Listen Up

Hebrews 2:1 NLT "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it."

Isn't it frustrating when you're talking, instructing, or asking somebody to do something and they are standing right in front of you, but no reaction is given? What is usually their response? "I heard you" and then we reply "ok then what did I say?"

Sure you heard me. You heard a noise. You heard sounds around you. But were you listening?

So many people hear God, hear the Word of God, but simply don't choose to 'listen' to him.

Don't Give Up

Isaiah 3:10 NIV "Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds."

Listen up believers ... keep on believing!!!!

Righteous does not mean you're doing perfect and doing everything right, but what it does means is that you are Right-Standing with God! How do you get right-standing with God? Through Jesus Christ alone. Salvation in Jesus name!

Birthday Blues

Psalm 2:7 NLT "The king proclaims the LORD's decree: "The LORD said to me, 'You are my son. Today I have become your Father."

The other day as my wife was cleaning, she came across a DVD box of one of my favorite movies, "Braveheart". On the box was a quote that read, "Every man dies, but not every man lives". There is so much truth in that statement and probably why it's one of my favorite movies.

Today I celebrate 30 years of existence and blessed to say 15 of those 30 years I actually lived! I gave my life to Jesus at the age of 14 years old and before that I didn't think I was going to live to see the age of 18. I actually cried tears of joy upon my 18th birthday. In my 14 year old eyes I had no purpose in life. I even tried to commit suicide several times. Don't get me wrong, I had a very loving family and many friends, but I was just empty inside and hated myself. Because I had no value in my life I did anything and tried anything without ever thinking of what could happen. I was carefree and careless. Death could have found me a number of times, but then I heard the King's proclamation!

Sacrifice It!

Psalm 50:14 NIV "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High"

Sacrifice thank offerings? Why would the Psalm advise us to sacrifice thank offerings to God?

During the time, this psalm was written to the 12 tribes of Israel, who were divided into two kingdoms and here this psalm of Asaph was written to try to urge them to reunite and come back to God. Its a reminder to start thanking God that he hasn't given up on you but also a reminder to do what we said we would for God.

Giving Poem

Created for Family & Friends Poetry Night to pick up offering:

Giving is something that God asks us to do

but when it comes time for it we all have our own view

Whether its wrong or right

whose to tell that it just might

Might be the cause for something great

but never experienced because the bucket has passed & its too late

We missed our opportunity to obey the Word of God

and now just like the wind our money is gone.

Gone on leisure, pleasure, and entertainment

never once honoring the One over all Creation

We say show me in the bible where it says to tithe

Yet it cries "will a man rob God" in the book of Malachi

"Rob you? how?" "in tithe and offerings"

"but I thought it was my choice on what exactly I can bring."

Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy all tell about the tenth

Still we excuse it saying that was meant for them.

Jesus himself said in the book of Matthew "Give as freely as you have received"

Receiving is fine we all don't mind but to give now we forget about Him

So don't miss your blessing on what God wants to do

Release your tithe & offering shout I need an envelope too!

Because giving is something that God asks us to do

but when it comes time for it we all have our own view.

Fixation

Psalm 42:11 "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God - soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God."

We've all had one of those days where we just feel out of it and want to be left alone.  One of those days when all the worries in your world just come like a flash storm.  I'm sitting in my office today at work and with in seconds the rain from Tropical Storm Debbie came and met South Florida, but only for a few minutes.  It was raining so hard you couldn't see out the window! But it only lasted for about 10 minutes or maybe even less.

That's exactly how worries in life can come. Everything can be going fine and all of a sudden a Tropical Storm of worries will come rushing into your mind and you find yourself not seeing clearly and feeling in the dumps.

It's In The Training

2 Kings 12:2 MSG "Taught and trained by Jehoiada the priest, Joash did what pleased God for as long as he lived."

 

I absolutely love my son. Sometimes I just look at him and smile because at three years old he is a world of excitement, adventure, and curiosity. Not a care in the world, but the future of hope for his generation.

Children are spectacular! The possibilities are endless as to what they can become or do in and with their lives! They just need the training!

Its In The Music

2 Kings 3:14 MSG "Elisha said, "As God-of-the-Angel-Armies lives, and before whom I stand ready to serve, if it weren't for the respect I have for Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I wouldn't give you the time of day. But considering—bring me a minstrel." (When a minstrel played, the power of God came on Elisha.)"

 

Music. The language of our generation. We are in a time where there are so many genres and thousands of songs coming out every year. As a matter of fact most of TVs top shows have to do about music: American Idol, The Voice, Singing Bee, Americas Got Talent, and more. Channels are dedicated specifically to the music, channels like MTV, BET, CMT, & even the Radio Channels. Rarely will you see a teenager in America without headphones on or around their neck. Even as I write this blog I am listening to music from my iPhone on Pandora Application. Music? Yes I think its become a big deal.

With such a high infiltration of music does it have any influence on our behaviors, feelings, direction?

Flawless

Song of Solomon 4:7 "You're beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless."

Have you ever read the book of Song of Solomon? Have you ever got confused or thought man that's a book for married couples, what is that doing in the bible?

When really this is a book totally about the Love of God! And oh how He loves you!

Ugly People

Proverbs 19:22 "Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest."

 

If loyalty makes a person attractive, then there is a whole lot of ugly people walking around us!

Catch that today!  What does it mean to be attractive? Is it our looks? Our clothes? Our fancy homes or cars? No.

A Fools Fate!

Proverbs 1:32 "For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency."

Death is something we can't escape as human beings. Because of one mans simpleton act, Adam has caused death to mankind. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:16 states, "For the wise and the foolish both die." The truth is we will die, unless of course Jesus returns before that, for those that are found in him. As humans in this flesh on this world we are fools and we all deserve death.

Prepare Yourself

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed."

 

As Easter quickly approaches; tweets, postings, fliers, ads are all over the place of many ministries preparing themselves to draw in the unchurched for the biggest day of the year in Christianity. Why the biggest day of the year in Christianity? Well because Easter is the Celebration of Jesus, the Son of God, dying on a cross for our sins, but more so Resurrecting on the third day to promise us eternal life for all who believe. Without Easter there is no Christianity! The gospel is Christ came, he died, and he rose again; take out any one of those points and we do not have the gospel.

 

Everything Is At Stake!

Proverbs 13:3 "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything."

Today Jentzen Franklin tweeted, "A fish would never get caught if it would just keep its mouth shut! Watch your words! Refuse to belittle or smear other people". I also came across the scripture while in my daily reading plan. Coincidence? No. Confirmation? Yes.

It's Not About You!

Proverbs 14:1 "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands."
Now I know this scripture references a woman, however it is very applicable to all because the Church is known as the Bride of Christ (referencing us to woman compared to Him). It's not the fact of a woman as a gender but more so as a position remembering he is our headship! Now with a clearer understanding lets see how this scripture applies to all of us.

Love Is In The Air!

John 15:13 "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."

This Valentine's morning, as my wife was asleep in bed, I wanted to surprise her by leaving early to go pick up heart shaped Donuts and a Starbucks Venti Caramel Macchito. I planned to then sneak back in with her treats and her two dozen roses, along with a Hallmark Valentine's Day Card; knowing when she awoke  that her expression would be one that would make the day even more delightful. I also left my three year old son his very own cartoon Valentines card, Kung Fu Panda box of chocolate and his favorite Starbucks Birthday Cake Pop. My intentions were to remind my family how much I think about and love them. Yes Love is in the air!

It's In Jesus!

"Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine." Proverbs 8:14

Common Sense. Success. Insight. Strength.  These are all things that we in our humanity think we possess on our own.

We credit ourselves for our potent or lack of common sense.  We fight and strive and pursue success at any length.  And don't get me started on our own opinions, the Bible even says "every way of a man is right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 21:2), but still in our humanity we will declare that our insight is prime. Lastly if you drive around your neighborhood and see how many gyms are posted up in your city because man believes his strength lies within his physique and capability to overpower another.  

A Reminder

Romans 8:2 "And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."

September of 2011 my phone plan was up and I was contemplating changing carriers because I wanted to upgrade to an iPhone. I was really getting frustrated with the hourglass on my then current Blackberry. With the new iPhone4S being launched very soon I waited in expectation to see what the options were.  To my surprise my carrier was going to start providing the iPhone! Finally towards the end of October I was able to get my iPhone at a great deal due to the expiration of my plan.  One of the key features on this new phone was Siri. 

Siri is like a friend, no more like a secretary, in my phone.  You can ask Siri questions and get a response, many of my teenagers at church love having conversations with it.  You can tell Siri to remind you of stuff and it's entered into your Calendar or Reminders.  It's great!