Daily Scripture: Stand Firm

So many times we get so afraid, it feels like our enemies, our problems in life and everything else is closing in on us, catching up to us to take us over, but God says simply be still.  God will deliver you from your enemies and your problems in a way that you've never seen before.  Just when you get to a place where it look like you can't go any further, just when it looks like the enemy is surely going to catch up to you, God says be still and let me fight. When you reach a roadblock, a Red Sea in your life, know that God will deliver you, it may not be as dramatic as the parting of the Red Sea, but it will be in a way you thought was impossible. God will get you through to the other side.  Once God gets you to the other side he will wash away all of the enemies, problems, issues you felt like was closing in on and the enemies or problems you see today you will not see again. Be still and let the Lord fight for you. 

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

~Exodus 14:13-18

Good-Bye August, Hello September

August has always been a rough month for me.  It's the month that the amazing woman of God, my mother Pamela Denise Lott was born, as well as the month that same amazing woman of God and my wonderful father, Timothy Lott, Sr., became one before God, family and friends.  So for years now August has been a reminder that my mother is no longer physically with me.  August decided to stick with the trend of being a rough month this year as well.  From day 1, August 1, 2016, the month has been rough, starting with losing my grandmother on the 1st of the month, to my grandfather being placed in the hospital, to the reminders from Facebook of those I have lost in the past in the month of August, which include my uncle in 2015 and two former classmates, one in which that had been a part of life since the age 7, in 2013.  August was beyond rough this year but I stand strong knowing that what seems absolutely horrible now, and I know the hurt of the loss will always be there, but God will turn things around for good.  These hurts, these pains, God can use to strengthen me even more and use them to help build me for the glorification of His kingdom.  I stand here saying good-bye August, good-bye to what was bad, good-bye to the sadness and saying hello to September, hello to the greatness God has set before me, hello to the happiness and love yet to come, and hello to the work God is doing within me to help strengthen His kingdom.  To August, until we meet again, but just know next time around I will be much stronger, much kinder, and filled with even more God and love.  Smooches!!!

Land of the Free?

For the past week or so Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, has been the subject of many conversations regarding his decision to not stand during the singing of the National Anthem during pre-game for several football games.  Kaepernick's reasoning for not standing during the National Anthem, simple America isn't great.  Why did he say that America wasn't great, because of the much injustice that is taking place within this land that is the land of the free.  Or is it really the land of the free?

Daily Scripture: God Will Elevate You

A footstool is used to elevate your feet, or in my case I'm short so I use my wooden footstool to reach a particular object in hard to reach places. God will take what the enemy is plotting against you and use it as a footstool to elevate you to the next level. Trust the process, sit down next to God and know that God will take what is evil to elevate you to the next level. It may not seem like what you're going through right now is working for your good, but it is. Never underestimate the power of God and the things he will use as a footstool for you to step on and reach that object he wants you to obtain that seems out of reach. God will elevate you!

 “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
    making them a footstool under your feet.”

~Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:44, Luke 20:42-43, Hebrews 1:13

Daily Scripture: He Turned It

The enemy will plot and scheme against you and try to bring you down but God will take what was meant for evil and turn it around for your good.  God will take a situation that seems horrible and turn it in to something amazing.  When it seems that the enemy has you pinned against the wall and there is no way out, God will make a way out of no way.  Remember God can turn any ugly situation into something beautiful.  Hold on and trust God and know that what the enemy meant for evil God will turn it around to build your testimony.  Never lose sight that no weapon forged against you will prevail (Isaiah 54:17). 

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructionsbefore he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  ~Genesis 50:15-20

He Turned It by Tye Tribbett

Daily Scripture: Where do you have your mind set?

We as humans get so caught up in things of this earth, what's the latest trend in fashion, social scene, the world.  Who's the biggest celebrity at this time?  What can I do to be successful on earth?  Who doesn't get along with this person, and so on and so on...  But the Bible clearly states that we are not to set our mind on earthly things but on things above.  God calls us to look at the bigger picture that our outcome is not about earthly things but Godly things.  We should be so focused on things above, on glorifying God's name, that it radiates on our earthly things.  When you set your heart is on things above you know that your greatest reward is yet to come, that your success is not of this earth but comes from fulfilling what God has called you to do, loving all of God's children, and living for the glory of God.  So remember to look up at all times, even when it seems impossible to look up, keep your head up and your mind focused on things above and watch how fast things turn around, turn around to a feeling of hope instead of despair, to feeling of positivity instead of negativity.  

Keep looking up!!!

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

~Colossians 3:1-4

Daily Scripture: Are you sinking?

How many times have God called us to Him and once the winds start blowing in life and the waves of life come crashing at us that we begin to doubt?  We must learn to stand firm in our faith and know that God is calling us to Him and regardless of what life throws at us God will not let us sink or let anything stop us from getting to Him.  Stay strong, stand firm in your faith and know that God will get you through, even when the situation seems impossible and seems that you may sink.  God is a God of the impossible. With man it may seem impossible but with God all things are possible.  Have strong faith and know that God will not allow the storms of life cause you to sink. 

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

~Matthew 14:29-31