Turning Your Captivity

Job 42:10

¹⁰ And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
     Are you in need of a breakthrough?  Is there something that you have been asking God for?  Well the scripture today shows us how Job turned his situation around.  It was not because He was a good man.  It was not because he went through so much. His breakthrough came when he turned his attentions and affections off of himself and started praying for his friends.  Real talk.  How many of us in a crisis situation, pray for others instead of ourselves?  I believe at that moment when Job focused his attention on other people, God intervened on his behalf and gave him twice as much.
    This weekend try focusing and praying for someone else.  It might be the doorway to your breakthrough.  Have a good weekend and be blessed!
Brother Clarence

Living Without Doubt and Complaints

^{Luke 10:38-41
38} Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’^[k] feet and heard His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
⁴¹ And Jesus^[l] answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”     
   Have you ever thought about what it was really like for Adam and Eve?  One day I wake up and I am a man.  I have never been a boy.  I do not have a past.  So all I know is what God has shown me and given me.  Let's look at Eve for a moment. On day one, she is a full grown woman,  She is a wife. She has no one to give her advice except Adam.  She has to learn about life from her husband.  She soon will be a mother.  Will have a baby and raise her family without ever seeing it done or having any experience.  All she knows is what Adam, her husband and God the Father has told them.  Before they ate the forbidden fruit, they never questioned anything or had any doubt that they could do and accomplish all that God had told them to do.  They were living without doubt and complaints.
     Are you a complainer?  Is there always something wrong with someone else?  Are you known for being the one to get everybody told in your office or place of business?  Do you have things that you know God has told you to do but you are full of doubt and uncertainty and fear?  Is your glass always half empty instead of being half full?  Are you a busy body?  Always busy and never have enough time for  God  and your family.  Are you living with doubt and complaints?
     I love this story in the bible.  Two sisters are hosting the King of Kings at their house. One sister is cleaning and cooking and one sister is sitting listening and feeding from Him.  Jesus says, "Martha, you are troubled about many things."  Are you troubled this morning?
    Adam and Eve had everything they needed.  What they did  not know they did not consider.  They just did what they had to do because they had no need to question or doubt because their focus was on God and not in themselves.  You will never be free from your past, your struggles and your fears if you keep looking at you. 
      The key to freedom is looking at Jesus.  Sitting and resting at the feet of  Jesus is how we do it.  The Word of God is our confidence.  The Word of God is our source.  The Word of God is how we make it.  If you are complaining and full of doubt, you are not looking at God you are looking at You!  I challenge you today to inventory your life.  If you are a complainer; ask yourself why? If you are full of doubt; ask yourself why? It's time to live without doubt and complaints.  It's time to live!

Brother Clarence
www.godlyking.com
www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Our True Source

  

 I was one of many Americans who watched the debate last night.  My wife left the room because I was so animated with  how I verbalized  my opinion.  At times, it angered me because I felt like one of the candidates was not honest.  My intention for this blog this morning was to talk about praying for our leaders.  This is not what God brought to my attention this morning.
     Regardless of what happens in the Presidential race, we are God's children.  President Obama or  Gov.Romney can't change that. Although we should pray for our leaders, the ultimate responsibility of our lives is ours.  We have the power and we must not get so caught up in politics that it blinds our vision.
      If our vision and trust is in  Gov. Romney or  President Obama , we are off focus because neither is our source.  I do believe one candidate is better but he is not our source.  I believe one candidate is for more Americans than the other but that candidate is not my source.  Our source of hope, inspiration, and optimism should be In the Lord Only.  He is the only one who cares about you regardless of your political beliefs or your choice of candidate for President.  God is Our True Source!
      I do believe we must take this opportunity to vote and have strong convictions about our choice but God is our Source.  The same intensity that I had watching and hollering at the TV is the same intensity I should have about God's Word and promises.  If you are more into the Presidential debate than God's Word, check yourself.  I was and God lovingly corrected me this morning.  He is (God) the candidate for everyone who accepts Christ as Lord and Savior.  God has your financial plan.  God has your healthcare plan.  God has your educational plan. God has your back! God wants to move your family forward.  The question is, "Are you going forward with God  in 2012?"

Philippians 4:6-8;19
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Brother Clarence
www.godlyking.com
www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Life

     Last night I spoke with a young man who will be getting married next month.  He talked about how excited he is and how  he is looking forward to spending the rest of his life with his new bride.  I am really excited and happy for him.
     Two weeks ago another friend told me that he has cancer and the doctors told him he has months to live on this earth.  You can only imagine how hard it was for him to share that with me.
     Today, my thought is simply this: Be thankful  for every day and opportunity you have to live.  Be thankful for the good and the bad.  In as much as we complain about simple things, someone has it worse than you.  Someone is going through something similar or worse than what you are going through or have been through.  As one brother is celebrating, another brother is preparing for eternal life and fighting to remain on this side of life. 
    Each day is a gift.  Each day is an opportunity.  It's time to love, live, and tell those who are dear to you how much you care about them.  Life is so precious and it should be treasured.  If  you are still here, you have time.  If you are reading this, God gave you an opportunity to live and a opportunity to correct what was wrong.  If you need to forgive; do it.  If you need to be forgiven; ask.  Don't waste another day mad or angry at someone.  Life is too precious.  Think about it....
     

Everything Has Its Time

3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

² A time to be born,
    And a time to die;
A time to plant,
    And a time to pluck what is planted;
³ A time to kill,
    And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
    And a time to build up;
⁴ A time to weep,
    And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
    And a time to dance;
⁵ A time to cast away stones,
    And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
    And a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ A time to gain,
    And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
    And a time to throw away;
⁷ A time to tear,
    And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
    And a time to speak;
⁸ A time to love,
    And a time to hate;
A time of war,
    And a time of peace.

The Great Invitation

Isaiah 55:7-8

     "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

     One of the best things about being a Christian is that God gives us all an opportunity to return back to Him.  There have been many times I left God in some way.  There were times I did  not trust Him.   There were times I did the opposite of what His word instructs me to do.  Thee were times when the Holy Spirit would be telling me something and I would ignore His voice.  There are times I did not tithe because of bills or circumstances.  No matter how you look at it, I left God.  My state of mind was not trusting in God.
     The text this morning is clear.  If you have gone away from God, his way or his calling for your life, this is an invitation for you to return back to Him.  I thank God for his mercy!  I thank God for his grace! I thank God for giving us chance after chance.  I thank God for repentance!  The scripture tells us that if we return to Him he will have mercy and abundantly pardon us.
     Our state of mind has to believe this.  If we are living in the flesh, we will need forgiveness  and God's mercy because none of us  are perfect and none of us are without sin.  It doesn't matter what you have done or if you are in sin right now.  The great invitation is here for you and me....Return back to God because He never left you and is waiting on His child to come back to Him.

Brother Clarence
www.godlyking.com
www.godlykings.blogspot.com