You just know everything, don't you?

You know everything when you’re doing all the talking. I have an associate that knows everything about nothing. If you try to educate them on anything, they already know. How can you learn anything new if you already know everything? If you’re doing all the talking, all the time, you’re always right. When I run across people like that, I just say, “Okay”. What else can you say? They are right 100% of the time. Explain to me how a person with this type of personality as an opportunity to grow and mature? In order to mature, you have to see yourself and identify the areas of improvement. I love the way the bible puts it:

Proverbs 15:2
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

Ecclesiates 5:3

Overwork makes for restless sleep. Overtalk shows you up as a fool.

Ecclesiates 10:14

Fools talk way too much, Chattering stuff they know nothing about

The sad thing about this type of personality is that they don’t think they have a problem, because they know it all. But they can point out someone else's issues. I can speak on it because that was me (I still have my moments). In my late teens and early 20’s I knew everything. I look back and analyze why, the answer is simple, Selfish. I wanted to do everything my way, how I wanted to do it. And if I listen to your point of view, then it wouldn’t be my thought or idea (So stupid). Plus, being selfish comes from FEAR, afraid that someone may give you the wrong advice, or let you down. No one likes to be disappointed, so you depend on your own thinking. I believe the bible refers to you as a fool (I know I was one).

Proverbs 18:2
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions

So what changed me? I woke up one morning and made a decision to be better than yesterday. To be a better mother, friend, sister, and to have a better future. I realized; I couldn’t change anyone but myself. The current place that I was in, was base off of the decisions I made. I started to work on me, from the inside out.

Yes, looking in the mirror hurts, but a lot things need to be broken down before they can built back up. I couldn’t do it alone, and because of my “know it all” personality, I wanted to know the truth, so I went to God. He is the truth and by His light, I was able to lift my hands, with tears in my eyes, and allowing Him to take the lead. That same passion I had when doing “my own thing” turned into a passion for people. I turned from being selfish, to selfless.

As Christians we are growing daily, if you’re still talking about what you did yesterday, then you’re missing it. Yesterday is there to learn from and to make a better tomorrow. Not to complain about or talk about what someone else did wrong, look at your part in the situation and better YOU. You don’t know everything, and you never will. Let go of your pride and allow God’s wisdom to lead you, not your own understanding.

It's Never to Late

I wrote in “The Conductor” (in the September blog) - “I have a great advantage in my life; I can recognize God’s voice. It was strange at first because I wasn’t sure what I was hearing, but it was God’s voice all along. I just didn’t know how to recognize it. I do now… and it’s like falling in love with your best friend after 10 years of dating unqualified candidates. Finally, one day you wake up, knowing… without a single doubt in your mind, “this is the one for me” and you don’t want to go another day to past without this person beside you. Then reflecting back on those 10 years of my life acknowledging that they were there the whole time; supporting and loving me for who I was, not trying to change me, only wanting the best for me. I was just too blind to see it, or should I say, distracted by all the birds.”

When I first wrote this I was showing how God was there all along, loving me with all my mess and how God orchestrated events in my life for my favor. I wanted to bring this up again for someone, who is battling between living there life for Christ or living for the world.

If you don’t mind I’m going to share with you for a minute, it was so easy to stay in the world because I felt safe. It was familiar and change is uncomfortable, it’s mentally and physically stressful. I was used to operating a certain way for more then half of my life and all of sudden I was push to change. So I pushed back and ran as fast as I could away from my calling, that caused tension. Honestly, it hurt trying to live right, I was used to “doing me” I didn’t want to change. But the wonderful thing about God was, through it all, he keep loving me, protecting me, he saw me cry at night and would hug me. He didn’t allow me to kill myself or get to far away into the darkness that I loss my mind or forget who I was. Slowing, but surely he begin to work on me; pulling people out of my life and pulling at my heart, getting me closer to home, awe I love you Jesus.

No matter where you are today, what you did yesterday; it’s never too late to come home. God never left you; you just walked away from him. Unlike our friends and family who may bring up your past, and make you feel like you have to prove yourself to be “worthy” of their friendship. There is absolutely nothing you can do to make God stop loving you. He wants nothing but the best for you, but He can’t do it without your help. Don’t allow FEAR to cause you to stay away from home, to stay in what’s familiar, to stay away from the truth, and stay away from what God has for you.

Isaiah 54:4

4Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and depressed, for you shall not be put to shame. For you shall forget the shame of your youth, and you shall not [seriously] remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.

How do you know?

Is the Word first in your life? It’s easy to know the answer to that, when a crisis comes where do you turn to first? Do you turn to your family, friends, your own reasoning, and then after all your resources have been exhausted, you turn to God?

Let’s say you do turn to God first, how do you turn to him? Do you pray out of your own thinking requesting what you want and need? Do you move and as you’re moving ask God for help along the way? I’m not knocking this person; I just want you to see yourself. How do you prioritize God in your daily life? None of us are perfect, (I know I’m not) but what impacted my life was UNDERSTANDING, why I wasn’t getting results. I realized that I wasn’t getting answered prayers, but why? I needed WISDOM in order to change my situation.

The word of God is knowledge, I refer to it as SEED, the key is to find the type of seed you need, first you have identify what the problem is. Anger, pride, lack of money, healing, etc. and locate the SEED in the word of God, the SCRIPTURE for your need and plant it in your heart.

The understanding, I describe as the act of maintaining your heart; it’s the up keep, (to maintain a thing). During this process you’re keeping your heart pure, protecting your ear and eye gate from the enemy and most important mediating on those scripture until it becomes apart of you.

In a natural garden you’re plowing the soil, watering, and protecting your seed from weeds and so on. (For more detail on this read “Maintaining your Garden”) Your HAVERST of the seed is the voice of God. What you're waiting for, the answer that will lead you into your need. Maybe someone will tell you about a job interview, maybe an idea will pop in your mind and give you millions. His voice is the HAVERST not the seeing of the thing. The money isn’t the miracle; it’s what brought the money to you.

Okay, you’re not ready yet….the answer is in you. The HOLY SPIRIT knows the answer, and where does he dwell? In you, so the key is learning how to tap into the spirit so it can lead you into your need, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER, YOU JUST DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET THE WISDOM…this is why you need to understand the importance of the word.

We don’t just think positive thoughts, we don’t just say God loves me and god will heal me, we don’t just say God’s has my back. And yes all these things are TRUE. But how do you know? If I told you that we are going to Jamaica in the spring, how do you know? You want to see some tickets, I know I do. If I told you I brought you a new car, how do you know? I want to see some paper work, that may be your momma car. I’m just sayin’.

How do you know?! That my God will supply all your needs according to his riches and Glory. How do you know?! That no weapon form against me shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against me will show to be wrong…How do you know?! That every knee will bow down and every tongue shall confess that he is GOD!

How do you know….that God loves you so much that he gave up His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish…..how do you know? Because it’s in the word of God and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself,… but how do I know?

Get into your Word; find your seed, gain understanding and wisdom for your situation.

Gain experience through someone else’s pain

I’m sure many of you have heard that experience is the best teacher, and I don’t disagree. In fact, I agree 110%. However some may disagree in my thinking behind what I consider experience.

I have a very close friend who was raised in what the world would call a “dysfunctional” home. Honestly, I haven’t met a person yet who has been raised n a “functional” home, we’ll save that discussion for another time. Anyway, for the discussion, I'll call my friend “Tim”. Tim lost his father when he was an infant, his mother wasn’t able to care for him or his sisters, and forced to be raised by his grandmother. He jokes now, saying that he never really had a conversation with his Grandma, about life in general, until he was about 16 years old. It was more of a “just do what I say” type of relationship. And he respected that, still does. His uncles lived with them also (his Grandma’s sons) and when I asked him about what type of an example they were in his life, he answered, “They showed me what NOT to be.” I thought that was very profound. He watched grown men living off there mother, and knew that wasn’t the life he wanted. He watched them become alcoholics and add more problems then solutions. He watched his sister’s get on drugs and watched them make multiple wrong choices that created a painful life and never allowing them to step into there vision.

When I questioned him, what do you think made the difference between you and your other siblings? He really couldn’t answer it. He just said “…there was something inside me saying this life wasn’t it, and I made a choice to be better then what I saw in my daily life.” I say; He gained experience through someone else’s pain.

Experience can be gained by your environment. Life is a cluster of choices. Our environment creates events around us, which causes us to make choices. Those choices are life changing. You decide what type of future you want by the current decisions you make. “Your now choices, create your future state.” Choose wisely

Understanding that we don’t know what the future holds; what life changing event will pop up, such as losing a job or a family member passing a way. Staying in God’s will for your life is vital. God loves us so much, that he left us a comforter, the Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us through these trying times. To help us with our decision making, now remember, in order for you recognize his voice you have to spend time with him, or your miss it every time.

I try to learn from other peoples mistakes and YES, I have made my share of bad choices, and still do, but I try my best to follow the greatness example given to man, Jesus, which is LOVE. When the environment around me isn’t what I want, I make a decision to choose wisely, not fall into the lies of the world, that has tried to plant this image in my mind and heart that “you will never change” or “this is the way it will always be”. As believers, we have ample supply to support our needs, we lack in nothing. All things will be given to us according to his will. We are not of this world, we are chosen by God. Don’t let your environment tell you different. GET BOLD!!

Romans 8:32-34
32He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]
34Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?

You don’t have to experience struggle and pain in order to learn how to live a successful life. Jesus did it already for you. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he can teach, guide, and lead you right into your destiny. Just as “Tim” learned from us surrounding and made a choice to be more, and gain experience through someone else’s pain.

I'm Free!!

“Hello…who is this? Oh hey…long time. Yeah I’m good. …Dinner? You miss me? Naw, I won't be able to do that. What? No… I’m not seeing anybody. Yeah I am different, very different. Look I’m over it….over you…. You know what? You can just stop talking now, because your words don’t hold the same weight. You take care okay. Bye”

Your words used to make my day, if our morning talks went great, so did my day. If you were in a nasty mood, I couldn’t focus right until we made it right. I couldn’t wait to hear your opinion, because I valued it above my own. If something went wrong, I knew I could depend on you and you were the first person I called on, without hesitation. You were my better half. (So I thought) I planned my day around you, what you liked, where you wanted to go. Not like I don't have my own opinion, but I wanted to spend my time with you, so if we did what you liked….I knew you would be there. At least I thought you would be there….What did I do wrong? What did I say? I gave you space, I know I did, because I arrange my schedule around yours. When you needed me to do anything for you, I did the best I could….maybe it wasn’t good enough. Apparently, I wasn’t good enough….

But look at me now…I’m not even tripin’ over you. The funny thing is; I didn’t think I could function right without you in my life and you ain’t even all that! The best part of all of this is, I didn’t replace you with another person. You know how some people jump from relationship to relationship, trying to get over there ex. I took time out to fix me, get me together and I came out of my darkness. I NOW understand what Paul wrote in 1Corinthians, about putting away childish things. I was a child when I dealt with you, that’s why I put you away.

I’m not even mad at you; I’ll take all the blame. I was looking to fill a void that you or anybody else couldn’t fill. I put all my hope in a relationship, how silly was I? I realize that I didn’t know how to receive love, because I didn’t love myself. I couldn’t love myself, because I didn’t love God, my understanding of His love was so small; I put His love in a box, with limitations of this world. Thinking that God was mad at me, and I didn’t deserve to receive love, but instead He was madly in love with me, with all my mess.

But now…I know I am loved. I know who I am. All those empty parts in my life are now filled, not by the things of the world, but by the love of God, a never ending agape kind of love. I stopped trying to figure it out and just allowed myself to be loved by God. And by His love I am transformed, renew, not by what I've done, but by what He has done for me. I’m FREE , my past is OVER and I’m moving FORWARD!!

Ephesians 2:3-5
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved ;)

I Trust You

We discussed in “All Around me” that there is an enemy working to destroy you. Remember that point. Now if God operates by faith, and I want to stop God from moving in your life, what do I have to do to get rid of your faith? I have to cause fear, and doubt to enter your mind; which will do what? Cause you not to have faith in your current situation. Therefore, God can’t move, simple. That’s what Satan does daily.

Understanding this fact, the ACT of breaking down your FAITH, which is your CONFIDENCE, was life changing for me. What I’m about to say may shock you, but think about it before you jump. Faith can sometimes fail you. Yes I said it. I didn’t say God can fail you. God is love that can never fail. I said Faith can fail you, this is how God moves.

Listen, faith is the confidence of the unseen. Faith says God can do all things, God can heal my mother, and God can supply the money for this bill. God can renew my marriage. You have confidence in God making it happen, Right? Okay, what if, your mother didn’t get healed, what if you didn’t get the money for that bill. What if your spouse left you with two kids? Is it possible, that your confidence can decrease over time, because of the events happening around? Okay, I know you’re perfect, but I don’t’ have a problem being transparent. I know for a fact, there were times in my life, where my confidence (faith) started to decrease, almost to the point of depression.

Jesus said to Peter, in Luke 22:32, “….But I pray especially for you, that your faith may not fail…” why did Jesus say that, because he knew that Peter could loss his confidence (faith). Sure enough, three times Peter denies that he knew Jesus. At the time, when Jesus is telling him what will happen, Peter refused to believe that he would ever do such a thing, but he did. Read it for yourself Luke chapter 22.

Let me tell you what gets you through the pain, the tears, the times of lack, TRUST. Trust is a commitment. It’s not based on what you DO. It says I am committed no matter what happens. I trust you, when I can’t see the good out of this situation, when I can’t see my future being greater then my present. I trust that God is causing GREAT things to happen on my behalf. I will not be moved.

Oh YES, I will not move! Even if my mother isn’t healed, I trust you Lord! Even if I’m still without a job, I trust you God! Even if the money didn’t come in on time, I trust you! Even if they left me with nothing, guess what…I trust you Jesus.

Now we know that, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) When your faith is low, and you can’t see a way out, just say, “I trust you.” And know that he is GOD, and when you can’t trust in what tomorrow holds, trust in something GREATER then tomorrow….GOD.

Greater Desire

Until your pain is greater than your desire, you will never overcome it.

It’s sad for me to see someone struggle with the same issues over and over again. Running back to the same dead relationship, trying to breathe life in a relationship that was never ordained by God to begin with. The person who refuses to put God as the priority of there life, but doesn’t understand why there is so much confusion around them. The person addicted to drugs, sex, alcohol, money, or their job, the list can go on and on. The bottom line is, you’re not going to stop until your pain is greater than your desire.

When you get sick of being in the same situation and decide to change your life; you have to start with your thinking. True repentance is change, change in your heart; and remember the battle field is in your mind. You must renew your thoughts, by controlling what goes into your ear gate, and eye gate. This is how you protect your heart.

Act 3:19 AMP
19 So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Living for God can’t be a part time job. It’s a lifestyle. On a personal note, I got tired of doing the same thing, expecting a different result. –CRAZY- I woke up one morning and decided to try God. You know what? It was the best decision I ever made. Now I focus on things that are pure and true. It’s not hard, because it’s a lifestyle. What you feed your body, you will crave, and the same goes for your spirit. You can change your life by changing your thinking.

Philippians 4:8
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

The question is; are you ready to change? You may not be tired of your current lifestyle. It’s okay, but don’t be surprise when you hear someone knocking at your door, and when you decide to open it, the person on the other side of the door isn’t who you thought it would be. Because of you’re unwillingness to change, you won’t get what you’re expecting. Thank God for his mercy and grace. Protect your heart.