The Gratitude Experiment

God has already planned a way that is best for you and though yours is specially customized for you, still the Bible has outlined a general way that’s best for every single person to follow. One such instruction, found in 1 Thessalonians, concerns gratitude. In this regard, Apostle Paul said this,

“Be thankful, whatever the circumstances may be. If you follow this advice you will be working out the will of God expressed to you in Jesus Christ.” 

(1 Thessalonians 5:18 Phillips)

God’s desire is that you express your gratitude – be thankful – no matter what. God does not want your life and your happiness to be defined and dictated by your circumstances. Listen, if being thankful is God’s will, that means it holds great importance to Him and therefore should be a top priority for you. You must always strive to do the will of God in your life, even Jesus Christ, on His way to the cross, said to God the Father, “…it is not My will, but Yours, that must be done.” 

 (Luke 22:42 Phillips)

Indulge me today as I explore a bit, with you, the will of God as it pertains to gratitude by linking other Scriptures that deal with God’s will to 1 Thessalonians 5:18. After which you and I are going to conduct an experiment over the next three months. 

It’s said that it takes at least two months for behavior to change, so I figure in ninety days we should be well on our way to habitual thankfulness. Really and truly the numbers aren’t that important what matters is for us to get started. Please keep in mind that this is by no means an in depth study, just a simple experiment that will have beneficial results for everyone who participates. 

Now 2 Peter 3:9 lets us know that it’s not God’s will that any of us should perish, from this let’s deduce that expressing gratitude will not be to our detriment but that something great is bound to come out of it. These days human beings seem so hard pressed to say thank you. Sadly, ingratitude has become the rule and not the exception.

Looking at Romans 12:2 we can say that to give thanks is good and acceptable and perfect in God’s sight because it’s His will. Also, Mark 3:35 demonstrates that saying thank you qualifies you and I to be in relationship with Jesus as His siblings because it is the will of God.

Please note that expressions of gratitude must be heartfelt and sincere not an exercise in shallow lip service (see Mark 7:6).

Recognize that even in suffering according to God’s will we need to be thankful because there’s always a reason for our suffering and through it His purpose will be fulfilled (see 1 Peter 4:19). In other words those trials and challenges that you face should never stop you from giving thanks. Be in a state of constant gratitude. Tough but doable, else God would not have told us to do it. Remember, His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I believe that living in a constant state of gratitude will have a very positive effect, first on the grateful person and as he or she changes everyone around will also begin to change. Sincere gratitude promotes genuine all round happiness all the time.

In order for this gratitude experiment to work we have to share this blog post, asking family and friends to participate and after three months, we’ll testify to our individual findings. I hope you’re up for the challenge, it’s worth a try. 

Thank you for joining me, and thank God for what is about to happen in, with, for, and through, all of us.

Amen†

The Gratitude Experiment    Shelley Johnson 27-Aug-16

God can heal the sorrows of your heart

Verse 3 of Psalm 147 says that God heals the sorrows of our hearts. Can you imagine that God is so concerned about your well-being that He even cares about your broken heart? When you’ve been hurt emotionally, God will tenderly bind up your wounds and lift you back on your feet again. During times of pain and sorrow God’s heart reaches out to you in an incredible display of His love. Seeing your condition breaks His own heart and if you listen carefully, you might hear Him whisper, “Don’t cry.” (ref. Luke 7:11-13) 

Understand that you are the object of God’s affection, the apple of His eye (see Zechariah 2:8). God has an indescribable compassion for you and your needs so you can trust that He will make things right, if you let Him. You must always keep in mind that God has your future in His hands and it does not include your harm. Never forget that! (see Jeremiah 29:11)

Your heart is greatly affected by your emotions and the amount of hurt you experience will determine the amount of healing you’ll require because the resulting wounds of heartache can be very deep. Only God can get to those deep places to mend and repair the brokenness. He is the heart Specialist that can truly heal the sorrows of your heart.

God can heal the sorrows of your heart    Shelley Johnson 25-Aug-2016

Hope, the Anchor for Your Soul

I was engaged in conversation with two people when the subject of “Hope” came up. As opinions began flying all over the place, turning the conversation into more of a debate, I became quiet and just listened for a while to what the others were saying. Both had such differing views on what they thought hope was. Finally there was a lull so I took it as my cue to re-join the chat by saying, “We put more hope in a pilot to take us safely to our destination, a complete stranger who we haven’t seen, another human being who we have absolutely no relationship with, than we do God. We have no problem trusting that pilot, but we are always unsure when it comes to God.” 

Proverbs 11:7 (NIV) tells us that “Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.”

Hope in anything or anyone other than God is fragile at best. It does not stand and it will not endure. Actually the Bible warns that that kind of hope is misplaced, perishable, unsure, can frustrate, cannot deliver, can’t save, will be cut off, can be easily shaken, lost, will fade away, crumbles, and is unstable. 

This earthly hope is uncertain and without assurance, it’s having iffy optimism. But genuine hope, the hope that Psalm 43:5 tells you to put in God, is a strong confident expectation, a steadfast trust, a certainty and the assurance of fulfillment. Genuine hope comes from God alone – He is the source of authentic hope, hope that we can depend on. Only God can give you such hope; an immovable, unshakable hope. The hope that causes you to know that God can and will indeed work all things together for your greatest good. 

Listen, hope is not about what you’ll receive, it’s about what you believe. A belief that is borne out of strength and confidence that comes only from the Spirit of God. This is the hope that motivates you to press on with a joy-filled heart in times of suffering. The hope that forces you to have an eager expectation that God will do what He has promised though you haven’t yet seen even a shred of evidence. The hope that prevents you from being double-minded. The hope that is impenetrable to Satan’s deception and lies. 

It’s that hope that is found in the midst of trials, an unwavering sense of security in accepting the truth that God is in complete control of any and every situation – good and bad. It’s that hope that says that God will never leave you nor forsake you. It’s that hope that assures you that no matter what, God is good, always present, and His love never changes. It’s that hope that is built on the immutability of God’s Word – an unbreakable spiritual lifeline – the anchor for your soul.

Amen† 

Hope, the Anchor for Your Soul    Shelley Johnson 24-Aug-2016

Beggars No More

When blind Bartimaeus came into contact with Jesus Christ he immediately discarded the cloak that identified him as a beggar (read Mark 10:46-52). In those days begging was prevalent and those that begged were required to wear special garments so that there was no mistaking who they were, their social status. Being a beggar placed you on the bottom rung of the social ladder, being a blind beggar placed you under that ladder – you did not even have the privilege of being on the ladder. Bartimaeus’ blindness and his position of poverty are symbolized as one single piece of fabric, the fabric of his circumstances in life. But it’s clear that Bartimaeus longed to see a change in his circumstances, and hearing that Jesus was about to be right where he was gave him the impetus to act and, he cried out to Jesus. 

His story, like so many others, have not been placed in the Bible for our entertainment, those stories have been recounted as examples for us to follow. They’re there to teach us lessons as we journey through this life. We can all relate to Bartimaeus in some way. How? Let’s take a look. 

Like most of us, Bartimaeus, must have heard the good news of Jesus. Reading Mark 10:46-52 it’s apparent that he felt that Jesus was his way out of a life of poverty and blindness and it was only through Jesus that he would ever be able to see a new spiritual, social and material reality because of the way he cried out loudly. Disgusted by his public display, those of a better social standing tried to silence him in their attempts to keep him blind, poor, and invisible. 

How many times in your quest for a change in circumstances have the naysayers in your life voiced their disapproval? How many times have people tried to deter you from seeking a new way of life? How many times have persons tried to stop you from expressing your exuberance upon coming into contact with Jesus, or decry your unrelenting conviction? It’s time to ignore the hindrances being laid in your path and like Bartimaeus, the more they hush you, the more you call out to Jesus even louder. 

So loud was his call that it caused Jesus to stop and listen. Blind and poor, Bartimaeus decided that he’ll no longer be enrobed in anything that qualified his dependency. The beggar became the chooser, tossing away the filthy rags of self-righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) in exchange for the riches that are found in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

"And to her was
granted
that she should
be arrayed
 in fine linen,
clean and white:
 for the fine linen
is the
righteousness
of saints."
(Rev. 19:8)

We are all like Bartimaeus, you and I, poor blind beggars wrapped in filthy rags of self-righteousness, easily identified by angels and demons alike. We all have a choice to make. Do we want to remain in these old, dirty, smelly garments, or do we want the change of clothes that has been offered to us – the new garment, the righteousness that only Jesus Christ can give? (seen Matthew 22:11-14; Revelation 19:7-8)

Casting aside your filthy rags is an act of faith which says that you want to see your life changed from rags to riches. It says that you are ready to leave behind the old way of life and enter into the Kingdom of God where you’ll be a beggar no more. This God-made garment has already been given through Jesus, when He chose to give up the glory, the beauty and the magnificence of heaven to become human in every way and to suffer a cruel crucifixion so that you might become rich in every aspect of your life, spiritually and physically. 

Jesus suffered the worst the world has to offer so that through Him you do not have to. His poverty has made you rich (2 Corinthians 8:9) – not in a worldly way, which is fickle, but it’s much more than that, indeed far greater than material wealth. It’s something that money can never buy…it is your Salvation. 

There is nothing more valuable than your Salvation. To first receive Jesus Christ as Saviour, then to establish an intimate relationship with Him, where God reigns supreme in your life is a mark of true riches. Salvation involves everything God will do for, through, with, in, and to you as He brings you into the fullness of life. Salvation brings you into God’s Kingdom, moving you from a life of blindness and poverty to a life of spiritual sight and the “unfathomable riches of Christ” (see Ephesians 3:8).

Bartimaeus wanted more out of life, made a decision, persisted despite hindrances and Jesus saved him and surely He will save you too. So, “Take hope! Stand up, He is calling for you!” (Mark 10:49 NLV), throw off your beggar’s robe, accept Jesus as your personal Saviour and you will be instantaneously enriched with every spiritual blessing in Christ (see Ephesians 1:3) making you a beggar no more.

Amen†

Beggars No More   Shelley Johnson 23-Aug-2016

The Double Portion

Monday, the beginning of another hum-drum work week you might be thinking, but here’s what the Word of the Lord says in Colossians 3:23 (ESV),

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…”

It is from this angle that I’m approaching today’s topic because it made me think of Elisha, who asked for and received a double portion. Elisha too must have got up each morning to the mundane job of field plowing but I feel that rather than complain and murmur about his job he instead worked heartily, as for the Lord. And this attitude made him an unlikely likely candidate to receive an incredible blessing while at work.

“So he [Elijah] departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.” 1 Kings 19:19 (ESV)

In one fell swoop of the great prophet’s cloak awesome power and authority was immediately transferred. Now suppose Elisha, fed up of his job, had chosen to stay home that day…he would have missed out on this opportunity and not been on spot to receive it. You never know when God’s blessing will come to you or who God will use to bless you and where that blessing will take place. Elijah silently walked up to Elisha and blessed him just so, without warning, without fanfare, blessed while plowing a field. Elisha, leaving everything behind, immediately chased after Elijah (v. 20) to serve him as protégé.

Please note that even though Elisha left his job to follow Elijah he did not receive the double portion then and there. Elisha was still required to be in Elijah’s service for a time before the impartation of the double portion anointing. Scripture reveals that the double portion represents a great blessing that’s received after enduring a period of struggle, barrenness, humiliation, captivity, sickness, servitude, or faithful service. 

How have you been approaching the work you have to do? Have you been diligent and hardworking despite the daily grind of a seemingly going-nowhere job? Perhaps God has you there for reasons yet unknown to you. Perhaps there’s something that you must learn in this position before you can move on. Know that your attitude today will determine your altitude tomorrow. You may have to prove active and faithful in this field before God will allow you to move on to something better. So continue to work hard and heartily in whatever area and position you are in at the moment without complaining and without murmuring.

There may be other things in your life stunting your growth, both spiritual and otherwise. Remember Elisha was willing to turn his back on everything and he did. In order for God to fully bless you, like Elisha, you have to just leave some things and some people behind, and chase after what He has told you to do and where He has told you to go. If you’re not prepared to let go of those things and people but prefer to cling to them, you might as well say goodbye to the double portion. You must be willing to give up all your attachments for the fuller life – the double portion life.

Elisha had long walked away from every single thing before he received the double portion (see 2 Kings 2:9-10). When you’re willing to release it all, God is willing to give it all back to you plus more than you had before; He will work with, in, and through you twice as much as He did before. The double portion came to Elisha when he submitted himself to God’s service, and God, being no respecter of persons, when you wholly surrender yourself, who knows how He will use you and bless you – with that mutual willingness anything is possible.

The Double Portion    Shelley Johnson 21-Aug-2016

Inside the Heart

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the desert to humble and test you in order to make known what was in your heart…” – Deuteronomy 8:2 (ISV)

What Moses was saying to the sojourning Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:2 is still relevant to us today. We too are on a sojourn and though our desert experience may not be as long as forty years that does not make it less significant. Times may have changed but human nature remains the same and so have God’s methods of testing our mettle. He has put man through the same process for eons in order to reveal what’s inside the heart.

Understand that when God speaks about the heart, He is not speaking about the physical heart but is referring to a much deeper place beyond our conscious thoughts – the inner part of our being. This is what God looks at, this is what He sees.

…the Lord said to Samuel, “…God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7 (CEB)

You may be beautiful on the outside, but it’s what’s inside you that matters to God. Paying attention to your outward appearance while neglecting your inner being is opposite to how God does things. He works from the inside out, to clean your heart and renew your spirit aright (see Psalm 51:10) – a process that uncovers your motives, and reveals your true intentions which are hidden deep inside the heart. It’s an integral and necessary part of your new-birth journey.

Jesus used the concept of vessels to demonstrate this truth to the Pharisees,

“…you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup or plate, while your secret hearts are full of greed and selfishness.” – Luke 11:39 (WNT)

Also comparing them to whitewashed tombs, Jesus told them that they “…look fine on the outside but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all kinds of rottenness. For you appear like good men on the outside—but inside you are a mass of pretense and wickedness.” – Matthew 23:27 (Phillips)

Clearly God already knows what’s inside the heart (also see 1 Kings 8:39; Psalm 44:21), therefore it’s obvious that revealing what’s inside it is not for His benefit but for ours. We often believe that we know ourselves so well but God knows us better. He understands just how deceitful the heart is and what it takes to purify it (see Jeremiah 17:9; Acts 15:9). 

If you are to properly progress along this spiritual journey, your heart needs to respond to God. God speaks to the heart (Hosea 2:14) but if your inner being is filled with greed, selfishness, dead stuff, all kinds of rottenness, pretense, wickedness and a whole host of other ungodly motivations, there’s no way that you will be able to discern the promptings of God. So a heart cleansing is required, and when it comes to creating a clean heart, God is not averse to pushing you to your limits to get the job done. 

God will allow you to fall on hard times, if that’s what it takes. He’ll even bring you to the point of going hungry so that you’d learn that life it is not only about the physical but moreso the spiritual. God will humble you and test you until you diligently follow His instruction, His every Word, despite all else saying otherwise. It’s about your reaching a state of complete and utter dependence on God in every way and for everything. The sojourning Israelites failed to do so and not only did they remain in the wilderness forty years, they never received the Promise.

I know that you do not want to suffer the same fate…I surely don’t. 

Listen, you think you know what’s inside your heart but you really don’t because the heart so easily deceives and no-one truly understands it but God. He looks deep inside your heart, and He sees all the filth that needs to be removed. Remember though that God will never impose Himself upon you, you have to be willing to allow Him to search the inward parts (Jeremiah 17:10; Revelation 2:23) of your being, your very soul, to re-create you from inside the heart. And, your heart made new, will directly affect your outward appearance, for true beauty comes from inside the heart.

Amen†

Inside the Heart    Shelley Johnson 16-Aug-2016

Photo: Pexels

Prospering After an Ordeal

Don’t tell me that you’re not going through something…if, as a child of God, you are not in the midst of a life-trial, then you really need to check yourself. Believers are always experiencing some sort of challenge because, it is only through trials that our faith can be tested genuine, and this makes us both strong and mature spiritually. Peter and James put it this way, 

My friends, do not be surprised at the painful things you are now suffering. These things are testing your faith…be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. (1 Peter 4:12 ICB & James 1:2-4 CEV)

Sigh not dear ones, instead take heart, this is a spiritual refining process, with victory just around the corner, since all God’s people succeed in the end and you will prosper after your ordeal. But you don’t have to take my word for it because the Bible, God’s Word, is jam-packed with evidence of people prospering after an ordeal.

Let’s take a brief look at just a few…

• Perhaps the most talked about is Job, a very wealthy man who lost everything including his ten children. And after a very long and arduous ordeal, God restored Job’s fortune and then doubled it. So, Job received twice as much as he had before his troubles. God gave him a double blessing of everything.

• Abram (Abraham) went through quite a bit and prospered after every one of his ordeals. After suffering failed crops and severe famine in his homeland, Abram went to Egypt where he became “very rich”. He went on to be greatly blessed by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, after he had fought a fierce battle (Genesis 14) to rescue his nephew Lot. After Abram’s faith was “tested sore” through the near-sacrifice of his beloved son Isaac, God confirmed His covenant with Abram, making him Abraham – God’s grace was upon him – and God blessed him again (Genesis 22).

• Jacob was blessed exponentially after his struggle (Genesis 32:24-30). He was given a new name (nature) and then received an extraordinary supernatural blessing– a revelation of the Lord – Jacob was a changed man thereafter for he had seen God “face-to-face” and survived.

• Joseph is yet another example of great suffering before prospering. He was disbelieved by his own family; thrown into a pit, sold and said to be dead by his brothers; tempted by his boss’ wife, falsely accused, arrested and put in jail, before he was incredibly blessed. After years of ordeal after ordeal, Joseph was elevated to a position of honour – he was second only to Pharaoh.

• Someone we hardly think about in this regard but who I figure ought to be included here is king Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4). A great king with a flourishing kingdom, Nebuchadnezzar let pride get the better of him and that was the beginning of his seven year ordeal – he lost it all, God brought him to the lowest point. Losing his sanity, he became like a beast in every respect. In the midst of his humiliation, Nebuchadnezzar came to himself, and recognized, blessed, praised, honoured, and acknowledged the One from whom all blessings flow and God restored him completely. His sanity, his glory, his honour, and his splendor were all returned, and “excellent majesty was added” to him.

Every one of these men who experienced great ordeals before prospering are not unique in this regard. Like them, God has not chosen you for failure but to prosper, so that, in the same way that God’s hand was upon them for good, His hand is upon you for good. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10 ESV) 

Amen†

Prospering After an Ordeal    Shelley Johnson 15-Aug-2016

Sharing your Shelter

“Show hospitality to one another without complaining.” 

(1 Peter 4:9 ISV)

What comes to mind when you are told to show hospitality? Perhaps sharing a delicious meal with family and friends at your home? Showing friends a good fun time? Jesus wants us to know that showing hospitality goes much deeper than that. It’s not just about inviting family and friends over to your house for a great time but you must be willing to entertain strangers (see Hebrews 13:2) and those who might be considered the misfits of society – the disenfranchised, the undesirable, people who can never return the favour, and those who don’t normally receive an invitation (see Luke 14:12-14) – and to do so without complaining.

In the first verse of Luke chapter fourteen, we read that Jesus, invited to the home of a prominent Pharisee, was literally under surveillance by every single guest there. They watched Him carefully and cautiously, closely monitoring His every move. Can you imagine how uncomfortable that must have been for Jesus?

Jesus is not at all pleased when your home is not welcoming. Your home should be a place where anyone can find genuine warmth and acceptance; an open and loving home, where a person could find comfort, even refuge – a home that will draw people to Jesus.

Sharing your shelter is a practical way of expressing God’s love with others. Your genuine hospitality will demonstrate to your guests that not only do you care about them but more importantly, God cares about them. 

Sharing your shelter does not go unnoticed – God takes care of your daily needs enabling you to feed and accommodate all the people that come your way. This is what God’s Word says,

Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don’t turn away your relatives. Then your light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed. Your honesty will protect you as you advance, and the glory of the Lord will defend you from behind. When you beg the Lord for help, He will answer, “Here I am!”…Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun. The Lord will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or like a stream that never runs dry. 

(Isaiah 58:7-9, 10, 11 CEV)

Amen†

Sharing your Shelter    Shelley Johnson 13-Aug-2016

Be Still…God is on the move!

“…know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.” – Jeremiah 10:23 (NET Bible)

Stop trying to do what only God can do. God wants to do something about your situation, He is trying to make you lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23:2-3) to effect restoration, but you keep getting up trying to take control and frankly, you’re getting in the way.

People have such a wrong impression believing that they must do things to make things happen. Someone once told me, “You can’t just wait on God…you are the one who has to make things happen. Remember, the Bible says, God helps those that help themselves! Even Noah had to build the ark, he didn’t just sit around!” 

First of all, that quote about God helping those who help themselves is nowhere in the Bible because it’s not Scriptural. And yes Noah built the ark but in obedience to God’s instruction, he didn’t go off scurrying around doing his own thing, he became still in order to hear God and, he listened to and acted upon what God told him to do. Hear what the Word says,

“He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.” – Proverbs 28:26 (AMPC)

“…those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” – Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

It’s okay to be still – to stop all your striving and just let God be God. When God is ready to make His move, you need to hush, be quiet, be silent, be still…

“Quiet, everyone! Shh! Silence before God. Something’s afoot in His holy house. He’s on the move!” 

– Zechariah 2:13 (MSG)

The beautiful truth is, only God has the power to truly restore, and He will (see 1 Peter 5:10). In fact, God promises that He will restore everything that you’ve lost or stolen from you, whether or not that loss was of your own making, the enemy’s scheme, or something sent by God Himself (see Joel 2:25).

God does not point a finger. He is not interested in finding fault. He is not the accuser of the brethren, that job’s already taken (see Revelation 12:10). Your God is interested in making your life better, after all Jesus did say that He came to give you fullness of life. And to live life in its fullness brings glory to God, but that’s a whole other topic for another day. Today is about being still so that God can move on your behalf.

Amen†

Be Still…God is on the move!    Shelley Johnson 11-Aug-2016

The Pen of a Ready Writer... and Social Media

Why do so many people feel the need to air their grievances on social media? Very recently I saw a status which especially caused me some concern. And I say especially because in the same post the person was first cursing someone, then praising God. Remembering that there was a verse of Scripture that specifically spoke about that, made me realize that this is not a ‘now’ problem but one that has perpetuated over centuries and we humans still don’t get it. I immediately searched for the verse, and found it in the book of James. 

“We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people. And God made them like Himself. Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers, this should not happen.” – James 3:9-10 (ICB) 

Isn’t it amazing that James would have felt the need to write about this thousands of years ago, around AD 48 to be exact, and the practice continues to this day. Obviously God Himself found it necessary to address this problem and so used James to deliver a message that expressly states that we’re not to curse people, who God has created in His own image, on the one hand and turn around praising God on the other – curses and praises ought not to issue from our mouths. 

God’s Word also states that our words can achieve anything or destroy everything. We really do not understand the power of our words and the recklessness of our tongues. 

Scripture tells us that our tongues are deceitful, treacherous, mischievous, wicked, deadly, like a small fire, restless, must be kept from evil, unruly, used as weapons of destruction, must be guarded, can lead us into sin, and are the pens of a ready writer. 

Scripture also tells us that our tongues can be used to sing praises, build up, utter God’s righteousness, speak the Word, be filled with joyful shouting, used to sustain the weary, swear allegiance to the Lord, utter wisdom, speak justice, confess that Jesus is Lord, can bring healing, flatter, lift up, instill life and are the pens of a ready writer.

Did you notice that I wrote “are the pens of a ready writer” in both lists? It wasn’t a mistake. You see David, in Psalm 45 verse one, lets us know that when beautiful words stir our hearts, that’s what we’ll write about, and Jesus, in Matthew 15:18 said, “whatever comes from the mouth has come out of the heart”, so that, in the same way, when our hearts are stirred by evil thoughts, that is what we’ll write about.

Verse 19 of The Message Bible translation goes on to say, “It’s from the heart that we vomit up…cussing.”

Too often I’ve observed persons who identify themselves as Christian, when offended, choose the route of social media to let it be known. They have this misguided belief that it’s alright to say whatever they want via social media, using this avenue as their personal journal to vent whatever they feel about their offender, not quite understanding the consequences of such an action. But Proverbs 18:21 makes it quite clear, 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those that love it shall eat its fruit.” (JUB)

Simply put, whichever your tongue produces, death or life, you will eat it. Some of you may be saying, that’s Old Testament, well this is New Testament, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6 - NIV). Let us all meditate on that for a while.

This is the thing, if you are calling yourself a Christian taking your fight to social media is certainly not the thing to do. Instead go to your Bible and search the Scriptures and let the Word of God be your guide. 

Let us consider some Bible verses that deal with offense and take it from there:

• Matthew 18:15 (Voice) 

Jesus: “…go to him, in private, and tell him just what you perceive the wrong to be.”

• Proverbs 19:11 (Voice)

“A person…gains respect by overlooking an offense.”

• 2 Timothy 2:24, 25 (Voice)

“…you shouldn’t exhaust yourself in bickering; instead, be gentle—no matter who you are dealing with—ready and able to teach, tolerant without resentment, gently instructing those who stand up against you.”

• Proverbs 17:9 (CEV)

“You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but you will lose your friends if you keep talking about what they did wrong.”

The truth is, God does not want us to take offense, and if we happen to, He certainly does not want us to deal with it by broadcasting it to the world. Take it to God and to the person – it is a private matter.

The Pen of a Ready Writer...and Social Media    Shelley Johnson 8-Aug-2016

Faith Sees

We always talk about having blind faith, but today I want to suggest to you that faith sees. Having faith does not necessitate our being able to see. Actually the Bible tells us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), making us the blind while faith does the seeing. Clearly that’s the best combination. You see, what we physically see testifies against what faith sees, so that genuine faith cannot be based upon our ability to see. If it was then we’d be in trouble. 

Faith sees a reality that we aren’t able to properly comprehend in our natural state. Natural human faith only believes what it can see, hence the saying, “seeing is believing”, but the faith we receive as a gift from God, supernatural faith, sees beyond our natural limitations (see 1 Corinthians 2:5). Faith sees what truly is, and what’s to be. 

Faith sees what God has already done, and it is by that God-gifted faith that we are made able to see. However, in order to see by faith, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of our hearts, to enlighten us so that we are not dependent on our physical eyes. We see through our eyes but the Spirit teaches us how to see, with our hearts, those things that are not yet visible (see Ephesians 1:18; John 14:26). Then, our perspective is determined by what is inside us rather than by what we see – our firm assurance of the invisible (Hebrews 11:1). 

Truly believing when circumstances indicate otherwise, only then will we see what faith sees (John 11:40). Take Noah for example, he built the ark influenced solely by faith, that same faith kept him diligent at the task of building though he had never seen the rain of which God spoke. Faith that sees, first believes. 

Our relationship with God is dependent upon faith that sees since without it it’s impossible to please Him because we must believe that God exists although we have never seen Him.

Faith sees that God stands by whatever He says. 

Faith sees abundance of provision in an almost empty basket. 

The Beauty of the Storm

Faith sees that God is faithful. 

Faith sees something in nothing. 

Faith sees that God keeps His Word. 

Faith sees that God is not a man that He should lie. 

Faith sees the open windows of heaven pouring out during financial famine. 

Faith sees the beauty of the storm.

Faith sees the absolute trustworthiness of God. 

Faith sees healing in the hem of Jesus' garment.

Faith sees our hoped for final outcome. 

Faith sees, in the midst of hopelessness, the incredible life God has planned. 

Faith sees light in darkness. 

Faith sees strength in weakness. 

Faith sees the way of escape. 

Faith sees the truth of Jesus’ teaching, His redemptive work accomplished at Calvary and the promised eternal life for all who believe in Him. 

Amen†

Faith Sees    Shelley Johnson 8-Aug-2016

Shame…it’s removable

Recently my family and I went through an experience that had the potential to be very embarrassing for all of us. As the day of shame approached, I prayed, “Lord, let us not be put to shame.”

And, this is what I heard, “Have you not trusted in Me? There will be no shame.”

Believe me when I tell you, that certain day came, and that certain day went, and there was no shame. God removed the shame.

Perhaps you’re faced with a situation that can bring you shame and disgrace, or maybe it’s your nature to always be embarrassed about something or another but God does not want you to be grounded or rooted in shame. Shame inspires fear and fear is a ploy of the devil. The Word of God tells us,

“Don’t be afraid because you will not be ashamed. Don’t be embarrassed because you will not be disgraced. You will forget the shame you felt earlier. You will not remember the shame you felt…” – Isaiah 54:4 (ICB)

I’ve shared this experience with you because God does not play favourites (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11), what that means is, if He did it for me and every member of my household, He will do the same for you. So, do not be afraid, simply go to God and ask Him to fulfill His promise of removing the shame, embarrassment, and disgrace so that you won’t even remember it.

God has also promised that when you place your hope and your trust in Him, you will never ever be put to shame (Psalm 25:3).

Stand firm on God’s Word of promise. You now know for sure, from Isaiah 54:4, that shame is removable, and from Psalm 25:3, hope and trust in God eliminates shame. But that’s not all, for Isaiah 61:7 says, “Instead of being ashamed, you will receive twice as much wealth. Instead of being disgraced, you will be happy because of what you receive. You will receive a double share of the land. So your happiness will continue forever.” (ICB)

Beloved, put your hope and trust in God, and God will not only remove the shame, He will pour out double blessings and everlasting happiness in its place.

Amen†

Shame…it’s removable    Shelley Johnson 05-Aug-2016

“I want to remind you…”

I want to remind you that God is on your side, and if God is for you nothing and no-one can come against you and triumph (see Romans 8:31). God does not like it when someone hurts you or tries to get in the way of the plan He has for you, and you can be assured that the plan He has for you is a really good plan, laid out and put in place long before you came into this world. 

“I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” – Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” – John 10:10 (AMP)

“Every good thing given…is from above, coming down from the Father…” – James 1:17 (NASB)

Maracas Bay, Trinidad

For you, God has planned good health, happiness, success, favour, fulfillment, enjoyment of life, abundance, prosperity, and every good thing.

I know you might be thinking that your current circumstances don’t reflect that but this is the truth. It is this truth that you must hold on to when the going gets rough, and it will, because God, who is on your side, has an enemy whose sole aim is to try to undermine and disrupt God’s plan and destroy all the good things God has already prepared for you (John 10:10). But here’s what you must keep in mind, absolutely nothing can thwart God’s plan (see Job 42:2; Isaiah 14:27).

So now that you know all this – and this is just a little bit there’s so much more – stop allowing wavering emotions and changing circumstances to dictate your life, instead, entrust yourself to God, give Him a chance to be Lord of your life, be convinced of the wonderful good intentions He has toward you and the incredible unconditional love He has for you. 

You’ve tried living life your way, using your own plan and even though it’s okay, it’s really not the best plan. Only God has the best plan, already designed and mapped out perfectly. All you have to do is co-operate with God by following His leading. Seek Him out every day as a vital necessity and He will direct your steps – He will tell you what to do and where to go (see Proverbs 3:6; 16:9; Psalm 105:4). Honestly, you couldn’t ask for anything better than that. 

“I want to remind you…” Shelley Johnson 04-Aug-2016

The Favour of God

“…And Esther found favor in the sight of all who saw her.” – Esther 2:15 (AMP)

Some of you may have sung that familiar praise song that begins with the words, “The favour of God is upon me…”, but how many of you have sung it without truly believing those words. It is time to bring those words from your mouth into your heart. 

Esther believed that the favour of God was upon her and when the time came for her to draw on that favour, she drew upon it without fear. Esther found herself in a precarious situation and boldly approached the king to ask him to intervene even though she knew that doing so was risking her life. He received her favourably and her life was spared. That was the favour of God.

When you know and believe that you have received the favour of God, you’re not afraid to approach the Throne of the king and of the King of kings. Like Esther, if you find yourself in dire straits, before seeking natural favour, seek God for supernatural favour (see Esther 4:16). Natural favour is special treatment earned from some people sometimes but supernatural favour is a gift from God that will cause you to be specially treated by everyone that lays their eyes on you.

Esther was a young Jewish orphan living in Persia in the time of Jewish captivity, in other words, the odds were stacked against her from the start. But God had given Esther favour and elevated her in a way that was humanly unthinkable – she married the king and became Queen of Persia – positioning her to carry out His will. 

Esther did not have the best beginning but she certainly had the greatest of endings. 

So do not despair if what you’re going through right now seems a hapless situation, instead, be confident that despite how utterly hopeless things may be looking from a human perspective, God can lift you out of the deepest pit. You have been given the favour of God. 

The human perspective screams that there is no way out but you must remember, God’s ways are vastly different from your own (see Isaiah 55:8). He has an awesome vantage point where He sees the end from the beginning. You’re not able to imagine how things could ever turn out good but God already has the best solution to your problem…a solution you cannot begin to conceive (see 1 Corinthians 2:9). That’s the favour of God.

The favour of God is boundless, eternal, and available, all you have to do is believe and press on with complete confidence, knowing that He has already provided divine favour for every situation. 

Amen†

The Favour of God    Shelley Johnson 02-Aug-2016