Protect Your Gift

       The gift that God has given unto you is very precious and meant to be used according to His plan. Some of us have more than one gift that God has graced us with. The dangerous thing in some people knowing that you have an inept ability to work your gift as if you were a crafted smith is that they view it as an opportunity to "use you for personal gain". Aim to make certain that your gift glorifies God, not yourself or others.

       The temptation to rise to fame or show-boat in front of others will come about for many people when serving in the kingdom of God. One thing that Jesus explained and demonstrated on numerous occasions was to learn the importance of humbling yourself. Now, I know that some are thinking about Proverbs 18:16 [KJV] which states that "a man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." This does not mean that you are supposed to use your gifts to be the headline of every show out there in town so that you can strike a deal with someone who is high up in ranks. What this verse means is that when you humble yourself and dedicate your gift back to God to be used for His plan, He will allow your gift to help open up those closed doors that you been praying for to be opened. God will spiritually elevate you, and with this spiritual elevation will come some physical manifestations. Your duty is to cover your God-given, spiritual gift so that it is not manipulated by others for foolishness.

       My personal testimony, in which I have no shame in telling, is one that took place recently. My parents visited me and wanted to meet all of the people whom I call dear friends. Before their trip ended, they shook hands and briefly spoke one-on-one with someone who I knew, but was having a strained friendship with. My mother spoke up and said something to the effect of her daughter (me) having worked diligently in the ministry and being thankful that I was able to get some rest now. What my mother heard from this person shocked her and I won't forget her appalled facial expression. The person stated with attitude: "Yeah, Rita was one of our workhorses." The statement was not meant to say that I was merely a dedicated worker to the ministry. It was meant to sound like, "Yeah, she did what we needed, now we do not need her anymore." I gave my mother the look that said, "Act nice." LOL. Later, my parents both explained to me that what was said about me being a "workhorse" showed the true character of the person whom I was working for. They further explained that my diligence to God was not in vain and it would pay off in the end no matter what this one person thought of me.

     Understand that we all have spiritual gifts that are beautiful, priceless, and stronger when we work them according to God's plan. One person is not greater than the other when we are working for Christ. The body of Christ is edified, you are enhanced spiritually and doors open in your favor, and God is glorified when we protect and use our gifts for Him.


Picture retrieved from http://blog.4newhope.com/final-thoughts-on-spiritual-gifts-42/.

Holy Boldness as Abigail

       Our timing has never been and never will be perfect as we desire(d). However, God created and controls time; He knows the exact moment when events will take place in your life. Many of those moments have always been there to make us stronger against the enemy. This is why we have to be careful to not misinterpret a specific season as a failure but instead as a process that will bring victory at the end. Waiting on God's command is the safest answer to what you are preparing for or going through. Know that what He speaks is true and backed up by all of Heaven. Abigail was a woman recorded in the Bible as being intelligent and beautiful. Even though she had these two attributes about her, she submitted to the authority of God right in the midst of great adversity. She operated in the holy boldness of God.

       Abigail endured through the issue of her husband's attitude. Nabal was not the greatest of husbands at all, yet he was earthly wealthy and carried pride on his shoulders like no other. His despising attitude towards her and others was enough to make some people want his very life taken away from him...as was almost the case with David [I Samuel 25]. After Nabal made David angry with his disrespectful attitude, David became like many of us have been: angry and ready to set it off. In short, David was on the way to kill Nabal and all of his household. This is the danger in moving before your appointed time because David was about to commit a senseless crime, and God would not have been supportive in this battle at all.

       However, Abigail's obedience to God and love for those in her household encouraged her to step out and help save the household before David reached it. Her act of faith and operation in the holy boldness of God is what made God pay attention to her. In return, this also caught David's attention and the household was saved from sure destruction as Abigail issued to David and his men what was kindly requested beforehand. God saw the commitment and obedience in Abigail's heart, and the fact that she would step out on faith made Him want to respond even the more.

       Many of us have gone through seasons in which others have treated us as if we were at the bottom of the barrel. Leaders, family, friends, co-workers, and others may have played a part in trying to destroy your character. Understand that God's timing to handle these issues will always be correct and in your favor. Just wait on Him and watch the turn-around.

READ I Samuel 25 for the full story of David, Abigail, and Nabal.

Wait For Your Season

       A dangerous move for anyone to make is one that is out of season. In ministry, particularly, people move too hastily as if they will miss out on the blessings of God if they do not take the "right now" opportunity. Similarly, people are promoted too soon to a position that they thought they were ready for but never consulted God on the matter. Even though their heart and work ethics were aimed towards doing a great job, their lack of communication with God caused them to rotate into a season not meant for them at the time. I can tell you from experience that moving without waiting on God will cause you to go through the full term of an unwanted season until He is finished teaching you.

       God's Word in Luke 14:7-11 explains the process of humbling yourself and why you should do so. Many times, people forego doing this because they love the attention and glorification that comes along with "being at the top" or "being in control". Stepping into a season too soon can cause you to have a great fall, especially when you allow pride to get in the way. You're already out of season, but adding pride along with the disorder is even more dangerous. I have witnessed people who tried to lead others in a beneficial way only to find out that they themselves needed to be under the teaching and leading of a God-sent person; how can you effectively lead others when you are still in great need of being taught how to lead a group of people? One thing for sure is that God loves us so much and understands our hearts and desires to please Him. Even in our misguided decisions, He shows us enough grace and mercy to finish up the season so that we can be humbled and get through it with a renewed understanding of Him and why we should always consult Him about our moves in life.

My Personal Testimony:
       I, myself, have stepped too soon into a position in life and tried to lead people in the past. The truth is that someone asked me to take on a position because I was next in line to do so, and instead of asking God what He wanted me to do, I told the person that I was willing and able to do so. I believe that the person did not consult with God as well, so this caused a domino effect. Now that I recall that conversation, I do remember feeling a nudge in my spirit as if I had moved too soon. At first, I thought that I was feeling a bit hesitant because of the fact that I had not been trained as much as I needed to. The truth of the matter is that I had a huge heart and was willing to serve. Even with my love for the position I had agreed to, I was still operating out of season. But I want to tell you about the grace and mercy of God that helped me to soon realize that what I had done was indeed out of season. God in His greatness still used me as a vessel, but I endured through a season in which He humbled me greatly in personal prayer at home. I prayed for one full year for God to release me from the burden of my hasty move. One day, after God had taught me what I needed to know and used me for His glory, He released me from that season. I was very happy...my goodness! Lol! Now that I am released by His Spirit, I am walking in a renewed mind, God is giving me visions and dreams about what He released me from to help others go through their season, and here I am testifying to you all of His grace and mercy towards me.

       Do not fret if you have found yourself in this situation, though. If you are here, use this time to humble yourself and ask God what His desires are for you. I do not care how great someone else thinks that you are for a position; communicate with God and wait for an answer BEFORE you move. There is a season for everything in life: everything. [Ecclesiastes 3]


Cited Works:
[Picture retrieved from http://nellypaekukui.com/for-everything-there-is-a-season-and-a-time-to-think-and-thank-and-treasure/.]

Openly Forgiving Another

       Forgiveness is a lifestyle that many run from because it can feel uncomfortable. It involves one person dropping a barrier to communication to take a chance at being freed from a spiritual prison. The issue that has to be dealt with is more along the lines of forgetting about who was right or wrong and learning to move to a place of peace in the mind. The need for this peace of mind is not always solely for the one or more people who were directly involved in the issue at hand, but sometimes for the bystanders who happened to see all of the foolishness that took place. In other words, a conversation (or an action) that you could have steered in a better direction was instead catapulted into an argument that ultimately left both parties with a severed relationship and bystanders wondering what in the world just happened. Yes, there are times when you may need to forgive another person in front of everybody else who was also around.

       The healing that can take place through forgiveness is universal: it's for everyone connected in any way to what you need to resolve with another. The truth is that people need to not only hear but see forgiveness in action. As one rotten apple in a bag of apples can spoil the rest, so can unforgiveness in the presence of others. If you have wronged someone, you need to forgive him or her as soon as possible before a spiritual cancer spreads. Do not let what good you have done be evil spoken of [Romans 14:16-19]. In addition, I really love the way that the Apostle Paul states how people should not fight about words as this is not profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers [II Timothy 2:14].

       As you can see, it IS important that we learn to forgive in private as well as in the open when necessary because it is beneficial for both you and your hearers.

We All Need Each Other

       You never know what people are going through so you have to be careful with how you treat them. As children of God, we should NEVER intentionally hurt another person no matter what.

       Real ministry is learning to: love the unlovable, be kind to those who pay you with unkindness, and make yourself available to hear the hearts of those who seek help. When you push people away, you could very well be pushing away the "Joseph" who is to help you later in life during your dry season. In the Word of God, Joseph was despised and cast away by his own brothers. Later on, Joseph was the one who helped to provide for the land when a drought came, and guess who had to come to Joseph? That's right: his brothers. They did not recognize him at first because of the dramatic change God made in Joseph's life, but after a short while they began to see who he really was to them.

Be careful to not run God's children off. We ALL need each other.

Your Purpose In Life

       It is amazingly odd how this world system runs off of the idea that working to gain money 24/7, increase popularity, and own a fancy car amounts to the ultimate "purpose" in life. The saying that "the world will work you to death and keep it pushing to the next person" is very correct. At some point in life, we have to seriously pause and think about what and who is truly important to our daily lives, including what God has designed us to operate in.

       God's Son, Jesus, was sent to earth to teach and show us of a greater purpose in life. We should not be in a constant rat-race to the finish line on a daily basis with nothing to show forth. This wears a person down on all levels (i.e. physically, mentally, spiritually). Let's get down to business. Your purpose in life is the spiritual gift that God gives to you which brings glory to Him, and it is done with grace given by His Spirit. For example, I am a singer and have been anointed by God to do so. I am grateful for this gift and am very careful to use it for any other thing besides bringing Him glory. He uses me in a way like I could never imagine to help deliver people who are spiritually bound, including the ability to further encourage those who are on the right path in life. This is just one of the few gifts He has graced me with and I strive to walk daily in what He has called me to do.

       Your purpose in life can be revealed through prayer before the Lord. Ask God to show you what you're supposed to be operating in on this earth. When He shows you, (and He will when you faithfully ask and believe), step into action. In 1 Corintians 12, the Apostle Paul explains to the body of Christ that we all have a special gift from God to use for the benefit of all people. (Understand that God has freely given out these gifts, so it's very possible that you may be equipped with more than one, and that's perfectly fine). Not everyone can be a preacher, the president of a country, or an engineer. Similarily, not all are gifted with the ability to manage employees, skillfully minister on a musical instrument, or teach. What I want you to grasp is that even though you can learn to do all types of things in life, you have to seek God for what you have been ANOINTED to operate in. Your purpose is backed up by the anointing of God, and it will be fruitful...lacking nothing.

Victory Over Your Enemies

       Think about the amount of fear that the enemy causes to take place in people's lives daily. What about the unrelenting harassment that is placed upon those who have done absolutely nothing to deserve it? People have to deal with all types of hatred and dishonesty against their good name. One thing that I have personally seen in the lives of others is that God will allow them to go through the storm so that they can come out stronger and wiser than what the enemy would have ever expected. [Just so that we are clear in these posts about who the "real enemy" is, let me briefly explain. The real enemy is satan. Anyone who will allow satan to operate through them is allowing him to use them as a coverup for who he really is and his true plan].

       Satan wants nothing more than for your life to be in total disorder. If he can succeed in this, your focus will always be on "how hard life is" while he's steadily writing the order and delivery date for your spiritual and physical casket. Let me be real with you all: satan is not your friend, nor a partner who wants you to achieve in life. As I stated earlier, he'll use whatever or whomever he can get his hands on to destroy people.

       OK, I believe you were waiting for that silver lining in the clouds. Yes, there is ALWAYS a way to get through hardships in life while still being in one piece at the end. Take your prayers to God about your enemies. This is not the time to speak harshly to those who have allowed satan to use them. Try doing this: love your enemies. Treat kindly those whom persecute you. YES, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY! I understand your concerns. However, many of us were once enemies of God. How do you think He reacted to us? He still loved us in spite of our mess.

       Think of your walk through the valley as: the time to strengthen your faith and trust in God, the way to get to the other side of your blessing, and finally the victory that you WILL see as long as you take every step as God has ordered. When you emerge on the other side of that valley, your enemies will wonder how in the world you made it there successfully, unharmed, and going stronger than before! I know it to be true because I have experienced it many times before. God will not allow you to sink. Just hold on, go through the process, and watch God take home the victory for you! In case you need a little something to help you believe that God is greater than your enemies, here ya' go: "He Turned It" - Tye Tribbett.

Everyday Life

       Tomorrow can seem so far away at times when life is kicking hard against you. It may appear as if your success rate in overcoming hardship is dwindling away. The issue with simply waiting for another day to come and go is that if you do not deal with the issues face-to-face, they will cycle around again...guaranteed. Sometimes it will take crying your eyes out for a brief moment; praying for a few minutes or hours; or sitting in total silence as you wait for God to speak to your heart.

       The key is to not run from the problem, but pray through it and believe that God will work it out. It does not always feel good, but once you have the answer to what God is speaking, you have to make the choice to be obedient to His Word or deny the right way.

       Many have found that when life seems to be crashing in on them, taking a rest to dive into God's Word (the Bible) allows them both peace of mind and a change for God to work things out on His own timetable. When God places His touch on anything, it has to get in line; it has to...period. Do not allow everyday living to drain the life out of you. Get connected to people who have that shining light as Christ does to help you through the process. Life is not more tough than God.

What Are You Dishing Out?

       I learned a very important principle about operating in the ministry of God from a woman back in college. She spoke clearly one night while I was in choir rehearsal and said something along the lines of the following:

"What you take in and entertain during the week is what you will feed to the people when you open your mouth to sing.

Imagine a plate that you have filled with sin during the week and then serving it to those whom you are trying to minister to.

Your 'worship and praise' is tainting the people, not building them up."

       My prayer is to always minister to people with a clean heart, or know when to sit down and be ministered to when I need growth in any specific area of my spiritual walk with Christ.

Teach What God Has Taught You

       The Word of the Lord is powerful and His hand is mighty. After reading God's Word, I blessed God for protecting my family from many disasters seen and unseen. God reminds His beloved children (Israel) that He has brought them through the storm and delivered them safely to the other side when they fled from Egypt and Pharoah's control. Deuteronomy 11:7 [HCSB] states that "your own eyes have seen every great work the Lord has done." The Israelites saw, first-hand, the miracles and wonders that God performed in order to deliver them out of the hands of the enemy. The Israelites' testimony of the greatness of God was to be told for generations to come so that no one would ever forget the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of God. As the Israelites were commanded by God to share their testimony and His Word, we are also responsible for doing the same.

    Many people learn about things by repetition, usually after hearing or seeing them. In Deuteronomy 11:18-21 [HCSB], the Bible states the following words:

"Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your fathers."

It is imperative that we as adults/parents teach each other and our children about the ways of the Lord. How can we expect children for generations to come to know about the God of all creation if we do not take the time to learn and testify of Him ourselves? My goal, (and I pray this is or will become the goal of those who read this post), is to help set the example in my household of living right in the eyes of God. In addition, I want my future children and generations to come to intimately know the ways of the Lord because of the example that was set before them.

Scripture:

• Deuteronomy 11:1-32

Forgiveness: Loving Past What You See

       When I was younger, I remember being told to go to the person I needed to forgive and say, "I'm sorry." It seemed simple enough because I figured that once it was stated (with emotion or not), I was off of the hook. As a young girl, I felt justified. Now as an adult, I know better and must work to carry myself accordingly. Learning to forgive is not about the choice of words one chooses to speak, but rather a heart issue in which one does not allow what took place to keep him or her in bondage. Simply stated: forgiveness pardons people from the pain or hurt that was experienced by another.

       When I get out of hand, God is always there to love me back to where I need to be. Do you remember the example I gave in my post about "When You Pray For Patience"? I could have easily chosen to get even with the man, and I actually wanted to for a split second. However, God's conviction over me was a great reminder that I needed to slow down, forgive the man in my heart, and move forward. The benefits of doing so were totally worth it versus my own selfishness. Forgiveness involves showing mercy to another, and looking past what you currently see in front of your face while loving with the heart of God.

       The lack of forgiveness is living in bitterness, and this is a self-made prison. It is precisely spiritual imprisonment. People literally gather ridicule, hurt and pain from any memory they can think of and decorate their self-made prisons with them. While forgiveness may seem like a cruel thing for the person who was hurt in the process, it is the only way to be redeemed from the bondage of spiritual imprisonment. The issue may be as small as a person cutting in front of you in line at the store, or as great as someone who broke off a loving relationship with you. Understand that surrendering your heart to God and your willingness to let Him change you will open up doors for you to show mercy to others as well as forgiveness.


Scriptures:

• Psalm 25:18
• Psalm 86:5
• Ephesians 4:32

Making Necessary Transitions

       Psalm 23 is overrated to many people; however, God's Word never changes and is as strong today as it was in the past and will forever be. As I was preparing myself to go to sleep, once again, God began to speak to me. One of our friends (like family) transitioned from one phase of life to another just a few days ago. The walk for our friend had seemed horrific for a short while, but God began to connect people all over the country to pray for protection, grace, and guidance. The end result of fighting through what the enemy thought was a guaranteed lost battle was total victory in Jesus' name! Many of us continued to speak life into his situation as he kept moving forward with God and the angels backing him up the entire way.

       A new day has come for our friend, and I heard God speak this word tonight: "transition". Right after I heard that, God immediately brought Psalm 23 to my attention and visually showed me a verse-by-verse walkthrough of our friend's transitioning period. I could see him in every verse as he faced and overcame every trial with goodness and mercy following him. The point is that no matter what you are faced with, understand that you MUST go through some trials without faltering in order to see the intended end result. When the battle looks like it is crumbling to the ground, remember God's Word in Psalm 23. Pull up your sleeves and walk through that valley with great anticipation that you will come out with victory in Jesus.

       The storms are there as stepping stones (transition), so do not despise the process. When your physical body seems to be wearing down, your spirit man can always be built up in studying and putting into action the Word of God. In doing so, God will add to your body the strength that you need to go on. His strength is made absolutely perfect in our weakness [II Corinthians 12:9-10]. Just remember that when the storms come your way, use them as a traveling method to get where you need to be all the while knowing that God is transitioning you from pain to glory.

     To my family who witnessed a great accomplishment with the unending guidance of Heaven this weekend: Amen!! We love you and may God continue to do what He does best: miracles, signs, and wonders performed with agape love.

Psalm 23:1-6 KJV
[1] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

God's Beauty

       God's beauty is breathtaking. Times when I need a Word from Him, He speaks so clearly and reminds me of His love for me. I grew up in an outer-city limits area in which I was surrounded by trees. There was always plenty of room for relaxation, if you knew how to find it. Typically, I would ride or walk to the nearest park with a few of my favorite friends just to get away and have a wide open space to play at. What I noticed then and even now is that God has given us so many beautiful things and places to enjoy if we would only take the time to slow down and marvel in His beauty.
       God's beauty is also seen in how we should treat one another. God showed us the way through His Son Jesus. Everyday that Jesus spent on this earth was done so to prove to us that a greater love existed than what we could find through others. What He did for us is more rewarding than life itself. The same selfless love that He shows to us is how we are to interact with each other. The beauty of seeing God's children in harmony with one another is priceless.
       Take time to stop what you're doing in order to rest in the beauty of God. In addition, allow your lifestyle to be that of a child of God.

Wisdom

     Wisdom is more than having great knowledge of something; it involves using what God has taught you at the proper time coupled with discipline. Here is an old saying that is still somewhat popular: "If a friend jumped off of a building, would you?" Wisdom teaches you that life in Christ is more important than following the foolishness of man. I like how Proverbs 1:1-19 introduces and breaks down what wisdom is.

       It is imperative for us as God's children to hear from shepherds (pastors) whom He has placed in our lives. This does not mean that they know everything; however, as they allow God to lead them, they will pass down whatever news from Heaven is meant for your instruction. Proverbs 1:8-9 (HCSB) says, "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." My husband and I have a pastor and his wife who have been called by God to check on us regularly. My Pastor and his wife are very loving people who do not mind letting us know what the Word of God says about an issue, yet they will teach and guide us with the love of God. Our appreciation for their work in the kingdom of God is great, and it is awesome that they love each and every one of their spiritual children as their own natural children. When danger is around the corner or right upon any one of their sheep, a shepherd (pastor) should fight in the Spirit of God with the same tenacity and courage as David did against enemies that approached his flock. As a father or mother guides his or her child(ren), God has a spiritual shepherd in place who will love and fight to protect you as God leads.

       Here is my testimony of learning when to use the wisdom that God has given to you. My family was recently delivered from a place of bondage in 2014. We faced disappointment time and time again as we searched for spiritual liberty in what should have been a place where God resides. One day, (after praying for God to lead us into liberty), God spoke clearly to me that He had released me from being in a certain position within the church. As soon as I heard it, I relayed the message to whomever needed to hear it and got out of the way. My husband was notified (as I submitted to God and then my husband) and he was more than happy for God's will to be done. I allowed God to give me the command and I followed quickly. I did not want to miss the opportunity to be released because there is nothing like missing your season and having to start all over again. After my family continued to pray, God released my husband from his position within the church. Talk about a spiritual breakthrough!!!!! During all of this, the enemy was sending all types of foolishness our way to make us feel as if we were in the wrong for what was taking place. I will tell you from the heart: he never received the victory. God was and still is with us through it all. Those who prayed with us are witness to this. When God told my husband and I to speak, we spoke. When He instructed us to be still and quiet, we did as He commanded. There was no compromising.

       Now, we did not stop praying. A few weeks after God released both my husband and I from serving in leadership at church, He spoke clearly to my husband and said that it was "time to move". Let me tell you something: when God says "move", you do not have time to waste. It would be very wise to hear Him and step in line with every word He speaks. God led us to exactly where we needed to be the entire time we were elsewhere. Upon arrival to the place where He led us, the Spirit of God began to minister to our current pastor about our lives. Our pastor loved us with the love of God. He was neither harsh nor a dictator; our pastor just loved us as Christ loves the church. Even today, our pastor and his wife speak life (not death) into our hearing and they pray for us as they do every other sheep that God has sent to them. If one is broken, doing well, having the best day of their lives, or battered, our pastor and his wife consult God first about the issue then minister every word that God speaks. That is the way a shepherd is led...by God and only Him.

       Remember that knowledge and wisdom are different. It is one thing for a person to have a knowledge of leading a group of people; it is another thing when someone leads a group of people with wisdom which is only given by God. That person must be led by the Spirit of God in all things in order to know when to move, where to move, how to move, why a certain thing must be done, and what to do when guiding a flock. If you do not have a pastor in your life who you can call a spiritual parent, I urge you to seek God in prayer and ask Him to guide you to finding one. Having a pastor who will speak life into your heart and soul and help lead you away from what is harmful (Proverbs 1:10-19) is awesome. In case you want to know the heart of a pastor and what to pray for, go to the verses that are listed below. Know that a pastor follows after and is led by God Who is the Chief Shepherd.


Read:

• Psalm 23: all verses
• Jeremiah 3:14-15
• Psalm 1:1-3

The Body of Christ: The Church

     Can the arms on a body move without the help of joints and cartilage? Is anyone able to see without the eye or speak without the vocal cord? Ok, I know that some of you are thinking about medical improvements that this world has embraced. Even then, the original setup of the human body and its functions helped the doctors to see how artificial body parts should work. In the same manner, the body of Christ is made up of various parts (i.e. people and gifts) that uplift His kingdom. We all have a purpose as children of God to operate in what God has divinely placed upon us.

     Each person has a supernatural gift from God - the thing in which His anointing flows through and changes lives. Our recognition of these gifts is only found through seeking God for our purpose in life. For example, God has anointed me to minister through songs, and to encourage people who are going through spiritual storms. Another person is anointed to teach and break down the Word of God (the Bible) to others so that they may have a greater understanding of what is being read. Simply stated: everyone has a purpose in which he or she should walk in daily. Not all of us will do the same thing and that is perfectly fine. With the Spirit of God as the Head of our gifts, it will all tie in perfectly. In I Corinthians 12:4-11 [HCSB], we are reminded of this very truth.

"Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:

to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit,

to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

to another, faith by the same Spirit,

to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

to another, the performing of miracles,

to another, prophecy,

to another, distinguishing between spirits,

to another, different kinds of languages,

to another, interpretation of languages.

But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills."

     There are people whom get caught up in believing that just because they carry a certain position, this should allow them to take on the role as a prophet, a teacher, or someone who can interpret tongues. Let me be more clear: if I were a lieutenant general in the Air Force, I am automatically fit to be as effective as a high school teacher, a pastor of a congregation, or a financial broker. I can do and get whatever I want because I rank very high. (???) Do you see how that does not make sense? When God anoints a person to do a thing on this earth, that person is able to do it with more grace and style than another who is not anointed to do so. Also, the results are greater when you have been anointed to operate in a specific area. Never get caught up in the game of believing that you can do something just as well as another person when God has not called you to operate in what is contrary to His will for you. You will become frustrated and burned out if you do so.

     God's gifts to us are not for personal gain; they are given to show others to Christ and edify the body of Christ, which is His church. In I Corinthians 12:21-26, the Bible states that we are not to act as if we do not all have a greater purpose, or as if we do not need each other. If one suffers, we all suffer along with him or her. If one rejoices, we all rejoice as well. We are all needed and should seek God on what He wants us to do with our gifts. If you are not sure of your gift(s), continue to ask God to reveal this to you.

Scriptures:

• I Corinthians 12: all verses

When You Pray For Patience...

     People of the world, I am learning that when I ask God for patience, He allows me to see just how much I do not know about myself. You know how that can be, right? We tend to think to ourselves that we are pretty much as patient as we can be because "back in the day I used to ____ but I thank God for deliverance". Well, God is loving enough to show us that we do not have it all together, but that He can show us to a greater way: Him. He is Patience [Galatians 5:22]. He does not reveal our imperfections to us to be mean but He longs to guide us as the loving Shepherd that He has proven to be over and over.

     Patience does not mean that you have to have the biggest smile on your face and run through the fields of flowers with no struggle. I had to burst that bubble. Patience is the act of enduring through hardship, or difficulties. What is a gigantic thing to overcome for one person may be feasible for you. In this case, patience feels like a walk in the park with just a few pebbles to kick out of the way. Alright, now take that same situation but now deal with the gigantic issue. Yeah, I know...it does not feel good to even think about it. Someone else is probably thinking that your situation is ridiculous and not worth the effort you're putting forth. The understanding that they do not have is the spiritual effect that this "thing" is having on you. This "thing" is an actual hurdle for you; although not impossible to overcome with God, it resembles a miniature version of the Great Wall of China: it seems like it can both go on forever and is impossible to climb over...or knock down.

     How about that beautiful example of what I endured a few hours ago? As I was preparing to turn into the parking space for our home, a man who just could not wait for me to get out of the way decided to pass me on the left and pull straight ahead into his parking spot. All the while, he was driving and holding a cell phone to his ear. My face ----->   :| Instead of doing what I really wanted to do, which was cut him off by straddling the drive-in, I decided to tap the brakes and let him pass. OH THANK GOD THAT I DID THAT! I'm guessing that you want to know why? When he got out of the car, a piece of me wanted to "give him the business", or in other words, tell him how reckless of a driver he displayed of himself. As he emerged from the car, I turned to face him and let him at least see what I was thinking. (Don't worry because God convicted me quickly about that one, too. Let's just say that I changed my attitude quickly). I then saw him get one of his children out of the backseat of the car. At that moment, my heart dropped as I thought about how I could have cut him off and possibly risked injuring that child that was on that side of the car! Ya'll know how HUGE of a heart I have for children. All I could say was, "Thank You Jesus." Because I chose to let God rule in that situation over my own decision, He saved us all from having to deal with a car accident and a possible injury or death of a child.

    The lesson is that we cannot make situations go faster nor slower to fit into our idea of perfection. We have to endure through many things in life, and rely on God to show us how to overcome them the biblical way. We have to wait on God, allow Him to guide us, and learn how to sit down somewhere and relax. When He shows you what you need to have worked out of your life, please let Him. It is better to be taught now and learn the lesson than to repeat it multiple times and get a worse result each time.


Songs:

• Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / Oh To Be Like Him / Face-to-Face - Judith McAllister

• Healing Stream / We Wait On You - Judith McAllister

Husbands and Wives: Submission

     What does the Bible say about husbands and wives? Why is it so important to read God's Word (the Bible) about our marriages? Husbands and wives have a responsibility to allow God to lead and grow their marriage. Let me state that this is where many have fought God; people want to control how their marriage should look and feel. This is not God's will for husbands and wives. So then the big word that many (including myself) have run away from is "submission". Yeah, I said it. Submission has been viewed as the big, bad word that ruins relationships for many years now; however, this should not be so.

     Submission, (in my own words), is standardly defined as obeying the command of those who have authority over you. Now, the biblical explanation of the word "submission" in regards to husbands and wives can be found in the following verses amongst many others:

• Ephesians 5:22-33
• I Corinthians 11:3
• Colossians 3:18-19
• Titus 2:3-7
• I Peter 3:1-7

     Typically, the wife can be the one to feel as if she is just another doormat for her husband to use as necessary. In some cases, the husband may feel like his wife will listen to the words of others before considering his point of view. In either circumstance, we have to realize that God never created submission for the purpose of one being in "control" of the other. Being submissive requires the willingness of one person to take care of the needs of others before him- or herself [Romans 12:13, Philippians 2:3-4]. We must realize that we all have a responsibility to love, honor, and respect each other as if Christ Himself were standing right in our midst.

     Let me give you a real example that just took place not too long ago. My husband and I were out looking for household goods. There were likes and dislikes that he and I both had about various items. When purchase time came along, we began to feel the pressure of whether or not we were making the right decisions. He wanted one thing, and I wanted another. Finally, we collaborated and ended up wanting the same household items. Guess what? Another pressure began to come down on us. Now that we had decided upon which household items to purchase, we began to bump heads about the color pattern, price range, etc. Eventually, the entire conversation came down to me stating that I would support whatever decision he made because I trusted him to not lead us astray on the size of the purchase. Check this out ya'll: as much as I wanted to go on and on about how this and that was not right, I decided to shut my mouth and try a better approach...trust my husband. Understand that his knowing of my trust in him opened his heart and mind up even more to allowing me to pick out the household items that I wanted. Not only that, but God made it to where what I picked was what he wanted as well...color and all!

     Submission is not about doing right for a second so that you may do whatever you want later for a season. It is about doing what is right in God's eyesight: period. When we submit to Him and His way for us, every thing will work out better.

Target: Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church [Ephesians 5:28-32]. Wives, submit to your own husbands as unto the Lord and respect him [Ephesians 5:22-23, 33].

Peace in Our Lives

     Tonight, I focused on a marriage devotional that reminded me of how important it is for husbands and wives to place and keep God as the center (focus) of their marriage. God promises us that "He will keep us in perfect peace if we keep our minds on Him" [Isaiah 26:3]. As simple as this is, why is it that many husbands and wives struggle and are overcome with the pressures of life? Stress. Yes, one answer is stress, (or more correctly stated), a life without God as the center point.

     Too many demands from life are placed on us that we may sometimes forget to do what is simple and more than reasonable: stop and allow our bodies and minds to relax. The time that we spend "doing the most" can be refocused on sitting down somewhere and reading The Word of God, praying, listening to holy music, or just plain ole' sitting still to allow God to speak into our hearing. When He guides us in our daily activities, things will always go more smoothly than when we place our "two cents" into the mix. When I was growing up, my parents were always spending Saturday afternoons and evenings on the couch, in the yard relaxing, or playing board games. Now, it was a task to get chores done earlier most mornings, but once the afternoons and evenings came, it was game on for...relaxing as a family.

     Fast-forward to 2015: what is relaxation??? Yeah, that's how I feel sometimes but God's Word is very real for the past, present, and future; His Word does not change. Our lives should never be centered around what the latest fads are; keeping up with the Joneses is not as therapeutic as people may feel. We have to refocus our lives on Who really matters: God. He will work out every other corner and specific of our lives when we place life in His hands.

Target: Begin and end each day with prayer, quiet time with God, and reading His Word (The Bible). In addition, playing soft praise and/or worship music in the background is not a bad idea.