Turning Point Tuesday: Are you too busy DOING YOU, that you can't DO GOD?

Happy May and Hello to all the wonderful people reading this blog. I pray you are Blessed and standing on the Strength and Word of Almighty God. As promised I am still working through the 15 Hindrances to a True Relationship with God. Recently I have encountered quite a few people using the phrase, “Do you and I will Do Me.” The prior statement simply means, Stay out my Business! We have all experienced seasons in our lives when we wanted people to leave us alone and stop telling us what to do. It could be a child not wanting to listen to the advice of a parent, a husband getting tired of the constant nagging of his wife, or an employee not being receptive to the direction of his supervisor. The bottom line is the flesh fights hard to resist people telling it how to Live. Temperature Check: If you Believe in God with all your heart, mind, and soul and you know without a doubt He is your Source then, “Can God tell you what to do?” Luke 6:46 NKJ “But why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? When we start maturing as SOLD OUT BELIEVERS we become less concerned about DOING US and more Concerned about DOING GOD! Hindrance #4: In order to “Do God” we must rid ourselves of Unhealthy Habits that are hindrances to our Relationship with God.

Definition of Unhealthy habit according to Segen’s Medical Dictionary – A patterned behavior regarded as detrimental to one’s physical or mental health, which is often linked to a lack of self control. Examples: Alcohol or drug abuse, consumption of tobacco in any form, overeating, regular junk food consumption, late night partying, and compulsive activities including gambling, shopping, sexual addiction, and others.

Notice in the definition of Unhealthy habit a lack of self control plays a major part in this stronghold (Self Control is a Fruit of the Spirit). The definition does not spell how unhealthy habits impact one’s spiritual health, but we know this is indeed the case. It is critical that we produce the Fruit of Self Control, which assist with defeating Bad & Unhealthy Habits. On the other hand, some habits are good and bring us closer to God: Praying, Fasting, Reading the Bible, Treating people Kind, Loving others, Forgiving our brothers and sisters. You might ask, “If God is my Creator and truly loves me then why can’t He accept my unhealthy habits?” “Why do I have to change something that gives me gratification and keeps me content here on earth?” The answers to both of these questions are simple. The BIG PICTURE PURPOSE of our existence on earth is to GIVE GLORY TO GOD! Furthermore, Jesus Christ paid the price for our Unhealthy Habits on the cross to put us in Right Relationship with God. The Full Ransom that Jesus Christ paid is a Gift to Accept Him as our Savior, but does not give us “An Excuse” NOT TO obey God. Someone reading this blog might think it is quite arrogant of God to want us to Worship and Give Him Glory. If this is you, please define Glory. Think about what Giving Glory to God means to you. At times we may become confused about our Dynamic Destinies because we are not taking time to study God’s Word. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines Glorify as the following: “To glorify God (1Cor. 6:20) is to declare His praise by obedience to His law. Thus the “heavens are telling of the glory of God” (Ps. 19:1) in obedience to the law of creation, and much more do men glorify Him by willing obedience to the more law (1 Cor. 10:31; John 17:5). Ask yourself, “What is wrong with me wanting to Honor, Respect, Love, Adore, and Live for the One and True Living God that gave me Life and is still giving me Life today?” I pray you answer is, “Nothing is wrong with Glorifying God and I owe Him Everything!”

If there are HABITS IN YOUR LIFE THAT DO NOT give Glory to God through Obedience, you have to decide whether to keep or get rid of that thing, person, or situation (God gives us Free Will). Unhealthy habits don’t just hurt us, but it also hurts God because He is the Creator of Heaven and the Earth and everything in it. Check out what it says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJ Do you not know that you are the temple of God that the Spirit of God dwells in you? Romans 12:1-2 NKJ reinforce the importance of how we should present our temples to God. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The problem is most of us can’t present our Bodies to God because we have some very Unholy Habits in our Lives that are taking first priority, while God takes last place. Yes, I am preaching myself happy too! I am not judging or condemning anyone, but it is our responsibility as Christians to Speak the Truth in Love to one another. Why? Because the Truth will set us free. The last part of the Great Commission is sometimes looked over, avoided, or not taken to heart. Matthew 28:20 NKJ Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Amen.


Okay Kendra, what is the Turning Point? The point is if we say we LOVE GOD, we must LIVE FOR GOD (Glorify), which results in Defeating Unhealthy & Unholy Habits. God only seeks the very BEST for his Children. It would be ridiculous and insane for a Loving Parent to tell their children to get drunk, smoke marijuana, have sex with multiple partners, and eat anything that shortens their lifespan. God is not asking us to do anything that JESUS DIDN’T DO WHEN he walked this earth as the image of the invisible God. Anything you are doing that is Taking the Place of God or Replacing the Time you should spend with God is an Unhealthy Habit. Of course there are things we have to do like work, sleep, and eat to name a few. However, this does not mean it is okay to OVER INDULGE in things that are necessary to live (sleeping all day, over eating, workaholic). You might ask, “How do I know my habit is unhealthy?” I answer that with this question, “Would Jesus Do It?” Jesus wants us to have fun and enjoy life, but unhealthy habits take away from our relationship with God (too much TV, on Face book more than we talk to our children and spouse, cursing and exposing others to this language (even our kids), spending too much time on phone, going out with friends every Saturday but avoiding church Sunday morning, spending all of your spare time on a hobby, acquiring more things and not sewing into the kingdom, playing video games into the wee hours of the night, pornography: need I say more). If you feel uncomfortable about any of these examples that is Great! The Holy Spirit is gently convicting you to a Place of Peace and Purpose! Recently, God dealt with me in the area of watching TV. I do not consider myself a person that watches too much TV; however God clearly spoke to my spirit in this area. God has clearly shown me his Purpose for my life and it does not include wasting time watching television shows that do not Glorify Him. What we allow to enter through our Eye and Ear Gates will eventually come out. For this reason, at the direction of God I started going without television for days and sometimes a week at a time (I miss HGTV, smile). During these times of silence God has spoken mightily. That additional time is transferred to spending quality time with family, Studying God’s Word, Praying, and Serving God. This does not mean I do not have fun, watch shows on television, and catch movies at the theatre. It means I am not allowing television to take the place of my Relationship with God and I am cautious about the Type of Shows I watch. Why are you telling me this Kendra? I want you to know that we are all in this together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. As you know by now God has put a call on my life to Be Real in how I share what He has Placed in my heart (When It is Real it is Right and when it is Right it Feels Mighty Tight). Just know God Loves You and I do too and that is why I am obeying God in sharing this message.


1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Homework Assignment

1. Read 1 John 1:9. Pray and Ask God What he wants you to do in the area of Unhealthy Habits and Listen to the Holy Spirit’s soft and powerful voice.


2. Feedback- Ask your spouse, children, mentor, or best friend if you have any Unhealthy Habits they would like you to change. Remember, the point is to get the truth from someone who loves and cares for you. This is not for you to get upset or angry. Sometimes we see a different Image staring back when we look in the mirror. This exercise allows others to share their Perceptions of your Behavior or Lack thereof. Designate an accountability partner out of this group to share and pray with during this time of Deliverance.


3. Write Down All the Unhealthy Habits that God, Loved Ones, and You would like to Get Rid of or Cut Back On. Allow God to Direct You as to which Habit you should work on first. If you are battling with several Unhealthy Habits be sensitive to God’s Guidance on how to handle them. For Example: If you are battling with drinking, partying, and cursing too much; God might direct you to stop surrounding yourself with Unhealthy People. God can Deliver you from any and all strongholds if you Give them all to Him!


4. Based on the information collected in steps 1 -3 devise a Plan of Attack for Each Unhealthy Habit. Example of Goal: Only get on the internet for 1 hour instead of 3. Avoid sugary sweets on the week days. Yes, this might be a process, which is just fine. However God is capable of instantly Delivering us. Just Follow God and He will Do the Rest!


5. Replace with God – For all the Unhealthy habits you are cutting back on or getting rid of, Replace them with a Personal Relationship with God. That means spending more quality time with spouse and children (Family Unit is Important to God), Studying the Bible, Praying, Volunteering for a Great Cause (homeless shelter), Visiting the Sick and Shut In, Going to Church, Striving Daily to be transformed into the Image of Jesus Christ, Producing and Walking in Fruit of the Spirit, and the list goes on). All in all, Glorying God is Our Purpose!

* Thanks for your continued support!  Please continue to Pray for me and I will definitely Pray for you.  If this message has blessed you use the share bar to pass it on to someone else.  As Believers let's get Excited about Spreading the Good News instead of Spreading the Bad News.

Determined Events Sent To Ignite a New You!

TURNING POINT TUESDAY: Do you know the PROMISES of your FATHER? GOD will NEVER leave you HANGING!

Happy Turning Point Tuesday! I give all Glory and Honor to God that you are here and I pray this message will abundantly bless you. Has someone ever LEFT YOU HANGING? I know you are shaking your head yes! As little children we get our first taste of Broken Promises. A parent promises to attend a game, buy a special gift, or just spend some time with a child. As much as the parent would like to fulfill the promise they might fall short due to a conflict in schedule, unforeseen circumstances, forgetfulness, and the list goes on. Okay, now you are thinking about that toy you didn't get back in the day that you were promised. What Promises have you broken? I know we think we are so together that we do not break promises, but the Truth is we do. Have you ever told someone you would pray for them, but did not fulfill this promise? The point I am trying to make is because we are still walking in this flesh we will fall short on our Promises to people and our Promises to God. This should not excuse us from striving to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in how we Walk, Talk, and Live! THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER ALWAYS FULFILLS HIS PROMISES AND CANNOT LEAVE US HANGING. GOD’S NATURE IS PERFECT, SOVEREIGN, AND EVERLASTING.


We are now dealing with the 3rd Hindrance to a True Relationship with God Series (please refer to archive of old articles to review 1&2). Remember we are Pulling the Cover off of Hindrances ( plots of the enemy) so we can be Aware and Achieve Victory in these areas. The 3rd Hindrance is: Not Knowing God's Promises According to his Holy Word (Bible). According to the New Unger's Bible Dictionary a Promise is a solemn assertion, by which one pledges his veracity (truthfulness) that he will perform, or cause to be performed, that which he mentions. A command from God tells us what WE SHOULD DO and a Promise tells us what GOD WILL DO! We receive the promises of God because of his Grace and Mercy upon our lives. Sometimes God fulfills promises based on our actions of obedience. The picture above gives one of the Greatest Promises of all times. John 3:16 KJV: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Everyone does not have a ticket to heaven. Nice, law abiding, good people will not spend eternity in Heaven unless they do what? Yes, you are right they must BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST to receive the Promise of everlasting life.


If you are reading this blog and you are sick in your body, “What has God Promised you about your Healing?” When we do not spend time praying, reading, and studying the Bible we can't speak the Promises of God over our lives or our families (cover them). Many times we go by what other people say about the Promises of God instead of taking time to FIND OUT for ourselves. I can speak to this point because early on in my relationship with the Lord, I hardly cracked open the Bible. I just recently saw a sign in front of a church that was so true, "Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives.” When a Bible is dusty your life can manifest into a “HOT MESS!”


Point to Ponder: Mr.C hangs around a bad crowd and participates in illegal activities. However, he tells you he was invited to have dinner with the President of the United States. Would you believe him? However, if Mr. C surrounds himself with people trying to do something with their lives and is a man of integrity you would be more inclined to believe he is telling the truth. The point is the evidence of our Relationship with God can be seen by others through our lifestyles. WHEN YOU KNOW FOR YOURSELF HIS PROMISES YOU BEGIN TO ACT LIKE IT AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE IN DARK PLACES! When I started reading the Word of God and His Promises for myself it gave me Life, Strength, Power, Purpose, Joy, Peace, Love, Wisdom, Courage, ...... (I could literally go on for days). You see my Best Friend Jesus Christ keeps his Promises and has my Back! I know without a Doubt Jesus is Always with me and will Uphold me with the Right hand of his Righteousness (yes this is a scriptural Promise)!


You might say, “Kendra I know the Promises of God like the back of my hand.” Great and keep on studying and pressing in brother and sister. However, “Do you BELIEVE in GOD'S PROMISES?” I am talking about the type of Belief Mary had when she was told by the angel Gabriel she would give birth to the Savior. Yes she questioned how this could happen since she was a virgin, but she still BELIEVED THAT SHE WAS DIVINELY CHOSEN AND APPOINTED BY GOD (read Luke 1: 26-38). Mary grabbed hold of God's Promise, Believed in it, and Patiently waited until it came to pass. I believe one reason we Give Up on God's Promises is because they are not fulfilled according to “OUR TIMELINE.” God’s time frame is PERFECT and for this reason we need to Actively Wait on him to Show up in our lives. Actively Waiting does not mean doing nothing. It means continuing to obey God’s commands, utilizing our God Given Gifts to Give Him Glory, Humbly serving others just like Jesus Christ.

Someone reading this blog is Bitter with God and you don't believe a Word that I am saying. You have endured many tragedies that have knocked you off your feet and feel like God has Broken his Promise to Provide for and Protect your family. I know this feeling because I remember feeling Bitter during seasons of loss in my life. I want you to know that we Don’t Know the Why's to everything in this universe and that’s how God divinely designed it. As hurtful as your situation might be Romans 8:28 Amplified gives us a Promise: We are assured and know that (God being a partner in their labor) all things work together and are (fitting into a plan) for good to and for those who love God and are called according to (His) design and purpose. GOOD COMES OUT OF THE MOST PAINFUL SITUATIONS WHEN WE LOVE GOD AND PLACE ALL OF OUR TRUST IN HIM! GOD KNOWS THE SEASON AND REASON BEHIND LIFE EVENTS BECAUSE HE IS OUR CREATOR AND FATHER. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD BY GETTING TO KNOW HIS PROMISES IN THE BIBLE! STAND ON THE PROMISES OF GOD THROUGH STUDYING AND SEEKINS HIM FIRST, AND WATCH YOUR RELATIONSHIP GROW TO A PLACE OF FREEDOM. BELOW YOU WILL FIND SOME PROMISES OF GOD FOR DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, BUT I BOLDLY CHALLENGE YOU SEEK THE PROMISES YOU NEED FOR YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS AND SUPPORT IN GOD'S CALL UPON MY LIFE TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO FULFILL THEIR GOD GIVEN DESTINIES! PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON AND BLESS SOMEONE ELSE.
DETERMINED EVENTS SENT TO IGNITE A NEW YOU!


PROMISES OF GOD - (Scriptures from New Century Version)


Doubting Your Salvation


Romans 10:9 – If you use your mouth to say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.


Feeling Depressed


Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.


Isaiah 40:31- But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired.


Feeling Afraid


Psalm 91:10-11, 14 – Nothing bad will happen to you. No disaster will come to your home. He has put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go. The Lord says, “If someone loves me, I will save him.”


Psalm 23:4-5 – Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because you are with me. Your rod and your walking stick comfort me Your prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head; you fill my cup to overflowing.


Feeling Guilty


Psalm 103:10-12 – He has not punished us as our sins should be punished; he has not repaid us for the evil we have done. He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is from west.


I John 1:9 – But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.


Feeling Stressed Out


Lamentations 3: 25-26 - The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to those who seek him. It is good to wait quietly for the Lord to save.


Romans 5: 3-5 – We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us.


Feeling Confused


Psalm 32:8 – The Lord says, “I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.”


James 1:5 – But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom.


Feeling Angry


Matthew 6:14 – Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins.


Proverbs 14: 16-17 – Wise people are careful and stay out of trouble, but fools are careless and quick to act. Someone with a quick temper does foolish things, but someone with understanding remains calm.


Feeling Rejected


Romans 8:37 – But in all things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us.


Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

TURNING POINT TUESDAY: ARE YOU ROLLING SOLO? ACCOUNTABILITY LEADS TO A TRUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Hello and a BIG SHOUT OUT to everyone reading this blog. I have really missed talking with you and I am so thankful for your continued support and encouragement! What is the first thing that comes to mind when looking at the picture of the little girl on the left? Do you think it is normal or okay for this child to stand in the road by herself? Of course the answer is Absolutely NO! However, this scenario is very familiar in our relationship with God because many of God’s people prefer to stand alone avoiding the company of others. I promised to work my way through the 15 Hindrances to having a true relationship with God (again God gave me these hindrances so add as many as you want to the list). I want to thank one of the supporters of this blog again for challenging me to deal with the reasons why people Love God, but do not feel they have a True Relationship with Him. Before we dig into the complete message really take a self assessment and ask yourself, “Are you Rolling Solo?”

This blog will touch on #2 ACCOUNTABILITY, which is defined as the responsibility to someone or some activity. When I discuss Accountability I am referring to your responsibility to the Body of Christ (Church) and its responsibility to you. Are you only accountable to yourself or are you accountable to the Body of Christ? I know this blog might be uncomfortable for some to read, but don't forget I am only speaking the Truth in Love (not judging only encouraging you and myself to be all God has called us to be). With that said, I refuse to ignore the habitual disobedience of Believers in neglecting church attendance and thinking it unnecessary to become members of churches. These are the same people that claim to be saved and Love God, go around quoting scriptures, wear huge crosses around their necks, believe that God answers prayer, ask God to cover their families, but still refuse to attend and become members of local churches (go figure). We often times wonder why we are distant from God and drowning in a whirlwind of emotions: depression, irritability, lack of peace, hurt, anxiety, anger, and bitterness to name a few. The lack of closeness with the True and Living God could be a direct result of not being planting amongst a local group of believers, which is vital to God’s Universal Church (all believers in the world). The local church is defined as the assembling of those who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Bible is very clear that Believers should come together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25 Amplified: Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together (as believers), as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
You will most likely agree that it is the responsibility of parents to take care of their children. It only makes sense that children look for support and guidance from the very ones that physically brought them into the world. The little girl in the picture could get kidnapped, hit by a car, starve to death if she remains all alone by herself (Rolling Solo). On the other hand if her parents rescue her she could be nurtured, guided, and protected until she is old enough to support herself. The point I am getting at is we are all God’s CHILDREN no matter how old we are. The Church is vital in making sure we receive Guidance, Training, and Nurturing in the Lord. When we do not attend church we make the FLESH STRONG and the SPIRIT WEAK. The one you decide to feed is the one that will win, so take a stand with me to FEED THE SPIRIT! Somebody right now is thinking you ARE ALL THAT because you have a Bible and you occasionally watch Sermons on T.V. I too have a Bible and watch Christian Services on T.V., but this should not replace my involvement in the local church. When people attempt to connect with God, without anyone else in the picture they are missing God’s Plans for their lives. We can’t say, “God you are my everything but I do not want anything to do with people.” Why? Because we must obey the Great Commandments which can be summed up in Mark 12: 30-31 Amplified: And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Loving and Fellowshipping with people is key to being in Right Relationship with God. With this said it takes more than attending and becoming a member of a local church. We must build meaningful relationships with others and serve Jesus Christ by utilizing the Gifts and Talents he has placed within us. Jesus is the Head of the Church and believers are called to fulfill His purpose within the Body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 Amplified: And He has put all things under his feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church (a headship exercised through-out the church). Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all (for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything everywhere with Himself). There is NO WAY to Grow in our relationship with God without receiving proper training. The Church is for Believers and the Building up of the Saints to do the work of the ministry and win the lost (edification read 1 Corinthians 14:26). Of course it is a blessing to have unbelievers come to church and get born again. However, if the lost never steps foot in a church how will they Hear the Gospel unless we take it to them. The Great Commission doesn't instruct us to sit comfortably in church and wait for the unsaved to join us. Instead we are instructed Go and make disciples of all nations! How can we expect to be strong in the Lord and instruct others to do the same if we do not have any EXPERIENCE in this area? I do not know anyone who would feel comfortable having a Doctor perform surgery without any training! Doctors go to medical school and then enter into a Residency Program to receive in Depth training by a Supervising Physician. Residency can vary from 3-5 years depending on the physicians specialty (Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Dermatology, and the list goes on). The bottom line is in order to sharpen our skills we need training in our Christian Walk and the Church is the place where we receive training. We will face various trials and tribulations in our lifetime, but if we are equipped to handle the trials we can give God the Glory and help our brothers and sisters along the way!

Ephesians for 4:11-12 Amplified: And His gifts were (varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us) some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church).

In Closing if you are reading this blog and you are not accountable to a local body of believers (Church), I encourage you to start your search now. Pray for God to reveal the right church for you and your family. It is important that the church has a Bible teaching Pastor that is after God's heart and will feed you with knowledge and understanding (this is scripture Jeremiah 3:15). Really feel out the culture of the church to ensure it sits right with your spirit. Be very sensitive to God's Presence and allow him to Confirm if it is a good fit. Location, types of ministry, opportunities to use your gifts, and Worship all play critical roles in choosing the right church. However don't forget until Jesus Comes back you will not find a perfect local church. I have a friend that tells people, “If you find a perfect church leave because you will mess it up!” Funny but True.


*Please Share this Blog with others by using the toolbar below. Let's stop playing church and be about the Real work of the Kingdom.


Love and Blessings to you all,


Determined Events Sent To Ignite a New You!

Turning Point Tuesday:What is Your Belief System? BELIEVE AND ACHIEVE A TRUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

Happy Turning Point Tuesday! I am very Grateful that "The Great I Am" has blessed us to see another wonderful year. Our existence today means our SERVICE in this universe is not over. We have been granted another chance to GET IT RIGHT BY WALKING IN LIGHT! As promised over the next couple of months I will attempt to address some common hindrances to a having a True Relationship with God (search blog archive for list of 15 hindrances). I come to you not as a Bible Scholar but as a BELIEVER after God's Own Heart! If we want to take our Relationship with the Father to a New and Higher Level it is vital we uncover the roadblocks that are standing in the way. This will allow us to Move the debris and devise plans to prevent the obstacles from forming in the future. The question I have for you today is, "Are you a Disbelieving Believer?" Some people are not aware they are suffering from the Doubting Syndrome of Thomas (disciple of Jesus). Amplified: John 20:29 Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me. To enjoy a True Relationship with God it is necessary that we BELIEVE and have FAITH in Who He Is, What He Did, and Why He Did It.
As Believers we have to put an end to complicating Christianity. Confusion does not give God Glory and does not speak the truth. We have to meet people where they are and I pray this article will Give God Glory in this area (please read in its entirety). The Bible makes it very clear HOW we can receive the FREE GIFT of Salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10 Amplified: Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speeks out freely his faith) and confirms (his) salvation. The Bible also makes it plain the lifestyle expected of Christians. The Holy Word gives us instruction through scriptures that teach us how to follow the commands of Jesus Christ and flee from sin (Sin is Disobedience). However, God does not want us to Obey Him out of Obligation. Obedience should be out of our Hearts because we Love and want to Please God. Romans 6:17 Amplified: But Thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. Last but not least, when we MESS UP God is Faithful and Just to cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS if we Repent and Confess our sins. This does not give us permission to do what we want when we want to do it (willful sin). Hebrew 10:26 Amplified: For If we go on deliberately and willingly sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for (our) sins (no further offering to which to look forward). We are saved through the Grace of God and there isn't ANYTHING we can do within our own strength to be saved. You might think Christianity is too hard so there is no need to accept the Free Gift of Salvation. Nothing is too Hard for God, because we are Saved by God’s Grace not mans. If we front and say we have not sinned we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, so come as you are and let God do the rest!

I love the Life Application Study Bible’s explanation of what it means to Believe (pg. 1906). To “believe” is more than intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. It means to put our trust and confidence in him that he alone can save us. It is to put Christ in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting his words as reliable, and relying on him for power to change. If you have never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life be yours-and believe. Okay let's take a look at the importance of Believing. When I refer to Belief I am discussing the special Belief we as Christians have in the True Gospel of Jesus Christ (that's why we are called Believers). Belief and Faith are used interchangeably in numerous scriptures. In addition, when searching for Belief and Faith in a Concordance some of the same scriptures can be found in both. Hebrews 11:6 Amplified: But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek him (out). Some people think Believing in Jesus Christ is not enough. The simple fact is Jesus himself all throughout the Bible stressed the importance of BELIEVING so I choose to take him at his WORD. If the King of King and Lord of Lords has told us to Believe, then it is unfair for man to complicate his instruction. James 2:19 is used to Justify that Believing is Not enough. Amplified James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder (in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin)! Of course demons believe Jesus from an intellectual sense, but they DO NOT TRUST, OBEY, and RELY ON HIM. Belief to a Believer should mean Trust and Faith in everything God Is and all he has to Offer. As a Christian the word Belief is not just a word used to say something Might Be True. For example if I say, "I believe it is going to snow this week." I could mean I feel strongly it will snow, but I am not sure. A Christian should Believe with all of his Heart, Mind, and Soul and be Completely SURE that Jesus is who he says He is. Yes, even Satan quoted scriptures (check out Matthew and Luke). However, just because Satan quoted scriptures it does not mean He Believes in Jesus Christ (in the sense of Belief as a Christian).  Believing in Jesus Christ requires that you use what’s in the picture above. You got it! As Christians we have to BELIEVE IN JESUS WITH OUR HEARTS. Demons might Be Aware of Jesus and even Acknowlege Jesus, but they DO NOT ACCEPT JESUS IN THEIR HEARTS LIKE MAN! The word heart appears 300 to over 700 times in the Bible depending on the Translation. There is power in what we Accept and Stand On in our HEART. Remember when God promised Abram a son. Abram had done a great job of showing his faith through his actions, but it was his BELIEF in the Lord that put Abram in Right Relationship with the Lord. Amplified 15:6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Abraham was another man that Believed and had Faith in God. Just think how much a parent LOVES their Child. Parents for the most part love their kids with all of their HEART. However, God tested Abraham’s faith to see if he loved God with all of his HEART by asking him to sacrifice his son. The end of the story resulted in Abraham not having to sacrifice his son, but guess who sacrificed his son so we could be in RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with GOD? That is right! God sacrificed his son Jesus for us to have the Right to Eternal Life with the Father.

My question again is, “Are you a Disbelieving Believer?” If you feel you are Doubting Jesus, you are not alone. Plenty of Believers find themselves in a place of Doubt just like Thomas. I remember myself doubting God as a young woman because of several tragedies in my life. I doubted God and even questioned his Power to turn my situations around. In following this blog you know by now I have been called to Keep It Real and expose some of my wounds so others will BELIEVE in the Healing Power of Jesus Christ. I said that to say this, if you are in a place of Doubting today it is NOT TOO LATE to turn your DOUBT INTO BELIEF. You can't believe because someone else tells you to. You have to do it because you know and accept the Free Gift of Salvation with all of YOUR HEART. Man Does Not know for sure whether you Believe in Jesus Christ or not, only the Heavenly Father can search your heart to confirm the truth. Do not fall in the trap of feeling you need a CERTAIN LEVEL of faith to be Saved. We are not saved through our level of Faith, we are saved because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Even if your Faith is weak right now due to a trial you are facing, Believe and Trust in God to Strengthen your faith (God grows our measure of faith Romans 12:3) As we continue to Take God at his Word, Believing and Trusting in him our Faith will grow stronger and stronger. Matthew 17:20 Amplified:
He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith (that is, your lack of firmly relying trust). For truly I say to you, if you have faith (that is living) like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

All in all, the first and vital step to a True Relationship with God is to BELIEVE IN HIM. Somebody reading this blog might not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If you Confess with your Mouth that Jesus is Lord and BELIEVE in your heart that he rose from the dead you can be SAVED TODAY! Over 500 people in the Bible witnessed Jesus after he was resurrected from Death! No man or woman can conquer Sin and the Grave, but only the True and Living GOD! If you BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST you have nothing to lose and everything to GAIN. Please take a chance on Jesus because he Loves You Right Where you are. Stop saying you will accept Jesus when you start acting right! His Grace and Mercy will help you to start acting right! He wants you to trust in Him to Make you A NEW Creature (Ignite a New You). No matter what you are doing and have done he Loves you and is extending an Open Invitation for you to Accept the Free Gift of Salvation. *If you are reading this blog and unsure of your salvation please contact me at prosperity78@yahoo.com. Jesus came to Set us FREE from bondage, but we have to want to be free! I CHALLENGE YOU to use the Share Bar below and send this to an UNBELIEVER! As Christians we have to Spread the Gospel and why not use the internet to do it (Satan uses it for his Dead Will, so Give God Glory and Use it for the will of Jesus Christ). We all have been called to fulfill the Great Commission and you never know how or what God will use to do just that.

Love and Blessings.

"The Dynamic Destiny Coach"

Determined Events Sent To Ignite a New You!


Scriptures to Stand On and Believe In! Amplified Bible

* John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

* Mark 9:23 And Jesus said, (You say to Me), If You can do anything? (Why) all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!

* Genesis 15:6 And he (Abram) believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

Scripture supports the nature of the heart and why it is important to have Jesus in our hearts.
*Matthew 15:18 But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles (him). For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech.
*Luke 24:25 And (Jesus) said to them, O foolish ones (sluggish in mind, dull of perception) and slow of heart to believe (adhere to and trust in and rely on) everything that the prophets have spoken!

TURNING POINT TUESDAY: WHAT IS YOUR MEETING AGENDA FOR THE NEW YEAR? PREPARE AND PROSPER!

Happy New Year Dynamic Destiny Achievers! It is a Magnificent Blessing to be in the land of the LIVING one more year. Jumping for Joy because we have made it through another year of Struggles, Setbacks, and trying Situations (results: refined, strengthened, and worked out for our good). As the clock struck 12:00am on January 1, 2011 the Universe was filled with Praises, Screams, Kisses, Dancing, Fireworks, and a Sigh of Relief to name a few. What were you doing? Okay I will admit I fell asleep and was awakened by phone calls, text messages, and fireworks wishing me a Happy New Year. Once I woke up Emotions of Gratitude overcame me. I was given one MORE chance at Fulfilling my PURPOSE IN LIFE! At that moment I felt a sense of Obligation to God and the world. This Obligation was to “Take It To the Next Level” in sharing my Love, Talents, Ideas, Resources, Time, and Energy to Ignite others to Fulfill their Dynamic Destiny. With that said, I FELT A NEED TO PREPARE AN AGENDA FOR AN IMPORTANT MEETING WITH KENDRA. Okay I promise I am not hallucinating just stay with me. Answer this question, "If you are expecting Dynamic Results in 2011 have you started working on your AGENDA?"


According to Webster's Dictionary an Agenda is defined as: A list of things to be DEALT WITH, as at a meeting. Yes we are in a New Year with New Resolutions, but what New Objectives are you going to DEAL WITH this year? I believe one of the reasons we CARRY THE SAME RESOLUTIONS into a New Year is because we have not devoted time to create an Exciting Meaningful Agenda to Reach our Goals. Notice I said Exciting Agenda! Imagine you have been called to Reside over a Meeting to kick off the New Fiscal Year for your Company. The Shareholders, Directors, Managers, and Employees are Eager to have an Agenda that will Ignite Stellar Results. Instead of PREPARING for the meeting and really taking time to Think Through what Items need to be "Dealt With" you decide to Wing It. Said another way you conduct the meeting without any direction or objectives. The meeting participants lose interest and are bored out of their minds as you see in the picture above (Smile it heals the heart). Attending an Unproductive and Boring meeting is considered by many as a waste of time (plans without direction and excitement can lead to giving up on goals, sound familiar..). The meeting is totally out of order and all over the place. The employees are confused and unengaged because they do not have a Clue about employee expectations. Okay Kendra what are you saying? Let's start the New Year right by conducting a Meeting with Ourselves and Laying out the Agenda of our Dreams! The time is now to get serious about our Existence in this universe and not take for granted waking up to see a brand New Day (in the time it has taken you to read this hundreds of people have died).

What should be included in Our 2011 Agenda? Whatever is necessary to fulfill our Destiny. An Agenda sets the overall tone for the meeting (set the tone for your New Year). In addition, an Agenda is an effective way to manage time, target specific objectives, and evoke action oriented Planning. Taking time to WRITE YOUR AGENDA DOWN will assist with thinking through the issues that are really important.

“Goals that are not written down are just wishes.” Anonymous

Agendas cover vital aspirations and allot the appropriate amount of time to cover them (Personal agenda Ex: Enroll in class by March 2011). The majority of meeting agendas take time to address Old Business and New Business. Dealing With OLD BUSINESS means taking time to evaluate and tie Loose Ends before progressing to something else (Broken Relationships, Financial Obligations, Unmet Commitments). Another important component of the Agenda is Feedback. A Meeting that has one person in tell mode does not allow for the generation of new ideas (diverse perspectives contribute to GROWTH). HELP from others is a Blessing. I don't care how great we Think we are. We need help to fulfill our Destiny (help from God, friends, family, teachers, pastors, citizens, consultants, customers etc.) For this reason, make sure your agenda includes the Human Resources you will “Reach Out To” in the New Year. I am encouraging everyone to conduct a Meeting and create an Agenda that will contribute to Reaching Your Personal and Professional Goals in 2011. Conduct quarterly meetings to celebrate the small wins and adjust plans as need be. That means Reevaluating your Priorities, Setting Goals that will take you to the Next Level, and Designing Plans that will give you a better Chance of Succeeding. An Agenda should not be Dreaded it should be Embraced. Planning ahead and taking time to really Address where we are Going in Life can only HELP us. If we were to invest as much time Planning to Succeed as we spend Worrying about problems we don't have, we would be in decent shape. The point is God has Plans for everyone (Jeremiah 29:11) but it is up to us to Choose to walk in God's will or continue to be unfulfilled "Doing Our Own Thing." Noah could have done his "Own Thing" but he Planned ahead based on God’s Direction. He witnessed God Show Up, Protect, and Prosper him and his family. Noah had to Prepare and Put In Work to get Desired Results and that is exactly what he did. Now it is your TURN TO Prepare and PUT IN WORK if you want to Walk in Your God Given DESTINY!

I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
Anonymous

If you are in the Alamance County Area and would like more tips on how to make your year more Productive and Reach Your Destination on January 12, 2010 the Chamber of Commerce is Hosting a Business Series Seminar to help in this Area. The seminar is titled, "The 6 P Principles to Reaching Your Personal & Professional Destination." I am conducting this seminar and I would love for you to Jump Start your New Year with New Ideas to become a New You !
(Determined Events Sent To Ignite a New You) For registration details visit alamancechamber.com. Thanks again for all your Support in 2010 and I am looking forward to the Favor of God overflowing in 2011!


P.S. Yes I will deal with the 15 Hindrances to a Relationship with God in the next couple of Blogs. “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” Frank A. Clark
We will DEAL WITH (Agenda) Old Business and New Business for the Glory of God!