Testimony Tuesday!

I really would like to re-institute Testimony Tuesday. I still like the idea of people coming together to share their stories of how God has blessed them. The sole purpose is not to gloat or floss your prosperity but to encourage and motivate other people to hold on and keep their faith. Ig God can show up and show out for me, he can definitely do the same for you too! I do hope for a great response to the post this time! You know you got something to say about the goodness of the Lawd!

We are overcomers by our testimony! Revelation 12:11

Greatness

Mornin Manna Tuesday Sept 22, 2009

You can't be great without getting a lil hate. The Bible says we'll be persecuted, but I encourage you to hold onto your faith.

The scripture text came from: 2nd Timothy 3:10-15

Seems like there's always that 1 jerk; that 1 ignorant person that doesn't know how to keep their mouth shut. When you're doing good, there's always someone to try to bring you down. It's unfortunate, I know, but it's evident also! Momma used to say, "As long as you're doing good, expect something bad to happen." I never understood this, but as the older folks say, you'll understand it better by and by, I began to understand. I came up with this quote, "You can't be great without getting a lil bit of hate!" I like it because it's real.

The better you make yourself, the better you try to do for yourself, someone will be watching and someone will have something to say. It will not always be constructive. It's a shame to say that some of the very people that you interact with may be the same people that mean you that harm! Regardless of their agenda, it is our job as Christians to forgive them. Its our job as Christians to love them. Scripture says that we are to love and pray for those that despitefully use us. Kill them with your kindness; give them no room for satisfaction. It's not such an easy thing to do, and you'll mess up sometimes trying to do it, but you must try. The more you're tried, the better you'll be at resisting the enemy.

Don't be discouraged if you're that one that is playing by the rules and things fall apart. Keep at it. Keep doing that good. If the devil waste the energy to tempt and try you that must mean you're more valuable than you know! The devil doesn't waste his time with people who he has already claimed, he wants to mess with those that has a divine purpose. As the Mornin Manna said for today, I encourage you to hold on to your faith. Keep going on, and keep staying strong. We are to strive for greatness in Jesus, just watch out for the haters that come along to distract you and drag you off the path headed towards salvation.

Just a lil blessing

I've joined that made a way outta no way groups. I'm going to be brief, only because I'm at work and I don't have much more time to type. I was faced with a dilemma on trying to pay my rent. God made a way to aid me with paying my rent. I only pay about 38% of my rent. Then, I didn't have the funds to pay my last full months rent before the change took effect. God made a way for that rent to be paid in full. God has truly made a way out of no way for me and I didn't even see it coming. I didn't ask God what to do, I gave him my situation in faith that all would work out for my good! I know I love the Lord and he heard my cry and he came a rushing to my aid when I needed him. All it takes is just a little faith! I'm just taking this time out to tell God Thank You for all he's done and is doing for me. Let this be an instance that God can do! Yes, he will do! Lemme go, cause I feel my help coming...

And God Spoke

I've been in church all of my life. I call myself being a man of faith. I pray. I fast. I Study my bible. I seek the Lord. There was something that bothered me. Whenever I would be in a situation, and I wanted to hear from God, I never would hear anything. I would hear from different church goers and saved family members that "God said..." and I can't say the same. I've been led and things have been shown to me but I don't have one of those "God said..." moments to share until today.

I came home last night from work and was really tired. I started working both of my jobs again and my body is not liking the adjustment. I was physically tired and knew I had to be at work at a certain time. I said I couldn't do it. I rolled over and began to rest. In the midst of my slumber I heard a powerful voice call out my name and I immediately woke up. I gained my strength and became alert while I gathered my things and walked out the door.

On my way to work it was all I could think of. I heard my name! It was clear. It was something like I've never heard before. It stirred me so that I couldn't lay there any more. It may seem like nothing to some, but to me it means much to hear a word from the Lord. A song speaks of one Rhema word designed with God's expertise which is tailor made for me. God spoke and revealed himself to me. I am so thankful for that word, which was my name.

When God speaks there will be a response. He said let there be light, along with a host of other things, and it became so! The sun, wind, moon, stars, earth and everything else shall yield to God. There is power, more than we can imagine, behind every word that God speaks. More importantly, there is meaning to everything He has to say. So, my word of encouragement to you is to hearken unto the voice of the Lord. Listen and obey his words and commandments and you will find yourself among the kept and blessed. I know I wanna be blessed and for sure I wanna be kept! Be encouraged!

WARNING: Slippery!

I'm up and I can't sleep. I felt compelled to write about slipping. You know, walking around and losing grip and swaying and moving about in a fashion that you might not have complete control of. What I thought was cool about slipping is when you slip, as long as you can find something sturdy enough, you can prevent yourself from falling! Wondering if anyone is catching on...

Donnie McClurkin sang about falling and getting up again. In order to get up you must have a firm or somewhat stable ground to rest upon and stand. If you get back up and you're on shaky ground, there is always a risk that you can fall in the same spot once again. The idea is to get back up and move on, walking on solid ground. Thinking if someone might be putting this together...

Is there anything, or hmmm anybody, that can be stable and sturdy and keep us from falling and yet be there every time to help us when we've fallen? Every time I turn around, Jesus is right there with his hand outstretched for times of need. Every time I lose my balance I can call on Jesus and that same hand is there to keep me from falling. The lovely part is what happens when we don't acknowledge him in all of our ways. We go down the shaky path of destruction and fall. We might be down in the dirt for a lil while. When we come to our senses, and realize that Jesus is the way the truth and the light, that same hand is still waiting for us to pick us up and place us on a solid ground to stand! Oh how wonderful is Jesus!

Scripture tells us that the most righteous man can fall and make mistakes. God is faithful and just to forgive us, as long as we acknowledge our error and place Jesus at the head of our lives! Don't forget to confess Jesus with your mouth, believe him in your heart. You CAN know Jesus for yourself!

I hope I've helped someone...

Elevated Expectations!

You know the Church of God in Christ has a reputation for having radical preachers. I have a cousin that tends, who is a National evangelist for COGIC, and when I go to hear him preach he tells me to listen and watch the audiences reactions. He likes to sneak realism under the radar and wants me to notice the congregation's reactions. One time he was speaking on be careful what you say. Then minutes later he shouted to say amen if you're a liar! Out of no where the church said amen! It was followed by silent chatter of people saying "did he just say that", lol! All of that to introduce what another preacher said this past Friday night at a yearly meeting. He was talking about being hurt and healed. Then he asked the church, "how many of you have ever been hurt in the church?" I kid you not in saying practically every hand was raised!

Why is it that the church, the house where the spirit of the Lord is supposed to dwell, is a place where people are being hurt. I had to sit back in my seat and remove myself from the service and ponder this. I began to think on certain accounts of people who have told me that church folk are nasty, they judge you, and that's why they don't go to church. Again, I asked myself, "Why?" Why is the church this way? I came to the conclusion which rests on the expectancy of people.

People have an image. They don't wish anyone to see the dirt in their yard, so they point out the dirt in someone else's yard to deter focus. Therefore, you keep your self appointed image. However, what has just occurred is you've just damaged somebody's character and discouraged someone from wanted to come back into the house of God. Its a very dangerous game and most church goers are playing it, and it's damaging the body of Christ. If we can remember that we all are human and are subject to making the same mistakes than we can focus on elevating ourselves to a higher level in Christ being the examples that we are meant to be instead of pretending!

What happens when you place someone on a pedestal, that's not God, and expect much from them, when they can't deliver, the world is over! Go tell Sista Soandso and Brotha Biznessminda. From an outside view, the church is no better than the streets, so why should the come to church? More damage to the body of Christ as well as a stunted growth! Worry about yourself and your relationship in God. Put your faith and trust in God, not in man! As man, we can fail. Not saying that we fail all the time but in Christ there is no failure! You cannot be disappointed in God! Psalm 146:3 says, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." Proverbs 3:5 tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart..."

Stop placing so much weight on people. Worry about you and your salvation and everything else will work out just fine. Work on being filled with God's holy spirit, which comes with love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance which will bring one another together in unity because we all will have god's spirit living within us!

Perspective

Lately, I've been going through some things. I've been sick in my body, unfortunate in affairs of the heart, missing chances that could change my financial status. I've seen the emergency room on more than one occasion, and seeing the dollar amount in my bank account decrease without significant increase. If anyone knows, it's harder to recover physically when your mental and emotional wellness are wounded. Subconsciously, I was building the blocks of a structure called depression.

I called friends, sometimes their words offered relief but none led me through the tough time. Slowly, the structure grew larger. I woke one day to silence. There was no noise in the entire place. Sun was shining in the apartment at about 6am. I dressed and went for a walk nowhere. I saw joggers, commuters, cars and buses. Eventually, I ended up at a park. I walked a ways into the park and sat on a bench, doing nothing. I sat and stared. I got up and walked some more. I then ended up at a lil pond with some benches next to it. It had a fountain in it, which was relaxing to watch. I sat. I relaxed my mind. I began to place things into perspective.

I thought about my health. I may be sick, with however many things I have wrong with me, but my heart still beats. I have full function of my body with all of my limbs. I thought about my money. I have a job. No, it doesn't pay a lot. Yea, it can be a headache sometimes! Yea, I could get more hours, but I have both Sunday and Thursday off for church. The shift they give me allows me to work a second job in the morning. Most importantly, I'm not broke! I was placing things into perspective!

I'm 24 years old and can only account for one major relationship. I'm a guy and we get lonely too. We long for company just as females do. I believe guys don't make as big of an issue as females do! I've silently wondered why I seem to have a difficult time finding a companion! I said companion because I really am looking for that 1 person that I can spend the rest of my life with. I got annoyed with the whole process of looking. I was angered after dismissing prospect after prospect. I had to then realize that i would rather dismiss than to settle. If I take my time and have more patience with selecting, I will have less problems in the long run! I need to wait.

After placing things into perspective, I must say that I don't have it bad. So many others have it worse than I do! I complain a lot; it's true! I want things when I want them; no denying that! I called a few people and I shared these thoughts with them and they advised me to just be patient. "Good things come to those that wait, just keep waiting!" "I've been there before, I thought it would never turn around but it did, just hold out!" "You're just goin through growing pains, It'll be alright!"

The purpose of this post is to pass along a lil bit of encouragement to those that need a friendly word. Sometimes things may be rough and may get hard, but place some things into perspective. Trouble doesn't last always. Keep moving on! Blessings are coming your way, just keep your faith and focus on God! We must be reminded that its not going to be peaches and cream all the time, there's gonna be some gruel sometimes! Victory has already been promised to us. Just as Christ has overcome the world, we who live in Christ have overcome it also! John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Come As You Are!

The Bible is often quoted for having scripture that doesn't exist. We often add things to the Bible for our own comfort and advantage. "Money is the root of all evil". Scripture says that "FOR THE LOVE of money is the root of all evil". How about this one, "God helps those who helps themselves"? I really like that one because God shows up in the exact moment when we can't do anything for ourselves and picks us up! What kind of God would just sit there and remain helpless? Not my God! Then there is "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" and a few more. The one that I wanted to talk about in this post was "Come as you are".

People use this statement to accomplish a few agendas. They will come into church dressed any ol' way and say the bible told me to come as I am. Not so boo boo, SORRY! Let me just say this. When you wanna go to the club you will make sure you got the fresh jeans, the cleanest shoes or sneakers, make up or whatever done up, hair done tight and you are looking sharp as a tack! Why is it when you enter the house of God, the same God that allowed you to shake whatever you shook, drank whatever you drank, and allowed you to see another day, you look like a hobo? God is not pleased! I'm sorry to tell y'all, but it's not right! The things we do for the world in our day to day life, we should be able to either do the same or better for God! That's the truth anyhow!

Lemme think, hmmm... how about the ones that think they can bring their habits into the church and continue the habits in the church. Whether it be a ungodly lifestyle, habit or addiction, yes you enter that way. You don't continue that way! You choose God so you can become a better person, a godly person! Which, in turn, will inherit you a seat in heaven! Don't come go to God, don't go to church doing the same things that you were doing before. There has to be a change. God is the one that changes you, allow the change to take place!

When you "come as you are", you are really going to God. You may be in a church, sanctuary, synagogue, temple or wherever you're at, but you're really meeting God. You may be burdened, broken, bound and bruised. You may be conflicted, confused, abused or weary. Whatever state you're in, the Bible says in Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." You've got to make that choice to do better. You've got to make that choice to keep doing better. You've got to make Jesus your number one choice. Once you choose him he will begin to work on you if you allow him. If you really don't want to be changes, the change will not happen! Come to God with a willing heart and a do right mind and you will see your life begin to change for the better. This is what the real meaning of "come as you are" represents. We've got to do better.

Once you come as you are then you are not meant to stay as you were! It's all about stepping up our game and bettering ourselves so we can set the new example for the ones that will come after we do. If they see a non-progressive so-called saint that is stagnant, do you think they will want to step into the body of Christ? No, of course not, because you look like filth with a tie on sitting in the choir! The bottom line is to be the best for God that we can be. Making it to heaven and bring someone along with is!

Struggles!

I'm fed up. I'm really bothered by people that think they are better than you. I don't wanna blast preachers, but I wanna put people on blast! I wish that I can go to church and get preached to instead of being preached down on. I go to church to be encouraged. I go to church to be lifted. I go to church for healing. I go to church to be a blessing to someone else! I do not to go to church to leave feeling worse than I did before I got there! I did not come to church to be further burdened down. I was agitated when I came across a victim of this.

When people come across you and you open up to them in efforts for help and they automatically condemn you to hell. My skin rose when I heard of an instance where this happened. People come to church for help, seeking solutions, and not to be sent to hell! Let me first say this, people do NOT have a heaven nor hell to place you in. Secondly, if this is happened to you, as a member of the body of Christ I apologize on their behalf. They handled you in the wrong way. We are to have love one towards another. We are to season our words with love, not to offend. Again, I apologize.

We gotta realize that we all have issues. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all have a struggle that we go through. Listen here, and Listen good! Sin is Sin. There is no sin that is greater than the other. What is sin? All unrighteousness is sin! Whether you cuss, steal, lie, cheat, fornicate, struggle with sexual urges all around. It is all the same, despite what people may!

I recommend that people go to God. God is no respecter of persons. God's love covered a multitude of sins. After all, God only wants us to choose him and be open and honest with him! This is why David was a man after God's own heart because he was honest with God. David was a liar, a fornicator, and a murderer! He slept with another man's wife, felt guilty and tried to cover things up because the wife got pregnant. Then he sent the husband into the front line of battle to ensure his death. That's downright grimey, for real for real! He knew he was out of line and went to God and poured his wrong doing out! God forgave him. It came at a price, but he was still forgiven!

Paul even confessed his dealings to the people. He put it right on out here that he had issues. we're not perfect and the more we realize that Jesus is the only perfect one and we all are still striving towards perfection, the sooner we realize that EVERYONE is indeed reaching towards that same goal!

Don't belittle others because of their struggles, because let it be known your struggles and you wouldn't feel so hot now would you? It doesn't feel good to have your sin thrown in your face so don't do it to others! Like I said earlier, its all about love! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! you can't get enough love! Keep showing it. Keep extending it. Love does last and we are to have love towards one another! Not out of obedience, but out of desire!

I urge upon you to bring your struggles to God. I urge you to be honest with God. He already knows your story, he just wants you to admit it to yourself so you can admit it to him so he can begin to work on you. Lay it all on God!

Mornin Manna Texts

These are the text messages that were sent since the last time I did the Mornin Manna Text post. You can get these messages sent to your phone for no cost to you. Daily inspiration for free? Who can beat that? It's sent Monday through Friday between 9am and 11:59 am, lol! There is a link above, at the top of the blog, that you can follow and you'll be on your way!

Mornin Manna! We want God to show and show out but we can't even make a decent showing! Then we get impatient! We need 2 step up our Game for God! Read Lam 3:40

Mornin Manna! It'd be a shame for Jesus 2 crack that sky and we're stuck on stupid. We gotta lay down the foolishness and start living right! Read Luke 12:35-40

Mornin Manna! A tree is known by the fruit it bears. What kinda fruit are u bearing? Can someone tell that you're a born again believer? Read Galations 5:22-26

Mornin Manna! So many things come and go. So many things are temporal, but God's love is eternal! What can separate u from God's love? NOTHING! Read Rom 8:35-39

Mornin Manna! Some of us are waiting for deliverance, healing and/or a miraculous breakthrough. It's available, by faith in Jesus' name! Read Romans 5:1-10

Mornin Manna! What you do for God has to have substance and meaning. Don't just do it to do it! Make it heartfelt, sincere, honest and true! Read Isaiah 1:10-15

Mornin Manna! We need to learn how to love one another. Furthermore, would it kill you to show that love from time to time? Goodness, lol! Read John 13:34,35

Mornin Manna! We must be mindful of the things we say. Let's build each other up in love and stop tearing each other down. It's all about love! Read Eph 4:29

Mornin Manna! We're all family, whether by blood or thru Christ. Families should help each other in improving themselves! Where's the support? Read 1Co 12:12-26

Mornin Manna! While you claim your blessing, make sure you meet God half way and do what you supposed to be doing! God doesn't reward laziness! Read Eph 2:8-10

Mornin Manna! Stop saying you're tired of your situations; get up & so something about it! Get a game plan & don't give up! Reach 4 success! Read Philip 2:14-16

Mornin Manna! While you claim your blessing, make sure you meet God half way and do what you supposed to be doing! God doesn't reward laziness! Read Eph 2:8-10

Mornin Manna! There's a tailor-made blessing with your name on it. You've gotta reach up with authority, claim it and pull that blessing down. Read 1 Cor 2:9,10

Mornin Manna! When u can control your fears you can better embrace success. First, deal with them; recognize they're there. Then, work on them! Read 2 Tim 1:6,7

Mornin Manna! When nobody cares, Jesus loves you. Whatever or wherever you're coming from, He loves you! No matter what Jesus always loves you! Read Rom 8:38-39

Mornin Manna! If God has been so good 2 you, u ought to stand up on your feet. Just praise and magnify the Lord 4 He's the one that set u free! Read Heb 13:8-16

Mornin Manna! There's no other way into heaven but through Jesus. By Him we have access to God and through Him we're entitled to salvation! Read Acts 4:10-12

Mornin Manna! You are chosen; you are mighty. God has empowered u to be a blessing. Just so u know, you're a child of God with a great destiny! Read Phil 1:1-11

Mornin Manna! You might find yourself in less trouble with less worries if you took a step back and analyzed what your main focus is! Is it Jesus? Read Isa 26:3

Mornin Manna! You go through things and deal with situations. Things may seem doubtful. God does show up on time & he'll show every single time! Read Psa 46:1-3

Mornin Manna! God doesn't need us! He was here before us, is with us now and will be here after us! We're the ones standing in need of God! Read Eph 4:15,16

Mornin Manna! Jesus is what brings things all together! Without Jesus, nothing can function, nothing will work & we don't exist! We need Jesus! Read Eph 4:15,16

Mornin Manna! There're things that seem incomplete or unfinished. Could Jesus be the missing link? How much of Jesus is included in them? Read Eph 4:15,16

Mornin Manna! You are known by the fruit you bear. People can see who and what you are! Bear the right fruit, the one that Christ displayed! Matthew 7:18-20

Mornin Manna! It seems like believers have problems following directions the first time given! If we listen to God first we might be better off! Read Phil 2:5-8

Mornin Manna! We need to get in a place with God so that we have favor & repor. Keep on praying, fasting, studying the Bible & seeking his face! Read 2Chro 4:10

Mornin Manna! Where's the love? The same love that Christ shows us we must show to each other. There's no need for us to be so bitter and mean! Read John 13:34

Mornin Manna! There's no denying that God's love is real. It warms and surrounds u like none other can provide. If you haven't tried God, TRY HIM! Read Eph 5:2

Mornin Manna! This road call life isn't easy to walk. Yea, you'll fall but your next move is to realize you've fallen and get back up! Read Matthew 7:13,14

Mornin Manna! We play these games with God, taking his grace and mercy for granted. We gotta get serious before God gives us a rude awakening! Read Rev 3:13-16

Mornin Manna! Everyday we should be a living testimony, in every way we can. Lord, help us to be holy examples for the world to see! Read Titus 2:1-15

Mornin Manna! "Great is your Mercy towards me, your love and kindness towards me, your tender mercy I see day after day" Remember 2 give God thanks! Read Ps 100

Mornin Manna! Some of you got some strange situations and some unique problems! Call on Jesus and you'll witness His marvelous glory! Read Psalm 24