Prepare

Preparation is one of the most underestimated task when thinking about the future.

A lot of families don't function in the area of preparation, whether it be preparing financially for retirement, future children's college fund, creating a rainy day fund for life's little hiccups or even money to be used for buying a home.

Understandably, most families would like to be able to prepare financially for life events, but the cost of living and the career options available make things a bit difficult. This is why having faith and building it up daily is important. The stronger your faith the bigger the mountains you can move. Write out what you need and want for your life as you see it right now,be as specific as possible. Look up a couple of scriptures that can support your desires/needs and write them down with that list and declare it to the Lord. Tell Him these are things that I desire and need for my future. Believe it and now it's time to do your part in the process.

If it is financial preparation, look at your finances and see if there are any reoccuring expenses that can be eliminated, at least for the time being, such as coffee trips, shopping sprees, cable, etc... Next see how you can consolidate your credit card debt whether it be by taking out a low interest loan or applying for a credit card with a good 0% APR promotion that you can transfer current debt to so you can pay off debt without a monthly APR piling up. Next, start putting up any cash or change you have at the end of every week, you'll be shocked at how much you're able to save at the end of a few months.

Preparation is one of the best tasks to  ever be given considering a lot life's events aren't preventable, so when ever you have the ability to prepare for something do it now, don't wait.

Ask, Believe, Receive

Throughout my spiritual journey thus far, my experience with “asking and receiving” has become solid. Despite what anyone may say or do, I will always believe that when I ask for something in prayer or declare to the Lord what I want to happen, I will have it.

It’s a simple concept that even an unbeliever can understand, although they may not believe in it. Not enough believers put this to practice for fear of their desires or needs not being fulfilled or feeling like they shouldn’t ask for things or situations to happen for them, that God will do whatever is necessary without having to make a request. 

Unfortunately, it is a tragic misunderstanding to think that doing what was already stated in the bible that you can do as something that you cannot. God of course knows exactly what you desire, but that doesn't mean that He will just make it happen if you don't voice it. 

You've probably seen a child trying to draw a butterfly, you both know that that's what the child is trying to draw and see that they are frustrated trying to make it look a certain way, but we don't interfere because they didn't ask for help nor do you want to hinder them from making mistakes and learning on their own how to keep trying until they get it right.

God, in a much bigger way does the same with us. He knows we need help but unless we stop and ask Him. 

We were after all given free will, use it!

God Is Good All The Time

I never really understood why people would say “God is good”, randomly, even if they aren’t doing well at the moment.

I think I have an idea of what it means or at least one of the possible meanings. Even if you feel like you are at your lowest, God is good-why? Because He has already worked out how you’re going to come up out of your present situation and all the while simultaneously time is placing that spark in a new mother’s womb who has been struggling with conceiving for years.

God is good

The same time someone is around the corner from reaching their healing from addiction, an old dying man is finally giving his life over to the Lord before it would’ve been too late.

God is good

Just because we may not see the light at the end of the tunnel right now it doesn’t even begin to diminish the amount of goodness God has in Him.

Remember that daily … God is good even when you’re doing bad…because He has already predestined your end result, it’s up to you to follow the path to that result.

Proverbs 12:1-6

Proverbs 12New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.

² A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

³ A man is not established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

⁴ An excellent^[a] wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

⁵ The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

⁶ The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

In the book of Proverbs some of the most basic guidelines on how to be a good successful person in life are outlined. Most people can simply say that you have to just be nice to people and giving in order to have good things come to you and to be successful, however there is a lot more to than that you need to follow to be as God wants you to be.

1.      Do not turn away instruction by others

2.      Recognize and accept favor

3.      Be righteous and wicked behavior/intentions won’t shake you

4.      (for women) Be the best wife you can be and not do/or say things that could negatively affect you/your marriage.

5.      Think/seek righteous thoughts/counsel

6.      Be upright and not wait for others to fall

This is just some of the traits that God looks for in people…not just believers, however it’s only the believers that see value in the bible and what His word has to offer. It’s proven to be easier to not know how you’re supposed to be so you can continue in your own ways, but if everyone knows exactly what the word of God says there would be no excuse to misbehave.

New Territory

The fear of the unknown is a common strand that links many of us together, whether born again or not. However, how we react to the fear is what separates us. Some people may be ignited to push through the fear because of their own determination to not be held back, and then there are those who are discouraged by the fear and want to keep away from it.

2 Timothy 1:7King James Version (KJV)

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Something "new" is usually "unknown" for us therefore "fear" pops up. So as it pertains to the things of the Lord, exercising new "gifts" that God or someone has imparted unto you can be scary. It takes developing the mindset to stumble through the fog that fear has created.

Another example is starting a ministry. If you know that you know God has told you exactly what you needed to do to start this ministry, fear will still come up because it's new territory for you.

Do not be discourage when something new is introduced to you, even new knowledge that may contradict what you have always believed to be true.

Always remain prayerful as sometimes what we feel as fear may be a warning to stay away from it. This is why you must be prayerful, read His word and seek Godly council from others.

No Troubled Hearts

John 14:1 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a]; believe also in me.

 In times such as these, with constant debates and protests about various hot button issues, we have to stay in peace. It was foretold that the world will get darker and darker and there isn't stopping it. Instead we are to stay in peace and continue to share the love of God with others.

Don't be alarmed when you hear of mass shootings, protests, or even unrighteous laws be passed, these things have to come to pass in order for the word of God to play out. This does not mean we are to just sit back and ignore what's going on, but to not let our hearts be troubled- or in other words, not get caught up in the craziness and the fear that the media and the people we meet perpetuate. 

Stay prayerful and keep an eye on what's going on because these are all signs of the times we are in and soon we will need to Him more than ever. We are comforted in the fact that He has our best interest at heart and the enemy has already been defeated, just stand and know that He has given us His peace that we may withstand the wiles of the devil during these deeply troubled times.

The End Times (scripture of the month)

Luke 21:7-28New King James Version (NKJV)

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

⁷ So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

⁸ And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore^[a] do not go after them. ⁹ But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not comeimmediately.”

¹⁰ Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.¹² But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecuteyou, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. ¹³ But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. ¹⁴ Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will putsome of you to death. ¹⁷ And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head shall be lost. ¹⁹ By your patience possess your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ²³ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;²⁶ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”