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! 😉😉😉

My fruit, His Glory

John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  

The scripture right before this IF U ABIDE IN ME AND MY WORD ABIDE IN U THEN U SHALL ASK WHAT U WILL AND IT WILL BE GIVEN. This is saying to me when we r walking with him and staying in his word he will take care of our needs. Verse 8 says it is a part of his glory when we his disciples bear fruit. So the opposite is also true. When there is no fruit and we call ourselves Christians that is an oxymoron. This is the same Jesus who cursed a fig tree for standing there with the title of a fig tree with no figs. It was just standing looking like it could provide nourishment to someone who needed it and had none to give. 

Likewise with us. If we r busy with no fruit we r just busy. If we r disciples with no fruit we are just church folk...undercover without a case. When u think about we r the ones blessed by bearing fruit. Yes it takes u stepping out of your comfort zone or doing something new from time to time. But when we get it, we activate his glory.  We activate his prayer answering power in our lives. He does not call the equipped, he equips the called. 

That's what I heard.  Be encouraged!  Be fruitful! 

Check Your Fruit

John 15:2. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

U ever notice how the 80-20 rule keeps going alive and well?  20% of the people doing 80% of the work and visa versa?  That's because those of us always churning out fruit at home, at work, at church etc r being pruned to be even more fruitful. After thinking about this though I think also working is some may think they need a title to be fruitful. Some may think they need to be perfect to be fruitful. U just need to be available to be fruitful. If u avail yourself u can be fruitful in your relationships, in your job, in the marketplace. 

I don't need to be called intercessor Dagne to pray for my sister of brother. I don't need to be called elder Dagne to allow wisdom to flow in my speech. I don't need to be called evangelist Dagne to tell of the good news of Jesus.  And I don't need to be called prophetess Dagne to be divinely inspired to give a word of encouragement. (Thanks Pastors Govan) 

It's just me Lord standing in your presence ready to be used however u say so. 

Oh and if you're already just doing a lot of things right now, this is not encouraging you to do more necessarily. It is encouraging you to cut those things off that are not producing fruit and do the things that will. Time is of the essence. 

That's what I heard!  Be blessed and be fruitful!  

Manufacturer Recall

January 24, 2015

I had such a response yesterday on the Friday post that I decided to stay on message. What better way than consulting the Message Bible. It is always said in that manner just like I would say it. When u buy something and it is not working like it should u consult the manufacturer. The Lord didn't make us to be defeated by anxious thoughts and circumstances. He created conqueror's so let's consult the manufacturer and see how we should handle this.

Philippians 4:6-9The Message (MSG)

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Dear Lord, sometimes ur word in the message bible just sums it all up. I pray for my sisters and brothers who have anxiety about this that or the other. U will trade our worry for your peace. U have made a way in the past and u r more than able to do it again. We trust you to perform ur word in our lives. In Jesus Name.  Amen!!!!

That's what I heard!  Be blessed this weekend.  ☺️☺️☺️

No Anguish...Not Today

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psa 118:5-6 NIV)

Today I am having a blah feeling day. I am sitting in the salon waiting. I have a lot on my mind. I am in my feelings. U have had that kind of day right?  When u need to only be around ur real friends because u about to just act salty for no reason. Then when I went to post on the blog I was going to be fake and send something put together but I HEARD the Lord say I got u and u r not the only one going through. So the word is Psalms 118 where David is literally running for his life. Saul was literally trying to kill him. He has reason to feel anguish. But in his anguish he cried out to the Lord whom he knew and loved and was comforted. 

Well no one is literally stalking u and trying to snuff u out. But there is an adversary in the spirit that wants us to be downcast and anxious. But I serve a God who when I cry out in this state sends a comforting word and settles me to know I am free indeed. He is Emmanuel. The Lord with us. No man. No situation. No anguish he cannot heal. 

That's what I heard. It helped me. Hope it encouraged u. 

Who r u following?

Paul said “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Cor. 11:1) “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice.” (Phil. 4:9) In other words, “let me mentor you. Let me be your role model. Just as we need a Mentee even more importantly we need a mentor. Who r u allowing to model for you?  A person that can speak into your spirit, that can speak into your heart is a vital relationship to have. Once you have given someone that type of access to you you need to be careful to make sure that they are in fact following Christ. 

Some of my most valuable mentee/mentor relationships have shaped me and made me a better Christian, a better mom, a better daughter, a better administrator, and a better future wife. When I was a young wife and mother 20 years ago I was not in church, and most of my relationships were either single people or married women who were not happy. They were my mentors. Unofficially I gave them permission to shape what I thought about life and as a result I end up divorcing and never got back into church. I moved here in 1996 when I was invited to the chapel and Gods grace worked things out for my good!  

Now I have many positive sisters, sorors, friends, play moms, family, pastor and a fiancé who I allow to speak words of life; whose lives I observe and pick fruit from regularly; whose counsel I seek when I need to.  Who r u mentors?  Who r u mentoring?  Be encouraged today as you move through ur day.  Thank u to those reading this who have been that to me...u know who u r and thank u!!!  That's what I heard! 💛💙💜❤️💚. 

Who RU Mentoring?

Paul spelled out mentoring as his leadership model very simply. “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Cor. 11:1) “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice.” (Phil. 4:9) In other words, “let me mentor you. Let me be your role model.”  Don’t worry this is not an appeal for Project Gradation to be a mentor…it is an appeal for you to recognize that as a Christian, you are already a mentor.  You are modeling behavior.  In our last couple of posts I have been talking about one anothering and its importance.  One aspect of that are the relationships that we have where we are the mentor and where we are the mentee. I will talk about being the mentee tomorrow, but in being the mentor, we have to know that we are sometimes the only light in a dark situation.  We are mentoring all day when we have newer Christians around or those who do not yet believe.  What are we showing and telling with our lives?  

In the bible, not only Jesus and the apostles, but elders as well do their work by mentoring. Peter charged, “be examples to the flock.” (I Pet. 5:4) And Paul explains to the elders at Ephesus, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you”(Acts 20:17).  So that charge comes back to us today to make sure we are not being weak modeling for the weak.  If we are the one in the position to give direction, we can’t be all out on Tim-buck-two Highway trying to pull up MapQuest without a signal.  We should know enough to guide our way to the right road.  

We are not perfect.  Mentees (the official and unofficial ones you don’t even know about that are watching you) just want to see how to grow when you don’t get it right.  What is your response when things don’t work out?  In your mentor moment, make sure your model home is a great likeness to the other houses in the neighborhood you talk about. 

That’s what I heard!  Be encouraged today!

Two r Better than One

Eccl 4:9. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10 
This is speaking of working and laboring together. U cannot be a wonder all by yourself. I like to look at it a little differently. It's fine to experience things on your own.  In my singleness I have gone on trips alone, out to eat alone, to the movies alone and it was fine.  Sometimes u need that time with just u.  But it is better to have your girlfriend, family or you boo with you so you can share the good and possibly the bad. It's also great for accountability. Two are better than one because they have good reward for their toil.  

An example that I can think of is attending Woman Thou Art Loosed in October. It was life-changing for not only me but for more than 130 of my sisters. As we arrived in Atlanta from the beginning I knew that God was going to do something spectacular. Even the great expectation I had sitting on the plane taxiing away from Lambert did not prepare me for the mighty rushing wind of God's power that blew through Philips Arena changing every life in sight.  There was nothing like being in the presence of God with over 22,000 others on one accord seeking God's face and allowing him to rise up in us.  We even kept it going on the plane coming back home when I sat next to then a stranger and now my real friend on Facebook Deborah Hughes. She was so sweet and we talked all the way home because a connection was formed.  That weekend was one anothering to the 10th power!  I also now have other sisters to be accountable with from what was spoken there. 

Has that ever happened to you?  Do you remember experiences that you have had with friends or family where it was so much more powerful because now you can have someone to reach out to and "remember when".  In this life those memories...those times of bonding are priceless. That road trip, that pledging together, that movie, that conference, that project, that play, that Starbucks run....whatever it was. The next time you're on your way somewhere good stop and pick up someone else to be a part of it to make it great. Two are better than one. That's what I heard. Be encouraged today!

Let the CHURCH Say Amen

Hebrews 10:25 ESV, Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Shoutout to my church, New Life in Christ!  I say that because I believe we are great at this – ONE ANOTHERING.  I can honestly say over the years, the connections I have made at church have stood the test of time.  No matter if we are together for only a season or if we are still together in one local body of believers, those are ties that bind when you worship and serve together.  This is why the scripture instructs us not to neglect doing this.  Sunday and Wednesday and those other days you are at your church (like for small groups, hint, hint) you are getting refueled, refilled, re-energized to go back out and be the light in the other places you need to be.  If church is not that for you, you need to deepen your connection.  If church is not that for you, you need to probably drop some pretenses, take the “church face” off and really engage with someone.  (Notice I didn't say it was the church or the pastor fault if it was not that for you...) The message bible says it this way in Hebrews 10:25 Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on…

Rah Rah Cis Boom Bah – I cheer for you, you cheer for me.  We need one another.  Don’t let anyone steer you from your church/pastor.  I get my life at New Life and I know you know I will get gully with anyone that got some shade to throw on my church or my bishop.  This is so because the connections made here are priceless! Do not neglect meeting together.  

Don’t let a TV show keep you from mid-week worship or a choir rehearsal.  It’s better on DVR anyway – you can fast forward through commercials.  

Don’t avoid Sunday morning to sleep in, you can take a nap after church (some of my BEST naps are 5pm on my couch on Sundays!).  

Don’t let that barber shop banter or that beauty shop buffoonery that was going on about “church folk” keep you from it or your blessing.  Misery loves company and they want you “meeting together” with them in that nonsense but is that feeding your spirit and fueling your faith?  I don’t think so. We need one another!  Let the CHURCH say amen!

That’s what I heard…be encouraged today.  C U at church!  8-)

One Anothering

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV, Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Well, what can I say about this word?  Encouragement is vital to living day to day.  Everyday we are bombarded with images that discourage and worry us.  Life situations can make anyone overwhelmed sometimes.  Encouraging and building is essential.  There was a song that says "Christians, they will know us by our love".  When we encourage and build we allow us to have something to give to that person that may be discouraging and tearing down.  Frederick Douglas said its easier to build strong children than to repair a broken man.  I add that it is easier to build one another by speaking life/truth regularly than to repair a broken relationship from offense and tearing down.

This week adds no media to our fast - so now we are at No Sweets, No Meats, No Media.  I am going to be intentional about fellowshipping and encouraging face to face or over the phone with an actual telephone conversation instead of a text!  I am going to be intentional about getting to know someone better this week instead of just relying on their FB posts and tweets to keep up with them.  I am going to have some people over to the house with some meatless, sugarfree fellowship!  I am going to work on my blog notes and do some reading and research so my encouragement can have substance.  Who can you call today just to build up?  How can we turn our "hotline" into a "hopeline"?  Who do you not already know at your church, at your job, at your school that you can get to know?  Let us step outside of our circle & encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  You never know who might need it! That's what I heard! Be ENCOURAGED Beloved!

Same God Right Now, Same God Back Then

Number 15:41

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.'"

There are many instances in the Old Testament where the Lord reminded the Children of Israel who he was.  If you look up I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD WHO... you can find just how many.  Why does he have to keep reminding them?  One day I was going off on my son because of something he had done wrong.  He was a senior in high school.  I said to him, "how many times do I have to keep telling you this".  The moment the words came out of my mouth, the Spirit spoke to me and said - how many times do I have to keep telling YOU!  I was instantly convicted because at that moment I realized - as many times as needed until he gets it.  That's my job.  

God reminding them who he was, was really an encouragement to them.  He was reminding them that he had DELIVERED them out of BONDAGE and whatever they were going through at that moment, it was still BETTA than bondage.  It was encouragement that HE HAD NOT CHANGED.  It was encouragement that the SAME POWER that delivered them then, could deliver them now.  Tye Tribbett puts it this way - IF HE DID IT BEFORE, HE CAN DO IT AGAIN...SAME GOD RIGHT NOW, SAME GOD BACK THEN.  

Whatever you are facing today, just recall when he was God "back then" and how far you have come!  You've come this far and he has been faithful and failure free.  Keep the faith and DON'T GIVE UP!  That's what I heard. Be steadfast, unmovable today in the things of God...

Quench Not

1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV, Do not quench the Spirit.

Don’t do anything to stop the free flow of the spirit when it is moving.   In our pastoral staff devotion with Bishop today, he related it to knowing the voice of God.  God wants to speak to us – and he uses his word & the Holy Spirit to do so.  I grew up Baptist - Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church at 608 Main St to be exact.  This particular scripture was not one of our staples, but Quench not the spirit in some Pentecostal church (I am told) typically meant you dare not disrupt this worship service while the spirit is clearly here.  

For us on a daily basis we should do the same.  I believe I have quenched the spirit when I have “had a feeling” and didn't follow that unction.  I believe that I have quenched the spirit when I decided not to say what I felt I should say to someone when they dropped in my spirit.  We have all done it.  The good news is that the Holy Spirit is a gentlemen.  Even when we ignore his leading, he will continue speaking; and gently nudging us in the right direction.  

Men of Standard sing one of my favorite songs – In His Will.  In order to stay steadfast, unmovable, I need the Holy Spirit to lead me.  When he is flowing, and I am listening and staying in tune to him, I’m staying in his will.  You and I both know – that’s the safest place to be - IN THE WILL OF GOD and it starts and ends with staying in tune…and resisting the urge to quench the Spirit.  That’s what I heard.  Be encouraged beloved….

Welcome Holy Spirit

Welcome Holy Spirit

 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." -Roman 8: 26-30

When I look back over my walk I have grown as all of us have in my prayer life. There was a time when I literally would pray for only the things that I "needed God for". Literally back in my thirties I used to write in my journal crazy statements like God please me with this, this and this but I got that. In other words I didn't welcome the spirit in all areas of my spirt just the stuff I deemed I couldn't manage. Or stuff I just didn't mention at all because I was not trying to deal with it. Lol Lawd help.

Essentially its as simple as this...you invite someone over to your home for the weekend and you tell them make yourself at home. But when they go to the refrigerator there is a lock on it or when they go into the room to the right there's a sign on it that says keep out. So when you told them to make themselves at home you were not really willing for them to see all the rooms. Maybe it was not as clean? There were parts of your home that you did not want them to access.

It's the same thing with the Holy Spirit. When we cry out to the Lord to say welcome Holy Spirit you are welcome in this place...this place is wherever he deems necessary. He is after all making intercession for us and if there a part of "this place" that is not open for him to rest, reign, rule and abide then we lose access to that help...that power to help in our weakness. Let's give an all access pass today!  We need it!  That's what I heard!  Be blessed today!

Consuming Fire

Hebrews 12:21. For our God is a consuming fire.

I recall the first time that I felt the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.  I had been in church all my life I had sung in the choir all my life but I had not had this experience until I went to Woman Thou Art Loosed conference in New Orleans back in 1997. Run to the Water. It was inceedinle in that super dome that day. All of those scriptures came to life the first time I spoke in my prayer language and felt the Holy Spirit manifested in that way. I used to ask people what does it feel like but I didn't know until I knew.
 In these times, since my first time when I feel his presence like that I don't ignore it. The reason is because it is like a consuming fire consuming everything else that's the matter or going on with me with it. Thats why u can't always stay standing.  That's why u can't always "praise it away" (inside joke)   But u must let it do what it do. U may be someplace looking dumbfounded for a while when it's over but u know u r better for it. This is what I heard. Let him consume u today. Be encouraged!

My comforter and Advocate

John 14:16 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 

This week we are focused on the Holy Spirit. Personally for me the Holy Spirit is as the word says...a comforter. It's that unction on the inside of you that calms you when you need to be calm and quiets ur spirit when you want to rage at times. 

During this second week of the fast it is no meat and no sweets. This is typically the week where my flesh rises and tries to tell my spirit man it is not in charge. Well day two and all is well. I dread this time but this year I welcome this time of the fast. It is the time when my flesh gets put in its place and that's under the subjection of my spirit. Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit in my life. If and when I let him rise up in these occasions over a burger I surely will let him rise up when it really counts. The enemy is always talking mess about what we cannot do. The Holy Spirit is like mayweather in ur corner saying come on, I got this. So I made it today. Feeling great and winning. How r u?  Ur winning too...and if it's hard there's an advocate to help u. He is in both our corners at the same time. That's what I heard!  Be blessed 

My 90-10 Principle

Well - today (and most Sundays) I will post my reflection of the word in the house from my Bishop and today - all I can say is WOW! Bishop had us saying ouch; had us laughing and had us convicted by the word.  Essentially it was the 90-10 principle meaning that we are all clear that God is owed and gets his 10% (tithe) from us.  The problem is that we are so mismanaging the 90 that we could be doing so much more OR it would not hurt so bad giving the 10.  

This is an area I have (like most people) struggled in the past.  Today's message hit the nail on the head about why.  We condition ourselves to believe that we NEED things that we actually just WANT and could do WITHOUT.  Then we are over extended and looking at God funny when we get to Sunday!  

Here's what the word says - Philippians 4:11 I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied [content] with whatever I have.  

I know I over extend myself at times.  Yes, I'm tithing but it's TIGHT!  There are so many areas I can cut back and do without, and I was convicted today.  I have a wedding coming up and Isadore and I have agreed - all extra coins are going in that direction.  We are not trying to have a Trump wedding but not going to be a Chump wedding either.  In order to do that and still be faithful with my tithe and my pledge - some things are going to go.  I'm ready!  I can do it!  Cooking more; eating out less...  Wearing what I have; buying less... Putting the natural hair products I have already on my head and stop buying new products I find on natural hair websites...   and the list goes on...

It's not a matter of trusting in the area of tithing or not, I have gave that struggle up long ago.  Let me encourage you if that is your story and tell you what I had to encourage myself with when I had more month than money - ERRRBODY AIN'T GONNA GET PAID NO WAY....You may as well pay the One that can help you with the rest!  I paid God and he gave me the grace and the ability to get wealth and work out the rest getting their money too!  

If you missed the sermon today or want to see it later - check it out on our rewind at www.nlicic.org/rewind - because my little snippet up top will not suffice!  Bishop PREEEEEAAACHED 

That's what I heard - I have learned to be satisfied and live BELOW what I need so God can TRUST me with increase to manage what I have and sow back into the kingdom!

Show and Tell...We Be the Righteous

James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

If you read verses 21-26 James cites 3 illustrations of living faith. Abraham, Rahab, and the human body and Spirit.

James 2:26 For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Abraham’s offering of Isaac demonstrated the genuineness of his faith and the reality of his justification before God.

The word Says "the righteous shall live by faith". WE BE THE RIGHTEOUS. What if, everything the believer learns he or she did and portrayed? What if, we really acted out the sermon? What if, we mixed faith and works together in everything we did? What if, we really believed what we prayed?

Remember when you were in elementary school and you had show and tell?  You had to do two things: you had to bring something in to SHOW it and then TELL about it. You couldn't just do one and not do the other. You couldn't get up in front of the class and tell him about something you didn't have in your hand for them to see. And you also couldn't just show up with something to sit it on your desk all day and not tell somebody about it!  ☺️☺️☺️

It's the same thing with faith. We cannot just walk around claiming to be the righteous, claiming to be the chosen ones, claiming to be Christians and then not have demonstrated power that Christians should have. And A-number one is acting out the faith that we say we have or believing the Lord our God that we say we serve. WE BE THE RIGHTEOUS!  We live by faith!  That's what's I heard!  Be blessed today!  

Just Do It

James 2:18 (CEB) Someone might claim, "You have faith and I have action." But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I'll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action

In the scripture it appears that someone was trying to throw shade at the Christians who were trying to act out their faith with deeds. We r no strangers to shade in 2015. A whole lot of folks and got a whole Lotta stuff to say about you and your deeds...you and your expression of your faith. Again distractions. My Bishop preached Wednesday and it bears repeating some folk need to stay in their lane!  Lol. 

Our job is to just do it. Jesus didn't consult the disciples about his assignment on earth, he just did it.  When anyone begins to walk out their faith there will be people who are not yet ready to walk out their own trying to throw shade on you. It's in those times when you need to keep it moving.  The phrase misery loves company is true and sometimes people just want to keep you in an old mindset when they come against what you're trying to do to act out your faith. Be encouraged today and know that only what you do for Christ will last!  Nothing that you do with an earnest heart to serve God will be in vain.  My great-grandmother Muhdear used to say I can show you better than I can tell you. We just need to do it and give God the glory.  

That's what I heard today!  Dagne

Is it Faith or is it Memorex??

James 2:14 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

Thai is how the message bible puts it. 14 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?

I love the message bible!  In a nutshell it says what I was going to say. U ever met someone who by all accounts is a Christian but is not really doing much or there's not a lot of visible fruit?  They have all the Christianeese down --even some of the big words but when u look a little closer at what they r DOING what they r SAYING and the like its a little shady?  Faith by verbal account alone is useless. It needs both talk and walk. What woulda shoulda coulda is holding u back?  Stand on the promise but go to work in the meantime. R there something's u need to do in preparation for the manifestation?  R there some others we need to bring along by witnessing to them?  Let's get to work. Just do it.  Let's walk it out!  Be blessed!   Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?  Nah. It doesn't!  That's what I heard.  Be encouraged today!  

Let Him Finish

Hebrew 12:2. fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is the author of this story that is my life.  He is the finisher of my faith. To me this means it is my journey but his story. He is at the right hand of the father cheering us on. He finished his story on earth (enduring the cross and conquering death) to be in the position to make intercession for us during our story. He is the storyteller. The plans he has for us are already laid out. All we do is rest in his writing ability and know that he is Lord.

He is the finisher of my faith. That's why we only need a measure. Whatever speck of mustard seed we come to the table with, he can finish. We do our part in having the faith and he finishes it!  It's like a basketball team. If u r the point guard bringing the ball down the court and defense is already set on the other end there is no need for u to try to go to the hole and get fouled or get it smacked outta there. It's ur job to pass to the forward or the center to finish and score.  Ur faith got the ball down the court. Let Jesus have the ball now. He got a posterized shot waiting on u!  

That's how I heard it!  Be blessed today!! 

Hearing...Hearing by the Word

Romans 10:17 KJV, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NIV, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

It's simple faith comes by hearing. Hearing simply means 1 a : the process, function, or power of perceiving sound; specifically : the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli. b : earshot.

This scripture is specifically talking about hearing the preached Word the audible word of God. Faith comes by hearing. So this begs the question what are you hearing? For 2015 u will need faith. Missing church or missing the opportunity to hear the message is not going to work. That's why all sorts of things come up (distractions) to keep u from going to mid week worship or Sunday services. Faith comes by hearing Gods word of encouragement.  God s word of correction. Gods word of healing. Gods word of deliverance. Faith comes by hearing to draw you closer to a wise and true God - there's where your faith comes...you know Him better you trust him better!  Have u ever left church and just felt better?  Have u ever left church and thought wow that word was just for me?  That was because u HEARD the word. Don't let anything or anyone keep u from it. This is just a bonus also don't let anyone speak against your pastor. That's the source of your hearing the word. When u lend an ear to that then that's the thing that may keep u from hearing.  If faith comes by hearing then hearing that nonsense is messing with ur faith. Shut that noise down. Another distraction. Be encouraged today my friend.   These r just my thoughts today. 

Monday Measure

Today's truth from our devotional is  

Today's Truth:  Hebrews 11:6 NIV, And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

I remember a song that used to be out that was called "if you pray don't worry and if you worry don't pray." The song simply states what this scripture states to me. If you r going to believe God then believe God.  If you r going to pray then don't negate your prayers by then speaking negatively about what you have placed before the Father. I believe if you going to believe God for big things if you going to trist Him to do the things that he is able to do then you must have the faith to believe and the God we are praying to. If it is impossible to please God without faith then we should watch what we say after we pray. If u r believing God for your healing but u also always worrying and saying woe is me then r u believing the God u just earnestly sought. What is ur God sized prayer today?  What else r u saying about it? If u have put some negative thoughts out with the prayerful thoughts trade  those for faith. All u need is the measure u have.  U can stand on that. My measure of faith and his promise is all I need for God sized prayers to be answered!  This is how I heard it! Be blessed today and trust Him!

JANUARY 4, 2015 - NOW FAITH

Today's Truth is  Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This is a famous scripture.  Most of us can quote it backward and forward.  The true test comes not in the quoting but in the believing.  Sometimes people don't believe something until they see "the evidence" or "the facts".  Faith operates when you don't really have the perfect crime scene where the evidence is laid out in front of you.  Sometimes you have to investigate to get to the truth.  You must investigate your past and see where there were clues of a time when you thought you were not going to make it and God came through.  You have to look at your friends and family and see the evidence of a true and living God working things out for their good.  You have to search for clues in your heart and see that heart change that only happened as a result of faith the last time.  When you find that little "shred of evidence" therein lies the hope.  Hope that this too shall pass, hope that you will find favor once again, hope that God sees your pain and knows exactly when to step in a raise up a standard for your impeding victory!  I heard - NOW FAITH is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Walk in faith my friend, no matter what the crime scene looks like.  

January 3rd - Romans 15:5

Today's scripture for our 40-day consecration is Romans 15:5, May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had

For me, this is saying let's endure and encourage one another.  Let's have the mind of Christ to PUT UP WITH each other a little longer that our natural man and mind tends to allow.  If you have the mind of Christ (as we work toward each day) this is just what you do.  Look at all Jesus had to endure with folk - following him around for fish sandwiches and miracles all day and night.  Even when he was pushed to the limits, his own boys acted like they didn't even know him.  But he had an assignment.  We too have assignments.  Some of them are PCS (permanent change of station) that you have to endure and encourage always (family, close friends, etc).  Others are TDY (temporary duty) that you endure and encourage for a time (acquaintance, stranger, co-worker, etc), but whatever the assignments, we must have the mind of Christ to successfully fulfill them.  Most assignments cannot be managed in our own strength - WE NEED HIM.  If you can easily manage it, then it may be that assignment is complete and you should be looking for some newer ones that will pull on you a little more, so you need to pull on him alot more.  So....all that stuff trying to "get your attitude out of check" needs to be under your feet.  Those were little TDY assignments of the enemy trying to take your mind....don't let him on the base - call security!  Until tomorrow....this is just what I heard when I read Romans 15:5.

Introduction

Welcome to my Blog - What I Heard
Typically on every morning in the past couple of years I have posted from Jesus Daily by Sarah Young.  This year I am starting something new where I post my own inspirational thought from a scripture that I am lead to use as the basis.  For this month, we are in our consecration month at New Life.  It is also a time in which I am determined to get more serious about my health.  My core starts with my spiritual core.  I will work from the inside out.  These are my thoughts as I do that...I won't invite people to join, but I welcome you to see inside of my core as I dialog with the Father.