Morning Meditation: Out of the Fog: Day 3

Out of the Fog: Day 3 

If you believe that you were made in the image and likeness of God there are certain things that you should be willing to accept about yourself. To be made in the image and likeness of God is to not just resemble God but to be crafted after God. We are not God but certainly we possess character traits and abilities which God uses to validate His presence with us and in us! Mary Mary singing about who they are and their accomplishments say it well, "it's the God in me"!

What do you know about God? You know He is compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. You know He is truthful, fearless always victorious, that He cares for people who are oppressed that He is powerful and therefore empowers us and the list goes on.

Can we say we are made in God's likeness and profess love for Him while we 'cannot stand' the people around us, or can we say we are affiliated with God yet allow fear to overtake us and dictate our very existence even limiting how big we dream?

Who is God to you? Take a moment to think about what God has done for you in the past. What behaviors and attitudes have God been asking you to modify or discard so that you can begin to be more like Him? Have you been using the authority that God has given you in your everyday life or have you been living a defeated life believing and acting as though everyone is against you, that you will never realize your dreams, that you are not capable of being and doing the things your heart most desires?

Today take heart there is God on the inside of you, therefore He has gifted you with everything needed to resemble Him and to win in this life.


It is time to embrace who you truly are!
 

EJ

Unburden your Life: Fear

Guided Study

Proverbs 12:25
"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad."

Fear is one of the common realities in the lives of human beings. However while some people find motivation through their fears others are severely paralyzed by them. These may range from diagnosed phobias to the fear of failure and the fear induced anxiety of everyday worries. Fear and caution are two separate things. If we can admit it we recognize that fear is quite unhealthy and quite often debilitating. The only fear that is healthy is the fear of God! As such God is certainly vocal through His word about the struggle with fear. He is adamant that our fears be drowned out by our faith. What are you fearful or anxious about? See what God has to say about it and meditate on it to build your faith in that area because after all, "which of [us] by being anxious can add a single hour to [our] span of life?" Matthew 6:27. What a clear picture about the uselessness of our fear induced worries. The sad thing is we know it is useless too because how many nights have you given up being happy to worry about something that never even ended up happening but yet we allow it to dominate our lives.

"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in God" says the Psalmist. What a testament to the fact that fear is swallowed up by faith! How many times have you had to complete a task despite the fear in your heart and once you settled in to what you were doing didn't your fear disappear even if was just in that moment?

Another thing that we learn from the Psalmist is that it is our duty to replace our fear with faith. We have to take the faith steps in order to confront and eliminate the things which make us anxious: it is a conscious decision that is required on our part each day. It is time to release the strong arm of fear from your life. Once you have identified your fears try to address each individually so that you do not become overwhelmed and of course ask God to help you because will power isn't always enough. If you need professional help do not be embarrassed or dismayed, God works through people too!!

Here are a few scripture references, check them out when you have a moment.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Hebrews 11:1
Philippians 4:6-7
1 Peter 5:6-7
There are many more! 

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EJ

Unburden your Life: Procrastination

Guided Study- Saturday 4/26/14

This weekend we will provide a few scriptures concerning some of the common issues we struggle with as humans so we can see what God says about them that we might adjust our thinking and behaviors toward them. 

Procrastination 
Results in unpreparedness, disobedience and missed opportunities. It usually reveals a lack of confidence in one's decision or in the person who inspired the decision in the first place and other times is simply shows that one has chosen to be lazy. Here is what the Word of God says about it.

John 9:4 - I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work

Matthew 25: 1-13
Take a moment and read the parable of the 10 virgins. Here is a snap shot

Verse 10 - "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut."

Deuteronomy 23:21
"When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.

In your quiet time, what does God say about procrastination to you? 

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EJ

Morning Meditation: Unburden your Life: Day 5

Unburden your Life: Day 5

Sitting quietly I found myself thinking about the celebration of Easter and how well commemorated it is, so much so that, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday boast some of the heftiest numbers in church attendance across the world. What's the point in remembering something that we do not believe?!

Jesus didn't cheat death He conquered it. He is not somehow running from death scared it will catch up with Him. He faced it and then took away all of its power so that we would no longer live in fear! Can we really say we believe in God's power if we do if we go on to live lives burdened by fear and anxiety. Many people have resigned themselves to simply hoping life will be better in the after life because we have given up on the life we now have. Are our ideas and behaviors simply denying Jesus' power in our lives and putting Him back on the cross. You will never lay your life and your cares at the feet of someone in whom you do not believe. Is that was is stopping you?

To some people this post will be something cute because they believe the subject to be that of a fairy tale but to others it will be powerful stirring introspection and change. Decide today what you will believe about God going forward. The more we believe what He says is the more likely we are to do and to be what He commands.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20: 29 

Until next time, 
EJ

Morning Meditation: Unburden your life: Day 4

Unburden your life: Day 4

You may not have wanted to get out of bed this morning.

You have probably asked a thousand times, "how much more of this can I take? When will I get a new job? When will I start my business? Why can't I find the drive I need or where is my lucky break? How will I be able to go back to school? When will my heart stop aching? When will my dreams come true?
Facing our challenges and fears is not easy, so what a blessing it is to give them over to God. That doesn't mean we ignore them or shun responsibility for them, what it means is that we allow God to give us wisdom and guidance and we determine not to worry, despair or to become depressed. Very often God uses the people in our lives to assist us.

However, be careful of the expectation that people are to be there for you and to rescue you. God has empowered you to help yourself and where your abilities fail His strength will prevail.

Remember at one of Jesus' most challenging moments (praying on the Mount of Olives) when He was in so much agony over what was to come that Luke likened the sweat falling off Him to blood. Jesus’ disciples fell asleep though He had asked them to stay awake and to be in prayer (Luke 22:39-46) Though He had people around Him, He had to face His issues alone. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help but maybe the burdens He carried were too great for them (that’s for another post). The ability to go on was divinely sent (an Angel appeared from heaven and strengthened Jesus).

Today tap into God's power and let Him help you handle your issues.

When was the last time you prayed about your problems? Take some time and talk with God about them.

Be sure to tell your problems to God first if you must share them with other people. 

EJ

Morning Meditation: Unburden your Life: Day 3

Unburden your life: Day 3 

The use of affirmations has gotten quite popular in the life coaching circles over the last few years but the truth is these were practiced by people even in biblical times! 

We use affirmations to influence our thoughts and behavior; to change negative behaviors and ideas, to increase our faith and to focus our Spirit on the very thing we want to accomplish especially if the mind at the time does not believe it to be possible.

When we follow the standard set by God for us we will begin to call those things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17). Here is an example "my mind is at peace I am worry free because every decision I make will turn out for my good. I am successful at all that I do" this may be something that you say every time you begin to worry about a decision you are making or become fearful of the future. Either way while it may feel silly saying it because it does not represent how you feel at the time you are calling your inner man to align himself with what you are saying (what you want) and over time the adjustment will be made. There is power in the tongue; in the things you say (Proverbs 18:21)!

Today as you continue to give God your challenges and worries, create an affirmation that you can use to help you refocus whenever anxiety and worry resurface. Use your affirmation as many times as you need to throughout the day.

You can't leave it to chance begin to change your life today by aligning yourself (what you say and what you meditate on) with your desired outcome. 

EJ

Morning Meditation: Unburden your Life: Day 2

Unburden your Life: Day 2 



Have you ever taken the time to really look at the Songs of David in the Psalms? David had many challenges and though he had several moments where he might have been fearful, uneasy or even disappointed He knew that His problems were best handled by God. When you let go of the things that worry you and leave them with God you are making a declaration of faith in God and His ability to both love and care for you and you are allowing yourself the opportunity to see God's power at work through you as well as in your situation. Read Psalm 121 when you get a moment. Here are the first few verses.

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1-2 

EJ

Aren’t you glad you are in?

Written April 16, 2014

This morning the Daily Bread topic was ‘Joining the Family’ and immediately my mind wandered to Good Friday 21 years ago when I was baptized. I found myself singing, “I ‘m so glad I’m a part of the family of God. I‘ve been washed in His fountain cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as I travel along, I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God”.

Ok I hope that wasn’t overkill on the lyrics but I don’t hear songs like that very often anymore (that’s for another post though).

There was a special feeling of belonging then and an even more special one now because you cannot help if you are honest with yourself notice not just the glowing parts of you but your short comings that render you undeserving of such a thing as well. Sigh…that He loved me and died for me that I might call Him not just Creator but Father and Friend. Woohoo (it is cause for celebration)! (ok, gathers self)

Many of us try to forget the cruel events of Good Friday because we dare not imagine that as a follower of Christ we might be subject to this horrendous pain whether physical or emotional. So we fast forward to Sunday when Jesus upset hell’s party and garnered for us reconciliation with God the Father. Certainly when we imagine the omnipotence of God we are pleased to serve Him and clamor for that kind of display of resurrection power in our own lives and against our enemies.

But the thing is we cannot accept one part of the story without the other. Just like we cannot crave the rewards our relationship with God affords us without embracing His suffering as well. As we live out our lives we should not fear the challenges that come our way especially as a result of our faith in God. 

Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” Matthew 5:10-12. I know at first glance you might think you are encouraged to see trials as blessed but it is not they that are blessed it is the ONE who endures them. So while they may not be a ‘breeze’ to handle if you can stay mindful that you are blessed during your trials you will be able to perceive and respond to them differently. You will be able to be joyful in spite of what the conditions around you look like for you will be repaid ‘double for your trouble’.  

Do not be dismayed, God has put the icing on the cake for us assuring us that all roads lead to victory for His children. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

If we could only meditate on that and remember it as we face the difficult things in our lives and in ourselves we would like our almighty God carry our own crosses with pride and strength. 

Just remember, they did not kill Jesus, He chose to die (yielded to death) that He might save you and me and give us hope and power to remain confident in Him and to vanquish fear as we live out our lives!

Aren’t you glad you are a part of the family of God?! His family affords us privilege and power and undying love!

Until next time,

EJ

Onward & Live IN Purpose

Monday Morning Meditation #1: Unburden your life!

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7


Driving home I was feeling especially burdened. It seems that it is when I am alone with my thoughts that I am the most prone to feeling the weight of the challenges I am faced with. Thank God that in the midst of my anxiety He spoke, "cast your cares on me because I care for you".

My first thought, "Woieee!! Jesus it is easier said than done!" But the more I thought about it the more I realized that God understood that too. I wondered of the choice of words used in some of the bible translations of that passage - cast (that word was heavy for me)

Fishermen cast their nets and that was the context that I used to understand what God was saying to me. I was not to simply hand it to him or else He could have said give it to me. Instead the image in my mind is one of intentional abandon, throwing vigorously the burdens away from me and for my Jamaican readers we 'fling' it from ourselves on to our Saviour.

Ever had someone agree to take on something at school, at work or even in the home that you think is challenging? Do you know that urgency with which your pass it to them and that unloading you experience when that responsibility is no longer yours? Well it is that that Jesus is offering you! And the great thing is you need not feel guilty because you are throwing your worries on someone who is capable of bearing that burden for you and who wants to remove your anxiety through faith on Him.

What are you worried about or bothered by? What anxieties do you have that keep you awake at night or sadden you so much that getting out of bed and facing them each day feels overbearing? Are you happy holding on to those worries? Are you afraid to let them go?

Today why don't you take the opportunity to cast your challenges on God?

Now you may be the type who can do it once and the worrying ceases right away but you may be like me who has to keep giving it to God over and over throughout the day. Put off anxiety, depression, stress from un-attained dreams etc; let God remove the load of your baggage on your life.

Spend a moment and talk with God. Leave your cares in His capable hand, then walk away lightened. See how different you feel!  

EJ

Love won me over!

It was 21 years ago that I went public with my decision to follow Christ and was baptized on a Good Friday like this one. 

It was His love that won me over! 

I had realized at a tender age that the love He has for me was as matchless then as it is now; a reality that has inspired me through the decades to continually offer up my heart to Him.

I don't have a romantic story to tell with a happily ever after at every turn, in fact I often times feel like we are misfits because together we weather ups and downs as MY missteps mount with age. So I thank God He still has loved me enough not to leave me! My growing pains with God actually make me love Him more because I realize each day that His love restores, rejuvenates and redeems all that I am. Oh His loves demands that I am better each day and oh how I want to please Him by being just that! 

Initially when we are found by God we think ourselves the gift to Him and wait for Him to shower us with love but as the relationship grows we realize that the real gift is God and we begin to desire, as we do with those we love, to express our love for Him through our obedience and to use our initiative to make Him smile! After all what good is the created if it does not serve the Creator's purpose?

As the years go on I tighten my grip on His hand for I have quickly learned that without Him I am empty and life is purposeless. Every thing that I am, every role that I play finds meaning in Jesus Christ alone. I cannot separate Him from my life at all...whispers, I wouldn't want to.

My prayer on this another anniversary is that I will grow to love Him more, that I will continue to be transformed by His Spirit in me through the renewing of my mind and that my journey with Jesus will become a guidepost for those around me especially my children so that they may encounter God through me and in me.

Thank you Lord for saving my soul! I am yours! Forever.

#good #friday #musings

"But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us."
Romans 5:8 AMP 

Until next time,
EJ
Onward & Live IN Purpose