"Dear God, Thank You!"

Dear God,

I know we talk every day, and you already know what I am about to say, but it still needs to be said.  Thank You.  

Thank You for loving me, for keeping me when I wasn't sure I could be, or wanted to be kept.  Thank You for saving me early enough that I didn't have time to get involved in things that could mar me for life.  Thank You for all the people over the years that have given me insight, direction, rebuke and mercy.  

Thank You for my family and for the genuine love we have for each other even though we are so different.  Not only did you bless me with good parents, you also blessed me with good sound siblings.  Each one gifted and valuable in their own way.  Thank You for blessing them through all that they deal with from day to day, You have been there, and You have been good to them.

You blessed me with a godly husband and a ready made family of inherited daughters that have grown into their own, and even though the marriage is over, You still have allowed all of our kids to be at peace and connected with both of us.  Thank You for that, I know how important it is for kids to honor their parents, thank You for helping us to not make it difficult for them.  Thank You for keeping them and their families over the years, and for drawing them closer to You.

I also thank You for my biological kids!  They are both unique and a complete combo of both me and their father.  Thank You for the good qualities on both sides that they can pull from. You continue to watch over them and I thank You for that.  You have great plans for them and I look forward to seeing their lives grow closer as they grow older. 

Lord, I also thank You for my health, I love my age!  Especially when I realize that I don't feel it.  I thank You for my ministry, for vision and my purpose. You have designed me intentionally, and I pray that I will glorify You and You alone as I walk in all that You have called me to do.  

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and the end of this year, I know You are accustomed to us praying and asking for things, and truthfully, I too will be talking to You about the coming year, but if 2020 never got here, I want a personal record of appreciating You for right now!  You are great, and greatly to be praised, and I really do love living this life with YOU!

     

With a thankful heart, 

Me

"The Lottery! Why Win?"

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you won the lottery?  Tell the truth!   Well, I have.  That question has been answered by many when I ask them about their purpose- it was my attempt to find out where their heart was and what needs they would meet. Often, most answers sounded much like this….

“If I won the lottery, I wouldn’t tell anyone!  First, I would quit my job,  pay off student loans, bills, buy a house and get a new car.  Then I would set up an account for my kids towards college and beyond, bless my parents and rest of my family, (a onetime donation so they don’t come back)   I would invest and set aside for some charities and pay my tithes.”  

A LOTTO ISSUES!

Many believe that playing the lottery is wrong but play it anyway.  We have heard that it shows a lack of faith in God, and it's a waste of money.   We do have scripture that tell us not to “trust in uncertain riches” we have heard that “the love of money is the root to all evil” scripture tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and not lean on your own understanding”  and finally “God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus”.  All of this is true, but does it really speak against playing the lottery? 

Truth be told, we have more issues when it comes to our finances and playing the lottery is not one of them. We may not play it, but we may still cheat on our taxes, borrow money and don’t pay it back, we are in debt, lack discipline, we may be living month to month and have no savings.  We don’t tithe or give to the work of ministry, and we are not good stewards of the 100% we keep any more than some of us are good stewards of the 90%.  We skip church to get more hours  to “make more money” and often put our personal desires before God’s.  So, let’s be honest… The lottery is not our problem. 

IMAGINE WINNING!

What if you played and won?   What if you took the money you would spend on an unnecessary cup of coffee or donuts and played?  What if you put a plan together just in case you won?  The bible tells us that the “Wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just”.  What if playing and winning allowed you to expand the kingdom of God and do ministry on a grand level?  WOW! Imagine what we could do for the kingdom of God!  The apartment complex you could buy to house homeless instead of just praying they are warm when it is below freezing outside. You could create jobs for some who help run it .  You could offer life skill training, job fairs and help them get on their feet.    Think of the community center you could buy or build for youth.  Offering them tutoring, training and mentoring.  Imagine that.  My thought includes help for foster kids!  

I recently read about a man who took his over 50 million lotto win and brought a black business community back to life.  Another person built homes for homeless people, and another opened schools in a community that was hurting.  I love the thought of what can be done in this world and in our communities- but it takes money.  Money is not the root of all evil, the LOVE of it is.  If you love people more than you love money, imagine what you could do.  Scripture says that "money answers all things"  Money should be used to answer greater needs than just those of the person who has it. 

  

I love what Tyler Perry has done in Georgia, most of us would not have made that kind of money in our lifetime!  I am not trying to get you to play the lottery, but next time you hit an alter believing God for a million dollars, or pray for God to bless you with finances beyond what you ask or think.... understand that God is not wasteful, nor will He bless selfish desires.  God is purposeful and looks at the big picture, which includes drawing people to Him. What better way to draw others than to meet a real need.   If you are a Christian lotto player, or just a Christian, don't think small. Your needs, your family are too small a goal alone for God- there is a world out there that has a need that can be met at the same time yours are.    It pays to have a plan that is bigger than just getting out of debt and living large.  Think about the great opportunity to change something much bigger than YOU!  If you were announced as a mega winner, what need would your newfound money answer?

We should think outside our selves-  when we do that, more than just one person wins!

QUESTION ..."Love God, or Love Me?"

 

I was driving in Houston’s rare cold weather with my radio on and I heard the announcer ask an interesting question… “Would you be more upset if your Children didn’t love God, or if they didn’t love you?"  I am not sure where that question came from, but of course it made me think!  As traffic would have it, I reached my destination before hearing the conclusion, but I am sure you are answering the question in your mind right now, much like I did!  Here is where my mind went....

  

LOVING ME!

As a parent, it is unnerving to watch a movie or sitcom with an emotional child, looking at their parents  in a fit of anger as they yell “I HATE you!”   We have all seen it, and understand the devastation that is being depicted. Our hope is that it never happens to us- some of us vowing it it better not!  As parents, we want our kids to love us, we sacrifice for their good, we adjust our lives and schedules to ensure they are well, and we make life decisions with them in mind.  Sometimes we even put our plans on hold to see that their needs are met.  The LAST thing we want or expect is to be hated.   Sometimes in our attempt to get someone to love us it changes how we respond to them, and we may go outside the things we would normally do to secure that love.   As parents we can often go overboard to get our children’s love- something that should come natural. But when they reach the age (very early) where the word "NO" is introduced, things begin to feel funny.   We put up with nasty attitudes, disrespect and fits of anger.  We allow them to own things,  and do things that  are outside their ability to manage.  We don’t want to be the parent that kids hate, the house none of their friends want to enter.  Some parents end up allowing their children to break the law as long as it is in their house- but it starts habits they may never escape- all in the name of being loved. We may be inclined to attempt to ‘befriend’ our toddlers, and elementary age kids before they bloom into teenagers.  Something is wrong with that kind of parenting.  True parenting often realized that your kids may go through a phase where they don't like you, but if raised right, they eventually understand the sacrifice you made for them.  I would rather die not sure of  a child's love, rather than to live hating that I didn't have the guts to say "NO". 

   

LOVING GOD!

If I had a choice of them loving me or loving God, I would choose God.  First because His benefits last much longer than mine! If I truly love my children, I need them to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him.  If they do that, LONG after I am gone off this earth, I have invested something in them that will still be alive.  See Loving God will not only help them to live better, it will help them to love me too.  When you capture genuine love, AGAPE love,  you are holding something that is so valuable that it affects what you do.  Just like we said earlier, “Sometimes in our attempt to get someone to love us it changes how we respond to them, and we may go outside the things we would normally do to secure that love.”  And that is what God did for us, and for our children.  He left a place of glory in the form of His Son,  and came down to this earth because He loved us so.  He did something He didn’t have to do and had never done before... He died; Deity died for all creation. He drew us with loving kindness and tender mercies.   He proved His love for us, showed us His love to us, so that we in turn would love Him.  That's what any good parent does, we sacrifice...

LOVE GOD MORE!

So if I had a choice, (which I kind of do) I want my kids to love God more than they love me.  In doing that God will show them how to love others, and  how to appreciate all the things done to bring about that love to them- even the love you bring. So, don't be discouraged if your child is going through a difficult stage.  Maybe they are not appreciating you, or they are not seeming to connect with why you keep them in children's church or youth services.  They may be upset that you keep pointing them to God.  Keep introducing them to Him.  A relationship with God will help them to appreciate your sacrifices more, the long days, the late nights and the overall concern you have for them.  The older they get, the more it annoys them, but don't give up.  See if  they don't seem to love you, keep giving them Jesus.    

See benefits of  loving you may last for as long as you both shall live, 

But loving God will last into eternity! 

"Avoiding Scams- The 'Church' Version"

 

It is not strange on any given day to hear about a new SCAM.  Whether is deals with someone pretending to be sick in order to get donations, someone getting donations and never distributing them properly, or phone calls demanding payment for things not owed to the caller.  We also hear often about 'homeless' people who leave the roadside and go back to homes and nice cars. It is so common place that the thought of being fooled by a scam drives us!  None of us wants to be a victim, but there are so many out there who prey on innocent, unsuspecting people.

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you ahead of time. "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.”  Matt 24:23-26

CHURCH SCAMS

Of all the scams, it is sad to hear that some happen in churches.  Most true Christians are not fooled into thinking that everything is perfect in the church. We are aware that there are not just false prophets, but there are people who do church for personal gain, and some go as far as to fake miracles to get a following.  This is not new to us, and it is not a shock to God.  The bible talks about men who wanted to sell spiritual gifts, false prophets who lied to the people about what God has said and we have been warned about running towards ‘miracles’.  You may think that somehow that should not happen in the REAL church, but real churches have REAL people- from all walks of life.  Every person has a choice of how and if we will obey God, much like every child in a family can be raised in a loving home, but something goes wrong with them.  So the problem is not the church as a whole, it is the decisions of some people in the church family. The thing we have to keep in mind is that God as Father is aware of His wayward children, and He will deal with us at the appropriate time. 

AVOIDING SCAMS

So when talking about scams- we know they happen, but how do we avoid them?  If we listened to law enforcement, they would tell you to double check your sources.  Understand the process that your bank or debt collector uses to collect funds.  They would tell you to either NOT give to those on the streets or only use reputable organizations… (But sometimes those organizations are not trustworthy!)  Overall, I would agree with what they said, but I would add this to it.

Learn how to hear from God not your emotions.  Understand that the “Urgent is Seldom Important”.  Meaning take the time you need to check your sources.  Find ways that work for you to contribute to causes you love, understand that sowing in ‘good’ ground is better than just throwing seed.  Also if you are someone who loves to give, don’t be bribed by others that say... “But I thought you said you were a Christian?”  That  guilt trip is old now!  We have to be secure in knowing that we are not moved by the requests of people, but by the spirit of God.  As a believer you never know who God has in a difficult place for the purpose of drawing them to Himself.  Giving to someone when God is getting their attention puts their attention on you, and off of Him.  Again, pray about how you do your benevolent work!  Don’t be pressured and check the ground you are sowing in.

   

THE BIGGEST SCAM ALERT!

Aside from trying to avoid scams, we need to understand what the biggest scam of all is!

The biggest scam that works most of the time is not a fake ‘Go Fund Me” page, it is not donations taken and used for personal pleasures… The greatest scam of all is pulled on people who have kind hearts and generous souls.  The enemy causes us to see so many scams, that it stops us from caring, from reaching out and from helping others.  The greatest scam is supposed to cause mankind to not be kind; to always be suspect to the point that the normal giving heart that we have is prohibited from caring because of so many who abuse it. 

  

PLAN TO BE A BLESSING

Be encouraged to make plans to be a blessing.  If your heart is moved by people on the side of the road and you can’t NOT see them, plan for them.  If you want to work with an organization, choose wisely and be part of it so you are aware of the hearts of those in charge.  If that is more than you can do, plan to keep small bags with snacks, personal items, or even a little cash in each one to give out at a stop light.  That way you choose how you will bless others instead of others reeling you into doing things their way.   Overall, be the blessing you are meant to be.  Don’t allow the enemy to fool you into losing that part of yourself that keeps you feeling alive and loving others- that part that is connected to God.

And in conclusion… as much as we can try to avoid being caught up in a scam, sometimes our giving heart overrules our reasoning.  In those instances,  learn and understand that  though they think they have tricked you, your heart still has a benefit of receiving the promises of God.  They will be judged by God for their actions, but their mindset and evil intention does not hinder the blessing of God towards your giving heart!

#stillbeablessing