Who Am I?

What have I done to deserve this?! Why are all these things happening to me?! I prayed daily for my wife and family. I took care of all which the Lord provided for me. I served as a good example for my children to follow. Lord, why am I suffering so much? Why did I lose all of my possessions? Why did you take the lives of all my children? Why is my wife speaking nonsense? Why are my friends accusing me of sin? What are these sores all over my skin? Father, you know I’ve been faithful and diligent in my service to you. I do not understand the reason for my suffering but, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…”

Lord, Have Mercy!

2 Samuel 9

When was the last time you found yourself in need of the Lord’s mercy. As I progress in my walk with Christ, I gain more understanding of God’s mercy. Mercy can be defined as not getting something you deserve. For example, if a man was caught robbing a store, he would be certain to face time behind bars. But, the judge could show mercy to the robber, and wave all charges set against him. If you think long enough, you’ll remember countless times when God could have easily punished you for deliberately disobeying His commands, but His mercy is everlasting, and He, out of love, waved all charges against you.

The mercy of God is unfathomable, and seemingly unfair, yet He extends it to whomever He desires. Knowing this, how do you treat those who have wronged you, and deserve to be taught a lesson? Are you one who imitates the love of God, by showing mercy to even your worst enemies, or do you need a few more life lessons to hone your humility skills? Be certain to always consider the times God had mercy on you, and allow those memories to open your heart, to show mercy to others, despite whether or not they deserve to be made an example of.

Acceptable Suffering

1 Peter 2:18-25

No man desires to suffer, nor endure the hardships of life, but suffering is inevitable. Although trials and tough times aren’t fun experiences, they aren’t all weighed the same, in the eyes of God. Many who are going through hard seasons, are only reaping the harvest of their own faults. We often cry, moan, and become bitter from things we brought on ourselves. God sees our struggles, but set instructions in place to help us avoid self-inflicted burdens. I’m guilty of this very thing; wanting others to have compassion toward me when I experienced trying seasons, but most of them were brought forth from my own mistakes. Through repentance, a renewed mind, and a refocus on God’s purpose, I was able to avoid repeating some of the errors of my past. On the contrary, suffering for righteousness sake, is acceptable to God. There are many who endure suffering, but at the expense of someone else. When these persons suffer while keeping God in their hearts, He counts this act as thankworthy. Dealing with nasty bosses, disrespectful spouses, or even irate customers at the grocery store with the right spirit, will always get the attention of the Father. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7 KJV). Suffering while maintaining the right attitude and behavior, shows that a person understands the Christian walk, because there was One who suffered for all men, yet did literally nothing to deserve it. Jesus took on the sins of all mankind, and endured a horrendous beating, but knowing that His suffering would save you, gave Him all the motivation He needed to see it through.

“Tough times don’t last, but tough Christians do.” – Ell

Worth The Wait

Genesis 30:22-24; 35:16-20

Have you ever prayed for something so long, until it seemed as if God was ignoring you? The thing you felt was necessary to make your life better, seemed not to be on God’s mind at all. What are you to do, when you pray and cry, cry and pray for a thing, but all your efforts seem futile? Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to that, but I can offer a suggestion, that could help you endure the waiting game.

When we pray to God in faith, He indeed hears us, and desires that our needs be met, but there will come times when God will delay our manifestation, in order to reveal a more deeper revelation through our patience. Sometimes, God withholds blessings, so that the true motives and intentions of others can be revealed early, so that you can see who’s really for you, and who’s not. God also delays things in order to monitor whether or not we have more desire for material things, over His spiritual blessings. There will even be moments when we’ll pray for something, and it’ll never manifest in the earth. Thankfully, God knows all, and has full understanding of the things that will make our lives better, but He cares more for our eternal prosperity, rather than our earthly, temporal possessions.

In our text, Rachel had become envious of her sister Leah, because she bear no children. Jacob was tricked by Rachel’s father into marrying her sister, so he was obligated to bring forth children with Leah also, but Rachel seemed barren, and was ashamed of her present situation. After having six sons and one daughter, Leah was certain that Jacob would dwell with her, or consider showing her more appreciation, but God then remembered Rachel, and opened her womb.

When it seems like all hope is lost, and everyone around you is prospering, these are the moments God steps in to prove to your haters, He never forgets His own. Why God waits until the last minute to bless us sometimes, I’ll never know, but I’m just grateful that He comes through.

You may have been praying and believing for God to open or close doors in your life for a long time, but don’t lose heart. God heard all your prayers, and has not forgotten you. All your prayers of faith have been like a soothing incense to God, and He’ll soon step into your situation, and manifest His love for all to see. Hang in there, and trust that your season of suffering will soon come to an end.

Why does the living man complain?

Ell

Turn It Up!!!

1 Peter 4:7-11

During my adolescent period of development, I would often hear the elderly Saints say, “be careful how you treat people, because everything you do is being recorded”. When I first heard those words, I assumed they meant the government was secretly infiltrating the privacy of mankind (well, we know that to be certain in the 21st century), but they were referring to Revelation 20:12, which reads, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” What we do in the earth will someday be weighed by God, and the works we perform today, will determine where we will spend eternity.

Knowing that this present state of the world is nearing its end, it’s high time that the church increase their desire to please God. Believers are slowly falling by the wayside, and those who remain loyal to the Father, are losing their passion for soul-winning, and edification of the body. One of the main reasons many have lost their zeal for love is, suffering and persecution weighs heavy on their shoulders. When we struggle to make ends meet, or even stay healthy, it plays with our minds, to the point we consider throwing in the towel. But, God gives us strength and wisdom daily, to push past the pain, and endure those seasons of trials.

The church today must continue to show love to the world, and each other, because our struggles aren’t as intense as they were to the disciples, or the early church, but despite the fact that we do face hard times, we must continue in real love, while doing things from the heart, not from obligation alone. It’s one thing to tell someone you love them, but it makes a greater difference when you show your love with actions instead.

It’s time for the body of Christ to consistently walk in humility, spread unconditional love to all, show hospitality without murmuring or complaining, speak only the words that were inspired by God, minister according to the ability God instilled in you, and do all else with the mindset that God is deserving of all glory. Doing our part will represent the church, as God intended in these last days. Many of us exercise with great intensity, perform duties at work beyond what’s expected, or give all of ourselves to those things we have a passion for, but when will we realize how important it is, to give all of ourselves to the purposes of God?

Why does the living man complain?

Ell

The Invisible Man

John: 14:15-17

In this life of inevitable suffering, there’s one thing no man will ever willingly pass up, and that’s comfort. On a daily basis, we see people struggling from challenging circumstances, that most seem to never recover from. Not only do worldly men suffer but, believers experience uncomfortable situations, many of which are not the cause of their own doing, but they struggle to overcome them nonetheless. During childhood, some of us have been forced to deal with lack of provisions like food and clothing, and possibly being embarrassed by those who judged us by our outer appearance. As we grew older, the real challenges of life begin to manifest in the forms of dealing with the education system on the collegiate level, finding a job, dealing with unruly leadership or subordinates, and the struggles of raising a family based on godly principles. All men are positioned to face certain discomfort in this life, but for those who love God and abide by His Word, there’s an invisible man who provides comfort in all uncomfortable circumstances.

Jesus was fully aware of the state that this world would eventually become, so He prayed to the Father, so that He would send us help to endure these end-times. Without the Holy Ghost, many would have given up years ago, but because we have that divine comfort, we can make it through trials and situations that oftentimes cause men to wonder. The world can never understand, nor receive the Spirit of God, because they can’t see Him. Carnal men usually have to see something, in order to give it relevance. But, the Comforter is as real as life itself, and He guides the children of God throughout each day, encouraging them to strive to please God, because their labor is never in vain.

In those moments when you feel sad and alone, the invisible man is there to remind you, you’re never alone. When you’ve lost all hope, and are tempted to throw in the towel, the invisible man will remind you of how strong you really are, and can overcome all things, through Christ who gives you strength. When you are about to give up on love, and refuse to trust in relationship anymore, the Comforter will guide you through the Scriptures, of all who have suffered greatly, yet never gave up on love. Always be reminded, the invisible man is there, to bring you comfort, in all uncomfortable situations.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Plugged In To God

Proverbs 3:13-18

Any device that requires a power source to function, is useless without being connected to that same source. An iron will never get hot and steamy without being plugged into an outlet, which will prove ineffective at getting all the wrinkles from your clothes. A vacuum can’t pick up the dust and debris from your floor, except it also be plugged in to a source of power. I can give hundreds of examples of different things requiring power in order to produce, but I’m sure by now you get the point.

A Christian who is plugged into the source of God’s power, has the ability to produce good fruit consistently, while operating in God’s divine wisdom. Wisdom literally makes the believer a force to be reckoned with, in the earth! While some strive for silver, gold, and rubies, those who have direct connection to the wisdom of God, can achieve far more than the value of precious stones. Wisdom grants the people of God long life, riches and honor, pleasantness, peace, happiness, and eternal life. Is that not enough to make you excited?!

This world looks horrible, with all the past, and current events taking place, but the Word of God is still relevant, and we, the children of God, can continue to live out the pages of Scripture, even in this dying world. It’s obvious that suffering will come at times, but never rule out the opportunity for God to work wonders in our lives, as we stay connected to His unlimited source of DUNAMIS power!

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

What Time Is It?

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8

The human life is composed of a culmination of varying times, and seasons. One day we’re born, then 60 to 90 years later, we die. During those precious years of life, we experience seasons of good, bad, ugly, and unbelievable! Without the knowledge of God and His Word, the average person lives according to a preconceived social standard. It’s common for those who are lost, to set their affections on things of the earth, because their understanding of life is limited to their own wisdom, and what they gather as societal norms.

The average human goes through seasons of natural growth and development, education, puberty, sickness, health, weeping, laughing, celebrating, mourning, marriage, divorce, weight gain, weight loss, stress, depression, hair gain, hair loss, happiness, sadness, and a long list of other seasons of life. The Christian, on the other hand, experiences all those same seasons, but maintain a different outlook concerning them. While the lost soul lives through many seasons, with little to no hope for life after death, the children of God understand that seasons of suffering and times of plenty, are all used as a means to fulfill the will of the Father. I often mention, suffering comes as a package deal for the believer, because Christ endured the most intense suffering, as He hung and died for our sins. So, in order to walk in the ways of Christ, we too must endure seasons of trial and suffering also.

What many Christians fail to grasp is, seasons are just that, moments in time. Every season has a set time to accomplish what it was intended to do. In my life, I’ve experienced seasons I thought would never end, but God allowed me to learn and grow from within each season, so that my time of struggling and suffering would not have been in vain.

I have no idea what time it is in your life, nor what season God has you in at this moment, but know this; whatever you’re facing right now will only last for a season, and while you’re going through, take note of things you can learn, that will make you better after God brings you out. It may sound cliché, but God WILL bring you out of the season you’re in. Even if you’re experiencing times of joy and plenty, always be prepared to possibly face a scheduled season of humility.

Keep in mind, “This World Is Not Our Home”; we’re just passing through. So, don’t get too caught up in trying to live the “American Dream”, or hope to live in seasons of wealth and abundance only, but set your affections on things above, where your eternal season will be basking in the presence of God, and all His glory!

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Through The Storm

Matthew 7:24-27

Seasons of hard times and struggles are guaranteed in life, besides death and taxes. Many who fail to accept this fact, and plan their lives accordingly, will no doubt fall victim to the consequences hard times bring. In a natural sense, the key to surviving any major storm is, having a solid foundation upon which a building intended to offer safety is constructed. If you were waiting out a storm in a building built on an established and proven foundation, the likelyhood of your survival would be great. But, if you waited out that same storm in a building founded on pretzel sticks, you’d probably soon be buried under everything that’ll undoubtedly fall on your head.

Enduring the storms of life is never an easy thing to do, especially when we place our hope in human efforts alone, but when our faith and trust rests in the hand of God, we’ll not only endure life’s struggles, but we’ll grow stronger from them. Hearing, and doing what God commanded in His Word, will solidify the grounds on which we stand, and the longer we stay true to God, the stronger and more solid our foundation will become. In the same way the proper mix of cement and water hardens over time, is how the faith of a Christian can become firm and unbreakable, the more time they spend doing the works of the Lord.

Avoid building your life on weak foundations, like two of the three little piggies, and imitate the third piggie, who built his house with a strong, solid, and durable foundation.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Trials Of Faith

Job 42:10-17

When you suffer in life, do you automatically think it’s the direct result of some hidden act of sin you’ve possibly committed? Although sin does allow for bad things to happen to the believer, there are also moments when God will schedule a season of suffering for His children, as a means of testing the level of faith they have in Him. Serving God is a beautiful thing, but when our hearts are fixed on fulfilling His purpose in the earth, we are sure to ruffle the feathers of those who oppose righteous living.

Job experienced God’s scheduled season of suffering first-hand, yet proved to God, his confused wife, and misguided friends, that no matter what comes against him, nothing has the power or ability to turn him away from the Father. Through all the terrible things Job experienced, including the death of his ten children, losing all his famed wealth, and being stricken with a physical illness seemingly beyond healing, not once did this man sin against God.

One of the iconic verses in the book of Job is, “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (42:10). How often do we cry, moan, and complain to everyone, during hard times, when God only wants to prove to satan, that our faith in Him will remain strong, despite spiritual and physical attacks. Regardless of the occasional hardships we are certain to encounter, we must not forget, we are still beyond blessed! God loads us daily with benefits including, life, health, and the freedom to read and study His Word. When bad things happen, rather than get worked up and full of worry, see your situation as an opportunity to show the enemy his efforts to turn you away from God, will be futile. And, when you stand in the midst of your attacks, while praying for those who misjudge your faith, God will turn your situation around, then bless you with more faith, strength, peace, joy, and love than you had before. Stay blessed Saints.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell