Now What?

We have all heard the following sayings. It’s always darkest before dawn, every dark cloud has a silver lining and your breakthrough is right around the corner. All of these words are spoken to encourage us from giving up when we start doubting that God’s promises for our life or those that we love will ever come to pass.  But happens while are waiting? What do you do? You have heard a word from the Lord. You may have even received confirmation. You’re excited. You wait patiently. Then your patience wears thin.

You talk to God. Lord I know I heard from You and I believe You are going to do what You said you would do, but when? You read about Joseph and all he endured at the hands of his own family. You read about how he was falsely accused, spent time in jail, forgotten about by someone he was trying to help, and through it all how the favor of God was always on him. In your frustration you say to yourself but that was Joseph, what about me?

You read about Job and how he lost everything. How his friends questioned if he was somehow at fault for what occurred in his life. You wonder if there is something you may have done to cause you to be stuck; not moving forward in what you truly believe is Gods desire for your life. You try to help God out, taking steps that you think may move you towards your destiny, but do not achieve the results you expect. Your frustration builds. You feel a mixture of emotions. You’re disappointed, sad; you may feel inadequate even though deep down inside you have not given up hope. The words of encouragement from those that believe in what God is doing in your life seem to fall on deaf ears.

Those standing on the outside that are supporting you don’t have a clue as to how you really feel or what you are going through you say to yourself, forgetting about the countless times you have been the encourager as opposed to the one that needs encouraging.

So what do you do? As difficult as it may be, you continue to do what you are doing. You wait patiently on the Lord. You tarry until He manifests His promise.

When Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. He asked them to wait while he went up to pray to God. When Jesus went back to the disciples he found them asleep and asked if they could not watch with Him an hour. He left them a second time and returned only to find them sleeping again at which time He said the spirit indeed is wiling but the flesh is weak.  The third time that He found them asleep He told them to take their rest because the hour was at hand.

I believe we can apply this to our time of waiting on the Lord. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Our spirit is saying yes Lord, I know this is You, yes Lord, I will wait, yes Lord I will trust in You, yes Lord I will do what You want me to do, but oh that flesh! The flesh wants to lean to its own understanding. The flesh wants to rely on what it can see, hear, feel and imagine. The flesh tells you it’s not going to happen. The flesh tries to convince you to give up. The flesh brings doubt and makes you ask what do I do if it doesn’t turn out the way I expect it to?

Whoa! Hold on! Stop it right there! Why in the world do we listen to this corrupt flesh that is so weak as Jesus said to his disciples that it enters into temptation, which in the case of our waiting is becoming doubtful and weary?

There is a God that has not, cannot and will not lie. He has made you a promise. We read in Habakkuk 2:3 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.

During this time of waiting take your mind off of yourself. Encourage someone else. You may not be where you want to be but you are not where you were when you started. Help someone else get to where you are now.

I’m not saying it will be easy. What you are feeling is real, but remember what we read in 1Peter 5:10 but the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  Many of us get stuck in the suffering, but what we don’t realize is that it is the suffering that will perfect, establish and strengthen us. Once we have this understanding we become settled in Gods promise and even this ole flesh can’t persuade us otherwise. Hang in there! I’m waiting for your praise report.

 

Gods Refining Tools

There are various phases that we encounter throughout our journey called life. It is during this journey that our purpose or calling is made clear to us. I think sometimes we make the discovery or unveiling of our purpose more difficult than it really has to be.

Everything that we experience. Everything that God allows to occur in our lives happens for a reason. Sometimes we become so bogged down trying to figure out ‘why me’ that we forget that our experiences are Gods refining tools for our lives and they are ultimately for the benefit of others.

When we persevere, as difficult as it may be at times, through the storms that beset us it is not just the victory that is our testimony it is also the storm itself.

While in the midst of the storm we sometimes ask ourselves ‘how did I get here?’ If we are honest with ourselves we may admit that it was our own decisions that placed us in certain situations. Recognizing our part is what gives us strength. It helps us to understand choices come with consequences whether good or bad and whatever the consequence we must learn from it and grow.

Many times we become anxious, desperate for change, we get tired of waiting. So rather than seek God and acknowledge Him prior to making a move we lean to our own understanding and move on our own.

Sometimes it works in our favor and sometimes it does not. Either way it is a learning opportunity. We must assess our situation, repent if needed seek direction and move on.

Before understanding my purpose in life is to encourage others to live victoriously by knowing, understanding and receiving Gods love and applying His word to their lives I thought I was a misfit. I didn’t understand why God gave me a heart to understand the plight of others. As a matter of fact I thought it was a curse. I thought I was ‘too understanding’. I now know that was the enemy doing what he does best, trying to distort the gift God placed in me.

Did I make unhealthy decisions? Yes. Do I still make them? Not as often, but what I have come to realize is that when I do lean to my own understanding I have an advocate with the Father. He teaches me from my decisions and helps me to understand how my decisions can help someone else.

What’s important for me to remember is although I can share my experiences with others they may or may not take heed. They may still choose to take a path which will take them the long way rather than directly to where God wants them to go, but this is part of their journey.

I encourage you to seek God, understand who you are, whose you are and what it is that He has placed in you to do. We read in Jeremiah 1:5 before I formed you in the belly I knew you. Embrace who God created you to be. As I have said many times ‘no one can do what you can do exactly the way that you can do it’.

Are You Following God’s Plan or Your Plan?

We read in Genesis chapter 12 the account of God providing Abram with the following instructions:

1.    Get thee out of thy country

2.    And from thy kindred

3.    And from thy fathers house

4.    Go unto a land that I will shew thee

Abram was instructed to follow Gods plan for his life to reap the benefits He desired for him. Abram would be made a great nation, God would bless him, make his name great; and enable him to be a blessing. He would bless those that blessed Abram and cursed those that cursed him and through Abram would all the families of the earth be blessed.

Why did God give Abram specific instructions? Why was it important for Abram to leave his place of residence, leave all of his family, leave his father’s house and go to a place he’d never been before?

Sometimes in order for God to bless us with the magnitude of the things he has in store for us He has to take us away from everything we know and everyone that knows us. When we are in a familiar setting, have all the resources we need why do we need faith? We may believe we can achieve our desires because we ‘know what we are doing’. How often have you said you can do something with your eyes closed because you have done it so many times?

What happens when suddenly you are moved from your comfort zone or are required to do something you have never done before? You are no longer able to depend on your own abilities. You have to seek assistance. God wants to be the assistance that you seek.

Abrams father worshiped idols. Maybe you hail from a Christian family and maybe you do not. Either way just as with Abram, God wants you to look to Him for guidance. He didn’t want Abram following in the path of his father. Have you ever had family members try to convince you to do something their way, or the way it’s always been done? God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He wants you to do things His way.

Who have you taken with you that you should have left behind? Abram was told to leave his kindred yet he took Lot with him on his journey. As we read further into the book of Genesis we read of strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and Lot’s cattle which caused Abram and Lot to separate. We also read of Lot and his family being taken captive and Abram rescuing them.

Many times we want company on our journey. We are afraid of being by ourselves, we think we are unqualified to do what God has called us to do so we hang on to someone from out past, a security blanket, or we may take someone with us because we are trying to help them out. God is blessing us so we want them to be a part of the blessing.

First, let me say whatever God has called you do He has also equipped you to do and anything you cannot do He will bring people into your life to assist you.

Secondly, if God sends you out and tells you to leave others behind there is a reason. He knows our future just as He knows the future of all those around us. A friend of mine was told of a new job by a friend of his. My friend being the go getter that he is applied for the job, did what was required and was hired by the company. His friend however did not do what was required. My friend constantly pushed his friend, even providing him with money for a class which was needed for employment.

Finally my friend realized as much as he wanted his friend to be hired by this company it was his friend’s decision to do what was required of him. He also realized his association with his friend was impeding his success on the job.

God has blessed each of us with gifts and He will use His gifts as He sees fit. It’s important for us to remember just as God has gifted us He has gifted others. Our gifts differ just as the use of our gifts differ. You and someone close to you may both be gifted musicians. Your gift may be to travel the world and your friend’s gift may be to teach music in a small town. Both gifts are from God and one is not any greater than the other, nor will the reward for one be any greater than the other.

Follow Gods plan for your life. You cannot be someone else and someone else cannot be you. Leave your comfort zone. Become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Allow God to take you to that land that He will show you, where He will bless you, your name will be great, and you will be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

Pick Up the Pieces

Undoubtedly if you are progressing on your way to fulfilling your destiny you have encountered hardship, challenges, discouragement, rejection and perhaps even ridicule at the hand of naysayers.

There are several things you must always bear in mind.

·         People will be jealous of Gods favor on your life. Have you ever experienced someone disliking you for no apparent reason? Try as you may, you may not be able to think of anything that you have done to offend that person. That is because you may not have done anything. The enemy may be using that person as a distraction to prevent you from moving forward in your destiny. You may waste, and yes I did say waste time trying to figure out why someone does not like you. Go before God ask Him to reveal to you if you have done something to offend someone. If He does, ask for forgiveness. If He has given you a vision, dream or passion the enemy is sure to come against you. Because the enemy is a spirit he must use a body, or an individual to do his bidding. Let’s take a look at the opposition faced by Joseph.

o   Genesis 37:4 and when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.

·         Everyone will not support your vision. You cannot share everything with everyone. Even those that are closest to you may find it difficult to believe, understand and support you, but you must not allow people to make light of your desires. Don’t become discouraged if your “friends” don’t want to listen or encourage you.

o   Genesis 37:5 and Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

·         People may try to prevent you from moving forward. Whether you are employed or self-employed you should not be surprised by people who do not want you to succeed and will intentionally place road blocks in your path.

o   Genesis 37:18-20 and when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

·         Watch out for distractions. Although you may know exactly what it is God wants you to do the enemy may try to entice you to leave Gods plan and follow his. If you are not focused the enemy’s persistent enticement may be difficult to resist.

o   Genesis 39:8-10 and it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife. Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.     

Try as he may to destroy Joseph and God’s plan for his life one thing remained constant. The favor of the Lord was upon Joseph.

We read in Romans 8:31 what shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Opposition will come, but it cannot overcome. What God has purposed for your life just as He did with Joseph will surely come to pass. When you find yourself surrounded by people that don’t believe in God’s plan for your life you may have to distance yourself from those people. You cannot allow them to distract you and more importantly you cannot allow them to make you doubt what you know is true. If by chance you do fall prey to distractions, become side tracked, or start moving in the wrong direction pick up the pieces. Return to where you know God wants you to be, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Are You Ready?

The other day my sister asked me to let her dog out of the house. She had been gone most of the day and did not anticipate arriving home in a timely manner. Now you must know Jazzy, my sister’s dog. If any of you have dogs you know they have their own personality and many of them just as Jazzy does think they are human.

Jazzy saw me walking towards my sister’s house and began barking. When I opened the door Jazzy was glad to see me. Usually if you ask her if she wants to go to the mail box she will follow you. This time she didn’t. My sister asked me to pick up her bag of dog food and walk towards the door to see if she would follow. Jazzy just looked at me. I asked her if she wanted to go outside. She laid down on the floor and turned her head away from me as if to say I’m comfortable just where I am. Go away. My sister asked me to put her on speaker thinking if she heard her voice she could coax her into going outside. Again, Jazzy gave me that you can go now look, so I left.

Jazzy was comfortable. I’m sure if she really needed to go outside she would have gone outside.

How many of us are comfortable so we stay where we are?

While pursuing our passion, dream, vision, destiny, many of us are employed in full time jobs which I believe are part of our journey otherwise we wouldn’t be there. Depending on the job, we may put in 40 hours a week or more. We are comfortable because we have income, a means of supporting ourselves and our family. But how much time are we committing to what we know God has called us to do and instilled in our hearts?

Many of us, me included struggle with our commitment to what we know will bring us a satisfaction that only comes with fulfilling our purpose. Our excuses vary. We don’t have time, we’re too tired, and/or we don’t have the money. We also have doubt. What if I’m not good enough, what if I fail, what if this really isn’t God? Excuses, Excuses!

How many people that don’t believe in God succeed because they apply His principles? Have you ever listened to a successful entrepreneur or business owner talk about what makes them successful? Whether they realize it or not they are applying sound business principles which come directly from the bible.

Paul said 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.

It would be foolish, unless instructed by God, to quit your job and follow your passion full time, but what are you doing to prepare yourself?

What if you woke up tomorrow morning to find all your bills were paid, you had an unlimited line of credit for which you were not responsible for repaying, and a note which read do it now. What would you do, after picking yourself up off of the floor of course?

Are you ready? Can you step out of the door right now and begin doing what you know, that you know, that you know, you should be doing?

In Matthew 25 we read the parable of the ten virgins.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

 

I would like to liken the coming of the Son of man to your opportunity to do what God has called you to do. Will you be ready? Are you like the wise virgins or the foolish virgins? Do you have oil for your lamp? Are you doing everything you need to do so that when your opportunity presents itself, when your gift makes room for you and brings your before great men you will be able to step into your rightful place?

Are you responding like Jazzy when she heard my sister’s voice trying to coax her to go outside? Turning your head the other way, waiting for more than a voice?

God speaks to us in many ways. He is coaxing us by giving us a heart or passion for whatever it is that He has called us to do.  He speaks to us through His word, other people, circumstances and situations. I believe He is speaking to you and me right now through this blog. Will you take heed, be bold, confident in God’s plan for your life, and move out of your comfort zone, or will you rest on your laurels, slumber and sleep as the foolish virgins?

What Kind of Ground are You?

Some of us spend more time thinking about our dreams, gifts, and passions than we do pursing them. When thinking about the amount of energy we sometimes expend when it comes to our pursuit of our passion it made me think about the parable of the sower and the soil. We know that the parable refers to the seed as the word of God, but bear with me as I to use the parable to refer to the seed as the gift God sows into our lives for His purpose.

In Mark chapter 4:3-8 we read the parable of the sower and the soil. We then read in the same chapter in verses 15- 20 the explanation of the parable.

Jesus begins in verse 15 by explaining these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. When it comes to the gifts in our lives, or the passion God has given us for certain things I believe when we are first made aware of our gifts sometimes we don‘t believe God is talking to us. It’s difficult to believe He has chosen us and entrusted us, so we may dismiss the idea and think of it as a passing whim. This behavior may be found in individuals that don’t see their talents as gifts from God, but rather somehow see them as something they can do on their own.

We then read in verses 16-17 and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. I believe this occurs when we believe God has chosen us. We know our purpose. We are excited. We tell everyone that will listen about what we believe God wants us to do. We think about ideas of what Gods plan for us will look like, but we don’t have a plan. As soon as things don’t appear as though they are moving in the right direction we become discouraged. I refer to this as having a beginning and a perceived end with no middle, or no plan to get there. Without a plan you cannot reach your desired end.

Verses 18-19 and these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Busy, busy, busy, planning, thinking, lots of ideas, unsure of which one to follow. This person may dabble in several different areas, unable to focus on one because they all feel right. They may achieve success in an area and become blinded by their initial success, so rather than continue they relish in the success and stay there only to realize this is not their final destination. Once realized they may feel as though they have failed, and may not continue. They may also become discouraged when obstacles come across their path. Rather than face the obstacles head on and learn from them they may move on to something else and start all over again. I refer to this as visions of grandeur. This person believes and acts, but is not totally convinced.

 

And finally verse 20 and these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. This person is convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt of what God has called them to do. They work diligently. Do they encounter obstacles and failure? Of course they do. Do they become side tracked? Sometimes. They become disappointed but never discouraged.

I believe Paul said it best in 2: Corinthians 4:7-9 we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. These are the people that will not give up. They know God has given them gifts and depend solely on His ability, rather than their own, to bring what He has destined for their lives to come to fruition. This person is convinced and committed.

At some point in time you may experience one or more of these behaviors. You may even experience them more than once. What’s important is that you recognize your behavior and correct it. There will always be obstacles, naysayers and barriers. There will be disappointment and you will become discouraged but don’t stay in that place. Don’t allow your circumstances to control you. You must control them.

I have exhibited each of these behaviors at some point in time except for the first one. I’m a dreamer and an optimist so nothing seems impossible to me, but what about you? Which of these are you experiencing right now?

Let your gifts be sown into good ground. Ground that will receive the gifts that God has given you. Move in your gifts rather than covet someone else’s, and take your gifts to the limit!

Stay on Track

I hope you used the month of January to focus on your finances and have a plan in place. The key is to stay on track. Remember your financial goals, and work towards them. Don’t deviate. If it’s not in the budget don’t buy it.

It’s important to have a budget when you are pursuing your passion. It’s easy to pull funds from your household budget to fund your dream because of your passion. Don’t let your enthusiasm for pursuing your passion become a financial burden. Remember Proverbs 18:16 a man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. If God has given you a gift, dream, desire or passion, He is more than able to bring it to pass along with all the necessary funding. You are blessed to be a blessing. Your gifts are to be shared. Why would God give you a gift that you could not share? He wouldn’t. The gifts that He has entrusted you with are to edify the body and glorify Him.

Just as you have set financial goals you must also set goals to help you pursue your passion. Where are you? Where do you believe God wants you to be? What are you doing to get there?

What may seem impossible for you is not impossible for God. We serve a big God that gives us big dreams. Whatever God has placed in your heart, you will not be able to achieve without Him so don’t become discouraged when what He desires for you appears unrealistic for you to achieve. It is. As we read in John 15:5 …for without me ye can do nothing.

There will be times when everything will flow perfectly. You will want to pinch yourself, asking is thing really happening. There will be other times when you will feel like nothing is going right, and you will ask yourself was this God or was it me. Count it all joy, the ups, the downs, the good and the bad, but never give up. The journey God places you on while pursuing His purpose for your life is part of your testimony. It is what will inspire others to believe they too can achieve what God has placed in them.

You may feel like you have done everything according to your plan but you are not seeing the results you expect. The operative word here is you. Just because you don’t see what you think you should see doesn’t mean God is not working behind the scene doing exactly what needs to be done so what He has planned for you will come to fruition. While you are waiting, keep praying, believing and thanking Him for what He has done. Keep sharing and encouraging others. It’s all part of His plan.

You have a gift. We all have gifts and once God gifts us He never takes His gifts back as we read in Romans 11:29 for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

If you’ve gotten off track, get back on track. Take baby steps if you must. Sometimes we try to do too much at one time and become lost in what we are doing. Slow down, seek God, ask for direction and move according to His will.