I am more willing to share in things that are beneficial to me, in so,e way or another.  I admit, sharing in suffering is not something I can say I’m super excited about…I don’t think anyone would rather go through something with you as they would rather share in the good that happens to you, for you.  We as humanity struggle both consciously and unconsciously, in the body and in the mind, internally and externally.  To say I want to go through what you are going through is just not the truth! 

There is something to be said about sharing in the suffering of Christ. What is the suffering of Christ? Are we exempt? Can we choose to not go through suffering? Sharing in the suffering of Christ on this Earth is such a big thing. Sometimes, we share in suffering by realizing the need to pray for His people, the ones we do know and the ones we don’t, on a global view.  Sometimes is mourning and crying with others because of what they are facing.  Sometimes it’s standing up when everyone else is sitting down.  It’s facing health issues or seeing others face things that seem to be terminal.  Sometimes suffering is sacrifice.  Sure, it feels better and of less strain to be happy when someone else is happy or to be happy when someone else is jumping for joy…tables turning so,sties can seem heavier depending on which side of the table we are sitting…

Paul, in many scriptures,  has shown us how he personally suffered and learned to rejoice in those times and being mindful that what he suffered or the suffering in which he did see in his travels were worth it because it meant he was doing the work of the Lord.  Paul worked to remind the churches that suffering is a small thing in comparison to the joy we will receive, whether here on Earth but more so in our life after Earth.  Namely, on Earth we need to keep in mind that there is no escape from hard times, desperate times,  no-money times, sad, bad, depressed, unhappy feelings that try and take us captive….we need to look at the real fact that it will not last forever and cling to the hope we have in Christ that He is able to do, to wipe, to help, to teach us how to handle suffering. Human thought would have us question suffering insomuch as to how can He allow suffering.  I’m convinced that if I never went through anything, I wouldn’t know Him this much! I am learning …-in to mean it’s a definite ongoing of learning to endure better and hold on more and trust He means all things to work for my good because I do love Him.

Pray for others this week and know that prayer works. Do share His goodness and be an example of how Gid can help us in the time of need.

Today’s Scriptures:

“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:15-17‬ ‭MSG‬‬

http://bible.com/97/rom.8.15-17.msg

“I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.” ‭Colossians‬ ‭1:24-25‬ ‭MSG‬‬

http://bible.com/97/col.1.24-25.msg

“Do all you can do, to the very best of your ability, then take a breath and rest. Do not weigh your worth by others’ productivity. Just do the best you can do and you will definitely get through, anything you face in the day, whether it’s with work or other dismay. You are worth the time and are teachable and accepting your imperfections and working to tighten up the bolts will keep you able to rest when your day is done.” – Erica Nelson

Today’s Scripture:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

According to Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary, hunger pangs are pains in the abdomen that occur in the early stages of hunger or fasting along with stomach contractions of the empty stomach.
Now, the Bible declares that out of our belly shall flow rivers of living waters. In order for us to flow encouragement to uplift us in our darkest times, we got to be filled over & over with The Holy Bible which gives us strength through The Holy Spirit so that we can quench the thirst and hunger our Spirit needs to survive in our flesh. 

Have you ever needed something from God so bad that you thought He can’t be hearing you? Have you ever needed to feel closer to Him? Ever felt like you need to cry out to Him in praise out of sacrificial worship to God as a plea for HELP? I am experiencing this sort of thing now. 

I desperately need to feel the warmth of God in hard spots. These hard spots I am speaking of have to do with family issues, friend issues, life’s issues that seem to envelope the mind and heart so the only place I can cry out from is my BELLY.

PRAYER: God, it’s me. You alone are worthy. You owe me nothing, but I must praise You in the midst of my circumstances. Your Word declares that You make way for YOUR PEOPLE. This tells me that You saying “way” declares all ways not just one time but every time You make a way always; this gives me hope and assurance that my sincere request for You to forgive me and cleanse me gives me the food as fuel I need in my belly to continue to pour out as Your anointing does flow through me. Even if You decide not to change my situation, Lord change me so I can cope with where I am at and give me strength and renew me in You. I am reminded that You have ALL POWER. In the same way, I am reminded that Your love never fails. I am reminded that You can and You will in accordance to YOUR DIVINITY. Ye God. With everything I have, I know You got this. You got me, now help me until my change come. IT IS SO! In the name of JEHOVAH, Amen.

Today’s Scriptures:

“Since Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God’s anger. If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:9-10‬ ‭GW‬‬. http://bible.com/70/rom.5.9-10.gw

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea.

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:1-2, 13, 16, 19, 25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ http://bible.com/116/isa.43.1-2,13,16,19,25.nlt

People who say they are saved and believe in Jesus the Christ do sin and make many mistakes. These people do wrong and have to ask God for forgiveness. In the same way, these Christ-Believers have habitual sin and behaviors that would call into question their seriousness and sincerity in or about how much they believe.  

I find that some avid Christian church-goers i.e. Preachers, Pastors, choir members, Deacons and all the numerous people in numerous ministries and boards created within church DO sin regularly. These people are of those that judge others and try and put others down and cast others out as if they have some authority to judge, condemn, broadcast other Christian’s sins.

I am asking those who this do take to heart the fact that we that are saved by Jesus the Christ and are apart of His family do not have the right to broadcast other people’s sin. 

Instead, we are to pray for one another that we overcome those sins. Too many of us have forgotten this principle that if we judge others, shame on us. We need to help others, even those who have no yet accepted Christ. Why would they accept Christ and listen to us if we are busy being fake? If we are saying it’s wrong to sell drugs but yet we are the drug dealers’customers. We shun people for being gay but yet the there is all kinds of gay folk in ministries across all churches. We say drinking is so wrong when it’s nothing wrong with a drink as long as we don’t get drunk but yet some of us go into church service smelling like alcohol yet feel we have a right to look down on those pregnant teens that are on our pew.  

We as Christians are not above sin nor do we have the right to roll our eyes at those who come to church with jeans and a t-shirt on. We say it’s wrong to sell drugs but yet when our people who serve their time in jail come out with felonies we don’t hire them but we expect them to not rob and steal.  {Let me interject and say stealing is wrong. Look at the point of my thoughts}. 

Society then give them the name “felon” and they can’t go to school because they are not permitted to get student loans but we say get an education. 

The question becomes: what do we expect? We expect to have safe streets and we hold vigils for those shot and young people are killing each other over turf wars but we as the church and community do not want to get our hands dirty and actually poll of community members and find out how many people are struggling without jobs, how many felons, how many homes without a mother and father then tally all these and come up with solutions that fund more than the suits and ties our local pastors and clergy and state and city reps wear to sit on a panel to stop violence. We stand in front of mics and make statements but what work are we really doing to help our people?

We got to do better. Young people don’t want to hear us talk about Christ but don’t sit down with them to learn about them and help them through the situations they face. We don’t help them get jobs or mentors. We just protest against stuff but don’t put our hands in the clay pot. 

How many churches are in your community? How many state leaders in local government? How many of us volunteer?  How many of us know what it’s like to wake up and feel there is no hope? How many of us know how much money we give in church that goes towards needy families?  How many of us wake up hungry? How many of us need help but don’t know where to go in the community for help? 

God is calling His people to do work. The reality is that some people want to change and become better.

If Jesus walked around and talked to those who other people wouldn’t give a second look or a second chance, how are we better than Christ? Jesus could have demanded expensive shoes and clothes and could have rode an animal around, after all He is and was The Savior.  

If Christ took time to help us and He knows we mess up, why don’t we help others with more than lip-service?  

Why don’t we sacrifice buying tons of suits and shoes, dresses to wear to church to sit and shout and then we don’t go out and buy our community food and clothes? 

Why does pastors have more than one car and their congregation has a ton of poor folk giving tithes and offering but can’t buy gas and feed their family?  

Yeah, I know.  I am not saying we shouldn’t go to church and look nice I am saying that in addition to that we need to be in our communities and actually helping.  

I am speaking truth so I expect someone to throw shade at me but the thing is I’m not the one out here saying I don’t have sin cuz that’s a lie! I have sin and yes I have habits but the more I pray to my God the more I seek Him the better I will get.

Let’s hold each other up and do actual work. Let’s approach others with the same dignity and respect we want as clergy.  We cannot help our community without standing up and saying we got sin too and we are in need of the same help that they need from the same God!

Loving each other calls us to be like Jesus and have a seat at the non-popular “sinner” table where Jesus sits arms open and willing to take us in and forgive us if we are sincere and changes us as we realize we can’t change on our own. Even we as Christians have battles and have to encourage each other and ourselves. Sometimes we don’t have money or food but we still trust God and God does make a way by sending someone to help us….I have experienced this more than once.  

The only important difference between us as Christians and non-believers is that the greatest gift we ever received is Jesus and we have Jesus to pray to and call for strength help, FORGIVENESS and He gives us strength in hard times, courage to get through things we fear, comfort when we mourn, love when we feel no one loves us or cares about us, protection from Satan and his followers, a smile when it seems the stuff we face is lasting a while, Jesus is warmth in a mean and cold world, Jesus helps the Believer to find light in dark places. The Believer holds onto Christ even when other believers and unsaved people do them wrong. 

To know Jesus and His Word is what keeps me from the enemy who tries to kill me.  Praying to Jesus and watching Him work in my life and other people’s lives fills me with so much joy. 

My Prayer to God through Jesus Christ: Lord, I want to walk right before you Lord. I want people to see you in me. I don’t want my sin to cause anyone else to stumble. I desire to learn Your way and You will. I desire to live after Your Spirit which is in me and I do not want to live by my flesh. I want to be better. I ask for forgiveness of my sins. Please forgive me because I have been wrong towards others. Please forgive me when I doubt You sometimes.  I know You stay with me because You promised You won’t ever leave us or throw us away. Thank Your for Your love. I know that if I love You, I will love the right way and I desire that when I pass from this world, I be where You are because I acknowledge my sin and am working on me.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Today’s Scripture:

Because Jesus made us all, which includes the saved and the unsaved, I believe He meant this scripture for US ALL.  If you think about it, the believer has sins too so He is telling us ALL what to do if We want His help.  The unsaved would become believers and accept Jesus and in the accepting of Jesus Christ the unsaved are saved and start seeking Jesus.  The saved would humble themselves and submit to Him. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Christians often like to say that we believe God.  We tend to talk more about the goodness of God through Jesus Christ, when everything seems to be alright.  When things began to shake us, we lack faith because we do not shift our focus to Christ being our _______________ .  We go through the some of the same stuff that unbelievers face.  The fact that remains is that the believer has a point of divine access to tell God all about our struggles through praying in the name of Jesus.  We pray, but we do not take time to read The Holy Bible as a resource or reference when we make our requests known unto God {Philippians 4:6].  We want to skip reading and makes excuses about why we can’t read The Bible, but yet we want God to turn things around for us quickly.

The whole story [let me pause and say that I fall short in this area] is that I believe God but do not act in faith as a “1st Response” when I face hard times.  I tend to focus only on the problem and then I find myself in prayer, praise and worship.  I look at everything I am facing and make that my complete focus.  Have you ever did this? When I do this, I find that I can’t rest and I say “My nerves are bad.”  I loose sleep and can’t fully function; all because I am not reminding myself of Jesus Christ and my strength in Him [Isaiah 12:3].  I don’t keep my mind on Him.

THE ANTIDOTE:

In struggles, I need to FIRST acknowledge who God IS AND HE CAN SAVE, DELIVER, RESTORE, APPLY STRENGTH, SECURITY, BE MY CLOSET FRIEND, SUPPLIER OF MY NEEDS, WANTS…HIS ABILITIES ARE LIMITLESS. I MUST to look back at the chronological events in my life, back to where I became conscience of the abilities of God.  I must go back to when I (1st) believed and accepted God through Jesus Christ.

I must then look at my life and begin to reflect on how God made pathways through my hard times.  I must reflect on my life and see how God has not only delivered me out, but He has sustained me and kept me from the hand of the enemy…Pause. Thank YOU GOD.

So, even though we cannot see God, we can experience His warm embrace through Jesus Christ by way of His Holy Spirit, which lives inside the heart of the Christian.  The fact is that we are going to experience issues, obstacles, and feel like we are defeated.  The reason we tend to feel defeated is because we didn’t rely on God 1st.  We placed God in it only after we let the enemy trick us into believing we have no hope.

Target Scripture: Psalm 91:9-16 NIV (The whole Psalm is so POWERFUL for us to repeat and believe!)

9  If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”

FACT: When we are weak, Jesus shows up strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9

FACT: We will go through hard times, but we cannot give up because it will get better. Sometimes hard times are not because we have did something wrong but rather to teach us and gives us more tools in Jesus that will give us strength and stamina while going through some real hard stuff. Galatians 6:9

FACT: I have faith, but its limited. Help me God in the space where I do not believe  [This statement is very hard for Super-saints…..] Scripture: Mark 9:24

FACT: God wants us to know the authority He has given us through Christ Jesus. Luke 10:19

FACT: I want houses, cars, clothes, shoes etc. from God but I must also want to grow in the knowledge of God by way of His Spiritual Awareness.  I got to want that more than those things in the earth. 2 Peter 3:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5

As you go about the weak, do focus on the facts that we as Christians are growing in and becoming more light as Christ cleans us. Blessings are for God’s people in His time.

Sometimes life can seem to drain you. Trials seem to be on every side. Knowing about people and what they are experiencing can seem to take the last breath you feel that you have. 

There is something that we can do to replenish and restore. 

Let’s look at the Facts:

1) God never fails, what He promised He will surely do for you

2) At the name of Jesus everything is under His feet and since you are a child of God through belief you inherited this ability and authority to rise up in the little faith you have left and declare victory. You have the ability to stand up and view the situation you face differently.

3) The enemy wants you to only focus on the things you don’t have…the enemy wants you to be confused and forsake your belief in God BUT you have the authority to tell the enemy that I still trust my God to help me. I trust God to help me and for me to understand the messages behind the mayhem.

4) Mental Exercise: The Lord wants us to recite and repeat His Word. Repeat so you can hear yourself. Say I am and I will because God is and will always be…therefore I trample over things that want to take my mind off God. God brings such a peace if we keep our minds on Him. If we jus approached the difficult times in peace and jus let God work it out.

5) Pray His Word. How you gonna be specific as it relates to the words and instructions from God and His apostles throughout the Bible. Make no excuse for why you don’t know His Word. You can’t get better without His Words. You can’t know what you are and the love Christ has for His people. You can’t know what He promised if you don’t spend time in His Words….there are so many versions of the Bible. No excuses!

I pray God’s divine presence be with you as You walk towards Him. God I ask that You help us in accordance to you will and Word. We know you are and will be constant in our life. I know if we trust You that You will make ways for us. Help us to wait in faith and help where we don’t believe. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today’s Scriptures:

Romans 4:20 New American Standard Bible

(Abraham) yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

Common English Bible Luke 10:19-24

“Look, I have given you authority to crush snakes and scorpions underfoot. I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.” 

At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and shown them to babies. Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. 

My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.

” Turning to the disciples, he said privately, 

“Happy are the eyes that see what you see. I assure you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t.”

Phillipians 4:6 English Standard Version

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

‭‭John‬ ‭10:9-11‬ ‭CEB

“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

I have learned a while back that you shouldn’t allow people to shame you for things you have done in the past or even the present. 
It’s God who deals with each of us and He forgives us when we are sincere. 

Though there is grace and mercy to be applied, it doesn’t mean we can go around harming anything or anyone the Lord God has made. 

So, I am brought to think upon Ramen noodles. 

Some may have a hard time relating to this $0.25 pack of noodles. Those of you who understand, let’s look at this meal.

Whether you cook them on the stove or in the microwave, Ramen noodles cost is cheap and it fills you up. 

Funny how God has a way of reminding you that He is your Help….that He is my help. I know, I know, ur pallet has and is now more refined but The food that cost less still is able to quench that hungry dilemma. 

Our God is our supply, whether it’s a big steak or a lil old bowl of Ramen, they both sustain you.

Every now and again, we are subject to The Ramen Noodle diet.  

I understand that The Lord teaches us using things we can understand and relate to in order to equip us for the next place He prepared. 

Thus, If Jesus could cover us, protect us, and die for us and He walked around the earth, He didn’t require limo service, He didn’t require a camel to take Him around, He jus walked. 

Along the journey, I imagine He stopped by and talked to those whom people just walked by and didn’t acknowledge, He walked to the poor, the lame, the diseased….He just walked, not requiring to be put up in a fancy place to sleep 

while on His journey, He just walked and in His walk He healed, He delivered, He did miracles…He was so humble ……even tho He knew He was The Son of God.***My God***

Jesus was on The Ramen Noodle diet. 

The Lord teaches those who are willing to walk…those who Love to Love and Give because of His Love, those who will ride coach, feast with those who are broken, love those that have been cast out because they don’t have…

We must be willing to take the back seat. We must be willing to eat The Ramen Noodle diet.  

[I get the lesson more and more, Lord. I thank YOU that You Oh God, that You sit at the table with a mess like me. I could never repay You for Ur goodness, Your grace is immeasurable. I ain’t too good to eat them Ramen noodles….]

May those who take the time to read and allow God to nourish you, I pray God’s love in ur heart so that you don’t forget how God takes care of you and you be compelled to lend a hand as The Lord so directs ur path. Be blessed.

Today’s Scriptures:

“Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.
One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:2-3, 5-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/jhn.5.2-3,5-9.nlt