Double for your Troubles!

It was today after church service, I went to McDonalds to get myself something to eat. When I arrived at the drive-thru, I initially ordered a McDouble mini meal, but after remembering that my mother had already cooked, I then changed my order to just three chocolate chip cookies. After approaching the first window to pay, I then approached the second window where the lady asked me to pull down and that they would bring my cookies out. No one likes waiting, but I waited, and waited, and waited for those three cookies. Finally, a guy comes out and gives me a McDonald's bag with two McDouble sandwiches, and a large fry. I then told the guy that this was not what I ordered, but he let me keep the meal. I then had to wait again for those three cookies. After waiting, a lady came and apologized, and gave me double the cookies for my wait. After she said this, God gave me the message, “double for your trouble.” 

 

Everyone has troubles. Troubles are a part of life, and believe it or not, God does not promise us a life free of troubles! Even God himself says in John 14:1, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."  However, God does promise to give us blessings just for the troubles we go through...when we are obedient to His Word. This reminds me of a man whose name was Job. If you're not familiar with the story of Job in the Old Testament, let me say this, Job was a blameless, upright, patient, and God-fearing man...but he had troubles. In Job 1:13-19, Job's troubles begin after four messengers came with news of one disaster after another, and by the end of the day, Job lost his livestock, possessions, and his family. Note: Job lost everything after God took Satan up on the challenge that Job was only faithful because of all God had blessed him with. Satan then went on to destroy all Job's livestock, steal his possessions, and ultimately kill his family. But because Job remained faithful, the Bible says that God gave Job twice as much as he had before!

 

In this post, I'm going to focus in on Job, Chapter 42, verses 10-16 where God blessed Job with double for his trouble. We read,  

¹⁰ When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! ¹¹ Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.¹² So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. ¹³ He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. ¹⁴ He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. ¹⁵ In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers. ¹⁶ Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren.

Here we see that Job received double everything of all that he had before. God doubled Job's wealth and his family. Not only that, but Job lived one hundred forty years after his troubles ended. Let me tell you this, God wants to bless His people. Not only that, but God promises to bless us when we fear him and walk in obedience. I remember in 2008, I lost everything. I lost my dog, my job, and my car. Like Job, I couldn't begin to understand why all of those things were happening to me, but I didn't lose my faith in God, and I didn't forget Satan's job description.  In John 10:10, God says, ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. But God! He blessed me with another dog, the same job but with higher salary, and another car that was paid in full. Wow! Double for my trouble!!!  Isaiah 61:7 says, For your shame ye shall have double; and for your confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall posses the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

In sum, we all will have troubles in life, but they are only temporary. Be it family troubles, financial troubles, friend troubles, and/ or physical troubles...but we can learn from Job's example. We see from Job's example that he maintained patience, respect, and trust in God even in the midst of troubles.  Although Job's troubles began after God allowed Satan to test his righteousness and faithfulness, God also allows Satan to test us today. And like Job, you may not understand what is happening or why it's happening to you, but ask God to show you. While many people think of patience when they think of Job, he was also a wonderful example of faith in endurance. Let Job's story be a wonderful source of encouragement to you. Last but not least, we must remember that Satan is the taker, God is the giver!!!! 

Filling the Void.

It was Sunday during church service I was talking to a friend about ministry. He then showed me a friend of his on Facebook who's also in ministry. And I then told him about a friend of mine in ministry, and asked that he send him a friend request on Facebook. Of course when he sent it, he noticed that one of the mutual friends was someone we both know (we'll call her Jane). He then asked how my friend knew Jane, and I told him that she use to date his friend. After telling him this, he said to pray for her as she was one of those women who just got to have a man. When he said this, I was reminded of the Samaritan woman at the well. But little did he know, I was once the Samaritan woman, until I found Jesus.

If you're not familiar with the story of the Samaritan woman, read John 4:1–26 before proceeding.

¹Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John ² (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). ³ So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. ⁴ He had to go through Samaria on the way. ⁵ Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. ⁷ Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” ⁸ He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. ⁹ The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” ¹⁰ Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” ¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? ¹² And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” ¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” ¹⁵ “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” ¹⁶ “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. ¹⁷ “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” ¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. ²⁰ So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” ²¹ Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. ²³ But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. ²⁴ For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” ²⁵ The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” ²⁶ Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

Here we find Jesus leaving Judea traveling to Galilee, and having to go through Samaria on the way. He then goes to Jacob's well in the Samaritan village of Sychar, where he meets the Samaritan woman and begins a conversation. From the conversation, we learn that the Samaritan woman had been married five times, and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Now, the point that this woman had been married five times, should not automatically indicate promiscuity. However, it is obvious that the Samaritan woman had a voracious need to be in a relationship....trying to fill a void.

 

Since the story of Samaritan woman, not much has changed. Truth be told, some of us today is the Samaritan woman. Not because we've been married five times, but because many live in repeat cycles attempting to fill a void that just never seems to get filled. It's important note that voids come in all different shapes and sizes. But in the case of the Samaritan woman, she tried to fill a void with her different relationships with men. And from those relationships, its evident that she either couldn't find what she wanted in a man and finds another, or they couldn't find what they wanted in her and left. I myself have been the Samaritan woman where I sought to fill a void within, through my relationships with men, and like her, those relationships never completed me. Here's a question for you, what void(s) do you notice in your life, and how are you trying to fill it?...For you, the void may be material possessions, money, sex, drugs, work, or other forms of fulfillment. However, when you try to fill the void with these things, you will remain empty and unsatisfied. These things bring only temporary satisfaction. There is no person, or thing that can fill that void, only Jesus can. This is why Jesus tells us in verse 14 that  "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again." Note: Jesus wasn't talking about the water in Jacob’s well, he was talking about living water: the water of life...the gift of salvation.

Reflection

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

In sum, you may be looking to fill a void, but just know that Jesus created us with that void intentionally. He put that void there to lead us to him. Like the woman at the well, she had been through five husbands trying to fill a void. Not only that, but she tried again with the sixth man, but he too failed to complete her. However, she did finally find completion in the seventh man, Jesus...the one who brought wholeness to her life! Speaking of the seventh man,  I would like to note that the number seven is one of the most significant numbers of the Bible. The number seven represents completion! Remember, until one has a personal relationship with Jesus, your life will never be complete. It is He and he alone that can make your life complete. Colossians 2:10 says, "So you also are complete through your union with Christ. Jesus Himself said "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John14:6) He also said, "I have come that they may have life" (John 10:10)

If you are unsaved, go to the well! He's not only by the well of salvation....He is the well of Salvation!

Temptations of Lust...

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

(Matthew 6:13)

Everyone is tempted! I am, you are, and even Jesus himself was tempted! As a Christian woman, one of the greatest challenges of living the Christian life is dealing with temptations. I am often tempted to spend money that I shouldn’t, I've been tempted to tell white lies, eat while fasting, and as a woman attempting to live a celibate life, I have been sexually tempted. While all of us have faced temptations such as these, the Bible tells us, "the temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (I Corinthians 10:13)

Truth of the matter is, temptations will come into every Christian’s life, and the temptations we face fall into three areas: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). However, the question is not IF we are tempted, but what we do WHEN we are tempted? In the Bible, God gives many examples of those who faced temptations, but today I want to focus on David and Joseph's encounters with temptation, and how they responded. While temptation to lust is a common problem for many Christians, this post will focus in on the temptation to lust, and what the Bible says about temptation.

First, lets consider the passages from 2 Samuel 11:1-4 where David, the man after God's own heart encountered temptation. ... "1In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. 2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.

We see here, David's lust for Bethsheba, and that he fell to temptation. Not only did he fall into temptation, but he actively carried out the sin. He fell into sin with Bathsheba. In verse 4, it says that he slept with her. It's important to note that temptation itself is not a sin. Temptation only becomes sin when we give into the temptation. We can learn from David’s temptation with Bathsheba and remember what not to do in our own struggle with temptation.

Now, lets' look at Joseph who was tempted sexually in Genesis 39:7-12 ...7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” 10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, and sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Unlike David, we see here that Joseph is an outstanding example of how to conquer temptation. Instead of falling into temptation, Joseph resisted temptation. He did not sin against himself, Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife, or God! In verse 10, it says “She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.” Now, even though the Bible tells us, "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."... Joseph did what scripture tells us to do, "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." 2 Timothy 2:22

For me, I can remember times in my own life where I fell into temptation like David, and times where I resisted temptation like Joseph. And to this day, I still struggle with particular temptations. But if you too are struggling with temptation in your life, just know you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear. In sum, temptation will always come, but it’s not a matter of IF, but WHEN!!! And when it comes, just keep in mind that God always makes a way of escape. It's important to note that what tempts one person, may not be a temptation for another person, but there are things we can do to not put ourselves in tempting situations. We must also rely on the power of the Holy Spirit inside us to overcome lust every day. Remember, our response to temptation will determine whether we will please our self, or please God.

James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

The Pretender!

As I was sitting in the courtroom this morning, I was listening to a case on trial where a man was called to the witness stand. When the witness arrived to the stand, he was asked some questions by one of the lawyers and one the questions asked was if he had been charged with a felony for driving under the influence (DUI). While the witness did say he got a  misdemeanor charge for drinking and driving, he also stated he was charged with obstruction of justice for giving the police officer a false name. After the man provided this information to the attorney, the attorney stated..."So you were pretending to be someone else?" .....
 
The title of message today is, The pretender. What is a pretender? In order to answer that question, let's consider the meaning. As defined by the dictionary, a pre·tend·er (pr-tndr) is one who simulates, pretends, or alleges falsely; a hypocrite or dissembler. To be fair, all of us, in one way or another have been a pretender. But for a Christian to be a pretender is to say, then that one is a hypocrite...and the word hypocrite means pretending to be something you are not. In the Bible, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus twelve disciples was an example of a person who pretended to be someone he was not. Judas followed Jesus for three years, along with the other disciples and pretended to be one of them. While Judas is best known for his betrayal to Jesus, he did more. Judas was a liar, deceiver, a thief who pretended to care for the poor (John 12:6). Not only that, but he was possessed by Satan (John 13:27), he did not address Jesus as Lord, but 'Rabbi '(Matthew 26:25), and he betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-50) ... As we see here, although Judas was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve disciples, he was not a true believer. He just looked and acted like a one. He was a pretender.
 
In the religious world, there are many people like Judas that give the appearance of a believer. Like Judas, they have the right association, reputation, and participation...but no salvation! From the example of Judas, we see here that a person can be very close to Jesus, and yet be lost. And this is why the bible tells us "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine." (Corinthians 13:5). But, there are still those who profess and pretend to be a follower and believer, but inwardly they are worldly. While the other disciples thought Judas was good, Jesus knew how he was, because he knew his heart. I Samuel 16:7 says, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  I've learned from life experiences that outward appearance is not the best way to judge how good a person is...but by their fruits, you will know them. In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul spoke about what a Christ-follower looks like . "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." The fruit Paul is referring to is the character, attitudes, and actions of a Christ-follower. A person can't be a follower of Jesus while doing their own thing. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the life of a believer.
 
Conclusion
If we look at the religious world today, we have to admit that there's many people pretending to be followers and believers, but one can only pretend for so long. You see, a person can be a member of a good church, be respected for their service in the church, and be faithful in attendance...but when reputation becomes more than character, that person becomes a pretender! We need to remember that an audience of one is easier to please. You can only be a Christian if Christ is in you. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you're perfect, but God does command His people to be holy as he is holy! On another note, we need to remember that while we may fool others, we will never fool God!

Lord, help us all to love and to obey you. Help us to be Holy not only on the outside but also on the inside. Thank you for knowing all about us and for loving us!

The Attention Getter!

It’s amazing of the things that my dog Lucky does to get my attention. He whines when he wants my attention, he barks, he stares at me, and he also does other things that seem strange like chew on things and misbehave. But whenever he does any of these things to get my attention, I respond. And just as he have his way of getting my attention; God has His ways of getting mines. Here’s a question for you: What does God have to do to get your attention?

 

Consider the story of Saul, who we know as Paul, and how God got his attention in a dramatic way.

 

Acts 9:1-9 ---1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.” I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

 

As we see here, God is a great attention greater. When God wants our attention, he knows how to get it! There are also numerous other examples in the Bible that demonstrates this. For example, God got Moses’ attention by a burning bush, and he used a worm to get the prophet Jonah’s attention. But as for Saul, God got his attention in a way he never expected by shining a bright light from heaven and blinding him while he was on his way to Damascus. Evidently, this light was brighter than the sun shining in full strength. However, even though Saul was just blind for three days, his life was changed forever. Saul began to follow Jesus and told people the Good News about God's love!
 

In sum, God uses different ways of trying to get our attention throughout time, but whatever way it happens don’t delay in responding! I know what it took for Him to get my attention, but it was not dramatic as Saul’s encounter, lol. However it was a life-changing experience. Prior to being saved, I lived life my way and did what I wanted. But it was not until God got hold of me that I changed! Sometimes, God will bring you down to make you look up! Friends, God is the only one who can help you really change. Look at this way; had God not blinded Saul, he may have never changed… and not only did Saul’s attitude change, but his name changed too! You see, God was in complete control, and He always has a reason. Sometimes He has to get our attention to show us our need to know and receive Jesus. On another note, just as I learned to pay attention to my dog’s signs for attention, it’s important that we pay attention to any signs that God may be sending. So, what will it take for God to get your attention, and how will you respond? Remember, if he can get your attention, God can use you for his purposes.

P.s, Don't wait to late to offer God your attention! He wants you to be saved and He wants you to surrender your life to Him!

 

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

Communication is a Two-Way Street!

Today I was watching Deliver Us from Eva, a 2003 movie starring LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union, and while I was watching the movie, there was a part where LL's character, Ray was talking to Eva (Union) and he said “It's hard to get to know someone when they won't talk to you.” Some of you might be wondering where I’m going with this but when I heard this, I felt that was God talking to me. Before I proceed, I will say that I don't usually watch TV, but this day, I just happen to turn on the TV. On another note, while journaling is my way of talking to God daily, pouring out to Him everything that I feel about things that happen, and to thank him for everything...this day I didn’t feel like talking because I was moody, cranky, and tired...but while watching TV, that message was for me to talk to God.

Though God knows everything about us, he still wants us to talk to Him. In the movie, one of the reasons Ray made the statement "It's hard to get know someone when they won't talk to you" is because he was trying to get to know her to have a relationship with her. Surely many of us have heard the saying, without communication, there is no relationship...and so with that being said, in order to have a relationship with someone, you must communicate. And it's the same way with our relationship with God. For most of us, our relationship with God is based on us talking to Him, where we share our true thoughts, questions, experiences, needs, and desires. However, God wants more than just talking. He wants a relationship, a relationship of the kind that can come only by talking and listening. After all, a relationship is a two-way street. Let's look at the two-way conversation between Gideon and God.

In Judges 6:36-40, God listens to Gideon and communicates to him.
36 Then Gideon said to God, "If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put some wool on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised." 38 And it happened just that way. When Gideon got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew." 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.  

Isn't it amazing how the Lord chooses to communicate?

As you see here, communication with God is a two-way street. It’s a give and take process.  We talk and he listens. He talks and we listen. It's important to note that while God communicates to us primarily today through His Word, He communicates with us in other ways as well. Job 33:14 says, ¹⁴ For God may speak in one way, or in another... In the Bible, he used talking animals, a burning bush, angels, visions, and a “still small voice” to speak to his people. But for you, God may speak to you through your inner spirit, other people, circumstances, or several other means. For myself, I communicate to God through prayer. But my favorite way of communicating with God is through prayer journaling. However, God communicates to me through His word, the Bible. For example, one time I was praying asking God if the guy I was dating was my husband, and he answered me in John 4:18..."and the man you now have is not your husband". Not only that, but he also talked to me about moving from relationship to relationship just like the Samaritan woman. Then there was another time I was complaining about my pay, and I just opened my bible to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 3 and the verse that jumped out at me was "be content with your wages".  It's amazing how God speaks through Scripture! John 8:47 says, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says."

In sum, our God is a communicating God, and he desires to communicate with us all the time. He wants us to talk to him, and he wants to talk to us. All you have to do is talk with him as you are having a conversation with a friend. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The key is that we must draw near first. So let's all make a decision to talk with God, and listen for his voice. Remember, communication is a two-way street!