Don't go undercover.

This is a guest post by my brother Moises Vargas. A man who loves God and desires to encourage you. Enjoy.

Have you realized how many people are in this world?

If you haven’t then stop and take a look. How many of them do you think are christians or quote on quote Jesus followers? Maybe your saying, I have no clue or he looks like a christian and he doesn’t. Maybe your right, you can’t identify who is and who’s not. I wonder why?

Why can’t we identify who is a christian.  In my opinion it is because we live in an "undercover world" were we feel some type of way if people know that we are a christian so we hide who we are.
Are we embarrassed of the person who God created us to be, or your just not sure if there is a God. I see a lot of people who try to fit in and be something that they are not because they don’t want people to know or wanna hurt someone’s feelings.

Even some people from church act worst then the people from the world. That can be very confusing for someone who is really looking to follow the Savior. I ask myself why? Why do people play undercover, why be ashamed of the God who created you. The bible says in (Luke 9:26)  that whoever is ashamed of Jesus and His word, the son of man will be ashamed of them when He comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
It’s time to exposed who you are. It’s time to show the people that you were created by the Creator of this world and that you will not be ashamed of who He is in you.

Its time to shine your light to the lost and help them find the one that has found you. It's time to take your mask off and live for God.

Are you going to let your light shine, or are you gonna play undercover?

Believe

This is a guest post by my friend and fellow minister Darlene Nancy Bazemore.

What happens when you believe?  

Believe is defined as to accept or regard as true.  When you believe in God and what He has promised in His Word, what you thought was impossible is now possible.  The overwhelming situation in your life is now under control and you will have a peace that surpasses all understanding!

Believing in God is like a child believing in their parent.  If the parent told their child, after school we are going to the store and I am going to give you what you desire; then believe me when the child is picked up after school, they are taking their parent at their word.  It doesn’t matter what the circumstances may be on the outside.  They could be caught in a terrible storm, traffic, and blown down trees on the road, but that child is holding their parent at their word because of what they promised.

The child isn’t concerned about the circumstances around them, they are just holding on to the promise.  They are accepting or regarding what their parents have said to them to be true and in other words, they believe. They believe that their parents are going to make it happen regardless of what it takes to get to the store.  

What about us?  Do we believe?

Do we accept what our Father has told us and promised us in His Word to be true?  Do we get fretful because of the circumstances in our lives or do we believe like the child believes in their natural parent?

In Mark 11:24 it states, “Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”  Part of receiving is our believing that we shall receive the blessings of God.  In St. Mark 9:23 it states, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”  If we can just believe….all things are possible to us that believe.  

Neither the situation we’re in nor the circumstances that surround us matter, we must believe that our Father will provide and His promises are yes and Amen.

I leave you with this…no circumstance is too hard for God!  We must believe.  Hezekiah believed that if he prayed to God his life would be lengthened and it was.  The Woman with the issue of blood believed that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be healed and she was.  Jarius, the Ruler of the synagogue, believed that if Jesus came to his home where his daughter was laying there dying, she would be healed and she was!  

We too, must believe!  No matter how dark, dismal or bleak the circumstance may look, believe in my God and He will take that impossible situation and turn it around and make the impossible, possible!  This only happens….when you BELIEVE!

What are you believe God to do?

What are you sowing?

Everyone of us has a field that we are sowing into. And your life will tell you what you have been sowing based on the fruits you have been reaping.

See, everyone of us have been sowing seeds into our future. As a matter of fact this post is a seed, as you read this post you are sowing into your mind and heart. The more you sow into the desired results the closer you are from attaining it.

So if this is true, wouldn't you want to see a greater harvest?

Let me ask you a question.
Do you like what you see?

Many times we dislike what we see happening in our life. Yet what we fail to understand is that what we are getting is a reflection of what we have been putting in. So here is the challenge.  Change what you have been putting in.

If you continue to do what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always gotten. The same is true for your spiritual life. If you sow into your spirit, spiritual godly things you will be more godly.  You will be able to be all who God created you to be. Yet if you sow into the flesh you will have to be satisfied with a poor life. A life disconnected with God.

God desires to connect with you. He gave his ultimate possession.  His son Jesus for you.

So why not give him all of you?
Friends this task is a daily process that we who are following Jesus must do until we go home to be with the Lord. Yet while we are here let's sow in such a way that we are proud of the harvest at harvest time. Let's be faithful - full of faith in sowing believing that God will reward those who diligently seek Him.

Just try.

There is something that God wants to do through your life. And he will use everything that you have been through to do it. 

Yet, the thought of doing what God is calling you to do is not easy and it is often scary. But as scary and as challenging that might be, you still long to be a part of something significant in the world. You want to be use by the creator of the universe. You want to do a work that counts and that makes a difference in people’s lives. You want to do a work that lives on even after you are gone. 

I believe God has equipped you to do it, for this time and this season, but it is up to you to take a hold of whatever you are called to do and obey him to the fullest. 

Don’t Run

Many times we run or hide because of fear of failure but if you run from the calling of God in your life you will have forfeited your destiny. 

In order to do it right sometimes you have to do it wrong. This is the learning experience. You will only get closer to the task or mission of your life if you take a leap of faith.

Do it afraid and watch fear disappear.

Do it wrong, and soon you will learn how to do it right. 

Find a voice of value and soon you will become a voice of value for others.

Help someone in need and soon someone will help you. 

Believe in someone and soon someone will believe in you! 

I believe we all face fears, but moving ahead in the face of fear is the only way to conquer it. 

You will gain strength and confidence to do it again and again. God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power… and we must constantly remember this. You and I have been given power. Power for what, you might ask? Power to do everything he has placed on the inside of you to do.

I recently told someone “life is passing you by while you’re resting your eyes”. I don’t know about you, but I want my life to matter. I want to contribute in God’s master plan. I want to be a part of God’s story. What about you? 

What are you going to do with the time you have left?

Why you should feel salty?

I apologize for the late post this week. I wasn't able to post because of technical difficulties and certain situations that took place over the weekend but I'm glad to be back. It's never too late right? Below is a guest post by my friend and fellow minister Abiezel Raices.

Salt: a necessity  

  After two years of experiencing life through the scope of matrimony, I have learned a lot of things about life that I probably wouldn’t have learned if it wasn’t for marriage.

 One of the things I have learned is that cooking has two routes.  The first route is the most popular route, “the way to a man’s heart” and the second route is the way to make a wife happy.  Yes, I said it, cooking is the way to make any women happy.  Women love when a man cooks them food.  A wise man once quoted that “a happy wife equals a happy life.”  However, I will add to this amazing quote a happy wife, who doesn’t have to cook because the husband cooked, equals a happy life.

 Ever since I have come across this revelation, I have purposely cooked more often for my wife.  I can say now that I have become a Chef.  As a chef I have learned some secrets of the trade and one of the secrets that I have learned is that if you want to make food taste good then you must add salt.

 Salt is a simple ingredient but makes food taste so much better. Salt is necessity in the process of making a great dish. The scripture states in Matthew 5:13 that “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (NIV)

 As Christians we are all called to reach the heart of man with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  If we are to be successful in this commission then being Salty is a necessity.

What is your take on this?

P.s. Abiezel and myself will be hosting a leadership conference in the big apple January 24-25!  Tickets are already selling fast, I hope to see you there, for a time of spiritual refreshing and word of encouragement for your leadership endeavors. For more infomation contact me via email at contactjosevargas@gmail.com Register today!

Words have power

Words are powerful.
Words can heal and they can steal.
Words can build someone up or it can tear them down.
Words can start a war that destroys a nation, but words can make peace to build that nation.
Words can inspire love or they can surely express hate.
Words are used to create, words are use to cultivate.

Don’t allow your words to destroy, rather allow them to make someone rejoice.
Be the type that edifies people and challenge them to believe in themselves, for some have place their dreams on hold yet you can be the one who with a word release them to run once again.
God used words to create the world into existence, why don’t you use his word to change your perspective?

Be a blessing and not a curse, for what you sow today, you will eventually eat tomorrow.
My final thoughts for you are these; please reach out to the “least of these”.
The world will change with the next words you speak just make sure they are worthy and of purity.

Blessings, Jose

 P.s. I got inspired :) Watch Video Below or click here to comment

I don't have to listen to you...do I?

This is a guest post by my friend and fellow Pastor John Bazemore. His new book just released is

available titled From Despair To Repair

I DON’T HAVE TO LISTEN TO MAN!! 

This statement has become a battle cry for the rebellious and the unrepentant in heart. It is the result of a foundation of disobedience that is now bearing its fruit. It has all the wrappings of hurt that has not been given a covering of prayer and forgiveness. It is a spirit of independence that flourishes in an atmosphere of confusion. It impacted Miriam, Korah, Absalom and Judas.

If MAN can give you a prophetic word for a blessing and you receive it, how does that same MAN become instantly incompetent to give you a word of correction or reproof? If he is abiding by the word of God, he’s obligated to; REPROOF, REBUKE and EXHORT! I have a ministry covering that gives me positive feedback, correction and guidance. Most of my good decisions came as a result of LISTENING TO MEN, who hear from GOD!! Be careful how you DISDAIN the creature, but yet you say you LOVE the creator. It just doesn’t match. We must be forthright and honest with ourselves and ask this question, “Why is it so difficult for me to receive instruction or correction from someone else?” Do we understand that the very Bible that we read, study, and preach from, was inspired by God but came to us through the agency of MAN?

 Most of what we read in the New Testament is instructions on how we should live and fellowship with God. They were divinely inspired but came from the hands of MEN. 

The most powerful sermon recorded in the Bible, on the Day of Pentecost, came from a MAN. The instructions we have on marriage came from a MAN, who was divinely inspired by God. What if we said, “I will not listen to man, but go to God myself for instructions on how to live, get saved, and stand victoriously. Foolishness Right? Yet this is what you are saying when you say, “I don’t have to listen to man. Power, Authority, and Intimacy come to us as we willing submit to one another as servants. Jesus grew in wisdom as He submitted Himself to the authority of His parents. When His season came for ministry, His first act was to find John the Baptist, a MAN, to be baptized so that He could be released into ministry. If order worked for Jesus, it should work for us. Elisha submitted to Elijah; Joshua submitted to Moses; the priests submitted to Aaron the High Priest; The widow listened to the prophet who told her what to do to survive; Hezekiah listened to Isaiah for added years to his life; Naaman listened to Elisha and was healed of leprosy; The man who was lame listened to Peter and was healed. I could go on and on but i think the point is made. Paul said, "That ye be not slothful, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises"!! Hebrews  6:12.

When men and women of God that has authority in your life give you a word from the Lord, you should have the type of relationship with them that you trust they are hearing from God. If you can't, place yourself under someone to whom you can submit, listen, and learn from. After Paul's conversion, he was given instructions to go and find Ananias for further instructions. That's God's Way!!

Do you have someone you listen to? Click here to comment.

For more information on John or to order his book please visit www.johnlbazemore.org

Ever felt frustrated?

Right now I accidentally deleted the blog I was working on for about a week. It is frustrating! You get all these great ideas on paper (on Microsoft word that is) and in a moment “poof” it’s all gone. Even in this I learned a lesson, here it is: don’t keep writing without saving things, and back them up on a thumb drive!! The second lesson is using your negatives as education not frustration. So I decided to write about it here in hope to encourage you.

Have you ever lost something you’ve been working on? I don’t want to get deep but maybe you were working on your dream and something happened that disrupt you to the point where you threw your hands up and said “forget it”? I know I have!

There is hope

Well, I believe you can recover, and begin to work on that dream, project or mission or marriage again. You can begin to work on whatever it is that you have stopped because of frustration. The advantage is now you can come back with better strategies and more energy to pursue it with passion. As human beings that were created in the image of God we have creativity that was placed in the inside of each of us to be successful at what we are trying to achieve or do.

As a communicator I love sharing ideas, and speaking to people and this is the main reason I started this blog. I want to encourage you to strive to become all who God created you to be. Yet we all go through frustrations and moments when we even question why are we doing it in the first place. It is this questioning that really helps us focus and push-pass the frustrations and gives us the determination for excellence in what we are trying to do or achieve.

Try it

Take every set back as an opportunity to become better. Make the most of every challenge as hard as that might be, to be able to use it as a building block towards your ultimate goal. Instead of allowing the disappointment to hold you back why don’t you allow it to launch you forward! (Read more about stretching here) Every disadvantage can be use for your advantage if you begin to look at it from a different perspective.

Begin to dream again, the great apostle Paul said “God will work all things together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose.” You can start again. Go for the challenge and see frustration disappear as your climbing new mountains. Refuse to continue to look back at what you have lost and focus on where you are trying to go, for this is the step of an achiever and a winner.

Keep moving forward after all this is how this blog was written.

What are you afraid of?

This is a guest post by fellow minister and friend Matt Boudwin from The Fountain Of Life Center in New Jersey.  

Are you afraid of the dark... or maybe the Boogieman?

Everyone seems to fear something different, some people even boast that they are fearless.

I think that's just a cover up... but anyways, I digress.

I remember one time when I was younger I was at a Labor Day festival. At this festival people wove in and out of rows upon rows of someones old used junk, searching for some useless piece of treasure to fill their living rooms with. (Next week probably regretting they spent any money on what they thought at the time was unique.) 

As I was wandering thru the seemingly endless rows of stuff, I laid my eyes upon the most treasured of ALL 90's kids possessions: a life sized G.I. Joe action figure.

I ran towards the table where Joe was sitting on an old rocking chair and I was greeted by the most hideous creature I had ever seen... A clown! I was so startled that I froze.

There I was, in the midst of hundreds of people revolving around these tables like bees in the hive; FROZEN. I could not even turn my face away. I was immobilized. The clown lurked closer and handed me a balloon animal. I believe it was a dog or maybe a giraffe, whatever it was, it was mutated just like my makeup covered friend.

As the oddly shaped balloon left the clowns hands it promptly popped in my face! Which sent my young brain into a tunnel of terror which I could not escape. The devilish clown thought this was the funniest thing to ever happen. His or Her smile grew larger than I thought humanly possible and IT laughed as if it had just heard the funniest joke of all time. The clown promptly skipped away as if nothing had happened...

As my grandmother walked me towards the table I couldn't even communicate to her what had actually caught my eyes in the first place.

Needless to say, I left that even traumatized and G.I. Joe-less.

I HATE CLOWNS.

Have you ever wanted something so badly but alls that seems to happen is clowns get in your way? Maybe some other fear is gripping you from reaching your destination or goal.

Do not let fear grip you.

It will immobilize and destroy your opportunity for achieving what God wants for your life. After all Fear is only a distraction. It is the Enemy's way of pulling your focus off of the prize that is before you. Hopefully stopping you dead in your tracts long enough for you to lose sight of the prize.

Maybe there is a situation that your facing right now where fear of failure or fear of not being good enough is stopping your progress.

Remember that the God who created everything... is on your side and He is obligated to protect those that love Him.

Psalms 118:6 says "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Time to take out the clowns in your life. Conquer fear with the Word of God.

Blessings,

Rev. Matty B

What are some of the clowns in your life? Click here to comment.

Stretched

Have you ever felt stretched? You know, the kind of stretching that makes you feel like your going to break!

Well, I have too in different seasons of my life. Most recently, I too felt like I am being stretched beyond what I could bear. Recently I had to move unexpectedly again, and I keep telling myself "this is getting old". Yet during this transition that I am still on, as I was taking a shower the other morning, I heard God speak to my heart. Here is what he said, "I am stretching you, I want to see if your flexible enough so that I may take you to the next level". It sounds deep in fact it is, but I assure you it hurts. It looks like nothing is happening while your being stretched, but I assure you as well, if you are experiencing something unexpected in your life, God is getting you ready for what is to come.

God is not done with you. He is writing a story with your life. This awesome story fits into what he is doing in this generation. You were created by him and for him, and he has a purpose for your life. During this time of yet another transition, I remind myself of how God has helped me before. Always look back at how he has helped you.

If he did it before, he could do it again.

I am reminded that during other detours in my life, God has always brought me through. I can go on and on, on his goodness and mercy. He has stretched me many times before and this stretching has done a couple great things in me that I believe will be done in this season of my life in an even greater way as well.

It broke me

We ask in our prayers we want to be more like Jesus and less like ourselves. Yet we must understand that in order for this to happen, he must break us. We love the idea of living for Christ yet hate the idea of dying to self. Yet doing all God has for us in this life, we must surrender to him and allow him to break us.
But what I love about God is that he doesn't break you for the sake of breaking you. He breaks you to remake you into a more powerful, dynamic, loving person. He makes you to be more like his son.

Propel me

This stretching also propels you to the next level. After he stretches you, you will never be the same again. You will never think, or talk like you use too. Now, you are on your way to another level. As he is launching you back, I encourage you to hold on to him, because He's about to launch you to a different place of purpose and of destiny!

Grows me

Every season is exactly that, a season and I believe it is God's ultimate plan to grow you in every season regardless of your age. If you are breathing He is not done in your life. Rather than fight your way in life, trust your way through life. Place your confidence in him who loves you and wants you to succeed in everything you do. Everything he allows in your life, will work out for your good and for his ultimate purpose.

You will shine like never before, and once you get into the new level, look back, give God glory and get ready to be launched again. Nothing he does in your life is wasted, and that my friend is the confidence that keeps me moving. He is a genius for lack of better words. He's got you right where he wants you. I belive if you feel like your being stretched, maybe you should answer this question,

 Are you flexible for what he is about to do in your life? Click here to leave a comment.

Get ready. 

Step Aside

This is a guest post by a fellow minister and friend, Antwain Braggs. I hope you are encouraged to allow God to work out his perfect plan in your life. For more information follow his ministry at www.crossoverinternational.org

We have become pro’s at juggling things that God never told us to juggle. I recognize that this is an effort to help God execute His plan for our lives but it actually prevents us from experiencing the fullness of what He has prepared for us before hand.

My life has been a series of failure and successes all tangled up together ultimately working for my good yet I must admit that it would have been a lot better had I not decided to pick up occupations, relationships, ministerial opportunities and friendships God never approved of from the beginning. These were all signs that I was afraid to step aside and allow God full reign in my life! I found out that if I am going to reach destiny without losing the strategies I picked up on my journey I must learn the art of Stepping aside.
If we lose the strategies before reaching our destination it defeats the purpose of getting to the stage. The Holy Spirit encouraged me this morning to share a few points with you and I am delighted to do so.

Stepping aside requires trust, humility, submission, and inner fortitude! Trust- trusting God with every detail of your life even when there are no signs that says He is presently orchestrating your every step!

Humility- Yielding over your will! Becoming co-dependent upon Him and emptying ourselves of former experiences that might cloud our ability to see the NEW!

Submission- Submitting to the Mission he has for you even in times of difficulty and despair.

Inner Fortitude- the strength that comes from within that is exercised by constant reminders of who we are in Christ… Phil 4:16 ( for meditation) Elder B

Click Here to comment

Watch Your Step

In a recent business trip to California after leaving one of the conference sessions with two business partners of mine something weird began to happen. I felt like everyone was “trippin”. Yet while they were “trippin” I was learning a lesson.

This particular day we were on our way to grab some lunch; we had to go over to the other side where the restaurants were located. We began to walk but I wanted to get there faster so I wanted to cross through the street instead of walking to the corner and wait for the walk signal. My business partner looked at me with a grin on his face and strongly suggested we cross were we are supposed to cross as he grabbed his wife’s hands and both started laughing.  I asked, “ What was so funny?” John said well, “Darlene almost tripped and fell because we too tried to do this earlier this morning, but luckily I had her by the arm.” We joked about it, and then went on our way.

That evening as we finished yet another session at the conference we again went out for dinner. We decided to stay next to the conference center in the hotel where they had many restaurants. We sat by the automatic glass doors, and as we spoke to a lady we had just meet, one of the top executives in the company was walking by towards the doors. As he waved at us, I noticed he almost crashed right into the side of the doors, but his wife grabbed him by the arm and spared him an embarrassing moment. Nobody seem to noticed, we were nearly done our meal and right in front of the hotel a lady missed a step and fell face first into the ground. Happy to report she was okay. But I noticed three types of people that were there that day. These were three types of people that are probably in your life as well.

The first one is the people who saw her fall and did nothing. Unfortunately I fall into that category. I didn’t do anything but sat there and watch. The next group of people was the people who laugh at this lady who had fallen. To me it wasn’t funny. Yet the third group, which was only a few, was the group who helped her up and made sure she was okay.

In life you too will encounter 3 groups or types of people as you strive to become all who God created you to be. The first group will just observe what your doing and how you are living. They will watch how you talk and how you pursue what you believe God is called you to do.
 

The second will laugh and mock and criticize as you do what God has called you to do, build, start or whatever. But this group you need to ignore. You need to not pay much attention, for all they will ever do is watch at others progress to avoid looking at their own lives and improving it. Seeing how you strive and obey just magnifies how they are lacking and what they are not doing. Stay focus on the task you’ve been given.

The third and final groups are those people, pastors, leaders, friends and family who help you and lift you up even when you fall down. These are the people you need to connect with for these are the people who will help you reach your God given assignment. 

I hope you find people in your life that will encourage you and lift you up. I hope you get back on track even if you have tripped up. I hope you can understand that God is greater than any mistake or shortcoming you have experience. 

I hope you can understand that even in the “ trippin” moments you can learn valuable lessons that can change your life forever.

That is one of the lessons I’ve learned on that trip that I want to share with you but before I finish this blog here is one more, Watch where you walk, watch how you live, and most importantly watch your steps, for you have a destiny to fulfill.

How are you watching your steps? Click Here to comment.

Tired of waiting?

How waiting can be a benefit to your personal growth.

I don’t like to wait and you probably don’t either, yet as difficult as it may seem waiting is essential for our growth and development.

We all have to wait in certain moments in our lives. We have to wait for a doctor’s call. We have to wait for an email responds. We wait in lines at the grocery store. We wait in traffic for the green light. We wait for a prayer to be answered. We all have to wait.

 To me waiting is somewhat inconvenient. But waiting builds my patience and trust in God.

Have you ever had to wait for something you really desired to have right now?

See, if God grants us everything we desire, when we desire them we would be in bad shape. God is better interested in your growth and in your relationship with Him. God is interested in making you who hecreated you to be rather than who you want to be. (You can tweet that, maybe?) After all what good is it to live life and miss the real reason you were created for?  

To me, waiting is not sitting around doing nothing. I believe waiting is trusting God for the outcome. Waiting is also taking action. Do what you can do, and then rely on God for He will perform the miracle.

 You should be growing while you’re waiting. You might not have what you want to have, or  be where you want to be in life because your waiting for an outcome, but while waiting allow God to mold your character and your emotions when you allow him to develop you on the inside, it is far greater than growth on the outside. So when you get to “the place” where you desire you will be equipped and edified, strong and changed.

Growth

Here is a story to illustrate my point that I once read online. A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.
One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole. Then it stopped, as if it couldn't go further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body, neither happened! In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around. It was never able to fly.

How sad but true. Many people refuse to allow God to take them through the process of growth through waiting, so the go ahead and do it on their own and never really fully grow to be all who they were destined to be. Let us be the people who wait on God. Let us be the people who move as far as we can go and then trust God for the outcome. He knows what he is doing to grow us and develop us to full maturity.

Development

A pregnant mother knows that although this pain she feels as she carries new life inside of her womb; she must fulfill the usual 9 month pregnancy process for the full development of the baby. She can’t give up the process unless she aborts the life she carries. This new life comes through waiting. This new life comes through pain.  This new life is birth after the process of development and growth.

What will you believe God to do? What are you waiting for? What are you doing while you wait?

Click here I would love to hear from you.

Are you thirsty?

This is a guest post by a good friend and blogger Vanessa Barnes

You can read more posts from Vanessa on her blog:

http://beautyandjoyinlittlethings.blogspot.com/

Have you ever been really thirsty?

I have. This one time I came home from being outside in the hot sun and all I wanted was some water. There was soda and juice, but I didn’t want it. All I wanted was a huge glass of ice cold water. So I poured a glass. Drank it. Poured another. As I was drinking this water, my heart was racing and I realized I wasn’t really breathing. I stopped drinking for a second so I could catch my breath. But I was desperate. I drank more water.

In that moment, I wanted water more than I wanted breath. Now, I know we need to breathe, but all I could think about was quenching that thirst.

Then I thought, Do I thirst after God like that?

We can talk about how thirsty we are all we want, but it comes down to what we do.

We say we’re thirsty, but we don’t turn to Him. We go to magazines and horoscopes and our Facebook News Feed before EVER going to God.

We say we’re thirsty, but haven’t read the Word in days (or longer).

We say we’re thirsty, but we fill our minds and hearts with the most disgusting things and then expect God’s spirit to dwell in us?

Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me like we’re not as thirsty as we say we are. Because if we really were thirsty, we would go straight to the Source, right to the Living water. We wouldn’t reach for the soda or a piece of gum, which will only satisfy for a little while. If we were really thirsty, we’d want Him more than anything else.

That’s what I think about when I read about the three boys and that fiery furnace. They were brave and inspiring and cared more about thirsting after God than their very lives. Daniel 3:16-18 says:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied,
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will NEVER serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Wow. No matter how many times I read that, I just can’t help but be amazed. They were willing to lose their very lives. They wanted Him more than they wanted breath.

And we want a seat at the cool table, a raise, a relationship- all more than we want God?

I think it may be time for us to wake up and accept the fact that Jesus may ask us to give up the very thing that we hold closest to us.

Can you imagine what would happen if we put down our soda glasses and really thirsted after God?

The woman at the well left her jar (John 4:28), the one that only satisfies for a little while, and drank that living water that Jesus was always talking about.  And because of her testimony, many came to know Christ (John 4:39).

I believe the same thing would happen today. If we’d thirst after Him, we’d be filled to overflowing. Living water would spill out and into those around us, MANY coming to know Christ through our testimony.

How can you get more thirsty for God's calling in your life? Comment Here I would love to hear from you.

Do people know your brand?

Have you ever had an amazing idea on creating a product or event that could change lives around the world? I know I have. The reality is you already have a product and it has the potential to change lives.

In order for people to really appreciate this product though and be impacted by it, they have to know about it and they come to know about it by its brand.

Before I tell you about this product let me first tell you about the brand. A brand is a representation of that service, person or product. When you hear a brand name, you automatically assume a certain thing.

When I say Burger King you say Have it your way. (Or heart attack, just kidding)

When I say Nike you say Just do it.

When I say Chic Fila you say Eat more Chicken.

When I say your in good hands you think Allstate.

When I say  Frosted Flakes you say there greeeatt.

When I say Verizon you say Can you hear me now?

In other words a brand is the reputation, and it is important for the success of the person, company or service. With that being said, let me answer the question I asked you at the beginning, you do have a product. That awesome product is you. You were created to do great works for God’s kingdom here on earth.

Everything you do and say is a reflection of your brand. Your name is a brand.

What do people think of when your name comes to mind? What pops in their mind when someone mentions your name?

See, Jesus taught us how to walk and talk in such a way that we may draw others to himself. Jesus has a brand and followers of Jesus should emulate him.

Jesus lived and died and rose again to bring us into a relationship with God the father.  We have been given access to God. Now that we can have a relationship with God, that relationship should bear much fruit throughout our lives in such a way that people who don’t know Jesus can come to know him.

His brand is love. Our brand is love. When people encounter us we can show them genuine love that flows from our relationship with God. By doing this the world will know you are his disciple. In other words the world will know you are branded by the king of kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ the risen savior.

Showing love is showing respect, giving and simply being kind to people even when we don’t feel like it. Let us be the generation that is known by how we love one another, and how we care. Let our brand expand. Shine your light for Christ. Let Jesus be known by how you act and live. Be the type if I can spot you in the mall, your brand will stand out. That it can be said, that man belongs to Jesus.

So, are you ready to represent? What are something's you can do in your daily life to make the brand of love more visible?

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Tested Faith

Have you ever had your faith tested? You know, the kind that shakes your world. The shaking that leaves you crying and confused, the kind of shaking that has you questioning everything you ever believed in? You thought you had everything figured out but something happened in your life that awaken you to the reality that you really don’t. A sudden change in your life’s journey, maybe a divorce, a scary medical report or a need or perhaps an unanswered prayer. I call this a Detour.  You now question everything you ever known including your faith. It seems that everything has been crumbled and nothing is left standing. The world that you knew has changed.

How can I pass this test you maybe asking?

How can I regain my focus and my strength?

Recently I took a flight to Dallas Texas for a men’s conference, and as I was in the airplane meditating on the aircraft I received some inspirational truth that I believe will help me focus on what God is calling me to do, in ministry, business and in life. I began to look out the window, and here is what I saw.

Perception. Look at it this way.

At 35,000 feet the world looks different. Everything looks smaller, and unimportant. Once we took off, the sky scrappers no longer seem huge. The higher we went the smaller everything that was left behind us appeared.

 I Started thinking about my struggles and worries and how sometimes I lose myself in them. How can I accomplish my goals, how will I pay my bills, ect. All legitimate excuses to be worried about. Yet looking out the window changed my perspective maybe these issues that were causing me to worry weren’t so big after all. Worrying wasn’t changing them; maybe I was looking at them from the wrong perspective? 

Could it be that your struggle or situation might not be as big as it seems?

Now I understand personal life changes, they are hard. Yet deep down in my heart I know that as hard and big it may seem, the God I pray to is much bigger. So what do I do to get into this transformation process so that I may look at this life change differently? It’s called perception. Perception is how you are looking at a particular thing, situation, or problem.  

If you look at the sky scrappers from the ground up, they seem huge because they really are. If you look at your situation down and out complaining and feeling sorry for your self, that problem will get bigger, for you have enlarged it. Yet, if you change your view on it and declare that this problem, this layoff notice, this loss of my job is really an opportunity to start a business, or spend more time with my family, then you are going up. High up. You are no longer seeing the sky scrappers from the ground up but from the air down. And the higher you go, the smaller your problem or situation will be.

When you go higher, and see how small everything really is, you will realize How Big God is. So big he calls the earth his footstool and heaven his throne. Now thinking about this doesn’t change your situations or get your bills paid, I understand that. But it will change how it will affect you. Your perception will change how you respond. And that is the most important thing. How you respond.

Friends God is in control of your situation. I understand it maybe hard, and it may feel dark. I would like to remind you that if you begin to change your perception towards your troubles, your joy would come. There is a breakthrough coming your way. Just change your perception, instead of complaining and feeding fear, feed faith, and be grateful, that yes it maybe bad, but it could be worse. It’s not as big as it looks. Your God is bigger. He promised to never leave you or abandon you. So if He is with you, you can overcome.

Have you been looking up or down? How do you feed your faith?

Click it here I would love to hear from you.

What If It Fails?

What if you worked hard to build a dream, start a business, start an organization that has been knocking at your hearts door, and after you have sweated, bleed and shed some tears you failed? or at least you think you did.( because the reality is there is no failing, failing is only attain when you don't try.) Here is an opportunity for me to be completely honest with you. I am terrified right now, as I am releasing this blog and publishing my website. As a writer and preacher I have been wanting to start blogging to further share my thoughts and to inspire someone through this venue.

Yet, because of the " voices" that kept yelling in my ear " now is not the time" or " you have no time for this" has hindered me from starting, but no more!

My desire is to inspire you to stay focus on the things that really matter in life, and to become all who God created you to be. To remind you to dive into your purpose and bless another person with your life. Make your life Count There is something tugging at your heart. You know there is something greater for you to accomplish and do, yet this thing is holding you back. This thing called fear. See, fear holds us back from reaching the next level. Fear robs us from who we were meant to be. You might think I have this all figured out, but I don't,

I am defeating fear alittle bit each day, for I understand that God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

What is your dream? That project you been wanting to get started, launch, or publish? Here is my advice, launch it, publish it, write it and give it your best and allow God to do the rest. See him do in your life exceedingly abundantly above what you can think, ask or imagine. What if it fails? What if it doesn't work? So what! What if it does. What if you could minister or bless someone's life wouldn't that be sufficient? We all go through fear, after all if you aren't going through moments of fear chances are you aren't doing anything that is stretching you and bringing you higher. Don't let fear conquer you, you conquer it! What have you always wanted to do, yet because of fear it has held you back? How has God helped you conquer it? I would love to hear from you.

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