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REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE: STOP BEING SALTY!

Lot's wife didn't turn into a pillar of salt just because she looked back. (There is nothing wrong with looking back to see how far you have come.) But she turned into salt because her "look back" longed to reconnect with what God delivered her from. Her heart considered "IT" over God.

Her mind lingered and longed for what was, and although God was pushing her feet forward her HEARTS location was found on Sodom & Gomorrah’s GPS. The result of what you see (pillar of salt) was not the accuracy of her physical location but the accuracy of her hearts destination. To know the end of a thing and still say within your heart but I love "IT" is a decision! 
David was aware of the deception of the heart Psalm 51:10. Jeremiah knew the acts of the heart because he said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked."

Jer 17:9: That's why daily you have to ask the Lord to help you with your heart, because it can lead you into destruction when only God's purpose is supposed to guide you. Listening to your heart will and has caused many to end up in abusive relationships. Listening to your heart has caused many to overdose because of self-medicating unbearable pains. Listening to your heart has led many into the prison system. Pastor Daryl Young wrote a song "Fix my heart....Fix my mind...Fix my soul...I wanna be ready when YOU come back for me!"

I suggest that some of us need to stop being "SALTY" and ask God to clean out the residue. When is the last time you had a checkup?!

 

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Ctrl-Alt-Delete & Get Rid Of The Unwanted Access

Some times in life when we are going through, and we are at a place called “STILL” it is because we have to reprogram the way we think, what we’ve learned, and how we have been taught to think. Everything that we have heard and were taught is not always right or necessary for our “right now”. So in life we are allowed to erase, to white out, backspace, and use corrective measures so that we might be able to continue our story and reach our destination. Isn’t it interesting that when we press Ctrl Alt + DELETE on a computer system it automatically allows you to restart your PC, shut down or switch to another user? That’s for a reason: because in life we will need to use these same functions. 

In a personal computer with the Windows operating system, Ctrl Alt + DELETE is the combination of keyboard keys that the computer user can press at the same time to terminate an application task, or to reboot the operating system. You can have it shut down and allow it to restart itself.

I believe in life, we all need to allow ourselves to consider this same option. So often we continue to add things and allow things in our lives, and the more we store within us (aware or unaware) the more likely our personal systems can be threatened by viruses, bad things, and toxins. Just like any other electronic or device every computer comes with a manual. The manual gives us information and details that we need in order to operate our systems correctly and allow it to last as long as possible. The problem is we don’t read the full manual!  We read just enough to get the system to work, but we don’t consider the maintenance. Every system has subsystems and in those subsystems are its own functionalities. For example, the internet has an option on it that will allow you to allow pop ups or to block them. It also has an option to clear all browsing history. Why would you want to clear your browsing history?  Because it assists in, and aides in the functionality of the system. Too many items open can cause your system to operate much slower than the system should, and can cause viruses through someone else illegally tapping into your system. Why? because you gave it access unaware! [Pause Break] 

However, there is good news. The good news is every one of us comes with a manual. Our manual every now and then will give us signs and hints that it is time to CTRL ALT + DELETE! Often times something is causing our personal systems to operate in a dysfunctional way and before you get to the point where you need outside assistance or a Master Reset, we have to remember that within ourselves are several options that we were designed with. Some of these options are to:

1. Lock our personal computers (Preventative measure. This key is designed to enforce an exclusion control policy. In other words…This is Psalm 91:1. No one can view or see me right now. I have to lock my personal computer because I can’t allow anything else to infect/affect me during this vulnerable moment.) 

2. Change password (If you feel there is a possibility that someone has gained illegal or permissive access to you and you don’t and no longer desire them to have it, this function will allow you to keep them from accessing you without your consent or permission.) Some of us need to change our personal password!

3. Start task manager (this is what I like to call the self-examination feature. It provides in depth details about what’s going on with your personal system. What applications you have opened, what processes are still running, what services are being used to keep them going, how well your personal system is performing with those items opened, what users are attached to the console which is actually YOU (who is using you!) and what NETWORK you are connected to! (who do you have to support the operation of your system)

I want to encourage everyone to think on your personal computer system. Do a self- examination and assessment. See what needs to be added/downloaded. See what needs to be saved and kept. See what needs to be discarded and deleted! Take the time to check out YOUR system! It’s your responsibility!

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IT'S TIME TO REROUTE: CONSISTENT VS PERSISTENT

CONSISTENT!

acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate.

unchanging in nature, standard, or effect over time.


PERSISTENT

continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.


continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period.

 

When I began this thought I was all prepared to talk about the importance of being consistent.  And I am “consistent” in researching definitions before I explore a topic. Which brought me to this “AHAA moment”

 

Maybe the problem lies in our consistent behavior. When we think of this word it has such a positive connotation. We usually mention this when we think about good qualities in a person, a service station, a restaurant etc…But what we fail to realize is being consistent does not always propel you. Consistent behavior lacks change and advancement. Consistent behavior is SAFE! I had to halt a moment and consider how people have referred to me as consistent. Many times, even at work and it has been something that I cherish as a great quality that I must continue…But there is a flaw here!  The unwillingness to CHANGE!! You can NOT do something the same way over time just to play it safe and expect a greater outcome. If your goal is EXCELLENCE…Being Consistent is NOT the answer! Whoa!!! That took me down 5 steps! 

You can’t be unwilling to change and expect to EXCEL, to be EXTRAORDINARY you have to do things that are not ordinarily done...that’s too common. The usual...the status quo. Preserving the usual manual when life requires updates. When life requires resets. When life requires new ideas. Wait…God requires it! The Bible requires it! The Bible cancels out conformity and calls for renewal! ROMANS 12:2! My favorite scripture! How could this be my go to and I have been missing it the whole time!!?? God forgive me! I HAVE BEEN TOO CONSISTENT AND I AM MISSING THE MARK!!! 

The word urges me to be PERSISTENT! Wait!!! What have I been doing! Going to God with the same prayer request! And His Word says “Be persistent in prayer…NOT consistent!” Colossians 4:2. What does it mean to be persistent being firm and refusing to take your eyes off of your course or goal despite difficulty or opposition.  I can have a goal but can’t get to it because I keep trying to use the road that has been closed. But if it’s the only way I know or want to go I will never arrive at my destination. However, if I am persistent I can have a goal and see a road closed but be determined to get to where I got to go so I will use another route! Because I gotta get there by any means necessary!! PERSISTENCE!!

 

Maybe it’s not the enemy holding you back from your goal.  Maybe it’s YOU! Maybe it’s because you keep being your own stumbling block by refusing to change, expecting for the dead end road to finally open up. The enemy don’t have to taunt you when you are defeating YOU!  Maybe just maybe it’s time to reroute!  Maybe just maybe it’s time to change because the destination is worth the endurance!

 

 

Food For Thought: DISCIPLINE

Discipline: Self-control. Learning, knowledge, regulating behavior, training.

We look at Discipline as deprivation. Deprivation is denying someone of what they need. But discipline is allowing someone to gain what they need. 

We lack balance.  We are a culture of excess. 

But what if we lived a disciplined life? And not just when we are forced to? Can we consistently live a balanced life? My goal is to learn, self-control, and understand the importance of regulating my behavior and train my body to follow. 

Don’t just be disciplined in your faith, become disciplined in your health. Have Social Discipline. Strive for financial discipline.  

You have not arrived because you abstain sexually. Not when you don’t know how to abstain in gossiping, complaining, judging, eating, shopping etc. 

Let a man examine himself. And when that man/woman see themselves, then they will know how to approach those who they serve with humility. 

If disobedience is a sin.  And sin is going to keep us from heaven…Who’s going?

Disobedience rebels against conviction. Condemnation hides from conviction. Discipline responds to conviction.

  • Proverbs 3
  • Romans 12:1
  • 3 John 1:2
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

#getyoutogether #lessWEfall #unhealthy #nobalance #selfexamination #discipline #makesforgooddisciples 

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THAT MOMENT FAITH WHISPERS!

That very moment right before you stop believing, is the very moment that God desires to step into your situation. I mean that moment…that very small window. Where doubt is mixed with fear, and fear with unbelief, and unbelief mixed with I’m just tired of trying...that moment…that moment where every voice that you could possibly hear is so much louder than the voice that is whispering very confidently...very clearly with no reservation, and no bargaining and or convincing you of how He can bring you out. Why? because He does not have to gamble or make empty promises to someone that already belongs to Him!

That moment when you feel lost because you are at a very scary crossroad in your life and you are just tired of driving…tired of steering...tired of refueling…tired of putting air back into a worn tire. Tired! Just tired! Just tired of washing a rusty car with a worn engine, and a damaged break pad. That moment when everything in you says I am done! There is no hope for me. I can’t do this! God is right there. He is the whisper that you hear even though everything around you is so loud. He’s telling you don’t give up on me; and you are only responding to Him when you say but I’m tired…

He is softly whispering don’t give up on me...and you are screaming I can’t do this anymore…!!! He is whispering come to me...trust me...and you are yelling nobody cares...He is saying I love you with an everlasting love and you are saying everyone left me...He is whispering I will never leave you nor forsake you...and you are wailing why me?!?

 He’s saying I know you can do this because my will is in you to do all things through me I’ve come to give you strength… That moment when that tear sheds...that one tear that flows to the side of your face…that is the moment in it’s purest form where His heart connects with yours in a way that words can not express. I am here. I love you. Don’t give up. I Am here. I’ve encountered that moment in my life, and I am so grateful that His small still whisper was so much louder than the noise that was determined to defeat me. If you ask me why I believe in this Jesus? Why do I believe in this Christ? It’s quite simple…Because He saved me when nothing and no one else could! I don’t know how but He did it! He made a way! I didn’t get this ability to inspire on my own.. I walk this and I live this! I am standing here only because He made a way! You need to believe. You need to believe in something. Because something is believing in you everyday….Someone… And His name is JESUS!

 #foriamnotashamedofthegospelofchristforitisthepowerofGodforsalvationtoeveryonewhobelieves #OMG#FROMVICTIMTOVICTOR