Did He Say That, 4real

We're living in a time where life sometimes can seem so busy that we can forget about our position in God through Christ. Some of us have multiple roles to fill in dealing with family, school, work, activities, ect. By the end of the day, we're so tired, but then the next day is the same ole routine. In this, our time with God is not what it should be. We're saved in all, but our relationship with God is kinda put on hold because were busy doing other stuff. Then when something bad happens, we're quick to look at God and blame Him. I'm glad that God is patient with us. Blaming God is taking the responsibility off of us and trying to put it on Him. When in fact God puts the responsibility on us to change our life. If we're not getting results, it's not His fault, but ours. I can hear some of you now, this is not right, God is in control, God is sovereign. God is sovereign in who He is, but He doesn't control everything. God is limited in what He can do because of us. Let me prove it to you by scripture, one from the Old and New Testament.

Isaiah 45:11(KJV)
Thus says the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, and His maker:
Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; and concerning
the works of my hands, you command me.

This is right from the lips of God, He told us to command the works of His hands. What are the works of His hands? The earth, angels, ect. We can't command anything against His will. We can command the things that God has already provided in Christ.
You limit God by begging Him because you're trying to get Him to do what He told you to do. It is like a student asking the teacher to do their homework. Christ told us to speak to the mountain (Mark 11:23) Your problems won't change by you begging God, they need to hear your voice. Meaning, hook your voice up with the truth and promises of God's Word and speak to your problems. That's how you command the works of God's hand in your life.

Mathew 18:18
Assuredly, I say to you, whatever YOU, bind on earth will be
bound in Heaven, whatever YOU loose on earth will be loosed
in Heaven.
Once again, we see that whatever we allow, God allows. That is how much control God has given us. In the Greek, this word
"bind" means to forbid, fasten with chains and to prohibit. If something in your life is not line with God's promises and
provisions, then you have to change it, not God. Maybe you have to forgive somebody, adjust your heart to walk in God's
love. Remember this, God is perfect, He is never at fault. This word "loose in the Greek means to destroy, do away with and
to deprive of authority. What ever is ruling your life, you have the authority, the power to deprive it of authority. Find promises of God in the Word and put them into place in your life. Freedom is yours in Christ, so walk in it.

Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, forgive me for blaming you for
the troubles in my life. Forgive me for being a bad stewart
of the authority and power that you have given me to change
my life. I now submit myself to the guidance of Your Holy Spirit
in walking out your plan for my life.

Reflection

Back in 2005, I was blessed to do a missions trip to Ghana Africa. While there, we had a chance to visit the two slave castles. As we we were touring, our group leader suggested that we take about 15 minutes to write down our thought and how we felt about slavery. At the time, I still had some anger and bitterness in me because of slavery. As I was writing this poem, the anger and bitterness lifted off of me.

Reflection

As I look out from the slave castles at the raging waters and waves

this is where my ancestors lost their freedom only to become slaves

Husbands separated from their wives, mothers separated from their children

what it must have been like for them, I can’t imagine the feeling

That pierced through their minds as they were led away in chains

life as they knew it would longer be the same

Being held captive against their will for another man’s gain, was this really fair

today, the slaves are tourist sites; but 500 years ago, it was my ancestors’ nightmare

That they had to live and endure day in and day out

suffering in their innocence; they had no choice but to adapt

Stripped of their identity; really it was taking by force

loosing their character, their voice, but most of all—loosing their worth

What could they actually say or do without being whipped or beat

over crowded in dungeons with little or no food to eat

It’s really hard for me to hold the shackles that were slapped on their wrist

it’s still hard for me to imagine that slavery really did exist

As I stood inside their cells; I asked myself; how did they endure all the pain they felt

the only way for some to escape and regain their freedom—only came through death

But for the ones who lived on; the slave castles were just the beginning

of many constant flow of tears from many treacherous tears of agony

on foreign territory that ignite many stories and set the course of history

For me to walk the path of my roots is truly a blessing

I thank God for healing me through a time of reflection

So—as I look out from the slave castles at the raging water and waves

this is where my ancestors lost their freedom to the Atlantic Slave Trade

Clean Heart

Clean Heart

(Ezekiel 36:26)

The heart is deceitful above all things

thank You Lord for creating in me a heart that is clean

Just so the meditations of my heart can be acceptable in Your sight

from out of the heart flows all the issues of life

Who shall ascend to the hill of the Lord

he that has clean hands and a heart that is pure

Let not my heart be troubled—nor let it be ashamed

comfort and strengthen my heart through the trials and pain

Maintain my heart with Your grace and mercy

for as I think in my heart—so shall I be

when Your Word is being sown—let not my heart be stony

so I can receive everything you have for me

But hide Your Word in my heart that I may not transgress

let my heart be Your abode—Your place of rest

Let my heart be full of joy, making melodies that are sweet

out of the abundance of the heart—surely the mouth speaks

You told me to delight myself in You and You will give me my heart’s desire

which is not to be weary or faint when tried by fire

A heart of worship—a heart of thanksgiving

a heart to praise you in the land of the living

Above silver, above gold—above anything

Lord—thank You for creating in me a heart that is clean

Life Loving

If you are not loving life, then you're not really living. God didn't put us here on earth to walk around depressed, stressed, ect. John 10:10: It is the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. This is Jesus talking about the reason He came. Jesus came for your benefit, to give you life and life more abundantly. This life isn't just any kind of life. In the Greek, this word means the God kind of Life, to live like God would if He was on earth. Think about it, would God walk around broke, sick, defeated, sad, confused just to name a few? No, those things are not part of His divine nature. 2Peter1:4 says that we have been made partakers of His divine nature. Meaning, through Christ, we have access to everything in Heaven. We are suppose to be living Heaven on earth everyday. With that said, let me show you how to do this. Assuming that you are born again, let's start with these verses of scripture.

1 Peter 3:10-12 (KJV)

For he that will Love Life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that

they speak no guile: vs 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. vs12

For the eyes are of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the

face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

We see from this that in order to love life and see good days, you have to your tongue in line with God's Word. There is no other way around it. The words you speak determine if you walk in Life and see good days.

Up to this point, your life is a sum total of the words you have spoken. This word refrain means to let go of sin, not saying anything contrary to the truth of God's Word. God wants us so blessed that He gave us a perfect method, which is to line up our words with His word. One preacher put it like this, "God's Word in your mouth is just as powerful as it is in His".

As Christians, which means to be Christlike, are suppose to be followers of Christ by standing for everything He did. Christ didn't complain, didn't speak anything negative, even when He was being whipped, crushed and crucified. How did He do it? Jesus kept Himself in the love of God at all times. Jude 1:21 Keep yourself in the Love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Is it going to hurt you not to complain, not to speak anything evil, not to gossip about anybody, to walk in peace and to do good? What do you have to lose by doing 1Peter 3:10-12? Let's look at these verses in the Amplified Version.

1 Peter 3:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good--whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). vs11 Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] vs12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them].

I don't know about you, but I want to walk under an open Heaven at all times. It's a blessing to know that God hears you when you pray. Because when He hears you pray, He answers it. 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. vs 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

Since I've put this is into practice, I'm beginning to really see results in my own life. Once I truly decided to walk in love and get my mouth in order, the favor of God is just showing up everywhere I go. My confidence is growing, now I can approach God without condemnation. It has made life more easier and exciting. I've forgiven people who did me wrong, kind towards them. I'm still pressing toward the mark of the high calling.

Even if you have missed it up this point, repent and ask God to forgive you. 1John1:9 If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Don't you want to love life and see good days? You can start now.

Father, in the Name of Jesus, forgive me for missing it, for speaking things

things that were against your Word, against how You view things. Through

Your Holy Spirit, help me guard my tongue, to watch my mouth. Help me to

love people the way you do, even when I don't feel like it, even when it hurts.

I want you to be glorified in every area of my life. In Jesus Name.......