You Just Got Served!

                          YOU JUST GOT SERVED!
 
Though the storms of life, sometimes overwhelm; pay no heed! ....the sunshine will surely follow!"

At 47 years of age, there is one thing that I have to say, that I am fortunate to have escaped, and that is the call of "Jury Duty!" I don't know how I have managed to avoid being selected for this civil task, but I have! Every now and then, I think about getting served! What happens when my name comes up and being served is inevitable? Do I have to go through this? Don't I have some kind of say so? I read in a recent article that there are ways of escaping, wiggling, and talking your way out of this time consuming task, but you have to know how the system works, in order to have your request approved! I'm guessing that the problem I have with the whole thing, is that they don't even ask you "IF" you want to take part in this process? nor do they attempt to fit it in  with your "daily life" schedules! When your name comes up! it's time to be served!! No consideration of the timing or circumstance! No matter, if you are black or white, rich or poor, Saint or Sinner! When it's time to be served! You Will Be Served!
I'm sure that some of you, know exactly what I am talking about and you know, all to well, about that day, when YOU GOT SERVED!!!
I may not know what it is like to be served Jury Duty papers, but let me talk about the Sovereign Storms of God! for just a minute, because, they work very similar to this! See if this sounds familiar to you! 
You are minding your own business, going about your day, and before your day could even close out, you find yourself in a storm! The beginning of some of the roughest weather, you have ever encountered! Maybe a pink slip from your job! (you just got "served!"), or maybe you lost a love one, someone dear and close to you heart, and you don't know how you are going to make it! YOU just got served!.....you come home to find that your spouse wants a divorce! or that the bank has foreclosed on your home! the doctor called with a "bad" report! You're out of money and don't know where your next dime is coming from! This isn't a coincidence! YOU just got served!    There was a storm with your name on it and it was designed especially for you! (not to be confused with self-inflicted storms! those are another lesson!!), but THIS STORM, is one that is Sovereign! ordered by God, with 2 things in mind: "YOUR growth and HIS Glory!!!", and unlike Jury Duty, there is no way out! you can't wiggle your way out! you can't talk your way out! and you can't sign one paper that will excuse you from the storm that you have been assigned! You say, why me? God says, "why not you?" ....why, can't I use you for my glory? why can't I use you for my purpose? "If I wasn't going to invest in your growth, I could have left you for dead, in your sins! Why not you? Maybe I didn't "serve you" at a convenient time! and maybe I did "serve you" when you already had a lot going on! But have you read my manual, on what happens AFTER you've been served! and AFTER you've endured! AFTER the storm! and AFTER the rain! Let me explain to you, the difference between self inflicted storms (that you serve to yourself!) and the storms that I serve to you!!! When YOU GET SERVED BY ME! there is peace! WHEN YOU GET SERVED BY ME! there can still be joy! WHEN YOU GET SERVED BY ME! there's no need to run for cover! because I will be your shelter! No need to run for shade, because I will shield you! IF YOU ONLY WOULD SEE!  That in serving you a storm, I am serving you your blessing! By serving you THIS storm, you will see your miracle! This just may be the storm, that brings your Jubilee!!!! or the storm that breaks that bondage or pulls down that stronghold!!  For you see, your storm? it wasn't to harm you or spite you! it was to strengthen and anoint you! It was because I knew the power that I had invested in you; and what I had waiting on the other side of it! Oh, the joy of knowing that we will be closer after the storm! ....I can hear the words of a familiar song, that says, "you can't get to better days, baby; unless you make it through the night!" .....and if the Apostle Paul was here, he would offer to tell you about what happens after the storm! If he had to put an ending on today's devotional, he would tell you to "Count it ALL joy (even in storms!)! and to trust God's timing when he "serves" you your next level in him!.....YES, COUNT IT ALL JOY, THE NEXT TIME THAT YOU GET SERVED! BECAUSE HE JUST WANTS YOU TO SIT IN THE SEAT OF "JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING!" ....THE SEAT OF, "CAN'T NOBODY DO ME LIKE JESUS!"....YES, COUNT IT ALL JOY, WHEN YOU GET SERVED!

Psalms 27:5, says, that in the days of my storms; he will hide me in his pavilion

James 1:2, tells us to count it all joy, when we fall into hard times 




   

GOOD Intentions vs. GOD Intentions!!!

Luke 17:28-32

This is actually, more of a lesson than a devotional, and although a bit lengthy, I believe that God is wanting us to gain something from it! So, if you give me a little bit of your time, I believe that this lesson will cause us to walk into some of our dreams, goals, and visions, instead of in a life, settled by "good intentions."

How many of you have had "good intentions", only to find out that, "good intentions" can lead to bad results? Well, today, we are going to dive into some deep territory, that will surely clear up for some of us, why we have found ourselves gasping for air, when it comes to, where we have landed in life! We're going to get to the bottom of, just how the enemy can take over our so-called "good intentions" and turn them into bad results! And how little by little, our good intentions can result in emptiness, complacency, and even down right disobedience! I will prove to you, that "right intentions" don't always lead to "right-eous" living! Don't believe me? Let's re-visit the story of Lot and his infamous wife; more affectionately known as, the "piller of salt." ....In this famous story, Lot finds himself following his uncle, Abraham, to reside around the entrance of the Promised Land. However, once arrived, it is realized that, there was not enough room for both families and all of their belongings in this one spot; so Lot is given a choice between residing in the vicinity of the Promised Land or residing in the vicinity of Sodom; a city, bustling with financial opportunity, greed, and sin! In steps, "good intention"!!! I mean, afterall, everybody needs money right? and surely, God wants him to be in a position to give his family the finer things in life, right? So, low and behold, Lot decides to settle his family right in the vicinity (which is in the shadow) of Sodom (which is sin)! for his very own gain! I'm sure that he meant well, but here is where his good intention turned to a God-less result! Lot is probably thinking, "why live on the outskirts of where I make my money, when I can just move closer to my money! I still love the Lord; I can still pray; I just won't allow my family to be a part of Sodom's lifestyle!" ....Well, for those of you who know the story, Lot's good intentions resulted in him losing his family to the lifestyles of Sodom anyway! God decides to destroy Sodom and everyone in it; however, His Grace turns Lot's near ruin, into a rescue of Mercy! Notice here, how good intention gets worse! God's Angels, lead Lot and his family out of Sodom so that they can be saved from destruction (Oh, the goodness of Jesus)! But, he gives clear warning and commandment, that they are not to look back on the destruction! This is where good intentions can become not only costly, but deadly! Lot's wife looks back towards all of the things that she regretted leaving;  and although her "intentions" were to leave with her husband and be saved! Disobedience was far more powerful than her greatest intention!! The disobedience wasn't in her turning her head, but that "turning her head towards Sodom" was in outright disobedience of God's instruction!! and she turned into a "piller of salt!"  Mrs. Lot's good intention, was not good enough! Lot had gone from a place of security and thanksgiving, to a place of residing outside of the Will of God! "Good intentions" can be "void" of God's will for your life; especially when there's something or someone, who is the driving source of your good intentions, other than God Himself!
RIGHT INTENTIONS,  MUST BE POWERED BY A RIGHT-EOUS GOD!! Good intentions have a way of stepping outside of wise and Godly counsel or commands, which is why Mrs. Lot lost her soul! In Lot's case good intentions, lead to wrong doing; but in many cases, good intentions can also lead to doing...NOTHING AT ALL! which is another kind of danger all in itself! Lot found out the hard way, that good intentions, outside of God-intentions, can lead to disaster!!

P.S. Beware of  the other side of good intentions that lead to a lack of motivation!
So many times we allow good intentions to rob us of our blessings! It's because we use this phrase as a way of minimizing our wrong outcomes! Kind of a much needed excuse for our laziness and lack of drive!!  If we can blame something on "good intentions", we somehow feel a sense of exoneration (free from the responsibility or guilt of our actions OR THE LACK OF!), and soon we find ourselves doing absolutely NOTHING as a result of our greatest intention!

NOW THE GOOD NEWS:
GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY, STILL HAS "RESCUING" POWER!!! Which means that my "bad" result, can turn into a God-result!!! and it means, that God, can take my "good" intention, and turn it into a God-intention!!! so that, HE gets the glory!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! TO THE GOD OF OUR RESCUE!! THE GOD OF RIGHTEOUS INTENT! AND THE GOD OF OUR EXPECTED END!!

From Strength To Strength With Every Step!

Have you ever went to a movie and there was a certain scene that just stuck with you forever? If I asked you right now about your favorite scene in this movie or that movie, would you be able to tell me? Of course, you would! Because there are things that we can experience that will leave a powerful residue in our minds, and movies are famous for this! I love a movie with a powerful undertone; whether or not the producers meant for it to do so! Sometimes, the spirit causes you to see something that others may not pick up, just so HE can use it later, and today is the perfect example:
Bare with me while I set this up! and for you movie lovers, this will be painless!! The Movie: Hancock! A movie where Will Smith plays a super hero who has serious issues plaguing him! In this particular movie, he has been drawn "back" towards a woman of his past, but the results of him being in the presence of this woman proves to be disastrous! Throughout his trying to understand his connection to this woman, he learns that, the closer he is to her, the more human they both become, enabling them to both become vulnerable to pain and the effects of trauma. As the movie comes close to its end, and they both are close to death, Will knows that he must find the strength to remove himself from her presence, in order for her to survive! (He came to himself!) and realized that this situation isn't good for either of us and if I can just make that first step away from her, she will survive! and I will get my strength back!... He forces himself to take that first step, and with that first step, her eyes opened up! (while giving him more strength!); He took another step away, and breath returned to her body! (while giving him even more strength!); He leaps out of the window, distancing himself even more, and they both began to heal! until finally, he had created enough distance for all of his strength to return to him, and he takes off into the sky! renewed! empowered!and healed! Whew!!!!! what a scene! and what a revelation! I'll bet the producers had no idea of how powerful that scene would be for believers! Praise God!
I know that for every step that I take away from sin, I can breath a little better! For every step I take away from what seems to have me bound, my eyes are opened! When I begin to step away from that stronghold! my healing begins to take place! Thank you God for your power and thank you that there is power in every step that I make towards you!!! How can I say that I can't, when your Word, says that I can??!!!
Saints of God! There are super natural powers that you and I possess, and we must tap into those powers that God has given us through the Holy Spirit (Our Super Hero!)....Get up! Pick yourselves up! and walk away from those things that are causing confusion and discord! Your wounds are not there to stay! with every step towards the Master, He takes your wounds for his own, and begins to enable you to STEP FURTHER! TAKE THAT FIRST STEP! AND KEEP ON STEPPING! BECAUSE THERE IS POWER IN EVERY STEP!!!!!  BLESS YOUR NAME JESUS!!!!  HALLELUJAH!


Psalms 84:7, says, that they shall go from strength to strength!!!!! 
What does this mean for you? It means, that for every step you take toward Jesus and away from those things that hinder you; you will step into increasing strength with every single step! God bless you!

How BIG Is YOUR GOD??? (song included!)

"Don't tell God how BIG your storm is; Tell your storm, how BIG, your God is!!"  

I don't have much to say this morning, because God has shown himself "Sovereign" to me! So, I'm sitting at my computer reading some scripture and spending some time with Jesus, and a song came to my mind.  God began to reveal to me, just how sovereign HE is, and that he is bigger than any of the things that I had just poured my heart out to him about!! WOW!! To really get the big picture!! Some of you are fighting battles that just, ARE NOT YOURS TO FIGHT!!! It's time to stop jumping in the ring to fight an opponent that you ARE NOT able to battle! You and I are not even in the right weight category to battle most of the things that we are up against!! It is time for us to start telling our problems, our fears, and our doubts, that they better get ready to do battle with OUR GOD!! Because "heavy weight" problems, need a "heavy weight" GOD!! and the last time, I read the end of of the story, OUR GOD WINS!!!!!!  HALLELUJAH!!!!

I want you to listen to the words of this song; and when you are done, I want you to begin to thank God for his "sovereignty" .....because OUR God, is Sovereign!!

Sovereign God By Maurette Brown-Clark

Be Blessed!!

"Let Me See Your Hands!"

There are certain phrases that I believe that all parents have said or will say while raising their children. I don't care who you are or where you are from, some things are just universal! Let me give you some examples: 
"did you make your bed?"
"did you finish your homework?
"take a bath and be sure to use the soap!"
"did you wash your hands?" .........See what I mean? Some things are just common to parenting! Or how about this one? You send your child to go wash their hands for dinner and they come back too soon! What is the first thing that we ask them to do? "Let me see your hands!!" ....Kind of funny but true! Have you ever wondered why the hand towel ends up so dirty? I mean if our hands are clean when we dry them, shouldn't the hand towel reveal this? The problem is, we wash away most of the dirt; the dirt that is on the surface, that comes off just with the rubbing together of your hands! But, what about between your fingers and under your nails? We tend to leave behind the dirt that gets into the hidden places! and over time, the hand towel begins to reveal the truth about our so called,  "clean hands".
When life gets dirty, due to our sins, short comings, wrong decisions, and disobedient life styles, we get to a point when we realize that something is wrong and we begin to raise questions! Why is my life broken? How did I end up here? How can I make this right? Is it too late for me to start over again? Will God forgive me?
Can I really give up, what is hindering me? How can I fix this?.....Ever asked yourself any of those questions? Have you ever tried to get cleaned up, only to find that you were still on the outside of God's Promises for your life? What could be wrong? I mean, you prayed about it and you repented of most of your sins! Well, the one's you were tired of doing! But, what happened when there was no change in your situation?  Let me tell you what happens! We try to clean up our own lives, by getting rid of this or that; mostly because we don't like it anymore; and we kick that thing or the other to the side, because it's just not our thing anymore, and then we try to give it to God as our best! But, what if He turns around  and says, "come here!", "let me see your hands! Are you giving me your all? You are trying to clean yourself up, and leaving behind too  much filth! I cannot help you if you aren't willing to allow me to cleanse those dark areas, those hidden areas, those areas around your wounds and scars; areas that MAY SEEM too painful to clean, but is necessary for proper healing! Let me see your hands!! I still see un-forgiveness and pride! Show me your hands! I still see that relationship that has left you broken! Let me see your hands! because I still can see the dirt from doubt and frustration! hopelessness and fear! I want you to "go back!" and try it again! But this time, go wash with prayer! go back! and this time, wash with fasting!  go back and wash with the Word of God! and allow it to cleanse those places that you cannot cleanse on your own; Allow it to help you to let go of things that you cannot let go of, on your own! Jesus died so that YOUR HANDS would be clean! Only HE can cleanse hands that hide unseen dirt, only HE can cleanse hands and make them suitable for eternal life! With Jesus as our covering! We have nothing to worry about! Go ahead and give them to Him! Because HE will present them as faultless! He will present them as blameless, He will present them as spotless, on that great getting up morning, when you and I will stand at the entrance of the Kingdom, before Our Father, as He says:  "LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

Jude 24 Says, "Now unto Him, who is able to keep you from falling; and present you faultless in the presence of his glory, with exceeding great joy!"

Thank you Lord for saving me from the sins and filth of this World! I tried to clean up on my own, but I failed, because I did not have the power or capability to cover my own sins. I thank you that when your father looks at my hands, he sees your hands instead, as a stamp of approval! I'll sing praises to you forever, for what you have done for me!

You Are Just The Right Size!!

YOU ARE JUST THE RIGHT SIZE

Scripture: Isaiah 61:3 says, to "put on the garment of praise, in exchange for the spirit of heaviness."

One of my favorite things to do is to go shopping! However, there is one thing that I have never understood and that is "One Size Fits All" clothing! I mean, who came up with that! Talk about a misunderstanding! Does one size fit all tall people? all short people? all thin people? all "fluffy" people (like me)  :) ? .....Who exactly, are they referring to? Well, after trying on a couple of things that sported this label, I soon found out, that One Size! definitely does not fit all!!! And in this life! I am convinced that most things are not made to fit everyone! These types of labels, lead you believe that as long as you  fit OUR mold for what the right size is...then you are PERFECT for our garment!!!
Well, I came across a garment that really does fit ALL and it does not matter what size you are!! Nor does it matter what color you are, how old you are, where you came from, or what gender you are!!! Sound too good to be true?? Well, in this world!...it is too good to be true! However, in the life of a believer, this is a "must have" clothing item, and is a garment that you can wear anytime you want to and it does not matter whether it is night or day; sunshine or raining; Winter, Summer, Spring, or Fall...this garment will fit you perfectly! Throw away that measuring tape because you don't need it here!!! Why? Because God says, that you are just the right size for THIS garment!! No need to diet, or gain weight! no need to let the hem out or put one in!!!! There is no need for adjustments here; not now, not EVER!!! FOR THIS IS THE GARMENT OF PRAISE!!! And it's sure to look good on you!!!! .....So, go ahead! put it on! Put in on when you wake up in the morning and realize that God has breathed breath into your lungs, one more time; Put it on before you go to work, and when people say, "you look nice today!", tell them, "It's my garment of Praise!!!".....Go ahead, try it on! when the enemy tries to put doubt in your head about something that God has given you a promise about! Put on the Garment of Praise, when you feel tears of disappointment running down your face! Try it on...it looks good on YOU! Wear it well, because God made it just for YOU! He wants you wear it at all times, so that praises will always remain in your mouth!!!! We are going to take back those things that didn't fit us! We are taking back that garment of depression and exchanging it for a garment of praise!! We're taking back that garment of fear! and getting a refund, so that we can obtain a garment of confidence, for free! We're returning that garment of doubt, because the garment of Faith, fits so much better! Clean out those closets, and clear out those attics, because now that you have a new "garment maker", there is no room for them anymore!
 Now! go and tell everybody that you know, that, "I know about a garment that you can put on that will change your life; and all it cost is a willingness to wear it!! You don't have to worry about this garment fitting too tight, being too loose, or revealing...it's perfect for all occasions! It's the true One Size Fits All, so go ahead!
God is saying, "go ahead, put it on!" You're JUST THE RIGHT SIZE!!!!

Why Abide?

During some recent study time, the Lord brought my attention to the word ABIDE! At first glance of the word, I thought it was just something that I needed to learn a little more about; you know, at least look up the definition of the word! (the quick and easy way out!), However, after looking up the definition, it didn't seem to be enough! I thought to myself, "I feel a spiritual classroom moment coming!" ... Have you ever had things on your agenda and you just want to get your study time in so you can move on to the next part of your day, and just when you start to wrap it up, The Lord says, "not so fast!" ...."I need you to hang out with me for a little while; abide in my presence, for a moment longer!! hmmm..I guess "abiding" is something that I need to learn a lot more about!!



Today, I will use some excerpts from a wonderful book of devotions, called, My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers)


I want to start off looking at the word Abide in its different forms:



Abide: To accept or act in accordance with; to (stay, stand, endure, reside, remain, wait)
So, those who abide in the Lord, are those who are "waiting" in the Lord, enduring, yet residing in Him. And it is them, who he said, will be able to ask what they will; so to abide is actually God giving you the key to how to obtain his favor.



Abiders: Those who abide in Christ, while making Him the "central point" of power in their lives. We have a way of making all sorts of things a "central point" in our lives. Sometimes it can be our jobs, our finances, our education, and even our busyness in our church; but in order to be a true abider in Christ Jesus, it must be Him and Him alone who is your central point of power! As abiders, we must become those who are one with God in spirit!



Abiding: Living in accordance to HIS will! Standing, enduring, residing, and remaining under his authority. Are we abiding? Are we taking the time to abide?

"What is the greatest factor of power in my life? Is it work, service, sacrifice for others, or trying to work for God? The thing that ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the Atonement of the Lord. It is not the thing we spend the most time on that molds us most; the greatest element is the thing that exerts the most power!" ~Oswald Chambers


Do we have a willingness to abide? Are we truly abiders in Christ? and can we describe our service as abiding service?  Is Jesus Christ dominating every interest in my life, more and more? If the one central point, the great exerting influence in my life is the abiding in Christ, then every phase of my life will bear fruit for Him.



*EVERY GREAT TRIUMPH OR EQUALLY GREAT DEFEAT WILL BE QUANTIFIED BY THE QUESTION OF ABIDING COMMUNION ~commenter, K. McGuire



John 14:13 says, "Whatever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do."


For further scriptures on the benefits of Abiding, see JOHN 15 in its entirety!!  Praise the Lord!!!!