Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.” Genesis 27:19 Jacob’s Are Everywhere If you look around, you will discover that there are Jacob’s everywhere. He was a normal, average young person—and—a momma’s boy. His ambitious quality is soon outranked by his deceptive nature. When he first started to pursue God, it was out of necessity and not out of faithfulness. He was running for his life and needed God to move on his behalf. When he…
“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16 There is a preverbal door in front of all of us during our lives; the door of destiny. God has created you with a purpose and has designed intricate details into your life. There are gifts that God has given to you that are unique. You might be saying, “Trust me, I’m not a gifted person.” But, I would have to disagree. There is something that God has breathed into your life – it knocks on the door of your heart, reminding you of your dream year after year. When God gives you a dream or a ministry that is far beyond your capabilities and talents, it is on purpose. He is not in heaven making mistakes, mixing you up with someone else’s plan and purpose. He has called you to greatness, just as you are. Gifts are not given to us in full bloom; they develop over time, so it is okay if you still have to grow. God will never give you a dream you can achieve alone because He desires for you to depend on Him every step of the way. There have…
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 Do you ever feel apprehensive to allow God to guide your footsteps? I most definitely have. One reason is because God doesn’t reveal all the details of His plan and that is intimidating. I like details, you know what I mean? When we arrive at a place where God is not trustworthy with directing our footsteps, providing financially for us, leading us out of an unhealthy relationship – it is a place where we have placed confidence in ourselves or confidence in someone other than God. Everyone Lives This Story Can I trust my destiny to God? Will God provide for me? Can I trust God when I don’t understand? When our journey takes us through curves in the path we weren’t prepared for such as: disapproval, criticism, unfair decisions, health problems or relationship woes – our walk with God may be challenged and our calling may be questioned. Do not give up when life isn’t turning out how you expected it. Trust in God. God’s plan is revealed by a lighted path, but oftentimes we will not know the destination. It’s a step-by-step and a…
“Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.” (Ecclesiastes 10:18, CSB) As I pulled my car out of the garage this week, I noticed a piece of trim over the garage door was sagging in one spot. Note to self: remember to find hammer and nail to tighten it up. Otherwise, soon that entire piece will start pulling away from the frame. Some preventive maintenance is needed. It’s one of the joys of homeownership—the constant need to stay alert for minor issues before they become a major repair. Many things we do in…
Whether a studio apartment in the city or a five-bedroom home in the suburbs, our home is our refuge, our safe place from the world. We not only want visitors to feel comfortable, but we want that same level of comfort for ourselves. A lot of physical labor and money is spent on cleaning supplies to maintain clean homes. And that’s good. We should all desire to make our homes inviting for family and guests. Many rituals in the Old Testament associate cleanliness with godliness. Long before the scientific world caught up with the ancient laws, God taught His people that there was a connection between physical cleanliness and health. Are we just as invested in spiritual cleanliness and how it affects our spiritual health? Spiritually cleansing our homes will help them become the inviting spaces we desire. If someone walked into your home right now, would they feel the presence of the Lord or the world? There is no in-between. If your house doesn’t have the presence of the Lord, it has the presence of the world. If turmoil, anxiety, or strife exist in your home, anointing it with oil and praying over it will change the atmosphere. How…
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32, NKJV) When Jesus was led to the judgment hall to stand before Pilate, the Jews accused, “He is a criminal.” But Jesus stated, “I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” Which one should Pilate believe? He asked, “What is truth?” (Read John 18:28-38.) Today if we asked that same question, we would no doubt get a variety of answers. For some, truth is whatever they choose it to be. But just because someone believes something is true does not make it true. Truth is neither a feeling nor an opinion. Nor can truth be determined by what the majority think. Or by what makes us feel good. Truth is not relative. Truth is absolute, non-negotiable. When it comes to our soul’s salvation, it is vital that we follow truth. We cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by philosophies and opinions that conflict with God’s Word. Anything that goes against the Word of God is not truth. Colossians 2:8…