Slowed Down And Held Up!

“Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” I Thessalonians 2:18

Do you know the plan of God in your life? Are there plans that have not come to pass; work that has not been accomplished; visions that have not been fulfilled; dreams that have not come true?

You may be slowed down and held up by the enemy, but he cannot stop the will of God. You may feel that you are not where you should be or even where you could be. You may feel that you have been trying, but you work has been failing. But the good news is, you can be slowed down and held up, but the will of God can’t be stopped.

It may seem to be taking a long time and you may not see the progress. But if God is directing your path, and your faith and trust is in Him alone; no matter how it looks or how long it takes, the plan is going forth. He may have to send some help; He may have to open some doors and shut some others …But don’t get discouraged and don’t be deceived…The enemy may slow you down and hold you up, but He cannot stop the plan of God.

Wait on the Lord, and watch the reality of your dreams begin to open and come to pass; Watch for the Lord and find that although it didn’t happen when you wanted nor how you wanted, it happened. Don’t miss it because you are caught up in the delay and the process.
Satan can hinder it (slow it down and hold it up), but he can’t stop it!
Why? Because if you are seeking God, then it is His plan and not yours…Can the enemy stop God’s plan for you?
Only if you let him…….
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

A Bondservant of Christ, Rev Toni-Brooke Brown, Pastor
God’s Storehouse, 18301 John R, Detroit MI 48203
313 867-1234, http://www.Gods-Storehouse.org

Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital! ‘This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.” He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so…Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Aurthur Unknown

Our Life is Not Our Own

God has a master plan for each and every one of our lives. Who are we to say what He can and cannot not do? Our lives are not our own but God’s so that the world may see and know Him for all of His wonderful works so that He may get the glory. How can we say He is a healer if we’re never sick? How can we say He’s a provider if we always have money? How can we say He’s a comforter if we’re never sad? and so on… He knows exactly what to do/create just so that we may know every part of Him. So that we may have a true relationship with Him.

Isaiah 45

¹Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

²I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

³And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

⁴For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

⁵I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

⁶That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

⁷I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

⁸Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

⁹Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

¹⁰Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

¹¹Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

¹²I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

¹³I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

Caring Means Confronting!

Bishop E. Earl Jenkins
“An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.” Proverbs 24:26 (TEV)

It’s much easier to remain silent when others around us are messing up, but it’s not the loving thing to do. Most people have no one in their lives that love them enough to tell them the truth, so they continue going the wrong way. Usually we know what needs to be said but fear keeps us from saying it. “An honest answer is the sign of true friendship.” Sometimes caring means confronting!

Paul writes, “If someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently make him right again” (Gal 6:1 NCV). That’s what ‘spiritual’ people do! The trouble is when an issue pops up that might cause tension, it’s immediately glossed over in order to preserve peace. Mr. ‘Don’t-rock-the-boat’ jumps in and tries to smooth everyone’s ruffled feathers, the issue is never resolved and everyone lives with an underlying feeling of frustration. “No more pretense. Tell…the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself” (Eph 4:25 TM).

Now frankness is not a license to be rude and say anything you please. Thoughtless words wound people. “Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers, older women as if they were your mothers, and younger women as if they were your sisters” (1Ti 5:1-2 GWT). Bottom line: whether in a marriage, a friendship, a church or a business, until we care enough to confront and resolve the underlying barriers, we’ll never grow close to each other!

Mind Set

Post courtesy of  AmazinglyBrash

 

We wake up to challenges daily. Our mood can be based on how well we slept, whether or not we look forward to our schedule, or waking up to the reality of yesterdays’ actions. When we combine that with actually encountering several others with the same internal challenges, it can be overwhelming; that is when optimism comes into play. Understanding that we have the ability to see further than the problem and embrace any joy allows us to flourish in every situation. We may get victimized, but we don’t have to be victims. When something negative occurs, it didn’t happen to you but for you. The belief that “everything happens for a reason” and “God is very reasonable” is all we need to work towards solution. Fired, behind on payments or grieving the loss of a loved one are all tests to see how much you truly want to live. Are you ready to grow or wither away because the sun isn’t shining? Are you going to ask for help or remain helpless because you’re a product of your pain? When fired, see yourself getting hired; behind on payment, see yourself getting ahead: lost a loved one, find love through others. The problem is present but it doesn’t have to be your future. If you carry it around, it will infect you and everyone you wish to affect. One can’t promise you freedom of stress, but they can assist you with ways of coping so that it isn’t stressful. Life will always suck the air out of you but if you remember to take a deep breath you won’t get suffocated!!!!

Why is it that a person is in your life at “that time” on “that particular day” connecting with you at “that moment”? Some say it’s a coincidence. What is this word “coincidence”? Was it coined to change the perception that a spiritual fact exist, or is it another attempt to control the uncontrollable? We spend more time sweeping the dirt under the rug than actually clean up the mess. We see what is happening but fail to investigate why. We take so many opportunities for granted because we’re sure we will be granted another. We don’t maximize on moments because we feel they are minimal. Guess what? It isn’t a coincidence that they entered your life; and the only way to get clarity is understanding why. There is a reason hidden and a lesson to be found. It may be to enhance an ability, increase a tolerance, or to find a half that makes you whole; maybe it’s all of the above. Ultimately, the powers deemed it necessary for us to intersect; we can crash, stop and allow the moment to pass, or park our cars and watch faith be realized!!!!

THE WORLD IS MINE

Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman
And wished I were as beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch.
But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs; the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it’d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
“I thank you, you’ve been so kind.
It’s nice to talk with folks like you.
You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes; the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child I knew.
He stood and watched the others play,
but he did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
“Why don’t you join them dear?”
He looked ahead without a word.
I forgot, he couldn’t hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears; the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I’d go..
With eyes to see the sunset’s glow.
With ears to hear what I’d know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I’ve been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

~ Arthur Unknown~

This is just a simple reminder that we have so much to be thankful for! Give the gift of love. It never comes back empty!

Build Your Trust

(REBUILD YOUR THINKING BY STUDYING GOD’S WORD AND TRUSTING HIM)

In the book of Exodus chpt 7-12 Moses listened to God over and over again (11 times to be exact) and did exactly what He had told him. Even though each time he went back Pharoah’s heart was just as hard, Moses did not give up and He continued to listen to what God had told him. God never told Moses in the beginning how many time he would have to go to Pharoah, so I’m sure after like the 5th time it must have been VERY DIFFICULT, but Moses trusted God and he kept going back, he kept on believing.

I think of how many times I’ve given up and gotten weary because the things that God has told me to do seem to not be working. The people he’s told me to minister to don’t seem to hear me or give me the time of day. Yet, the burden remains for me to help them.

In my relationship with God there has not always been a great level of trust. So over the years I’ve had to learn that although He doesn’t give me everything I want, He’s always given me much more than I’ve needed. And the fact that He hasn’t given me everything that I’ve asked Him for is so good! I’ve asked God for many things that would harm me and the calling on my life not being aware of the fact that it would.

I’m so sure I’m not the only one. So what I’ve done and continue to do is build on my relationship with Him and trust Him more and more. With trust come peace. That peace that people do a double take and look back at you, like “Why isn’t she/he falling apart right now?”

So has God given you very specific instructions, and a very unique assignment? Do people laugh at you or ignore you when you go to them with it? I want to tell you to never give up! Do what He has commanded you even if you never get to see the results! Martin Luther King Jr. never got to see President Obama in the white house, yet he marched and he marched didn’t he?

MARCH, GO, and may God’s plans always be yours.

Shared by The Relationship Stuff

Renewing Your Mind For Relationships

One of the ways that I healed from an emotional unhealthy mindset was listening to messages and mini sermons several days throughout the week. Sunday is a great blessing and all, but when it came to feeding my spirit and renewing my mind I needed more.

My favorite place to go on-line and get information that pertained to me and my personal issues and situations was OnePlace.com. There are so many different ministers there and so many different ways to listen, learn, and grow. You can search through the archives and find topics that relate to what you are going through at any given moment, that is what I did and still do til this day. It’s so helpful! Especially when your Pastor doesn’t talk much about Parenting, Friendship, or Marriage. Or it may just be that you are having some major issues with your in-laws and for that whole month at church you guys are reading the book of Revelation.

With all that being said, I’ve listed a few places that I think can be helpful to anyone if they open up and allow it.

With Dennis Rainey you get something like a teaching interview.

Family Life Today

With June Hunt you get something like a counseling session.

Hope for The Heart

And with James McDonald you get brief 30 minute sermonets that bless your soul!

Walk In The Word

It’s doesn’t do us any good to come up with excuses like “I don’t have time” because the messages can be downloaded and listened to in your car while you are driving or on your iPhone or Pod while you ride the bus, work out, get your nails, hair and toes done. We find time to watch our favorite T.V. Shows, go to the movies and out to eat, I’m sure we can find the time to feed our souls. It’s when you are really hungry for change that you will eat.

Most of the times people find a bunch of other unhealthy people to talk to and they validate what they are feeling and they think they are ok. But if people lie to you or just can’t give you the truth because they themselves don’t know it, you can’t grow as an individual.

It takes a lot to find a great person to hook up with forever when you are jacked up yourself. Inside you say “I want someone who will treat me good, not beat or cheat. Provide, protect, love, respect, submit, honor,” and on and on the list goes. But if you are emotionally damaged and refuse to admit and then take actions to change, more than likely you won’t attract that type of person.

Recognize, realize, and then renew!

Shared by The Relationship Stuff

LIP SERVICE

Do you remember what you told me? How you confessed your love for me! Do you remember what you said in the middle of your trial? Do you remember how you cried out and said, “If you help me, I will serve you” and like a mighty warrior I stepped in and saved you. You praised me for the valiant act and now I hear only your lips.

You continue to tell me about your love for me and yet you don’t attend my house. You blame others for your attendance and yet my promise was with you and I alone. How come all of a sudden others are involved in our relationship?

You lift up both your hands in surrender and sing “I Surrender All,” but the moment I ask for your service, well maybe next time.

How long shall I receive lip service? How long? When your spouse asks for attention, you say you love them and yet when asked for service, well maybe next time.

How long shall your spouse receive lip service? When the divorce decree is being drawn up by the lawyer? When the home and children are being taken? How long?

Let’s declare today to end lip service. Speak the truth. Your actions will always reveal it. Telling someone you love them and not demonstrating it with actions, is like a glazed Krispy Kreme donut. I see the surrounding goodness, but where is the center where the heart should be.

Post shared via Roger Tharpe

IT FALLS WHEN YOU NEED IT

The treasures of heaven fall upon the body like a mantle when you need it. Your position must be one of movement. We find the Lord moves after you. How else can David write in Psalm 23 that goodness and mercy would follow him all the days of his life?  If you are bound by present fear let this encourage and empower you.

I am an introvert and public speaking produces for me a great fear, but I am here to tell you, It Falls when you need it. In the last few weeks, I have had many speaking engagements and each one was not without fear, however I can tell you, It falls when you need it and the peace of God that passes understanding and the wisdom of God produces the required fruit.

Some may say “Lord I am waiting for your power.” It falls when you need it. Not a moment sooner. While I am in the chair waiting to speak, I am afraid. While walking to the platform and then right before I speak, the mantle falls. It falls when you need it. Do not fear today. God will show up, you only have to move first to see his power.

Single person waiting on the Lord? God moves after you. Struggling married person waiting on the Lord? God moves after you. It falls when you need it, but only after you move first.

Walking in Christ is no different than receiving salvation. For one only receives salvation after they confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in the their heart that God raised them from the dead. It falls when you need it, only after you move first.

Post courtesy of Roger Tharpe