Welcome to 2023!! We are so excited that God has graced us to see another year. Whatever you are desiring and expecting from God this year, ask for His wisdom and strength. You never want your blessing to become an idol, a distraction or possibly be consumed you. In time we are living in, we need His wisdom and strength.

We can no longer think we can google our way out of problems. We have to lean on our wonderful counselor... Christ himself.

Truthfully it is easy to think that we can live this life without the strength of God. Isn't that what every article says. 5 ways to overcome_______ OR 11 steps for a better life. The list goes on. We are constantly bombarded by information that leads us to excluded the wisdom and strength of God.

Family we need Him. In every aspect of our lives. We need the Holy spirt to fill us and consume us. These battles we are facing can not be won through our strength but by His.

Zechariah 4:6

So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord of Armies.

Philippians 2:13 (AMP)

13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] [a]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

Lets us Pray!! Mental health is nothing to overlook or minimize. But we can not allow it to become our identity. Let’s pray for people to become whole through faith and instructions guided by God.

Scripture Meditation:

Philippians 2:5

2 Timothy 1:7

Romans 12:2

2 Corinthians 10:5

Psalm 1:2

Proverbs 4:23

Philippians 4:8

1 Peter 2:9

Zephaniah 3:17

Psalm 139:13

Distraction come in all shapes and sizes. Some distractions are valid excuses that most will understand and justify. Distractions may appear to be good for you by the way it is clothed in traditions or norms. Distractions may appear like relaxtion when you should be working and justify your action with some form of reasoning.

Distractions may not always appear bad but the point of it is to move you slowly but surely away from the purpose at hand.

As believers, we do not operate from conventional wisdom but only the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God instructs us to......"5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Acknowledging God in all things, all your decisions or choices will keep you on the right path.Distractions come to get you off course. To delay your promises, to make you feel like I have wasted to much time.

Get focused on today!!

Today is here and now. Today is ordained and orchestrated by God himself. But have you asked Him about His plan on today? Not that big plan for your life but just today?

Jesus instructs us, “not worry for tomorrow, for it has its worries of its own.” Those who are mature in the faith have to wrestle with becoming focused on the will of God. Jesus said more than once in the Bible, “I must be about my father business”

Don’t get distracted. Acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Don't get distracted.

Scripture reference:

James 1:12-16

Philippians 3:12-16

Matthew 6:33-34

2 Peter 3:5-8

1 Corinthians 2:6-11

Season 2 Esp 11. The Cost of Being Chosen

Being “chosen” is a choice. When you heard the voice of the Lord to become His child, you accepted that invitation. Maybe you did it privately at home, car, work or an unusual place. Maybe it was public, at a revival church service or in prayer. Where ever you where saved and what got you to that place, you made the decision to be chosen.

Being chosen by God sounds great and grand, somewhat like a mystery. We have often narrowed chosen as your purpose but it’s truly is you being saved. You have accepted Him, no what?

Being chosen comes with self-disciple, responsibilities that is usually not glamorous or desired. Only a few will walk down the path of being chosen. Being chosen means I choice to accept the will of the Lord for my life. I want to represent Him on earth. I want to bring more people into the kingdom of God. It’s more than having the key to eternal life but following Christ while here on earth.

Being chosen is realizing that a you were made to fight and conquer any demonic presence in your life through Christ Jesus. I encourage you, all of us to discover God more. Learn as much as possible about Him, His ways, desires, truth and promises. What does it cost to be chosen ?

Scripture Reference

Matthew 22:1-14

2 Peter 1:5-8,10

Ephesians 6:11-18

Hebrews3:7-8

Revelation 19:8

Song:

Faith , Faith, Faith just a little bit of faith

Faith, Faith ,Faith just a little bit of faith

You don’t need a whole a lot !

Just use what you got

Faith, Faith , Faith just a little bit of faith.

I remember this simple song from my childhood. It was a simple, catchy song that I loved to hear the older saints sing. They would become so excited singing about faith. As a child I didn’t understand the power of this song or the reference but as an adult I get it!!

Jesus told us if you have a faith the size of a mustard size you can tell a mountain to move and it will.

He is telling us speak to what seems impossible to turn it into possible. But how?

You have faith but you haven’t seen your desired results.

There are two areas I want you to examine in yourself.

1.Patience

What your are desiring with come to past but you have to let patient works

James 1:4

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

2.Unbelief. I believe but help my unbelief.

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [c]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Faith is life. Faith is an action. Faith needs to be watered on a consistent basis. We water our faith through prayer, fasting and action.

Scripture Reference:

Hebrews 11:1

Matthew 17:14-21

Study Hebrews 11 for deeper understanding of faith.

God wanted me to encourage someone on today. I want you to understand that you are more than enough. He has created you to be someone that a will leave a positive impact on this world. Right now you may feel like all hope is gone or your are barely holding on to it. This is not an encouragement to dismiss or ignore what you have gone through that is currently running your life. NOR is it meant to dismiss your problems of today. Rather this encouragement is to let you know that this is not all of you!!

Your identity comes from God. You are a reflection of God.

Gen 1:27

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

He knew before your mother knew you.

Jeremiah 1:5

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

You had an imitate relationship with God before you were birth!! That is powerful!!

He knows what your life is and going to be . He even knows your expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!”

If you’re feeling hopeless…. That is not God. That is not Him punishing you. That is a demonic attack.

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

God is a fulfiller. He has no plans for us to live a life without hope. Without being fulfilled. So where is the disconnection? Simple answer: lack of faith.

Yes, it is layers to it but to boil everything down. Somewhere doubt, mistrust, lack of hope, anger or something is sitting in the place where faith is suppose to reside.

I want to encourage you that you are more than enough because of Christ Jesus. Please open you heart for you to be transformed and the Lord expose any areas of unbelief.

Love you all.

"Tell them I am that I am sent you". This is such a powerful statement from God to Moses. Even as a child that scripture would pierce my heart and I always wondered "what does that a truly mean."

I would hear preachers talk about the many titles that Lord has and they would preach the church down!! I can hear a preacher say " I am you provide, I am your healer, I am your rock , I' am your redeemer!!" They would go on and on. While this is all true and I still had the same question. What does it truly mean?

I came across a video reaction of Tiffani Montgomery talking about this topic. I am.

She said the original Hebrew definition says "it came to past." When I heard that I was immediately intrigued. I researched my strong's concordance commentary and that's exactly what it said. WOW!!!!

She made point to tell us 'guard your words". When we say the words "I am" we are telling something to come to past.

This statement is prophetic.

Whenever Jesus said I am, he only spoke the truth of who is was, which was followed by a promise. And it came to past.

How are you using those words for yourself? How do you hear God use those words towards you?

Scriptures reference:

Exodus 3:14

John 14:6

John 6:35

John 8:12

John 10:9

John 10:11

John 11:25-26

John 15:5

John 8:58

Matthew 16:15-17

Forgiveness is far more challenging than what we realize. We might say the words “I forgive you” but is there still hurt left. Forgiveness is not options for believers. It is a requirement. Jesus made it plain and simple in Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Our father in Heaven won’t forgive us if we don’t forgive. What!!! So we can’t hold on to grudges. If we do, it contradicts the scripture when God says “….Vengeance is mine “ in Romans 12:19.

Being unforgiving is controlling and if you are not aware it can become your god. You begin to change your faith/beliefs system based on unforgiving. You have made a vow to never work with someone like your old boss. Unforgiving. You have vowed to never date anyone that looks like your ex. Unforgiving. You refused to let go of the past and forgive again because that is your form of wisdom which is your protection blanket from being vulnerable.

I hope you see where I am going. Christ commands us to forgive. There is a no discussion about that but we also must remember it is our job to free ourselves from any residue from the past. Let’s discuss 4 steps to become free from being unforgiving.

Matthew 6:15

Matthew 9:2-6

Matthew 18:21-35

Luke 17:3-4

We are not defeated!! We are overcomer by the blood of the lamb and the words of our testimony. You have to declare to yourself “My issues don’t define me!” Here is the truth…. they do not define you. Whatever you are facing or have faced, these moments in time are apart of your testimony. They are not who are you.

It is easy to succumb to life’s ups and downs which can allow us to become hopeless in the process.

Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Don’t lose hope! Don’t have the “It is what it is” mentally. This mindset comes in when we have prayed and the results are taking long. Maybe, you keep seeing that same things happens without any signs of progress. A negative perspective is from the enemy. God will allow us to see or discern turret but yet still have joy, hope, peace and expectation. When you have lost any of these, I want you to understand the enemy is clouding your vision. You are not defeated, You are joy!!!

Let’s pray.

Scripture reference:

James 1:2-4

Revelation 2:4

Romans 15:13

Psalms 51:12

As we end this series of Receive or Reject? We are discussing the heart of our Father. I am concerned that a vast majority of us do not know God’s heart. Well, how could we? So much of what is taught in the church is bout receiving blessings from God. Praying consistently for material things but not spiritual understanding or growing in His character.

The heart of our Father is Christ Himself. This is why we need to preach, teach and learn Christ. He is our perfect living example of God’s love. By studying the word of God, prayer, fasting and worship, we can learn who God truly is.

To learn of Him, is to seat with Him. To learn more of Him, is to study and practice humility. To learn Him is to see and seek Him not just His hand but His heart. Do you know Him? What version do you have of Christ? What version of God do you speak of? What box have you placed the Holy Ghost in because of lack of understanding.

Seek God first in all things. Seek Him and everything else will be added unto

Scripture reference:

Luke 15:11-32

Matthew 6:33