Author: Roshonda B

When a Judge says “Order in the Court” – it means that everything that is out of line has to come in line with one another, for instance if you’re talking – then you have to stop talking or walking, then you have to stop walking. That Judge wants everything that doesn’t seem right or happen to be going south to align and become arranged logically, comprehensibly and naturally.

Just like the Judge calls “Order” in their courts, God is calling for us to have “Order” in our lives – Most of us are living out of order – because we have failed to yield to these 4 words:

• PRAY
• LISTEN
• OBEY
• WAIT

When we don’t follow those words, we shift ourselves and our atmosphere out of line with the life that we so desperately want to live, the life that God had originally created and wanted us to have from the beginning of time. I was riding in my car one day when I began to realize how most of the things that I had prayed and asked God for – didn’t come to past. I began to wonder why this hadn’t happened and/or why that hasn’t happened; it was then that the Lord showed me how OUT OF ORDER my life really was.  There were some things going on in my world that I had went to God in prayer about, but hadn’t asked for his forgiveness for the part that I played in the situation; while I was focused on him fixing the issue, I failed to acknowledge that I was the real culprit behind why the issue or circumstance happened in the first place.

Even before and while we were in our mother’s womb God had already created the life that he wanted us to have (Jeremiah 1:5) just as he did for (Adam & Eve), but they forfeited that “good” life due to them not listening nor obeying the instructions of the Lord. When we fail to Pray, Listen, Obey and Wait we create the life “WE CHOOSE” & “FORFEIT” the life that God had originally created for us. One of my good family members and friend once told us a story of how he and his wife met (and I’m paraphrasing). But he stated that before he met his wife, In his prayer time with God, God had begun to deal with him about cleaning out his tub (yes, his bath tub); he thought that was pretty weird but at the same time – when he got out of the tub, he always left it dirty. So he began to take the Lords advice and clean out his tub. About a couple of weeks later he went into a check cashing place to get some assistance and seen this young lady whom caught his eye; to make a long story short he got her number and they began to talk; in talking with her she revealed a pet peeve of hers that she absolutely could not stand – She hated a dirty Tub!

So what am I trying to say, we can have a desire for something just like my friend had; his desire was to have a wife but before he could get her there were some things in his life that were out of order that he had to get corrected first. Just think if he had not listened and obeyed the voice of God – he probably would not have met his wife. This is how important ORDER is for our life, In order to obtain the riches that God has stored up for us, you have to lead a life of Order but we can’t receive them because most of us are living out of ORDER!

My Pastor told us a story last Sunday about a preacher whom had been praying that God give him a building to have for his church, all the while he was preaching at this church. My Pastor stated that God told him to tell the man that he was not called to be the Pastor of that church and showed him the man and woman whom were to be the leaders of that congregation – The Pastor grew angry and furious because he had a problem with letting that title and power go, he wrestled with what the Pastor told him (to make a long story short) The Pastor after talking with his wife started letting the other man take over as Pastor of that church and do you know when he Let Go and Let God! Two buildings opened up for him and his wife to walk into. Again, what am I trying to say; ORDER is Important.

When we align with the ORDER that God has created; things shift and move on our behalf. Things that you have been praying for, for 5yrs suddenly become available to you. Why? Because your life has been cleaned up and ORDER can now come in and take its rightful place.

Don’t get discouraged, for it’s not too late to have the life God created for you; but it comes at a price – you may have to give up somethings and let some people GO! Because they are not a part of God’s plan for your life.

Today, do an assessment of your life & Decide:

1. What’s out of Order?
2. Who’s still hanging around that should have been gone a while ago?
3. What are you holding on too, expecting it to change or resolve itself and it hasn’t.

When we totally let go of our way, then and only then will we be able to truly see God’s Way! – Seek the Lords face in prayer and whatever he ask of you to change and/or get rid of; DO IT! Let “Order” come full circle in your path today, because the life you so desperately seek and desire is waiting to be given to you.

We have to be careful about whom we allow ourselves to Idolize and/or worship. In life you have many people that “IDOLIZE” quite a few people, from celebrities to random people whom we feel have more money than us, more fame that us or even more fun than us, we think they’re in a good place and living the “so called” good life in which, they just seem to have it all. Some people have even idolized dead people.

The thing is this, why do we really Idolize a.k.a (make a god) out of someone whom can’t pay our bills, give us good sound advice that will push us forward in life or eventually cause us to go broke and insane.  I use to idolize Marilyn Monroe, I wanted every picture, movie or replica that represented her face – I idolized her because to me she was a beautiful woman and in a sense, I aspired to be just like her; then it dawned on me “Why was I idolizing someone that cut her life short”; someone whom under all that beauty and lovely blonde curls, had very low self-esteem and an even harder time coping with her beauty; under all that make-up – She was really sad, she had issues, Issues that no one could fix – Issues that lied to her and told her that she had nothing else to live for – Issues that eventually lead her to a very early grave –

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God. Exodus 20:5

I had to recant on whom I was allowing myself to Idolize, Yes – I have issues just like the next person don’t get me wrong, but we have to be careful of the people we idolize and put on our home or office walls and desk – I remember I had a picture of Idris Elba on my work shelf; I had it all dolled up in a beautiful frame, I was pretending he was my husband and wanted people to see it when they walked in. Isn’t he married? I asked myself; doesn’t he have a love interest? And besides, why pretend someone belongs to you when they really don’t. “Did God tell you he was your husband? NOT!! I immediately took him down off my shelf and threw the copied picture in the trash. Do you actually think if I really needed someone to talk too, I could call him up? LOL! Yeah right. So what I’m really saying is this, Unless that person has really stood for something that can and have changed mankind for the better, then why do we choose to idolize them?….

The only person I’m head over heels about is JESUS, because out of everyone else I called myself Idolizing, he’s the REAL DEAL; the man that has done more than enough for mankind, after-all who wouldn’t fall in LOVE with someone whom laid down their life for them and got back up with ALL power. That’s the person I want to be like, If I call JESUS – he answers every time and do you know what else is so special about my encounter with him?…..HE KNOWS WHO I AM! HE KNOWS MY NAME & MY DIGITS! Unlike Idris Elba, whom don’t have the first CLUE as to who I am nor that I’ve obsessed over him….lol.

It’s okay to like someone and think they’re cool – But when it comes down to sharing my personal space and/or my life with them; they really have to be worth it.

There is a story in the Jewish Talmud about a King who sent two jesters on an errand, He wanted to be amused; so he then instructed the first jester “Foolish Simon, go and bring me back the best thing in the world; He then turned to the second jester and said “Silly John, you go and find me the worst thing in the world.

In didn’t take much time, as both clowns were came back suddenly, each waiting to bear their gifts to the King; Foolish Simon, bowed low and grinned – “Behold, King, I bring to you the best thing in the world. “His package contained a tongue.

Silly John, whom also couldn’t wait to share his gift – snickered as he quickly unwrapped his bundle; Behold, King, I bring to you the worst thing in the world. “His package also contained a tongue. The tongue can bring healing to a miserable soul, gladness to a down heart and joy to a drowning spirit; that same tongue can also bring hurt, unwanted sadness, chaos and confusion.

I recently had an encounter where I was feeling so down in the dumps, my mind was all over the place with thoughts, so much so it put a little damper in my spirit – as I was corresponding with someone and appreciating them for giving me some information that I really needed they in turn out of the blue wrote me back and stated how the feeling was mutual and how such a pleasant and helpful person I was to work with – the company is very lucky to have you they stated. The sprinkling of rain that was dropping on my head, immediately stopped and sunshine began to beam there instead. I was humbled, grateful and thankful for the words of encouragement as I really needed them.

When Jesus walked the Earth, No one (not even his enemy) could say that he spoke out of turn or spoke rudely to anyone. Every word that came out of his mouth was uplifting, encouraging, peaceful and full of LOVE! The bible tells us in Ephesians 4:29 about how we shouldn’t allow unwholesome talk to come out of our mouths, but should only speak those things that are going to bring forth encouragement and love. Have you said anything lately the proved to be unwholesome talk? Weather it was to a friend, a spouse, a co-worker or family member; we have to make sure that our words don’t cause harm but good to those that hear us.

Some people find it easy to speak negatively than positively, the bible says that out of the heart; the mouth speaks the issues of life, this means that whatever a person has in his heart – you can bet his or her mouth will speak it! I person cannot speak positively if it’s not in their heart to be positive, if they’re heart is cold; rest assured they will speak coldly, but if they’re heart is warm and full of love, the mouth will speak warmth and love.

When we speak kind words – we’re not only uplifting a downed head but also displaying the love of Christ, in which is what he approves of us to do. If we say we are a child of God; then we must not only live the way God wants us to live, but we must also talk the way he wants us to talk – when you accept Christ into your heart and you ask him to come in and reside in your body, you are giving up everything that you would l have done, you are giving up everything you would have once said, you are giving up everything you would l have once had thought, you give up the way you would have walked; PRIOR TO CHRIST! The bible says “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things have passed away, behold, new things have come new. (2 Cor. 5:17)

So if you proclaim Christ as your father and the one that lives on the inside of you, then that means that you have given him the key to share a room with you inside your body; and because he’s there you don’t want to act, think or talk the same, if you’re serious about your relationship with him; you want to do everything possible to make sure he keeps residing within you. We don’t want a De-activated God living inside an Activated body. Would you want to go to your banking account and draw out funds that are not there?….The account is active but your funds are depleted; in order to keep an active account, you have to keep money in it otherwise – the bank will be sending you a letter indicating “account closure proceedings”..

When it comes to our words we must also consider not only the word choices we make but the attitude and heart in which they are being said. The next person you talk to could just be the person that needs “your good words” the most.

 Our Daily Prayer:

Dear God, How guilty we are of not using our words wisely, they cut like a sword, harming those we love the most. Remind us to think before we speak and meditate on your word daily, allowing it to take precedence over our many “bad” word choices. Allow your word to flourish within us so that our words would pour forth as an overflow of your heart. Bless and fill us with discernment in our many word choices.

In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen..

Just the other week, I was browsing the internet at home looking for other jobs; I do this from time to time, just to see what’s out there. As I was browsing; I began to look within the area in which I am already residing. A couple of things stood out, but really not worth the time of me updating a resume and references, as I closed out from looking there – It dawned on me; Why are you looking for a job where you’re already at, when you can do and have so much more?….I guess I really never thought of it that way!

I always play the safe route when it comes to jobs because if I can be honest, I have become really comfortable with where I am at; I’ve built relationships and networks, people either know me or of me and it’ll be easier to transition within my circle and plus I know the systems and don’t have to worry about learning anything extra or new; even though this isn’t the dream job I’ve always desired or my passion – I find it easier just swimming around in the same pond because I’m either unmotivated or lazy to go after what I really want because it will involve me to CHANGE!

How many times do we swim around within the same small pond, doing the exact same thing as everyone else and going on about life wishing and hoping to jump over into the bigger pond of opportunity but too afraid to let go of what you’ve felt like you have built. The small pond makes us think about the bills, our age, our limitations, past experiences or simply not having a degree; these issues keep us bound within the small pond – which makes us not willing to take a chance in a bigger arena.

The bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us the spirit of FEAR, but of POWER, LOVE & a SOUND MIND! So that means that if we’re living, walking and believing in Christ – although we might hesitate, FEAR should not be a part of our thought processes especially if we are to move from the small pond into the deep.

As I clicked off the website within my area, I begin to put in names for jobs that I really would love to have – the wave of excitement that came over me, just by looking through all the prospects was overwhelming; call it crazy but a sense of JOY & PEACE rushed through my body like an electric force. Wow! I thought to myself, if I got that pumped up just by looking at the prospect of something; it’s amazing how or what I would do if I actually tested the waters and applied.

The only thing that stops us from moving forward is ourselves; no one’s holding us hostage, no one’s got us tied up and no one is controlling our mind; If we could really have an out of body experience with ourselves and spend a day just watching our own actions, thought processes, motives and the people we hang out with (because that plays a big part in our moving forward as well); What notes would you take, what wrong thought patterns would you try to correct about yourself, who would the real culprit be in holding you back; take out a mirror and look into it, who do you see?…..Because the only person I see holding you back is YOU!

If you’re in the small pond because you feel and/or think you won’t obtain success if you move forward, then listen; while most people view success as a “materialized” word – true success is looking back over your life and seeing that you had the courage to take the necessary steps to get out of the small pond and jump over into the big sea; do you know how many people have stayed within their small pond, all because they were too afraid to TRY?!?

So what’s keeping you stuck in your own small pond today?; maybe it’s a relationship and you’re staying in it because you feel you can’t either do any better or you’ve invested so much time into it; until you don’t have the energy or the strength to jump elsewhere.  Maybe your small pond is a job – no matter how much you do, how much you sacrifice and how much of yourself you put to the side to get the job done; you seem to never get promoted or recognized for your efforts, you’re afraid to leave because you’ve invested so much time perfecting the job until you’ve lost focus on taking those talents elsewhere to another job that will  not only recognize your efforts but promote you as well.

Whatever “your” small pond might be from this point forward – begin to realize your potential, realize your greatness and invest in your worth because life is way too short to stay stuck in the small pond of life.

On this past Sunday there was an Easter special that came on FOX called “The Passion” the show was hosted by Tyler Perry in which hosted and assuredly directed the event – While the show was okay and surprising to how each of the characters were being portrayed, the most dramatic and inspiring thing that stood out to me was the many individuals whom chose to carry this huge cross across town to the stage in where Perry was hosting. I’m assuming this was marking the beginning of Jesus’s life all the way to the end, in which is where the cross was then laid down,

I began to look at all those people, whom were different colors, sizes, ethnicity and backgrounds coming together to carry the Cross, the raw emotion of some whom felt like it was something that they felt like they just had to do – was mesmerizing. As I looked at them all carry the cross, while others were walking in front of it and more behind; I began to get emotional.

That CROSS is a representation of JESUS, whom came into the world not to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17). He didn’t come to just save the Blacks, He didn’t come to just save the Whites, He didn’t come to just save the Hispanics, Latino’s, Mexicans nor the Internationals – when he muttered the very last words on the cross and said, “IT IS FINISHED” that death was for EVERYONE! No exclusions – The Cross was for you honey…

When Jesus walked the earth, he didn’t have favorites – he was a man that LOVED everyone, including his enemies, yes; he came to die for them too. No one is left out from having a deeper relationship with him, NO ONE is excluded from that invitation!

When Jesus asked the Disciples to take up their cross and follow him, they each immediately took up the cross and followed him, there is a passage of scripture that stood out to me in the bible – Jesus came across a man by the name of Matthew, sitting in the tax collectors booth – Matthew’s job was not looked upon as a Godly profession, as a tax collector in those times as well as this one; are considered to be cheaters and robbers. But when Jesus saw Matthew sitting – he approached him and asked that he “follow him” what stood out to me was how Matthew without question, hesitation or instant regret, got up immediately and followed him. Today God is asking that we pick up our cross and follow him in the same way.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. Luke 9:23 AMP

Most of us have issues and trouble with following this task, due to the fact that we have accumulated so much and can’t withstand to leave anything behind – We have too much to give up; kind of like the rich young ruler whom told the Jesus how he had kept the commandments from his youth up but Jesus knew the rich man’s heart as he asked him to then, Go and sell all of his valued goods – give to the poor and you will have riches in heaven, come “follow me” – The rich man walked away saddened, because he knew he had worked too hard for his possessions and couldn’t bear to give them up. (Luke 18:18)

Where are you today in the cross you’re bearing – there’s a song that says “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?…Must he be the only one that carry’s it, Surely you are helping him to carry it in your walk, your talk, your lifestyle, your actions, your words, deeds and etc.

Jesus made the world’s biggest contribution to society when he died for you, for me and everyone else in society. While we could never match what he did, we do have the right and ability to make that contribution not seem one-sided; by taking up our cross and giving back to him what he so preciously did for us – like die to the things that make him sad, come out from amongst the things that keep us trapped in bondage from moving forward into life everlasting and build a true authentic relationship with him, we should be willing to walk like he walked and spread love, joy, peace and happiness and healing just like he did. Are you ready to take up your cross?…