A Woman’s Greatest Gift

 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works (Hebrews 10:24).

Other than Jesus, God’s greatest gift to women is our power to influence others. We have been influencing men since the Garden of Eden. Eve influenced Adam to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Whether it is for right or wrong, women have the power to influence men emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Jezebel influenced her husband, Ahab, as well as her children, and a vast majority of Israel to rebel against God by turning their hearts to worship other gods (1 Kings 21:25). And because of her influence, God denounced many of his servants that were called to be rulers over Israel. Abigail influenced King David not to kill her husband and her household through her hospitality and words of discretion (1 Samuel 25). Delilah influenced Samson to give up the secret to his God-given strength (Judges 16), which ultimately led to his downfall. Esther influenced King Ahasuerus to spare the life of her people (Esther 7).

I listened to the testimony of a man sharing how he spoke words of encouragement and life into his newborn, who was refusing to eat due to a birth defect. He was the only one that could get his son to eat. During his son’s feedings, he would speak life into him. His son healed after gaining a considerable amount of weight. When asked what made him think to do that, he said his wife speaks life into him, and her words make him strong and capable when he’s feeling weak. So let’s use our gift of influence to incite others to do good works, for their benefit and the edifying of God’s kingdom. Let’s not use our influence to manipulate others into getting what we want. Ladies’ if you are unsatisfied with your home life and the garden next door is looking lusher, ask yourself, “How is my influence impacting my spouse and my children? Is my influence manipulative, controlling, inspiring, or encouraging? Are my words supportive, thoughtful, considerate, kind, full of wisdom, and compassion? (Proverbs 31:26). Are my actions benevolent, affectionate, and hospitable?” The woman whose garden is burgeoning is influencing those around her to do good deeds; thus, her garden is more fruitful. If you plant good seeds, you will reap a plentiful harvest.

Before you begin your day, ask Jesus to help you use your words and actions to influence those around you to perform good works.

XOXO,

Jay

2020, a Bad Year or a Year of 20/20 Vision?

 

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (Proverbs 29:18)

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ and have written the year 2020 off as a bad year, ask Jesus to give you wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding to see His work at hand. Two kingdoms exist, the kingdom of light (God’s Kingdom) and the kingdom of darkness (Satan’s Kingdom). It’s hard to see God’s hand at work when we’re straddling both kingdoms. Although there were significant losses this year due to Covid-19, there were many gains for the kingdom of light. Many people who passed this year went home to be with Jesus. Jesus told us in His Word that He will call many saints home during the great tribulation (Revelation 7:9-17). Ministries, businesses, and godly marriages are being birthed during this hour – all to bring God glory and to draw people to Jesus. Jesus has brought immorality, what’s being done in the dark, to the forefront of institutions while bringing forth the truth.

If we take the time to consciously look back over our year and consider the good and the bad, we’ll notice how God was with us every step of the way, closing and opening doors on our behalf (Romans 8:28)). Even if we have lost loved ones, consider those that went home to be with Jesus, now that’s a big win. If we don’t know anyone that went home to be with Jesus, then we should check our conversation and behavior. A follower of Jesus’s conversation and behavior should win others to Christ. As believers, we should be able to testify of how Jesus worked things out on our behalf.  It’s expected for an unbeliever to say that this year was horrible because they walk in the kingdom of darkness. But as Believers, we should see God’s hand at work in our personal lives, family, community, and around the world. Life for the Believer is about perspective. We can choose to have a 20/20 vision by spending more time with Jesus through prayer, reading, and studying the Word. Ask God what He wants you to focus on during this season, so you don’t miss what He’s doing in this hour. If all we can see is suffering and plight, what will our perspective be in the years to come? Ask Jesus what He wants you to focus on during the remaining days of this year so that you’ll have a better perspective going into the new year. 

XOXO,

 

Jay

The Wages of Sin is Death

 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Many followers of Jesus believe that God has given us the grace to overlook our sins, misunderstanding that grace isn’t a free pass to sin. The Bible defines grace as acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, joy, liberality, pleasure, and thanks. Grace is a gift that Jesus gives us that we do not deserve. We cannot work for grace or prove ourselves worthy. Jesus provides us with grace once we accept Him as our Savior. The biggest portion of His grace towards us is His forgiveness. We sin daily, unknowingly because we are part flesh (Romans 8:3) – the very thought of foolishness is sin (Proverbs 24:9). Because we were created in sin (Psalm 51:5), doesn't mean that we should go looking to sin. Once we accepted Jesus as our Savior, we became dead to sin. Sin no longer has dominion over us  (Romans 6). The Holy Spirit now resides in us, warning us before we sin, convicting, teaching, and correcting us after we sin. Once we know better, Jesus expects us to do better.

Grace fills in the gaps when we unintentionally mess up or sin out of ignorance, but once we come into the knowledge of knowing right from wrong, then Jesus holds us accountable for that knowledge (James 4:17). We are still accountable even if we choose not to receive the understanding of God’s precepts (Hosea 4:6). The same credence holds in the laws of man. For example, in the state of California, a convicted armed robber learns after the fact that she will face the death penalty for murder in an armed robbery. In the middle of a home robbery, her partner in crime shot and killed the resident after being alarmed. Although she did not commit the murder and was not aware that if a murder takes place during a robbery, she’ll still face the death penalty.

If you had a hectic morning and are running late to catch your train on time, Jesus may grant you grace and allow your train to arrive late, so you don’t miss it. But you don’t say to yourself, “Well, I got a few extra hours, I am going to sleep in late and pray that I catch the train on time tomorrow morning”.  Planning to sleep in late, knowing that you may miss the train, and expect God to hold the train for you is intentional – many believers apply this same logic to sin. They’ll plan to sin and then tell themselves that “Jesus is a forgiving God, He’ll forgive me.” However; we get upset when someone applies the same logic to us. For instance, if a husband plans to cheat on his wife and then tells himself, “My wife is a loving and forgiving person. I know she’ll take me back.” The husband's planning to cheat is called willful sinning, knowing that adultery is wrong. After having come into the knowledge of knowing right from wrong, there is no grace for willfully sinning (Hebrews 10:26). And there are no blessings for choosing to live a life of sin. Yes, Jesus is all-loving and forgiving, but the wages of sin is still death. Back to the scenario about the death penalty: the ruling judge may be a very nice person once you get to know her, but she still has to uphold the law even though the defendant wasn’t aware of the extent of her punishment. God has given Jesus the authority to judge (John 5:26-27). Jesus does not want to punish or send people to hell, but because of His authority, His faithfulness, and His character, He has to uphold His Word. Otherwise, He would be considered a God who is untrue to His Word, lacking integrity.

We have the power to choose life or death. So choose life. Choose Jesus.

 

XOXO,

 

Jay

Are You a Delilah?

 

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. (Proverbs 20:19).

Or are you a secret keeper? Can your husband, family, and friends trust you with their heart? Or are you known to carry gossip and share sensitive information about others that can damage their reputation or affect how they’re perceived by others? Biblically, Delilah, Samson’s mistress is known for being an enticer who led Samson to his downfall (Judges 16). In Hebrew, entice means to delude, deceive, enlarge, and persuade in a sinister way. Samson confided in Delilah by sharing his weakness – his shaved head. Delilah used this information to subdue him and bring affliction upon him.

If you can answer yes to any of the questions below, then you might be a Delilah. Confess your sin (1 John 1:9), repent, and consult Jesus on how you can go about restoring relationships that you may have damaged in your wake.

·        When someone has offended you, do you bring up their past mistakes or damaging information to criticize their character to get even (this can also be done in a passive-aggressive manner)?

·        Do you broadcast information that may be embarrassing to another person such, as sharing information about their medical status?

·        Do you use the weaknesses of other people as an advantage to get ahead in life, instead of helping that person to build on their strengths?

·        Do you use your words to flatter or persuade others to get what you want?

·        Do you love money (1 Timothy 6:10)?

 

Delilah is a destructive spirit, the name itself in Hebrew means amorous one of the night; poor, weak, languishing one. If you’re uncertain that you carry this spirit, ask God to show you.

XOXO,

 

Jay

Compassion: Woman 2 Woman

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9).

As women, we are more compassionate to members of the opposite sex than we are to each other. You would think that we would be a lot nicer and softer because we can understand what we, as women go through. We are quicker to judge, condemn, and criticize one another than we are to encourage each other. So the next time you come across a fellow sister, and she appears to be struggling through the day, cut her some slack and be a lot more understanding. Do not be so quick to put her down because she's having a bad hair day, in a bad mood, or has gained a couple of pounds. You don’t know what she had to face when she got up this morning or what’s going on in her life.

Here are some tips that we should consider to show each other compassion:

·        Be kinder to the meanest of women, understanding that they are struggling with coping with a great loss or hurt in their lives.

·        Do not criticize the next woman for not being “knowledgeable” in certain life areas. According to Jesus’ standards, we do not always make the mark, that’s why he gives us grace and mercy (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:24).

·        Be an encourager in your words and deeds. All of us need encouragement to be the best women that God has called us to be.

·        Be patient and forgiving with each other as Jesus is with us (Colossians 3:12-13).

·        If a woman comes to you asking for advice, instead of giving her your personal opinion, always consult God's Word first to see what Jesus says about her situation.

·        Be transparent. If your approach is acting like you have it all together, then your words and actions will not be impactful.

Remember, showing compassion is an act of love.

XOXO,

 

Jay 

The Salvation of Jesus vs. The Independent Woman

 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:4-5).

You can have the salvation of Jesus or the independent woman mentality, but you cannot have both. The Bible defines salvation as deliverance, victory, prosperity, help, aid, health, and welfare. In Hebrew, salvation is referred to as Yahshua. Jesus is Yahshua, our salvation – whatever you need him to be at the present moment.

The dictionary defines independent as free from outside control; not depending on another's authority; not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence. An independent spirit exudes selfishness and pride. It only thinks about "I" and not what God wants for my life. It's also a trap for low self-esteem because if "I" doesn't meet set expectations, then "I" feels like a failure. "I" also tacks on a lot of unreasonable and unrealistic outlooks and burdens that are impossible for any human woman to meet and carry.

A spirit of independence keeps us from experiencing the salvation of Jesus. An independent woman’s mindset says to Jesus that “I am self-made. I do not need your help physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. I do not need you.” So, therefore, she does not get to experience His forgiveness (this is why she still feels guilty after repetitively asking Jesus to forgive her for past sins) or have an enriching, life-changing relationship with him. An independent woman also misses out on the opportunities to have enriching relationships with others because an independent spirit is controlling, dominating, unwilling to compromise, rude, obnoxious, boisterous, argumentative, unforgiving, unyielding, and overbearing. Independent is a state of isolation. So, therefore, she is often lonely and miserable, no matter the façade she portrays.

Independent woman, take Jesus’ hand and find relief from the heavy burden and unrealistic expectations that you have placed on yourself. Allow Jesus to be your Savior and Lord over your life. Let him make you a new woman. Jesus’ burdens are light and his yoke is easier than the ones we place on ourselves (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus wants us to have life and life more abundantly, but we cannot have this in the spirit of independence.

At the end of the day, outside of having material things, where does an independent spirit get you? Do joy and peace follow your life?

XOXO,

 

Jay

Let Love Be the Standard

 

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Allow love to set the bar for everything you do. When you wash dishes, do it in love for those that eat off the dishes and love for Jesus who has made the way for you to have dishes to wash and soap to wash them with. If you serve others at a soup kitchen, do it in love, knowing that Jesus died for those that you are serving, so they are worthy of a full hot bowl of soup and a kind word or smile.

Let love be the standard for how you treat those that seem “hard to love,” understanding that at one point and time you didn’t make it “easy” for Jesus to love you, but He still pursued you anyway; forgave you of your sins, and healed your sicknesses. His love saved you from your destruction and crowned you with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Jesus’ love doesn’t condemn you for every sin that you do and nor does His love put you away (Psalm 103:9). So let love set the bar for how you deal with others.

Love seeks to get an understanding so that you can come to a resolution for reconciliation. It’s willing to see both sides and hear the other person out without jumping to conclusions. Love makes provision without having to be asked. Love provides emotional and spiritual stability, protection, confidence, compassion, empathy, nurture, affection, and financial security. Love is longsuffering – is Jesus not patient in His dealings with us when we're struggling to let go of past habits? Love is kind. Love is not pained at seeing another have and nor does It seek to make others envious. Love does not seek retribution when it is wronged. Love chooses to see the good in others, versus their faults. Love gives others the benefit of the doubt. Love is willing to endure, be patient, and it always hopes for a better outcome. Love makes people better, the giver and the receiver.

Remember, without love, we are nothing. So everything we do let it be done in love.

 

XOXO,

 

Jay

A Virtuous Woman or a Woman of Common Sense?

 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; (1 Peter 2:9).

 A virtuous woman is not common; in fact, she is quite rare. She is highly valued among the priciest of jewel (Proverbs 31:10). She's just as rare as wisdom itself. She does not rely on religious or church doctrine and neither worldly wisdom, and philosophies, such as “being a self-made woman” or “independent.” Her wisdom and instruction come from Jesus. She knows and understands that she can do nothing of her own will and everything that she is and ever hopes to be is because of Jesus. She believes that she can do all things through Christ which strengthens her (Philippians 4:13) - This does not mean she’s independent of Him or does not need the help of others. 

When she makes moves, she’s often misunderstood because she’s peculiar. She’s constantly learning how to make God ruler and Lord over her life. She does not rely on common sense; instead, she uses discernment from the Holy Spirit. 

Common sense is for the common woman, aka the modern woman who conforms to the doctrine and thinking of the world. The common-sense woman follows her heart and leans to her understanding. She believes her accomplishments come from being self-confident, independent, and self-made.

Many of us grew up being told to use common sense. However, according to Jesus, there’s no such thing as common sense, well at least for His people there’s not. As God’s children, we’re told there is a way that seems right unto man, but it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). So we’re instructed to lean not to our understanding but to rely on God’s direction for our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6). We are a peculiar people, meaning special (Deuteronomy 14:2). We are not to conform to the world’s adages, beliefs, and philosophies, which only leads to chaos (Romans 12:2). And besides, if there were such thing as common sense, then the world would not be in the state it’s in now.

 

XOXO,

Jay

“Please Standby”

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:15-17).

I am working on a significant business venture that is going to have a substantial impact in God’s Kingdom. This venture is going to bring many individuals to Jesus, and those individuals will have an effect on the lives of those they touch, which will continue to further the work in God’s Kingdom. Also, God has promised to fulfill the promises he’s made to me for my obedience. I am up against a deadline. And of course, Satan has been busy making sure this venture doesn’t come to fruition. Multiple times while working on projects, he has shut down my computer, causing me to lose some of my work. When I am using my laptop for other non-pertinent things, such as watching a movie for 2-hours straight, my computer works just fine. The last time this occurred, I paused and watched a movie starring Dakota Fanning, titled, “Please Standby.” The next paragraph is a spoiler alert.

Dakota plays a young adult with autism, and she resides in a home for special needs adults. Her one goal is to get to Paramount Studios in Los Angeles to submit her script for the Star Trek’s screenwriting contest before the deadline. If she wins, she’ll get $100,000. Dakota sneaks out of her home to make her journey from northern California to Los Angeles. Along the way, she experiences many challenges from having her wallet stolen to getting into a bus accident, to losing half of her typed script. When Dakota faces a problem, she’ll stop and repeat, “Please Standby,” which is implying that instead of giving up or having an emotional outburst, she’ll think through her problems to come up with a solution and then move forward. Unfortunately, she doesn’t win the contest, but she learned life lessons on her journey to Los Angeles.

So I write this to say, do not allow Satan to hinder your journey. Continue to march forward. He knows what lies ahead of you; he knows the impact that you’ll have on others; the promises and blessings that God has for you if you stay the course. In knowing this, you should be relentless in your pursuit to finish whatever God has placed in you. So when the enemy comes to attack you, standby, open your mouth and dart out whatever scripture you use as a weapon to quench his fiery darts. Satan nor his demons can not stand before the Word of God. God’s Word is too powerful.

Remember, ladies, your struggles are not about the destination, but the lessons that you’ll learn along the way. Stay the course; you’re about to turn the corner.

XOXO,

Jay