FINALLY - Friday, August 1, 2008
After months of preparation and planning, the Children and Youth Convocation is finally here.  Today is the day that an awesome weekend for children and youth begins.  As the new day dawned I thought of the possibilities within this day.  I thought of all that persons have done to create those possibilities and I must admit it I am excited.  It is awesome to think that such effort and energy can translate into something that will bless many.

I write this today because there may be someone reading this devotional that has a dream, a vision, or some really incredible idea and you need to be encouraged to go after it.  Be willing to invest the time and energy in it.  Look for persons who are dreamers as well and integrate them into the process of your dream.  At the end of it all when the dream takes on shape and form, be excited.  You have earned the moment!!

I love you and I pray you see your dreams come to pass. Galatians 6:7-10

LET'S GET STARTED - Monday, August 4, 2008
Yesterday we were incredibly challenged by Pastor Phillip Pointer from Alexandria, Virginia.  At our 10:00 a.m. service he preached from Judges 1 about “The Strategy for Victory”.  As he preached with great power I found myself challenged.  The challenge to me was to get started on some things I have been passive about.  It was an awesome call to me to move into a new and exciting place where execution and performance is greatly enhanced.  In the moment of worship through the Word, I heard God say simply, “Get started”.  It was such an awesome moment because I believe that God places in us both the plan and the passion to pursue our purpose.  I believe God allows certain situations to upstage our present so we can aggressively go after our future.  I believe God has through Jesus Christ invited us into a season of getting life done by starting.

Today is a great day to start!  Whatever God has called you to do, let’s get started!!  Start working on the dream, your health, your relationships, your finances, etc.  Let’s get started! Read Judges 1:1-7

INSULATING YOUR WORLD - Tuesday, August 5, 2008
What does it means when you insulate something?  Insulating is the act of covering or surrounding something for the sake of preventing or reducing what you do not desire to negatively affect it.  Insulation, as most of us know, is used primarily in homes and the goal is to limit either the lost of heat or air, electricity, or reduce sound.  Well yesterday the Lord spoke clearly a word to me that I find myself working through.  The Lord clearly spoke to me and said to insulate my life with only positives, moving forward. What a challenge!!  I thought long and hard about what that meant. 

So I decided to spend the balance of this week sharing what I believe you need to do to insulate your life.  Understand that insulating your life is a process of reconstructing and deconstructing your space.  It involves changing who and what is around you and reordering what is in you.  It is about making adjustments for bigger and nobler reasons.  It is about accepting the challenge to be a better, bigger person who embraces fully the brighter future. 

As we explore this week what it means to insulate your life with positives, I want you to join me in journaling your thoughts and what is being exposed to you, anything that will make this challenge beneficial.

We will begin tomorrow with insulating yourself with the right attitude!!  Love you and see you in the morning. Read Philippians 3:12-14

INSULATING YOUR WORLD: THE RIGHT ATTITUDE - Wednesday, August 6, 2008
It has been stated and I concur that “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude” (W.W. Ziege).  This famous quote sums up what the Bible declares about how a man thinks.  The right attitude is an incredible ally for those who are committed to excellent and who genuinely believe they are created for greatness.  You will never achieve what God has for you without being a person with a positive and healthy attitude.

Insulating your life begins with your attitude.  Your attitude consists of your thoughts, your disposition and the way you manage your decision making process.  I believe that if you, with purpose, seek to have the right attitude, God will grant you all things in time.  Then, the right attitude is the result of the following:

1.  A healthy devotional life that centers you.

2.  A commitment to reading books that grows you.

3.  Intentional conversations with persons who operate with a positive attitude.

4.  Identify what negatively affects your attitude and avoid it.

Your attitude must align itself with God and his will for your life.  My encouragement is that you stay to the growth opportunities before you and that you willingly allow your attitude to be shaped to what God is doing.  Know that your attitude will always serve as an ally to your desire for a healthy, holy and functional life.  So, remember you are what you think all day long.  Protect it!!  Have a great day.
Read Proverb 15:33, 19:8,25

INSULATING YOUR WORLD THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS - Thursday, August 7, 2008
Please understand you cannot live in this world successfully without relationships. Relationships are an instrument employed by God to develop you. Through them God pushes us to new and exciting places. Through them God shapes in us the ability to reflect his nature and the capacity to live his image. Over the course of my 44 years I have had many relationships and each have in some way aided in my development. Whether positive or negative, they have participated in forming the man I am.

Yet I must admit that during the difficult and lean years I found relationships a nuance and a bother, primarily because they seem to cause more pain than pleasure. In those times relationships seem to be the source of my discomfort and discontent. However now that I look back, the purpose of that season of relationships was to expose to me something about me that God wanted addressed for greater glory. In the end, it was a good thing that I went through that season. 

Well now, I understand that relationships are an ally and so I strive to have the kind of relationships that are a benefit to my destiny. That is my encouragement to you today. See relationships as God’s instrument, employed to make you a better person. Let me share how this can be accomplished.

1. As you mature, establish a non-negotiable standard for the kind of person you want in your life. Know the difference between the types of relationships in your life.

2. Do a study on the traits in Colossians 3:12-15 and evaluate yourself based on them

3. Develop through the Holy Spirit, a tape recorder in your head so you can rehear your conversations, including how you say what you say.

4. Create an open spirit so that at any moment you can say, “I Am Sorry”. Those three words might save your relationships.

5. Refuse to be the cause of God’s disfavor in relationships. Work at them!!

My encouragement to you is insulate your world through relationships and try really hard to honor God as you encounter others. Read Colossians 3:12-15

INSULATING YOUR WORLD: THE RIGHT HABITS - Friday, August 8, 2008
It has been stated that actions speak louder than words.  It is interesting but I tend to agree.  Now, by actions I want to suggest that we are referring to your habits.  Habits are those things you do consistently and instinctively.  Habits are a reflection of the way we see ourselves.  As well, it makes a clear statement about our priorities. So, it is important to note that one of the keys to insulating your world is through healthy, holy, and functional habits; in essence, doing the right behavior consistently until it positively affects everything around you.  I am learning that if I want to keep myself positive and encourage I need to develop the right habits.  Developing the right habits require:

1.  Discipline
2.  Accountability to a Godly standard
3.  The ability to manage change by maintaining a choice behavior

So, what habits should we be committed to that will insure that our world is insulated?

1.  A daily devotional life that synergizes your focus on Jesus Christ

2.  Open and healthy communication with those you are committed to

3.  Exercise and healthy stress relieving activity

4.  Attendance to corporate worship experiences

5.  Daily reading of the Bible

What other habits can you think of?  Make your personal list this morning and begin to make yourself accountable. Read Psalms 1; James 1:19-25

PROMOTION IS POSSIBLE - Monday, August 11, 2008
Let this thought begin your week, “Promotion is Possible”.  This week throughout the course of your day empower yourself by constantly speaking that promotion is possible.  It is important that before you can experience it, you must fully embrace it as possible for you.  Regardless of your present situation, know that God has granted you the ability to be a well-rounded, accomplished person who completes what they start.  Living in the reality of this declaration provides the foundation by which you build the balance of your life on.  Coming to know that God is the source of promotion provides incredible comfort.  Living in the fullness of that revelation empowers you to go after all that God promises you. 

I am encouraged today, because I know that God has granted us the privilege of walking in greatness and living out healthy elevation.  All things are possible then to us who embrace this revelation fully.  To know that promotion is possible then keeps us going through the tough times and through the unknown times.  Be encouraged because God has you and today is the perfect day to walk for the rest of your life in the declaration that “Promotion is Possible”.  So say and say it loud, “Promotion is Possible”.

Lets have an awesome week! Read Daniel 2:21, 3:30

WALKING IN PROMOTION - Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Promotion is about God trusting you with new doors and fresh opportunities.  One of the ways we prepare ourselves to walk in promotion is through the development of a healthy network of relationships.  For those who know me, you are aware that I am incredibly committed to the principle of relationships of promotion.  A relationship of promotion has to do with God employing others in exposing you to opportunities that stretch your faith and expose your gift.  Through these relationships God pushes us to be the absolutely best we can be.  The type of person God releases to your life is one who is secure and at times challenging.  They may or may not be your friend but what they are in the end is your ally.

The Bible is replete with examples of this.  One of the best to me is the relationship between David and Jonathan.  If it weren't for Jonathan, David would've never fully become all he should.  Jonathan protects David and he insures David is covered.  Read I Samuel 20 and 21.
Please note that these types of relationships require some things from you.

1.  Humility
2.  The willingness to learn
3.  A passion to reach your full potential
4.  A desire to forgive and be forgiven

Know that God wants you to experience promotion.  Work on your relationships and be amazed how and who God uses to position you for promotion.  This is your season of promotion.
Read Romans 15:1-4; Colossians 3:12-15

I AM BETTER - Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Romans 8:28 declares that  “all things” partner to produce a better person.  This better person is someone that fully embraces Jesus Christ as Lord, and continues to actively live out faith despite his or her external situation.  I believe that promotion then is tied to how we manage these moments when we do not “like” them, but God allows them because it in the end benefits us.  In the mind of God, all life experiences have relevance.  They all come together to produce a person who is deeply passionate about their relationship with Jesus Christ and is hungry to live a life worthy of the calling of God. 

Promotion requires the journey, and for you, you must be willing to face each experience and situation courageously.  This means that no matter how difficult, God still has purpose tied to your pain.  God loves you so deeply and with great joy he orders your steps.  Even when you must travel the long way and endure difficulties, God conforms it to the ultimate outcome that is your life.

Face life today knowing that everything will make you a better person. 
So here is my advice for getting the most growth out of everything:

1. Affirm your situation as under the authority of God.
2. Look first for the lesson for you personally, then look for the lesson in others.
3. Place the situation within your prayer time and watch God be God in it.
4. Journal the lessons learned and apply them immediately to your life.

Today is a great day to keep growing, so keep growing.  Know that all things are your allies to promotion.
Read Romans 8:26-28; Colossians 3:17

GAINING DIVINE FAVOR - Thursday, August 14, 2008
Read Matthew 3:13-17
What moves God’s heart ultimately?  If I wanted to impress God, what could or should I do?  I know it sounds funny but we can impress God.  We can move the heart of God and cause the Eternal One to extend favor to us.  I am a firm believer that God wants to honor and bless us.  According to Jeremiah 29:11, he has designed our journey to arrive at a place of prosperity and increase.  God declares in Proverbs 3:5-10 that he desires to direct our steps and honor us according to his abundant favor.

Last night while reading, I began to ask this question of how can I experience greater divine favor.  Again, I really believe God wants us to walk in the fullness of divine favor, experiencing “All” God, through Jesus Christ, has ordained. 

So let me offer the following as to how we gain divine favor:

1. Uncompromising obedience  (John 6:35-40)
2. Generosity  (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
3. Fearless faith  (Matthews 15:21-28)
4. Incredible devotion lived through worship  (Psalms 34:1-8)

BE ALL YOU CAN BE - Friday, August 15, 2008
Promotion is about being elevated to new and exciting places where God can use you to showcase his glory.  One of the great things about promotion is that through it, God affords you the opportunity to become a better you.  He does this by creating growth encounters that push you beyond the “safe you” into the “faith you”.  The “faith you” is the mature stage of your life where you are willing to take risks for the sake of God’s glory, and where you live as someone who is capable of handling greater responsibility.  Promotion then propels you into greater faith, and before long you are operating at a level you have never seen or experienced.

The key to this stage of rest is your willingness to pay the price to become a “well rounded” person.  This involves doing all the preparatory things to nurture what is in you. This involves, as well, allowing those who are ordained to participate in shaping you for something more.  I believe that authentic promotion does not simply happen, but it is the result of a partnership between God and you.  On your end, you work at life and by doing so God positions, and when necessary, repositions you. 

I want to encourage then that you work at life.  Working at life means that you spend time assessing, applying, and adjusting who you are, what you are taught, and then what you come to know that needs work.  My friend, take time today and do the first step in this process.  Assess and be amazed that you may be closer then you think. 
Have an awesome weekend; God is about to do it!!
Luke 2:52;  Ephesians 4:12-16

YOU CAN MOVE ON - Monday, August 18, 2008
Yesterday we were blessed at both services with an unusual manifestation of the Spirit of God.  During the course of the experience, God gave us permission to move beyond the scorn and the scourge of past failures and mistakes.  God declared that despite mistakes, each person who humbles themselves will be given a window that resolves any lingering issues to experience restoration. 

Today is an awesome day to make a decision to go after forgiveness and to extend forgiveness.  In doing so, you can move on with your life, walking in favor!!  God desires that you fully experience the favor; his goodwill extended to all who believe and please him.  I want you to know that God will not cheat you nor will he withhold from you.  Get excited and know that God has orchestrated your life to look like his desire. 

Walk in forgiveness and repentance today.  Accept his grace and fully embrace his compassion extended to you through Jesus Christ his son.  Today allow your faith in Jesus Christ’s redemptive work to overwhelm and guide you.   Know that you have permission to move forward.  Favor is waiting! Read Psalm 51

TODAY I CELEBRATE - Tuesday, August 19, 2008
23 years ago today I accepted my call to preach.  It was at 12:01 a.m. when my life turned once and for all.  In that moment, my mother and I bowed down in our living room and I said yes to the Lord.  With tears in my eyes, I asked the Lord to forgive me and to accept me as his vessel.  From that moment I have lived a torrid pace governed by God’s love for me and the life changing message of my savoir Jesus Christ.

Today as I sit in my office, listening to “We Need a Word from the Lord”,  I am grateful for three people today who reminded me that this day still matters.  Thank you for celebrating with me even through something as simple as a text message.  It is funny normally every year I remember but because I do not want to make it seem like another reason to garner attention I simply celebrate alone.  No pressure on anyone to do another day of planning or execution.  But today seems different for me.  I feel something I have not felt in years.

The call of God upon my life has been amazing and for that I am grateful.  God has truly been good to me and today I say thank you God for loving me enough to make my life make sense. I look back and know it has been Grace and Mercy covering me.  For the awesome men and women who have spoken into my, I praise God for them and I thank God for letting great men and women touch me.  What a journey!!

My encouragement to you today is for you to sell out to God’s plan for your life.  Know that you are not alone and that if you choose his call you will never fail.  God will through the power of the Holy Spirit walk with you.  Know as well, that God will honor you and in time all things will come to pass.  I love you and have an awesome day!! Read Judges 6

PROMOTION REQUIRES HUMILITY - Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Read Luke 14:7-11 and define humility based upon it. What you will discover is that humility is foundational to anything and everything that God desires to do in your life.  Take seriously humility and watch God open doors.

Read Psalms 51:17 and define humility based upon David’s experience.
Today spend quality time in prayer about your personal humility. Ask God to work on you and to develop this within you. 

FINISHING STRONG - Thursday, August 21, 2008
On Tuesday, Pastor Cotton and I were summoned to the hospital to see one of our faithful members who was in critical condition.  Upon arriving we were told that she passed while we were in route.  As we slowly made our way to the room where she died, I found myself with mixed emotions.  Of course the most prevailing emotion was that of sadness because of her passing.  However, mixed with that was a sense of privilege.  The privilege being that she allowed me to walk the journey with her.  I saw her while struggling with severe sickness press to come to church, travel around the country, continue to work, and love her boys.  We texted almost every week and each time she had something positive to say.  Her death left a void in my life, but equally important it gave me an example of how we should die.  We should die finishing life strong.  She did not whimper out, but she finished life in victory.

I write this today because though we face many obstacles and we deal with much, we should make the decision to finish life with the strength of God.  Instead of life taking from us, we live as if life is a privilege and a gift.  I know that it can be tough, but still with Jesus Christ you can live with such purpose and integrity until your last days are your best. 

Today live as if you are called by God and as our Lord Jesus Christ declared on Calvary, live so you can say, “It is Finished”.  Have an awesome day and stay dry!! Read Philippians 1:18-26

GO AFTER YOUR DREAM - Friday, August 22, 2008
Last night in Memphis, Tennessee I launched a new visionary idea.  It was amazing watching God bring to pass something that seemed so far away 1 year ago.  There I was seeing God accomplish his will in my life.  I write today as a man walking in the purpose of God for my life.  Seeing the dream or the will of God coming to pass is so overwhelming.

I would like to offer how you arrive at this place:

1. Stay true to yourself.
2. Joyfully and willingly go through your process.
3. Work on being relationally healthy.
4. Finally, develop your relationship with Jesus Christ so he becomes center.

Today God wants you to enjoy the journey, and the best way to do so is to willing go after your dream.  Enjoy today! Read Jeremiah 29:11-13

TIME TO MOVE ON - Monday, August 25, 2008
Are you excited about your future?  Have you considered what God can do for you and with you?  Do you understand that your best days are before you?  If so, it is time to move forward from old seasons.  It is time to press beyond the present into the future and know that God has ordained so much more for you.  It is time to believe God for everything and aggressively pursue his purpose.  This means that you know God has so much more for you, and that anything from an old season becomes an unwelcomed guest.  Thus, you reject anything that stands between you and God.  You decide that your destiny is too important to live with traits and relationships that serve as an opponent to your future.  It is time to move; it is time to move forward.

End this season now, and trust God for everything!  Know that you are born and birthed to walk in greater things.  So end this season now, and do it intentionally. Change relationships if necessary, change behavior if necessary, and increase time with God, which is necessary!!  Do something that says I know God has me!  New season, new day!! 

Enjoy your week!! Read Jeremiah 29:10-14

THE STRESS OF PROMOTION - Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Last night Pastor Arthur Jackson preached an incredible word entitled “David’s Anointing” from 2 Samuel 5:1-3.  From the piece came many nuggets particularly about promotion.  The one nugget that followed me to my morning devotional was his point about the problems that come with being anointed.  As he preached, I heard over and over again one thing, “John with promotion comes increased stress”.  This stress is about God placing greater demand on you and requiring greater accountability.  The demands of promotion increased the weight of your life and place you in moments when you find yourself dealing with more and more.  The job promotion to supervisor now has you dealing with employees who are not your friends versus relating primarily to your friends.  The purchase of a larger home requires increase cost in electricity and water, thus demanding income not needed with the apartment.  The presence of a new relationship demands sacrifice and unselfishness not needed when it is just you.  Wow, it was easier but the reward definitely is not the same.

So how do we handle the stress of promotion?
1. Increase your prayer time.  Only through the strength of God can you manage the demand of promotion.

2. Make sure you surround yourself with Christ centered, confident, destiny focused people.  Insecure, attention needy, people are not good for you because eventually they will add stress.  Good friends who are committed to the good life are great allies.

3. Read character forming and conduct transforming material.  Refresh and renew your mind with positive literature.

4. Develop and embrace habits that relieve stress without adding the weight of divine judgment.  Do the right things and you will feel better.

Today embrace promotion as a joy not a burden.  In the end, the stress of promotion will not hurt you but strengthen you.  Have an awesome day!!
Read 2 Samuel 5:1-3; John 14:11-14

ADJUST TO CANAAN - Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Service ends and I find myself riding slowly home wrestling intensely with God about what he clearly declared to me in the worship experience through the sermon.  “Man, God again you are challenging me,” I said to God.  This time I felt God calling me to an old place but with a new commandment, “Adjust to Canaan”.  This revelation challenges me to challenge you.  Adjusting to Canaan is really about shifting your mindset and your lifestyle to reflect the standard of God as it has been and is being revealed to you. It is about making necessary changes so you can appropriately and fully walk in all God has for you.  No one will be all God wants them to be without adjusting to their Canaan.  Canaan is God’s promised place, promised relationships, promised career, or anything God has ordained for you.  I want to call you to this awesome place of adjusting to your Canaan.  But how you may ask?

1. Go after God like never before and allow him to speak deeply to you about whom you are.
2. Trust God for the next step by developing a healthy relationship with him and others who you trust know him.
3. Massage your mind with “upscale” material. This is written material,  must call you to another level of mindset.
4. Fear no decision that requires you to “cut the flesh” from your life.

So time to adjust to Canaan.  Lets do it together and enjoy doing it! Read Joshua 5

NO FEAR, GO FOR IT - Thursday, August 28, 2008
This morning I am tired, but boy what a great tired it is.  Arriving home, I sat up until 2:30 a.m. watching the roll call and the speeches of the Democratic National Convention.  As I listened to President Clinton and Senator Biden deliver powerful presentations, I was struck by the energy in the room.  Then a moment occurred that took the energy level in the Pepsi Center up a notch.  Presidential Nominee Barack Obama entered the room and joined Joseph Biden on stage.  In that moment it dawned on me, “a black man has crossed a threshold no other has”.  It was such a powerful moment and I found myself sitting in the dark simply watching.  Unable to move, I just sat.  Wow what a moment!!

It was a historic moment that will continue to register with all of us.  I found myself overwhelmed because here was a man who faced insurmountable odds, attempting to achieve something that no one of color has ever achieved.  It was a statement of his faith in Jesus Christ and his willingness to stretch out beyond what others have said can't be done.  How did he do this?  The key is that Obama conquered fear and decided to move into the future even with so much past facing him.

Each of you reading this today no doubt have some call or some dream that continues to stand before you, as the giant before David.  Yet you will never conquer it until you conquer fear.  Conquering fear is about staring in the face of that which seems greater than you, but not greater than God.  In the confidence you have in God you move forward.  I want to challenge you to see the door, face the giant, go to the mountain, and then open it, fight it, and climb it.  Here is today’s advice:

1. Read the Word of God until your faith grows and then continue to read it so your faith will grow.  Read Romans 10:17
2. Share your dream only with persons who have a strong faith and a deep passion for God.  Romans 15:1-3
3. Write it down and feed yourself the dream.  Habakkuk 2:1-4

GOD, I AM READY - Friday, August 29, 2008
This has been my prayer this week.  After the services during this week, I decided to become more aggressive in declaring to God that I am ready.  I am ready for so much more, and I believe that I am not the only one.  God has created us to be great and he has so much more for us.  God has called us to walk in the “more than enough” place.  I deeply believe that God wants for us more than we want for ourselves.  But we must position ourselves. and so my prayer has been “God I am ready”.

Ready for what?

1. Clarity about the next step
2. The evidence of God’s favor in my life
3. Relationships that work for me and not against me
4. Manifestation of all promises in my life

My prayer is “God I am ready”!  Join me in this declaratory prayer and believe that God is ready as well.  Have an awesome weekend.
Read Isaiah 61:5-9

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