Be Careful What Follows Your But

B-U-T...Only 3 ltrs BUT such a BIG word..A negative statement normally follows it totally contrasting or contradicting the preceding sentence.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21,that "Life & Death" is in the power of the tongue. As Christians we are supposed to speak life to our circumstances, knowing that we are "Speaking Spirits" and have the power to create through our words..... In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light:and there was light.(Genesis 1:1-3)

God spoke the world into exsistence and he created us in his image..therefore we too have the power to create thru our words. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen1:26-A clause)

Many times we start out by speaking Life to our situation, then we totally negate our positive statement with a B-U-T; For example...Someone ask you how you're doing? You say "Oh I'm fine..But -I'm not sure how this is going to work out. Maybe you're beliving God for your healing and you say..Yes I'm healed But - This pain is about to kill me. What's on the other side of your BUT; Is it positive or negative? Why not place God on the other side of your B-U-T? In every instance in the Bible where God follows a "But" it totally changes the situation. In Romans 5:8 it states: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. In 1Phil.4;19 the word reads:"But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Genesis 50:20 reads: But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good;

Many times in life you may find yourself in circumstances that are unpleasant and you may feel that a B-U-T statement is necessary....Just be sure that God is on the other side of Your BUT!

Be Blessed Today

Alecia (AKA Destahnee)

What Is Your Availability???

When you're applying for a job, one of the first questions you're asked is: "What is your availability" Your employer wants to know when you're available so that he can make a scheudule out based on that availabiliy. Once the schedule has been made..your supervisor only expects you to work on the days/times that you said you were available.

There is a song entitled: "Lord I'm Available To You" It's a beautiful song and I sing it from the depth of my soul!
But what does it really mean to be available to God? Available means to be obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service; Are you accessible to God? Can he reach you? Is your heart and mind tuned in to his voice. Are you ready and willing to go where he tells you to go and do what he ask you to do?

When you are available to God, you don't have an agenda. His will becomes your will and any plans that you've made can be easily broken. Being available in "The Kingdom" is different than being "Available" in "The World." In the world, you have a choice; You tell your supervisor what your availability is and your supervisor works around that schedule. Not So in "The Kingdom. When you tell God that you are available to him..it's like being on call 24hrs a day, for the rest of your life.
God does not work around your schedule, he doesn't ask what days you can work, or when you think you'll be free. When you are available to him, you are ready any time that he calls.

Some may say "That's too much" 24/7 for the rest of your life? Unthinkable! But I say, when you understand that you were created to give him Glory,& that it's not about you anyway. You will say: Lord, Let Your Kingdom Come...Let Your Will Be Done- I AM AVAILABLE To You!

What is your availability?

Be Blessed Today

Alecia (AKA-Destahnee)

Yes...God Can Use You!

There's a song entitled "If You Can Use Anything Lord, Use Me" it's written by Ron Kenoly and when I hear it I'm always encouraged because I know that God Can use anything or anyone!

It doesn't matter where you've been or what you've done, when you give your life to Christ, God can still use you! I hope you don't think that because you've got flaws or things in your past that you're not proud of (as we all do), that God can't use you.

There are instances throughout the Bible where God uses an unlikely person to do his will.

Why don't we start with Rahab. Rahab was a Harlot (prostitute). God used Rahab to hide the Israelite spies who came to search out the land. Rahab was instrumental in setting Israel on the path to conquering Jericho and moving into the Promised Land.

What about The Apostle Paul? Paul wrote much of the New Testament, but before he met The Lord on the road to Damascus and his life and name was changed, he was "Saul" a murderer of Christians.

We certainly can't forget about King David..David sent his best man(Uriah) into battle to be killed so that he (David) could cover up the fact that he had gotten Uriah's wife pregnant.

And then there's me...Now that's a story for another time...but he's using me right now to let you know that can use anything/anybody!

So tell me...what is it so bad about you that you think God can't use you? God's love is unconditional. As human beings it is hard for us to comprehend a love like that, because we try to measure love by how much we are capable of loving. God is Love..and that's all there is too it! He so Loved the world...That he Gave...his only begotten son.

Put your life in his hands and I promise...He'll use you!

Be Blessed Today

Alecia (AKA Destahnee)

What Do You Do, When You Don't Know What To Do?

There have been times in my life, when I've just been at my wits end! I mean I just got to a point where I just didn't know what to do. Have you ever been in this place? Have you ever had to make a decision, or take a step in a new direction, and wasn't quite sure what to do or which way to go?

I believe we've all been there at some point or time in our lives. So the question becomes: "What Do You Do, When You Don't Know What To Do?"

Many times in situations such as these, people make snap decisions with no guidance or direction at all. Often times these decisions are life changing decisions that you have to live with forever. Sometimes we take the advice of friends, family other counsel that may not have our best interest at heart.

As a Child of God, there are 3 steps that I'd like to share with you, that I try to make a part of my decision making process. They are as follows:

1. Acknowledge God
2. Pray for direction
3. Wait on the Lord

Let's start with #1 "How do we acknowledge God" The first definition I found for acknowledge was that you "declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of" So first you must believe and acknowledge the person of God. The Bible states in Prov. 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Lord I acknowledge you as head of my life; You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. My life is not my own.

#2 Pray for answers/direction- Prayer is essential! As a child of God, you shouldn't be making any decisions without first praying and asking God for direction. Again the Bible tells us in Phi. 4:6 "Be careful(anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

and finally, #3 - Wait on the Lord! This is very important. So many times we pray and ask for God's help and then we don't wait on his answers. God doesn't forget that you've prayed and asked for his help. Don't be so quick to give up on God and go your own way. In Psalms 27:14 it reads: Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

I don't know what decisions you are facing today, but I do know that if you acknowledge God, pray for direction/answers and then wait on him, you will never make the wrong choice.

Be Blessed Today

Alecia (AKA Destahnee)

The Sea of Forgetfulness

Unfortunately many people today are living a life of "Condemnation". They feel as if God can't use them or will not bless them because of sins they have commited in their past.
Did you know that when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your sins became covered by the Blood of Jesus? What does that mean? It means when God looks at you, he doesn't see your sin, he sees the "Blood of Jesus" and your sin debt is satisfied.

God has forgiven you for your sins, as a matter of fact, he doesn't even remember them! The Bible says in Micah 7:18-19, Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Then in Heb. 8:12 he says "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more " God has forgotten your sins.

Why do you constantly keep reminding him and yourself of your past? He's put it out of his memory and he wants you to do the same! Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. (Isa.43:18)

If your past keeps coming before you, it's not God condemning you, it's satan controlling you. You're letting him control your thoughts. You must bring every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Christ. (2Cor.10:5). For the word states in Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

You are free from sin!

Stop Asking God to Forgive; What He's Already Chosen to Forget!

Be Blessed Today!

Alecia (AKA Destahnee)

How To Walk Thru Fire & Not Get Burned

Today as I was listening to a live Worship Broadcast on line. I started to think about how "Faithful" God has been to me over the years. He's brought me out of so many situations, many of which I thought would break me, but now some are just a distant memory.

Have you ever been in a situation that looked like it would consume you? I mean you really thought, "This is it;" "I don't know how I'm going to get out of this?" Life's challenges can sometimes bring us to the "Brink of Despair", but when you put your Faith in God, no matter what the situation, you trust him to bring you through.

There were 3 young men in the bible who were in a situation that looked hopeless. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were being put in a "Fiery Furnace" I mean a real Furnace Yall. The Furnace was so hot that it burned up the men that were throwing them into the fire. (Dan. 3:22). These young men were tied up and left in the fire to burn.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not know how or if they would get out of what they were in, but they trusted God with their situation. Three men were placed in the fire, but when thier Adversary looked in the furnace he saw four men. When we put our trust in God, he gets involved with our problems. The fourth man was "The Holy Ghost" The Holy Ghost enabled these men to walk through the fire and not get burned, & there was no smell of smoke on their clothes. In other words, unless you saw them get put in a furnace, you would never have believed they had been in a fire!

Whatever you're dealing with today; whatever the situation you are facing; Trust God, and allow him to get involved. He will cause the thing that put you into the fire, to call you out. "Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire." (Dan. 3:26)

**Father - I trust you with every situation that I may find myself in today. I have faith that no matter what I'm facing. You have the power to walk me through it.**

Be Blessed Today!

Alecia (AKA Destahnee)

Free To Worship

Last Sunday as I stood in midst of our congregation, with my hands raised and my voice lifted, I thought to myself, "How Awesome It Is To Be Free To Worship!"

When I worship, I free my mind of everything and I focus on God. I lay all my cares at his feet and I Glorify His Name. I'm not thinking about what I need to do when I get home, bills that need to be paid, people that have wronged me, nothing of the sort. I give The Lord my full attention.

I can't think of anything better than losing yourself in Worship! When you get "Lost In Worship" then you Find yourself in him.

As you begin to tell God who he is; he begins to tell you who you are.

You tell him he's "The King of Kings" - He tells You that "You're The Head & Not The Tail" - You tell him he's "Jehovah Jireh" - He tells you "You're More Than a Conquerer" - You tell him "He's The Great I Am" - He tells you - you're a "Peculiar Treasure".

Lose Yourself in Worship & Find Yourself in him.

I Am Free To Worship!

Be Blessed Today!

Alecia (AKA Destahnee)