“YES, GOD CAN STILL USE YOU!”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, READY TO BE USED] for good words, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP)

When David first arrived at King Saul’s palace he was a simple, unknown shepherd boy. But he had an impressive rèsumè nonetheless! God, in essence, said, ‘I saw you kill the bear and the lion; I was watching your courage, leadership, fighting ability and strength when you didn’t even realize I had my eye on you.‘ Solomon wrote, ‘A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.‘ (Proverbs 18:16). David’s ‘gift’ may have only been the ability to accurately swing a slingshot, but it opened the door to his future as Israel’s king! So even though what you’ve got doesn’t seem like much, give it to God and watch what He can do with it! You say, ‘But I’m not formally trained.‘ But All God requires is that you show up, say yes, and make yourself available! When you give God what you’ve got, He gives you what He’s got; and that alone makes your odds unbeatable! ‘But I don’t have the right credentials,‘ you say. So what? Benjamin Franklin had less than two years of formal schooling yet at 25 he founded America’s first library, at 31 he started its first fire department, at 36 he designed a heating stove that’s still in use today, at 40 he harnessed the power of electricity, at 45 he founded the nation’s first university, and at 79 he invented bifocals! He was an economist, philosopher, diplomat, inventor, educator, publisher and linguist who spoke and wrote in five languages. Chances are, you already have more education than he had when he was your age and yet look at all he was able to accomplish!

People of God, regardless of where you come from, your family structure, gender, ethnicity, age, education, employment, handicaps or even failures, you still have enough to accomplish great things!

Now, just in case Mr. Franklin wasn’t enough and you need some ‘biblical’ examples instead, here’s a few you should always revert back to when you feel unqualified or unequipped:

1…Joseph becomes the Pharaoh’s right hand man. He can interpret dreams and he saves Egypt from a famine. But before that, Joseph was two things that weren’t all that great. He was a slave and a prisoner! Yet, look how God used him and blessed him! The Bible says, “So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph’s hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted “Bravo!” Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:41-43 MSG). Not bad for a former slave and prisoner! Likewise friends, regardless of your past, you too can have a great future ahead of you. Even if you dropped out of high school; didn’t go to college; can’t find a job; battled with addictions and habits; lived in the projects; come from a broken home; and even have a criminal record! You are still a vessel that God can use! Jeremiah 18:1-6, “God told Jeremiah, “Up on your feet! Go to the potter’s house. When you get there, I’ll tell you what I have to say.”So I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.Then God’s Message came to me: “Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?” God’s Decree! “Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you…” (MSG) My favorite part? “…USE THE SAME CLAY TO MAKE ANOTHER POT…” Aren’t you glad that God isn’t like people? People will find one flaw or one crack and discard you and your entire life. But not God! He doesn’t make any attempts to replace you or use something or someone else. No, He uses the SAME old you to make you a better you! God doesn’t throw us away when we mess up, after all Jesus was a carpenter! Why would He throw away what He possesses the ability to fix?! You are never so badly damaged that God can’t repair you! And no matter what ‘labels’ people put on you (even the ones that are true), cannot hinder you from still being a work-in-progress workmanship of God’s! Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, READY TO BE USED] for good words, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP) No matter who you used to be; no matter what you used to do; God Still Wants to Use Even You! Will You Let Him?!

2…If you were a shepherd and your daily work consisted of leading a bunch of sheep around you’d probably be shocked if God not only talked to you directly and revealed Himself to you, but also told you that you were going to lead His people to the promised land! So just because you flip burgers for a living, don’t you underestimate what God can do even with that! The Bible says, “Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was important to his master, who held him in the highest esteem because it was by him that GOD had given victory to Aram: a truly great man, but afflicted with a grievous skin disease. It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naaman’s wife. One day she said to her mistress, “Oh, if only my master could meet the prophet of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease.” (2 Kings 5:1-3 MSG). Could you imagine if this no-named, imprisoned, slave girl never opened her mouth, how would the story of Naaman have ended? One thing’s for sure, Naaman would still be a Leprous Leader! In fact, she didn’t mumble under her breath either! She went straight to the Lady of the House and spoke! So if he can use Moses, with a stutter to still declare the 10 commandments, and a no-named servant girl to bless a highly named general, surely he can use you just the same, no matter what you do for a living! You don’t have to be a preacher to share the good news of the gospel, you can be a bus driver! Just imagine how many people a bus driver comes into contact with every day!? What about a janitor or teacher at a school? They come into contact with hundreds of people (young and old, and of every ethnicity) on a daily basis! Imagine if they talked about Jesus! Not to mention a cashier! And they don’t even have to turn into the early church evangelist on the job either. As a former cashier myself, I’ve watched what a kind greeting and smile can do for someone’s day. In other words, it doesn’t matter what your occupation is (or lack thereof), God can use you as long as you are available to be used! He doesn’t ask for perfect vessels, just clean ones! 2 Timothy 2:20, “Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common).” (AMP) God will use a gold or silver vessel just like He’ll use a wood or earthenware one. The importance is on the vessel being available and clean! So He’ll use you if you’re a dog walker or a police officer; a CEO or a chef; a firefighter or a mechanic; a senator or the fry cook at Applebee’s; a professor or a high school dropout; young or old; educated or uneducated; wealthy or poor; from the white house or the poor house! God has no favorites! He’ll use any clean vessel! 2 Timothy 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone CLEANSES himself from these things [which are dishonorable – disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], USEFUL TO THE MASTER, prepared for every good work.” (AMP) No matter what you do for a living, as a clean vessel, you can still work for the Lord! Yes, God Can Still Use, Even You!

3…God used Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian, but before that Gideon was nothing more than a farmer! But when it comes to sowing or reaping a plenteous harvest, no one goes looking for the CEO, they go looking for a farmer! So, don’t undervalue your gifts, talents or skill-set! The Bible declares, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29 NASB). Whatever your gifts, talents, skill-set’s or abilities, God wants to use them. And that doesn’t mean you have to be a part of the five-fold ministry! People who are orderly God can use; people who are good thinkers and strategist, God can use; people who can sow; stitch; teach; bake; do laundry; work at the bank; restock the shelves at the supermarket, can all be used by God. All you have to do is know what your skill-set is, and then hone in on perfecting it through practicing it. Truth is, we spend so much time trying to get people into a black robe and into the pulpit, that we’re no longer preparing the next generation to put on a black robe and get into the government where they can change this world for the better! Yes the church has need of you; but so does this world. We are not citizens of it, but while we’re strangers passing through, let’s use our gifts and talents to leave it better than we found it. And that means telling God, ‘use me and my gifts and talents, wherever and however you see fit!’ After all, every ounce of work I do, no matter what it is, is for You! Colossians 3:22-25, “Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.” (MSG) Let everything you do reflect that you represent Jesus in everything you do! Yes, God Desires to Use, Even You!

4…Jephthah is used by God to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Before that, Jephthah was only known as being the son of a prostitute! Listen: Don’t you dare let your past identify you! Don’t let your families’ highs or lows give you your value, or diminish it! Look at this: Ruth was a Moabite, a pagan, and yet her genealogy changes drastically with a son from her own womb: “…they named him Obed He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. “ (Ruth 4:17 NASB). So, don’t let where you started dictate where you’ll finish! If you have to start broke, just get started; if you have to start living out of your car, just get started; if you have to start right after the divorce, just get started; if you have to start with no help or support, just get started; if you have to start with the odds against you, just get started; if you have to start as you get off the bus, just get started; if you have to start while having chemo, radiation, dialysis, just get started; if you have to start with cancer, heart disease, lupus, unemployed or homeless, just get started! Think about it, everyone knew Jephthah was born of a prostitute, and yet when the people had to go to war who did they come looking to lead them into battle? You guessed it, the prostitute’s son! So no matter what your lot in life has been (you don’t have to keep living there); no matter the cards you’ve been dealt (you can play well and turn it into a winning hand)! Just Never Allow Where You Start to Dictate Where or How You’ll Finish! Philippians 3:12-14, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out to me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” (MSG); Isaiah 43:18-19, “…Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?…” (MSG) Start from wherever you are, and keep moving forward! Remember, Yes, God Wants to Use, Even You!

5…Like Moses, David was also a shepherd, but David was also just a boy! But that same little boy would defeat Goliath and he would eventually become king! So, don’t you dare let anyone limit you because of your age! Be it youngster or senior! Truth is: Joash was king at 7! (2 Chronicles 24:1, “Joash was seven years old when he became king; he was king for forty years in Jerusalem…” MSG) and the priest Aaron died at 123 (Numbers 33:39, “…Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.” MSG) So don’t you dare let anyone limit you! Remember the Word of God Declares God Can Use You and Bless You At ANY Age! The Bible Reads: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are YOUNG. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NLT). Church, use our young people in God’s service! They can do more than sing on the choir and usher. Train them how to handle the security of the building; how to count money with the trustees; teach them how to teach; how to clean the House of God; how to play an instrument; how the sound equipment functions; you can even use them to bring forth a sermonette or meditation on a youth Sunday. Don’t despise their youth! If they can learn trigonometry, they can learn theology! “Even in OLD AGE they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” (Psalm 92:14 NLT). Do not cast our seniors aside! Their wisdom; experience; knowledge; understanding; and guidance are all valuable to every generation! Don’t let them get to 65 and then try to retire them from the Lord’s Service! Joash served at 7 and Aaron served up until he turned 123 years of age! If God’s not putting time constraints on people, who are you to think you can? God Will Use Even You, at Any Age!

6…Like Joseph, Esther was a slave before God used her to save her people from being massacred! Women of God, who you were can’t stop who you’re destined to become! Eve had a hunger that cost her a garden; Potiphar’s wife had an unlawful sexual appetite; Lot lost his mate when she couldn’t get her eyes off the rear-view mirror; Delilah should’ve left the hairstyles to the professionals; Sapphira needed a financial consultant; Jezebel should’ve remained single; Tamar never recovered from her brother’s rape; and Michal didn’t value the worth of her husband’s worship! These women didn’t get to redeem themselves, but you can! Take your past to the cemetery and start living life to the full! It’s time to fulfill your purpose! Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?” (AMP) You are still here on purpose, for a purpose, now fulfill it! God Wants to Use Even You, On Purpose!

7…Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? A famous actress? A celebrity? A great athlete? A famous politician? Nope, the mother of Jesus (Mary) was a peasant girl! Please understand greatness is not attached to Wealth, it’s attached to Willingness! “Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said…” (Luke 1:38 AMP). God is not looking for great achievements, just availability! Are you willing to let God use you? Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (AMP) Is that your declaration too? Or are you like Saul hiding behind stuff? 1 Samuel 10:22, “So they asked the Lord, “Where is he? Is he here among us?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding in the baggage.” (TLB) Is that where you are today, hiding in the baggage? When God needs your gifts, talents, skill-set, know how, ability and availability, are you hiding in the baggage? Hiding in the baggage of your past; failures; bad choices; and the like? Well today is your day to come out of hiding and leave the baggage in the past! God has need of you, Yes Even YOU!      

8…Matthew was one of the 12 disciples and wrote one of the Gospels that told about the life of Jesus. But before Jesus asked Matthew to join Him, he was a tax collector! Don’t under-value what you do from day-to-day, God is still watching, and He’ll call you and use you even while you’re doing your little day-to-day (seemingly unnoticed) job! Nothing you do is irrelevant, no matter how little! “His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.” (Matthew 25:23 AMP). Furthermore, there are some jobs that people hate, just like that of the tax-collector. Dog walkers, they stop every few minutes so dogs can poop and they can clean it up, who wants to do that? Janitors and sanitation workers have to clean up and pick up some gross stuff, who wants to do that? But when you’re faithful to do even menial, not so glamorous jobs, God blesses you even in that. So never think that God is checking your employment status to bless you or to use you. God has proven time and again that He can use anybody, anywhere! And yes, that includes you!

9…Luke traveled with Paul giving him a companion to journey with and Luke would also write one of the four Gospels. But Luke was a simple physician! But what God uses your hands to heal in the natural, can’t compare to what He’s going to use your hands to heal in the spiritual! You see, Paul was known for killing folks in the natural, but that wouldn’t compare to the resurrection power he would possess in the spiritual! The Bible says, “…Paul talked on, way past midnight…A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead. Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.”…Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive…” (Acts 20:9-11 MSG) Whether your hands cut people in the prison yard; sold drugs in the backyard; was rebellious in the schoolyard, God can still clean those hands and use them for His work and His glory! God doesn’t hold you to your past, so release yourself too! Your hands are the hands God will use to transform this world; yes even your hands!

10…Many of the disciples were just common fisherman and would go on to do God’s work. Peter is the best example as he would be an Apostle, a leader of the early church and he would write two letters in the Bible! “…Peter stood up and…spoke out with bold urgency…That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!…Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2 MSG). Not bad for a former fisherman! Believe it or not, but Great Leaders were once Great Laity! So, don’t count your fisherman status as unworthy, there’s a valuable Fisher of Men in you yet to be revealed! Remember this, some of God’s greatest preachers deliver messages every week, from the pew and not the pulpit!

The very next time you doubt whether you have enough to do a work for God or dare to under-estimate yourself, your worth and value, just remember this: Jacob was a Master of Deception; Gideon was a Self-Doubter; David was a Premeditated Sinner; Solomon was an Unwise Lover; Paul Was an Adversary; Elijah was Suicidal; Noah was Drunk; Abraham was Old; Jeremiah was Young; Timothy had Ulcers; Job Went Bankrupt With Boils; The Disciples Fell Asleep During Intercession; Isaiah Preached Naked; Leah wasn’t exactly a Beauty Queen; Naomi Lost All the Men in Her Life; John the Baptist was Beheaded at a Birthday Party; The Samaritan Woman Had Too Many of Other Folks Men; Saul was Tall; Zacchaeus was small; Samson was a Womanizer; Rahab was a Prostitute; Jonah was a Prejudiced Prophet; and Lazarus was Dead and yet God used each of them greatly! So why can’t He use even you?!

Add to that these two promises, ‘The Lord is my helper… ‘ (Hebrews 13:6 NKJV) and ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me‘ (Philippians 4:13), and you have what’s required!

Believe it or not, but YOU HAVE ENOUGH! YOU ARE ENOUGH! AND GOD DESIRES TO USE, EVEN YOU! YES, EVEN YOU! 

“You don’t have to have a great gift for God to use you in a great way.” (Joel Osteen)

“I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say ‘Yes.’” (Bob Goff)

“There are times when God wants to use you in someone else’s life; it may not be pretty or comfortable, but they need to see Jesus.” (Author Unknown)

“The more you’re willing to risk, the more God can use you. And if you’re willing to risk everything, then there is nothing God can’t do in you and through you.” (Mark Batterson)

“God is not looking for gold vessels or silver vessels. He is looking for willing vessels.” (Kathryn Kulman)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

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“Sometimes You Just Don’t Feel Like It!”

Every one of us has at least one (or truthfully many) strange friends! And I my friend am no different. You see, I have a friend who oddly enough, feels the need to remind me, every winter, “January is a bad month for me.” I thought, maybe she gets the credit card slips from Christmas, or something. But before I could ponder it too long, she says, “My biorhythms are always down in January. I feel unmotivated; everything just simply goes wrong for me in January.” Needless to say, I don’t spend a lot of time with her in January.

Well, I’m not sure about the biorhythms being the reason for a bad January, but there is an interesting new area that scientists have explored. The biorhythm idea is that our lives are significantly affected by predictable, physical cycles, intellectual cycles, emotional cycles etc. Actually, a biorhythm could be just a fancy new word for a condition that’s as old as mankind. It goes like this, “I just don’t feel like it.” Maybe that’s what we’re really talking about here. Because truth is, that’s the reason for a lot of things we do or fail to do. Simply Put, With No Scientific Babble Attached: “I Just Don’t Feel Like It.“

I guess that’s why couples promise to keep their marriage vows: “as long as we both shall live“, instead of “as long as I feel like it.” Because in honesty, “feelings change” and can you imagine if marriages ended in divorce every time a spouse no longer “felt like it?” After all, I’ve been married over 20 years, and truthfully, there have been times when I didn’t “feel like it” 20 times in one hour, one day, one week, one month and one year! Maybe that’s the reason why so many marriages, especially and unfortunately, but Christian Marriages are ending in divorce at the rapid pace they are. You see, over the years we simply alter our vows from, “till death” to “till I no longer feel like it.”

Listen, your life depends greatly on what you do on those days when you simply feel flat and fatigued. Think about it: Who would have a job if they quit every time they no longer “felt like it?” Who would Pastor the church if every minister of the Gospel closed the church doors every day they simply “didn’t feel like it anymore?” What would we do with our children if all the teachers decided not to show up at school because they “no longer felt like it?” Where would our public transportation be if all the transit workers decided, “today is just not a good day for me. My biorhythms are off this month. I’m staying home for a while, because I just don’t feel like it”. And dare we even imagine what the hospitals and clinics would be like with all the doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and nurses out for a 3 month long “I just don’t feel like it” break?! How about if all the lawyers, police, fire department, correction officers, judges, janitors, and government officials, all decided “I need a break” and stay home on the couch for the next 6 months, because “I just don’t feel like it”?! In other words, if left unchecked, that “I don’t feel like it” can grow into a terminal disease that kills you and everything and everyone attached to you!

In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, if biorhythms are accurate, I would have to suggest that Paul’s biorhythms were extremely low at the time of this letter. I don’t know whether it was a bad month in his life or a bad time, but listen to this and think about how he must have been feeling. He says, “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.” (vs. 11 NIV). Now, it may just be me, but Paul doesn’t sound like he’s feeling the greatest at this moment. I don’t think he was necessarily feeling like treating people gently and kindly…wanting to work on what needed to be done. You ever feel like that? “I just don’t feel like doing what I have to do. I don’t feel like praying. I don’t feel like being very unselfish right now. I don’t feel particularly ‘churchy’ at this moment.” And could we honestly blame him? After all, at that very moment he was hungry, thirsty, dressed in raggedy clothes, brutally treated and homeless! Now if anybody had a right to a bad day and a bad attitude it was Paul!

However, here’s how he operated. It says in verse 12, “We work hard with our own hands…” (NIV) even though he was experiencing all of that, he continued to work and the Bible continues to read, “…When we are cursed, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure it. When we are slandered, we answer kindly…” (NIV). You say, “What in the world has kept Paul functioning so victoriously when he probably doesn’t feel like it?” Because truthfully, we’ve all had days that were no-where near this bad, and yet if we could’ve thrown in the towel and walked away we would have. And many of us can be brutally honest, and admit that we did just that. But in the midst of how Paul may have justifiably been feeling, he didn’t curse, he blessed, when persecuted, he endured it, and when slandered he yet answered kindly.  I don’t know about you, but the question in my mind when I read this was “How In The World Can You Respond Like This, After Dealing With All Of That?!”

Well, I learned just a few verses up the vital key. It’s found in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (NIV). There is the word that takes over where your feelings leave off – FAITHFUL. When you don’t feel like it, you must remain faithful to the call you answered. 

Look at this same verse in a few translations:

“Now the most important thing about a servant is that he does just what his master tells him to” (TLB)

“A servant must be faithful to his owner. This is expected of him.” (NLV)

“Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].” (AMP)

“In this kind of situation, what is expected of a manager is that they prove to be faithful.” (CEB).

“The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful to their master.” (GNT).

Are you getting it? Regardless to feelings, you are charged to remain faithful!

Maybe you’re in a time right now where you just don’t feel like doing what you’re supposed to do. You started when the feeling was there, but now you feel flat; you just don’t feel like following through on your school work, or your job, or that ministry or marriage that you were once so excited about. You’ve lost your enthusiasm, your zeal, your momentum. You don’t feel like reaching out to the people in your family or your community. Maybe you feel more like withdrawing into a cave somewhere. You simply don’t feel like finishing what you started. You don’t feel like keeping your commitment or you don’t feel like taking your time away with Jesus.

You’re at a crossroads right now, and that crossroads will determine whether you’re a roller coaster Christian or a solid rock Christian. See, the difference in the people God can trust and can’t trust is that word FAITHFUL. You’ve been given a trust. Will you be faithful to that trust even when the feeling isn’t there and depend on His resources because now you don’t have any?

And what’s the big whoop about being faithful even when you don’t feel like it? God’s reward will be these words, “…Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I’ll make you ruler over many…” (NKJV) Another version says it like this: “…His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.” (Matthew 25:23 MSG). Can you imagine GOD of all people wanting to partner up with YOU and all because you were FAITHFUL when you didn’t FEEL like it?! If that’s not incentive, I don’t know what is!

You see, whether the feelings come back or not, you keep moving faithfully toward your goal. Finish the project, hang in there at the job, keep pressing on in the ministry, keep praying over your marriage. No matter what you feel like, remember the fruit of faithfulness is hearing His well done and becoming His partner!

And please believe me, this is not just encouragement nonsense, but I’ve had to force this lesson on myself many of times. It’s not easy receiving a diagnosis from the doctor that turns your world upside down; it’s stressful trying to maintain a marriage, with two spouses in leadership and raising 6 kids, and still go to church, work and school and find two seconds to say hi to each other. Working for the government is no picnic in the park, I have one job title and description and yet I have 10-20 things that have to be completed by the close of each business day. I’m proud of my education and degrees, but they did not come without price (and that has nothing to do with the tuition), the long nights, and longer papers can take an extreme toll on your body, mind and spirit. Having sickly parents was hard. Having six children grow to adulthood and go in 12 different directions in life, none of which even slightly resemble what you’ve taught them, can rack the last of your brain cells! Then you have family members and friends who need counsel, advice, prayer, guidance, not to mention the church that expects you to teach them happy and preach them happier, week after week without fail! And truth is, if I listened to my biorhythms, I would have thrown in the towel on all of it years ago! Why? Because there are times when I JUST DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!

But like you, I don’t get to negotiate my faithfulness to God. I expect Him to do what He’s promised He’d do, and likewise, He expects me to do what I promised I’d do. And sometimes that requires being faithful even when I don’t feel like it. It means going to prayer when I’d rather go to bed; it means reading my Bible when I’d rather watch ‘Scandal’; it means talking to God when I’d rather get on the phone and play catch up with my girlfriends; it means working on my marriage when I’d rather pack my tools away and quit the project; it means continuing to advise my children even when it seems like the advice goes in one ear and immediately falls out the other one. It means going to work when I’d rather go to the airport and hop on a plane to ANYWHERE ELSE! It means going to the gym when I’d rather go to Baskin & Robbin! It means paying my bills when I’d rather go get those shoes I saw in Macy’s window! It means being obedient when I’d rather seek out another option!

Are you getting this? None of us are exempt! We all have moments when we don’t feel like it, yet, God requires of us His children AND His stewards to be found faithful always!

I mean truthfully where in Scripture does it say Jesus went skipping up to Golgotha? Where does it say He was laughing while carrying His cross? Where does it say His obedience and faithfulness were not painful? Where does it say He sung praise and worship songs all the way to the grave? Where does it say He stretched out His arm on the cross and loved every minute of it? Jesus had it harder than any of us ever have or ever will, YET, He remained as much human as divine. He wept; slept; ate; drank; got hungry; was thirsty; had to pray; got frustrated with the people He led; laid hands on people no one else would; restored folks; healed folks; forgave folks; delivered folks; saved folks, and still He never discarded His humanity. And neither should you!

Press on in your faithfulness to your assignment even when you don’t feel like it in your flesh! HOWEVER, you still need to know when to slow down; when to rest; when to sleep and eat, and certainly when to say no, without excuses, apologies or reasons. But even when you take a break, your break shouldn’t be so long that the Holy Ghost has to come and reset a brand new fire under you to get you back up and back to work in the Kingdom!

People of God, no matter what readings you may be receiving from your biorhythms, you remember to be faithful, even when you don’t feel like it. Faithfulness will always be rewarded! Don’t you dare come this far in God only to miss reaping your reward now! Even when your flesh feels weak, make sure your spirit stays willing!

“To that one soul reading this. I know you’re tired. You’re fed up. You’re so close to breaking but there’s strength within you even when you feel weak. Keep fighting.” (Author Unknown)

“If you’re tired, learn to rest, not quit!” (Author Unknown)

“In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All He asks is that we come to Him…that we spend a while thinking about Him, meditating on Him, talking to Him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with Him – totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of His presence.” (Charles R. Swindoll)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWordFeel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time”

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“Sometimes, You Just Don’t Feel Like It”

Every one of us has at least one (or truthfully many) strange friends! And I my friend am no different. You see, I have a friend who oddly enough, feels the need to remind me, every winter, “January is a bad month for me.” I thought, maybe she gets the credit card slips from Christmas, or something. But before I could ponder it too long, she says, “My biorhythms are always down in January. I feel unmotivated; everything just simply goes wrong for me in January.” Needless to say, I don’t spend a lot of time with her in January.

Well, I’m not sure about the biorhythms being the reason for a bad January, but there is an interesting new area that scientists have explored. The biorhythm idea is that our lives are significantly affected by predictable, physical cycles, intellectual cycles, emotional cycles etc. Actually, a biorhythm could be just a fancy new word for a condition that’s as old as mankind. It goes like this, “I just don’t feel like it.” Maybe that’s what we’re really talking about here. Because truth is, that’s the reason for a lot of things we do or fail to do. Simply Put, With No Scientific Babble Attached: “I Just Don’t Feel Like It.“

I guess that’s why couples promise to keep their marriage vows: “as long as we both shall live“, instead of “as long as I feel like it.” Because in honesty, “feelings change” and can you imagine if marriages ended in divorce every time a spouse no longer “felt like it?” After all, I’ve been married almost 20 years, and truthfully, there have been times when I didn’t “feel like it” 20 times in one hour, one day, one week, one month and one year! Maybe that’s the reason why so many marriages, especially and unfortunately, but Christian Marriages are ending in divorce at the rapid pace they are. You see, over the years we simply alter our vows from, “till death” to “till I no longer feel like it.”

Listen, your life depends greatly on what you do on those days when you simply feel flat and fatigued. Think about it: Who would have a job if they quit every time they no longer “felt like it?” Who would Pastor the church if every minister of the Gospel closed the church doors every day they simply “didn’t feel like it anymore?” What would we do with our children if all the teachers decided not to show up at school because they “no longer felt like it?” Where would our public transportation be if all the transit workers decided, “today is just not a good day for me. My biorhythms are off this month. I’m staying home for a while, because I just don’t feel like it”. And dare we even imagine what the hospitals and clinics would be like with all the doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and nurses out for a 3 month long “I just don’t feel like it” break?! How about if all the lawyers, police, fire department, correction officers, judges, janitors, and government officials, all decided “I need a break” and stay home on the couch for the next 6 months, because “I just don’t feel like it”?! In other words, if left unchecked, that “I don’t feel like it” can grow into a terminal disease that kills you and everything and everyone attached to you!

In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, if biorhythms are accurate, I would have to suggest that Paul’s biorhythms were extremely low at the time of this letter. I don’t know whether it was a bad month in his life or a bad time, but listen to this and think about how he must have been feeling. He says, “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.” (vs. 11 NIV). Now, it may just be me, but Paul doesn’t sound like he’s feeling the greatest at this moment. I don’t think he was necessarily feeling like treating people gently and kindly…wanting to work on what needed to be done. You ever feel like that? “I just don’t feel like doing what I have to do. I don’t feel like praying. I don’t feel like being very unselfish right now. I don’t feel particularly ‘churchy’ at this moment.” And could we honestly blame him? After all, at that very moment he was hungry, thirsty, dressed in raggedy clothes, brutally treated and homeless! Now if anybody had a right to a bad day and a bad attitude it was Paul!

However, here’s how he operated. It says in verse 12, “We work hard with our own hands…” (NIV) even though he was experiencing all of that, he continued to work and the Bible continues to read, “…When we are cursed, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure it. When we are slandered, we answer kindly…” (NIV). You say, “What in the world has kept Paul functioning so victoriously when he probably doesn’t feel like it?” Because truthfully, we’ve all had days that were no-where near this bad, and yet if we could’ve thrown in the towel and walked away we would have. And many of us can be brutally honest, and admit that we did just that. But in the midst of how Paul may have justifiably been feeling, he didn’t curse, he blessed, when persecuted, he endured it, and when slandered he yet answered kindly.  I don’t know about you, but the question in my mind when I read this was “How In The World Can You Respond Like This, After Dealing With All Of That?!”

Well, I learned just a few verses up the vital key. It’s found in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (NIV). There is the word that takes over where your feelings leave off – FAITHFUL. When you don’t feel like it, you must remain faithful to the call you answered. 

Look at this same verse in a few translations:

“Now the most important thing about a servant is that he does just what his master tells him to” (TLB)

“A servant must be faithful to his owner. This is expected of him.” (NLV)

“Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].” (AMP)

“In this kind of situation, what is expected of a manager is that they prove to be faithful.” (CEB).

“The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful to their master.” (GNT).

Are you getting it? Regardless to feelings, you are charged to remain faithful!

Maybe you’re in a time right now where you just don’t feel like doing what you’re supposed to do. You started when the feeling was there, but now you feel flat; you just don’t feel like following through on your school work, or your job, or that ministry or marriage that you were once so excited about. You’ve lost your enthusiasm, your zeal, your momentum. You don’t feel like reaching out to the people in your family or your community. Maybe you feel more like withdrawing into a cave somewhere. You simply don’t feel like finishing what you started. You don’t feel like keeping your commitment or you don’t feel like taking your time away with Jesus.

You’re at a crossroads right now, and that crossroads will determine whether you’re a roller coaster Christian or a solid rock Christian. See, the difference in the people God can trust and can’t trust is that word FAITHFUL. You’ve been given a trust. Will you be faithful to that trust even when the feeling isn’t there and depend on His resources because now you don’t have any?

And what’s the big whoop about being faithful even when you don’t feel like it? God’s reward will be these words, “…Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I’ll make you ruler over many…” (NKJV) Another version says it like this: “…His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.” (Matthew 25:23 MSG). Can you imagine GOD of all people wanting to partner up with YOU and all because you were FAITHFUL when you didn’t FEEL like it?! If that’s not incentive, I don’t know what is!

You see, whether the feelings come back or not, you keep moving faithfully toward your goal. Finish the project, hang in there at the job, keep pressing on in the ministry, keep praying over your marriage. No matter what you feel like, remember the fruit of faithfulness is hearing His well done and becoming His partner!

And please believe me, this is not just encouragement nonsense, but I’ve had to force this lesson on myself many of times. It’s not easy receiving a diagnosis from the doctor that turns your world upside down; it’s stressful trying to maintain a marriage, with two spouses in leadership and raising 6 kids, and still go to church, work and school and find two seconds to say hi to each other. Working for the government is no picnic in the park, I have one job title and description and yet I have 10-20 things that have to be completed by the close of each business day. I’m proud of my education and degrees, but they did not come without price (and that has nothing to do with the tuition), the long nights, and longer papers can take an extreme toll on your body, mind and spirit. Having sickly parents was hard. Having six children grow to adulthood and go in 12 different directions in life, none of which even slightly resemble what you’ve taught them, can rack the last of your brain cells! Then you have family members and friends who need counsel, advice, prayer, guidance, not to mention the church that expects you to teach them happy and preach them happier, week after week without fail! And truth is, if I listened to my biorhythms, I would have thrown in the towel on all of it years ago! Why? Because there are times when I JUST DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!

But like you, I don’t get to negotiate my faithfulness to God. I expect Him to do what He’s promised He’d do, and likewise, He expects me to do what I promised I’d do. And sometimes that requires being faithful even when I don’t feel like it. It means going to prayer when I’d rather go to bed; it means reading my Bible when I’d rather watch ‘Scandal’; it means talking to God when I’d rather get on the phone and play catch up with my girlfriends; it means working on my marriage when I’d rather pack my tools away and quit the project; it means continuing to advise my children even when it seems like the advice goes in one ear and immediately falls out the other one. It means going to work when I’d rather go to the airport and hop on a plane to ANYWHERE ELSE! It means going to the gym when I’d rather go to Baskin & Robbin! It means paying my bills when I’d rather go get those shoes I saw in Macy’s window! It means being obedient when I’d rather seek out another option!

Are you getting this? None of us are exempt! We all have moments when we don’t feel like it, yet, God requires of us His children AND His stewards to be found faithful always!

I mean truthfully where in Scripture does it say Jesus went skipping up to Golgotha? Where does it say He was laughing while carrying His cross? Where does it say His obedience and faithfulness were not painful? Where does it say He sung praise and worship songs all the way to the grave? Where does it say He stretched out His arm on the cross and loved every minute of it? Jesus had it harder than any of us ever have or ever will, YET, He remained as much human as divine. He wept; slept; ate; drank; got hungry; was thirsty; had to pray; got frustrated with the people He led; laid hands on people no one else would; restored folks; healed folks; forgave folks; delivered folks; saved folks, and still He never discarded His humanity. And neither should you!

Press on in your faithfulness to your assignment even when you don’t feel like it in your flesh! HOWEVER, you still need to know when to slow down; when to rest; when to sleep and eat, and certainly when to say no, without excuses, apologies or reasons. But even when you take a break, your break shouldn’t be so long that the Holy Ghost has to come and reset a brand new fire under you to get you back up and back to work in the Kingdom!

People of God, no matter what readings you may be receiving from your biorhythms, you remember to be faithful, even when you don’t feel like it. Faithfulness will always be rewarded! Don’t you dare come this far in God only to miss reaping your reward now! Even when your flesh feels weak, make sure your spirit stays willing!

“To that one soul reading this. I know you’re tired. You’re fed up. You’re so close to breaking but there’s strength within you even when you feel weak. Keep fighting.” (Author Unknown)

“If you’re tired, learn to rest, not quit!” (Author Unknown)

“In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All He asks is that we come to Him…that we spend a while thinking about Him, meditating on Him, talking to Him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with Him – totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of His presence.” (Charles R. Swindoll)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “Health Benefits of Hot Peppers”

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“Don’t Let the Roof Stop You!”

Mark 2:1-5, “After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that He was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” (MSG)        

This man on the stretcher was no lightweight; after all, it took four men to carry him! And with that thought in mind, I ask you, are you absolutely sure you want to be a soul-winner for God? Because if the truth be told, it’s far from light work! Winning souls brings with them everything that’s attached to them. Which means bringing them to Christ may require you to help them carry their addictions; habits; bad decisions; chaotic past; jobless present; estranged marriage; dysfunctional children; bitter loneliness; generational curses; emotional distress; physical ailments; mental struggles; financial woes; spiritual confusion; and the like.

Are you ready to carry all that they’re carrying with them?

Because some will come from broken homes; molestation; rape; desert seasons of discouragement; frustrations and depression. Some are coming from chemo; physical therapy; rehab; prison; the VA hospital; the psych ward; the nursing home; the emergency room; surgery; dialysis; radiation; the shelter; divorce court; the soup kitchen; even from under the bridge, while sleeping in a cardboard box and pushing their entire life in a shopping cart!

Are you really ready to help them carry what they’re carrying?

Please understand that this is no light-weight assignment! It’s not something you can get in and once they get too ‘heavy’ you want to get out!

Galatians 6:1-3, “Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” (MSG) The Bible says, ‘…reach out to those…” Which lets us know, THEY ARE WITHIN REACH!

Someone who so desperately needs your Jesus is within arm’s distance, right at your fingertips, will you open your arms with the same open arms Jesus extended to you (before the cross; on the cross; and after the cross)? Matthew 9:35-38, “Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!” (MSG)

Will You Be Jesus’ Harvest Hands, Even if the Harvest is Heavy?

BE WARNED, while ministry sometimes looks easy, bringing people to Jesus really consists of some hard work. Such as:

1…BEING SENSITIVE TO THEIR NEEDS: Chances are someone close to you right now is lying on a “stretcher” inwardly! Oh, they look like they’ve got it altogether, but don’t be fooled by their façade. They’re hurting, and paralyzed—and they know it! When alone they cry, “God, unless You help me, I’m finished; I’ve messed up, and I’m so tired of playing cover up; send help ASAP before my mask falls off.” Therefore, you have to be close enough, sensitive enough, to hear what they DON’T SAY! Because truthfully, some people are hurting so badly that they don’t know what to say, and others have said all they can say and can’t find anymore more words, just silent tears. So you have to go the extra mile, and be extra sensitive towards them. Pay attention to their words and actions and ask God for discernment so that you can hear what their words aren’t saying and see what their actions aren’t showing you. I’m a witness, I mastered saying “I’m fine”, when I was anything but fine. And I was surrounded by people who loved me and listened to me, but when someone keeps saying they’re fine, you have a tendency to just take them at their word and move on. Don’t do it! Why? Because I was saying ‘I’m fine’ and then drinking just to fall asleep. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ then taking pills to dull the pain. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ while going home nightly to endure domestic abuse. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ when my rapist was released from prison. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ when I received the diagnosis. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ when my marriage was on life support. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ when I didn’t have any money to feed my children and we slept in the homeless shelter. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ when mentally I had already left the church. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ while debating if maybe my third suicide attempt might finally be the successful one. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ while already in a back-slidden condition. I was saying ‘I’m fine’ while preaching; teaching; praying; quoting scriptures; leading; overseeing; training and attending bible college and seminary. In other words, their ‘I’m fine’ is not always true, and I know it for a fact, because my ‘I’m Fine, was a lie! Therefore, be patient, be kind, be loving, be comforting, be supportive. They need it even when they don’t ask for it. Philippians 2:1-4, “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” (MSG) Remember, David had Jonathan; Barak had Deborah; Mary had Elizabeth; Elisha had Elijah; Ruth had Naomi and so on. In other words, all throughout the Bible people needed other people to help them to get through their go through. And someone near you, Needs You Too! Proverbs 17:17, “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” (MSG) Therefore, Be Sensitive!

2…CARRY THEM ALL THE WAY: We want to see people set free, BUT ONLY IF IT DOESN’T INVOLVE PERSONAL SACRIFICE ON OUR PART! But that’s not how it works! Committing to bringing somebody to Jesus means BRINGING THEM THE WHOLE WAY! It means comforting, encouraging and holding them securely ‘till they get there. And all of that takes time. Which means once again, you need to exercise tolerance, longsuffering and patience. Their healing and deliverance may not come in one service, one prayer, one scripture, one sermon, one talk, truth is, it rarely does. So you have to be willing to wait it out with them. You can’t hold their hands and give a brief “it’s gonna be alright by-and-by” prayer. No, you have to fight on their behalf even when they’ve already decided to throw in the towel and give in, give up and give out. You have to make sure they get started AND get finished. It’s not about getting them to the altar, the real work comes after the altar, in their day-to-day lives where they have to learn to trust God, obey God, follow God, talk to God, lean on God, when they feel at the same time God is nowhere to be found. In other words, if you don’t see them in church, call, visit, send a letter, card, text or email. But do something! Far too often we’ll invite people to church (to support a function); but never follow-up about their souls. It’s about building the Kingdom of God; not building a big Church Audience. Then there are also times when someone does come to Christ. But then, we leave them right there. We don’t walk with them through their process of sanctification (you do remember that it is a process don’t you?) And a ‘process’ is defined as, ‘a series of actions or steps towards achieving a particular end.’ Did you get that? A Series of Steps, Not Just One Overnight Leap! Just as it took time for you, it will take time for them. A babe in Christ is much like an actual baby. They will have wobbly legs; they’ll stumble and fall; they’ll make a mess; and it’s often hard for them to communicate what they’re feeling, but be patient, they will grow if you keep nourishing them. Which is why you can’t allow them to go M.I.A. They are already at the point of giving up, which is easier to do when you feel no one cares about you or what you’re going through. So pace yourself and work with them all the way through to their deliverance and healing. It will be worth it just to know you loved someone enough to help them carry their burden and cast their cares. Proverbs 27:9, “Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” (MSG); John 15:11-15, “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” (MSG); 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, “…So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.” (MSG) Saints, Carry Them All the Way!

3…LEAVE THE HEALING TO JESUS: David cried, “LEAD ME to the Rock of safety” (Psalm 61:2). Hurting people know what they need—and so does God. So once you LEAD them there, back off a little and leave the rest to Him. You are to represent God…not attempt to be Him. Take them as far as the Holy Ghost allows, and then leave them in the capable hands of their Savior to do what you can’t do. The inside job will always be completed by the One Who resides on the Inside! 1 Corinthians 6:16-20, “…Or didn’t you realize that your body is a SACRED PLACE, THE PLACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” (MSG) Do your part as a soul winner, then let the Holy Ghost handle the rest! Truth is, too often we tend to look for outward signs of change, but Jesus addressed this paralyzed man’s inner condition (WHERE IT COUNTS MOST) before completing the outer work! “…Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” So, don’t dismiss God’s tendency to work in ways that don’t make sense to you! Isaiah 55:8-11, “I DON’T THINK THE WAY YOU THINK. THE WAY YOU WORK ISN’T THE WAY I WORK.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so THE WAY I WORK SURPASSES THE WAY YOU WORK, AND THE WAY I THINK IS BEYOND THE WAY YOU THINK. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” (MSG) Rest assured, when He starts working on them, He’ll “…keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish.” (Philippians 1:6 MSG). You simply do all that the Word of God commands us to do: Show love, be patient and kind, be longsuffering, help them carry their burden, be a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen. Wipe their tears, let them talk and vent. Always have a prayer and a Scripture. Always give them the comfort they need. And when all you can do is done, place them in the hands of the Savior, after all, there is no safer place to be to complete their healing, deliverance, recovery and restoration. Micah 6:8, “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.” (MSG)

Listen: we all have a role to play, just never confuse your part with God’s! You’re a supporting actor, HE’S the star! Leave the Healing to Jesus.

But it doesn’t stop there, listen to this: “They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head.” (Mark 2:4). When the four men carrying this paralyzed man arrived at the house where Jesus was preaching, they couldn’t get through the crowd. I reiterate, absolutely nothing about bringing this man to Jesus was easy; which is why ultimately they had to make it happen! In this situation, they had a choice to make: give up and go home, or persist and find a way through! Thank God they went with the latter and decided to climb up and dig “through the clay roof above His head.” When they finally broke through and Jesus “saw their faith, he said…‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (vs.5). Notice, Jesus was impressed by the friends bold faith and belief, but He only addressed the one brought to Him. This is Important: Always keep in mind that soul-winning is NOT about YOU! 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, “If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!” (MSG)

REMEMBER, IT’S ABOUT HIM, IT’S ABOUT THEM, IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!

So don’t look for a blessing, a merit badge, or name recognition. Just to hear Him say to the one you brought to Him, son/daughter you are healed, you are whole, you are forgiven, you are delivered, you are changed, you are free, you are saved, you have new and eternal life, all is well, is enough!

It’s always about the Savior and the sinner, not the saint!

You are doing this for their benefit, never yours! And the blessing is not yours to attain, it is theirs alone. Which means you have to make sure you crucify your flesh and move your ego out of the way. This is not the time for attention getting. You don’t need to have a clipboard listing all of the souls you led to Christ or all the prayers you’ve prayed for people or a listing of all the Scriptures you’ve shared. You don’t need to keep a record of the sermons you’ve preached that led souls into the Kingdom. You don’t need a tally of all of the souls you laid hands on, prophesied to or laid at the altar with. Just love them enough to get them all the way to Jesus, then move on to the next awaiting soul in need of direction to salvation. 

Remember: The focus is the Savior and the sinner, not the saint!

And with the sinner being so vital, you have to be determined that whatever “roof” is separating them from Jesus, know that it can be removed! How? “By you caring enough to tear it off!”

Mark 2:1-5, “After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that He was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to Him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, THEY REMOVED PART OF THE ROOF AND LOWERED THE PARAPLEGIC ON HIS STRETCHER. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” (MSG)

Don’t let any obstacle stand in your way to getting someone to Jesus! All you have to be is willing to dig for it! Listen to verse 4 in a few translations:

“When they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, THEY REMOVED THE ROOF ABOVE JESUS; and when they had DUG OUT AN OPENING, THEY LET DOWN THE MAT ON WHICH THE PARALYZED MAN WAS LYING.” (AMP)

“And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, THEY DUG THROUGH THE ROOF ABOVE HIM; AND WHEN THEY HAD SCOOPED OUT AN OPENING, THEY LET DOWN THE [THICKLY PADDED] QUILT OR MAT UPON WHICH THE PARALYZED MAN LAY.” (AMPC)

“They couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so THEY TORE OFF PART OF THE ROOF ABOVE WHERE JESUS WAS. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.” (CEB)

“And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, THEY UNCOVERED THE ROOF WHERE HE WAS. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.” (NKJV)

“But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus. So THEY MADE A HOLE IN THE ROOF ABOVE HIM AND LET THE MAN DOWN IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.” (CEV)

Note: In Palestine the houses usually had a flat roof. Stairs on the outside led up to the roof that was made of beams and boards covered with packed earth. In other words, this was not an easy job. In fact, it was a dirty job! First they had to believe in Jesus. They had to believe He alone was able to heal their friend if only they could get their friend to Him. Then once at the house they had another decision to make. Yes, Jesus is inside, and yes Jesus can heal him. But, it’s too crowded! We can’t get to Jesus and we can’t get him to Jesus. So, do we quit or strategize? After all, this is not for US personally, it’s for him. Truthfully, we’ll go to all lengths when it’s about US or OUR breakthrough. But what decision do you make when the breakthrough has nothing to do with you? Well, they decide what their friend needs is Jesus, and if they can’t get him through the door, they’ll go through the roof! Now, it requires taking stairs to get the paralyzed man to the roof. You have to get the image in your head of 4 men carrying a paralyzed man on a “…[THICKLY PADDED] QUILT OR MAT…”, while going up stairs! Then to get him to the roof and having to make another decision. Are we really going to put in the work of tearing an opening in this roof?! Because that means we have to get tools, this was not done by hands anymore than you can take your bare hands today and tear open a roof! So we have to get tools, tear an opening big enough to “…LET DOWN THE [THICKLY PADDED] QUILT OR MAT UPON WHICH THE PARALYZED MAN LAY.” Remember, the house is crowded so much so, that no one could get through the door, which lets you know how difficult it would be to get the man through a roof and to Jesus in an already packed house!

But pay attention to this:

“…THEY REMOVED THE ROOF ABOVE JESUS…” (AMP);

“…THEY DUG THROUGH THE ROOF ABOVE HIM…” (AMPC);

“…SO THEY TORE OFF PART OF THE ROOF ABOVE WHERE JESUS WAS…” (CEB);

“…SO THEY MADE A HOLE IN THE ROOF ABOVE HIM…” (CEV);

“…SO THEY WENT TO THE ROOF ABOVE JESUS…” (ERV);

“…THEY MADE AN OPENING IN THE ROOF OVER THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAS…” (GWT);

“…SO THEY MADE A HOLE IN THE ROOF RIGHT ABOVE THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAS…” (GNT);

“…THEY DUG A HOLE IN THE ROOF RIGHT ABOVE WHERE HE WAS SPEAKING…” (NCV);

“…THEY UNCOVERED THE ROOF WHERE HE WAS…” (NKJV);

“…THEY MADE A HOLE IN THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE WHERE JESUS STOOD…” (NLV)

You see, unlike us, these four men weren’t focused on the crowd, they were focused on Jesus Christ! The difficulties didn’t matter; how hard this would be didn’t matter; the fact that they would have to tear up a roof didn’t matter; the fact that the crowd was thronging Jesus didn’t matter. All that mattered to them was getting the man to the Man! And in some texts it states they made a hole or dug an opening, but I like the one that says they uncovered the roof! They were playing no games! They went to work on someone else’s behalf! And this was so important to them that they were strategic in where they tore open the roof! It was, “ABOVE JESUS; ABOVE WHERE JESUS WAS; ABOVE JESUS HEAD; ABOVE WHERE JESUS WAS STANDING; ABOVE WHERE JESUS WAS SPEAKING” THEY DIDN’T FOCUS AN OUNCE OF ATTENTION ON THE CROWD, IT WAS ALL ABOUT GETTING THE PARALYTIC TO WHERE JESUS WAS STANDING AND SPEAKING! Do you care enough about people’s salvation, deliverance and healing to TEAR OFF THE ROOF ON THEIR BEHALF, FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN GETTING THEM TO JESUS BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY?!

These men were radical in their approach. They didn’t just have faith, they had Faith In Action! They’d come to see Jesus and some dried mud wasn’t about to stop them! As they dug through the roof they knew they were only a few feet away from the answer, and they weren’t about to be put off now! Are you that determined?

Listen: No matter what you have to do today, let nothing and no-one stop you from getting souls to Jesus! They’re closer to a BREAK-THROUGH than you realize, so start digging and don’t stop till they’re face-to-face with Him!

Keep in mind: Many of them today are just a Dig from Destiny and Deliverance! So why stop now?! 

Today, enter the Spiritual Construction business and get to work! Bearing in mind of course, this is real work! So your hair, nails, clothes, car, bank account, looks, eloquence of speech, titles and positions are of no use whatsoever! Just determination to help someone get to God! They’re hurting, in pain, stretched out, weak, in need of help, in need of forgiveness, in need of a fresh start, in need of restoration, so what are you going to do about it? I’ll tell you, get your tools (The Holy Ghost, the Bible, Prayer, Discernment, the Anointing) and get to work! Your tools will help you to get past any and every obstacle, blockage, and crowd that’s attempting to box the breakthrough in! Someone, somewhere is waiting for you, so don’t let them down, unless it’s through the roof so they can get to Jesus!

Saints, DON’T LET THE ROOF STOP YOU! THERE ARE SOULS THAT HAVE NEED OF YOUR HANDS!

Listen to the rest of the story: “Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.” Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he looked now at the paraplegic), “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!” (MSG)

Now this last point might hurt, but it’s the truth. Not everyone you help is going to say Thank you! The Bible says, “…And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him…” (MSG)

People of God, you have to do the work of winning souls without the need of winning approval; validation; pats on the back; or even a thank you.

The Great Commission Doesn’t Always Come With Great Compliments and Commendations.

You do it because it’s what you’ve been called to do, not what you’re celebrated for doing. So, lead them to Jesus without looking to receive a reward for your work now. Remember, no reward here only means a great ‘well done’ reward later.

Matthew 25:23, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’” (AMP) The Message Bible reads like this, “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’” (MSG)

Matthew 6:1-4, “Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven. “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy], so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.” (AMP) The Message Bible reads like this: “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.” (MSG)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

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“Yes, God Can Still Use You!”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, READY TO BE USED] for good words, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP)

When David first arrived at King Saul’s palace he was a simple, unknown shepherd boy. But he had an impressive rèsumè nonetheless! God, in essence, said, ‘I saw you kill the bear and the lion; I was watching your courage, leadership, fighting ability and strength when you didn’t even realize I had my eye on you.‘ Solomon wrote, ‘A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.‘ (Proverbs 18:16). David’s ‘gift’ may have only been the ability to accurately swing a slingshot, but it opened the door to his future as Israel’s king! So even though what you’ve got doesn’t seem like much, give it to God and watch what He can do with it! You say, ‘But I’m not formally trained.‘ But All God requires is that you show up, say yes, and make yourself available! When you give God what you’ve got, He gives you what He’s got; and that alone makes your odds unbeatable! ‘But I don’t have the right credentials,‘ you say. So what? Benjamin Franklin had less than two years of formal schooling yet at 25 he founded America’s first library, at 31 he started its first fire department, at 36 he designed a heating stove that’s still in use today, at 40 he harnessed the power of electricity, at 45 he founded the nation’s first university, and at 79 he invented bifocals! He was an economist, philosopher, diplomat, inventor, educator, publisher and linguist who spoke and wrote in five languages. Chances are, you already have more education than he had when he was your age and yet look at all he was able to accomplish!

People of God, regardless of where you come from, your family structure, gender, ethnicity, age, education, employment, handicaps or even failures, you still have enough to accomplish great things!

Now, just in case Mr. Franklin wasn’t enough and you need some ‘biblical’ examples instead, here’s a few you should always revert back to when you feel unqualified or unequipped:

1…Joseph becomes the Pharaoh’s right hand man. He can interpret dreams and he saves Egypt from a famine. But before that, Joseph was two things that weren’t all that great. He was a slave and a prisoner! Yet, look how God used him and blessed him! The Bible says, “So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph’s hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted “Bravo!” Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:41-43 MSG). Not bad for a former slave and prisoner! Likewise friends, regardless of your past, you too can have a great future ahead of you. Even if you dropped out of high school; didn’t go to college; can’t find a job; battled with addictions and habits; lived in the projects; come from a broken home; and even have a criminal record! You are still a vessel that God can use! Jeremiah 18:1-6, “God told Jeremiah, “Up on your feet! Go to the potter’s house. When you get there, I’ll tell you what I have to say.” So I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot. Then God’s Message came to me: “Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?” God’s Decree! “Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you…” (MSG) My favorite part? “…USE THE SAME CLAY TO MAKE ANOTHER POT…” Aren’t you glad that God’s isn’t like people? People will find one flaw or one crack and discard you and your entire life. But not God! He doesn’t make any attempts to replace you or use something or someone else. No, He uses the SAME old you to make you a better you! God doesn’t throw us away when we mess up, after all Jesus was a carpenter! Why would He throw away what He possesses the ability to fix?! You are never so badly damaged that God can’t repair you! And no matter what ‘labels’ people put on you (even the ones that are true), cannot hinder you from still being a work-in-progress workmanship of God’s! Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, READY TO BE USED] for good words, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP) No matter who you used to be; no matter what you used to do; God Still Wants to Use Even You! Will You Let Him?!

2…If you were a shepherd and your daily work consisted of leading a bunch of sheep around you’d probably be shocked if God not only talked to you directly and revealed Himself to you, but also told you that you were going to lead His people to the promised land! So just because you flip burgers for a living, don’t you underestimate what God can do even with that! The Bible says, “Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was important to his master, who held him in the highest esteem because it was by him that GOD had given victory to Aram: a truly great man, but afflicted with a grievous skin disease. It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naaman’s wife. One day she said to her mistress, “Oh, if only my master could meet the prophet of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease.” (2 Kings 5:1-3 MSG). Could you imagine if this no-named, imprisoned, slave girl never opened her mouth, how would the story of Naaman had ended? One thing’s for sure, Naaman would still be a Leprous Leader! In fact, she didn’t mumble under her breath either! She went straight to the Lady of the House and spoke! So if he can use Moses, with a stutter to still declare the 10 commandments, and a no-named servant girl to bless a highly named general, surely he can use you just the same, no matter what you do for a living! You don’t have to be a preacher to share the good news of the gospel, you can be a bus driver! Just imagine how many people a bus driver comes into contact with every day!? What about a janitor or teacher at a school? They come into contact with hundreds of people (young and old, and of every ethnicity) on a daily basis! Imagine if they talked about Jesus! Not to mention a cashier! And they don’t even have to turn into the early church evangelist on the job either. As a former cashier myself, I’ve watched what a kind greeting and smile can do for someone’s day. In other words, it doesn’t matter what your occupation is (or lack thereof), God can use you as long as you are available to be used! He doesn’t ask for perfect vessels, just clean ones! 2 Timothy 2:20, “Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common).” (AMP) God will use a gold or silver vessel just like He’ll use a wood or earthenware one. The importance is on the vessel being available and clean! So He’ll use you if you’re a dog walker or a police officer; a CEO or a chef; a firefighter or a mechanic; a senator or the fry cook at Applebee’s; a professor or a high school dropout; young or old; educated or uneducated; wealthy or poor; from the white house or the poor house! God has no favorites! He’ll use any clean vessel! 2 Timothy 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable – disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], USEFUL TO THE MASTER, prepared for every good work.” (AMP) No matter what you do for a living, as a clean vessel, you can still work for the Lord! Yes, God Can Still Use, Even You!

3…God used Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian, but before that Gideon was nothing more than a farmer! But when it comes to sowing or reaping a plenteous harvest, no one goes looking for the CEO, they go looking for a farmer! So, don’t undervalue your gifts, talents or skill-set! The Bible declares, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29 NASB). Whatever your gifts, talents, skill-set’s or abilities, God wants to use them. And that doesn’t mean you have to be a part of the five-fold ministry! People who are orderly God can use; people who are good thinkers and strategist, God can use; people who can sow; stitch; teach; bake; do laundry; work at the bank; restock the shelves at the supermarket, can all be used by God. All you have to do is know what your skill-set is, and then hone in on perfecting it through practicing it. Truth is, we spend so much time trying to get people into a black robe and into the pulpit, that we’re no longer preparing the next generation to put on a black robe and get into the government where they can change this world for the better! Yes the church has need of you; but so does this world. We are not citizens of it, but while we’re strangers passing through, let’s use our gifts and talents to leave it better than we found it. And that means telling God, ‘use me and my gifts and talents, wherever and however you see fit!’ After all, every ounce of work I do, no matter what it is, is for You! Colossians 3:22-25, “Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.” (MSG) Let everything you do reflect that you represent Jesus in everything you do! Yes, God Desires to Use, Even You!

4…Jephthah is used by God to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Before that, Jephthah was only known as being the son of a prostitute! Listen: Don’t you dare let your past identify you! Don’t let your families’ highs or lows give you your value, or diminish it! Look at this: Ruth was a Moabite, a pagan, and yet her genealogy changes drastically with a son from her own womb: “…they named him Obed He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. “ (Ruth 4:17 NASB). So, don’t let where you started dictate where you’ll finish! If you have to start broke, just get started; if you have to start living out of your car, just get started; if you have to start right after the divorce, just get started; if you have to start with no help or support, just get started; if you have to start with the odds against you, just get started; if you have to start as you get off the bus, just get started; if you have to start while having chemo, radiation, dialysis, just get started; if you have to start with cancer, heart disease, lupus, unemployed or homeless, just get started! Think about it, everyone knew Jephthah was born of a prostitute, and yet when the people had to go to war who did they come looking to lead them into battle? You guessed it, the prostitute’s son! So no matter what your lot in life has been (you don’t have to keep living there); no matter the cards you’ve been dealt (you can play well and turn it into a winning hand)! Just Never Allow Where You Start to Dictate Where or How You’ll Finish! Philippians 3:12-14, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out to me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” (MSG); Isaiah 43:18-19, “…Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?…” (MSG) Start from wherever you are, and keep moving forward! Remember, Yes, God Wants to Use, Even You!

5…Like Moses, David was also a shepherd, but David was also just a boy! But that same little boy would defeat Goliath and he would eventually become king! So, don’t you dare let anyone limit you because of your age! Be it youngster or senior! Truth is: Joash was king at 7! (2 Chronicles 24:1, “Joash was seven years old when he became king; he was king for forty years in Jerusalem…” MSG) and the priest Aaron died at 123 (Numbers 33:39, “…Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.” MSG) So don’t you dare let anyone limit you! Remember the Word of God Declares God Can Use You and Bless You At ANY Age! The Bible Reads: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are YOUNG. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NLT). Church, use our young people in God’s service! They can do more than sing on the choir and usher. Train them how to handle the security of the building; how to count money with the trustees; teach them how to teach; how to clean the House of God; how to play an instrument; how the sound equipment functions; you can even use them to bring forth a sermonette or meditation on a youth Sunday. Don’t despise their youth! If they can learn trigonometry, they can learn theology! “Even in OLD AGE they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” (Psalm 92:14 NLT). Do not cast our seniors aside! Their wisdom; experience; knowledge; understanding; and guidance are all valuable to every generation! Don’t let them get to 65 and then try to retire them from the Lord’s Service! Joash served at 7 and Aaron served up until he turned 123 years of age! If God’s not putting time constraints on people, who are you to think you can? God Will Use Even You, at Any Age!

6…Like Joseph, Esther was a slave before God used her to save her people from being massacred! Women of God, who you were can’t stop who you’re destined to become! Eve had a hunger that cost her a garden; Potiphar’s wife had an unlawful sexual appetite; Lot lost his mate when she couldn’t get her eyes off the rear-view mirror; Delilah should’ve left the hairstyles to the professionals; Sapphira needed a financial consultant; Jezebel should’ve remained single; Tamar never recovered from her brother’s rape; and Michal didn’t value the worth of her husband’s worship! These women didn’t get to redeem themselves, but you can! Take your past to the cemetery and start living life to the full! It’s time to fulfill your purpose! Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?” (AMP) You are still here on purpose, for a purpose, now fulfill it! God Wants to Use Even You, On Purpose!

7…Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? A famous actress? A celebrity? A great athlete? A famous politician? Nope, the mother of Jesus (Mary) was a peasant girl! Please understand greatness is not attached to Wealth, it’s attached to Willingness! “Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said…” (Luke 1:38 AMP). God is not looking for great achievements, just availability! Are you willing to let God use you? Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (AMP) Is that your declaration too? Or are you like Saul hiding behind stuff? 1 Samuel 10:22, “So they asked the Lord, “Where is he? Is he here among us?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding in the baggage.” (TLB) Is that where you are today, hiding in the baggage? When God needs your gifts, talents, skill-set, know how, ability and availability, are you hiding in the baggage? Hiding in the baggage of your past; failures; bad choices; and the like? Well today is your day to come out of hiding and leave the baggage in the past! God has need of you, Yes Even YOU!      

8…Matthew was one of the 12 disciples and wrote one of the Gospels that told about the life of Jesus. But before Jesus asked Matthew to join Him, he was a tax collector! Don’t under-value what you do from day-to-day, God is still watching, and He’ll call you and use you even while you’re doing your little day-to-day (seemingly unnoticed) job! Nothing you do is irrelevant, no matter how little! “His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.” (Matthew 25:23 AMP). Furthermore, there are some jobs that people hate, just like that of the tax-collector. Dog walkers, they stop every few minutes so dogs can poop and they can clean it up, who wants to do that? Janitors and sanitation workers have to clean up and pick up some gross stuff, who wants to do that? But when you’re faithful to do even menial, not so glamourous jobs, God blesses you even in that. So never think that God is checking your employment status to bless you or to use you. God has proven time and again that He can use anybody, anywhere! And yes, that includes you!

9…Luke traveled with Paul giving him a companion to journey with and Luke would also write one of the four Gospels. But Luke was a simple physician! But what God uses your hands to heal in the natural, can’t compare to what He’s going to use your hands to heal in the spiritual! You see, Paul was known for killing folks in the natural, but that wouldn’t compare to the resurrection power he would possess in the spiritual! The Bible says, “…Paul talked on, way past midnight…A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead. Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.”…Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive…” (Acts 20:9-11 MSG) Whether your hands cut people in the prison yard; sold drugs in the backyard; was rebellious in the schoolyard, God can still clean those hands and use them for His work and His glory! God doesn’t hold you to your past, so release yourself too! Your hands are the hands God will use to transform this world; yes even your hands!

10…Many of the disciples were just common fisherman and would go on to do God’s work. Peter is the best example as he would be an Apostle, a leader of the early church and he would write two letters in the Bible! “…Peter stood up and…spoke out with bold urgency…That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!…Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2 MSG). Not bad for a former fisherman! Believe it or not, but Great Leaders were once Great Laity! So, don’t count your fisherman status as unworthy, there’s a valuable Fisher of Men in you yet to be revealed! Remember this, some of God’s greatest preachers deliver messages every week, from the pew and not the pulpit!

The very next time you doubt whether you have enough to do a work for God or dare to under-estimate yourself, your worth and value, just remember this: Jacob was a Master of Deception; Gideon was a Self-Doubter; David was a Premeditated Sinner; Solomon was an Unwise Lover; Paul Was an Adversary; Elijah was Suicidal; Noah was Drunk; Abraham was Old; Jeremiah was Young; Timothy had Ulcers; Job Went Bankrupt With Boils; The Disciples Fell Asleep During Intercession; Isaiah Preached Naked; Leah wasn’t exactly a Beauty Queen; Naomi Lost All the Men in Her Life; John the Baptist was Beheaded at a Birthday Party; The Samaritan Woman Had Too Many of Other Folks Men; Saul was Tall; Zacchaeus was small; Samson was a Womanizer; Rahab was a Prostitute; Jonah was a Prejudiced Prophet; and Lazarus was Dead and yet God used each of them greatly! So why can’t He use even you?!

Add to that these two promises, ‘The Lord is my helper… ‘ (Hebrews 13:6 NKJV) and ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me‘ (Philippians 4:13), and you have what’s required!

Believe it or not, but YOU HAVE ENOUGH! YOU ARE ENOUGH! AND GOD DESIRES TO USE, EVEN YOU! YES, EVEN YOU! 

“You don’t have to have a great gift for God to use you in a great way.” (Joel Osteen)

“I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say ‘Yes.’” (Bob Goff)

“There are times when God wants to use you in someone else’s life; it may not be pretty or comfortable, but they need to see Jesus.” (Author Unknown)

“The more you’re willing to risk, the more God can use you. And if you’re willing to risk everything, then there is nothing God can’t do in you and through you.” (Mark Batterson)

“God is not looking for gold vessels or silver vessels. He is looking for willing vessels.” (Kathryn Kulman)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “Did You Know These Plants Are Poisonous?”

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“Sometimes, You Just Don’t Feel Like It!”

Every one of us has at least one (or truthfully many) strange friends! And I my friend am no different. You see, I have a friend who oddly enough, feels the need to remind me, every winter, “January is a bad month for me.” I thought, maybe she gets the credit card slips from Christmas, or something. But before I could ponder it too long, she says, “My biorhythms are always down in January. I feel unmotivated; everything just simply goes wrong for me in January.” Needless to say, I don’t spend a lot of time with her in January.

Well, I’m not sure about the biorhythms being the reason for a bad January, but there is an interesting new area that scientists have explored. The biorhythm idea is that our lives are significantly affected by predictable, physical cycles, intellectual cycles, emotional cycles etc. Actually, a biorhythm could be just a fancy new word for a condition that’s as old as mankind. It goes like this, “I just don’t feel like it.” Maybe that’s what we’re really talking about here. Because truth is, that’s the reason for a lot of things we do or fail to do. Simply Put, With No Scientific Babble Attached: “I Just Don’t Feel Like It.“

I guess that’s why couples promise to keep their marriage vows: “as long as we both shall live“, instead of “as long as I feel like it.” Because in honesty, “feelings change” and can you imagine if marriages ended in divorce every time a spouse no longer “felt like it?” After all, I’ve been married almost 19 years, and truthfully, there have been times when I didn’t “feel like it” 19 times in one hour, one day, one week, one month and one year! Maybe that’s the reason why so many marriages, especially and unfortunately, but Christian Marriages are ending in divorce at the rapid pace they are. You see, over the years we simply alter our vows from, “till death” to “till I no longer feel like it.”

Listen, your life depends greatly on what you do on those days when you simply feel flat and fatigued. Think about it: Who would have a job if they quit every time they no longer “felt like it?” Who would Pastor the church if every minister of the Gospel closed the church doors every day they simply “didn’t feel like it anymore?” What would we do with our children if all the teachers decided not to show up at school because they “no longer felt like it?” Where would our public transportation be if all the transit workers decided, “today is just not a good day for me. My biorhythms are off this month. I’m staying home for a while, because I just don’t feel like it”. And dare we even imagine what the hospitals and clinics would be like with all the doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and nurses out for a 3 month long “I just don’t feel like it” break?! How about if all the lawyers, police, fire department, correction officers, judges and government officials, all decided “I need a break” and stay home on the couch for the next 6 months, because “I just don’t feel like it”?! In other words, if left unchecked, that “I don’t feel like it” can grow into a terminal disease that kills you and everything and everyone attached to you!

In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, if biorhythms are accurate, I would have to suggest that Paul’s biorhythms were extremely low at the time of this letter. I don’t know whether it was a bad month in his life or a bad time, but listen to this and think about how he must have been feeling. He says, “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.” (vs. 11 NIV). Now, it may just be me, but Paul doesn’t sound like he’s feeling the greatest at this moment. I don’t think he was necessarily feeling like treating people gently and kindly…wanting to work on what needed to be done. You ever feel like that? “I just don’t feel like doing what I have to do. I don’t feel like praying. I don’t feel like being very unselfish right now. I don’t feel particularly ‘churchy’ at this moment.” And could we honestly blame him? After all, at that very moment he was hungry, thirsty, dressed in raggedy clothes, brutally treated and homeless! Now if anybody had a right to a bad day and a bad attitude it was Paul!

However, here’s how he operated. It says in verse 12, “We work hard with our own hands…” (NIV) even though he was experiencing all of that, he continued to work and the Bible continues to read, “…When we are cursed, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure it. When we are slandered, we answer kindly…” (NIV). You say, “What in the world has kept Paul functioning so victoriously when he probably doesn’t feel like it?” Because truthfully, we’ve all had days that were no-where near this bad, and yet if we could’ve thrown in the towel and walked away we would have. And many of us can be brutally honest, and admit that we did just that. But in the midst of how Paul may have justifiably been feeling, he didn’t curse, he blessed, when persecuted, he endured it, and when slandered he yet answered kindly.  I don’t know about you, but the question in my mind when I read this was “How In The World Can You Respond Like This, After Dealing With All Of That?!”

Well, I learned just a few verses up the vital key. It’s found in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (NIV). There is the word that takes over where your feelings leave off – FAITHFUL. When you don’t feel like it, you must remain faithful to the call you answered. 

Look at this same verse in a few translations:

“Now the most important thing about a servant is that he does just what his master tells him to” (TLB)

“A servant must be faithful to his owner. This is expected of him.” (NLV)

“Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].” (AMP)

“In this kind of situation, what is expected of a manager is that they prove to be faithful.” (CEB).

“The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful to their master.” (GNT).

Are you getting it? Regardless to feelings, you are charged to remain faithful!

Maybe you’re in a time right now where you just don’t feel like doing what you’re supposed to do. You started when the feeling was there, but now you feel flat; you just don’t feel like following through on your school work, or your job, or that ministry or marriage that you were once so excited about. You’ve lost your enthusiasm, your zeal, your momentum. You don’t feel like reaching out to the people in your family or your community. Maybe you feel more like withdrawing into a cave somewhere. You simply don’t feel like finishing what you started. You don’t feel like keeping your commitment or you don’t feel like taking your time away with Jesus.

You’re at a crossroads right now, and that crossroads will determine whether you’re a roller coaster Christian or a solid rock Christian. See, the difference in the people God can trust and can’t trust is that word FAITHFUL. You’ve been given a trust. Will you be faithful to that trust even when the feeling isn’t there and depend on His resources because now you don’t have any?

And what’s the big whoop about being faithful even when you don’t feel like it? God’s reward will be these words, “…Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I’ll make you ruler over many…” (NKJV) Another version says it like this: “…His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.” (Matthew 25:23 MSG). Can you imagine GOD of all people wanting to partner up with YOU and all because you were FAITHFUL when you didn’t FEEL like it?! If that’s not incentive, I don’t know what is!

You see, whether the feelings come back or not, you keep moving faithfully toward your goal. Finish the project, hang in there at the job, keep pressing on in the ministry, keep praying over your marriage. No matter what you feel like, remember the fruit of faithfulness is hearing His well done and becoming His partner!

And please believe me, this is not just encouragement nonsense, but I’ve had to force this lesson on myself many of times. It’s not easy receiving a diagnosis from the doctor that turns your world upside down; it’s stressful trying to maintain a marriage, with two spouses in leadership and raising 6 kids, and still go to church, work and school and find two seconds to say hi to each other. Working for the government is no picnic in the park, I have one job title and description and yet I have 10-20 things that have to be completed by the close of each business day. I’m proud of my education and degrees, but they did not come without price (and that has nothing to do with the tuition), the long nights, and longer papers can take an extreme toll on your body, mind and spirit. Having sickly parents is hard. Having six children grow to adulthood and go in 12 different directions in life, none of which even slightly resemble what you’ve taught them, can rack the last of your brain cells! Then you have family members and friends who need counsel, advice, prayer, guidance, not to mention the church that expects you to teach them happy and preach them happier, week after week without fail! And truth is, if I listened to my biorhythms, I would have thrown in the towel on all of it years ago! Why? Because there are times when I JUST DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!

But like you, I don’t get to negotiate my faithfulness to God. I expect Him to do what He’s promised He’d do, and likewise, He expects me to do what I promised I’d do. And sometimes that requires being faithful even when I don’t feel like it. It means going to prayer when I’d rather go to bed; it means reading my Bible when I’d rather watch ‘Scandal’; it means talking to God when I’d rather get on the phone and play catch up with my girlfriends; it means working on my marriage when I’d rather pack my tools away and quit the project; it means continuing to advise my children even when it seems like the advice goes in one ear and immediately falls out the other one. It means going to work when I’d rather go to the airport and hop on a plane to ANYWHERE ELSE! It means going to the gym when I’d rather go to Baskin & Robbin! It means paying my bills when I’d rather go get those shoes I saw in Macy’s window! It means being obedient when I’d rather seek out another option!

Are you getting this? None of us are exempt! We all have moments when we don’t feel like it, yet, God requires of us His children AND His stewards to be found faithful always!

I mean truthfully where in Scripture does it say Jesus went skipping up to Golgotha? Where does it say He was laughing while carrying His cross? Where does it say His obedience and faithfulness were not painful? Where does it say He sung praise and worship songs all the way to the grave? Where does it say He stretched out His arm on the cross and loved every minute of it? Jesus had it harder than any of us ever have or ever will, yet, He remained as much human as divine. He wept; slept; ate; drank; got hungry; was thirsty; had to pray; got frustrated with the people He led; laid hands on people no one else would; restored folks; healed folks; forgave folks; delivered folks; saved folks, and still He never discarded His humanity. And neither should you.

Press on in your faithfulness to your assignment even when you don’t feel like it in your flesh! HOWEVER, you still need to know when to slow down; when to rest; when to sleep and eat, and certainly when to say no, without excuses, apologies or reasons. But even when you take a break, your break shouldn’t be so long that the Holy Ghost has to come and reset a brand new fire under you to get you back up and back to work in the Kingdom!

People of God, no matter what readings you may be receiving from your biorhythms, you remember to be faithful, even when you don’t feel like it. Faithfulness will always be rewarded! Don’t you dare come this far in God only to miss reaping your reward now! Even when your flesh feels weak, make sure your spirit stays willing!

“To that one soul reading this. I know you’re tired. You’re fed up. You’re so close to breaking but there’s strength within you even when you feel weak. Keep fighting.” (Author Unknown)

“If you’re tired, learn to rest, not quit!” (Author Unknown)

“In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All He asks is that we come to Him…that we spend a while thinking about Him, meditating on Him, talking to Him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with Him – totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of His presence.” (Charles R. Swindoll)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “What is Narcissism?”

 

“The Messenger Versus The Message!”

1 Corinthians 1:10-17, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (NIV)

One of the main problems facing the first-century Corinthian Church was Division!

When Paul wrote to Corinth, the church there was divided into at least four factions, each of them aligned with one of four Prominent Christian Leaders.

One group identified itself with the Apostle Paul. The members of this faction may have been attracted by Paul’s emphasis on his ministry to the Gentiles. Acts 9:15, “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” (AMP); Acts 22:21, “And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” (AMP)

A second group identified itself with Apollos, one of Paul’s fellow missionaries. He may have attracted a following because of his eloquent speaking abilities (Acts 18:24-28, “Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent and cultured man, and well versed in the [Hebrew] Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being spiritually impassioned, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John; and he began to speak boldly and fearlessly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained more accurately to him the way of God [and the full story of the life of Christ]. And when Apollos wanted to go across to Achaia (southern Greece), the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples, [urging them] to welcome him gladly. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who, through grace, had believed and had followed Jesus as Lord and Savior, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public discussions, proving by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).” (AMP)

A third group identified itself with Cephas, another name for the Apostle Peter. This group may have been mostly of Jewish background. Galatians 2:8, “(for He who worked effectively for Peter and empowered him in his ministry to the Jews also worked effectively for me and empowered me in my ministry to the Gentiles).” (AMP)

A fourth group identified itself specifically with Christ. While on the surface, it might seem that this group was the “godly” contingent of the Corinthian Church, this may not have been the case at all.

Paul does not commend any of the groups, not even the “I am of Christ” faction, suggesting that all of their professed allegiances were causing division and dissension in that church as well.

Paul then uses three rhetorical questions, each expecting a negative response, to show the absurdity of the Corinthian divisions: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” Paul pointed out that in the act of baptism, a person Identifies Himself or Herself With Christ, PERIOD! Baptism does not align the believer with any Human Leader or with any Faction of Christianity, but with the Lord Himself! The Corinthians, who prided themselves on their wisdom and understanding, had misconstrued this truth. They had begun to identify themselves with the men who had performed the baptisms rather than with Jesus Himself!

Now, we might be tempted to write off this problem, attributing it to “those silly, immature Corinthians,” if it were not for the Fact that the Tendency to Exalt Dynamic Leaders is Still Prevalent Today!

Witty, engaging Christian Preachers and Speakers and vibrant, charismatic Spiritual Leaders still have the power to mesmerize and motivate believers today! And there is nothing inherently wrong with such power. The danger comes when the speaker, preacher or leader, and not the Message, becomes the focus of attention! Christian Preachers, Speakers and Leaders are Merely Vessels Through Whom God’s Word is Communicated. Exalting Them for the Message They Proclaim is a Misunderstanding of Their Purpose. Put Simply, It’s the Message, NOT the Messenger That Matters Most! As believers today, we must guard ourselves against identifying too closely with Human Leaders or placing too much emphasis on them or chasing personalities. Our Loyalty and Identification Belong Only to Jesus Christ and His Unadulterated Gospel Message!

The sad truth is that today’s church has not changed much from the Corinthian church. And if we were to tell a deeper truth, today’s church just may be worse off! There is still dissension, discord and division. There is still the highlight on the Messenger and the dim light on the Message! This however, should not be! Which is why it’s so vital that we emulate John the Baptist! “He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so]” (John 3:30 AMP). Can you imagine what the church, and more important what the pulpit, would reflect if we took on such an attitude?

Often we forget with all of our anointing, gifts, talents, skills, charisma and the like, that our Purpose is to lift HIM that HE may be SEEN…NOT US! “And I, if and when I am lifted from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentiles as well as Jews] to MYSELF.” (John 12:32 AMP). Somehow we’ve managed to get this twisted! He Is To Be Lifted For All To See HIM, NOT We Are To Be Lifted For All To See US!

Sadly, Pride and Arrogance have become the “Norm” in today’s churches, and it’s simply masked as “Self-Confidence” or worse, “God- Confidence”. When the truth is, making Our name great, at the expense of using His is what’s actually being done! For some reason we’re under the sad impression that if your name is not heard, you aren’t accomplishing much! However, I beg to differ!

We’re never told Naaman’s servant girls name, but could you imagine his story without her?

The woman caught in adultery, her name is never shared, and yet for all who have fallen short in this area, she is a reminder that God forgives and grants a fresh, new start without judgment and without punishment of your past!

It wasn’t a person with a grand name that impressed Jesus with his “Thank You”, nope, it was an Unnamed Leper that was simply Grateful!

We would never know the heart of kindness if we didn’t have the story of the Good Samaritan, who remained nameless, but deeds were unforgettable!

And dare we not mention the unnamed boy with a lunch that fed a multitude! Surely he should have had his name read in the credits!

The woman with the issue of blood is still renown, and yet, No One But Jesus Knows Her Name!

There was the man with an unclean Spirit and a maniac in the tombs, both healed, and no one knows the name of these two powerfully delivered men!

The two thieves on the cross with Jesus, surely the one who Made It In, despite his past, would want everyone to know his name?!

The wise men who brought wonderful gifts to Jesus (now of course they would want their names known, after all, they bought Him gifts, and you know we don’t know how to give a gift without telling the world we gave it; secondly, they saw Jesus as a baby and became a apart of His early-days story – now you know folks will stand in line to make sure you include them in the book of your life, because they “knew you when”…)

And can we really leave out the wise virgins? Naturally they would want it known that they came prepared, with oil flowing!

Do you know how long this list can go on?! A Multitude of Nameless People In the Bible Made An Impact and Didn’t Need Their Names Mentioned To Do It! So, Leaders, Can You Handle Being Nameless?

What happens if God calls you to write tirelessly, encouragement that inspires and empowers daily, all over the world, and yet you Never write a book of your own to put a price tag on? Can you handle it?

Can you handle preaching and watching multitudes be saved and yet your name isn’t even known in your own backyard? Can you handle it?

What if God calls you to lay hands on people in the hospital and they recover, but never say thank you and never mention you in the telling of their testimony…Can you handle it?

Never forget, that the purpose for us is simple: We Are Messengers With a Message Bigger Than Us! 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, “If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!” (MSG)

Listen: If we never live in the mansion; if we never own the yacht; if we never drive the latest car; if we never travel the world; if we’re never on TV or radio or never write the book…If We Share The Message, We’ve Done A Remarkable Work On Earth for the Kingdom of God!

Saints, you don’t need a pat on the back; you don’t need accolades, applause and entourages! You don’t need a ring the size of your hand, a cross covering your chest and 12 different robes to change monthly! You don’t need a special seat in the church! You don’t need to hand out your business cards to every person you meet! Just Share The Message! God Himself Will Commend You, And Isn’t That More Important? The Bible says, “His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys” (Matthew 25:23 AMP) Now, can you imagine receiving words like that from Jesus Himself, and yet, your name is still unknown in the Earth? Can you handle that?

In A Nutshell: It’s Time To Stop Wearing Crosses, And Start Carrying Them! It’s Time To Stop Perfecting Our Image and Mirror His Instead! The focal point of ministry is the Message, nothing else! That’s it in a nutshell! Preaching Jesus! It’s not about being in the church that pays you the best salary; it’s not about being the “favorite” in your circle of influence; it’s not about your name being called more than anyone else; it’s not about you receiving preferential treatment; it’s not about your cross, ring, robe, organization or fellowship, It’s About the Message of Salvation! The focus of the church should not be on anniversaries; birthday celebrations; conferences; convocations; gala’s, brunches or banquets! It’s about the Message of the Cross!

You Can’t Water Down the Message of Christ And Yet Expect to Quench the Thirst for Jesus in the Souls of People! And You Can’t Persuade Them to Come to “Your Church”, Because That’s Irrelevant! It’s not important whether they receive Jesus through Paul or Peter, It’s Important That They Simply Receive Jesus! So This Coming Weekend Think Hard About the Message You’re Sending to the Multitude! Do the People You Preach to Know that it’s about the Message and NOT the Messenger? And to take it a step further, What Exactly is the Message You’re Proclaiming? Is Jesus In It? Is Salvation In It? Is Healing In It? Is Deliverance In It? Is Heaven and Hell in it? Is Holiness in it? Is Forgiveness in it? Is Growth, Maturity, and Development In It? Is it even Biblical? Does It Challenge? Does It Change? Does It Confront Issues? Does It Correct, Instruct, Reprove and Rebuke? What Does Your Message Say? 

Are People Coming to Your Church Because They Know They Will Hear an Impacting Message From God, or are They Simply Coming Because They’ll Hear an Inspirational Memo From You? 

Are You a Voice Crying Out In The Wilderness For Repentance, Or Has Popularity Tamed Your Tongue?

Remember: It’s About the Message NOT The Messenger; And the Message Should Always Be About Jesus!

Devotional Related Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; 2 Corinthians 3; 2 Corinthians 4:1-17

“For the Kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul)” (1 Corinthians 4:20 AMP);

“And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race].” (Mark 16:15 AMP)

“And Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I am not eloquent or a man of words, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and have a heavy and awkward tongue. And the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you shall say.” (Exodus 4:10-12 AMP);

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 AMP);

“Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].” (James 3:1 AMP);

“Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP);

“But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.” (2 Timothy 2:16 AMP);

“And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]” (1 Corinthians 2:13 AMP);

“As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2 AMP);

“Now after John was arrested and put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14 AMP);

“From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent, (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17 AMP)

“Behind most church fights and unresolved divisions is ugly human pride. And the worst kind of pride is religious pride, the Pharisaical pride of self-righteousness and superiority.” (Alexander Strauch)

“Preachers who should be fishing for men are now too often fishing for compliments from men.” (Leonard Ravenhill)

“If a church is to experience revitalization, the people must begin to think less about themselves and more about God, His glory and His mission.” (Ed Stetzer)

“Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks must be cemented together.” (Corrie Ten Boom)

“The church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are NOT its members.” (William Temple)

“After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.” (Joseph Smith)

“The preaching that this world needs most is the sermons in shoes that are walking with Jesus Christ.” (D.L. Moody)

“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” (Francis of Assisi)

“May your character preach more loudly than your words.”

“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

“Lead by example. Practice what you preach or don’t preach at all. Walk the talk. People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. Inspire, challenge and encourage people to do their best, by doing your best.”

“There is more power in unity than division.” (Emanuel Cleaver)

“If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified.” (Leonard Ravenhill)

“You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.” (Oliver Goldsmith)

“Modern Christianity has been watered down until the solution is so weak that if it were poison it would not hurt anyone, and if it were medicine it would not cure anyone!” (A.W. Tozer)

“Of all I would wish to say this is the sum: My brethren, preach Christ, always and evermore.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“Old-fashioned, Spirit-filled, Christ-honoring, Sin-hating, Soul-Winning, Bible-preaching. It is the hope of the church. It is the hope of the nation. It is the hope of the world.” (Jack Hyles)

“We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.” (David Platt)

“Unity is strength; division is weakness.” (Swahili Proverb)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #BeUnited
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “Woman Crush Wednesday: Annie Turnbo Malone”

“God Can Use…Even You!”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, READY TO BE USED] for good words, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP)

When David first arrived at King Saul’s palace he was a simple, unknown shepherd boy. But he had an impressive rèsumè nonetheless! God, in essence, said, ‘I saw you kill the bear and the lion; I was watching your courage, leadership, fighting ability and strength when you didn’t even realize I had my eye on you.‘ Solomon wrote, ‘A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.‘ (Proverbs 18:16). David’s ‘gift’ may have only been the ability to accurately swing a slingshot, but it opened the door to his future as Israel’s king! So even though what you’ve got doesn’t seem like much, give it to God and watch what He can do with it! You say, ‘But I’m not formally trained.‘ But All God requires is that you show up, say yes, and make yourself available! When you give God what you’ve got, He gives you what He’s got; and that alone makes your odds unbeatable! ‘But I don’t have the right credentials,‘ you say. So what? Benjamin Franklin had less than two years of formal schooling yet at 25 he founded America’s first library, at 31 he started its first fire department, at 36 he designed a heating stove that’s still in use today, at 40 he harnessed the power of electricity, at 45 he founded the nation’s first university, and at 79 he invented bifocals! He was an economist, philosopher, diplomat, inventor, educator, publisher and linguist who spoke and wrote in five languages. Chances are, you already have more education than he had when he was your age and yet look at all he was able to accomplish! People of God, regardless of where you come from, your family structure, gender, ethnicity, age, education, employment, handicaps or even failures, you still have enough to accomplish great things!

Now, just in case Ben wasn’t enough and you need some ‘biblical’ examples instead, here’s a few you should always revert back to when you feel unqualified or unequipped:

1…Joseph becomes the Pharaoh’s right hand man. He can interpret dreams and he saves Egypt from a famine. But before that, Joseph was two things that weren’t all that great. He was a slave and a prisoner! Yet, look how God used him and blessed him! The Bible says, “So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph’s hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted “Bravo!” Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:41-43 MSG). Not bad for a former slave and prisoner! Likewise friends, regardless of your past, you too can have a great future ahead of you. Even if you dropped out of high school; didn’t go to college; can’t find a job; battled with addictions and habits; lived in the projects; come from a broken home; and even have a criminal record! You are still a vessel that God can use! Jeremiah 18:1-6, “God told Jeremiah, “Up on your feet! Go to the potter’s house. When you get there, I’ll tell you what I have to say.” So I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot. Then God’s Message came to me: “Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?” God’s Decree! “Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you…” (MSG) My favorite part? “…USE THE SAME CLAY TO MAKE ANOTHER POT…” Aren’t you glad that God’s isn’t like people? People will find one flaw or one crack and discard you and your entire life. But not God! He doesn’t make any attempts to replace you or use something or someone else. No, He uses the SAME old you to make you a better you! God doesn’t throw us away when we mess up, after all Jesus was a carpenter! Why would He throw away what He possesses the ability to fix?! You are never so badly damaged that God can’t repair you! And no matter what ‘labels’ people put on you (even the ones that are true), cannot hinder you from still being a work-in-progress workmanship of God’s! Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good words, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP) No matter who you used to be; no matter what you used to do; God Still Wants to Use Even You! Will You Let Him?!

2…If you were a shepherd and your daily work consisted of leading a bunch of sheep around you’d probably be shocked if God not only talked to you directly and revealed Himself to you, but also told you that you were going to lead His people to the promised land! So just because you flip burgers for a living, don’t you underestimate what God can do even with that! The Bible says, “Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was important to his master, who held him in the highest esteem because it was by him that GOD had given victory to Aram: a truly great man, but afflicted with a grievous skin disease. It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naaman’s wife. One day she said to her mistress, “Oh, if only my master could meet the prophet of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease.” (2 Kings 5:1-3 MSG). Could you imagine if this no-named, imprisoned, slave girl never opened her mouth, how would the story of Naaman had ended? One thing’s for sure, Naaman would still be a Leprous Leader! In fact, she didn’t mumble under her breath either! She went straight to the Lady of the House and spoke! So if he can use Moses, with a stutter to still declare the 10 commandments, and a no-named servant girl to bless a highly named general, surely he can use you just the same, no matter what you do for a living! You don’t have to be a preacher to share the good news of the gospel, you can be a bus driver! Just imagine how many people a bus driver comes into contact with every day!? What about a janitor or teacher at a school? They come into contact with hundreds of people (young and old, and of every ethnicity) on a daily basis! Imagine if they talked about Jesus! Not to mention a cashier! And they don’t even have to turn into the early church evangelist on the job either. As a former cashier myself, I’ve watched what a kind greeting and smile can do for someone’s day. In other words, it doesn’t matter what your occupation is (or lack thereof), God can use you as long as you are available to be used! He doesn’t ask for perfect vessels, just clean ones! 2 Timothy 2:20, “Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common).” (AMP) God will use a gold or silver vessel just like He’ll use a wood or earthenware one. The importance is on the vessel being available and clean! So He’ll use you if you’re a dog walker or a police officer; a CEO or a chef; a firefighter or a mechanic; a senator or the fry cook at Applebee’s; a professor or a high school dropout; young or old; educated or uneducated; wealthy or poor; from the white house or the poor house! God has no favorites! He’ll use any clean vessel! 2 Timothy 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable – disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (AMP) No matter what you do for a living, as a clean vessel, you can still work for the Lord! God Can Use, Even You!

3…God used Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian, but before that Gideon was nothing more than a farmer! But when it comes to sowing or reaping a plenteous harvest, no one goes looking for the CEO, they go looking for a farmer! So, don’t undervalue your gifts, talents or skill-set! The Bible declares, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29 NASB). Whatever your gifts, talents, skill-set’s or abilities, God wants to use them. And that doesn’t mean you have to be a part of the five-fold ministry! People who are orderly God can use; people who are good thinkers and strategist, God can use; people who can sow; stitch; teach; bake; do laundry; work at the bank; restock the shelves at the supermarket, can all be used by God. All you have to do is know what your skill-set is, and then hone in on perfecting it through practicing it. Truth is, we spend so much time trying to get people into a black robe and into the pulpit, that we’re no longer preparing the next generation to put on a black robe and get into the government where they can change this world for the better! Yes the church has need of you; but so does this world. We are not citizens of it, but while we’re strangers passing through, let’s use our gifts and talents to leave it better than we found it. And that means telling God, ‘use me and my gifts and talents, wherever and however you see fit!’ After all, every ounce of work I do, no matter what it is, is for You! Colossians 3:22-25, “Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.” (MSG) Let everything you do reflect that you represent Jesus in everything you do! God Desires to Use, Even You!

4…Jephthah is used by God to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Before that, Jephthah was only known as being the son of a prostitute! Listen: Don’t you dare let your past identify you! Don’t let your families’ highs or lows give you your value, or diminish it! Look at this: Ruth was a Moabite, a pagan, and yet her genealogy changes drastically with a son from her own womb: “…they named him Obed He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. “ (Ruth 4:17 NASB). So, don’t let where you started dictate where you’ll finish! If you have to start broke, just get started; if you have to start living out of your car, just get started; if you have to start right after the divorce, just get started; if you have to start with no help or support, just get started; if you have to start with the odds against you, just get started; if you have to start as you get off the bus, just get started; if you have to start while having chemo, radiation, dialysis, just get started; if you have to start with cancer, heart disease, lupus, unemployed or homeless, just get started! Think about it, everyone knew Jephthah was born of a prostitute, and yet when the people had to go to war who did they come looking to lead them into battle? You guessed it, the prostitute’s son! So no matter what your lot in life has been (you don’t have to keep living there); no matter the cards you’ve been dealt (you can play well and turn it into a winning hand)! Just Never Allow Where You Start to Dictate Where or How You’ll Finish! Philippians 3:12-14, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out to me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” (MSG); Isaiah 43:18-19, “…Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?…” (MSG) Start from wherever you are, and keep moving forward! Remember, God Wants to Use, Even You!

5…Like Moses, David was also a shepherd, but David was also just a boy! But that same little boy would defeat Goliath and he would eventually become king! So, don’t you dare let anyone limit you because of your age! Be it youngster or senior! Truth is: Joash was king at 7! (2 Chronicles 24:1, “Joash was seven years old when he became king; he was king for forty years in Jerusalem…” MSG) and the priest Aaron died at 123 (Numbers 33:39, “…Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.” MSG) So don’t you dare let anyone limit you! Remember the Word of God Declares God Can Use You and Bless You At ANY Age! “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are YOUNG. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NLT). Church, use our young people in God’s service! They can do more than sing on the choir and usher. Train them how to handle the security of the building; how to count money with the trustees; teach them how to teach; how to clean the House of God; how to play an instrument; how the sound equipment functions; you can even use them to bring forth a sermonette or meditation on a youth Sunday. Don’t despise their youth! If they can learn trigonometry, they can learn theology! “Even in OLD AGE they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” (Psalm 92:14 NLT). Do not cast our seniors aside! Their wisdom; experience; knowledge; understanding; and guidance are all valuable to every generation! Don’t let them get to 65 and then try to retire them from the Lord’s Service! Joash served at 7 and Aaron served up until he turned 123 years of age! If God’s not putting time constraints on people, who are you to think you can? God Will Use Even You, at Any Age!

6…Like Joseph, Esther was a slave before God used her to save her people from being massacred! Women of God, who you were can’t stop who you’re destined to become! Eve had a hunger that cost her a garden; Potiphar’s wife had an unlawful sexual appetite; Lot lost his mate when she couldn’t get her eyes off the rearview mirror; Delilah should’ve left the hairstyles to the professionals; Sapphira needed a financial consultant; Jezebel should’ve remained single; Tamar never recovered from her brother’s rape; and Michal didn’t value the worth of her husband’s worship! These women didn’t get to redeem themselves, but you can! Take your past to the cemetery and start living life to the full! It’s time to fulfill your purpose! Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?” (AMP) You are still here on purpose, for a purpose, now fulfill it! God Wants to Use Even You, On Purpose!

7…Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? A famous actress? A celebrity? A great athlete? A famous politician? Nope, the mother of Jesus (Mary) was a peasant girl! Please understand greatness is not attached to Wealth, it’s attached to Willingness! “Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said…” (Luke 1:38 AMP). God is not looking for great achievements, just availability! Are you willing to let God use you? Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (AMP) Is that your declaration too? Or are you like Saul hiding behind stuff? 1 Samuel 10:22, “So they asked the Lord, “Where is he? Is he here among us?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding in the baggage.” (TLB) Is that where you are today, hiding in the baggage? When God needs your gifts, talents, skill-set, know how, ability and availability, are you hiding in the baggage? Hiding in the baggage of your past; failures; bad choices; and the like? Well today is your day to come out of hiding and leave the baggage in the past! God has need of you, yes even YOU!      

8…Matthew was one of the 12 disciples and wrote one of the Gospels that told about the life of Jesus. But before Jesus asked Matthew to join Him, he was a tax collector! Don’t under-value what you do from day-to-day, God is still watching, and He’ll call you and use you even while you’re doing your little day-to-day (seemingly unnoticed) job! Nothing you do is irrelevant, no matter how little! “His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.” (Matthew 25:23 AMP). Furthermore, there are some jobs that people hate, just like that of the tax-collector. Dog walkers, they stop every few minutes so dogs can poop and they can clean it up, who wants to do that? Janitors and sanitation workers have to clean up and pick up some gross stuff, who wants to do that? But when you’re faithful to do even menial, not so glamourous jobs, God blesses you even in that. So never think that God is checking your employment status to bless you or to use you. God has proven time and again that He can use anybody, anywhere! And yes, that includes you!

9…Luke traveled with Paul giving him a companion to journey with and Luke would also write one of the four Gospels. But Luke was a simple physician! But what God uses your hands to heal in the natural, can’t compare to what He’s going to use your hands to heal in the spiritual! You see, Paul was known for killing folks in the natural, but that wouldn’t compare to the resurrection power he would possess in the spiritual! “…Paul talked on, way past midnight…A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead. Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.”…Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive…” (Acts 20:9-11 MSG) Whether your hands cut people in the prison yard; sold drugs in the backyard; was rebellious in the schoolyard, God can still clean those hands and use them for His work and His glory! God doesn’t hold you to your past, so release yourself too! Your hands are the hands God will use to transform this world; yes even your hands!

10…Many of the disciples were just common fisherman and would go on to do God’s work. Peter is the best example as he would be an Apostle, a leader of the early church and he would write two letters in the Bible! “…Peter stood up and…spoke out with bold urgency…That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!…Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2 MSG). Not bad for a former fisherman! Believe it or not, but Great Leaders were once Great Laity! So, don’t count your fisherman status as unworthy, there’s a valuable Fisher of Men in you yet to be revealed! Remember this, some of God’s greatest preachers deliver messages every week, from the pew and not the pulpit!

The very next time you doubt whether you have enough to do a work for God or dare to under-estimate yourself, your worth and value, just remember this: Jacob was a Master of Deception; Gideon was a Self-Doubter; David was a Premeditated Sinner; Solomon was an Unwise Lover; Paul Was an Adversary; Elijah was Suicidal; Noah was Drunk; Abraham was Old; Jeremiah was Young; Timothy had Ulcers; Job Went Bankrupt With Boils; The Disciples Fell Asleep During Intercession; Isaiah Preached Naked; Leah wasn’t exactly a Beauty Queen; Naomi Lost All the Men in Her Life; John the Baptist was Beheaded at a Birthday Party; The Samaritan Woman Had Too Many of Other Folks Men; Saul was Tall; Zacchaeus was small; Samson was a Womanizer; Rahab was a Prostitute; Jonah was a Prejudiced Prophet; and Lazarus was Dead and yet God used each of them greatly! So why can’t He use even you?!

Add to that these two promises, ‘The Lord is my helper… ‘ (Hebrews 13:6 NKJV) and ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me‘ (Philippians 4:13), and you have what’s required!

Believe it or not, but YOU HAVE ENOUGH! YOU ARE ENOUGH! AND GOD DESIRES TO USE, EVEN YOU!

“You don’t have to have a great gift for God to use you in a great way.” (Joel Osteen)

“I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say ‘Yes.’” (Bob Goff)

“There are times when God wants to use you in someone else’s life; it may not be pretty or comfortable, but they need to see Jesus.”

“The more you’re willing to risk, the more God can use you. And if you’re willing to risk everything, then there is nothing God can’t do in you and through you.” (Mark Batterson)

“God is not looking for gold vessels or silver vessels. He is looking for willing vessels.” (Kathryn Kulman)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #BeAvailable
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