Free Friday

Free Friday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips." (Proverbs 4:24 NIV)

One day before the "Sweet Lips" fast begins, we celebrate FREE FRIDAY. This day is not about our freedom, but it reminds us of what we should be FREE of! As we seek God for guidance of the words that come from our lips, I believe we must decide to be FREE of perverse and corrupt talk. So today I challenge us to ask God is what I say acceptable and within the standard that you would have for me to walk? If not, we must make the claim: I've got to be FREE!

Tempted Thursday

Tempted Thursday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed."(James 1:13-14 NIV)

On this tempting Thursday, as we prepare for our Sweet Lips fast, we may find ourselves tempted to speak contrary to what God

 would desire. Oftentimes on this journey, we feel tempted. However, we must hold to what we see in today's scripture--I am only "tempted" when I am "dragged away" or distracted by my own desire. So today, let's check ourselves...God is not tempting me to fall away. Maybe I have that desire in my heart. Let's clean out our hearts so that we are less tempted to do wrong. We can have "sweet lips," and we do NOT have to be tempted to have sour ones! :-)

Watch Wednesday

Watch Wednesday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"...I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence." -Psalm 39:1 NIV

Like David in the 39th Psalm, this Wednesday should cause us to WATCH our ways and our tongue!  As believers, everything that we say and do reflect the God we serve.  Therefore, we should spiritually put a muzzle on our mouths when we are tempted to speak or do anything that would not represent God well.  So, as we are only 3 days away from our "Sweet Lips Fast"...muzzles out and glasses on-let's watch our ways and our tongue!

Tongue Tuesday

Tongue Tuesday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD." (Psalm 139:4 NIV)

We are getting closer and closer to the start of our "Sweet Lips" fast.  It's time for us to really look at how our words affect our relationship with God.  The Psalmist declared that God knows the words on our tongue before they are even there.  Therefore, we must begin to check our thoughts in order to truly have "sweet lips".  What am I thinking that may cause me to sin against God or God's people?  Today, remember that God even knows the words on your tongue!

Melt Monday

Melt Monday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth." (Psalm 97:5 NIV)

As you prepare for the challenge of having "sweet lips," it may be easier to knock down your challenges or even challengers with your words.  Be mindful of the Psalmist's declaration that even mountains melt before the Lord.  Therefore, you can make it without compromising yourself.  No matter how big the mountain in your life, stay before the Lord and the Lord will stay before your mountain....and your mountain will melt like wax! Lord, don't move my mountain...melt my mountain!

Sweet Saturday/Sunday

Sweet Saturday/Sunday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24 NIV)

Do you have sweet lips?  At Greater Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, we are about to embark on our "Sweet Lips Fast".  During the month of December, we will make a tangible effort to speak "pleasant words" so that what we say may be "sweet to the soul and healing to the bones".  This weekend, we ask that you join us.  Are your words soothing or scaring?  Even in our disagreements, there is a "sweet" way to say it!  

Fill Friday

Fill Friday--Daily Dose of Inspiration


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13 NIV)

Are you filled up? During this time, we can be filled up on some many things. For some of us, we were filled by turkey...dressing...and even the laughter of family on yesterday. However on this Fill Friday, the scripture reminds us that we can be filled with joy and peace when we trust God. Instead of overflowing in worry, God promises that we will overflow in hope

. So, I don't know about you but I'm ready to be FILLED-trust God!

Thanks Thursday

Thanks Thursday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

 

 

 

 

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV)

Don't you just love the conjunction "but"?! It is so powerful that it literally erases everything that proceeds it. On this Thanks Thursday, let us take hold of a new Thanksgiving promise--we have the victory! No matter the sorrow you may feel during this holiday season for lost loved ones...or the financial concerns when others are out for "black Friday"...or even the moments of joy...whatever is our present reality, this Thanks Thursday urges us to declare "But Thanks be to God!" Let us thank God that no matter how good we may have it right now or even the difficulties we may have, there is a "but" on the way!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours :-)

Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful,I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14 NIV)

On this day before thanksgiving, we should examine reasons to praise and thank God. Well, before you start this list with stuff and others...I'll start the list for you. YOU! That's right, this Wonderful Wednesday calls for us to praise God for ourselves! Today, thank God that you are WONDERFULLY made! I don't care how many mistakes you have made...you are not a mistake! God's works are wonderful, and YOU are one of them. So, live like it...walk in it!

THANKS TUESDAY!

Thanks Tuesday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." -1 Chronicles 16:34

It's not a mistype...today is THANKS Tuesday (not thankful).  I believe that "thankful" is a state of being, but "thanks" suggests action and activity!  Today, don't simply "be thankful"...I challenge us to "GIVE THANKS!"  We should take every opportunity we have to demonstration through action and activity that God has been good, and that His love has not left us.  We do this in the way we treat one another...the way we love...the way we live...and most of all, the way we speak!  Let us GIVE THANKS to the Lord through our relationships with one another!

Meditate Monday

Meditate Monday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. -Psalm 77:12

In these days and times, we choose to meditate on so many different things.  We meditate on bills...family...job...church stuff...people stuff...so much STUFF!  I believe our victory is in changing what we meditate on. Today, choose to meditate on all of God's works in your life.  Remember each of us have been in a situation that we thought we would not survive, but we are still here.  So, choose to meditate on those things- the works and deeds that God has performed in your life!  God has been good, and God is still at work!!!

STILL Saturday/Sunday

STILL Saturday/Sunday--Daily Dose of Inspiration 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14 NIV)

On this STILL weekend, we need to take a page out of the children of Israel's story. After they had been set free from bondage, their enemy followed them on their journey of promise. Sometimes that will be our reality-we are walking in freedom and on our journey of promise, but the enemy follows us. I believe God will remind us of what He told Moses to tell the children of Israel then-BE STILL! So in this season and on this journey, take your boxing gloves off...put down your weapons...close your mouth...and BE STILL!!! God's got this one in the bag!!!

Freedom Friday

Freedom Friday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8:36

Take God at His word--BE FREE!!!  It is so tempting to allow others or even our own concerns get the best of us.  When we focus on what others think or even what others know about us, we can get caught up by invisible chains of embarrassment, disappointment, misunderstanding, and even outright anger.  All of these emotions have the same effect-they keep us from living the life that God has promised us.  The word of God tells us that when Christ sets us FREE then we WILL BE FREE INDEED!  On this FREEDOM FRIDAY, choose to live life free...INDEED!

Trouble Thursday

Trouble Thursday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Trouble pursues the sinner,but the righteous are rewarded with good things." -Proverbs 13:21

Trouble on every side? It should not be. We may have challenges and hardships, but the Word of God promises us that as we strive to live righteously we will be rewarded with "good things". So, on this Trouble Thursday...look around! Does it seem like trouble 

is actually "pursuing" you? Then I invite us to take a private look in the mirror and ask ourselves-am I living in sin or am I pursuing righteousness? We won't be perfect, but Trouble Thursday reminds us to take responsibility for our behavior and our circumstances. Come on...let's get it together and strive for righteousness! The reward is so much better.

Worship Wednesday

Worship Wednesday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Do not worship any other god..." -Exodus 34:14a

Worship Wednesday reminds us of the importance of worshipping only God and not placing anything...anyone...any situation before Him!  Have we begun to worship our job? our family? our struggles?  Today, stop bowing down to your struggles…your marriage…your joy…your job!  It’s time to get down to real worship—trust and adoration of God alone.

Trust Tuesday

TRUST Tuesday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands." -Psalm 119:66

We put our trust in so many different things and people.  Think about it...we go to work each day because we trust that the company will repay us with income...we eat food each day because we trust that it will give us strength and good health...we go to the doctor because we trust that he or she will advise us well for a long life...we go to the dentist in hopes that she or he will aid us in good oral health.  On Trust Tuesday, I challenge us to give that same type of trust in the God who created us.  When we trust God, God blesses us with knowledge and good judgment.  These two traits alone will lead us into blessed finances, a healthier diet, a stronger body, and a brighter smile!  Why not TRUST God today?

ME Monday

ME Monday--Daily Dose of Inspiration

"Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.  Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer." -Psalm 4:1

ME Monday breaks the normal flow and expectation for us as believers.  We are taught to be selfless and to focus our energy on the needs of others.  I believe that it is important to care for others and to be selfless; however, we cannot be any good for others unless we are good for ourselves.  On this ME Monday, ask God to see about you!  This will enable us to be better not just for others but for ourselves.

SPEAK Saturday/Sunday

Daily Dose of Inspiration--Speak Saturday/Sunday

"My mouth SPEAKS what is true, for my lips detest wickedness." -Proverbs 8:7 

This Saturday and Sunday, I encourage us to SPEAK! However, our SPEAKING must be different than that of the world. Whatever we say, let it be TRUE! Some may think this is not applicable to them because your parents raised you better than that-don't tell lies! I believe this scripture is deeper than that. We must begin to make sure that everything we SAY represents The Truth (Jesus Christ). So, pause before you SPEAK this weekend and ask yourself- am I SPEAKING what is True or are my lips causing me to be wicked?

Faith Friday

Daily Dose of Inspiration--Faith Friday

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." -Hebrews 11:6

Faith Friday reminds of the importance of trusting the God we declare that we believe in. So often we focus on pleasing our love ones, our friends, our co-workers, and even strangers; however, it is time for us to refocus our energy...am I pleasing God? The requests that I have of God...the prayers that I speak...the petitions that I make...do I really have FAITH that God is able to handle them? Make up in your mind today that you want to please God more than anyone else!

Thankful Thursday

Daily Dose of Inspiration--Thankful Thursday

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."  -Colossians 4:2

On Thankful Thursday, don't forget to pray! After you pray, watch for God to move. As you are watching God, BE THANKFUL! Many of us devote ourselves to a lot of different things- school, work, church, family, friends, image, material things, and so much more! How different our lives would be if we were devoted to prayer with hearts of THANKSGIVING!!!

Witness Wednesday

Daily Dose of Inspiration--Witness Wednesday

John 1:8 "He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."

In the gospel of John, there is an account of the man we have come to know as "John the Baptist".  Verse 8 tells us that John was not the LIGHT but a WITNESS to the light.  John came to testify that the LIGHT (Jesus) was on the way.  On this WITNESS WEDNESDAY, I wonder how many of us are good WITNESSES of "the Light".  This WITNESS WEDNESDAY, I invite you to check out your testimony and make sure that we are walking and talking in a fashion that is pleasing to "the Light"...as true witnesses of Christ!

Truth Tuesday

Daily Dose of Inspiration:  Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Truth Tuesday

 "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."-Psalm 145:18

Today is TRUTH TUESDAY!  Each of us desire for God to be near us in our daily lives...to be near us in our decision-making...to be near us in our childrearing... to be near us in our family dealings...to be near us in our career pursuits...and this list goes on!  Today, be encouraged in knowing that if we walk in TRUTH (in sincerity and real love of God) then God promises to be near us.  Today and always...let's reap the benefits of walking IN TRUTH!

Mat Monday

Mat Monday

"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . ." 

Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."-Matthew 9:6 

MAT MONDAY is a time of action.  Like this paralytic man, God has already spoken into some of our circumstances and freed us from the guilt of our past.  However, we remain paralyzed by the fear of what people may think about our freedom.  Today, "Take your mat and go home"!  Jesus has spoke freedom, so embrace your freedom...even among those who know you best!  Your testimony is in the victory of picking up your mat!

Steadfast Saturday

Steadfast Saturday

Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a STEADFAST spirit within me."

This STEADFAST Saturday begs for us to maintain a sincere desire to be more like God. After David had displeased the Lord, he took the time to repent and asked God to renew a STEADFAST spirit within him. Too often, we as Christians are unstable in our beliefs...unstable in our decisions...unstable in our behavior. However, I believe we should (like David) ask God to make us STEADFAST-unmovable, stable, sure!

FOOD Friday: November 2, 2012

Food Friday- John 4:34 

"My FOOD," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work".

On Food Friday, we should be reminded of what our food really is. Too often we rush through fast food lines, sit impatiently at our local restaurants, or scramble in our kitchens to get the best food. The same energy that we utilize on our physical food should be give to our spiritual food. Jesus says to His disciples and to us that our FOOD is to "do the will of [God] and to finish [God's] work"! Let's get to work!

THIRST THURSDAY: November 1st

Thirst Thursday-Psalm 42:2 

"My soul THIRSTS for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"

On Thirst Thursday, we should be reminded of our need for God and God's ability to quench that thirst. In the midst of loneliness and despair, allow your soul to thirst for God. So you can go to your knees and meet with Him anytime.