Would you like to have information placed right in front of you to use to gain the victory over seemingly defeated areas in your life? How would you like to learn, from a tangible no non-sense perspective, what your divine path and destiny is? And lastly, how about finding out that with a quarter turn shift in your thinking your circumstances won’t seem so bad?
You have to understand that there are no ‘ten keys’ to success and you cannot just ‘name and claim’ material wealth and think it is going to rain down on you from heaven. Or how about just learning to know who God really is? Come and join me, in the Education Building—library, located on the property of First Baptist Church of Carolina Beach, 409 North Lake Park Boulevard in Carolina Beach on June 20, 2013 from 6:30-7:30. The dress is very, very casual and I will be sharing with you some tangible common sense approaches to help you gain the victory in your everyday life. I am talking about answers that are true, real and proven. There are no gimmicks and there is no charge to attend.
This is an eight-week course only. The first class is entitled: Time Management, Prayer and You. Then we will embark upon a journey of discovery for each of you and facts that you can use in order to have a joyful, meaningful life. I began a good career, as a manager of a financial institution, and ended up sleeping on a blow up air-mattress that would deflate during the night, to becoming a fruitful individual with a worldwide ministry. Then in the ensuing weeks we will hit upon the topics below:
Temptation (Money, food, drugs, etc.)
Fasting-Is it really beneficial?
The Three W’s
Perpetua
Is God who he claims?
The Holy Spirit—is he a ghost?
Julia Child and instant victory
Life can be very hard. Isn’t it time to place some lasting principals into your daily life so you can gain victory?
I was working out this morning thinking about imitation vanilla of all things! Most of the time I have bought the imitation brand due to mere cost but every once in a while I branch out and buy the real thing. And I can attest to you that the real thing tastes richer, purer and you know you have tasted vanilla.
All of us, no matter if we are Christians or not, have a very specific path to take in this earth but what I am seeing is that people are trying to imitate others and it isn’t working out so well. We are each originals but we are trying to be like others. Stop it! I want to let you in on a little secret. Satan is the greatest imitator there is and if you are trying to do what anyone else is doing then you my friend, are being very deceived.
I have had to learn the hard (very hard) way that I am an original and if I don’t fulfill what God has already deposited in me then no one will. I speak a certain way, pray a certain way, and lift my voice to the Lord a certain way. And I give glory to God in the way I know how…not how someone else does, but for too long I have tried to please others to the point of it becoming a detriment.
Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life….all of the truth of who I am supposed to be is hidden in him. Please don’t be deceived into thinking you will be the next____fill in the blank. If you are then Satan has got you just where he wants you and you will never fulfill what you were uniquely designed to do.
God is very l-o-n-g suffering with us wondering when are you going to get this? If he gave over seven billion people all unique thumbprints then that one fact alone tells me he uniquely designed you. The real thing will cost you more but I can tell you, from experience, imitation just isn’t that good.
I went by the store today to pick up a few things and I saw a familiar face at the checkout counter and said, “Hi! How are you today?” She replied, “Same ‘ole, same ’ole.” And then she yelled, “Life is a bunch of S__T!” And I said, “I will see you when I check out.”
I proceeded to the coffee aisle (my favorite!) and with every step I took all I could think of was how sad…my spirit was really grieved.I like this woman and I thought maybe I will give her a ministry card. Then I remembered— I already had.
When I finished I began to walk to the front to checkout and spotted another lane that was empty.I thought for a brief moment I will go through that line to avoid the sour attitude.Most of the time I LIKE to talk to people who seem to be having a bad day to see if I can break them down to laugh or impart something to them other than what they are feeling, but today I just wanted to not fool with it. Anyone ever feel like that? So, I smiled myself as I entered her line to be prepared.She was gruff and I tried to be funny by saying, “Well, I got to wake up today so I figured the rest was downhill!”I laughed but she didn’t think it was too funny.
Walking to the car I was reflecting and knew I should have taken the time to say: “You know, I worked at Food Lion and since I knew I had to be there (to make a living) I figured I might as well make the best of it and try to have a good time. To smile and make the customers feel good.Time, for me, went by faster when I purposed to make the best of the situation I found myself in. I almost turned around to go back in.But timing is everything and I missed the mark to tell her at the given time.
Tips: Everyone has ‘stuff’ but it is how you approach it that can really make the difference in your heart, attitude and for everyone around you.
When I look at a minus sign, I feel negative. When I look at a plus sign, I feel positive.We all look at life either “half full” or “half empty”.You might be thinking you don’t know what has happened to me in my life; I have a right to be negative.I understand that bad things happen to all of us but I have learned the outcome is how we perceive and then receive the situations in our life that determines the end result.
The following statements are typical of us as humans: Why doesn’t anything happen for me? Why are you making me do this?How come everybody else gets to do it but me?How come you prosper them and not me?Why don’t you help me?Why does my husband do what he is doing?Why don’t you make him stop?Why aren’t my children better?Why does my wife complain all the time?Whine, Whine, Whine, Whine, and Whine (not Wine!)
Don’t be hardheaded like I was and think that your words are not a reflection of your attitude and what is happening on the inside of you.You have to make the decision to make a change if you want something different than what you are living in at this very moment of time.Some choices you have made will have repercussions for years to come and others can be rectified easily but you have to decide what it is you truly want.Don’t let the enemy of your soul defeat you in your life through your attitude because for him it is an easy way to gain the victory over you.
Your actions reflect your attitude so take a good look at what is happening around you.If you want something different than you have right now then you will have to do something different.The choice of positive or negative is for all of us but you are the one who holds the key to unlock the outcome.Don’t let the enemy of your soul or the actions of others determine your fate. Your life/ Your choice… we all have free will.
“I will bring locusts onto your territory…And they shall cover the face of the earth…and they shall eat the residue of what is left…and they shall eat every tree which grows up…”Exodus 10:4-5
The festival of Passover is mentioned about 85 times in the Bible.I have been taught that if God says something more than once, that we are to sit up and take notice.Passover begins this year at sundown on March 25 and concludes the evening of April 2.
Something that happened earlier in the month has raised eyebrows in Israel, especially because it has occurred, interestingly enough, right ahead of Passover and it has a nation wondering what the Lord is saying to them.
You may remember that the Lord sent 10 plagues to Egypt in an attempt to make Pharaoh release His people from slavery.With each plague, God said, “Let my people go,” but Pharaoh refused.With the eighth plague, God sent locusts and according to the Word, they “covered the face of the earth.”
Recently, a swarm of 30 million locusts invaded Egypt and caused massive damage to crops.A locust can grow up to 6 inches in length but these locusts were described as being “bird sized.”Egypt and Israel border and locusts numbering in the tens of thousands have crossed over to Israel.This has many people on high alert, fueling fears of apocalyptic proportions.
Thus far, agricultural damage in Israel has been minimal (how merciful) but what is God saying to Egypt and Israel?The relationship between the two countries has been described as “cold peace” and some are leery of its effectiveness.
I do not believe in coincidences so I feel in my heart that God may just be trying to get their attention.Perhaps it is just to make them sit up, take notice and remind them that the commandment, as recorded in Leviticus to keep Passover, should be adhered to.
As mentioned last year, Passover is not just for Jews.If you call Jesus Savior, it is your heritage to participate in this feast of our Lord as well.
A recent occurrence prompted me to write this piece and I hope it will edify you in some way.
Psychologist Harriet Braiker says, “To please is a disease.”Years ago, I would have said she was dead wrong because all my life I thought success meant being a people pleaser.However, the thing that presented itself a couple of days ago made me realize I have made some gains in this area.I was advised to do something that was legally wrong, not to mention first and foremost, had I done it, wrong in the eyes of God and then no telling…It made me realize that people pleasing can be dangerous to my walk (and anyone else’s).I dodged a bullet that day but only because I have been superbly taught God’s truth these past several years and have, but not without failings, adhered to these teachings.
I do not think I am wrong in saying that from an early age we all have had instilled in us the importance of pleasing others our parents, siblings, friends and others who were in our realm of influence, because face it; we all thought if we did we would be accepted and well-liked.I used to think the bandwagon would leave me in its dust if I did not jump on and then I would have missed “spectacular” things.I know now that that was a belief born from fear and insecurity.
It is so easy to fall in the enemy’s trap by allowing yourself to feel embarrassed and thinking you do not measure up to others’ standards if you “go against the grain.”I suppose, though, responding to peer pressure is an example of where the rubber meets the road.
The Bible is full of examples of men who were crowd pleasers and moral and eternal corruption was their payday.
Do not let public opinion cause you to sin.We always have to stay sharp and on our toes Satan is just waiting for us to stumble.
“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil” Exodus 23:2
Chance are, by the time you read this, March 1st will have come and gone but the message of this writing is to remind us of something not many probably do enough of; remaining in constant prayer about everything.
Come March 1, automatic, harmful spending cuts will take effect.Many economists see that economic stabilization will be accomplished by enacting 1.2 trillion dollars in spending cuts over the next decade.These cuts will be deep and will have ramifications for us all.I agree with the president on this one: we are harming ourselves with a “self-inflicted wound” if the sequester is allowed to happen.
I take a progressive stance in that I believe the government has the duty to care for its people, especially those who cannot care for themselves, and those with deep pockets should give more to protect, maintain and care for those who are less able to do so for themselves.Conservatives believe that people should take responsibility for themselves and that others should not be mandated into helping those less self-sufficient.They see those being supported by the government as “takers.”I agree that too many in this country are takers but it is a problem we created when we did not initiate enough “watchdog programs” to oversee social welfare programs when they came into being.However, we still need them and unfortunately, progressives do not control the government.
Anyway, here are some numbers of program cuts; 42 billion in defense cuts, 9.9 billion to Medicare, 323 million lost by Centers for Disease Control, border security is cut by 581 million, airport security is cut by 323 million and the FDA is cut by 206 million.One economist predicts that 2.14 million jobs will be lost.Non-discretionary cuts will impact medical research, the Head Start program, meals for seniors and educators who work with the disabled.The list is too long to be all-inclusive, but you get the picture.
I will pray, and I hope you will join me, for the government to come together to work for the common good of its people.It truly is not about control but compromise.
At around 9am on Friday, a meteor entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 33,000 miles an hour and exploded over Russia.The force of the meteor, equated to 20,000 atomic bombs, blew out windows 50 miles away and left a crater in the ice 26 miles long.It is amazing to me that as commanding as this latest meteor was, that scientists were unable to detect its presence.
I give these facts because it reminds me of how merciful, powerful, and majestic the Lord is.Many lives could have been wiped out in split seconds.I also think about how fragile life really is and how potent the Lord’s mercy is.
Naturally, I take a biblical view of how the world ends but how many Russians caught up in the throes of this meteorite explosion thought the end of the world had come (again)?
This also makes me think, what if?If I knew that my last day on earth would be tomorrow, how much differently would I live?I can hardly say I know the Lord with every fiber of my being but that does not mean I should not act as if I don’t.
Would I get out of the bed that day?Would I get up and just go through my normal routine?Would I make sure my will was in order and all my bills were paid up?Maybe I would just spend the day with the Lord, repenting for things I should have before now and tell Him how grateful I was for all that He had done for me, knowing I did not deserve His mercy.
None of us is guaranteed one more day on this earth and we should live as if it is our last day¯ every day.Too much of my time is wasted, thinking of things I should have done and regretting that I had not taken advantage of every second of life, making the most of each.We really are on borrowed time so we should make the most of each second we are given.
‘‘Everybody dies but not everybody lives’’ William Wallace
I was surprised the other day as I was doing some research and I read that Oprah Winfrey is referred to as “America’s pastor,” and “today’s Billy Graham.” In addition, a highly regarded writer for the Washington Post said she is “America’s high priestess”(A “high priestess” is a female religious leader.)
I respect Oprah.Coming from extremely humble beginnings¯ a woman of color, poor, and sexually abused, she rose to the very top and became a media mogul, billionaire and humanitarian; in short, she is one of the most influential women in the world.Not many people are destined for greatness like she.She has had and continues to have a great influence on society and she has “made” many people.
Her first show aired in 1986 and through the years, she has been host to a myriad of celebrities, including those espousing their views on religion.I cannot say I have followed Oprah and have been a diehard fan but I, along with many others, have seen her through her spiritual journey over the course of her career.I guess I first took notice of her in 1998 when she said on her show that Jesus was not the only way.Her quote was, “... one of the biggest mistakes humans make is to believe that there is only one way. Actually, there are many diverse paths leading to what you call God.”
Oprah has had her own brand of religion and though she talks about God (more so now than in the past) I think she was been a bit skewed in what and whom she supports.She has hosted psychic mediums and has given a platform to New Age doctrines. Why would one support and give voice to (for example) people who talk to the dead? Some doctrines presented have been anything but Christian.
Again, I support her brilliance and the fact that she has been an unequaled trailblazer in her field, but a high priestess, she is not.She gives credit to Jesus for her success but then strays from His teachings by supporting abortion and homosexuality…Be careful whom you listen to.
One thing I have come to realize in this walk with the Lord is that I often find myself walking on eggshells around others because though I consider myself a “perfectionist,” it is the last thing I am.I, however, do not want others to consider me “less than”because we talk in this ministry about being to the best of our ability what we say we are, or else we may end up giving God a black eye.I feel like the slightest error in word or action will cause others to point their fingers and then it gives them reason to mock Christ.We all walk a tightrope and a recent story that popped up in the news is an example we can all learn from.
If you eat out you know that for parties of usually eight or more, there is a required 18% tip, whether you like the service you received or not; it is automatically figured into your bill.
Last month, a pastor and some of her congregants visited a restaurant in the St. Louis area following a church service.When the bill arrived, the pastor wrote on the bill, “I give God 10 percent, why do you get 18?”A server, finding the note insulting, posted it on the internet and it went viral.Afterwards, the pastor called the restaurant chain and demanded that everyone (including the manager) be fired.All kept their jobs except the one who posted the note.
At least 4,000 responses have been received on this story and some that I read lampooned Christ and the tithe principle.One response said the pastor “hid behind religion to be “cheap and selfish.”The pastor has since apologized.
We indeed walk a continuous fine line and it is a fact that we can never forget¯ever¯ because there are those who are always on the ready just looking for any reason to pounce on God.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
