I'm Just Saying! (No Permission Needed, Just Your Submission)

Have you ever wondered what God has in store for you?  God don't need your permission, he needs your submission.  We must yield ourselves to his authority.  When you attend church for the first time you are eager to be there but the more you go, you begin to pull away.  

I found myself wanting to pull away church because I felt like my spirit was at risk.  Whenever we surround ourselves with negatives things we can become negative as well.  So I went to God and asked him to renew my strength in Him and to blind my sight from other people's wicked ways.  I was also careful not to ask of anything I can't back up, handle or didn't want to really happen.  

God is loving God, a forgiving God and I know that he can forgive anyone who is humble enough to turn from their sins.  I realize something about myself in the last week.  I truly love God.  I loved Him but I am talking about that in love, can't live with Him, kind of love.  It bothered me to see others claiming to love Him yet they are still living in their mess.  If I made the decision to follow Christ and others have taken flight to do the same, why should I not be able to judge them?  

Scripture says to  ¹² It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. ¹³ God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” I Corinthians 5:12-13 NLT

So my husband and I pulled away a little.  We continued to pray together and get into our study time with God.  We felt the need to regroup and make sure that God was in the midst of our marriage.  We wanted to be sure that we are on one accord with what God wants for us.  Thank God we are.  

Just as soon as we got back in the midst of churchin' here go that devil trying to make something happen for his kingdom.  Trick no good!  That demon was rebuked and our praises continued with an blessing so rich that made me look at my husband with much more love and vice versa!

We ca't surround ourselves with those who are not willing to serve God.  If you say you are a Christian, a believer and you are not having a humble spirit and respect for God and His power, you need to repent.  If you are not willing to repent and to continue to sin you can be judged among your fellow church family.  We tend to take "only God can judge" to the ground.  Now here is your proof that you can be judged if you are in the church.  When we submit ourselves to Christ, he will pour out a blessing for you!  God is awesome!  

I find myself renewed, refreshed, and re-energized.  Praise God for his blessings!  Bottom line let your mind be able to process all that God has for you! When ever things seems bad, God says "It's all good!" When people closes a door in your face, God's say "Enter here!" When haters try to tear you down, God says, "I will build you up!" when you find out that you can't go on, God says You Can!  Is your mind still cluttered? Are you ready to be submissive?  It's so simple.......GIVE IT & YOU TO GOD!

Sincerely,

I'm Just Saying! (Whose ringing your phone?)

Do you get those annoying bill collectors phone calls?  Ever get a phone call in the middle of the night?  We called them "booty calls" in my era.  You may be expecting their call or perhaps they sneak up and irk your nerves.  One by calling you so late and two they were last month favor.  That is exactly how the devil works.  He will ring your phone at all hours of the day and night.  

God calls each of us giving us the choice to answer and to accept His call.  You know the call I'm talking about, when you're crying and decides to join a church or confess with your mouth and heart that Jesus died for your sins.  BAMM!  You accepted the call.  Then the devil comes calling you trying to persaude you to pick up the phone and talk to him. That is all in the devils plan to make you hang up on God.  

God already knows what we are going to do before we do it.  In the bible,

• God Calls Abraham (Genesis 12:1-5)
  
• God Calls Moses (Exodus 3:1-12)
  
• God Calls Ruth (Ruth 1:15-18)
  
• God Calls Samuel (I Samuel 3:1-10)
  
• God Calls David (I Samuel 16:6-13)
  
• God Calls Esther (Esther 4:9-17)
  
• God Calls Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-19)
  
• The Baptism, Temptation and Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (Matthew 3:13–4:25)
  
• Jesus’ Resurrection – Mary Magdalene and the Other Mary (Matthew 28:1-10)
  
• God Calls Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
  
• Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-30)
  
• Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
  
• God Calls Lydia (Acts 16:11-15)
  
• God Calls Timothy (I Timothy 4:6-16)

Each of these people had or have faced the evil wrongs of Satan.  God will do two things, one call you and give you the choice to pick up OR God will answer your call & deliver you from your sin!  It will still take an effort on your part either way.

So I challenge you to study the people above and see what transpired in their life on being "called"!  Ask yourself the following questions:

• What’s your initial response when God calls this person?
  
• How does this call story relate to how God might be calling you to live?
  
• What are the signs that God might be asking you to answer a call to service?
  
• What’s different about your call story and the person in the passage?
  
• How does this character respond and what are some ways God is calling you to respond?
  
• What fears or anxieties do you have about how God may be calling you to live?
  
• What excites you about God’s call in your life?
  
• Take some time to write out your answers in a journal or talk with a person or people you trust about your answers.

Now I ask you, Whose ringing your phone?  I'm Just Saying!

Sincerely,

I'm Just Saying!!! (Don't Look Back)

Ever had a someone who is ALWAYS in the midst of drama, always running telling lies, exposing secrets, starting fights?  Don't you just want to beat them?  Whew!  I just had to exhale for a second..........I was thinking and wondering what God meant in His Word about:
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5: 16:17"  Then it hit me!
   If my desires is to have the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  I will know that the Holy Spirit is leading me.  At the same time, be careful not to confuse subjective feelings with Spirits leading.  Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God's Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and his promptings.  Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit.  Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires.  There is no law against these things! If we rely on our own wisdom, we will make wrong human effort, we will fail.  Our only way to freedom from our evil desires is through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
   In other words, my nature man wants to beat the crap out of the person who got away with cussing me out.  Yet my spirit man is allowing God to take the revenge against the person who hurt or tried to harm me.  That is why God says...."vengeance is mine!"
  Now God also say "If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.  If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.  You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22  I pray I can be humble enough to do this if and when the time come.  Being a Christian takes determination, a strong will, with a strong mind to do the right things.  Even if its the very things we find going against what we are use to!  For example, no one would walk away after cussing me out because the old me would have done major damage!  I'm Just Saying! 
  Bottom line we can't go back to what was but because we turned away from it.  So if you find yourself wanting to look back like Lot's wife who God said for them not to turn back to the City they were leaving or they would turn into a pillar of salt, guess what she did and she was turned into a pillar salt.) don't look back.  Keep moving forward and keep trusting that God got it all under control.


Sincerely,

I'm Just Saying! (Loneliness)

At one point in time, we have been lonely.  Some more lonely than others.  Admitting loneliness is not a negative confession but an honest, often humbling expression of human need.  

The desire for companionship is a legitimate need. God Himself recognized fellowship as a valid need. Gen 2:18 "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone..." 

Man was created a social being, with the need for others. 1 Cor 12:21 "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' ..." We need look no further than the Godhead (the Trinity) Himself, in Whose image we were created. Man was created a *tripartite (*composed of or divided into three parts) being, with the capacity for fellowship, even as the Spirit fellowships with the Son, and the Son with the Father.  We can choose to take advantage of our time alone and embrace it with a godly purpose, as His provision for us. If we use it to spend time with Him, it can become a productive experience with positive results. Time alone should be embraced as an opportunity for uninterrupted  prayer. For example Old age; widowhood! Timothy 5:5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.  The life of Jesus Christ is another example, Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 

This should be often - as a habit, not a last result; as the rule, not the exception.  Luke 5:16 "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."  God has a solution for loneliness. Draw near to God. (Scripture provides us with several spiritual consolations.)   

• Deut 31:6, 8 "Be strong and courageous... The Lord himself ... will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you..."
•  Psa 22:1, 11, 16 "... My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? ... Do not be far from me,  for trouble is near and there is no one to help...."
• Jn 8:16, 29 "... I am not alone.... The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone ..."
• Jn 16:32 "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered,each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me."
• Josh 1:5 "... As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
• Jas 4:4 "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."
• Heb 13:5 "... God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will  I forsake you."

Notice the Word of God tells us that being alone HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE!  As a believer why do we consider ourselves lonely when God is our refuge?  We should be able to run to God with ALL our needs and concerns.  David express his feelings of loneliness in song and poetry which has blessed multitudes for centuries.  Psa 25:16; 102:7; 142.

However, not all solitude yields a positive spiritual impact.  If we are driven to solitude, the source may be demonic. Luke 8:29 "For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places."

Loneliness can lead to suicidal thoughts, even for the most spiritual of men.  Job felt so misunderstood and rejected by his friends, he wanted to die.  Job 7:16 I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning."   

Elijah felt so alone he wanted to die.  1 Kings 19:3-5 "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.  All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 

Bottom line, It is a deception of the enemy, to get us away from the rest of the flock so he can destroy us. Apart from the church, we will lack the provisions necessary for spiritual survival:  teaching, discipline, communal worship and prayer, opportunities to serve others, etc. Thinking we are independent of others and in need of no one is not a commendable trait, but evidence of a deeper spiritual problem.

Are you still lonely?  I'm Just Saying!

 

Sincerely,

I'm Just Saying! (CLEANING HOUSE FOR 2011)

This was sent to me in an email and I thought I would share it for today's segment.  Many of you probably need to get this imprinted in your mind. 


CLEANING HOUSE FOR 2011
Last Week I threw out worrying, it was getting old and in the way.

It kept me from being me; I couldn't do things God's way.

I threw out a book on MY PAST
(Didn't have time to read it anyway).

Replaced it with NEW GOALS, started reading it today.

I threw out hate and bad memories,
(Remember how I treasured them so)?

Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.

Brought in some new books too, called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST.

Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
WOW, you should've seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND, I hadn't talked to in a while.

His name is GOD the Father, and I really like His style.

He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Himself.

Like PRAYER, HOPE, FAITH and LOVE,
Yes... I placed them right on the shelf.

I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door.

I FOUND IT- it's called PEACE.. Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house looking nice.

Looks good around the place.

For things like Worry and Trouble there just isn't any space.

It's good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the things on the shelf.

It sure makes things brighter; maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF.
BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!
May the Lord open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that
You will not have room enough to receive it all.

May the Lord bless you exceedingly abundantly above all you could ever Hope for.

Keep the Faith!!!

Sincerely,

I'm Just Saying! (A Daily Devotion on Quarrels/Beefs)

Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33 

Facing a conflict with his nephew Lot, Abram took the initiative to settling the dispute.  He gave Lot first choice, even though Abram, being older, had the right to choose first.  Abram also showed wiliness to risk being cheated.  Abram examples shows us how to respond to difficult family situations. 

1.  Take the incentive in solving conflicts.

2   Let others have first choice, even if that means not getting what we want.

3.  Put family peace above personal desires.

While surrounded by hostile neighbors the herdsman of Abram and Lot should have pulled together, instead they let petty jealous tear them apart.  Similar situations exist today.  Christians often bicker while Satan is at work all around them.  Rivalries, arguments and disagreements among believers can be destructive in three ways.

1   The foundation of good human relations

2.  Hamper progress of important goals

3.  They make us self centered rather than love centered.

Jesus understood how destructive arguments among brothers can be and his final prayer before being betrayed and arrested.  Jesus asked God that his followers be ONE.  Lots characters is revealed by his choices.  He took the best share of the land even though if it meant living near Sodom which is known for its sins.  He was greedy.  Wanting the best for himself without thinking about his Uncle Abram’s needs or even what was fair.   

Who was Kedorlaomer and why was he important?  In Abrams time most cities had their own Kings.  War and rivalries among kings were common because a conqueror city pay tribute to the victorious king.  Nothing is really known about Kedorlaomer, except what we read in the bible.  Apparently he was quit powerful.  Five cities including Sodom had paid tribute to him for twelve years.  The 5 cities formed an alliance rebelled by holding tribute.  Kedorlaomer reacted swiftly and reconqueror them all.  When he defeated Sodom he captured Lot, his family and his possessions.  Abram with only 318 men chased Kedorlaomer’s army and chased them near the city Damascus.  With God’s help he defeated and recovered Lot, his family and his possessions.  You see Lots greedy desire to have the best of everything led him into sinful surroundings.  His burning desire for possessions and success cost him his freedom and enjoyment.    As a captive to Kedorlaomer he faced torture, slavery and even death.  That’s the same way we can be enticed into doing things and going places we shouldn’t. The prosperity we long for is captivating, yes, it can both entice us and yes, slave us, if our motives are not in line with God’s desires. 

Think of some situations in your life where conflict was the center focus.  What was the main ingredients?  Could it be pride, lies, slandering, talebearing?  What made the quarrel worse? 

Nothing is more important than you not making it into the gates of heaven.  Attempt to restore a quarrel by making it right.  Not saying you have to be best friends again but forgive and get closure.  Leave not one stone unturned.  After all, life is all about doing things we are not comfortable with.  Let your pride go and make it right for YOU!  I'm Just Saying! 

Sincerely,

 

I'm Just Saying! (Reality Check)

How many of us watch reality TV?  I do.  It seems like we can't get enough of some of the fights and drama on television.  However, if we are honest, there is drama all around us.  In the church, on the job, in our family, with our friends its every where.  

Reality is the quality or state of being real.  Let's face it....how many of the reality shows we watch are actually reality?  Probably all or most of them are staged or scripted.  Take for example The Real Housewives of Atlanta, I love this show.  

As I watched (l-r) Phaedra, NeNe, Sheree, Cynthia, , Kim, and Kandi week to week.  I have become a fan of Kandi, Cynthia and NeNe and every now and then Phaedra.  Sheree, to me, is fake!  The reality is Sheree wants to be what her fantasy on TV portrays her to be-RICH!  Kim, well lets just say she needs a reality check because she CAN NOT SING!!!  Phaedra is as boo-g (yes I spelled it that way!) as it comes but I like her!  NeNe is just bold and in your face.  She reminds of someone I know very well.  All these women are just like people we know.  Reality is we are ALL in a reality series and are not aware of it.  The only viewers watching us is God, Jesus, the angels, Satan and his crew.  Just like the RHOA act a certain way to be portray on television many of us think God can't see right through us.  NEWS FLASH......He DOES!  

Why do we live our lives surrounded with drama or being wrapped up in it and go before God like our heart is pure and with no repentance.  We really have to work on our acting skills because if getting into Heaven was based on acting alone, No One Would Be In Heaven!  I'm Just Saying!

God wants you to make a choice to serve Him with all our heart and soul.  There is no in between!  You either serve God all day and all night or not.  Stop trying to be the star of your own reality because you are making yourself look foolish.  There is nothing wrong about being a star as long as you know who the MEGA star is......God.  Reality TV is a way to showcase your ignorance to the world.  Think about it......

Grown people on television fighting, talking about one another, gossiping, manipulating, and many others.  None of this is of God.  In fact, the very thing we love about reality television, God hates.  In fact in James 4:1-2 scriptures states: ¹What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.  How is God getting the glory out of reality TV?  

The television station is making a killing off of these women and they have gained some fame but at what cost?  NeNe is splattered all online about her husbands failed business. (Don't believe me, read about NeNe Leakes click here.)  Kim Zolciak makes a fool of herself when she tries to sing.  Google her and see for yourself.

Bottom line we need to have a reality check before making a fool of ourselves for reality television.  Remember your viewing audience is none other than God!  We should be more interested in pleasing Him instead of people and ourselves.  When you put God first, everything He has for you will be yours.  Every time I watch these women I thank God that I am where I am in my life because it could be worse.  These women are blinded by the riches of this world and not the riches of the spirit.  So be careful of what you put out for the world to see and always do a reality check on YOU!  You can't fool God!  You have far too much to lose - your soul.  I'm Just Sayin! 

Forealdoh Disclaimer: I personally don't know these women but I know there are a lot of reports online about each of them.  If something I wrote hits a nerve with anyone, OH WELL!  When you put yourself out there for the world to see this comes with the territory.  I answer to God and God alone.  I am making a point about the kingdom of God and nothing more.  What I mention about RHOA is to make a point, after all I watch the show weekly.  I'm Just Saying!  ;-)

Sincerely,

I'm Just Saying! (Get Over It)

Many of us has broken hearts and had our heart broken by someone you loved.  Maybe it was your first love or someone you thought you loved.  A broken heart is an uneasy feeling.  Your stomach is upset.  Nerves are rattled.  Yet you still long for the person who has hurt you.  Why is that?  Why is it we love the bad boys, the bad girls?  Do we have that much low self esteem that we can't see a good thing for the holding onto the bad?  Get Over It!  Dust your self off, cry your last tear and keep it moving.  If God intended for you and that person to be together, you would be.  When you are hurt, turning it over to God and leave it there.  If it is in His will, you two would be made whole again.  That is God ordained!

As a woman, it never ceases to amaze me how men can dog their woman by cheating on her, disrespecting her, blaming her for everything that is wrong his life. Yet they can turn around in the next breath and claim to love you and want you back.  Of course that is after you have moved on with someone who is good looking and who is taking care of business.  To me, the man who lost his woman, is less of man.  A real man knows his woman in several ways.

He knows her heart.  When the beat of her heart is off rhythm, he knows how to jump start it with the right words or the right touch.  He knows her scent.  He can smell her coming from a distance because they are one.  He knows her thoughts and understands her.  He can finish her sentence and vice versa.  He knows her desires and her wants.  He knows how to make her feel special just by calling her while she's at work, or just by cooking her dinner.  He knows to see to her every needs without asking her. He loves her intimately and is her only lover.  He knows no other woman can take her place.  He make sure she knows that she is His only woman.

So, ladies if you have moved on with a man who is treating you like the queen you are, KEEP HIM!  The man you had, is only hunting you cause you got away and not because he wants you.  (Some do but most don't.  They don't want no one else to have you.)  

Keep in mind that sometimes, time away is good if the person has truly changed.  Rather its your baby daddy/mommy, wife, whatever you have to know when it will be the same ole thing.  I remarried my husband twice and it takes two people to not make the same mistakes in the past.  We are in sync with one another and most importantly this is God ordained!  When God put people together it will work as long as both parties keep God first!  So know your worth!  Know what you want! Keep it moving for the future is always open to those who want better.  I'm Just Saying!

Sincerely,

I'm Just Saying! (Get off the fence)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

As we start this new year with many weak resolutions, let's make an effort to serve one!  We either serve God or serve the world.  You can't have it both ways.  We want what we want, when we want it without working for it.  To serve God will cost you something, its called a sacrifice.  Are you willing to give up the earthly things you love?  God can bless you with way more stuff than what the world can offer, you just have to believe and have faith in him.  Nothing is free in life, not even following God.  When you choose God, the world will crucify you just for doing the right thing.  Many of us straddle the fence in order to satisfy both, man and God.  Pick!

In order to move forward this year, remember to get off the fence.  Holding on to the very thing that can condemn you, will kill you spiritually.  The fence is there to block, to keep contained, to box in and to train you not to go outside the perimeters.  As long as you are fenced in or holding onto the fence, you are not allowing God to have full access to you freely.  You want to open the lock when it suits you.  Unlock the gate and leave the fence, allow God to tear it down so you can be released from bondage.  

We all are struggling with something.  Many conquer it and many lose to the battle of what's hindering them.  What will you choose to do?  I'm Just Saying!

Sincerely,