IT IS ROUGH, BUT IT IS GOOD

A few weeks ago while walking in my back yard, I noticed this long scaly skin at the side of my concrete steps.  It was the old skin of a snake.  At first I had an uncomfortable feeling of a snake being in my yard especially after staring at the length of its old skin.  Shortly thereafter the Holy Spirit comforted me.

It was an unusual comfort because no one in their right mind with children who play in their backyards would find any comfort in discovering the old skin of a snake at their steps.  I picked it up with a stick and spread it out so I can learn of its full length.  It was a good size, big enough to cause fear for any person who is afraid of snakes.  

After discovering its size I sat on my steps and the Holy Spirit began to comfort and minster unto me. He told me that the snake needed something rough to enable it to shed its old skin. I also learnt that it was of grave importance for the old skin to be shed because the snake was carrying around dead weight.  Wow! What an eye opener.  While I thought God had forgotten all about me because  my deliverance appeared to be delayed, He was there all the time.

My diversity of trials were rough, but they were also for my good.  I could not shed the old me without the presence of some rough times in my life.  Those difficult and challenging days were needed so the new me can come forth.  There were days when I thought I could not endure another trial, or another set back.  There were also  days when I was extremely frustrated with God, and very angry as well.  After understanding why the snake was in my yard, I began to appreciate those rough days in my life.  They have been very rough but they have also been extremely beneficial for me.   Next time you experience some rough days just remember that they are only there to enable you to shed the old man and bring you into your newness of life in Christ Jesus.  Rough days are like the snake that visited my back yard, they are only there to ensure that the newness comes forth and the dead, useless part of our lives are left behind.  I didn't see the snake but I can attest to it having experienced a change for the better.  Welcome your rough days and welcome your change.  It is rough, but it is good!

TRUST

I am sure that you find it so amazing how people will expect you to trust them as if they have  never offended you, after so doing.  They might truly be sorry and  a reasonable explanation might have been given for their betrayal, but so often the effects of broken trust is not acknowledged.  If the words, "I'm sorry" could immediately thereafter heal brokenness and emotional hurt, what a peaceful and more loving world we would have.  Unfortunately the words, "I'm sorry" do not so quickly heal the pain and mend broken relationships.  It takes time; healing is a process not a miracle.

When you and I  lived so many years practicing sin, loving the pleasures of this world, and dishonoring our heavenly Father, we have broken His trust in us to live pleasing lives unto Him.  After apologizing unto God through repentance, we don't so quickly break those sinful habits.  We find ourselves having to learn how to TRUST God because we have trusted everyone and everything else but Him. 

How many times have we said, "I'm sorry" to God after fornicating and thereafter did it several times more? How many times have we felt sorry and repented about our deceitfulness and continued to be deceptive unto our fellowman?  How many times have we knowingly sinned by choice, felt guilty thereafter, repented and then did it again and again?  After all of this we are entrusted with the breath of life to once again be afforded the opportunity to prove to God that we are worthy of His blessings, His love, His grace, and most importantly the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.  

There is only ONE way for you and I to prove that we are trustworthy unto God.   We must love the Lord our God with all of our heart, our mind, our soul and our strength and we must also love our neighbour as ourselves.  Can God trust you with the gift of life that you are embracing today? Are you really sorry about your sins? The repentance prayer as your apology unto God means nothing if you refuse to change.  The words, "I'm sorry" likewise means nothing if you refuse to amend your ways.  Trust is not restored by the words, "I'm sorry", it is restored by a positive, sincere change in conduct. 

THE OBSERVANCE

Often times I sit in my bed looking through my window watching the lives of the people in my new neighborhood.  I also watch the birds as they feast on the debris of food scattered along the street and sidewalk.  I hear the noise from the passing of a variety of vehicles as people journey towards work, school and various other places.

I have  come to realize that in the same manner that I am watching the people and the birds in my neighborhood, Satan is also watching, seeking whom he may devour. Satan and his imps are likewise watching to see whose faith today they can disrupt and alter with seeds of doubt.  He is watching attentively for those who are distracted with the cares of this life to enable him to steal whatever blessings God has sent their way.

I want you to learn that not only is Satan watching but Elohim is also watching. He is observing our actions in each day that we live. He is observing how we treat our fellowman.  God is watching us, observing how we react when under pressure or being tempted by the enemy of our souls.  He is watching to see, if once again we will deny His lordship to please others or deny Him  glory  for us to be accepted by someone whose relationship we have placed a greater value upon.

As I look through my window and observe the people in my neighborhood and birds feasting on the debris of food, I realize that we are likewise being watched.  Satan is watching us, he is observing how we likewise feast on his lies, embrace his temptations and deny our God, Elohim.  Our heavenly Father is watching, He is observing how we start each day, whether with prayer and praise or with complaints and ungratefulness. Elohim is watching, He is observing how we feast on His acts of kindness and love towards us and His holy word.  Know today that there three groups  observing your life daily.  One - God and His heavenly host, two - Satan and the kingdom of darkness and three - the people around you on a daily basis.  What are you displaying?

MY FUTURE PLANS

From a very young age parents will ask their children what they want to be when they grow up.  "Do you want to be a mechanic like your daddy?" or "Do you want to run the family business?" such questions will be asked.  Truly as parents many of us would love for our children to continue in our careers, especially if such was gainful employment and one that was acknowledged as an accomplishment.

As Christians, how many of us would ask our children, "Would you like to be like Jesus when you grow up?" Sadly this is the farthest thought from our minds when it comes to the future of our children's lives. Who is Jesus and why should becoming like Him be viewed as a success?  Interesting question and probably one that should be addressed to yourself as a parent.  Did you ever desire to be like Jesus?  Probably this is not at the top of your list of goals to be achieved.

The first endeavor that we as Christians should instill in our children to accomplish is to be like Jesus. Upon such goal becoming a part of our future plans, it will be included in our proposal for our children's future plans.  However, I want you to note that it must first begin with us, then extended to our children.  We don't need another Michael Jordan, another Whitney Houston, another Tiger Woods, or any other worldly icon.  What we need to instill in our children is a desire to be like Jesus and to have such desire at the top of their list of future plans. What are you instilling  in your child's mind and who are you training your child to imitate?

YOU ARE SENDING A MESSAGE

Men are predestined by God to be leaders in their homes, community, work environment and in the church. Women were created by God and given unto men as a gift from God and a helpmate. Sadly most hurting women are suffering from the manner in which a man has treated her. Men please learn to love and use your gift from God appropriately and stop being abusive in your words, your conduct and in everything that concerns God's gift to you. Your salvation is an eternal gift from God and the  same should apply to your wife. The manner in which a man treats his wife is a open manifestation of the honor he has for Elohim, God. Your life will speak the truth about your relationship with God by the way you treat your wife.

Women the same applies to us, the difference is that men are to be loving, supportive and understanding.  Regardless of our accomplishments men must keep in mind that we are  the weaker vessels.  We must honor men as we honor God and men must realize how God relates to His church.  God does not dishonor His church, therefore men should not do anything to dishonor their wives.  The relationship with mankind commenced with God providing for the man, therefore the relationship between a man and woman should commence with a man providing for his potential wife.  We need to realize that our lives are sending a message to the world.  Our words "I love you" is most believed when demonstrated publicly without any form of intimacy.  It is more of what we do, than what we say, that demonstrates true love.  What is the message that you are sending to the world around you concerning how you feel about your wife?  What is the message that your wife is sending to the world around her concerning how you make her feel, her life's disposition and her mental and emotional state.  Whatever the message your wife is sending to the world, believe it or not, it  is a real reflection of YOU! Don't be deceived, people know who you really are by your wife's happiness or unhappiness, by her completeness of incompleteness... and your message is?

GREATNESS

While working in my yard this morning I began to reflect on the men and women of God who had great faith.  I came to the realization that such greatness was not accomplished by their compromises, but rather by their great sacrifice. So many people want to encounter greatness within their comfort zones. After reading Hebrews 11 I realized that everyone listed therein made a great sacrifice to be included in this chapter. Maybe you are waiting on your greatness or probably you are hoping that you will be remembered for something of great significance after you die.  Upon examining your life, can you say without any hesitation that your lifestyle would qualify you to be added to Hebrews 11. 

Rahab  was included in this chapter because she was prepared to sacrifice her way of life which was prostitution, to relocate, serve another God and follow and trust a  people who were unknown to her.  Noah was included in this chapter because he believed in something that never occurred before which was rain and he preached about rain for years.  He built an ark according to the instructions of God and was willing to be esteemed as a fool for the salvation of his family.  What was rain? Noah had no explanation for it, he simply believed and trusted that rain will most certainly come, because God said it would. These two made great sacrifices to be included in Hebrews 11. Do you think that your life will qualify you to be included?

Abram believed the voice of a God whom he didn't know and was promised to be the father of many nations.  Because of his faith his name was changed to Abraham and through faith he offered up his son Isaac as a living sacrifice.  This was the child through whom God's promise was to be fulfilled.  Abraham didn't stagger at the promise, whatever God required to fulfill His word, Abraham knew it was in God's possession. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.  Can you sacrifice your son or your daughter unto God to qualify  yourself to be included in Hebrews 11?  Children  may go astray for a season, when this happens are you prepared to trust the spiritual foundation that you've laid in their lives?

Greatness is accomplished through great sacrifices.  It may require of you to relocate like Rahab, Abraham and Moses.  Greatness may require of you to offer your child like Abraham.  Greatness might require of you to do something that you cannot explain like Noah.  It may also require of you to separate yourself from all your family like Rehab and Abraham.  Greatness might require of you to see yourself beyond your limitations like Sarah and believe that God is able when everything concerning your life says that it is impossible.  Greatness is accomplished through you having great faith.  You may not be able to explain it,  you might not know where you're going, you may be clueless of why it happened, but all you need to know is that God said it, that He would do it, that there is no failure in Him and trust God to accomplish it in your life. Hebrews chapter 11 does not have to end at verse 40, this chapter can be continued with YOU! 

LOST ALONG THE WAY

So many people get lost along life's journey simply because they don't know who they are.  We have many who are wavering from one definition to another and this happens because many don't know who they are.  When they are with their friends they have to be something negative probably a drunkard, perverted, criminal, abusive or sensual.  When they are with their family they have to be childish and continue to not have a mind of their own, only execute the instructions of their elders. When they are with the opposite sex they are fornicators or adulterers.  When they are on their jobs they are slaves and do whatever they are told and even those things which are not a part of their job description... We have so many people who exist not knowing who they are and just existing to please everyone but themselves. They got lost along the way. 

These type of people are the worse to have as friends and as spouses.  They are unable to discover who they are, consequentially they are unable to share who they are.  How can you learn someone who does not know himself/herself?  They are still searching, hoping that someone can provide them a definition of themselves. How did this happen?  It happened when adult males failed to be husbands and fathers.  God's creative plan was for Adam, the earthly father to name and define everything including the female whom God created.  If Adam didn't call the female WOMAN, she would not have had a definition.  After she was deceived and they sinned, if Adam didn't name the woman EVE, she would not have had a name.  

Failed men, are likewise failed fathers who contribute to the many people we witness living their lives without an identity. Females are permitting males to define them as their sweethearts, males are permitting their friends to define them as criminals and drunkards, and the list goes on.  So many got lost along the way all because of a male who refused to evolve into a man, who likewise is unable to be a father.  The failed man doesn't have an identity therefore he is unable to define anything in his life or to place a proper value on it.  For the welder his torch is of great importance, for the contractor the plan is of great importance, for the Attorney the law is of grave importance, for the chef the ingredients is likewise of great importance, and finally for the father his wife and children are of grave importance.  If your wife and children are not on the top of your list and not a part of your identity, you have gotten lost along the way.  You exist without an identity and without a purpose.  The welder needs his torch, the contractor needs his plan to properly construct, the Attorney needs the law to properly represent his client, the chef needs his ingredients to prepare the proper dish/meal and a man needs his wife and children to be a father and a husband. Being the sweetheart is not your true identity, raising someone else's children while abandoning your own does not make you a father, and fitting into everyone else's world doesn't make you a man.... you've gotten lost along the way.  

A failed man is likewise a failed friend, a failed spouse and a failed father.  When we connect with such a person on an intimate level we likewise adapt to their mindset which is unstable.  They are still searching and because of this they contribute to emotional and mental instability in their children's lives, the life of their mate and likewise with their friends.  They change with the tide....they are searching and while so doing they are also hurting everyone who comes along their path.  They got lost along the way because their dad failed to father and define them and they are looking for someone to tell them who they are.  They will try everything and everyone until this question is answered and such attempts are made by both males and females...they got lost along the way.  Therefore before you celebrate Father's Day make sure that you are not one of those person's guilty of failing to define your wife and children and contributed to them being lost along the way.