A Promise Made Is A Promise Kept

A promise with no vision of the future is not a promise.
It is just empty and vain words.
It is just saying words that sound good coming from your lips. (people do that you know)
Before you make a promise you should think about the future of that promise. Do not just jump in because you are feeling good. Say if you need more time. Consider also if you are being coerced to be imprisoned by your own words.

Growing up in my small town,the words, "I promise" became a non effective promise. You would hear the words "I swear to God" to make it have some weight. Some would go further and say, "I swear on my mother's grave". It was saying, I promise with all that I am and all that is dear to me, including let my mother die if I'm not telling the truth. Probably it was a little strong for a kid to say that then, but sometimes the other person would demand it.
Maybe thirty years before that people would ask, do you promise? And the other person would say, "my word is my bond". And they would shake hands and go about their way.
Bishop Charles Henry Taliefero told me years ago, should a man formally proposed to a woman, he could not back out of the marriage promise. If he did, his name was mud wherever he went from that time on. One of the disciplinary actions he received was, he could not ever marry until he straightened it out with the formally intended. In a small sense he wore the scarlet letter.

A promise could not be empty or vain words.
In present times, promises seem to carry no weight at all.
Seems like anyone can default on a promise now. It's just defaulting. When a person says I'll be at a certain place at a certain time, and arrives late he or she has broken their promise.
Sure, there are extenuating circumstances.
Nevertheless if you have it in your power to do what you promised then you must do it. You must do it with all of your might. It must be the primary thing.
Don't make a promise if you can't keep it. Or put a provision of extenuating circumstances in it.
The older church people in the day when I was young would say, "if the Lord wills", or "if the Lord says the same".

It is very important that we keep our word.
God always kept his word. Whatever he said, he did it. Whatever he spoke he brought it to pass. The promise that he would redeem the world from the fall of Adam. There is not a promise that God has spoken that he did or will not fulfill. In fact, word of promise that he spoke to others, his word is so strong that we can also stand on those words for ourselves. If we can find it in the word, we can apply it to our own situation. God's word goes out of his mouth and it does not return to him empty handed. God's word is held responsible by God himself. When God speaks everything of substance and none substance must obey. Which says his word is ever creative. It goes out and and accomplishes what it is sent to do. This is always an expectation and a demand for it to accomplish. This is the reason faith works. It is based upon the accomplishing word of God.

When reading the word of promise we must keep in mind not to just accent to it but to believe it because God the creator of all things spoke it outright or by the agency of a human being. Just as he said let there be and it was. The same word is a promise kept. Creative and promissory. It is continual. It stands on its own merits. It is the word of the only wise God.

In Regards To Micah David

I read a post on Facebook and I began to cry. A father loss his newborn of 14 days. He talked about this baby having to go through more struggles in 14 days of life, than many adults have to go through in years. He said if you see him and his wife tear up, know that they are not upset, but rejoicing. He said, we miss our son, but more  importantly, we trust God, for he cares for us and will bear our pain.
I don't know what it is to lose a son, but I do know what it is to stand in prayer for a family.
I wrote a little verse in regard to this circumstance.

Who Can?

Who can joy in these seasons?
Who can rejoice in these times?

Only those who have committed their cares to God.
Only those who trust in him when life is hard.

 

Who can trust God in these seasons?
Who can trust in God in these times?

Only those who can see beyond today's substance and plight.
Only those who give God their affairs and take on his might.

 

Who can love God in these seasons?
Who can love God in these times?

Only those who know that God has a  plan, and awaits his voice
Only those who with out a doubt let God fill their void

Many hearts cry out in bitter sadness.
Some will just sit and just wonder, why?

If we keep our minds stayed on him
he will give us peace, and peace of mind

 

Micah David McClendon, you appeared here on earth for a short while.
Now you are resting in the Savior's arms. And that brings peace to our smile.

Thank you Lord...

We will never forget his life.
We honor what God has done.

We will carry Micah David in our hearts.
We will always love our dear Son.

 

Who can give their son back to God?

Only those who can rejoice in, trust and love the Lord who gave life!

A Song In The Night

Several years ago, I listened to Sister Pearl Rutledge's testimony. She said, the the Lord was waking her up in the middle of the night. She would sit up in her bed and start singing to the Lord. She said it became a love serenade to him . She was singing to the lover of her soul. She became enraptured in honoring him on a nightly basis.
As many others that heard her testimony was intrigued by this simplicity, yet utter profoundness. Instead of a prayer of give me this or that,  it was ministry to the Lord. The church gave her strict attention. This was a welcomed testimony.
That really gave me something to think about and I've thought about it many times since. So much so that it made me modify my approach to God. The implications are astounding to me. Could God be going about the earth looking for worshippers. Those that would minister to him.
To hear what I believe was a message to the church, It was like listening to a whisper. It is intended for only the ears it is intended for. You know, like the word says, He that hath an ear, let him hear. It is important to your life. It is a treasure not just given to singers, but to those who will minister to the Lord in the quiet of night seasons.
This approach to God has always changed the focus from me to him.
There is always a song in my heart.
There is always  a praise on my lips.
I will aways worship my God and King.
He continually teaches me how to break forth with a song in the night.
Many times when I could not pray in the 3 o'clock a.m. hour, I  could lift my hands, lift my heart,  and lift my voice to the Lord. I made a melody and added words of worship. None of the words rhymed but they all made sense. As a songwriter I write songs all the time. But these songs are for God and God alone. They belong to him.
A song in the night!!!

Spirit Walk

He leads me beside the still waters...
He leads me in righteous paths...
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...
You are with me..

Just suppose for a moment that God knew that there would be times in life where we could not see the way ahead. And he would be there to navigate us though those times.
Just suppose for a moment that he would allow us to hold his hand and lean on him along the way of life.
Just suppose for a moment that he had made the journey long before we did and came back to make it with us.
Just suppose he knew that we would not be perfect in any sense of the word. Just suppose he knew we would have issues, problems, idiosyncrasies, mood swings, and tempers. If he knew that we would act like a child sometimes.
Just suppose he would not only walk with us but, he would put his Spirit in us to speak to us inwardly. Even to speak to our thoughts.
Just suppose he would guide our every step accurately, as we are making them in the same place he stepped before.
Just suppose he would shield us from every attack of the enemy. If we became wounded he would heal us.
What then if he would take us face to face with the enemy. Then he would not fight the enemy but prepare a feast.
Just suppose he would let everyone there know that we are the blessed of God. And blessed us in front of them.
Just suppose he knew there would be times that we couldn't go any farther and he would pick us up and carried us the rest of the way.
Just suppose in some of our greatest trials we had to carry others. In our greatest times of testing that we had to love and pray for the ones who have done us wrong.
Just suppose that when we reach old age or our time of transition  he is with with us even more so.
Just suppose that when we breathe our last breath he breathes it with us into eternity. Just suppose when we get to our heavenly destination, God shows us how through every step of the way how he brought us through every situation.
Just suppose...
Our spiritual walk is a walk with God,
Where we walk by faith and not by sight. It is a walk whereby we must take him at his word. We must trust all that he says when we can not see or understand it.

Precious are the times we spend in his presence learning who he is.
Precious are the times that we get to know him by trusting what he says.
Precious are the times when he shows us we need his power to sustain us
Precious is the time when we will dwell with him forever.
Don't give up my friend, keep walking with the Lord.

Gasping For Breath

After being married for a number of years I found my self in the midst of a divorce. I didn't believe in divorce, I didn't want a divorce, but a divorce was eminent. I loved my wife with all that I was as a man.  She was young and beautiful and she enjoyed  many of the things I enjoyed . However, I began noticing a growing discomfort in her. Although we got along well, there was something bothering her deeply. The more I inquired, the more she withdrew. So I decided to just love her.
After being in a relationship for a while, there are things that you begin to notice about your mate.  Not so much good or bad, just little subtle things such as sighs, stares, or tensing up. If you love your mate, it hurts you as it does them. Some mates will become angry and escalate their problem, or some will observe and wait for an open door.
I had to be observant because I knew,  "every open door was not open to me, and every locked door was not locked always.
After a while she told me she wanted a divorce. I felt my breath leave me again, as if someone had cut off my lifeline.  I could not breathe anymore. I was gasping for the breath, for which I knew as love.
All of the time, energy, and effort that we put into our relationship; We have children together; We have one on the way; What happened, I asked for three days? She was very reluctant to tell me. On the fourth day she said she was in counsel with the  pastor of our church. He told her she needed to drop the loser, referring to me. He told her that I was a devil and I could never bring her happiness.
I knew for sure that I was dead. I was like a fish belly up in the water. Surely I could not breathe. Again, I was left gasping for breath.
Have you ever swam before? Have you ever gotten water in your mouth whereas you couldn't breathe?  Have you ever gotten hit in your stomach so hard, whereas it takes your breath away?
Have you ever had an asthma attack whereas you couldn't breathe. These things remind me of how I felt. No I wasn't feeling it physically, but I was feeling it emotionally. Cut off from what I know as breath and life.
I wanted to do something evil to the pastor who was tearing my marriage into pieces. I wanted to exact vengeance upon him. He was lying to my wife. He was playing games with my loved one. He was destroying the only thing in life that meant something to me. Later I found out it was because he couldn't control my musical artistry. Later, I was surprised when I found out how rampant this was in some churches. I prayed and asked God what should I do? I prayed and told him how I felt about everything.
In my spirit, I felt led to pray for the man who had strayed from the mandates of God's words and had entered into an area of deception, self-deception.
Gasping for air, I had to make the choice of death or life. Death, was to choose to have vengeance; To go after the man that was destroying everything that I had built up. To seek revenge was to destroy myself from the inside out. I knew that I was loosing the external fight. I could not win because my wife told me she had to obey what the pastor said. She said if she didn't obey him her soul could be in danger of hell. Wow, talking about a sinking ship.
Life for me, was to die to myself. I begin to pray very hard for the man that would destroy my marriage. I took the order of praying for his success. Praying for this thing was very hard for me at first. How do I pray for someone who is destroying my life right before my eyes. I had to be be obedient to the Spirit.
The distance between my wife and I began to grow farther apart. We continued to have some good times also. In my mind, I was making the wrong choice, because the pastor would taunt me every time he saw me in public. His remedy for me was to stand before the church and apologize to him for disrupting the order of his service. Furthermore, he wanted me to sit in silence in punishment every Sunday as a spectacle for all to see. Someone else in the congregation suggested that I just tuck in my tail like a defeated dog and take the punishment. I decided against that.
I was given the order to pray for his success. I was so driven, that every time I saw him I would shake his hand and bless him, even to the surprise or some of the church elders. I would enquire about his wife that was now sick. Now his wife was dying. Now I had to pray for her  even more fervently.
I just prayed all the the for him and his family. In fact the only thing that gave me breath was to continue in earnest prayer for him. I couldn't just pray empty words. The Lord wouldn't allow that to happen for me.
God began to resuscitate me through my prayer life. I was able to breathe again. No I didn't have my marriage, but I could live again. My children were now living 700 miles away. God was breathing in me as well as breathing in them. I still had a friendship with my kids mother.
For the point I begin praying, my prayer life began to increase. When the word says pray for those that despitefully use you and to pray for your enemy,  he blesses your life. He opens the portals of heaven to you. I now breathe with the life he breathes in me.

The Reason I Pray

There is not anything known to me beyond my scope of sight.
Beyond my reasoning I can not understand anything.
Five senses joined with the knowledge that I have obtained, is limited to only my vision, education, and experience.
Tomorrow can be measured from some events of today and yesterday, yet the complete picture is fragmented.
I question the soundness of those who depend on the limited resources of mortal prophecies based on conjecture.
In the night when all  is obscured by the cover of darkness, there is someone who sees and knows all.
Sight beyond sight
Vision beyond vision
Knowledge beyond understanding
Knowledge of present, past & future
Intimate with the depths of my being
knowledge of my true beginning
Knowledge of my mortal end
Present at my first and last breath
Is the supreme being we call God.
He is concerned about every aspect of my life.
He wants relationship with me now.
He wants me to have peace in the time of trouble.
He wants me to communicate with him in every aspect along the way.
I pray to remain actively join to him because he is my source of life.

Who Is Temptation

Who is temptation?

Why does temptation come to my dwelling? Is it the way I look or act? Is it because he wants to make me his slave?
Someone once wrote, if you dance with temptation, you will soon find yourself alone.
I see many temptations come into the life of the Christian. Personalities from the enemy of God bring them our way . They come to separate you from the love of God. They come the separate you from your faith in God. They come to take your peace. They come to separate you from your place in God. They come to separate you from the blessings that God has given you.
They offer you the world and all of it's  treasures and give you nothing at all. They show you the kingdoms of the world and how they can be yours, and you receive lies for promises.
Temptation is like a table spread of sweets and candies, it looks good, it tastes good, but it will give you a belly ache after you're finished with it. It has no real substance. It is void of nutrients.
Temptation is very satisfying to the eyes, and the pleasure is just for a moment. But after all is said and done you are left empty.

In relationships, there will always be someone more attractive. It is the way it works. You have to make up in your mind that you are set for life no matter what comes your way.
To hear people talk you would think that they are blind to see what is really going on.
Temptation has his way of presenting something that is very pleasing to the eyes  to convince you that you are bound to the old.

I had a friend who played around on his wife. One day he fell in love with his wife after he found out the affair  wasn't real, only to find out that she had an affair to pay him back. It crushed him so bad he cried for weeks. He gained about 70 pounds. He didn't know what to do. He began wasting away. He then called one of the other girls he had fooled around to apologize for the pain he has caused her. She was grateful that he called to bring closure to it. She asked him, it hurts doesn't it? He began to cry again. She forgave him and asked him would he ever cheat again?  He assured her that he had learned  the lesson of lessons.
To this day he has never cheated.
All of that from temptation.

Temptation will make you think that you are in love with the outside person.
Temptation will make you think that what you have at home was a mistake.
Temptation will blind you to truth until it is ready to crush you.
Temptation never plays fare.
Yield not to temptation!

Because She Prayed For Us

We were young when my mother laid her hands on my brother and I every night, praying for our protection and welfare. It was to get us through our lifetime. Her mantra was,  "prayer brings life".
During our formative years, our formal schooling happened during the day,  and our spiritual training during the night. My brother and I was in Church nearly every night. My, If church was going on, we were going to be there. My parents believed this fulfilled the scripture "train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart".
One of the best things about going to church then was stopping at the hamburger joints on the way home.
Sometimes we were in church "8 days a week". My parents were not satisfied with us just being in church, but we had to participate. We had to sing in the choir. We had to play the musical instruments. We had to clap our hands during the singing. We had to say speeches when it was asked of us. Whatever was going on, we had to be a part of it.
When we would get home, straight to bed we would go. Sleep was immediate. The next sound we hear was not waking us up for school. It would be my mother laboring in prayer for people everywhere. The sound would get closer until we felt our mother's hands on our foreheads anointing us with oil and praying for us with all fervor and tears. As if, she was trying to pour life into my brother and I. She would pray and bless us. She wanted her children to be more. She wanted us to be representatives or ambassadors of God in the church. She wanted our lives to be  as servants in the house of God.
They committed our lives to the service of the Lord.
Into your hands we commit the lives of our children for your service. We give them back to you as you have given them to us. Use them in your service, dear God. Protect them and keep them as you did Samuel, Josiah, even Jesus.
The committal was unto the Lord. It was a very serious. It was like marriage vows.
I remember watching the TV mini-series "Roots" where Kunta Kentae raised Kizzy to the sky and said, "behold the only thing greater than yourself". I realized at that time how important their committing our lives to the Lord.
About six years ago I had the privilege and honor of committing and dedicating my children to the Lord. I blessed them. I knew at that time it would be a long time before I would see them again.
I laid my hands on them and blessed them as I have seen it done. I ask God to allow their talents to take them before Kings.
Because my mother prayed for us, we have been kept by God. I noticed that my children started excelling in school and were given high honors. Thank you Mom for responding to the Spirit of  God.

And Salvation Came

We all know the the story of when the flood came. And the people of the house went to the rooftop. Rescuers came by in a boat and ask the people to get in and go to safety. And the people said we are "waiting on God". Rescuers came by in a helicopter and ask people to get him to go to safety, and the people said we are "waiting on God". Then came the floods and destroyed the house and wiped out all the people.
Now standing before God,  the people ask God, why did you not save us?

God responded, Why did you not get in when I sent you the boat?

Why did you not get in when I sent the helicopter?

The moral to the story is: when God sends Salvation it is not always the way we believe it will come.
If salvation was a man,he would look like nobody we know. He would act like nobody we know. He would talk like nobody we know. He would speak the language of good deeds. He would teach the lesson of helping others. He would demonstrate all that he is, by doing what he taught. He's example would be so strong that he would die for what he believed. He would also take your place in a wrongful deed committed against you.

Yes, Savation is a man and he wants to rescue us from all of our troubles. He wants to save of from utter destruction. Savation wants to deliver us from sickness and disease.He was willing to die for you and I. Salvation's Name is Jesus.

Faith That Hears

Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Just suppose for a moment faith was a man. Faith would not speak to you unless you spoke the Word of God.
Just suppose for a moment you had to communicate with him to get things done. Would you speak the thoughts your mind, or would you speak the word of Scripture? I submit to you that you would have to speak the word of Scripture.

The language of faith is the word of God. And the language of God is the Word of Faith. You don't have one without the other.

In order for you to be saved you must have faith.

In order for you to be healed you must have faith.

In order for you to be delivered you must have faith. Not only must you have faith but you must speak the language of faith.

Fear is an enemy to Faith
Faith does not speak fear.

Faith does not receive fear .

Faith does not walk in the same path. In fact, faith destroys fear.

Sadly, fear is sometimes easier to believe in faith. Fear will present an evidence so compelling, that if you're not careful you will believe its story. Fear is, false evidence appearing real. Fear is a a deceiver and an impostor. Faith will not show you any evidence. In fact, faith, tells you to look to the word of God and take God at his word. Faith will tell you to fill yourself with the word of God. Faith demands that you believe that God is, an he rewards of those that diligently seek Him. Faith demands that you put away the words of doubt and unbelief. Doubt and unbelief are stoppers of getting things accomplished in God. God was pleased with and rewarded every man who took a hold of faith.
Faith always points you to God and to take confidence in what God says. Faith always ask you to recite and declare God's Word. Faith will always ask you to believe no matter what you see hear or feel.

If faith was a man, he probably wouldn't get along with religious folks. Religious folks have a way of holding on to their superstitions. They have a way of holding on to their dogmas and doctrines. Religious folks rather follow their traditions and  rituals. And will challenge you by saying these things have worked for years and they will work now.

I was told that none religious people can sometimes receive from God more quickly that church folks because they will believe and speak the language of faith. Hmmm.

If faith was a man would you be well acquainted with him or would he be a stranger?
Are you listening to the call of faith? Are you understanding his words. Do you know the difference between faith and empty words.

Hold on my brother, hold on my sister to the word that God has given you. Hold on to his word of promise. He has promised to work it out for you and he will. He is not slack concerning his promise!

Prayer That Listens

Prayer that Listens

There are so many voices in the world. There are so many voices we allow  in our minds, but there is one voice of heaven that speaks to our spirit. In the stillness of prayer, not prayer of just asking, but prayer of listening also. Listening for the voice of God to speak to us, to give us direction, to give us focus, to give us clarity. Not by imagination, or wishful thinking, but to actually hear God speak in our spirit. Not too many people will like listening prayer, because it takes determination to stay in one place and just listen.
Learning to differentiate the voice God vs the voice of the imagination is key to listening prayer. If you are not careful and really listen, the mind will play tricks on you. You must learn the difference between the voices. The voice of God will speak from his word. The voice of the imagination will only speak to profit your flesh.

Many times, God will give directions. Have you ever been in your car traveling, and that still small voice says, to go,or not  to go a certain direction? You hear it, but ignore it. Down the road something happens. You say to yourself, if I had only listened to my first mind. It was not your first mind that was speaking. It was the Spirit of God trying to warn you. Some may say, that doesn't make sense. God doesn't speak to you like that! But more times than one, when you take heed to that voice, you remain safe, and you prosper.

An effective prayer begins by praying the Word of God. You shouldn't empty your mind of thoughts, but you must fill you're mind with the word of God. You must keep your imagination in check. In other words, say to yourself I'm not going to listen to my own thoughts, but I seek to hear only the word of God. If you have to, close your eyes in order to shut everything else out. If you have to cover your eyes or your face with a cloth.  You must concentrate on, focus on, God alone.
When performing the other types of prayer you concentrate on what you're asking God for. You either have a Christmas wish list, or a laundry list to present before the Lord. You begin that type of prayer at a disadvantage. It is prayer that seeks self-willed desires. It more or less tells God to be your butler or servant. Give me, bring me, let me have, I want, my desire, my need, I give you Lord. The one exception is when one is praying the word.

Many will spend their time on their knees praying and at the end of the prayer say, thy will be done. Yet you have just prayed your whole will, but at the end you say that thy will be done. Where was God's will in the beginning of your prayer? Were you just hoping that he would see past your desires? Were you just hoping he would just understand your humanity? God will speak to you. With all certainty he will answer your prayer, but what does God want for your life? What is his will? What is his determination? What is his desire?

... I don't know, you say ! Exactly!

I am NOT saying asking is not praying. The etymology of the word pray is to ask.
You must know the prayers also a conversation between you and God. And what I am saying is that in a conversation, one speaks, one listens and there is an exchange.  And if you are not listening can you not hearing his answers for you.  I've learned that prayer posters you in a position of battle or thanksgiving also. I've learned a prayer calls you into action. What kind of relationship do you have if you are doing all the talking? What kind of relationship do you have when it's all about you? What kind of relationship do you have when you're doing all the leading? Relationship is two-way, but God must lead.

Just a short time ago, I became very afraid, because I couldn't hear the voice of God. I have been used to listening and hearing God speak to me in the morning. Long before the sunrise, God has given me the course of the day. But I wasn't getting that anymore. I couldn't hear the thing that was so dear to me, the voice of God speaking to his servant. Going from one point of the day to the other not hearing from God. I had to turn to this word, the written word. It is my source of consolation. Yes I heard his voice through His Word. Yes I understood his love for me. I had grown accustom to hearing him speak to me in the morning. After spending time with him in his word, I begin to hear his voice again. I let him take lead. Glory hallelujah!!!

I encourage all that read this blog to practice listening to God. I encourage you to listen to his voice and differentiate the voice of your imagination. Seek to know his will first. Seek to understand his love for you. Know that he is not going to allow anything to happen to you. He loves you that much. It may seem like you're futile activity because you were used to fill in the air with your voice. Keep on listening it will pay off.

The Struggle

The spouse fight, what does it look like to those that are on the outside looking in or those who are on inside involved in, the struggle. To say the least, it is an embarrassing moment. It is not what you dreamed of on your wedding day.
I hate fights between couples.  It is just too much. Some say it matures a couple, but it is just too much for me. The thrill is gone or the honeymoon is over. Those terms are terms that really cast great dispersions on marriage. Yes we all understand the classic power struggle, but fighting  should not be named among  those who are in the church, especially to those who are "saved". Where is the yielding to God? Where is the understanding that God be in every aspect of the marriage? What trouble is there if you have the understanding that God is first?; Prayer is the first consultant of the marriage, but  many people go right past the God thing.
She hurt my feelings or he hurt my feelings are the excuses used to justify a position or stance. I have seen marriages broken over careless words, and like a thrown stone, they can't be taken back. Ten, twenty or thirty years of marriage broken because of careless words. Words that would not be uttered, but someone musters the courage to say something that shouldn't be said. If Jesus was standing there and knew the thoughts of the heart and you were were aware he knew them perhaps you would repent for even thinking them. 
There are things that even best friends should not say to each other. Maybe that is an issue also, the couple failed to become friends in the relationship, let alone best friends. Perhaps the line in the marriage vows that states forsaking all others. We have perhaps failed to make each other number one.
Our struggle is God's struggle. I am NOT saying that conflicts don't happen in marriage , they do. But to fight, what is the purpose? God did not call us to fight. He called us into love  and love is not fighting.
I'm going to get my way I'm going to do my own thing, marriage is about me anyway. You marry me for better or for worse. Certain things should just not be.
It makes you wonder why did you get married in the first place. Did you hide your real feelings in courtship? Were you masking you really were? The big question, are you faking it with God also? Maybe you were naive concerning marriage and relationships. Maybe you married him or her because you look good together.
Well you don't look good now. Like I said in the beginning, this is very embarrassing to the vows you made on your wedding day!