Now Is Not The Time...

Now is not the time to give up on the blessings that you've been waiting on God to deliver.  Now is not the time to grow weary in well doing. Now is not the time to allow your faith to fail. Now is not the time to doubt and give up on God.

2013 has been a very trying year for many of us, but now is not the time. The same God that was with you then is with you now. 

Isaiah 40:29-31

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

There is a song called, "God is Not Through Blessing You" by the GMWA Mass Choir. A portion of the lyrics is as follows:

But the devil is a liar and a deciever too, my God is not through blessing you. 
God is not through blessing you, whatever whatever the problem, my God is able to do;
my God is not through blessing you. 

Keep the faith my friends for God has a plan in store especially for you.  I hope this song ministers to your heart as it did mine. 

What's The Message? Part II

Yesterday we talked about the message that we send, through the lives we live, and I wanted to continue with that topic today.

In the book of Ruth, we see that because of Ruth's commitment, loyalty, love, integrity and devotion to Naomi that she was noticed by a prominent person and received favor.  Ruth displayed the characteristics that many of us would desire anyone to possess that is connected to us.  Her life was her message and as a result, she was selected over many for a prestigious role - married to Boaz.  He said to her "for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."  Her actions far exceeded any words that she could have spoken.

Women often say they are waiting on their Boaz to come, but if he did come, would he find the life that you are living worthy of the life he is willing to offer you?  Yes - there are still some really good men in the world!

To continue with the discussion, for me this passage of scripture transcended the realm of romantic relationships, but carried over into many other facets in life.  On the job - who is watching us? In our neighborhood - who is watching us?  In our churches - who is watching us?

What messages are you sending that would cause someone to change your entire status for the better?

What's The Message?

"My life is my message."

- Mahatma Gandhi

I love quotes and at times they help me remain accountable for my actions.  I use quotes and thoughts for the day as a source of motivation and encouragement for others.  This particular quote has stuck with me for a few years now and this morning it was on my mind. 

At the end of every year, many of us take the time to reflect on what we have or have not accomplished and then we formulate a plan of action for the upcoming year.  However, when taking that time of reflection, let's think about the message we sent, based on the lives we have lived. 

“Your actions speak so loudly, I can not hear what you are saying.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

This upcoming year, don't just simply write down a resolution because it's the norm; be the words on the page! 

What Really Matters?

The opportunity to take time away and relax doesn't come as often as we'd like in the lives that we've turned into rat races. Always on the go and it seems that nothing is ever good enough. We run ourselves into the ground and call it success.  When we do sit down to rest and catch our breath, we call it being unproductive.  Somewhere along the way we've got it twisted!  We don't want to wait at a red light; we don't to wait for food to cook in the oven; we don't want to wait for a phone call, so we text; we don't want to wait for God to bring us what He wants us to have, so we force situations that don't fit.  

Our lives have become complicated and we are discontented to the fault of no one but ourselves.  We are trying to fit into a mold that God never intended.  We spend more money than we make to impress people who don't care, to fit into an imitation of life.  What really matters?

What really matters at the end of the day when you're all alone?  What really matters when the chatter dies and it's quiet?  What really matters when sickness comes and life is fleeting?  What really matters when no one will pick up the phone to talk or you didn't get invited out?

What is really important?  We talk a good talk, but what really matters to you?

http://thoughtcatalog.com/baihley-grandison/2013/12/you-dont-have-to-do-everything-all-at-once/

You Can't Come...

Why do we insist on trying to take people with us, even if it's to our own detriment?  We've tried it before and it didn't work, but yet we find ourselves doing it again.  The people that we are insisting on dragging into our future will eventually deplete us of our resources, drain our strength and decrease our motivation to excel.  However, for the sake of companionship, we accept things we know we shouldn't, make excuses for their behavior and try to make up for their shortcomings.  At the end of the day we are left feeling used, abused and confused.

Matthew 25 - this is the story in the Bible about the Ten Virgins (5 wise and 5 foolish).  The five wise virgins made the necessary preparations for their anticipation of the bridegroom, but the five foolish were not prepared.  When the resources of the foolish ran out, they asked that the five wise give to them.  Being wise, they answered correctly by saying no and for the foolish to go and seek out what they needed.  While gone to get what was needed the bridegroom came and it was too late for the foolish to go in.  What if the wise virgins had shared their resources?  They would have missed out on this opportunity as well.

What are we missing out on because we refuse to say no; because we refuse to leave the wrong people behind and just move on?  What is God not allowing to come into our lives because He knows that those wrong connections will consume it and misuse it?

It's time to step back and take an honest look at our lives and the people who occupy our time.  It's time to stand up and say, "no you can't come!"