.....::::: PARTIAL OBEDIENCE = NO OBEDIENCE :::::.....

He wants all of you! Giving God most of you is NOT good enough. Just because you pray sometimes, attend church and attempt to do what is right, does NOT mean it is enough for God. The reality is, God wants all of our lives, not just a part of it.

What does it mean to give God your all? It means to stop resisting and surrender because He knows best. As humans, we have the tendency to put things, people, relationships, and careers over God. When God says obey, He will not settle for partial obedience.

When you decide to give God your all, it requires surrendering every area of your life to Him. Even when it does not make sense. The crazy thing is that Every time I personally would let go of something, He usually gave it right back in abundance. Remember, obedience is better than sacrifice!

In the Bible, Abraham was preparing to sacrifice his one and only son. As soon as he prepares his son for sacrifice, God exclaims, “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” He said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12 NIV). God eventually blessed Abraham because of his obedience.

God is no different in our lives. You have to trust that God knows what is best for you. If something is not working in your life, give it up to Him. When you surrender and align your plans with His, it may hurt for a moment, but God will turn your sadness into joy and give you strength. He will give you more than your heart could have ever imagined!

Mark 12:30 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’"

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.....::::: LET GO, LET GOD! :::::.....

Losing my parents at the age of 12 was truly the most heartbreaking thing that happened to me during my 22 years on this earth. Though it did change my life, it did that in more ways than one. It forced me to be less dependant. Yeah it caused me to grow up faster than most kids my age but it also enabled me to seize and hold onto God and not man. God can take that place in our life, fill that void, and heal that hurt. He can direct us, for those with the same situation, to those who may take the role of father and mother for us. His love is sufficient for all our needs. Our troubles should not diminish our faith. Our problems help us to remember Christ's suffering, keep us from pride, look beyond this brief life, prove our faith to others and give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power. Happiness is a plus. Note that God is not working to make us happy but to fulfill His Will. Let go of the things that hurt and let God heal you...let God guide you...let God give you your purpose in life.

Psalm 27:10 - "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." & 2 Corinthians 4:17 - "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

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.....::::: A PROSTITUTE NAMED RAHAB :::::.....

Shocking that I'd mention a prostitute right? Well Rahab was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. Being a prostitute, she lived on the edge of society, one stop short of rejection. Her house was built right into the city wall. It provided lodging and favors to travelers. It was a natural place for the Israelites to stay and be mistaken for her customers.

The Israelites were about to invade Jericho and this worried Rahab. Yes she was afraid but she turned to the Lord for salvation. Her faith gave her the courage to hide the Israelite spies. Though her position was not favorable, she took the risk.
God often uses people with simple faith to accomplish His great purpose, no matter what kind of past they have had  - like Rahab - whom we are inclined to reject. God remembers her because of her faith and not her profession. If you ever feel like a failure, remember that Rahab didn't allow her past to keep her from the new role God had for her. Think all the more He can do with you!!!

Joshua 2:1 - "Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there."

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.....::::: I'M THINKING OF A MASTER PLAN :::::.....

Let's put this into context first! God did not forget His people, even though they were captive in Babylon. He planned to give them a new beginning with a new purpose - to turn them into a new people. In times of deep trouble, it may appear as though God has forgotten you. But God may be preparing you, as He did the people of Judah, for a new beginning with Him at the center.

It's encouraging to have a leader who points in the right direction, believes in us every step of the way and never leaves us. God is that kind of leader. Ask Him to lead you. Sometimes in life, we have an idea of how we want our lives to unfold, but God already knows what is in our future. Jeremiah 29:11-12 reminds us, God already has a plan for our lives. We simply need to ask Him to reveal it to us, get on board and trust Him to be our source and light! He knows the future, and His plans for us are good and full of hope. This does not mean that we will be spared pain but that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

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.....::::: REFUSE TO BE A STATISTIC!!! :::::.....

The next time they tell you that african american men won't amount to anything but being rappers and prison inmates, tell them that YOUR BLACK MAKES A DIFFERENCE and that you are a reference and not a STATISTIC!!!

.....::::: DO YOU TRUST ME? :::::.....

This is a question that most, if not many, believers have already asked themselves. Myself included. This happened a couple of times where instead of just trusting God, I would try and fix certain situations on my own. But what that did was make the situation 10x worse. That is when I realized my weaknesses and limitations. So I turned to God and sought paths of effectiveness. Our weaknesses not only help develop Christian character; they also deepen our worship, because in admitting our weakness, we affirm God's strength.

Our troubles shouldn't diminish our faith or disillusion us. See your troubles as opportunities of worship!

We often feel like we can't trust anyone, not even God, when we have an important decision to make. But God knows what is best. He is a better judge of what we want than we are! We must trust Him completely in every choice we make. Please let that sink in...

Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; [...]"

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.....::::: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND FASTING :::::.....

Fasting can change your life! Yes! But know this, we cannot be saved by deeds of service without faith in Christ, but our faith lacks sincerity if it doesn't reach out to others. Fasting can be beneficial spiritually and physically, but at its best fasting helps only the person doing it. Don't get me me wrong, fasting is good! Great even but the Gospel is not just limited to that. Jesus did fast as well. The important thing you must ask is why? Jesus fasted to prepare Himself for His ministry that was to come. He led by example. An example we should follow. God says He wants our service to go BEYOND our own personal growth to acts of kindness, charity, justice, and generosity. What that means is that the Gospel has nothing to do with US but everything to do with Him! I laugh when certain people make the Gospel seem like it's about them and whatever what not. But that is false. True fasting is more than what we don't eat; it is pleasing God by applying His Word to our society. Please let that sink in...

Isaiah 58:6-12 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.   Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

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