humility... your being groomed for greatness

In writing for my church's facebook page my writing seemed more like a blog post so I choose to share it with you:::::...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were actually embarrassed to admit that you were in it. Have you ever been in a humiliating spot. Humility is defined at the modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness. Humility is often looked at in a negative light but it is actually something that builds character and faithfulness in God. Humility prepares you for where God is intending on taking you and teaches you to appreciate where you are currently. Too much pride can put a damper on the praise you offer to God so through humility he regains his position in your life. If you never want for anything you will never appreciate all that you have. If God has never had to bring you out of a situation there would be no way that you would have the relationship with him as if he had. When you get in a humbling situation it is imperative that you do not allow it to place doubt in your heart making room for temptation. But continue to hold on to God and his promises for you KNOWING that in due time, at the right time you will regain the footing you should have. Remember where God has already brought you from and I promise you he didn’t choose this time to leave you by the waste side. God is faithful we just have to allow him to work.

I myself am in a very humble position; starting over after finally finding comfort, allowing people to see that I am only human, being ok with the fact that I am living very meagerly. I think of Job often comparing myself loosely to his situation. I've literally lost family, friends, my way of life but through it all I have God and the best relationship I've had with him in my entire life. There is no way that I should be making it BUT GOD>>> I try to constantly remind myself,as you should, to not despise your days of small beginnings. God is grooming you for what he has for you. Imagine if you received a large lump sum of money; you would waste it or something would come up just in time to wipe you out. Think back to taxes or financial aid payments past... God is grooming you so that through faithfulness and preparation when he gives you an opportunity for financial freedom, better relationships, peace of mind; whatever you are seeking you will be able to make the right decisions and appreciate it most .

What type of ground are you offering ...

I recently looked up the definition of the word “seed.” It has been declared the time of the Harvest and there are so many analogies being thrown about referring to this. A seed can be defined as a source or beginning; a small amount of material used to start a chemical reaction. Seeds in the natural are your actions, your thoughts, but mostly your words. People can forgive your action and your thoughts can progress through personal growth but words stick; they plant themselves in the heart of the receiver and grow… Speak kind words one to another planting good seeds in the heart of your peers. In the spiritual realm the word is the seed. In Mark 4:14 Jesus says “The sower soweth the word.” This is the word your hear through sermons, the word you read speaking to yourself as well as the word you speak to others through witnessing. Jesus breaks down in Mark 4 the different types of land that the word is sown into. This is one of my favorite parables because he tells them the parable then breaks it down leaving no room for wrong interpretation. It allows you to really see where you are in your walk with God and where you want to be.

Is the word you are receiving being sown into stony ground, among thorns, or not even sown at all but being thrown to the waste side? I personally have been in all of these categories. The key is realization and determination to move forward in your spiritual journey seeking the good prosperous ground.

Those whose word is being thrown by the waste side (Mark 4:15) may in fact hear the word; whether it be a preacher, preaching or someone witnessing to them. Before they can even digest the words that they heard, it is immediately taken away. They may not like the person who is speaking to them, maybe don’t agree with the particular teaching, but for whatever reason it is dismissed immediately. In situations like this it is imperative that the sower does not get discouraged. Sometimes God sends you to the one person you would rather not witness to just to test your wiliness to obey. Saved or not where God says go and speak you must obey. Jeremiah 1:7 says “… and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Now the Lord was speaking to Jeremiah the prophet but it’s the same principle for us today. I have personally had to speak to someone who had wronged me and I know they weren’t in the mind frame to hear any scripture from me but I refused to stump my personal growth for fear of how someone would receive from me.

 Individuals who are letting their word fall into stony ground (Mark 4:16) are those that have not established roots. Those who you see come to church faithfully then STOP. They are the feel good saints that appreciate those happy, let’s talk about the goodness of God sermons but as soon the preacher starts calling them out on what they need to do for the Lord it gets too hard. As soon as troubles or persecution comes for the words sake they can’t handle it. They grow offended and turn their back to God. The life of a sinner does seem simpler than that of a Christian at times but I promise get to where God has intended and there will be nothing you can’t do.

Thorns… If I had to put people I know personally in a category it would be that most of them fall into this category. These individuals hear the word. Really hear it, really take it in; but their lives and the way of the world completely disintegrate it. Have you ever heard anyone say “be in the world but not of the world?” We are born into this world so we have to be in it, the only way to escape that is through death but as Christians we should not be of the world (1 John 2:15-16). We should walk, talk, carry ourselves different. NO NO NO I am not asking you to be holier than thou I am just saying that if your in a room full of unsaved individuals people can notice a difference; even if it’s just your demeanor. I know a lot of folk that act holy with the holy and not with the unsaved; this isn’t what I’m talking about either. But who you innately are showcases a walk with Christ. I’m 25, most times you will see me in jeans and a top, I have natural hair and always have a set of ear phones in my ear. I look like a lot of other 25 year old students. But I have had people tell me there was something different about me, a sweet calming spirit that attracts people; that’s the God in me because before I was a fireball. There is a difference. To describe the ground full of thorns Jesus says in Mark 4:19 “and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word and it becometh unfruitful…” Love God more than your money, car, clothes and any other worldly possession. Love the giver of these things more than the things themselves.

Finally the good ground… This is where God desires for us all to be. The ground that hears the word and lets it linger and grow, changing us from the inside out. Those who really take the word and apply it to their lives; those who receive it! “… and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some an hundred.” There are different stages in this category as there are different commitment levels in Christians. If you know you aren’t giving 100% there is room to grow. I don’t think anyone witnesses to every single person they have an opportunity to witness to, and doesn’t really take to heart every word they receive. Personal progress is the key and really acknowledging where you area personally and pushing to becoming better.

Are you on God's plan or your own!

This new millennium has birthed a fast paced, give me now generation that is centered on instant gratification. With the internet, cell phones, skype and email you don’t have to wait on anything. You can even have dinner ready in the time it takes to drive around a building. There is nothing wrong with technology and the steps that it has taken but God has not changed and you still have to wait on him. God has devised a plan for each and every one of us and most times OUR time is not GOD’s time. In just speaking to people it seems as if a lot of individuals have a list of things they want from God. This list doesn’t include the Holy Ghost, an unwavering spirit or the desire to witness but a husband that can sing, or is physically attractive. I recently spoke to someone about them being single and they said yes God knows my heart so he knows that my husband needs to be this and that. NO! God knows your heart so he knows that you want to be happy ultimately. Whether that’s single or with a spouse that doesn’t have everything on your list, you just want to be happy. You could get a person who has everything you desired on your list and they treat you terribly; which is usually the case. Trust in God’s plan. Have you ever met someone who prayed for a new job and once they get it they still weren’t happy so they pray for another new job. Oh I do. .. The moment I threw my hands up and said “Lord your will be done in my life” and was serious about that thing, my life has changed completely. Things are falling into place perfectly and it’s going in a direction that I had never imagined. I was always going to the nursing path. I said I was going to be a doctor and my family attached themselves to that dream and that’s where I was headed. After really spending time with Renee and getting to know who I am without anyone else I realized I love to write. I want my voice to be heard farther than I can scream. The moment I made that change in my mindset; I was offered a position writing for a magazine, I was offered a writing position at my church and my and began blogging. When it’s God’s plan the pieces fall perfectly. I didn’t seek any of these positions they were given to me. I love the statement we say at my church “God will use someone somewhere to use their power and influence to better your life”. Whenever I think of believing in God’s plan no matter what I am taken back to Abraham. This man loved his son, he prayed for Isaac, he was promised Isaac; yet when God asked for Isaac back he was willing to do so.  Some people debate that Abraham knew that God would deliver Isaac and maybe in the back of his mind her really really hoped he would. I can imagine him being obedient yet praying for a miracle. Abraham lifted the knife to slay his son, which shows me that he was in it all the way. God after seeing his dedication allowed him to sacrifice the ram that was caught in the bush. God’s way is perfect and even if you go through detours that you wouldn’t have chosen, believe in your destiny and remain faithful and you will be blessed.

Don't curse your preparation...

There comes a time in every Christian’s life when their light seems a little dimmer than before, the flame on their candle begins to shake threatening to blow out. It’s times like this when you must hold on tighter than ever before to God’s promises and purpose for your life. God takes ordinary people and gives them the ability to do extraordinary things. In order to do these things God prepared them when they had no idea. How many times have you gone through something and once you reflected on it realized you were completely prepared for the experience.  I must say this holds true to my life. Every experience I have had in my 25 years I was prepared for from experiences of my past. Months before I lost my job I gained a love for couponing so my cabinets remained full even when I hadn’t shopped in weeks. Before becoming single I complained about sleeping alone and not being emotionally attached to my spouse but this was God preparing me for being without a partner. God promised that there was nothing he would put on us than we could bear and to never tempt you beyond what you are capable, ALWAYS giving a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). WHATEVER  vice you think you have that is keeping you from your full potential can be cleared from you but only once you set in your heart that you are done with it and really seek deliverance . This does not come overnight but through your faithfulness at the right time it will happen. I thought there would never be a time where I would fully be delivered from losing my family as I thought is should be but I can honestly say I am no longer bound from that situation. I love with the full capacity  of my heart and having someone just NOT love me anymore for no specific reason was crushing; it’s easier to have a fight or a bad experience that leads to a break up but no reason at all… I didn’t know how to process that. But after seeking God and really rebuilding my relationship with him I am able to say proudly that I am free. Your vice may be drunkenness, sex, cursing, holding grudges. Whatever it is God is waiting to deliver you and really elevate you into who you are destined to be. There can be no testimony without a test. Remember God uses his people to show others the way, but how can you lead someone somewhere you have never been. Your trials are your preparation, my Pastor said it best “don’t curse your preparation.” It’s darkest before dawn so just when things seem as if they can get no worse hold on and right before you feel all you can do is give up things will begin to brighten. Seek God and really build a relationship with him and things in your life will begin to make sense and fall into perfect place. Believe in God’s purpose for you for he planned your every move even before the day of your birth. Get to know him for yourself and your life will never be the same. Yes we as Christians are promised trials and hard times but the reward in the end far surpasses anything you could ever go through!

Changing your Perspective!

The most powerful, longest lasting message I have ever heard was that centered around Leah. Leah; the wife of Jacob whom he was tricked into marrying, who wasn't loved by her husband and who was overshadowed by her beautiful younger sister. Yet she was the mother of Judah whom Jesus was a decent of. As women it's so easy to get caught in the here and now. What's going on in our immediate lives and more often than not we measure our worth based on the feelings of those around us. I have personally been where Leah was. There is a saying that there is nothing going on now that can't be found in the bible and I must admit this is a true statement. Leah loved her husband and no matter what she did she couldn't win his heart. In Genesis 29:32-34 it breaks down Leah's desire for her husband and  her desperation for his love. She gave him sons; a precious thing, something Rachel could not do for she was barren but her heart was in the wrong place. With Reuben's birth she said "... now therefore my husband will love me. (Genesis 29:32)". Followed by Simeon whom she said was a gift from the Lord because he knew she was hated. How many women do you know that have had children just to have someone to love them back. Not realizing that it's a one way street with a child for a long time and a mother's job consists of a lot more give than take. Lastly Leah bare Levi and said "... now this time my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons..." Leah's heart was not in the right place! She was baring children for Jacob to earn something that can't be forced. Leah desired her husbands love so much that she kept putting herself through labor and child birth simply for a chance that he may change his mind and love her back. If you have ever felt a contraction you know that this is not a small thing which solidifies to me the extent of her love for this man.This story hits home for me because I too have loved someone who didn't love me and there wasn't a tear, a talk, a plea that would allow him to surrender his heart to me. The more I tried to save the relationship the farther and farther he got until we became completely estranged leaving our son is in the mist of it. When you are in a loveless relationship things go from grey to grim very quickly and the only thing that can save your sanity, your heart and maybe your life is changing your perspective. Leah bore a 4th son to her husband but this time she says "... now will I praise the Lord..(Genesis 29:35)" Her perspective changed and God closed her womb. She no longer needed to be pregnant baring sons to be seen. She shifted her vision from gaining her husbands love to praising God and she became the bloodline of Jesus. That's just amazing to me. Someone who no one deemed important, the ugly duckling that was mistreated gave life ultimately to our Savior. No matter what your going through, no matter how people treat you or what they say about you know that God has a purpose for you. You may not even live to see your purpose fulfilled but paving the way for future generations is the plan. I don't know why I was hurt, mistreated, walked away from but if my testimony can help one person make it out of their dark days I know it was worth it.

I want to wish all the mothers a happy mothers day and shout out the fathers who are playing both rolls as well. It's a hard job and it's underpaid and overworked but we are building up our future generations to be heirs of the kingdom. If you have a Leah spirit strive daily to get to that perspective change. The moment I switched my focus from a man to God my life has gone from rock bottom to a place where I know I can make it. Trust in God completely and he will direct your path fulfilling your every desire and more.

Are you offering that of Cain or Abel?

Often times God asks us to give to him; to sacrifice for him. More often than not it's a lot easier to give less than what is being asked of us. When I think of this concept I automatically think of Cain and Abel. Abel was obedient to God and took the very best of the first that he had and offered it to God. Genesis 4:4 states ...And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering... God wasn't only pleased with what Abel presented but he respected it meaning to me that he went above and beyond what God had asked for. He had faith in God and wasn't squeamish with his sacrifice based on his circumstances. Cain on the other hand did not receive respect nor favor in God's eyes for his sacrifice. In biblical times sacrifices were blood offerings yet Cain brought fruit of the ground. He offered God what he had plenty of, being a tiller of the ground instead of trusting God and giving what he requested.

This passage means a lot to me in my daily walk with Christ because living holy is a daily sacrifice of yourself. I can give God praise and sing beautifully and attends church but if I am not giving God ME fully I'm not giving him what he's asking for. I'm skimming from the top! Are You giving him fruit when he's asking for a blood offering? Being a single woman I am not going to pretend this is an easy task. I fall and fall hard yet he still loves me, yet he still cares for me and presents himself to me.

Are you offering God a Cain or Abel sacrifice... If your sacrifice isn't where it should be don't fret just bring it back into alignment with where it needs to be. Seek God and ask him to reveal in you where you are falling short, you can't fix what you don't know is broken. David said in Psalms 19:12 who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. When looking at the man in the mirror it's hard to pinpoint exactly what your doing wrong but would you want something you are unaware of to keep you out of the kingdom. My grandmother lives by the motto "I'd rather not do it and find out it was OK than to do it and find out it wasn't" ... Strive to make your life an Abel sacrifice; I am!

Where does your trust lie...

Every week I give my 8 year old a scripture to study, he memorizes them, I ask him questions on them and make sure he fully grasps the scripture in a way that an 8 year old can. I choose scriptures that are relate able to his present life yet can grow with him as he grows. This week his scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 which states Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. In giving him this particular scripture I began to study it and notice the moment I put this scripture to work in my life it began to change.

The analogy I gave my son in regards to his trust in the Lord is his trust in me. If my son says "mom I'm hungry or mom I need you to pick me up" he does not have a doubt in his mind that I will do it. I know there are some children who aren't able to believe in their parents this way but that is a different story; the vast majority of children are able to trust their parents to supply their basic human needs if nothing more. My son KNOWS every day when he comes home he will eat dinner and every night he will be able to clean his body and sleep peacefully. He knows these things because I have provided them for him consistently his entire life. This is how we must trust in OUR FATHER. Ephesians 5:1 says be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. God wants us to have the unwavering characteristics of a child when it comes to our walk with him. Trusting him completely and knowing that he has our best interest at hand. To be unwavering is to be unmovable; steadfast. Even when things are not going according to our plan we have to trust in God's ultimate plan for us. There have been so many times when I felt I had made a mistake, messed something up, was moving in myself but eventually the purpose of my actions revealed them self and it fit like a glove.

Your saved; you acknowledge God. So what? The word acknowledge not only means to know of somethings existence but to also to recognize the fact or importance or quality of. To recognize the importance of God is to live holy. Not a show boat life trying to display a life of Holiness but a real relationship with God (Matthew 6). When you have a real relationship with God no one can help but notice it. A relationship with God is like that of any other. When you have a new love interest or friend you spend time with them, do things they like to do, really get to know them. Relationships that last never lose this quality. Get to know God; read his word and talk with him daily. Prayer does not have to be this super big glamorous thing; just talk! When teaching my son to pray I told him to start with what your thankful for; then just speak from your heart. I talk to God constantly, he is the man in my life and if there was another God would be getting more time than him. Prayer doesn't have to be beside your bed, on your knees with your eyes closed and hands folded. I talk to God mostly in the car; I pray at work, in the closet, while I'm cooking. It's non traditional but God is constantly showing me that he's listening so I don't think he minds.

You gotta let go of control. I am a planner. I love to know how things are going, when they are going that way, and what parties are involved. I like black and white and that's it. Well God doesn't work that way. My life crumbled before my eyes and in order for me to pick up the pieces I had to trust God. Whenever I pray about a certain situation I remind God that my hands are lifted and he has to deal with it. Then I'm over it. No stress, no worries, nothing. Other people are usually more concerned with the details than me because I have put it completely down. Now faith this size comest from God working in your life. God has made many promises in his word and I call him out on it and I can say he's never once failed me. There was a point in my life where I had no job, my car was being taken away from me, I had lost the person I loved most in this world BUT GOD! The day after I felt I had hit rock bottom I got a call about starting a job, my car was fixed by a person who was a stranger to me at the time and I began receiving closure for the broken heart. God swooped in and saved me. Coincidence I think not. Only God can put you in a position where you have no experience, credential or references. He uses people to bless you; strangers if you remain faithful. Matthew 17:20 says ... If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove: AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU. Look at the mustard seed below, I think you can trust God that much if not more.

The moment you truly anchor yourself in Proverbs 3:5-6 you will start to see God move in your life. Trust his word, his plan for your life, and his direction even in hard times and you will find true favor that can not be broken by anyone. God will take you to a place where nothing anyone tries to do will hinder you and your enemies will begin to back down. Erase your plan, your expectations and allow God to steer your life. We dream but our dreams are never even close to what God has in store for us.Acknowledge God and his importance to you through your daily walk with him and develop a sincere relationship with him. I constantly pray that through my life and the example of how wonderful God is souls will draw closer to him. Make that a part of your walk as well..  

Reaching for YOUR destiny

My Pastor has been teaching a series on Joseph and his journey to fulfilling his destiny. If you haven't read the story of Joseph I strongly suggest you do ( Genesis 37-46). You see when Joseph was 17 years old he dreamt of his purpose; his destiny. Hatred and jealousy lead his brothers, his own blood to sell him into slavery, they desired to kill him but God didn't allow that to happen. God does not have respect of person and no vessel is too small to be used. Pay attention to your children and what they are saying to you; you may not know the meaning of what is being said but their purpose is devised long before their birth. Even though Josephs brothers sought to get rid of him they were actually placing him right where he needed to be to bless them and raise a nation.

Joseph was in prison for 13 years... Can you imagine being locked up for 13 years for something you didn't do; for only sharing what God has presented you with. This doesn't have to be a physical jail but any situation that has you bound. Being mistreated by those you love, financial hardships, family issues, sometimes nothing in your life seems to be going the way you want them to go. Something my Pastor is big on is reminding us to stop looking at where we are and what we are going through but where God is taking us. As believers we will go through things, hard things, hurtful things, but we have to see these experiences as opportunities to witness and serve others through our experiences....

 Joseph never stopped using his gifts and remained faithful to God and eventually walked right into his destiny. How many times do you find yourself in situations where instead of remaining faithful to God you curse him for where he has you. Job that doesn't pay as much as you feel you are worth, neighborhood your embarrassed to admit you live in. Instead of cursing God ask him why are you where you are and what needs to be done. I left a job and ended up at another job making the same exact money that is no where near any field I'd ever worked in. I asked God "why do you have me here Lord? This isn't a coincidence so why am I here." Come to find out there was a program at my church that had faded away and because I am now working at my current job I have already taken steps to get certified in that particular area. God has a plan for you that he is working out long before you ever realise it.

Eventually Joseph was face to face with his brothers who betrayed him. He was the only person who could help them and instead of hating them he ultimately showed them compassion and embraced them as brothers and not foes. It is HARD to love someone who has done you wrong but in order to be a true follower of Christ you have to do just that. I have had friends talk bad about me, do wrong against me, mock me. I have had people try to hinder me and be spiteful against me. Instead of fighting fire with fire I fight fire with prayer and not for the situation but for their soul, their healing, them being blessed. This seems super crazy but Ephesians 3:32 says And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Imagine the hurt and pain you have caused another person; what if they cast you aside forever because of it.

Your experiences are preparing you for your destiny; appreciate them. There is a saying that says "if you haven't been in a situation you can't tell me how to get out of it." It's one thing to see someone going through something but you have a totally different perspective walking in it. I would have loved to live a life with no drama, no tears, and no heartache, but then who was I really going to help. You can not appreciate the rainbow unless you went through the rain. Just like sunshine (good days, favorable times) and nourishment (reading the word, teachings, your prayer life, your works in the church) are needed so is rain (hardships, famine in your life, trials)... The more you go through the more God has in store for you therefore the stronger you will become. Remain faithful; it's darkest before the dawn so right when you feel you can't hold on any longer just remember your breakthrough is right around the corner. And in everything NEVER develop a hardened heart. Genesis 45:5 says Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life. Joseph was not angry with his brothers for selling him; he recognized it was God that had sent him there to ultimately save their entire nation. Some things we go through are situations that we put ourselves in and the consequences thereof, some are the enemy trying to hinder us from reaching our ultimate destiny and some are God carrying out his plan for us. While they all feel the same the end results are different.

The first step to reaching your destiny is embracing that fact that there is a specific purpose set aside for you. Not everyone will be a preacher or a teacher but every person in the body of Christ is important and must work together for the full functioning of the vessel. Believe in God's plan for your life and no matter what walk in your destiny. Remain faithful in adverse times and when things start clearing up remember God and how he brought you out of your situation. Really read the story of Joseph because he is a true example of reaching your destiny and divine purpose set aside by God.