David selects materials for temple

1 Chronicles 22:2-5

Before king David died, he spent his latter years solely on preparing the materials to make the house of the Lord “…exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries” (vs. 5). This was one of the greatest acts of humility recorded in Scripture, as David willingly sacrificed years of hard labor, preparing abundantly, so that his son could fulfill the dream he once had for himself. God can do great things through people who live selflessly, and seek only to bring glory to His name. Are you living to make your name more famous than God’s, or are you walking in humility, and allowing the name of the Lord to be magnified, and glorified through your life?

Times have changed drastically from the reign of king David till now, as men don’t live as long as they did back then. In the past, men lived full lives, and made preparations for their children before they passed, but people die so young nowadays, until generations are cut off, before they even begin. Where David had time to live a full life for himself, and make plans for his offspring, we are blessed if we make it past 40 these days. Knowing that the lifespan of man has been cut awfully short (evidence of Bible prophecy fulfilled), should motivate everyone to strive to live great lives everyday. There’s no time to waste, participating in things that have little, to no eternal value, because time spent in this life can never be recovered. Whether you’re young, or seasoned, it’s imperative that you plan for your eternal future, today. While it’s good to invest in the lives of your family and friends, it’s more important for you to ensure your walk with God is on point, because we all have to stand before God one day, and give an account for how we spent every literal second, of every day on this earth.

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14, KJV)

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36, KJV)

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world . . . Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:31-34, 41, KJV)

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.‭ For it is written, ‭As‭ I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.‭ So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.‭” (Romans 14:10-12, KJV)

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV)

Walk in love,

Ell

No people like our people

2 Samuel 7:23-29

In the beginning, God put His great and mighty works on full display, when He spoke all things into existence. From light being separated from darkness, to spreading various animals across vast lands, God’s incredible power has brought forth things beyond what created beings can only begin to fathom. Rather than bask in the glory of His goodness alone, God chose a people, from whom He could work through, to set the example of what His will was for all creation. Israel was God’s chosen people, and during the reign of king David, God performed many marvelous things for, and through them. No other nation could compare to Israel, because God chose them to be the beacon of light and hope, to guide all other nations to Himself. Although the children of Israel veered off to the left a few times, God never stopped loving, nor providing for them, because He promised to be their God forever. As long as Israel did according to the commandments of the Lord, their lives were set.

Believers today are in the same position, where God is ready, and willing to be everything for them, but they must first commit to His agenda. When our ways please the Lord, He grants us access to heavenly treasures, and other resources that are unattainable by those who walk contrary to the Word. Christians aren’t considered better than anyone else, they are simply rewarded accordingly for their obedience. The body of Christ is a massive unit of members working together to edify God’s kingdom. Each member has specific duties to maintain, that effect all other members as well. Similar to the workings of the different systems in the human body, believers work together to maintain a healthy, single unit called, the church. The church is special for many reasons, but most importantly, is the fact that it’s the bride of Christ.

All who are joined together in the body of Christ should be proud of who they represent, because standing with the people of God is always a better choice than walking with those who abide in unrighteousness.

Walk in love,

Ell

No God like our God

2 Samuel 7:18-22

What’s your natural response to a blessing? When someone shows you favor, or bestows a gift to you, how do you acknowledge their generous gesture? Are you appreciative of all the things you were granted from others (many of which you had nothing to do with, except receive), and are you truly grateful for all those blessings, and benefits God allowed to come into your life? Count with your fingers, all the blessings God has graced you with throughout your lifetime. By now, you should be nearing the thousands lol. God is good, and His mercy endures forever! He has done remarkable, incredible, and amazing things in the lives of His people! He has kept us safe this entire year from hurt and harm, danger seen and unseen, and even the hands of death. God has supplied an endless abundance of peace, in those moments we were close to going overboard. He has given us joy, when the enemy tried hard to keep us wallowing in sadness. In times when we were afraid to face certain challenges and situations, God gave us strength and courage to tackle all obstacles that were in our path.

There’s no God like Jehovah! He continues to sustain us, and provide our daily bread. Of all the gods and idols men serve, not one can do what our God can. Men place their hope and trust in carved statues, money, and even themselves, but none have the power to do, what the God of all creation has proven, time and time again in the lives of His people. When king David received word from the prophet Nathan, how God would establish his house, and kingdom forever, he didn’t hesitate to humble himself before the Lord and say, “For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. Wherefore thou are great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears” (vs. 21-22).

How incredible has God been in your life? Are you grateful for all He’s done for you this year alone? We’re a week away from beginning a new year, so end this one by first, establishing a solid relationship with God, then begin to walk in your purpose. By this time next year, you’ll have endless reasons to praise, thank, and glorify the name of the Lord, for all He’ll do in your life, in 2020.

Walk in love,

Ell

The Lord will build David’s house

2 Samuel 7:11-17

🎶🎵 Christmas, Christmas time is here, time for joy, and time for cheer 🎵🎶. That was a song we use to sing many moons ago, when I was in elementary school. I may have mixed the words around a little, but who cares, I was like eight years old 😊😂. This holiday season is one where we acknowledge the birth of Christ, by sharing in the act of giving to others. While I’m fully aware, Jesus’ actual birthday wasn’t December 25th (it was probably around March or April), there’s no harm in choosing a day to commemorate the birth of the savior of the world.

During this season, gifts are bought in abundance, and dispersed amongst family and friends in various places worldwide. While Christmas is intended to bring good vibes to all, there are some who struggle with grasping the true concept of what the day actually represents. God gave His only begotten Son to the world, so that men would not be lost in sin, and suffer its eternal consequences. Therefore, we should willingly show gratitude and appreciation for such a wonderful, and priceless gift in Christ, everyday! It’s sad to witness how children have become spoiled to the point they expect to receive many good things on Christmas, when they should first have an understanding of who the day is set aside for. While there’s nothing wrong with sharing gifts, gift-giving should never supercede how blessed we are, to be given God’s most precious gift.

God is a selfless giver, and when He blesses someone, they never forget it. For example, king David desired to build God a house, but God ironically built one for him, and his seed forever. What an amazing gift, to receive a blessing from God that would last forever! Can you think of all the gifts you received in your lifetime, and how many you still have in your possession? I’m certain, many of what we’ve received from others have either been destroyed with time, or forgotten and placed in storage containers lol (y’all know I’m right, so stop tripping). God revealed that He would build David a house, not of material substances, but of spiritual, living, and eternal substance. This Christmas, try gifting your loved ones with things that have more eternal value like love, peace, hugs, laughter, and good tidings of great joy!

Walk in love,

Ell

God’s forever covenant with David

Psalm 89:19-37

How long is forever? Have you ever considered that? If so, what are your thoughts? According to the United Nations World Population Prospects report, approximately 7,452 people die every day in the United States. To be more precise, a person in the US dies nearly every 12 seconds. Makes you wonder, when will our time come to move on from this life to the next. In any case, forever begins, when this present life ends, but the future doesn’t have to be a scary thought, if your life is planted firmly in the will of God.

When a person makes a commitment to follow after God, He will never leave, nor forsake them. In fact, they literally become engrafted into the family of God, thus allowing them to reap the full benefits He provides. When we join in covenant with God, He will immediately become our protector, provider, counselor, strength, compass, inspiration, and Father. These truths were revealed in the life of king David, as he and God shared countless experiences of faithfulness and righteousness during David’s reign. Out of all the people of his time, God chose David, exalted him, anointed him with oil, then established His kingdom and righteousness through his leading. As David walked in obedience to God, he was witness to the incredible power God holds. For example, God literally “beat down” all the king’s foes, and caused plagues to come upon those who hated him. God never was, nor is unjust in His ways, but when a man dishonors, and disrespects the children of God, He steps in and sets the record straight.

Like any good parent, who wants the best for their children, God made sure David, and his people were provided all the necessities of life, and lacked no good thing. Believe it, or not, the same way God promised to always be with David, He will do the same for those who walk according to His Word today. Are you living according to your own standards and ways? If you are, what does your life look like up to this point? While you still have time, commit your ways unto the Lord, and trust in Him, so that your living won’t be in vain any longer, you’ll experience protection like never before, and you’ll discover the peace that surpasses all understanding, forever!

Walk in love,

Ell

Blessed mothers of the faithful

Luke 1:39-56

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil” (Proverbs 31:10). Good, and godly people are rare and few these days, especially as Bible prophecy continues to fulfill itself. Men truly have become lovers of themselves, more than lovers of God. Many today are also unthankful, unruly, selfish, and a list of other negative attributes that keep them from enjoying the fullness of God’s love.

When we live to please God first, He never hesitates to bless us in all areas of our lives, including the lives of our children. How good it must feel to have children that are faithful, and obedient to God! When we bless and honor God, He allows our blessings to flow to our offspring as well. In our text, Mary and Elisabeth experienced this first-hand, as the two were favored by God, to birth two very amazing sons, who would change the world forever! Aside from being biologically connected, these two women were also joined together in spirit. They loved God, kept His commandments, and stayed true in obedience to His will, over their own. Because of their faithfulness, and diligence in following after godliness, God blessed their wombs, and made way for Mary to birth Jesus, our Savior, and Elisabeth to bring forth John, the forerunner of Christ. Even the husbands of Mary and Elisabeth played integral roles in shaping the worlds history, as they experienced faith tests of their own.

God knew, that trusting Mary and Elisabeth to carry two very special sons would be a success, based on how they lived, and obeyed His words. Can the same be said about you? Can God trust you with great blessings and responsibilities based on how you live, or would you be counted unworthy because you live in such a way, that God can only shake His head as He watches your life on a daily basis? Take pride in your allegiance to Christ, and live everyday in faithfulness to His Word, considering the fact that the decisions you make today, will affect the lives of your children tomorrow.

Walk in love,

Ell

Joseph obediently honors Mary’s role

Matthew 1:18-25

The story of the birth of Jesus, is a great one, and full of valuable life lessons all can benefit from. From understanding the value of humility, to walking in obedience to God, anyone who’s willing to learn the importance of this story, will be fascinated by all the different aspects that go into it. While the two most praised characters in the baby Jesus story are Mary, and of course, Christ, there’s one individual who’s role was probably the most important of all. Christ is indeed, the true savior of the world, but before He was implanted into the womb of the virgin Mary, all parties involved had to first be on the same page, in order for things to flow smoothly.

If you’re a man, imagine this scenario: You’re days away from marrying the girl of your dreams, when all of a sudden, you find out she’s pregnant, but from someone else. You’re 5 million percent certain the baby isn’t yours, because you and your lady never did the “tango”. Based on my 38 years of life experiences, I can guarantee the first three emotions you’ll experience (in this exact order) would be anger, confusion, and anger lol. So, imagine how Joseph felt when he saw Mary’s tummy poking out. No doubt, Mary told Joseph of her encounter with Gabriel, but he was not convinced, nonetheless.

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). As I mentioned earlier, all parties must first agree, in order for God’s plan to be effective, so Joseph needed a little more convincing. The angel of the Lord visited the young and troubled descendant of David in a dream, to reassure him that May’s pregnancy was indeed, the working of the Holy Ghost. This visit was essential, because Joseph, “being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily” (vs.19). The average man would have blew a fuse, and caused great shame to come upon their fiancee, after hearing she was pregnant, but not from them. Fortunately, Joseph was a man of humility, and loved Mary enough, to not expose her to those who would probably run her name into the ground. Quick thought: Do you cover people when they seemingly make a mistake, or are you one who blasts their business to others, who would definitely take matters out of hand?

God was with Mary, and made certain that Joseph understood what His plan was, so that the two could support each other while carrying out the single-most important birth of all creation.

Walk in love,

Ell

Mary accepts miracle of pregnancy

Luke 1:34-38

What does it take for a man or woman to commit all their trust to the Lord? First off, one must be totally convinced, that God is real, His Word is true, and all that offends His will, is dangerous. In God, is life, love, and purpose, and every individual brought into this world, has been assigned special tasks to fulfill, until their time is cut off. Many who grow in the knowledge of God at an early age, and allow His will to supercede their own, usually spend years advancing in good, and godly works, whereas those who procrastinate, and allow time to pass, may render good works in their lifetime, but they’ll never recover all the time wasted, that could have been used to edify the kingdom of God.

When a man realizes what his purpose in life is, and accepts it, he should immediately seek wise counsel, so that all his days can be spent, fulfilling his predestined duties. Everyday that passes, where we fail to acknowledge God, and seek to carry out His will, is a day that could have made life better for ourselves, or someone else. Imagine, for a moment, if Mary allowed carnal thinking to rule her thoughts after hearing the angel’s proclamations, and refused to accept them. How would the story have played out? Fortunate for Mary, Gabriel was wise in being obedient to God, and speaking only what he was assigned to, including bringing to light that Mary’s cousin, Elisabeth, was also expecting to bring forth a child of promise, and purpose as well.

Mary’s acceptance of God’s words was made possible by the fact that she was exposed to an angelic being, he presented himself in peace and humility, eased her fear, spoke the truth of God, and reaffirmed the power of God by revealing the truth about Elisabeth. God never wants us to wonder, nor worry about how we’ll accomplish what He assigned us to do. No matter how odd or unusual a job seems, God will always provide what we need to get it done. When our faith and trust is totally committed to God, He is then obligated to arrange our circumstances in such a way, that our steps are ordered to carry out our mission. Follow Mary’s example, and take God at His word. In the end, you’ll have endless stories to tell others how awesome God has been throughout your lifetime.

Walk in love,

Ell

Virgin conception announced to Mary

Luke 1:26-33

Have you ever been told to share very important news with someone, then wondered how they would respond after hearing it? The longer you waited to tell them, the more it made you nervous, and antsy. When you finally delivered the message, a calming peace came over you, as you were finally relieved of the jitters, and witnessed how the recipient gracefully accepted your life-changing news. I’m fully aware, heavenly beings don’t operate under the same rules as humans, but I do believe they experience feelings, and emotions as we often do.

The angel, Gabriel, was chosen by God, to go to the earth, and deliver a very special message to a woman highly favored of the Father. Mary, a virgin engaged to a descendant of king David (Joseph), was met one day by the angel Gabriel, who’s very presence startled the young woman, causing her to kinda freak out, and wonder what was going on. It’s easy to read Bible stories, how men were met by angels and became instantly afraid, then judge them for their behavior, but imagine if you woke up one night, and saw an angel standing over your bed. How would you respond, honestly? Mary had good reason to be afraid, because being in the presence of heavenly beings wasn’t included in her daily activities. The angel greeted Mary first, by acknowledging her favor with God. He then proceeded to calm her fear with more encouraging words from the Lord. Can you imagine gazing at an actual angel from Heaven, and trying hard to listen to his words, while gazing in awe and confusion, and still wondering what’s really happening? In any case, Gabriel was successful in fulfilling his assignment, by prophesying the coming events Mary would soon experience.

God favored Mary, not because she was better than all the other women of her time, but I’m certain her faith, reverence, and respect for God was mature, and she would be willing and obedient to properly handle the task given to her. Do you live in such a way, that God can trust you to carry out a special assignment, or will He look past your name, in search of someone who’s faith and lifestyle is pleasing in His eyes? Practice doing self-examinations on a regular basis, so that you’ll always be in right standing with God, and when He’s looking for someone to bless, He’ll never skip past your name.

Walk in love,

Ell

Young woman’s pregnancy is sign of Immanuel

Isaiah 7:10-17

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive…” (vs.14). Reading that line without taking into account spirituality, one would quickly presume that the idea of bringing forth a child by way of a virgin, is impossible, and preposterous. Everyone with “good” sense knows, babies are naturally conceived by way of the union between a man, and a woman, but all who have “God” sense understand that things work a little different in the realm of the Spirit. In Jesus, God took on human form, so He could die for our sins. Without needing the help of a natural man, the birth of Christ was made possible by the unfathomable power of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18).

Isaiah prophesied many years before the immaculate conception, “a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel”, which means, “God with us”. God’s plan to have Christ come to the earth, to redeem man back to Himself wasn’t a last minute idea. In fact, the all wise God knows the end, from the beginning, and the plan of salvation was on the timeline of life events, before man was ever created.

It’s wise to trust a God who knows all things, is all powerful, and is in all places, at all times. That same God who visited the earth for 33 years, and set a standard we should live by today, continues to express Himself through His creation. Only through Christ, can we become one with the Father, and any other way will lead only to destruction. As we continue in this season of giving, remember to give thanks, not to Mary, who was only a vessel used to bring Christ into the world, but to the Savior of all mankind, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Walk in love,

Ell