The Purpose for the Present Pain

The seasons of brokenheartedness we experience, as worshippers, come to break our will power of the stubbornness that has led us astray from the heart of Yahweh. By disregarding Father's wishes to instead do that which we have deemed to be right in our own eyes, we ultimately set ourselves up to experience the sort of painful spiritual reckoning that is meant to crush the soul as well as the ego. 

As spirit beings having a human experience, we must undergo a maturing process that makes it unmistakably clear to us when even our best intentions conflict with Heaven's agenda. Consequently, the only way Father can most effectively get our attention is by ALLOWING us to presently experience the pain of our humanity contending with the plans He both ordained and set in motion before the foundation of the world. 

Pain creates brokenness. And yes, there are times in our life journeys when it takes us experiencing brokenness to produce our willingness to embrace the culture of righteousness. In other words, sometimes our way has got to hurt more than we ever thought it would in order for us to see why Yahweh never wanted us to go that route. But it is often through brokenness that we are steered back into the right direction.

Hand Him Your Worst

For the sake of not looking as pitiful as our situations may be, most believers--especially those who are well-acquainted with church culture--have mastered the art of disguise.  Oh yes, we go to great lengths to mask the struggles with which we grapple, the insecurities secretly tormenting us, even the consequences of the mistakes we've made.  Because GOD forbid the saints see how jacked up we REALLY are!  So we say, "I've got to give the LORD my best..."  And all the while we are hiding our worst, and for what?!

Recently, a dear woman of GOD by the name of Evangelist Cynthia Diggs shared on her Facebook timeline, "We are so busy trying to give Jesus our best but our best without Him still isn't good enough. He actually wants our worst so He can make it better!"  What an encouraging Word for this modern day church!  There are too many people of faith NOT receiving better because they remain hung up on trying to publicly present a version of themselves that is not only inconsistent with their present reality but one that actually hinders them from truly experiencing life more abundantly.

As Evangelist Diggs continued in her status update, she referenced Mark 3:1-5 where Messiah healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath.  It angered Yeshua Jesus to see people in the synagogue so caught up in THEIR OWN agendas that it was just accepted for the afflicted to remain bound.  There was no mercy, no compassion--just hardness of heart from the very people whose lives should be the very embodiment of Yahweh's loving-kindness.  The behavior of this people evidenced a culture of worship that was very much counterproductive to the restoration of that which was withered to a state in which it was made fully functional.

The Hardships Were Sent To Harden You

Throughout our lives, we will experience seasons of hardship.  It is, therefore, not wise for us to view life through the rose-tinted lenses that deceive us into thinking that everything will ALWAYS be pleasant for us, especially as born again believers in Christ the Messiah.  Right here is where sobriety of the mind is necessary in order to endure the afflictions we will--without a doubt--experience.  Sober thinking, furthermore, ensures that our souls (i.e. mind, will and emotions) PROPERLY process the trouble we experience.  When we appropriately handle hardship, the hardness we experience fulfills its purpose to bring forth THE BEST of us and not OUR WORST.  And with understanding of the order of righteousness, according to Romans 8:28, we are better able to see how GOD is indeed HELPING us by HARDENING us to difficulty.

If you would, take a look back over a season in your life that was hard for you to get through.  As much as you may hate to admit it, what you suffered most likely helped you in some way.  And as a result of enduring that as well as other hard seasons of your past, herein lies the good news: thanks to what you've been through, the challenges to come won't even phase you!  Because you know it was GOD who brought you through the past hardships, you can trust and believe that He will bring you through whatever trouble comes your way next.  And why is that?  Because every hard thing you overcome toughens you to face the adversary's forthcoming attempts to defeat you.

The Blessing in the Pressing

The brokenness we experience in our pressing situations is purposed to release an oil that is strategically anointed for ministry.  Yes, the pressing was crushing.  But with the crushing pain--and even embarrassment, in some cases--comes a powerful release.  And the value of what is released far outweighs the value we attributed to that which was crushed.  The oil we carry is only released via excruciating circumstances.  There indeed lies a blessing in the pressing because it's THIS oil that is specially formulated--if you will--for the work of ministry.

Flowing from our own pain, it's infused with the very power of GOD that brought us to the other side of through.  For some, the pressing may be diseased affliction.  For others, it may be a failed marriage.  One person's pressing could be a serious financial crisis, while another's situation involves a period of incarceration.  The possibilities are endless because everyone experiences their own unique combination of crushing blows from which the power of GOD delivers us.  The same power that brought us deliverance is now the active ingredient in the oil produced by our lives' crushing experiences that is meant to bring deliverance to others.

Accepting The Paint

One thing I've come to understand about life as a believer is that Father's methods can raise a lot of questions.  We often have our own ideas and perceptions of how things should go; and each time we do, we're reminded that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.  When we feel like we're at the end of our ropes, He's waiting for us to let them go so He can catch us.  When we feel like our backs are against the wall, He's waiting for us to stop fighting long enough to allow Him to lift up a standard against the enemy.  See, we struggle with letting go of life's ropes and putting down our fists when the fight seems to be the most intense; yet scripture continues to remind us that His strength is made perfect in weakness (as found in 2 Corinthians 12:9).

In contemplating the frailties of life, some days this journey plays out like a suspense thriller.  Finding myself in one vulnerable place after another is honestly quite stressful, and there are indeed times when my moody side just doesn't want to be bothered after having dealt with all the drama. (Can I get just ONE witness?!)  Yes, as grateful as I am to Yahweh for making ways, opening doors, snatching me out and catapulting me forward, the compounding stress that comes with waiting on Him takes a toll on me when TIME is of the essence.  If you didn't know, well now you know: living on eternity's timetable is NOT for the faint of heart because He who is from everlasting to everlasting is literally in no one's hurry.  He has His own appointed time for everything He sets His hands to do to be accomplished.  And regardless of how we may feel, there's absolutely NOTHING we can do about it.

In Pursuit of Happiness - Part Two | 07.27.12

When we determine to find happiness on our own outside of GOD's way of doing things, the burden to maintain that happiness squarely falls upon our shoulders.  However, seeking to live according to GOD's precepts insures our happiness because our GOD, the Faithful GOD, guarantees it.  Scripture says, "Happy are the people whose GOD is the LORD" (Psalms 144:15).  Therefore, allowing GOD to be LORD over ALL frees us of any responsibility to find our own happiness.  He assumes the responsibility of creating happiness for us.  However, we must be willing to accept the happiness GOD freely makes available to us as our LORD.

The Word of GOD clearly instructs us how to be happy.  But somewhere along the way, we find ourselves believing that we--in our own limited understanding--know better than GOD's Word what works for us.  If we are really honest with ourselves, we would admit that we get ourselves into more trouble than the enemy can be blamed for bringing.  Choosing to do anything contrary to GOD's way of doing things is the result of our own lack of belief that GOD will provide what will satisfy us.

WE determine what WE feel WE need right now, and WE go get it for OURSELVES instead of accepting as real and true the simple fact that GOD knows best what we require and has already seen to it that provisions are made for us.  Our problem is that we fail to make the connection that doubting both GOD's ability and His desire to provide ALWAYS leads to disobedience.  When we allow unhappiness to overtake us, THEN we choose to sin because human nature translates unhappiness as being suffering.  And when we experience suffering, human nature interprets that as our cue to take matters into our own hands and bring about for ourselves the satisfaction we so desire.

Check out "In Pursuit of Happiness - Part One" as well as "In Pursuit of Happiness - Part Three".

Becoming the Being | 01.30.2012

There is something to be said about being consistent.  The predictability that is characteristic of consistency IS NOT a bad thing.  As a matter of fact, it's crucial to the effectual availing of ourselves for the King's use.  Yes, the gifts and calling of GOD come without repentance (Romans 11:29); but that's certainly no excuse for being inconsistent.  Our problem is that we've become more comfortable with having the gifts and calling than we are with having the power required to effectively operate in them.  And since inconsistency is an indicator of disobedience, GOD is not interested in authorizing (or granting authority to) those who aren't willing to "become".

Your Time of Refreshing Is Now | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

I recently came across the Amplified version of Acts 3:19, which reads as follows:

"So, repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to GOD], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, or reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord."  

My soul couldn't help but get happy reading this because there is so much hope found in this one verse of scripture.

Truly my heart goes out to all those who love GOD but have found themselves so far from Him that they feel like just giving up and letting the chips fall where they may.  Yes, they have made mistakes and enjoyed lifestyles not pleasing to GOD; but beneath all that is wrong in their lives there lies a desire for that which only GOD can provide.  (This is why it's so important for me to not judge people based on their behavior.  My focus can't be on judging WHAT people are doing because it takes understanding WHY they're doing it to really help them.)

I want to encourage someone who feels like GOD, who was once so near, is now afar off.  Know that He's NEVER stopped loving you.  Even when you tried everything and everyone else to deal with all that's wrong in your life, GOD NEVER GAVE UP ON YOU.  His steadfast love for you outlasts ALL of the temporary fixes that, after they have given you a few moments of relief, only abandoned you to feeling worse than before.  With arms outstretched, your Heavenly Father patiently awaits to embrace you, His child.

It's not too late to change, no matter what anyone says.  Don't focus on how it will happen, just make up in your mind that you want to change and that you're willing to do what it takes by His power to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Not only will GOD erase all the sins you have committed, but He will refresh you.  (Thank You, Father!!!)  YOU WILL RECOVER from the effects of the heat experienced in that dry place from which you came.  No longer will you feel numb, for GOD will restore the feeling you thought would be forever lost as a result of the dry spell.  As it says in Isaiah 12:3 (KJV), "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."

Don't wait another day.  Don't deny how you feel for another hour.  Your time of refreshing is now.  I know you feel the Holy Spirit tugging on your heart strings.  I know you want to be relieved of the mounting pressure within.  Your time of refreshing is RIGHT NOW.  The voice of GOD is calling you.  The way you once knew is closer than you think.  Be refreshed, my brother, my sister, in Jesus' name today.

Remain Fully Engaged | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

A couple of Sundays ago, I heard the most interesting message on aging from GOD's perspective.  Even though this particular blog post isn't going to be about aging, I felt led to pull a little something from Pastor Sylvester Cole Dudley's message: remain fully engaged with life.  This statement stood out to me as I read through my journal.  It got me thinking about how lives once full of hope and promise become routine and hum-drum all because of an unwillingness to take risks.

You know, life happens.  We endure all manner of hardships, disappointments, setbacks and failures, even, throughout our existence.  These not so enjoyable moments teach some of life's most valuable lessons, and--whether or not we choose to admit it--we sometimes walk away from these experiences having learned the wrong thing.  And that would be to live more cautiously, take less risks.  There's nothing like a bruised ego or a broken heart to put the fire out of anyone's zest for life.  When life doesn't go as planned, we tend to retreat for the purpose of self-preservation.  However, what we fail to see in our self-preservationist mode is that when we avoid taking risks we are disengaging with life.  With each poor handling of life's unpleasantries, we become less and less engaged with life, thereby preventing our growth, development and maturity.

Not the Seed, The Soil | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

We've all been given seed--a talent, a vision, something to nurture.  And it's funny how we sometimes get disgusted with the seed because it's not yielding what we thought it would.  However, instead of getting upset with what we've been given, consider the soil in which the seed has been placed.  That's right: let's consider ourselves.

Our lives are filled with excuses, fears and other such obstructions to the growth and development of our seed.  We get caught up in the paralysis of anyalysis, and we even become overly concerned about what other people may think of us.  Yet and still, none of this changes the fact that we've been given perfectly good seed that's been purposed to yield fruit.  Therefore, we can't fault the seed for not growing when the soil it's in isn't providing it nourishment.

Your Gift Will | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

I have been so inspired by the AMAZING story of Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice who has been all over the media the past couple of days.  If you're somehow unfamiliar with this gentleman's miraculous story, please view the video I've posted below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Climb | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

I would venture to say that, at some point, we all have been guilty of speaking to mountains we were destined to climb.  Yeah, yeah, I know what the Word says about commanding them to be cast into the sea (Mark 11:23).  But here's the knitty gritty on that there: if it be GOD's will for you to climb a mountain, no amount of speaking will remove it from the terrain of your life.

Truth be told, many times we're not even speaking in faith anyway, but rather out of fear: we don't want to climb anything that remotely looks like a mountain.  So this leads me to ask, "Are you afraid of the mountain or the climb?"  I only ask because we mistakenly look at situations, like illness, bankruptcy, and divorce, as mountains.  However, upon closer scrutiny, the situation is not at all the mountain, but merely the climb. Interesting, isn't it?

GOD has equipped us to endure situations (or hardships, as stated in 2 Timothy 2:3) in order to get to the mountain peaks to which we're headed.  When you think about it, we even refer to hardships as valley experiences.  But consider this: in order to get from the "valley low" to the "mountain peak," WE'VE GOT TO CLIMB, right?  Of course!

It's during the climb that we learn obedience, just as our Christ did (Hebrews 5:7-8).  It's while climbing that we experience His strength being made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Therefore, let's be converted (or change our mindset) concerning what we've called mountains beforehand, so that we can embrace the climb as a prime opportunity for GOD to show Himself strong on our behalf as He does a new thing within us.

(Note: I look forward to sharing with you on tomorrow some thoughts concerning the mountain to balance today's discussion of the climb.)

It's Not You He's After, It's Your Faith

Satan wants nothing more than to deceive you into thinking that it's all about you.

This past Wednesday, my pastor did some expounding on why Christians suffer. In the process of doing so, he mentioned that our adversary, Satan, does not create scenarios of suffering in pursuit of us. He's really after our faith because we're simply not that important. As I began to ponder on that thought it started to become clearer by the moment just how true this statement rings.

You know, many times we find ourselves in situations where it's so easy to throw ourselves a pity party. In a matter of seconds, we can alert tens -- or even hundreds -- of contacts via text message, BlackBerry Messager, Facebook, Twitter, etc with all the details and solicit their RSVPs of concern. It's somewhat sad how we try to make our trials and tribulations about us when they really aren't at all. The enemy is after something much greater!

I wouldn't dare say, "When you have GREAT faith," because I don't believe faith varies in size. However, I do believe it varies in effectiveness based upon its use by an individual. Bible declares that we have been given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3), which tells me that we've all got the same amount. It's just a matter of us putting it into action to obtain GOD-results. So, when you have a working faith, it's constantly under attack because of the simple fact that it's consistently producing results. When your faith is effectively at work, you essentially become a target for Satan's devices.

Now, if we've heard it once, we've heard it a million times: without faith, it is impossible to please GOD, according to Hebrews 11:6. Our good works, ministry involvement, and monetary giving only please GOD when we execute them by faith. As a matter of fact, in the final hours before Jesus was turned over to His executioners, He prayed for Peter's faith (in Luke 22:31-32): "Behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Yes, Satan desires us, but only to sift us. He wants to separate us from our confession and render our faith ineffective, but he can't as long as our faith remains intact.

I encourage you to keep holding on to your faith. Habakkuk 2:4 states, "the just shall live by his faith." The just man is a righteous man, one who has been made right by GOD. Because our righteousness, according to Romans 3:28, is apart from the deeds of the law (e.g. moral uprightness, animal sacrifices), then the righteous life we've now received through faith in Christ is therefore maintained by faith. Since we've both been made alive and are kept alive by our faith, then it is of utmost importance that we don't let go of our faith. Letting go is not an option!

No matter what may be facing you today, it's not a match for your faith; that is, if your faith is actually at work. A faith that produces results can withstand the fiery trials mentioned in I Peter 4:12 that come to try us. So let's not think it strange when these sufferings come upon us. Jesus Himself was made perfect through His suffering (Hebrews 2:10), and GOD will perfect that which concerns us (Psalm 138:8). So don't despise the suffering because it's bringing about a greater work within you. If your faith has been underutilized, put it to work so that you can withstand the attacks of the enemy. Satan wants nothing more than to deceive you into thinking that it's all about you. It's not about you, but it's about your faith. If Satan can cause your faith to fail, then he can shut down the very move of GOD that's supposed to come through you and impact the world for GOD's Kingdom. Why is this so important? Because some lost soul is depending on you to be the conduit through which GOD moves to snatch them out of the Kingdom of Darkness and birth them into the Kingdom of Light. Until next time, be blessed!