Monday, January 30, 2012

Word of the Day (1-30-12)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Monday January 30, 2012

The word of the day comes a little different today. Last night as I was getting in bed, I went to say my prayers and ended up praying for almost 30 min because things and people kept coming to my head. I felt like there was too much to pray for. So today, keeping with what I like to call #NewBeginningMondays, I want to just lift you up in prayer to start this next week.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Word of the Day (1-25-12)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Wednesday January 25, 2012

The word of the day comes from Colossians 3:23-24

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Word of the Day (1-23-12)

I did this word a few months back but I continue to believe this word is a relevant word for Monday (specifically) but all days (in general) because I see so many negative responses to Monday morning on Facebook n Twitter. I pray that this really gets in your spirit today. Enjoy for new word of the day participants and re-enjoy for those who read it before.

Mindset- Reevaluating How We View a New Day

Scriptures:

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Romans 12:2 (a) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

Message:

Good morning to everyone. I know that Monday mornings for most people normally is the worst day of the week. You have Tuesday which is an ok day, Wednesday which is hump day (or the week is almost over day), Thursday which is one more day until Friday, Friday which excites you for the weekend, Saturday which allows you to get done the things you want to, and Sunday which you are torn between enjoying the Lord’s Day and knowing it also marks the end of the weekend/the day before you have to go back to work. Unfortunately, we lose sight of one of the most important days of the week, Monday because it signifies new beginnings…if you let it.

You see, it really depends on how you to choose to see it. Mondays for most is the realization that the weekend is over and that you have to go back to the job that you hate, with the boss you dislike and coworkers you can’t stand. Mondays is where you haven’t quite settled back into work mode, still dwelling on yesterday. Mondays can symbolically be viewed as a person who looks back on their life and realizes they haven’t accomplished everything they planned to up until this point. Every Friday you look and say this weekend I am going to do this, this and this. Then Sunday night rolls around and you think the weekend was too short, I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted. Monday can seem like a mirror that reflects all that we didn’t accomplish that we set out to. Similar to how birthdays for some reflect the time of year when we realize that the dreams and aspirations we have, we have yet to attain/achieve.

As a result, I have realized that for most people, Monday is their least favorite day. For me, it is the opposite. I actually find Mondays to be my favorite of the work week. Why, because it reminds that whatever I didn’t get to finish the prior week, whatever work was undone the prior week, whatever task/goal/duty/assignment that I didn’t get to finish last week, this marks a new week to get that goal accomplished.

I have a new opportunity to complete the same task/goal/duty/assignment that I didn’t finish prior. What I like to do Sunday night (for home) and Monday morning (for work) is write a new to do list for the week and begin to cross off things on the list as I do them. Why, because everyone loves to feel like they are accomplishing and finishing a task so writing it out and seeing it allows us tangibly see what we are finishing. Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Secondly, having the mindset that Mondays is a new beginning, allows us to never feel like we are too late, too old, too far removed to accomplish the task at hand. My Bishop got really caught up in the Spirit one Sunday when he read Numbers 23:19-20 “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

It was if the word became rema unto him at the very moment he was preaching. All he could muster before the Spirit overwhelmed him was “the deal is still on.” You know what I think of when I think the deal is still on, it reminds me of two things: One in order for the thought to cross my mind that the deal is still on, it must mean that I didn’t accomplish what I was supposed to prior. I left something undone. I didn’t complete something. Because I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain, I assumed the contract was null and void. I assumed that God would move on. Yet God is saying, I haven’t moved on, I still have need of you. Change your mind set. Stop thinking that because you messed up, this is it. There is no way that you can still be used, still be effective, still get done what I need you to get done. God is asking us, when did I ever say that you only get one try to complete the task? I simply said complete the task! I knew you would mess up prior to completing which is why I left you 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Two, if the deal is still on, we no longer have to dwell on the should’ve, could’ve, would’ve in life, thus hindering what we could be doing in the here and now. We have right here and right now to accomplish the task that God has given us, so why do we remain so focused on what we didn’t accomplish? I didn’t finish school whether it be GED, high school diploma, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree and now I have kids who are going through it. So what, get out there and get that degree! I had this idea the Lord gave me to start this business but this was 5-10 years ago. By now either the idea has been done by somebody else or it’s probably outdated. No, the deal is still on. If you decide to trust God in doing it, He will make it happen.
 
We have to get to the place where we are willing to change our mindset towards the situation at hand. If we are willing to change our mindset, I promise you God will be willing to change your Mondays (reevaluating how we view the new day) into continual Saturdays of being able to accomplish that in which He purposed and planned in your life. 

Have a wonderful, blessed, productive, stress free day!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Word of the Day (1-19-12)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Thursday January 19, 2012

The word of the day comes from

Joshua 2:17-21

New International Version (NIV)
 17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
 21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
   So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Word of the Day (1-17-12)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Tuesday January 17, 2012

The word of the day comes from

Joshua 2:12-14

New International Version (NIV)

Joshua 2:12-14

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.”

My Interpretation

Now we have been speaking in regards to the book of Joshua and in previous words last week we discussed not being closed minded to where our blessings can come from and also that our reputation will precede us. Today I want to talk about the lasting effect being a man or woman of God can have on an entire family.
One of my good friends at my church, Southern Baptist Church Praise and Worship Center is a girl named Kisha. We both came to Southern within a few months of each other back in 03’. She is one of the most gifted singers, warmest spirits, bright mood, and gifted teachers (though she is scared to admit the last one lol) that you will meet. I have watched her trust God in good times and really bad times yet she is always sharing the love of God with others. If she never mentioned her problems to you, you wouldn’t know to the extent in which she has to trust God but the awesomeness is that you never see it. What makes her stand out more to me is that who she is on Sunday is who she is everyday. How do I know this because of the fruit that her life bares. When we first came it was only her coming, no one else from family. But little by little, that began to change. Her mother got saved and joined the church. Then her cousin got saved and joined the church. Then her other cousin got saved and joined the church. Then her other cousin got saved and joined the church. Then her cousin brought her boyfriend in and he got saved and joined the church. It has been truly remarkable to see. Not that she has done something great or deserves it but the favor of God for her stability, her steadfastness, her durability, her loyalty, her faithfulness and her walk with God has allowed God to show favor on her. She has trusted God against all circumstances and God has rewarded her for it.

Now you are probably asking what does that have to do with the scripture today? Good question? Rahab showed a level of faith in God that honestly doesn’t make sense. Remember we said last week that based on the way she spoke of God emphasizing “your God” and not “her God” that she didn’t have a relationship with Him herself. Yet she was willing to potentially endanger everything she knew because she had a feeling that if she could just help the men of God they would be able to help her. What kind of help was she looking for?

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”

The scripture says she wanted her entire family saved…save us from death. Now in the literal she meant death when the children of Israel were going to capture the land but I saw also a sense of spiritual healing. Remember she didn’t know and believe she could get a prayer heard herself so she went to the men of God. She wasn’t trusting in them but in the God that they served. That is key. She wasn’t trusting in them she was trusting in the God they served. She realized that the choices she made to help the men of God could have a lasting effect on her family. They could all be saved! One of my favorite scriptures is (Acts 2:39 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call”) because it gives hope that the promise (the free gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior) is made for not just me but me and my family and those who I am praying for now but haven’t yet accepted Christ but their names are in the book of Life because God knows already that one day before death they will accept Jesus. It’s encouraging.

My friend has lived a life that made her family who didn’t know God for themselves decide to give Him a chance. She risked everything every time she was tested because she had a choice to not be a witness but she allowed God to rise up in her when she didn’t have strength herself. As a result, God showed favor and began fulfilling His promise for them. “Our lives for your lives!” He traded His life for theirs. Rahab’s family would forever be changed because of the choice she made to put her trust in the hands of God. Kisha’s family has forever been changed because of the choice she made to put her trust in the hands of God.



Have a wonderful, blessed, productive, stress free day!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Word of the Day (1-12-12)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Thursday January 12, 2012

The word of the day comes from 

Joshua 2:8-11

New International Version (NIV)
 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Word of the Day (1-9-12)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Monday January 9, 2012

The word of the day comes from

Joshua 2:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

Joshua 2

Rahab and the Spies
 1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Word of the Day (1-4-12)

Good Morning Everyone & Happy New Year!

Today is Wednesday January 4, 2012

The word of the day comes from

James 1:2-4

New International Version (NIV)
Trials and Temptations
 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.