Let's Get it Started

Philippians 1:6 “Being Confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” KJV

God is in the business of beginning Good works. Don’t be afraid to allow God to begin a good work in you- to save, deliver, take you higher, revive, or do something special, unique, and awesome in your life.  And regardless of what you are going through, or the problems you are dealing with, God is able to begin a good work in you. But you first have to initiate the start. Without question, finishing is better than starting. And the end of a thing is better than its beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8). But in order to finish, you first have to start. And to complete a work, one must first begin. So let’s get it started.

God is the energy source behind gifts that begin good works. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  I have been blessed to start a few things in my life: From my educational goals, my family, my business, my ministry along with several other projects. And I have come to realize that starting something is never easy. Allow me to make three brief observations about starting:

1. Don't start none won't be none. Excuse my slang, but if you don't start the project or business, it will never happen. The world needs your contribution. Otherwise, you will be left saying "woulda, shoulda, coulda" as time passes and the world will never have the pleasure of experiencing the thing you were supposed to start.

2. Despise not the day of small beginning (Zechariah 4:10): Don't look down on the situation just because you are small, and have little resources. Don’t be embarrassed because of where you are right now. Keep working at it. Everybody had to start somewhere.  Be glad for what you have and the ability and resources God has given you.  And move forward to initialize your start.  Little becomes much when placed in the Master's hand.  .

3. Remember, It’s not how you start but how you finish: It might be a small start or a slow start but at least it’s a start. Everybody had to start somewhere. Many are afraid to start small so they fail to start at all. And the finished product is never reached. The quickest way to the finish line is the start.

So let’s get it started. Where would the world be if ordinary individuals cease to start their great things. What if Alexander Bell never started his invention of the telephone or Thomas Edison never started his improvements on the light bulb. God begins good works by showing individuals a better way something can be done, or by revealing a new idea, a fresh approach, or an innovative technique. So don’t allow the barrier of the "Three Ds" (distractions, delays and discouragement) to hinder you from beginning the good work God has placed in your heart.

So let's get it started. Step out on faith and go forth in your destiny.  The key is to trust God and lean on his word knowing that he is able to perform the good works he has placed in you to accomplish. The time is now to write your book, produce your music CD, launch your business, start your ministry, pursue your educational goals, begin your new career. And as you start and seek God, He will perform it. God has a performance measurement that is unmatched and a record that is undefeated. For with God nothing shall be impossible. So in the words of the famous Boxing Announcer Micheal Buffer, "Let's Get Ready to Rumble."  Put simply, Let's get it started.

Don't Stop Dreaming

Genesis 37: 5 “And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.” On the surface, Joseph’s dreams seem to suggest a mere symbol of leadership over his brothers and his parents. However, the reality of his dreams would prove to be far greater than the limitation of his father’s house. Such is the case with all who dream. For when we dream, we go beyond the boundaries of familiar surroundings into the possibilities of unknown greatness.

Perhaps Henry David Thoreau said it best: “Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.” Allow me to make five observations regarding this scripture text that relate to pursuing your dreams.

1. Don’t Let your haters distract you from dreaming: Joseph’s brothers hated him not simply because of the favor of his father; they hated him because of his dreams. But despite their hatred, he yet dreamed another dream. Even when others are critical of your aspirations and your vision, dream on. But be careful with whom you share your dreams. Joseph was cast into a pit, sold into slavery, accused of rape, and served time in prison, but the dream still lived.  People who are envious, and jealous of your talent, and ambition will often attempt to block your dream. However, with God on your side, it really does not matter.

2. Dream big: Joseph’s dream was huge. Your dreams should be bigger than what you can presently accomplish, bigger than what you qualify for right now. Your dream ought to make people laugh and shake their head as if they are not taking you serious. So in the midst of setting goals and facing obstacles, hang your hat on the loftiness of your dreams.

3. Be excellent and righteous in pursuit of your dream: Despite his barriers, Joseph was promoted to the head of Potiphar’s house and even while in prison he managed the entire facility. Also, be sure to maintain integrity and truth in pursuit of your dream. Joseph was placed in an uncompromising situation when his boss’s wife pursued him daily for sexual intercourse. But he maintained his integrity despite the consequences and refused her advances. Don’t lie, cheat, steal and kill to realize your dream. It will always come back to you.

4. Live to build toward your Dream: From Potiphar’s house, to the prison, God placed Joseph in a position to learn the skills needed to manage the kingdom of Egypt. Place yourself in a position to obtain the necessary resources and skills to make your dream a reality.

5. God is Faithful to bring your dream to pass: As we bring the story of Joseph to a close, it just so happened that when the Butler remembered Joseph, they lifted him out of prison to offer an interpretation for Pharaoh’s dream. And Pharaoh just so happened to make Joseph second in command in the land of Egypt. And it just so happened that Joseph was overseeing the distribution process when his brothers arrived in Egypt to buy corn. And it just so happened that they bowed down themselves before him with their face to the earth. Joseph’s dream became a reality. It may not happen overnight, but determination, hard work and faith in God can bring your dreams to pass. 

Finally, the Bible says in Proverbs 18:16 "A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men."  To the extent that we are more than conquerers through Christ and we can do all things through his strength, God is more than able to help you accomplish your dream.  In fact one of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit as stated in Joel 2:28 "....your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."  And as we put God first in our lives, He is able to make our dreams come true.  So don’t stop dreaming.

The Heart of the Matter

I Samuel 16:7 “...for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

In this passage, the prophet Samuel was sent to Jesse’s house to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be King of Israel. And Samuel expressed excitement when he saw Eliab and assumed he was God’s chosen because of his appearance. So God advised him not to look on the outer appearance because God considers our heart.

Truth is, the heart of person is the essence of who they are. It is not how someone looks, or the clothes they wear, the house they live in, or the car they drive that depict the true measure of a human being. The heart of a person is the essence of who they are. From what we speak to how we behave even down to our deeds are said to be a reflection of one's heart.

The heart is not simply the main vessel in the human body from which blood flows. It represents the mind of one's soul. And is the key ingredient of our conscience. The feelings and emotions of a person come from the heart. There are a lot of phrases we use on a daily basis that refer to our heart.

When someone consistently carries out acts of kindness and behaves nicely, we say that they are "good hearted." In the field of sports, when a player wants his/her teammates to demonstrate more determination, he/she  encourages them to "show some heart.” When someone is very sensitive about things, we say “Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve.” And when someone we love hurts us or leaves us, we refer to it as having a broken heart.

In the spiritual realm, matters of the heart are very important: The book of Jeremiah helps put things in perspective- Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

There are certain blessings granted to believers and certain favor withheld from others based on if our heart is right with God. Here are five things every believer should do when it comes to matters of the heart:

1. Believe in your heart (Romans 10:9-10) that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

2. Trust God with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding

3. Hide the Word in your heart. (Psalms 119:11) “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”

4. Seek God for a clean heart. (Psalms 51:9-10) “Create in me a clean heart Oh God and renew a right spirit within me.”

5. Don’t worry in your heart. (John 14:1-2). “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions.”

Finally, as we respond to God in the proper way concerning our heart, God will reward us with a deeper relationship with him. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8 "that only the pure in heart shall see God." And if we delight ourselves in the Lord, he will give us the desires of our heart (Psalms 37:4). As it relates to serving God, this is the heart of the matter.

Daily Bread

One of the lessons that Jesus teaches in the Lord’s Prayer is a request that God will “give us this day our daily bread.”(Matthew 6:11) Thank God for daily bread weather its food, or any other basic need like shelter, or clothing.

We serve a God who is a great provider and he specializes in meeting the needs of today. So I have come to realize that in the midst of making plans and setting goals, and throughout the course of having dreams and desires for a brighter tomorrow, it is most important to trust God to meet your needs today.

I have also learned not to worry about tomorrow but to focus on what God can do for me right now. Feed me today; Meet my financial need today. Deliver me today; heal me today. Bless me today Lord. Give us this day our daily bread.

In these difficult economic times, there is a great deal of fear and stress among many over the future. Sometimes tomorrow’s prospects can appear bleak and depressing with financial despair, termination of employment, failed business, broken relationships, home foreclosures, and failing health looming in the forecast.

But we must resist the temptation to worry about tomorrow and instead focus on how we can get through today. So hang in there and survive today. Press on and be strong today. Give God the glory and have faith today.
Getting through the current day strengthens your chances to make it tomorrow.

When God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, he fed them every day with manna from heaven. But they were only supposed to gather enough manna to get them through the day (Exodus 16). If they took more than a day’s portion it would spoil (with the exception of the Sabbath day). Just as with the Israelites, God wants his people to learn to trust him to meet the needs of today.

So “give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matt 6:34 MSG Bible) And if he cares for the sparrow-I know he watches over me: Today.

All of You

God wants your all. He is not simply interesting in part of you, some of you, or a piece of you. God wants all of you. So time is out for half doing, half stepping, and half living for God. He wants your full 100% commitment.

To give your all to God does not mean that you must talk about the Bible 24/7, act super spiritual, and preach to everyone you see. However it does require that you make God the top priority in your life and first in all your decisions.

In his response to a religious leader in regards to the greatest commandment, Jesus provides a direct answer by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “that you love God with all of your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” It is interesting that Jesus actually ranks the scripture. Many would suggest that all of the Biblical commands are equally important without any scripture being higher than the others. Yet Jesus ranks this passage as number 1, above the Ten Commandments, above other principles shared in the Gospel or the Epistles.

This is the greatest commandment because it acts as an umbrella passage of scripture in that if you do this commandment- all of the other scriptural commands fall under it. The fact that this is listed as the greatest commandment also suggests that it is God’s greatest expectation and greatest area of judgment for our souls.

So we must give God our all in every aspect of our lives. God deserves all the glory and all the praise. He expects us to obey His Word and to live Godly. And yet even in our routine activities, God wants us to do our very best in our homes, on our jobs and in how we treat others.

Finally, as we give God our very best, remember that God has already done so for us knowing “that he that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) God wants our worship and our praise because at the end of the day His requirement is simple; His expectation is a basic one. God’s ultimate desire can be summed up in these three words: All of You.

Fabulous Fathers

Let me began by giving a Shout-Out to all dads who are making a difference in the lives of their children. In these days where dead beat dads are common, good fathers should be celebrated and encouraged. And despite all the negative reports we hear in our community and demeaning fatherly figures on TV, there are a great deal of positive father figures to be recognized and appreciated. I call these: Fabulous Fathers. In fact, allow me to high light two fabulous fathers in the Bible.

Consider Abraham: Abraham (father of Isaac) is known as the father of many nations. As a man, he staggered not at the promises of God but believed God and was counted to be righteous. Yet even before the birth of his sons Isaac and Ishmael, Abraham served in a fatherly role to his nephew Lot.

When the land that they dwelt on was too small to hold both of their livestock, Abraham gave Lot first choice. He essentially said, you pick and I will take what is left. (Genesis 13:9) When Lot moved to Sodom and was taken captive by foreign Kings, it was Abraham who rescued him. Later when Sodom and Gomorrah was set to be destroyed for their wickedness, Abraham pleaded with God to show mercy.

Fabulous fathers help their children financially and are willing at times to place the need of their family/children before their own. Fabulous fathers are protectors and are quick to come to the rescue of their children when they are in trouble.

Consider the case of the Merciful Father of the Prodigal Son as shared by Jesus (Luke 15:11). After the younger son requested his inheritance and wasted it on riotous living, he came to himself while feeding the pigs and returned to his father’s house ashamed and humiliated.

But the Merciful father saw him afar off, ran to him, had compassion on him, kissed him, put the best robe on him, placed a ring on his finger, killed the fatted ram and threw a party for his youngest son. But when the oldest son came out of the field and saw that there was a party, he was upset. So the father came out to him and entreated him and told him all that he had was his (the oldest son).

Fabulous fathers celebrate the restoration of their children and do not hold grudges from past hurts or play mind games. In addition, these dads are able address and reconcile hurts between siblings and give fair treatment to all.

Finally, being able to make a baby does not make a man a father. But being involved in the lives of your children, providing for them financially, training them to treat people right and love God, and giving them good sound advice are keys to make any man not simply a good dad, but a fabulous father.

Salt Shakers

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

One of the primary traits of a Christian is to be a salt shaker. The main role of a salt shaker is to spread salt throughout the earth. In this passage, Christ could have referred to Born Again believers as gold, silver or any other precious stone. But he chose salt. Perhaps this is because of the impact that salt has on its surroundings. With more than 14,000 known uses, salt has direct and indirect affect on its environment.

From a Historical Perspective, the early Greeks placed great value on salt. In fact the saying “Not Worth his Salt” was taken from the Greeks as they once traded slaves for salt. The Romans also paid their soldiers with salt. They referred to the process as salarium, a word that proved to be the forerunner of the English word for salary. Not to be outdone, the Egyptians used salt in the preparation of Mummies.

Salt has also had a major role in the history of the Bible. In Leviticus 2:13 God commanded that the meat offering "shall be season with salt and with all the offerings unto God that salt shall be offered." In Genesis 19: 26 Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt when she turned back to look at Sodom.

And in 2 Kings 2:20 Elisha healed the waters of Jericho to conquer the bareness of the land by using salt. And of course there is Jesus who said "Salt is good." Luke 14:34 Therefore as Christians, we must be salt shakers and make a difference in our communities.

The following list 7 Ways that Christians are like Salt:

1. Salt has a healing component. Epson Salt is used to cure tired and sore feet. In warm water, salt can relieve sore and bruised gums. Just as we are healed through the stripes of Jesus Christ, as Christians, God gives us power to heal through the spoken word and through the laying on of hands (John 14:12).

2. Salt is a Preservative. It preserves its environment and keeps things from going rotten. As Christians, we must allow God to use us to prevent rottenness in our communities by lifting up the name of Jesus Christ (John 12:32).

3. Salt is a De-Icer. We use Rock Salt to melt snow and Ice off our roads. For each Believer, God has called us through his grace and mercy to bring love, peace and joy to a cold and Icy world. Christ said “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if you have love one for another.” (John 13:35)

4. Salt is used to season or transform food. It adds flavor. We often delay the start of our dinner for the addition of Salt. Therefore, Born Again believers must bring flavor and seek to transform their environment through actions, and words (Romans 12:1-2).

5. Salt is an odor eater. It removes the smell of odor from onion hands, and helps prevent odors in our shoes. We need to be a sweet smelling savor for our Lord. (Ephesians 5:2) In fact, God wants his people to be an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice that is well pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)

6. Salt is a Cleansing Agent. It cleans grease spots on rugs; whitens whites and brightens colors. As the blood of Jesus cleanses our souls, we must seek to have a cleansing affect on the world. And “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

7. Salt is a Distinguisher of Flames. As Christians we have the power through the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the devil (Ephesians 6:16).

In conclusion, I am compelled to ask the question, How Salty are You? We must remember that salt must be spread and distributed. This is why Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1:8 that you will be witnesses not only in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria but in the uttermost parts of the earth after the Holy Ghost is come to give power. So as followers of Jesus, we must be more than simply hearers the word. We must go beyond knowing the Word. Christians must obey the Word of God and seek to spread the Gospel in not only what we say but in the manner in which we live. We are called to be salt shakers.