Yield Not!

James 1:12 :  “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to those who love Him.”

     God always keeps his promises and the Holy Scriptures are replete with promise after promise of blessings that God wants to bestow upon those faithful to him.  Life will present different challenges, many designed to develop us into stronger, more God-fearing followers; others mask the evil one’s attempt to thwart the destinies that God has pre-ordained for us; and some challenges are temptations that test our resolve to do the right thing. I encourage you today to closely check out the things that are bombarding you and see the real cause for the frustrations and challenges you are suffering.  It could be that temptations are lurking at your door but disguised in ways that are subtle and often undetected.  For example a sure fire way to throw someone off of their game is to use the art of distraction.  When we are distracted we lose our focus and can waste valuable time trying to make up lost ground.  Some distractions seem so harmless and often can on the surface be ‘good’ things to do; but if they are not a part of your walk, then even good intentions will turn out to be time-wasting, blessing-delaying temptations.  

     Staying in touch with friends and keeping in the know can be important gestures, but if you can’t manage to stay off of Facebook or Twitter for more than 30 minutes before you feel the need to update your status, you could be the victim of distraction.  If you are really not one of the primary persons involved in a conversation yet you feel the need to put in your two cents; you have fallen prey to the temptation of needing to be heard. Notice that the power scripture tells us to endure temptation – not rebuke, reprove or cast it away– but endure it.  In essence, it is not going away, but you don’t have to succumb to it.  Know what it is and treat it accordingly.  If God says endure, then it means it can be done and we just need to hang in there.  Let us be mindful that the temptations around us will escalate as we get closer to reaffirming our faith in God and the power of the resurrection of his son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Every day is a good day it is up to us to make it a GREAT power-filled day.  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn

Hope

Job 11:18 - "And you will have confidence, because there is hope; you will be protected and take your rest in safety."
  When we are  bombarded with negative thoughts and  constant examples of how things can go wrong, it isn't difficult to understand why many may lose confidence and courage in the waiting process.  Regardless of the wait, it is surely worth it.  One of the greatest motivators for sustaining confidence is to re-evaluate where you are and giving thanks for where you are going.  Planning for the future requires hope.  Hope reminds us that there is something worth working toward; fighting through; and praying for.  Hope tells us to keep moving even when our bodies are weary, our minds are baffled and our souls are discouraged. Hope keeps us striving, even though circumstances keep changing.  Hope dictates a pattern of courage that is unrivaled  Hope is the glue that holds our dreams together as we connect the puzzle pieces that will form the picture of our destiny.  Never let hope slip away, diminish or fade.  Keep encouraging yourself.  Read your Bible daily for inspiration.  Pray continually and guard your heart and mind against anything that wants you to maintain the 'status quo'. 
Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Have an awesome weekend.  See you on Monday!.  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn

Shine!

Luke 8:16 (LEB):  “And no one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light..”

 You are wonderfully and fearfully made and there is divine purpose for your life.  God is so proud of his creation and you are special to him in so many ways.  You are made in his image and therefore reflect his glory.  Don't be ashamed to let the world know that you are a true believer; and since God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, anticipate special treatment from God. 

     In each of us is a special light that shows our connection to our Creator.  Because a single candle can dispel the darkness it is only fitting that our lights be placed in darkened areas to allow the glow of God from within us to shine forth.  If you wonder why you are stationed at your particular work site under an unnecessarily uncouth boss; or why your spouse’s family might be a little abrasive; or how you still seem to stick out a bit even among your friends; it could be that you are the light stationed there.  God is depending on you to make those opaque areas clearer.  He expects you to not put your light under a basket to be of use just for yourself, but he urges you to place yourself in situations where you will stand out and be luminous.

    Lamps require oil for refilling, wicks to burn cleanly and an ignition source. Keep yourself under the anointing of the Holy Spirit so that your oil never runs dry.  Daily pray in the spirit for renewal and refilling of your strength and courage to complete the task assigned to you.  Seek the refiner’s fire which burns away impurities and assures that your work is pleasing to God.  Do not shun, ignore or complain about areas in your life that are uncomfortable  or unseemly; these very places might be areas where God is using the strength of your resolve and the brightness of your light to chase away uncanny and evil issues that could envelope the lives of those not strong enough to chase away the darkness themselves.  Be that light .You have in you what it takes.  If God did not trust you with the assignment, he never would have placed you there. 

 Every day is a good day, it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day!

Be blessed ! - Dr. JoAnn

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Genesis 9:13 (AMP)  “I set My bow [rainbow] in the cloud, and it shall be a token or sign of a covenant or solemn pledge between Me and the earth.”

   Over the past few weeks we have experienced frequent sudden downpours where the heavens just seem to open and we are quickly drenched with a torrential rain.  These sudden squalls do not last long, but the amount and intensity of the storm is something quite amazing.  Since moving to Atlanta one of the most mystifying scenes I have witnessed is when it is raining on one side of the street and bone dry on the other.  Each time we are blessed with these showers I am reminded of the wonder that must have overtaken Noah when he and his family saw rain for the first time.

The upheaval of the sinful world caused God to refresh and renew the planet through Noah’s family as they rode out the storm in the ark.  Along with his family, Noah and key flora and fauna survivors witnessed God’s rainbow promise to never destroy the world again by flood.

     Every time I witness a rainbow in the heavens I remember that God keeps his promises and I am rejuvenated and overcome with awe as I watch the color patterns lace the sky in splendor.  God made a solemn, unconditional oath to protect us; just as he promised that whosoever believeth in Jesus should not perish, but would have ever lasting life.  For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.  Isn’t it gratifying and wonderful to know that God wants us to have abundant life and that he showers us with love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and favor.  Then he reminds us with daily little glimpses of his promises by giving us signs and wonders.  Look around you today and take note of the small yet wonderful signs God gives to remind us that he loves us.

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn

Keep Love First!

Daniel 6:22 -"My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Life can be vicious; people can set traps for us; rules can be unfair and even in innocence we can get caught up and thrown to the lions. Daniel was the victim of one of the most historically famous cases of haters orchestrating a set-up. Jealousy, envy, insecurity, ignorance, low self esteem and just being plain mean are all potential motivators for haters to stop handling their business and start messing in yours. Don't be surprised if you get hit from  out of "nowhere" with an attack that could throw you for a loop. But DON'T get thrown off your game! Keep love in your heart. 

Most haters will never attack you right out; they try to weaken your resolve and cause you to cave in, then throw you to the lions. They will gossip, hurt your feelings, stretch the truth to its outer limits, bring up old hash and anything to shake your resolve. Do like Daniel and keep focused on your Godly purpose. Keep your heart pure. No one is perfect; but your haters will not allow you to have faults. It is not written in the bible that Daniel protested or fought back or even put up a struggle when they escorted him to the lion's den. You can't fight organized evil in your own strength- so don't try... just stand with God and let him do the fighting. Keep love first and foremost in your actions. Resist the urge to 'give them a piece of your mind' or to show them they "messed with the wrong one". 

To your haters it will seem like they got the upper hand and that you are 'weak'.... But they just don't know God will shut the mouths of the destructive forces they thought would undermine you. The lions of isolation, gossip, divorce, debt, abuse, un-/under-employment, and anything that can devour us can be shut down and ineffective.  Instead of consuming us, God will use these very things to cushion us as he works out our escape plan and destroys our haters.  Stay loving. It is not easy; but each time you do the next trial gets easier until eventually you will do just like Daniel and not even get flustered when you see your haters coming,  

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn

Leave Some!

Leviticus 19:10 -"It is the same with your grape crop—don’t strip every last piece of fruit from the vines, and don’t pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and for those traveling through, for I am Jehovah your God."

     The blessing of having enough, and even better than that, the blessing of having more than enough carries with it instructions to share with others. God blesses us in many ways and magnitudes. God tells us that when he blesses our bounty, we are not to collect and hoard what he has allowed to increase. Some of our lives overflow in areas that are rather easy to share. If you are blessed to be financially comfortable it might not be taxing to contribute money to charitable causes, If you have talents that can be shared- that is wonderful and many may benefit from your inspirational singing, dancing, speaking, sewing, and artistry, These can be great areas to express altruism; where the giver bestows upon the receiver. Many have and need to be blessed through these kind acts of sharing. But God tells us in this scripture that it is helpful to not bundle up all you have and then dole it out in increments to open hands; but to allow opportunities for those who are able and willing to "work" for the blessing of your overflow.

       In essence God is blessing them through you, not because of you. This system allows the gleaner to appreciate the harvest, have pride in their work, and stops the devil from twisting helpful acts into areas of scorn. It never fails that the devil can turn altruistic gestures into scenarios of "look what I did for you" if we are not careful. The scripture tells us that when we provide opportunities for others to gain, we may never know who they are, their state of being; whether they are passing through our lives or will be regular fixtures of our destinies.  The main point is that -no relevance is given to who you will help so there can be no prejudice. Help someone by giving them an opportunity to do a good work through you. Don't know what to do or how to proceed? Ask God- he is awesome in providing opportunities for us to be more like him.   

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Be blessed.  Dr. JoAnn 

Loose Lips Sink Ships

Proverbs 11:13 –(HCSB) “A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.”

    During the World Wars, before the age of GPS, satellite imagery, 3-D scanning, underwater photography and computer radar detection; when battleships and submarines used simple listening devices to figure out the locations of enemies; the decree given when danger was perceived was for the crew to go into radio silence. They would cut the engines and everyone would cease all unnecessary movement.  Talking was replaced with hand signals because they knew that ‘loose lips’ could cause their location to be detected and the possible sinking of their ship.

      Unnecessary talking can be extrapolated to also include the unneeded and unwarranted banter of gossip. If what we say does not edify, glorify, magnify or rectify a situation then chances are what we have to say never really needs to be said.  There is a place of course for whimsical chatter often referred to as ‘girl talk’ or ‘barber shop heckling’; but when the words that we share reveal secrets that should not be disclosed; or expose truths that are not ours to bear witness to; then we are no longer involved in the art of conversation, but in the jaws of rumor and innuendos.

     Spreading gossip or even just talking to be heard can cause problems not only for the poor victims but also for us.  It can tarnish our reputations and damage the trust that others place in us.  If we open and spew out the details of what others have told to us in confidence; we might escalate a situation to a fever pitch and cause anger and resentment when the source of the leak is found. As the young generation now says…’snitches get stitches’.

      Be careful also to not share too much of your own personal information with a ‘motor mouth’ friend.  Fast talkers, who seem gregarious and really spirited, might be masked rumor-mills in hiding. When you talk to someone who openly tells you everything about themselves or others; chances are if they can’t be discerning about their own affairs, they surely will not keep yours either. God gave us two stereophonic ears but only one mouth.  Listen more, speak less.  

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day.  Have an awesome weekend.  See you on Monday.  Participate in a Christ-centered worship service this weekend.  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn