Anointed To Bounce Back

Family,  Please forgive my pause in posting. Every year around April, I fall into this habit of wanting to post on social media and update my blog. I am truly a creature of habit and I hope you can relate. I want you to remember social media will not keep you committed to this faith walk but Jesus will. In the meantime, I’ve been working on so many things. Two major ones are ministry (serving) and fellowship (in communication with the people). I have been in the faith full time, around the clock, nonstop work - “Turn Down For What!”All the while, praying, fasting, and watching the power of God save souls, heal hearts, minds, and bodies. I have witnessed miracles performed like a cancer diagnosis turning to nothing. Family, some real things happen when Jesus is at the center of it all. When we have faith (believing in the unseen) you work differently and you go places that many will say, “I am not too sure about this.” This time has reminded me that our gifts do make room for us as ...

Family,  One of the most dismissed topics is patience which simply means to wait. Here’s a task: try talking to someone who is waiting on test results, loan decisions, a job interview, or news from a doctor.  Most people will not even blink and actions will show…waiting is not an option. The world has conditioned us to rush without stopping to consider “why?” or if there is purpose in what we are doing.  A short story about my Uncle who was waiting to finish his home. He dreamed of a completed trailer by Summer of 2007. He had his tools, all the materials, even started working on it. He told me his plans and boy did I get excited right along with him. Until the day he was found dead in his unfinished trailer late Summer of 2006. He died of cancer. When it was time to go through and clear out his belongings, I noticed so many projects he began but did not have time to complete. My Uncle believed there was always something missing. It was at that moment I realized my dear U...

Family, We have many priorities in life, but devotion to God should be number one on the list. Just as Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and gave His life a ransom for many.( see Matthew 20:28 ) This poses many questions like “who do we serve,” “are we self-serving,” and “do we serve others?” If we have to think about it too long, we are probably self-serving which in most cases happens unconsciously. We tend to believe that we are serving God’s way and end up taking credit for things that come out positive, but when it’s negative begin blaming everything else. The one thing I love about the bible is that it covers everything.  In Philippians 2:3 it says: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in low lines of mind let each esteem others better than himself. We live in a world that does not care to give respect and admiration to another person. It’s usually “if i did anything, i did it” no matter who helped. Even if someone else started it, peopl...

Family,  Do you have someone in your life who is just awe-inspiring? The type of person that no matter what happens there is nothing but good things to say to describe them. I do; his name is Jesus.   The book of Hebrews 12:2 says: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Reading this verse warms my heart to know that we have Jesus in heaven. We can have confidence that in His life from start to finish, he endured the cross, for humanity. Now isn’t that good news! I read a book a few years ago called “ Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman” and there was a solid truth that stood out to me in chapter 4 under diagnosing Fandom - Question 3: Is Jesus One of Many or Is He your One and Only.   The reality is we all have that someone in our life: parent, child, teacher, friend, boss, colleague, cousin, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, ...

Family,  Psalms 84:11 (NIV) says: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”  Can you say that to be true of you?  Regardless of your answer, this scripture helps you better understand that it is the Lord who bestows favor and honor. Whether you messed up or got something right, let this sink in: when God bestows favor and honor upon you; that is all you need. In Romans 8:31 it says: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? I thank God for loving us so much and not withholding good things from us. There is a song by William McDowell titled: Withholding Nothing . When you hear the song, there is a cry out from within that causes you to hold nothing back from God. When I read Psalms 84:11 , it provided even more context. God does not withhold good from us. So why do we withhold the good parts from Him? Oh let me clarify wh...

Family,  Do you know that when God has a purpose for your life he will move heaven and earth to communicate that you are loved? In church we will experience many people, with different personalities, functions, backgrounds, and purposes. However, Ephesians 4:5-6 says (please read the entire chapter) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. If there is only “One,” then why do we live as if a person can control our final destination? It’s simple. We believe the hype that comes with impersonators because we have yet to meet the true One. The world has conditioned us to accept artificial intelligence and our truth is based on the internet. We are convinced that our phones, computers, and household electronics are keeping watch on our every move, down to our favorite food! I will say it’s kind of nice to yell a command in my home and all of sudden it’s happening. For example “Hey Google, what’s the weather” and all of sud...

Family, Have you ever been in a room of people and someone you haven’t seen in a while walks in and says..."Well, well, well?” I have. That saying could mean so many things depending on the relationship and interaction. If the person was surprised, it would be a good thing and probably followed by “looks who’s here.” But if not, the sarcasm can hit your soul like a fiery dart. There is power in tones and in most cases it can have a strong impact on a person’s morning, noon, or night. In the book of Matthew 7:12 (AMP) it says: So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets. We live in times where applying scripture is a lost art. People seem to grow further away from just good ole sound doctrine. Treating someone the way you want to be treated is very important in any interaction, verbal or nonverbal. Now, are we going to treat others the same way we want to be treated, by taking ...

Family, Can we trust in the word of God to show us the way? Of course. Please read Colossians 1:15-29 for some very detailed insight on how Christ paved the way. The focus scriptures are Colossians 1:16-17 (NKJV) - “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” If you haven’t read the story of Paul who wrote the book regarding the church of Colosse please journey to the book of Acts and read up! Let’s think about it. If you had only one route to get to work, home, local store, or doctor and suddenly it’s blocked, would you switch? Sadly many of us do not see the irony behind patience. 1 out of 364 days in a year the route to one of these locations was blocked and instead of waiting to see if it cleared you switch. In this world, we have many religions that have sol...

Family,  Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow! Praying this blog inspires you to appreciate the story of Joseph in the Bible. Before reading any further, could you pause, take a deep breath, and think of one good thing. If you don’t know the story of Joseph please read Genesis chapters 38 - 50 .  I would like to focus on Genesis 50:20 (NKJV) - “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” What a liberating scripture spoken by Joseph. When Joseph spoke this truth he was talking to his brothers, who sold him into slavery in Egypt and convinced their father he was dead (see Genesis 45:1-28 ). Thinking back to Genesis 50:20 , do you have a story similar to Josephs’? Think of an experience you went through and you could not understand why it happened. Now that you have thought about; would you be able to say as Joseph did with wisdom in Genesis 50:19 - Do not be afraid, for I...

Family,  God reigns which means He is sovereign. Lately, I have been reflecting and shining a mental flashlight on words, unmasking how painful the tongue in our mouths can be. It took me some time to accept that just as much as I have been subject to the words of others, I have subjected others to my words and caused someone to experience the issues of my heart (see Proverbs 4:23 ) .  I was compelled to revisit Psalms 57:1-11. This was a Psalm of David who at the time was still on the run from Saul (if you don’t know the story of Saul trying to kill David - see 1 Samuel 19 ).  Saul’s son, Jonathan told David to go into hiding. Now all of this stemmed from Saul's disobedience to God earlier in the same book. Take some time to read it on your own. Let’s focus on what David said in Psalms 57:4 (NKJV) - “My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.” Saints of God we are in a seas...