Beautifully You

You are unique, set apart, and have purpose in Jesus. We do not need titles to affirm who Jesus called us to be or what He has called us to do, In the end it is all for His Glory. But if we seek after the title, long for the acknowledgement, or demand the respect we will find ourselves lacking every time. Drop the title seeking and seek to do the Lord's Will. Stay focused you can do this.
1 Peter 2:9-10

"In His JOY!"

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Bang goes the dynamite

Being prideful is like igniting a stick of dynamite and using it as candle to light up a dark room. It will give off a faint light so we could see but it is only a matter of time before it blows up in our face.
#BeHumble
Proverbs 11:2, 16:8, 18:12

"In His JOY!"

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Go Tell It on the mountain

Testimonies are meant to bear witness to the truth not glorify the person giving it. So when we share our testimony about Christ it is to reveal the truth of Jesus and not to brag on ourselves.
John 8:39, Psalm 71:15-18

"In His JOY!"

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Blessed to bless

Miracles and blessings are not all about you. The Lord knows His Children have needs, He is not blind to it. Yet He tells us not to worry about the needs we have and seek Him. We can become s transfixed on ourselves that we use prayer and scripture only to satisfy our physical needs and desires and neglect to pray for the spiritual needs. Lest we forget the Great Commission is about expanding God's Kingdom not our wallet, business, agenda, etc. It is a call to do His Will on Earth as He has decreed in Heaven. This does not mean we should not bring our needs before the Father. But it does mean that the Great Commission is not about the "big payout" we should expect from God just because we are a Christian. Our "best day yet" is when we live with Christ in Heaven not when we get our financial break through, our health improves, or we get promoted at work. We make more money in a year then Jesus did in His Lifetime on Earth but we find ourselves easily complaining about momentary discomfort. How much stuff do we really need? Jesus' baby crib was an animal trough while ours was top of the line Babies R' Us model. He was not rolling on 24's, He rolling on donkey hooves. Yet He did not let His poverty or lack of resources stop Him from proclaiming God's Word. He did not preach about cashing in on God and living comfortable. He was more concerned with the end of man (eternity) as opposed the mist of air we call life (temporary). When we become focused on serving Jesus we will not use prayer or the scriptures as a means of being served by Him. No servant is served by the King. He is not a genie who grants temporary wishes. Nor does He find pleasure when we use the scriptures like they are lotto numbers that helps us hit the prosperity jackpot. He is God and desires to save all mankind. Let's be about the Father's Business and not our own agenda and help others know the Hope of Glory, Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:7-11,19-34, 28:18-20, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23

"In His JOY!"

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"Assured failure"

We cannot contend against God's Will and expect to succeed. We either humbly follow His Will or we pridefully lead ourselves to assured failure.
2 Chronicles 13:12, Proverbs 16:5,18

"In His JOY!"

Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be accountable. 

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"I-know-it-all-idis"

Proverbs 19:20

My generation is often described in with one word that begins with an "e", can you guess what it is? People from my generation would say it's "empowered", "energetic", "entrepreneur", or even "educated". But it is neither, we are often called "entitled". Because we are often thought of as people who feel entitled to everything but act as if we have to earn nothing. And it is true, we can carry "The World Owes Me" persona and we expect unearned respect, promotions, authority, and power. We even feel entitled to blessings from Jesus because we are special. This carry's over in how we treat the generations before us, we find ourselves treating those older than us with no honor and no respect. It creates friction because we think that the older generation knows nothing but we walk as if we know everything. If you look at the teen movies that became popular in our generation and are popular now they all carry the same theme "Daddy wants his son to do what he says, but the son rebels and breaks away because he is own man at the rip old age of 18 and he has life all figured out", "The daughter falls in love with the rebel from school, the overbearing mother, who has repressed her own sinful desires since high school, holds her back but the daughter and the rebel get married and run off in the sunset with no money, job, or place to live."

The truth is entitlement is a fancy way to say "I am prideful." Make no mistake about it that God opposes the prideful but His Grace is given to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). Humility is the only cure for the case of "I-know-it-all-idis". The generations before us can teach us decades of wisdom. A couple celebrating 30 years of marriage can teach so much to newly weds. A manager at your job who has been in the career field for 20 years can offer insight to a new employee but it takes us being humble enough to admit that we need help. We must willing say, "I know nothing, will you teach me, mentor me, help, show me the way". I see young prideful preachers close their ears to anyone offering help. My generation tends to look at the older generation in judgement. Thoughts like "They think they know everything", They are always trying to control my life", or "They are so old-fashioned" run through our heads. But listen, the truth is, they have been where we have not, lived our dream, done what we are hoping to do, and could write a book about it. 

But lack of humility we lead you to a place where God will humble you (Matthew 23:12). If you fail to show honor, humility, and respect to someone older than you or even someone who has authority over you how do you expect to show it to God? God does require us to honor those in higher positions than us as well as those who are older than us (Leviticus 19:32, Romans 13:7). When we learn to stand on the shoulders of those who came before us by allowing them to mentor us and learn from their wisdom we will grow. Pride will only bring you disgrace but humility will bring you wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). And you cannot expect anyone to honor you if fail to show humility (Proverbs 15:33).

This is not a knock against my generation and this is not to say that you are not due honor nor that you have nothing to offer. It is simply to say this, learn from those who have gone before you. Stand on their shoulders and let them lift you up with their wisdom. You can do this!

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"In His JOY!"

"All aboard"

Proverbs 3:5-8

(v5)
God requires our entire dependence and unyielding trust be in Him. His Word is our assurance that whatever He speaks, promises  or proclaims to us in our lives will always come to pass (Isaiah 55:11). But to do this we must not rely on our understanding of the situation and the circumstances that surround it. 

(v5)
So we humble ourselves to the very Will and Way of God. Knowing that in His proper time He will bring His Will to pass in our lives. Thus we abandon our cares, worries, and anxieties because we are in His care now (1 Peter 5:6)

(v6)
So we acknowledge publicly and privately that the Lord is leading us and guiding us. When questioned by others, pressured to change course, or when problems bloom we still submit to God's Will. We are steadfast in our faith knowing that Lord is still guiding through the Light of His Word (Psalm 119:105), so we meditate on His Word day and night so that we are careful to follow His direction(Psalm 119:9-10).

(v7-v8)
And it is in this entire process that we see our wisdom as foolishness and God's as true genius. Our respect and awe of the Lord grows while our desire for evil dies. Because our lives have been transformed and our minds renewed, so others can see what God's perfect and acceptable will looks like (Romans 12:2). And now we gladly present our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) because in Him we are refreshed and renewed 

Friends I implore you to follow God's direction like a train does a track, and trust the conductor He knows where He is leading you. Stay focused you can do this. 


"In His JOY!"