Pray for Discernment

It is often so difficult to take those necessary steps to get from point A to point B. But, if all God wants us to have is faith in Him, why all the indecisiveness? Talk to Him and then listen to Him and He will answer. But, don't forget to ask for discernment so that you won't miss it when He answers. It is very important to pray for discernment because the answers are often very subtle and may be difficult to recognize or make sense of. 1 John 4:1 says: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Greater Community Temple COGIC

What's Really Holding You Back?

I am sure that at some point in your life you have pondered this question. Well, what did you come up with? Nothing? Don't feel bad because you are not alone. I would like to share with you a few things that I have learned in the past few days as I have been reading Valorie Burton's book, What's Really Holding You Back?. First, you have to know where you are going. You must have a clear and specific vision for where you want to be and it must align with God's plan for you. Just saying, "I want to make more money" or "I want to be happy" is not good enough. Secondly, in order to know where you are headed, you must know where you are currently. This takes self exploration and you must be true to yourself no matter how hard it may be for you. Lastly, for now, find your motivation and cling to it as if your life depends on it. But, make sure that your motivation is in His will, not yours (e.g. wanting fame and fortune, ego, meeting someone else's expectations, etc.). Ponder this today, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8. Have a great day and remember to step out on faith!

The Company You Keep Could Be Hazardous to Your Health

Romans 16:17 says "Now I urge you brethren, note those who cause division and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. Sometimes it can be very difficult to leave those people and things behind that causes separation from God, even if the separation is temporary. We all have a comfort zone that we do not wish to part from for one reason or another. Sometimes these people may be close family members and sometimes they are just friendly acquaintances that you come into contact with regularly. Don't let those people and things interfere with God's plan for you! You can literally ruin your life. Although it may be painful at first, you must believe that the pain you may experience is only temporary. God will keep you. He will replace those negative people and things with positive people and things. Don't ever think that you can hang around a person long enough to change him/her. It just won't work! So, if you have been feeling an urging from Him to shuffle some things around in your life, you must step out on faith and just do it. Remember, He's always got your back! Have a great day!

Seeking Guidance

Please pray for me as I seek God's guidance in fulfilling my hopes and dreams.

Submission to Leadership on the Job

In my search for purpose, I am consistently being tested in the same area of my life and unfortunately I consistently fail the test. Why? Could it be that I am just that stubborn to receive God's plan for me? I pray not, but that seems to be the only answer I keep coming up with. My test is in the area of work place leadership and my submission to it. Is it possible that everyone else has the problem and that I just end up with the most difficult leaders in every organization that I work in? Can't be! So, what is wrong with me and how in the world am I to pass this test and move forward. Should I just submit? Well, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is so weak. My prayer for this week while I am vacationing from the work place is that His will for me in the work place is revealed and that I receive it. I want to return to work with a renewed sense of self so that I can grow as God's child and truly receive the many blessings He has planned and stored up for me. Pray for me and I will definitely pray for you.

Easter

He died for our sins! What an awesome truth! If only we could be half the brother/sister that Jesus is, this world that we live in would be a much better place. Let's make it a point this week to live as Jesus. Yes, this is another challenge. Let's take ourselves out of the equation and realize that it's not about us.

I Have Got To Do Better

Is it possible to imagine our Heavenly Father, but not acknowledge His greatness and His plans for us? I imagine and crave chocolate, then I acknowledge it by going out to buy it because I know exactly where to get it. I can touch it, taste it, smell it and see the after effects of it. I am sure of the location, price and joy that accompanies the decision to fulfill my inner cravings so I go after it. Why is this temporary fix such a no brainer, yet the decision to follow God completely, thus fulfilling spiritual inner cravings, such a difficult one? After all, the overindulgence of one has negative consequences, but the other provides eternal joy. The Bible tells me so! I am not comparing God to chocolate, but rather questioning human rationale. There is no question about my love for my Daddy, but unfortunately my rationale for seeking earthly pleasures sometimes says different. Father please forgive me for I have sinned. I am asking Your forgiveness this day for all of the things I have done that have not been pleasing to You. I also ask that Your loving hand will guide me to do only those things that are pleasing to You.

Makes me Shiver!

I can't stop thinking about this verse: John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. My God!

Be Good to One Another

In John 15:12, Jesus says to His disciples "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." He didn't say, "You know, you should probably think about loving one another, it couldn't hurt". So, if He commanded this, why do we think that we get to pick and choose whom we will love and to what extent? Why is it so hard to treat everyone, not just family or close friends, with love and compassion? I would like to challenge you, as well as myself, to show some love and compassion to at least three people outside of your circle of close friends and family this weekend. It doesn't have to be some great deed, but rather a simple act of kindness. Let's meet back to discuss it on Monday, 3/23/09. Godspeed!

Where's the Love?

Have my bloggers been caught up and I have been left behind? Come on people, show me some love!

So inspiring...I Love This

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did. When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence...The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Calm Down

Why am I easy to anger? I often ask myself this question once I have settled down and realize that it wasn't as bad as it seemed at the time. It's as if I am stepping outside of myself and watching "the show". Unfortunately, it is always a rerun of the last episode and I am left feeling ridiculous, confused, embarrassed and sinful. I despise this feeling, so why do I continue to go there if I know the ultimate outcome? If I know this about myself why do I keep falling into the trap? Why do I continue to allow the devil to use me as a puppet? When I ask the question "why do I...", I am speaking of all of us who have and will fall into the enemy's traps. Does it give me comfort to know that I am not alone in this? Yes and no. Yes, because we are all born with a sinful nature and only God can save us and it is a gift that He has extended to us if we desire it. No, because it doesn't make it okay. Is hell a little more tolerable if I take my friends and family with me? I don't think so! So, I must keep reminding myself that He loves me and He only wants the best for me. He doesn't desire for me to live in bondage to "my ways". Tonight, I will meditate on this: "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Mt. 11:28-30).

Work on Me, Lord!

When I think about life, I often begin to wonder "why life here on earth when eternity with Him is the ultimate goal". This is not a thought intending to question God, but rather just my purpose and what made me so special that he chose to create me. When I begin to ponder this way, all the chaos in my mind begins to settle down and try to rationalize. Sometimes these thoughts, I believe, are just a trick of the enemy to get me away from what He truly wants for me. Some of these thoughts can be downright embarassing. These thoughts, fortunately, cause a stirring and hunger within me for the answers which ultimately takes me to the word for guidance. I am not there yet, but I have to admit that I am drawn closer to Him during these moments and these are the happy feelings that I long for. Lord, I pray that you have your way with me and that my surrender to You and Your promises continue to work together for my good and those around me. I want You in my life, I need You in my life and I place great value on Your ultimate plans for me. Work on me, Lord!

I Pray This Prayer This Day

Jesus, our material accumulation brings temporary pleasure that fades with each passing day. When we strive to hold onto that which is fleeting it deters us from that which has eternal significance. Lord, You promise to give us all things that we have need of as we seek You and Your Kingdom above all. May Your light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the glory of God in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Crossings: Bible Reference Books)

"The Short End of the Stick"

"I always seem to get the short end of the stick". How many times have you heard that phrase reverberated almost daily? But, what is this "short end of the stick" and what makes me so special that I should never feel it's effects in my life? Didn't Jesus seem to almost always get this short stick? Yet, he kept it moving, knowing the truth! I am often, okay most times, guilty of the "why me?" syndrome. I am learning to remind myself, "why not me" and "it's not about me", but I would be lying if I said that it is not a difficult notion to accept. I have to admit that in seeking Him, the journey seems to get harder and harder. Thank God that the enemy is always being exposed as we continue to seek Him. When you are feeling anxious about your situation, be patient. Patience is the ability to wait on God because of what you know. Through patience we ultimately gain peace. Meditate on this: Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2)Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3)More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (4)and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (5)and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Thank you!

Lord, help me to surrender to your will. I understand that I am a work in progress and hunger for your truths. I take great comfort in knowing that you are a kind, forgiving and patient God. Thank you, Jesus for your grace and mercy. I thank you for your order and I thank you for Bean Counter, who has truly been a blessing to me in a short period of time! Community, please continue to post as I and you continue to grow in Christ.

Temptation

"When tempted, no one should say "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:13-14).

I Want to Know

Question: Does my purpose determine my destiny, my destiny determine my purpose or are the two completely unrelated? I believe that both are predetermined, but are they one in the same? Can your lifes turn of events alter your destiny if you are not walking in purpose? I ask these questions because I want the answers. Community, let me know.

What a Soothing Truth

..."If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

Should I Keep it Real?

Tonight as I spoke to a friend, I found myself "keeping it real". She assured me that this was okay and that it is a good thing to expose the enemy by revealing the areas of our lives that we have allowed him to control for so long (not her exact words, but basically). Unfortunately, after ending the phone call, I began to second guess whether or not my honesty was a smart move. Another trick of the devil? I believe so. How does he or why do we allow him to exercise so much control over our lives. It would seem that it would be so simple to just deny him access, ignore his attempts and move on. But, why isn't it? Why do we know the truth, yet continue to be tempted to do that which is against all things of God. Perhaps it is because we do have a choice and making the right choice is a true sign of obedience to God. Meditate on this: 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Does this mean that we are consciously making a decision to allow the devil access into our thoughts and ultimately our lives? Because the devil is cunning by nature, his attempts to tempt us are often very subtle. This makes it imperative that we study and meditate on the word of God daily so that we can recognize and expose the enemy for the destroyer that he is.

I Want To Be Me

Sometimes, well most times, I just want to be me. Is it the people around me or the circumstances that shape and mold me? Today I passed a church with a message outside declaring that it is character and not circumstances that make the person. But, how does one develop character and is character negative, positive or both? Is it hereditary, spiritual, environmental or all three rolled into one? When I state that "I just want to be me", who is this "me" that I am speaking of? Could this declaration be merely a cop out for my unwillingness to adapt to my "situation" or is there really something to this "me" person that I speak of? Is this a person that I have dreamed up and imagined or the "me" that God's grace and mercy will have me be? Meditate on this: Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. So, according to this verse, when we walk in the spirit, there should be no question about who we are because we are being led by Him. What an awesome God we serve!

Stop and Wait

When life throws you a curve ball, do you stop and wait or do you panic? If you're like most, you panic and immediately get to the business of solving the perceived "problem". Have you ever heard the saying "if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans"? Well, when you look at it that way, He must really be busting a gut when it comes to us, His sons and daughters. But, why do we continue to do this when we know His intentions for us? Meditate on this: Jer 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Is it fair to say that we don't trust Him as we should? Do we think that we are greater than He that is in us? "What an awful thought", you must be thinking. You may even be thinking that it's not fair to reduce it to such a simple explanation for our actions. It is a subject, however that is worthy of our attention. We must figure it out if we intend to live our lives according to His purpose for us. So, when confronted with a "problem", don't panic, stop and wait.