Daily Dose – Thy Will Be Done

Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

I have been pondering the above scripture for some time now and I can’t begin to express the excitement I feel when I say the four bold words above. YOUR WILL BE DONE!

It takes a level of humility, trust and faith to sincerely pray such a prayer. So many times I have repeated the Our Father prayer and not realized the true magnitude of its words. Only now as God is taking me through a season of pruning and grooming that my eyes have been opened and my heart blessed with various revelations in this scripture.  While there are many parts of this prayer I can expound upon, tonight I will focus on those four words in verse 10 of Matthew chapter 6.

I believe that we have been boxing God in by praying for things and not accepting that what we ask for may not be what God intends for our life.

2 Timothy 1:8-9 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to HIS OWN PURPOSE and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

When God saved and called us it was according to HIS purpose. God has an intended purpose for each of our lives and sometimes we don’t fully understand what it is, so we try to shape our lives a particular way, by praying for specific things which we sincerely believe are in alignment with God’s design for us. Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking God for what is in our hearts, however we need to be mindful that if what we want is not what God intends for our life then we need to accept His will when it is manifested in our lives.

The manifestation of God’s will outside of ones desire is exemplified in Luke 22:42-43 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

This was the night Jesus would be betrayed and he went to His father earnestly asking to not have to face the pain of the cross. In His prayer Christ acknowledged that His Father’s will should be done above all else. Here we see that instead of removing the cross from Jesus’ destiny, God instead strengthened Him for the rest of the journey.

I believe that this is what is happening today with a lot of believers. We are asking God for things and praying about circumstances with the expectation that God is going to say yes. We have not considered that what we desire may not be God’s will for our lives. It is very possible that some of the things the people of God are asking for will not come the way we’re expecting it. Some of the things may not come at all because they are not in alignment with God’s will for our lives. The problem lies not in the answer from God, but in our ability or willingness to accept an answer contrary to what we desire.

As I type I realize that I am guilty of such actions. I ask God for things sometimes and I really do expect Him to give it to me or to work out situations in a particular way, in a specific time frame and I don’t leave room for His will to be done in my life. God’s will for Jesus on the cross was our salvation. If he had taken the cross from Christ, if Jesus’ blood was not shed we would not have the promise of eternal life today. Clearly the will of God supersedes the desires of men.

It’s time for change. It’s time for us to mean what we say when we pray. It’s time for God’s children to trust His will for our lives and embrace the purpose for which we have been called!

Daily Dose – Never Forgotten

Psalm 113:5-6 Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

This all-powerful Lord, to whom the heavens and earth are small, cares not just for your universe, but for you.

The verses that follow these describe His love for even the most humble person. Though you may face times of struggle, your awesome Lord will never forget you.

One day, as verse 8 of this Psalm promises, even the humble can sit with princes.

*Everyday Encouragement – Pamela L. Mcquade

Daily Dose – On My Knees

Luke 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down,and prayed

When was the last time you knelt before God?

Jesus, on the night he was betrayed went before His Father on bent knees to make his request known.

Jesus showed us that the most humble way we can approach our Father is on our knees. When we approach God in humility he provides strength for our journey.

On our knees we a physically vulnerable but spiritually powerful. Maybe it’s time we begin to exercise our spiritual authority.

Clothe Yourself with Compassion

Colossians 3:12-17
As children of God there are some things we should put off and some things we should put on, in order to live a life pleasing to God. We can’t change what we don’t acknowledge and we can’t expect significant change if we continue doing the same old things. It must begin with a change of heart.
We should put off the old sinful man and his sinful deeds which includes anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, lying, works of darkness and the pattern of living in sin. However we should put on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and forgiveness. We must put on the whole armour of God, even the armour of light. This is the type of Spiritual garment we must wear which was also worn by Jesus Christ.

Col 3:14 says, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Charity is love which is the thread that holds our spiritual garments together. Anything without charity (love) is nothing. It perfects us.

We must learn to forgive others just as Christ forgave us. Holding unforgiveness in our hearts will be burdensome and keep us down. Despite what we may face the peace of God should rule in our hearts having dominion over any feelings and emotions. Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace and is able to give us that peace that passeth all our understanding. We are to live peaceably with all men, even as we are called in one body, the body of Christ. Paul reminds us to be thankful in everything, this is the will of God.

Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
We should hide the Word of God in our hearts. This is our daily bread, our spiritual food by which we must live. This enables us to teach, admonish and encourage each other, with wisdom, being led by the Holy Spirit. Anything we do or say should be done with excellence, as unto the Lord and not unto men. God should be glorified in all that we say, do or even think.

*Excerpt taken from Soul Harvest’s Daily Devotion

Proving God by Acting in Faith

Matthew 17:²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you.”

I had the pleasure of sitting down with a woman of remarkable faith on Saturday night and she shared with me many testimonies of her faith in God and his answers to her prayers. Below is one such testimony that truly demonstrates the faithfulness of Christ if we should only have faith in him and his word.

ANN MARIE’S TESTIMONY

Ann Marie woke up one Sunday morning with no money and no food and her young daughter to provide for. She said to her daughter “Get dressed for church. Today I’m going to teach you how to have faith in God.” Her daughter Shanice was in her teens at the time and was convinced that her mother was crazy, but she did as she was told and got ready for church.

Dressed and with their bibles in hand the two made their way to the main road to get transportation to church. Ann Marie stopped a maxi filled with people and said to the the driver, “Drive my daughter and I need to get to church in Barataria (twenty minutes drive from their home) but we have no money.” In that instant God showed up and the driver told them to come and don’t worry about the money.

God’s work for Ann Marie wasn’t done there. She danced and praised and worshiped God during the service and on leaving the church she sat on the steps and said ” Lord if you are my God and you will provide just as you said you would send me a job so I can provide for my daughter and I.” When she got up and started walking down the steps of the church she heard a clapping behind her and someone calling out. She turned around and a member of the church who she did not know beckoned her. “Do you have a job?” he said, without responding to the man she said “Thank You Jesus”. Ann Marie was offered a job to clean two gyms the man owned.

Even now God was not done showing off for her. She still did not have money to get home or food for her and her daughter to eat. The two proceeded to leave the church laughing and giggling, not understanding what was the reason for the immense joy they felt in the midst of their desperation. Yet again she heard clapping and someone calling behind her, when she turned around a woman from the worship team was making her way towards her. The woman; who Ann Marie did not know, handed her forty dollars and said “God has directed my heart to give this to you.”

God had given Ann Marie a way to and from church and a job, but her faith in him allowed for him to prove himself even further in her life. By now Shanice was hungry and asked her mom if she could go to her grandmother’s house for lunch. Ann Marie told her “No! Today I will teach you to have faith like your mother. Don’t worry God will provide.” On their way home the two met a neighbor who inquired what they were going to cook for lunch. Speaking in faith Ann Marie called out a menu and agreed to send some food for the neighbor later that evening. Shanice, although seeing God work for them so far was convinced that her mother was mad.

When they got home Ann Marie said to Shanice, “Light the stove and put three pots with water on it.” She then proceeded to wash clothes in her hand by the sink without soap. While washing Shanice indicated to her that the water was boiling down. “Fill it back up, God is going to send something to put in those pots.” Shanice did as she was told and went outside to play. After twenty minutes or so Ann Marie heard her daughter skipping towards her shouting “Mummy, Mummy yuh not mad. God sent somebody, uncle just came and handed me this envelope and told me to give it to you because he couldn’t stay.” In that envelope was eight hundred dollars. Ann Marie now had the money she needed to buy the items needed for the menu she declared for lunch that Sunday.

I know by now you think that God was done proving himself to these two. However he had one more favor in store for them. When the two arrived at the grocery, the store owner had closed leaving a group of people standing outside the door. Ann Marie and her daughter were a part of that crowd and God gave them complete favor in this situation. In that moment; which would have seemed to be defeat for most, the grocery owner cracked the door and pointed to her “What did you want to get?”  Ann Marie replied “Just a couple items to cook.” “Come.” was the reply of the owner and he let them both into the store. People could not understand how this woman and her daughter got favor over them and started cursing and shouting insults at them. All the while Ann Marie was praising God because she knew that it was his favor in her life that opened that door for her.

Ann Marie taught her daughter a great lesson that day. She showed her daughter that if we put all our trust in our father and have faith in him he will see us through.

Like Ann Marie, if God has done anything in your life, please share your testimony with us at testifywithme@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

God Bless You!

Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar

No one can make you serve customers well….that’s because great service is a choice.
Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: ‘I’m Wally, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my mission statement.’

Taken aback, Harvey read the card.. It said: Wally’s Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment…

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’ My friend said jokingly, ‘No, I’d prefer a soft drink.’ Wally smiled and said, ‘No problem.. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice…’ Almost stuttering, Harvey said, ‘I’ll take a Diet Coke.’

Handing him his drink, Wally said, ‘If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.’

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.’

And as if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

‘Tell me, Wally,’ my amazed friend asked the driver, ‘have you always served customers like this?’

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. ‘No, not always.. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

He had just written a book called You’ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don ‘t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.’

‘That hit me right between the eyes,’ said Wally. ‘Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.’

‘I take it that has paid off for you,’ Harvey said.

‘It sure has,’ Wally replied. ‘My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.’

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I’ve probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn’t do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

How about us? Smile, and the whole world smiles with you… The ball is in our hands!
A man reaps what he sows. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest=if we do not give up… let us do good to all people.

Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar.

Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.
SORROW looks back, WORRY looks around.

God Bless You!

DISCLAIMER: The words in this article are not my own and I am unsure who the author is. I simply saw a remarkable message in this story and I wanted to share.

Servant Leadership

John 13: It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

My inspiration this week comes from the youths of the North West District Pentecostal Churches. Every year these young people participate in a week long celebration of Christ through competition. Youths from various churches in this region of Trinidad have been celebrating Christ and ministering on the theme “Servant Leadership” this year .  Each night a different ministry is used to highlight the message within the theme. This year John 13: 1-17 is being used to encourage the youths to be more like Christ and do as he did. I believe there is a powerful message in this scripture and today I wish to share with you my understanding of servant leadership.

When I heard the term “Servant Leadership” I instantly thought, “oh that’s easy, it’s servants who are leaders”. Looking at the scripture now I understand that contrary to my thoughts servant leadership is really about LEADERS WHO ARE SERVANTS.

What greater leader was there ever amongst man than Jesus? He came FROM GOD and was returning to him after his resurrection. He had all authority under heaven and earth. He could take command of everything on this earth and had the power over life and death. He had thousands of followers and led them to their salvation so that they may share in glory with him in eternity.

Jesus knew he was a mighty and powerful man, he was well aware of the status he held in the eyes of men and god, he understood that he was the highest ranked individual on the earth at that point in time. Yet he shed his clothes and placed himself at the feet of twelve men who were lesser than him, one of whom was going to betray him. Humility must have emanated from Christ as he stooped and washed the feet of the men who served under him. Can you imagine the confused look on his disciples faces as their leader took his place beneath them wearing only his under garments and a towel?

I can’t begin to imagine myself stooping at the feet of men who followed me and washing their feet, especially knowing that I was about to give myself as a sacrifice to the world and return to almighty god. I might have felt so empowered that it would have been impossible for me to offer any type of service to the men who did not possess the same power as me. My pride might not have allowed me to become a servant to my servants. However Christ was able to humble himself and take a position interpreted as a low one in society; one at the very foot of men.

Jesus led by example and then instructs us to do as he did and serve each other.

John 13:¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

In these verses any doubt the disciples might have had regarding Christ’s status was immediately removed when he confirms his authority as their leader and lord. The instruction for us to follow Christ’s example and wash each other’s feet was non meant for us to follow in the literal sense. Rather it was a symbol representing the humility we should embrace, to push past self and  to serve even the lowest amongst us. Jesus knew the power we as his disciples would possess through his holy spirit (the same power he possessed while on earth), and it was because of that he knew he would have to lead by example in showing us to never think we are too mighty to serve others.

Christ being human understood what we would feel in our natural selves if we are to follow in his example. He knew it would be difficult for some of us to humble ourselves and serve others. He knew that some of us might struggle to get down to the feet of men so he gave us encouragement by promising a blessing to those who follow his example.

John 13:¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

The ability to abandon our status and serve others “beneath” us does not come easy to all of us. However I want to encourage you to remember that if Jesus Christ, lord and savior over all the earth was able to humble himself and wash not only the feet of his disciples but also the feet of Judas Iscariot who HE KNEW was going to betray him then we are more than capable to do the same.

I have made a personal decision to be a bit more humble when given the opportunity to serve others. I will see every opportunity to serve someone else as a opportunity to bring glory to god’s kingdom.

What’s your decision?

 

Humbled

Before God Can Elevate Us We Must First Be Humble

Acts 14:¹⁵ “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

I read Acts 14:15 before I went to sleep last night and I realized that although I can do all things through Christ Jesus I must remember to remain humble.

In this chapter of Acts, Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel in Lystra where Paul healed a man who was born crippled. When the crowd saw this they declared that the apostles were Gods who came to them in the form of humans and brought offerings to sacrifice to them outside the city gates.

Paul and Barnabas did not lose sight of who was allowing them to perform miracles and refused to accept the sacrifices that were being offered to them. They did not allow the people to continue believing they were gods or offer any sacrifices to them. Instead they humbled themselves before god and declared openly that the powers they possessed was not on their own accord. They gave god all the power and glory. Their devotion to god was so immense that they tore their clothes to prove to the gathering that they themselves were mere men.

I hope to pattern my own life after Paul and Barnabas. I pray that I can always remain humble in spite of the success I will have in life. I will always remember to openly proclaim that I have achieved everything through Christ and that god is in full control of my life and my destiny. I give god all the glory and honor and praise, for I know his grace is sufficient for me.

Like Paul and Barnabas we should always be mindful to not accept god’s glory as our own. Do not become so entangled in the goodness of our savior that you forget that you are nothing with out him. I encourage you to continue praising and worshiping god. Continue to walk in his favor and remain humble in receiving his blessings.