Dr. Daryl's Moment of Power: Recent Episodes
Dr. Daryl J. Vining, Sr.
Listen as Dr. Daryl J. Vining, Sr. pastor of Hebron Fellowship Baptist Church covers topics that will help strengthen our connection with God. This weekly inspirational message will inspire, enlighten, and encourage. Subscribe today!
There is a time and season for everything. There is a time to be a student and a time to be a teacher. There is a time to be a […]
There is an old spiritual that declares that we should let the work that we do speak for us. Ephesians 2:10 says that God has created us to do good works. These […]
The things that motivate our life bring value and meaning to our life. Those values and meanings compel us to establish goals and objectives that become the roadmap to where we are. God has […]
When holding on is too much When hearing things is too rough When hoping things change And they still remain strange There is shelter from the storm. When the possible is hard to reach When […]
Replace? Repair? Renew? The possessions that we have at some point cause us to have to answer one of these questions. Replacement gets rid of the old. Repairing fixes the […]
The choice we make daily will determine whether or not we will find real fulfillment. This choice is between whether we will do what we want to do or if we do what God has intended for us to do. It is […]
Sometimes we find ourselves looking for items that we were certain were in a particular place, but we cannot seem to find them. We turn everything upside down. We leave a wake of havoc and destruction in our path trying to find them. Then, just when we have given up on any hope of being able to find it, it suddenly appears and we experience joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment. Well, the peace and joy that we seek is near to us, but just like the search for that lost item, we are turning our lives upside down and leaving a path of destruction in our wake looking for them in all the wrong places. Our peace and joy come from having a relationship with God. As a result of that relationship, He fills us completely with the peace and joy that we will need for every situation. This is God’s promise to us, so we should take Him up on it.
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“Malice Aforethought” is a term that is used to represent that there was premeditation in one’s actions. In other words, it is a fancy way of saying that before an action was taken it was thought about. This term is frequently used in the legal arena in regards to whether an act was intentional or accidental. However, there is ample opportunity to consider this in our walk of faith. The reason that we exist, to bring glory to God, has not changed. Glorifying Him requires that we have some forethought. We should be intentional about establishing a relationship with God. We should be intentional about telling others about Him and the difference that He has made in our lives. We should be intentional about how we serve Him. Our service to Him would be more proactive and rewarding if we were more intentional about it. Faith declares that we act as if it were already so, rather than acting after it is already done. Put some Praise Aforethought into the ministry opportunity that God has laid in front.
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Witnesses are able to state that they can verify what actions have taken place because they were present during the time that the action occurred. There will be people around who will challenge the accuracy and truthfulness of a witness’s testimony. The effectiveness of the testimony will depend upon the conviction that the witness has about what they observed or experienced. The same is true for those who are to be the witnesses for Jesus. God has called all believers to be witnesses about Him and the difference that belief has made in our life. The enemies of God will challenge the validity of our belief. It will be our wonderful privilege to defend our beliefs, contend for the faith and proclaim that there is room for more to believe while there is still time. So, when it is your time to testify for God, be the best witness that you can be.
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Advance! Progress! Graduate! Commence! All of these words are filled with a sense of and feeling of urgency in regards to action. The reality is that moving in a forward or positive direction is the expectation that God has for all people. The promises that are throughout the Bible in regards to forward movement have been chronicled in books, studied in classes and discussed in conversations. Never lose sight of the necessity to take your studies, and discussions, of moving forward into actions that support them. The Bible declares that the thoughts of a man are reflective of who a man is. Let your thoughts lean toward the Will of God and then let your actions be in obedience to that will and your trust be in that will. Ezekiel saw a creature that represented God and it only moved in a forward direction. It is time for each of us to strive to be like Christ and be bold in our movement in one direction, FORWARD!
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There is nothing wrong with being smarter today than you were yesterday. In fact, the Bible declares the virtue of having more knowledge. Knowledge is the key component of obtaining wisdom, which is the beginning point of a healthy fear of the Lord. Knowledge of who Jesus is gives us the keys to unlock the kingdom doors on our journey. Knowledge and wisdom are the principal things that will make promotions available to us spiritually, personally, and professionally. There are many who would take advantage of our lack of knowledge, so it is important, for our own sake, to obtain more than we had before. God has made it clear that one of the primary reasons that people perish is because they do not have enough knowledge. We can take a leap of faith and learn something today that we did not know yesterday and strive to make that knowledge an instrument that allows us to please God.
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The Lord hears the voice of His people. Standing up for your Christian beliefs does not fit in with what the masses want to do, but it does not mean that His people should just give in to those who do not believe in Him. God’s immutable nature does not change with the tide of human emotion or popularity. The reassuring aspect of that is that He has declared to never forsake his people even when the winds of public opinion are blowing strongly against what His Word says. When we needed a deliverer, He showed up. When we needed food, He showed up. When we needed comfort, He showed up. When we needed a savior, He showed up. God is still showing up for His people, so we must continue to stand on His Promises and be willing to endure the hardening that makes us good soldiers in His Army because there are still souls left to be saved.
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Each person has been given their own set of gifts, talents, and abilities. It does not mean that everyone has the same ones or an equal amount. God has a reason for each person to operate on the level of life that they are at. Some will stay at the level that they started, some will rise to a higher level and some will go down a level. No matter if there is an increase or a decrease, there is an opportunity to bring glory to God by our response to our circumstance. Paul said it best when he declared that whether he is abased or abounding he has learned to be content no matter what state he is in. Being content still requires that we strive to do our best because God is faithful to keep His promises toward us when we trust and obey Him.
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God has a plan for every one of His people. When we consider the value of a mother. There are many hats that she wears. A mother is a source of stability when the winds of life are blowing hard upon a child. A mother is a healer and a comforter when the storms have left us battered and bruised. A mother is a protector who tries to shield us from the pains of life. A mother is a go-to person for the innermost thoughts that we think and an encourager for the dreams that we have. A mother means so much to so many people that the only way we can truly appreciate the wonderful gift that she is from God is to say, “THANK YOU!!” with all the love that we have to show her.
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Let’s make it our personal mission to stop wasting God’s time. Far too many times people attend worship services out of obligation rather than taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity that has been laid before us to honor God. When we pray, we can be more selfless by focusing on how great He Is, and seek out what direction He has for us. When we serve, we can be imitators of God by giving to Him the same level of excellence that He has shown to us. Our character and reputation should be the same when we are at church as it is when we are out in the public. We can be more faithful to Him by not robbing Him of our time, talents, and treasure. Those who worship God can impact the world for His glory by expressing joyful and real praise rather than pretending for the sake of others. When we put all of these things together, we will experience what it is to fulfill the plan He has for us and be more than conquerors!
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There is a plan for our life that God is working. Even though there may be times that we cannot see clearly the direction and the destination, there is still a plan at work. Accomplishing the objectives of a plan requires that we commit ourselves to them, then our actions will be in support of the plan and goal. In order to commit to something or someone we must have a level of trust that takes us beyond what we once did. God has declared that His plan is to prosper us and do us no harm, therefore, if we want to have the blessing He has awaiting us, we must trust Him! Our trust is expressed in how much we obey what His Word declares. By trying it, we will discover that we can do it.
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Busy! Busy! Busy! That seems to be the standard for our lives today. Too busy to stop. Too busy to think. Too busy for fun. Too busy for friends. Too busy for family. Too busy for God. There is a reason that God rested on the seventh day, He is our example. There is a reason that God said that we should honor the Sabbath, keep it holy and make it be a day that we devote to Him. When we rest, we get refreshed and our thinking becomes clearer. When we rest, we get revived and our creativity is enhanced. When we rest, we are saying to God that we believe Him and the example that He has shown us by taking one day out of seven and devote it to Him. Let our actions be lined up with our words that declare our belief in God and His miraculous providing power. Our victory is in Him which requires us to be IN HIM!
As the time of His departure was coming closer, Jesus issued to those who were with Him and generations to come a new command to love one another. He said that this would be the way that people would know that we who profess Him as Lord of our life are His disciples. What great wisdom He shows us because He had already explained on another occasion that the Greatest Commandment was to love the Lord and to love your neighbor just as you love yourself. All of the laws, all of the rules, all of the standards that we establish can be processed through the filter of authentic love. Others have tried to remove God from this process by telling us that we cannot love someone else unless we first love ourselves. Unconditional love has its foundation in the love that God has for us. In spite of our faults, sins, or disobedience, God continues to extend His love to us. Show the world who you follow today by doing something from a perspective of authentic love that does not look to be paid back.
There are several Psalms that encourage us to sing to the Lord. No matter what our condition or circumstance is, we should sing to the Lord. The Lord is our salvation so we should sing joyfully. The Lord’s Glory is upon us so we should sing a new song that declare His wondrous works. The Lord Reigns so we should sing a song of love for all that He does. We should make a joyful noise unto the Lord in gladness. There is nothing that we experience nor endure that the Lord is not there with His Mercy and His justice. So, sing a song to the Lord with the way we live our life, that never ends proclaiming our hope, faith, and trust in Him.
Food is the fuel of the body. It provides the appropriate nutrients for the organs to function properly. Food is the source of the proteins that build muscle and the carbohydrates that spur on energy. God’s Word is the food that fuels our souls and navigates our destiny. When you need a pick me up, read The Word. When you need encouragement, read the Word. When you need to be enlightened, read the Word. The Word of God is truly a lamp for our journey, and a light that shows the way.
Celebrations are usually a time of friendly fellowship, joyful remembrances, expressions of hope, and declarations of deliverance. God desires for us to worship Him. Worship means that we are to celebrate His presence in our life. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect a Sunday church worship time to be one of sharing about your life and the people in it with the people who are celebrating the presence of God with you. Let the real worshippers stand up and declare the hope, the joy and the deliverance that a relationship with God will bring.
Gathering things together creates abundance. Whenever there is an abundance of things the possibility of sharing increases. Sharing will produce an atmosphere of satisfied needs. Satisfaction generates rejoicing. The Lord is gathering believers in His Son. The believers put their trust in Him, which allows them to abound in many things. Believers share what the Lord has given with others. The needs of the community are met by tangible and intangible ways. The celebration of God’s faithfulness draws others to become believers. At the heart of these celebrations is the spiritual reality that you must gather before you can give.
The blessing that God has for each person, work in a complimentary way, when those people work together. Spiritual gifts may have been prioritized in order of need for the people, but they are designed to work in cooperation with the people who have the gift. Finding your area that you are suited to work in, is important to finding out how God wants to use you in the place where you are. Far too often, people are hindering their development, by not giving their maximum effort, where they are for the Lord. Victory is the result of completing what you are doing, because not all finish the assignment.
While growing up there would be a chart of a human body that says that we are what we eat. It is said that we are a reflection of what we believe. It is also said that the things that we believe in are the things that we do. Romans 7 says that the things that the spiritual nature hates, our sinful nature does. So, how do we overcome the sinful nature that causes us to do what we say we do not believe in? We must feed our minds the Word of God, so that we fill up on the things that His Word declares, therefore, strengthening our inner self when we decide what we do.
Romans 7:21 says, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good; evil is present with me." In a time when there is an expectation of joy everywhere, you will find that there are many who are not experiencing it. Even more distressing is the number of Christians who feel as though they do not have joy when Jesus declared that in Him our joy is complete. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there is a season for everything but none of those things involve not doing something. To have the joy that you desire from God involves you doing something that will move you. Whether planting or plucking, living or dying, breaking down or building up, weeping or crying none of this are stationary things, they are all actions. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that there is a better way, that way is love and everything about love is expressed through actions. If you want to overcome the evil that is present, you will do it through loving actions.
We live in a time where convenience is often sought out rather than commitment. In an age of fast foods, fast cars, fast computers, and the idea of fast money, convenience presents itself as a logical option for life’s circumstances. Convenience makes a difference right now, Commitment makes a difference forever. Convenience satisfies the needs of one, Commitment satisfies the needs of many. Just as every meal should not be cooked in a microwave, every decision should not be made based upon what is the most convenient. Obeying God requires commitment. Successful marriages require commitment. Raising children requires commitment. Upward mobility in your career requires commitment. Sharing your faith requires commitment. Commitment will bring relevance to what you are doing today and will help you direct your decisions, order your steps, seek His Will in everything that you do. Though others may not understand, commitment will prove itself in the long run.
God has given us Joy, so why are so many operating as if they do not have it. One of the realities of living in this world is that there are more people who do not have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus than there are people who do. So, this explains why unbelievers do not have joy. Oftentimes when people are outnumbered there is a tendency to go with what the majority decides. What we need to remember is that when God is with us there is no weapon formed against us that can prevail over us. Jesus declared that He has given us His Joy and in Him our Joy is complete. God plus our belief creates a majority in any given situation. Be thankful today that you do not require circumstances to determine your joy, you just require connection with Jesus.
A single thread has strength but is not indestructible. When that thread is joined with other threads the potential for enduring pressure is multiplied. People often try to find an increase in strength by joining with other people so that they can have strength in numbers. The amazing thing about faith in God is that when we join ourselves to Him we become connected to a storehouse of power, wisdom, and strength that man has no way of measuring or conquering. Now that you know how to increase your strength, GO CONQUER!
When Ezekiel saw a vision of a being with four faces there was a significant thing about this that matters to all us in regards to how we approach life. This being only moved in one direction: straight ahead. Many people are unfulfilled because they are not moving toward their goals in life. They get sidetracked, stalled and even spend some time in reverse. The being Ezekiel saw was an image of God and if God only moves in one direction then we should strive to do what He does and get ourselves moving in a forward direction spiritually, intellectually and emotionally. The first step in doing this is establishing a relationship with God thru Jesus, then, we should take advantage of the resources available to us to gain more knowledge of Him. Start right now! Do not wait! Let’s get going full speedahead!!!
There is someone waiting for you. They need you to use the full capacity of your mind, body, soul and strength. They know that you can do what they need and that you can provide what they need. They know that their life will be better because you gave them the best that you had to offer. They know that God has made all of the resources you need to improve their life available and if you don’t use them they are going to suffer. You will not be able to ignore this person, nor will you be able to give the duties to meet their need to someone else because the person waiting for you is you.
A well timed word can mean the difference between success or failure. Ephesians 2:1 describes how God has made believers alive who were previously dead in sins and trespasses. Just as He did that then, He is still doing that now. In a time that darkness is trying to overtake you, He will be your light. In a time when confusion attempts to reign over you, He will be your peace. In a time when sorrow burdens you down, He will be your joy. In a time when your load seems to be more that you can bear, He will be your strength. God does this because He sent a well-timed Word into the lives of believers. A Word that lived and lives. A Word that is still able to keep you from falling. Jesus is that Word and He is still on the main line!
People come into our life and people leave from our life. We enter into people’s lives and we leave from other people’s lives. This constant coming and going has all of us, perpetually, developing relationships throughout our life. Poets talk about reasons and seasons for these relationships but it never ceases to amaze how people are looking for permanent relationships in other people. The beauty of a relationship with God is that He has promised to never leave us or turn away from us. In fact, the greatness of His promise is that He has committed to be with us through every aspect of our life. While we pursue relationships that last, we would all do well to develop one that will truly last with God through His Son, Jesus. Make today the day to pour into a permanent relationship that will help all of the other temporary ones be more meaningful and fulfilling.
There is someone waiting for you. They need you to use the full capacity of your mind, body, soul and strength. They know that you can do what they need and that you can provide what they need. They know that their life will be better because you gave them the best that you had to offer. They know that God has made all of the resources you need to improve their life available and if you don’t use them they are going to suffer. You will not be able to ignore this person, nor will you be able to give the duties to meet their need to someone else because the person waiting for you is you.
Four Letter Words that God would want us to use and do:
LOVE: the kind that does something in spite of, not because of.
PRAY: about everything, no matter how small or big, it is always good to have a little talk with God.
TALK: so that your conversation would be worthy of the citizenship that you have in Heaven.
HEAR: what the voice of the Lord is saying to you, not someone else.
WALK: by faith, because if you can see it, that’s not faith.
HOPE: built on nothing less than Jesus’ Blood and His Righteousness.
REST: if it was good enough for God to do on the seventh day, then who are we to think that we are better than Him.
Every generation contributes to the liberty, legacy and legend of a family, community, country, business and kingdom. There is a hymn that is sung by groups of believers that declares we all have a charge to keep and a God to glorify by serving the present age that we live in. How your own generation, and its’ contributions to society, will be viewed depends on who God is to you. Will this generation be one that inspires greater faithfulness in the next one? That requires a level of commitment that you had not seen in those who came before you, in other words for the next generation to be inspired you have to demonstrate faith. Faith is still the substance of things hoped for which means what you desire only exists inside of you and is waiting to be birthed through you. Faith is, also, the evidence of things not seen, therefore, when the next generation comes along they can actually see what the previous generation imagined. Dare to believe in God and know that it will make a difference to generations to come.
The gift of giving is more than an economic concern. Giving is so much more than money because it can be more precious to invest time to an organization, a cause or a person. God speaks about giving more than anything else in the Bible because He knows it will change the lives of many. Your words and your time are like planting seeds in the soil. When you are with someone and you feel the need to pray, you should. If you see a person struggling with their bags and you feel the need to assist them, you should. Teaching a person how to do something when there is no apparent reward for you is reward enough. Give from your heart to those you come in contact with, whether it is a pleasant greeting or a cup of coffee, it can mean a lot to them and you. Always remember that God loves a cheerful giver.
God wants to fulfill our needs. Our needs have to be met. What does our wants, needs and desires have to do with God? They are the things that God uses to confirm His faithfulness toward us. When we hunger, He is our bread. When we sleep, He is our shelter. When we are naked, He is our clothing. When we are broken, He is our potter. When we are weak, He is our strength. When we have questions, He is our answer. Our greatest need is to be able to return to Him who made us, and He does that by being our redeemer. He has paid the price for us and cleared the path for us to make our way back to Him because of His great love for us. Take the step toward Him that will allow Him to meet the need that you have today.
We do not have a lot of time to do what we have to do in this life. One of the greatest deceptions we face is that we convince ourselves that we will get another chance to do something right. How a situation or circumstance comes out the first time will be the direct result of the choices that we made. The wonderful assurance that we have is that God has made a choice to love us and has given us the opportunity for redemption if we choose to take advantage of it today. Choose wisely.
What is next for you? Are you putting in any time to consider this? What is the process that you are using? In order to get to something, you have to know where you are in relation to your destination. Whether your something is a spiritual, physical, emotional, or intellectual location it will be important to approach your journey from the right perspective and motivation. The Bible instructs us to seek God to gain wisdom which He will gladly give in abundance. Nehemiah spent 40 days praying and fasting before he approached his master about rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. Are you praying about your next before you are saying something about it? Prayer will help bring peace to you and to those around you. Prayer gives guidance and allows you to inspire others around to rally to your cause. When you think about your next thing, don’t forget to pray.
Each day is a blessing. Each day has its own set of highs and lows. Each day has possibilities for success and failure. What we do with each day is a reflection on what we believe. The Bible declares that the day that we are in, right now, is the one that God has given to us and we should rejoice and be glad. Make today the best day that it could be by making this moment the best that it could be.
In the movie The Lion King there is a great song and story about the circle of life that reminds us how each member of the kingdom is necessary for the other members to thrive and survive.
1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” This reminds us of how important each part of the body, family, church, work group and others are to the completion of the tasks that need to be carried out in each generation. The next time that old demon of self-doubt creeps up on you, remind yourself that you have great value because God has created you to live in a time, like right now, so that you can carry out good works that He has uniquely created you for. Be the link in the chain that completes it!
Who are you? How each person answers this question will determine the course of their life. Since this is such a critical question to answer, it is of the utmost importance that we be honest with ourselves. Speaking the truth in love is not just something we should say to others but also in the mirror. So as we ponder who we are, remember to start with the perspective of the One who made us because what we become will ultimately be a part of His divine purpose for our life and the time in which we live.
There may be times when your whole life may seem to be whirling completely out of control and there does not appear to be any type of relief coming, what do you do? Expectations cannot be met, the ones you put on yourself, as well as, the ones that others have placed upon you, what do you do? The Bible asks the question, in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” Job must have known the answer to this. Moses certainly learned the truth of this. Joseph could tell you the answer to this. The man in the tombs knows the answer. Lazarus’ life is still testifying to the answer. The answer is that there is nothing too hard for God, therefore, we can be comforted in knowing that He is on the case. We should just plant our feet firmly in the foundation that has already been laid in Christ Jesus, stand still and see the salvation, deliverance, and power of the Lord at work in our life.
In order to be a help, you have to be available. Faith needs application to fulfill its promise. Spiritually many are asleep while yet alive. Get out of the bed and ready yourself for the reason to live God has given you. If you want to get out of bed you must wake up, followed by the action of walking out the place that you are spiritually asleep in. The next thing you have to do is get out of your spiritual sleepwear. Spiritual sleepwear is not suitable for your daily activity. Some sleepwear looks like it can be worn out in public but it does not change what its function is, to sleep. Sleepwear is the attitude that says that your objective is to return to sleep. In order to be a help you must get out of your previous position by changing your spiritual location and locomotion. Spiritual location refers to where you are currently in your relationship with God. Spiritual locomotion refers to what you use as a driving force for the race that you are running. So, if you are in darkness, then it is time to move toward the light. If you have been running on your own motivation, it is time to start running on God’s inspiration. Challenge yourself to get out and be a help to someone today.
Falling down or failing in life is not something that can be avoided. The effort to learn how to walk began with balancing yourself before taking the first step. Riding a bike was accomplished after learning how to coordinate the movements of your body to sustain forward motion and balance. In either case, there was a period of training that took place to get to the point where you no longer needed help. The reality is that even though we have mastered walking and bike riding, there have been and will be times when we lose our balance, fall and require assistance to get back up. The same is true in our spiritual life. Jesus never said that we would be without problems, challenges or failures but His Word reassures us that He would be with us as we go through each challenge. Salvation does not mean that we are now going to suddenly be perfect, it means that we have been set apart and each day we are being perfected by the Holy Spirit. There is great consolation and joy for us all in knowing that there will be help when we have a time that we require a helping hand.
The great poet William Robinson stated, “A taste of honey is worse than none at all.” This implies that only having a little bit of something good is more distressing than not having good at all. This goes to the heart of our relationship with God. The great things that can be accomplished by having a complete reliance on the commands and instructions of God are better than trying to patchwork the world and the Word. 2 Peter 2:21 states, “For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.” The next verse compares the habit of dogs, sows and people to return to the waste produced from their consumption of things in the world. Applied knowledge of the things that God teaches in the Word will help us avoid returning to the wasteful things that we have consumed because we will know that they will never be good for our long term spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical health.
When an opportunity to choose a direction was before you, what has been the direction you have typically gone? Most often, we use a decision making process that we have developed over the course of our lives beginning at childhood. Everyone has a way of making choices that suits them. Judges 21:25 says, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Whoever is the king of our life will establish what are the type of choices that we make. This is why the decision to accept Jesus as Lord is so critical to how we live, what we choose and where we go. We must consider our ways and be bold enough to confront ourselves with the answer to the question of who is the King of our life.
Many people have nicknames or pet names that are given to them by people closely associated with them. These names are oftentimes the result of some characteristic or attribute that inspires someone else to refer to you in that way. A man known as Onesimus, in the household of Philemon, was at one time a thief and a runaway, but, by discovering his purpose in the kingdom he was able to fulfill the meaning of his name which was ‘one who was useful’. Finding your usefulness in the kingdom of God is one of the most rewarding things that a person can do. The greatness that dwells within each of us helps us in our journey of discovery for that usefulness. Greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world.
When we consider the paths that we have taken to get where we are it does not take long for us to realize that we have not gotten where we are without someone taking the time to listen, teach, train and mentor us along. The scriptures say in Romans 13:8 that we should owe no man anything but to love him. They also say in John 15:13 that there is no greater love that can be shown between men than to lay down his life for his friend. Therefore, in order to repay what others have done for us we should show real love to others by cutting paths, sacrificing time, listening, teaching, training and mentoring. Through these things, we honor our God and the ones that He has sent before us by lifting up those who come behind us.
"Run home to your momma!" An enemy would declare this to you as what they think, is an insult, but not realize that it is an encouragement. Mothers are a source of support, strength and stability. Jesus had foolish words thrown at Him by the devil, the soldiers, the thief and others but none of their words had the ability to keep him from being our Savior. The next time someone thinks they are discouraging, distressing, or depressing you remember that you are loved by God and He only allows things that will help you be what He intended you to be.
Hebrews 10:19-25 in the Message version of the Bible says,”So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” We can now approach God directly and testify because of what Jesus did, therefore, we are now able to unleash to others the type of encouragement and assistance that has been given to us by being willing to get together in the Power and Glory of His Love!
“Whether you like it or not the millions are here, and here they will remain. If you do not lift them up, they will pull you down.” This quote comes from an article by W.E.B. DuBois in 1903 that reflects the responsibility of those who have overcome barriers and obstacles to show the way to others so that they can have a successful life. Jesus said,” You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me" as a way of teaching the importance of how to appreciate and prioritize the relationships in our life. By making our relationship with God our top priority we can then benefit from the promise that Jesus made when He declared that if He is lifted up, He will then be able to draw all men. Therefore, if we do not want people to pull us down then we should take every opportunity that we have to lift Jesus up to them
As a child there were times of the year that we invested in some top to bottom cleaning of our house. Some of us called it ‘Spring Cleaning’ as we began the process of transforming the house from the décor of one season and getting it ready for the next one. Spiritually, it is just as important for us to take stock of ourselves as we grow in our relationship with God and begin to take on new tasks and responsibilities. Just as there are some things that you cannot take from Winter into Spring, there are things that should not go forward from a spiritually immature position to a mature one. 1 Corinthians 13 says that when I became a man I put away childish things, and there are always childish things that we should leave behind. Though we often dreaded the coming of the big ‘Spring Cleaning’ we always enjoyed the results that produced a refreshed and orderly house. God wants to refresh and renew us if we would just let Him in to the parts of our lives that we have labeled ‘off limits’. When we reflect on all of the times that we have truly let God in, we have experienced the joy of His blessings and favor. There is no need to be in distress about letting Him in to the other rooms in our life.
People want to know that they matter to their family, friends and associates. When there is a time that a person begins to feel that no-one is concerned for them, a sense of isolation and sadness overcomes them. God has created us in His own image and God already knows whether, or not, He matters to us by how we regard His Word. The greatest level of stewardship that we can exhibit is not in how we handle our tangible assets but in how we handle the true spiritual riches that God has left for us. It all comes down to a matter of the heart and whether, or not, we have truly opened our heart up to the occupation by the Holy Spirit, then we can be prepared to enjoy how we experience the manifold blessings of God.
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WARNING! URGENT MESSAGE! FOR YOUR EYES ONLY! When we see a message in all caps, THERE IS A TENDENCY TO TREAT THAT WITH A GREATER DEGREE OF IMPORTANCE. In fact, when we see a different color or style or font than what is on the rest of the page our eyes are drawn to it because it stands out. Being a Christian does the same thing to us, it makes us stand out even when we try to hide. We are in the world but not of it, therefore, we should treat our lives and the lives of others with the same sense of value and urgency when it comes to GOD. We all should pick up our pace in service to the evangelistic call of the Lord so that everyone has the opportunity to hear and receive the Gospel and enjoy the abundant life that comes from having a relationship with God.
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God has called us to be similar to salt and light in the world. Salt has the ability to sustain, season and save. Light makes things visible, warms and brightens. Salt and light are both useful in the healing process because they can be used as tools to improve physical situations. The way that God has equipped mankind to operate in the world is the same as these attributes of salt and light. The God-given gifts and talents that we possess make it possible for us to exercise the authority over all creation that we were given. When we operate like salt and light we become difference makers in our homes, communities and the world for the Glory of God.
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A cake will taste like the ingredients that are put into it. Whether it is lemon, pineapple upside down, or German chocolate the cake will be the result of what is in it. The Bible teaches that we will receive a harvest based upon what we have put into the soil. It takes more than just having the right ingredients or the right seed to get the best outcome for your work. A cake has to be mixed, baked and frosted properly, a garden has to be tended to keep out weeds and pests, and our life after salvation will reflect the accumulation of things that we have put into it. Do not let ego, lust or insecurity deprive you of the best life that we can have when Jesus has promised us that He came to bring us a more rewarding, fulfilling and abundant life. Take heed to what things add value and what things are draining value from life so that we can know the area, or areas, that we should change, to complete the task that God has sent for us here to glorify Him and produce as much fruit (other believers) as we can.
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New Life is in the air. Spring is bringing with it a rush of color and blooms that declare its arrival. People, everywhere, are changing out of their winter wear into clothing more suitable for the changes in the temperature. This time of year also compels us to reflect on the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. His journey on the earth was one that transformed society and eternity. To fulfill our goal of being like Him then we must embrace our time here as agents of change and difference makers for His Glory so that we can help as many people as we can to see the Lord just as He is.
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Is there trouble anywhere? The answer is all too often a resounding YES! God has not given us a life that is devoid of trouble but He has certainly given us a better way to look at it. Romans 5 show us the results produced through our suffering. The perseverance, character and hope that is produced will be dependent upon what we have made as our core beliefs for life. When our belief is in the promises of God then we can rest assured that our hope will not fall short of what we need from Him. Whether it is family, finances, fun or the future, God has a solution for every situation that can come our way. The more we know about His Way the better off we are from circumstance to circumstance, from mountaintop to mountaintop
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Change is something that we all experience. The difference on whether, or not, the change was good for us is often determined by how we respond to it. In the instant that Adam ate the fruit from the tree in the garden, a change was made that has had lasting effects on all of humanity. The same could be said for the impact that each of us has on the people in the generations that follow us. The only thing that has remained constant is the never-ending love that we have from our Creator. His Love is so powerful that as soon as Adam failed, God was prepared with a plan of restoration and redemption for us. The immutable character and nature of God has been and shall continue to be the solid rock that we can all depend on. We can do the most for those who come behind us by pointing them in His direction for whatever they have need of.
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Historically, great leaders in various disciplines of life become great because they surround themselves with great people who share in the work that they are doing. Is it better to be alone or with someone else? While sharing your task with others, will they make your work easier or more difficult? God addresses our need for partnership in the second chapter of Genesis when He declared that it would not be good for man to be alone. God’s desire is to have fellowship with us and for us to have fellowship with each other. The result of a healthy and productive relationship will bring forth a harvest of good that can be measured in both tangible and intangible ways. Jesus helps us recognize the qualities that we should look for in the people we surround ourselves with. The 12 disciples had faith, commitment, evangelical zeal and a willingness to enter into partnership with a godly leader. In His inner circle were Peter, James and John who represent to us the type of partners that you truly reveal yourself to. They were faithful, passionate, trustworthy, flawed and willing to tell the story about the amazing journey that they were on with God. Sharing how God has impacted our life is one of the most rewarding aspects of stewardship that we have. Surrounding ourselves with people who want to share what God has given them is our responsibility, not our option!
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Good or evil? Right or wrong? Working or quitting? In our life we answer these questions on a daily basis. The decisions that we make depend on the process we use to make a decision. The process we use to make the decisions that we make will rely on what we use as a standard or guide. In other words, what is the primary motivator for the things that you do? This can be debated or discussed on many levels but at the end of the day it will come down to a spiritual issue. Who will you choose to follow or what will you choose to lead you? There are only two choices for this: we choose to be led by or follow God OR we choose to be led by or follow the devil. The source of your inspiration will determine what you ultimately choose to use to live your dream or turn it into a nightmare.
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Can you handle it? A simple enough question that carries with it a tremendous upside when IT is accomplished. We are all taking care of things on a temporary basis. Each one of us will eventually have to give a report on how well we handled the IT we were responsible for. For as far as the eye can see, and beyond, the true owner of everything is looking forward to a time when He can reward each of us for what we have done with the things that we have been entrusted to handle. On the occasion of the Ark being brought to a placed prepared for it Psalm 24 reminds us, “The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Jesus has prepared a place for us to go. We are now the place where the Spirit of God desires to make its place of residence, therefore, we should be preparing ourselves for Its’ occupancy. Can you handle it?
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