Living for the audience of ☝🏾
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:33
Not That One!!!!!!!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
Psalm 3:5 CSB
I can recount five separate instances where I was given another chance at living, but admittedly, I had totally forgotten about one of those instances until earlier yesterday while discussing another matter with a dear friend. I’m SURE there’s a lot more, but I won’t attempt counting beyond five of them. I would like to share one of those stories with you now…
Somewhere around the summer of 1994, I had finished my second shift at Honeywell Monitoring (alarm company) and it was roughly 11:30 p.m. I pulled my car into a parking space located directly in front of my apartment building. As I was also talking with a friend on my cellphone, I noticed a young woman approaching my car with a stroller, but the bulk of it was covered by a large blanket. She then stopped me as I exited my vehicle and asked if I could give her and her “baby” a quick ride to another part of the apartment complex that was about five minutes away (walking distance.) I replied “SURE THING,” but just let me run into my apartment really fast and use the bathroom. By this time, my ‘Spidey senses’ started kicking in and I told my friend on the phone to call 9-1-1 if I haven’t called her back in a few minutes.
Now here’s where the story picks up and gets interesting…as I was exiting my apartment and walking back outside, a very strong wind picked up and blew the blanket off the face of the stroller and there was no baby inside! The young woman didn’t see me noticing the empty stroller, but I quickly made up an excuse as to why I suddenly couldn’t drive her to her desired location and swiftly went back into my apartment. (I cannot recall what I said to her, but I now know that The Holy Spirit took a old of my tongue and used it to grab me from what could have been a ‘horrible’ turnout on my end.)
To quote a couple of verses from the bible:
‘Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, “ God is in this place—truly. And I didn’t even know it!” He was terrified. He whispered in awe, “Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God’s House. This is the Gate of Heaven.”
Genesis 28:16-17 MSG
I shutter just thinking on how many times God has been by my side all along and yet I was oblivious to the seemingly “little” miracles. That said, I am now cognizant of God’s saving grace and His powerful right hand.
‘Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Psalm 34:8 MSG
#TheMUSTList
“When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Luke 19:5 NASB
“And he must needs go through Samaria.”
John 4:4 KJV
“Now you can understand what I meant when I said that the first will end up last and the last will end up being first. Everyone is invited, but few are the chosen.”
Matthew 20:16 TPT
It is very interesting to me how phenomenal the bible is!! Admittedly, I have recently began realizing just how rich it is, especially when you begin to take a closer look. Come away with me so that we can examine the story of the CHIEF tax collector named Zacchaeus (Luke 19;1-10).
On the surface and to the untrained eye, one could surmise that this man had absolutely nothing in common with the people he collected taxes from. However, once you began to strip away his title (profession), you would begin to notice that just like everyone else in need of a savior, so too did he.
(23) Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.
Romans 3:23 AMPC
It is also worth noting that Jesus looked up to where Zacchaeus was positioned in the tree. He [Jesus] urged him to “hurry up and come down because I MUST stay at your house.” Jesus also told his disciples that he MUST go through Samaria; as indicated in the above scripture (John 4:4).
Both the tax collector and the Samaritan woman were unlikely people Jesus should ‘carve time out’ for. Particularly, the Sadducees and Pharisees thought this way; and likely Jesus’ disciples as well. Add to that the sphere of influence on the people the Pharisees and Sadducees must’ve had. The fact that Jesus took the time to meet with each of them on a rather personal note suggests to me that he is willing and able to meet us where we are in life at a time he has designated. #KnockKnock
(7) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (8)For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8 NIVUK
There are a number of examples throughout scripture when God meets people in order to show up and off show His Supernatural strength. For example, a lion’s den, a very hot fire, the Pool of Bethesda, a gate called Beautiful, just to name a few of them. By the way, God even has Jesus demonstrate compassion on a widow by interrupting a funeral in Luke 7:11-17;
(11) Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. (12) And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. (13) When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (14) Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (15) So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. (16) Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” (17) And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
It should not come as a surprise to anyone hurting that God cares for each of us. He indicates this over and over throughout the bible.
(13) [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! (14) Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
I guarantee God will meet you during any moment deemed as a MUST moment. Please do yourself a favor and read the Hagar (Sarai’s handmaid) in Genesis 16;7-11. The complete story is quite fascinating and marvelous. God is definitely both the G.O.AT. (Greatest Of All Times) and the M.V.P. (Most Valuable Player) simultaneously in this story.
#ElRoi #GodWhoSees #FirstNicknameGivenByHagar
A Closer Look
LOVE
“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TPT
I enjoy comparing the various versions of the bible. By doing so, I see something different from reading the same thing in another way. By inviting the Holy Spirit into my studying the scriptures, I receive more revelation from Him. This is vitally important for those seeking to gain knowledge of the kingdom.
“my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”
Hosea 4:6 NIV
I was able to capture several instances of God’s love in a book I recently wrote. In the book is a compilation of seven stories from different people. We were all created uniquely by Him, yet if you take a closer look, you will notice that God had woven His plans for each of us in our darkest moments. Admittedly, you will need to view the stories from the lenses of faith, but you will definitely see God’s handiwork present.
Please allow your curiosity a chance to explore God from the kingdom perspective and I’m sure you’ll discover Him more. Please look for this title on Amazon at your convenience.
I’ll allow it, although it’s NOT my will!
‘ We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.’
Romans 8:28
Yesterday as I was thinking about a particular matter, I received what I believe was a ‘Peter-like’ rebuke [Mark 8:33]. The Holy Spirit allowed me to finish my thought before interjecting His own response. There was a debate starting in my mind regarding something God very clearly allowed to occur. However, He dropped something in my spirit immediately following my thoughts. He gently whispered to me “please don’t confuse that which I allow as equivalent to my will.” Those two things are often mistaken as the same instances and they are NOT! True enough, ALL things have to go through God for clearance and distribution (so to speak), but they shouldn’t be confused or synonymous with God’s will or plans.
‘The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord , “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan also came with them. Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Job 1:6-8
It’s worth noting that Satan (although crashing the meeting in verse 6), was still questioned by God himself. To me, this suggests that God is not intimidated by a created being (Satan). Not only that, but God offers up His trusted servant [Job] to Satan. He [God] does specify that the enemy cannot kill Job as indicated in verse 12.
‘The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord .
Job 1:12
I don’t believe for one second that God wills for unconscionable events to happen to His people. It would be counterproductive to His very nature. After all, He IS love! So please don’t be so hasty to blame God for any unfortunate, disheartening thing that occurs in your life. Rather, I implore you to allow Him the opportunity to move you through those events and TRUST Him in the process. With God in your proverbial boat, you’re definitely going to make it to the other side with Him.
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s get in a boat and go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail. Soon Jesus fell asleep. The wind rose, and the fierce wind became a violent squall that threatened to swamp their boat. ‘So the disciples woke Jesus up and said, “Master, Master, we’re sinking! Don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” With great authority Jesus rebuked the howling wind and surging waves, and instantly they stopped and became as smooth as glass.
Luke 8:22-24
Recalculating…
Foxes and eradicating “the root of bitterness…”
www.bible.com/97/heb.4.14-16.msgPleasant Surprise
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 NLT
Admittedly, I didn’t like the elements of the “surprise” factor. Allowing myself to be surprised would be like willingly volunteering to participate in the “Trust Fall.”
The game (Trust Fall) was quite popular in one’s early school days. Basically, your teacher would be responsible in the selection process for someone to stand directly behind you while you trust the said person to catch you. Shows like “America’s Funniest Videos” or “Ridiculousness” will easily point out the notion that playing this game isn’t always a “wise idea.”
I believe the idea of leaving the selection of the person to catch you is flawed from the beginning. Partly because you have very little (if any) say in who the teacher selects to demonstrate the popular school game. Although, I wasn’t dropped in school playing the game, I instinctively knew you would either play the game throughout your life or opt out of it altogether.
*Spoiler alert*
I was a part of the latter part of the last sentence. I simply was unwilling to have the trust of any other person (besides that of myself). If I had to rely on a “Stranger” to decide whether or not they wanted to gain trust or a simple laugh at my expense, “Thanks, but NO thanks!”
But God…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Fast forward to 2018-2019 and I took notice of a Burning Bush (if you will) named Eric. Between my elementary school days well into my adulthood, I realized a “Stranger” named Jesus Christ had already decided to be the person to volunteer Himself to stand behind me for the “catch.”
So, while I decided against participating in “The Trust Fall” altogether, He [God] had bettER plans for me. But because God is a gentleman, He wouldn’t “force Himself” or His elaborate plans on me. And so, even being a bit of a #latebloomer, I would eventually relax and participate in the exercise after all.
I walked you through the story just to conclude that Jesus convinced me to allow someone that He Himself would choose to catch me and not let me fall. Even when I foolishly think to myself “I got this one, God,” He has Eric standing by after my “boo boo” (or my sometimes “near fatal crashes”).
*And to his lovely wife Renee, thank you. 😁🤛🏾🤜🏻
Mind Yo Business 