Grasshopper or Giant?

We know the thief cometh not but for to steal to kill and to destroy but how does he do it? Oftentimes he uses us. That’s right. We can be our own worst enemies. We don’t have to wait for someone to tell us what we can’t do, how we will never succeed or that we will never change. Sometimes we beat them to it. We are already convinced that our dreams, visions, hopes or desires will never manifest. How does that happen?

One of the things that we do is compare ourselves with others. We don’t know anyone’s story but our own, yet we look at someone that is successful and think they must have a magic potion, great connections, are smarter than we are, have more resources than we have or are just plain lucky.

Well I can assure you there are no magic potions. Some people do have great connections but great connections without anything to back them will not result in success. All great and perfect gifs come from God. If He has given you an idea you are not any less smart than anyone else. Some people may have resources, financial or otherwise, but if you are a child of God your resources come from God and you have access to everything that He has. There is no need to mention luck because there is no such thing. Solomon said time and chance happen to us all. A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directed his steps.

In the Bible we read in the book of numbers the account of Moses sending men into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. They were to determine whether the people that dwelled in the land were strong, weak, few or many. They were also to determine whether the land was good or bad, whether the people lived in tents or strong holds as well as whether the land was fat or lean.

When they returned from their visit Caleb said let’s go and possess the land. Those that were with him said as we read in Numbers13:33 and there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Not only had they made a decision that they could not stand against the sons of Anak they even went on to say they saw themselves as grasshoppers, or unable to conquer because of their size in comparison to the sons of Anak. They even took it a step further and said they were also seen as grasshoppers in the sight of the sons on Anak.  They didn’t give themselves a chance, but they were right. Others will see you just as you see yourself based on the image you portray. Because they saw themselves as grasshoppers they would behave as grasshoppers therefore causing the sons of Anak to see them as grasshoppers.

How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as defeated before you even start? Are you willing to follow what God has placed in your heart or are you afraid you will fail? If God has given you a dream, vision or goal it is also God that will bring it to fruition as Joshua and Caleb told the children of Israel in Numbers 14:8-9 if the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

What God has started He is more than able to complete. He has placed what He has placed in you for a reason. You are the only that can do what He has called you to do. I’ve said this before. You may not be the only chef. But you are the only one that can create recipes and prepare them the way that you do. You may not be the only artist, baker, writer, or parent. But God has gifted you to reach a specific group that only you can reach that will receive what He has for them through you.

When you do not move forward in your gifting you are not saying you can’t do it you are saying God can’t do it because it is God that has given you the gift and God that will make it manifest. You are the vessel He has chosen to use. Count is as an honor and move forward. See yourself as more than a conqueror, a giant rather than a grasshopper, a success rather than a failure able to do all that God has created you to do.

 

 

 

Which One Are You?

Are you the one that has yielded yourself for God’s use and is willing to reach out to the lost, go into the highways and the byways, share His love and invitation to salvation? We read in Luke 14:23 and the Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Are you allowing the light of God to shine through you so that men and women are drawn unto Him? Jesus said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We cannot force Christ on anyone. He didn’t force Himself on us, but we can show His love to everyone just as He has shown His love to us, gently wooing us into a relationship with Him.

 

Or are you the one that He is trying to reach, the one to whom He has extended the invitation for salvation, to live a holy and righteous life, dedicating or rededicating your life to Him? The person that has ignored His invitation for one reason or another.

Perhaps you’re like the people we read about in the parable Jesus uses in Matthew chapter 22, when He invited guests to the marriage feast, or in our case an invitation is extended to come into the kingdom of God, accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, but we are too busy to accept his invitation.

Maybe you work on Sundays. There are churches that meet on different days of the week, there are churches that stream their services which enable access at your convenience.

What is your excuse? Do you think you have to clean up your life before coming to Christ? Well guess what? You can’t, but once you submit your will to His, He will, by the power of His Holy Spirit, provide you with the guidance and power you need to change what you cannot change on your own.

Unfortunately there are people that honestly don’t believe God loves them. This is a lie straight from the pit of Hell. One on the most quoted scriptures speaks to the contrary. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. If you are reading this blog you are a part of this world and one of those that He loved so much He gave the life of His only son. Who else do you know would be willing to do that for everyone in the world?

He didn’t do it because you earned it, or because you are worthy. He didn’t do it because you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, or because you have a high IQ. He didn’t do it because He thought you were unlovable and no one else would care about you. He did it because He loves you.

Are you the one that is willing to serve, or are you the one that has not yet made that decision? If you are the one that has not yet made the decision, make it today. God has a brand new life for you once you decide to give your life to Him as we read in 2Corintinthians 5:17 therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Become the one that is willing to serve. Let Him change your life. You will never be the same. He will do exceeding abundantly more that you can ask or think.

IF YOU CAN START YOU CAN FINISH

When we embark on the journey towards reaching our destiny, we must also realize the journey along with its ups and downs, trials and tribulations, moments of victory and defeat are all part of our destiny.

If we were never down we would never appreciate being on top. There will be times when we may take baby steps and there will be times when we may not take a step at all. It is during these times that we may question our destiny, ask ourselves if we are heading in the right direction. We may even take a break, or pause for a period of time, but then we feel that unction in our spirit that reminds us that we must go on and that we will not be satisfied until we reach the pinnacle of what God has created us to do.

The funny thing about our destiny is that is does not end until all of our work here on earth is finished. We may have completed a project or reached what we may feel is a milestone, but just as we do God places another idea in our spirit, something else that He wants us to accomplish for Him.

I find it interesting that we always seem to know when God has something else in store for us. We start feeling empty even though we may have just completed what seemed to be an insurmountable task. We are able to accomplish the task by the grace of God, we are excited and joyous because it’s behind us, but it’s not enough and we begin to wonder what’s next.

As each of our lives are predestined God has already determined everything we will do. When we look at the life of Joseph we see his brothers wanted to kill him, they led their father to believe he was dead, they sold him into slavery. He was accused of rape, served time in prison, placed in the second highest position in the land and saved those same brothers from famine that wanted him dead.

If Joseph knew what the end was going to be it may have made his journey a little more tolerable. Sure he had some good times during the bad times, but there were also times knowing he had done nothing wrong that he may have wondered why me.

We must think about Joseph as we walk through our predestined paths. We don’t know what our end will be. We will experience trials and tribulations because God told us we would. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us out of them all. He also said our latter will be greater than the former. Our last days will be better than our first days.

God has instilled in us a desire to have everything He has promised us, that is why we have what seems to be an insatiable desire to serve Him. The desires, visions, ideas that He has placed in us are the service He has called us to. We need to worship Him. We need to praise Him. We need to seek Him and we need to fulfill His plan for our lives.

During our fleshly times of weakness is when we may stray off of His path, but God already knew we were going to stray, so He nudges us and gets us back on track. What a mighty God we serve! Even when we want to give up He gives us just want we need to keep moving.

I recently took a stress test. For those of you who have never taken one you are placed on a treadmill while connected to an EKG machine. Your heart rate and blood pressure are monitored during the test. The incline and pace are increased in intervals. By the time the test was almost over I was thinking what would happen if I just stop. I felt like I could not continue but I did.

God has already provided everything we need to accomplish everything He has ordained for our lives. What we endure is because we are on the mission He has placed us on.When you feel like giving up that is when you must remember 2Corinthinians 12:10 therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Oftentimes the greatest victories occur just as we are feeling we can’t go on. If I’d stopped while on the treadmill I would have failed the test and would need to reschedule. How do I know I would be able to complete the test the second time if I would have quit the first time? I could tell myself I would practice, but would I? Probably not.

Rather than quit when you are almost there push! Give it your best shot! You will never cross the finish line if you stop just short of it. If you start you can finish. Finishing is the end that God has predestined for you. It may not be what you think it should be, but it will always be what He has chosen and what He has determined as completion.

 

 

 

Divine Appointment

Have you ever given thought to how you arrived at your current status in life? Whether you are in a position of authority, high importance, in a job that you and perhaps others think you are not qualified, or maybe you are not where you want to be. You may have lost loved ones, financial status, material things or employment and feel like you can barely make it from one moment to the next yet alone one day to the next.

Whatever your status and wherever you are God knew before you were born that you would be in this place at this time.

Oftentimes when we are not in the most desirable situations or circumstances we think to ourselves this can’t be God. But if we look at our Lord and Savior and what He endured for us, we have to bite our tongue. Some of you may say well that was Jesus. Yes it was Jesus, but when he was on earth He was in the form of a man. He was just like you and me. He felt pain and emotion just like we do. As a matter of fact, He did all of this so He would understand everything we will have to face during our temporary time on earth.

Our most difficult circumstances pale to compare with what He bore for us, and the price He paid for our sins, our total wellbeing and of course the opportunity to spend  eternity with Him. But Jesus wasn’t the only one in the bible that endured trials and tribulation. It bothers me when people refer to the people in the Bible as characters. Would you like to be referred to as a character? Everyone that we read about in the bible was flesh and blood, human beings.

The bible is a wellspring of knowledge and information. One of my favorite books of the bible is the book of Esther. There are so many life lessons contained in this book including jealousy, rebellion, gossip, lying, vengeance, sacrifice; love, just to name a few, and of course as the title of this blog reads divine appointment.

The book of Esther begins with a feast being held by king Ahasuerus for all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces. Queen Vashti who was the wife of king Ahasuerus was hosting a feast for the royal women of the king’s household when she was summoned by the king’s chamberlains to appear before the king and his guests. Queen Vashti refused the invitation.

Angered by the Queens refusal of his invitation the king consulted the wise men around him which was their custom, to determine what should be done to the queen because of her refusal. The King was advised once other wives got wind of the queen’s behavior they would begin to behave the same way and show contempt for their husbands so he was advised to send her away and find a new queen.

Rather than cover the entire book of Esther I will bring you to the point I am making. Queen Vashti’s dismissal opened the door for Esther to become queen. Esther was not Persian as was the king and former queen. Ordinarily she would not have ever been eligible to be queen. But God moved Queen Vashti and replaced her with Esther as queen to save the Jewish people from destruction. Esther’s reign was not without trials. She actually had to go against tradition endangering her own life to save the life of her people.

Each of us has a purpose and a divine appointment. What sometimes may seem as an injustice is all part of your destiny. I don’t like to say God’s plan for your life because we make our own choices although He already knows what choice we will make. Even if they are bad choices He may allow us to make them. These choices are learning experiences for us as well as those He brings into our path as a testimony of what He has brought us through.

When you are experiencing a valley moment know that you will not be there always and that your valley may enable someone else to stand atop the mountain. Are we not all servants? Conversely when you are on the mountain top know that not only did God place you there, there may be someone in the valley that is looking up at you and you will be challenged with reaching down towards that person as they reach their hand up to you and by the Grace of God and as He says not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit will both of be able to stand on top of the mountain and reach your divine appointment.

Dare To Be Different

Most of us during sometime in our youth did something we should not have done just because our friends were doing it. Somehow our parents would be made aware of our indiscretion. It may have been through a report by a neighbor, the local police if we did something really crazy or the tale tale sign of an injury to our body. Then we would hear those legendary words “if your friends jumped off of a bridge would you jump too?”

There are a couple of responses I would like to examine here. Most of us would respond no, we wouldn’t jump off of the bridge.  We may still have had our moments of disobedience but for the most part we would do the right thing the next time.  The daredevil would think hmm if I’m positioned in just the right place I could jump and survive.

We read in Romans 12:2 and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. We are in this world but we are not of this world. 1 Peter 2:9 reads but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

As Christians we are to set an example. We are not to be the same way we were as children following the ways of the world. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11 when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Are you following the ways of the world because it’s the comfortable or acceptable thing to do? Are you trying to fit in with your friends even though you know what you are doing is against Gods will for your life? Have you heard the voice of God but rather than step out of your comfort zone and follow Him you conform to those around you so that you won’t be noticed, persecuted or left out the plans of the people you count as your friends? Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

I’m not advising you to do anything drastic, or am I? As a matter of fact I am. As children we stepped out and did things we should not have done. There were consequences for our actions but we did them anyway.  I am telling you that now is the time to step out and do what God is telling you to do. Are there consequences? Yes, but is it worth it? My response is a resounding yes. You may lose a friend but the Kingdom may gain a soul. Be bold. Don’t follow the crowd. Dare to be different. If God has given you a vision, plan, dream, idea or directive follow it.

The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Are you part of the harvest or are you a laborer?

Change

We have all heard the only thing that is constant is change. Change occurs all around us. Sometimes we are forced to change. When there are changes in our workplace whether we agree or disagree, whether we resist or embrace them they still occur. We determine our reaction.

But what about self-initiated changes. Have you ever wondered why when change is forced on us we adapt because we have to but when the change is self-initiated it may not occur?

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. In today’s economy many companies are requiring mandatory furloughs. Employees take unpaid or partially paid time off. Furloughs are implemented as a cost saving measure for the company. Although the impacted employees do not agree they do not have a choice. They are not allowed to work and will not be paid.

Although forced upon an employee, whenever possible the employee should try and use this time off to their advantage. It can be used for personal appointments which may prevent them from having to take time off of work in the future. It can be used for volunteer work if desired. It can also be used to work on a personal business venture or project they may have been putting off.

Not let’s take a look at a self-initiated change. A change that has crossed the mind of a great majority of people is weight loss. We hear weight lost mentioned as New Year’s resolutions, in preparation for vacations, class reunions, weddings, special events or a life style change.

This is a self-initiated change and involves our will. It’s not forced upon us. We can go through with it or we can decide not to. It’s our choice.  Unfortunately for some of us we do not move forward with our change. We have one excuse or another, whatever the reason because it is not being forced upon us, and it is not required but a choice, it may not occur.

A self-initiated change starts as an idea. In the weight loss example. A person may look in the mirror or try on an article of clothing that fit’s a little snugly and think about losing weight. Sometimes the thought goes no further. If it does it becomes a desire. Once the idea or thought becomes a desire implementation will begin. A person may start exercising or change their eating plan but before reaching their goal they may quit. This is where it ends for many people. You have an idea. Your idea becomes a desire. You implement a plan, then for one reason or another the plan comes to an end before reaching your goal.

Why is it so difficult make a self-initiated change? It’s because you have a choice, so the question becomes how do you stick with your choice? How do you prevent yourself from quitting? Think back to the company mandated change. It may have been uncomfortable but it was necessary so you complied. Your job may have been at stake. Even if you resisted in the beginning you accepted the change, and it became part of your lifestyle.

A self-initiated change may be uncomfortable. You are doing something you have never done before. Is it necessary? It is if it is your desire, and you want to succeed. What do you do? You act as though it is required just as the mandated change is required. You act as though you don’t have a choice. You commit yourself to it. You do whatever it takes. Hold yourself accountable, or if you are challenged with accountability ask a friend that believes in your success to be your accountability partner if you do not have a Life Coach.

Record and report your progress. Do something every day towards your goal. Celebrate your progress as encouragement. You can make a change but you must be committed. It’s your choice. Choose to succeed.
 

 

 

Who’s In Your Corner?

I have viewed a few boxing matches on television and wondered about the roles of the people in the fighters corner which led me to do a little research.

There are usually four people in a fighter’s entourage which include a manager, a trainer, a cut man and a corner man who enter the fighter’s corner during the one minute intervals between rounds.

The manager is responsible for the direction of the fighter’s career. The trainer works with the fighter on a day to day basis. He is responsible for developing the fighter’s technique, physical conditioning and tactics. He provides motivation and tactical advice as the fight progresses. The cut man obviously is responsible for providing first aid as needed for the fighter. The corner man may also be the fighter’s trainer and in most cases is the physical support system during the fight. He wraps the fighter’s hands to protect them during the bout and has a deep knowledge of the physical mannerisms of the fighter. If he believes the fighter is struggling or at risk of physical harm should the fight continue can signal the referee to stop the fight by “throwing in the towel”.

Our corner consists of the trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one as we read in 1 John 5:7. Our entourage leads and guides, teaches and trains, knows our moves before we make them and protects us from our opponents.

In boxing the battle is waged by the fighter alone. As a Christian the battle is God’s as we read in 2 Chronicles 20:15 and the victory is ours as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:57 which prevents the need for ever “throwing in the towel”.

Who’s in your corner? Are you trying to fight your own battles or are you casting your cares on the Lord as instructed in 1 Peter 5:7?  Are you laboring and heavy laden, or are you following Matthew 11:27:28-29 which reads come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Why fight a battle that is not yours and has already been won? Rely on your corner.