Hang TIGHT!

With all that is going on in our Nation, it is still imperative that we as true followers of Jesus continue to love, seek peace, and forgiveness! Yes, it is unprecedented, unlawful and evil things that are happening due to the evil within those who are committing these criminal acts.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We have to remember there is power in unity not division! We are to come together "Peacefully" as people, not separated as black men, brown men, white men, or yellow men; but the Human race, ALL NATIONS, who cares about the orphan, the sick, oppressed, widows and the poor in Spirit! It is our duty, our right, and our Christian doctrine to serve - THAT IS OUR PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE! People of any race should not live in fear, or be ousted from and around anything God deems loveable and valuable!

We all have One Father in Heaven, who will judge fairly how we lived our lives in this world that will determine our fate in the hereafter! Some will get there, many won’t- due to a hard and harsh heart and unrighteous living!

My honest prayer is we all turn our hearts towards God and become Christ like, who loves all people and shows no partiality!

The Final Judgment - Matthew 5:31-46 NLT

31 “But when the Son of Man[a]comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations[b] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[c] you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.[d] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”  

Body Language!

This little girl behind my Granddaughter
is either bored or anxious! Not
sure, but look at the body language!

We listen (with arms folded) to criticize; instead of listening to understand. It’s instilled in us to pushback with our opinions, rather than seek to prosper in God’s wisdom that is full of knowledge beyond our human understanding - unless we humble ourselves and submit and commit to His will and ways! 

As mentioned in my blog titled; “Wise In his own wisdom”, You learn and receive more knowledge by listening than talking. It is proven than a person only receives about 225 words of knowledge from talking, and 500 words of knowledge from listening.

This must be a big defect in us, because God has put it on my heart again to write about seeking to understand His Word to gain Godly Wisdom; and the only way to receive it is to read His Word and listen to Godly advice! 

Proverbs 4:4-9 AMPC

4 He taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live.

5 Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you.

7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).

8 Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.

9 She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.

The Armor of our Salvation!

Which one are you:

1. Indecisive 
2. Receptive
3. Argumentative
4. Passive

• If you are indecisive, you are probably still choosing which one you are. 
• If you are receptive, you are probably saying; “Why not. I’m going to play along”!
• If you are argumentative, you are finding ways to find fault or how ridiculous this is! 
• If you are are passive, you are in line with receptive; which in your mind you are saying; “Let’s do this”!

Are you wondering why I am asking you to consider your disposition or put another way, a developed character? It’s because many of us do not realize those in our daily lives influence our attitude and altitude of success or failure by being able to choose! 

Look at today’s world. Take for instance something as simple as buying Dove soap, When you go to a department store, there are at least 15 varieties to choose from. You usually buy the Dove white soap; however, the Cucumber and Green Tea smells good, and so does the Shea Butter and Warm Vanilla. Then you look down, let out a heavy sigh and say, “Oh wow, there’s more. Then you begin to wonder if you would be pleased with a new fragrance of soap! Well you won’t know until you give it a try!

Now if you give it too much thought, you can become frustrated and indecisive; whereas, being in that state of mind disrupts your “Peace” of mind - which escalates into being argumentative (which is a form of fear) because you are thinking, “Why do they have so many choices? All I came here for is some soap!” 

Philippians 4:4-7 AMPC 

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The reason why many of us don’t have “Peace”, is we are in the wrong Spirit! We are not allowing the Holy Spirit in us to lead and guide us in our choices, decisions, and even our words that bring about calmness in you and those around you! It’s a wonderful state of mind to be in - and nothing can penetrate it either; because it’s that powerful! 

Now let’s talk about receptive and passive that go hand in hand. Being willing and open is good to a certain point. It depends on what it is you are agreeing to do! Most people who are receptive do have a strong sense of character. They listen before responding and are in agreement of a change, with the exception, it will improve a condition or environment. However, those who are passive generally do not. The concept of passive is to please others to a point of acceptance - being in agreement to what everybody else is doing, you know, follow the crowd per say! 

We all get agitated and distraught many times in our lives, and over the years of my life, I have often wondered what being at Rest, being at Peace, and Leaning my entire human personality on God meant - as Paul spoke about often.

I Timothy 1:16-19 AMPC

13 Though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and was shamefully and outrageously and aggressively insulting [to Him], nevertheless, I obtained mercy because I had acted out of ignorance in unbelief.
14 And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus.
15 The saying is sure and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.
16 But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an example to [encourage] those who would thereafter believe on Him for [the gaining of] eternal life.
17 Now to the King of eternity, incorruptible and immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever (to the ages of ages). Amen (so be it).
18 This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 Holding fast to faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith.

Now I know, it is our weapon of warfare against the evil spirits that are relentless in our thoughts to disrupt a sound mind. Once in that state of mind, the power is yours to keep you victorious in your mental health, your physical health, and your spiritual health! 

Nothing missing, Nothing broken! 

Booked Up!

This time alone with God has shown me how much we strive, and are eager to stress ourselves out to a point of exhaustion over making money! The majority of Americans are working several jobs to make ends meet, not because of greed (which plays a factor in the stress), but it’s more because of who we serve!

Psalm 95:3-8 AMPC

3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights and strength of the hills are His also. 5 The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker [in reverent praise and supplication]. 7 For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Harden not your hearts as at Meribah and as at Massah in the day of temptation in the wilderness, 9 When your fathers tried My patience and tested Me, proved Me, and saw My work [of judgment].

The stress comes from a hunger that does not ever satisfy, because the more we have, the more we want; and it ends up in a vicious cycle of more. Before you know it, you have accumulated “stuff” you thought would fill that void or hunger inside. The truth be told, it just causes more frustration and anxiety! 

My Mother at her 80th birthday party with her
Great Granddaughters

Family is being pushed aside as well as important relationships, which over time, has been torn down; and will take time to rebuild! This holds true mainly in our homes and with our children and spouses. Relationships are important and necessary, especially if they are built upon truth in the Word and faith in God!

Nehemiah 2:17-18 NKJV

17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.

So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

Now I am not saying do not work, or buy things, I am saying do not make things a priority over your family and you look back in that rear view mirror and have regrets over what you should have done. The past is gone, but it can be restored, if you are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to rebuild. 

Now is the time to sit back, look around and be thankful for your family, your house, the food you have, a car (if you have one) and good health. It’s being “Grateful” and “Thankful” that keeps your heart and mind focused on the good you do have so you won’t be tempted to covet the things your neighbor has - which doesn’t make them happy either! It weakens our Spirit to compare and lust after things when Jesus said: 

Matthew 6:19-34 AMPC

19 Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).

25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?

28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.

29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?

32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.

33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

God will provide for you and it will be extremely better than you could have imagined or purchased. He gives us His best that cannot compare to anyone or anything and it will be given to you without strife or reproach in due time!

ONLY GOD CAN SATISFY!