You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

How many times have you known definitively that you were supposed to do something, but chose not to? It could of been as simple as returning a phone call, offering encouragement to someone you encountered, or removing yourself from a crowd for a moment of prayer. In each situation you knew that there was an action required of you. Instead of picking up the phone, you watched t.v. Instead of offering encouragement, you remained silent. Instead of stepping away for prayer, you stood right where you were. You remained rooted in the position that best suited you and made it easiest to run from what you were being called to do for God.

You might think that none of these things was an assignment. You might also think that neglecting to do them was not really a big deal and certainly not running away from God. In both cases you would be wrong. We are so consumed by the thought that God's purpose for our life is so big that we often miss the little assignments. We miss the way that he can use us to lift someone's spirit with a phone call or a genuine hello. We miss the importance of acknowledging Him in the midst of a crowd. We miss the fact that we are on assignment every moment of everyday.

God speaks to us from the moment that we wake up. We are directed to seek Him. We are directed to love and serve His people. We are directed to walk humbly and esteem others above ourselves. We are directed to go into all the earth and spread the gospel. These are all assignments. These are all truths that should guide us regardless of any additionally calling that God has placed on our lives. But daily we hide from them. We shrink away from seeking Him because we are afraid of what changes will come with truly knowing Him. We isolate ourselves from those who are not so easy for us to love. We turn away from service, reject humility, and refuse to imagine anyone being greater than ourselves. But, as we are running and skillfully hiding from the things that we have already been called to, God is waiting. You can run from God all that you want, but there is no place that His Spirit cannot find you.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?"

Psalm 139:7

Adayinthelife :-)

Do My Prophets (Children) No Harm

As an educator, I have the privilege of standing before a captive audience day after day. My position within the school guarantees me a certain level of respect. Students are instructed by their parents and loved ones to listen to the teacher because he or she knows what they are talking about. The instruction given by parents shows that they too believe in the power of the one called to stand before their children everyday. I have seen educators use that power to build doctors, lawyers, and teachers. I have also seen the power used to destroy hopes and dreams with one misplaced word. 

This week I had the opportunity to be in a classroom working with a group of fourth graders. I have worked with them all in some capacity throughout this year, however this week I have been in the position of teacher. We had a discussion on Wednesday about how they believe teachers perceive them. One by one the students spoke honestly about what others thought and how their actions helped to shape those beliefs. When it was almost over and the last student was about to speak, I decided to take that opportunity to build. I decided to speak hope, encouragement, and life into nine and ten year olds simply because it was in my power to do so.

A few of the self professed bad kids were confused when I said "you have all the tools to be successful". More than one told me they didn't understand how I could say they were leaders knowing that they had already been suspended multiple times. I replied the same way to all of them. "I know that you have the capacity to be great. It's time that you knew that too."

I share this story because each of us has a choice to make. We decide whether we will build or destroy every single day. We work as Christ did when we choose to build. His word gave us life. His word sustains us. His word builds us. We never know if God has called the person in front of us to be the next mayor, police officer, or prophet of the Most High God. So we must be careful that the words we choose are blocks used to build and not those designed to cause nothing but harm.

Adayinthelife :-)

Thou Shall Not Steal

As a child, I always spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My own parents were very young and I had the privilege of being raised with the help of grandparents, great grands, and also one great-great-grand. All of my grandparents were stoic. They had a way of being that left you simultaneously in fear and at ease. I remember always thinking I had to be at my best in their presence because you never knew what might happen.

My grandfathers were especially unpredictable. They worked very hard to provide the things that the family needed. Most days they worked sun up to sun down. We had very little time with them one on one as a result of it. I always wanted to find a way to spend more time with them, but it never seemed to happen.

Time passed and I found myself becoming comfortable with them withholding their time, withholding affection, withholding love. I knew they had to work. I knew that them working so hard meant they loved us. I also knew that we would never get back what they were so skilled at withholding.

Time is a gift from God that we steal from those who are most important to us. We steal it and invest it in ways that seem profitable, but what is more valuable than time? What is more valuable than making sure to invest in the upbringing of a child? Is it more valuable to spend an hour with the ones you love or spend that extra hour at work? Time is the easiest thing to steal, yet it is impossible to recoup. There will never be another opportunity for granddaddy to take the time to read to us, take a trip with us, or share the story of how he became known simply as "boy".

My grandfather never devised a plan to go against the scripture thou shall not steal. If he were here today, I am confident that he would not have equated withholding time from us as stealing. However, everything that we have is given from God and when we neglect to give it back freely to his people, we are engaged in the actions of a thief.

Adayinthelife ;-)

Charity Starts At Home

The Christmas season is upon us and for many this signals a time of giving. The Salvation Army bell ringers are strategically positioned at stores. Local businesses are sponsoring toy and food drives. Churches and schools are doing their best to support families in need with food baskets and monetary gifts. You can easily find someone who is collecting something to donate or is just "in the mood" to give something away. It is said that Christmas brings out the best in everyone.

This is the time of year when people are united in the spirit of giving and statements like "we don't accept charity" no longer have a place. Isn't it interesting to think of some of the people who are among the season's biggest givers. They may never have paid a tithe. They may never have stood in line to give an offering, but charity (love) they freely give just because of the time of year.

So what does this mean for the Christian body, those of us who represent charity (love)? Those of us who are charged to give charity (love) in and outside of a certain season. Those of us who open our wallets to the collection plate, but close our doors to family. Those of us who feel so accomplished having adopted a family from our job while leaving blood relatives to fend for themselves. What does it mean when we flock to join the world to do for the stranger while having turned a deaf ear to the needs of an uncle or an aunt for the eleven months prior? 

I know its hard to face these things. The many phone calls from family that you ignored to spend time working for the ministry. The needs of those right in front of you that went unmet so that you could help a random stranger. The stranger has no one and your sister has a job right? Where is the love in picking and choosing who deserves our charity? How can we be so full from helping the masses when our own fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers are starving from a lack of the word. Since charity (love) starts at home and home is where the heart is, could it be that we are only wearing the label of love while others are living it?

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

1 John 3:17

Adayinthelife :-)

Knowing Is Half The Battle

In school, we are taught many different things. We learn how to read. We learn the mathematical formulas necessary to calculate problems. We learn scientific facts and historical information. All of what we learn is in one way or the other a form of memorized fact. As we go through school, we are tested to determine the things that we have learned. With all the testing that is done, rarely does someone take an accurate account of what we know. After all, knowing is only half the battle. The other half is understanding.

Proverbs 2:6 says 

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

This scripture illuminates a deficit in how we approach learning. Knowledge and understanding go hand in hand. Far too many times we accept one without even seeking the other. We believe that knowing something be it a mathematical equation, a piece of historical information, or even a scripture is something to be proud of. Think about it. When we are young, we are rewarded for being able to recite information. 2+2=4. The capital of Florida is Tallahassee. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. With each recitation comes some form of encouragement or a tangible token because we have demonstrated what we know. This is a great beginning for a child, but without gaining an understanding the individual is limited to only having won half the battle.

Consider how many of us still operate in this manner in both our natural and spiritual lives. We seek out knowledge for knowledge sake. We exalt ourselves by showing off how much information we can recite. But how many of us truly seek to understand the things that we are so proud to say we know? How many of us seek wisdom from God? How many of us are patient enough to sit at His feet to hear the Lord impart both knowledge and understanding?

Adayinthelife :-)

When In Need Of A Breakthrough

I'm trying and trying.
I need to get out.
When in need of a breakthrough,
I scream and I shout.

I scratch and I claw
with all of my might.
I am relentless until
I win the fight.

First I take stock of all
the things that I've lost.
It may seem like a quick overview,
but I'm counting the cost.

I'm thinking. I'm looking.
I'm doing my very best to find.
Everything that has been taken from me
I want what is mine.

When my joy has been taken
When I can' t find my way
When my hope has been shattered
When I don't know the words to pray

When I've tried to reach out
And my friends turn a deaf ear
When I've said Father can you hear me?
And I can't feel God's presence near

When I've come to the edge
of giving up hope
I'm about tired of looking for answers
and I have lost the will to cope

I take inventory of what's missing.
I grab hold of my own hand.
I take a step forward into the darkness.
I am careful to make sure that I stand.

I stand on the promises
that God has already made.
I will not leave you nor forsake you.
The price for your life I have already paid.

Hold your peace and I will fight for you.
Look to Me to supply your every need.
Believe in Me and I will save you.
Trust in My words to set you free.

I will heal you. I will restore you.
I will comfort you when death draws near.
I will wash away the stench of sin.
I will dry every one of your tears.

I have made you in My image.
I have appointed you a child of the King.
I have made My grace sufficient
to cover everything.

His words are what I look to
to breathe into me new life.
When I'm in need of a breakthrough
I remember God has had my back the whole time.

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

Isaiah 43:19

Adayinthelife :-)

Renewing Your Mind

Where the mind goes, the body follows. This is why it's so important to make sure that your thoughts are always on God. When we allow ourselves to get caught up in worldly thoughts and the desires of our flesh, our bodies end up serving as sin's playground instead of temples of the holy spirit. We end up in the very position that causes us to be separated from God.

I can tell you that I've been there. I've been so wrapped up in a thought that I completely forgot how I got there. I completely forgot what it was that took me to a place where God wasn't the focus or even a fraction of what was going on in my mind. It was in these moments that I was most vulnerable to sin. My mind was unguarded. Thoughts were completely unchecked. I found myself doing things that I cannot now explain. In the past I've said, it was just for fun or I did what I wanted to do. But, who truly wants to live a life on the edge of death?

The edge of death was where I was because of what I let control my mind. My mind told me I wanted a drink so I had one. Then my mind told me I was alright to drive myself and three friends home after having had far more than a few drinks. Where the mind goes, the body follows right? My mind took me on the same path countless times. Hang out with your friends. Have a few drinks. Drive everyone home. It was so routine that I no longer even had to think about what we were going to do. Surprisingly when I stopped rehearsing hanging out and drinking in my mind, I stopped wanting to do it. 

Where the mind goes, the body follows. My mind was so exhausted that it stopped. I am asked all the time. Why did you stop hanging out? How come you no longer drink? What changed for you? Depending on what day it was I may have answered that I was tired of hanging out. I may have said that I no longer enjoyed the taste of alcohol. On occasion I have even said at some point you just have to grow up. What I should've said, the thing that wasn't always clear to me before, is a whole lot simpler. God renewed my mind.

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 11:19

Adayinthelife :-)

Home Field Advantage

One of the first things that I learned as a student at LSU was that Death Valley, also known as Tiger Stadium, was the place where dreams went to die. I was so perplexed by that statement. The place where dreams went to die? I made it my business to figure out what exactly that meant. I was surprised to find out that a part of the reason that the saying is so popular is that LSU is almost unbeatable in Death Valley. From 2005 to the present, LSU has won 62 of 70 home games. That's an 89% win percentage. I would say that's a pretty sweet home field advantage.

As much as I love LSU, I want more than 89%. I want to know that I am going to win 100% of the time. Many think that it is impossible to win all of the time. No team is that good home field advantage or not. I believe that victory can be achieved 100% of the time if you are on the right team.

It is not hard to gather that I am going to say that victory is guaranteed if you are playing on God's team. What is going to be hard for some to accept is that victory requires more than just identifying yourself as a member of the home team. Anyone can say "Geaux Tigers". Anyone can wear a jersey. Anyone can become a fan. Many of LSU's die hard fans have never attended the school and certainly never played a single down of football. Yet, each person believes that week after week LSU will leave the field victorious.

But what is it that fuels that belief? How can a man, woman, or child who has not put forth any action expect that victory will be the end result? This is the expectation that we as Christians also have. We put on bracelets that says WWJD. We sing our hearts out to our favorite worship songs. We even identify ourselves as Baptists, Catholics, or the ever popular nondenoms. But we forget to enroll in Jesus University and study the word of God. We forget to run out on the field and play our position. We forget that we cannot expect to have the home field advantage without being coached by God.

"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

Deuteronomy 20:4

Adayinthelife :-)

Supply And Demand

If you have even the most basic understanding of business, you understand that the price we pay for things is a reflection of supply and demand. Businesses do market research, hold focus groups, and conduct surveys to determine what it is we want. They then decide how much we are willing to pay if the market has different amounts available for purchase. A prime example of supply and demand is what happens year after year when people line up to purchase the newest pair of Jordan's. Nike has done an excellent job of ensuring that quantities are so limited that the supply never exceeds the demand. 

Have you ever wanted to be like Nike? Have you ever had a product that you wanted to distribute? You believed in it because it was both extremely popular, yet rare. Have you wondered about the price that people would be willing to pay if your product was positioned to never exceed the demand?

If you are a Christian, you should be like Nike. You have the love of God to distribute. You and other Christian's belief in God's love makes it popular, however among the general population knowledge of its true power is rare. God's love shown through you should be so appealing that people line up to receive it from you year after year. They should desire it so much that they will give anything, pay any price to receive what you already have. 

Why is it that you are failing to give them what they need? Why are people coming to you for love and receiving a rain check ticket or an out of business sign instead? Why are you not a walking advertisement of God's love? Why are you not conducting research to determine the best way to deliver God's love? When did you last conduct bible study? Bible study is after all nothing more than a focused group designed to acquaint others with the power of God's love. Have you bothered to survey those in need to find out what part of God's word would change their situation right now? Is it that you have mistaken God's love for an ever popular pair of Jordan's, something that is sometimes supplied, but never able to meet the demand?


And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15

Are You A Peacemaker?

Are you a peacemaker? Do you strive to pursue peace with all men as we are instructed in the bible? We all know that Christians are to be peacemakers. Saying it is easy, but how often do you find yourself putting it in practice? Are you referred to as a mediator, negotiator, or go between? Are you a peacemaker?

Can your presence ease turmoil? Are you soothing, calm, or serene? How often are you called on to unify a broken bond? Is restoration a part of the fabric by which you live your life? Are you a peacemaker?

A peacemaker is someone who brings about peace. It is someone who lives peacefully and pursues peaceful situations as a function of their everyday character. He or she speaks peace, promotes peace, and exudes peace. Peacemakers are happy without logical reason or clearly defined triggers. They know joy and live faith focused lives. Peacemakers refuse to allow themselves to be soil for negativity and discontent. Are you a peacemaker?

Have you found yourself speaking life into the dark places of another's life? Have you been striving to ensure that God's light continues to be what others see shining? Have you removed yourself as the solution and offered God instead? Have you loved in the pathway of hate? Are you a peacemaker?

Peacemakers are humble and eager to be used. Peacemakers are aware that they are at times planters, at times water, but always just a tool that God needs to grow more peacemakers. Peacemakers are easy to spot spirit to spirit, but hard to see through natural eyes that are trained to look for human imperfections. So are you a peacemaker?

Adayinthelife :-)

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones, But Words...

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..."

John 1:1

Bishop Porter preached a sermon once about how the tongue was a weapon of mass destruction. I recall laughing and nodding in agreement when he first said it. The tongue, this small little organ that we all take for granted could be as powerful as a weapon designed to destroy lives. It was funny in the moment not for its comedic value, but because of its truth. The tongue is indeed a weapon of mass destruction. That is of course if we allow it to be. 

Our tongue is completely controllable. We decide what we say. We decide when and how we say it. We decide if our words will be sweet as honey or as bitter as the juice of a lemon. We decide if the words we say will be restorative and loving or destructive and filled with hate. We decide, but how many of us truly consider the things that we say?

We say things like "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", but then we go ahead and use words as insults. We use words as canons, missiles, and tanks to destroy those that we have disagreements with, those that we haven't bothered to know, and even those that we swear we love. Where is God in the span of angry words that are said to your daughter, your son, your husband, or your wife? Do we forget to remember that we live by every word that comes from God and that our words should mirror His? His words are truth. His words are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. How can our words then be weapons of mass destruction? How can they be so different from His if we represent Him? Could it be that our words are so hurtful because we forgot to remember how to speak the words of God?

Adayinthelife :-)

Reuniting Doesn't Always Feel So Good

This past week was very challenging for me. Trying to manage things at work and adjust to life after Lasik. Everyday I reminded myself that things would get better and that everything would be just fine as long as I remembered that I was one day closer to reunion. I know that it is not important to some people, but I had been looking forward to it. I was so excited that I talked about it with the kids at school everyday.

I left on Thursday to make sure that I got there for everything on Friday. I had a mental itinerary, a must do and may do list, and enough excitement for everyone those who were attending and those who were not. I did everything except consider the possibility that I would not attend my reunion.

Yesterday, I was reminded all day long that the best laid plans don't always work out. Flight after flight left without me on it. In the early morning hours, I was hopeful. I went down the must do/may do list and realized all would not be lost if I just got on the next plane to Florida.

It never happened and I ended up on a plane back to Baton Rouge. I was happy to end the 13 hour standoff with Delta, but I was so sad about what happened to my wonderful plans.

When I landed, I received a message from my friend Marcie. She told me how sorry she was that it hadn't worked out. She told me how happy she was that at least I was no longer being held hostage in Atlanta. Then she told me to remember how much I am loved.

I wrote this because the love that she spoke of wasn't just the love of family and friends. The love that she spoke of was the love of God. Throughout the day yesterday Marcie and I talked about the people that I wouldn't see. We talked about not getting to spend the day with my God-daughter, missing the game with friends, and not seeing my dad. We also talked about God and how His love would cover all of the day entailed good or bad.

We talked about how God had a plan, a must do/may do list, and more excitement than all of us combined. What was so interesting about my talks with Marcie was that she led them. She said to me "remember your faith. Know that in all of this God is still working for you. He's going to make this alright."

She even laughed and said "can you believe I am the one that is saying this to you? This is what you've always done for me." I can't believe that I didn't get to see everyone, but I did get to see God. There is a blessing in everything.

Adayinthelife :-)

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

The things that we miss the most are usually those that have been constantly before us for a time. It might be a clothing item that has been your favorite, a trusted friend that you spent time with everyday, or a t.v. show that you have grown accustomed to watching. When any of these things are taken out of the path of your attention, your attachment to them fades until the point that you rarely think of them at all. This reality is why people have such strong reactions when that item, person, or show is initially taken away.

This reality is why we should have no trouble relinquishing our mind's hold on the negative things. Take for example the person who ruined your day. She walked in the room with a bad attitude and even worse news. She placed it in your lap like a child who belonged in the arms of his mother. She lingered long enough to infect you with her dreadful outlook on love and life. The moment she left you should have been the moment that you allowed your attachment to the negative spirit to fade. You didn't. You rehearsed her words. You rehearsed her mannerisms. You rehearsed the news that she placed securely in your lap. You rehearsed so much that the spirit of negativity became your favorite companion.

That was five years ago. She hasn't been in your presence, but the present that she left you that day has stayed at the forefront of your mind. Many times you have wanted to let go of it, but the fear of not having that spirit haunts your mind. You know if you allow yourself to forgive her for the moment, the negativity will die and fade away into the past.

So you continue to split time between asking God to release you and doing your best to let the spirit of negativity remain on your mind. At some point you convince yourself that God would have freed you from it if He wanted you to be released. But how can He free you from the thing that you work so hard to continue to see?

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;

    fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet

    and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;

    keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27

Double For Your Trouble

My friends always tell me that I remember everyone and everything. I remember the random moments that we shared as kids. I remember the things that we did that were honorable and the ones that were not. Sometimes I remember things that I wish I had long sense forgot. You know the things that were once proud moments of defiant rebellion.

I used to be afraid to speak for God because of the people who might remember the time I cursed them out or treated them like they were beneath the dirt on the ground. I used to be afraid to say I love the Lord because I was afraid that someone would remember all the times I pretended like God was either dead or blind. I looked down on people for doing what was right. I repeatedly said I wanted nothing to do with being an evangelist. All of theses things happened despite the fact that I knew God was indeed alive. They happened even though I knew that He could see everything that I was and all the things that I thought I hid.

I was so afraid that all the things that I had once put before people would silence the life that I had decided to live for God. Would I have to walk around and hang my head in shame? Would some random thing that I did so long ago cause me to be completely humiliated?

"Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth." These words written in Isaiah 54:4 spoke to me. It was as if, the same God that I spent all that time hiding from had me in mind. "I will forget the shame of your youth." I will restore you to the person that I intended you to be is what He was saying to me.

These words spoke to me, but they were not just for me. Restoration is God's gift of replenishment. It is His way of showing us that nothing that we put before Him and nothing that has been taken away is greater than what He can continuously provide. God can choose to wipe a slate clean and place you back in the position that you once were. However, when He restores you, it is not just the natural position it is the spiritual as well. In that you receive a double blessing for the troubles of your past.


“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

Isaiah 54:4

Adayinthelife :-)

If The Shoe Fits...

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"

II Timothy 3:16

Have you ever found yourself sitting in a church service wondering what does this message have to do with me? Well, I have. I've had those moments where I was totally lost on how to apply the message. Then I have had other moments during a sermon when I had to say to myself if the shoe fits then wear it. 

Eight years ago, after sitting through a gut wrenching shoe fits message, I had an epiphany. I decided that I would attend church services on purpose. Prior to that epiphany, I attended service to feel better, to fellowship, to hear the singing, or to hear whoever was speaking. There were times that I went seeking something from God specifically, but I wouldn't say those times were on purpose. I would say those times were mission focused. I was on a mission to fix whatever was wrong on that day.

But then I had an epiphany. I decided that every single time I attended service the message was going to be just for me. I told my sister and a few friends that if I didn't hear from God every time, there would be no point of going. For many this was a radical thought. I was met with "but what if bishop is not speaking?" And "it might not go right if the praise team is out of town." 

I laughed because they were voicing thoughts that I had at one point entertained myself. However, after my epiphany everything changed. II Timothy 3:16 says that "all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness". This scripture helped me to realize that if I attended a church where the word of God was being preached, every message was going to fit me. Every message was going to have a lesson to teach me. Every message was going to provide an avenue for immediate or future rebuke. And every message was going to train me in the righteous ways of God.

Can you imagine how that changed my experience? It was no longer about lining up God's word to fit my life. It was about seeking to line my life up to fit the word of God. At times the correction has been painful and Lord knows I don't crave being rebuked, but the shoe fits so I have to wear it. 

Adayinthelife :-)

By Invitation Only: Will Excuses Stop You From Getting In?

"Excuses are monuments of nothing that build bridges to nowhere." ~unknown

Senior year of undergrad I was invited to join a sorority. One of the first things we were told to learn was a quote about excuses. "Excuses are monuments of nothing that build bridges to nowhere" is how it began. I remembered it, but I didn't really soak it in to my psyche. Excuses were what other people gave. I on the other hand simply had reasons.

There was a reason that I could not go to set. There was a reason that I had to be out of town. There were reasons for every single solitary thing that I did not care to do. But, they were never excuses. I looked at excuses with a special kind of disdain. Plus, excuses were solely in the realm of reactionary responses. I believed that if I stated my case for why I could not do something upfront, my reason would have to be accepted.

Guess what? I was right. My reasons were accepted and I went about doing exactly what I wanted to do. And at the end of it all, I still made it in to my sorority. You would think that this was a success story right?????

I made it in to my sorority, but my reasons(also known as excuses) led me to have poor relationships with the majority of the members. I didn't appreciate the fact that membership was by invitation only. I hadn't thought about how my choosing to excuse myself from activities affected our relationships. I hadn't thought about the impact of those things just as many of us don't think about how excuses dressed up as reasons impact our relationship with Christ.

As Christians, we share an invitation only relationship with God. He invited us to join His family and reasoning yourself out of time spent with Him is electing to exclude yourselves from intimately knowing a part of Him. You may not give thought to excusing yourself from prayer, attending service, witnessing, or studying the word. But, excuses will ultimately leave you out of fellowship with God. Contrary to my sorority experience, those who lack relationship will not get in.


****Must read...Luke 14:15-23****

Adayinthelife :-)

Words of Peace

"Words of Peace"

Do Not allow Negativity to Consume You. Keep in mind that your body is a "Temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 6:19) which means we literally, not figuratively, house the Spirit of God. Unlike some guests that come visit you from time to time then go home, God doesn't come to visit, He's in you to stay for good. Remember, "He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6...) which means you have The Perfect roommate for a lifetime and it's important that we don't allow Trash (Negativity) to clutter in His presence. Your ears are the front and back door to your house so before letting any WORDS in make sure they dust their feet off so that no Trash (Negativity) enters when they do. What I mean by that is simply this, be very careful/wise when you entertain certain conversations, actions, moods, emotions, individuals, etc.. Because it's a given that "the thief only comes to STEAL, KILL, & DESTROY.." and he doesn't care who he uses to bring filth/trash into your house.. But God said, "I come so that they may have Life and have it Abundantly" (John 10:10).. meaning God comes to your house to enhance it not to tear it down. There is power in what a person's tongue will release, but for those words that are not representative of God, He has given you AUTHORITY to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you (Luke 10:19). Again I say, Do Not allow Negativity to Consume You, God wants what is best for you. So when Negativity knocks, make sure you don't answer.. ~Mr. Carr

Adayinthelife :-)

T.Carr - H.A.R.D. Ft. Alvin Ray [Music Video]

Are You The Tortoise Or The Hare?

The story of the tortoise and the hare is one that most people are familiar with. The tortoise, with its slow and deliberate movements, is challenged to a race by the quick moving hare. Midway through the race, the hare is far ahead of the tortoise and decides it is safe to take a nap. What the hare does not realize is that while he sleeps, the tortoise surpasses him and wins the race.

As many times as I have heard this story, it has never settled in with me the way that it has this week. Thinking about it has made me realize I have been both the tortoise and the hare. I have been the hare so fired up to win souls that I have rushed to share God with everyone that I see. In those moments I was quick to share a word, a scripture, a test, or a triumph to encourage someone. I found myself looking to the left and the right to see if anyone was witnessing like me. The moment it seemed like I was ahead of the game, I relaxed. I backed off of sharing God's goodness. I took a nice long Christian nap while waiting for others to match my Christian work ethic.

Then there were the times when I was totally the tortoise. I approached soul winning deliberately and with precision. I thought about how to approach someone. I asked God for the words to say and I waited for Him to tell me when and how to move. I didn't concern myself with what anyone else was doing for God. I knew that I was on my assignment working at what God had for me to accomplish. I knew that staying the course and following His direction was the only way to win the race.

But, life and the realities that we face have a way of pushing us all into the hare mentality. Something tragic happens and we find ourselves rushing to save our neighbor, the mailman, and the random stranger walking down the street. Anxiety and panic sets in for all the people that we forgot to witness to, forgot to pray with, or forgot to show some kindness.

The key is to find a way to live consistently as the tortoise. Then we would understand that while time is of the essence and we must have a sense of urgency about the things of God, it is alright to take your time and trust Him to lead and guide you. Besides, hurrying frantically to the finish line is only a factor when you have allowed yourself to sleep on the things of God.


The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Adayinthelife :-)

Shhh! Be Quiet

Do you ever think of the moments when someone has their faith turned up so loud that you just want to yell SHHH! BE QUIET in their face? You know the moment when you're in a room with someone and their positive presence just fills every inch of space? The moments when they are so full of joy, but you feel like all would be right with the world if you just had that one cup of coffee or perhaps that extra hour of sleep. Then there are the times when you know that every single solitary thing in their life is jacked up, but still a genuine smile is always on their face.

"You will be alright", she says. "There is no need for you to worry", is always what she tells you. And then there are the prayers. Prayers that are focused on others. Prayers that are directed in a way to make the listener refocus on God. Prayers that are always positive and so filled with praise. She even called you blessed and highly favored the very same day you lost your job. You could do nothing but wonder how anyone would have so much faith.

How can she walk so tall and remain so humble? How can she exude Love without screaming how much she Loves? How can she be so at peace and sure of her faith without constantly saying I believe in God? Is her faith for real? Is it genuine? Is her example to be followed or to be laughed at and ridiculed because it is so different?

It's not only different, it's radical. It's unheard of. Why would she give up the comforts of fitting in for the uncertainty of standing out? It's much easier to say "I'm blessed and highly favored", but her words continue to lift you. Surely she has things to address with God for herself, her family, her friends. Somehow you are the one she prays for. You and the people she encounters who can't pray or won't pray for themselves. 

"I love the Lord." When she said it, it was effortless and reserved just like when Whitney Houston put that very verse to song. You knew it was for Him and not for show. SHHHHHH!!!! BE QUIET! 

You try to stop yourself, but you just can't hold back. You're yelling at her to dial it down and fall back because the sound of her faith reminds you of how hard you work to silence your own.


I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Adayinthelife :-)

What Was Eve Thinking?

Do you ever sit and wonder what would have happened if Eve hadn't eaten the apple? Would we be so interested in designer clothes? Would mansions or cars exist? Would there be the technology for me to write this blog?

Eve's choice has been debated and scorned. How could she have gone against God's command and eaten that apple when she had everything? How could she allow the snake to tempt her? What would possess her to do something so dumb? Surely I am not the only one who has wondered all of this. But, today my thoughts about Eve and her choice are different. Today I realized for the first time that Eve was just trying to fit in.

Eve wanted what we all have wanted at some point. She wanted to be in the in crowd. Eve thought that eating the apple would allow her to see things as God saw them. She would have His knowledge of both good and evil and she would be as the Gods.

The problem was that Eve did not consider what her choice meant. She did not consider what knowledge of evil meant because she had no concept of what evil was. Instead of finding herself fitting in with God, her choice brought separation.

So what are you saying Candy? I used Eve as my example for a couple of reasons. A part of it was to help us to think thoughtfully about what happened when she tried to fit in where she didn't belong. Another part of it was to help us to think thoughtfully about how our own choices to fit in where we don't belong impact our relationship with God. 

When has your attempt to fit in caused you to be separated from God? Was it as simple as buying that extra revealing pair of jeans? Was it choosing to begin a friendship that monopolized your prayer time? Or was it walking away from your church home, your family, or your spouse because someone else found fault with them?

Our choices to fit in push us into or out of fellowship with God. Are your choices leading you into deeper fellowship? Or have you found yourself hidden from God in a place where you don't belong? 

***Genesis 3 is a great read.***

Adayinthelife :-)

True Love

I love you. These are three simple words that often are completely misused. We say I love you to express a feeling. We say I love you to validate each other. We even say I love you for our own personal gain. How often are we thoughtful about what those words imply or what our true motives are for expressing them?

I love you. When was the last time that you said those words and thought about God? Did He cross your mind when you kissed your husband goodbye and left him with I love you? Maybe you thought of God when you tucked your daughter in last night and whispered I love you. 

If you cannot recall, I want you to take a moment and think really think about what those moments were like. God was present the morning that you kissed your husband and told him I love you. God was the one who opened your heart when failed relationship after failed relationship had you thinking that love was found inside of a man's closed fist. It was God's loving you that allowed you to overcome the fear that tried to creep into your mind when your husband asked you on your first date. You had vowed to never love again, but God said no. I Am love. I can't take who I Am from you. I love you. 

And can you think back to the day when you vowed never to let a child in? Your own childhood was so heartbreaking that you were determined to not open those wounds again. God was there when you cried and cried yourself to sleep. I love you. He said it even when you didn't know it was His voice. His I love you quieted the anxious thoughts you had of being a bad mother. His I love you covered the guilt you had when fear moved you to abort your first child. His I love you was what you whispered to your daughter as she was on her way to sleep that day.

His I love you is intentional. His I love you is true. His I love you is the only I love you guaranteed to not be taken back from you.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Romans 12:9

Adayinthelife :-)

Can You Let Him Have His Way?

If I let You have control

Is it possible that everyone would know

Just how long I've been doing this on my own?

If I let You have your way

Is it possible that today

All of my fear of failure would fade away?

If I was ready to just let go

Is it possible that my life would show

How You have not been the one I chose?

I sang songs about living life Your way

You better choose the Lord today

At least that’s what the verse made me say

But I couldn't just give You control

I wanted to, but didn't know

How You could make choices for me better than my own

If I let You have your way

Would You really save me today

Or would being with You just turn my friends away?

I am really ready to let go

I’ll read my bible and whatever else I can to show

That this time You are the one I chose

I want to live my life Your way

I’m gonna start right now, today

But just a minute I have one thing left to say

Can You and I share it, control?

It may seem strange this I know

But, that way I’m leaning on You not on my own

God help me let You have your way

I need to do this right today

But letting go takes all of me away

I think I can, but then I get in the way.

Adayinthelife :-)

Who Reached Down For You?

Who reached down for you? We love to answer that question by saying God helped me. God met me right where I was. He picked me up and turned me around. That sounds good, but no man has seen God so again I ask who reached down for you? Who did God send to be your help? Did He send an aunt or uncle? Maybe it was a school teacher or preacher? For some it was a drug addict or dealer. Others found their hand in the hand of an innocent little boy or girl.

The one thing that is true is that we all have been in a position of disgrace or despair at some point. We cried out to God for help if we knew how. If we didn't, we continued to sink and sink until seemingly from nowhere someone said enough. You don't have to live this way. You can do better. You can be better. Who reached down for you?

Was it the wife whose husband you had been sleeping with? Or the boss who you'd spent months doing your best to undermine? Could it have been the best friend that you belittled every time he or she was out of your sight? Who reached down for you?

Who met you in sin's alley and refused to turn away? Was it an angel all dressed in white? This is another thought that we hold on to. Most likely it was someone who looked like you. It was someone who recognized the smell of sin that lingered on you because they knew the smell themselves. But did you know that the person who reached down for you was on assignment?

He looked just like your friend from back in the day because he knew how to blend in. She spoke with the same voice of the woman you trusted because she knew what you needed. They knew that they needed to wear whatever shell that you were wearing to reach you. Had they come like a sheep dressed with the spirit of God on their sleeves, you would have ridiculed them or tuned them out.

Instead they came dressed like you and stuck by you long enough to reach down for you at just the moment when had they not the wolf would have been the only one there. Who reached down for you? Or should I ask who will you reach down to?

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

1 Corinthians 9:22