Scripture a day...keeps the devil away!

January 29, 2016

No matter how many times we walk out on him...he won't ever walk out on us.  Somebody ought to be very thankful for his faithfulness this morning. I know I am.

1 Kings 8:56-58 Message

"Blessed be God, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he'd do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired. May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.

 

Psalms 25:1 NLT

O Lord, I give my life to you.

 

 

Scripture a day...keeps the devil away!

January 27, 2016

God will not give up on you!
He does not have a plan "B" for your life...

Psalm 46 Message

 ^1-3 God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
   We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
      courageous in sea storm and earthquake,
   Before the rush and roar of oceans,
      the tremors that shift mountains.

   Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
      God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
 

Psalm 46 NLT

 ¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth."

 ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;

 

 

Scripture a day...keeps the devil away!

January 26, 2016

1 Cor. 1:26-31 CEV

 

²⁶ My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn’t think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame.

 

²⁸ What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. ²⁹ God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. ³⁰ You are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. ³¹ So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord.

 

 

 

Scripture a day...Keeps the devil away!

January 25, 2016

Ephesians 3:20-21 The Msg

^20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Now allowing him to work gently within you, my prayer is this:

^14-19 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Scripture a day...Keeps the Devil away!

January 22, 2016

 

God is not a Lollipop God.  He does not hand you a tootsie pop, allow you to get a couple sucks then snatch it away! Nothing God gives (even the sweet stuff) should cause you to go crazy for/over it. Walk with me people...I'm going somewhere. lol
 

One of the greatest life lesson's I ever learned was last year. Becoming successful is very stressful!  How can you experience stress from God's blessing?  That's what I thought!  Anytime God enlarges your territory, your leadership, your status, your role, your finances, etc. it comes with a price.

 

Last year, I experienced such an increase in my life. The increase so great, I remember praying that God would STOP increasing me!  So many lessons learned from that season.  Just like with a tootsie pop, you want to unwrap the pop and get straight to the chocolate located in the middle. Are we prepared for the chocolate or do we need to lick our way to the middle?!

 

First, let me just say this...when my child has done something good, has worked hard, etc. I may feel the urge to reward him/her.  But just like God, I'm not going to hand one of my children a lollipop and allow my child to suck away then suddenly snatch it away! God is not that way. I would take it away if I noticed the child was making a mess, doing the wrong things with it (rubbing it all over the place, etc.), trying to prematurely bite which could damage his/her teeth (anxious not showing patience for the best part), or if I seen that my child had a little too much of the sweet. 

Before all: Make sure you are in a position to receive the reward!

Proverbs 6:6 NLT
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!

 

1)Blessings require work!

 

Luke 12:48 NLT

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

2) When God pours out blessings it should not overtake you. The one who gives it to you is faithful to teach you how to manage the blessings with his help.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.
 

James 1:5-8 MSG 5-8 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.

3) God's blessings teaches us to be prepared.

Matthew 24:42 KJV
...be ye therefore always prepared.

Matthew 25 1:13NLT
25 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

4)  God sometime shows us that we are not as ready as we think and that even with  blessings we need him! 

 

2 Corinthians 12:8-13

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me...For when I am weak, then I am strong.

James 3:4 MSG

You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.


5) God's timing for the blessings in our lives is EVERYTHING!

Be content today where you are. Don't rush what God has for you. He knows all that he has in store for you.  He has not forgotten you or his promises for/to you.

Peter 3:8 NLT
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. ⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed.

Side note: Too much of anything can destroy you...yes even money!

Acts 1:7 NLT

The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

Lamentations 3:26 NLT

So it is good to wait quietly...

Galatians 4:4 NLT

But when the right time came, God sent his Son...

When the TIMES COMES...HE will send exactly what you have been praying for.The increase will come when he knows you are prepared to keep it.

6) Released blessings at God's appointed time is well worth the wait!

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.

Psalm 128:2...How joyful and prosperous you will be!

Question: Sooooo...how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

Philippians 4:6 NLT
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition…

Answer: I'll let you know when I get there.
   

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

Scripture a day...Keeps the devil away!

January 21, 2016



Psalm 138:8 (NLT)
The Lord will work out his plans for my life-
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don't abandon me, for you made me.


The Message reads:

When I walk into the thick of trouble,
keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand strike my foes,
With your other hand save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.

Scripture a day...keeps the devil away!

January 19, 2016

 

 

There is nothing like having the Favor of God!

 

Psalm 145:16
You open Your hand and satisfy me with favor.
 

Proverbs 16:15…His favor is as a cloud bringing spring rain.
 

Favor of God requires relationship with God. 
We all know that favor is having preference in situations, getting a parking space close to the store when you are tired, a line opening up in a store as you come to the register, excellent seats on airlines and in theaters. These are just worldly expressions of God’s favor over us. There is favor in the spirit. It is the wonderful access each of us has, if we take advantage of it, to sit in the front row with the Father. It is the preferential treatment of being God’s favorite child (we all are). Favor is expressed in so many ways. Those who seem to “get all the breaks” are people who love the Lord intensely and thoroughly enjoy being with him and sticking close to him. The good news is that each one of us, his children, can experience favor in our lives!

Tap into the favor that God is offering you today!

 

Favor opens doors that man tries to slams in your face...

 

Psalm 5:12The Lord surrounds the righteous with favor as with a shield. 

 Picture this: The Employer says, "you are not fit for the job..."  SHIELD GOES UP! ...but, we would like to offer you the position."

Who does not want to experience that in all areas of their lives???
To be surrounded with favor...that just blessed my soul!
Get close to God! Embrace righteousness.  Let this be the year you take your walk with Christ to a new level.  I promise you, you will not regret it!

If it is you who are desiring to do new things, change from old ways, reach for higher marks...you will need God's favor! You will need God!

 

Have a Favor-ful day!

 

Scripture a day...Keeps the devil away!

January 18, 2016

James 1:2-8 & 12 CEV
 
2 My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.

5 If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. 7-8 If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
12 God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested.

Deuces to Distractions!

Hey All,

This is a snippet from a poem I wrote: 

But it is you who has prepared a table before me

in the very presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
I see your Glory; I am the one you choose

I’m hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, 

but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed

Through suffering, my body continues to share in the death of Jesus Christ

For my life and my soul he has paid the highest price
Living under constant danger of death because of who I serve
Darkness has taken over but the King of Kings has reserved
My spot, my name, it is written in the lamb’s book of life
I must press on; won’t give in-can’t end up like Lot’s wife.

I recently had a situation turn into a nightmare! It always sucks to get into confrontations especially with people you love. God has a way of clearing things up and teaching us while doing so.

1st Cor.13 NLT: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

People will hurt you. This we know. People will say the worse things about you, this we know. People will lie, accuse, even hate you, this we know. It is never a good feeling when this is happening to you. However, do you know what does feel good? It is a good feeling when you can abide in peace and trust who you serve while chaos surrounds you. 

Roms. 12:19: Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

We always want to get back at those who hurt us. We always want to have the last say. We have to be the person who is right.  I get it...trust but, revenge is nothing other than a distraction. 

One of the greatest weapons we possess when emotions are running deep is...SILENCE.  We have to learn how to force ourselves to get quiet and seek God when we get in our feelings.

Matthew 27:12-14: But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

Society has planted seeds in us that God wants to remove. We have been taught to attack when attacked. We can't have others thinking we are weak, punks, guilty, etc. We must stand up for ourselves!

Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him,..Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

God says, forgive and move forward. We like to hold on to things. We always feel the need to remind others of what they have done to us, instead of move on in forgiveness.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Jesus knew what was ahead of him. He felt the ultimate betrayal. These very people that he taught, helped, healed, fed, etc. wanting to kill him for absolutely nothing. He did not hold records..."okay, he threw a rock, he stabbed me with a sphere, he slapped me, she spit on me,...mhhmmm after I do this thing for God, they gonna get theirs." He could have but he did not remind folks of what they did to him. No. He forgave them and prayed. He found a way to give all the hurt, confusion, and pain to God. Even before he died he made sure his heart was acceptable to God. He chose to not be angry but instead be free. That is amazing to me...I'm saying it out loud, "I choose not to be angry but be free in Christ ,my Lord."

Imagine how proud God is when we can truly get calm in the midst of a tornado. When we can keep our mouths shut, forgive, and pray while others are coming against us. It's takes a strong and mature Christian to do this.

And, on the 3rd day he did what? ROSE! The enemy cannot keep you down!

1Cor.15:4: He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

God has a way of putting you in your rightful place when you put him in his rightful place. The Devil will always slither in with lies, accusations, false witness, etc. especially when God has you on a road to your destiny, your victory. The enemy always uses those that are closest to you; to distract you and flog you when you are almost there.

Luke 10:9 NKJV: Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Getting all worked up for a war that you should not even be fighting. Save your energy for the real war. When distractions come-rebuke em' and keep moving forward. We have come too far to get caught up now! We are almost there and no demon in Hell will be able to stop God from showering us with what he has promised.

Let them talk! Stay Focus! Think of Jesus Christ! Live by his example. He showed us how it is done, so let's do the dang on thing! Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life!
Luke 10:20: rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

It is time for us to RISE and REPRESENT Jesus Christ! Especially when the enemy is trying to sneak in!

Deuces to Distractions! You wit' me?!

Enjoy your day.

Baya...that Godly Diva!

Scripture a day...Keeps the devil away!

January 15, 2016

 

This morning let me remind you of this...THE STREETS ARE WATCHING...
 
We have become a mean people.
People treat each other anyway you choose.  When you walk with God your actions and your ways should become God like and God is a God of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
 
If God treated you, the way you treat folks...you'd be in trouble!
It does not matter how young, how old, what color, what race, your position/title, your status, your wealth, your beauty, your weight, your anything- WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH GOD.
 
John 13:34-35 NLT
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Our world knows no order. The fear of God has faded because so many have chosen their own gods. The bible tells us that this would happen, though we haven't seen anything yet. We are living in a time where YOUR ACTIONS speaks volumes to who your are, what you believe in, how you operate, and who you serve.

If I meet you on the subway, and you tell me you are a Christian, I will know in 5 mins what type of Christian you really are. If you are cussing, complaining, pushing folks and fighting for a seat...mmhmmm I will know immediately what type of Christian you are.
 
In the scripture above, Jesus says, "YOUR LOVE... WILL PROVE to the world..."
 
We have to prove to the world that we are TRUE DEFENDERS of The Cross.
We start by treating others the way we want to be treated.  We start dealing with others with the same compassion and love that God deals with us.
 
Why do we say we love God so much yet we treat each other like crap? As soon as you say something to me that I don't like. As soon as you cross me. It is on!
We gossip, we back bite, we condemn, we tear down, we instigate, we run from what is right, we rebuke in anger, we can't forgive, we are stingy, we are too tired and too busy to lend a hand aka lazy, we judge, we withhold grace, mercy, & love. It is always about what WE WANT. While all along God is sitting on his throne watching our foolish behavior and the world mocks Christians. How can we expect the world to take us serious when we don't take the Word of God seriously?
 
But, when the tables turn; as soon as we are down and out-we are on our knees begging God, for his love, his grace, his mercy, his forgiveness, his riches, his glory, his non-judgment, his righteousness, his help, his time, his counseling, his wisdom, his ear, HIM!
 
It is time out for the wishy-washiness! If you love God then show it!
No need to preach about all the people I've helped in this world...so what!
My hope is, if you are in my presence for 5 mins you would notice something different about me... that Glory is with me! 
 
As a disciple of Jesus Christ we ought to: show love, walk in love, speak in love, give love, and serve with love. Carrying your bible around and quoting scriptures means what? That you memorized the verses. Amen. Good for you. This dying world needs more than that. The streets are watching you, looking at what separates you from them. Show the world why you are different. Let your actions show who you are. Show you can quote the scriptures but most important- YOU LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES!
 
Show the streets that your love for Christ is not a fly by night love or a how I feel today love. Show them that in God-YOU are a SURE THING. Give people a reason to talk good in such a bad world. IT IS YOUR SEASON TO PROVE THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE especially in such a time as this.
 
1 Cor. 13: 1-3 NLT

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

 
 
Have a great day,
B-

Scripture a day...Keeps the devil away.

January 14, 2016

Continuing from the last post, in preparing for God's shift:

We are Filled with his spirit and we are Forgiven, now we must be Fortified.

 

Fortified: to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works; to make strong, impart strength or vigor to; to strengthen mentally or morally.

 

Make no mistake about it, WE ARE AT WAR.

Appointed by the Creator we are on the battlefield defending the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  Because this is a strategic war, we can not sleep on the powers of this world, the one we are fighting against.  You see, he was once apart of our camp and he has sent others into our camp grounds while we were asleep to capture our soliders and seek out our next move, for use against us! It is important to know that we are God's spiritual warriors riding under his banner of truth. Being Filled with his Spirit and Wisdom as well as walking in Forgiveness allows us the strength to hold up the Sword of the Spirit.  We are ineffective without the Sword of the Spirit.

 

To be fortified, we have to return to where it all began...THE WORD OF GOD.

 

John 1:1 KJV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

In this battle, we must study and know God's holy teachings, hold to his covenants & principles, and examine ourselves. 

 

2 Tim. 2:15 NAB

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Think about when you first enlisted in God's army, how excited you were.  Remember those that were there with you, ready to fight, ready to defend the cross along side with you?

Where are they now? Aren't some of them now fighting against us?

It is because somewhere down the line, they left the covering of the spirit of truth.

Saints of God, this is not a game.  There is a shift that will happen whether you are ready or not. Be prepared, study the scriptures. Take a moment to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and to prepare you to receive God's Word and to USE God's Word. Do not allow the enemy to trick you with the concerns of this world. Be ready for The King of Kings and His righteous reign. Take up the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)!

 

Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword... 

 

Learn to wield the sword of the spirit with precision, strength, and control. To advance the kingdom of God, you must become a master swordsman. This means consistent, habitual training. Perfect your skill in the scriptures; be faithful each day to study God's Word.

Doing this, you will be fortified for the shift.

Scripture a day...Keeps the devil away!

January 13, 2016

A shift has prerequisites (required beforehand). Shifts don’t just occur, they come to those who have been preparing.

 You must be:
    1) Filled for a shift
    2) Forgiven for a shift
    3) Fortified for a shift

 

John 15:2 NLT:

He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

 

You must first be filled. With what? With the wisdom and Spirit of God! You cannot do spiritual things without the Spirit! The first thing the Lord will do in order to fill you is empty you. This explains some of the trials and tribulations that some of us have been going through. It may seem like all hell has broken out in your life but God knows just what it takes to help you empty out and release all those things that cannot go into your future. Some things we won’t let go and so they have to be pruned from us and pruning is painful!

 

You also must be willing to give up the control of your life and trust Him! That too is easier said than done but when we make a CHOICE to let God have his way we will find that it is not as hard. When God fills you with His wisdom and His power you will be able to do in Him what you were unable to do by yourself. (Philippians 4:13) We must grow in the Spirit like Jesus did so that we can be led of the Spirit. (Luke 2:40) So the first prerequisite to being ready for a shift is that you must be filled. There are all kinds of things to be filled with, but we need to be filled with the Spirit! That means we cannot be filled with bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, negativity, mess, foolishness, disobedience, and think we are going to be in God’s next shift.

 

Once you have been filled with his spirit you will move according to the spirit.

Romans 8:5 NIV:

...those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

 

There is an amount of control that you will have to give up to really walk in the Spirit. Faith will cause you to have to sometimes walk where you don’t see road or pavement. You will have to learn to trust the Lord even when you don’t understand what is happening. A key to walking by faith is walking in forgiveness.

Remember, Christ allowed you the opportunity to be filled with his spirit because he chose to die on the cross for our transgressions, our sins!  Therefore, who are we to ever walk in a place of authority where we feel we do not have to forgive. Walking by faith means allowing your mind to move by faith as well.  We give the enemy too much credit.  There are doors that are opened for you that you yourself are closing! Moving by faith requires the forgiving of yourself and others.

 

Romans 8:1 NLT:

So now there is no condemnation (disapproval, guilt) for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Msg 8:3-4: The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. 

God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.

We forgive by faith, out of obedience. There are levels of forgiveness that have to take place for this next move; this shift by God. You must forgive others and you must forgive yourself for past mistakes.

Being filled with forgiveness brings on an unspeakable freedom in God.  There's no better feeling than obeying God and being rewarded with freedom to move, and rest in God.

 

Msg 8:2: Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation.

 

I love that! A NEW POWER is in operation! A power that says I forgive, I am forgiven, and I am ready for the shift!

 

We can talk about fortified tomorrow...

Have a good day!

B-

Scripture a day keeps...the devil away!

January 12, 2016

Good Morning,

 

Proverbs 20:4 NLT

Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

 

A couple messages in this small verse.

 

First: We have to be careful that our waiting does not turn into laziness.

 

Why are we waiting instead of making moves? We have so much talent. We are so gifted. God has given us the brain power and the anointing but yet, it still is not the right time. When will it ever be the right time? Are we waiting for God to come down from heaven riding on a cloud just to say, "Now, is the time my child." Ahhhhhh, you may want to rethink that! We have got to be a people filled with a NOW FAITH. Remember the scripture that says, the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous (prov.13:22)? Then what are you waiting for!

God has given us the tools to succeed yet we don't have the faith to succeed. We wait and we wait and we wait and then we become lazy with moving forward. The fire dies and all of a sudden, we doubt our gifts and our talents.It becomes easier to just stay still.

Your main excuse is, "I'm waiting on God." When in actuality God is waiting on you!

 

Which brings me to the second point...

 

Second: You have to recognize the Seasons.

 

I say this often. You have to know what season you are in. People don't realize how truly important this concept is.  I base my life; my walk with God by this very principle.  Seasons tell you what you should be doing and how you should be doing it according to your spirit.  If I am in a season of overflow, I know that I will give more and I will save accordingly.  The perfect example of this is found in the book of Genesis. Remember God showed (signaled him with a dream) Joseph that there was a famine coming. Rather than waiting for the season of lack to hit and overtake him, he recognized his current season, and he acted with a NOW Faith to prepare for what was ahead. 

Too many of us are so busy busy busy doing what? We are so busy doing what we want to do instead of doing what God wants us to do.  We find comfort doing things on our terms, by our agendas rather than allow God to lead.  We are not in tune with God's Word, so therefore we are not in tune with the seasons.  We don't recognize when the shift takes place and we are left doing the wrong things at the wrong times.

 

Which leads to the final point from this scripture...

 

Third: Don't miss the Harvest.

 

When the Harvest comes, will you be able to partake or will you have to sit & watch while everyone else is eating and enjoying God's blessings. Will you be left thinking, I wish I did things differently?

Do not gamble with your Harvest!  Do not let others get fat off of what you should be gaining weight from (if that makes sense).

 

No more being lazy. Cultivate your NOW Faith.

Know and recognize the Seasons. Look forward to God's signal.

Do what it takes; work hard, so that you do not miss the Harvest.

 

As God use me to deliver the Word, I also receive the Word.

It's time for US, God's chosen priest hood to RISE by faith and live in green pastures.

God is waiting to do his part but, we have to do our part!

 

Have a great day.

Baya

Debt Free, in Jesus Name!

Hello My Loves,

I remember mentioning in an earlier post how God said  to me, "I could not manage a little plastic card without his Spirit." Boy was he is right!

I think back to when my husband and I were courting. Once I confirmed in my heart that I would marry him, I knew I needed to share some very personal things about myself and my past life with him. One being, my debt. At that time, I was maybe $250K + in debt. Well, it's a good thing Juan wasn't trying to stick me for my paper! lol

Once we got married, I think Juan and I sat down and really talked about how we were going to clean up my credit and pay off my debt. There were items listed on my report that were done in fraud. There were debts from items I purchased back when I was a teenager. There were duplications, etc. It was all jacked up yet, I didn't care. I had lived with having poor credit for so long, it really did not matter to me. But once I got married and realized I was now apart of a team, I wanted to get it right. I remember thinking to myself, "How am I a woman representing God with tons of debt and bad credit?" Duh! That no longer worked for me. I was actually quite embarrassed.

DEBT FREE CHRISTIAN- doesn't that sound sweet? I believe that we can live prosperous, debt free lives. I will share with you how God not only led me out of debt, but gave me perfect credit...(now I am not saying that this will get you out of debt. I am not a financial counselor-amen. I am simply sharing what God did for me and what I know he can do for you too!)

The first Step was FREE MY MIND. Everyone I knew had bad credit. My parents had bad credit. Those I looked up to had bad credit. It really wasn't a big deal to me. I really did not care. This was the wrong way of thinking! In order for me to live a debt free life, I had to have FAITH to actually be debt free. I had to bind up generational curses. It did not matter that my mother didn't have much, and her mother didn't have much, and her mother's mother didn't have much...THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO ME OR YOU! The moment I gave God my life, I became attached to his covenant and his laws.
Deuteronomy 28:13 NIV: The LORD will make you the head, not the tail.
Deuteronomy 15:6 NIV: For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
I had to release my personal thoughts and beliefs about money and I had to learn and accept his thoughts and instructions about money.

I had to REPENT.
Acts 3:19 NLT: Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
It was a sin to charge, run up, borrow etc. and not pay it back. I would buy things knowing that I couldn't afford it, knowing I didn't need it, or just because I could, and I had no intentions of paying for it. Uhhhh, that sounds similar to stealing, No? So, I acknowledge my faults and I asked God for forgiveness. I went into details about who I was when I accumulated the debt and who I was  now as a saved women living for him. I asked him to wipe my sins/my debts away and not let the past hinder my future. I reminded him of his word about doing a new thing and old wine skin. Then by Faith-I took every bill I owed, every debt I owed (I wrote names and amounts on a piece of paper) and piled them in a big stack. I spoke the blood and specific financial scriptures over them. By faith I threw them in the trash, knowing that God was already moving on my behalf. I also asked God to give me wisdom concerning my future spending, etc. (Please keep in mind, I am not telling anyone to not pay their bills. Every situation is different. Use wisdom.)

The next thing I felt led to do was step up my GIVING game. I understand that the enemy has used man to plant so many bad seeds regarding tithing, sowing, and offerings. There was a time I thought it was best to keep my money in my pocket rather than give it to Pastor Motown for his Cadillac and big house. However, the Word is the Word. When I give, I am giving to God-therefore I am not concerned with what a Pastor is doing with the money. Besides the last I checked, it takes money to run a church.  If he or she chooses to buy fancy cars etc. that's between him and God; not me. Giving God 10% of my finances is nothing compared to him giving me life every single day. 10% is nothing compared to Jesus being brutally beat and hung for me. There is no amount that I can ever give God that can offset a Man who GAVE his life for me when I was basically useless to him. He told Moses to give 10%...Lev. 27:30 Msg: “A tenth of the land’s produce, whether grain from the ground or fruit from the trees, is God’s, so who am I to withhold from the one who gives to me every single day, in some way or another. Giving is my way of showing Jesus, "I get it." When you embrace the revelation that Jesus Christ gave his life for you, giving becomes a blessing. Anything that I can give to God, offer God, etc. is a blessing because he has done so much for me. Besides, I was asking God to forgive me, and give me a break by wiping away my debt...the least I could do was give more. It's probably one of the best habits I've ever picked up. I can never give too much.
2 Cor. 9:6-10 NLT: Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Last was, OBEDIENCE. I had to seek God everyday for wisdom concerning managing my finances and I had to listen to the Holy Spirit! Proverbs 12:15 NKJV: The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. That wasn't an easy thing for me to do at first because I love being a blessing to others. There was a lot of debt I ran up from buying and helping other folks. By his spirit, he taught me that I had to be a good steward over my finances and anything that he gives to me.1 Cor. 4:2 NKJV: Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. The more I walked in obedience in this area, the easier it became to hear him clearly on where to sow, and where not to sow. Who to sow to and who not to sow to.  All those negative seeds regarding Pastor's & Churches stealing my money blah blah blah was just a distraction to keep me from my blessing! Acts 20:35 NIV: remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

There were some other things that God had instructed me to do to get my credit cleaned and my debts cleared but, FAITH, REPENTING,GIVING & OBEDIENCE were the cornerstones. I'll never forget the day Juan and I went to get a mortgage loan on our current home back in 2008. Mannnn, I was so scared that my credit would ruin everything! We had found 'our'...well ok, 'my' dream house and though I had been living by faith regarding my credit and debts, I'll never forget those words spoken to me. Those four beautiful beautiful words..."You have excellent credit." Lawd Jesus I ran fo' my life...! Seriously, I almost fainted. I had him repeat it like three more times just to be sure I was not hearing things! When I got home, I remember pulling my credit report and sure enough...debts wiped clean! It was a miracle!

I've heard some say...sow this $100 seed for your financial break thru. Send $1000 to tap into this financial anointing...If you sow into my financial vision your financial vision will come to past. I am not saying that these methods won't work for you.  In ALL things ask God for his wisdom. I don't know, that's just how I flow when I give. However, I am suggesting that the old fashion way...having faith, repenting, giving, and walking in obedience worked for me!  Let me also say, "it did not happen over night but it did happen." The bottom line is: It is possible to be a debt free Christian!

God wants to give us more. He wants to bless our businesses. Bring our dreams and goals of the future to past. Send our children to the best schools, etc. Give us our dream homes, etc. However, we need to show him that we can handle and maintain what he has already given us.

Matthew 25:21 NLT: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.

Have a great day!
Baya...that Godly Diva