Today our country is celebrating the 4th of July. Here, it is a celebration of independence from British rule dating back to 1776. In America, freedom is our prized possession, but with it also comes a lot of responsibility.   I like to think of spiritual freedom in the same way.  

God, who is the creator of this world, created man with independent thinking. We have the ability to choose Him or to not choose Him. I always say God doesn't want robots.  We have to operate in a way that goes beyond the surface.  For many years, The fourth of July to me meant, a day off.  A day where I could eat as much barbecue, and banana pudding as I wanted without guilt.  It was a day to relax and enjoy my family and friends. That's the surface. However, it wasn't until I was older that I understood that huge sacrifices were made in order for us to celebrate this day.  I am thankful to the soldiers that gave their lives in that war for our freedom.  Likewise, Jesus also made sacrifices, that led to him making the  ultimate sacrifice for our spiritual freedom. 

In the Bible text John 4:23-24,  Jesus was speaking to Samaritan woman about true worship and fellowship with Him.  In a nutshell, she didn't know who or what her people were worshipping.  They worshipped out of tradition.  Jesus was there to let her know that true worship is not contained to one particular place. True worship is through the man that was standing in front of her. A time was coming when true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit, and Truth. 

To worship in the Spirit is to go beyond the surface of religion and obligation. Spirit worship seeks to know God intimately, to build a relationship through faith, love, and trust.  To worship God in truth, is to  worship Him through His son ,Jesus Christ.  Before Christ's birth and death, people worshipped God through a High Priest.  Priests would go to God with sacrifices on behalf of the people to pardon their sins. 

 Jesus Christ died, so that we could have this freedom to get in contact with God (through Him) whenever we want to.  He also gave us the freedom to choose Him over 2000 years ago, and still today in 2021. 

 Know the man that you are worshipping. Don't settle for tradition, rituals, or spiritual checklists. Go deeper, and pursue a real relationship with God, just as you would any relationship. Connect with Him through His son Jesus by prayer, and the studying of His Word.  The things you will learn about Him daily will release a power in you, and that power has no limits.  There is nothing too hard for God, and his resources never run dry. 

 

You Talk A Lot

You Talk a Lot….

 

 

 

Have you ever heard this before? Or maybe, “you’re always doing something.”   The first time  I was told I talk a lot; I didn’t know what  to do with that!  Funny thing is,  the first time I recall hearing that I was a senior in high school.  Up until that point I didn’t have much I could say or was allowed to say out loud.   We grew up with, “Whatever an adult says goes” , and it went, period!  There was not much discussion on the matter.   

 

When I think about it,  I was a senior in high school when I started to think seriously about my life, so I had a lot to say!   The first time I was told “You’re always doing something.” I can recall feeling a sense of pride about that, but this can be good or bad.   

 

In Isaiah 30:15 toward the latter part, it  says in Quietness and Trust is your strength…  In this passage God was giving His people in Judah a lesson in “you are doing too much”.   In order to defeat their enemies, all they had to do was rest in the strength of God, and  He would  make them victorious.   However, they decided to go in their own strength by trusting in faster horses.  Because of this God told them  their enemies’ horses would be even faster, therefore they would not win!  When we move in your own power, we ALWAYS do too much.  God is trying to make it a tad bit easier on us.     

 

When we are too confident, we can talk too much, or do too much.   When we are confident in our own resources and abilities, we fail to consult God.  God is saying our strength and our victory  is in quietness and trust, in Him. 

 

When a champion fighter is confident, (from a natural standpoint), there isn’t much that they have to say. They have the proven stats and track record to prove they can win.  It is theirs’s to lose if they do!  They are also smart  enough not to waste  their energy on talking and bouncing around before the fight starts.  

 

When we talk too much about a thing,  we have to ask ourselves;  “Who am I trying to convince? Them, me, or both!”  

 

God want us to remember where our strength really lies. It is in the quiet trust of knowing that He is able, and capable of doing what He promised.   It is knowing that the One to whom we’ve given trust will bring us out.  He also has a proven track record, with stats that go back over 2000 years.  He has and knows the plan! . Consult Him, rest in quietness to hear what He will Do!   God will honor your faith, and you won’t be worn out.  

 

 It’s  a win-win. 

 

Personal Creativity

 

We can read a million stories, hundreds of books, and obtain 10 degrees, and we will never be able to fully answer “these” questions apart from God. 

 

“What am I still doing here?”  Have you found yourself asking these questions?  It can be quite puzzling, especially when someone close to you pass away, or people who are in their prime of creating pass away.  

 

Surely, they had more to give the world.  Their lives were profitable, but they are gone, and I am still here.  What is that about?”

 

We may never know the answers these questions on this side of creation, and God meant it to be this way.  

 

It’s  not for us to know the path of others, but to discover and walk our own. But we are not alone. God is walking and guiding alongside us. 

 

We must  tap into what He wants us to know. Truth is, there is a lot that He wants us to know, and we don’t know it, because we don’t seek Him for it.  

 

God is a Master Creator. He created us. Everything that we have in us was given by Him and for His purpose.  If we want to know our purpose, we have to consult the one to whom our purpose is tied to. 

 

The apprehension of Christ, and His purpose in us, is the Joy and mystery of life.  

 

Your creativity , it’s personal. 

The Worst Could Happen..

Time to Reflect…...

 

What is the worst thing that could happen to you?  Have you ever thought about that?  Sure, we all have!  I tend to have this coping mechanism (maybe you do too) that tends to make some peace with the worst case scenario.   Why do we do that?  

Well I do it so that it takes away the fear and devastation that causes us to fear the worst case to begin with!   I don't know if this is healthy or  not, but it helps me, sometimes. 

In Rev 1:8, John is in the presence of Jesus, as HE reveals to him some pretty powerful stuff….. 

" I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.  And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."

This scripture can be a lot to wrap ones brain around.  Death is the absolute worst thing that could happen to a human being, or is it?  Bare with me….

Is dying is the worst thing a human being can experience or encounter? Wellllll, I guess it depends.  Death is certainly shrouded in mystery and fear. Simply because of the unknowns. No one wants to die. No one wants to think about how their life will end, and what happens after that.   Many who've had near death experiences, and those who DIED, and came back share…and still….fear and mystery?  

Jesus understand that the fear of death is pretty scary to humans.  So He went and got authority over that! 

Jesus said look, I got the keys?  I can put you in, and I can let you out.  I have All power and authority over death.    Jesus said,  "I was once dead, and now I am alive! And I will never die again."  Do you want  your key? Then follow Me. 

God has gone and made the worst thing that could happen to you, The Best Thing that could EVER happen to you.. 

Beautiful Construction

 

 

James 1:2-4

 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

 

 

This is becoming a pain in my backside.  Every day I have to find another route, only to be rerouted from the route I thought would give me clearance.  I am so frustrated why are we just sitting here? “move” Go! What is taking so long?  This is frustrating the living daylights out of me!   Does any of this sounds familiar? 

 

If  you live in North Dallas, or any other major city that’s  steadily growing and showing no signs of slowing down you know exactly what this is.. Construction!  It is definitely an angst for most people.  We just want to get in our vehicles and cruise from point A to point B,  but due to unforeseen circumstances we are not allowed this comfort. 

 

Such is life when you think about it?  No one wants their life  to appear ugly and disheveled.   It just screams chaos, and confusion to the world.  When we are under construction it looks as though we are failing to everyone else, but to God, we are a beautiful masterpiece in the making.  

 

This scripture in James use to confuse me so much.  I didn’t understand how James could be asking us to rejoice in the midst of trials.  Who do you know rejoice when trouble comes?   “YES! My car is being repossessed today this is Awesome!!”  Or  “I just found out that I have a rare blood disease. winning!”    No one does this?  But here James is asking us to see our troubles from the inside out, because this is God’s perspective.  He sees the beauty in what we  will develop into, but we have to persevere and see it to the end. 

 

Reroutes, delays, and hours sitting in traffic is appealing to no one.  It is only when we learn to put on an audible book, play our favorite track, or catch up with a friend while sitting in the mess can we sort of appreciate it.   Through perseverance we are  learning to appreciate  both sides of what this craziness is producing.   

 

When the cement trucks, utility vehicles, and bull dozers disappear what we gain is something we never imagined.  Patience, Maturity, and Beauty.     “oh wow have you seen what they have built over there on Glory Road?  It is so nice!”  

 

Now, we can bask in the light of what our new neighborhood or city looks like. It is something to be proud of and we don’t mind showing it off when friends and family come to visit! 

 

When you are in your next trial, try to focus on the glory after.  Think about what you are  becoming.  Sit still ; be patient and remember that your beautiful is on the horizon. 

 

"Sit Down and Be Quiet"

 

 

 

2020, what a year right? I think it’s safe to say that this year will go down in history as one of the craziest. I was sitting in a waiting area, and a man walk in with a t-shirt that read “2020 Sucks”, and his wife was wearing a “SNAPPED” t-shirt.  I think this is the only time you can wear something like that, and people not think you are suicidal or homicidal, well, because we all get it! 

 

This year all the things that you could never imagine happened, and all at the same time.  In addition to the pandemic many of us are experiencing personal tragedies.  The waters are turbulent, everyone has an opinion about it, and our government leaders don’t have a viable solution. 

 

The phase uncertain times has been used a lot, and it is exactly that.   We have nothing solid to stand on.  A global pandemic, civil injustice and unrest, a political circus, a shook educational system, unemployment, businesses shutting down, and on top of that everyone is tired of social distancing and wearing masks! 

 

So, what can we do?  Well, as my momma use to say to me when I was a kid; “Get somewhere, sit your tail down, and be quiet!”   I am pretty sure she didn’t know she was being biblical at the time, but folks God has us right where He wants us, don’t believe me? Read Psalm 46:10, and the entire chapter for that matter.     

 

Psalm 46 reminds us, that God is our refuge and strength. Our place of safety and substance.  God is a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear no matter how devastating the storm.  It can be difficult to rest in this truth when we are listening to everyone and everything but, God. 

 

People.  God wants us to sit down,and be quiet long enough to know Him. He wants us to hear what He has to say right now. He wants to keep us safe; give us real knowledge, wisdom and peace.  We can have peace right now.  However, peace won’t come while we are having futile arguments with people on social media every chance we get, or while watching endless hours of CNN or Fox news as they scare the daylights out of us from sunup to sun down?

 

    Only God knows everything about everyone, and every situation. Only God knows the heart of every individual including ours. Take this time to know God. Block out all the noise. Too many opinions, theories, and stores will steal your clarity of thought. It muffles the sound of God’s voice; if you can hear it at all? 

 

To know God is to understand Him, to observe and recognize what He is trying to do through your situations, and the world’s. To know God is to know Him well enough to understand why these things have to happen, and what you should be doing as a result of them.  Be still in Him, and He will keep you still, as in poised, calm, clear, obedient to Him, and active where it counts the most.

 

Who Is Able?

 As we continue to face this global crisis ushered in by the Coronavirus, I can’t help but notice that God is not being consulted in higher offices. With all their education, intelligence, and wisdom no one has felt the need to call a global prayer meeting. 
 Yet with their best efforts our leaders have been unable to stop the spread of the Coronavirus  Their predictions keep changing, the facts on how the virus can be contracted continues to evolve. Hospitals have no more rooms for patients. They are running out of lifesaving equipment, and many of our healthcare professionals have lost their lives trying to protect us. They are telling us not to visit the hospital if we think we've contracted it!?  So where do we go for treatment?  Who can protect us, who can heal us? Who is able to stop the progression of this deadly virus? 

God is Able!  

The one and only Person that can deliver us is not being mentioned as a weapon to fight against this pandemic. Yes, churches are praying, believers are consulting God in our communities, or in our space of influence for Christ. We are trying to stand in the gap, but many of us are already surrendered to Christ.  However, our nation is not in the correct posture.   The Word of God says every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that I am Lord; Romans 14:11. Our country is prideful, and we boldly display on our currency “In God we Trust”.  But our actions are not backing this up. 

Politicians want to be Heroes. But they are not capable.  So, we ask the question again. Who is Able? The Word’s resounding response is GOD is ABLE.  Eph. 3:20 says; “Now unto Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think... "  This should cause us to seek. It is a mystery to many, a question that will cause us to look deeper for answers from God, and knock at the door until it is opened.   

He who is Able, has an extensive resume. A proven track record that backs Him up! God is our Creator, God is our Healer, God is our Deliver, God paid our ransom, God gave us His only Son. God delivered the Children of Israel across the red sea on dry ground. God protected His people from the plagues of Egypt. God raises the dead. God makes the lame walk, and the dumb talk. God provides for every living creature big and small.  God can do more than anything you or I will ever think to ask Him! But first we’ve got to ask Him. We must trust His track record. Yes, people have died. People are dying. But people are also surviving. God’s hand of mercy still covers us.  He is standing and waiting to be acknowledged.  We need to deliberately and diligently seek Him. 

The one Who is Able, has thoughts and ways that are far above ours. You can take the smartest leader in the world, and put them with the smartest scientist, the most intelligent economists and strategists and they still will not be able to accomplish what God can.  The Bible says, “for as high as the heaven is above the earth, so are my thoughts and ways higher than yours. (Isaiah 55:9) 

 This is a vast distance. None of us can pinpoint where heaven is. We can’t even fathom heaven's location past the universe.  This is why we pray; this is why we consult God. He has answers and solutions that never enter our minds.  

So, who is Able? God is Able, and He wants to work in cooperation with us!