HAPPY NEW YEAR

With Christmas behind us we are embarking on a new year.  It is a time of transition where we transition from one year to another.  Depending on who you are the New Year can be a time filled with great possibilities or great regrets.  For some it is a time to party and watch a giant ball drop from the sky.  For others it is about traditions built on superstition such as cooking black eyed peas for good luck and collard greens for money or doing all your cleaning and washing before the New Year or else you will be cleaning and washing all year long in the new coming year. 

Many end one year and begin the new with New Year’s Resolutions.  Many make resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking and/or drinking.  Some make resolutions to get out of debt and save more money.  Others make resolutions to move on from relationships that are not working out or that are destructive or unhealthy in some way.  It is believed that New Year’s Resolutions began with the Babylonians.  They have the earliest recorded history of New Year’s Resolutions, which was a time for them to return borrowed farm equipment.  But for our modern western world it has become a time to make all sorts of declarations of how we are going to build new and better, healthier habits and how we are going to do better in various areas of our lives, but many fail to fully commit to what they have declared so fervently. 

Every culture has its New Year’s Resolution traditions; from Asia to Spain to Greece and from London to Canada and everywhere in between.  Many of them are traditional, some full of meaning, but the common thread that runs through them all is that it is a time of doing away with, putting an end to, or forgetting the old and welcoming and embracing the new.  It is important to understand that New Years is not about partying or observing superstitious traditions; these things have no significance and add nothing to our lives.  Whether you wash and clean everything before the New Year or not will not prevent you from cleaning and washing during the new coming year because living necessitates cleaning and washing. 

The word, resolution, means to be firmly determined; to have a firm resolve and commitment to in making a decision.  Instead of making frivolous resolutions about things we are not fully committed to, the New Year should be a time of serious self reflection to take inventory in a determination of where we stand in life in comparison to where we should be according to God’s purpose and will for our individual lives.

The New Year is a time to make a decision to be a better person, not according to the world’s standards, but according to God’s, which can only be accomplished by allowing Christ to reign in us [Gal. 5:16-17]. We should make a decision to be the fruit tree God has purposed us to be according to Gal. 5:22-23. We should make a decision to be abundant in forgiveness in our relationships. We should make a decision to yield ourselves to God that He may heal all the broken & bruised places of our lives so that we don’t continue to attract that which is destructive in our lives. We should make a decision to walk humbly before the Lord and not yield to the attractiveness of pride. We should make a decision to listen more than we speak. We should make a decision to live for God and not perform for man. And when all of these decisions have been made we should breathe a word of prayer that God would bring these decisions we have made back to our remembrance everyday that we would adhere to them and be the witnesses of Christ we have been placed here in the earth to be.

So, this New Years as we transition from 2011 to 2012 don’t make a New Year’s Resolution as you have in the past.  Make a life decision, not to be the best you that you can be, but to be the you that God created you to be by committing your life to Him and making a decision everyday to live according to His principles.  Live in step with the Sprit (the Holy Spirit) by keeping in step with the Spirit by adhering to his voice in you [Gal. 5:25].  The Spirit of God will not lead you astray, but into all truth causing you to live a life pleasing to God [John 16:13].

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  Cross over into 2012 with a resolve to live for Christ.  May you experience Christ this year and every day for the rest of your life building relationship with him that he might be glorified through your life living.

-          Dr. DeShonda Bailey

 

Thanks for Giving

We are once again upon the holiday season and more specifically, that time of year where we focus on being thankful, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, a time where we reflect over the year that is coming to an end (the good, the bad, and the ugly). It is a time when we are thankful for our family, dear friends (old and new), the progress and successes in our careers, the healing of our bodies and that of those whom we love. We're grateful for the roof over our heads, the provision of food in our pantries, and all that we have. We're grateful for how we made it through the difficult times and experiences during the course of the year. One of my nephews, when he was a little boy, was so excited about the smell of holiday food in the house one Thanksgiving that he asked, "is it Thanks for giving.". He could not say Thanksgiving, but we all understood what he meant as we chuckled. And as we are entering this season of Thanksgiving, I find myself thinking about this profound question asked by my nephew although he was not trying to be profound when he asked it many years ago. The truth of the matter is that this holiday of Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for giving. It is a time to give God thanks for giving unto us all year long. While we should not limit our giving thanks to just this one time of year, it is good to have a concentrated time that calls our attention into focus on truly giving thanks to the one who watches over and takes care of us every day of our lives all year long, God. There are numerous scriptures on being thankful, but one that stands out the most to me is I Thessalonians 5:18 that says, "Be thankful in all circumstances! For this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.". What does this mean? It is God's will that we be a people of gratitude who give thanks to God in every circumstance that we go through in life. Some wander how they can do this because there are some circumstances that are troublesome, burdensome, trying, and almost unbearable. The key to being able to be grateful or thankful to God in these circumstances is knowing that God is the one who gives the authority to these circumstances in our lives. Everything that comes against us and every circumstance that we experience has to get authority from God to enter our lives (remember Job; Job 1:12 & 2:6). The truth of the matter is that even when we experience difficult situations we can see God's hand of mercy upon us and His strength stand up in us when we are too weak to stand for ourselves. That's enough to give God thanks. If we all would take a moment to intentionally have a flashback to these difficult situations & circumstances in our lives we can all see where God extended to us grace, mercy, and strength and we can see where we owe God a sincere thanks. Ingratitude is one of the most understated sins there is and it leads to idolatry as we see in Romans 1:21. When the people of God took God for granted failing to give Him thanks they became vain and foolish and began to erect false, ungodly images to replace the image and glory of God and further launched out into a cesspool of sin & unrighteousness sets. Many subtly fall into the trap of ingratitude taking God for granted forsaking to give Him thanks. Let me caution you against this, but if you don't believe me, look at the testimony of them who fell into that trap in Rom. 1:21-32. So, as we enjoy this time of Thanksgiving and all that it represents to us let us truly embody the true spirit of Thanksgiving by giving God Thanks For Giving today and everyday. Give Him Thanks For Giving salvation, deliverance, healing, joy, peace, strength, wisdom, Power, love, confidence, faith, patience, self control, and the many, many blessings along the way. May you and your families be blessed with the presence of God this holiday season and may your heart be overflowing with thanksgiving towards God. - Dr. DeShonda Bailey

The Danger of Anger

Anger, what is it and why is it so dangerous?  Anger is one of many emotions that we have.  When we look at scriptures such as Ephesians 4:26 we can see that anger is a natural emotion, but a very serious one that we must master because if allowed to go unchecked it can lead to sin.  Ephesians 4:26 tells us that it is okay to be angry (be angry), but don’t allow the anger to give way to sin (but sin not or don’t sin because of your anger) and not to harbor anger (don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry).  This is a very important and crucial principle for us to live by because when we allow anger to fester it will manifest in a sinful act on our part.  Anger that is harbored can plant a bitter root in us and give birth to thoughts such as murder, revenge or retaliation, unforgiveness, physical assault and the more we let these angry thoughts fester in our mind the more tempted we will be to give in to them and sin.  When you hold on to your anger you nurse it and give birth to grudges.  If you don’t get rid of your anger and deal with it right away you open a door for Satan in your life.  Verse 27 of Ephesians 4 says, “Neither give place to the devil.”  In other words, when you leave anger unchecked you give a mighty foothold to the devil in your life.  If you’ve ever been angry and failed to deal with it immediately you can testify how your allowing anger to fester caused all sorts of unhealthy, negative, and poisonous thoughts to run rampant in your mind and almost caused you or did cause you to do something that you would regret.  If you are angry with someone you must do all that you can to settle the issue with them immediately.  Go to your brother or your sister, your love one, co-worker, or neighbor immediately and communicate your feelings and why you feel the way that you do.  Talk it out and put an end to your anger.  When you delay putting out the fire of anger that is burning within your bosom you give the enemy a foothold in your life.

 There is an anger that is righteous (righteous anger).  Righteous anger is anger that the people of God have towards and against the wicked, evil, and ungodly acts perpetrated by the ungodly.  Such was the case when David cried out to God in Psalm 139:19-22 and Jesus in John 2:15-16 had righteous anger against the money changers in the temple and as a result made a whip, turned over tables and drove them out of the temple.  We should get angry at what makes God angry.  In the world we live in today there are many unrighteous and wicked things going on that justifies righteous anger such as human sex and slave trafficking, child abuse, pornography, injustice, greedy investors stealing the money of their clients, and violation of citizen’s civil rights.  However, even though righteous anger is justified we must be careful not to allow that anger to linger and fester and cause us to respond to it in a sinful way.  There are those out there who become a vigilante because they see an injustice that they hate so, they take it into their own hands to rid the earth of those who perpetuate the injustice.  However, this is not right in the sight of God because it is a sinful response.  If we see an injustice or the wicked harm innocent people then we can be angry about it, but we should channel that anger into a positive, proactive response by getting involved to be a solution and not add to the problem.  Thus the Apostle’s wise counsel in Ephesians 4:26-27.  Be angry about the wrong, but don’t add to the problem by sinning; deal with it immediately in a positive, constructive way.

There is a direct correlation between anger and sin when anger goes unchecked and is not mastered.  We must master it and not let it master us.  God drops this principle at the very beginning of human conflict in Genesis where brother was about to turn on brother.   Cain and Abel had both brought an offering unto the Lord and while Able’s offering was pleasing to God, Cain’s offering was not.  It was Cain’s reaction to this that caused God great concern and pause.  God had to now come in and deal with human conflict.  As a result of God’s acceptance of Abel’s offering and rejection of Cain’s, Cain’s countenance changed in such a way that it revealed not only his displeasure, but anger.  We’re told in verse 5 that Cain was very wroth and in verse 6 God asked him why he was so wroth.  That word wroth as used here means “to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled to anger; to be angry with, be incensed; or to heat oneself with vexation.” [blueletterbible.org]. So, Cain was furious and kindled to anger over this situation.  Cain's anger was unrighteous anger.  He had no just cause to be angry with God or Abel because his unacceptance was a result of his inadequate and inapproiate sacrifice.  God told Cain to be careful and mindful of how he handled the anger he was feeling because sin was crouching at his door.  God used the example or analogy of a preying animal to describe what can result if we allow anger to master us.  Why do I say that God was alluding to a preying animal when describing sin?  Because animals of prey like wild cats (panthers, jaguars, lions, etc) many times crouch down before they pounce on their prey to devour them.  God also told Cain that the anger sought to rule him, but he had to rule over it.  Cain, however, did not heed God’s advice and as a result malice and rage took root in Cain’s heart and sin was born manifested in the brutal murder of his brother Abel.

        James 1:9 says, be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath (wrath meaning anger).  While anger is an emotion it is not good to be quick to get angry.  Sometimes a person will do something offensive or rude to us and while it may seem like we are justified in getting angry, the word of God lets us know that getting angry is not a right and is not the best first reaction or response to the an offense.  Effective communication begins with being a good listener, we should listen twice as much as we talk.  We should lead out with our ears to hear the person out after which we should speak to express ourselves in a calm, clear manner.  The righteousness of God does not spring forth from the anger or wrath of man.  The righteousness of God is not promoted by our anger.  We should be slow to be offended and get angry.  Proverbs 12:16 tells us that “fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.” (MSG).  Proverbs 14:17 says that “a quick-tempered person does foolish things.”  (NIV).  Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.”  The key to mastering anger is to not be so quick to get angry and when we do get angry, bear the fruit of the spirit, self control.  

- Dr. DeShonda Bailey

And He Had Compassion on Them

     This afternoon I went for a walk in my community to get some exercise and it wasn't long into my walk when I saw two ducks on the swale in front of some of the condos and one duck seemingly sitting in the road.  Many cars were driving down this road where the duck was as it is a very busy street and it was rush hour after work.  I then noticed that the duck that was in the road was struggling and seemed to not be able to walk or fly.  It was lame.  I couldn't tell whether or not it had any feet or not, but it was clear that one way or another it was lame.  The two ducks on the swale seemed to be watching on with agony hoping that it could make it.  Cars were halting and swerving so as not to strike the duck.  Some looked out of their windows with wonderment at what had happened to the duck. Then came along a man on a motorcycle who was whizzing by, but he noticed the struggle of the duck.  Though this cyclist had passed by, he turned around and came back to rescue the duck.  He pulled up next to the duck and revved his engine so as to startle the duck into movement to get out of the road.  I am glad to say that the duck miraculously to me was able to muster enough strength to drag and hop itself out of the road and onto the swale with its companions.  

     This unfolding of events struck me because just this morning I heard in the news about an incident that occurred in Miami over the weekend where a pedestrian was struck in the road by multiple vehicles.  Not one, not two, not three, but 5-8 vehicles ran this man over causing his death.  Out of all of these drivers who struck the man, only one (the first one stop to render aid to him).  It is interesting to me that we live in a society where drivers will stop; come to an immediate halt to allow ducks to cross the street or so as to not strike a duck who is stuck in the street, but where multiple drivers would hit a human being and keep going without even thinking of stopping to render care.  I am all for stopping for ducks or any other animal to allow them to get out of the road because it is a living thing created by God, but isn't human life more valuable and sacred as we are made in the image of God?  How can you hit a living thing and not feel it within your being that you hit another living thing?  When and where did we as a society stop having compassion for one another? 

     When we see another person or living thing in distress we should have the compassion to stop to see if there is something that we can do to help.   In the gospel according to Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells a parable that we know as "the good Samaritan."  And in this parable Jesus gives an account of a man who was robbed and left for dead as he was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho.  As he laid there beaten and left for dead there three different men crossed his path; a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan.  You would have thought that the priest and the Levite would have stopped to render aid to the man and make sure that he was okay, but they saw him and crossed over to the other side to continue on their way. The Samaritan, however, saw him and had compassion on him.  It was that compassion that caused the Samaritan to (1) stop, (2) render first aid to the man, (3) pick the man up and put him on his own beast of burden (perhaps a donkey), (4) take the man to an inn or place of public lodging, (5) stay with him at the inn for a season to continue to take care of him, (6) and to leave extra money with the inn keeper when he had to leave so that the man could stay there and be taken care of.   

     In Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus gives another lesson in compassion in demonstration through his life.  Upon hearing the news of King Herod's killing/ beheading John the Baptist Jesus departed by boat into a secluded area, but was followed by a multitude that had left their towns to follow him on foot.  When Jesus looked at them, verse 14 says, "and he had compassion on them" [NLT].  When his disciples admonished Jesus to send the multitude away to go into their respective towns to get something to eat, Jesus' compassion led him to refuse the disciples' admonishment and feed the multitude by faith from 5 loaves and 2 fish.

     The word compassion as used in Luke 10:33 and Matthew 14:14 is the Greek word "splagchnizomai," which means "to be moved as to one's bowels, which were thought to be the seat of love and pity."  www.blueletterbible.org. Compassion is that characteristic that causes us to help someone or render aid to someone or meet someone's need simply because they need it.  Compassion causes us to reach out to others in their time of need regardless of who they are. Compassion causes us to stop if we run over another human being, call 911, and render whatever aid we can.  Compassion causes us to not run over animals in our path and to render aid to those that are injured.  Because of compassion we can mourn with those who mourn as Romans 12:15 instructs us.  In order to fulfill Hebrews 13:3 that tells us to "remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" we need to have compassion.  It takes compassion in order to bear one another's burden as we are instructed to in Galatians 6:2.  

     Compassion is the heart of God.  "...And he had compassion on them."  Matt. 14:14 [NLT].  Jesus looked upon the multitude of people and had compassion because of their need.  Over and over again in the bible Jesus showed compassion on people who were afflicted with various illnesses, demonically possessed, lost without leadership, etc.  If Jesus showed compassion then should we not do the same?

     My prayer is that we, humanity, as the crown of God's creation, would not allow ourselves to be desensitized to the needs of others.  Society has evolved into a place where no one wants to help another because of suspicion, distrust, selfishness, and bitterness, but Christ has not changed.  His nature has not changed.  May we not be like the priest and the Levite in Luke 10, but take our lead from Christ and look upon others with compassion and reach out to meet their need when we have the ability to do so.

                          - Dr. DeShonda Bailey

Don't Die Full

As we get older it is natural to take inventory of our life's journey thus far and to reflect on how we have impacted this world and those whose paths we have crossed. God has created all of us with purpose; none of us are here by happenstance.  Everyone who is born into this world is born with purpose even if they don't yet know it or know what that purpose is.  Purpose is given by the creator, God. There are many who are walking around in a state of confusion because they don't understand why they are here on this earth or what they are here to do. We do not designate what our purpose is because the creation cannot give itself purpose.

If the creation wants to know why it was created it must ask the creator.  So, if we want to know what our specific, individual purpose in this life is, we must seek God and ask Him to reveal that to us.  For some of us it comes easier than others, but God is faithful to show us if we desire to fulfill His purpose for our lives.  However, knowing one's purpose is only half of the battle. Once you know your purpose it is still possible not to successfully fulfill it.  How can this be you may ask. There are three ways that a person can fail to fulfill his/her purpose:

1.  Walking in Fear instead of Faith 

2.  Laziness

3. Being Distracted

Fear is the enemy or antagonist of faith.  Faith says I can and will do it even though it does not look like I can.  It says I can and will have it even though I don't and can't see it yet.  This is the application of Hebrews 11:1 that says, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." [KJV]  So, although you don't see the evidence of the promised purpose that you hope for, you know nonetheless that it is your destiny because God said it is so.  But, when you operate in fear, you cannot operate in faith.  Faith is the currency of the kingdom of God.  Faith unlocks the impossible.  Fear paralyzes you causing you not to be able to move in the forward direction of God's purpose for your life.  Fear steals and kills your faith and without faith it is impossible to please God [Heb. 11:6, KJV].

Laziness is not commendable in God's kingdom.    Laziness is a manifestation of complacency and complacency is a satisfaction with one's state of being ignorantly unaware that there is greater in store. In Proverbs 6:6-11 we are admonished not to be lazy, but diligent like the ant that is relentless in fulfilling its purpose and carrying out its duties. The ant does not have an overseer or leader provoking it to live out its purpose, but it does so with great diligence and haste. When you are complacent (satisfied) with where you are and what you have, there will be no pursuit of the greater that God has in store for you.  There will be no pursuit to fulfill your God given purpose.

There are many distractions in life even from those who have good intentions or those close to us.  In Luke 10:38-42 Martha invited Jesus into her home and while she ran around making dinner preparations for her guests, her sister Mary was seated at the feet of Jesus as he was teaching.  Martha was angry and wanted Jesus to tell Mary to get up and go help her with the preparations.  Jesus refused to disrupt and distract Mary from the important matter of learning how to be a disciple of Christ.  Jesus went even further to point out that Martha was distracted by many things instead of being focused on the principles of Jesus.  Another example of how the well intended can cause us to be distracted from our purpose is found in Mark 8:31-33 when Jesus was telling his disciples about the impending suffering he must endure at the hand of national leaders, priests, and teachers of the law of Moses. Peter did not want to hear Christ speak in that manner so; he rebuked Christ for talking about it.  Christ then turned around and rebuked Peter telling him, "you are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not Gods" [NLT].   Peter meant well, he just did not want to see his leader and master suffer and die, but Jesus had a purpose to fulfill in the earth and he knew that he could not be distracted from that purpose.  Distractions are all around us.  You have to know when to listen to and heed people's concerns and when to rebuke them discerning that they at that moment serve as a hindrance to your God given purpose.  The "good" intentions of those around us are not always for our good.

People who know their purpose don't waste time because they know that time is precious and brief.  Jesus is our best example of this.  He did not waste time.  He was always about his father's busness fulfilling His will through salvations plan.  He had 33 1/2 years to fulfill his purpose and everything he did every day of his life was to the fulfillment of that purpose. Martin Luther King, Jr., whether you agreed with his philosophy of justice or not, was another who understood his God given purpose and did not waste time fulfilling it. What is your God given purpose?  Whatever it is, know that you are full of purpose, but you are not supposed to stay full of purpose.  You are supposed to walk out your purpose every day of your life.  When you breathe your last breath and go to your grave, you are not supposed to be full of purpose.  

My prayer for you is that you will know what your God given purpose is (not your own self proclaimed purpose, but the purpose that God has created you with).  Once you know your God given purpose, may you walk in faith to believe what God has said or shown you, be diligent in pursuing it, and may you remain focused on fulfilling it that the Lord be pleased with your life living.

Live out your God given purpose on purpose every day of your life and Don't die full.

Last thought:  If you fail to pursue and fulfill your God given purpose with the time that God has given you here on this earth, how many people will miss out on what God has for them because it was locked up in the purpose that you were full of?

                              - Dr. DeShonda Bailey

 

A Call To Holy Living

Holiness or holy means to be consecrated, dedicated, separated, and sacred.  It is the opposite of common, profane, obscene, and defiled.  Throughout the bible God is described as holy and as such He is separated from sin and all things common, evil and wicked.  God's nature is holy and He requires His children to possess the same nature that He has.  A child is determined to be the offspring of his/her father by the fact that he/she shares their father's DNA.  In the natural the father can look at his child and see characteristics of his nature in his child.  There are certain characteristics and behaviors that the father can see in his child that he too possesses.  The same is true in the spiritual.  God requires that we all go through a rebirth.  Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:7, "So don't be surprised when I say, you must be born again" [NLT].  We must be born again, through the Spirit of God and it is through that spiritual rebirth that we become the children of God and take on His nature.  God as our heavenly father desires to see characteristics of His nature in us and as a holy God He desires to see holiness in us. 
The first mention of the word holy in scripture is found in Exodus 3:5 when God told Moses, "do not come any closer.  Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground" [NIV].  The place of God's presence at that moment was holy ground meaning that it was sacred and undefiled; consecrated or separated unto God and in order for Moses to tread there he had to take off that which was common (his shoes).  In order to make contact with the holy, Moses had to discard and separate himself from that which God deemed as unclean and common or unconsecrated; in this case, Moses' shoes.
God has called us to holy living if we proclaim Him as our father and Jesus as our Lord and savior.  In order to walk in this calling of holiness we must take some things off; we must discard those aspects of our nature that are unclean, defiled, profane, and wicked and morally impure.  Just as Moses had to discard his shoes to approach a holy God who had called upon him; we too must separate ourselves unto a holy God.  I Peter 1:16 reads, "be ye holy for I am holy" [KJV].  God is saying if you profess to be my offspring; if you really are my children then your nature should be as mine, which is holy.  We must strive to be holy; desire to be holy; and be conscientious about being holy.  In verse 15 of I Peter 1, Peter says, "he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" [KJV].  This word, conversation, that Peter uses means behavior or conduct.  Therefore, we are to be holy in every manner of of our conduct and behavior.  It is a matter of daily living.  Holiness must be a characteristic of our very nature that shows forth through our daily manner of living and conduct.  It is not a matter of word in that we say that we are holy, but a matter of conduct and behavior that speaks for itself.  Our conduct and behavior will speak for us regardless of what we say.  This is why we have to be ever so careful how we conduct ourselves because when we say we are a child of God and then our manner of living is contrary to that declaration, people are left with a testimony about our lives that does not speak of holiness.  It is in these times that people cannot hear what we are trying to tell them about God because our lives are speaking louder than our words.  God desires to not only have a relationship with us, but to work through us to be a witness to those who are lost who have rejected him or have not heard his gospel message.  God cannot use us as an effective witness if we don't understand that He has called us to a life of holy living.  Believe it or not, the world does not want to come into churches that have a secular feel and look about it.  When the world (the lost) comes to the church they are coming because they desire an encounter with the holiness of God.  They desire that which is clean and undefiled; an encounter with the holy.  They should be able to encounter the holy nature of God through their encounter with you if you are truly His child.
I Thessalonians 4:7 tells us that "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life" [NIV].  I Peter 1:13-14 tells us, "therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance" [NIV].  We are called to be holy with a sober or morally alert and circumspect mind.  To live in obedience to God and not allow ourselves to be conformed to the evil desires of this world that once governed us before we were children of God when we did not know the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ or understand the principles of God's word.  Instead of turning back into a life of sin or conforming to the world system that once governed your thoughts and actions, you are now called to a life of holy living.

Are You A Success?

We live in a society where your success is measured by where you work, how much money you earn, how educated you are, the type and size of house that you live in, the type of car that you drive, the number of children and grandchildren that you have as well as how well your children are doing in school and in their careers, and whether you're married or not.  These are the benchmarks by which our level of success is measured by the world that we live in even in some of our families, our communities, and yes, even in some of our churches.  There are churches that measure their success by how many people they have on their roll or church membership roster, how many people are sitting in their pews, and how many socially elite people they have as members.  However, this is not the way God measures success.
Joshua 1:8 in the NIV reads, "Keep this book of the law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful."  The book of the law that is mentioned here is the word of God written by Moses that the people of God (the children of Israel) were to live their life by.  In this portion of scripture God is talking to Joshua because Moses, God's chosen servant to lead the children of Israel out of their captivity in Egypt, had died.  The mantle of leadership to lead the children of Israel into the promised land was now being passed to Joshua.  God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous because He would be with Joshua as he leads the people into this.  Then God says something interesting.  He tells Joshua the key to and the formula for success and prosperity.  In this world that we live in people conduct seminars all over the country to share their formulas for success.  There are 'How To" books for just about everything, but God who is the author of success and prosperity has the formula for success. 
The first step towards being successful according to the Kingdom of God is obedience to the word of God.  In verse 7 God tells Joshua to obey all of the law given to him by Moses and not to turn away from it.  The word of God is like a road map that lets us know how we are to live and conduct our daily lives.  Psalm 119:105 reads, "thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." [KJV].  This lets us know how important the word of God is to the direction that we take in life.  The word of God lights up our path showing us where we are and in which direction we should travel.  As long as we do not turn or stray away from the word of God we can be certain that the direction that we are going in and the path that we are traveling is a path that will lead to success and prosperity. 
The second step towards being successful according to God's Kingdom is to keep the word of God on our lips.  In verse 8 God told Joshua to keep God's word on his lips.  This means that Joshua was not only to constantly read the word of God, but to speak or frequently repeat the word of God.  He was to proclaim the word of God over his life and in the life of those around him.  He was to believe the word and confess the word.  It is one thing to believe the word and another to confess it.  That which you confess you reinforce.  When you confess the word of God you put the word of God into action and give life to it in your life because the words that we speak have power [Proverbs 18:21].
The third step towards being successful by God's standard is to meditate on the word of God day and night.  Meditation is more than just a mental exercise that our modern world has come to understand it to be.  According to Strong's Concordance The word mediate in the Hebrew means to study and reflect on; to ponder, murmur, mutter, utter, and to groan.  Therefore, to meditate in the truest sense of the word as God meant it here means to recite or repeat the scriptures in a soft, quiet tone as if to speak in a dull, monotonous tone so as to rehearse the scriptures thereby reinforcing the word in ones life.  So, Joshua was to continuously repeat and rehearse the word of God so that it would permeate his very being making it difficult for him to stray away from it.  In Psalm 1:1-2 the scriptures tell us that the person who meditates in the law or written word of God day and night is a blessed person.  Constant meditation on the word of God leads to a practical living according to God's word, which leads to godly success.  Constant mediation on the holy scriptures leads to a renewed mind and transformed life to the glory of God.  God told Joshua in verse 8 that he should meditate in His word day and night that he "may observe to do according to all that is written therein."  So, mediation on God's word will lead to observance of or obedience to His word.  When you meditate on God's word you will grow from one who simply hears the word and knows the word to one who actually lives the word.  There is a constant growth and transition that leads to actual transformation and you will be transformed into the new man/woman that God intended you to be and one who is actually capable of touching and moving the heart of God.
NLT].  David as a king and man of great achievement in battle and otherwise could have told his son to do a number of things to be a success.  He could have told him to conquer kingdoms and women to be a success.  He could have told him to build great edifices to be a success.  He could have told him that acquiring great riches would make him a success, but David did no such thing.  His instruction to his young son who was about to inherit the kingdom from him was that living in obedience to God's word and doing what God says would make him a success.  In chapter 3 of 1 Kings God asked Solomon what he desired of Him.  Solomon could have asked for riches and fame just to name a few, but instead he asked God to give him wisdom to lead God's people.  Because of Solomon's humble and selfless request God answered his prayer giving him wisdom to rightly lead His people, but He also gave him great riches and promised to give him long life if he would walk according to His word.  This is a great example for us to follow.  Luke 12:15 tells us to be careful, "watch out, and be on guard against all sorts of greed because life does not exist in the abundance of possessions" [NIV].  The abundance of possessions is not the evidence of success according to how God views success.  There are many wicked who possess great things who live lives contrary to the principles of God.  They are not a success in God's sight.
In Deuteronomy 28:1-14 God told His people that in order for them to be blessed or successful.  People like to talk about how blessed they are, but many times they equate blessings with material things.  Blessings or prosperity is more than just materialistic possessions.  Blessings and prosperity is also good health, peace, joy, strength to endure and to stand, a good name or reputation, wisdom, victory over your enemies, favor with mankind, respect among men, long life, godly character and integrity.  Are you a success?  Do you do as God says you ought to do; do you live as God says you ought to live; do you listen to the voice of God when He speaks to you?  Are you a success?  Do you forgive others; do you love your neighbor as you love your self; do you esteem others more highly than you do yourself; do you have compassion on others; do you walk in love with the brethren that the world may know that you are a disciple of Christ; do you love good and hate evil; do you bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you; are you being the salt of the earth and the light of the world sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and being an effective witness on his behalf; are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit; do you exalt God above all others and seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness; do you judge others righteously according to the word of God; if you are a business do you deal justly with your customers; are you doing unto others as you would have them do unto you; do you feed the hungry, give to the poor, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned and the sick? 
Solomon enjoyed great success during his reign as king of Israel when he did as the Lord said.  His reign was one of peace for Israel; he enjoyed a reputation as the wisest man to ever live, he wrote 3,000 proverbs and over 1000 songs; and he built the temple of the Lord according to the instructions that the Lord had given Moses hundreds of years before.  These were Solomon's successes.  However, Solomon did not follow the word of the Lord in all areas of his life.  Contrary to the word of the Lord Solomon married women who were pagan worshippers (they worshipped false gods).  These women eventually turned Solomon's heart away from God causing him to join in their pagan worship.
Joshua was a success because he was a faithful and loyal servant under the leadership of Moses.  Joshua who had leadership in him was humble enough to follow the leadership that God placed over him and faithfully supported that leadership.  Joshua was a success because he was a man of faith.  In Numbers 14:6-10 Joshua along with Caleb confessed their faith that God would give them (the children of Israel) the land that He had promised them.  Joshua and Caleb were the only two out of the 12 spies who walked in faith and believed God when the rest of the people doubted that God would do what He said He would do.  Because of Joshua's faith in God he along with Caleb were the only two original Israelites who came up out of Egypt who lived to go into the land that God had promised them.  Joshua was a success because he served the Lord as it is recorded in Joshua 24:15.  Joshua declared before the people that he and his household were going to serve and worship the Lord.  Joshua was a success because he was a brilliant military commander and general who would consult God before battle.  Even when the war strategy given to him by God was strange and uncommon, Joshua faithfully obeyed God's instructions as he did with the battle with Jericho.  God gave Joshua specific instructions to march around the city wall of Jericho for seven days and on the seventh day for he and the children of Israel to shout.  There were specific instructions as to the procession of the march around the wall and who was to do what.  These were strange battle strategies, but Joshua obeyed and because of his obedience to God's instructions he prospered by victoriously defeating the city of Jericho. 
Joshua's failure was when he entered into a peace treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 7 &10) because he did so without consulting God as he normally would do.  The Gibeonites lied to Joshua to get him to enter into the treaty.  Entering into such a treaty was a significant matter because it meant that if Gibeon was attached by enemies the children of Israel (their army) would have to stand with Gibeon to help them fight their enemies.  In Joshua 10 we see this come to pass when the king of Jerusalem called four other kings to attack Gibeon.  When this happened Gibeon called on Joshua and the Israeli army to stand with them and go up against these five kings in battle.  Joshua remembering that Gibeon had tricked him into the peace treaty by lying was not pleased, but was a man of his word and went up with Gibeon to battle and while doing so he consulted God if he should do so.  God told Joshua that he and the army of Israel should go up with Gibeon to war against the five kings because God would give them the victory and deliver the enemy into his hands.  When the five kings came against Gibeon they saw that Gibeon was not alone, but had the assistance of the army of Israel.  God was delivering the enemy into their hands when Joshua noticed that the sun was about to go down, which would have allowed some of the enemy to get away.  So, Joshua being a man of faith prayed to God and then commanded that the sun stand still in the sky (not go down) and the moon to stop and on the word of faith by Joshua the sun stood still in the sky for a whole day and the moon stayed [Joshua 10:13-14].  It is written in these scriptures that never has there been a day like that day either before or since that the Lord hearkened unto or heeded the voice of a man as He did Joshua that day.  Because Joshua was a man of unwavering faith in God and because he consulted God and had a heart to serve God beyond any human rationale and comprehension, Joshua was a successful and prosperous man as God defines success respected by God and man.
So, are you a success by God's standards?  When you live your life by God's standards you will have favor with God and man.  Your success is directly linked to your obedience to God's word.  When you go to your high school reunions and everyone is being superficial about all of their worldly accomplishments know that you are a success first and foremost when God can look at you and see that you are accomplishing His will for your life.  You are a success when God says you are; it is His voice that you must listen to and follow and not the voice of others who would try to tell you to live your life man's way.  Don't turn away from the voice of God for it is in that moment that you will cease to be a success in that area of your life.
May the Lord grant you the strength and the courage to follow after Him in all that you do with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul.
      - Dr. DeShonda Bailey

The Power Of A Father

We live in a nation that portrays fathers as powerless, confused, clueless, non-interested and non-existent.  While there are some situations where there are children with non-existent fathers because they have forsaken their role of father in the lives of their children and while there are some fathers who show no interest in their children's daily lives even though they are present in the home, the overall perception of the father should not be defined by these defects.  Once upon a time in this country fathers were revered and honored as the cornerstone of the family.  We had shows like Father Knows Best, Leave It To Beaver, and The Cosby Show that depicted fathers in positive light as men of integrity who were respectable and respected and revered by their wives and children.  What happened to the image of the father that has caused this nation to now portray them as bumbling idiots who can't do anything right and who are mocked by their wives and children with their permission?  What happened to cause this nation to depict fathers as powerless?
Contrary to the common view of the father in this nation as depicted in our media and as lived out in many homes throughout this country, fathers are important, relevant, necessary, and powerful to their families.  There are a few powerful characteristics about fathers that are unique only to them. 
1.  Fathers provide Identity for their children.  Fathers as carriers of the seed that initiates conception possess the ability to provide the chromosome that determines the sex/gender of their children.  Simple biology lesson here.  Men carry an X and a Y chromosome and women carry only the X chromosome.  If at the time of conception the man provides an X then the identity of the child will be that of a female.  If the man provides a Y then the identity of the child will be that of a male.  Within the seed of the man lies the power to determine the identity of the child.
While fathers provide a natural identity for their children at birth, it is important for fathers to also provide a spiritual identity for their children by introducing them to the Lord, Jesus Christ as savior.  The child knows who he or she is in the natural because of the identity that their earthly father gave them, but when a father introduces his children to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, his children will receive an eternal identity as a citizen of God's kingdom.  By leading their children to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior fathers will present to their children a new identity as a born again child of God (John 1:12).
2.  Fathers provide a Heritage for their children.  A heritage is an inheritance that is transmitted through birth.  Children when born generally take their fathers last name as their own.  With that name comes a heritage through the lineage of the father.  Heritage also speaks of certain characteristics and pedigree that is transmitted through birth.  
By living a godly life before their children and teaching them the ways of the Lord, fathers provide a holy heritage for their children that can be passed along from generation to generation.  Isaiah 54:17 lets us know that we who are born again children of God have a heritage in the Lord.  That heritage is one of victory, protection, vindication, truth, and honor.  Proverbs 22:6 says to train up our children in the ways of the Lord so that when they are old they will not depart from the path of godliness.  The heritage of a godly lifestyle is one that will guide our children for a lifetime.
3.  Fathers provide Validation for their children.  To validate is to legitimize or establish value.  It is an acknowledgement of being pleased by the life of another.  By establishing the legitimacy of their children, fathers validate their children thereby adding value to the existence of their children.  Everyone longs for validation and children long for and seek the approval or validation of their fathers. 
God validated Jesus as His son when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist recorded in Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; and Luke 3:21-22.  God has validated us as His children through the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15), not that we deserved it or were worthy of it in and of ourselves, but because He loved us.  As a father validates his children by establishing their legitimacy, fathers by introducing their children to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and passing along a holy heritage of godly living can teach their children that they are validated by God.
We must be careful not to allow this modern world's values to shape our understanding of what a father is or is supposed to be.  Fathers are crucial to their families and are to be celebrated.  There is much ado made for mothers during the mother's day season and rightly so because mothers are valuable to their families.  However, fathers are just as valuable and should be celebrated just the same.  May the image of the father as God intended it to be, be restored through the scope of God's Kingdom.
    - D. Bailey

Tear The Roof Off! What's Keeping You From Your Breakthrough?

How bad do you want a change in your life?  I am convinced that when a person really desires something that person will go after it with all of his or her heart and do whatever he or she has to do to get it.  There is a story in the Bible of some men who earnestly desired to get into the presence of Jesus because one of them needed healing.  One of the men was paralyzed and lying on a mat and he was being carried by four other men.  Jesus had returned to Capernaum and the word had spread throughout town that Jesus was in town.  We're told in Mark 2:1-5 that Jesus was in a house teaching during this visit to Capernaum and that there were so many people who had gathered to see and hear Jesus that there was no room left.  Not only was there no room left in the house, but there was no room outside of the house around the door.  So, it was a standing room only situation.  Not only was it standing room only, but there was no way for anyone else to squeeze into the house via the door.  Then comes a man paralyzed and lying on a mat being carried by four men earnestly and desperately seeking to get into the presence of Jesus, the embodiment of healing.  The four men tried to carry their paralyzed friend through the door, but there was no way to get in.  When they realized that they could not get to Jesus through the door, they sought to go through the roof.  When they reached the roof they dug through the roof, tearing it to pieces in a certain area and lowered their paralyzed friend through the opening that they had created in the roof right in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw what they had done he commended the man on his faith and blessed him further by forgiving him of his sins. 

Now you may be wondering and asking why these men would go through so much just to get into the presence of Jesus.  To understand why they did what they did you have to understand who Jesus is and what he represents.  Jesus is the son of God, the very embodiment of God's healing nature.  God is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord that heals (Exodus 15:26).  Psalm 107:20 tells us that God "sent forth His word, and healed them." [KJV]  John 1:1-2 and John 1:14 reads as follows:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God." [vv. 1-2, NKJV]  "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  [v. 14, NKJV]

These scriptures speak of Jesus as being the very word of God clothed in flesh as he dwelt among us in the earth.  Therefore, if God sent His word to heal us then Jesus, the son of God sent from God to us is the word of God sent to us to heal us.  Jesus is the very embodiment of God's healing to and for us.  This is why these men went through so much to get into the presence of Jesus.  They had a need and they knew of the one who was able to supply what they needed.  When you need something you do not go to someone who cannot meet your need because it would be a complete waste of your time and energy. You don't go to people who cannot help you when you have a need in a particular area.  Word had gotten around that the master physician, the one who is the source of healing was in town and these men wasted no time positioning themselves to gain access to that healing for the one who was sick on the mat.  Imagine how heavy this man must have been on this mat; quite probably he was dead weight because he was paralyzed and unable to move and shift himself around.  It took four men to carry him and they made their way through the streets and the crowded corners to the crowded house because they had a need.  They not only wanted a change, but needed a change and knew that unless they were able to get to the one who had the power to change their situation, that there was absolutely no hope.  This paralytic man needed a breakthrough and was not willing to let anything or anyone keep him from getting his breakthrough.

This story is but one illustration in the Bible of how when a person wants something bad enough that person won't stop until he or she gets it.  There are many people who say that they need a change.  There are many who are willing to acknowledge that they want a change.  However, there are few who are willing to do what it takes to take the neccessary steps in order for their circumstances to change.  There are many who say that they will wait until their change comes, but I must say that you have to do more than just wait if you are going to receive your change.  This paralytic man needed a change in his life and word had gotten around that the one who was able to manifest his change was in town.  This man had enough faith to have four of his friends carry him to where Jesus was.  But faith alone was not enough, he had to put his faith to work.  The kingdom principle at work here is found in James 2:17 that tells us that faith alone without works is dead.  Faith that have no works to back it up can do nothing.  It is works that gives legs and arms to your faith.  Faith is great, but it must be exercised and activated by works.  Faith is not something you sit on, you walk in it. 

When these men arrived at the house where Jesus was teaching they saw that the place was standing room only and that there was no way for them to get in by normal means.  Can you imagine going through all of that just to get to the place of breakthrough and not be able to even get in?  But these men had determined spirits.  There was a persistence about them that would not allow them to take no for an answer.  They had persistent spirits that would not allow them to give up and go home and say that they will give it a try another day.  No, their change, their breakthrough was in the house and they were not going to let anything stop them from getting it.  So they decided that there had to be another way into the presence of Jesus.  They went up on the roof and dug through the roof, tearing it away piece by piece.  Desperate situations calls for despearate messures.  There are times when you realize that you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.  I believe that is where these men were.  The paralyzed man knew that his change had come and that if he was going to lay hold of it he was going to have to make a move.  Giving up and going home was not an option for these men.  They had nothing to lose, but everything to gain because the change that they needed was in the house in the manifest presence of Jesus.

Listen, there are times in our lives when we find ourselves in a situation where life has caused us to be paralyzed in different areas of our life.  Life has thrown some curve balls at us and if we're not careful these experiences will cripple us and cause us to be ineffective and defective.  God is our manufacturer and He created us to operate at maximum potential.  Never let anyone tell you what your potential is or is not because they are not your manufacturer.  Your manufacturer is the one who created you (God) and as such He is the one who knows your potential and dictates your potential.  If you are going to walk in your God given potential, thereby operating at your full and maximum potential you are going to have to be connected to the one who embeded that potential in you (God).  If you are going to rise up from your situation and receive your breakthrough, you are going to have to pursue God like your life depends on it because it does.  There are times where if you are going to receive your breakthrough you are going to have to literally tear through that which is keeping you from your God given destiny.  There are times when you have to break into the place of breakthrough to get your breakthrough.  Tear off that which is hindering you from walking in your God given potential.  What is hindering you from walking in the victory that God has already given you?  How bad do you really want the breakthrough?  It's not just going to drop out of the sky and fall in your lap.  You are going to have to walk in Faith and pursue the God of your breakthrough because He is mighty and able to do all things, but fail.  Remember that without faith it is impossible to please God.  It was this man's faith that unlocked his breakthrough.  Jesus stopped teaching when these men broke through the roof of the house to get into his presence because he recognized that which moves the heart of God and that is faith, but not just faith alone, faith with works.  God was indeed pleased to the point where Jesus not only healed the man's body, but pronounced a blessing of forgiveness over his life of the sins that he had committed. 

Remember the next time you need a breakthrough don't be afraid to tear the roof off, so to speak.  Tear through whatever is keeping you from your breakthrough even if it is you.  Some people need to tear through their own junk and limitations they have placed on themselves before they can receive of the Lord.  The roof represents a form of limitation.  The roof of a house is the limit to the height of the house.  If the house wants to expand in an upward direction it will have to literally tear the roof off in order to accomodate that expansion.  When the roof is torn off the limits are taken off.  What limits have you placed on yourself.  There are many who have dreams, but before they can begin to pursue their dreams they ensnare themselves with limitations through the words of their own mouths.  It's not always others who place limitations on us.  Sometimes it is we ourselves who limit ourselves and hinder ourselves.  Those who received of the Lord what they needed to walk in what the Lord had for them are those who walked in faith, those who sought the Lord, and those who would not give up, but were persistent.  Remember, don't just wait until your change comes, but walk in faith and do what it takes to lay hold of when it comes.  What's keeping you from your breakthrough?

   - D. Bailey

 

 

Be Careful! What You Say Will Be Used Against You

     Be careful because what you say will be used against you.  Generally these are the words heard by persons who are being placed under arrest by law enforcement officers.  These words evoke feelings of fear, concern, worry, and panic.  These are not comforting words to the hearer, but true words nonetheless.  Very rarely do we associate these words with God and His church, however, it would serve us all well to know that God tells us the same thing in His written word.  While it may not be worded this same way, the meaning is the same.  These words are words of warning and caution.  They let you know that any word that you allow to escape out of your mouth can condemn you .  Did you know that your words have the power to condemn you?  All day long we speak; we use words all day everyday as a means to communicate and convey a message.  Some view the words that we speak as trivial, but it is quite the contrary.  Our words carry a lot of weight  and have the power to condemn, to build up, to tear down, to reward, to ensnare, and to create. 

     In Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus said, "I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.  On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said"  (CEV).  This scripture lets us know that we need to take our words seriously because there is coming a day when they will come back to haunt to us.  In order to trace the words that we speak back to the root we must look at our hearts.  In verse 34 Jesus tells us that it is "out of the abundance of our heart that our mouths speak."  So, the fruit of our words have their roots in our hearts.  If our hearts are wicked then our words will be wicked.  If our heart is good then our words will be good.  If our heart is bitter then our words will be bitter.  A foul and obscene heart will give birth to foul and obscene words.  The word, "idle," as used in verse 36 means useless and unprofitable.  How many times have you spoken words that were unprofitable?  Before you speak ask yourself what it will profit you to say those words.  Take a moment and pause before you speak.  James 1:19 tells us that we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry" (NIV).  Proceed with caution before you speak.

     When you say something to someone with whom you are arguing that is hurtful it is because your heart is vengeful and angry.  When we say hurtful words in the midst of an argument it is because we want to hurt the person that we are arguing with.  Those hurtful words are the fruit of our angry and vengeful heart in that moment.  In Matthew 18:15 Jesus said that it is the words that come forth from a man's mouth that defile the man because they proceed out of the man's heart.  It's not what you put in your mouth that defile or condemn you, but what you release from your mouth.  So, the next time that you start to speak, pause and remember that what you say will be brought back before you on the day of judgement.  Jesus' words in these scriptures lets us know in no uncertain terms that we will be held accountable for every word that we speak, good or bad.  Our words will either justify or condemn us.  Our words can and will be held against us in the day of judgment.

     Psalm 19:14 offers sobering words that we should hide in our hearts and worthy of being committed to our memory.  It states, "may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer" (NLT).  Make this your prayer today and everyday.