Are You in a Cave???

https://youtu.be/39DWB1enNjk

Are You Growing or Not?

https://youtu.be/OHTfIs5ENlY

God's Got It

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. I Peter 5:8‭-‬9 NKJV

*Honestly, it doesn't give me comfort to know others suffer like me, but it is a reminder that there is no problem that is new to God...There is also nothing He can't handle, and deliver us from...

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's Removal of the Unnecessary

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NKJV

*Definitely ready for the removal of the former things in order to move forward. I refuse to go in an endless circle and cycle with the same type of people and same scenarios. God promises us an expected end, and I expect the best and refuse to deal with things that I don't have to suffer with.

Real Knows Who Was Sent By The REAL One

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I John 4:1 NKJV

*This is a very deep scripture because it reminds us not to be naive, and don't be accepting to connecting and being inspired by everyone who talks like they know God. Even the devil can quote scriptures..This is why I say you can love everyone, but some people require love from a distance. Everyone is not meant to speak into your life, be in your inner circle, and know your weaknesses.  You need the right people, sent by God, to pour into you. Don't even allow everyone to influence you because they may have been sent as a distraction. Plus, some experiences were not sent from God, but created by man. Build a relationship with God to recognize His sheep.

Real Recognizes Real

I, the Lord , search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:10 NKJV

*There are so many people who have advice, claim to love God, and may even know His word. However, their intentions are not pure, and they have malice and jealousy in their hearts. Others may twist God's word to fuel their selfishness or justify mess, but God sees those hearts and is able to decipher intentions. He can tell a false representative from the real Mccoy, even if the person thinks they are hiding it from others. He can also give us wisdom to know who was sent by Him as a representation, and who is just claiming to be a part of Him. Ask God for that wisdom, and do not let imitators and falsehoods be the reason why you sin or stray away from God. Like there is good in everything, there is bad...Feed off the good.

Darkness 2 Light

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. I Thessalonians 5:5 NKJV

*My heart aches to see how the enemy has tricked some people into believing they are stuck in darkness...How they believe there is no other way, but God is the way, the truth, and the light...You always have an option, and a way out. I don't care if you've hit rock bottom...There is no where to go, but up in God. Read His word, and ask Him how to apply it to your life and situation.  If I can go from homeless to being well, so can you even in other areas. We all have been sucked into lies, and tried it our way. Why not try it His way???

Good Character

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. Proverbs 10:9 KJV

*Perversion is always exposed, and meant to embarrass the individual at the least. Practicing good character will keep your name from being tarnished, keep you from misrepresenting God, and avoid exposure. No one is perfect, but remembering whose you are and who you serve will keep you in line.

Representing God

Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. Proverbs 13:6 NIV

*Being on God's side will always preserve  your character,  and the integrity  of who He called you to be. Pretending to be with God will expose who you really are, hinder your credibility,  and misrepresent God. Consider  who you really are vs who you pretend to be...What is done in the dark will eventually come to the light....

Believe & Receive

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21 NKJV

*No matter what we think or how we feel,   we have to remember God's capabilities and His promises. His word does not come back voided. The key is patience, obedience, and faith...

Being Serious About Doing the Will of God

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

1 Peter 2:15‭-‬16 NIV

*Whatever you do, so it with God being the focus.  This will ensure that the motive is right, and it will cause those around you to be silent because there will be nothing to say about positivity. Love freely in God, but don't take your access to grace for granted. Also, don't hide behind pretending to do good in order to hide evil...What is done in secret will be revealed.

His Guidance

for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV

*We have the mind of Christ if we let Him come in and order our steps, provide wisdom, and follow His guidance. Many times, people use their own understanding and experience to handle things or react to them. If we say we love God and believe in Him, we have access to what He thinks and His guidance to implement His thoughts in our daily actions. Let the mind of God invade your thoughts....

What Does God Call You?

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Philippians 3:13‭-‬16 NIV

*You're not what others call you, and not what they assume. You are who God has called you to be, and what He has put on your life. What man says does not matter...Don't let others define you if you are not trying to live up to their expectations. You are responsible for living up to God's expectations whether others accept it, understand it, or not. Those who are called to encourage you will understand you...Let your light shine in only the way that is predestined for your life...

Change for God

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:35‭-‬36 NIV

*Don't throw away who God created you to be to fit in with society. Who you are, the part that doesn't go against the word, is necessary for your calling and will aid in helping you recognize and handle your blessings. Don't change because human say you should, and don't try to change others..Allow God to do the guidance and changing. You know what He told you to work on vs what needs to be altered.

Applying His Word

James 1:22-25 (ESV)

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 

*So many people know the word of God, but do not apply it. Knowledge is only powerful if it's utilized. Otherwise, it becomes stored information that is taking up space. Also, not applying the word effects a person's choices, prolongs your situation, and definitely hinders credibility if a person knows the word yet exudes worldly behaviors. Don't just speak about it or try to use it when it's convenient. Be about it. After all, can a person truly have a relationship with God if they don't apply His word? It's there to establish and grow that relationship, protect you, and guide you. How can you ask God for things if you don't even know or trust what His word says?

Age is Only A Number

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

Psalm 119:9 NIV

Whether you're young at heart or in age, that doesn't mean it is hard to do the right thing. People use youth, be it on age or nature, as an excuse to do the wrong things. It is possible to be free from sin if you use the word to help you.  Otherwise, you choose to fall short because you want to. Sowing your oats, having fun, doing what you have to do,  etc are all excuses. Beginning today, let's concentrate on the truth instead of making excuses for sin.

Let Go and Let God Cleanse

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...

Philippians 3:13 NIV

*So many dwell on mistakes from the past... So much so that it hinders your ability to move forward, or embrace your future relationships. Our past mistakes are forgiven by God; therefore, ask for forgiveness and ask how to move forward. Dwelling on things does not promote change, but learning from it and moving forward with a renewed mindset does. Allow God to free your heart from bondage in order to move forward mentally, physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Tongue Talk

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

One of the things I continue to work on is my thoughts becoming my words. For the most part, I have mastered holding my tongue except when it comes to race relations and sensitive, personal areas. I absolutely cannot stand when another race tries to make a group outside of their's feel inferior. This is based off my own healing process that I work through due to my experience, but I can become very disgusted quickly. In my transparency with you,  I want you to think of ways your thoughts have manifested into words. Now,  let's work together on how to focus on turning those things into positives, or how we can refrain from blurting things out. Sometimes telling people how you feel in the heat of the moment does more harm than good. Even if you mean well,  ask yourself is it necessary or is it what God wants you to say?

Living for God or Humans

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 NIV

*Winning the approval of humanity is an endless task that never provides peace, or a steady conclusion. There are ups and downs, rarely contentment, or consistency in pleasing humans. However, pleasing God is consistently a pathway towards growth, always laced with love and good intentions, and the guidance behind it is well-rounded. This is what gives you the peace to deal with people. Live for God, and people will follow.. If you live for people, confusion will follow. Be who God made you to be, and see how many souls you win in the process...