Act before you think

Some of us live by the scripture text, “Faith without works is dead”(James2:20). Oftentimes we don’t believe in ourselves enough to produce Faith, proceed in Faith and proclaim Faith. Faith is not something you can see. Faith should be how we operate on a daily bases and throughout the rest of our lives. It is impossible to please God without having Faith( Hebrews 11:6), in the one whom we should believe in but can not see. What do we hope for? But who can we place our hope in? God is the only way, the true vine, the bright and morning star and the list can go on until eternity. But until you define who God is to you then you will have Faith to see Him for yourself. God will put you before great people. The people who are great to the worlds standards are not the ones who God was referring to. Great people build their lives on the Word of God. Great people live their lives to please God. Great people are moved by showing acts of love and compassion toward their neighbors. Great people are not afraid of what people think about them. Great people walk by Faith. On this past Sunday God had placed a young lady in my view. As the service moved I moved out to just give her a hug. Little did I know that the hug turned into a time of communing with God through the Holy Spirit. All that I gave out she returned it to me. Even though I was blessed by her being a vessel, in return God had me to see something that I had not seen before in anyone else. An offering was asked of the church and as my sister handed me money toward the offering, the young lady who blessed me took an envelope in which I believe had nothing in it, and wrote on the envelope and placed it in the basket. She gave an offering of sacrifice unto God. I had read from Gospel Principles (Edition 2011) and it said that,”Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God”. I believe that God had me to see that for a reason. I don’t know if she wrote an amount on the envelope by Faith or if she wrote a prayer request to God. My heart tells me He wanted me to know and understand that great people who live by Faith give even when they don’t have. Praise be to God! When God gives He gives more than what we can ask or think. We have to learn to act before we think in order for Faith to move into action. And be willing to learn in the process. 

“When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Luke 7:9)

Duly Noted and Marked 

A Poverty Mind

A poverty mind will have you in a place of wanting everything you see, obtaining what you see, finding happiness from what you received, but the moment lasts as long as it’s value. We associate poverty with money because that’s all we tend to focus on the most. The “Have’s” have because they sacrifice to gain what others overlook, which is the prescribed medicine to all wealth,knowledge. The “Have” not’s don’t have because they sacrifice much to loose big and eventually give up their rights to loose it all to a poverty mind. I don’t believe that everyone wants to stay at this level. I believe that what you don’t know will possibly kill you, but what you fail to learn is seemly your responsibility. Who doesn't want to have wealth? I know for one I do. For myself acquiring the wealth I want is closer to me now than it’s ever been. My wealth is associated with my success. Executing my plans and achieving goals is the wealth I desire. If any of these things don’t bring me wealth from the world, my greatest wealth will be what I didn't allow my focus to remain on. We must change our poverty mind to a wealthy mind. For those that are wealth conscious this way is the only way. How you go about your daily routine is how you will live out the rest of your life. Become more aware of what you do and how you affect your environment. Your associations keep you where you and place you where your thoughts allow you to be. If you never ask how, you will never know when. Make a change today to go and grow from the state your in. Wealth can only be sustained through knowledge.

“Ignorance closes doors, Knowledge opens them”

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It Does Matter

We can say how the opinions of others don’t matter. In actual reality they do. What people say about you can hinder you or progress you. It is up to you to decide whether or not you care. The rights words from the right person can lead you in the right direction. I’m not saying adjust your life because of the concerns of others, but first obtain the vision and then use caution. You have to see a future in everything you plan on doing before you actually do something about it. Lean not on your own understanding(Proverbs 3:5-6). Poor choice of actions can lead you down the wrong path along with the wrong future. Consequences aligned up with the choices we make. Every cause there is an effect and with every action there are outcomes. The steps you take must be well thought out. For some of us as we grow older we grow stagnant while others tend to move with a plan. We must remember to consult those who have moved out ahead and ended up in places you want to go. We are a people who ask not because we’re too afraid of the embarrassment. Stay away from those who look to profit off of your eagerness to succeed. Without wise counsel you won’t get very far. We place great emphasis on success but our aim aligns us to revert back to the opinions of others. For we know that without the right words spoken we won’t get the right results. And it does matter who’s speaking.

“Incline your ear to hear the right words suitable to suit where your going”

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Offer a Compromise

The World will have us to believe that in order to get ahead we must offer a compromise. Just recently I contacted the IRS to settle a debt and they told me the only way to settle is to offer a compromise. So I proceeded with giving them what I think I should owe, along with monies to put the process through. The evaluator contacted me and said that I would have a sum of monies if I didn’t give monies to the church. I then told the evaluator that it is my “right” to give my tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10)to the place where I fellowship. The world has built a defense system against the body of Christ that we can no longer look over as if it is not our problem. We are the body and we have a right to speak up for what is right. Any entity that is against Christ should be an enemy to you (James 4:4 paraphrasing). We as believers must understand that the timing of God’s hand is now showing forth in a mighty way that we can no longer not see the errors of our ways. The World gives rights to homosexuals, abortionist, molesters, murderers and for believers the World is trying to take away the very Word of God in which He has mandated for “All” of us to live according to. Today’s message can be a bit hard to digest and be it so. I personally could not rest and I love you all dearly even if I don’t know you personally. I believe in hating the sin and not the person. We’ve all have come short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23), also we all have a choice to make in which direction we want to take. Believers we are over stepping boundaries that God has set for our lives. The way that we are living is not okay. We must get right church because our Father is calling us home. Hold on to nothing more than what God is wanting to give you. Take nothing from no one that your not willing to repay. Gods gives blessings to those who are in need of you in order to bless you. Stop looking for the World to capitalize on your gifts, look to please God in your gifts in order for Him to bless you beyond your imagination. Anyone can change. No one is exempt from God’s unconditional Love. Some of us think we have it all together but we’re missing one thing Him. No matter what you have accomplished in your life if it has not been for the glory of God it is meaningless (The Book of Ecclesiastes).He’s calling each and everyone of us. He’s in need of you. Ask God today, “What can I do to please you? Take what is out of me and make me right, make me whole, Lord I’m in need of you because I hear you calling me”. It’s that simple. No need to offer a compromise to the World. In the end there will be nothing left of this World.


“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,Christ died for us(Romans 5:8)”
“We love because he first loved us (1John 4:19)

“But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and Glory(Philippians 4:19).”

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way... Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.” Ps 37:7,16 (NAS)


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Abstaining

Abstinence is rooted from abstaining. Abstaining in my book is to keep oneself from indulging in anything idol. An idol is usually recognized as a figure or replica of a statute that people can see. But we hardly recognize the idols in our lives that make up illusive thoughts. An idol mind is the devil workshop because of the illusion he paints. We have to remain constantly aware of what we allow into our minds from which our eyes stay fixated on. The finer things in life does not necessarily mean to have all that you want in order to be happy. Those are idols. We worship these things without even knowing that we have fell into a trap of disbelief and formality. And then we hate our lives because we don't have what we believe we should possess. Many of us have idols that stand in our way of progressing. The lack of money, resource, and will power falter our own perception. Abstaining from idol thoughts will allow room for proper use of time and energy. And allow for one to function in a capacity that is suitable to fit ability. Abstaining should be used as a rule of thumb to be applied when our focus becomes idol and our thoughts don't progress. 


Duly Noted and Marked 

Set Goals

We're embarking closely on Christmas Day but many of us have already completed all of our shopping and made plans for the day arrival. Some of us have set our heights on New Years Eve to establish new goals for the New Year. And a few of us would like to bypass the Holidays bliss. For those of us establishing new goals we should not forget our old ones. Setting goals is like writing History. History repeats itself and some of our goals should too. Even if you have not started or finished your goals put them back into motion. We don't set goals for today but we set them for tomorrow. We set up our distant future with the plans that we do for today. I for one is setting a goal to continue writing for this blog. I never thought that I would actually continue something that I started and to be consistent with it. Over a hundred blogs completed but still realizing that I haven't reached the cusp of what could be done. If you set your goals high I believe that you can achieve your goals as your level of maturity increases. You become aware of realistic goals verses idealist goals. Your status doesn't change by completing goals your status changes by setting them. Once your attitude changes your whole world is set. Make an attempt to establish goals that reflect your new outlook and adjust your old attitude. 


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Take The Load Off

On this past Sunday a word message went forth and it reminded me of the constant  plague that many of us is bound too. I know that we are embarking on a season of giving but many of us still want the benefit of receiving. How often do we get things that we do not deserve. How many times have we been blessed when we have not been a blessing to anyone? And for those who give and ask for the gift back, what was your intent? Sometimes I think we choose what we want to do in spite of doing what we know to be right.God recognizes our heart over our actions. Many of us live our lives for the approval of others. I read part of a passage on yesterday that said, “if God has proved you, who’s approval do you need?” People are being exposed of hidden agendas. Everyone is looking for something and finding what they need in the wrong thing. We want better but we live worse off. Our living is only in vain if we are living according to our selfish desires. You want but you don’t need and you have but you’re not willing to give.This generation can solve the co-existing problems we have in society today, but no one wants the responsibility.To carry burdens of other people are heavy weights to bare. Especially when you are functioning off of what you have to carry for yourself. Burden barriers have the strength of Samson but the weakness of his heart.
When we look at our own hills we see defeat but when we have people who can stand beside us to encourage us it enables us to become stronger. We don’t necessarily have to count on one, we can now count on two. God has placed people in our lives to be our strength when we need it most. Not everyone is experiencing hardships and even so God makes light of them all. People in Leadership positions and power need our help. The way we can help is by taking the load off of their shoulders by using our God given gifts and talents to be of service. Talents are applied skills in areas that you have knowledge in. What are you doing with your talents? I challenge each of you to start thinking of places that you can be a benefit to.What have you not done that you know you could do. God provided His service to us and He displayed many acts through which He was called to do on this earth. And He has called us all to do greater things than He. Life’s practical lessons are first instituted in the home and if it starts there then there should be a display of reaction from which we receive. I can’t make it without you and you can’t make it without me. I urge each of you on today to display some form of service. It is our responsibility to give when we have the means to and to give out of  what we are required to. No one needs to force you into using your talents for servitude but your greatest gift comes from putting a smile on someone’s face.



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