Tag: #bibleinspiration

We Are Family

We Are Family

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

We Are Family

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” Ephesians 3:14-15 ESV

My cousins Alesha, Ronnie, my sister Patricia, and I were all born on the 22nd of our birth months. We are the first four grandchildren of the late, Leroy and Jannie Green Sr. Along with my other cousins, Mark, Marcus, Chris, and Roderick, we were ready to get this summer started.

When I close my eyes, I can see myself as a kid, standing there on the bricked flowerpot in front of my grandparent’s house enjoying the day with my cousins. I can hear the ice cream truck music as its soon to be heading our way. I can see my cousins riding their bikes down the hill of Harp Street, missing ditches, and cars, thank goodness. From helping our grandparents with honeydews around the house, to shelling big brown bags of field peas, learning how to properly clean fresh greens with Morton’s salt, helping grandma hang clothes on the  line in the backyard with some of those wooden clothing pins that hung from her apron. The line is long gone, but the polls still remain. That backyard seemed so much bigger when I was a kid, as we played red rover, red rover. It never seemed to be too hot for us. It was a simpler time then. No worries. All we had to do was just be kids.

At the end of the day, there were those perfect nights, with a gentle cool breeze that blew through the entire house. You could smell frying coming out the kitchen as us kids washed our hand to get ready for the family feast. My aunts and uncles are all back from their busy days. Finally, we are all here together, ready to break bread as we thank God for the food. I proudly look around at everyone in this camp, thinking to myself: These are my people, we are family.

The Word of God has plenty to share with us about family. God’s Word is full of wisdom and guidance for every stage of family life. The Word also teaches us that our families are a blessing from God. Within the confines of the family, we find love, encouragement, support, and strength.

Keeping it real, there is no perfect family, because we are not perfect people. However, even in our imperfections love remains the key to the family. When we come together it gives us all the opportunity to build up each other in what we can do together. It is an attitude of positivity and optimism that we must bring to the family table.

No matter the challenges, we are each other’s keeper. I believe in you, and I am going to keep right on lifting you up on your journey. Why? Because that is what families are supposed to do. Our families are there to cheer us on as they use their words to speak good things to us, and their loving hands to pull us up when we fall. Nothing is impossible for a family that lives by, “a family that prays together, stays together.”

Here are a few thoughts to take with you family:

  • The same blood that flows through your vein’s, flows through mine.
  • We encourage, not discourage each other.
  • We celebrate our uniqueness and gifts.
  • We are proud of each other’s accomplishments.
  • My family is an adventure I am always willing to take.
  • We love each other with our actions.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

The Great Pretenders

The Great Pretenders

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

The Great Pretenders

“A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ Feet.” Acts 5:1-2 NKJV

The New Testament Church was bustling with enthusiasm and excitement and was attracting a lot of attention. Jesus Christ had risen from the dead, God’s Holy Spirit was evidence by a display of power on the day of Pentecost, and three thousand converts were added to the Church that same day. New converts were excited about the opportunity to be involved in God’s work. Many had traveled long distances to be in Jerusalem and stayed longer than expected, and others needed support. Those in a position to help, and willing to do so, sold property and gave it to the apostles to distribute to others as needed.

Ananias and Sapphire were captivated by the growth and interest in the church.  They saw it as an opportunity. Coveting power and prestige they played politics and conspired to tempt the spirit of the Lord. Sounds like an episode of American Greed to me. It’s a reminder that this kind of behavior and con is nothing new to the world.

Peter, who was filled with the power of the Spirit, knew instantly that Ananias was lying—not just to him but to God—and exposed his hypocrisy then and there. Ananias fell down and died. When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peter’s feet.

Why did God Judge them so Harshly?

We know they were likely true believers or church attenders because they were part of the community at the time. They were not outsiders. Which implies they were followers. Peter knew them by name. Their offering was accepted by the apostles in parallel to Barnabas’s gift. Their death brought great fear that seized the whole church and all who heard about what happened.

What is the lesson of these two great pretenders? GIVE WITH HONESTY.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Sermon on the Plain

Sermon on the Plain

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Sermon on the Plain

“And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.” Luke 6:17 KJV

Jesus’ sermon is sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain (or the Sermon on the Plateau) is delivered after coming down from a mountain and standing on a level place. Jesus begins with some beatitudes. In the Sermon Jesus gives us some command: love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those that curse us, pray for those who use, turn the other cheek when one strikes us, give generously to everyone who ask of us, and finally the Golden rule: “Do to others as you would have them do unto you.

Let’s break these commands down: Love your enemies-How hard has it been for you to love those you know hate you? Bless those who curse us-Have you been called everything but a child of God?  Every curse doesn’t have to be a cuss word to hurt a person. Pray for those who abuse us- Did you know that physical abuse is not the only form of abuse. There are five other abuses: sexual, verbal/emotional, mental/psychological, financial/economic, and cultural/identity.

Jesus closes the Sermon on the plain by reminding us to take action and follow through on our commitment. Even as hard as it sometimes an be, it all points back to the Golden rule of taking God’s way up by doing to others as you would have them do unto you.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

The Comeback Kid

The Comeback Kid

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

The Comeback Kid: David the Underdog

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
1 Samuel 17:45-50 (NIV)

The term comeback kid means a person who repeatedly demonstrates the prosperity to overcome tragedy, and rebound to triumph and victory. Let’s look at our comeback kid, a young David. David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, He spent much of his boyhood tending his family’s flock. One day he was summoned from the fields by the prophet Samuel, who anointed him king of Israel while Saul was still king. When Israel came into conflict with the Philistines, David’s brothers went to fight for king Saul. We see David- the underdog traveling back and forth to the camp to bring his brothers food and supplies. But this kid was meant for so much more.

Everyone loves the underdog/comeback kid, from Rocky Balboa, in all the Rocky movies, to real life stories like, Schinder’s List and Hidden Figures. How about those amazing documentaries that take us on the personal journeys of agonies, defeat, and a will to overcome illness, addiction, and the homelessness of skid row. And  those we know personally who overcame many obstacles  of what seemed like impossible odds to reach their dreams: Things like: first to finish high school, college, buy a home, or start a business.

Whether you’ve had tons of victories in life, or very few, the bible says that if you are in Christ, you’re an over comer! What does it mean to be an over comer in the Bible? It’s is our faith in Christ to persevere through the obstacles. It’s about staying true to God, even when it’s not easy. When it gets hard.

Here are some thoughts to take with you as you face the giants in your life:

Start by show up, reaching further than you have, means doing things you’ve never done.

When things get hard, Don’t run away. Press on through.

Don’t let fear rob you of taking chances.

You don’t have time to get lost in what other people think.

Stay true to yourself, and use what works for you.

Understand the rewards of winning.

No time like the present. Start with where you are and with what you’ve got.

David chose five smooth stones. He did not choose someone else’s weapon, he chose what he knew would work for him. That knowledge though the power of God, empower him to defeat Goliath.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Thanks

Thanks

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Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Thanks

Psalms 110:1-2 NIV

The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.;January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed “The Greatest”, he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.

He said.”He who is not courageous enough to take risk will accomplish nothing in life.”

Look at YOU, working those goals and completing every little task on your “goal to do list.” I don’t know if anyone has told you lately, but I am SUPER PROUD OF YOU! There you are burning the midnight oils as you putting in the work, time, and effort to keep your dreams alive. Oh yes, you have a full time job, family and life to go along with it.

Thanks, is dedicated to all of us. Diving deeper into reading about the lives of others, I fortunately stumbled across some articles dedicated to what personal empowerment can look like through a “thank you.” Never has such words rung so true as I am reminded of the scripture, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Do you feel your help coming on? Those two little words = release.

Allow me to share one of those writings, It’s called:

A Letter To The People Who Didn’t Believe In Me, from odyseeyonline.com, by Tayler Hughes

First, I would like to say thank you. You were the ones who brought me down and the ones who made me think I couldn’t achieve my goals. You made me question my intelligence, my skills, my drive, and my purpose. There were periods of time when you laughed as I explained my aspirations. You condescendingly explained why I was not capable of certain things. Your negativity was the reason that I pushed myself harder in order to be successful. I wanted to prove to you as well as everyone else who ever doubted my capabilities that I could do it. You are the reason I am standing here today, better and stronger than ever and wanted to thank you.

Thank you for showing me that people in the world will doubt me, and that I will prove them wrong.

I used your doubts to ignite my conviction that I would succeed. Your doubt made me want it more and gave me an “enemy” to fight against. The challenges your bombarded me with unleashed my competitive juices and my desire to win.

Thank you for showing that even when I fail, I am able to find the strength to get up and try again.

In many situations I took the greater risk, hoping that it would lead to a greater reward — but sometimes was short of my goal. However, with each failure I faced it poised me to be the best person I could possibly be.

Thank you for your false impression of who I am.

Maybe your perception of me was based off of something I said one day, an outfit I wore, the pitch of my voice, the color of my skin or something someone said about me. Regardless, you must not have known me very well to doubt my future self.

Thank you for making me question myself.

Perhaps there was a small bit of truth behind your criticism. It is because of your skepticism and disbelief that I am who I am today. You see, I didn’t just want to prove you wrong, I wanted to prove myself wrong for even thinking there was a possibility that you were right.

Thank you for giving me the strength to work harder, and that even if I fail I will get up and try again.

If I didn’t know something, I taught myself. If I wanted something, I worked for it.

Thanks for forcing me to learn to not care what others think of me.

I may not be perfect. I sometimes mess up and don’t do things by the books. But I have learned to utilize my flaws and use them to help me become a better person.

Thank you for building my up confidence.

With every accomplishment came even more belief that I could do anything. I could prove you wrong. I could reach my dream.

Thank you for allowing me to understand.

Everyday, I’m learning. I’m teaching myself that there will always be people who doubt me, people who criticize and people who judge. I am constantly learning that those people are just individuals who truly do not understand, and that’s okay.

Thank you for opening my eyes.

You might be off discriminating against someone else rather than focusing on your own imperfections, but still, you instilled in me the need to focus on the things I love about myself. You helped me hone in on what I think I need to improve.

Thank you for showing me who I don’t want to be.

Finally, you infused in me the fact that you are not someone I want to become. I do not want to become someone who underestimates another person who believes in him or herself.

Each day I am getting closer to accomplishing what you said couldn’t be done — you just wait and see. Throughout the battle, I’ve learned one important thing: While you may have been the match to light the fire, It was the consuming fire of God that keep my commitment alive.

You were a blessing in disguise. I thought this whole time that you were only here to bring me down and make me think I couldn’t accomplish anything. But you are just what I needed, someone to push me to strive to do my best. For that, I thank you.

Sincerely,

The person you didn’t believe in

Remember we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

 

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