Are You Positioned to Receive What You Ask of HIM?

This morning, as I sat in my room, I heard my mom repeatedly asked (just three times) to borrow one of my scarves.  The final time she asked I got up put the scarf over the rail, ready to drop it down to her, and I called out here you go.  Her response was "ok I’m coming" and I replied you kept asking for the scarf but you’re not even there to catch it -of course I said it in a nice way.  It was at that very moment “the light bulb” came on.  We as people tend to ask God for a lot of “stuff”.  Some of the stuff we haven’t even positioned ourselves to receive it.  Let’s take these few scenarios as an example:

God give me a house - but then we haven’t positioned ourselves financially to sustain the house and still be able to LIVE comfortably.

God give me a husband – but we haven’t come close to mastering how to take care and nurture with HIS love, the relationships that God has placed in our lives.

God give me a job where I earn more money – but we haven’t mastered how to properly allocate and live off of our current resources.

Now I’m not saying don’t ask God for “stuff”, because I do believe in HIS favor and I do know that regardless of any situation HE is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all.  However, I am saying that in our asking for the stuff; let us not forget to ask God to show us how to prepare ourselves to receive our answered prayers. 

I heard a quote earlier this year from one of my financial mentors, Dave Ramsey, and it has really stuck with me and I just want to share with you to encourage you that when you think your prayers haven’t been answered ponder this “Gods not going to curse you by giving you something that you don't have the character to handle". Then turn around and ask for God’s wisdom and how you can do your part to position yourself to receive.  I’m reminded of two scriptures, the first is  Joshua 1:8 (NLT) Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.   The second is Matthew 6:15 (MSG) If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part.

Until next time, peace and blessings always!

Samiyyah W.

With All That's Going On in the World Today

I haven't written in a while and today I am feeling inspired to write. With all that is going on in the body of Christ I can not help but to think that the world is asking us where is God; the one that we say we worship, the one that we claim to be our healer or deliverer our provider, the one that says no weapon formed against us shall prosper? Well I thought about it and my answer to the questioon is that God is still here. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever more. He has not left us nor forsaken us, just like He said. With all that is going on in the world especially in the body of Christ, I am learning not to be a “spectator” but rather a person of constant prayer, for myself, my family and the body of Christ. Always be reminded that the thing we judge and criticize our neighbor about can easily become our issue the moment we taken our eyes off God.

You may have heard the scripture “what God joins together let no man put asunder”. (Mathew 19:4-6) This means that if God ok'd you to marry your spouse in that particular season of your life and then trials began to come you need to be reminded and encouraged of this scripture and know that nothing is able to separate that vow you made before God to your spouse, as long as you stay in the presence of God. I bet your saying how would I know, your not even married. But the truth of the matter is that I am convinced that the same concept applies with everything else in our lives, receiving a miraculous healing and then years later you receive a bad report, purchasing a new home and then you lose your job, financial struggles, dealing with difficult children, a business in the dry season, etc. There will always be a time where we are tempted to doubt what God has already said or done and it is up to us to stand still, not be shaken and know that if he said it then its already done. If he has done it no man can ever undue it.

God gives us choices and sometimes we may need to reflect everyday about the decisions that are before us, just to make sure that we are moving in the Will of God. In him is where we get our strength to fight the enemy that is so easily waiting to deceive us. The moment we take our eyes off God the enemy is right their to feed us the beautiful LOOKING fruit of anxiousness, jealousy, un-forgiveness, haughtiness, unloving and doubting ways and if our eyes are closed we will eat of that which is poison to our life just because it smells good. So I say to you let the character of God be evident in the things you do. Never give up on what you know God has given you and remember that the battle is not yours, it belongs to the Lord. After doing all but stand, stand and see the salvation of the Lord. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing, but let who you are and what you do be the example to the world that God is real, and He is all that His word says that He is. Just as a friend of mine just recently told me, and I leave with you today, "I love you but Jesus loves you more".

My Prayer:
Lord I ask that you guard my ears and eyes along with my neighbors that are reading this today. Allow our heart to be free from any burdens, let our thoughts be so in tuned with the word of God that we allow you to order our every step. Even as things continue to happen and we don’t quite understand it but it is at that moment Lord that we ask you to teach us to pray before publicizing; bridle our tongues and convict our hearts from saying anything that is not pleasing to you. Give us the strength we need to press forth in the assignments you have appointed us for. Teach us how to love all over again, not just the Love that we know it to be everyday but the Agape love, the love that you continue to show us every minute on the hour. Lord, as you continue to work on us, we thank you that you will help us to surrender our whole being to you and as a result of doing so our character will begin to bring forth the true fruit of the spirit that you require from us and we thank you for it now. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Be Blessed

CHECK YOUR FEELINGS...

Before the enemy could try to bring discouragement God sent an encouraging word via Min. Lisa and the two words that I received were to “Trust God”.

What goes into the man does not defile him but it’s what comes out. However, if you continue to listen to someone complaining, someone constantly talking negative, constantly speaking the opposite of what God has promised, we begin to take on the emotions and different spirits that are attached to those words. I am writing about this because today I started to feel this way and I started saying well I want to, and how come and why this; and eventually the Spirit woke up in me and I had to check myself. I said “Wait! Who and where is this coming from”. It’s good that we lend an ear to others what may be going through but at some point we need to say I’m sorry but I just can’t hear about it today or better yet say lets just Pray. That’s why its so important for us to pray daily about out surroundings, asking God to keep our minds, fill us with His joy and not the joy of the world, help us to be content in Him knowing that he is the all sufficient one, help us to keep our thoughts focused on His promises and not the cares of this world, to guard our ear and eye gates from anything that comes to try and distract us from the plans that He has for us. So you see, its so very important that God continues to remain Lord over our life because He is the one who is able to keep us from falling (Jude 1:24), He is the one that says no weapon formed against us shall be able to prosper (Isaiah 54:17) He is the one that shall supply all our needs according to His riches and Glory (Philippians 4:19). He-is-the-great I AM!(Exodus 3:14)

So as my First Lady (Pastor) Mary once told me back in 2005, I am also going to leave with you and that is “…To Be of Good Courage”. (Psalms 27:14). I encourage you to allow this to be your motivational scripture for the week.

Be blessed and may the word of the Lord continue to be a blessing to you.

S.A.W.

So CLOSE; but Yet So Far !

As I am striving to get closer and closer to Christ by praying more, reading more and learning to be obedient I can not help but to notice the things that God has began to shift in and out of my life' the doors He has being to open and the doors that He needed to shut. I am truly thankful to Him. For those of us who have a relationship with Him, we can tend to sense when God is up to something, you may not know the details of the works that he is performing but surely you just “know it in your knowing” (My Bishop -George Searight) that He is up to something. After tuning into my ‘”knowing” I began to become a little fearful. I started to think, O No! am I really ready for the great things that God has in store for me, will I be able to handle the pressure and the fiery darts that I know will come my way; Am I, Am I, Am I. Did you know that whenever you need something confirmed God always sends confirmation? Thank you God for always being so faithful. It was confirmed on Wednesday July 18th during our usual 6am corporate prayer time, God used Min. George Searight II, to confirm for us “Indeed the time of the open door is here, don't fear just walk in. Where there is lack - Grace is much more. The earth is where we should walk and we must walk in the wealthy place of the Lord. Walk in his abounding grace (favor).”

Now I don’t know how much more confirmation I needed than that! Thank you Father for always being on time.

In conclusion, we are in a new season a season of completion 2007 (7 God’s complete number). So be bold don’t get nervous don’t be afraid and whatever you do, DON’T TURN BACK. God would never give you something that HE knows you are not spiritually, financially and wholly ready for. His word says he will never put more on us than we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13). He wants you to experience his blessings with all the joy, peace, excitement, fulfillment, love, gratefulness and prosperity that each one comes with. How do I know this, because his word says that “the blessings of the lord make rich and add no sorrow.” (Proverbs 10:22) Thanks mom for always reciting this scripture to me before leaving the house every morning. God Bless your Heart! :)

So my readers, I leave you with this, Know that God is a God that can not lie, if he said it, he will most certainly being it to pass. (Titus 1:2) Be patient and wait on the Lord and Let God’s word be Yea and Amen. (II Corinthians 1:20)

S.A.W.

Mind over Excuses ='s VICTORY!

Never be so consumed with the things that are on our mind that we make excuses to do what God is calling us to do. (Reference Luke 14:15-24)

I have fallen victim to excuse at many points in my life. There were many times when I found myself in instances saying; if only I had enough money to start this new venture, I would. I have even thought at some point, I am way too old and too short to try and make my dreams come true at this point; there’s just not enough time in the day! If only, if only, if only!

But O how uplifting it was for me once I realized that it was possible for me to accomplish all that my mind can dare to think, if only I just stopped making excuses and acknowledge that “with God all things are possible” –(Matthew 19:26) After all Abraham did make a baby in his old age, just as God said he would!

When reading articles about influential people who made it, I always desired to know the behind the scene stories on how it took them to turn a vision into a million dollar dream, The Right Way, or how did one start a small business and in the blink of an eye it turned into a Fortune 500 company. How about when you hear of couples that were married for over forty years! Now that recipe alone needs to be exposed to the entire world. :) Ok, Ok so let me tell you the secret because I know your anxious to know; Can I have a drum roll please…and the Secret is a change of mindset, communication, perseverance/boldness, and positive confessions.

The Success Potion

Change Of Mind- No longer can you perceive your self to be incapable of doing what seems to be the impossible. Eliminate the should, could and would and adopt I can and I will. Begin to see yourself beyond where you are now. Have FAITH to Believe -(What- Ephesians 11:1, When-Galatians 5:6, How- Romans 10:17)

Communication (Prayer)- This is the 2nd most important thing because without faith it is impossible to please God. (Ephesians 11:6) Once we are walking in faith it is easier for us to commune with God, hear from God and then obey God. Once HE is the center of our every business deal, of every relationship, on every venture and all of our decisions, he will direct us in the right path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Boldness/Perseverance- These two go hand in hand, if you have one you have to have the other. As obstacles come our way we need to have that power that stands up inside of us and says, I can do this, I can over come this mountain, HE that sits on the throne has already given me the victory over every situation that comes to destroy me. Boldness to stand in your enemy’s face and with confidence confess that God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of love peace and a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7) That’s when perseverance comes in and reminds you of the Prize that is before you.

Confessions- What so ever you sow, that shall you also reap. (Galatians 6:7) Therefore let your lips sow into your heart, your mind, your spirit and the atmosphere, the promises that God has already spoken over your life.

Sow the promises of God:

*HE said he would make me the head and not the tale, above and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13)
*HE said he will supply all my needs according to his riches and his Glory (Philippians 4:19)
*HE said he would bless those who bless me and curse those who curse me
(Genesis 12:2)
*HE said he would give me peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7 )
*HE said he would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5)

There are over 3000 promises that HE has spoken. You don’t have to know all of them but get a few of them and meditate and declare them on a regular basis and because these promises are TRUE allow them to be your confessions and they will bring about a change of mind, communication and boldness.

So between you and myself, I leave us both with these words: LET TODAY BE THE START OF A NEW JOURNEY! Be encouraged and go after ALL that God has in store for you.

S.A.W.