Are You Second Guessing God's Blessing?

“And God gives us what we ask for. We receive it because we obey God’s commands and do what pleases him.” ~ 1 John 3:22 (ERV)

Have you asked God for something, He answered your prayer, and now you are no longer satisfied with the blessing? My answer to this question is, “Yes! All the time.” I am not proud about it, but I am just being honest. Our desires are fleeting, they come and go like the wind. I wouldn’t be surprised if God sat on his throne shaking head baffled by our confusion. Thankfully, He knows us better than we know ourselves so I’m sure He anticipates our ever-changing requests.

When we’re unemployed, we ask Him to bless us with a job. When we get that job we are satisfied for a while, at least until our bosses or co-workers get on our nerves or until we feel like we deserve more money. We ask Him for a mate and are appreciative when He sends someone our way that is until that person no longer tickles our fancy or does it for us, whatever “it” is! This list can go on and on. We always want more and are rarely content with God’s blessings.

Though scripture says that God gives us what we ask for (1 John 3:22) a little further down in the book of 1 John, we are given more specific instruction on how to ask God for things.

“…This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us)” ~ 1 John 5:14 (ERV)

He doesn’t quite operate like a Genie. Our wish isn’t exactly His command. We are not THE CREATOR, we are co-creators. Therefore our desires must align with His Will for our lives. If God just gave us ALL that WE wanted, He would be more like a Genie and not all knowing, all mighty God. In that case we could be our own God, serving our own purposes not His.

So the next time I find myself second guessing my blessing (and I will because I am human), I will remind myself that I asked for it. God blessed me with it. And it fits into His perfect plan though I may not fully understand. I have to constantly remind myself that it’s not about me. My life is not my own, it is His and His alone. The same blessings I am thankful for today, I should be thankful for tomorrow.

Embrace and enjoy the journey!

Be uplifted, inspired, and encouraged.

God Bless!

No Pain. No Gain. No Growth.

“Brothers and Sisters, I want you to know that all that has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News.” ~ Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV)

Like many, I have been on a journey hoping to discover my purpose. What am I REALLY supposed to be doing with my life? After spending some time exploring the Word of God, I now understand that my purpose on earth, our purpose is to spread the Good News. However, it is not enough to simply know about God if we want to spread the Good News. We have to experience Him and know Him intimately. It is through our pain and suffering that we truly know and believe the power of God and can begin to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

It is so easy caught up in the day to day activities of our lives and forget that NOTHING that we experience is about us. The relationships that we have, the children that we raise, the jobs that we work, none of it is REALLY about us. The core of our being and reason for existence is to glorify and honor God. The pain that we experience is what brings us closer to Him and helps us to recognize His power and our dependence on Him. Pain is also necessary for us to grow in patience and maturity.

“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be” ~ James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Pain is a prerequisite for progress. No pain. No gain. No growth. If you never experience trouble or tests of faith your growth will be stunted, your endurance will be insufficient, and you will never reach your full potential. So if you ever want to ask God the question, “Why me?” I challenge you to rephrase the question “Why NOT me?” I want to be ALL that God wants me to be. How about you?

Be uplifted, encourage, and inspired.

Remember you are not alone…

Embrace and enjoy the journey!

God Bless!

In Loving Memory: Don't Cry For Whitney, No One is the Blame

In 1987, my 6th grade class sang Whitney Houston's classic, "The Greatest Love of All" at our graduation ceremony. It happens to be one of my most memorable moments of elementary school, of my youth. I also remember singing a long to a number of her #1 hits about love and relationships, well before I had ever experienced a relationship. To this day, many of those lyrics are etched in my memory. From the first beat of the song, I am taken back to a time when life was carefree and easy. Complete nostalgia.

Back then I would have never imagined that I'd be sitting here 25 years later, writing about someone that I've never met, yet had an impact on my life and the way I see God and the world around me. Tomorrow Whitney will be laid to rest. I will be among the many viewers paying my respects from afar and celebrating her life and music.

I know many of us believe that she is gone too soon. But if you know God you have to know that her work here was done. He is never early, never late, but always right on time. The how and the why really doesn't matter. Only He knows why she came and why she is gone. Perhaps she did exactly what he needed her to do. Whitney Houston touched more people than many of us have that have not struggled with drugs or alcohol. Why? Because she used her God given gift and blessed the world. I don't know about you, but EVERY TIME I hear her sing the "Star Bangled Banner" I get chills. That rendition is definitely spirit filled and I haven't "felt" anyone else sing it the way she did.

In spite of it all, it appeared Whitney never stopped loving God. No matter what her struggles were she seemed to always give God the glory. That my friends is ALL He really wants from each and every one of us. Based on the news reports, even in the days and hours before her death she was singing His praises at a night club and in her hotel room. Was she perfect? No. None of us are. If we're honest with ourselves, we all have to fight the Devil daily and more often than we care to admit, he wins. And with fame and fortune comes an even greater fight. As far as I'm concerned Whitney fought a good fight. She could have given up a long time ago, but it seemed she kept on going even if it hurt along the way.

Regardless to what the media reports and what the investigation may reveal, God's Truth lies in the lyrics of a song that Whitney sang many years ago..."Don't Cry for Me.". Self-fulfilling prophecy? Maybe. But the truth nonetheless:

Here We Are Again
That Old Familiar Place
Where The Winds Will Blow
No One Ever Knows The Time Nor Place

[Chorus:]

Don't Cry For Me
Don't Shed A Tear
The Time I Shared With You Will Always Be
And When I'm Gone
Please Carry On
Don't Cry For Me

No One Is The Blame
My Death Was Meant To Be
Don't Carry Guilt Nor Shame
The Reason Why I Came Soon You'll See

[Chorus]

Don't Cry When Life Is Not The Joy It Should Be
With Life Comes Pain
Soon Time Will End This Course Appointed
And You Will Be Rewarded

And All The World Will See
Don't Cry For Me
Don't Shed A Tear
The Time I Shared With You Will Always Be

And When I'm Gone
Life Still Carries On
Don't Cry For Me
We'll Always Be
Don't Cry For Me

Only God knows the time, the place, and the reason we end our race. I challenge every Whitney fan and critic to stir up your own gifts, give God the glory and see how many people you can touch while trying to keep up with life's pace. When I get to the finish line I hope to have touched at least a miniscule fraction of those that Whitney touched in spite of her obstacles. As my late grandmother used to say, "you today, me tomorrow." You never know when your lot in life is going to take a turn for the worse or the better. You just have to trust God along the way and count it All joy!

Thank you Whitney Houston for being a DIVA!

D - Divinely
I - Inspiring
V - Vocal
A - Artist

We love you! We will miss you! May your soul rest in heavenly peace....

Don't cry for Whitney....just be the best you, that you can be. I'm sure that is what she would want for all of us. Be uplifted, encouraged, and inspired. God Bless!