Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready....For What?!!

I was looking at one of my favorite speakers, Dr. Creflo A. Dollar, Senior Pastor of World Changers Ministries in College Park, Georgia. He is the first pastor that could make me understand the practical application of the Word and that it actually could be a life style rather then just so many words a clergyman says to a group of people just because he was hired to do it. Once I understood what was being said, I knew I could do it and not turn to the left or the right - like I have heard so many times in the past and it just didn't make sense before.

Sunday, April 8th, the message that aired was from an Easter Sunday service. Pastor Dollar began the sermon by stating that he received permission by the Holy Spirit to get up into their business (the congregants). I was intrigued, as I usually am by the message, I just never expected for him to say what he did. On Easter Sunday the sermon is as routine as it is on Christmas Sunday. Pastors who have had their ministries for any length of time almost never venture off of the script of the birth of Jesus during Christmas and His resurrection on Easter. You would think with so many people coming to church on those days that the message would be a little different in order to embrace the new comers or the novices so that they would have the desire to return through out the year.... but nope, year after year, the same thing over and over again until I made up in my mind that on those holidays when there are so many people to hear what is necessary, I decided to give up my seat seeing that I am there throughout the rest of the year. Nevertheless, this morning, Pastor Dollar began the message as expected. In describing the crucifixion and the state of Jesus' body, he told the reason why the other men had to have their legs broken and Jesus didn't. His point being, it was prophetic even before Jesus was born (Psalm 34:20 AMP). Pastor Dollar mention other things that happened in our lifetime that also are mentioned in scriptures. He then asked the question, with these things taken place, shouldn't you also be concerned that the rest of the bible will also happen as well?

It was typically quiet amongst the people. Whether they were thinking of the question asked or whether they have something in their own lives to clean up was between them and God. What wasn't expected was the direction he went after that. He spoke on sin, as most pastors would, then he got on the men. That's right, he actually said something that wasn't in the best light about the men! I was glued. The years and years I have gone to church services and heard how much women have to change this and that. If its not the way we look on the outside then its the look of our bodies. How we must accept our husband's crap and more and more and more. I don't know how some women could stand it. But this time, it finally was the men's turn. Actually, if no one else will say it, I will - it should have started there. But, with most pastors being men.....[sigh]. Seriously, view it here for yourself.

As a counselor, I have heard the frustrations of people on a continuum. In so doing, my job is to root through all of the complaints and actually try to find where all of the pain and hurt comes from. Most often, the underlying problem is not what they are complaining about. Many times there is childhood pain coming from an abusive or neglectful parent, neighbor, or family friend. If therapy is delayed, the direction of one's life is dictated by that pain in marrying the very people that caused the pain subconsciously or deliberately thinking that it's normal to be abused or treated with little to no respect. If the therapy is in church services hearing the Word in order for the person to straighten up, stop treating people like a day old newspaper, and turn your life around - then so be it. Its cheaper and it has more benefits (Isaiah 32:17 KJV). Its just putting the blame on someone else for the shortcomings of one person has to stop (Genesis 3:11-18 KJV). A child might be able to get away with that because of his/her lack of resources and life experiences - not a grown man or woman in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10 KJV).

Life comes with many decisions, yet for the born again believer the decision remains to be the same - life. When ever there is a choice of two or more things set before you, the answer is life. Case in point, you have three colors to choose from to decorate your office: blue, yellow, or cinnamon. What color should you choose? The one that is your favorite? The one that your boss likes? The one that will make the girl or guy you are trying to impress like you? Or the one that will cause the customers you serve feel relaxed when making their decision to use the company? What do you do? Who will you seek in finding the correct answer? Answer: you seek the giver of life - Jesus. In praying and acknowledging Him first, you are keeping life, abundance, joy, peace, and righteousness at the forefront. Success is eminent.

The message Dr. Creflo Dolllar came with, was much needed - for the women as well as for the men. It was like the spiritual food doesn't have to be diluted anymore. There is more then just a handful of us that can actually chew on the meat of God's Word and the vegetables are quite tasty too. Finally...finally....finally! Change has to take place with servings like these. Fighting the good fight of faith emerges power before, during and so much more afterward - if you stand. Because like it or not, being ready or not - Jesus is coming!

38 Years!

Seriously? What takes 38 years to do?

I was thinking on this particular scripture while getting ready for work and got so irritated at the man waiting at the healing pool for the angel to come and stir it up for him to be healed. I wondered about that man sitting there day in and day out for his moment. When was his moment about to happen? Thirty-eight years, he's had this affliction While some ministers would take this message and run with being diligent in the process of patience, I just don't see it that way. What was this man doing in that time that he was by this pool? He had to eat during that time. He had to sleep. He had to maintain with bodily functions. How did he do that? So why didn't he fight for his position? Aside from that, there were others that came and saw him year after year. He told Jesus that every time he would try to get in the pool, someone would jump in before him. So why weren't any of those people considerate enough for this man to have his turn? What was he thinking during that entire time? Did he get discouraged? Did he complain? Did he talk about others that passed him by? What was his attitude during that time?

I ask these questions because God is good. He would not frustrate His children. The Word tells us this over and over again. If your father in his evil ways would have good gifts for his children, how much more so would your Heavenly Father (Matthew 7:11 KJV)? The Word tells us that God tempts no man to evil (James 1:13 KJV). To complain would not promote righteousness, therefore it is evil and not of God (Philippians 2;14-15 AMP).

A woman bought a house and claimed it as "a starter home." She believed God for her dream house when the time was right. During some years, the neighborhood changed and the woman continued to wait on God  for the house of her dreams. Over 30 years passed. She became frustrated when anyone asked about her dream house. Her reply went from, "God will provide" to "I just don't care anymore." In all of that time as the woman continued to reside in that "starter home" she blessed others when it was befitting of her. She faithfully gave her tithes and her offerings. She thought of herself as being diligent with the small things God gave her to do. She would even go through other neighborhoods and watch the various houses that she would like to eventually reside in. Funny thing though, she never went through the same effort as she did when purchasing her "stater home". She never contacted a Realtor, did the research for the marketing prices of the homes, never looked into better locations, as she did when getting "the starter home". If the wait is extraordinarily long, the problem isn't what is God doing, its the consistent efforts in the one waiting.

What are you waiting for? What perfect work is patience doing for you (James 1:4 AMP)? Did you ask? The Word tells us about a farmer. He has patience for the seed sown to sprout up for the harvest he is employed to care for. The farmer is fully aware of the kind of seed sown and the state of the earth the seed was sown into. He is aware of the best conditions in which to sow the seed, otherwise his time of employment would have been for nothing. He expects for his harvest to be great. He has every reason to. He studied. He did the necessary research for his expectations to be met.

I have a number of things that God has called me to do. I was taking a certain amount of classes and other matters were doing well for me and then without warning - things came to a screeching halt. I didn't know why and it was extremely unnerving for me. I went before the Lord in prayer and what I believe I heard in my heart was about these two textbooks. These books were from a class by which the professor teaching didn't go over line by line nor had the students read for lecture or assignment. At the end of the term, he said for the class to read the books on our own and it would be to our benefit. Then he expected for all of the students to say in unison that we would. I felt like a child in Sunday School. We all said it and moved onto to the next semester. Still, Christian teaching isn't like secular especially when you are called to do a work. There isn't any such thing as skipping steps and making short cuts. The one called needs every single morsel to be effective in the calling. I kept looking at those 2 textbooks on my book shelf considering on reading them through eventually. Only, the next semester for me was like trudging through spiritual sludge. I had the worst time getting the classes and materials for the next semester and even when I did, it was the wrong things. I expected a full refund because classes had already begun and expectations were already assigned to the students. I was so behind. Not to mention that favor with men, governments, and on my job was at a stand still. People who normally treated me with high regard were now being disrespectful. Still with all that was going on, those books were not upper most on my mind. I missed the next semester. Money wasn't what it could be for me to attend classes. It was pretty rocky the semester after that and after that until I was seeing those that had no education were not only getting their degrees, they also completed their graduate courses. Now, I was getting not only frustrated but angry. I went before the Lord because it had to be somebody's fault and I know I was doing all that I knew how to do to be right. So if it isn't me or anyone else I know... then Lord....what's going on? I wouldn't get an answer but so happened to open my eyes from prayer and looked directly at those same 2 textbooks. When was I ever going to honor the answer to the question that anointed teacher asked of us all? I had to break the spine of that material to get back on the path I was assigned to.

This blog is to answer the questions that many of us have over the years of our own personal Christian walk. We either have come to a cross road and wonder which path to take or we have taken a path and wonder why there isn't as much blessing as there once was. We have made mistakes and don't realize how simple life use to be until much later. In asking the question: what happened, Lord? Or, is this all there is? Or, what's taking so long? The answer will invariably be something we did from habit or not thinking that it was too big of a deal to even consider. What we do know is that those small foxes that spoil the vine will cause production to ceased. That man at the healing pool frustrated me because all that he needed was right there and he waited for so long without doing anything. He could have built a fortress, devised a way to keep people from going in before him, he could have been right at the edge so that when there ever was a stirring he was automatically first. He could have thought of anything to do but just sit there for 38 years. He found a way to eat, sleep, and to have shelter. The same is true for my situation. All that I needed was right there. It was in front of me. All I had to do was open the book and read it. How simple was that?

The Word tells us that we are like trees planted by the rivers of living water (Psalm 1:3 KJV). The water is right there for the trees to have as much sustenance as the roots can hold. There is no need for the trees for anything. Fruit should be plentiful because of the provision. The Word tells us we also know a tree by the fruit it bares (Matthew 7:16 AMP). If the water is there and the tree continues to stand, what fruit should we see coming from you? Is the fruit obvious or are you waiting on the Lord to do what you can do for yourself? At the cross, Jesus said, it is done. The Lord is expecting a harvest. That sounds like the next move is on you. Selah.

Training

I recall a song when going to church at a young age. Whether the title is the same as the lyrics, I don't know; however the lyrics went something like this:

I'm a soldier, in the army of the Lord. I'm a soldier, in the army. You don't know like I know, what He's done for me. You don't know like I know, what He's done for me. I'm a soldier, in the army of the Lord. I'm a soldier, in the army.

I had no idea what I was singing. It was catchy and easy to remember. It wasn't until many years later did I realize about the army and the waging of war that continues - even now!

Its a scary thing to go off to battle to fight something that you have absolutely no idea who it is and where it is coming from. Ministers preach with the knowledge and assumptions that people coming to service will get it once they get into being faithful and with diligence. Its just that it takes time for each and everyone of us to get there. Personally, hearing about some all out war that we all have to be in, was something I didn't want to do. War? Who willingly signs up for that? I have a job, car, bills, a house and family to raise! With all of that I have to stand strong against a war that I might not win... oh but wait, there's another song. We win! We have the victory!

Of course, its all by faith (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). And the enemy we are fighting, we can't see. And the weapons we use, we can't see either. But the war, we can see that.

This might be academic for some people, but others are just going through the motions so they won't go to hell in the end. They figure if they keep going to church services and volunteer now and again, the pastor will be happy. And if the man of God is happy with your services, then God will be too. Here's a news flash: that is a lie (Colossians 1:10 AMP). The man of God has a task to complete like the rest of us. He has to maintain the a church with the flock well fed. How he gets this done is the guiding of the Holy Spirit. If there is a willing participant to fill the position that needs to be done, so be it. Then he moves on to the next thing that needs his attention. He's doing whatever he has to do to be pleasing to God as well and its not coddling every person who is trying to impress the pastor. Eventually, the diligent, faithful church goer is going to have to get there like the rest of us and establish a relationship with God. He is the heavenly Father that created all and knows all and is at the ready to hear whatever it is you have to say. No one else is there like that but Him.

I know of which I am writing. When I was going through a hard time, I was awakened in the middle of the night by the thought of what could happen to me and my family. It was terrifying and I just couldn't calm down. So I called a friend of mine to talk to or just pray with me (Proverbs 27:17 KJV). We have prayed before and we have had discussions to where I was praying for her. It was our thing to do and we did the same for others. Granted, it was late at night, but isn't that what friends are for? I called her and it immediately went to voice mail. I tried again and the same thing happened. Instead of waiting for it to be a reasonable hour, I called a prayer hotline and got the comfort I was seeking. Later, I called this friend and asked what does she do with her phone at night. She said she turns it off so she can get a good night's sleep. I learned, not to use the term, friend as loosely as I did.

What if you are wakened in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep? What is it that you do? Do you study the Word? Turn on the T.V.? Go get something to eat? Why not a talk with the Lord? Did you ever think it is why you were wakened? I have heard testimony of people being awakened in the middle of the night. They knew it was the Lord and they whined when they found what time it was. As if it was more important for them to get those few more hours of sleep then in talking with the Judge of all (John 5:22-27 KJV).

The lesson learned is that people are going to do what they think is best for them. Believers in Christ have to realize that each and everyone of us have our own finger prints. We are unique individuals and what I can comprehend may not be the same as what someone else perceives. Someone else or even myself will not digest the same information in the same way. I don't expect much from those who are not in the faith. I have got to the place that the name calling that is done in the school yards is not that much different when you become an adult other then the tougher skin. I understand that those who have no idea where they are going when they leave this earth are afraid and will do whatever they must to make themselves feel better. This is the definition of a bully. As a child, the first reaction to the attack is to be afraid, cry, run, and if it comes to that, defend yourself. As an adult having established who I am in Christ, the tactics are completely different. Because I know what is the right thing to do through Christ Jesus, my feelings are in tact, the bully has much to process for the rest of his/her life, and I have pleased my Heavenly Father - once again.

Adults who believe, do not react in the same way as children. We use our weapons that were given at the point of salvation (2 Corinthians 10:3-4 KJV). We are at the ready and on the look out for those that need the help whether they know it or not. We wake at the wee hours of the morning for a reason. We sacrifice in one way to be strengthen in many other ways. There is a battle to be fought and those who have made Christ their Lord, have received their assignments. Its nothing like I use to believe that the war was (1 Samuel 17:47 KJV). Its been such a journey and in thinking where I was when it began, I can smile and thank God for it. Am I being cryptic? No, all that would like to know what the battle is, is written in the Word (2 Corinthians 10:1-7 KJV). It is why when I write these posts, I do so with the Word of God in mind. Click on all of the highlighted portions and allow God to speak to you through His Word.

Note: I will plainly write, when you wake early in the morning and don't know why, pray. For the Word of God tells us that Jesus will come like a thief in the night. When we wake to pray in those times, we are making it a habit. He is training us to be ready for His arrival. When T.D. Jakes got the message from on high and preached for a good many years, Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready, it was rhema.