to do individuals are SELF MADE.  There’s no such thing as a self-made man, woman or millionaire.  We can’t fool ourselves into believing that GOD had nothing to do with any of our success or wealth. 

Since GOD is the owner of all things and HE entrusts us to manage what HE has loaned to us then HE will change our thoughts and unhealthy attitudes about ownership and spending if we are willing. Remember we still have free will even in this area.   Anxiety and fear for most people is focused on finances and the future.   If we truly take on a steward mentality, manage HIS possessions/property in a manner that will please GOD, take full responsibility for our stewardship role, HE will be faithful to keep HIS promise of meeting our need and maybe even give us some of our wants.  Philippians 4:19 says: And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  Now let's say “GOD IS IN CONTROL” and mean it!  The key to stewardship is to transfer all that we do, all that we have or ever will have to HIM.  But before this transfer can take place a heart to heart conversation must take place between us AND GOD.  When we are in constant communication with someone it makes it easier to give something to someone you have a relationship with, trust and are in communication with.  This is where faith becomes crucial.

So, do you own what you have?  Or are you entrusted with what you have?  Are you a faithful steward? Or a world class owner?  In the next blog post it will be broken down on how transferring ownership to GOD enables us to become faithful stewards but it will require faith and action on our part.  I personally want to become a better steward and I'm still a work in progress and it's worth it. More on how to make the transfer next time.  

GOD BLESS