He already knows! (43)

“I could have saved you a lot of time, if you had just called me first.” ~P. Shirer

I was riding and meditating listening to my devotionals on a plane ride. I had listened to this particular devotional literally one hundred times before, but for some reason this time it was as God was speaking to me himself. I heard these words clearer than ever, “I could have saved you a lot of time, if you had just called me first.”

The rest of the world just seemed to stop around me as I thought about being open enough to hear God’s voice. So many times I have gone in complete circles because I thought I could do it on my own. I was looking at the map right? Truth is there were parts of the map I didn’t understand so I tried to create my own path down the roads that looked more scenic. Once I got lost, I understood that all I had to do was stop and ask for directions. 

Wait, I know the creator of the map! How amazing is that? He is standing there just waiting to help. He is standing there with open arms.

God wants the complete best for you. Everything or opportunity that may be a good thing may not necessarily be a “God thing” and fit the mold of your life. So today, slow down, ask, and just listen.

Change Decided...(42)

 Change

We let sin in little by little to the point that we soon look around only to discover it is getting out of hand. So we make excuses and move on, but we never really fix the problem. It just grows. Who knew that what started as one little sin or one little moment could get so way out of hand?  It opens doors for so many more things and areas of our life. The confusion trickles down to capture little minds. We let disobedience into our households and schools until it begins to look like kids are gaining power as a reflection of the standards that have been set before them. They are this reflection that laughs back at all who thought, "Awwwww it is okay." It is okay to move with the times to not hurt anyone's feelings, but neglect the fact the results are everlasting.We let the small negative things and ideas come in. We let those who still have so much to learn or fully develop run the world classroom. We let them explore the world without scaffolding, facilitation, or guidance. Yes, intelligent, but their mental capacity couldn't handle it because they needed to grow and yet their proper training was sabotaged by selfishness and greed.

We then talk about our own reflections by tearing them down with our words and dissatisfaction. Their valuable study time sold them contradictions that they couldn't distinguish the truth  so they just went with the flow and followed their own ways. The power of who we are is reflected through our words and actions. Change can never come if we are not the evidence of that change.
-M. Roberson

Today I decided...

Today I woke up and decided I would not let anything stop me.
Today I woke up and decided that I wouldn't let words tear me down.

Today I woke up to understand that my future is greater than my past.
Today I woke up to understand that my mind influences my perspective in life.

Today I woke up motivating myself that I could dream big dreams.
Today I woke up and decided that my vision and goals would come to reality.

Today I woke up understanding that circumstances can't overcome me.
Today I woke up understanding that failure is not a permanent position.

Today I woke up knowing that God has my back and his love is simply intentional.
-M. Roberson

Fresh Flow

Boy, fresh cut, new shoes, like you got it all together

Attitude, car fresh, but your heart is like a feather,

Flowing with the wind,

Yet you’re falling deep in sin,

Trying to make one hundred,

But you’re barely past a ten.

Girl, you say your faith on fleek,

But your testimony’s weak,

Your words don’t reflect your actions,

Truth divided into fractions,

I’m not a math whiz,

But you got a big red X at the top of your quiz.

We have to uphold our standards and let our words be wise,

It takes a whole lot of faith to open up your eyes,

This life can be rough, but you have everything you need,

Push hard, never give up, and let God take the lead.

-M. Roberson

Divine Compassion

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

As a child, I was very quiet among others I didn’t know and even very observant towards those that I knew. I can remember my mom saying, “There is a time to speak up and a time to be quiet.” The hard part was distinguishing the difference.

I begin to get it. If I needed something in class, raise my hand and ask. If two adults were talking then be quiet. As a child I begin to get a handle on it. As I got older, it became more difficult as situations grew and I encountered different things/perspectives.

I begin to learn about truth and compassion.  As my prayer life increased, I begin to understand about the importance in prayer in my daily life of how I handled and encountered difficult situations. I learned about the wisdom and discernment of knowing when and how to speak up. I begin to understand that sometimes you have to speak up in uncomfortable situations for what you believe is right and even more so sometimes you have to stand even if you must stand alone. 

Greater compassion is light to someone trapped in darkness. Our light compels others to draw nigh to the truth that Jesus still saves. I am a reflection of who he is in the way that I speak to others and how I speak about others. So when I speak, I have learned to do it through compassion and allowing truth to speak for itself. I have learned to speak unselfishly in a way that builds up others. I have learned that if it doesn’t benefit or build up then it is better to just be quiet. I don’t always get it right, but I am learning more and more each day. 

All I do is Work!

ALL I DO IS WORK: Who are you working for?

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men
24 Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord. It is the Lord Christ you are serving
Colossians  3:23-24 (NIV)

If your life's service is unto people then you will be disappointed every time. People may like you one day and despise you the next if your qualifications don't meet up to their standards. People will smile in your face one day, but talk about you the next. I have found that in even doing the right things, some people will just find ways to plot and scheme evil against you. 

I am so glad that my service is not toward people. My service is not toward the rude and inconsiderate customer. My service is not toward the hateful coworker. My service is not toward what I can get out from people. My physical agenda may say one thing, but my spiritual agenda says another.

 If I do gain favor then I thank God, but my service is toward him. When I have this mindset then I can serve people in love and be the example that he wants me to be, but when we lose focus from him then our struggles become our defeat. I have learned to look beyond people. I have the attitude to not take the actions of people so seriously because people will be just that. I smile, I sincerely say hi even if you are in a bad mood like.... EVERY day, and I pray for everyone.We must understand that the battle is not against flesh.

Colossians 3:23-24 teaches us the way our attitudes should be in our work. We can find satisfaction in this if God is our main priority. Be thankful for your job and treat it as a ministry. I am so glad that Jesus Christ is the same everyday. When we learn to change our perspective then we can have a better outlook even when it is tough. 

So today, practice and pray that God will bless you in your work. Pray that he will renew your passion daily and help you focus your attention on him. I promise you will be a blessing unto to others and present the light that is needed in this dying world. 

God knows what you need today! (BLOG 37)

Isn't it funny how God knows exactly what you need, how you need it, and when you need it. 

It was one Friday in my classroom. It was one of those mornings. You know one of those mornings where you just don't feel like getting up. One of those mornings where that day just seems like another day. One of those mornings where you get up and the sun is shining...well not really considering I get up a 5a.m. But yes one of those days where you get up and know you should be feeling optimistic, but... you just don't.

Some days honestly are just like that and those are those days when I have to ask the Lord for strength. So this particular day, I came in to work like any other morning, but I was like Lord, help me to be positive because I am just not feeling it today.

Soon after my students started coming in. One particular student came in. He is very sweet, but yet has a very unemotional personality. He hands me a bag and said...here...my mom said give this to you because you are teacher of the year. I was like oh well thank you. As he waited for me to open the bag, I looked briefly into the bag, I pulled out a plaque, but I couldn't get pass the first line. I quickly stuck it back in the bag because I knew the poem. It was very familiar to me.

I Said A Prayer For You Today

by Frank J. Zamboni

I said a prayer for you today

And know God must have heard.

I felt the answer in my heart

Although He spoke no word!

I didn't ask for wealth or fame

(I knew you wouldn't mind).

I asked him to send treasures

Of a far more lasting kind!

I asked that He be near you

At the start of each new day;

To grant you health and blessings

And friends to share your way!

I asked for happiness for you

In all things great and small.

But it was for His loving care

I prayed the most of all! 

I quickly said thank you, but I had to stick it back in the bag fast before I started crying. If he only knew how much I needed that at that exact moment. If he only knew how much I needed someone to pray for me. If he only knew, that a prayer is worth more than rubies or gold.

To know that you pray for me just like I pray for you each day. If he only knew....

But somehow God knew that I would need this on this unexpected day, in that unexpected hour, and in that unexpected second of time. He knew that I needed just a little bit of faith. He knows what I need. So if he can do that! If he can do that, by caring enough to bring these simple moments that are priceless just to brighten my day. I know that I can trust him in all the other areas of my life. I was grateful that God decided to stop by and give me the strength I needed for that day.



God knows just what you need!

Your Freedom is in the Fire! (BLOG 36)

Your Freedom is in the Fire

“When the fire gets hot, we have a God who will jump in the fire with you.” ~Minister V. White

God always gives an answer. I have come to find that it may not come in the package that I would like it to or the way that I expected it to come. The answer that God gives may not be comfortable and may even cause a few tears.

BUT my faith is crazy enough to believe that he knows exactly what he is doing. So continue to seek him, continue to trust him, and know that your story will one day help someone else.

You may feel that you have been overlooked. 

Your faith may be dry because the results don’t match up with the fight. 

You may have invested a lot, but the return has been slow. 

Life just isn’t fair sometimes! 

Daniel 3:17-18 NIV

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.

18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ~Daniel 3: 17-18 NIV

Keep going because God is working even in the fire. God is building you. He is the purifying you. Who is willing to go through the fire?

I know he can, I know he will, but even if he doesn’t…..I can trust God in the fire.

“I won’t bend, I won’t bow, and I won’t burn.” ~G.H Brown

 Glory to God! Even in the fire, God has a plan. What has tried to kill you shall make you free.

My prayer

So Lord, please work on my heart. Let it become more compassionate. Work on my mind. Let it be woven in your peace. When things don’t go my way, let me remember that your grace is forever with me. Let your glory be produced from my life. Cleanse me of all my worthless impurities even through the fire. Thank you for seeing greater worth in me. Thank you God for being intentional. Lord, I declare that your plan for my life is great and will forever give you all the glory.