Today’s Scripture

“When my soul fainted within me I remembered” (Jon. 2:7)

Today’s Word

Pearson is a hard working man who was taught and, therefore, strongly believes that one should work hard to provide for his family. Unfortunately, during this time Pearson had been laid off from his job at the plant going on two years, because of the economic situation in Michigan. He was a God fearing man that attended church weekly, nevertheless, he was feeling discouraged about his prospects for a new job, which he desperately needed to take care of himself and his family. He then received notice that he would need several thousand dollars to keep his home from going into foreclosure. Exasperated, he threw up his hands and spoke to God saying, “I don’t know what else to do? They are going to seize my house and leave my family with no place to go. Lord what am I to do?”

He then heard a voice within him simply say, “remember who I am, the promises that I made to you and what I have done for you.” Pearson then began to think about situations in his past that were beyond his control in which God stepped in and caused things to work out for him. He was then reminded that God not only promised to supply each of his needs, but that God actually did; often times in unusual ways. He then placed his concerns in God’s hands and said, “I don’t know how, but I believe that you are going to work it out for me as you always have.” Pearson, as he described it, then felt supernatural peace come over him; which was proof that he did the right thing and that everything was going to be just fine.

As a result, less than two weeks later Preston was notified that he did not have to have several thousand dollars to keep his home; he only needed a few hundred dollars. Three days after this notification he also received a phone call that a job was available for him if he wanted it. Pearson accepted the job offer and is still living in the same house today. In fact, he added a room addition to the house, which he uses as office space for a company that he recently started.

Therefore, if you are facing a crisis of any kind let me encourage you to remember the Lord, his promises and the victories that he established for you. In doing so, like Pearson, not only will God give you great peace, but, he will also work things out for you; that you may win and not lose in life.

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father we thank you for the great love that you have given us. There are times that we face situations that can cause us to experience anxiety, because we don’t see things working out as we would like. Our prayer, when we find ourselves under challenging conditions that we remember you, your promises to us and the victories that you have given us in the past. In doing this we will not only experience your peace, but also the confidence that we need to wait on you to work things out for us; that we might experience life more abundantly, in Jesus name. Amen.

Effective use of your time is the principal of success, don’t prolong your success by wasting time.

Today’s Scripture

“When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” (Psa. 27:10, KJV)

Today’s Word

April is a person who is often described as sweet, giving, thoughtful and very affectionate. She is the kind of person that most would love to have as a daughter. She was raised up in church and taught to, not only, honor her parents but to also expect to receive godly love and support from them. At some point, however, she noticed a difference in the way she was being treated in comparison to her other siblings. Her mother, who was the guilty party, (as April stated), said, “I’m going to be harder on you because you can take more than your sister.” Afterwards, April began to suffer both physical and extensive emotional abuse. This abuse continued towards April even as a young adult. In fact, among other things, she sought to ruin her reputation among relatives and friends and even tried to get April fired from her job.

After years of this abuse, this left April, as she described it, feeling bitter, depressed and resentful of her siblings who were treated better. She also developed hatred of her mother and a certain level of disappointment with herself. During this period she often cried out saying, “No one cares, loves or listens to me.” These experiences led her to doing some things that she was not proud of, in order to possess what she thought was genuine love and affection. She also engaged in activities, that she later understood to be non-productive, to disprove the rumors that her mother had been spreading about her. Betrayal is defined as being unfaithful in maintaining, guarding or fulfilling certain responsibilities. April felt betrayed by her mother because she expected love and support, but instead, received exploitation and abuse.

April, however, found refuge and support through the love and counseling of Sr. Pastor Darrin and Co-Pastor Annette Phelps of DAP Ministries. Being made aware of the negativity and destructiveness of her actions and at the same time being tired of the feelings of anger, depression and the weight of betrayal, she decided to turn to God in a way that she had not done before; striving to forgive the one who hurt her while receiving God’s power to move forward. God in turn did what he said he would do if a parent forsakes you; “he took her up.” In other words, God delivered her from the pain associated with her betrayal and turned it into a blessing. April is now, through God’s great power, genuinely happy and free from hatred, bitterness and the like. She is also on the verge obtaining a bachelors degree, has a great relationship with her siblings and because of the joy that God has given her, now feels as attractive, both inwardly and outwardly; as those who know her have often expressed. Most importantly, however, she is serving the Lord faithfully, in a number of ways, with great joy; including her church’s music ministry, as she strives to be the virtuous woman that God has destined her to be. She now declares, as she plays her musical instrument, “He has turned my betrayal into a blessing.”

God according to the bible is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Therefore, if you have experienced betrayal from relatives, friends, people you trusted in some way, even a spouse, let me encourage you to turn your pain and problems over to God. Turn it over fully, because what God did for April, he will without hesitation, do for you; that you may live a happy, fruitful and blessed life.

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father we thank you for your tremendous love. From the bible, we realize that there are parents, who for a number of reasons, may act in ways that are destructive towards their children. This activity, will often times, leave their offspring with scars that run deep; which in many cases lead to disruptive and even destructive behavior. Nevertheless, you tell us that even when those who are closest to us; including family or friends, betray us that you will step in and help us. Help us, we pray, during seasons of betrayal not forget to look to you and place our trust in you; that you may indeed honor your word and turn our betrayal into a blessing; that we might experience, not hurt, but the happiness that you have promised us, in Jesus name. Amen.

Greenbelts want to learn 4000 moves a few times, Blackbelts learn a few moves 4000 times.

Specialist are those who do more than others in what they specialize in.

Today’s Scripture

“And after the fire a still small voice” (1Kgs. 19:12, KJV)

Today’s Word

Barbara at the end of a business trip realized that she and her husband Bob were roughly 10 minutes away from a loved one who was in a nursing home. It was her grandmother whom she had not seen in years. Her grandmother’s memory had begun to fail years earlier and as a result she did not recognize her own son or even realize that her husband was deceased, so surely she would not recognize us, Barbara thought. What made this even more interesting is that they only had one hour to board their flight home. In her mind she was saying, “There is not enough time to see her; we will return in a few months, so we might as well go on to the airport.” Nevertheless, something in her spirit said, “Take the time; Take the time.” So rather than follow to her mind, she instead yielded to the voice in her spirit and went to see her grandmother.

When she arrived they saw her grandmother asleep in her wheelchair. She then touched her gently and said, “Grandma, Grandma.” She awoke and looked at the visitors and then said with excitement, “Barbara is that you?” Amazed and full of excitement, Barbara and her grandmother began to talk and reminisce about many of the wonderful times that they shared with one another; especially summer vacations. They also talked about family, and her loving husband that went on to heaven. She expressed how she would love to go to heaven and see him again. Afterwards, Bob gently reminded Barbara that they had a plane to catch, so they all hugged with great affection and said their goodbyes. The next day Barbara relieved a call form her father telling her that her Grandmother had passed and went on to heaven.

The bible tells us that God, not only speaks to us, but he also desires that we not to put off until tomorrow what we can do today. When we submit to his voice, (like Barbara), we will experience precious memories and great blessings in abundance. Has God been nudging you to do something that seems peculiar or unusual? Has God spoken to you about anything that you have been putting off? I encourage you to not only listen to God’s small and gentle voice, but, to also act in accordance to it; because some opportunities and blessings only come around once.

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love, once again. There are times that people, circumstances and even our own mind will tell us to do something. We often listen to these influences because they are so common and seem practical to us. We know, however, that you also speak. Our prayer is that when you speak to us, that we not override your voice, but, that we humbly submit to it. This we request today, that we may not miss out on wonderful opportunities for blessings, but instead, experience and enjoy all the great things in life that you have in store for us, in Jesus name. Amen.

Repetition is the mother of skill.

Successful people and unsuccessful people have at least one thing in common: time.

Today’s Scripture

“For all the promises of God in him are yeah, and in him Amen” (2Cor. 1:20)

Today’s Word

Like many people I enjoyed watching western movies as a youngster. I always cheered for the good guys and railed against the bad guys. In a movie called Crossfire Trail, the hero travelled hundreds of miles to keep a promise to his friend that was dying. The bad guy in the movie was upset that his plans were going to be derailed because the hero was coming to town. He then said, “What kind of dinosaur upends his whole life to a dying man to keep his promise?”

A promise keeper is the answer.

The bible tells us that God has made numerous promises to those that belong to him. He has promised to bless us in areas such as healing, prosperity, peace, joy and so much more. In fact, Jesus was willing to die to keep the promise to his Heavenly Father that he would do what was necessary to reconnect us to him; that we might have great happiness and success in life. Jesus is not only a promise maker; he is also the ultimate promise keeper. Therefore, let me encourage you to always remember God’s promises to you and because he cannot lie or fail, that at the appointed time he will definitely show up and bring them to pass in your life.

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father we thank you for being exceptionally good to us. In life we make promises to one another and unfortunately there are times that we come up short. We thank you, however, because you never do. When you make promises to us, you always do what is necessary to bring them to pass in our life. Our prayer is that you strengthen our faith in your word by helping us to always remember your promises. Do this as we endure with patience, all of the trials we must face until these awesome promises materialize in our life; that we may experience great joy and life more abundantly, in Jesus name. Amen.

It takes purpose, preparation, patience,  perseverance, and prayer  to be successful; what p are you
on?