I happen to enjoy sleeping on a very comfortable bed. I can recall like it was yesterday.
I was out of town tired, just checked into my hotel room, slow waltzed into the elevator with eyes red from exhaustion. Thoughts of taking a nice hot shower and crashing skipped through the halls of my mind. After reaching my room my thoughts became a reality.
After the shower I put on my PJ's and jumped into the bed and whoa it was the most comfortable bed that I laid upon. I was definitely impressed because my bed at home is very comfortable but I would take this bed over it.
That was some of the best sleep that I ever had laying on a bed before in my life. I have slept on some really comfortable beds ranging from tempurpedics, water beds, and a host of others.
There are so many people in the world who cannot find rest. Some who have the biggest bank accounts, sleep in the best beds, and travel all over the world but they cannot find rest.
True rest that refreshes, restores and rejuvenates from the inside out. Divine rest that is highly unlike finding comfort. Comfort comes and goes. You can have a comfortable bed that you sleep in every night. However there are times when you toss and turn and cannot find rest.
There are too many people in life who cannot find rest. They look to find it in sex, drugs, money, fame and having fun. But you won't find it there.
You wont find it in a Long island Ice Tea.
You wont find it in a Newport cigarette.
You wont find it in a crack pipe.
You wont find it sipping syrup.
You wont find it in popping ecstasy pills.
You wont find it in sniffing coke or snorting dope.
You wont find it in a vacation to an exotic Island.
You wont find it in having sex and experiencing an orgasm.
Yes I said it because I keep it real.
You wont find it Serta Perfect Sleeper, or a sleep number bed
There is only one place that you can find it.
Where is that?
You will find it in Jesus. Ask Jesus and He will tell you
Matthew 11:28-30 (King James Version)
28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
It's that simple.
What are you waiting for you can rest assured today?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Designer Frames
I recall back in the days in the 80's there was a huge fad of wearing designer frames in the African American community. Around the RUN DMC rap era. Even people who despised wearing glasses were caught up on it. There would even go as far as just purchasing the frames wearing them without any lenses.
Cazal frames were big block framed style with their name emblazoned in script upon their lenses and gold plated tag name on the arms. Were a huge hit, Yves Saint Laurent frames were also popular. It was definitely official.
Glasses were now in style. As i look back I think of how that time in history more or less helped me feel more comfortable about wearing glasses. It took a little getting used to but that phase help me to embrace the fact that I would have to wear glasses.
When I think about designer frames I think about how we all wear them.
What I mean is that we all have a specific design of frames that we wear to see the world. We all see the world through designer frames.
Some of us choose to wear sunglasses 2 block the shade of God's divine light from our view.
Some of us choose to wear glasses smudged by our fingerprints and we refuse to clean them to get a better view of life.
Some of us choose to wear glasses without lenses when we know we do not have 20/20 vision 2 see God's will for our life.
Some of us choose to wear glasses with transitional lenses so when God tries to share His radiance of righteousness our lenses darken so much that we are not affected by the light.
Some of us choose to wear other people's glasses that are too strong or too weak for our eyes and will only do further damage to our already poor eyesight.
Oh we are all wearing designer frames today.
What color is yours today?
Are they black, white, gunmetal, blue,red, or tan?
Are they heavy to the point that it has left a mark upon your nose?
Are they broken or all scratched up?
If so God wants you to know that whatever type of designer glasses that you have on He can fix them.
He can give you the right prescription.
St. John Chapter 9 tells the story of Jesus healing a blind man. Read it in your spare time. In this text there are many people in this chapter who are blind not just the man who was blind from his birth.
The disciples were blind to the fact that this was a tremendous opportunity to provide service to this man who was blind.
The disciples were so blind that instead of asking Jesus how can we help this man they asked him who sinned his father or mother an made him born blind.
Have you ever found yourself wearing those designer glasses overlooking someone in need?
Have you ever found yourself wearing those designer glasses asking god what sin has this persons parents committed that they are suffering?
The disciples were styling wearing their designer frames and they missed the point even walking and talking with Jesus.
Jesus confesses to them that this man is not blind because of his parents sins but he is born this way so God can manifest the power of healing in him.
Jesus wants to heal the blindness of us all. however, sometimes we get so caught up on our glasses and Hollywood status that we don't want to take those glasses off.
After Jesus gave the blind man the remedy some of his neighbors failed to see this man at all. They looked at him in disbelief in his being healed. It just couldn't be true. Some of them said it is him while others said it can't be him.
They contemplated is this our neighbor or is it somebody that looks like him instead of getting the story from the horses mouth.
Like many of us we get into our huddles and mumble about people and instead of going directly to them and getting the facts we are satisfied with our assumptions and speculations of what we think is the truth.
Oh so many people in this text were suffering from blindness in this text and in the world that we live in.
The man overheard them gossiping and says in response to their unsure bickering it is me. He testified that it was Jesus who made him see again.
Even after getting a wake up call and even hearing the truth from the horses mouth they grabbed him up and took him to the Pharisees.
The Pharisees who were supposed to be God's chosen people couldn't see the truth. They had on their designer frames which only allowed them to see into their so called spiritual mastery of the law. Which caused them to know the law but not Know God.
What a terrible thing to be wearing designer frames, be God's chosen people, and not even recognize or know who God is?
I'm thankful though.
That no matter how thick, how dirty, how closed, how twisted, how broken, how messed up your vision is there is somebody who can give you sight so you can see the light.
His name is Jesus.
He wants to open up your eyes so you can see through the designer frames. He wants to make your vision whole again. I'm thankful that Jesus is the eye opener.
Are you satisfied with your designer frames just as they are?
The designer frames are a statement to the word that you have taste, but you do not know the God of grace and healing.
The billion dollar question is do you want him to open your eyes so you can see the light, walk in his righteousness and goodness?
The choice is yours.
Cazal frames were big block framed style with their name emblazoned in script upon their lenses and gold plated tag name on the arms. Were a huge hit, Yves Saint Laurent frames were also popular. It was definitely official.
Glasses were now in style. As i look back I think of how that time in history more or less helped me feel more comfortable about wearing glasses. It took a little getting used to but that phase help me to embrace the fact that I would have to wear glasses.
When I think about designer frames I think about how we all wear them.
What I mean is that we all have a specific design of frames that we wear to see the world. We all see the world through designer frames.
Some of us choose to wear sunglasses 2 block the shade of God's divine light from our view.
Some of us choose to wear glasses smudged by our fingerprints and we refuse to clean them to get a better view of life.
Some of us choose to wear glasses without lenses when we know we do not have 20/20 vision 2 see God's will for our life.
Some of us choose to wear glasses with transitional lenses so when God tries to share His radiance of righteousness our lenses darken so much that we are not affected by the light.
Some of us choose to wear other people's glasses that are too strong or too weak for our eyes and will only do further damage to our already poor eyesight.
Oh we are all wearing designer frames today.
What color is yours today?
Are they black, white, gunmetal, blue,red, or tan?
Are they heavy to the point that it has left a mark upon your nose?
Are they broken or all scratched up?
If so God wants you to know that whatever type of designer glasses that you have on He can fix them.
He can give you the right prescription.
St. John Chapter 9 tells the story of Jesus healing a blind man. Read it in your spare time. In this text there are many people in this chapter who are blind not just the man who was blind from his birth.
The disciples were blind to the fact that this was a tremendous opportunity to provide service to this man who was blind.
The disciples were so blind that instead of asking Jesus how can we help this man they asked him who sinned his father or mother an made him born blind.
Have you ever found yourself wearing those designer glasses overlooking someone in need?
Have you ever found yourself wearing those designer glasses asking god what sin has this persons parents committed that they are suffering?
The disciples were styling wearing their designer frames and they missed the point even walking and talking with Jesus.
Jesus confesses to them that this man is not blind because of his parents sins but he is born this way so God can manifest the power of healing in him.
Jesus wants to heal the blindness of us all. however, sometimes we get so caught up on our glasses and Hollywood status that we don't want to take those glasses off.
After Jesus gave the blind man the remedy some of his neighbors failed to see this man at all. They looked at him in disbelief in his being healed. It just couldn't be true. Some of them said it is him while others said it can't be him.
They contemplated is this our neighbor or is it somebody that looks like him instead of getting the story from the horses mouth.
Like many of us we get into our huddles and mumble about people and instead of going directly to them and getting the facts we are satisfied with our assumptions and speculations of what we think is the truth.
Oh so many people in this text were suffering from blindness in this text and in the world that we live in.
The man overheard them gossiping and says in response to their unsure bickering it is me. He testified that it was Jesus who made him see again.
Even after getting a wake up call and even hearing the truth from the horses mouth they grabbed him up and took him to the Pharisees.
The Pharisees who were supposed to be God's chosen people couldn't see the truth. They had on their designer frames which only allowed them to see into their so called spiritual mastery of the law. Which caused them to know the law but not Know God.
What a terrible thing to be wearing designer frames, be God's chosen people, and not even recognize or know who God is?
I'm thankful though.
That no matter how thick, how dirty, how closed, how twisted, how broken, how messed up your vision is there is somebody who can give you sight so you can see the light.
His name is Jesus.
He wants to open up your eyes so you can see through the designer frames. He wants to make your vision whole again. I'm thankful that Jesus is the eye opener.
Are you satisfied with your designer frames just as they are?
The designer frames are a statement to the word that you have taste, but you do not know the God of grace and healing.
The billion dollar question is do you want him to open your eyes so you can see the light, walk in his righteousness and goodness?
The choice is yours.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Get Your Shine On
There is an extremely popular phrase called shinning in the secular world. Where people talk about you can't stop my shine or I'm shinning right now. Which literally means right now I am on top of my game, I'm getting noticed by everyone and I'm sparkling like the brightest star in the darkest night.
People toss this statement out so loosely. The majority of people who use it are oblivious to the real meaning of shinning.
In fact, there is nothing new about the word. Just that in the secular world the concept that they have is all wrong. There is this grave misconception of the meaning of shinning.
The originator of the word come from the Most High. God invented it and man revamped it and twisted it. What are you talking about? I'm talking about the truth.
Shinning is all about being filled by the power of the Holy Ghost. Saturated with Holy Ghost Power that radiates God's presence and goodness in you.
When you are shinning there is no secret to who you belong to.
Adam and Eve were shinning when God created them. They were shinning from the beginning of humanities existence until the committed sin against God. That is when their shine left and they realized they were naked.
Moses shinned when he left Mt. Sinai after communing with the Most High and receiving the two tablets of stone the ten commandments. He was shinning so much that the children of Israel was afraid of him.
You see everybody talking about shinning isn't shinning at all.
True shinning is being empowered from on high by the Holy Ghost. When you shinning you are illuminated by God. When your shining nobody can stop your shine because God has ordained it.
When you shining everybody can see there is something different about you. How can you get shine?
You get it by asking the Most High to fill you with the Holy Ghost and you continue to pray daily asking Him to fill you with His presence. The more you study your Bible and pray the more you allow the Spirit of God to take up residence in your heart and life.
So get your shine on beloved. You can do it.
Ask the Apostle Paul and he will tell you:
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, inn the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shins as lights in the world." Philippians 2:15
Ask Daniel and he will declare unto you:
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3
People who struggle to see their name in lights usually overlook the light within them. -- Alan Cohen
Which light are you more concerned with?
People toss this statement out so loosely. The majority of people who use it are oblivious to the real meaning of shinning.
In fact, there is nothing new about the word. Just that in the secular world the concept that they have is all wrong. There is this grave misconception of the meaning of shinning.
The originator of the word come from the Most High. God invented it and man revamped it and twisted it. What are you talking about? I'm talking about the truth.
Shinning is all about being filled by the power of the Holy Ghost. Saturated with Holy Ghost Power that radiates God's presence and goodness in you.
When you are shinning there is no secret to who you belong to.
Adam and Eve were shinning when God created them. They were shinning from the beginning of humanities existence until the committed sin against God. That is when their shine left and they realized they were naked.
Moses shinned when he left Mt. Sinai after communing with the Most High and receiving the two tablets of stone the ten commandments. He was shinning so much that the children of Israel was afraid of him.
You see everybody talking about shinning isn't shinning at all.
True shinning is being empowered from on high by the Holy Ghost. When you shinning you are illuminated by God. When your shining nobody can stop your shine because God has ordained it.
When you shining everybody can see there is something different about you. How can you get shine?
You get it by asking the Most High to fill you with the Holy Ghost and you continue to pray daily asking Him to fill you with His presence. The more you study your Bible and pray the more you allow the Spirit of God to take up residence in your heart and life.
So get your shine on beloved. You can do it.
Ask the Apostle Paul and he will tell you:
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, inn the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shins as lights in the world." Philippians 2:15
Ask Daniel and he will declare unto you:
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3
People who struggle to see their name in lights usually overlook the light within them. -- Alan Cohen
Which light are you more concerned with?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Perception of Truth
The Bible says that the truth shall set you free. There is a misconception of this very statement by Christians around the world from various denominations.
What I am about to share is extremely potent truth that is not watered down. It is potent and there will be no chaser behind it.
It isn't for those thin skinned individuals who as Jack Nicholson said you want to know the truth you can't handle the truth.
There are lies being preached by preachers directly from the pulpit concerning God. I know that is a strong accusation to bring up but it is what it is. It is the truth.
There is a perception of truth that people are taught called Once Saved Always Saved.
The perception of truth goes like this when you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you are saved. There is nothing else for you to do or say you are once saved and always saved.
That is a lie.
King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived & walked on this earth declares in Ecclesiastes 12:13 " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
The perception of truth says that the ten commandments were nailed to the Cross when Jesus died on Calvary.
That is a lie.
The only things that was nailed to the cross was the ceremonial law which called for slaying of sacrificial lambs and animals to wash away our sins. Jesus shed His blood on Calvary to wash away our sins.
This is why John the Baptist said to the masses while Jesus passed by "behold the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world."
If you still having a problem with the perception of the truth?
Ask the Apostle Paul. For Paul declares in
“ The LORD has sworn
And will not relent,
‘ You are a priest forevera]">[a]
According to the order of Melchizedek’”),b]">[b]
22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
When people believe the perception of truth they get cloudy vision. The perception of truth is not the truth but a faulty perception of the truth. Millions of people will be lost because of their perception of the truth. The truth is strong medicine. The truth is thus saith the Lord. The truth is clearer than a bright sunshiny day.
The truth is unadulterated, self explanatory, Holy Ghost instructed and Holy Ghost convicting.
For the apostle Paul declares in Hebrews 4:12
"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.
It hurts sometimes when you find out the truth. I can recall years ago being in love with a young lady. I loved her unconditionally giving one hundred percent of my love to her. I was in love. My perception of the truth was that she loved me the same way that I loved her.
As time went on I fell deeper in love with her. The more I gave of myself and my time. Before long it was time for the both of us to make a decision on where our relationship was going and I just knew we were going to take the next step.
Guess what happened?
The relationship disintegrated faster than you could say my full name. You want to know why?
It disintegrated because she didn't love me the way I loved her. My plan was to take it to the next level while hers was to get out while she could. I was dead wrong because of my perception of the truth.
The truth was she was just not that into me as I was into her. I was hoodwinked and bamboozled. Hoodwinked and bamboozled by my own perception of the truth.
The perception of truth can lead you down the wrong path, it can be heartbreaking, and it can obliterate you. The truth shall set you free and it will empower your life as well as reinvent your life.
I'm glad I know the truth now. I have stop settling for the perception of truth because the perception of truth can cause you to miss out on salvation and hinder from the kingdom of heaven.
God wants you to know the truth.
For the word of God declares in the book of Revelation 22:14,15
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever maketh a lie.
Making it to heaven requires us to live a life that is submissive to God. A life where we hear the truth, see the truth, follow the truth, making it a lifestyle and the cornerstone of our Christianity. For to be like Christ means to live like He lived.
What I am about to share is extremely potent truth that is not watered down. It is potent and there will be no chaser behind it.
It isn't for those thin skinned individuals who as Jack Nicholson said you want to know the truth you can't handle the truth.
There are lies being preached by preachers directly from the pulpit concerning God. I know that is a strong accusation to bring up but it is what it is. It is the truth.
There is a perception of truth that people are taught called Once Saved Always Saved.
The perception of truth goes like this when you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you are saved. There is nothing else for you to do or say you are once saved and always saved.
That is a lie.
King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived & walked on this earth declares in Ecclesiastes 12:13 " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
The perception of truth says that the ten commandments were nailed to the Cross when Jesus died on Calvary.
That is a lie.
The only things that was nailed to the cross was the ceremonial law which called for slaying of sacrificial lambs and animals to wash away our sins. Jesus shed His blood on Calvary to wash away our sins.
This is why John the Baptist said to the masses while Jesus passed by "behold the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world."
If you still having a problem with the perception of the truth?
Ask the Apostle Paul. For Paul declares in
Hebrews 7:18-25 (New King James Version)
18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
“ The LORD has sworn
And will not relent,
‘ You are a priest forevera]">[a]
According to the order of Melchizedek’”),b]">[b]
22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
When people believe the perception of truth they get cloudy vision. The perception of truth is not the truth but a faulty perception of the truth. Millions of people will be lost because of their perception of the truth. The truth is strong medicine. The truth is thus saith the Lord. The truth is clearer than a bright sunshiny day.
The truth is unadulterated, self explanatory, Holy Ghost instructed and Holy Ghost convicting.
For the apostle Paul declares in Hebrews 4:12
"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.
It hurts sometimes when you find out the truth. I can recall years ago being in love with a young lady. I loved her unconditionally giving one hundred percent of my love to her. I was in love. My perception of the truth was that she loved me the same way that I loved her.
As time went on I fell deeper in love with her. The more I gave of myself and my time. Before long it was time for the both of us to make a decision on where our relationship was going and I just knew we were going to take the next step.
Guess what happened?
The relationship disintegrated faster than you could say my full name. You want to know why?
It disintegrated because she didn't love me the way I loved her. My plan was to take it to the next level while hers was to get out while she could. I was dead wrong because of my perception of the truth.
The truth was she was just not that into me as I was into her. I was hoodwinked and bamboozled. Hoodwinked and bamboozled by my own perception of the truth.
The perception of truth can lead you down the wrong path, it can be heartbreaking, and it can obliterate you. The truth shall set you free and it will empower your life as well as reinvent your life.
I'm glad I know the truth now. I have stop settling for the perception of truth because the perception of truth can cause you to miss out on salvation and hinder from the kingdom of heaven.
God wants you to know the truth.
For the word of God declares in the book of Revelation 22:14,15
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever maketh a lie.
Making it to heaven requires us to live a life that is submissive to God. A life where we hear the truth, see the truth, follow the truth, making it a lifestyle and the cornerstone of our Christianity. For to be like Christ means to live like He lived.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Independence Day
Yesterday, while looking over my grandson. I began pondering how from the time that we were babies our parents or guardians look over us. They feed us, clothe us and provide for us. As we begin to grow we learn how to hold our bottles, we begin talking, and learn how to walk all by ourselves.
There starts the beginning of our independence. A time when we are learning to be more self sufficient. As we grow through the stages of life ranging from childhood, adolescent and eventually adults we pride ourselves on our independence.
In fact, how many times have you heard someone say I'm a grown man or woman? Some people add another word in the statement after grown but I'm not going there. You know what I'm talking about.
Am I right about it?
A funny thing about this word independence. We pride ourselves on it. We wrap our flags around it, salute our troops for it, blast fireworks and say happy 4th of July while many of us are not free.
Not free.
For many of us our slaves to our passions, desires, habits, and lifestyles. Fault finders quick to point fingers at others while we hate the finger being pointed at ourselves. We hold everyone else to a higher standard by raising the bar for them while lowering it for ourselves.
How independent is that?
What makes it all worst is some of us don't even know we slaves. Running around talking about I love my freedom and you living the life of a slave. When I was riding down here and passing all this land I envisioned how slaves must have felt working on those plantations in blistering heat. Working hard on their masters acres. I could see it, like a movie.
It's a terrible thing to be shackled and don't know it. At least our forefathers knew they were enslaved. The thing about modern day slavery is many people don't realize that they are slaves.
I can recall years ago falling in love with a woman who I loved dearly. We broke it off going in different directions. Even after we were done I was still held in captivity by what she meant to me. I always used her as a measuring stick against others. In fact, to make it clearer I was still addicted to this woman.
I couldn't shake it. I was shackled to her while she was long gone.
How sad is that.
I never gave the other young ladies a fare shot because I always scrutinized them for not being like my former lady. Enslaved emotionally. Thinking everything was all good with me. But it was not.
There are people who are enslaved emotionally, spiritually, sexually, financially, mentally, physically, and definitely. However, there is a way to be set free.
It was not until God brought to my attention that I sold myself into slavery of that woman. Only then could I ask Him to set me free. Listen how can you be set free when you shackled to someone, something, and you don't know how to get away. You don't have strength to get away.
God can set you free. He is a specialist at snapping chains. Ask the children of Israel and they will tell you Pharaoh had us bound until God came around. We were slaves in Egypt and God reeducated us in righteousness, brought us up out of captivity to the Promised Land.
Call on Our Father who art in heaven.
He is the shackle breaker. For he came to set the captives free.
When I was addicted to smoking cigarettes people prayed for me, I prayed from myself and God gave me the victory over that.
Listen when I needed to let go of the thought of my former girlfriend. God broke the shackles and set me free.
When I was feeling helpless in my battle to stop drinking alcohol God took the taste of it from me. Allowing me to drink from His living waters. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh watch and see, He can set you free.
On this Independence day, beloved think of something or someone who may have you bound?
This Independence Day, bring it before the Master of the Universe. Allow him to unlock the locks. Allow Him to break your chains. When He sets you free you are free indeed.
Pray for deliverance from whatever has you bound.
Pray to the God who answers prayer because He will never let you down.
So pray that He will make a way out of no way.
Pray that God will wipe your tears away.
You can call Him G-O-D because He's God of Deliverance to me.
Let today be the start of your Independence Day. So you can really celebrate because you truly have the victory.
There starts the beginning of our independence. A time when we are learning to be more self sufficient. As we grow through the stages of life ranging from childhood, adolescent and eventually adults we pride ourselves on our independence.
In fact, how many times have you heard someone say I'm a grown man or woman? Some people add another word in the statement after grown but I'm not going there. You know what I'm talking about.
Am I right about it?
A funny thing about this word independence. We pride ourselves on it. We wrap our flags around it, salute our troops for it, blast fireworks and say happy 4th of July while many of us are not free.
Not free.
For many of us our slaves to our passions, desires, habits, and lifestyles. Fault finders quick to point fingers at others while we hate the finger being pointed at ourselves. We hold everyone else to a higher standard by raising the bar for them while lowering it for ourselves.
How independent is that?
What makes it all worst is some of us don't even know we slaves. Running around talking about I love my freedom and you living the life of a slave. When I was riding down here and passing all this land I envisioned how slaves must have felt working on those plantations in blistering heat. Working hard on their masters acres. I could see it, like a movie.
It's a terrible thing to be shackled and don't know it. At least our forefathers knew they were enslaved. The thing about modern day slavery is many people don't realize that they are slaves.
I can recall years ago falling in love with a woman who I loved dearly. We broke it off going in different directions. Even after we were done I was still held in captivity by what she meant to me. I always used her as a measuring stick against others. In fact, to make it clearer I was still addicted to this woman.
I couldn't shake it. I was shackled to her while she was long gone.
How sad is that.
I never gave the other young ladies a fare shot because I always scrutinized them for not being like my former lady. Enslaved emotionally. Thinking everything was all good with me. But it was not.
There are people who are enslaved emotionally, spiritually, sexually, financially, mentally, physically, and definitely. However, there is a way to be set free.
It was not until God brought to my attention that I sold myself into slavery of that woman. Only then could I ask Him to set me free. Listen how can you be set free when you shackled to someone, something, and you don't know how to get away. You don't have strength to get away.
God can set you free. He is a specialist at snapping chains. Ask the children of Israel and they will tell you Pharaoh had us bound until God came around. We were slaves in Egypt and God reeducated us in righteousness, brought us up out of captivity to the Promised Land.
Call on Our Father who art in heaven.
He is the shackle breaker. For he came to set the captives free.
When I was addicted to smoking cigarettes people prayed for me, I prayed from myself and God gave me the victory over that.
Listen when I needed to let go of the thought of my former girlfriend. God broke the shackles and set me free.
When I was feeling helpless in my battle to stop drinking alcohol God took the taste of it from me. Allowing me to drink from His living waters. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh watch and see, He can set you free.
On this Independence day, beloved think of something or someone who may have you bound?
This Independence Day, bring it before the Master of the Universe. Allow him to unlock the locks. Allow Him to break your chains. When He sets you free you are free indeed.
Pray for deliverance from whatever has you bound.
Pray to the God who answers prayer because He will never let you down.
So pray that He will make a way out of no way.
Pray that God will wipe your tears away.
You can call Him G-O-D because He's God of Deliverance to me.
Let today be the start of your Independence Day. So you can really celebrate because you truly have the victory.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Why Pray
Some people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God. --Andrew Murray
There is no better way to start your day than to pray.
For prayer is the life blood that pumps life into our spirituality. Whenever we fail to pray, we go through life sluggish because we are running on fumes. Prayer brings power to any individual who takes out time to pray. God rejuvenates them with power from on high to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask.
There are people in the world who are losing jobs, homeless, hungry, fighting diseases, fighting drug addiction, have houses being foreclosed upon, being raped, beaten, talked about, lied upon, spat upon, shot, forced into prostitution, being conned and I haven’t even covered the tip of the iceberg. You would think that with all that we face as human beings that we would pray more.
Unfortunately, some people bring it to God after the situation has escalated. They allow the situation to turn into a problem. The problem turns to a bigger problem. The bigger problem now becomes the out of control problem that catapults into a crisis.
Our situation was once a little harmless adorable puppy who has become an enormous Pit-Bull who wants nothing more but to devour us. Now we are ready to run to God. Now we need Him to get rid of our crisis so we run to him to help us.
The good thing is that God knows our hearts. Even when we come to Him with our crisis, He never fails to come to our rescue.
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. -- Abraham Lincoln
Prayer is communion with the Master of the Universe. Prayer is the development of a relationship that God wants to have with us. A dialog where He wants us to tell Him what is on our minds and hearts. He wants us to get into the habit of getting close to Him. Lord knows we all need it.
When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy. --Corrie Ten Boom
There is no better way to start your day than to pray.
For prayer is the life blood that pumps life into our spirituality. Whenever we fail to pray, we go through life sluggish because we are running on fumes. Prayer brings power to any individual who takes out time to pray. God rejuvenates them with power from on high to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask.
There are people in the world who are losing jobs, homeless, hungry, fighting diseases, fighting drug addiction, have houses being foreclosed upon, being raped, beaten, talked about, lied upon, spat upon, shot, forced into prostitution, being conned and I haven’t even covered the tip of the iceberg. You would think that with all that we face as human beings that we would pray more.
Unfortunately, some people bring it to God after the situation has escalated. They allow the situation to turn into a problem. The problem turns to a bigger problem. The bigger problem now becomes the out of control problem that catapults into a crisis.
Our situation was once a little harmless adorable puppy who has become an enormous Pit-Bull who wants nothing more but to devour us. Now we are ready to run to God. Now we need Him to get rid of our crisis so we run to him to help us.
The good thing is that God knows our hearts. Even when we come to Him with our crisis, He never fails to come to our rescue.
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go. -- Abraham Lincoln
Prayer is communion with the Master of the Universe. Prayer is the development of a relationship that God wants to have with us. A dialog where He wants us to tell Him what is on our minds and hearts. He wants us to get into the habit of getting close to Him. Lord knows we all need it.
When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy. --Corrie Ten Boom
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Script
I love movies with a passion. For every movie there is a script that actors must learn there lines to bring their characters to life. The director’s shooting script is the one he or she uses to bring the movies we watch to life. They are an ultimate escape from reality, a vacation from the norm whisking us away to a new world.
What I am about to show you is a shooting script that will change the movie of your life. Life is a real life movie. The better your script is the better your life becomes.
Today I want to discuss what the script is for those of you wondering where I am going with this. Hold on to your seats relax and get comfortable.
The script is an acronym for five different praying styles. All of these praying styles are extremely powerful. I will also give you the opportunity to contact me so I can send you a free book that you are absolutely going to love.
S stands for Silent Prayer
Praying to God is a very powerful thing. One thing that I have learned from experience is some prayers you just keep silent between you and God. I share this because Satan cannot read your mind. Many times people say entirely too much when they are praying to God giving the enemy ammunition to fire upon us.
I have heard women say that man can talk me into anything. I can see the devil now as he hears those words because he has an Aha moment now. To add visual and IMAX theatre to make it plain that is like a criminal giving a prosecuting attorney all the evidence he needs to lock you away for life. Some things you have to keep between you and God.
I recall years ago telling people cigarettes had me bound and were the hardest habit to kick. Guess what those cravings had me going like a crack addict feigning for a hit of cocaine. Cigarettes were one of the hardest habits I ever had to kick. I believe if I did not proclaim the power cigarettes had over me that my battle would have been a lot easier.
C is for Commitment Prayer
Commitment prayer is simply a prayer of commitment. When you tell God, I commit my car to you so that I can faithfully take people to and from church and minster to them. That is a commitment prayer. It can also be a prayer where you commit your child or family to God. It can be a personal prayer that you surrender yourself to preaching, teaching, helping anyone.
R stands for Revelation Prayer
Revelation prayer is the time we ask God to reveal something unknown us. A revelation prayer is one for divine intervention, awakening, and enlightenment. God only gives as He sees fit to reveal unto us. There are something’s He will not reveal because the secret things belong unto God.
The I stands for Intercessory Prayer
Intercessory prayer is what Jesus did when He was on the cross dying for our sins. Intercessory prayer is what my grandmother did over me when I was a young child and when my mother did for me when I was a menace to society. It is standing in the gap for someone who needs a word from the Lord, a change or some sort of miracle.
The P stands for Praying through His Promises
When you pray through His promises, you have a solidified guarantee that God will answer because He says His word shall not return to Him void. For any problem that you are facing there is a promise in the Bible that addresses it.
Praying through His promises gives you a solid foundation of prayer that is sure and true.
One of the most amazing books I ever read on prayer goes into claiming God’s promises in prayer called the ABC’s of Bible Prayer by Glen A. Coon. This book is a nuclear explosion of truth that can rock the foundations of this world.
The T stands for Thinking About it Prayer
Thinking about it prayers are prayers that I use when a person crosses my mind I say a silent prayer for them. It is similar to intercessory prayer but the Holy Ghost is prompting you to pray for an individual. You don’t know why but you just have to follow His lead.
When a thought passes of a goal I need to reach, I pray on it. It has been very effective and very powerful.
I have had people who came across my mind on a specific day or time tell me later on I had a rough week last week that I did not think I was going to get through and then strength came out of nowhere for me to do it.
Little do they know that it was the power of prayer? I cannot wait until tomorrow because I have some goodies for you.
Remember to e-mail me today at arbarnes30@hotmail.com to request your free book that you are absolutely going to love.
Have an awesome day God bless and keep you.
What I am about to show you is a shooting script that will change the movie of your life. Life is a real life movie. The better your script is the better your life becomes.
Today I want to discuss what the script is for those of you wondering where I am going with this. Hold on to your seats relax and get comfortable.
The script is an acronym for five different praying styles. All of these praying styles are extremely powerful. I will also give you the opportunity to contact me so I can send you a free book that you are absolutely going to love.
S stands for Silent Prayer
Praying to God is a very powerful thing. One thing that I have learned from experience is some prayers you just keep silent between you and God. I share this because Satan cannot read your mind. Many times people say entirely too much when they are praying to God giving the enemy ammunition to fire upon us.
I have heard women say that man can talk me into anything. I can see the devil now as he hears those words because he has an Aha moment now. To add visual and IMAX theatre to make it plain that is like a criminal giving a prosecuting attorney all the evidence he needs to lock you away for life. Some things you have to keep between you and God.
I recall years ago telling people cigarettes had me bound and were the hardest habit to kick. Guess what those cravings had me going like a crack addict feigning for a hit of cocaine. Cigarettes were one of the hardest habits I ever had to kick. I believe if I did not proclaim the power cigarettes had over me that my battle would have been a lot easier.
C is for Commitment Prayer
Commitment prayer is simply a prayer of commitment. When you tell God, I commit my car to you so that I can faithfully take people to and from church and minster to them. That is a commitment prayer. It can also be a prayer where you commit your child or family to God. It can be a personal prayer that you surrender yourself to preaching, teaching, helping anyone.
R stands for Revelation Prayer
Revelation prayer is the time we ask God to reveal something unknown us. A revelation prayer is one for divine intervention, awakening, and enlightenment. God only gives as He sees fit to reveal unto us. There are something’s He will not reveal because the secret things belong unto God.
The I stands for Intercessory Prayer
Intercessory prayer is what Jesus did when He was on the cross dying for our sins. Intercessory prayer is what my grandmother did over me when I was a young child and when my mother did for me when I was a menace to society. It is standing in the gap for someone who needs a word from the Lord, a change or some sort of miracle.
The P stands for Praying through His Promises
When you pray through His promises, you have a solidified guarantee that God will answer because He says His word shall not return to Him void. For any problem that you are facing there is a promise in the Bible that addresses it.
Praying through His promises gives you a solid foundation of prayer that is sure and true.
One of the most amazing books I ever read on prayer goes into claiming God’s promises in prayer called the ABC’s of Bible Prayer by Glen A. Coon. This book is a nuclear explosion of truth that can rock the foundations of this world.
The T stands for Thinking About it Prayer
Thinking about it prayers are prayers that I use when a person crosses my mind I say a silent prayer for them. It is similar to intercessory prayer but the Holy Ghost is prompting you to pray for an individual. You don’t know why but you just have to follow His lead.
When a thought passes of a goal I need to reach, I pray on it. It has been very effective and very powerful.
I have had people who came across my mind on a specific day or time tell me later on I had a rough week last week that I did not think I was going to get through and then strength came out of nowhere for me to do it.
Little do they know that it was the power of prayer? I cannot wait until tomorrow because I have some goodies for you.
Remember to e-mail me today at arbarnes30@hotmail.com to request your free book that you are absolutely going to love.
Have an awesome day God bless and keep you.
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