My Tidings of Jesus Joy

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Angels were expected to bring judgement in the biblical times. Most of them had to lead with fear not because if I am seeing a Michael or Gabriel then something is wrong! 

Christians today r also sometimes seen as bringing judgment when they come. Some of our statements in the marketplace show intolerance and judgement. Some of our actions with even family is judgmental in nature instead of loving in nature.  Not so with Jesus. He himself is the embodiment of love and whenever he comes into a situation it is to bring his fullness of joy. 

Let use this time of the year to bring only tidings of great joy. That's why Jesus came and therefore that's why we should come!  God showed me this today in my quiet time. I will be intentional about bringing only tidings of great joy to my family, my friends and those who I am lead to cross paths with this season.  Bring glad tidings today. Bring encouragement and not judgment. Bring peace and not protest. Bring manna and not hardship. Bring grace and not attitude. Bring Jesus to the party not ur famous casserole. Smile. 

That's what I heard. Be blessed and be a blessing. 

Dagne. 

Just Play Your Hand!

Well it's been awhile since my last post!  Lots has happened and I know u know but I's married now!  I have been focused on getting my wife life down before I pick up some of my single life things that I had time for. Well a daily blog is out of bounds right now but AS THE LORD LEADS I will share what I'm listening for and today this is how it hit. 

U have heard that favor ain't fair. Well I say it's fair for those who Love the Lord our God. This scripture reminds me of that in Psalms 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

It's like playing spades with Jesus as ur partner!  Lets picture this hand. U have no spades!  U have a couple of possibles at best. U know u cant do anything but go board and u still may get set with this hand. But then Jesus speaks up (interceding on ur behalf) and says we r going 10for2!  U r like what???? Jesus what u mean??? Do u know what I have in my hand!?!?  Jesus is like "just play ur hand. We got this." 

So u r making moves. U r trusting him and when the opponents start to play that Ace of heart that just beat out that queen u had, ur one possible dream in ur hand BAM Jesus is cutting that mess up with a spade. Now that's ur book. Ur dream again!  Finally here is the good news. U r down to ur last cards and u don't know how u r going to make it. U trust Jesus and he shows u he also has BOTH JOKERS in his hand. They can't do anything to u without him being the one who is playing it!  Whew!  I could shout right here!  U thought u were set...u thought u would renig but u just played ur hand and THE MASTER OF THE SEAS established the work of ur hands by playing his in concert with urs. Beating the odds all the while. 

That's what I heard!  Hope u r encouraged by it!  I'm back. Be blessed today. Smooches!! Mrs Barton.  

Administrator ADD to MINistry! Happy Admin Day

Everyone share this with admin professionals and other servants at ur church. It's a labor of love!  Happy Admin Pro Week!  It's long but read when u have time!  

16 Admin Nuggets. 

1. God is the chief worker.  U can have great volunteers and great staff but in this game God is the chief!  

He is decisively the main worker at your church and in your life. And the one who does the work should get the glory.  God ordains. He executes what he ordains. He is supreme in administration.

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)

2. When I am working, God is working.  Again it's all about Him in this!  

When I am working, it is because God is working. My work is owing to God’s work.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

3. When I am not working, God is still at work.  Ooh wee. Go to sleep. He is the one that never slumber or sleep!

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. (Psalm 3:5)

4. If God doesn’t work, I labor in vain.  Remember if u r stressing over GODS WORK then u r doing it wrong. 

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

5. If I do the work of the Lord, I never labor in vain.  Consistency and excellent always!  Striving! 

My beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

6. God-centered work is not work with God as an appendage or afterthought. He is the core, the root, the source, the origin, the power, the point of it all.

From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:24–25)

7. The chief credential of the God-centered administrator is: God.  I have skills. U have skills. All Gods admins got skills. But God is “for us” in carrying out his plan, not necessarily our own. His enabling grace is more crucial than our academic credentials or years of experience, though we do not disparage such credentials supplied in his kind providence.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

8. God-centeredness implies, requires, and builds humility.

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

9. If God is the main worker, ask him to work.

You do not have, because you do not ask. (James 4:2)

Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

10. God-centered administrators and executives recruit and unleash competent, trustworthy people who fear God and are not driven by greed.

Look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. (Exodus 18:21)

11. God-centered administrators affirm God-given gifts and character wherever they spot them.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (1 Peter 2:13–14)

12. God-centered administrators remember the Golden Rule.

Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

13. God-centered administrators pursue true greatness.

The greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11)

14. God-centered administrators are resourced continually in the Scriptures.

Where do God-centered administrators get their best ideas? God-centered administrators are tethered to the Bible, and they unleash it, because it’s true and powerful.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. (Psalm 119:98–100)

15. God-centered administration is not a technique, but a life.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4)

16. God-centered administrators express gratitude, in particular to Jesus.

The ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:12)

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

I know this was long but just marinate on these scriptures!  These will be the basis of my upcoming Admin Summit in August!  Love and kisses to all my ateam loves!  Happy Admin Pro Week!!!!

Be blessed beloved! 

Dagne Moore-Joy

“I am THE ADDministrator…I ADD value, I MINISTER excellence 2 the execution of the plan” DMJ

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Tell Me Who...Have Several Seats!

If God be for us, who can be against us?   Romans 8:31

It is comforting and encouraging to read that God is for us!  He is in the stands rooting for us when the enemy comes up against u and I with al kinds of nonsense and foolery!  Mali music has a song called.  I Hate U. Talking to the devil. I really do. But even that is giving too much energy to his stank behind. U can have several seats devil.

But as we are reminded by Paul, though many may oppose, NONE can prevail against those who are the people of God. God is for us!!!  He has taken sides and he is on the side of those who fear him and trust in his Son Jesus Christ.

God the Father is for his people because he has chosen US, the Son is for US because he has redeemed US with his own blood, the Holy Spirit is for US because he calls US irresistibly to himself by faith.

If God himself is for us, who, indeed, got the nerve, or inclination, or gall who indeed can successfully oppose us? Tell me who???  Dear believer, if omnipotence fights for you this day, none can overcome you; in fact, none can truly even harm you. Walk in the assurance of that truth today and always!

That's what I heard!  Be blessed today!

Discerning Spice

One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon- possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed along behind us shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved." This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her. "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," he said. And instantly it left her. (Acts 16:16-18 NLT)

Nugget:  Sometimes people will come into your life in camouflage.  It looks like one thing and is another all together.  In this day and time, we need a more discerning spirit to be able to call the SPIRIT out of the people posing to have your best interest.  I am a spice girl for life, and this is one of spices needed most - DISCERNING SPICE - mount up!  

Prayer: LORD, thank You for reminding me that the enemy can speak the truth if it serves his purpose or produces a result he wants. Help me to be more discerning and not so readily accept anything anyone says just because it "sounds" or "feels" right or they associate Your name with it. I want to always recognize and follow Your genuine leadership in everything that concerns my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

WEIGHTED DOWN! Unclean

Leviticus 13:45-46 - 45"As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!' 46"He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

In the biblical times as you can see from this scripture there were rules about lepers and others who were “infirmed and unclean” that they had to dwell outside of the camp with the other people.  They had to announce themselves when they entered any public place to alert everyone they were there and therefore exposing them to their leprosy. When the priest had pronounced the leper unclean, it put a stop to his business in the world, cut him off from his friends and relations, and ruined all the comfort he could have in the world. He must humble himself under the mighty hand of God, not insisting upon his cleanness, when the priest had pronounced him unclean, but accepting the punishment.  Verse 46 said he shall live alone….  In the New Testament – the same rule is on the scene when Jesus enters.  Luke 17:12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance. 

Today, aren't you glad you don’t have to walk in Walmart and announce your stuff?  LIAR, Unclean.    COVETING OTHER FOLK STUFF, Unclean.  WON’T STAY IN MY LANE, BUT ALL IN HER-LANE AND HIS-LANE WITH CLIFF NOTE VERSIONS OF WHAT I WOULDA SHOULDA COULDA, Unclean.  OVERSPENDING WHEN I KNOW I NEED TO GET THIS DEBT DOWN, Unclean.  No….we don’t want that.  Not at all.  We want to keep our stuff to ourselves and think it's ok.  

The problem with that is not that you are going to have to go live on the outskirts of I-64; under the bridge, or outside of the city limits; THE PROBLEM IS that all these little things keep you outside the Holy of Holies.  It’s like worship is high on a Sunday morning and you are just watching it and not in it. -Or- You wake up in the morning and what used to bring you right into the presence, takes you even longer if you ever even get there.  See as a Christian – we have sense enough (or at least we should) not to be dipping in the sinners top ten (10 commandments) but the other little foxes – the WEIGHTS THAT SO EASILY BESET US and we all have them – that’s what keeps us “standing at a distance” from God.  We all have weights, and no your pastor is not going to have you on a list or cut you off from your friends, but it’s affecting your authentic worship.  It keeps us from "giving him something he can feel!" (had to be at Central Baptist to get it)  The weights make us wait.  Talk to God about yours and deal with them.  I had a little talk about mine... more plank work!  LOL  See last week!  That’s what I heard….be blessed today!  

Plank Work

Matthew 7:3“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Today I'm doing plank work. No not the exercise planks (which I despise by the way) but working on the plank in my eye. I'm calling out some of my known to me issues I suffer from. (Impatience, sometimes too critical, quick wit and quick to speak, etc). Plank is defined as 1. a long, flat piece of timber, thicker than a board.  In the scripture it refers to a plank in comparison to sawdust. In other words (my words) sawdust gathered together makes a plank. Now if there is a plank in the eye doesn't that mean when a person tried to help with the sawdust we take it personal and then it turns to a plank over time? In 77 days I will be getting married. Marriage is the closest of relationships. It behooves me to get some of this dust out of my eye right now before Isadore has a plank to deal with. As a matter of fact I believe that is likely one of the issues in a Christian marriage. U both have to live a godly life right there in close proximity to each other with dust flying everywhere everyday getting in each other's eyes! Whew. 

I know my blog goes to people who I may not know personally but if I know u and I have pointed out a piece of sawdust on/with u, that means I'm giving the green light for u to point out mine. Because if we are mutually picking out dust then no one has to walk around with a plank or in fact walk the plank!  

That's what I heard. Be encouraged today and inbox me or reply to me my sawdust so I can sufficiently deal with my own plank!  Lol

Don't Get Weary

Don't Get Weary

Galatians 6:9-10. ... 9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

It's so easy to get weary. It's like you get encouraged, "yes I can do this" and run home with bursts of energy to do this that and the other then boom. Some distraction causes weariness to set in.  Or you wake up in the morning....it's a good day.... you head out to work to get 'er done and you get there and two of the 20 things on your list get done because distractions cause weariness to set in. Or you make a plan "I'm going to the gym starting Monday" and all day Saturday you prep your meals for the week you get your cute workout outfit laid out and then Tuesday morning hits and weariness sets in. Or you get up and go to Saturday morning prayer with the determination that this is going to be a new steady routine and you make it out to prayer one week and weariness sets in. The issue as I see it is that I keep putting hope in MY ability to act right.  I must move my muse to the hope of the Lord and not the will of Dagne. Dagne has great intentions but is made of flesh. The Lords hope is what allows me to mount up daily and get it cracking!  I know it's tough. If that's you today don't get weary.  Feel his spirit help you mount up and your strength renew.  If this little bit helped you, then encourage and help someone else. That's what I heard! 

Shelton Becton wrote a song about it! Here it goes:

chorus:
Seek ye first the kingdom of His love, Make Him first in everything you do. If you'll just trust and never doubt what He said, All Good Things Will Be Added Unto You. 

Sighted in Dothan

In the book of 2 Kings chapter 6, there is a story about God’s prophet Elisha. The king of one of Israel’s neighbors was quite upset with Elisha and sent a large force of soldiers to capture him while he stayed in a town called Dothan. Those soldiers surrounded the town overnight. Early in the morning, Elisha’s servant got up and saw that they were surrounded by enemies. What would they do? There was no way out. Surely he and his master would be captured. So he ran to tell Elisha the bad news. Yet Elisha calmly said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Then Elisha prayed that God would open the servant’s eyes so that he could see why Elisha was able to make such a claim. At once, the servant saw an angelic host, horses and chariots of fire, all around Elisha. God was with his prophet.

What force can stand against God?

That is the question the apostle Paul poses in Romans 8:31 when he writes, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Do you ever feel like Elisha’s servant: outmatched and outnumbered by mess? Are you overcome with worries and doubts of all sorts? “Does God still care about me? Does he still love me? Will he still provide for me even though I’ve failed to trust in him time after time? Will he forgive me for hurtful words I speak, or taking his grace for granted? Will he bring me through trying times in my life again?"

Well if so sounds like u r hanging out in Dothan needing ur eyes opened anew!  Here’s the wonderful truth: God is for us. The proof of that is found in the fact that he sent his Son, Jesus, to save Us.  He didn’t spare his own Son, but gave him up on the cross to forgive us and make us his very own. And if that is the length to which God goes for you, then as Paul asks, “Who can be against us?” The answer? No one! Nothing! Not even Satan himself! That's why he is always planting those seeds of doubt LIES in ur heart. In everything, you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you. God himself has seen to it.  Your Dothan is today, open ur eyes and see the chariots. 

No force can stand against God!  That's what I heard!  Be blessed today!

Tell It - Let 'em Know

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:1-4 NIV)

Sometimes when it comes to witnessing or ministering to someone in need you will have obstacles.  Sometimes you will become fearful about moving out and doing the things that God has called all of us to "go therefore and make disciples".  Sometimes you will have Sadducees in the corner talking about you and throwing shade.  In those times, we must DO IT ANYWAY.  Because just like the haters do their job, you need to do yours.  They are just "sad - u - see?" so why let them stop you?  Everyone is not going to understand it, but you must continue to tell the truth.  Back in the Acts of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John were imprisoned for doing it but in 2015, we imprison ourselves with fear and doubt and insecurities.  Tell of his love, tell of his mercy, tell of his grace.  You have been a direct beneficiary to his UNCONDITIONAL LOVE POLICY.  There are others on the policy, let them know about their benefits.  I'm letting you know right now!  The kingdom may not grow by 5000 but if it grows by ONE from you telling it...WOW - it's a good day.  

That's what I heard...Be encouraged and wherever you go, come out of the witness protection program and tell just one person today how GREAT is our God!

MEpistles

(1) Do we seem to be again attempting to put ourselves in the right? or have we need, as some have, of letters of approval to you or from you? (2) You yourselves are our letter, whose writing is in our heart, open for every man's reading and knowledge; (3) For you are clearly a letter of Christ, the fruit of our work, recorded not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in stone, but in hearts of flesh. (4) And this is the certain faith which we have in God through Christ: (5) Not as if we were able by ourselves to do anything for which we might take the credit; but our power comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-5

That was a long scripture today, however, I wanted the whole context of the message straight from the word. This is Paul writing to the church at Corinth. Today our lives are the examples of Christ and his power on earth.  Any right living that we do is not based on ourselves but based on the power that comes from the Lord. 

One day when I was a little girl in Sunday school at Mount Olive missionary Baptist Church 608 Main St., Clarksville, TN I recall Mrs. Ella Stacker telling me as she was teaching us from the book of Luke and I wanted to go into the book Galatians that "the sinner (as some of us were not yet saved) had no business in anything after the book of John." She said that the Gospels were written to save the lost and that anything after the book of John was written to the church to teach them how to live once they got saved.  

Today we don't have an imprisoned Paul writing to us to tell us how to live. The most we have is Bishop and Pastor Monty on Facebook...lol). We have the word of God. Our lives and how we live them; our faith and how we display it; our love relationship with Jesus and how we show it are the living epistles of today.  It is not through any power that we have but through his Spirit.  I thank God for his grace on the days when my story that I'm telling is not the most well written prose I could muster. Today if ur story is not in the best chapter; if the characters have taken a turn for the worse just keep living, keep serving, keep believing. Eddie Kendrick wrote a song about it, Keep on Truckin Baby. Because when it's all well just in the nick of time it's God who gets the credit!  We r the epistle. Or as I am calling it the MEpistle!  

That's what I heard!  Be encouraged today. 

The Love Note

Good morning peeps. For Valentine's weekend I Am really thinking about love. What is it?  Do I display it?  Am I making a conscious effort to do it like the word says?? Let's take a look:

1 Corinthians 13:4-10The Message (MSG)

3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

Dear Lord, please forgive my past false claims of love. I said it and meant it at the time but whew this is love for real. Help me to love like this. Help me to be a living witness of what love means. Give me the fruit of the spirit to carry out this measure of love and the wisdom to know when I am getting it wrong for self correction. Only ur son Jesus was the perfect love that cast out all fear but Give me the grace to be ur love example left here on earth!  In Jesus Name. I love u Lord Amen

Let it be Unto Me

Luke 1:37 - For no word from God will ever fail.”

In this scripture the angel of the Lord was telling Mary that she was going to conceive Jesus. His last statement to her was... for nothing is impossible with God. He told her a number of what seemed to be impossibilities and then he told her the clincher sentence.  He told her who God was! It is outside of the nature of God to fail.  What I love is Mary's response. The very next verse says...

Luke 1:38 - “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”  

She didn't need to go consult her girls... she did not need to go see if Joseph was okay... she just received the word of the Lord. In her receipt of the word she identified herself. I am the Lord servant. The King James version says let it be unto me as you have said. In other words everything that you said about me that the Lord said about me...let THAT be unto me. 

So fast-forward 2000 years later to your situation and my situation. Whatever the Lord is saying about you that's what's up...not those lies that the enemy has planted in your head about you. Everything that the Lord our God has purposed let it be unto you; everything that he has promised let it be unto you; everything that he has destined for your life from his word let it be unto you.  It's about you knowing who you are, articulating it in a proper response, and then walking in the grace that he has afforded us. 

I am the Lord servant may it be unto me as he has said!!!!  That's what I heard!

I Love the Lord. That's All

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  Deut  6:5

Psalms 18:1 I love you, Lord, my strength.

Have u ever be overwhelmed by someone's love. Maybe the love of a child or someone that just flat out outloved u and it made u love them more?  (Like my Isadore with me 💜💛❤️ but I digress). That's how David is feeling here in psalms. He has been delivered from the hand of Saul and is crying out to the Lord with an inspired love song. While he was singing he knew about his past with all of his missteps along the way but the Lord was protecting him still, loving him still.  He knew that he had worry and anxiety about Saul but he was finding his strength in the Lord. 

So it is with us. When we have a love song Sho nuff that we can pull up to remind not only God but ourselves how we love him because it is clear he has been loving us all along. Even we were not thinking about him. Even when we didn't even know he was protecting us from something until it all unfolded. Even when we have our minds made up like the little engine that could that "I'm not going to worry, I'm not going to stress" (that doesn't work by the way) we have to turn worry into worship. We have to turn stress into praise. We have to flip the script and Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength!  Because that's when he comes through like a boss and u can sincerely sing. I love u Lord and I lift my voice!!!!

That's what I heard.  Be encouraged today.  Don't worry, but worship!  

How Ya Living? By Faith

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried
- Psalm 18:30

What an understatement to us today!  But when David said it he had less evidence than we do!
God's Word has been tried, tested, scrutinized, and relied upon by Christians throughout the ages. And, just as David testified, they have found it more than sufficient for their every need. They have discovered, in every generation and in every hard circumstance, that God's Word truly is perfect.

His counsel is always wise, his history is always accurate, his lessons are always true, and his commands are always relevant. God's way is perfect. He does not need to SWEAR. He can swear on himself!!  But David was not merely making an observation or teaching an academic lesson; David's point is that because God's Word has been tried and tested by millions through the centuries, and has been found perfect, each of us should therefore build our lives on this tried and sure foundation.  Fred Hammond sings a song called Perfect and True!  Pure in all your ways. (Look up on u tube).

Who do you look to for direction and for advice? Do you trust popular opinion, what's trending on Twitter, or well-meaning friends, to help you make decisions and find meaning in life? Or do you go to God's perfect Word over and over again, for counsel in every area of life?  Every area. Even those u think u got under control?  Yes that one.

The Word of the Lord is tried, it is proven, it is sure -- but have you tried it?

He's got this. That's what I heard. Be blessed today!

Fast and Pray

If I want a different result I need to do different things. I am doing my absolute fast starting last night. I am heading to morning glory prayer at church. I am coming back home to spend the day reflecting over this past month. Looking forward to the rest of 2015. This is the year of addition. This is the year of my marriage to Isadore. This is the year of completing my masters degree.  This is a year of expansion exponentially at New Life. This is a year of transition for CC.  Project Graduation is taking off in great proportion. There is much to be done. There r several family issues I am praying for at the moment. I am not too busy to pray.  I am too busy not to pray.  This scripture sums up why fasting and prayer is a must.

Today's Truth:  Colossians 1:10 NIV, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Dear Heavenly Father!  Just to be close to u Lord!  That's the only way I get to a life worthy of U and pleasing to u. Pour into me as I pour out to u. I put my all and all in ur hands. In Jesus matchless name I pray. Amen

That's what I heard. Be blessed this weekend!  See u Monday. Now that we r out of the month of consecration I may not post personally daily but only as the Lord speaks.  Not trying to form a habit just trying to transform lives through my  blog for His glory producing fruit. Love u in the Lord!  

Every Perfect Gift

James 1:17 MSG So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

We all have gifts. Not to be confused with talents.  Talents are more abilities to me. Gifts are God given abilities and strengths that were GIFTED to us to be used to bless others. That's why it's called a gift. When we don't use a gift we dismiss the giver. 

When I was a little girl my great grandmother raised me. My mom and I would be together in the summers until I was old enough to start working (14) then I would always have summer jobs. My mom lived in the city and she would give me gifts of the latest city fashions all the time. I on the other hand was growing up in Clarksville and so some of her gift choices for me would not be my little country girl style. (What did I know at 8???!!?!). So one summer when she came to pick me up and help me pack she saw there were still tags on some things she gave me for Christmas. I was trying to hide it but she saw it. The look in her eye was hurt. Not because I didn't wear it but because she felt like she didn't know me. I felt bad and I pulled that jordache jean jacket out and put it on!  (Lol it was  90 degrees outside so she knew that was just for her). 

Likewise when u have God-given gifts, and you leave them in the closet with the tags on, it's a direct affront to God. It says he didn't know you when he gifted it to you. It says you didn't appreciate the effort he made to give it to you. So don't leave your gifts in the closet, use them for the glory of God. Use YOUR gift. Love YOUR gift. Don't get thrown off course!  

That's what I heard!  Be blessed today and let your gift bless someone else. 

Mind over Mountain

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.—Isaiah 26:3 amp

This is a promise. It is what the Lord does just because he loves u. This morning I have been in prayer for several people for different reasons. I think there are times when if we can just fix our minds on his peace and not look at the things blowing up around us it just straightens out the path. God has a way of protecting us and our hearts when we keep thought of him. 

The amplified version says that keeping your mind in him can both both in inclination and its character. His character is his fruit. His character is when u do the opposite of what people around u knowing what u r going through would do. Commit yourself to him, lean on him and put hope in him. 

That's where a little whisper of Jesus help me makes the day go a little easier. He has ur back. He has my back. He is omnipresent and omniscient. He can do anything but fail. If he is for us who can be against us. The enemy wants us to believe he is gaining ground but he is a liar from way back and has no authority we don't give him. I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR AND I WILL BE CONFIDENT IN MY HOPE IN HIM.  I speak to ur mountain this morning and tell it to move.  Keeping our minds stayed on that. The truth. 

That's what I heard!  Be encouraged today!  

Ring. Ring

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:7-10

Many of us when using a cell phone have learned the skill of “selective answering.”  Our cell phones ring; we look at who is calling, and in an instant decide whether or not we are going to answer. It is “selective answering.”

Unfortunately, too often we do something similar when it comes to the Lord’s communication with us. We use “selective listening.” When we read what God has to say in the Bible we think, “Go ahead and speak, Lord. I will think about what you have to say. Then, if I agree with it I will follow your Word. If not, I am going to ignore it.”

If it is a hard word, we may act like we didn't hear the phone...it was on silent.  If it's a word of correction we act like it's just voicemail we left unanswered. When however it's a promise or a blessing, we r at full attention and even have a special ringtone for it so we don't miss that call. Lol. 

Samuel did not yet know the Lord.  So listening is not a skill for a seasoned saint , it can happen from day one of the relationship. Just get to know him. 2015 is the year of multiplication. Get to know all his ringtones so when that blessing call comes...u will be there to take the call!  

That's what I heard! Be encouraged today!  I hear your phone ringing! 😉😉😉