Sunday, April 26, 2015
Fulfilling Your Destiny
Scripture:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 King James Version (KJV)
The above scripture is one of the most popular scriptures known to man. It has been used to represent a multitude of possible scenarios. Among the most common forms of usage are to reflect on the passage of time and the moving of people, things and events in and out of our lives. In the sixties, a young pop group by the name of the Byrds even had a number one hit around the world entitle, "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)"
However, for me it holds an even deeper meaning. For me it is representative of the fact that everything that we go through in this life has a purpose and is a part of the whats and the reasons why we have been created by God. Every connection that we make, every moment and event that we experience, every lesson that we learn is to prepare us and bring out our destiny. A destiny that was placed inside of us even before we were born.
Everyone in the world has a purpose. Those who understand this know that in order to be fulfilled, it becomes necessary for each of us to find out what that purpose is. Finding purpose is the catalyst to understanding our destiny. Our destiny is that thing inside of you that can never be completely whole until you fill it with meaning and and a reason to exist.
Even though you may run into obstacles and roadblocks, continue moving towards your destiny. Even when others try to sabotage and undermine your efforts, keep your eyes on the prize. People will join you on your journey and then for no apparent reason, walk away. That's okay because when your steps have been ordered by the Lord long before you ever even started, it doesn't matter who stays and who goes.
So find your passion and make it your purpose. Your purpose is why you are here. Work and develop the gift that God has already placed inside of you and walk into your destiny!
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father God, sometimes I get confused by things that are happening in my life. I grow weary and tired and feel as though I no longer have the strength to keep fighting the good fight of faith. I sometimes forget that everything I go through is for a purpose and that purpose is to serve You. Forgive me for growing weary and listening to the lies of the devil. Strengthen my resolve to be faithful and serve You. Help me to get out of my own way and surrender my will to You. Have mercy on me, Your sometime unfaithful servant. Now Lord, I pause to give thanks for Your word that continues to inspire and encourage even someone as unworthy as me. Thank you Father for loving me even when I don't feel loved. Bless Your name Lord and most of all, thank You for the greatest gift that was ever given. Redemption through Your Son, Jesus Christ in whose Name we pray. Amen.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 King James Version (KJV)
The above scripture is one of the most popular scriptures known to man. It has been used to represent a multitude of possible scenarios. Among the most common forms of usage are to reflect on the passage of time and the moving of people, things and events in and out of our lives. In the sixties, a young pop group by the name of the Byrds even had a number one hit around the world entitle, "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)"
However, for me it holds an even deeper meaning. For me it is representative of the fact that everything that we go through in this life has a purpose and is a part of the whats and the reasons why we have been created by God. Every connection that we make, every moment and event that we experience, every lesson that we learn is to prepare us and bring out our destiny. A destiny that was placed inside of us even before we were born.
Everyone in the world has a purpose. Those who understand this know that in order to be fulfilled, it becomes necessary for each of us to find out what that purpose is. Finding purpose is the catalyst to understanding our destiny. Our destiny is that thing inside of you that can never be completely whole until you fill it with meaning and and a reason to exist.
Even though you may run into obstacles and roadblocks, continue moving towards your destiny. Even when others try to sabotage and undermine your efforts, keep your eyes on the prize. People will join you on your journey and then for no apparent reason, walk away. That's okay because when your steps have been ordered by the Lord long before you ever even started, it doesn't matter who stays and who goes.
So find your passion and make it your purpose. Your purpose is why you are here. Work and develop the gift that God has already placed inside of you and walk into your destiny!
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father God, sometimes I get confused by things that are happening in my life. I grow weary and tired and feel as though I no longer have the strength to keep fighting the good fight of faith. I sometimes forget that everything I go through is for a purpose and that purpose is to serve You. Forgive me for growing weary and listening to the lies of the devil. Strengthen my resolve to be faithful and serve You. Help me to get out of my own way and surrender my will to You. Have mercy on me, Your sometime unfaithful servant. Now Lord, I pause to give thanks for Your word that continues to inspire and encourage even someone as unworthy as me. Thank you Father for loving me even when I don't feel loved. Bless Your name Lord and most of all, thank You for the greatest gift that was ever given. Redemption through Your Son, Jesus Christ in whose Name we pray. Amen.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Can You Stand the Rain?
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.” ~ Unknown
Scripture:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Last week as my son drove me to my doctors appointment, I observed the situation around us. There were accidents on the highways, dirt and debris strewn about because of the falling rain, and people running for cover. I am reminded that rain is a necessary process in the cycle of life. You see, it's springtime and the rain is needed to wash away the debris of winter and prepare the ground for the coming planting season. Sometimes though, we can get a little too much rain. The rain may come in torrents, washing away those things that are freshly planted or the old foliage whose roots are no longer strong enough to hold it in place.
How strong are your roots? Are you new to the faith and have not yet developed strong enough roots in Christ to hold you in place when the storms of life come along? Or are you so old and set in your spiritual life that you no longer gain the nourishment from the word that keeps your roots healthy enough to stay firmly planted in the rain?
So again Saints, I ask, Can You Stand the Rain?
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Our Father which art in Heaven, Hollowed it be Thy name. May those things that You have predestined in our lives come to fruition according to thy will and thy tender mercies. Oh Lord, we are weak, but You are strong. Touch us Lord, strengthening us for the coming storms in our lives. Lord, some of us are in the midst of our storm even as we pray. Magnify Your presence in our lives that we may gain the fortitude to stand, be strong, and hold on even when it's seems that we may be washed away at any given moment. Hide us Lord, under the wings of Your protection when it begins to seem like our roots are not strong enough to withstand even one more drop of rain. May we always know when to seek Your guidance and protection in the midst of our personal storms. Now Lord, help us to remember that the rain and the storms don't last always. But that there is sunshine and joy in the coming morning. Father, continue to touch and bless Your saints today. Extending just a little more grace for those who have a right now kind of need. Father God we give You praise, adoration, and all of our hearts this day. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Scripture:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Last week as my son drove me to my doctors appointment, I observed the situation around us. There were accidents on the highways, dirt and debris strewn about because of the falling rain, and people running for cover. I am reminded that rain is a necessary process in the cycle of life. You see, it's springtime and the rain is needed to wash away the debris of winter and prepare the ground for the coming planting season. Sometimes though, we can get a little too much rain. The rain may come in torrents, washing away those things that are freshly planted or the old foliage whose roots are no longer strong enough to hold it in place.
How strong are your roots? Are you new to the faith and have not yet developed strong enough roots in Christ to hold you in place when the storms of life come along? Or are you so old and set in your spiritual life that you no longer gain the nourishment from the word that keeps your roots healthy enough to stay firmly planted in the rain?
So again Saints, I ask, Can You Stand the Rain?
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Our Father which art in Heaven, Hollowed it be Thy name. May those things that You have predestined in our lives come to fruition according to thy will and thy tender mercies. Oh Lord, we are weak, but You are strong. Touch us Lord, strengthening us for the coming storms in our lives. Lord, some of us are in the midst of our storm even as we pray. Magnify Your presence in our lives that we may gain the fortitude to stand, be strong, and hold on even when it's seems that we may be washed away at any given moment. Hide us Lord, under the wings of Your protection when it begins to seem like our roots are not strong enough to withstand even one more drop of rain. May we always know when to seek Your guidance and protection in the midst of our personal storms. Now Lord, help us to remember that the rain and the storms don't last always. But that there is sunshine and joy in the coming morning. Father, continue to touch and bless Your saints today. Extending just a little more grace for those who have a right now kind of need. Father God we give You praise, adoration, and all of our hearts this day. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Sunday, April 05, 2015
Which Self will You Serve?
Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power. ~ Clint Eastwood
Scripture:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (New International Version)
As I often have the opportunity to talk to people who are successful in their chosen career or profession, I like to ask the question, what makes you good at what you do? More times than not their answers might surprise you. What I have discovered about many of those success stories is the willingness to constantly learn and improve upon their craft. They commit themselves to the task at hand which often also includes doing some tasks that they’d rather not do. However, even though they may not be happy to do so, they realize it is a necessary part of the process.
In my pursuit of being a writer I find one of the biggest obstacles I have to overcome is, me. You see, to put my thoughts down on paper and create a story actually takes a lot of self-discipline. I actually have to make a consorted effort to work at my craft. Trust me, if there was some way to just stick a tape-recorder inside my brain to capture the story, I would.
I am the first to admit that I am a procrastinator and can often find a myriad of others things to do when it’s time to write. However, what I have also discovered along the way is that if I want to be successful and be taken seriously in my pursuit of a writing career, I must establish some sort of self-discipline. And so it is with our Christian walk.
The world around us beckons to us to partake of a myriad of distracting things rather than developing into the disciples that God has called us all to be. We would rather partake of all the carnal pleasures that the world has to offer instead of committing ourselves to the task at hand and that is to make the effort to become more Christ-like.
Remember, self-discipline refers to the training that one gives one's self to accomplish our goals even though we would really rather be doing something else
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father God, so often we would rather choose the easy way out rather than commit to the task at hand, which includes serving You. So often our lives become so self-serving that we can no longer see Your vision for our lives. We tend to forget that it takes commitment and dedication to achieve our purpose and when we fail to do the right thing, we fail not only ourselves, but we also fail You. We oftentimes misuse free will as an excuse to not answer Your call. Forgive us Lord for failing You and for shortchanging ourselves. We sometimes forget that the world does not revolve around us and our needs. We fail to see that we have been ordained for a greater purpose and that purpose is You and Your Kingdom. Help me Lord, to learn to focus on You more and the world around me less. Help me Lord to all things in divine and proper order. But most of all Lord, help me to see the fallacies of my behavior and to recognize when my actions are not pleasing to You. I thank You Lord for divine revelations and for fresh grace and mercy. Thank You Father God for another chance to get in right. But thank You most of all for Your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His name we pray. Amen.
Scripture:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (New International Version)
As I often have the opportunity to talk to people who are successful in their chosen career or profession, I like to ask the question, what makes you good at what you do? More times than not their answers might surprise you. What I have discovered about many of those success stories is the willingness to constantly learn and improve upon their craft. They commit themselves to the task at hand which often also includes doing some tasks that they’d rather not do. However, even though they may not be happy to do so, they realize it is a necessary part of the process.
In my pursuit of being a writer I find one of the biggest obstacles I have to overcome is, me. You see, to put my thoughts down on paper and create a story actually takes a lot of self-discipline. I actually have to make a consorted effort to work at my craft. Trust me, if there was some way to just stick a tape-recorder inside my brain to capture the story, I would.
I am the first to admit that I am a procrastinator and can often find a myriad of others things to do when it’s time to write. However, what I have also discovered along the way is that if I want to be successful and be taken seriously in my pursuit of a writing career, I must establish some sort of self-discipline. And so it is with our Christian walk.
The world around us beckons to us to partake of a myriad of distracting things rather than developing into the disciples that God has called us all to be. We would rather partake of all the carnal pleasures that the world has to offer instead of committing ourselves to the task at hand and that is to make the effort to become more Christ-like.
Remember, self-discipline refers to the training that one gives one's self to accomplish our goals even though we would really rather be doing something else
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father God, so often we would rather choose the easy way out rather than commit to the task at hand, which includes serving You. So often our lives become so self-serving that we can no longer see Your vision for our lives. We tend to forget that it takes commitment and dedication to achieve our purpose and when we fail to do the right thing, we fail not only ourselves, but we also fail You. We oftentimes misuse free will as an excuse to not answer Your call. Forgive us Lord for failing You and for shortchanging ourselves. We sometimes forget that the world does not revolve around us and our needs. We fail to see that we have been ordained for a greater purpose and that purpose is You and Your Kingdom. Help me Lord, to learn to focus on You more and the world around me less. Help me Lord to all things in divine and proper order. But most of all Lord, help me to see the fallacies of my behavior and to recognize when my actions are not pleasing to You. I thank You Lord for divine revelations and for fresh grace and mercy. Thank You Father God for another chance to get in right. But thank You most of all for Your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His name we pray. Amen.
