“No Looking Back…Move Forward!”

As we approach the beginning of a New Year, I want each and every one of you to make a declaration: No Looking Back…Move Forward!  If you didn’t reach every goal that you set out to achieve, No Looking Back. If you were hurt/rejected by someone you loved, No Looking Back. If you lost some friends along the way (or you discovered that some people really weren’t your friends), No Looking Back. If you didn’t meet the love of your life like you had hoped and prayed for, No Looking Back.  If you didn’t spend as much time in the Presence of God: praying, reading His Word, fasting like you promised, don’t beat yourself up about it. Thank God for His Grace, but No Looking Back. Now is not the time for regrets. Now is the time to repent (for procrastination, delayed obedience, partial obedience, and total disobedience), regroup, and refocus! Move Forward!

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

One of the Great things about God is that His mercies are new every day. It is up to you to make the most of every day; make every God-given opportunity count. Pray and ask God to order your steps and direct your pathways (Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 3:6).

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do (Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT).

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

So, if you missed it this year, thank God that His Grace is sufficient. You are blessed to still be here, you have new mercies, and another opportunity to try again  (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The enemy would love for you to believe that it’s too late, or that your time has passed. Thankfully, you serve the God Who created time, so don’t get stuck in the past with should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10).

God wants you to enjoy the Abundant Life that He has placed before you. He desires to see you prosper: mind, body, and spirit.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 2).

Decree and declare it! Your time is NOW! Move Forward in your spiritual walk towards that deeper level of intimacy with God. Move Forward working towards being loved by freely giving the love you desire to receive. Move Forward working towards that career that you’ve been dreaming about. Move Forward setting into motion and executing that plan to reach your weight loss goals and becoming a healthier you. Move Forward in praying and believing God to send you Divine Connections and relationships with reciprocity!

 

So, That Settles It, No Looking Back…Move Forward!

P.S. You don’t have to wait until the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, you can start now!

 

Happy New Year!

Hello 2017!

We’re Ready for You!

“Special Coat”

Do you have a Special Coat, you know the one that just makes you feel good when you’re wearing it? Maybe it has some sentimental value; someone special gave it to you, and you think of that person when you wear it. Well, if you are a born-again Believer, you have a really Special Coat. It’s called the Robe of Righteousness.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10)

Remember the Bible story about Joseph and the Special Coat his father Jacob gave him? It wasn’t his coat that made Joseph special. The coat was a symbol of how special he was, but it did not make him special. The reason I know this is because even after he no longer had the coat, Joseph still walked in the unmerited favor of God everywhere he went, even in prison.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper (Genesis 39:21-23).

You walk in that same favor just as Joseph did. But, there are some things I must warn you about that you will no doubt encounter, as a result of this favor. Joseph was loved by his father which is why his brothers hated him. The same is true about you. People will hate you simply because your Father in Heaven loves you, and because you walk in the Love of God.

Joseph made the mistake of telling his brothers his dreams; which lead to his brothers selling him into slavery. You must be extremely careful who you share your dreams with because just like Joseph, if you share it with the wrong people they may try to kill your dreams. Especially, if you dream BIG like Joseph; small-minded people can’t handle BIG dreamers.

It is also important to note that even when Joseph was in jail he did not lose hope and he helped others, even though they forgot about him once they were free. Chances are, the same thing may happen to you. Even in your time of need you find it in yourself to help others, only to have them totally forget about you when their situation improves.

Even though you choose not to compromise your integrity, people will still try to lie on you and slander your name. Just like Potiphar’s wife did to Joseph.

Though harsh, all of these things played a major role in shaping Joseph’s character and preparing him for promotion, a high position and passing the biggest test of his life. When there was a famine in the land, those same brothers who hated him, who sold him into slavery, who wanted to get rid of him; they now needed help, and Joseph was the one in charge; he had the authority to help or reject them. Instead of turning them away or treating them harshly as they had done him, Joseph did the exact opposite. He honored them and took care of them. When Joseph had the opportunity to repay evil with evil, he didn’t; instead he overcame evil with good (Romans 12:21).

18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.

19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?

20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them (Genesis 50:18-21 NLT).

So, That Settles It. Remember that you are special to God and you have been given a Special Coat. Oh, what a marvelous gift! Wear it proudly!

“Setting the Table”

Ever notice all the effort that goes into Setting the Table, especially for special occasions? There’s making sure the linens are clean and pressed. Making sure the utensils are clean and shiny. Making sure the knives are sharpened.

It’s symbolically the same process when God is Setting the Table; when He’s preparing the table before you in the presence of your enemies. He takes special care to ensure that everything is clean and pressed. Just as wheat on the threshing floor, leaving only that which is good. He wants to make sure that you have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:4).

He wants you to shine by allowing His light to shine through you.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16)

He wants the utensils you use to be sharp. This means you will have to spend time in His Holy Word.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

If you haven’t figured it out by now, you are His guest of honor, and God Himself is going to serve you right in the face of all your enemies. God is Setting the Table.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5)

He says “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Who will witness this Great spread? All of those who counted you out. All of those who thought and hoped you wouldn’t make it when you were going through the pressing. All of your enemies that have increased that rise up against you. (Psalm 3). People who you thought were for you, but who have now turned against you. All of those who turned their backs on you and accused you of “doing too much,” saying “it don’t take all of that.” All of those who rejected you because you purposed in your heart that you are going to serve the Lord no matter what. Remember the times you felt isolated because you boldly proclaimed: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

So, That Settles It, God is Setting the Table. Enjoy the Feast!

“Upside-down”

We have all heard the saying, “It’s lonely at the top.” But, I have a different take on this age old saying; I say, “It’s lonely at the bottom.”

See, in today’s society, no one wants to be seen as on the bottom. No one wants to assume the position of being low, meek, and humble. Instead many people are proud and puffed up, heady and high-minded.

So many people today are proud, and they feel like they have to go above and beyond to prove themselves to others. Proud people are always right and everyone else is wrong. Proud people will do things to hurt others, but pride will not allow them to apologize. Proud people will not ask for help; instead they would rather suffer alone in silence, and wear a mask when in the company of others, as if everything were okay. Proud people will not admit that they have a weakness. Proud people take advantage of every opportunity to put others down in an effort to make themselves look/feel good. Proud people always have to have the spotlight, they always have to shine. Proud people always have to be better than everyone around them (if you did something they did it better). Proud people want grace extended to them based on their intent, but want to crucify others based upon their actions. I repeat, proud people want grace extended to them based on their intent, but want to crucify others based upon their actions.

Do you know anyone like this? Are you guilty of doing any of these things? Are you possibly dealing with pride? If so, it’s not too late to allow yourself to be turned Upside-down.

Instead of always trying to make yourself look good, try exhorting someone else; try complimenting or encouraging someone else. Instead of always trying to justify your faults, try sincerely apologizing. Instead of trying to put on a mask in a failed attempt to portray that everything is okay, try admitting that you have a need, or a weakness in a particular area. Instead of always having to be right, try seeing the situation from the other person’s perspective.

The truth is: when you come into the full knowledge of who you are (in Christ), you are set free from the spirit of pride and you embrace the benefits/blessings of walking in humility.

It is better to allow yourself to be turned Upside-down and to humble yourself, than to stay proud and fall hard, or even worse, to have God humble you. Many who fall, because of pride, they find it difficult to get back up. You don’t ever want to find yourself in this place. It was pride that got Satan kicked out of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up (James 4:10).

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility (Proverbs 18:12).

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life (Proverbs 22:4).

Have you ever seen the Queen of England or the President of the United States go out of their way to try and prove to people that they are someone important? No, because everyone knows who they are. When you realize your position and live as such, and stay humble, others will recognize who you are, the child of a King. They may not know you, but they will know there is something about you that is different, even if they can’t explain it.

People will become drawn to you, almost magnetically, and they will say something along the lines of “It’s just something about you.” That’s the Glory of God resting upon you, and you can’t fake that. When His Presence dwells within you, you need no introduction, you don’t have to fight for the attention of others, you are confident enough in who you are and Whose you are that it’s easy to remain humble. Once you achieve this level of humility, then you will be exalted, because God knows He can trust you; even when men exalt you, you will bestow the Glory right back unto God.

10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Luke 14:10-11).

So, That Settles It, allow yourself to be turned Upside-Down, instead of exalting yourself, humble yourself and let God exalt you in due season. Some of the Greatest and most Powerful Patriarchs of the Gospel were of a very low state. Consider our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the most powerful man to ever walk the earth, but also the most humble.