Extreme Makeover: New Year's Edition Day 3

Jeremiah 18::4
And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

In the Hand of the Potter

We understand that we are made of clay and that we are human, but we have assurance of all things because we are in the potter's hand. Even messed up, broken and useless clay can be made into a vessel.

What do you do when what's in your hand is not what's in your head? What do you do when the job you once celebrated, you're now praying to God for another one? What do you do when the child you have raised is calling you from jail?

Celebrate the fact that not only are we being made, we're being made by the potter. If you have nothing to shout about, shout about the blessing of being in God's hands. In His hands, your able to be formed, kept and molded.

So remember, though we're marred and messed up, God has never taken His hands off of us.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE
Extreme Makeover: New Year's Edition

Extreme Makeover: New Year's Edition Day 2

Jeremiah 18::4
And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Even though we have struggles in life, we find happiness and joy in the fact that we are in the potter's hand. Even while following God's plan and God's rule, we will still face trouble and trials. We still will end up marred.

When you began the year 2010, you high hopes that this would be your year. And, for some of us, the end seemed to take a turn in another direction. Yet, we still know that God is still God. We trust that He is still on the throne. But, this year was not the year we thought it would be.

That's what happened to the potter. He started out with something on the wheel. All of a sudden, the clay took a turn and began to become marred in the potter's hands. That's how life does us sometimes. We seem to know what we're doing, yet somehow things took a turn and got out of control.

The challenge yesterday was "what are you willing to sacrifice?" Today I ask, "what are you willing to take with you?" The potter didn't give up. The potter continue to work with the clay. What are you willing to keep and work on?

See how far God can take you.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE
Extreme Makeover: New Year's Edition

Extreme Makeover: New Year's Edition

Jeremiah 18:4
"And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make."

We are human. And, there is constant conflict going on inside of us, because of our flesh. We fight the enemy on the outside, but, someone can attest to the fact that there is an even greater enemy on the inside of us. Some of what we seem to fight most are habits that we have created within ourselves.

Going into 2011, I've began a DAILY LOVE theme, "Extreme Makeover: The New Year's Edition", and the first question I want to ask is, "What are you willing to sacrifice to make a change?"

We are made of clay (flesh), and our flesh can never be perfect, but this doesn't mean that I shouldn't strive to be better. There is a saying, "Never tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon."

So, to start off your extreme makeover, I challenge you to set goals. Remember that you are clay, but never forget that in this scripture, the clay was being formed into something. It was being formed into a vessel. So, even though you may not be where you are trying to go, continue to allow God to form and shape you.

You'll never know how far you can go as clay, until you have been made into a vessel.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

I will trust in the Lord

Psalm 31:1

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

God is a wonderful God. We often have dealt with people who have misused and abused our trust. But, God is someone we can put our trust in. He always goes over and above what we ask of Him.

Put all of your trust in God. Trust Him to deliver you from whatever you feel is weighing you down.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

It's Good To be Covered

Psalm 32:1

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

God has been so good to us. It's amazing to know that the sins we have committed, that should have killed us....God has covered them.

So, as you go throughout your day, wondering why things are the way they are, remember that God has you covered. He will continue to keep you covered because you are His child.

God has called us blessed. He has forgiven us and covered our sins.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

All In His Hands

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.


We try to control so much, and when it doesn't turn out like we think it should, we begin to stress out and worry. Then, worry turns into complaining.
- Hide quoted text -

God showed me, if we stop trying to be the owner of our lives and let Him be God, when moves need to be made, He will make them. Not only that, we have to learn to do as the songwriter says and "accept what God allows."

That's not always easy to do, but why do we question God during testing time and never during blessing time?

So, when we trust God, it goes beyond day to day. We have to trust Him to carry us when when we cannot carry ourselves.



"I will trust in the Lord"

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

"I'm Trading My Worry for Worship."

Romans 8:18
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."



This weekend has been one of great memory. And still, I received some news that rocked my world to the core. I left a celebration to spend the day at the hospital with family. I sat for hours in the waiting room dealing with the fact that my grandmother, my heart, may never wake up on this side. I couldn't forget that in May of 2009 I lost my grandfather.

Yet, I heard God ask me, "Am I still worthy?" I just sat there a while and looked around and all I saw was family. I found assurance, because I realized that my grandmother knew the God that asked me this question. My mind went to Roman 8:18. And I read "for I consider", which means that is not a random though,t you had to sit there and put some time into it. This scripture was not a question, it was an conclusion.

So, the rest was a final thought. "That the suffering of this present age" I'm going through, but I'm not through. I don't praise Him because He only gives me sunny days, He keeps me in the suffering of this present age.

"...is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us " To say we will have suffering is an understatement. The glory is coming and when it is revealed in me, the trouble I have right now won't have anything on what He is about to do in me.

So, do I trust Him? Yes. Do I still praise Him? Yes, because the one thing I have learned in this life is, God knows what He is doing.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

So, You're Going To Tell Me What I Said?

I recently witnessed a conversation between a mother and her daughter, who was about 8 years old. The daughter began to tell her mother that she wanted McDonald's for dinner. The mother said, "No, we're going somewhere else." The daughter then begin to argue, "Mom, but you said we would go to McDonald's."

Some things begin to go off in my mind, saying that this is how we should approach God sometimes. When we feel like things in our lives are going crazy, we can remind God that His word says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but you will deliver us from them all." Instead of always asking God for a new thing, ask Him to do what He's already said in His word. Step out on God's word, and know that He will do what He said He would. His word is a firm footing to stand on.

So, the next time you have an issue or problem, and you don't know what to do, remind God of what He's already said. Speak God's word.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

A Big Picture Praise

Romans 8:28
"For we know that all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose."


Sometimes we look to praise God only once He has delivered us out of something. The bible is filled with scriptures of others being delivered from things. Some times your praise has greater depth once you've been through something. The Hebrew boys were delivered out of the fiery furnace. Daniel was delivered out of the den of lions. Paul and Silas were delivered out of jail.

Through this, I've realized that God is able to keep us, even at times when we don't feel like we're being kept. Even in unfavorable situations, He's keeping you.

He's worthy to be praised!

As I have matured in life, I've found that there are two times when praise is necessary; when you feel like it and when you don't feel like it. When you feel like praising, you should because you recognize that God has been so good to you. When you don't feel like praising, you should because praise will turn your perspective around.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Think of His Goodness to You

When waves of affliction sweep over the soul, and sunlight is hidden from view....Whenever you're tempted to fret or complain, us think of His goodness to you.

You're only a thought away from having a good day. We spend too much time stressing about the negative. I often wondered how people can allow one negative thing to ruin their day. It doesn't matter how many good things have previously taken place, we allow the one bad thing to take over and ruin our day. We focus on it alone.

However, today I want to encourage you. Whenever you're tempted to complain, think of God's goodness. When you feel overwhelmed about where you are or where you think you should be, just think of His goodness to you.

You're only a thought away from having a good day.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Got to be right

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

This was a request made by the psalmist, David. He wanted to be cleansed by God. I believe that in this day and time, we don't all necessarily want to be right, we just want to be okay.

David knew he needed to be in right standing with God, and he knew that the heart he had needed to be cleansed.

We spend time in denial, instead of accepting the fact that we need to be made over. Though we get new mercies everyday, sometimes we need a clean heart. We need a transplant, because the heart we have has turned black. Not because we are such horrible people, but, just like a car needs a oil change every now and then, we need a cleansing.

So, let's ask God to create a clean heart in us, so that we may get back to Him.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Accept It

Mark 5:25
Now, a certain woman had an issue of blood for twelve years.



Sometimes in life we go through the motions of name-it and claim-it. In this generation, we've been taught to simply name your healing, claim your deliverance. However, there comes a point where we have to accept that there is a problem. What do you have to give God if you haven't accepted the fact that you need Him?

If the woman had not acknowledged the fact that she had an issue of blood, she would have never pressed her way to Jesus. So many times we pray for deliverance from the very thing that is meant to make us press our way to God.

This woman knew she had this illness for twelve years. She knew and appreciated the keeping power of God. Though she had been bleeding for twelve years, she hadn't bled to death, which says to us, no matter what we may be going through, we should thank God for His keeping power.

Throughout your day today, thank God for sustaining you, because, whatever it is that makes you press closer to God isn't that bad after all.

Just do it

John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it. ”


Some of the best advice that we could ever receive comes at the most awkward times. The verse was actually lifted out of the passage where Jesus turns water into wine. Mary is speaking to the servers. When I read it, I begin to think that this is the best advice, we as Christians, could ever have. Whatever Jesus says do, do it.

God doesn't always do exactly as we think He should or what we think He would, yet, Mary didn't know how Jesus was going to turn the water into wine. Likewise, we don't know how He's going to heal our issues or how He's going to work out our problems.

Whatever it is that you feel like you can't deal with, whatever He tells you to do, do it.

Sometimes we spend more time plotting, than praying. Then, we spend more time praying, than listening. God has answered us many times, but we're still on our knees talking, when we already know the answer. It's common to advise someone to pray when they need something from God. However, we should learn to hear from Him.

We may have an abundance of water and no wine. But, we can't get to the wine if we don't fill our water pots.

So, in order to get what you need from God. Go to Him and whatever He tells you to do, do it.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Feed Me

St. John 6:8-9
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

This scripture speaks of Jesus feeding the five thousand. We often get caught up with people knowing who we are; networking, fellowshipping, getting our name out there, but, I learned something from the young man that had two fish and five loaves of bread. You don't have to know my name. You don't even have to know what I did or what I have. As long as what I am doing is able to help someone else.

When I started the DAILY LOVE, I never thought about all who would be helped by them. It doesn't have to have Otis Petteway's name on it. At the end of the day we have to get to a point where we understand that it's not about us. It's about Him.

It's not about what we're going through, because the little you complain about is enough to feed five thousand. The difference between complaining about the little you have to eat and knowing that the little can feed five thousand is whose hand it's in. What you may call a little, God calls enough.

So, don't get caught up on what you have, recognize whose hand it's in. Take what God's has given you, even if it's five loaves and two fish and put it in His hands.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Be The One

Luke 17:16-19

15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.


This is popular scripture in the Bible, often used to illustrate the ten lepers being cleansed. It made me think in comparison with how we often ask God to heal us, deliver us, purge us and make us whole, versus us praying just to thank Him. How often have we said the words from Stevie Wonder's classic, "I Just Called To Say I Love You."

Sometimes God blesses us, and we never turn around to say, "Thank You." Yes, maybe we can find some things in our lives that we would like to be a little better. But, we should always have a heart of thanksgiving towards God in spite of what we may be going through.

Remember, God has worked things out in your past. So, thank Him today. You still may be broke, but you don't have leprosy anymore. Thank God. He's still a good God.

Give thanks. Even if you find that you are the only one to come back and say thank you. He's a good God. Never take for granted that things could not be worse. Yet, God is still keeping us.

Be the one to go back and say thank you.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

I Love You

(Malachi 1:2) “I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob.


Whenever you feel like no one is on your side or no one in the world cares about you remember that God loves you. He showed his love over and over in the bible but this is one of the few times that he just came out and told you that he loves you. When you are at your lowest point remember God Loves you. His love isn't like human love it isn't fickle it doesn't change God's love is unconditional meaning his love doesn't come with conditions. You can't stop him from loving you and that's how you know that no matter they fight remember that you have a love one that has the winning hand.

Your Daily Love From Him Above.

It Doesn't Make Sense, but It Works.

I Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He make exalt you in due time.


When most people think of the word "humble," we think of bowing down and going low. However, the thing about humbling yourself with God is, you go down and God goes up. If anyone knows how to handle things from a higher perspective, it's God.

So, where ever you find yourself today, know that God knows best, and He will do what you need Him to do. Give it to God. Recognize that if you could fix it, it would be fixed by now. God has all the power. Humble yourself, and in due season, you will reap, if you faint not.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Know any family or friends that do not use Facebook, but interested in receiving the DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE? Simply respond to this message with an email address and we'll deliver the DAILY LOVE to their inbox!

Its a Good Day

Job 1:22
In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

We've all had days when we felt nothing else could go wrong. We've felt like everything and everyone that could turn against us does.

So, how do you act when it seems everything is up against you? Not only is it raining and pouring, it's beginning to flood. There's no hope.....no one to turn to....no one understands.

Job had a day like this. Yet, the Bible says, that in everything that took place, Job did not charge God foolishly. This basically show us, if we have a bad day, week, month or year, where you feel as if God has turned His back on you or if nothing is working out, sin not. Trust God. Don't always second guess God.

Even if you may be having a bad day, God is still keeping you. Even if you may be having a bad week, God is still keeping you. Even if you may be having a bad month, God is still keeping you.

If it is really as bad as you think it is, take off in the middle of the day and go to your closest funeral home to see some of the people that have actually had a bad day. See how your day could be. You'll see that the one thing still going good is the fact that God is still keeping you.

Remember, it's always good to be seen and not viewed.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Things Will Work Out for My Good

Everything is a lesson. Learn from it so you don’t have to retake it.

I think we spend so much time living and we never learn. I honestly believe that if we take the time to sit down and look at what we have been through, we would learn some things. Even though we might not understand why we had to go through what we did, even if you fail the test, you still learned something you didn’t know.

Why do apply this while in school and not in life? We go day to day and just live and let things happen to us. Why are we REACTIVE and not PROACTIVE? We wait until we feel the flames before we get out of the fire.

Today, think about where you are in your life and where you want to be in God. Ask Him to not only let you get there, but ask Him to show you how can should you get there.

Adopt this motto. “Live on purpose”. Don’t just live, but live with a purpose in mind. When you feel like life is beating you up, in between your dream and your palace, remember where you are is not where you are going. I don’t mind being here, because I am coming out of here. So, don’t let where you are determine where you are going, but let it determine where you won't go back to.


DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

God

Genesis 1:1

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
I did not understand what Christianity based itself off of until God showed me Genesis 1:1. It says, "in the beginning.....God." Sometimes we get caught up with other things and other people, but we should always get back to the center of life....which is God.

What is the answer to everything? God. What is the purpose for all things? God. In the beginning.....God.

Once we stop looking at problems and start looking at God, if we get time to look back at our problems, they will have changed. Before anything else was thought of and before anything else was made, God was there. Before time was formed, He was God.

I know this may not be a very uplifting message, but to understand who God really is, we have to appreciate that God was there before all things. God was there before your problem was there.

Another translation says, "In beginning was God." It takes "the" out. The word "the" dates the verse. God was God before dates. He stepped out on nothing and made everything.

If you need to be uplifted, you must understand that nothing makes sense until you get back to God.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

I've Very Happy To Be Here.

Psalm 100:2

Serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing.

I feel, in today's time, we have become accustomed to saying we have to do somethings. "I have to go to church." I have to go sing." I have to go to a ministry meeting." Psalm 100:2 says, serve the Lord with gladness. The mere fact that you get to serve the mighty God is a testament that says, "I may not have everything that I want, but I have God."

I don't have to serve God. I'm thankful because I am allowed to serve God. I don't have to do anything for God, but He allows me to serve Him. I serve Him with gladness, because I realize that it's a blessing to serve God. The fact that He woke me up this morning makes me glad to serve Him.

Then the scripture says to come before His presence with singing. We should always have a song in our hearts. A song to help you get over what you may be going through.

So, as you enter worship with God , remember you don't have to do it, you are allowed to do it.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Watch Your Wallet

Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the Lord of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ in tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:7-8

I went to church for about six months feeling as if there was a great divide between God and I. I would pray to Him, yet, I was not getting from Him what I thought I should have from serving God. I prayed very hard, asking God, "Why aren't You showing me what I wanted?" Yet, every Sunday, during offering, I would hear the verse mentioned above.

No one ever told me why God asked the question, "Will a man rob God?" So, I began to read it myself and it said that we had gone away from what He told us to do. Verse six says, "I am the Lord, I change not." We left Him, He never left us.

So, God wants you to come back to Him and you want to get back to God. How is the bridge between the two going to be repaired? The Word of God says, give Him what's His.

To rob someone means to take something in their face. When the offering is done during worship, that is God's hand out asking for what belongs to Him. If anyone would rob God, what makes your money safe around them?

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Total Praise

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

I was listening to Total Praise, by Richard Smallwood, and, it has become an anthem for my life. I thought about the words, "You are the source of my strength. You are the strength of my life." The song basically tells us that no matter what we have going on in our lives, we are like the verse, Philippians 4:13. We can do all things through Christ. God is the source of our strength, and the fact that we can do all things is contingent upon us doing things through Christ.
In life, when we deal with problems, we sometimes leave the "through Christ" out. If you have a problem that you can't seem to solve, put Christ back in your problems. Get your strength back! Even if you know how to do some things on your own, you cannot have it complete without Christ, because He is your strength. God knows what He's doing. Allow God to be God. Whatever your problem is, even if you think it's too big, turn it over to Jesus.

So, start your week off by knowing that you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

How to Get from God.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and will heal their land.


Sometimes in life we go through things, not because it's God's design for us to struggle in life, but because God has a way of humbling us. We think what is accepted by society should be accepted by God, but God still deals in what's right and what's wrong. In 2 Chronicles 14, He gives us a guide on how to get from God.

He says if we humble ourselves. This means we shouldn't come to God with the attitude that God owes us something. Yes, God sees the best in us. But, the best in you is still of no value. The Bible says we are all like filthy, dirty rags.

First, we have to humble ourselves, then we have to pray and seek God's face. We think that just because we want something, God automatically knows. His Word says, seek first the kingdom and then your needs will be met. You have to pray to God to get what you're looking for.

Turn from your wicked ways. Some things God can't give us, because He can't trust us with it.

Then, God will hear from heaven and heal the land. Once we humble ourselves, seek His face, turn from wickedness, God will answer our prayers. He will hear us.

So, no matter what you may be dealing with today, know that if we are able to do these things, then we are able to get from God what He has in store for us.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Good Morning

Lamentations 3:22-23

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

This morning I woke up thinking about how most days we deal with the same problems. Sometimes we find ourselves just going to sleep in order to get away from some things; only to wake up to the same problems waving at us the next day, saying good morning.

What do we do when things around seem like they will never change?

When I woke up and saw the same situations staring me in the face, I sat up. And, behind my problems, I saw brand new mercies. I began to ask God, "Why does it seem my problems wake me up?" God said, "Because, that's what you choose to look at."

In the book of Lamentations, it says, "It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed." It has nothing to do with us. It has nothing to do with where we are in life. We have nothing to do with why things have not consumed us. It is of the Lord's mercies.

So, even though you may the same problem looking at you, your problem is getting older. But, every morning, God's mercies are new. Don't complain. Don't compare your problems with someone else's problems. Have peace, joy and understanding in knowing that even if yesterday's mercies didn't defeat the problems, I get new mercies every morning. Don't get frustrated with God, because He keeps sending you new stuff. And, as long as you're fighting old things with new things, you realize that the old things get weaker over time, but new things remain strong.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Judge not

Matthew 7:1-2
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.

God has a way of making everything we try to do seem so insignificant. We always want to judge others. Yet, we pray for forgiveness when it comes to our sins. God says, don't judge other people, forgive them. Give them what you would expect in the same situation.

We are very quick to jump on the bandwagon to ridicule and turn our back on others, when they make mistakes. Yet, there comes a point in our lives when we have to stop and realize that we all have been at a place where we have made mistakes that we thought were unforgivable.

The message today is to show us that every time we felt we couldn't go on, we continued to press our way. We're still here.

So, as you continue throughout your week, know that someone had to forgive you.

Remember, the same measure that you've measured others with will also be used on you. So, maybe we should stop using rulers and yard sticks and start using arms to give forgiving hugs. Give others the same compassion that you have been given.

God is love and, He waits until we die to judge our sin. Yet we as humans we can't wait to find fault in one another.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

But God

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

You will find there will be times in life when people try to get over on you. Or, people will try to push you out of your element. However, this scripture shows us that we all have reached a point in life where we can be the bigger person and say, "I told you so," even though I once was in a place where you tried to triumph over me with your bad thoughts.I shouldn't even have to address that you have done me wrong, simply because the Word says that even though you meant evil, God meant it for good.

So, as you go throughout your day, remember, even though others may have tried to come against you, no weapon formed against you will prosper. Which, basically says two things. 1) Your enemies will never win over you, and 2) There is a promise for all of our problems. The scripture says that no weapon formed against you will prosper. I doesn't say the weapon won't be formed. They just won't win.

The shouting part is, God meant it for good, in order to save many people alive. So, it doesn't just benefit me, it benefits those around me. I didn't let you become the victor over my circumstances, not because of who you are, but, because of Who I know.


DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Lift Your Head Up

Psalm 24:7

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.


I today's time, we have a number of people dealing with low self-esteem. I believe there comes a point in time where God wants us to lift up our heads. We have too much to be proud of, to be happy about. Yet, we spend so much time with our heads bowed.

Sometimes God doesn't come into our situation because we spend too much time with our heads down. The scripture says, "Lift up your head, and be lifted up, ye everlasting doors."

You can't get the king to come in until you are willing to lift your head up.

We spend so much time trying to get God to come to us and to answer our prayer, but I believe I hear God saying that He is willing to do whatever it is, but you must first you must have the faith and do your part. You have to lift your head up and let God come in. You can't see God come in with your head bowed.

Sooner or later, we have to come out of our prayer closets and walk into what it is God has for us. We have to get up and get moving.

So, you want to know how to get God to answer your prayers? Lift your head up. Allow God to come in. Don't simply give Him an invitation. We still have to get up and open the door to welcome Him in.

Wonder why you've been praying the same prayer for over a year? It may not be because God hadn't answered you. It may just be because you haven't gotten up to answer the door.

He stands at the door and knocks. What are you going to do about it? Let us not ignore His knocking so long that He stops.

Lift up your head. And then, the king of glory will come in.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE.

I Can't Have A Bad Day

Psalm 9:1
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.



God has been so good to us. Yet, we sometimes doubt God or worry about the minor details of life, when we have so many undeserved blessings. We allow situations to make us lose our hope and trust in God.
We need to learn to trust God and thank Him for His marvelous works. We should thank Him, even when things are not going the way we want them to. We should thank Him because things have not always been that way. We should appreciate God in the good times and in the bad times because. Even if we are not praising Him for being a victorious God, we should praise Him for being a sustaining God.

So, if you find yourself facing a brick wall, learn to praise God, no matter what's in the front of you. No matter what age or stage you are in life, God is still a marvelous God. Praise Him!

If we busy ourselves praising Him, we can't be busy doubting Him.


DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Getting Pass Your Past

Psalm 1:6
"For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."


This scripture, though often read, now has a totally different meaning to me. It gave me happiness to know that the Lord watches over the paths of the godly, but the ways of the ungodly will perish. I had always believed that this scripture was talking about two different people. However, I feel it is talking about once being ungodly, and transitioning to becoming godly.
God knows the ways of the righteous. Which means, He holds on to the righteous things we do, but the mistakes, the slip ups, the falls, He forgets them; when we repent. Some of the things that we are yet holding on to, God has let them go.
The Lord knows your righteousness. The ungodly things will perish. Don't allow your past to hold you back. Get pass your past.
The very thing you are holding on to, very well may be the thing holding you back. And, it's things that we don't even think about doing anymore. Yet, we hold on to the mistakes from the past. Let those things go. Let those people go.
Allow God to be God.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Only God Can Judge Me

Psalm 1:5
"Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."

If you're going to judged by God, you have to have deeds on both sides to be judged by. If you are an unsaved sinner, you are ungodly. There is no need for God to judge you. You already know the path you have taken. A preacher once said, "I'd rather live as if there is a God, then, die and find out there wasn't; than to live as if there was no God, then, die and find out there is.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. Sinners shouldn't be able to sit around you and remain sinners. Not saying that you have become better than them, but you ought to make them uncomfortable enough to change. There should be something in us that makes them say, "I don't think that I can keep going the way I'm going, because this way isn't working."
Sinners should be able to see us and see that they need to change. Who have you changed lately.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Psalm 1:4

Psalm 1:4

The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

The ungodly are not like the tree planted by the rivers of water. They are like the chaff that the wind blows away. Blessed people a planted. They are solid. Rooted. They have a firm foundation. But, if you don't have a firm foundation in God, you are like the chaff that the wind blows away. So, basically, this scripture is saying, if you are not rooted in God, when things get rough and the winds of life begin to blow, you have nothing to hold on to. Don't allow situations to blow you away from God. We should be able to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Know that God is who He says He is. Don't let problems run you down. The things that made you curse last week, shouldn't make you curse this week. Live above it. Know that God can sustain you like a tree and not a chaff, that allows winds to blow it away. Be strong.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Psalm 1:3

Psalm 1:3

He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Living the blessed life is a goal we all aim for. Not only does it take you out of self, but it takes you to a place of understanding to live above certain situations. The Bible says that you will be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season. It may not be your season to yield forth fruit, but don't fail to appreciate the waters that you're planted by. you're still getting the nourishment. You just aren't able to bear your fruit yet. But, be excited, because God says that in your season, you will bring forth fruit. You might not have it yet, but it's on the way. He also says, your leaf won't wither and whatever you do will prosper.

The difference between a leaf and a fruit is, a leaf shows a sign of life, and fruit shows a sign of prosperity. So, if you're not prospering in this season, thank God that you are alive.

The word says in your season, everything you do will prosper. Everything around you will be blessed. You won't fail, because God has planted you by a source of nutrients. So, even though your fruit may not be here, God isn't allowing your leaves to wither.

We shout about God lifting us up and bring us out, but, sometimes we need to appreciate the fact that He keeps us in the midst of some things. He's a sustaining God, that does more for us than we could ever do for ourselves.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Psalm 1

Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

We've recently talked about what a blessed person doesn't do, but today, we'll talk about what a blessed person does.

His delight is in the law of the Lord. His delight is in the word of God. A blessed persons doesn't have to find time to read the Bible, yet has a set time for television. A blessed persons doesn't have to find time to read the Bible, yet has a set time to go to work. His delight is in the law.

We should have a set time everyday, where we spend time with God and God alone. Not only spending time with Him, but also meditating on His word day and night. You get more accomplished in life by spending time with God. Enjoy His word. If you find yourself having a bad day, you already have your ammunition to help to go further. No weapon formed against you will prosper. The weapon will be formed, it just won't win. You can't have that mentality alone if you aren't prepared for the fight.

Spend time with God and you'll recognize the time that He's already invested in you.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Where Are You?

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful...


This verse tells us exactly what the blessed person would not do. We find ourselves, at times, not living Christ-live, even though we are Christians. The great mind, Gandhi, once said he wanted to be a Christian, but he couldn't find one to pattern his life after.
We get caught up with spiritual side of being saved and we leave out the physical. Where are you standing? Who are you sitting with?
Know where you're blessings come from....blessed is the man that doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Who are you asking for help from? Who are you talking to about bettering yourself? Who gives you advice?
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners......How can you stop someone from doing something when we all have our own sinful situations to deal with? We pray for sinners. We allow them to better themselves. We do not stand in the way of them being who they are, because no one stood in our way.
Then it talks about sitting in the sit of the scornful. We can't always play the victim and be blessed. You can't always be going through something or having a bad day, yet, turn around and say that you're too blessed to be stressed. Sometimes you have to get out of the sit of the scornful.
So, the word for today is basically, live the life that you proclaim you to want to live. Live as if you have a choice on the type of day you want to have. Live blessed and be blessed.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

But without faith

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We've talked all week about having faith and what your faith will give you. To end the faith week, we have to know that without faith, we cannot please God. Do you have enough faith to see yourself in another position? It could be that things are the way they are now because your faith doesn't please God.
He that comes to God must believe in Him. If you're asking for something from God, you have to have enough faith in God to trust that He is who He says He is. You must believe that He is the only one, true and living God. You have to have faith that will take you to a whole new level in life.
Know that GO dis a rewarder to those who dilegently seek Him. You can't be stressed out about things, because you know that you are seeking God's will in your life. Know that all things will work out, because you've turned them over to God and you trust that He will work it out. Watch Him award you.
Do you want to know how to get out of your situation? Grab a hold of your faith and pull yourself out.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

By Faith

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

All this verse is saying is, your faith will keep you when you offer back to God what is due. When you do your part, God will do His. Able offered to God what was required of him, Cain did not. And, even though Cain lived longer than Able, the Bible says, at the end of this verse, "by it he being dead yet speaketh."

When you do what you're supposed to, even if you don't live to see it come to pass in the end, you will still have spoken it into existence...even through your death. So, if you have started this journey with someone and they are no longer with us, hold on to the faith, knowing that God is able to do just what He said He would do.

Don't give up on God, because He has not given up on you. Keep the faith in God. Keep trusting in God.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Speak That Thang

Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.


We have to get to a place in God where, even though what we thought we saw, or where we thought we would be, is not where we are...... we have to speak those things before they get here. Hebrews 11:3 automatically puts us in an example of how to live this life. This world was spoken into existence. It took on things that were not there, because God was willing to speak a word. We always says we're broke. We always say we can't go on. But, until we learn to speak a word....I might be there now, but I'm on my way. Things are getting better. Things are going to work out. I may not have the money now, but I will have it. I will be further along than I am now.

Until you begin to see yourself there, before you get there, you will never know how to get there. You can't leave from your destination at home, not see yourself headed to work, and expect to get there. You have to know how to get where you're going. You may have to pull up directions. Plot out your course.

But, then, before you get there, you need to know what you're looking for. God spoke this world into existence because He knew what He wanted to achieve before He got there. So, know where you're going, before you get there.

Through faith means you have to go through your faith to get to where you're going. Somethings you can only get through faith.

Put your faith on it.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

NOW FAITH

Hebrews 11:2
For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Verse 2 is a continuance of verse 1, which states, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." So, verse 2 is simply saying that we should be able to look back at our parents and grandparents and see the things that were accomplished by their faith. Why did they have so much more than e have and they made so much less than we make? They had faith. We sometimes focus on where we are. Yet, our elders always looked at where they were going to end up.

So, by faith, the elders obtained a good report. This simply instructs us to look at our elders in the faith and see what they were able to do with the things that they had not seem yet. Faith tells me that, even though I can't see it yet, I can hold on to it. And, I have hope, because I'm looking at my elders how were able to accomplish things because of their faith.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

NOW FAITH

Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

This the definition of faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for." In life, we spend so much time thinking on things that don't have much substance, things that don't have any weight to them. It's almost like when eating, somethings will give you the "full" feeling, but it will not sustain you. You find yourself hungry two hours later. But, faith is the substance of things hoped for. Hope is something that you would like achieved. Faith is what gives it its substance. So, hope is the food that makes you feel full, but faith is what sustains you.

To understand faith, you have to understand hope. To understand hope means you have to put yourself in a place where you want more than what you have now. You have to have hope to do better; to want more.

When we feel we can't go any further, hope is what makes you say things can get better. And, faith kicks in to give you peace in the midst of your storm, until things get better. When what you have in your mind is not what you have in your hand....you should then move from hope to faith. When the child you raised calls from prison to say "I'm sorry", your faith should make you say, "Where I am now, is not where I'm going to end up.

Faith gives you peace.

So, throughout your day, find peace while you are yet hoping. Keep your hope alive because you have faith in your God.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Give God the Glory

John 11:40
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

We spend so much time looking and thinking about ourselves, but I would like to step out on a limb and say that what you are going through isn't about you, it's so God can get the glory. The trouble you are facing isn't about you, it's for the people around you to see that God is still good. The question I want to leave with you this weekend is, "Would I want to serve a God like yours if I watched the way you deal with life's issues?"

However, when you walk in victory, even when you look like you are being defeated, people will see that you don't serve God for things, but for who He is.\

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Grow in the Lord

2 Samuel 5:10
"So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him."

Last Sunday afternoon, my great-aunt introduced me to a gentleman at her church. She began to tell him about the time she'd spent with me as a young boy growing up. She told of how she didn't mind investing time in me, because she always knew that I'd grow up to be a great one day. It made me feel so good to know that people thought enough of me to take time out to spend with me.
I began to look back at the things that I used to do, that I don't do anymore.....not because I'm perfect. Remember, being saved doesn't make you sinless, it makes you sin less.
I had to get to a point in life, where I understood that things were not going to always be what I thought they should be. Yet, I really love the fact that just knowing I had people looking out for me.
As I read the scripture above, that speaks of David growing up to do great and God being with him, it made me evaluate myself. It's something about God being with you. Every quarter, every year, we should evaluate ourselves. Are we getting better? Are we becoming greater? Are we still struggling with some of the same spiritual battles we struggled with last year?
Get the lod with you. When you have God with you, you have no choice but to be great.
The challenge for today is; if you haven't found Him....find Him. If you're not walking in greatness, evaluate who's hand you're holding. Holding God's hand will always make you shine brighter than you did the day before. So, get your shine on!


DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

What Are You Looking At?

Psalms 121:1-2
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."


My word for you today is, lift your head up. Stop looking at what's wrong in your life. Look at what's right. People say stop telling God about your problem, tell your problem about your God. But, what I say is, if you realize you have a problem, then that's all you have to do is know it's there. Don't give it much more time than that. Start looking up and tell God how much you love him and thank him. I know the problem may be looking you in the face. Take some time and look up.
How do you deal with life when you wake up and the problem is looking you in the face, saying good morning? You look for your help. Who is your help? Your help is the Lord, because the Word says, "all of my help comes from Him." So, I can't look at you, because I am looking at Him. II know everyone won't get this, because they think you're not doing anything unless you are worrying. Yet, I refuse to worry about how it will work out, because I trust my help.
You ask me why can I keep going and nobody knows what I am going through by simply looking at me? All I can tell you is, I am not looking at that I'm looking at my help. And, the good thing about focusing on your help is that I can only see Him if He sees me. So, we should shout off the fact that God sees us. And, just like a good father, if he knows you are in trouble and he sees you, he has what you need. He will work it out. Therefore, I can't worry, because my Daddy is coming to get me.

The Baptist preacher in my just stood up again, so I'll end with this....."AIN'T HE ALRIGHT"

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Think of His Goodness

Psalm 30:5
" For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning."

These days, we see many things taking place; lose of love ones, lose of love, lose of faith, lose of understanding.... Sometimes, we just need a word to help us go on a little bit further. When depression and suffering seems to fill your day, you feel you take one step forward, only to get knocked two steps back....When you seem to have more month than money....How do you continue to trust God, when it seems everything around you is going bad?
Be encouraged, because we run across a scripture like, Psalm 30:5 that says His anger is only for a moment. His favor is forever. Weeping may endure for a night.
Yes, even in the Bible, it tells us that we can go ahead and weep. But, in the morning, your joy will come.
A good thing I realized about the scripture is, the day and night is not actually talking about sun up and sun down. It's actually talking about the ups and downs going on in your heart.
When I thought of this scripture, it reminded me of the hymn, Think of His Goodness. It says, "When waves of affliction sweep over your soul and sunlight is hidden from view, whenever you're tempted to fret or complain, just think of His goodness to you."
So, whenever you feel depressed, think of His goodness. Whenever you feel lonely, think of His goodness.
So, I leave this thought with you today....you're only a thought away from a good day. No matter how bad things may be in the earthly world, tap into your spiritual world and realize that even though it may be your time, it just might not be your turn. Remember, things have not always been this way. So, take some time out to think of His goodness.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Been there done that

John 8:10-11 NLT "Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?""No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

Don't let your past beat you up. We all have one. It's called the past for a reason, because you should be past wha...tever is back there. I used to think somethings in my past I couldn't get over, but even what happened yesterday is my past and I am overt it.

Today is called the present for a reason. It's a gift from God. So, why would you not take advantage of what you have because of where you have been.

I have learned to tell my problems like the police officer tells you when you are passing a wreck on the road, "Keep it moving."

I don't have time to look back because I am "keeping it moving."

Don't wreck where you are going because you are too busy looking back at where you have been.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Keep Going

Psalms 37:1-4
1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.


There's really nothing let to say here. If you want to know how you can make it, just read these verses. Don't let what's going on stop you, because soon it will all move and change. Think about it, the shape you are in now, you were not in this shape 5 years ago. So, if you see that you are moving either up or down, as long as you are moving, God is still working on your behalf. Keep trusting in God, it will turn around. Even if it's not turning in your favor, as long as God is still turning you, that means you are still in His hand.

We look for earthly blessings, but you should shout because of the fact that He has His hand on you, because if He moves His hand, I don't know where we would be. I'd rather be in the fire with the Lord, than out of the fire without Him. ]\

So, praise Him today, just because He still has His hands on you.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

I Brought my Help

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and i will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

After everything David said in Psalm 23, he ends with "surely". It's simply a confirmation word letting us know that in our life we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death and have enemies, but when it's all said and done, surely goodness and mercy shall follow us. So you want to know why you can't give up and, even if your life isn't what you thought it would be, why have you still been making it, because goodness and mercy has been following you. When others have given up and when you got ready to throw in the towel, them 'boys, goodness and mercy would catch up with you and tell you it'll be ok!

The thing about it is, they don't show up until they are needed. They are following you. And, like a cop following a criminal, they know how to stay out of sight until they are needed. So, when they do show up, it's time to go into action. Not only do they follow you, they have a time limit on how long they can follow you; all the days of your life. Therefore, you can't lose them and they won't give up on you, because they will be with you all the days of your life. Even if you are worried about time after you leave this earth, David says, you will go to another home with no payments, because you will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

So, if life isn't what you thought it would be or should be, then keep living, because after awhile you will be moving up. If you don't have anything to thank Him for today, thank him for the fact that after awhile, when it's all over, I got a house........!!!! (The preacher in me just stood up!)

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

I'm Living in the Overflow

Psalm 23:5

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Where do I start! God prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. God gives you your blessings in the front of your enemies and He is preparing your table before them. So, the blessings God is going to give you are more about your enemies, than about you. Stop praying away your enemies and study His Word because the Word says that God is giving you a table of blessings for you, but in the presence of your enemies.

So, the more enemies you have, the more table God prepares for you. And, the more table He prepares for you, the more blessing you can fit on the table. What God is saying today is, the reason you are catching so much hell and going through what you are going through is because He is fixing your table. And, the more enemies that show up against you, the more blessing He has to lay out for you since they came. So, don’t pray them away, celebrate your enemies, because they’re setting you up for a step up.

Then, after He blesses you in the open, He will anoint your head with oil and your cup will run over. So, not only am I getting blessed after this mess, I am getting an overflow of blessings. I have so much coming to me that I can’t keep it to myself. I am living in the overflow.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

I'm Coming Out of This

Psalm 23:4
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

The first word in this statement is , "Yea." As in , "Yes, I walk through the valley." "Yes, I encounter hard times." But, the psalmist tells us, even though we "walk down the path of righteousness for His names' sake," we still have to go through some valleys. Even though I'm in the valley, I'm not just standing there. I'm walking through it. So, remember, as long as you're walking through something, you're on your way out of it.
A valley can only be a valley if it's covered by two mountaintops. So, for every one valley you encounter, you will also come across two mountaintops. Notice it says, "the valley of the shadow of death." Never forget, where there is a shadow, there is light. So, we should never be afraid because, God (our light) is with us.

His rod and staff are there to comfort us. The rod is for punishment and the staff is for correction. So, the Word is saying God is there with us. He uses the rod of punishment when we sin, and the staff of correction (the has a hook on it) to bring us back to where we are supposed to be. So, never worry that you're alone in what you are going through. God is with you. His rod and staff comfort you.

Find comfort in knowing that while God is correcting you or while you're going through, God is still there with you. So, while He may have His hand on you to punish you, take comfort in the fact that He has His hand on you.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

Walking With God

Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

To be restored, you had to have lost something. A well person doesn't need a physician, but when you are sick with sin, you give yourself to God and He will restore your soul. He will give you back what you have lost over time. Not only will God restore you, He will guide you. The scripture says, “He leadeth me”. It’s nothing like God holding your hand after He has helped you. Sometimes we try to get what we want from God, but we never hold out our hand to be lead by God.

Again, not only does He lead us, but He takes us down “the path of righteousness”. He won’t just take you anywhere, He takes you down the path of righteousness.
Now, while walking down this path, you will not always like what you run into. And, because you are human, you will fall off the path. However, if God is leading you, then you will always be able to follow him.

Where he takes us is not only for us, but it's for “His name sake”. Sometimes we get caught up with things in life, simply because we're caught up in ourselves. Yet, lives are changed in His name and for His name sake.

So, remember everything you're losing, you will get back. God will hold your hand and take you step by step down the right path.When you are better and whole, people will be saved by looking at you. But, don't forget, it’s for His name sake!

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE

The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

As I read this, God told me that this verse wasn’t as much about Him, as it is about us. There will be things that we will not have, that we could use, but the fact is that we should have no wants because of our Shepard. It’s like the congregational song, “I will trust in the Lord”. That’s not about Him, that’s about us. You have to trust Him to do what you don’t see Him doing. Remember, there’s a time limit on the trust...it says, "until I die". So, I can’t stop trusting God to do what He said He would do, because His time isn’t up. Whatever you are dealing with today, and feel like you want everything better, find peace in the fact that God's time isn’t up.

God doesn’t wear a watch, neither is He not worried about time. So, when things work out for you, it wont' be because of what you've done, but because of who is your Shepherd.

DAILY LOVE FROM HIM ABOVE