Seeing is NOT Believing

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:25‭-‬26‭, ‬36‭-‬44 NKJV

*Jesus wept because of their unbelief...Not because he was sad. Even when things seem like they are over, what do you believe? Do you believe what is promised or what you see??

God vs Us

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. II Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 NKJV

*It is really hard to be there for people who are never really there for u, but if God sends them, we have to keep in mind the number of times God has been there for us. If God didn't send them, it can be a burden and a distraction. Be careful...

Putting Away Bitterness

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31 KJV

*To be transparent,  I have thought about a few negative things, especially regarding those who have done things to you and they try to come back and talk to you. In the back of my mind, I am thinking "How dare you have the nerve to come and carry on a friendly chat, and even think we are going to be friends, after all the lying and rudeness you've done." Truth be told, you don't have to be friends with them. However, you do have to get rid of your disgust, aka bitterness, in order to love them even from a distance. Otherwise, you may be ready to slap them every time. People are a trip, but you don't have to be. Let's allow the love of God to help is find forgiveness, and put away negative thoughts, without allowing it to effect how we please God.

Let Go & Let God

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV

*Sometimes I feel like fainting...Not on God, but with everything that needs to be done, or sometimes I just want to give up on things that have not arrived yet. Hope deferred makes the heart sick,  but the moment the sickness wants to arise, I ask God to help me. He gives me strength. I even become weary  with His people because it is tiring to understand everyone, but you aren't always uplifted or poured into.  All that is a distraction from the positivity in my life, and the relationship I have with God. Taste and see that God is good, and He carries us through.

Praise Be to God Who Gives Us the Victory

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 NKJV

*Singing, "Gratefulness is flowing from my heart." If you were blessed to wake up this morning, be thankful...That means there is still much for you to do no matter the situation. Everything else is an added bonus. Glad everyone is safe.

Continue to Do Good Regardless of Your Audience

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 NKJV

*Sometimes you grow tired of doing certain things, especially when the behavior is not reciprocated. However, if no one else acknowledges it, please know that God sees you. Allow the attention of the Most High to be the strength that keeps you going...Pleasing Him should be your focus, and He is ultimately the rewarder of those who serve Him with gladness.

Grow in Humility

Humility is the fear of the Lord ; its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4 NIV

*Being humble helps you appreciate life more because you remember where you came from, and how only God was and still is the one that continues to guide and help you excel. Your appreciation for His guidance helps you see and value the development process. Be anxious for nothing because being able to see the value through humility will help us appreciate the end result more.

Discernment

Psalms 121:1-2 

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

*No matter what we face, we always have God's help to get through it. We are never alone or doomed because we have God on our side.  He also sends laborers that aid in assisting us, but pray and discern with the peace of God to know who is sent by Him,  and who isn't. May He help us this week about anything you're feeling.

Let Go, Let God

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:8‭, ‬10‭-‬10‭, ‬12‭-‬14 NIV

*Our actions and choices influence how much we experience God,  and all that He has for us. The more we choose to do our own thing, the less we experience His capabilities and His presence. Every day should be a deeper experience with God, and a new desire to submit. I'm tired of accidentally or purposely taking control,  when He can maneuver better.  I am also ready to go beyond the norms of life.  Are you?

His Way is the Best Way

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9 ESV

* As humans, we always plan and desire things to come to pass... It's a part of our nature, especially if you are goal oriented. However, God is constantly waiting to guide you in every way. The desire God placed in your heart makes you want to take action, but God's guidance shows you how to take action. It is our choice whether we use His guidance or not. Choose to move in His way to aid you in pursuing His perfect will, and not your permissible choices that may not give u your desired results.

Protection and Redemption

Psalm 3:3 (ESV)

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.

*Sometimes we want things so badly that we miss the warning signs. However, God amazingly keeps us, and lifts our head out of the fog of our desires to show us the truth. The way He sweetly informs us while giving us a choice is beyond amazing. Even when we make the wrong choices, we still have so many opportunities to remove ourselves from the temptation or the issue. There is always a way out, and even more so, there is protection from God if we are willing to receive it. Therefore, don't beat yourself up over a mistake. (I often do that, especially when it comes to the wrong relationship.) Just become more aware in Christ, and continue to build yourself up in Him to avoid unnecessary stress and hurt. Even when we make mistakes, there is a lesson to be learned and the positivity behind the fact that you've been freed!

What's Your Focus?

Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

*If we align our thoughts with God, and ask Him to help us focus on His will for our lives, then everything that concerns us will work out with His guidance and our faith in action, and everything we desire will fall into place. When we realize we belong to Him and make Him the head of our lives, then all issues seem less of a burden and clarity appears because the problem no longer takes over our mind or outweighs other elements of our lives...We now free ourselves of worry and embrace the freedom of things God has delivered us from and blessed us with in spite of everything. God becomes the heavy weight, and makes the weight of this world light. After all, His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt. 11:30) because there is nothing too hard for Him, and He takes on our cares. So, as you begin your week, focus on the positive and watch the negative disappear. There is no room for faith and failure within God's plan for you and His purpose for your life.

Leave Punishment Out of Love

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

*Imagine if we really loved each other in spite of...Imagine the peace it would bring, and the unnecessary stress/assumptions/& drama would be at an all time low. When I read and meditate on this verse, I feel like it is referencing how fear is the punishment we put ourselves through based on our past experiences, so we punish others by not loving them unconditionally because we weren't always loved. Deep right? BUT, what if our actions didn't depend on the reciprocation of others...What if we could love like God? He loves us despite how we ignore, forget to consult with, mistreat, take for granted, or abandon Him. Yet, He still loves and waits on us no matter how disgusting we are...I don't know about you, but I become disgusted with people and their actions. Now, imagine if I didn't react based on that disgust or if you didn't. You see, it is not a sin to get upset with people or even distance yourself. The sin is based on our reaction and whether or not God would disapprove, and if we are punishing them...Thus become the judge. Love can be rough, but not if your heart is first in line with God making it easier to line up with others. Let's pray and work on acting on that today...Understand them the way God would, and ask Him how to do so.

Make It Do What It Do for God

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

*Being saved and receiving the promises of God is not something you earn, but it is your divine right if you have enough faith to receive and act on the opportunity. What's been placed in your heart, once you are saved are desires, which all correlate together to fulfill your purpose. Every person you meet, everything you are given by God, and places He sends you are all a part of your purpose and destiny. The good things that you choose to do or not to do will impact your purpose filled path, and are based on the freedom of choice. Remember though  that every choice has a consequence be it positive or negative. Also, every act should be done because you love God, and not out of obligation or in hopes of pay back. Examine the things you're in, the reason behind why you do them, and what you choose to hold on to...Is in line with the word of God? Is it a part of His plan for your life, coinciding with the truth placed in your hurt, or is it a distraction that hinders the grace that has been placed on your life?

Your Blessings are Not of This World

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

*Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by our desires that we operate by worldly principles in order to obtain them, rather then seeking our Father and receiving His guidance. We may even become driven by the thought of receiving it or getting things done as quickly as possible, or by any means necessary. That drive may turn into what fuels us rather then the directions of the Holy Spirit, and the reassurance of God coming through with what is truly right for you. Remember, we are not to circum to the anxiousness that the world has taught is to thribe on, but we are to be governed by a higher power (God) that has already guaranteed us the promises of Abraham. We just have to be guided and act on how God tells us to obtain our heart's desires. God made us with specific goals and blessings in mind which will take specified instructions, just for you, in order to obtain these things. Therefore, calm yourself and realize who you are to Him...Now, pray and feel the peace of how to go about your day, walking fully in your purpose ad promises of the Lord.

Remember Your Past to Move Forward

Psalm 107:1-3 (NIV)

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.

*Always remember to be thankful...Not just for what you have now, but where He brought you from. Many times we forget about the obstacles we have faced in the past or challenges we thought we would never overcome... Yet, God saw fit to deliver you and allow His grace to be upon you regardless of how we let the enemy come into our lives. We often move on, and continue to fight the good fight daily while forgetting the lessons from the previous battles...Don't forget where you came from. Be thankful, and take these lessons into the future with you...This information may be the very thing that takes you to the next level. Most importantly, it is your testimony that you are required to share with others and speak of how WONDERFUL God is and will always be! Your praise takes you to the next level, and your humility proves you are ready for it...

Grace and Faith = Favor

2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV)

7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

*God has a covenant with His people and promises to supply your needs (Philippians 4:19), give overflow (Malachi 3:10), and give us our heart's desire (Psalm 37:4) just to name a few. There are several promises that He desires to fulfill, but He is waiting on us to receive them. We just have to operate under the elements of grace and stay in faith. God blesses us even when we are hard headed, but imagine the grace we would flow in if we removed things from our lives that didn't coincide with God...And if we stopped operating with malice or negativity towards one another. The blessings of the Lord are suppose to continuously flow. Don't allow anything to hinder your spirit, or any person to pull you out of His grace and peace by blocking your blessing. God is always trying to get things to us and desires a stronger relationship with His people, but are we willing to accept guidance, make room, and remove distractions to operate in His covenants.

More to It Than We Know

Romans 5:17 (ESV)

17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

*The choices and ways that we see on Earth are not your only option. You are not condemned, doomed, or have to circum to the options that the world provides...Everything that doesn't work that way. If you open your mind, you will see that there are better alternatives with choosing God. The ability to accept Him into your life is free, which also presents freedom from feeling as though you have to accept the everyday norm. With this freedom is the ability to be covered by His grace, and the option of receiving endless possibilities if you believe. There is so much more to God then you can imagine if you are willing to open your heart to Him consistently and be guided by His word and the Holy Spirit. He is the way, the truth, and the light....

All Knowing and All Powerful

Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord.

*Many times we have expectations set on how things will be carried out, what we believe is best, or we may even be bold enough to make plans. However, things that we believe should happen, or the way in which they should occur may not be the same process that God has in mind. This is why it is important for us to consult with Him on EVERYTHING, and not make plans or decisions on our own...especially those that are solely based on feelings. Feelings are temporary, but God's truth and guidance will last a life time...After all, His word will never come back to Him without producing results (Isaiah 55:10-11). It is a contradiction for us to say we love God, but do not include Him in our thought process or plans. I would even venture to say it is a mistake to do so, and will definitely cause more toil and hardship. Let's stop what we are doing and uncover what is the Father's will for your life, and how He wants us to conduct things. He is all knowing...Wouldn't you want guidance from someone that knows the beginning and the end, versus going with the flow of the moment or what you personally think is best at that time?

God Makes All Things New

Galatians 5:19-26 (NIV)

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

*Sometimes, we allow our past to depict our future. We may even allow people to hold things over our head that we use to do, say, or believe. However, once you determine that you would like to be saved and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can start over with a clean slate. No one should be inquiring about your past unless they are helping your get over it or through something that has a hold on you. If God can forget and forgive, humans do not have the right to try to dig and pry about something you let go. However, be aware of things that still hinder you or that you need to put down. Once we become new creatures in Christ, we should not habitually take part in things of the flesh. These habits should begin the process of being removed until they are nonexistent. Let's pray that we let go, refocus, and revamp in order to keep growing and moving forward...