God Is Greater

We are faced with the issues of life daily. All we must do is turn on the television and we are faced with violence, from armed robberies to home invasions to gang violence and violence in our schools. If we do not turn on the television, we are still faced with our own personal struggles. We may be faced with unemployment or underemployment. Homelessness, or facing foreclosure or eviction. We may be faced with failing health or concern about family or friends who are facing the situations I’ve just described.

What we must come to realize, remember, and remain steadfast on, is the knowledge that God is greater than everything we may face.

We read in Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

God does not promise we will not face or be impacted by the trials and tribulations of this world, but He does promise He will deliver us from them all.

As difficult as it may be to execute, God does not want us to be stressed, worried, or overwhelmed by the issues of life. He tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you. Easier said than done you may say, and you are correct if you are trying this on your own. John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing. God wants us to be completely dependent upon Him. Proverbs 3: 4-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When we are bogged down with the issues of life, it becomes difficult for us to focus on our purpose, or God’s purpose for our lives. We become distracted. Rather than looking at God, we look at what is going on around us. I’m reminded of Peter’s actions in Matthew 14:30. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. As long as Peter’s eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was not concerned about the violent winds tossing the water to and fro. Was Peter aware of the winds? Of course, he was. Verse 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

Just as Peter and all who were on the ship with him were aware of the waves and strong wind, we too are aware of the turmoil that sometimes surrounds us. It is important our eyes are fixed on Jesus, as Peters eyes were fixed on Jesus. It is when we waver and our gaze moves from Jesus to our circumstances that we begin to sink into distress, worry and anxiety as Peter began to sink into the sea.

Oftentimes we allow our emotions to rule us. We allow what we feel to control our state of mind and our actions.

We read in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. God does not want us to be worried or stressed. He wants us to give Him everything that concerns us. Does He know our state of mind and what’s on our mind? Of course, He does, but when we speak to God and tell Him we are turning whatever it is over to Him, we are saying God, I cannot handle whatever it is. We are saying to Him, Lord, I trust you to take care of it. Trust is the operative word. God wants us to put our Trust solely in Him.

We are not equipped to carry our own cares. If we were, God would not tell us to give them to Him. When we hold onto our cares our emotions take over. We begin thinking with our carnal mind rather than with the mind of the spirit.

As we continue reading verse 8 of 1 Peter chapter 5, we read be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Thinking with the carnal mind invites the adversary in. Our mind, by use of the fiery darts the enemy is sending our way begins to have thoughts that are contrary to the word of God. Thoughts of worry and doubt.

Remove the emotion. Keep your focus on God. He is greater than anything you will face in life.

Lord, Deliver Me From Me

 Romans 7:15-20 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Lord, deliver me from me. As Paul so aptly stated, it is our flesh, our carnal thoughts and behaviors that get us into trouble every time.

So many times, I’ve decided to do one thing and end up either doing something else or doing nothing at all. Why, because I allow the thoughts in my mind to override my spirit.

Sin does not always have to refer to an inappropriate behavior. It is whatever we say or do that is contrary to God’s will, His word and His purpose for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

As I often confess, I am a dreamer and a believer. If it is in the word of God, not only do I believe it, but I expect all of God’s promises to manifest. God’s word is true and will not return void.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

And then there’s me. What is my part? I must put works with my faith.

James 2:17-26 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

What are the works that I need to put with my faith? The works that are the evidence that I have faith in what I believe God has planned and purposed for my life. You see, I believe God wants me to share His word with you and encourage you to Liv by Faith. But what if I believed that is what God wanted me to do and never did it? What if I never shared His word with you? Not only would I not be fulfilling God’s purpose for my life, but my behavior would also say God I don’t trust You to do what You said you would do.

The enemy will use the voices in our head, whether they are our own voices, or the voice of someone else to convince us we are defeated. What we must remember is that the enemy is defeated and he is trying to project his future onto us.

Oftentimes we are our own worst enemy.

Rather than protecting our mind by wearing the helmet of salvation; protecting ourselves from what we see and hear. Taking the shield of faith to stop the darts of unbelief. And using our sword, the word of God to defeat the enemy within. We allow our mind to dwell on thoughts and words that are contrary to the thoughts and words God says about us.

Ephesians 6:16-17 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Thoughts of fear, doubt, anxiety, procrastination, slothfulness. Fear of rejection, fear of failure are not thoughts of peace. They are evil in nature as they are harmful and do not bring us hope. These thoughts do not align with God’s word.

Do not think it, do not speak it, do not believe it. If the words you hear are contrary to God’s will, His word, and His purpose do not give them life.

2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Focus on who God says you are. You are victorious.

 

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Don’t Talk Yourself Out of It

 God has just given you a great idea. You are beyond excited. What do you do next? You write it down.

Habakkuk 2:1-3 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Why write it down? Writing it down makes it real. It serves as a constant reminder. It provides clarity, helps you create a plan, set a goal, and of course all of this is done while seeking God for direction.

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. When you are spending time in God’s presence, seeking Him for direction, He will direct your path. The thoughts or ideas that you think are yours will align with the thoughts and plans that He has for you.

I liken getting a word, thought, idea, or plan from God to the parable of the sower sowing the seed. Whether the thought or idea is God’s plan for your life, your desire to make a change in life such as going back to school, taking better care of your health, or making a career change, the enemy will try to distract you.

In Matthew 13:19, Jesus explains the parable to the disciples.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

When you hear from God, the enemy immediately comes to try and steal what you have heard. He comes in many ways. If, in all your excitement, you share what you have heard from God or your ideas with others, there may be someone that tries to discourage you. They may even question whether you have heard from God, or why you desire the change you seek. They may cause you to doubt your desires or what you have heard.

Verse 20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

We’ve talked about how excited we are when we hear from God. We’re ready to act and move forward. Then the voice in the back of our mind, you know the one that tells you that you can’t do it, begins to speak to us.

Jeremiah 1:4-6 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

Verses: 7-9 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

 When the Lord spoke to Jeremiah, Jeremiah flat out said I can’t do it. And the Lord replied yes you can. He told Jeremiah not to be afraid. He told him He was with him. And finally, He told him, He, the Lord God Almighty had placed His words in his mouth. When God gives you a word, or an assignment He will prepare and equip you to do whatever it is that He wants you to do.

 Matthew 13:22: He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Let’s say you’ve heard from God. You didn’t listen to the naysayers nor the voice in your mind that told you that you couldn’t do it. You’re moving forward. Then the enemy throws another monkey wrench your way called life. Relationships, other commitments, family obligations and let’s not even mention finances, or the lack there of may distract you from your plan or goal. These are distractions and they are real. How do you overcome them? You seek God for guidance. You also prioritize and exercise time management. If you are unable to commit 2 hours a day to your goal, commit 1 hour a day, or 2 hours per week, whatever works best with your schedule. If you lose a source of income or have an increase in expenses, become creative. Have a yard sale. Barter your services. Cut down on entertainment or eating out. Determine what’s most important to you.

 Verse 23: But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Ah, this is the place we all want to be, receiving seed into good ground and bringing forth the harvest. There may be some people that are able to go directly from concept to manifestation with few or no distractions. If you are one of those people, I commend you. The truth is, many people, me included fall into one of the 3 categories in the parable. People whose seed, vision, dream, goal, or desire is hindered by the voice of others, the voice of oneself, or the cares of life. To that group of people, I say stay focused. God will not place in your heart, whatever He places there if He has not already made a way for it to manifest.

The enemy is going to try every trick in the book to prevent you from moving forward in God’s plan for your life. Don’t let him do it. You are the one that can stop him. God has already prepared the way. Just as He said to Jeremiah “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee…” He is saying the same thing to you.

 Remember your purpose. Think about who will benefit from what it is that God has predestined for you to do. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Let your passion be greater that your fear. And as we read in Habakkuk,… for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

By Faith

The phrase by faith appears 15 times in Hebrews chapter 11. We read in Hebrews 11:38…the just shall live by faith. But what is faith? The Oxford Dictionary describes faith as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Complete trust or confidence. I love this definition. It so aligns with our belief in Our God. We have complete trust and confidence in Him. We also read in Hebrews 11:3 that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. In essence, what we see is made from what we do not see. Faith is invisible. It is the hope that we have for what we expect to manifest.



Have you ever hoped for something, or had faith for something that manifested? How did it make you feel when the thing you were hoping for was manifested? You probably praised God. Those around you who may not have had faith, or may not have known your journey, may have thought what you saw as a blessing as just something that happened. They may not have known the prayers, the sleepless nights (although God tells us we should not stay up late worrying Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.) and sometimes even the tears that you shed while you awaited the manifestation.



Well if God does not want us to worry while we wait, what should we do? We should thank Him for what we are seeking and act as though we have already received it. Mark 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.



Paul summarizes the behavior we should exhibit in Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. He tells us to be content where we are, never losing site and expectation of where we want to be.



Hebrews 11:8 by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.



Imagine if you will, being told to leave your home, a place where you are comfortable. A place where you are familiar with the land and your surroundings. What would you do? Would you have faith like Abraham, or would you lean unto your own understanding as we so often do?



Genesis 12:1 -5 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.



The promises God made to Abraham are simply amazing. They are exceeding abundantly above all Abraham could ask or think, Ephesians 3:30. The second portion of the scripture reads according to the power that worketh in us. What power is the scripture referring to? It is referring to the power of God, His Holy Spirit and His Faith, the faith that He has given each of us. Romans 12:3…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.



God has given us the measure of faith. You cannot say you do not have faith. Recognizing and acknowledging that you have faith is key. You must also use your faith.



Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.




God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. What is diligence? According to the Oxford Dictionary, diligence is careful and persistent work or effort. Careful, done with thought and persistent. Continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. Yes! Let us diligently seek The Lord.




When I think about persistence, I am reminded of Luke 18:1-8.  Talk about persistent. The widow in this parable was nothing if not persistent.





And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?





Where is your faith? Do you have faith like Abraham to venture out when God gives you direction without knowing where you may land? Are you diligently seeking what you desire, like the widow woman?



Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 



By faith you shall receive.

DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD HEARS YOU?

How many times have you sought the Lord? I mean really sought the Lord. Perhaps you were on your knees praying. You may have been in the midst of worshipping Him or praising Him and felt an insatiable desire to cry out to God, to be in his presence. Maybe you were studying His Word. Or, you may have been sitting silently, listening for that still small voice. Regardless of the method you use to seek God, we read in 1John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Is it Gods will for us to seek Him? Of course, it is His will. As a matter of fact, He says in Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. We are to seek Him first. We’ve established that He wants us to seek Him, and because seeking Him is His will, when we seek Him we can be confident that He hears us.  Not only can we be confident, and know that He hears us, whatever we ask, and again, this is according to His will, we will have the petitions, those things that we desire, or ask of Him.


Do you know that He hears you? This is a rhetorical question. I am telling you God does hear you. He hears you when you ask according to His will. I don’t want to simplify this, but I want you to think about a time you placed an . You found an item you wanted to purchase, you placed your order and you received it. Let's delve into this a little deeper. After you placed the order you expected to receive it. If you had tracking information you may have checked to see when the item would arrive. Depending on the item that you ordered, you may have made plans for how you would use the item. Barring there was not a problem with shipping, you had no doubt your item would be received. 


Again, I’m not trying to simplify, nor am I trying to equate seeking God to placing an online order. What I am telling you is that you can take God at His word. We read in   Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  His word will not return void, but will accomplish what He sends it forth to accomplish. If Gods word is true and will not return void, I dare say it is our unbelief that prevents us from receiving what we seek. Gods timing may not always align with our timing. But His timing is always perfect.


What are you seeking? Is what you are seeking according to Gods will? If your answer to these questions is yes, then my next question is do you know that He hears you? If you have again answered yes, as simple as it may sound, place your confidence in Him and expect God to fulfil his promise. Expect to receive the petitions, or the desires that you ask of Him.

Don’t Allow Your Circumstances to Steal Your Joy

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Every now and then, I find myself in not so ideal circumstances. Sometimes by my own creation and sometimes not. Either way, I always look to God to bail me out. What I’ve learned from this last circumstance is to look at the big picture. As I began to critique my own actions pondering the steps that landed me where I was, I thought about my old standby. One of my favorite scriptures, Romans 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. All things means just that, all things. It doesn’t mean just the good things. It doesn’t mean the things that are so, so, where no one profits, and no one gets hurt. It means all things.

But let’s take a step back. Before my epiphany, I felt the pity party trying to start. All the usual guests started showing up. Guilt, sorrow, disgust, anger, and oh yes, regret. What kind of pity party would it be without regret? Would’ve, should’ve and could’ve showed up. You know they always travel together. But then someone else showed up just as I was closing the door getting ready to start the party. It was Mercy. Mercy quickly walked in and evicted the other guests, saying there’s no pity party here. Not while I’m here. I immediately grabbed Mercy by the hand, thankful for the reminder. Instead of playing songs of sorrow I began to play songs of worship to the God that already knew I would be right where I was at that time. And just as Mercy reminded me, God began to give me that peace that surpasses all understanding.

When I look at the big picture, the reason for the circumstance was also coupled with many blessings that I could never have imagined. I was right where I believe God wanted me to be for the blessings to occur, and I will even go as far as to say for miracles to occur.

Things don’t always go as planned even when there is a blessing tied to them, but what I don’t think we always consider is that God is always in control. The best example I can think of is Jacob. Jacob connived his way into getting his brothers blessing. He was duped by his future father-in-law. He feared retaliation from his brother. What Jacob did not know, was that it was Gods will all along for him to receive His blessing.

When we fall into those not so ideal circumstances, the thief is standing right there to pounce. His job, that he does oh so well, is to steal, to kill and destroy. He robs us of our peace, our sleep, our health. He can, when he is working his hardest, and we do not have the strength to put on our armor, even rob us of our life. His tactics may cause us to lose relationships; material things such as houses and cars. How does he do this? It’s simple. When you go into a battle you must be prepared. You can’t start preparing after the battle. You are sure to lose. Have you ever watched how a prize fighter prepares for a fight?  The fighter will change their diet; their exercise routine, they prepare their weapons, their body and their mind. We must do the same. We must prepare.

What are our weapons? We read in 2Corinthians 10:4 -5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

We are also admonished in Ephesians 6:11put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and in verse 17, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Take the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. In other words, the way to prepare for battle is to arm yourself. Read the word of God. Study the word, meditate on it day and night. When you read, study; meditate on the word it becomes a part of you. It becomes the helmet of salvation enabling you to cast down imaginations.

Let’s pause right here. How many of you know when those not so ideal circumstances come, your mind begins to imagine the worst-case scenario? You begin to have those thoughts that are contrary to the word of God. You forget about Gods promises. Fear enters in. The enemy has his foot in the door. All he wants is your mind.

Think about it.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, Ephesians 6:12. Our battle is against an enemy we can’t even see. But guess what? The battle was won over 2000 years ago on Calvary’s cross. It’s up to us to maintain our stance. It’s up to us to stand our ground. Isaiah 59:19(b) When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Your word filled mind coupled with the Holy Spirit reminding you of what God has told you, as well as what Jesus did on the cross is all you need to conquer the enemy.

It’s always better to be proactive than reactive. Too often we wait until those not so ideal circumstances arrive before we put on our armor. Imagine those fiery darts coming at your head and your helmet of salvation along with your sword of the spirit are on your beside table, or in your car. You’re defenseless.

One of the great things about our God is that He is always there. He always hears our cries. Even when we haven’t prepared for the battle and the enemy is trying his best to topple us over. When we cry out to God, as I stated previously our God will lift up a standard against the enemy. We may suffer a couple of bumps and bruises since we entered the battle without our armor, but we will survive.

When the enemy tries to steal your joy, it’s up to you to stop him. God inhabits the praises of His people. Change your song. Instead of singing woe is me. Begin to worship the Lord. Sing praises to His name. When you are worshipping God, your mind cannot think about your circumstances. You will be consumed with the love of God. Don’t allow the enemy is any form to steal what is rightfully yours. Proclaim your victory.

Just Say Yes

I was texting my cousin the other day and said in my text that I was declaring 2018 as the year of yes. I don’t know about you, but I have been known to procrastinate when it comes to what I believe is Gods will for my life. Unfortunately, from time to time, I have also allowed “real life” to stand in my way. What do I mean by “real life?”  For me, “real life” refers to my day to day living. Like many of you that are pursuing your passion or what you believe is God’s will for your life, I work a full-time job. My full-time job often spills over into late night and even weekend hours. The time, my time, which should be reserved for doing what I want to do, or in my case, what I believe God wants me to do as of late has been dedicated to my 9-5. Don’t get me wrong. I am thankful for my job, but I can’t help but to ask myself where I would be if I committed the same amount of time to my passion that I commit to my 9-5.

As I look towards 2018 I’m looking for a new beginning, a new opportunity to say yes. We automatically say yes to those things that we feel we don’t have any control over or those things that are expected of us. I’m employed. It’s expected of me to not only give 100%, but to give my all. I have a family. It’s expected of me to commit myself and go over and above for my family. But what about Gods purpose for my life? Are my job and my family part of God’s purpose for my life? Of course, they are but so is the passion that God has placed in me.

I’m one of those all or none people. I don’t like to start something I can’t complete. I don’t want to commit to something that I cannot see through to the end. This is a challenge for me because life happens. Obstacles appear out of nowhere. I become frustrated with myself when things get in my way that prevent me from moving forward. Those of you that follow my blog probably noticed I was blogging less frequently, then I finally stopped. Well it was the ole 9-5 that was taking up my time. I have been working nights and weekends. Because of my personal work ethic, I don’t see things in my 9-5 changing in the immediate future. I have however decided to make changes. My commitment to my 9-5 ensures I excel in the work place, but what about the souls that are being neglected because I don’t have time to pursue my passion?

In 2018 I’m saying yes. Yes, Lord to your way and yes Lord to Your will. I believe when I rest in the Lord, acknowledging Him in ALL that I do, that He will direct my path. I’m going to seek God. I’m going to listen. I’m going to be still long enough to hear from God. I’m going to accept that He knows my heart and the desires of my heart because He has given me those desires. In doing so, I am going to understand God will also bring my desires to pass because He is the only One that can. I am going to recognize that a little bit is better than none. Whatever the Lord gives me to share in whatever format I can share it is better than not sharing it at all.

I can’t expect everyone to understand nor support my dreams but I can have faith that the God that has given me those dreams will bring them to pass in His time.

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I invite you to join me in making 2018 your year of yes. The year of moving forward in all that God has prepared for a people that will move themselves out of His way, removing all barriers so that He can move mightily through them as He gets all the glory.