You want change, then Leave!

Hey family, I'm here once again to try to inspire through my writing. I recently received some inspiration for this one when I was in bible study on Wednesday. My pastor has been teaching us about serving, but this past Wednesday He went in a different direction. Some of you have been through a lot in this last year, and maybe some of you are going through some things right now. So many times we try to figure things out on our own instead of relying on the one who can really help us. So this blog is intended for anyone who maybe going through something right now, or those who just may need a little encouragement.

Sometimes when we want different results we need to do different things instead of the things that we're currently doing. So in bible study Wednesday my pastor, Bishop Jim Lowe of the Guiding Light Church, started out with Genesis 12 when the Lord told Abram to leave his country, his people and his father's house and go to a foreign land and He would bless him. Then we looked at Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Then to Joshua 1:7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Then it hit me that sometimes you have to just Leave to be blessed. It's amazing that Abram would have never became Father Abraham. You have to leave your old way of thinking. You have to leave some friends. You have to leave some places. You even may have to leave some family. Too many times we want to be blessed and still hang around the same people that are keeping us down. Too many times we want to be blessed and still go to the same places that are keeping us further from God. Too many times we want to be blessed but still talk about others or put others down.

The World over time has done a whipping on our way of thinking. It's taught us to love ourselves or no one else will. It's taught us to be self-sufficient and that's the only way to make it in "this world." It's taught us to watch our own back or no one else will. What it has not taught us is that one of the greatest commandments is to love one another. What it has not taught us is that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and all of His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. What it has not taught us is that if we loved others as God loved the church, He'll have our back. Even when you think you've made it in "this world" it will turn around and stab you in the back. However, with God you can do all things. I heard Steve Harvey say, "If you truly want to be successful in this world, then help others be a success."

It's time out that we keep relying on our own thoughts, ways, desires and actions and start finding out how we can please God. Then we can do his will and be blessed. I will say this in November of 2008 I re-dedicated my life to Christ and I can honestly say that every since it has not been a recession for me. It has been a promotion, for God has blessed me all of 2009 and 2010 has started off right in line with 09... did I just rhyme? lol Anyway, it was not until I really started trying to please God in my everyday life. It was not until I started trying to put out as much positivity as I can through social networks. It was not until I started really treating everyone as I wish to be treated. I've had haters along the way, but if you don't have haters then you're not doing anything. Likewise, I know that haters can not set up my treasures in Heaven.

So in 2010, let's try to really please God so we can receive the blessings that He has for us. Maybe there are many things that we can have that are on hold because of the things we're doing. As I've always said I love each and everyone of you and that's why I write. I simply write things that are on my heart that has, is and will help me. I truly want to share life each and everyday of my life. Everything I write is as much for me as it is for you. I pray God's blessings on each one who will read this. As always, if this helps you please tell someone else about it.

Don't Let Anyone Tell You What God Can't Do

So, I decided to write something up again. I wanted to write about something that has been on my mind since September 18, 2009. Too many times in life we are our own obstacle. There are sometimes when you need to sit down, stop worrying and let God deal with some things for you. Well, my wife and I now know this first hand; that's what I'm going to write about today. It's about something very simple that I've learned, and that is... Don't Let Anyone Tell You What God Can't Do. The sad thing is that many times that someone is ourselves.

It has truly been a blessed year for my wife, Felicia, and I. We joined our church back in October, and immediately God started blessing us. In November I got a new car, and at the turn of the New Year we were putting in a contract on a new house, and as most of you know we got married in July!(Yay us) Now of course we know that every time God blesses you or elevates you, the devil tries to attack. However, I know that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord!

So, in March they begin to build our house [the house that God gave us the good mind to design very well from the ground up might I add(brick, doors, floors, carpet, roof, counter tops, cabinet, etc.)] If any of you kept up with me around that time, yall should remember I was taking yall on the journey with us around that time by putting up an album called, Felicia and I's Newest Blessing. So, I would post pics up every time we would come to check on the house. Now we have established that God had really started blessing us. So, here comes satan trying to attack. In April Felicia got laid off from her job. Did she immediately start stressing? Did we lose hope? NO, we immediately claimed that if God brought us to it He could bring us through it. Felicia immediately stepped out on faith and begin looking for jobs everywhere... literally everywhere. Her new job became looking for a job. We told our pastor and some other church family to pray for us. People begin to pray, and Felicia kept searching. April had gone by... no job. May had gone by... no job. By this time it was getting harder to stay strong knowing that the wedding was coming up. Things started to look pretty dim for us. However, we still kept the faith and tried to maintain a great attitude in the midst of the storm. God gave us favor with the people in the community we were trying to move to. So, when we stopped coming out to the community as much they knew something was wrong.

Now most of June had gone by... no job. Somewhere in that time though, Felicia had an interview with the University of Alabama. Felicia told me, the facebook world and twitter world that she was going to knock out that interview. When she left she made us aware that she smoked the interview. We prayed and waited, and at the end of June they offered Felicia the job. She started working on July 20th... PRAISE GOD! God showed up again and blessed us. However, by this time the house had already been built and waiting for almost 2 months. Remember though I told you God had given us favor with the people in the community. So, even after they found out about Felicia's lay off they kept telling us that it was our house and they were going to work with us. When they found out Felicia got hired, they were just as happy as we were. In the meantime, satan thought it was his turn to attack again. We now had to close on the house. Throughout the entire month of August we dealt with our mortgage back and forth, back and forth. We begin to think maybe it wasn’t meant to be. I went and talked to one of the ministers at my church and just told her that maybe we weren't going to be able to get the house. She immediately reminded me of what everyone had told us... "Mike that is yall's house though". Around that time, I even got a little discouraged and that is when I took the albums down off of facebook. We even begin looking for apartments. Then God stepped in and said, devil That's Enough.

Felicia came home one day and told me that there were some miscalculations, and that we could get the house. In my mind, I was thinking I know. On one bright sunny day in September, the 18th day we walked into the closing of our Newest Blessing... a beautiful home that we know God blessed us with. It was nothing that we had done; it was truly by the grace and mercy of God. So, when someone tells you that you can't make it; when someone tells you that it's not for you; when someone tells you that you're not qualified; when someone tells you that it shouldn't be... Just look at them and say No One Can Tell Me What God Can't Do! Stop being your biggest obstacle and step out on faith with some things in your life. Now, the catch is you have to make sure you stay in God's will and He will take care of the little things in your life, and yes I said little because there is nothing to hard for my God to workout. He is the Creator of all things that you can ever want or need.

Well, family as always I hope that this blog helps someone in some way. As always I pray that God will continue to bless you all spiritually, socially, physically, mentally, and financially. I love you all, and remember... SHARE LIFE John 3:36

I want to know your ways:not just your works!

So, it’s been a while since I wrote and there are a few things that have been on my mind to write about. Sometimes in life we confuse struggling with growing. It seems as though sometimes we will never get to the status where we would like to be, but sometimes we just have to sit back and ask ourselves where does God want us to be. Well, as for me I know that God has been really dealing with me and growing me spiritually. My pastor, Bishop Jim Lowe, has been just teaching us on sharing life, getting closer to God, dying to self and many other topics. Through the study and meditation of what I’m learning, I’ve come to realize that I want to know God’s ways, and not just His works. I do realize that I should not be chasing after things created, when I can just chase after the creator!
Too many times in life we want to just see or receive the material blessings in life, but if we could just learn God’s ways we could find favor to be able to get blessings. I realize that sometimes I don’t consult God enough when faced with a big decision. One passage of scripture that was taught on a few Sundays back at church was Exodus 33:11-16. In this passage of scripture Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt, but now he was faced with how to lead them now that they were free. Moses asked God to show him his ways so that he would continue to find favor with him. That really hits home for me because I want to know God’s ways so I can find favor. I know if I have favor, God will be with me in whatever I do. Likewise, sometimes favor aint fair. Well, Mike what do you mean?... When you have God’s favor on your life you can do things that everyone else can’t seem to make any sense of. God starts using you when everyone says it’s impossible.
More importantly than anything else, when God blesses me or when He gives me favor I want it not just for myself, but I want to bless others. That is why I write, that is why I post positive messages all the time in my status updates; it’s simply that I may bless others in any way that I can. It really makes me happy when someone lets me know that something I said or something I wrote helped them get through their day. It makes my day complete when I know that I helped you get through your day. So if you read this pray for me. Just simply ask that God would continue to show me what my purpose is and that He would show me His ways. As always God Bless, and I love you.

Why So Long?...

Well, again family it has been a while since I wrote a blog or shared something with you. Likewise as I've mentioned before, I never write a blog just because I think of something. I always wait until I really feel like something has been placed in my heart. So, I started to ask myself why it has been so long, or Lord why haven't I gotten inspiration on a new blog. Well, about a week or so ago I was praying the same prayer I always pray; God, give me more of your Holy Spirit, show me my destiny. Well, this time when I prayed it, I felt as though God was telling me the exact thing that I really already knew because of the Spiritual leaders in my life... The first thing to do if I want more of His Holy Spirit is to get in His word more or as much as I was at one time. Sometimes things happen in life or you go through times in life where it seems like you just get busy, but we must always remember that God gives us the ability to work, or even seek a place to work. Then today at church I got confirmation on what I received. In church today the Man of God was talking about true worship. One of the many things that stood out to me was when he asked if you can worship someone that you don't know. That was very profound to me. So basically it confirmed that I have to get in my word more to get a deeper relationship with God and His Holy Spirit. It's really a simple concept, would you ask a stranger on the street for something before you asked someone in your family or your household? Basically, you would ask someone you know first. Would you love or adore someone you've never even met, would you praise someone for something if you don't know if they did what you're praising them for? No, you would not.
So in order for your worship to be pure, and in order for you to get a closer relationship with God then you have to keep Him first in all that you do. I've told you that when I write a blog it as much for me than it is for anyone else, so I have to get back in His word more, I have to continue to worship and conversate with God all throughout my day, and then I know that I will get more of His Holy Spirit. Then I know that I will begin to walk into my divine potential. Then I know that He will begin to direct my path. Then I know that I will get more of His Holy Spirit. Thank You Jesus for your love, kindness, mercy and your grace even when we don't give you the same respect. As always, I pray blessings to you and yours. I pray that God will bless you spiritually, mentally, socially, physically and financially; and that He gives you more of His Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct you. God Bless and Love You All!

Reveal Lord

Father God the man of God that you have placed in my life has taught us that the end result of obedience is always increase. Therefore, God right now I'm calling out to you for more of your Holy Spirit! I'm calling out to you to reveal things to me so that I may live my life pleasing to you. My pastor instructed us tonight in communion to ask God for what it is you need because you've shown yourself faithful. So God, right now I'm asking you to bless me with finances so that I may serve you more freely. I don't want to think twice about my bond payment at church! I don't want to think twice when my nephew asks me to give him $20 to help him have his gospel rap album ready for a ministry outreach event! I don't want to think twice when someone in need asks me for $5 to get something to eat! God I'm asking you to bless me with the job you have for me. I don't want dread going to work! I don't want to be happy but broke! I don't want to be broke but happy! If you give me the job that you have in store for me then I wont have to worry about either. Lord, give me more of your Holy Spirit and morevoer POWER to withstand the enemy. God you created me to take dominion over the things of this world. [Sidenote:Go get a copy of Achieving Your Divine Potential by Bishop Jim Lowe] Lord I don't want to think twice when the devil tries to tempt me! I don't want to think twice when someone asks me about Jesus, for at that name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. Father God, I finally get it that too many times we don't get the things we ask for because we're asking for selfish reasons. Father, right now I want you to look into my heart and realize that what I'm asking for is all for the Glory of you Kingdom and Your People! As I always pray, God give me opportunities to witness, opportunities to bless others, opportunities to share my testimony, and most of all opportunities to draw souls to your Kingdom. Lord, help me to continue to let my light shine in darkness!
People if we can't see now that we're living in the last days, I don't know what it's going to take. When have you ever known of 5 well-known celebrities dying within 2 weeks of each other(Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mayes, Steve McNair). When is the last time you've heard of multiple trains crashing in a span of a month(D.C. and Disney Land). When have you ever heard of more rumors of wars... [Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.] When in America has more immoral laws been in place than now? People we have to wake up. GOD JUST CONTINUE TO REVEAL THINGS TO ME, SO THAT I WONT BE SURPRISED. Lord, I want to have my house in order RIGHT NOW!

As always I pray that God continue to bless each and every one of you that will read this spiritually, socially, mentally, physically and financially in JESUS NAME! If you like this, tell somebody else about it!

I Won't Stop, Inspired by Canton Jones

Well, once again it's been a minute since I wrote a blog but as always I wait until I know I have revelation on a topic before I write. I was on my way home tonight from working out and I started to think about some things after having a talk with God. Now, all the while I was listening to Canton Jones's cd, Kingdom Business. Then it hit me, I was listening to track 4 and it was like something came over me and the words were so clear... "I Won't Stop". So many times in this Christian walk it gets hard, especially when all the witnessing, blessing, praying and sharing of God and Jesus Christ is seemingly not being accepted. Sometimes it seems like the more you put out, the more it's being ignored. Likewise, something maybe revealed to you that you just feel everyone should automatically get. However, I began to think about something that my Shepherd, Bishop Jim Lowe has explained, and that's basically that you will understand things in your Christian walk line upon line, and precept upon precept. As long as we live we will continue to grow in God. You will never get "it all". Also, I think about something that I've learned in pre-marital counselling from one of the other leaders at my church, Pastor Lawrence Conaway, and that is you can not automatically expect others to be on the same level you are in life.

So in understanding these things, I resolve to not stop! Even if everyone doesn't get it or openly accept it when I put it out there, I won't stop! Even when the 'haters' come out in full force, I won't stop! Even when the nay-sayers speak negativity in my life, I won't stop! Even if my friends turn their back against me, I won't stop! Even when they lie on me, I won't stop! Even if I lose the things that I feel are most important to me, I won't stop! Even when I'm not feeling the best, I won't stop! Even when everything in me says otherwise, I won't stop! Even if only one person gets the message, I won't stop! No matter what happens, I won't stop!

Today was Father's Day, and I must be about my Heavenly Father's business! Matthew 28:18-20 is the business of my Father, and that is what I have to do. God has been too good to me, and I have been through too much for me to keep my mouth closed about certain things when He has brought me through it. All I want we as Christians to do is wake up! If there was never a time for us to get busy drawing souls to the Kingdom, it is NOW!

As always, I pray that God blesses each and everyone who will read this. I pray his blessings in your life spiritually, mentally, socially, physically and financially! I pray more of God's Holy Spirit in your life! Likewise, keep me in your prayers!

It's Me Again Daddy!

Look Daddy, I know you have this whole world in your hands. I know you have riches that there is no word to describe. I know that at anytime you can work mighty miracles in anyone's life. So now Father I ask that you forgive me if I get in your way. Lord I'm at the place in life where I know if I ask you for something in Jesus's Name and leave it to you, you are able to work it out. So Daddy, as I have already told you bless me with the career that is in line with my divine potential. Bless me with a career that is going to bring me happiness as well as great finances. So, Daddy right now I am trusting you to work a mighty miracle in Felicia's and My life in Jesus Name. Likewise Father, the Man of God that you have place in our lives, reminds us all the time that the end result of obedience is always increase. So Father right now we are expecting our increase so that we might be able to go out and share our tesimony. Daddy just forgive me for always getting in your way!

The Good Life:Well, Why is it so Hard?

Well people, I’m back again. I like to inspire people whenever a topic comes to mind, however I always try to wait a few days so God can give me how He wants me to put it out there to you. This time it is a little different, because I want to give you something that has inspired me because I’ve been talking about it so much. I feel like that is enough sign for me.

It’s funny sometimes how we think about life. It sometimes seems as though living the “good life” is not desirable because it seems too hard. Now when I say good life, I’m not talking about money, cars and clothes; I’m not talking about having any woman/man you want; I’m not talking about having everyone envying you. I’m talking about the Christ Life, because as I have found out, when you live the Christ Life then you are truly living the “good life”. I have talked to a few people lately about the same thing, so that is what I will share with you now. I feel that in life there are two extremes or sides: God and the satan! Likewise, I think there is a fence or imaginary line halfway between the two. Now, when you are on satan’s side or straddling that fence life seems so easy. In other words when you’re out there in the World living any kind of way it’s all good as it seems. Well, that is absolutely true and the reason is because the devil don’t care anything about you. He’s already got you in his corner pocket so why worry about you, he has bigger fish to fry. Likewise at the same time God is so sad, because He does not like a lukewarm saint. You can’t straddle the fence when you’re claiming to be a Christian. God is probably thinking,
“Wow, I see the future I have for Mike and yet he still slaps me in the face, he still spits in my face by taking for granted the second chance that I give him daily. I’ve seen his future so I’m trying to keep him so he can live long enough to see it, but if he don’t straighten up quick I don’t know if I could keep going through this cycle!”
Now, at the same time when you cross that line or get off that fence and get on God’s side, the devil gets frustrated and now he must draw his attention back to you. So now the problems start, because he starts to fight you on every hand. satan is going to try to do everything he can to pull you back over on his side. he’s going attack every weakness that he already knows you have. he’s going to make you inferior than who you really are in God on every hand. Who knows, even the very people you thought were all you had may be turned against you.

Now this is the interesting fact people… God allows satan to test you because guess what?... Now that you are God’s side he puts His hedge of protection around you, so no matter what the devil throws at you he can’t defeat you because you’re now in the Army of the Lord! So Christians WAKE UP! Realize that there is no TESTimony without a test! Realize that God’s is only allowing you to be pulled back so He can thrust you forward! Realize that you are the Righteousness of God! Realize that you are of a different cloth from those of the World! Realize that you are to be a light everywhere you go! Realize that you have to keep giving God affirmation that you are all the way for him so he can be all the way for you. If God be for you, who can be against you? So resolve to make the devil mad every chance you get by showing him that he can’t steal your joy. If you in that spot where you feel like it aint worth all this hardship, it aint worth all this struggle, it aint worth my fun… Just remember that if God will bring you to it, He can bring you through it! John 16:33 is one of my fiance’s favorite verses and if you read it you will see why it is. It sums up this whole blog entry, so go read it for yourself and be blessed!
As always I pray God blesses each and everyone who may read this, and continue to pray for me that God will continue to present me with opportunities to witness, opportunities to bless, opportunities to share my testimony! I love you all and God bless!

From Me to You Daddy!

Dear Father,

Sometimes in this life, it just seems like nothing we do is the right direction, nothing we do is pleasing in your sight. Then I just sit back and think that nothing negative can come from you Lord. So I know that it is the devil that wants us to feel that way. It is the devil that wants us to feel like we're too far from you for you to reach us. It is the devil that wants us to feel that you don't hear our prayers. So Father, I say to the devil "You are a lie, and you have no place in my life!" Even right now Father I feel like although I'm giving you praise and honor by witnessing, by loving, by blessing others, by spreading you every chance I get I'm still struggling, I'm still living paycheck to paycheck, I'm still having problems. But I hear in your word where it says, These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) So Father I choose to make you proud by holding my head up, by smiling because I never know who my smile is going to bless, by witnessing in spite of, by shedding nothing but positivity every chance I get, by striving to be all that you want me to be, by keeping the faith in order to show you that I trust you!

So Daddy, I just ask that you continue to lead, guide and direct me in the way you would have me to go. Show me the career that you have placed on this Earth for me, for as I always pray... If you show me, I will obey... If you send me, I'll go... If you grant me opportunities to witness, I will capitalize on them. Daddy just help me to keep my confidence high in knowing that you are pulling me back to catapult me forward. You are giving me a test in order that I may have a testimony. You giving me work, so that it will pay off in riches and rewards in the Heavens. Lead me into my Divine Potential. Lead me into my Destiny. Lead me into my Appointment. Help me to live my life so that I may hear two words... WELL DONE!

Be blessed all of you that may read this. As always, if it blesses you don't hold it in for yourself. Tell someone else about it so that they can be blessed to!

Testimony

As I look back over my life, and I think things over... I can truly say that I've been blessed... I have a testimony! So many times people look at your current status and think "Wow you're livin large, or ballin, or doing it big; but I always say no I'm blessed. I know that I'm only 25, but when you're the youngest of 10 and you have siblings old enough to be your parents, you feel a lot older, wiser, and seasoned. Likewise, only if people knew what you've been through and how much you've lost, they would understand why you're so happy. They would understand why you have no other choice but to trust God. They would understand why you're always talking about God. They would understand why you're going after Christ more than ever. Now it's up to you to show people why it's worth it! No success is gained by a common man, so if it was easy to get it... it may not be worth it.