Get 2 Steppin!!!!

MAKE MOVES!

1 Samuel 30:6

6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

He took his first steps and then he started running! There are several experiences that bring a smile to a parent’s heart. One of which is seeing your child’s first steps.

When my son first started walking, he would fall after a few steps then reach for me to help him up. Now that he is getting the hang of walking – he has a bit more confidence.

It’s bitter sweet though! When he gets tripped up and falls, instead of looking for my hand, he gets into a crouched position and slowly rises back to his feet. Before you know it – he is on his way again!

Life has obstacles that trip us up too. Whether the obstacles are physical or internal – right when we get going we find ourselves on the floor.

As Christians it is good to surround ourselves with individuals who will stand by us and help put us back on our feet. The bible says in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

But just the same, you have to study the bible for yourself and develop a real relationship with your God. It is in those moments when you can’t find a friend that you will realize that God sticks closer than brother.

That is the intestinal fortitude or GUTS you need to rise back to your feet, by yourself, and as Martin Lawrence used to say – “Get tuh STEPPIN!”

Every now and then my son still reaches for me when he falls. As you get stronger in your faith stay connected with others – you never know when you will need them. And, just as you were helped, you must in turn help someone else!

They don't fit

1 Samuel 17:38-42
New King James Version (NKJV)
38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.

The other day my brother and I traded shoes. He put on my Nike's and I put on his Lucchese boots. The boots were made from the underbelly of an alligator and dyed a deep jet black.

I felt taller, powerful, stronger, and fancy!

Then, I tried to walk. Each step hurt worse than the one before. Assuming there needed to be some time for adjustment, I kept walking.

It never got better!

Although we wear the same size - they didn't fit!

The bible teaches us that God orders our steps! As much as people may try to clothe you in their perception of what your identity may be - it will never work out.

As a parent we can not make our children fit our mold - we must lead them according to the gifts God has given them.

David told king Saul after a few steps in the kings armor, "this isn't for me!"

David was more victorious being who he was than what he was asked to be!

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr Seuss

You Can't Have It!

ALL MINE!

John 10:28-29 (NKJV)

28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

I was told that the more pacifiers (binkys, passies, nuks, mouth-plugs) I had the easier it would be to find them and keep my child content. Even though the goal was for him to grow up without a dependency on the pacifier – my patience was weaker than the strength of my goal.

My son has several pacifiers in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. He has gotten so used to his multiplicity of pacifiers that he frequently carries two with him. At random he will put one in his mouth then switch to the other without ever putting one down. I tried to remove the pacifiers from him. It would have been easier to wrestle a piece of steak from a starving pit-bull.

I believe that Jesus is just as passionate and protective of you! He loves you so much that he made the ultimate sacrifice of His life so that you can enjoy a limitless future and residence with Him upon death.

He rejoices when more children are added to His hands, but he never plays favorites. Each child gets their turn to not only hear from His lips but to also speak into his ears for as long as they want.

Lastly, His love is personified in the fact that He will fight for you! He refuses to allow anyone or anything to remove you from His presence. God made the declaration in Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me”. Then, to coincide with that confirmation, you can stand on Romans 8:31 which states, “…If God is for us, who can be against us?”

I don’t know about you but that is a strong cup of confidence. Out of all the protection in the world, I will take Jesus. This affirmation is proof that you are forever loved, protected, and empowered to be EVERYTHING you were created to be!

You are the property of God! So tell the devil, the haters, the bad addictions, and the negativity - YOU CAN'T HAVE ME!

Tell the Lord Thanx!

Thank ya!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

A universal theme during this season of turkey and dressing is the aspect of being thankful. Many people will sit around their dinner tables salivating over their meal while waiting for each individual before them to profess the items they are thankful for.

In these three impacting verses of 1 Thessalonians, we learn a powerful lesson.

Our lives require constant communication. We cannot relegate our conversations with Christ to only good or bad days.

As full out followers of Jesus we must communicate consistently!

When we grasp the concept of talking to Him in the midst of EVERY situation we gain better insight and focus. People often stay lost when they aren’t listening to the leader!

I was told a story about a young boy who was born with a severe immune deficiency that forced him to grow up in a bubble isolated from the world. The only thing that could save him from that bubble was a risky bone marrow transplant. Before he received the transplant they asked him what he was looking forward to the most. His reply was simple. “I want to walk barefoot on grass and touch my mother’s hand.”

God will help you lie down in green pastures and hold your hand through the storms.

I challenge you to enjoy life, communicate constantly, and be thankful for EVERYTHING!

Life – you may not always like it but you can always learn from it! 

The Roar of a Whisper!

I Kings 19:11, 12 NKJV
Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord .” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord , but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

There is a unique story of a teacher that had an unusual way of managing her students. Students at her school were very unruly except in her classroom. Open house was coming soon and the parents were eager to see what she was doing differently. The parents came in and sat in their children's desks. Before the teacher could begin to explain her classroom, a parent on the front row raised their hand and asked, "What do u do to make such a major difference?" The teacher reached in the top drawer of her desk and pulled out a small bell no bigger than two inches tall. She expressed that whenever she needed to get her kids attention she would simply ring the small bell. The kids had to pay attention in order to hear the bell.

As simple as the teacher's solution was for her classroom, the same solution can be applied in our everyday lives.

Elijah was told by God to get to a certain location. And although large earth rattling occurrences took place God was not audible until there was silence.

We must learn to see and hear God in the simplicity of things.

Keep listening!

God is talking - keep listening!

God speaks when u least expect it - keep listening!

A small pebble can cause ripples across a mighty lake and even a little drip can create a hole in concrete.

Are you prepared to Hear what God has to tell you? His directions may be basic but His results will be beyond compare! Go where He has sent you, a place away from the noise, and listen intently for His small but powerful voice! God has ordered your steps and is about to tell you your next major move!