Seed Time, Harvest Time, but did you know that you are not the only one that can plant a seed?

I can still remember the first time that I sowed a seed. I am not talking about tithes, nor offering and for those that do not know, those are two different things, just like sowing a seed is a third and entirely different principle as well. The first time I sowed a seed and was believing God for a return was with my wife when our church was doing a bunch of remodeling and renovations and get this, the first seed was not monetary, it was time and effort! We sowed our time and effort into Kingdom Life Church, and in return God gave me a word that if you take care of my house, I will take care of yours, and we were believing for a new house. Now over the years we have become givers and sowing is pretty much second nature to us and as a result, the return from God has been glorious in our lives, but did you know that you were not the only one that can so a seed?

You say what am I talking about, simple, the word of God, it is a principle of the Kingdom, and therefore anyone oppressing in the principle can gain the benefits. But what if I told you that the devil also likes to sow? Got your attention now, yes, it is a fact the devil also like to sow, for the Bible says in Luke 4:13; When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time. No we have all been taught this passage in the context of temptation from the devil, and yes it does teach us that throughout Jesus ministry he would confront the temptations of the devil in many forms and defeat them, and that temptation is not a once and done thing but yet a perpetual thing we must continue to cover ourself in because the enemy is unrelenting, but why is that the case? Because the devil planted a seed!

You see the enemy seeks to destroy us with sin, shame, and guilt, and in doing so, he uses one of the basic principles of God, he comes and sows a seed in our life. You ask how can this be, well lets look at the scripture, where the word of God says, when the devil had finished all this tempting. The devil was planting seed showing Jesus his way of life and the way he wanted him to take asking Jesus to give up on the life God had afforded to him, in exchange for the Kingdom. The devil was trying to sow a seed into Jesus to take root because he already knew from the word of God that Jesus would turn away from him, but he wanted to put that seed in Jesus so when the moment came, it could take root, and it did, for the Bible says in Luke 22:42; Father, if you are willing take this cup away from me....Jesus had doubt because of the seed the devil sowed into him of temptation. Looking further, the second part of Luke 4:13 says that he (devil) left Him (Jesus) until an opportune time. The word opportune comes from the Latin word opportūnus which was used to denote seasonable time for harvest, or in seasons.

In other words, the devil having sowed into Jesus the seed of temptation, departed to allow the seed to take root for a season to return and harvest from. But my God, isn't it nice to know that the seed from the devil does not have to take root in our lives. Jesus showed us the way in Luke 22:42; yet not my will, but yours be done. In other words when the devil comes to plant a seed in your life and tries to steal, kill and destroy you, just like the weeds in the garden do, because the garden has flowers and weeds, both of which came from a seed, it is nice to know that you can give in to the Father's will and have your weeds be gone! You are not the only one that can plant a seed, but be sure that you know where your help comes from to tend to the garden

Amen!

Co-Signed....

Did you ever wonder why you get the grace that your receive, or the mercy that follows you? I can remember my first vehicle purchase, I had a lump sum of money from the inheritance from my parents, and it was not anything you could do to tell me otherwise. That is until I met with the dealer.

You see at the time I was about 18, had not graduated yet from high school, but thought I knew everything, just like most young folk. I had no job, no credit, but I had the money, and the dealer still had the nerve to tell me I needed a co-signer.

The act of co-signing involves a promise to pay another person's debt arising out of contract if that person fails to do so. In other words the reason that you have the grace and mercy, the reason that God does not unleash his full rage on you for your actions, is because Jesus co-signed the contract assuring your salvation. You ask how can this be, the bible says Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, daily praying and interceding on our behalf that our faith will not fail. He co-signed for the loan. Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He co-signed the loan. Jesus credit was so good, he was even able to cover the multitude of sin for us all, and he knew no sin. He co-signed for the loan.

So if you ever stop to think how much the Father cares for you that He gave his only begotten son, so that we might have life and more abundantly, then you will know that your credit and nothing you could have done could cover the price that had to be paid, for the Bible says Isaiah 53:4-5; Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Jesus co-signed the loan!

The Gift that keeps on giving...

God wants us to view what we have (whether it is much or little) with the right perspective-our possessions are a gift from God. Although they are not the source of joy, they are a reason to rejoice because every good thing comes from God. We should focus more on the Giver than the gift. We can be content with what we have when we realize that with God, we have everything we need.

Reel to Reel...Moving forward...

Did you know that original Reel to Reel players were only designed to play and go fast forward? Isn't it just like God to design us, our bodies in such a way as to move forward. You eyes were not placed in the back of you head to worry about what you did in the past catching up to you, Nor were you made to run but so fast because he did give you the spirit of fear. But did you know the reason God does not want you to go backwards because he has something waiting for you when you go forward and stand on the promises of God. The bible says in 1 Samuel 10, "Leaving there, you'll arrive at the Oak of Tabor. There you'll meet three men going up to worship God at Bethel. One will be carrying three young goats, another carrying three sacks of bread, and the third a jug of wine. They'll say, 'Hello, how are you?' and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept. You see, any time you move forward in the things of God and leave in the past, you old nature, you short comings, disappointments and set backs, God has a place prepared and waiting for you!

Sanctify, It's not a dirty word...

It's not a dirty word. When was the last time you purposefully examined your life and made a point to cut off anything that does not reassemble God the Father? Jesus came by way to give an example of how to have dominion power on Earth as it was established from the beginning and the Bible says that "greater works shall you do." I like one particular definition of sanctification which says, to be set apart from the norm and be used or made example of for God's glory.

You see often times what we are facing is to transition us to that next level in Christ Jesus because we have not taken the time to examine ourselves. Sanctification. We are called to live in such a way that our very life itself is a sacrifice for God, which means bitterness can't love there, hate and anger must go, forgiveness must resound in us and the fruits of the spirit bursting out of us, and if not its time for sanctification.

God is trying to take you to a better place and greater things, and even though it may be good, it can be better, and even though it may be bad, He can turn it around, but pay close attention, because the bible says in Leviticus 20, that without sanctification the very place that God is trying to take you to will vomit you out!

So today, make it a point to examine yourself, and remove those things you know not to be of God, so that he can make an example of you, for others to see because you recognized sanctification is not a dirty word!

Peace and Blessings...

Unstoppable...

Okay, so typically I ride the Marc train in and out of work, for the past two years. I can remember one of my biggest concerns was the fact that the train could derail, because shortly before I started to ride there was a major accident of the Metro Red Line derailing and two trains crashing.

Here is the interesting thing, the way that trains are designed, did you know that is was the weight of the train and the pressure on the tracks that actually keeps the train from derailing. There is no special hooks or anything holding the train on there except for that. In other words just like us, the pressure, the trials, the struggle and difficulties, even the set backs, keep you on track so you do not get derailed from God's purpose for your life. That is why the Bible says in James 1:2-4; Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Gods said up front that in this world we will have trouble, pressure, life struggles, but fear not I have over come, or bore the weight of the world. YOu are designed, not unlike the locomotive to be able to handle a certain amount of weight and or pressure, to keep you on track, so just remember the next time the trouble comes, it is just to keep you on track so you do not get derailed from the purpose God has in your life!