DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO FULLY GRASP THESE TEACHINGS AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF ABUNDANT LIFE!

INTRODUCTION: SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY MESSAGE: SIGNS OF GODLY FATHER!

MATTHEW 3:13-17 

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.

To help us understand what it takes to be a Godly father, let’s go down to the Jordan River, and hang out at Jesus’ baptism. There is much debate, about who was there when Jesus was baptized, but this much we do know, the one person who showed up at the baptism was His Father?  

 The 1st thing you have to do to be a Godly father : You have to show up. You got to make your presence known. You got to be there when it involves your child, being a Godly father means you always show up. God showed up, and God had something to say.  Can I go deep right there? For the last 400 years before this God has been silent. The last public declaration came through the prophet Malachi 400 years before the birth of Jesus.  For 400 years God didn’t have nothing to say.  For 400 years God had no word for Israel. For 400 years God didn’t speak through another prophet. For 400 years God had no message for his children. 

But all of a sudden, after 400 years God shows up at the Jordan River and says: “I Got Something To Say" I had to ask God, why show up now, the answer should’ve been obvious, God said, “this is my son.” Something happens when a dad shows up. Because I’ll tell them something mama won’t, I’ll talk to them in a way that mama can’t. Amen!!!  

A Godly father will tell his children that he loves them. Not only does God show up, but He also says “I love you”. Something phenomenal happens when dads tell their children “I love you”. Dad doesn’t tell yourself, you’re too much of a man to tell your children, that you love them. I think God for the fact that every time my girls get off the phone with me, they know to say “I love you”, because we never end a conversation without affirming the love we have for each other.  

A Godly father will tell his children that he’s proud of them. Not only does God show up and say I love you, but He says to Jesus I’m proud of you. In Matt. 3, Mk. 1, and Lk. 3, Jesus ain’t done nothing yet. He hadn’t worked no miracles, He hadn’t raised no dead, no blinded eyes have been open, no walking on water, no turning water into wine, no feeding 5,000, Jesus ain’t done nothing, and yet God says “I’m proud of you”. Why? Dads I need y'all to catch this, God says because my pride is not attached to what you do. That deep right there. My pride is connected to who you are. God says this because He knows that every child needs to know that their father is proud of them. It motivates, it inspires the child, when they know that dad is proud of them.. Amen!!!

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NEXT WEEK WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE SERIES GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL: IT’S TIME TO LET GO OF THE GUILT!

STUDY THIS WEEK ROMANS 8:33-39

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Thanks for joining this podcast. There is a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAK

THIS WILL MAKE YOU CRY! THIS WAS THE PRACTICE RUN! NOTHING LIKE A DAUGHTER DADDY RELATIONSHIP! I HAD TO SHARE!

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO FULLY GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF ABUNDANT LIFE!
Galatians 5:13-18
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

In this chapter, Paul starts out challenging the Galatian people to walk in the truths he had been preaching and teaching them. Jesus Christ died to set us free from the bondage of sin. Jesus did not die for us to just be able to ask God for forgiveness and keep on doing what we want to do or keep living as a slave to our sinful nature. No! Our freedom is a gift from God, which we receive through our faith in Jesus. We have been made free to serve God in the way we were created to serve Him. Some Christians think that they can still do, say, or live the way they used to. But here Paul encourages us to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in the yoke of sin. We are to walk in God’s strength, to help us live a life pleasing to God. Amen!!!

I ( Dwayne) preached a sermon one time titled “I’m Free”, and in my study for that sermon, I run across a story that spoke of a man, who was born in slavery. He is raised as a slave, trained up as a slave. All he knows is slavery, and one day this slave is sold at the auction. He is bought by a kind man, who immediately gives him papers declaring him to be a free man. Can’t you see this slave, rejoicing because he is free? He runs through the crowd waving his papers in the air, shouting, “free at last, free at free last, thank God almighty I’m free at last.” The man who sold him at the auction sees all this and starts to leave, and immediately the former slave falls in behind him. The former owner looks around and says to the man, “man you are free! Go and enjoy your freedom. You do not have to work for me anymore. The slave answered and said, “I know these papers say I’m free, but all I know is how to be a slave. Amen!!! 

We must live by the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit means that we are open and sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit. We have to pattern our life after this influence. In other words, when the Holy Spirit indwells us, He wants full control of our lives. If we are walking in the Spirit, there is no way we can fulfill the lust of the flesh. The Holy Spirit does not indwell us to gratify our sinful nature, NO, He teaches us all things and reminds us of everything Jesus has said. (John 14:26) He guides us into all truths. (John 16:13) He helps us to love, he helps us to be kind, & gentle to our brothers and sisters, He helps us to be patient with people, He helps us to be faithful, and He helps us to have self-control, when we want to curse folks out. Amen!!! 

You can find me on FB/Instagram, Google, Apple iTunes, Spotify, Buzzsprout. Continue to share, tell a friend, tell somebody.

NEXT WEEK, DWAYNE WILL BE GIVING US A FATHER’DAY MESSAGE. 

STUDY THIS WEEK  MATTHEW 3:13-17

3 $25 gift cards giveaway to Amazon, Walmart, Visa. THURSDAY, JULY 1st, I will announce the winners.

Thanks for joining this podcast. There will be a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO FULLY GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF ABUNDANT LIFE!

Introduction: SERIES: GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL! IS IT UNFORGIVENESS THAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK? 

EPHESIANS 4:30-32

30 AND DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, WITH WHOM YOU WERE SEALED FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.  31 GET RID OF ALL BITTERNESS, RAGE, AND ANGER, BRAWLING AND SLANDER, ALONG WITH EVERY FORM OF MALICE.  32 BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER, JUST AS IN CHRIST GOD FORGAVE YOU.

VS 30
When we think of grieving, we think of sadness, sorrow, pain, or heartache. If the Holy Spirit were a feeling or an experience, he could not be grieved. It is because He is a Person of the Trinity that loves us and cares deeply about how we act and live.

Do you want to know what grief looks and feels like? You are in an internal conflict, there is tension, restlessness, a tug of war, turmoil. There is unhappiness, depression, joyless, heaviness, fear, anxiety, no inner peace. You are cold, with no empathy, sympathy, or love. I could go on it but I think you are beginning to understand where I am going. 

VS 31

We cannot act like the world act. We must have a new attitude; our minds have to think about the things of God. Paul told the Ephesians that the old way of life must be completely wiped away, it is in the past. We were created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. All this bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander must be left in the past once we become a new creature in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 4:23-24)

When we as Christians allow lying or unhealthy language, bitterness, anger, and bad attitudes to run our lives, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Instead of acting that way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. We belong to God, so we should act like it. Respecting one another, building one another up, not tearing each other down. Christians that are unwilling to forgive, have not become one with Christ. 

We have to let the past stay in the past. (Heb. 10:17) Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. In other words, God remembers our sin no more. Isaiah said that God blots out our transgressions, for His own sake, and remembers our sins no more. God doesn’t throw stuff back in our face 20, 30, 40 years later. (Isa. 43:25) When God forgives He forgets!!! Amen!!!

VS 32

Unforgiveness is when we are unwilling or unable to forgive someone for hurting us, betraying us, breaking our trust, or causing us intense emotional pain. Forgiveness ain’t easy MOST of the time, but we must do it. Unforgiveness is a dangerous thing! 

When we do not forgive, we are asking for sickness to come into our bodies. Unforgiveness has side effects, bitterness can make you sick, hatred can make you sick, we get high blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, and other different afflictions. If we do not watch it unforgiveness will kill us physically and spiritually.  

When Jesus was teaching his disciples about prayer; part of the Lord’s Prayer is asking God to forgive us as WE forgive those who have trespassed against us. (Matt 6:12) 

It suggests that being forgiven and forgiving others are closely tied together in our Christian walk. Jesus is proclaiming that it is just as important for us to forgive others as it is for God to forgive us.

You can find me on FB/Instagram, Google, Apple iTunes, Spotify, Buzzsprout. Continue to share, tell a friend, tell somebody.

 Next week we will continue with GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL! NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME, IT’S MY TIME TO BE FREE! STUDY THIS WEEK GALATIANS 5:13-18.

3 $25 gift cards giveaway to Amazon, Walmart, Visa. THURSDAY, JULY 1st, I will announce the winners. 

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!

HELLO, WELCOME TO EPISODE 8 OF BEING TOUCHED BY MERCY AND LIVING ON GRACE PODCAST. I AM YOUR HOST PATRICE BUTTS AND BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSES WE RECEIVED FROM LAST WEEK’S PODCAST, I CAN OFFICIALLY SAY I NOW HAVE A CO-HOST. HEY DWAYNE.

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO FULLY GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF ABUNDANT LIFE!

Recap: LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THE TROUBLES OF LIFE AND LEARNING TO WALK IN THEM AND NOT ALLOWING FEAR TO OVERTAKE YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HE LOVE US AND THAT HIS LOVE CONQUERS ALL. OUR FEARS, OUR TRIALS,  AND OUR PAIN.

THIS WEEK’S EPISODE: 

Introduction: WHO ARE YOU TO GOD? A MASTER DESIGN WITH A MASTER’S PLAN!

EPHESIANS 2:10

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)

A masterpiece is precious -extremely valuable to the Artist. John 3:16 is the clear evidence of this.

ROMANS 5:8 says, “But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

As a Sinner, we are His Masterpiece and as a Saint, we are His Masterpiece.  Some of us needed a whole lot of help to get to this point in our lives.

Here is where God says we are his workmanship (work of art, masterpiece). 

Workmanship-We are fearfully/wonderfully made. Fearfully in Hebrew means made with great reverence, heart-felt interest, and with respect. Wonderfully- Hebrew unique/set apart. (PS 139:14)

2 Corinthians 5:2 says “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the very righteousness of God.  Now tell me if that’s not Masterpiece then I do not know what is. We are Master Designs with a Master's Plan.

The word Masterpiece means work done with extraordinary skill, do we understand the skillfulness of God. God is all-powerful, He can speak and nothing becomes everything. We are God’s design, no one can clone you, no one can replicate you, no one can emulate you, and I know they try, but no one can genetically copy you. We are God’s masterpiece. 

A masterpiece is described as a work that is given much critical thoughts when it is considered the greatest work of a person's career. As children of God aren't we constantly being talked about, criticized, & ostracized. Can I say I am a Master Design with a Master's Plan?

“Created in Christ Jesus for good works.” The workmanship, the work of art, the masterpiece that God has been showing off in us was created in Christ Jesus. God has united us with Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection, and gave us eternal life through Him. 

This means our strength does not come through our willpower, but through Christ in us. 
As Christ lives in us, He wants to continue doing good works as He did on earth. Christ told his disciples that they would do greater works than He had done. Meaning carrying the gospel message to the utmost parts of the world. (Jn. 14:12) God has important work for each of His children to do, but it must be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!!!
 
You can find me on FB/Instagram, Google, Apple iTunes, Spotify, Buzzsprout. Continue to share, tell a friend, tell somebody.

Next week we will dive into GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL! IS IT UNFORGIVENESS THAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK?  Study this week EPHESIANS 4:30-32.

3 $25 gift cards giveaway to Amazon, Walmart, Visa. Tuesday, June 1st, I will announce the winners.

Thanks for joining this podcast. There will be a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 

ENDING PHRASE

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO FULLY GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF ABUNDANT LIFE!
Introduction: “Love Conquers All!’ Isaiah 43:1-5

1But now, this is what the Lord says—   he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,  they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze,  3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
V.1) But look how Isaiah starts this Ch. He says but now! God has created us, God has formed us in His own image. Why? To have a personal relationship with us. Do yall know what that means? We have the ability to know God, to love Him, worship Him, and serve Him, and fellowship with Him. He did not create us because He needed us. No! He wants our fellowship. The bible tells us that Adam walked with God in the cool of the day. Fellowship/Relationship!
V.2) When trouble comes! When overwhelming situations come! Know trials are coming, but the good news is God will be with us. He will give us peace, joy, and comfort in those situations. He will protect us, those trials/tribulations won’t take us out. They won’t consume us. Look at it, God said: even when we walk through the fire, it won’t burn us. No matter what we face, God is there and He will protect us. (Hebrew Boys)…
V.3) Because of who He is/what we mean to Him. God said I am The Holy One, your SaviorGod allowed 3 nations, not I but 3 nations, to be defeated by Persia as a (ransom) for the Jews to be returned to their homeland. These were no poor nations, they were rich in gold, silver, jewels, and all types of treasures. Israel was just that valuable to God.
V.4) Because God has chosen us, here He says we are precious to Him, and He has made us honorable by the favors that He has placed on our lives. We must realize that God’s favor for us is not based on anything we’ve done, but because of His will. The bible tells us that God is slow in keeping his promises, He’s patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pt 3:9) God loves us so that He delays Jesus’ 2nd coming in hope that others will turn from their wicked ways and come to know Him. Know that because God has chosen you, He will do whatever it takes to protect us. He will make our enemies our footstool. Amen!
V.5) Isaiah was talking about Israel’s return home from Babylon. Paul tells us "that one day if we hold on to the blood-stained banned, we will be caught up together to meet Jesus in the air." (1Thes. 4:16-17) The song says “Won’t it be grand, grand, grand, won’t it be grand, grand, grand, I’m going home to live with Jesus, won’t it be grand, and won’t it be grand.” Saints of old used to say: “When our work down here is done when we stick our swords in the golden sands of time, we should look for a home somewhere around God’s throne.” 

Next week we will finish up the series "Who Are You To God? DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?  Please study Ephesians 2:10
You can find me on FB/Instagram, Google, Apple iTunes, Spotify, Buzzsprout. Continue to share, tell a friend, tell somebody.  

There will be a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO FULLY GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF ABUNDANT LIFE!

A Special Broadcast This Week Because Of Mother’s Day  And Memorial Day In The Month Of May and the Emotions that we all deal with in this month!

On The 19th Of May Of 2020, We Found Out That Our Middle Daughter Terranisha Butts who was finishing up her teaching contract in Kuwait Had Passed Away. So, I Just Wanted To Take A Little Time And Share Some The Impact This Has Impacted Our Lives and Encourage you during your Times of Trouble, Trials, and Tribulations.

I Have Two Special Guests Joining Me On The Show Today,  It Is My Oldest Daughter Terralisha Hagewood And My Youngest Daughter Tyeisha Butts. 

Introduction: “Coping and Living With The Realities of Life!”

Psalm 34:17-19 NLT

17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
     He rescues them from all their troubles.
 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
     he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
     but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

Scriptures to Encourage You This Week:

1.    1 Peter 5:6-7

2.    Psalm 145:18

3.    John 16:33

4.    Psalm 34:22

5.    Proverbs 3:5-6 

Next week we will continue to dive into Who Are You to God! I want you to be so confident in Christian walk that you will not be able to stand yourself lol. I WANT YOU TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

Please study Isaiah 43:1-5

You can find me on FB/Instagram, Google, Apple iTunes, Spotify, Buzzsprout. Continue to share, tell a friend, tell somebody.

3 $25 gift cards giveaway to Amazon, Walmart, Visa. Tuesday, June 1st, I will announce the winners.

Thanks for joining this podcast. There will be a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF LIFE!

Recap: UNFINISHED BUSINESS/TRUST THE PROCESS! God is transforming you into something you cannot even imagine. He begins by inviting you to accept the gift of salvation so that He can impart His only Spirit in you so He can do the good work He has promised to finish in you. Now that you are beginning to understand what it is in for you, you must begin to understand who you are to God!

SERIES: WHO ARE YOU TO GOD? DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

When I was a teenager, I was not thinking about the typical things that most teenagers are thinking about who they wanted to be when they grow up. I was praying for God to help me be a good mother and a good wife, that prayer later changed to a Godly mother & Godly wife because there is a difference. Most of us are not thinking about who we are to God so we grow up trying to be someone to our families, friends, and world but never being able to reach or achieve the standards they have set before us.

VS 1- DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR SELF-WORTH IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND CALLS YOU HIS CHILD?

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE WHAT THIS VERSE IS SAYING TO YOU or you will continue to deal with feelings of inferiority, insecurity, inadequacy. You will continue to think you good enough, you do not know enough, and your thoughts of disappointment to God, to others, and yourself will continue to keep you in a feeling of unworthiness and that is a lie from the pits of hell. DON’T DEVALUE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU ARE A WORTHY CAUSE! 

You have to stop seeing yourself through your wrong choices, your failures, your past, rejections because of  God’s Great Love for you!

John 3:16 -YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND LOVED

Lavished- smothered, showered, loaded.

Genesis 2:7-Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being.

Genesis 1:27-So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them male and female, he created them.

The fact that you have the breath of God in you and the fact that He took the time to create you in His own image should make you jump up and shout Halleluiah, Thank You, Jesus, Praise the Lord!!!

John 1:12: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." God's children are those who both receive Jesus as Lord and believe in His name as the risen Messiah. Say it out loud, I am a child of God, I belong to God, He knows my NAME!

VS 2 WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE WORD SAYS ABOUT YOU AND WHO YOU ARE, YOU CAN SPEAK IT OUT WITH BOLDNESS AND DECLARE WITH POWER:

God you said I am chosen, I am dearly loved, I am a saint, I am free, a conqueror, an overcomer, a mighty man of valor, a child of the most high God, I am saved, I am healed, I am delivered. I am not condemned. 

You have to be convinced that God has loved you with an everlasting love! Jer 31.:3

That nothing can separate You from His love! Romans 35-39

That you were loved even when you were a sinner! Romans 5:8

Because of His great love for you, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved! Eph 2:4 

Next week we will continue to dive into who are you to God! Please study PSALM 34:17-19 
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Thanks for joining this podcast. There will be a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF LIFE!

SERIES: WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME!

THIS WEEK’S EPISODE: Introduction: UNFINISHED BUSINESS/TRUST THE PROCESS! 
Philippians 1:6-7, 9-11

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

How confident are you in what God is doing or trying to do in your life?  Can you stand the trials like Joseph and said in Genesis 50:20- “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives?

Job-13:15a- “though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.

Peter/ John- Acts 4:18-20- “which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him. You be the judges” As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen or heard.

Jeremiah1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations!’

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.”

This type of confidence that God has in us should give us great comfort according to Matthew Henry. The fact that God has chosen me and you to join Him to share His Good News (one of the greatest promises ever given to us).

Will you join the team, you never have to leave this position, it gets better with time, He has already equipped you, you have a lifetime of blessings here on earth that will follow you to heaven, pay is great, your labor is not in vain, your fruit will last as long as you stay connected to the vine.

I know many of us have had some battles that seem to never end, we overcome one battle just to end of in another one. Guess what that means God wants to show you just how great you are and what kind of power you have. He has created you for excellence and you cannot get there without overcoming the struggles He purposely set before you. He wants the best out of you because there are some people out there that need what you have on the inside of you.

The work has just begun. I know you did not think that He touched you, gave you His mercy and grace, set you up to win, gave you success, and then changed your mind just for the sake of it.  GOD HAS SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS WITH YOU, JUST TRUST THE PROCESS! 

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Phil 2:13-14- “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing.

Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that there is great work being done in and through you, do not be discouraged, God is on your side!

Next week we will  dive into who you are to God!  DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?  Study 1 John 3:1-2 this week.

 3 $25 gift cards giveaway to Amazon, Walmart, Visa. Saturday, May 1st, I will announce the winners.

Thanks for joining this podcast. There will be a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 
REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!

DISCLAIMER: YOU MUST BE IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS TO GRASP THESE TEACHING AND TO LIVE THIS KIND OF LIFE!

SERIES: WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME! Recap: SUCCESS COMES WITH A COST. My prayer is that you are beginning to think about the things that you are willing to give up in order to receive all the bountiful blessings God has in store just for you and coming up with a process of you allowing you to.

This why God told me to tell you to:

THIS WEEK’S EPISODE: Introduction: Free Your Mind & Get Your Head In The Game!

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

You have a will but will you continue to allow it to get in the will of God and Paul is pleading with us that we had to live and think a certain way as Christians.

If you want to be pleasing to God, start recognizing quickly what He wants from you and respond quickly to it.

Pleasing-acceptable- (Gen 4:3-5/Abel accepted/Cain rejected)

Proper-reasonable Worship- (Amos 5; 21-23- God talks about hating Israel festivals, religious assemblies, offerings, or praise (worshipping in spirit and truth (John 4:24) when we continue to go through the routine of worship but we are living a life that is not pleasing to God.

Offer/Dedicate-(Judges 13:4-5 Samson was dedicated to God to deliver Israelites from the Philistines) & Judges 16:20 Samson disobedience caused the Lord to depart from Him)

Living Sacrifice- God cannot use anything dead. This our everyday life of eating, sleeping, going to work, whatever you do.

Free Your Mind

Conform do not become so well adjusted that you fit into your culture without it you are thinking about it or being bothered by it.

Acceptable-accepting what God does for and through you is the best thing you can do for Him.

Those who refused to change their way of thinking.

1. Felix

2. Judas tried to give the money back to the Pharisees but it was too late and he chose suicide over forgiveness

3. Lot’s Wife- wanted her old life/ turned into a pillar of salt

Lessons To Reflect On From This Week’s Episode: 

Worship is our Life. 

1. 1 Corinthians  2:6 We all have the mind of Christ 

 2. Phil 4:8 Think on Praiseworthy things

3. Psalm 1:2 Mediate on it day and night

4. Col 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth

 5. Proverbs 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

My challenge to you this week is to think on: What behavior/s are you working on and what action are you willing to put the old self off and what action will you take to allow the Holy Spirit to make you more like Jesus? Free Your Mind!

We have to realize that every Christian has the mind of Christ but we don’t always choose to engage it.

2 Corinthians10:3-5-gives us some very bold and empowering words on how to Free our mind and get our head in the game/fight. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Next week we will continue to dive into what God has just for you. Check out Philippians 1:6-7, 9-11
Thanks for joining this podcast. There will be a new episode uploaded every Thursday starting at 6 am! 

REMEMBER MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IT TAKES GRACE TO MAKE IT!