Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations."
In 2012, let's focus less on the NEW YEAR and more on the NEW YOU!! When God created you, He didn't consult with the Chamber of Commerce, the government, your state, nor your parents for that matter. God is God and He is God all by Himself! He has made that very clear to us through His Word-not the words of others. The plans God has for your life are PRE-MADE and not MAN-MADE. God isn't a rookie and has never professed to be one! He tells us directly in Jeremiah 29:11, that HE knows the thoughts that He thinks towards us and we can identify them from what man has planned by the way they are presented to us. God's plans are PRODUCTIVE-they will give us PEACE and not EVIL and they are PROSPEROUS-they give us a FUTURE and HOPE. .
The lesson God gave Jeremiah is very prevalent and applicable to our own lives:
1.Before I formed you in the womb I knew you: God knew what He was forming before creating it. God is mindful of you and knew the purpose He had placed in your mother's womb before He purposed it. You were purposely purposed by God and He is the source to seek on why you were purposed and what is your purpose.
2.Before you were born I sanctified you: God made you different and separate from the world for a purpose. Stop trying to conform to a society that God has clearly made you separate from. Embrace the diversity and protection He has placed over your life. God doesn't create SIMPLE nor SIMILAR people. Be ye separate from the world!
3. I ordained you a prophet to the nations-God has already ordained the role He has for you. It's up to you to seek your calling and how to convey your gifts to the world. There is only one you and nobody but you can fulfill the calling God has placed inside of you. We can't OPERATE in our calling until we have sought the OPERATOR. In all things get an understanding, we are never too intelligent to not seek God's counsel.
Remember, God will use vessels to steer us in the right DIRECTION, but ultimately the DIRECTIVES come from Him. God doesn't seek nor want advice from others on WHO or WHAT He has planned for your life. Be blessed and encouraged!!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Duck, Duck, Goose!!!
Acts 20:24, "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy,and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
As a little girl, my least favorite game to play was Duck. Duck, Goose. I recall asking my elementary teachers often to allow me to opt out of playing the game. I didn't see the rationale behind allowing someone to walk around a circle, hit me on my head whether they chose me or not, and chasing the person. I have never been into playing games "literally nor figuratively" and this is a life lesson that is applicable for us all. In life, we can't allow circumstances, our families, nor enemies to move us! Similar to the duck duck goose game, we are not obligated to sit nor entertain inner circles of people who don't have our best intentions and those whose primary agenda is to PICK OUT, to PICK ON. In 2012, we have to ensure we don't get caught up into child-like activities and that we opt out of circumstances that don't benefit us. It's only so many hits on the head that one should be willing to take, especially when it's unproductive, uncomfortable, and by no means furthers us into the direction of where God wants us to be to fulfill the personal calling He has placed on our lives. God desires for us to finish our race with joy, not for others to pass us along our journey in hopes of hindering us at their discretion. It's a New Year and a New You, the choice is yours in terms of whether you are going to play the orchestrated games of life, or opt out in expectancy of running an eternal race for Jesus. Be blessed and encouraged!!
As a little girl, my least favorite game to play was Duck. Duck, Goose. I recall asking my elementary teachers often to allow me to opt out of playing the game. I didn't see the rationale behind allowing someone to walk around a circle, hit me on my head whether they chose me or not, and chasing the person. I have never been into playing games "literally nor figuratively" and this is a life lesson that is applicable for us all. In life, we can't allow circumstances, our families, nor enemies to move us! Similar to the duck duck goose game, we are not obligated to sit nor entertain inner circles of people who don't have our best intentions and those whose primary agenda is to PICK OUT, to PICK ON. In 2012, we have to ensure we don't get caught up into child-like activities and that we opt out of circumstances that don't benefit us. It's only so many hits on the head that one should be willing to take, especially when it's unproductive, uncomfortable, and by no means furthers us into the direction of where God wants us to be to fulfill the personal calling He has placed on our lives. God desires for us to finish our race with joy, not for others to pass us along our journey in hopes of hindering us at their discretion. It's a New Year and a New You, the choice is yours in terms of whether you are going to play the orchestrated games of life, or opt out in expectancy of running an eternal race for Jesus. Be blessed and encouraged!!
Friday, February 17, 2012
"Purposed on Purpose"
Esther 4:14, "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:14, is a message Esther received from Mordecai concerning the future and well-being of her family and the challenges she would face if she decided to fight for them. God never says a word in the Book of Esther, however we know by faith that she had a personal relationship with Him and that also shows us that sometimes God is going to sit back and allow us to make life-changing decisions for ourselves and it's up to us to seek HIM and call upon Him while He is near. Esther had the weight of her lineage on her shoulders and she had to make some tough decisions concerning if 1.She was willing to put her life on the line to save her generation 2. Was the effort worth making the effort 3. Was this the calling God had placed on her life or man?
In 2012, we all will face the same challenges that Esther had to face and it is up to us to determine if we are going to sit and not say anything and allow our households to crumble, or if we are going to WOMAN and MAN UP and restore our families or allow the enemy to destroy us. Man has no power or say so on what God has called, appointed, and anointed for you to do! We all have been called to the kingdom for such a time as this, but we have to be mindful and wise and ensure that the timing is in the Will of God and not man. Man will set you up to do things on purpose to make you fail, but the purpose God has for you He does on purpose! We often question what God has called for us to do and how we are to use our gifts, talents, and precede with our goals. The "Answer Key" lies in PRAYER, PATIENCE, and PERSEVERANCE. Be blessed and encouraged in the Lord.
Esther 4:14, is a message Esther received from Mordecai concerning the future and well-being of her family and the challenges she would face if she decided to fight for them. God never says a word in the Book of Esther, however we know by faith that she had a personal relationship with Him and that also shows us that sometimes God is going to sit back and allow us to make life-changing decisions for ourselves and it's up to us to seek HIM and call upon Him while He is near. Esther had the weight of her lineage on her shoulders and she had to make some tough decisions concerning if 1.She was willing to put her life on the line to save her generation 2. Was the effort worth making the effort 3. Was this the calling God had placed on her life or man?
In 2012, we all will face the same challenges that Esther had to face and it is up to us to determine if we are going to sit and not say anything and allow our households to crumble, or if we are going to WOMAN and MAN UP and restore our families or allow the enemy to destroy us. Man has no power or say so on what God has called, appointed, and anointed for you to do! We all have been called to the kingdom for such a time as this, but we have to be mindful and wise and ensure that the timing is in the Will of God and not man. Man will set you up to do things on purpose to make you fail, but the purpose God has for you He does on purpose! We often question what God has called for us to do and how we are to use our gifts, talents, and precede with our goals. The "Answer Key" lies in PRAYER, PATIENCE, and PERSEVERANCE. Be blessed and encouraged in the Lord.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Peacefakers
Job 22:21, "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you."
In times like these, we all need someone who is stable, consistent, and brings forth peace from simply knowing them and being around them. I would like to recommend you to the Lord! Malachi 3:6, states "For I am the Lord, I change not." God doesn't talk just to hear Himself talk, when He opens His mouth to speak it's nothing but the truth and it comes straight from His heart. We are often quick to mingle and introduce ourselves to people we don't know and it often develops into drama. But when we take the time to acquaint ourselves with God and develop a relationship with Him, peace automatically comes with the territory. According to Isaiah 26:3,God will keep those in perfect peace who keep their minds steadfast on Him and trust in Him." If we acquaint ourselves with God, it hinders the drama from having access into our lives because God's Word will cut it into pieces like a two-hedge sword. His Word says He is the Prince of Peace and we are to be peacemakers, not peacefakers! According to God's Word, the more we get to know Him, the more peace will come to our lives and good will come to us. When you get into relationship with God you can't help but have good people and good things overcome you. When we stay in the peace of God, we have the power to change the settings and the atmosphere we dwell in. People may be acting a fool, but when you walk in they automatically stop gossiping and get in order because the peace of God within you strikes a chord in them. Stress will age you before your time and make one mentally and spiritually sick. I encourage you to acquaint yourself more with Jesus and position yourself in expectancy mode for peace in every area of your life. It's much more beneficial to be in relationship with a peacemaker rather than a peacefaker.
In times like these, we all need someone who is stable, consistent, and brings forth peace from simply knowing them and being around them. I would like to recommend you to the Lord! Malachi 3:6, states "For I am the Lord, I change not." God doesn't talk just to hear Himself talk, when He opens His mouth to speak it's nothing but the truth and it comes straight from His heart. We are often quick to mingle and introduce ourselves to people we don't know and it often develops into drama. But when we take the time to acquaint ourselves with God and develop a relationship with Him, peace automatically comes with the territory. According to Isaiah 26:3,God will keep those in perfect peace who keep their minds steadfast on Him and trust in Him." If we acquaint ourselves with God, it hinders the drama from having access into our lives because God's Word will cut it into pieces like a two-hedge sword. His Word says He is the Prince of Peace and we are to be peacemakers, not peacefakers! According to God's Word, the more we get to know Him, the more peace will come to our lives and good will come to us. When you get into relationship with God you can't help but have good people and good things overcome you. When we stay in the peace of God, we have the power to change the settings and the atmosphere we dwell in. People may be acting a fool, but when you walk in they automatically stop gossiping and get in order because the peace of God within you strikes a chord in them. Stress will age you before your time and make one mentally and spiritually sick. I encourage you to acquaint yourself more with Jesus and position yourself in expectancy mode for peace in every area of your life. It's much more beneficial to be in relationship with a peacemaker rather than a peacefaker.
Friday, January 20, 2012
"It's a Girl" !!!!!!
Proverbs 31: 29, "Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all."
On March 17, 2006, Jason and I at the tender age of 20 went to our doctor's appointment to determine the sex of our first child. I secretly wanted a boy and Jason wanted a girl. From my standpoint at the time, it would be much easier to raise a son because I wouldn't be primarily accountable for how he turned out in terms of manhood. I knew that I would have to make major changes and embrace womanhood COMPLETELY if it was a girl. To my surprise, it was a GIRL and I immediately aborted the "GIRL IN ME." I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would have to terminate the "girly Krystal" and embrace the birthing of my GROWN WOMAN. It was a process, but change doesn't come until one is willing to change. As Daughters of the King, we have a spiritual and moral obligation to equip our daughters with the Word of God and that starts by being a doer of His Word, not just a hearer. There are far too many young ladies having babies without the slightest clue of how they are to conduct themselves. It is disheartening to see so many young girls investing more time on "facebook" rather than in their child's "face." As a society, many have taken the approach of "it's her baby, let her learn the hard way." Why do we allow them to learn the hard way? Wouldn't it be more practical to share our stories and challenges to lighten their load? Accountability and judging are separate entities and our daughters thirst for accountability in spite of their cries against it. As Daughters of the King, we have to focus on becoming the virtuous woman mentioned in Proverbs 31 and excel the misconceptions that our generation has transformed into a standard. God's Word is the standard and the measuring stick we should utilize to determine if we measure up. Be Blessed and Encouraged!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Do you have a Dream?
Monday, January 16, 2012, our nation will celebrate the life and tireless efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man of God who devoted his life to fighting for inequality for not only African-Americans, but for humanity and the disadvantaged. As we reflect on the dream that was revealed to him by God, let us meditate on the vision that God has placed in our hearts and how we plan to bring them to fruition. We have to use our spiritual eyes and incline our ears to Him to ensure that we are fulfilling our personal call. The dream has been established and there is much work for us all to do to ensure that Dr. King's dream doesn't become a nightmare. Our youth are falling by the wayside and it is up to us to hold them accountable and display compassion. God, family, education, and common sense is the foundation for any man's success and we have got to get back to the good ol' days when men maintained jobs, attended church, provided for their families out of love-not because the Department of Human Resources mandates it, and were active participants in their households. Black Men used to be prevalent in the field of education and many attended college to become teachers to serve in their communities. My grandmother's generation were women who walked in integrity and served the Lord with gladness, maintained the spirit of peace in their households, and they wouldn't be caught dead in clothes that didn't cover them. We all have the spirit of excellence abiding within us that has transcended from generation to generation and I am confident that we too can become a generation that will be known for Restoring the Dream and Destroying the Current Nightmare. Be Blessed:)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Bring em' Out, Bring em' Out !!!
John 8:10-11, "When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, "No one, Lord."And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
The story of the adulteress and Jesus is a powerful interaction that we should apply in our personal encounters on our daily walk of faith. The Scribes and Pharisees brought the young woman to Jesus after catching her in the very act of her sin and they used her sin as a means of testing Jesus, it wasn't about the woman primarily. The Bible says, they brought up the law of Moses so that they would have something to accuse Jesus of-not necessarily the woman. When folks come at you, be wise and understand that you are only the vessel and that they are attacking the Christ in you-not you and God will handle them accordingly. When people come at you with something they feel doesn't fit their protocol or standards, don't say a mumbling word and allow Jesus to come down to their level to straighten them out, but more importantly bring em' out! The Bible says, Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger as though He didn't hear them. Jesus ain't thinking about nor listening to the foolishness people have to say about you and neither should you. The adulteress was wrong, but it wasn't for man to judge her, if Jesus finds fault with you, He will address you privately, men do things in public. Jesus is a gentlemen and He doesn't operate in foolishness! When Jesus got up, her haters went down! Nobody was there but Him and the woman and He dealt with her one on one. The same rule and lesson is applicable in our lives, when we have given our sins to Jesus, leave them there and go forward with expectation of not repeating the same mistakes. You have nothing to prove to man, Jesus told her to go and sin no more, that meant she didn't have to go and explain herself to anybody, she simply needed to get it together. Always remember you may not have it all together, but all things work together for the good of them who are called according to His Purpose! Be Blessed and encouraged!
The story of the adulteress and Jesus is a powerful interaction that we should apply in our personal encounters on our daily walk of faith. The Scribes and Pharisees brought the young woman to Jesus after catching her in the very act of her sin and they used her sin as a means of testing Jesus, it wasn't about the woman primarily. The Bible says, they brought up the law of Moses so that they would have something to accuse Jesus of-not necessarily the woman. When folks come at you, be wise and understand that you are only the vessel and that they are attacking the Christ in you-not you and God will handle them accordingly. When people come at you with something they feel doesn't fit their protocol or standards, don't say a mumbling word and allow Jesus to come down to their level to straighten them out, but more importantly bring em' out! The Bible says, Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger as though He didn't hear them. Jesus ain't thinking about nor listening to the foolishness people have to say about you and neither should you. The adulteress was wrong, but it wasn't for man to judge her, if Jesus finds fault with you, He will address you privately, men do things in public. Jesus is a gentlemen and He doesn't operate in foolishness! When Jesus got up, her haters went down! Nobody was there but Him and the woman and He dealt with her one on one. The same rule and lesson is applicable in our lives, when we have given our sins to Jesus, leave them there and go forward with expectation of not repeating the same mistakes. You have nothing to prove to man, Jesus told her to go and sin no more, that meant she didn't have to go and explain herself to anybody, she simply needed to get it together. Always remember you may not have it all together, but all things work together for the good of them who are called according to His Purpose! Be Blessed and encouraged!
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